Chapter 5: K’unlun

(Gelong-ma = Fully ordained female monk)

As I woke up on the simple mat, a stark contrast to the luxurious Amerisleep AS4 bed I was accustomed to, I called out, "Coming, Gelong-ma!" The simplicity of this life in the monastery was different from my past, it held a unique appeal.

I sat up, stretching, I pondered the idea of adopting this simpler way of life after my mission to prevent The Incursion was complete. There was something intriguing about living a life so different from the one I led as Ethan Hunt, where everything was available at my fingertips.

In my previous life, I had it all, yet I often found myself envying others. The glory and admiration were thrilling at first, but they soon became monotonous. It's a strange aspect of human nature – we chase after what we don't have, only to grow bored with it once it's within our grasp.

My thoughts are interrupted as Gelong-ma Dolma calls me again, her voice pulling me back to the present. I head downstairs to the dining area, where she's already setting the table.

"Is everything alright, Daniel? You're usually here to help me with the table. Did you sleep poorly?" she asks with genuine concern.

"I am doing good, Gelong-ma Dolma; sleep just came to me late yesterday." I quickly responded

Gelong-ma Dolma was a beacon of kindness, her gentle eyes and ever-present soft smile exuding warmth. Her sun-kissed skin bears the subtle lines of a life filled with both joy and hardship.

"I see, it happens, child. Now hurry and wash up, today is your first day at the academy."

I nodded and walked to the bathroom

Gelong-ma Dolma was a descendant of a former Iron Fist, Kwai Jun-Fan, who lived in the 1870s. His tenure as the Iron Fist was tragically cut short when he was ambushed by a mythical creature known as a Ch'i-Lin.

The Ch'i-Lin had a nefarious plan – to use Kwai Jun-Fan's chi to infiltrate K'un-Lun and consume the dragon's unhatched egg for immense power. However, its scheme was thwarted. Lei Kung, the Thunderer, along with a legion of warrior monks, had been awaiting Kwai Jun-Fan's return.

They sensed the Ch'i-Lin's deception and swiftly vanquished the creature, preserving the sanctity of K'un-Lun and the dragon's legacy.

How do I know this? Well, the perks work well and this was taught in historical class. Of Course they didn't include that she was related to him, but they did tell us little 9-year old children of how the honorable Kwai Jun-fan was ambushed by a nefarious creature.

The moment I met Gelong-ma Dolma and I was curious about why she was running an orphanage, my brain was force fed a couple paragraphs worth of information about her. It was quite weird at first, but I quickly got used to it.

Sadly, the information is merely their full name, some history about her, and then a rating of 1-10 stars how relevant she is.

Relevant to what? I don't know, but I do have some educated guesses…

"Name: Dolma Jun-Fan

History: Daughter of previous Iron Fist: Kwai Jun-Fan, currently is the director of the KunLun city of Samanera(novice) warriors, and was the surrogate mother of the original Daniel Rand and his most trusted confidant in KunLun except for Lei Kung the Thunderer.

Relevance: 3 stars

It had been approximately a year since I entered KunLun and it was only yesterday night that I gained my abilities/perks.

Though, I suppose it was ironic and poetic

It was June 18th yesterday; the day I had died in my last life. My journey had begun on the day my last life's journey ended.

I didn't fully examine anything except the "intuitive wikipedia'...

Hmm, I don't want to call it that everytime.

AH, Wiki it is. Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue, and the ladies love it.

Anyways, Wiki was the only thing that I was able to test. Nearly all of my abilities/perks are passives that help me in the background.

With the exception of soul manipulation, WHICH I AM NOT TESTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MYSTICAL CITY WITH WARRIOR MONKS ABLE TO SNUFF ME OUT LIKE A CANDLE.

There really wasn't anything that I could specifically train in to get better at.

I did want to test out my adaptation, however Gelong-ma Dolma was putting everyone to sleep and I couldn't exactly go to the bathroom and spend a few hours examining everything.

So I just waited until the next morning, it was annoying and it tested my patience, but that was a virtue that I learned not to neglect a long time ago.

Speaking of testing my patience, what the hell is that timer?

*32 minutes 59 seconds

There was a timer in the top corner of my vision, and I've been prodding at it mentally for the past couple of minutes. I have even tried to physically touch it with my hands, but it seems to be intangible.

*32 minutes 52 seconds

I quickly grabbed my Miswak, it was a cool herbal twig that everyone in Kunlun used to brush their teeth. It actually had great anti-plaque properties and pretty much everyone had a near pearly white smile because of it.

It was weird at first due to me scratching gums with it dozens of times, but I have gotten used to it. I continued using my traditional toiletries and dried my face with a towel before heading down.

