“The rumors are impossible,” he grumbled, his gravel-like voice echoing off the walls of the temple. “No man can do what they claim.”
“That depends on what they claim,” Xie Fan said as the monk placed small bowls of rice at their feet.
“You fought at Jiang Lao?” Raging Ox asked. Xie Fan nodded as he took a bite of his meal. “Is it true that there were only ten men stationed there?”
“Yes,” Xie Fan replied.
“Is it true that an army of ten thousand men attacked the city?”
Xie Fan burst into laughter at the statement, and the three leaned back, eyes wide at the reaction.
“No. They attacked with a vast horde, but it was far fewer than ten thousand men.”
“How many then?”
Xie Fan shrugged. “I didn’t stop and count. I just held for as long as I could.”
“How?” Raging Ox said, shaking his head. “Should we believe what the peasants claim? That Tienan, the great god of war, descended from the clouds at your command? That you fought with thunder and lightning and split open the earth with your fury?”
Xie Fan chuckled. “You may believe that if you wish but it would be foolish of you.”
“Then how did you hold the city? Why is the Wei banner not flying over Jiang Lao as we speak?” Xie Fan took several bites of his rice, his eyes downcast as the three moved closer.
“Jiang Dao lies in the middle of a great lake,” he explained. “When it is peaceful, there are bridges so that people can travel to the city. I destroyed those bridges when I heard the Wei armies were coming. That left only one path to the city: a narrow land bridge, wide enough for only one man. I had the peasants build a ceiling of bamboo to catch their arrows, and ordered the other nine men to throw off and burn any bridges they may try to create. After that, I dueled their army one man at a time, cutting down anyone who tried to cross.”
“You must have the stamina of a bull,” Sun Lao remarked as a monk placed food in front of them. “You fought, day and night, just to fight off the hordes?”
“In the day, yes,” Xie Fan replied. “By nightfall, the path was too slick with water and blood for them to cross. They would retreat, and I would rest, recover and eat. The physicians would bind my wounds, and I would ready myself for the next day. Two weeks passed, and the horde never let up until I faced the enemy commander. I slit open his belly and the men deserted.”
“Remarkable,” Sun Lao whispered as Raging Ox stormed off.
“What else does this prophecy say?” Xie Fan asked Sun Lao.
“It says that the horrors of war will have claimed his family's life.”
“A statement that can apply to many people,” Xie Fan replied, waving his hand.
“And that his family will be slain by the spear of the Wei Emperor,” Sun Lao responded.
Xie Fan shook his head. “My father was killed by a soldier. Wei Chen.”
“Wei Chen is the current emperor,” Dancing Crane replied. “He led a coup against the former ruler two years ago, killing him and ascending to the throne.”
Xie Fan finished his meal, sliding the porcelain bowl away from him. “So you think I am meant to find the Jade Dragon because of this…prophecy?”
“Yes,” Sun Lao replied. “You must as well, otherwise you would not be trying to decipher your father’s maps.” Sun Lao stood, stretching as a wide grin crossed his face. “Now I must sleep. My old bones require the comfort of my bed.”
“Will we be safe here?”
“This is the great temple of the Sun. Even the Wei would not dare to desecrate this holy place.”
He strolled off and Xie Fan walked through the halls of the temple. Dim lights greeted him along the path, the shadows stretching high into the ceiling. Paintings decorated the walls, each one portraying a hero locked in still battle. A plain, blue bedroll lay in one of the vacant rooms, and Xie Fan sighed as he collapsed down on it, asleep as soon as his eyes were closed.
Xie Fan rose from his bed, groaning as he saw the night sky from the small windows of his quarters. He picked up his sword and walked down the halls, chuckling as he saw Sun Lao sprawled over the floor in a nearby room. The acrid, fruity smell of plum wine was thick in the air, and the old man clutched to a bottle like a mother holding an infant. Raging Ox lay nearby, his massive bulk sitting in a steel chair as he slept. Xie Fan strolled through the halls of the temple and opened the gigantic doors to step outside.
