Chapter 8: REVELATIONS

IT WAS AT THE PROSPEROUS AND CHARMING town of Xidi at the foot of the majestic snowcapped mountains that an exiled monk and a wandering hermit sage decided to settle for the night. The light from the setting sun bathed the western face of the mountain cluster with yellow and orange, making the view from where the sage and the monk were standing quite spectacular and mystical.

"Tell me again, why we have come to the Huangshan range?" Zuo Shilong asked respectfully.

"I have come to meet an old friend... to commune in spirit so I may know Heaven's will," said Famin Jie softly. "We head for Celestial Peak, a few days march and climb. It would be well worth it. There are some things that I must attend to, questions that need to be put to rest."

"What is at the top of Celestial Peak?" asked Shilong wide-eyed and curious with childlike excitement. The two checked into an inn and sat down at one of the lobby tables to dine. Famin Jie looked at the monk and chuckled.

"There is an old friend living in a Sanctuary in seclusion and relative obscurity somewhere on that mountain. Nobody, not even I really know his story, but he possesses knowledge and wisdom lost to the ages. Funny enough, rumors have circulated that he has been around since the Han Dynasty! Naturally, I have yet to find any proof that could allow such a thing to be possible. Nevertheless, I am sure he can provide the answers to my questions," he whispered to Shilong. "He almost never leaves the mountain."

"Yes, I think I can somewhat recall one of the abbots of my temple telling us a story of a lonely man at the top of the mountains in Huangshan though I am not sure if this man is the same one you speak of. It is said that he is acquainted with the heavens and that he is hundreds of years old, knowing the secrets to immortality. Not even witches and the sorcerers would dare to challenge him. There is no way that the story is true, is it? He is just a legend," said Zuo Shilong in a skeptical tone of voice.

Famin Jie was laughed heartily. "No, no he is quite real, that I can tell you with certainty. Putting aside embellishments, he is mysterious, yes, but very real and very wise. He is to be treated with the utmost respect and reverence if you wish to meet with him," advised Famin Jie to Shilong. The monk agreed and together they ate their fill for the night and rested in preparation for their ascension to the Celestial Peak. Out from the small opening of the window, Zuo Shilong glanced at the mountains just beyond Xidi. Past the town's charming lights and evening sounds, the mountains were bathed in moonlight and he could almost feel a yearning for that mountain as if what he had been searching for would be found within the Huangshan range. He did not know what to expect at Celestial Peak, but the closure he needed would present itself to him sooner than he realized.

When Zuo Shilong and Famin Jie had left Xidi, they came upon a horse-drawn four-wheeled carriage driven by a man with a most friendly disposition. He quickly befriended them and graciously volunteered to take them through the pass towards Huangshan. The man, whom they had just met, happened to be a descendant of the Menggu horsemen and frequented the northern regions of the Middle Kingdom and beyond. His name was Jirgal. He was quite the conversationalist.

Explaining that he had been deemed an outcast among his kinsmen even those who lived in the empire and therefore made a living in the lower provinces conducting business in trade and courier services. Jirgal was a gentle and humorous man despite the story he shared of himself. He was not at all what one would stereotypically expect from a man of Menggu heritage.

"It's darn good to have company. You know I can go for days and even weeks without talking to anyone. I'd strike up an interesting topic of conversation with these two here pullin' me wagon, but uh... they don't say much," he laughed.

"I cannot imagine why," said Zuo Shilong rolling his eyes.

"Climbing Huangshan is no laughing matter. What makes Uncle and stick-wielding baldy want to go there anyway? Naught there but rumors and sightings of heaven knows what. Something has been stirring around the mountains," he continued to say.

"You are right something has been stirring in these parts and not just in our land. My friend and I are paying a visit to an old friend in search of some answers," replied Famin Jie.

"Wait, someone actually takes up residence there? That is incredible! Travelers and monks have been noticing strange things happening over that mountain," cautioned Jirgal.

"What do you mean 'strange' things have been happening?" inquired Zuo Shilong.

