Kindling, page 23
part #6 of Painting the Mists Series
“Many thanks for your advice,” Cha Ming said, clasping his hands and bowing. He activated his own concealment formation and slipped past the many hundreds of fiendish demons and flew toward the north at full speed. A lone human wouldn’t last very long in this treacherous forest.
“Quickly, don’t let her escape!” a devilish cultivator with black eyes yelled. Hundreds ochre-colored figures fanned out into the woods. Yu Wen found her potential escape routes shrinking and her options dwindling.
Did I miscalculate? Yu Wen thought. Was it worth the risk?
She pushed the thought out of her mind. Doubt was the last thing she needed now. She expertly ducked under a dozen arrows and darted behind a stone pillar, which was rapidly demolished by the onslaught of techniques. Sighing, she summoned a gray cloud of Grandmist Essence around them. Time stood still as she ran a mile away from her frozen opponents. She then dispelled the draining technique and continued running in the opposite direction.
Why did the Jade Emperor have to be so strict when he made this realm? Yu Wen thought. Why am I, of all people, getting restricted on this miserable excuse for a plane?
Despite her exhaustion, the one-mile jaunt gave her the reprieve she needed. She adjusted her direction and continued heading north toward a flowing volcano. Unbeknownst to her pursuers, it was also the location of an impenetrable sanctuary. She would be safe there once she arrived.
While deep in thought, she froze on reflex, barely avoiding a blade aimed at her head in the process. “You think we don’t know your little tricks?” a devilish cultivator said, appearing out of nowhere. Two other devils appeared beside him. Their sinister black armor stood in stark contrast to their lightning-filled bodies. Amongst devils, these pride devils boasted the strongest might and were nigh unkillable.
“You think the three of you can stop me?” Yu Wen said, mustering her energy to make another jaunt.
“No,” the envy devil said. “But who said there were three of us?”
Out of reflex, Yu Wen unleashed her strongest Grandmist field. Her surroundings distorted as she forcefully broke the illusion surrounding them. Hundreds of blue-skinned devils collapsed under the pressure and splashed down to the forest floor in pools of water. A few stronger ones managed to resist for a moment longer before crumbling to sand.
Even the lazy sloth devils have been mobilized, Yu Wen thought as she bolted in a random direction.
“Get her while she’s still weak,” the envy devil ordered. The two armored figures beside him ran out with black swords in hand. They struck swiftly and fiercely, like bolts of nether lightning. Yu Wen summoned hundreds of silver strings to block them, but the black swords shredded them in an instant.
Is this where it all ends? Yu Wen thought as the blades pierced the air, moving swiftly toward her.
Cha Ming quickened his pace. He saw a burst of gray in the distance as he approached with fiery footsteps. His staff cleaved through rocks and trees alike as he took the most direct path to a large clearing. It was completely devoid of life, with not even a tree remaining. Outside of the clearing, lush plants were growing at a visible pace. But Cha Ming had no time to ponder the strange mystery. He mustered all his strength to reach Yu Wen, who was desperately fending off two black-armored devils.
Let’s hope your strength as a transcendent treasure isn’t overrated, Cha Ming thought. His Clear Sky Staff hummed back, reassuring him. One thousand and eighty Dao sigils appeared before Yu Wen as a protective shield of ice, which cracked as soon as the devils struck it.
A transparent devil slashed at Cha Ming with a blade of wind. He avoided the blade and ignored the invulnerable devil, slashing at the two black-armored ones with a Shape Staff. The two devils were cut in two. To his surprise, however, their two halves instantly reassembled.
They’re invulnerable as well? Cha Ming thought. Seeing this, he jumped up and struck down with his Clear Sky Staff with Crushing Chaos. He poured earth qi and destruction qi into the technique, making the resulting black line incomparably heavy. The black-armored devils tried to dodge but were unable to shrug off its suppression; the black line crushed their supposedly invulnerable bodies, which transformed to lightning that rushed into the ground.
Cha Ming panted in exhaustion after executing the draining maneuver. He dispelled his fatigue with a healing formation and grasped Yu Wen’s tender waist before pushing off toward the north.
