Immortal of the Ages

Xiao He's face buckled in astonishment, his eyes momentarily contemplating a desperate escape from their sockets. He was, after all, a man of the Forbidden Tower, a harbinger of execution orders. Who in their right mind would dare lay a hand on him?

But the cry that came left no room for such wondering. "I won't shoot the messenger. So, you can keep your life and scram!" The voice, robust and imperious, wove a tempest that struck Xiao He’s form, repelling him with unforgiving force.

BAM! He tumbled, a second spray of blood painting the air, his form spiraling beyond the grand entrance of Sword Heaven, just as gracefully as a discarded doll.

A cascade of eyes, as if bound by an invisible tether, all landed on one—a man in gray robes.

Yun Xiao blinked at the spectacle, threads of bewilderment embroidering his expression. His gaze affixed itself upon a figure—a robust back adorned with chaotic white hair, a man of bare feet and simple garments, cradling a jug of wine as voluminous as a pot.

GULP GULP! The man drank, viscous liquid spilling down his chin, anointing him in an impromptu baptism. He turned around, the wine navigating paths into his mouth and down his neck with equal measure.

That face—a middle-aged man of grey-white beard, eyes misted yet harboring an indomitable aura swirling within—presented a perplexing picture.

“The Sword Lord?”

Exclamations were draped in shock, echoing amidst the abode of Sword Heaven. Yun Xiao’s voice barely a whisper, “Sword Lord of Sword Heaven?”

Was this not the man whose wife, Xiao Yu, alongside the Forbidden Tower, had audaciously sentenced Yun Xiao to death? And here he stood, in defiance of the Forbidden Tower Death Decree, nonchalantly flinging Xiao He from the lofty gates of Sword Heaven.

“What does this mean?”

"Lin Qingfeng? Have you gone mad?" Xiao Yu's visage was a tight tapestry of rage and disbelief, her voice a thin, venomous hiss. "Did the Forbidden Tower Death Decree escape your ears?"

SMACK! Her words hadn't fully dissipated when the grey-robed figure materialized before her, a slap etching a stark imprint upon Xiao Yu’s cheek.

THUD! She collapsed, her mind a cacophony of hums and echoes, face ablaze with both heat and swelling.

"Woman, what do you actually know,?" His voice was cold, measured, as he nonchalantly lifted the jug for another mouthful.

The assembly of Sword Heaven gawked, visibly staggered, more so than after that first slap. After all, wasn’t the Sword Lord supposed to be so utterly whipped by his wife…? Swift, accurate, ruthless—that slap spoke volumes.

"Mother!" Lin Lin, her thoughts reeling, stared, blinking through disbelief.

The youth with the sword on his back, Lin Chen, hastily moved to cradle his mother, dark clouds billowing in his eyes.

"Lin Qingfeng... How dashing,” Ning Yan murmured, her heart fluttering in thrilled approval, “serving justice one slap at a time."

"Lin Qingfeng!" Xiao Yu’s voice was a mix of aggrieved, enraged sobs. "What is this nonsense? Assaulting Xiao He, striking me; do you intend to wage war on the Forbidden Tower for this so-called prodigy? You're seeking death, but not everyone in Sword Heaven shares that desire!”

“Dad! There must be some mistake, this man only has a high-grade Sword Soul, he can’t even handle one strike from my Brother Chu. Having only Sword Soul talent means, at best, that his Sword Soul is somewhat strong. It cannot compare to Dao Seed Talent, can it?” Lin Lin spoke, tears streaming down her cheeks, an epitome of wronged innocence.

“Sword Lord, this…” The other Great Sword Venerables and elders of Sword Heaven were also rather befuddled. Peace had reigned over the Sea of Swords for quite a time. A declaration of war? Factional warfare? Such thoughts had scarcely crossed the minds of many.

Everyone was baffled, gazing perplexedly at the grey-robed Sword Lord.

The tipsy man, grey-robed and white-haired, beckoned to Yun Xiao, staggered over to him, and casually slung an arm around his shoulder.

BURP! A bout of drunken belching ensued. “To issue a Forbidden Tower Death Decree and swagger about within my Sword Heaven—do you mean to piss all over my face?”

BANG! The Sword Lord furiously smashed his wine jug on the ground, scattering fine liquor in every direction, its fragrance permeating the air. “Damn it! You’re itching for a fight, huh? Fine! I've held back enough! Let’s lay all the cards on the table! If it’s war you want, it’s war you’ll get. I, too, fancy becoming number one in the Sea of Swords!”

Silence, stark and absolute, pervaded the scene following the Sword Lord’s words.

The minds of those from Sword Heaven went numb...

Their Sword Lord had been hands-off for many years, engrossed in his cultivation.

In recent years, the relationship between Sword Heaven and the Forbidden Tower had peaked, enjoying a sort of honeymoon period. Merely through alliances by marriage alone, they'd forged ties at least a dozen times... and now to speak of war?

