Malia Cheng: Darkness Of The Heart

Unlike the four winds sect that was known for its harsh weather's, a variety of storms and a perpetual chill that covers most of the Ark-Land the sect sits upon, the celestial court of summer flames was warm. It was home to me and the only other place that could serve as solitude from the harshness of the world. I guess most would call it my very own slice of happiness, hidden from the horrors of the real world. But now that I look at it, staring at it's tall lofty mountains, floating islands with pavilions wrapped in the summer vines of Archon Rose. Nikon sparrows flying all over the place, their tails set ablaze as the phoenixes bloodline was exposed for all to see, and in turn showed the prestige of my home.

"Are you going to keep waiting outside daughter, or are you going to come in and deliver your bad news."

I felt my heart skip a beat, for a moment a lance of fear went through my body, causing me to shiver. But fear was the enemy, even more so when the person waiting on the other side of the door was my own father. For as long as I could remember I've never gotten a smile from him, sure he showed me much love and care, but it was all within the bounds of duty, and all that's expected of him as my father, no more no less. I moved forwards as the doors slid to the side, a perfect fusion of technology and common architecture, but all powered by Qi as provided by the breath and core of the world and governed by the mandate of the heavens. Power needed to help us all in our ever endless journey to the west, searching for the scriptures of Tripitaka, the secret tomes that will remake the world back to a land of seas, earth and sky. And not an endless ocean of Sand, Snow, and Flames.

"I take it he refused your goodwill." It wasn't a question, it was an astute deduction from the way I acted before stepping in. It seems even up until this point I was pretty much too easy to read to my father. I knelt down in front of him and bowed my head down, there wasn't really much I could say in this matter. Just like Theon had said; contracts were binding.

"So did he set a date for the wedding child, if he has you should prepare to go on to your new home and promised husband. The contracts of the system are binding as I'm sure you are very aware." I felt my heart drop to the bottom of my stomach, this was not what I expected, especially not from my father as he was the only one who can save me from this fate.

"But father!" a raised palm cut any of my protests short as I felt fears well up in my eyes, the coldness was unprecedented. Sure I was used to the kind of person he was, but in this case I'm his daughter, would he not try his best to fight for me.

"Keep sentimentality out of the issue Malia, it's a weakness that is not attributed to our Cheng clan and Celestial Court Of The Summer Flame. I am aware of what sort of person Theon is, but where you see a entrapment I see opportunity. Come closer daughter and tell me what you see."

I raised my head up and moved towards his seat, we were in a private cabin that my father and all the previous sect masters of the celestial court used for secret meetings. It wasn't overly large, but was brightly lit by a pillar of flame that burned brightly in the middle of the cabin. It went down deep into the earth and above out the ceiling of the cabin, but even at that the flames could never be seen from outside the cabin. And for as long as I could remember, this pillar of fire has never gone out, it has stood for more than a hundred years, and it will stand for a hundred more.

I was standing right in front of it now, and honestly this was the first time I've ever been this close to it. I stood besides my father, a head taller than him, and took a closer look at the pillar of flames. And that's when I noticed that within the flame was variety of colors. Fire of different shades and glows, all reflected off the polished surface of a red full body armor. The body of the armor had small interlocking of feathers, and supple leather at the sides that seemed to be made of skin. A cloak with dark frills around the neck, and a helmet with twin feathers that stretched up into the air. I have seen different renditions and pictures of this armor and heard about it enough times from different legends to know exactly what it is.

"The Great Sage's Phoenix Armor!" I called out in shock as I turned to look at my father, only for my shock to turn into astonishment… he was smiling.

"Before those demon fools got ahold of Pangu's axe and decided to fuck up the world for all of us, the great sage reigned supreme amongst immortals, demons, celestials, and infernals. He served as our world's greatest protector and warrior. And contrary to stories, the great sage equal to heaven was not a title he gave himself out of arrogance, but a title the system itself bestowed upon him for his fortitude, wisdom, kindness, mischief, plots, and power. He was not some childish stone monkey demon, he was and will always be the Monkey King! A entity equal to heaven in all measure of power, influence and strength.

He was the one with the help of the system, who tried to patch the world back together again. But it became impossible to go back to the way things were, because by that point the world and the universe became one. An ever expanding mass of sand, snow and fire, with secrets buried beneath and above. Because of the breaking of the universe, life changed. Humans rose up, demons fell, immortals closed themselves off, celestials were corrupted and infernals seeked to conquer. Ultimately everyone wanted to live for power and there is no power more ultimate than the Scriptures of The Golden Cicada; Monk Tripitaka.

The only thing capable of undoing the breaking and separating the universe from the world, these scriptures have been known by many names. Some call it the Genesis Codex. The first words of creation itself, capable of giving life to the void. Never the less the breaking separated The Great Sage from Tripitaka, much of the population of the world was scattered to the cosmos. Nations and countries were lost as families were broken apart, it was a new hellish beginning.  And as his essence dissipated to become the only known constellation in existence, serving as a guide to all who travel the cursed ocean, he said…"

"Journey to the West." I completed for my father, completely enamored by a different perspective to the story that now drives the existence of all who live.

"The tools that he was known for, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, or simply known as the monkey king's golden staff, his phoenix armor, his golden band, his 72 transformation cultivation technique, his nimbus cloud and finally his Divine Land, flowers and fruit Mountain. Six treasures that when put together could summon the soul of the monkey king to imbue great power into the summoner, giving them the means to not only dominate, but to rule whatever part of the world they carve out for themselves. It will give any man, demon, immortal, celestial and infernal the power to form… a Continent!"

"What!"

"There's no time for shock my child, now is the time to act. Marrying Theon is the first step in a long line of actions that will lead to me becoming emperor of a Continent and you my heir. But to do so we need the treasure of the great sage that's tied to that degenerate bastards bloodline… we need to get Flowers and Fruit Mountain! As that's the primary Ark-Land the Four Winds Sect was once a part of. And right now it's power is dormant, we need to gain ownership of it. Either through conquest, marriage, or through an heir. Which ever one works first, we have to move fast as I'm not the only one who knows that the four winds sect is actually Fruit and Flowers mountain. So I'll send you over in three days, till the wedding you are to remain by his side and protect him. Conquest will leave us weak with all eyes on us, in fact many would use this as an excuse to destroy us. So you have to marry him, become a part of his family, bear his son if you have to, and once that is done… end him and submit Flowers and Fruit Mountain to me. And I promise you child, all that you will ever wish for, will be yours."

There was a lot to think about, shock at this revelation, yet at the same time a weight on my shoulder from the sacrifice that I was now expected to make. Was it worth it? I don't know, but in the end it's not as if I can say no to my own father.

"Yes father, I will do as you ask." How could I not do as he wanted, it was hard to say no. And not just because of the allure of power and freedom, but because for the first time since I was born, my father… smiled at me.