Life and Death

China, Daishan mountain.

The inside of the temple was dark and dusty. Wang Xiao had a hard time seeing through the floating dust, coughing his way along the main hall. Bowu seemed to have been abandoned for hundreds, no, thousands of years. Wang Xiao could see that the walls were crumbling and turning into dust while the floor was covered in a thick coat of debris.

In times like these, Wang Xiao wished that he could use talismans and spells like all the other pupils in Yi clan. Ever since childhood, he had been unable to conjure even the smallest amount of spiritual energy. When he started working for clan leader Yi, the latter kindly called upon every acupuncturist and high-ranking cultivator he could find to try and help him awaken his abilities. Unfortunately, nothing ever worked. Wang Xiao quickly learned to make peace with his shortcomings and worked on improving his mind instead of his spiritual skills.

Because of his inability to wield his energy, Wang Xiao was often mocked and scorned for being so close to a clan leader yet unable to protect him. Yi XiangLiang didn't care, as long as Wang Xiao was willing to lend him his incredibly sharp mind. In truth, Wang Xiao's scholarly abilities were so great that he became the first person in Yi clan to memorise, analyse, and interpret more than six hundred ancient clan texts. These texts were fiercely guarded day and night because they held all of the clan's history and secrets. Even the clan leader himself was unfamiliar with most of those texts.

Yi clan had a long and proud history of grooming scholarly cultivators. Over the centuries, the Yi clan had salvaged thousands of ancient and unique texts, protecting them from disappearing from this world by committing them to memory. As such, several groups of students within the Yi clan existed for the sole purpose of studying and remembering certain topics of texts.

In each of the cardinal points laid a group appointed to a specific field: north for creativity and arts, south for military knowledge, east for medicine, and west for history. In between these major groups were other, smaller groups related to one or another subject. Thus, the Yi clan's main hall was shaped like a hexagon, with the library dead in its centre. The library was easily accessible from all directions and each school was connected by a series of passageways. Each school had its own set of colours that easily grouped its pupils at a single glance. Despite the various colours, every clan member wore the clan's crest squarely in the middle of the back and on the front flap that covered their legs.

Since Wang Xiao didn't belong to one specific group, he was allowed to wear the clan leader's colours of gold and cream. Unlike his fellow disciples who had designated study rooms, he spent most of his time in the library, gathering information and comparing sources. Wang Xiao's incredible memory meant that he could recite any text after having read it only once. Naturally, because of this uncommon ability, he quickly became a major asset to the clan, becoming an advisor to Yi XiangLiang and personal tutor to his two sons.

Regardless of his young age, Wang Xiao began teaching the brothers when he was fifteen years old, the youngest erudite to have ever become a tutor. Yi Huang was the same age as his tutor, which only created unease between the two. Yi Ling, on the other hand, being their junior by five years, was all too happy to have such a young tutor. Luckily, Yi Ling was especially adept in scholarly studies and liked Wang Xiao the best.

Yi XiangLiang's first son and official heir, Yi Huang, was better suited for a military career because of his elegant yet strong swordsmanship. At the age of eighteen, Yi Huang had already proven himself to be the best hunter in all of Yi clan. Once his skills became known, he was invited to participate in the emperor's yearly hunt, which he also won in a swooping victory. From that point on, emperor Jun refused to let Yi Huang out of his sight, claiming that he was destined to become the greatest general in all of China.

Much to the clan leader's dismay, Yi Huang remained in the capital to study with the emperor's army, bringing both fame and glory to the Yi name along the way. Emperor Jun promised to keep Yi Huang until the time was fit for him to become the next clan leader. Since Yi Huang had been hand-picked by the emperor himself, the rumour was that he was exceptionally close to He Jun and often had his ear in political and social matters. Whenever He Jun held a banquet, one could always see Yi Huang being seated to his right. The emperor was a beautiful man only a few years older than Yi Huang. The two had a special kind of complicity due to being close in age.

As much as Yi Huang worked hard in the capital, his brother Yi Ling was all but hopeless. Yi Ling's scholarly abilities were constantly nurtured by Wang Xiao, but his swordsmanship was seriously lacking. Compared to his older brother, Yi Ling seemed small and insignificant. This led the clan members to mostly ignore his existence and to save their praises for Yi Huang instead.

To Wang Xiao, Yi Ling was the brother he never had. He was a sweet child with a mild temperament and was generous to a fault. Wang Xiao always protected him from the other clansmen when he heard their malicious whispering. Even though Yi Ling was dreadful with the sword, he was still the son of the clan leader and was therefore instilled with a strong Qi. If only he could grow into it, Wang Xiao was sure he would become a wonderful and formidable cultivator. One day, Yi Ling and Yi Huang would stand side-by-side in the clan, striking fear in their enemies and gaining admiration from all.

Thinking of Yi Ling and how he already wanted to be back home by his side, Wang Xiao hastened his pace within Bowu temple, searching blindly for any sign of the missing scroll. The dust was so thick that his eyes were useless. Wang Xiao decided to grope the dilapidated walls with his hands instead of relying on his sight.

Near the remains of the central altar, Wang Xiao felt with his fingertips that a large hole was in the back wall of the temple. The hole was too finely cut to have been caused by decay. Instead, he was sure this recess had been hand-cut. During the height of its fame, Bowu temple had been a mecca of activity for cultivators in and around Daishan. It wasn't surprising to find signs of human inhabitation within the temple.

However, after the last great famine that swept through the area, Bowu temple was completely abandoned and forgotten about. Wang Xiao assumed that when it was an active place of worship, the monks made use of the giant stone walls and used them to store precious items. As it were, this square hole seemed like the perfect place to hide an important text or two.

