Unresolved Calamity - Fire

【Beginning】
Zhuque never asked what is there to burn; its only question was where to alight. This is because it already saw everything as ashes before they burnt. The enemies killed by Zhuque’s flames would not become a charred corpse; rather, they would be burnt to ash and therefore, vaporized. Essentially, it was little different from the fire of the underworld. With flames erupting from midair, the poor forest below are pitifully turned into charcoal.
Blades cannot reach Zhuque while it is in flight; arrows would melt before they reached within several feet; magical projectiles are always repelled by the heat waves rising from Zhuque’s body.
For a time, Zhuque ensured that Demons must stay below ground; an order by the generals was even issued to the effect that armies which encounter Zhuque can withdraw without approval. Hence, Gods only need to fly the banner of Zhuque and the Demon army would retreat in utter terror.
After the Gods’ retreat to heaven, the bird of fire was left in a situation not dissimilar to orphans of war. There were no more orders for it to burn the Demons’ encampments. It also lost the blazing nest given to it by the God of fire.
During the day, when it flies past human cities, the soldiers would fire their catapults at it. At night, Zhuque would land in the forest alone and alight the trees to serve as its nest. When morning comes, the forest would have long disappeared in the flames and Zhuque would once again lift off to the sun by itself, seeking more woods to serve as its bed.

Taoist A: That awful bird outside the city has burnt all our forest!

Taoist B: Darned vermin. The villagers no longer have any prey —

Taoist B: Animals which could escape have done so.

Taoist B: And those who could not have perished.

Taoist A: We should take the opportunity to remove this plague as it sleeps.

Taoist A: This is our responsibility as Taoist practitioners.

【Before Battles】

 : As Zhuque slumbered, water elements began gathering in the air above it.

 : Vaporize them and protect Zhuque’s body of fire.

【Enemy Dialog】

 : The taoists launched a preemptive attack while it was off-guard.

 : Try to refresh fire pneuma and retaliate at the same time.

【End】
After the practitioners’ division of labor, taoists who can summon water gathered a flood of water over its head; those who can summon wind controlled the air currents around Zhuque’s body. Utilizing their spells, they waited for the final massing of water before they initiated the downpour.
Awakening in fright and wailing profusely, Zhuque’s flames were extinguished and its feathers were drenched — the result of which was an appearance reminiscent of a wet chicken. The taoists rushed up in hopes of killing it as Zhuque struggled for its life with injuries coming to both sides.
It was at this time that a lantern lit by a flame appeared in the sky; all the taoists immediately greeted master Dipankara the Taoist. With a wave of his horsetail whisk, he turned Zhuque into a small mystical bird. The master Taoist informed the taoists of Zhuque’s origins as a mythological beast that should not be killed without thought. Then, he subdued Zhuque and brought it back to his abbey to recover.

【Beginning】

Little Zhuque: Chirp... Chirp...

The young practitioner was vexed everytime he heard the chirp of the mystical bird. He could almost see the bird’s tremors in the chamber and the graying of its reddish feathers. He has been chastised on many occasions by his teacher for sneaking into the mystical bird’s cell; yet, the practitioner still pitied the mystical bird and brought fires to keep it warm.
The child-sized bird would stand on the edge of the metallic bar and chirp weakly; as he hands the fire to it, the flames would vanish as if drawn to its body. He would feed the mystical bird with flames nightly and although it remained weak, it no longer screeched in complaint.
However, when the harsh winter arrived, the mystical bird collapsed onto the floor in the cold; its sole movement was the small ebb of its chest. The teachers ignored this and left the mystical bird to suffer in the elements. The young practitioner could no longer bear the sight of this and decided to bring special feed for the mystical bird...

【Before Battles】

Faith Pursuer: Let Zhuque eat fire elves to rekindle the flames within its body.

【After Battles】

Faith Pursuer: So this is the chief of the fire elves. I am sorry, but I must do this for Zhuque.

【End】

Little Zhuque: Chirp! Chirp!

Faith Pursuer: Don’t make a sound！

The practitioner knelt in front of the fire under the stove. Although he had sealed it carefully, he remained concerned that light would escape the kitchen. He built a small fire for the mystical bird to bathe in while the Little Lotus stood guard outside. He had found that the Little Lotus was unexpectedly kind despite its aloof appearance. The practitioner now thought that the reason he had not been expelled was also because of the Lotus deity’s good word.
The mystical bird rested in its nest in comfort. Now, every time the young practitioner went to pick it up, he could feel a warmth radiating out from its feathers and see the growth of its body. If he does not train diligently, perhaps in the future, he would no longer be able to take the mystical bird’s scorching heat... The mystical bird slumbered in the flames. It had always been treated as vermin and thus imprisoned. Never had it receive any love or caring... Hence, upon hearing its pained cries, the practitioner had decided to help it out of the abbey.

【Beginning】

Little Lotus: Wait here; I would go probe ahead.

Faith Pursuer: All clear？

Faith Pursuer: Hey, I am asking you a question. How is everything out there?

Little Lotus: Run! Quickly! Its a manifestation of the Taoist!

The pair had conspired for a long time. Taking advantage of the Taoist’s trip down the mountain to combat monsters, the practitioner shattered the magical barrier imprisoning the mystical bird. Meanwhile, the Little Lotus released Zhuque from its cage using its silk-like body. The two, Zhuque in arms, rushed out of the abbey’s gates and dashed down the mountain. The Taoist had expected this, and had prepared a manifestation of himself that would appear and block the path if the abbey gates were opened.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Stop running, you insubordinate apprentice!

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Do you know of the repercussions of returning Zhuque to the realm of man?