Before Jirgal was able to answer, a large and terrible beast leaped from the brush in the distance. It had the appearance of an oversized ox with the ferocious features of a lion and it bellowed a boisterous, terrible noise that spouted what looked like sparks of ash and hot coal from its very mouth. The monster resembled a nian, a legendary creature of myth not seen since the dawn of the imperial era almost two thousand years ago.

Alarmed and very startled, the horses galloped to full speed and Jirgal was unable to regain control of them. The carriage shook and rattled with the acceleration as the nian pursued them.

"Bad luck! You should've never asked that question, monk!" shouted Jirgal as he haplessly tumbled backwards into the carriage.

"A demon fast approaches! We must kill it," yelled Zuo Shilong. Famin Jie struggled to sit upright as the carriage careened through the rough and winding dirt road.

"No... really? We should make friends with it and tell it nicely we do not taste very good," Jirgal jested as he fought to regain his footing in the bouncing carriage. He fumbled through some crates searching for his old hunting bow which was conveniently stuffed under skins and furs. The horses raced forward through the rugged road, but the nian was slowly closing the distance enough for them to hear its rumbling, huffing, and puffing. The powerful creature dug its broad hooves into the ground kicking up dirt with every stride pushing every inch of muscle in its body to close the distance between it and its prey. The very impacts of its gallop echoed like war drums.

Jirgal brought his bow to bear. "Maybe I can poke it in the eye or something," he said fumbling to get his weapon ready. Jirgal raised his bow, drew an arrow and pulled it to maximum tension. He aimed for the nian's face and let the arrow loose. It flew fast and true, but harmlessly combed through the nian's thick mane. He fired a second third and fourth shot all of which penetrated the beast's thick hide and tough flesh reacting with no more than a mere flinch.

The creature leaped right onto the carriage and tore through the wood twisting through the iron frame and axle. The harnesses of the horses snapped free and the carriage along with its passengers came crashing into a heap of wood and twisted metal debris.

Zuo Shilong shook off the disorientation and fought to regain his footing. He grasped his staff and launched himself towards the monster, staff twirling in the air. The beast effortlessly swiped him away and tumbling into the ground unconscious. The beast redirected its attention toward the remaining two men as Jirgal drew the final arrow.

Famin Jie rose to his feet and stood tall and calm before the monster which proceeded towards them step by step.

"You are a creature of the depths and I rebuke you! You have no business here!" declared Famin Jie with an unexpected presence of command that made even Jirgal stop in his tracks.

The creature briefly hesitated as if taken aback by Famin Jie's standn but nevertheless continued forward planting one step with another step. The sage raised his hands and looked high into the heavens.

"Leave us at once and go back into the darkness to await the eternal damnation that is fated for thee and thy masters. Thou hast no power to oppose the Will of Heaven, beast. Leave and be gone!" The earth trembled and a rumble echoed in the wind as Famin Jie's mighty declaration burst forth upon the beast which, unable to face the truth in the rebuke, turned away and scrambled for the hills out of sight and far from Huangshan.

Jirgal still sitting on the ground and gripping his bow was quite stunned and speechless at what he had just witnessed. He shook in his boots and did not realize he was holding his breath the whole time. He grabbed his own jaw and pushed it up closed.

"That was," he said catching his breath, "that was incredible! How did you- Where did the- why is- how??" he asked with his hands dug into his hair. "Are you supposed to be some sort of wizard?" Jirgal took two steps back while the events that had just taken place were beginning to register in his mind.

"Nothing of the sort, my friend. On my own I am nothing. I am powerless. Shang Di has called me to this journey and so I know He will see me through it." He looked up at the majestic mountains and then turned to gaze into the horizon behind. "A great conflict of our age is fast approaching. There will be great suffering. That creature was only a symptom of a greater disease. We must get to the Sanctuary to find out what is happening and why," Famin Jie said anxiously.

He approached Zuo Shilong who lay on the ground out cold. Famin laid hands upon him feeling for injuries then pressed several vital points in his body. This caused the monk to sit up and awaken with a start.

"The creature, it is coming; we must flee!" he shouted in a panic as he spun his head around in search for any sign of the monster.

"Fear not, friend. We are safe. The beast has fled to the hills," said Famin Jie reassuringly. "Come now, we must head for the Sanctuary."

