Chapter 16: The Three Children

Wei felt it when ‘something’ changed around him and he wrapped his hands himself tightly around himself as if to shield himself from whatever it was that was causing the change. Zixin too felt it, his posture revealing his alert state. Wei revolved his mental qi hoping to find out what was causing him to feel so insecure when his mental qi showed no reaction whatsoever. Wei smelt it before he saw it. The sharp acrid smell of smoke and ashes, it burned his nostrils and caused to break into hacking coughs and dry heaves. When his short episode was over and he looked up over his sweat covered hair the sight he saw was a startling one.

The ground that had been a long swathe of deserts and empty plains had suddenly become a beautiful land full of luscious trees and clear rivers. It was the most beautiful scenery Wei had ever seen and he was struck with the urge to paint. The beautiful image was marred by the large layer of smoke looking much like a masterpiece that had been scribbled on by a child. Zixin seemed very familiar with the phenomenon and had stopped his boat well before it made contact with the smoke.

The smoke was like a barrier keeping everything out. It occurred to Wei that maybe that was perhaps exactly the function it served. No sooner had he thought this that the smoke started to twist and turn in on itself. Three shapes came out of the smoke at first indistinct but they quickly solidified into three large floating hooded figures. Cultivators with transformation magic, what a marvelous technique. It seems that the books were mostly true many things mortals can only imagine cultivators can accomplish. This is my world now. My mental qi has been acting odds, are they not a threat? Or can they simply not harm me with Zixin around?

The three figures removed their hoods and Wei was startled by Chen Pings accompanying scream. Come now it’s not that bad. However Wei had a hard time convincing even himself, his hands shook and he fought the urge to run away knowing that at this height he would be running only to his death. The visages under the hood were indeed horrifying; they had the faces of three identical young children. As if that was not strange enough considering their very large bodies they also had bright yellow eyes reminiscent of desert sand and mouths full of sharp red serrated fangs the color of rust.

“What are those things?” Chen Ping whispered to Xing his voice horrified. Zixin let out an exasperated sound and Xing sharply inhaled. He’s done it now. If I with my barely enhanced hearing heard that then these monsters definitely did too.

“What did you say child?” the trio asked as one in a disturbingly childlike tone as they focused all their attention on him. Chen Ping shriveled under their stares then looked to Xing and Zixin and seemed to gather his nerves. “I said what are you?” He repeated a tad more forcefully.

“You speak with fake courage and hide behind false help. Today you have erred we will feast on your flesh and drink from your blood and your bones will keep us company for centuries till they turn to dust.” Their word spoken In tandem were eerie and disturbing and Chen Ping made no move to answer. With no response the trio of monsters with the face of children moved in for the kill. Xing looked to Zixin and saw that he wasn’t making a move to stop them only watching Xing.

When the monsters continued to advance and Zixin remained motionless Xing finally acted but it was in a way neither Wei nor Chen Ping expected. He laid down his favored sword on the boat and floated upward to hover between Chen Ping and the trio of abominations. “Do you seek to fight us child? Are you also full of false courage to challenge us?”

“No I wouldn’t dare face the Three Children, even if I cultivated for a thousand years. I know I am nowhere near your equal, even stalling you for an instance is beyond me but Senior Zixin on the other hand is another story. He has been entrusted to guide me and keep me safe by my seniors at the Supreme Sword Sect and will do so regardless of who he faces. I say this not as a threat but as a plea. He is young barely a newborn in your eyes please spare him.” Xing said his voice soft and humble.

It was the first time Wei felt a sliver of admiration for Xing. Since he had met the two cultivators Xing had always seemed to Wei a petty and foolish old man but seeing the depth of his loyalty to Chen Ping since he was a fellow member of the Supreme Sword Sect was surprising. I guess he has some good qualities after all standing up to the Three Children, If worse comes to worse and they decide to kill us can Zixin take them?

“Xing speaks the truth the child has just left the mortal world and is uneducated, on my behalf let the child live. We have known each other for a long time how about a small favor between friends?” Zixin said.

