Immortal Paladin

“Guinevere,” Alice said softly, brushing her fingers over the red mark on our daughter’s forehead. “That is your second name now, daughter.”

Gu Jie, still floating slightly above the bed before gently lowering herself into Alice’s arms, nodded with composed dignity. “I accept.”

The whole situation felt surreal. Would this even qualify as reincarnation? I could not help but think back to my own rebirth in the False Earth, when I had awakened into a second life with memories intact. This felt similar, yet different. I had been reborn through Jue Bu’s spell and the power of faith. Gu Jie had returned through destiny and blood.

Alice held her close, cradling her small body as if afraid she would vanish. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks. The emotion was raw and human. As a vampire, motherhood had been an impossibility. Now, despite everything twisted about the circumstances, she had carried life within her.

“Guinevere,” I said, letting the name settle. “It’s perfect.”

If Gu Jie had been her fated name, the one given by her first parents, then Guinevere would be her honored name in this life.

Alice smiled through her tears. “Or Guin for short.”

“I am too used to Gu Jie,” I admitted.

Alice looked down at her. “You do not mind me calling you Guin, do you?”

“I do not mind,” Gu Jie replied obediently.

“Oh, my beautiful baby girl,” Alice murmured.

“I am hungry,” Gu Jie added matter-of-factly.

Alice blinked once, then smiled knowingly. “Out.”

We gentlemen exited without argument. Shouquan finished tidying the room with efficient movements before joining Jue Bu and me outside.

We walked to the edge of New Willow’s floating island. The wind carried the scent of spirit blossoms and distant incense. I sat down at the ledge, legs dangling over open sky, and laughed shakily.

“That scared the shit out of me.”

Somewhere across the Hollowed World, officials were probably already marking this day as the birth of the Holy Emperor’s child. Celebrations would follow. Ceremonies. Political maneuvering. We were about to get very busy. In this, Jue Bu would be very busy. I’m too lazy to do anything meaningful for the sake of governance lately. It helped that the world was on its path to peace.

I exhaled slowly. “Jue Bu, I will leave things here to you. Look after Gu Jie for me.”

There was no universe in which I would bring her into the Greater Universe at her current cultivation. Third Realm was impressive for a newborn, but it meant nothing against Supremes.

Jue Bu did not answer immediately.

“Didn’t you feel it?” he asked instead.

I frowned and turned to look at them. There was something in their expressions that erased the lingering humor from my face.

“What’s the problem?” I asked. “Is it Gu Jie? Just watch over her carefully. We already have too many magical babies here, so what is one more?”

Shouquan shook his head slowly. “It is not that simple.”

I still did not understand. Alice had shared her blood. Gu Jie must have used destiny and her Immortal Art to reconstruct herself through that connection. It was absurd, but it made sense.

Jue Bu folded his arms. “Your daughter is not the problem. I have done something similar to you once, so I know she executed it correctly. She likely used her Immortal Art to anchor her soul and rebuild through the maternal vessel.”

“If she is not the problem,” I asked plainly, “then what is?”

Shouquan’s gaze dropped.

“Look at your hand.”

I followed his eyes.

In my palm rested a beating heart.

I stared at it blankly for a full second before looking down at my chest.

There was a gaping hole where my heart should have been.

“How?” I whispered.

Jue Bu’s voice was uncharacteristically serious. “You tore it out at some point during the birth. I tried to stop you. I tried to tell you. You ignored me like you were in a trance.”

A chill crawled up my spine.

“Da Wei,” he continued quietly, “why is there always a problem with you?”

Shouquan added, “Alice did not notice. Not until you just reacted now. Gu Jie instructed us not to tell Alice and to focus on waking you up. It seems you regained awareness on your own.”

I looked down at the heart in my hand. It continued to beat steadily, infused with Divine Qi and quintessence residue.

Be careful of the heart.

The warning echoed again, no longer abstract.

I pressed the heart back into my chest. Flesh knit together as I invoked Blessed Regeneration. Bone sealed. Muscle reformed. Skin closed as if nothing had happened.

