Chapter 16: Duality

The morning sun hung lazily in the sky, casting its warm glow over the Dunùn Clan's settlement. The crisp mountain air carried the scent of damp earth and pine, a refreshing contrast to the humid forests of Mao Xing Mountain where I had grown up. As I walked through the clan grounds, I observed the people who lived here—warriors, craftsmen, scholars, and elders, all moving with purpose.

The Dunùn Clan was not as vast or powerful as my own Huá Clan, but it was prosperous in its own right. They had only two Venerables, while the Huá Clan had twelve, yet their warriors were strong, their spirits unyielding. There was an undeniable pride in their way of life—one that demanded admiration, even from an outsider like myself.

As I continued walking, my eyes landed on an elderly man surrounded by a group of children. They listened intently, their eyes wide with wonder as he spoke. His name was Cheng-Who.

Something about him reminded me of Mu Tao.

There was an air of wisdom about him—a storyteller, a teacher, a guide. If Mu Tao and this man had ever met, I had no doubt they would have gotten along well.

The Concept of Duality

Cheng-Who's voice was deep yet soothing, like the slow hum of a river against stone. He was explaining something to the younglings.

"Duality," he said, "is the concept of two things being dual to each other. Day and night, left and right, positive and negative. These are examples of duality."

The children nodded, absorbing his words. But then, his tone shifted, a hint of reverence creeping into his voice.

"But legends and myths speak of a god. The oldest one. A being that is an amalgamation of all contradictory concepts and symbolism."

One of the boys gasped in excitement, his hands clutching the hem of his tunic. "Oh wow! Who is this 'oldest one'?"

Cheng-Who smiled, his aged eyes gleaming with amusement. "The oldest one is said to be the creator of the universe, the one who established the pillars of existence, shaping all things within it."

The children let out a collective "Woahhh."

I remained silent, watching, listening. The 'oldest one'…

It sounded like nothing more than myth, but if Mu Tao believed that the pillars of existence were real, then perhaps—just perhaps—there was truth in these stories as well.

A Curious Encounter

Leaving the lesson behind, I continued my walk through the settlement. The warriors of the Dunùn Clan trained in various disciplines—some wielding swords, others axes, spears, bows. Their fighting styles were diverse, adaptable. Some of them were towering giants, others lean and swift, each one possessing a unique strength.

As I observed them, a young boy suddenly approached me. He couldn't have been older than seven or eight. His small hands grabbed at the edge of my robe, his round face filled with curiosity.

"Oh! Hi mister! I'm Mu! Are you the traveler from afar?"

His innocent question deserved an answer.

"Yes, I am." My voice was clear, steady, ensuring he heard me.

His eyes lit up. "Ohhhhh! What's Mao Xing Mountain like?"

I considered my words before responding. "Mao Xing Mountain is a vast, forested land, named after Immortal Mao Xing—the ruler of the Xuan Continent before his death. He was born 2,470 years ago and was killed 1,460 years ago by a missionary from Vaeloria named Ryan Vulture. Also—"

Before I could finish, I was interrupted.

"It's better not to speak of death before a child."

Cheng-Who's voice was calm, yet firm. A gentle reprimand.

I nodded in understanding. The old man gestured for the boy to leave, and young Mu scampered off, waving as he disappeared into the crowd.

Cheng-Who then turned his gaze back to me.

"You are the visitor from Mao Xing, correct?"

"Yes." My answer was short, to the point.

The elder hummed thoughtfully before asking, "Tell me, what is your favorite part of Mao Xing?"

I wasn't sure if he was trying to be poetic or if this was merely the kind of conversation an old man enjoyed. Regardless, I answered truthfully.

"The view."

He chuckled. "You sure aren't a talker. You seem like the quieter warriors."

I offered no response. Silence often spoke louder than words.

After a moment, he continued. "If you are here to truly seek knowledge, allow me to enlighten you about this clan."

I gave a small nod, indicating for him to go on.

The History of the Dunùn Clan

"The Dunùn Clan was founded six hundred years ago," Cheng-Who began, his voice carrying the weight of history. "It is younger than many of the other clans in Xuan. Most were established thousands of years ago, tracing their lineages to the early rulers of this world."

I listened, absorbing his words.

"The Xuan Continent, and all the other continents on this planet, were created by the 'Lord of the Rings'—the dominator of the spirit world."**

At this, he turned to me. "I assume you are aware of 'his' existence?"

I nodded. "Indeed. The Lord of the Rings is the ruler of the spirit world."

Cheng-Who stroked his beard, pleased with my response.

"Correct. He is the King of Space-Time, wielding authority over concepts such as domination, space, time, design, spirits, and creation."

Domination… That made sense. To rule the spirit world meant to exert dominance over it.

But another question had surfaced in my mind.

"And the omnipotent and omniscient one?" I asked. "Do you know of 'him'?"

Cheng-Who's eyes gleamed with interest. "Ahhh. 『The Visionary』."

I narrowed my gaze slightly. "The Visionary?"

"Yes," he nodded. "The omnipotent and omniscient one is also called the Visionary. He embodies the concepts of envisioning, divinity, humor, misfits, tricks, regeneration, and fooling. He is the ruler of the Astral World."

I considered this carefully.

A being that ruled the Astral World and embodied trickery, humor, and divinity? A stark contrast to the Lord of the Rings, who controlled domination and space-time.

Their roles were vastly different, yet interconnected.

Duality.

I found it ironic how so many things in this world mirrored the lesson Cheng-Who had been teaching the children just minutes ago.

Two rulers. Two domains.

Both existing as opposites—yet undeniably connected.

A World of Powers Unseen

As I stood there, digesting this knowledge, the weight of it pressed against my mind.

The world was not as simple as it seemed. It was not merely land, sky, and sea.

It was a world of forces beyond comprehension. A world where deities, myths, and unseen hands shaped reality itself.

And I was walking straight into its depths.

A world where mortals sought power, immortality, and understanding.

A world where legends could become truth.

I exhaled softly, my eyes drifting toward the sky. The morning sun had risen higher, casting long shadows against the stone paths.

The more I learned, the more I realized…

I was only scratching the surface.