"The beast has left? What? How?" Zuo Shilong whimpered as he rubbed his aching head. Jirgal stood staring into the horizon in shock and awe still unable to fully comprehend what had just taken place.

"That's what I said. You should've seen it, monk. He just stood there and told the beast to take a hike and it just left! Your old friend here has got some recognized authority, eh?"

"Huh?" said Zuo Shilong staring at Jirgal blankly.

"Well, I just spoke the truth and the beast understood, but could not handle it. Nothing too miraculous," replied Famin Jie meekly. "I am truly sorry about your losses, my friend," he said apologizing to Jirgal and surveying the wreckage. "There is no way we can repay you at the moment, but we would be delighted if you would accompany us to the Celestial Peak. There is much food and good shelter in our destination. It is the least we can do in exchange for your losses."

Jirgal looked around at the wreckage and sighed. He holstered his bow and gathered what little he could salvage and fit them into one pack. He fastened his thick fur cap and looked to the mountains. "I might as well. No use in walking all the way to the next township or city from here. My horses can take care of themselves," replied Jirgal.

Zuo Shilong rubbed his bald head, still apparently unaware of what he had really missed while he was unconscious. He stood to his feet and flexed his joints.

"Well, at least I did not break any bones. I have never seen such a creature in my life. I know of lions and tigers, but never would I have thought such a beast like that exists," he said surveying their surroundings.

"It was massive. Do you think it will follow us here, teacher?"

"I think not. It understands and knows it cannot touch us now. But I will tell you, I think it is the first of many. These encounters will only become more frequent in the days and weeks to come," said Famin Jie. He did not have a hint of worry in his words. Zuo Shilong found that to be quite intriguing. A simple old man that did not worry or fear even after encountering such a creature was truly impressive and admirable. Jirgal gathered his belongings and picked up a walking stick.

"I believe I'm just about ready for a good hike and climb into the mountains. Anything to get us as far away from monsters as possible. May Tengri help us," he said, concernedly looking up at the tall, intimidating mountains. The trio proceeded onto the pass at Huangshan and traversed narrow and rocky paths that meandered between the peaks, fog, and steep terrain.

The journey was marked by locations full of breathtaking scenery most of which did not go unnoticed by Jirgal who had not seen anything quite like it before. The path to Celestial Peak was not for the faint of heart. It was unforgiving and left no room for survival for anyone with even the slightest of injuries. The trio treaded with great caution, navigating a stone path carved right out of the side of the mountain and crossing an ancient stone bridge that hung precariously between steep cliffs.

Zuo Shilong, being the agile and nimble warrior monk, effortlessly crossed over and climbed the ancient stone steps that snaked along the side of the mountain like it was a common city street, while Jirgal and Famin Jie lagged behind struggling to match his pace.

"I am not as young as used to be," Famin Jie chuckled.

"And I am fatter than I used to be," wheezed Jirgal dramatically. "The loss of my wagon may yet have been a blessing in disguise. Driving all these years has made my heart weak and my legs stiff!"

The trio's laughter echoed through the mountains and canyons beyond the mist and fog as they drew closer to the Sanctuary where the answers to Famin Jie's questions may be found. The hostile path through the mountains was a mere foreshadowing of the path they would have to undertake in the coming days, and Famin Jie knew it.

They journeyed for two days with minimal food and water fighting treacherous winds, the rain, and the blistering cold of night. As they neared the their destination, an old welcoming tree gently swaying with the cold breeze arched over the path as if to signal that the long and treacherous road to the Sanctuary had finally come to an end. Nestled at the mountain's breast stood the Sanctuary - a safe haven and stronghold monastery of lost knowledge with halls of study and enlightenment for those who wished to rediscover it.

"Amazing," said Jirgal and Zuo Shilong simultaneously.

"What more can you tell us of this place?" Shilong asked.

"Erm... does anyone else know that this is here? I mean, who would've thought!" Jirgal added. Famin Jie kept his gaze at the Sanctuary in the distance and breathed in deep the cool misty air. They proceeded to make their way to the foot of the mountain.