The area around the temple was gorgeous. Emerald stalks of grass swayed in the light breeze as cherry blossoms fell like rain. Fireflies floated in the sky like a thousand small lanterns, illuminating the area around him. He looked out from the mountain, taken in by the view of the kingdom. Countless rice patties and farms stretched into the distance, and the path was alive with activity even in the dead of night.
He wandered around the temple and soon stumbled across Dancing Crane. She stood on the surface of a small pond, her feet never sinking as she moved across it. Her sword was unsheathed, and it spun in dozens of graceful strikes and parries, cutting down unseen foes. She spun and twirled over the water, more graceful and fluid than even the most elegant dancer. Her black hair flowed in the breeze like a silken cape. Xie Fan became lost in the porcelain of her skin and the curve of her body as her robes clung to her figure. He took a step forward and the crack of a twig echoed through the still of the night. Dancing Crane yelped and crashed into the pond, splashing in the water and sputtering as she pulled herself out, drenched.
“I’m sorry,” Xie Fan choked out as he roared with laughter. “I didn’t mean to distract you.”
“And yet you did,” Dancing Crane snapped with a ferocity that didn’t match the light shining from her eyes. “Why are you still awake?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Xie Fan lied. “How did you keep from sinking into the water?”
“Magic,” she replied. “My father was a great sorcerer. He traveled from town to town, healing the sick, helping peasants grow their crops, and stopping bandits from overrunning the villages. He taught me everything he knew.”
“Amazing. What does your father think of the prophecies?”
“He’s dead,” Dancing Crane replied, staring at the ground. “When the Emperor made magic illegal, he rounded up every sorcerer he could find.” A single tear flowed down her cheek as she looked at Xie Fan. “My father refused to stop helping people. When the Emperor’s armies captured him, he was offered a choice: turn his magic against the people or be executed. My father refused to help the Emperor, and I watched him burn. Many years later, I returned to the capital to find my revenge. I called on the spirits of the earth and turned all the soldiers of the capital to stone. I walked to the throne room only to find that the Emperor had left weeks ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Xie Fan whispered.
“That is why I must help you find the Jade Dragon,” Dancing Crane said, her words like steel as she looked up at him. “I want you to use it so that we can kill the Emperor and make him pay for what he did to my father!”
Xie Fan walked to her and set his hands on her shoulders. “He will. I promise.” Dancing Crane sobbed into his shoulders, and he waited, holding her close. She sniffed, wiping her tears away as she smiled at him. The light of her smile made Xie Fan’s heart skip a beat, and he found himself returning the gesture.
“Did Sun Lao take you in after your father died?” he asked, handing her a dry robe that rested on a nearby branch.
“Yes. He saved my life. I owe him an enormous debt,” Dancing Crane replied. Xie Fan caught a glimpse of the smooth skin of her back and looked away as she changed. His cheeks burned, and he kicked at the ground.
“Are you like him? A monk, I mean.”
“No. I am here to protect him until I can repay him.”
“And do you think that I’m this prophesized one?”
“You may turn around,” she said. Xie Fan turned to see her tying the last pieces of her robe together. “I don’t. I think you are a gre
at warrior, and a good man, but I do not believe in this prophecy.”
“Why not?”
“Because I think the world is shaped by men and women, not by legends. If we are to defeat the Emperor, it will be because we fought to bring peace to the land. Not because of some ancient scroll.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I owe Sun Lao my life, and I would follow him to the ends of the earth if he asked me. At least the company is pleasant,” she whispered, stroking his cheek. Fire rose in Xie Fan’s chest at her touch, and he held her close. “Tell me, great Tiger, do you have someone who waits for you?”
“No,” he said, a grin forming on his face. “I’ve been a soldier most of my life; I’ve never found the time for romance.”