“Sword Lord, are you certain?” Xiao He, his face a mottled shade of blue and purple, scrambled up, teeth clenched tight. “I admit, our declaration of the Forbidden Tower Death Decree was perhaps a bit abrupt, but this was done considering the relationship between the Forbidden Tower and Sword Heaven, to prevent Sword Heaven from being destroyed over a mere criminal, shattering a century of peace in the Sea of Swords...”

“Out!” The Sword Lord, not waiting for him to finish, slapped him again. This slap, condensed from profound energy, traversed dozens of feet in an instant, crashing into Xiao He.

THUMP! Xiao He flew backward, spewing blood and rolling several times upon the ground.

“Fine! Fine!” Clawing back to his feet, Xiao He cast a ferocious glare at the folks of Sword Heaven, spinning on his heel to leave post-haste.

Many scions of the Sea of Swords' noble houses had gathered at the entrance of Sword Heaven. Seeing Xiao He essentially booted out, necks craned, faces a tableau of peculiar expressions, a hushed buzz of discussion arose amongst them.

The Forbidden Tower declared war!

Sword Heaven accepted the challenge!

This was the most stirring event in the Sea of Swords, concerning everyone.

If they truly entered into a state of war, the Sea of Swords would become a battlefield; who could isolate themselves from the chaos?

By this point, every faction and individual within the Sea of Swords was interconnected through countless ties!

BAM! The grand doors of Sword Heaven closed, a somber and murderous atmosphere unfurling within.

The Sword Lord abruptly turned, gazing at the several hundred Sword Cultivators of Sword Heaven before him, his expression solemn, voice resonating with authority: “Send the order down! From this day forth, Sword Heaven shall prepare for war with all we have!”

The Sword Cultivators before him were mentally blank.

“Did you hear me?” The Sword Lord bellowed in a stern tone.

A whisper drifted through the assembly of Sword Heaven, each member's face a mosaic of bafflement and peculiar resignation. The vibrant confluence of emotions flickered through their eyes, hurried confirmations issuing forth.

An elder, his voice a delicate tremble, spoke cautiously. "Sword Lord, might we deliberate for a moment..."

"Deliberate?" the Sword Lord's voice was a tempest barely held at bay. "To grovel before the Forbidden Tower? Does our Sword Heaven lack even the right to recruit talents with that Tower looming over us? What a spectacle! Wielding the Grand Wasteland Pact so brazenly, presuming we're all dullards! If word spreads, what face do I, Lin Qingfeng, have left?" He completed his tirade with a ferocious glare at the elder.

A sea of uneasy silence flooded the gathering.

Lin Chen, the young man bearing a sword upon his back, found his patience waning, his voice a raspy whisper. "Father, perhaps you should moderate your drinking."

This wasn’t merely a question of dignity. Sword Heaven and the Forbidden Tower moved together in a delicate dance of shared fortunes and synchronous defeat, collectively shepherding the Sea of Swords. Though the Tower could be domineering in its actions, at its root, it still regarded them as kin. Furthermore, he thought of his mother, of his little sister...

"Silence!" The Sword Lord interrupted, his hand pressing down, and Lin Chen was on his knees, his kneecaps colliding sharply with the ground.

"Father," Lin Chen’s voice was steel, yet his visage revealed the tempest within, veins surfacing on his neck, eyes ablaze with an undulating malice.

"Lin Lin." The Sword Lord’s palm, ever heavy, remained on Lin Chen. His eyes, cold, shifted toward the young girl, daintily attired in a light yellow skirt, a stern directive forthcoming. "From this day forth, you'll have no dealings with Chu Yan. Should I witness it, your legs will be shattered on the spot."

"Father, please!" Lin Lin’s voice quivered, eyes brimming.

"Or shall I break them now?" He remained unyielding.

Desperation painted Lin Lin’s features, tear-streaked and forlorn, as she clung to the elegantly dressed woman adjacent to her. "Mother, lend me your voice."

"It won't make a difference!" His glare, now focused on Madame Xiao, was ice incarnate. "You married into my Sword Heaven; our cause should be your cause. Should you extend an arm outward again, our vows shall be severed!"

"...Alright then!" Ning Yan, having listened silently beside them, concealed her inner mirth with a semblance of serenity.

Divorce! A murmur washed over the assembly, a tide of disbelief and wonder.

In every agape mouth and widened eye that fixed upon the Sword Lord, there flickered a newfound, albeit perplexed, admiration.

Memories, sharp and vivid, recalled a Sword Lord once effortlessly led by the ear by Madame Xiao, his formidable wife, in a most unceremonious retreat to their domicile. Today, he exuded an unexpected grit.

“Lin Qingfeng, this isn’t over!” Madame Xiao, eyes crimson with restrained tears and flame, delivered her threat with venom. In an abrupt whirl, she sought to abscond, intending to drag Lin Lin alongside her.

“Lin Lin stays. You go home, think about your actions,” the Sword Lord uttered, his voice a grave, immovable object.

“You’ve surely lost your mind!” Outrage simmered in Madame Xiao’s voice as she relented her grip, fearing another humiliating strike before the crowd.

