The Tale Never Ends Chapter 182 Revisiting Fort Enigma

"It took me twenty years. I was out there, in the deep forest of the Canyon when it came to me out of the blue!" he said, immensely proud of himself, "My Windchaser magic allows me to control the ground and your father's technique allows him to control the air. Initially, I believed that as long as he's in the air, I'd not be controlled by him! Then I finally understood: whenever I run, there is always a tiny moment when both my feet are in the air! Your father had realized this when he saw me and he had been using this against me! Even before I landed, I had already fallen into your father's enchantment!" He slapped his thigh and exploded in roaring laughter.

My head nodded slowly as I wondered, "So, that would mean that the manipulation of the cosmology of the air might be a tad similar to the ground... So when Uncle Zhu Mei was running, the moment when his feet were off the ground was the very moment he was vulnerable to Father's spell!" But one would also have understood that without Zhu Mei's masterful grasp in the skills of elemental manipulation, I would never have appreciated the extent of Father's ingenuity too!

We drank and we talked for hours until we were finally stoned.

We woke up the next day to a bright and sunny day. Like the last time we were here, Zhu Mei was already up and he hurried us to travel to Fort Enigma. Knowing him, we could hardly be perturbed by him; he was a warm and caring person, despite his grisly looks. He must have guessed that Shang Pei must be expecting us too.

Edelweiss and I made full sure that the saddlebags were filled with rations and water as Zhu Mei went to the stables for our horses. But this time, he looked as if he was coming with us. He noticed my perplexed expression and cackled. "My boy, how did you think you'd be able to reach Fort Enigma last time?" My eyes widened with shock. "I see, so it was Zhu Mei who had secretly led us with his magic to make sure we found Fort Enigma the last time we came!"

Zhu Mei saw that I had realized the truth and stroked his goatee hanging from his chin. "You're a bright one, aren't ya! Come, I'll demonstrate the Windchaser while we're on the way!" And he began marching ahead.

It was an eye-opener! For the first time since encountering the Windchaser technique, we were looking from the perspective of the caster of this magic! But this fresh experience, although gratifying, was fuzzy; scenes and views swept by us with blinding speed! We zipped through curves and slopes, flatland and b.u.mpy ground with astounding speed! Before long, we saw the spires of Fort Enigma beckoning from afar. Finally, I could finally immerse myself in the enchantment and truly felt how the ground shifted under our feet and how was it to literally wield the geographical advantage of the Windchaser. The ground beneath us broke into ripples whenever we moved as if we were walking upon the still surface of a lake. Then I realized that while Zhu Mei seemed to be walking normally, ripples spread forth with every step he took and the ground beneath his feet shifted with a dazzling but indistinct blur! For the first time in my life, I actually felt how little we humans understood about the universe! Even the mere study and research of the magical manipulation of ground or air was but only one of the many secrets we humans yet to fully unveil! Such was the frame of reference that demiG.o.ds and immortals lived in!

With the portcullis of Fort Enigma just up ahead, we saw a huge group of people waiting for us. They moved towards us when they saw us but we stopped. Zhu Mei looked at me blithely, "How about you give it a go for this short distance?" My mouth was left gaping wide as I failed to find a response for that. "Come on, give it a go!" Zhu Mei said again supportively. I vaulted off my horse and stood there with my eyes closed. But I could feel nothing as yet; the ground was as dead as a log to me and I failed to actually feel the energies of the ground in my wielding. I sighed, exasperated and shook my head.

Zhu Mei placed a consoling hand on my shoulder. "It takes time! Relax! Just remember: From Nothing comes the Creation (Taiji), and from it come the Two Polarities, which in turn derives into the Four Signs (also known as the Four Symbols or Four Aspects), and the Four Signs would be further inferred as Bagua (the Eight Trigrams), which births everything in existence. Hence all things contain a force of its own. Understand it, master it, and wield it! You can do it!"

He had barely finished when a hollow voice echoed off the rocky walls of the foothills surrounding us. "Zhu Mei, I see you've begun imparting your craft!" I recognized the voice: Shang Pei, the Third of the Six Terrors and the Master of Fort Enigma!"

Shang Pei had arrived with his welcoming retinue. He laughed jovially. "Come on! Let's not prattle outside here! Let's go in!"

His son, Shang the Younger was also joyful to see us. I paid my New Year's respects to them, saying, "Happy New Year, Brother Shang! It's been a long time yet you look as spry as ever!" He smiled, bowing to us, "You are being too kind! I daresay I'd have no more good news than you!" And that made everyone hooted with laughter. The things he said might seem nothing more than sophistry and theatrics, but I could see that he sincerely meant every word.