“Something I am eternally grateful for,” she replied, pressing her lips against his. Passion burned like wildfire in Xie Fan as her body melted against his. He ran his fingers over the soft velvet of her skin as he wrapped her in her arms, lost in the joy she gave him.
Xie Fan woke the next day, smiling at the sight of Dancing Crane lying next to him, her arms wrapped around his broad chest. He ran his finger over her arm, beaming as her eyes fluttered open.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
“Good morning. I have not slept like that for many years.”
“Well, we’ll have to keep doing this then.”
“Oh,” she asked, a coy grin on her face as she rose, the blankets just covering the curve of her breast. “And what makes you think you’ll get that chance?” she teased.
“I am confident in my abilities,” he replied, kissing her. She ran a finger down his cheek to the tip of her chin as she beamed.
“Well then, Tiger of Jiang Lao, we shall have to see if your skills lay other places than the battlefield,” she teased. “Now get up. We shall have lots of work to do today.”
Xie Fan rose and dressed as the rising sun painted their room in a brilliant shade of orange. The morning dew made everything smell fresh and clean, and animals flocked around the mountain temple. Xie Fan walked outside the temple where Sun Lao stood, brushing and saying calming words to the horses. The old man saw Xie Fan and smiled as he gave the horse one final pat on the back.
“So, Xie Fan, let us have a look at your maps.” Xie Fan nodded and reached into his pack, producing a pile of scrolls and maps. He laid them on the ground, treating the aged items with immaculate care. Sun Lao studied over them, puffing on a bronze pipe as he examined every inch of the aged parchments. A broad grin slowly spread over his face as he inspected them, and his eyes shone in triumph.
“Well,” he said, standing. “I can see why you weren’t able to decipher these scrolls. These landmarks and charts refer to nowhere in this world.”
Xie Fan’s heart fell. “So the maps are a fake?”
“I didn’t say that. There are many worlds besides this one that a man can travel to if he has the requisite knowledge. The Sun God must have known that his sword would not be safe if it remained in the hands of mortals. So he put it somewhere that men fear to tread, a place where no one in their right mind would dare to travel.”
“Where’s that?”
“The Realm of Slaughter,” Sun Lao replied, his face grim. “Where the souls of the dishonorable dead are lost in eternal conflict and are condemned to spend eternity being torn apart by their enemies. It is a dangerous place. There are fields where lava flows like rivers and smoke blots out the sky. It is cast in perpetual darkness, and the sun is but a distant memory to the damned souls that reside within. No man has ever traveled there and survived.”
His eyes twinkled, and he grinned up at Xie Fan. “Which will make it all the more impressive when we return with the Jade Dragon in our hands. Come!” He gathered up the maps and charts and walked inside the temple. He set them on the cold stone floor as Raging Ox and Dancing Crane strolled in. He nodded to his companions as he searched through his pack. Xie Fan scowled as he watched him.
“How are we going to travel to the Realm of Slaughter?” he asked as Sun Lao set aside several large boxes of herbs.
“We can’t,” Sun Lao returned. “That is where Dancing Crane comes in. She can use her magic to summon a guide that will take us there. The key is finding the right guide.”
“What do you mean?”
“The spirits are tricky creatures. Some are tricksters who will trap us in a different realm because it would amuse them. Others despise humanity and would kill us for having the gall to ask them for such a favor. We have to find a spirit that will understand the nobility of our quest and be willing to help us. Dancing Crane, light a fire and burn these herbs please.”
She nodded and gestured in the direction of the fire pit. A brilliant orange blaze erupted in an instant, sending a scalding wave of heat through the room. One by one, she tossed the herbs in the flame. Bright orange and blue shadows illuminated the ceiling with each one taking the shape of an animal. Rats, dragons, roosters, and dogs danced across the roof only to be whisked away by a gust of wind. The image of a tiger appeared in smoke and settled down to the ground. A brilliant light illuminated the figure, forming into a massive white tiger with blue stripes. The creature stretched and yawned, its maw large enough to swallow a man whole. Dagger-like claws extended from each paw, and its teeth gleamed in the dim light of the hall.
