Theon Airikson: Water Curtain Cave
Over the years that I have lost my ability to cultivate, I had developed a sort of sixth sense that not many people can claim they have, or perhaps I don't think anyone has it at all. And that was an ability to notice the pressure Qi exerts on an area. And to be able to, just to a certain extent; trace it's origins. And right now that my heart seemed to have calmed down from the entire drama with a monkey grandfather and mother, I realized that the waterfall and river itself was filled to the brim with Qi, so much of it that the pressure it exerted was not spiritual or even energy like in nature, it was freaking physical, like I was about to be thrown under an avalanche.
Too much thinking never helped anyone, my mother or not, I don't think for one second she was kidding when she said she was going to kill me herself. I took a step into one of the rocks, feeling a cascade of Qi was over me, it was as if the river bank itself was a boundary and once I stepped past that boundary, it wasn't like being thrown in front of an avalanche, but rather dumped right in the middle of a tsunami's onslaught. The rush of Qi almost threatened to throw me off my feet, but somehow I withstood the rush.
Taking an extra deep breath I hopped onto the next stone, holding on to that breath until I was in front of the rushing waterfall. It really does look like a curtain though, one made with the most exquisite of natural crystals. I took another step forwards, putting myself directly under the waterfall, and almost immediately I was blasted to the ground, my chest smashing against wet rock as a coppery taste filled my mouth.
My limbs felt like they were each carrying steel balls weighing dozens or hundreds of kilograms. And my back felt like it had a mountain on it, a mountain that was rapidly getting heavier the more seconds that passed. It was a lot of pressure exerted not just on my body, but also on my spirit. However I could still move, with way more ease than I would have ever expected. It made no sense, to be under the onslaught of such powerful Qi pressure yet, here I was , standing untouched. I felt a little bit of a chill around my forehead, but beyond that there was nothing else to be felt from the Qi rushing through the waterfall. I took one more look behind me, struggling to see through the cascade of water as it rushed down on me, catching a glimpse of my mother.
She still watched me, impassive in her gaze and more rigid than I would have expected. I felt conflicted, I really had no idea how to react to this current situation, but there really was no other path but forward, so I took a step past the waterfall, and into the cave behind it. There was a loud gong, so deep in it's rumble it seemed to reverberate across the entire flower and fruit Mountain. I shuddered as my vision blurred for a few moments, and when it cleared I was in a brightly lit cave, with a small house, stone tables and seats with china ware covered in dust. A small brook flowing from the back of the house with a red bridge over it, a small field/ garden for use at the side and finally on the wall to the east of the cave were words written in ancient letters.
[Water Curtain Cave]
Well there was no reason to spend any more time than was necessary in this damn place, after all the test was just to walk through the waterfall and then walk right back out. Anything else seems like an extreme waste of time, however something stopped me. I'm not sure what, but I didn't think it would be right to just leave this place like this, something about it made it seem like an area that was even more sacred than Airikson family tomb/shrine. So I took a step back and gave three deep bow's, and then turned around to leave.
"You are a lot more perceptive than I thought boy, still why would you want to leave so damn early, after all you just got here. Come and sit with me, it has been a while since I've had someone to talk to."
I felt chilled as i heard the voice, there was power to it, that I couldn't deny or ignore. And it was even more strange that I was coming from some illusory brown furred common monkey. The monkey was sitting by the brook, and ironically enough he was eating a banana. Speaking with a monkey was the last thing I wanted to do, but since all of the monkeys here so far have proven that they could kick my ass and erase me from existence before I can even blink, I felt I had no choice but to indulge him.
"I've never seen a bigger asshole than you kid, but you're a complicated fellow aren't you. Not as simple or one dimensional as the rest of the world thinks you are. So what do you think of this water Curtain Cave? It used to be the seat of power of the monkey king, the inner sanctum of all inner sanctums. The place he comes to train, think, reflect and scheme. Now it belongs to you… but you're still such an asshole."
I blinked my eyes, it was a fierce struggle not to let my anger out, I'm a bad guy, that much has been established and I was not ready or willing to change who I was. But then again there was a lot to be said about how this old ghost money knew so much about me, and then in the end no one likes being called an asshole. "What do you want?" I asked him, as I took a seat besides him, making sure to keep a safe space between the two of us.
"A destiny unlike any other has come knocking on your door, and it is one you have no other choice but to accept and live. I actually like your disposition, you're incredibly selfish and extremely greedy, and you do not shy away from hurting people if it gets you what you want. And also your amusement, tends to leave people hurt or emotionally scarred for the rest of their lives, yet you're kind to those you consider your loved ones, fiercely protective of the things and people you own. Some would call you a psychopath, but I on the other hand will call you… … A monkey."
Not that I gave a shit, but; hearing those words sort of felt nice. It has been a long time since anyone had genuinely given me a compliment that was not an attempt at ass kissing. Of course this sounded more like a psych evaluation than a compliment and from a dead ghost monkey no doubt. But it made me feel nice inside being told I was not a completely heartless bastard.
"There's light in you boy, guard it fiercely and keep it close to your heart, there are many people who would love nothing more than to snuff it out. And in retrospect, the world you live in now will never allow a speck of light of any sort survive in you. You have finally come into your own, and you are one of many who have passed a test to become to become the next incarnation of the Great Sage Equal to the heavens; The Monkey King, Sun Wukong."
"I don't want it!" that's a big fat lie though.
"That's a lie boy!" and it seems like he knows it.
"I see it in you, the years of being unable to cultivate might have slightly dulled the urge, but you're drawn to power like a moth to a flame, like a fly to shit and vultures to death. In your heart of hearts you don't care that you've grown a tail, or that your mother is a demon monkey that took on human form and was trapped in it by your father so that a human of a perfect bloodline could be born, and his ambitions of creating a continent and ruling over it will be achieved. Finally power is at your finger tips, and the golden band around your head has both stopped your from taking it and groomed you for it's possession all your life. So do not lie to me boy, you are now my master, I will give you power, just as you will feed it back to me and help me grow, I will be the core of the kingdom you will build, the Nexus of the empire that comes next, and the center of the continent your wild ambition will drive you to create! I am earth and flower, rivers and fruit, wildness of life and beauty of savagery, I am the seat of power and the home to he who was equal to the heavens! I'm am the mountain of fruit and flowers! And I acknowledge you! Theon Airikson! Bloodline of the Great Sage, Bloodline of the golden cicada. Master! Lord! And Prince! The Monkey Prince! Now earn the right to become… King!"
And then be was gone, but I could still feel him, he was in my head. In my body, in my soul, he was everywhere and nowhere at the same time, the very land upon which I now stood. And for the first time in a long time I'm terrified, because this was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and honestly I don't think I would be able to come across an experience such as this again. I got up, and took one long look at the water Curtain Cave, I knew I'd be back here again, in fact probably within the next few hours….. and that was because I could feel it stronger in here than anywhere else… there was Qi, and it was a lot.
As I approached the waterfall, it parted by itself, creating a path for me to walk through. Even the river beyond seemed to recede as I walked on dry earth, taking care to not step on the brightly colored Koi fishes that were flopping about due to the lack of water. My mother was still seating on a rock, her eyes an undisturbed pool of grey and gold as she cocked her head to the side, very monkey like as she observed me, looking at the tail behind me that seemed to have a mind of it's own.
"Is it done?" she asked, and I nodded in return, not able to trust my voice, or my emotions… my mother is a monkey and my grandfather a giant Macaw that hates me… who ever said my father dying had put the world in perspective for me was wrong, because it just got all the more complicated.