"When the first emperor united the Nine Domains of the Warring States, some say he had gone mad with power and challenged the mandate of Heaven, calling himself 'Most High'. He then sought to secure his new position by eliminating all he perceived as a threat to his reign. History has called it the Great Book Burning and the Burial of Scholars. Countless ancient texts were destroyed along with the works of the One Hundred Schools of Thought founded by the great philosophers who sought the restoration of the Way that once prevailed in the society of ancient times. The followers and students of the schools were therefore captured and buried alive. Thousands of years of transcendent wisdom, and the histories of a legendary age were all burned into ash with the swift command of a tyrant. There were those however, who remained faithful to the laws of Heaven and had resisted the emperor in secret. They were the few who remembered the Way that had been lost and remembered that it awaited 'restoration'. These very same scholars had managed to elude the emperor's capture and avoid the mass executions. Though they were very few, they united to create the Sanctuary at the heart of the Huangshan range, hidden in plain sight yet far from the reach of tyrants in order to save and preserve the last true copies of the ancient texts and enlightened teachings of antiquity. It is hoped that the restoration of the Way would yet continue in a different age. Today, only a few are aware of the Sanctuary's existence and even fewer have the discernment to navigate the perilous unknown paths and rugged trails through the mountains that lead to its anterior steps. It was in the Sanctuary that the knowledge of the ancients could be rediscovered and pieces of timeless wisdom bestowed by Heaven could be learned. If there was any hope of restoring the Way to the whole of the Middle Kingdom, it would start in the Sanctuary at the time of Heaven's choosing. Since then, it has survived the coming and going of the dynasties with its existence known only by a few."

For Famin Jie and his companions, the Sanctuary was shelter from the mountain's unforgiving slopes and an avenue to save the Middle Kingdom. They had yet to realize it. The gears of time and destiny have begun to turn once again and everything was in place to be set in motion. So it begins when the trio finally approached the gateway of the Sanctuary, exhausted, yet relieved.

"The Keeper of the Sanctuary awaits us, friends," said Famin Jie as he caught his breath in the cold air. "He will welcome us with shelter."

"And I hope his tables will welcome my sorry belly," remarked Jirgal with urgency. The wind howled and threw blistering cold rain into their faces.

"The Keeper is very old and very wise, Jirgal. I urge you to speak to him with great care and humility," advised Famin Jie.

"Okay, okay, but we really should hurry because my stomach does not recognize or give respect to anybody!" moaned Jirgal. "See? It growled at you just now."

The Sanctuary was a sight to behold as it sat majestically against the mountain's breast where the main hall stood at the center of a compound of tall structures and buildings. Surrounding the Sanctuary was a covered walkway that formed an enclosure around the monastery. Two tall watchtowers stood on the right and left corners of the fortress overlooking the mountain range and the sea of clouds that engulfed it below. At the center of the compound, a large iron statue stood as the centerpiece of the Sanctuary. The image was of an ancient philosopher in long court robes solemnly observing the heavens and holding above its head a wide scroll that faced toward the sky. It was a befitting statue, one that presented the purpose of the Sanctuary: to seek the wisdom and will of Heaven fervently, humbly, and sincerely. Such was the reoccurring theme of the thinkers of old who sought to restore the knowledge of the Way to all people. Past the gated archway it was one hundred steps to the giant red wooden doors. With a knock of three and but two moments later, the door groaned and creaked open. A small elderly woman beside the door greeted them with a bow and a smile.

"Welcome, masters. Your arrival has been anticipated. Please, this way," she said with a small quivering voice. Jirgal and Zuo Shilong looked at each other with surprised expressions and shrugged simultaneously. The trio walked through the main halls passing rooms and studies up to the next floor where they were requested to wait in a library. The place felt quite lonely, antiquated yet elegant. The high ceiling and gray outdoor light beaming through the fabric-covered windows instilled a feeling of awe and mystery that left Zuo Shilong and Jirgal quite mesmerized by its sheer scale.

"Do you have any snacks??" Jirgal did not feel intimidated by the place as he thought he would have, but felt rather protected and welcomed. Zuo Shilong once belonged to a monastery of a different sort so he was quite curious about the Sanctuary and its secrets yet was unsure of the questions that had long riddled his mind.