Faith Pursuer: With Zhuque as weak as it is now, what possible repercussions could there be?

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: In the past, it has burnt the earth,

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: leaving plumes of smoke that even inundated the Celestial Palace.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: While it is understandable that he would not know this considering his youth,

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: but Nezha, you have trained with me for decades.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Are you telling me you don’t know of Zhuque’s past?

Little Lotus: Naturally I would know.

Faith Pursuer: If Zhuque cannot exert self-control,

Faith Pursuer: I would personally reduce Zhuque to a normal bird.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: If that time comes,

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: I worry that you would scarcely have the ability to protect yourself.

Reinvigorating Zhuque’s powers was not difficult, but Dipankara the Taoist’s concern was that Zhuque was initially a weapon in the war between Gods and Demons. If its powers are returned but its truculence remained, it would become agitated and the plague of fire would return to the realm of mortals.
If the practitioner remains by its side, Zhuque’s truculence can be reduced, but in the end, the practitioner would be unable to satisfy Zhuque’s appetite and be eaten. Since he had been unable to think of a foolproof plan, Dipankara did not rush to tap into the mythological beast’s powers. Yet now, his apprentice planned to break Zhuque out.

Faith Pursuer: I will bear all consequences.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: I fear that you would not even be able to bear the power of my manifestation.

【Before Battles】

Faith Pursuer: As the bird of fire,

Faith Pursuer: Zhuque should not be permanently imprisoned within the abbey!

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: This is only meant to be a tentative measure.

【Enemy Dialog】

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Please reconsider.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: You will be consumed by Zhuque. Its wild roots cannot be overlooked.

【After Battles】

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Fine, if this apprentice of mine is willing to bet his life on this,

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: I cannot hope to stop it.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Swear on your life that you would properly control the power of Zhuque.

Dipankara the Enlightened Buddha: Do not let it become a scourge on humankind again.

【Beginning】
Since the first Sage of the South brought Zhuque back to the realm of Humans, it consumed every generation of these sages. Each was able to prognosticate their fate upon seeing their predecessor’s demise at the mouth of the mythological beast. Throughout the generations, the Sages of the South were unwilling to have unrelated peoples beare the title; yet, they mercilessly passed it on to those closest to them.
To ensure they maximize their time, each Sage of the South would channel the blazing powers of Zhuque, at the price of their own life, to cleanse the evils of the earth with infernos.
Time sailed quickly by in the realm of mankind and there had been myriad generations of Sages of the South when one of them rescued a little girl abandoned by villagers in the ranges of a mountain. His apprentice and the girl bonded despite hardship and experienced many journeys together. However, the path was becoming increasingly difficult and Zhuque’s rage was one difficult to contain. Thus, the Sage decided to entrust the little girl to a village home. The Sage and his apprentice would come to the village often to visit the little girl.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, the Master would punish the villagers who abandoned you.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, I will ride the fire bird tomorrow in search of fire elements.

Faith Pursuer: I will return to see you.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, look!

Faith Pursuer: The bird’s feathers are brightening. This is thanks to the fire elements.

Everytime the Sage of the South’s apprentice returned to the village, he would bring different news. He told the girl everything about his experiences with Zhuque. The two children grew up together but things around them changed with the boy’s every visit to the village.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, Zhuque has become increasingly frightening over the past few days.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, Zhuque was calmed down but my master...

Faith Pursuer: ...he said he had sworn to protect Zhuque forever.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, I have succeeded the title of Sage of the South.

As they grew into young adults, the boy would still visit her on the back of Zhuque every winter. Together, they watched the passing of time.

Lotus: You should leave Zhuque. Your hair is graying. Your life is being drained.

The Last Sage of the South: But look, Zhuque’s appearance is increasingly gorgeous.

Although the young man did not want to, he still asked a question of the young woman.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, looks like I would need you to come with us.

Faith Pursuer: Zhuque’s appetite is getting larger and larger.

Lotus: Stop calling me by my pet name of Lotus.

Lotus: I am not that much younger than you.

【Before Battles】

The Last Sage of the South: With the raging inferno around, any carelessness in flight...

The Last Sage of the South: ...would result in a fiery demise in the depths of the flames.

【Enemy Dialog】

The Last Sage of the South: This three-headed dog relies upon the flaming stones of the mountain.

Faith Pursuer: It will not give them up easily.

【After Battles】

Lotus: We did it! Quick, swallow this rock of inferno.

The Last Sage of the South: No, Zhuque needs it more than I.

Lotus: You would die.

The Last Sage of the South: Who wouldn’t?

【End】
Returning from the burning lands, the young woman carried the rock of inferno in her arms — the heat from the rock scolding her skin. After this day, the rapidly aging Sage was exhausted and left lying on the bed.

The Last Sage of the South: Feed the fiery rock to Zhuque. He is almost manic with hunger.

Faith Pursuer: As for me, you need not worry.

Lotus: Fine, I will do it now.

The Last Sage of the South: Have you gone yet? I am falling asleep.

Lotus: I am going now. Just go to sleep.

The Sage of the South could no longer hold back the floodgates of drowsiness. But the moment he closed his eyes, he felt a wave of heat passing through his body — he found the rock, no longer glowing with fire, sitting on his chest. His dried skin had rehydrated and his muscles had rejuvenated. He hopped out of bed with ease like a young man.
From outside the window, a beam of red light shot from Zhuque’s head. Images of old punishments reverberated away from Zhuque along with its exalted cry. Only the sages of days past would have recognized that those were the memories of the immortal God. Focusing his eyes upon Zhuque’s fiery body, he immediately knew where Lotus went.

The Last Sage of the South: Lotus, wait for me!

The sage approached Zhuque —