But Shang Pei was pestering Zhu Mei. "Don't make me beg, Zhu Mei! Where's the liquor!" The thick-set bear-like girth of Shang Pei towered over Zhu Mei's stocky and dwarf-like stature, barking for Father's liquor as he flailed his voluminous sleeves. They were like the exact representation of the Two Polarities, both of them. Despite his creased and ancient face, Shang Pei must have been a handsome and dashing man himself during his younger days. Zhu Mei beckoned with also a swing of his sleeves, "All righty then! Let's drink to our heart's content!"

At the table, I produced another sealed urn of the Draught of the Drunken Deities. I slid it over to Shang Pei, whose eyes gleamed with the same frenzy and fervor of a heroin addict. Zhu Mei cackled, "I'm sure you recognized what this is!" "After our parting, I told Father about Fort Enigma and he too reminisced about the days when you were comrades," I said, "Hence he had bidden me to bring a flask of this Draught for each of you." In spite of their constant banter and bickering, I witnessed how close Zhu Mei and Shang Pei were; the latter immediately moved to fill Zhu Mei's gla.s.s before filling his own, although Zhu Mei said at once, "It's fine! I still have an urn of my own! Brother Hai had prepared enough for us both!" "But I'd sip lightly on this if I were you! Do remember that this is not your average liquor, see?" Shang Pei cradled the urn of liquor in his arms like it was a prized grandson. "Well, I'll keep this for myself then! More for me!"

"What's so special with Uncle Hai's liquor, Father?" Young Master Shang asked curiously. Even though he had no intention of coveting a share of his father's liquor, he could feel that it was definitely unusual. The two older men shared a look and chuckled. Shang Pei then tore off the seal and took a little swig. He smacked his lips as he felt the liquor blazed down his throat. "You're right that it's special! So special that only people with powerful magic truly understand how special this liquor is! This is called the Draught of the Drunken Deities! A magical brew Brother Hai made himself with his sorcery! Only those with powerful magic can withstand the force of this divine nectar and it helps enhances our powers! But if anyone with lowly magic were to take so much as a little sip of it, that person would be instantly drunk!"

Shang the Younger exclaimed with awe. Taking note of the merry mood at the table, I realized that the time was ripe. "Uncle Shang Pei," I asked, "There's something that I wish to ask you." The blunt and straightforward Shang Pei burst into a shot peal of laughter and roared, "Of course! Anything for you, my lad!" I smiled and clinked my gla.s.s with his before I burrow into the subject, "I have discovered during my adventures that Father was charged to watch the Dragon-slaying Blade many many years ago. But somehow, the Blade got missing. Is Father refusing his ascension because of this matter? And who is the person who entrusted the Blade to him? Can you tell me what actually happened? I have had numerous adventures in the last two years but everything points to the fact that somebody or some ent.i.ty is hiding behind the shadows, a hidden hand that is influencing everything around me. Do you have any idea who might that be?"

For the first time since meeting us, Shang Pei fell silent. His grip on his gla.s.s tightened uneasily, I noticed, before it relaxed again. "I have heard a little," Shang Pei admitted, "It's true. Your father was once charged to guard the Blade. But I too, do not know what happened to it. But if there is one thing I am certain of, it'll be your father's refusal to ascend into full immortality. Trust me, it has nothing to do with the hallowed sword." I shuddered. There must be more mystery and reason to Father's insistent rejection of becoming fully immortal! But I was so sure! I was so certain that it was because of the missing Blade! I knew that Father had always deemed it his mistake that the Blade was missing. Even the Blade was not lost because of him, Father would surely shoulder the blame most readily and he would be on the constant lookout for it. But was it possible that Father had continually refused full immortality because of other reasons?

As if on a cue, Shang Pei said again like he had read my thoughts, "Your father refused to ascend, because he did not need to. During the Tangshan Earthquake crisis, I had once spoken to him about this. He told me that he had long endured the Crucible before, or something of a similar manner, or so I believe. And I do. Otherwise, he would not have his current divine physical form that allows him to retain his youth. But if I'm not mistaken, he did not endure the Crucible here; he did it somewhere else. Some other alternate worlds or domains. Then I asked him if there were such things as alternate worlds. But he gave me no definite answer. But as my powers grew and my knowledge in magic deepened, I found out that it could be true. True immortals like your father possess the ability to travel freely through the mult.i.tudes of alternate universes and even the Six Paths of Samsara. I a.s.sure you, my boy, your father refused his ascension has nothing to do with the lost Blade. But I'm afraid I can tell you nothing about this hidden hand... In truth, despite our friendship, I did not know your father long. So there was quite a lot that I did not know about him..."

I nodded, indicating my understanding of his message. But what he said had opened up more questions: "What are these 'alternate universes'? Does the phrase indicate something literal or was it figuratively referring to something else? And if Father indeed had achieved full immortality, how would Master Six not realize this?"