“We need to talk,” came a small, slightly strained voice through Qi Speech.

Gu Jie stood a short distance away, modestly wrapped in cloth, her tiny face unusually solemn.

“Elder Shouquan, Elder Jue Bu,” she said politely, “could you leave Father and me alone?”

They exchanged a look but did not argue.

In seconds, we were alone at the edge of the floating island.

Gu Jie stood before me, small hands clasped behind her back, red compass-symbol faintly rotating within her eyes. For someone who had just been reborn, her expression carried an old weariness.

“I am sorry, Father,” she began quietly, “for being the harbinger of misfortune. But I do not think Alice is an ally.”

I frowned immediately. “That does not make sense. She is a denizen of LLO. She came here looking for me. She chose to stand by me.”

“My memories are fuzzy,” Gu Jie admitted. “Parts are missing, fragmented. However, I can tell with confidence that she will hurt you badly someday.”

The words settled heavily between us.

I had long since stopped placing blind faith in prophecy. I had seen too many predictions twist themselves into irrelevance or self-fulfilling absurdity. Fate was unreliable. Destiny was manipulable. Even the heavens could be tricked.

However, if there was one person whose warning I could not easily dismiss, it was Gu Jie.

Even so, I could not bring myself to act on something so vague as “hurt you badly someday.”

In typical Da Wei fashion, I shrugged lightly. “I can take it.”

She sighed, and for a moment she looked more like my old disciple than my newborn daughter. “I knew you would say that.”

A strange forlorn feeling crept into my chest. Of course the universe could not let things remain peaceful for long. I had allowed myself to enjoy these past months. I had allowed myself to believe we could have something normal.

Gu Jie continued, softer now. “I will continue playing the role of your daughter. After I was taken away in my previous life, I often wondered what it would feel like to experience a mother’s love. My memories of my original parents have faded into vague impressions. I want to recover that feeling. Perhaps in doing so, I will understand this instinctive fear that lingers within me from the tainted blood that still flows through my body.”

I blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about? Alice is no longer a vampire. You should not be either, since you were reborn through her.”

“My fangs have not grown at this age,” Gu Jie said calmly, “but I am certain the tainted blood I inherited from Lady Alice before my annihilation still courses within me. The same must be true for her.”

I stiffened.

“This thing perceived as vampirism,” she continued, “is more complex than you understand. The state of unlife was likely not caused by the blood itself, but by a misunderstanding of the phenomenon called death. The blood was powerful enough to move the dead, thus giving birth to the existence you know as vampires.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“I believe such a thing does not naturally exist in this world. It is native to Losten. You should know that I do not speak lightly. The blood carries memory. It is alive. It can perceive. Through it, I know. And you should know as well.”

Slowly, instinctively, I touched my chest.

The Blood Pact.

It was still there.

A fragment of Alice’s blood resided within me, intertwined with my own essence. I had long treated it as symbolic, a remnant of our bond.

Now, when I focused, I could feel it.

It pulsed with faint awareness.

Alive.

A cold realization settled in my mind. If the blood within me was alive, then whatever vampirism truly was, it had not vanished. It had merely changed state.

“That proves nothing about betrayal,” I said after a moment, though my voice lacked conviction.

Gu Jie’s expression softened. “I am not saying she intends to harm you. I am saying something within her might.”

The wind howled past the floating island.

Be careful of the heart.

The warning returned, no longer abstract, no longer distant.

It was literal.

“Father,” Gu Jie said gently, “you have always been reckless with yourself. You gamble your body, your soul, your destiny. But this time, it may not be something you can simply endure. Of course, this words might as well have fallen on deaf ears. I lied to you back then, dealing with the Heavenly Demon just so you are able to fix yourself. However, this time, it’s different.”

I let out a long breath.

“I love her,” I said plainly.

“I know,” she replied.

“And I will not abandon her over a possibility.”

“I know,” she repeated.

Silence stretched between us.

Finally, I crouched down so that we were eye level. She was so small. Too small to be carrying such heavy truths.

“Then we will face it when it comes,” I said. “If something within her threatens me, I will deal with it. If something within me threatens her, I expect you to stop me.”