“Xiao Yu shall not leave Sword Heaven, not a single step! If she does, she’s not to return!” The proclamation from the Sword Lord followed the retreating silhouette of his wife.

Madame Xiao, pausing mid-stride, curled her hands into tight fists. Her visage contorted with rage; it was as though jets of fire might burst from every orifice of her being.

The spectators multiplied, yet all were rendered mute and motionless, like a flock of wooden fowl.

Silent gazes bounced between the Sword Lord and Yun Xiao, unvoiced words hanging heavily in the air.

“Yun Xiao,” The Sword Lord turned, a genuine, fatherly smile lighting his features. “Would you consider becoming my pupil?”

“I already have a respected master in the Azure Spirit Sword Sect, Honorable Sword Lord,” Yun Xiao replied with unwavering directness.

“Ah? Who might this wise soul be to guide such a talent as you?” the Sword Lord asked, a lightness to his tone.

“Zhao Jianxing is my master,” announced Yun Xiao.

The name acted as a stone cast upon the tranquil pond of the audience, sending ripples of astonished murmurs throughout.

A synchronized shifting of eyes focused upon Ning Yan, eliciting collective nods and enlightened “ah’s” from the crowd.

Now the puzzle pieces fell neatly into place. Zhao Jianxing! A man simultaneously held in envy and contempt by the masses. Who would have imagined, after two decades and some, his name would resurface in Sword Heaven, especially in such an illustrious manner?

Ning Yan’s expression darkened. With barely controlled composure, she spoke, “The Sword Lord’s offer to make you his disciple is a blessing of three lifetimes! The Azure Spirit...it can no longer accommodate your caliber...”

“Hold your peace! To quote an old saying, ‘A day as your teacher is like being your parent forever.’ Yun Xiao, now the Young Sword Lord of Sword Heaven, and thus my heir, needs not the formalities of student and mentor. We, as Sword Cultivators, need only a shared path and belief to fight shoulder to shoulder against the world!” Eyes twinkling, the Sword Lord regarded Yun Xiao. “Am I correct?”

“Profound insight, Sword Lord!” Yun Xiao replied with sincerity.

“Henceforth, you are the Young Sword Lord of Sword Heaven, committed to our cause in this lifetime. Do you accept?” The Sword Lord extended a hand, his eyes shimmering with sincerity and unspoken promises.

Yun Xiao, the hint of a smile teasing the corner of his mouth, met the Sword Lord’s gaze, “It is my honor.”

“Well said!” The Sword Lord’s laugh was warm and hearty.

Yet, the other dwellers of Sword Heaven found their forebodings deepening.

Their eyes met one another’s in silent communication, hearts steeped in an unspeakable bitterness.

Proclaiming war against the Forbidden Tower?

Numerous among them had kin and companions within the Forbidden Tower. The entirety of the Sea of Swords was knitted tightly with complex threads of clan and companionship.

“Sword Lord,” Yun Xiao inhaled slightly, “Might I request something?”

“Speak,” the Sword Lord granted, his voice a robust and encouraging baritone.

Yun Xiao lifted his gaze, an ardent light burning within. “I ask for a Sword Tempering Pill!”

JustLivingJL's Thoughts

Do you guys believe in ghosts? I'm on the fence, but with a toe dipped in the yes pool. Why, you ask? As a kid, I apparently became a five-star hotel for the spirit of my dearly departed nanny. I was babbling nonsense and talking about things no five-year-old should know. According to my sister, this went on for about a week. My family tried all sorts of things, lighting incense, burning paper money, etc. None of it worked. It wasn't until we invited a priest over to conduct an exocorcism that I was finally released—and umm, my piss was released onto the Priest too.

Sounds far-fetched right? I think so too! But it makes a great story to tell over a few drinks. And also, that's why I consider myself somewhat attuned to the paranormal.

Fast forward to now, I've always been fascinated with the prospect of doing an actual ghost hunt. Kind of like Garrett Watts, documenting my ghoulish encounters, and vlogging about the laughs and fun along the way. One snag though—the crew I hang ou twith is more Disney and chill than ghosts and thrills.

But this Halloween, the stars aligned. I snagged a chance to explore a bona fide 'haunted house' with my buddy reluctant buddy Ryan. And guess what? I completely chickened out. The moment I stepped into that house, it was like I crossed a threshold. I immediately felt the heebie-jeebies wash over me. Every fibre of my being screamed, "Get the hell out of this place!" And Ryan? He was on the same page. We exchanged that universal nope look and skedaddled our asses out of that place without looking back.

I'm deeply ashamed. I've still got not idea if it was me psyching myself up, and it was all in my head. Or if there was actually something in that house. But I'm not about to go and find out. Lesson learned, I'm just as much of a Disney princess as the company I keep. Though, if I do ever want to try do one of these ghost hunts again, I'll make sure to record it and bring you all along. Who knows? Maybe there's courage in imaginary online numbers.

- JL, failed ghost hunter, over and out