Tripartite Talks

The Cang River is the mother river of North Chu, originating from the snow-capped mountains deep within the Hengduan Mountains. It flows majestically through the entirety of North Chu before finally merging into the Yunmeng Marsh, which lies across from the Hengduan Mountains.

The upper reaches of the Cang River are mountainous, with rugged terrain and rapid currents.

A full moon hung in the azure sky, casting its silvery glow upon the turbulent river. The waters roared, their surface shimmering under the moonlight.

By the riverbank, where the currents were fiercest, a young man with delicate features stood fishing with a long hook.

In such swift waters, fish darted past too quickly to even notice bait—let alone bite it. The bait itself could hardly stay on the hook, swept away the moment it touched the water.

Fishing here, with a hook as straight as a needle, it was clear he wasn’t after fish.

Sure enough, from the woods behind him, the sound of a flute suddenly rose. A fish had taken the bait.

The cold moonlight, the damp river breeze. The flute’s melody was haunting, carrying an air of solemnity.

The fisherman didn’t turn around, still focused on his task. He peered intently into the churning waters below, as if he could see the fish that had bitten.

The flute’s ethereal notes drew closer, and a figure emerged slowly from the shadowy forest. His upper body stepped out from the dappled shade of the trees and into the moonlight.

The moon’s glow spilled down, casting his shadow onto the pale grass, his face hidden in the darkness.

As the last note faded, he spoke: "Are you playing Jiang Taigong’s game—fishing without a hook?"

"Works well enough, doesn’t it?" The man by the riverbank smirked. "The willing take the bait, my dear original."

"You’re the one who seems more like the original," the man on the grass muttered, cradling his jade flute. "Since when do clones act like this?"

"Seriously? What era are you living in, still clinging to old-school clone rules? Who says a clone has to behave a certain way?" The riverside man laughed. "By the way, your flute skills have improved. No one would dare laugh at you now for showing off with it."

"No one ever did."

"Ha!"

"'Hearing the song of broken willows in the night, who wouldn’t feel homesickness stir?'" The man on the grass twirled his flute with a flourish, exuding an air of effortless grace. "I played that just for you, wanderer. Doesn’t it make you miss home?"

"Miss home? Hell no. The last person I want to see is you." The riverside man scoffed. "I’m only back to help you deal with the Yuan Organization. Once it’s done, I’m gone."

"The Yuan Organization?" The man on the grass chuckled. "Relax. You’ve got a bright future over there. I’m not about to drag you back."

"Oh?" The riverside man turned his head. "So you’re saying even after wiping out this branch of the Yuan Organization, I should keep infiltrating them?"

Under the moonlight, the two men—one seated by the river, the other standing on the grass—were identical in appearance.

"You… weren’t already planning that?" The one on the grass—Qin Ran’s original—fixed his gaze on the Tianhai Region clone.

Did the clone really think he could hide his thoughts from the original?

The Tianhai Region clone averted his eyes and turned back toward the river. "Alright then, dear original, what’s the plan?"

"Patience. We’re still waiting for someone." Qin Ran smiled.

"Who else?" The Tianhai Region clone frowned. "My time’s limited. If I’m gone too long, they’ll realize the ‘me’ back at the base is just a water clone."

"I know." Qin Ran replied.

How the clone had slipped out, when he’d done it—with them standing this close, the original sensed every detail.

The Tianhai Region clone rolled his eyes, speechless.

Under the radiant moonlight, one man fished with a straight hook by the river, while the other leisurely played his jade flute on the grass.

As Su Shi once wrote: "The clear breeze over the river, the bright moon between the mountains—these become sounds in the ears, colors in the eyes." Such was the scene before them.

Before long, another fish took the bait.

The river’s surface shimmered like mist under the moon, and amid the flute’s melody, a scholar in white robes strode across the water from the opposite bank. Light as a feather, he leaped onto the shore with a single step.

A feathered fan in one hand, the other tucked behind his back, he stood beside the Tianhai Region clone. The river wind billowed his robes, as though he might take flight at any moment—a transcendent immortal, aloof from the mortal world.