As long as we get past that ridge, they can’t follow us, Yu Wen sent. He didn’t question where she’d obtained the knowledge. Instead, he carefully dodged wind blades and other techniques from the approaching tide of devils, using Dao sigils to deflect those he couldn’t avoid.
Hours passed as the devils kept up their dogged pursuit. The trees grew increasingly sparse as they advanced toward the mountains in the distance. It wasn’t long before they reached a tall, barren cliff. Their hearts dimmed when they saw an army of a thousand blocking the way. Cha Ming eyed their battle formation, probing for any weakness.
“We can’t make it,” Yu Wen said. “Just leave me here and save yourself.” She slumped slightly in his arms, discouraged.
“You’re not being very productive,” Cha Ming said as he continued scanning their forces. “Help me find a way through instead. You mentioned before that we’re safe past that cliff?”
Not only were they blocked by an army, but tens of thousands of fiendish crows filled the air, preventing them from stepping forward.
“Yes, that same cliff,” Yu Wen said. “There is an invisible barrier, which devilish creatures cannot pass. It’s one of the few sanctuaries on Jade Moon Planet. I know about it because I came here to retrieve a treasure. If we get past that cliff, give or take ten feet, we’ll be safe.”
“Then it’s decided,” Cha Ming said, looking back toward their approaching pursuers. “I need you to hold on tight. We’re breaking through the hard way.”
He retrieved his Dao sigils and directed them to form a black spiral. The drill-like bubble surrounded them as a protective shield. Then, Cha Ming held Yu Wen close and pushed off toward the devilish army.
“You’re using destruction qi as a core-formation cultivator?” Yu Wen said in a panicked voice. “Are you insane?”
Cha Ming chuckled before gritting his teeth and pouring five-element qi, creation qi, and destruction qi into the shield. It expanded just in time to receive a volley of techniques. His body burned under the strain as techniques dissipated and sabers, swords, and staves crumbled to dust on contact. Many of the devilish cultivators and fiendish demons threw themselves at them as they made their way to the cliff, only to be sheared through by the deadly black shield.
I’m reaching my limit, Cha Ming thought as black veins began appearing on his arms.
They were halfway through the devilish army, who had begun to self-detonate in a gambit to stop them. Cha Ming coughed up black blood as the explosion buffeted his shield of destruction. The black veins on his arms spread as he burst through enemy lines and reached the cliff. His bones creaked as they crashed into the rocky surface and worked their way through the dense rock like a knife through hot butter.
Let’s hope I was right, he thought as he pushed up toward the surface. They pierced through twenty feet of rock before breaking out from beneath the ground. The swarm of flying fiendish demons shrieked in rage as they saw them exit safely on the other side of the barrier.
Seeing that they were safe, Cha Ming collapsed and allowed his body to regenerate. Yu Wen’s grip on him slacked as she too collapsed in exhaustion. As the damage to his body healed, and as the traces of destruction qi were purged from his limbs, he noticed two jade palm prints on his chest that were notably absent of any damage. They covered his heart and dantian, the two most vital places for a cultivator.
A realization struck him. While he was busy fighting for their survival, Yu Wen had been protecting him from himself.
A fire crackled atop the ridge as Cha Ming recovered. He ate what must have been the tenth moon cake of the day before summoning a green sigil formation around Yu Wen. The healing formation gathered energy from piles of spirit stones and poured them into her, replenishing her energy-deficient body. By the time the last of the spirit stones ran out, Yu Wen’s pale face regained a trace of color.
Thank heavens, Cha Ming thought before eating another moon cake and sitting in meditation once more. When he opened his eyes, he saw Yu Wen stirring weakly beside the fire.
“Don’t move,” he said. “You’re still very weak. You overdrafted your energy.” He walked beside her and took out one of the thousands of moon cakes. “Eat this. It’ll help.”
“But I really don’t like them,” Yu Wen protested.
