Chapter 4: Sudden Peril

At the break of dawn, the relentless rain finally ceased.

Glistening dewdrops clung to the leaves, gently sliding off and falling. The wind caught them in mid-air, guiding their graceful arcs before they struck Zhang Xiaofan’s face.

The cold jolted Zhang Xiaofan from his dream. He opened his eyes, instinctively calling out, “Master…” But he found himself alone, with only Lin Jingyu lying beside him, deep in slumber.

It felt like a fleeting dream.

But the broken temple in the distance and the sleeping companion at his side confirmed that it was all too real.

He stood there, dazed for a while, shaking his head, then walked over to Lin Jingyu and nudged him forcefully. Lin Jingyu mumbled a few words, slowly waking up. As he rubbed his eyes, he felt a chill, shivering as he sneezed.

Blinking, he saw that both he and Zhang Xiaofan were soaked, lying beneath a pine tree. “Aren’t we supposed to be sleeping at home? How did we end up here?”

Zhang Xiaofan shrugged, “I don’t know, but I’m freezing. Let’s go back!”

Lin Jingyu had many questions, but the cold was undeniable. Nodding, they both rose and ran back to the village.

Before they reached the village, something was amiss. Normally, villagers would be up and about, but today, it was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. And there was a faint, sickening smell of blood carried by the morning breeze.

They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and doubt. They quickened their pace, heading toward the village. Soon, they reached the village entrance. Looking in, they saw the entire village, men, women, and children, lying lifeless on the ground, blood pooling around them, flies buzzing.

Overwhelmed by the horrifying scene, they screamed and fainted.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xiaofan awoke with a start, sitting up, gasping for air, his hands trembling. His mind was filled with terrifying visions of monstrous faces and pools of blood, a nightmare come to life.

Collecting himself, he looked around. He was in a simple room, two small windows, sparse and clean furnishings. A large bed took up half the room, with four bunks. One, where he lay, was disheveled, as if someone had just been sleeping there. The other two were neatly made.

Above the bunks, a scroll hung, inscribed with a single character:

Dao!

This seemed like a common inn room or a shared chamber for disciples learning the Dao.

Sitting for a while, Zhang Xiaofan couldn’t help but think: Was everything from last night just a nightmare? Maybe he had been here all along, and stepping outside, his mother would scold him affectionately, “You little lazybones!”

He got off the bed, put on his shoes, and walked toward the door. It was slightly ajar, a cool breeze wafting in through the crack.

As he approached, his heart pounded, his breath held. Reaching the door, he hesitated, then with a firm grip, pulled it open.

The bright light flooded in, making him squint. The warm sun bathed him in its gentle rays.

But his heart sank into an icy pit.

Outside, a small courtyard with a few pines and cypresses, and a few clusters of fragrant flowers. A corridor led out to the yard, and a few steps connected the yard and the corridor.

On one of the steps sat a lone child, staring blankly, motionless.

Startled by the sound, the child turned, revealing Lin Jingyu.

Zhang Xiaofan’s mouth gaped, a thousand questions in his mind, but he remained silent.

Tears silently slid down his cheeks as the two children stared at each other in mute understanding.

In the distance, birds sang sweetly, the sky a deep azure, dotted with white clouds.

Zhang Xiaofan sat on the other side of the steps, head bowed, looking at the stone path in the courtyard. Silence reigned.

After a long while, Lin Jingyu spoke, “I woke up earlier. There were others in the room. They told me we are on Azure Ethereal Conclave’s Heaven Peak.”

“Azure Ethereal Conclave…” Zhang Xiaofan murmured.

“They said some passing disciples from Azure Ethereal Conclave found us in the village… in the village…” Lin Jingyu’s voice choked. Rubbing his eyes, he continued, “They found us and brought us here.”

“What do we do now, Jingyu?” Zhang Xiaofan asked, without looking up.

“I don’t know,” Lin Jingyu replied sadly.

Before they could say more, a stranger’s voice called from behind, “Ah! You’re awake?”

Turning, they saw a young Taoist in a blue robe, standing with an air of vigor. He approached, “Our masters wish to see you. Please follow me.”

The two exchanged a look, then stood up. Lin Jingyu said, “Please, lead the way, Brother.”

The young Taoist nodded, “Follow me.”

They followed him out of the courtyard, into a longer, grander circular corridor. Red pillars stood every ten feet, and between each pair of pillars was an archway.

As they walked, they noticed each archway led to a similar courtyard, clearly the living quarters of Azure Ethereal Conclave disciples. There must have been hundreds of such courtyards, a testament to the conclave’s vast numbers.

Finally, they reached the end of the corridor, facing a towering white wall with a massive wooden gate, easily thirty feet high. The young Taoist, seemingly unimpressed, led them through the gate.

Stepping out, the boys gasped, awestruck by the scene before them.

It was a breathtakingly vast square, paved with gleaming white marble, making them feel small. Distant clouds, like gossamer, floated below.

In the center of the square, nine enormous bronze cauldrons were arranged in three rows, spaced evenly. Light smoke rose from them, carrying a clear, refreshing scent.

“Follow me,” the young Taoist said, smiling. “This is the Cloud Sea, one of the Six Scenic Wonders of Azure Ethereal Conclave. Ahead lies the Rainbow Bridge.”

Lin Jingyu asked, “What’s that?”

The Taoist pointed, “The Rainbow Bridge.”

Peering ahead, they saw a luminous object in the distant mist. They quickened their pace, hearing the sound of water and occasional thunder-like noises.

As they neared, the mist parted, revealing a stone bridge suspended in the air, extending from the square into the clouds, a dragon leaping into the sky. The bridge shimmered in the sunlight, a dazzling rainbow connecting heaven and earth.

“Come,” the Taoist said, leading them onto the bridge.

As they stepped on, they saw water cascading on either side, crystal clear, yet the middle remained dry. The sun cast colors, creating a brilliant rainbow.

“You must be careful,” the Taoist warned, “the bridge spans an abyss. Fall, and there’s no return.”

Startled, the boys carefully walked, marveling at the bridge’s beauty.

The bridge led to the top of Heaven Peak, where the Jade Purity Hall of Azure Ethereal Conclave stood. Surrounded by ethereal mist, it was a vision of celestial splendor.

As they descended, the bridge curved, ending at a clear green pond. From within the hall, the sounds of Daoist chants drifted, and the strange noises grew louder.

Suddenly, a roar echoed from the pond, followed by a huge whirlpool. A massive, five-yard-tall creature emerged, dragon-headed and lion-bodied, with gleaming scales and sharp fangs. Its appearance was terrifying.

The young Taoist, prepared, levitated backward, while the boys were drenched by the spray.

“Fear not,” the Taoist said, “this is the Water Qilin, a mythical beast tamed by our ancestor, Master Qingye. It has been a guardian of our conclave for centuries, known as the Spirit Lord.”

The Qilin glanced at them, snorted, and settled down, basking in the sun.

The Taoist gestured for them to continue, explaining, “We must go to the Jade Purity Hall.”

They walked up the wide stone steps, seeing the golden signboard above the grand hall. Inside, the hall was bathed in light, with the Three Pure Ones enshrined in regal splendor.

Dozens of people, both clergy and laymen, stood in the hall. Seven large sandalwood chairs were placed, six occupied, one empty.

And so, the two boys, still shaken by the day’s events, stepped forward, entering a world of ancient magic and mystery.