Leaving A Legacy

Subo looked much the same as the last time Ren had seen him. Still bald, muscular, and jovial, but here in his home, in the monastery setting, he gave off an entirely different image. Ren couldn’t exactly identify why, but Subo looked like an integral part of the monastery.

‘This sensation of weight he gives off, it’s like he belongs here as much as that rock garden or that vibrant tree.’ Ren tried and failed to put words to his gut instinct.

As much as he wanted to ask questions and find out the details of the fight he was being invited to, he surprised himself when his first reaction was to laugh and agree easily. Even Hua looked shocked at his normally paranoid brother agreeing without a second thought.

Ren clasped hands and bowed in greetings to his friend. They exchanged pleasantries as they began walking, where Ren introduced Hua.

Finally Hua couldn’t wait any longer and asked with a mix of frustration and eagerness, “So, where are we going, Monk Subo?”

Subo patted his stomach and said, “First to the Refectory for a meal. As Master says, never fight on an empty stomach and never make important decisions on a full one. Then if you still wish to accompany me, we will head on the patrol mission. I call it a patrol, but the reports say that there is definite demonic activity in that region.”

He turned to Ren and said slightly apologetically, “I wanted to meet you as soon as possible, but I was given this mission at the last instant. So I thought I might accomplish both by asking you to join. I don’t mean to endanger your lives, so I would understand if you wish to see more of the monastery instead today.”

Ren, who was already ecstatic at the thought of a proper meal, was further infected by Subo’s jovial attitude and said, “Nonsense! A man cannot take back his words so lightly! Let’s go kill some demons. Right, Hua?”

Hua’s mouth had dropped open as he wondered when his brother became so bloodthirsty. But Ren could tell he wasn’t the only one who had been feeling severely cooped up on the transport sword during the month-long journey. Hua quickly recovered and readily agreed, as his hand twitched towards the sword on his back, an unconscious gesture Ren had come to recognize as anticipation for a good fight.

They were led to a long hall filled with low tables. Inside, the aroma of a mild incense enhanced their hunger as it mingled pleasantly with the scent of food. The tables were occupied by numerous young monks shoveling food into their mouths as if it would be snatched from their hands at any moment. But when Ren noticed what it was that everyone was eating, his distress was immeasurable and his morning was ruined. For he could only see porridge and nothing else.

Ren was someone who prepared multiple dishes for even his regular meals. After eating nothing but rations for weeks and even fasting pills towards the end when he realized there weren’t any stops to rest, his first hot meal was to be porridge? Not even a little meat or any accompaniments? Ren finally remembered that even if it was a sect full of cultivators, they were still monks who preferred simple fare. Subo took one look at his face and struggled to stifle his laughter, saying,

“I know exactly how you feel, Daoist Ren! Not long ago, I had much the same expression on my own face!” He said between muffled gasps.

Hua was already sitting down and reaching for a bowl being offered to him. Ren broke out of his stupor when Hua let out a loud noise of appreciation before he too began to shovel porridge into his mouth. Lured by curiosity, Ren joined him.

The familiar aroma was enough to whet his appetite, and he lifted his first bite to eat. The pleasant rush of qi that rushed through him completely erased the mental exhaustion from the previous night! The ingredients used to make the food must have been heavily suffused with qi to provide such an effect. Before he realized it, his bowl was empty. His stomach felt disproportionately full from the single bowl, and even as he looked around, he didn’t see anyone offering another. Ren didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at longing for a second bowl after all his initial cynicism.

The rules of the monastery being as strict as they were, the three of them had to leave after a single bowl. Subo was an excellent guide who pointed out interesting places, provided humorous anecdotes and conversation, and, as Ren later realized, kept them carefully away from any disciples of the Celestial Instruments Sect. For all his easygoing mannerisms, it shouldn’t be forgot that Subo was a rare talent nurtured by the monastery. One who clearly possessed great social skills and tact along with martial strength.

Which was why Ren found it strange that many surrounding monks so often failed to hide disapproving expressions whenever they noticed Subo. Then he remembered from their first meeting that Subo was also one who continuously challenged the Monastery’s laws, even to the point where he ate meat, something forbidden to the monks. The attempts to discipline him had missed the mark and instead led Subo to an epiphany and being chosen as an elder’s disciple.

Knowing it was a sensitive subject, Ren didn’t want to mention it. They got to talking about what the monastery’s missions consisted of. According to Subo, they usually served to guide and serve communities. They often provided aid after disasters and eliminated threats. Unfortunately for them, the biggest issue they faced was the demonic scourge that was particularly strong in their lands.

Though Ren had never encountered it for himself, he had heard of corrupted qi infecting creatures, turning them into demonic beings. Apparently they were very different from regular spirit beasts, which only followed their natural instincts. Through increasing the strength of their bloodlines, they gained intelligence and power. There were even legends of spirit beasts attaining human form! Demonic beings, on the other hand, were maddened and violent.

