Lord Shadow

The Three Devils of Han believes that Sword God is some ancient swordsman who have broken through the coils of mortal life and coupled with vague words that come out from Azief words, they mistakenly believe that Azief is coming to the Temple of Xi to ascend to become an Immortal

The Three Devils of Han would not believe such story of Immortals and Gods, and Demons a few years ago.

But they have witnessed the miracle that is the Sword God. In this world, the Sword God truly has no match. He did not even need to use sword to kill people.

There is also that two sword strike that cut the head of the Emperor thousands of miles away

There are many things in this world that could not be explained and one of them is the Sword God prowess that seems to reach the level of power described in ancient text when describing Immortals and Demons.

Azief knew that they got a wrong impression of him but he was too lazy to explain it to them and they did not need to know about the larger worlds beyond their worlds.

Without strength, it would be just a tall tale since they could not break through it. But Xi Feng knows it is not like that.

But even his knowledge is limited.

Unlike the Three Devils of Han who believes that Azief is a powerful martial artist that has broken the limit and was about to ascend, Xi Feng believes his teacher is a bona fide True Immortals from the Heavens and that he had crash into this world and as he recuperated he is preparing to go back

Out of the two, Xi Feng was the closest to the truth.

Azief did not like deceiving his disciple so he left a gift for him.

When and if he reaches a level of power where his disciple could reach the stars and step into the vast universe outside the Three Thousand Worlds, Xi Feng would know his true identity and at that time, he could choose whether to still acknowledge him as his teacher or forge his own path across the starry universe.

But for now, he writes it in paper. And he even carved some of his teaching on the back hills of the Temple

He considers it as repayment. Maybe some of the monks would find the parts of this martial arts he had created and learns it

He decided to create a fortuitous encounter.

Maybe there will be a person lucky enough to see the martial arts he inscribed on the back of the hills and become a mighty character in this world

If such thing happens, Karma would be formed between that person and him. But unlike most of the time where that burden is a burden to him, this Karma would be advantageous to him

Azief is completing his supreme manuals inside his room and in that five days, he also talks to the Abbot and ask him about the flute.

It is his other objective to come to the Temple.

He had long read about the flute that was regarded as myths and legends but as Azief saw the peculiarities of the Temple, he believes that the flute exits.

It was then that the Abbott said to him that when he is ready, he could talk to him about the Flute.

There is a hint in the Abbot words. Azief ponders about it and he thinks that maybe the Abbot knows who he is. Or more accurately what he is.

That he is not from this world.

And today is that day. The wind blows gently and the cold wind did not blow that cold today. All in all, today is a good day.

It is ironic that most of the sad things that happen in his life always happen in a good day

He had express his intention to his disciple and the Three Devils. This time, he had left the wheelchair.

Down below, there is still many martial artist waiting underneath the foot of the mountain, not sensing at all that today something momentous that would change their world would happen

Azief take a deep breath, feeling a premonition in his heart that today is his last day. He looks behind him and he saw his disciple and the Three Devils of Han.

From the expression on their faces they all could feel that today is the day that he would leave this world.

Azief smiles a bit

‘It is a good thing I drink with them last night’ he thought to himself.

Last night as they drink and laugh, Azief felt like he was back on top of that cold mountain of the Five Elements and there is a bitter feeling in his heart

He remembers how Xi Feng would hunt some rabbits and roasted it for him, tending to him and sometimes laugh as he found himself not understanding some sword moves.

He remembers the Three Devils of Han sorrows for the fate of their family and felt happy when seeing them slowly find another path to live on now that their revenge has been fulfilled.

As he comes closer to his end of journey, for a moment his memory flashback to last night

He drinks three cups of wine last night. Even a thousand cup could not make him feel drunk but three cups are enough last night

The first cup is for the farewell for the years that are lured by sand and dust. As he drinks his first cup he put down the drink and finish the dishes and he felt a bittersweet feeling.

When he returns to his Earth who else going to replace his dishes and pour him his drink? Doing all that with a willing heart is only his disciple, Xi Feng.