Exhausted from the journey, the three of them sat still in silence seemingly too tired to produce even the simplest thoughts.After Jirgal stuffed his face with last piece of bread the trio had almost fallen asleep until the silence was finally broken when the Keeper of Sanctuary entered the library to greet them. Famin Jie met him with a warm embrace as would old friends who have not seen each other for many years.

"I have missed you, my friend, but I know you did not come for a mere holiday visit either," said the Keeper smiling. "You too have seen the coming darkness. Such is the gift discernment."

"I have come to find answers. I seek your counsel, wise Keeper. This impending darkness has been troubling my soul of late. I was confronted by a witch in the woods and a foul beast attacked us on the road," said Famin Jie urgently. The Keeper, seeming to not have been listening, turned to Jirgal and Zuo Shilong to extend his welcome and was delighted to have such unique and unlikely visitors. He studied them both.

"You should have seen it! The ugly thing was massive. Monk here tried to fight, but he was knocked out cold," Jirgal exclaimed.

"It is strange that a warrior monk and a man of the Menggu would find their way into these halls! But then one would not expect less from my dear friend Famin Jie who seems to be quite adept at making new friends," the Keeper said gleefully with a grin. Zuo Shilong bowed respectfully towards the Keeper.

"I am honored to meet one as esteemed as you, sir," said Zuo Shilong.

"Oh, esteemed perhaps, but I really do just live in these halls to make sure they are clean and ready to accommodate visitors like yourselves!" the Keeper replied with humility as he giggled with satisfaction. Though he was very old, Keeper carried with him such contentment and peace. Despite his frailty, he conducted himself in a way that blessed others with his presence alone, for he was a blessed man with a humble spirit and his face glowed with a youthful energy.

"Um... sir, if I may. I'm not so much a warrior as I am a horseman, and even then the only horses I've ever owned pulled my wagon," Jirgal remarked as his face gloomed. "I no longer even have that, thanks to that accursed beast that charged us from the hills."

"No worries, friend. All that you have lost will one day be returned to you in abundance through ways you would not expect," consoled Keeper. "Although it seems that the ancient creatures have begun making more frequent appearances of late. An impending doom we have not foreseen is upon us. It will be an event so monumental that even legendary beasts are answering its call."

"Which is exactly why we have come to you, Keeper!" said Famin Jie urgently. "Yes, I know, but who am I?" replied the Keeper concernedly. "Come, there are serious matters to discuss." Together, the group made their way to another hall in the Sanctuary where they dined and cleansed themselves. There, in the corridors and sparsely occupied chambers, rooms, and libraries Zuo Shilong spent his evening exploring and discovering the Sanctuary. Jirgal had found a bed and slept in an instant.

"Keeper, I have come in search of answers because I feel Heaven's will has become difficult to discern. I feel the negative changes all around me, but I do not know whence it came," Famin confessed.

"Have you heard the news that not long ago strange men have arrived on the shores of the Middle Kingdom? It is true. Though as men they are not like us at all. They are pale in appearance and offer good tidings and enticing propositions for the people. Very dark clouds hang above them. I have discerned it. I also believe they are the cause of the imbalances we sense," said the Keeper as he pensively combed the fine strands of his silky white beard.

"Pale men? Here? What business do they have in the Middle Kingdom?" questioned Famin in all seriousness.

"Their business is unrighteous, driven by the very same darkness that causes greed, malice, and death," he replied.

"The cause for distress is not so much in the physical destruction these Pale men will bring, Famin Jie, but in the eternal separation from Heaven that many people shall suffer. That, my friend, is the greatest despair that can befall the people in eternity."

In the lowest levels of the Sanctuary's main hall, upon the foundations mighty stone and wood was a message carved upon rock. The Keeper led Famin Jie down a steep staircase beneath the compound. What they read was a mysterious warning was given by the ancients. The Keeper revealed it to Famin Jie and he brought the inscriptions to candlelight. It said: "The Way is salvation. Only Heaven can spare nations from calamity and bring deliverance from all injustice. Turn to Heaven and restore the Way to resist darkness and promote righteousness."

"This is the answer to the impending trials we will face, is it not?" Famin Jie asked.