Reaching in with his hand up to his elbow, Wang Xiao felt blindly around for anything resembling paper. He pulled out his arm, covered in grey dust, clutching at a small bead. Wang Xiao's heart raced as he brought the bead up to his face to see it better. The bead was about the size of a grape, perfectly round and smooth. Wang Xiao assumed that it was a piece of jade due to the stone's coolness. The bead was attached to a decorative tassel, the kind that usually hung off of a weapon or any other important item. Even in the dim light and heavy dust, he could see that the tassel was a dark blood-red colour.

Pocketing the item, Wang Xiao stuck his arm into the hole once more, this time determined to find the rest of it within its depths. Just as he was starting to lose patience from having to feel around with his hand in the dark, his fingers brushed against a piece of parchment. Wang Xiao was sure it was the book!

Pulling it out of the hole, Wang Xiao hurriedly stuck it down the front of his robe and made his way back towards the front door. He was going to need light to see whether this book was truly the one he was looking for.

Wang Xiao hurried towards the front of the temple, equal parts excited and nervous about the contents of this manual. Grabbing onto the large door, he swung it open and let it shut behind him with a loud clatter. When he stepped foot onto the landing outside, he failed to notice his surroundings once more. More giant grey wolves had gathered on the steps while he was inside, undoubtedly attracted by the smell of fresh blood emanating from his wounds. Wang Xiao had completely forgotten about the wolves and now he silently cursed his bad luck for having drawn a whole pack towards him.

Realising that he was surrounded, Wang Xiao could only retreat into the temple. It would have been impossible for him to outrun the wolves, especially without a sword to at least defend himself. Wang Xiao took a defensive step backwards, then another, and another, until his back was pressed against the heavy door, blocking his safe passage to the inside of the temple. Wang Xiao smiled ruefully, more bad luck! Because of his earlier careless action, the door was firmly jammed in the doorway and no amount of tugging or pulling could loosen it.

For the second time that day, Wang Xiao thought "ah, I'm going to die. This time for sure."

The nearest wolf snarled and let out a long, chilling howl, probably calling his brothers to join in on the hunt. Saliva dripping and wild-eyed, the creature launched itself at him with the clear intent of killing its prey. Wang Xiao spared half a second's worth of thought for Yi Ling, regretting that he wouldn't be able to teach him anymore. The boy would probably cry until his face was ruined, considering his deep attachment to his Wang-ge.

Wang Xiao shut his eyes and braced himself for the worse and, just as the animal should have been on him by now, he heard a great yelp, followed by a meaty thud. A breeze had just come between himself and the animal, carrying the scent of deep woods and clear water along with it. Wang Xiao opened his eyes and was faced with an already familiar red-robed back standing in front of him. Smiling at the irony of the situation, Wang Xiao reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed the other man's robe from behind.

"Zhang YuanJin, I thought you had left already."

The other man half-turned his face to look over his shoulder. Their eyes made contact for a short second before Zhang Yao launched himself into a full out battle against the pack of feral animals. Wang Xiao stared in awe as Zhang Yao quickly worked his way through the pack. Without wasting a single movement or sword blow, every wolf fell within seconds of coming in contact with his blade. Wang Xiao thought that if Yi Huang was thought to be a military genius, Zhang Yao could easily be grouped in with him too. His red robes swirled around him as he moved gracefully between each target, creating a whirlwind of colour in an otherwise grey landscape.

A shiver ran through him as he realised that, once more, he was at this dangerous man's mercy and now, he even had the mysterious manual tucked against his breast too. Protecting the text was the most important thing to him, so finding a way to escape Zhang Yao was his new top priority.

Once all the wolves were dispatched, Zhang Yao turned to face Wang Xiao. Wiping his sword on his sleeve, Zhang Yao looked every inch the hero that Wang Xiao had read about in all the old legends. A gentle breeze blew past them, carrying the scent of the forest with it. Zhang Yao took a step towards him, before catching himself and backing up instead, seemingly remembering their previous encounter.

"You're injured, that's why they came. I had to come back," he said.

The breeze carried his words to Wang Xiao like a soft song and lingered between them. Wang Xiao felt silly again for mistrusting someone who had saved him twice within a few hours. Smiling sadly at his stupidity and mistrust, he walked towards Zhang Yao, closing the gap.

"Thank you, again. I didn't think you would come back after what I said earlier. I'm sorry about before."

Zhang Yao nodded back in acknowledgement of his apology. He had known that the wolves would come back now that the ground was covered in blood, so he had remained in the shadows of the forest and waited for them to reappear. He had seen the young man go in and out of the temple and intervened just as the animals were going to devour him.

He didn't have any particular reason for saving him, he could have left him to die and then track the pack of wolves to their lair, but something about this golden-robed youth was alluring and mysterious. Why had a whole pack been drawn to him? This was highly unusual behaviour and Zhang Yao was sure that there was more to this weapon-less cultivator than met the eye.

"I have to go now, I have to find their lair before they cause more trouble," he announced.

Wang Xiao considered this revelation for a moment and, as Zhang Yao started to turn away from him, he impulsively blurted out "I'll come with you!"

The other man turned to look at him once more, a confused expression lingering on his features before he recomposed himself. Zhang Yao thought the injured man would probably be more trouble than good since he couldn't even fight properly. Still, he had the nagging feeling that he shouldn't part ways with this person, at least not yet.

Nodding once curtly, he set off for the forest once again, hands clasped behind his back. Wang Xiao understood the meaning and happily ran to catch up, slapping a playful hand on the other's back. "You helped me, so I'll help you!"

Unseen by the other, Zhang Yao smiled.