The Tianhai Region clone glanced at him, noting the identical face, and remarked, "The weaker the fighter, the flashier the entrance."

"Brother, full marks for that performance. Not bad at all. I’m impressed. Where do you work, exactly?"

"The weak must appear strong—that’s the law of nature, the art of disguise." The white-robed scholar bowed with a grin. "This humble one serves as Grand Preceptor of Xuanqin. And you, brother? Did you feast on golden fertilizer? Your strength is outrageous."

"An honor to meet you!" The Tianhai Region clone returned the salute from his seated position. "Just got lucky with a major opportunity in the Tianhai Region. One windfall, and my power skyrocketed."

"My humble respects!" The Xuanqin clone bowed again. "Forgive my ignorance—where exactly is this Tianhai Region?"

"Next to the Lingnan Region lies the Demon Region. Beyond that is the Tianhai Region." The Tianhai Region clone explained. "The Lingnan Region is all ocean—people live on islands, forming factions based on territory. Quite unique. I recommend a visit if you have time."

"And how does one get there?"

"Teleportation array—"

"Enough!" Qin Ran strode over, exasperated. "You’re literally the same person. What’s with the probing?"

"Ahem…" Both clones coughed awkwardly and looked away.

"Let me introduce them properly." Qin Ran gestured. "This one infiltrated the Yuan Organization in the Tianhai Region, posing as a special alchemist. He’s established himself there.

"And this fool got sweet-talked into serving the Xuanqin Emperor. Dreaming of unifying the Land of Immortal Legacy, building a dynasty of cultivators—all for His Majesty’s grand ambitions. But hey, he’s climbed to Grand Preceptor. Soon enough, he’ll probably become Chief Minister or Prime Minister."

"Damn, brother! Prime Minister? Impressive!"

"Damn, brother! Inside the Yuan Organization? Legendary!"

They turned to each other simultaneously, clasping their hands in mutual admiration.

Qin Ran facepalmed. "For fuck’s sake, can you two be serious? I called you here for actual business."

"Cut the crap," the Xuanqin clone retorted, unimpressed. "We know you. You just want to dump responsibilities on us and play the hands-off boss. Spare us the act."

"Ahem…" Qin Ran coughed, shifting uncomfortably.

But after all, he was the main body, thick-skinned enough to remain unfazed even after his intentions were exposed. He continued calmly, "What we're discussing today is how to annihilate the Boundless Sword Sect, eradicate the Yuan Organization, and unify the Land of Immortal Legacy—matters of world-shaking importance."

"Install the latest version."

Since they were all his avatars, they saw right through him. The Tianhai Region avatar glanced up, shot him a look, and corrected, "It's about how we—me and this brother here—handle these things. What does it have to do with you? Your job is to run away."

Could Qin Ran tolerate such baseless slander?

He pretended not to hear and raised his voice, hoping volume would lend him credibility. "My strategy is a three-step plan. First, destroy the Boundless Sword Sect and consolidate the Hengduan Mountains. Second, establish a tripartite balance in the Land of Immortal Legacy to eliminate the Yuan Organization. Third, unify the Land of Immortal Legacy and establish the Xuanqin Immortal Dynasty."

"I'll handle the first step. That means the two of you should each take one—you deal with the Yuan Organization, and you unify the Land of Immortal Legacy. Three steps, one for each of us. How is that unfair? It’s perfectly balanced."

The Xuanqin avatar pointed at Qin Ran with a feathered fan and sneered, "You have no shame! Destroying the Boundless Sword Sect isn’t even close to the same difficulty as wiping out the Yuan Organization or unifying the Land of Immortal Legacy! The Boundless Sword Sect is already rotting from within. Even without your interference, it wouldn’t last a few more years."