"We are arriving to a time of great testing when the people must choose their destinies for themselves whether it be of Heaven or of this fallen world," the Keeper answered. "It has been 4,000 years since the Sage Kings of old led the people in the knowledge of the Way. That knowledge has been lost to the ages. I am afraid that the favor of Heaven no longer rests upon the Middle Kingdom and now our trials have finally begun."

"But the people will take arms against the invaders. The Ming is the strongest of all the nations. They will fight to the death." Famin remarked assuredly.

"And death is where it will ultimately lead. It is where it will only lead. Without the grace of Heaven and the restoration of the Way, the people in their own strength and will are powerless against the might of the darkness the invaders bring. If our people will not die by it, they shall succumb to it. City by city, province by province, in the Middle Kingdom and the lands beyond the seas and mountain peaks, the people will fall, enslaved by the accursed power of these foreign beings. I know this to be true. I have heard all the news and have meditated on it day and night." Worry overtook Keeper's face. "I have always known the great defining war of our age would come, but never within the span of the years of my life." Famin Jie stood before the engraving in deep thought trying to comprehend the magnitude of what was unfolding.

"I answered the call to serve many years ago leaving behind a life of material wealth and comfort to learn and discover the Way while awaiting the instruction of Heaven," said Famin Jie solemnly. "Until now I still wait for direction even after the darkness had begun to rise. What are we to do against this invasion? For so many years I have waited patiently and yet have I to gain students nor has the Way been restored to the people. I feel I have become lost."

The Keeper stood silently with his hands in his sleeves and closed his eyes. "Even in the moments of silence, there is ever the Grand Orchestrator, preparing the people for the fulfillment of His will. Silence does not mean Heaven has ceased to speak, but rather that you must draw closer so that you may hear and listen," Keeper told Jie.

"The imminent conflict we are about to witness in the Middle Kingdom is but a mere physical manifestation of a great war in the realm of the unseen and we are very much participants in that unseen battle whether we choose to engage in it or not. The outcome of the battles of the invisible shall be the outcome of the battles throughout the realms of the Middle Kingdom." Famin Jie pondered on these words and sighed as he anxiously paced around the room distressed at what was unfolding. He did not know his purpose and why he was not able to accomplish what he had hoped for all these years. His message of Truth had returned void in every challenge he undertook. The people were not ready to accept what he had to teach and Heaven seemed to have not favored his attempts to serve. Uncertainties and doubts overwhelmed his soul for without the Way, the Middle Kingdom will fall.

"I will fight for the cause of the people and for righteousness. It is time that we emerge from obscurity to finally spread the Word of Heaven, Keeper. For years our message has yielded very little fruit, but now the time has come. You are familiar with the dealings of Shang Di. Surely you can tell me what I must do, Keeper" he said fervently.

"That is something you must discover for yourself, for indeed the time has come," he replied. "When the Way prevailed over the land, the people knew the Will of Heaven. When the Way was lost, the people called upon the kings and emperors to mediate. A burnt offering was made at the Border Sacrifice on behalf of the people symbolizing the cleansing needed to be right before the presence of the Most High. Though the Emperor performs the Great Sacrifice to this day, the people of the Ming do not remember Shang Di or his perfect mandates. There are very few like ourselves who have submitted in obedience to the Way -the only path to the Most High. You must go to the Secret Place to humble yourself and be still and meditate upon the mandates of Heaven as revealed in the texts. Neglect the needs of the body so you will not lose sight of your purpose, and to commune in spirit with that which you cannot see. Heaven honors sincere and earnest searching. The correct path will be revealed to you, Seeker."

Famin Jie heeded the Keeper's words and proceeded into the Secret Place- a private courtyard enclosed with stone inside the head of the mountain located behind the Sanctuary. It was where a disciple of the Way and a seeker of Heaven would cleanse the spirit, meditate, and study the truths as revealed by the ancients through sacred scrolls thought to have long been destroyed. For three days and nights Famin Jie did just that, neglecting rest and bodily nourishment to center his mind on that which transcended the physical and the natural. In the torchlights of the Secret Place, he meditated and read through the transcendent inspiration of the sages through the preserved written declarations and teachings of the partial revelation. High above the walls of stone through the narrow opening above the courtyard, he looked up at the night sky and beheld the innumerable host of stars and was in awe. He praised Heaven. The Darkness borewitness to his communion in spirit and was disturbed by it. It descended upon the Seeker and oppressed him...

