The Burning Plains

The day Laozi attained enlightenment, a sheet of paper suddenly drifted down from the sky. Four words were written on it.

Laozi did not know what paper was, but he could read the words on it.

“You are destined to become a god.”

Those four words kindled an unseen heavenly fire that burned for a thousand years.

·

Tan Chi had never counted how long he had been alive, but he had counted the three times he had died.

Death is the beginning of life.

This time, Tan Chi became a fortune-teller.

With that skill, he made a comfortable living in Liulang Town, enjoying an easy, carefree life.

Until one day, a horde of ghosts descended from the mountains, and disaster struck.

That same day, Team Five, an official department, showed up and invited Tan Chi to join them in fighting the disaster.

Tan Chi knew they wanted more than just his membership. They wanted something else from him.

The fire that had burned for nearly three thousand years flared up again, silently and without warning. They had touched the flames, and now they wanted to know what had started the fire and uncover the secrets behind Tan Chi.

The clouds on the horizon blazed red. Tan Chi cast a divination to learn the fate of Team Five. The result was blunt: great calamity, with little hope of survival.

Three days later, Tan Chi left Liulang Town.

He chose to travel with Team Five.

*The companion novel, Number One Player, is complete. If you’re interested, you can read it first.

Theme: Yesterday, still as death; today, wildly alive.