“Zixin we hold a small degree of respect for you. We will gift him his life.” Said the Three Children in sync making Xing sigh in relief, his relief however was cut short by the Three Children’s condition.

“However no slight to us can go unpunished even animals know this . A youngling like this with no sense of caution and instinct and even less manners will die sooner or later. As his elders we will give him something to remember us and our lessons by. In honor of his fellow disciple who pleaded on his behalf we shall make the punishment fitting. Give us an arm. NOW!” They hissed.

Chen Pings face quickly went ashen not knowing what to do. “What hand will it be Chen Ping?” Asked Xing “I know that cutting off your own hand is something you don’t possess the resolve to do at the moment. I will do it for you. You should bite down on something.”

Chen Ping shook his head back and forth quickly not understanding or accepting what was happening. “Brother Xing I thought you said we were a righteous sect who slayed monsters, these creatures are monsters. They feast on human flesh and drink blood. They are completely evil. Why? Why? WHY DO WE NOT KILL THEM? Why not get senior Zixin to do it if you can’t. At least we sho─”

His rambling was cut off as Xings sword exited the sheath fired a sword light and cut his left arm straight off in one smooth motion cauterizing it in the process. The disgusting smell of cooked human flesh made itself known to Wei for the first time and he forced down the vomit in his throat lest he attract the attention of the Children to himself.

The gut wrenching scream that followed from Chen Ping was so horrible that even Wei felt some sympathy for him. “The price has been paid are we free to leave?” Zixin asked.

“Of course now that they price has been paid you may be on your way. We just came to greet you and catch up a bit but it seems you’re busy. Perhaps next time, but remember you can observe only for a day after that you have to leave.”

Zixin nodded and the boat flew into the smoke without even a smudge. The last thing Wei heard was the Three Children debating whether it would be worth it to split the small arm in three and lamenting how sharing would be easier if they had the whole of Chen Pings body instead of a piece.

The boat quickly flew through the bog – like smoke. No one could see anything due to the smoke but Zixin clearly knew the path and navigated the boat smoothly the entire way. With no warning the boat burst out of the smoke into an empty garden right in the center of the grove. From the inside of the smoke looking out Wei realized that he could see the outside perfectly. It was as if no smoke existed at all. The surrounding environment was much larger than it seemed from the outside.

When the boat landed Zixin quickly disembarked in a hurry. “Wei, Xing you can find any spot you like and meditate see if you can gain any type of understanding. The sun is about to rise and when it does our time starts we will have until midnight to make any gains. You can go wherever you want but be back here by midnight. Leave Chen Ping in the boat and he will be safe.”

Not like I can go far, guess I’ll stay in the boat too.

Zixin flew out of the boat and into the night sky heading to parts unknown. Xing quickly flew after him and within a few seconds Wei could see them no longer.

Wish I could fly away and find a quiet place to meditate on this awesome place. Even now I can feel something powerful and enticing pulling at my senses and mental qi. I’m getting a feeling of curiosity and eagerness from my mental qi. It doesn’t seem dangerous so I’ll give it a try.

Mind made up Wei sat cross – legged in the lotus position and attempted to meditate. An hour later he was still trying. Why do I keep on failing? Last time I entered deep meditation without even realizing it and now I can’t even do basic meditation with the help of whatever is calling to me.

The sun came out in its majestic splendor and lit up the grove bringing with it a new kind of beauty. The surrounding flora and fauna seemed to come alive in a completely different but just as unique way as the night. When two more hours passed Wei decided to try to take a break and think about why he couldn’t seem to meditate.

I need to be calm and relaxed. Not distracted but not focused either. I need to find a balance and just be.

To his annoyance he found that he couldn’t be relaxed because of small annoyances. The sun would hit him from a glaring angle causing his eyes to sting and for sweat to flow, other times the wind blew strongly and stirred up the scent of Chen Pings drying blood. Knowing that he couldn’t meditate in his current environment Wei got up with a grimace and slowly hobbled away into the woods of the grove. In the last few days his illness had gradually been making its reappearance with a vengeance and he could scarcely walk.