The wind blew through the balcony where Zuo Shilong stood. The wind carried a faint yet audible moan, like a distant bellowing of a large bear, and it brought chills down his spine.

"The wind brings a fell cry from the south. It is not from a man," commented Zuo Shilong as he leaned his ear towards the wind with great interest.

"Ah, yes. Even the Yeren can feel the disturbances caused by the unnatural. They are most sensitive to the changes in the delicate balance of nature and they cry for it," said Keeper.

"Ye-ren?" asked Zuo Shilong with a raised eyebrow.

"The Yeren are as old as the Middle Kingdom itself, inhabiting the forests, valleys, and mountains of the central and Northern provinces for many thousand years though they were rarely ever encountered by travelers. They tend to shy away from the approaching footsteps of people. They are very large two-legged creatures of massive strength, taller than the tallest man, covered in long shaggy hair, and heavier than even the largest bears. Though fierce in appearance and imposing in stature, they were known to be meek and pacific in nature. One can sometimes hear their howls, whoops and grunts echoing for miles across the valleys."

"Such a creature exists??" Zuo Shilong was in disbelief.

"Indeed. Here in Huangshan, one tends to see and hear things no one else would believe."

"I hope to see this 'ye-ren' one day."

"What brings you to the Sanctuary at Huangshan, my monk friend?" asked the Keeper taking on a more friendly tone. "More specifically, what compelled you to accompany Famin Jie on his journey?" Zuo Shilong paused for a moment to gather his answer in his mind, though he himself had forgotten how he managed to embark on this journey with the teacher.

"Before my meeting with the teacher, I spent my days wandering from town to town searching for any place where I can help the people. I help them build, work the land, or fight bullies. Yes, that is my desire, to help the people and to protect them from harm. That is all I have ever wanted to do. I do not care for great rewards or recognition, though I try to accept the benevolence of the people with humility and great gratitude," said Zuo Shilong innocently with passion. "The generosity of the people has never left me hungry."

The Keeper smiled. "That is a very noble pursuit and I commend you for taking up this selfless path. What of your brothers in the monastery at Shaoshi Mountain?" asked Keeper curiously.

"The longer I stayed at the Temple, the more questions plagued my mind. I searched and searched for answers. What is destiny? What is meaning? What is the standard of righteousness and evil? Why are we here? The masters that raised me at Shaoshi Mountains had grown weary of my questioning and came a time that I offended them. A fellow monk confronted me and in defense, I struck him with my hands. He nearly died. Such a deed was unforgiveable. Thus, I was banished. Since my inability to find answers greatly frustrated me, I occupied myself helping people across the lands to distract my mind from such queries. When I met the teacher, I believed I seemed to have met someone with the wisdom and insight I sought after. His teachings were profoundly wise despite being opposed to my own opinions. I recognized this immediately, so I have agreed to follow him."

The Keeper grinned at Zuo Shilong's story and was pleased that his path had crossed with Famin Jie. Their meeting was no accident, he thought. "Those who seek truth with seriousness and sincerity while keeping an open mind soon find their answers revealed to them," said Keeper. "There have been a few serious seekers just like you who have walked through the halls of this Sanctuary over the years and to my delight, they have found the answers to their questions! It is not by mere fate that you have found your way here, Shilong. Peace and clarity is what you will find soon enough, for Heaven directs the paths of those who follow righteousness and earnestly seek the truth," Keeper said.

For the first time in a long time Zuo Shilong the warrior monk felt the flame of hope rekindled in his heart. There in the halls of the Sanctuary where sparse groups of academics tread to and fro, the monk and the sage talked of things of great depth and meaning –food for Zuo Shilong's hungering spirit.

Jirgal approached them from the other end of the hallway and was apparently in a good mood. "Hello, Mister Keeper. Hi, Monk! I must say this place is amazing, and I am truly impressed with how you're all able to dish out a living up here in the middle of nowhere! How on earth did they manage to build this place on a mountain? The logistics must have been a nightmare. Oh, and the study halls and libraries are very lovely," said Jirgal gleefully nodding his head in approval.