The lantern in the Temple slowly were shut off and they still drink. Azief raise his cup again and he said farewell to the wind that passes him by

As he drinks that second cup of wine, the sound of Pipa wander across the silent night inside the city of Monks. The Pia Wander came and play his melody to send him off.

Azief smiles and laugh. Under the pale moonlight, the sight of him laughing look like he was in a deep sorrow, a sorrow and solitude no one in the world could understand.

He put down his second cup of wine and enjoy the sorrowful melody of parting and then he raises his cup again.

He took the final cup, close his eyes and felt the dust of this life slowly fades away from him. Three cups of wine to leave this world behind.

The wind blows again and Azief opens his eyes.

His eyes are now filled with determination.

‘I’m going back home’ he muttered to himself

He took his steps slowly and went to the Abbot Hall.

As he walks to the Hall, none of the grandmaster or the Eighteen Saints of the Temple stop him. They waited around the Hall, not moving, only waiting.

Azief arrives in front of the Abbot and express his desire. The Abbot was not surprised as he got up.

It seems to him that the Abbot have been waiting for him. He sighed and break his meditation and look peacefully at him

The Abbot shook his head and sighed again, and his face seems old of a sudden. From the moment he asks the Abbot to see the flute, this Abbot have been waiting for him.

‘Let us fulfil this Karma’ the Abbot said to him. Hearing this Azief could only chuckle. He was right, he thought to himself. Then he nodded in agreement and reply

‘Let’s go’ He then follows the Abbot slowly moving away from the many halls of the Temple. As he walks, his disciple and the Three Devils of Han took a large distance from them.

Azief and the Abbott did not want them to hear what they were saying. And the four of them knew not to eavesdrop. So, even though they could hear what Azief and the Abbot is saying if they use their internal energy, they do not dare.

Both Azief and the Abbot are great grandmaster of the martial arts world so they would know if they as junior in terms of attainment in martial arts and experience dare to eavesdrop on them.

The Abbot began telling Azief of the story of the temple. Azief know this story that the Abbot is about to tell him would have relations to the flute.

Azief had reads all the books inside the temple Library but that did not mean he would not welcome more information.

It might have an information that he did not know.

The Abbot told him the story of how the temple got its many mystical martial arts technique. He told the story of the Elder Monk and how he was granted a divine enlightenment by the Heavens

This Monk went down the Mountain in an arduous journey where he was tested with many things in this world and then meet the Demon Monkey that was trapped under the Five Finger Mountains or commonly known by the people as the Five Element Mountain

The Demon Monkey then taught the Monk martial arts and the Monk returns to the Temple and write the martial arts that he had learned onto a Steele.

The Abbot also told him how the Monk when he wanted to espouse on the magical side of martial arts, he was struck by lightning and turns into motes of light as his soul ascended to the Heavenly Realm

Azief hearing this story remembers one of the book he had read and just nodded. That must be the power of the sealing.

Maybe someone in the Heavenly Court had to abide by the sealing of the world and forcefully elevated that soul into the Heavenly Realm.

Or maybe the Elder Monk was struck by lightning, and his soul once again enter the cycle of reincarnation and rebirths.

Then the Monk told him the story of the Enlightened Monk.

They still waking among the Halls and the grandmaster and the Eighteen Saints of the Temple could be seen following them.

Though they were subtler than his disciple and his followers.

The Enlightened Monk understood the steel and was tasked by the Heaven to release the Demon Monkey.

Each time Azief read and heard these story, he could help but felt this story is eerily the same like the Journey of the West

Only that there is a certain detail that is different. In the Journey of the West, the Monk Tang Sanzang is the teacher of Sun Wukong.

In the story of this word, while the Demon Monkey is not directly teaching the Enlightened Monk, he could be considered the Enlightened Monk teacher considering that the Enlightened Monk learns from the Steele of the Elder Monk

And the Elder Monk learn his martial arts form the Demon Monkey which makes the Demon Monkey the grandmaster of the Enlightened Monk.

As the Abbot finish his story Azief gained a deep understanding of the Temple history and it was then that they arrived into a clearing.

The Abbot sighed and then said

‘This is the Pagoda of Bearing Evils.’

‘Pagoda of Bearing Evils?’

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