No Ruler Between Humans and Demons

Three thousand years ago, the Investiture of the Gods war ended with humanity victorious, and far too victorious at that. The Investiture List is no merit roll. It is a debt note: every name added to it costs the mountains and seas a piece of their bloodline. After three thousand years of interest, the nine-tailed fox has grown old and turned to stone, while the sages still wait for the next name to be written. There is only one way to stop the debt: rewrite the list. And there is only one pen capable of rewriting it: its nib must be dipped in the heart's blood of someone “born of both human and demon.” Only one such person has appeared in three thousand years. His name is Cui Qi. Humans call him a mongrel; demons call him a wretch. He spent his childhood copying accounts for others and learned only one thing: debts can be dodged, but they cannot go unpaid forever. Beyond the mountains, the demons are split into factions, and none will bow first. This side of the mountains, the Demon-Suppressing Bureau has sharpened its blades. Between the two peoples, the one man who has never been listed is turning hatred into interest. He does not want to rule both peoples. He only wants them to sit at the same table and open this rotten ledger. Three hundred and sixty-five names appear on the Investiture List. His is the only one missing.