Seeing Cha Ming’s raised eyebrow, she closed her eyes and took a bite. Her cheeks instantly regained their rosy hue. She accepted a cup of hot tea as she sat up beside the fire, letting its warmth suffuse her. She hummed appreciatively as she sipped the warm beverage. “You have pretty good taste for someone from a mortal realm.”
“I have a friend who takes his tea hobby very seriously,” Cha Ming said. He looked at the flickering flames as he wrapped her in a blanket woven from creation qi and held her for warmth. She nuzzled up to him and let out a deep sigh.
“Fire isn’t really a necessity for cultivators, but I like it all the same,” Cha Ming said as he noted her demoralized expression.
“You like how it looks?” Yu Wen asked.
“No, I like what it represents,” Cha Ming said. “As long as there’s fire, there’s warmth and light. As long as those two things exist, there’s hope. And with hope… well, anything is possible.”
Yu Wen nodded and held out her hand weakly. A tongue of flame detached from the fire and danced around in her palm. It alternated between red and yellow, purple and blue. Soon, it turned the color of jade. “Hope is one word for it. Another word is faith.”
Cha Ming frowned. “By faith, you mean belief in a god?”
“No,” Yu Wen said. “Faith is an ancient concept, but it has far more meaning than you think. By faith I mean belief. Belief in yourself. Belief in others. Belief in a good future. Belief in right and wrong. Every good action stems from these beliefs.” She paused for a moment to compose herself. “Faith is like…”
She plucked an ember from the fire. It cooled until it seemed like every ounce of heat had left it. Then, as Yu Wen blew on it, a hint of redness returned to the piece of black coal. It soon lit up with a beautiful orange flame. “Faith is a part of existence, like kindling is to fire. Just like a single ember can create a roaring flame, faith can create waves in people’s hearts. It predates the seven virtues, because without it, they would succumb to doubt and fall into depravity.”
“I knew there were seven vices, but I didn’t know there were seven virtues,” Cha Ming said. “I’ve seen devils and their wrath and lust, their gluttony and greed, and their envy and pride. Though I can’t say I’ve ever seen a sloth devil.”
“It’s because they’re too lazy,” Yu Wen said, chuckling. “But when you see one, they’re a force to be reckoned with. No, these vices are the antithesis of faith. They are aligned with doubt. Doubt is also the ultimate vice, and it begins with doubt in yourself. Like this ember, doubt will douse the strongest fire. It will dull the sharpest metal and dam the greatest of rivers.”
She placed the burning ember on the ground, and the flame receded. It soon extinguished and turned black. All heat had left it.
“Then tell me about these virtues,” Cha Ming said. “And do they have something to do with angels?”
“They do and they don’t,” Yu Wen said. “Angelic endowment isn’t something that can be chased after. Many fools try, and that’s the reason they fail. Virtues are the core of angelic endowment, but their nature is extroverted, unselfish. The only way to get there is to be a good person, do good deeds, and to be yourself. The rest will follow.” Cha Ming held her as they looked up at the sky.
“There was once a painter,” Yu Wen said. “He was a powerful man, but he wasn’t very good at painting. Fortunately, he had a wonderful brush. It made up for what he lacked and corrected his mistakes. When he painted the mists and created this world, he sought to make it perfect.” She shook her head. “Yet nothing can be perfect. The world was centered around seven virtues. Purity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and bravery. Armed with these virtues, the transcendent and mortal planes thrived. Seeing that his painting was beautiful, the painter cast the brush out into the world and left it to its own devices. The world was paradise… for a time.”
At Yu Wen’s direction, seven flaming platforms appeared in the moonless sky. Beneath them, millions of tiny red flecks came in and out of existence. “The heavens presided over all of existence, and the universe was prosperous. It seemed like a dream come true, but it was too good to last. You see, the brush paints in both black and white, Cha Ming. It cannot paint good without evil. Within each of the Seven Heavens, within each of the seven virtues, the painter had unknowingly left a small seed of doubt. As the Seven Heavens administrated the realms, they began to argue and bicker. Even the Jade Emperor was embroiled in a massive internal conflict. And as these feelings reached their peak, the Seven Heavens each split in two, creating the seven hells. The angels who fell became devils, and their virtues became their corresponding vices. Charity turned to greed, diligence to sloth, and so on.