“Bai Hu, the great Tiger of the West,” Sun Lao greeted.
“Why have you awakened me from my slumber?” The Bai Hu’s deep voice was like a thunder clap. Each word echoed off the narrow halls of the chamber and sent stone dust falling from the ceiling. His eyes flashed as he looked at the group.
“We need your assistance. We have to travel to the Realm of Slaughter.”
“What business do mortals have in such a place?”
“We seek the Jade Dragon! We know it is hidden in the Great Citadel there.”
Bai Hu grumbled, the sound causing the ground to shake. He sat on his hindquarters and looked at each member of the group.
“The prophesized one is among you,” he bellowed. “I will take you there. Follow close and do not stray from the path I make. If you do, the realm will taint you with its magic, and you will not return.”
He let out a massive roar that cracked the stone of the temple. The air seemed to split open at the sound, and a strong breeze blew open the doors. The air swirled in a spiral around the group, screaming as it stormed around them. It coalesced into a single point, and a deep crimson lit up. With each passing second, the light grew until it enveloped the room.
In the blink of an eye, the serene temple was gone, replaced by a massive, churning sea. The group hovered in the air above a white boat. They slowly fell, landing on the deck along with Bai Hu. The sea raged around them, it’s thick, red waters swirling as massive waves crashed alongside them. A series of oars began paddling as if unseen sailors were propelling them forward.
They sailed into the middle of a broken fleet. Ruined masts hung at odd angles, only holding on by the smallest splinters. The hull of each ship had dozens of massive holes. The sea would flow into them, grabbing sailors and pulling them into the churning ocean. Men locked in fierce battle swarmed the decks. Swords would tear flesh from bone and clubs would break open skulls. The fallen men collapsed to the ground, their blood pooling beneath them, only to stand a minute later, whole and ready to fight. The carnage continued as the ground became littered with slick viscera, and the metallic scent of blood filled the air. Fires raged, consuming men and women, leaving the skin blackened and burst as their eyes popped from the heat. The flames left nothing but a blackened, warped skeleton that splashed into the sea.
Xie Fan watched in horror as they paddled past the ships. He started to leave the ship when Bai Hu’s low rumble caught his attention.
“Do not leave the vessel,” he growled, turning his head to look at Xie Fan.
“We can’t just leave them like this,” Xie Fan protested.
“If you leave the vessel the
n my magic will no longer protect you.”
“We have to save them!”
“No one can save them. They are trapped in a fate of their making. These are the souls of men and women who have let violence consume them. Madness and death have claimed their souls. When they died, their dishonor pulled them here.”
“So this is some punishment?”
Bai Hu shook his head. “No. The spirits do not punish mortals; mortals do a good enough job of that on their own. These men and women would be free of the violence if they only set down their weapons. The violence and death of their lives, however, have driven them mad to the point where the slaughter is all they know. Their rage and hatred keep them here.”
“Does every warrior who dies in battle end up here?”
“No. The honorable are taken by the one-eyed man of the west and his winged women. As long as you fight for a noble reason, and not for conquest, you do not need to fear this place.” The ship pulled up to a beach, and Bai Hu nodded as he extended a paw in the direction of a road. “This path shall take you to the Great Citadel. The sword is in the center of the throne room. Only the person it is meant for will be able to free it. Touch nothing but the sword. If you stray from the path for any reason, you will not be able to return. If greed seizes you and you steal the treasures of this place, you will be forever lost.”
Xie Fan nodded, and the group strolled down the road into a twisted forest. The trees were completely bare, and their black branches hung down like malevolent claws. Green sap dripped down from the trunks, coating them in a putrescent slime. Animals stalked in the forest with large chunks pulled out of their skin. Bleached bone skulls leered at them, their eyes dancing around in the visible sockets. The rancid smell of death and decay hung in the air, twisting Xie Fan’s stomach.
Author's Torment Page 10