Although he was slow and his feet constantly ached Wei eventually left behind the boat and found a small clearing with a single huge oak tree in the center. A small stream flowed nearby and a gentle breeze breathed life into the scenery.

Know this is a place to meditate.

Wei was about to randomly sit down in the clearing when his natural laziness flared its head. Who says you have to endure heat to meditate and gain some enlightenment?! I think that I should follow the example of Buddha and meditate under the tree until I achieve some results.

In the ancient text Wei had read the Buddha was a powerful cultivator in the Golden Era who some claimed had surpassed Immortality and attained godhood. The difference was not expounded on in most books but in most written counts Wei had found out that the reason that Buddha had impressed and awed so many and been labeled a god was because he had completed a never before seen feat in the Enlightened Realm. Supposedly one day while on his path to find true enlightenment and gain true understanding of the universe the mortal who would later be called Buddha (already a master of deep meditation) had meditated under a legendary Bodhi tree. For seven days and seven nights he meditated and on the eighth day he woke up as an immortal. Because he ascended immediately afterwards no one knew how he did it and the only remaining clue, the Bodhi tree disappeared.

Ever since reading that book Wei had wondered whether it could possibly be true. Sure there were Buddhist monks who believed it, even Zixin probably did but could Buddha’s story actually be real? Could Buddha accomplish in seven days and nights what it took talented geniuses centuries to accomplish?

Regardless of the answers Wei used the excuse of testing the theory to rest under the large oak tree. Well you’re no Bodhi Tree but I guess you’ll suffice. If I gain enlightenment and become immortal here you’ll be legendary too.

With a tired yawn Wei leaned against the oak tree and relaxed as the shade mercifully shielded him from the cruel rays of the sun. Thinking of Buddha’s story who was supremely compassionate made Wei almost want to bring Chen Ping over under the shade as well. Considering how quickly the grove had turned from chilly to sweltering Chen Ping’s unconscious and wounded body must have been suffering greatly but in the end he decided against it. Not only did Wei not like Chen Ping due to his attitude but he simply couldn’t be bothered to waste his piddling amount of strength to drag over someone who disliked him.

Remember I’m here to meditate. I need to stop having all these distracted thoughts. Wait that’s it!

Last time when he had entered deep meditation he had also allowed his thoughts to roam. Only with a free and wandering mind is there a slight chance at something clicking and entering deep meditation. This time I have to focus on my mental qi and follow it back to the source of the sensation.

At first his idea of letting his mind wander had the opposite effect and he constantly thought about it leading to nothing happening but then after a while he found himself feeling ‘aware’ of himself as if he was floating on drifting clouds. It felt like he was inspecting himself from the outside looking in.

This must be deep meditation. How intriguing. Immediately Wei brought out his mental qi and directed it in the direction of the sensation. The moment the mental qi started heading in that direction Wei felt something click in his mind as if he knew something had been activated or some condition fulfilled.

A gigantic suction force from the source pulled vigorously on Weis mental qi and dragged it miles away in a few seconds. The connection between Wei and his mental qi snapped like a taut string but instead of separating Wei’s consciousness stayed with the bit of mental qi lingering on inside of it. Finally hundreds of miles away in a cave the mental qi came to a stop in front of a large mirror that glittered like stars at night.

Why is a mirror the source of the pull? Although he didn’t understand what it was intended for Wei urged his mental qi towards the mirror. With a sudden jerk the mirror absorbed the sliver of mental qi and Wei alongside it.

As he was entering the mirror Wei saw a bright shining light like a thousand suns that seared into his eyes and made him feel like his brain would melt out of his ears. He instantly closed the ‘eyes’ of his consciousness and waited in pain for the burning sensation to wear off.

When he opened his eyes after he was sucked in the mirror he was once more in the grove far away from the cave the mirror was located in but this time it wasn’t daytime it was night. And while the stars above glittered it wasn’t with their normal light instead everyone one of them was the color of blood.