“But the battle wasn’t over. You see, fate still favored the virtuous. Therefore, the devils declared war on the Seven Heavens. The battlefield was the various mortal and transcendent realms. They fought for aeons, until finally, fortune shifted. The universe changed its mind. Overjoyed with their newfound success, the devils pressed their attack. They continued their assault until they arrived at the Jade Emperor’s palace. By then, the heavens were in disarray, and only a few of the most powerful angels remained.
“Yet it was at this moment, when things were at their worst, that the Jade Emperor realized the crux of the matter. If doubt had managed to overturn the world order, what of faith? Why had they lost their way? It was the lack of struggle, the complacence, that led to corruption. This trial was necessary for the heavens to regains their purity. It was a fire that would smelt them; it was a spark that would kindle the fires in their hearts that had been reduced to nothing more than lumps of coal.
“Invigorated, he rallied the ailing forces of good under the banner of faith. It breathed life into their doubt-ridden souls. They discovered that with this newfound hope, they were stronger than the devils. They slaughtered their way back once more, but this time, they only fought until a third of the original hell remained before stopping. The war came to a standstill when they discovered a startling secret.”
“What secret?” Cha Ming asked.
“There were two secrets, one of which is widely known,” Yu Wen said. “The first is that whoever providence favors will weaken in tenacity. If providence favors faith, doubt is strengthened in balance. If providence favors doubt, faith is strengthened to fight it. As for the second secret… this has to do with the source of providence, and the reason for the shift. But that’s something only the heavenly emperors and devil sovereigns know.
“What could be so important as to make the entire universe bend to its will?” Cha Ming wondered aloud. “Is it a mystical artifact? Or a secret scripture?”
I once asked my father the same thing,” Yu Wen said. “I’ll tell you what he told me. But first, have you never spoken to a lady?” Yu Wen asked.
“On occasion,” Cha Ming said, looking at her in confusion.
“And what if this lady asked you who the most beautiful woman in the world was?” Yu Wen asked. She flipped her curly hair back for dramatic effect.
“If such a question did come up, I’d answer that I’d never met a more beautiful woman in my life,” Cha Ming said, averting his gaze slightly.
“You’re lying.” Yu Wen pouted.
“How could I possibly lie to you?” Cha Ming said. “If beauty was ranked on a scale of one to ten, every man would be allowed an eleven.”
“And you’d let me take up that precious spot?” Yu Wen said, cuddling a little closer.
“I don’t see anyone else on this mountain taking that spot,” Cha Ming said.
“I see,” Yu Wen, her expression souring. “Are you sure you don’t want to rephrase that?”
“I meant that if this mountain were filled with women, the only one I would see is you,” Cha Ming said.
“I know it’s a lie, but it’s a good one,” Yu Wen said, tapping him on the nose. “I’ll give you a passing grade for good behavior. And now you have the answer you were looking for, the thing my father said. The only thing important enough to bend the universe to its will is me.”
They both burst out laughing before lying on the ground to rest. The crackling fire was a soothing melody that lulled them into a comfortable, dreamless sleep.
Chapter 22: Warmth
Cha Ming woke to the scent of smoke. His arm was numb, as Yu Wen’s small figure had somehow crawled over from where she’d fallen asleep and was resting on it. Cha Ming began to delicately maneuver the lifeless appendage while considering how ludicrous it was that his arm had fallen asleep in the first place.
My body is at the peak of marrow refining, for heaven’s sake, Cha Ming thought. How is this even physically possible?
He soon wriggled his way out. A few breaths later, the arm regained feeling. He looked around and discovered a cloud-covered mountain he hadn’t seen the night before.
“While it looks like a mountain, it’s actually a volcano,” Yu Wen said as she brushed herself off behind him. “Those devils were trying to stop me from getting here because they know what I’m after: the fire source within the volcano.”
