Chapter 24: The Five Elements of Yin and Yang

Following the sound, I arrived at the edge of the pool and saw a gigantic creature emerging from the water, revealing something akin to a head. I call it gigantic because it was truly enormous—the pool was about five hundred square meters, and this unknown being occupied half of it, not to mention whatever remained hidden beneath the surface. What manner of monster was this? My ever-curious nature urged me forward.

Before me lay a pool of clear water, yet it was unlike any I had ever seen. During the day, I had not paid much attention to it, but now, examining it closely, I realized that half the water was inky black, as dark as ink, which gave it a singularly strange appearance, while the other half was crystal clear. The two halves, black and white, were perfectly divided down the middle, as if some invisible force held them apart.

As I watched the mysterious creature slowly surface, I understood there was no barrier; the black and white waters simply refused to mingle, a most peculiar sight. When the water monster emerged, I had already concealed myself in a corner, intent on seeing what it truly was.

Gradually, the beast revealed its true form: a pitch-black body, its back lined with what looked like bony spines, its skin gleaming slickly. The creature crawled out of the pool—yes, crawled, for it had limbs on its underside, with the front legs being shorter than the back. Once out, it surveyed its surroundings before slowly creeping toward a pile of rubble, dragging behind it a five-meter-long black tail that traced a wet trail like a giant python.

At the rubble, it extended its forelimbs, clawing fiercely. Stones flew like bullets, and a rock the size of a fist nearly struck my head. In no time, the creature had dug a massive pit. It slowly squeezed its way inside, and I hurried to the heap’s edge. Peering in, I saw only darkness, an abyss so deep it inspired dread.

Lying at the edge, I craned my neck to look down and felt a chill wind blowing not outward, but inward, as if the pit were a great vacuum. The wind grew stronger, and as I clung to the ground, I felt myself being drawn in. Suddenly, a creature the size of a calf, pitch black from head to toe, burst out from the pit. Seizing its leg with one hand, I was hauled away from the edge. I let go in panic, and the creature—clearly aware of my presence—turned on me. It resembled a rat, but its massive size masked its true identity.

Rats are typically timid creatures, yet this one glared at me with its beady, malevolent eyes, advancing step by step. Once, I might have retreated, but not now. Gathering my inner energy, I formed a protective shield around myself, preparing to engage. Just as the giant rat lunged at my head, a powerful force struck me from behind, hurling me directly toward the beast’s maw. As I braced myself to be swallowed whole, another impact sent me flying to the ground some distance away. Clutching my ribs, I struggled to my feet.

I saw that the water monster had emerged from the pit and now faced off against the giant rat. Terror was evident in the rat’s eyes as it backed away, baring two yellow teeth. I wondered why the water monster ignored me and targeted only the rat. Rubbing my aching waist, I found a stone large enough to shield myself and crouched behind it. The rat retreated step by step until it nearly reached the pool. Suddenly, the water monster lunged, pinning the rat with a move reminiscent of a cat—or perhaps a tiger—though it bore no resemblance to either.

I thought the battle was over, but the rat twisted around and sank its fangs into the water monster’s forelimb, its teeth buried deep in flesh. The water monster went berserk, its jaws—far larger than the rat’s—snapping down. The rat pushed off with its forepaws, sliding free by a narrow margin.

Without hesitation, the giant rat fled toward the pit, but the water monster’s tail swept out, smashing the rat against the pool’s wall. The rat shrieked twice—I thought surely it was dead—but the water monster suddenly halted, turning its gaze warily to the heap of rubble.

Could the rat’s cry have been a call for reinforcements? I was right; five more rats, identical to the first, crawled from the pit, followed by another—three times their size and as white as snow. If the first rat was as big as a calf, this white one was a veritable mammoth.

At a low growl from the white rat, the five black rats fanned out to encircle the water monster. The wounded black rat retreated to the white rat’s side—perhaps their king. At the rat king’s command, the five rats tightened their formation. The water monster lashed its tail, but these newcomers were far more agile, dodging each attack with ease.

Realizing it could not win, the water monster lunged to drive off one of the rats and made for the pool. The rat king growled again, and its minions blocked the way. The king then leapt onto the monster’s back, slashing mercilessly with its forepaws until blood and black fluid streamed down the beast’s sides.

The five black rats were not idle either, gnawing at the water monster’s front limbs. The monster thrashed desperately, but could not shake them off. Exhausted, it began to collapse. I picked up a stone and hurled it at the rat king, but it dodged with a mere tilt of its head.

The rat king glared at me. Realizing my cover was blown, I stepped out from behind the rock and faced it squarely. The king jumped down from the monster’s back. Arms folded, I stared coldly at the rat king and said, “Shameless rodents, bullying with numbers.”

The rat king seemed to understand, roaring at me in anger. With the king distracted, the water monster slipped back into the pool. The king glanced at its retreating foe and then signaled the five rats to close in on me. All this while, I had been gathering my energy, my hands glowing with a golden light. As the five rats approached, I raised my palm and struck one, sending it flying into the pool—where the water monster promptly devoured it.

I thought to myself, “So much for that.” One golden palm after another shot out, but the rats soon caught on to my rhythm, dodging each blow and leaving me gasping for breath.

“I’ll spare your lives today—another time, we’ll settle this,” I declared, turning to leave. But the rat king pounced, its massive claw slicing through the air like lightning. I was too slow; three deep gashes opened across my chest.

I glanced down at my wounds, then glared at the rat king. Drawing upon all my energy, I charged at it, but before I could reach it, the king’s claws flashed and nearly smashed my fist. In a panic, I withdrew, but lost my balance and fell. The rat king pinned me with a heavy paw. Clearly, I was still too weak. With no other option, I called for help: “White Fox, save me!”

Only the Nine-Tailed Fox could help now. Fortunately, she arrived in a flash. The rat king, seeing her, retreated into the pit, its eyes full of unwillingness.

I scrambled to my feet, straightening my disheveled clothes with an awkward smile. White Fox asked, “Young Master Li, why did you provoke the rat king? With your current abilities, you’re no match for it.”

I forced a smile. “It was the monster in the pool that started all this.”

White Fox glanced at the pool, then at me, and nodded as if suddenly understanding. “All things counterbalance one another. That is an unchanging law since ancient times.”

I had no idea what this ‘five elements’ theory was; my confusion must have been obvious. After resuming her human form, White Fox explained, “The water in this pool is Yin-Yang water, and the creature within is the Yin-Yang Beast. For centuries, the Yin-Yang Beast and the giant rats from the Abyss have been mortal enemies. Were it not for the beast preying on the rats, this castle of mine would have fallen to them long ago. All things mutually restrain each other. But it seems the rat king is stronger than before.”

“Could it be due to the spirit medicine?” White Fox gazed at me as she spoke.

Clutching my injured chest, I listened as best I could. Suddenly, dizziness overtook me and I collapsed. White Fox reached out and caught me in her arms.