A faint smile appeared on her face. “That sounds like you.”

I reached out and gently placed a hand on her head.

“Guinevere or Gu Jie,” I said softly, “blood or rebirth, prophecy or not, you are my daughter. That much is not up for debate.”

I thought about everything Gu Jie said.

If we were going to find answers, they would most likely be in LLO, or rather, the world Losten that LLO was based on. The blood originated there. Vampirism, if that was even the correct term, was native to that world. Whatever memory the blood carried, whatever will might be dormant within it, the source would not be here in the Hollowed World.

Gu Jie stepped closer and said, “Let me come with you, Father. With my eyes, we should be able to gather more information. Your Ophanim will not be enough.”

I almost snorted.

My Ophanim was more than enough. The problem was not its lack of power, but the opposite. It was so absurdly powerful that mastering it fully bordered on impossible. Even my counterpart had only scratched the surface, using it mainly for analysis, observation, and occasionally copying or stealing techniques. There were layers to it I still did not dare touch.

“I can’t,” I said firmly.

The risk was too great. Yes, she would be incredibly useful. Her navigation abilities alone would save us from countless detours and dangers. However, usefulness did not outweigh safety.

“I am sorry, but you must stay.”

There was also the unspoken issue. Gu Jie must have encountered the Origin at some point before her annihilation. She likely did not remember it, just as I did not consciously remember my own encounters. The same uncertainty applied to my disciples. I could not risk exposing her further until I understood more.

She lowered her gaze slightly. “I understand.”

I smiled faintly. “I am glad you get it.”

She then added, more seriously, “When strange occurrences happen around Lady Alice—around Mother—you will likely be drawn into them. I suggest you keep Ru Qiu informed. He will notice changes quickly and may gain insight into what is happening to her.”

I nodded. “Thanks. Any advice on who to bring along?”

She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, the compass within her pupils rotated faintly.

“My powers are limited at my current realm,” she admitted, “but a small divination is still possible. You plan to bring Ru Qiu, Dave, Joan, and Mother. Since you are entering the underworld, it would be wise to bring Jiang Zhen and Fan Shi.”

That caught me off guard.

“Aren’t they… too weak?” I asked.

“Probably not weaker than me in my current realm,” she replied calmly. “Immortal Art aside. I cannot say exactly how they will be valuable, but my divination indicates a thread of good fortune if they accompany you. Moreover, you can elevate their realms with relative ease. The underworld is an ideal place for them to cultivate steadily.”

I considered that.

The underworld was harsh, but it was structured. Energies there were dense and aligned with certain paths. For Jiang Zhen and Fan Shi, it could indeed be an opportunity.

The rest of the day, I spent with Alice and Gu Jie, playing the role of a normal father and husband. I deliberately pushed aside the absurdity of the situation: my adopted daughter reborn through my lover’s womb, the lingering possibility of something ancient hiding in Alice’s blood, the cryptic warnings about my heart.

For a few hours, we were simply a family.

I introduced Gu Jie to my parents. They treated her like the infant she physically was, cooing and fussing over her despite her repeated insistence that she was technically an adult. Strangely enough, she became embarrassed in front of them, cheeks flushing as they pinched her face. It was almost reassuring to see her flustered.

Preparations followed swiftly.

I informed Ru Qiu of the potential issues surrounding Alice and the blood, leaving out only the parts Gu Jie asked me to keep quiet for now. I assigned Jue Bu a series of agendas to maintain political stability. I discussed faith management with Da Ji, outlining broad goals rather than micromanaging. I even spoke with Wu Chen about the feasibility of bringing branches of the World Tree with us for experimentation.

Finally, I sought out Jiang Zhen.

“What do you think about coming with us?” I asked.

“YES!” he answered immediately, without hesitation.

Fan Shi, standing beside him, looked exasperated. “Master, this is just… ugh. Did you not tell me recently to avoid overly dangerous incursions? You even stopped me from joining the frontlines.”