Qin Ran stiffened his neck and flicked the fan aside with his jade flute. "I’m taking down the Boundless Sword Sect alone, but the Yuan Organization requires all three of us. Once the Boundless Sword Sect and the Yuan Organization are dealt with, what major threats remain in the Land of Immortal Legacy? Unifying under Xuanqin would be as easy as plucking a hairpin from a bun. Don’t tell me you can’t even handle some internal affairs?"

The Tianhai Region avatar caught the implication. "Three people? Where’s your other avatar?"

One knew oneself best—he was certain the main body wouldn’t stick around.

"The Boundless Sword Sect is already riddled with his influence," the Xuanqin avatar deduced. "There must be a soul avatar inside. It’s his contingency against the sect leader. That man’s petty—you can’t be too careful."

"If the sect leader moves against him, he’ll immediately turn the Boundless Sword Sect against itself, and the Dao Sword Sect would end up ruling the Hengduan Mountains. If the sect leader holds back, the avatar will manipulate factions within the sect, stir chaos, and then coordinate from within to take it down effortlessly."

"Then, he’ll flee with Shiyin, leaving the Boundless Sword Sect avatar to ‘assist’ the Dao Sword Sect’s leader."

"Damn, brother!" The Tianhai Region avatar stood and clasped his hands in admiration. "No wonder you thrive in court politics!"

"You flatter me!" The Xuanqin avatar smiled modestly, returning the gesture.

Qin Ran’s face darkened.

Facing himself was like having no secrets at all—an unbearable feeling.

Watching the two exchange compliments with zero regard for his dignity as the main body, he scowled and cut in sternly, "The first step is exactly as he described. Once the Dao Sword Sect destroys the Boundless Sword Sect and unifies the Hengduan Mountains, it’ll become the Land of Immortal Legacy’s top sect."

"Dao Sword Sect, the foremost sect; Xuanqin, the foremost nation; the Yuan Organization, the foremost faction. In the open and the shadows, the Land of Immortal Legacy will form a ‘tripartite balance.’"

"Your task is to drive the Yuan Organization out of the Land of Immortal Legacy, merge the Dao Sword Sect into Xuanqin, and help Xuanqin achieve unification."

"All three factions have our people in high positions—we’re both the referees and the players. Don’t tell me this is still too difficult."

Seeing the main body’s sour expression, the two avatars stopped joking and replied, "No problem."

Qin Ran shot them a glance, satisfied that his authority was acknowledged, and continued, "That’s the general plan and end goal. Now, let’s finalize the details."

"I’ll soon incite internal strife in the Boundless Sword Sect. When the Dao Sword Sect seizes the chance to attack, they’ll dismantle the sect’s mountain-protecting formation and destroy it. This step is already set in stone. The only issue is ensuring the Yuan Organization and Xuanqin don’t interfere."

"Then comes the second step, where the biggest challenge is Young Master Yang. He might be the trickiest part of the entire plan."

The Xuanqin avatar scoffed. "Three nobodies can outwit a mastermind. With the three of us working together, inside and out, I refuse to believe we can’t handle him."

"There are two complications," Qin Ran pointed out.

"First, the Yuan Organization is overwhelmingly powerful, with too many variables. If their higher-ups send a Harmony or Transcendence Realm cultivator for a crushing strike, it’s game over. So before acting, we must sever the branch’s ties to its leadership."

"Second, he still wants to stay undercover in the Yuan Organization. He can’t die, but he also can’t be exposed..."

"We’ll need to figure something out..."

And so, by the riverside, under the moonlight, these three—or rather, this one—laid out their strategy, set their objectives, analyzed the situation, devised schemes, and mapped the future of the Land of Immortal Legacy with meticulous precision.

The world was their chessboard, and they played both sides. The fate of the realm rested in their hands.

They would be the shadowy masterminds behind the Land of Immortal Legacy.

From the moon’s zenith to its descent, until stars faded into dawn’s darkest hour, they bid farewell and vanished into the night.

When the first light touched the horizon, the riverside stood empty—as if no one had ever been there, plotting the world’s course.

Only the Cang River roared, ceaseless in its flow; only the morning breeze stirred dew-laden grass.