They could gain great power simply through absorbing large quantities of corrupted or demonic qi, but they sacrificed their minds. But Subo taught him that crazed demonic beings were only following a different set of instincts. A few of them could possibly regain control and transform into true devils, demonic beings of immense power. Holding them back was one of the monastery’s greatest responsibilities.

As they talked, Subo led them through confusing paths, twisting and winding, but always towards an enormous pagoda. It was made in a different style, but it was even more impressive than the one they had in the outer sect back home. When they finally arrived, they had to crane their necks to see the top of the stately building. Subo waved his token to one of the many attendants in the busy hall of the pagoda and indicated they should do the same.

Ren and Hua presented their guest tokens, which were carefully examined. The monk glanced at them repeatedly while he made a note and then proceeded to guide them to the 3rd floor. The ever-present use of incense varied as they climbed the beautifully carved wood stairs, leading Ren to wonder if there was any hidden meaning or purpose behind the choices. The effect of the incense on the 3rd floor was invigorating.

“Here is the teleportation array. You may use the 5th cabin, which has been keyed to your destination.” The attendant said before bowing and departing. Ren didn’t hear anything after 'teleportation array’.

“Teleportation!! I have read of such things, but I never expected to see it with my own eyes!” He had already begun to activate his eye technique to examine the workings closely before he detected the warning of an unknown danger that built rapidly. Having long since learned to trust these instincts, Ren froze and halted his technique.

Subo rather unhelpfully remarked, “Oh yes, don’t try to examine the arrays. You might be harmed by the many layers of security that protect them.”

Oblivious to Ren’s annoyance, he continued, “This is one of the Monastery’s treasures. It is what permits us to deploy aid everywhere in our territory. Or maybe it’s the other way around and our territory is determined by the array’s range. I’ve asked many times but no one would tell me anything. Hundreds of disciples use this array every day, but no one knows anything about it. Isn’t it amusing?”

‘No, it’s not funny! This must be a treasure formation on the same level as our sect’s great formation that creates spatial storage devices! Its secrets would naturally be protected! I’m just glad I stopped before I trespassed or I might have been struck dead!’ Ren felt a chill as he realized just how close he came to disaster simply because no one warned him in time.

‘Truly, ignorance is the greatest crime!’

They entered the appointed cabin, and it sealed seamlessly behind them. The room was absolutely covered in obscured arrays, and only a large circle on the floor was visible. The three of them exchanged glances and followed Subo to step inside. His token was tapped onto a hidden section of the wall near them, which lit up with mysterious symbols, some kind of spatial coordinate system.

A hum began to build. Just before it activated, Ren thought he detected a strange pull. It didn’t affect him in any way and instead gave the feeblest pull on the karmic strands inside his dantian in a certain direction. Before he could even think of what it could mean, he was whisked away.

---

They had been hiking through the thick forest for a few hours already. After the teleportation array dropped them off inside a small but sturdy stone compound, they met with the waiting village head who had called for aid. Subo received further details and a direction to travel in for his patrol and demon-slaying mission.

Throughout the hike he told the stories of his past hunts, which were very different from hunting spirit beasts. It was less about careful tracking requiring great attention to detail and more about following a trail of destruction with a guaranteed tough fight at the end of it. The difficulty came in needing specialized knowledge to combat the unique corrupted beasts. Even the wounds inflicted by them could linger for days, resisting healing and spreading infections.

In turn, Hua shared his more diverse mission beyond the sect. Unlike Ren, who never strayed too far from his spirit herbs and plants, which needed rigorous monitoring and situationally adaptive care, Hua preferred to venture far into the unknown. His tales sounded more like a humble hero who arrived, solved problems with a flick of his sleeve, and vanished without requiring praise or reward. Subo was just as fascinated with their stories as they were with his.

Soon they encountered a stretch of dead or dying trees and foliage. The qi that pervaded the area felt sick to his senses, and it began attempting to burrow inside him of its own volition. The qi was too weak to penetrate their natural defense caused by the qi flowing through their bodies, but it felt slimy and disgusting nevertheless.

Subo had assured them that unless they faced a corrupted beast tyrant of the core formation realm, they would be fine. He even had special medicine in case of emergencies. They picked up their pace and followed the trail until they encountered thicker miasma. They came to a dead patch of land at the center of which a crack in the ground was venting demonic qi, befouling its surroundings.

Emerging from the thick mists was a colossal boar. It had strange, off-putting growths all over its back, and its fur was scabby and reeking of foul odors. The three exchanged glances and grinned at each other.

Subo proclaimed, “Back home, I was known for knocking out pigs with a single slap! This one little thing should be no trouble.”

Ren was about to throw out a boast of his own when a shrill squeal pierced his ears. Before their eyes, the boar’s skin split open into tens of gaping pores, and from each one emerged dozens of foul little piglets that fell the not insignificant distance to the ground.

Hua drily commented, “I think this will take more than one slap.”

Hundreds of the monstrous offspring got to their feet undeterred and then with a collective squeal began to hurl themselves at their foes, trying to bury them in numbers!