"That is pleasing to hear . Have you found any interesting material?" asked the Keeper.

Jirgal scratched his head saying "Oh, no, I can't read."

****

In the Secret Place, the oppression of darkness was more powerful than that of the witch he encountered in the forest. It had come upon him with the tremendous burdens of guilt, anger, doubt, and despair in an effort to cast his very being far away from his meditation. In the throes of the oppression befalling him in his solitude, Famin Jie cried out in anguish as the images of his past were whispered into his mind and soul, like smoke snaking through every crack and crevice of a burning house.

"Oh, Heaven who is called Most High, if you find favor in me, I only humbly ask that in thy mercy thou would freest me from these burdens and cast them as far as the East is from the West!" As quickly as the pain and anguish engulfed him, so too did it dissipate and cease altogether. The Darkness and the hosts that delivered his oppression had fled. All had gone quiet and the deafening silence that had befallen the Secret Place faded away.

Yet another figure steadily approached Famin Jie from the winding stairs that descended sharply from the mountain's peak. It stood before him and its voice called out to Famin Jie from a dim corner of the Secret Place. He had the appearance of a mighty warrior with eyes that could pierce the strongest shield, and he wore long garments of white embroidered with shades of gold and other such colors he had never before seen. Jie was terrified and fell on his back trembling in awe and fear of this mysterious figure who wielded a powerful presence. "There is no reason to fear, Famin Jie for Shang Di knows your virtue and has heard your pleas. I am here to deliver a message of great importance to you," the figure told him.

"You know my name. Whom among the creatures of this earth do you favor?" Famin Jie asked sternly though he was fearful.

"There is none on earth whom I favor. The tasks of Heaven are what occupy me alone," the figure said with a resonating voice. Famin Jie then sat on his knees and from the respect and reverence of his heart, he bowed and pressed his head against the ground ready to receive the instruction of Heaven. The words of the visiting figure poured forth the instruction, peace, and assurance that Heaven alone could bestow.

"You are to go to the Capital and proceed into the court of the one who holds Heaven's Mandate," the figure said, "and let the ears of all who will listen hear the truth of what is and what is to come. This message which you know well in your heart shall go forth to the nations over the mountains and the seas."

"The emperor's court? I am but a lowly hermit of dusty rags and an unknown name. It is hard for me to understand, but lo, my ways do not compare to Heaven's ways." Famin Jie whispered to himself. The figure answered. "The path before you has been set. Your tongue will be blessed, and your body will be strengthened for the hardship to come. The heart of the emperor is prepared and the people must make room for the return of the Way for it shall be the light in the coming darkness. Your companions shall continue to accompany you so that they may bear witness to the deliverance of Heaven over all the people. They too shall be instruments for the cause of righteousness. The battles that will ensue over the corners of the earth are one in the outcome of the battles you cannot see," the figure declared lastly.

"This servant has heard the messenger's words. May it be as Heaven declared," he acknowledged. The messenger then looked up into the sky intently and slowly stepped back as he proceeded to exit.

"The forces that dominate the skies above you have tried to impede me during my approach and have finally returned," he said lastly. The figure proceeded back up the winding stairs that led to the mountain peak and rounded the corner leading to the other side of the slopes never to be seen again.

After all that had transpired, Famin Jie's meditation in solitude had finally come to an end. Famin Jie sat in silence overcome at what he had just heard. The supernatural encounter was the first he had ever experienced, but he found tranquility instead of anxiety. 'The Guardian of Celestial Peak the figure was called'. Thought to have been only a myth, Famin Jie has now confirmed otherwise. Legends tell that there had been only one other instance where he had been encountered... and that was many centuries ago.

At the gate of the Sanctuary before the emergence of sunrise, a veteran walked the front steps leading to the large wooden doors. He was cloaked tightly with a hooded cape and hastily made way towards the Sanctuary's entrance to seek shelter from the cold. When the old woman let him in he removed his hooded cloak.

"Well hello, Master Lo. It has been quite some time," she said in a quivering voice.

"Yes, indeed," he replied with a bow. "It is good to be back in the place where I was reborn."