I sat on the table and waited for breakfast.

Kids started to pile up and sat around the large square table, squirming and talking in hushed whispers in order to remain respectful, but failing to do so in a cute manner.

I stared at them giggling, having fun, not even the slightest gloom in their faces, it got to me.

Trillions of children; innocent and bright children were going to die. It was all up to me, I was responsible for saving them. It kept me up at night sometimes…

What if I failed? A near infinite amount of life would die… And it would be on my shoulders, it's going to be on my conscience.

All that potential of what is and what could have been will be snuffed out like a damn candle.

And that was scary.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I snapped out of it. Gelong-ma Dolma looked at me very concerned.

Shit.

I quickly smiled and looked down at my plate.

Stir-fried vegetables filling the plate, with a cut of grilled fish on the right and a piece of brown bread on the left. A small bowl of porridge accompanying a glass of milk was on the right side of the plate.

I quickly started to dig in. It was good. There wasn't any exotic burst of flavors or that exhale of breath that exhales form your nose because whatever you just ate is just that damn good.

No, it was filling. It was the food that aimed to fill you up and to make you happy because you're filled up. I liked that, I liked that alot.

*16 minutes and 28 seconds

Today was the first day of the academy and I had to be there at 9:30AM, it was 8:10AM.

I had a little over an hour to kill.

So, I stepped outside.

As I did, the ethereal beauty of K'un-Lun unfolded before me, reminding me once again why this place was often likened to heaven.

The mystical city, nestled amidst the clouds of an alternate dimension, was a breathtaking sight that never ceased to amaze me, no matter how many times I witnessed it.

The architecture of K'un-Lun was a blend of ancient Chinese designs with a celestial twist. Pagoda-style structures with upturned eaves are adorned with intricate carvings depicting dragons, phoenixes, and other mythical creatures.

The buildings were crafted from materials that seem to shimmer in the light, reflecting the city's spiritual significance and the streets were paved with stones that emit a soft, pearlescent glow, adding to the city's otherworldly charm.

As I walked through the city, the air was filled with the soft chiming of bells and the distant hum of monks chanting, creating a soundtrack that enhanced the city's serene atmosphere.

The air was crisp and rejuvenating, and I took a deep breath, savoring the sense of peace that it brought me.

Gardens filled with exotic flowers and plants that seem to defy the laws of nature are scattered throughout the city. The colors are more vibrant than anything I've seen before, with petals that glisten as if dusted with stardust.

Small streams, their waters clear and pure, meandering through these gardens, their gentle babbling a soothing presence.

The centerpiece of K'un-Lun, however, was the magnificent temple that stood at the city's heart. Its grandeur was unmatched, with golden roofs that gleam under the sun and walls that told the stories of the Iron Fists of the past.

The temple was a constant reminder of the responsibility that all citizens of KunLun were bestowed with; To protect and to preserve their utopia.

As I gazed upon the city, I understood why so many who have left yearn to return. K'un-Lun wasn't just a place; it was a sanctuary, a bastion of ancient wisdom and peace in a universe that is often anything but.

To think there were six more cities that were just as beautiful and bejeweled was crazy to me.

I paused as I heard the excited stomping of the giant cluster of small demons AKA my fellow roommates getting closer and closer.

Looking back, the kids started to filter out of the orphanage and started running about in the streets, probably going to explore.

There was no worry of stranger danger, there was not a single soul present in KunLun that would even have the thought to touch a hair on these kids.

As the children's laughter filled the air, I was struck once again by the profound purity of K'un-Lun. Watching the youngsters dart through the streets, a carefree energy in their steps, I was reminded of the stark contrast between this place and the world I once knew.

In K'un-Lun, the concept of 'sin' as I understood it seems almost alien. Sure, the human emotions of anger, lust, gluttony, pride, sloth, and envy exist here – after all, the inhabitants are human – but they manifest in such benign ways that they barely register as the vices I'm familiar with.

The anger here is more a passionate expression of disagreement than a harbinger of violence. Lust appears as a deep appreciation for beauty and art. Gluttony, merely a love for the exquisite cuisine this place offers. Pride comes from a place of achievement and community, sloth is just a well-deserved rest, and envy, if it ever surfaces, is quickly transformed into motivation for self-improvement.

The societal ills that plagued my previous life were conspicuously absent here. There are no divorces in K'un-Lun, no affairs, no murders. Heartbreak and sadness, when they occur, are fleeting, washed away by the overwhelming support and love that this community provides to its members.

The concept of evil, especially in its most heinous forms like rape or deception, is virtually nonexistent. Lies have little place in a society where honesty is not just a virtue but a way of life.