Jiang Zhen scoffed loudly. “Hah! War and adventure are entirely different things. This time, we have truly powerful cultivators backing us. Besides, death is hardly an issue when Da Wei can resurrect us.”

That was a gross oversimplification, but I let it slide.

Fan Shi sighed, though there was unmistakable excitement in her eyes. She cupped her fist and bowed respectfully. “Please take care of us.”

I inclined my head. “I will.”

After the long wait, the transportation vessel was ready.

The work site was unusually quiet. Nongmin stood before a massive structure draped in thick cloth, his posture straight despite the heavy exhaustion in his eyes. Beside him were Sikao Biaoji and Zai Ai, and all three of them looked utterly wrecked. Their clothes were stained, their hair disheveled, and their auras unstable from overexertion. They had clearly pushed themselves far beyond healthy limits, even for cultivators.

I stood opposite them with my group gathered behind me. Alice and Ru Qiu were at my sides. Dave and Joan lingered slightly back, and soon Jiang Zhen and Fan Shi joined them, looking curiously at the covered structure.

Nongmin spoke in an oddly emotionless tone. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you… the boat.”

Zai Ai’s head snapped toward him. “No! We are not naming a masterpiece like this, ‘the boat’! Moreover, it’s a ship and not a boat. There’s a difference. Aren’t you supposed to be smart?”

Sikao Biaoji puffed out his chest indignantly. “Yeah, Your Majesty! Let’s call it the Ultimate Ascending Dragon Supervessel—”

Zai Ai did not even let him finish. She hurled her shoe at his face, empowered by world force. “No!”

The impact sent Sikao Biaoji crashing into a nearby pillar, which shattered dramatically under the force. He slid down in a heap, dazed.

Zai Ai rubbed her temple and exhaled slowly. “I am too tired to even think properly of a name.” She then glared at me. “And I will not let anyone ruin my precious baby with a ridiculous name.”

That was disappointing. I had been considering something dignified, like Optimus Prime or the Mighty Duck.

Nongmin suddenly grinned, the exhaustion on his face softening. “Indeed… this precious baby.” He stepped forward and gently caressed the covered structure. “I cannot believe I have to part with you.”

Together, he and Zai Ai pulled away the cloth.

The vessel beneath it was enormous. It was built from layered stone reinforced with interwoven metals, its hull carved with intricate runic circuits. On each side stood two massive wooden wheels, reinforced with spiritual conduits. The entire thing reminded me of a cosmic paddle steamer designed by lunatic geniuses.

Nongmin and Zai Ai declared their chosen names at the same time.

“Spirit Wheels!” Nongmin proclaimed proudly.

“Wave-Breaker!” Zai Ai countered just as fiercely.

They turned and glared at each other.

Like always, Nongmin’s naming sense was questionable. Still, watching them bicker was almost… cute.

“Go get a room,” I muttered with a grimace.

They ignored me completely.

“Wave-Breaker?” Nongmin scoffed. “Such an unrefined name.”

Zai Ai folded her arms. “And ‘Spirit Wheels’ makes sense to you?”

“Of course it does!” he shot back. “It has two wheels that function on spiritual pressure. The name is literal and precise. But Wave-Breaker? What wave is it breaking in the cosmos? Did you think that through at all?”

Zai Ai’s eye twitched. “You insufferable—”

I stepped between them before this escalated into a duel. “Enough, both of you. Let us compromise. We shall call it the Spirit Wheel Wave-Breaking Ship.”

They both turned their glares on me.

Sensing danger, I quickly added, “Or we could go with Optimus Prime.”

They cut me off instantly.

“Spirit Wheel Wave-Breaking Ship makes sense,” Nongmin said stiffly.

“I agree,” Zai Ai said with forced composure. “It sounds refined and comprehensive.”

I blinked at them.

“Really? Seriously? How about Mighty Duck?”

“Shut up!” they shouted in unison.

“We get to name it!”

“Even if you are the Holy Emperor, I do not care!”

I raised my hands in surrender.

“Fine. Spirit Wheel Wave-Breaking Ship it is.”

The name was a mouthful. A terrible, unwieldy mouthful.

Hey, it’s xianxia.