Here, every individual seems genuinely good at heart. Their intentions are pure, their actions driven by a sense of communal well-being rather than self-serving agendas.

It's as if everyone in K'un-Lun is a friend you haven't met yet, their open smiles and welcoming demeanor a constant invitation to connect and share in their harmony.

Being in K'un-Lun, witnessing this almost utopian existence, restored something within me. It was a reminder of the inherent goodness that existed in humanity, a stark contrast to the cynicism and moral ambiguities I was born into before.

It was a place that didn't just preserve the innocence of its children; it nurtured and reinforced the innate goodness in everyone.

In a way, K'un-Lun had rekindled a piece of my humanity, reminding me of the potential for purity and virtue that lies within us all.

Sadly, even K'un-Lun had its bad apples. Among the monks, the students, and the residents, there were those who strayed from the stereotype. The most notable among them are the infamous Five Fingers of The Hand and Davos AKA the Steel Serpent, my supposed mortal enemy.

The son of Lei Kung the Thunderer, he is going to grow into a skilled martial artist, his abilities almost rivaling the original Danny's abilities. I would like to keep friendly with him, however our paths diverge in our intentions and our understanding of what it means to be the Iron Fist.

Living in K'un-Lun, experiencing its tranquility and unity, has indeed softened some of my harder edges. But it's a misinterpretation to see this softening as weakness. Rather, it's like a sword sheathed, its sharpness preserved, its power held in reserve. My time here has taught me patience, understanding, and the value of harmony.

Yet, my desire for peace doesn't extend to relinquishing my duty as the Iron Fist. The chi of the immortal dragon serves as my first true step into gaining power and I will be damned if a spoiled brat who believes that such power is a birthright can take it from me.

Hypocritical, coming from me of all people. What can I say? I am what I am.

I've considered reaching out to Davos, attempting to bridge awaiting the chasm that is going to lie between us. Perhaps there's a part of me that hopes for not only reconciliation, but also that we even attain a true brotherly bond. A bond that can find common ground in the face of greater threats.

Sadly I'm not that dandy.

I'm under no illusion about the complexity of our enmity. Davos's resentment for not being chosen as the Iron Fist is going to run deep, and his ambitions will be too entrenched for any olive branch to reach.

If maintaining my role as the Iron Fist means ensuring our enmity, then so be it.

I will try though. This will serve as a good indication of how much I can change. Cosmic Harmonization might make me akin to a native, that doesn't mean I can change fate though.

I need to know if I can bulldoze certain events or will it always require a soft and subtle

approach tugging at certain strings to make sure certain events do not happen.

Leaping off the aged wooden bridge, I slid down the slope of dirt until I was under the bridge and by a small river stream.

As I make my way along the river, deliberately choosing a path that's less frequented, I reminisced about the day I discovered my secret hideout.

Currently, I was about half a mile away from where the warrior monks are stationed by the lake, a place that, while serene, is too exposed for my current purpose.

The hideout was a result of a mere spar . Senior warrior monks, masters of their craft, were sparring with such intensity that their combat had sculpturally altered the landscape. Using his chi, one of the monks manipulated energy into weapons of pure, transparent white light.

The fight reached its climax when that same monk conjured a massive war hammer, larger than his body, and slammed it into the ground. The impact left a huge pit, almost as big as a small room and about six feet deep.

I had stumbled upon this scene during one of my early explorations along the river. The monks, sensing my presence, ceased their sparring and sent me away with a light-hearted reprimand. But the pit they had created stayed in my mind.

I decided to come back to it later, intrigued by its potential as a personal space. The pit was close to the dirt pathway, making it an ideal spot for what I had in mind.

Over time, I turned this accidental landmark into my secret hideout. I approached it carefully from the side, adjacent to the stream, and began to modify it.

My goal was to create a hidden spot where I could retreat to whenever I needed some time away. I hollowed out the pit from the side, gradually shaping it into a more usable space. I made sure to leave enough room between the hideout and the stream to prevent any collapse.

Now, as I approached my hideout, I felt a sense of satisfaction. It was a simple space, just a hollowed-out pit, but it was mine.

I slipped into the hideout from the side, the entrance concealed by the natural vegetation along the riverbank. Inside, the space is just as I left it – a simple, unadorned earthen room, but to me, it's a haven. The proximity to the stream provides a soothing background melody of flowing water.

*7 minutes and 28 seconds

I sat crisscrossed in a meditative pose. I came here in case that whatever was in store for me once the timer ended could be more private.

My mind couldn't but return to the battle between those two monks.

The spar had just started when I reached there.