109: Chapter 109 Oath
The sun rose and set; three days passed.
In those three days, no one spoke, no one left, and no one asked how much longer they had to wait.
They simply sat.
In the morning, the sun rose from the east, casting golden light over the ruins, illuminating the boulders, stone slabs, and wild grass. At noon, the sun moved overhead, baking the stone slabs until they were hot. In the evening, the sun sank into the west, dyeing everything in shades of gold, red, and purple. At night, the stars and moon came out, and as the night breeze blew, the chirping of insects in the grass rose and fell.
They just sat there like that.
Zhang Lingyun occasionally drew a few talismans; when finished, he would put them away and continue sitting. Jiang Yichen occasionally wiped his sword; when finished, he would lay it across his knees and continue sitting. Fa Ming occasionally took a few steps; when finished, he would return to his spot and continue sitting. Li Haoran occasionally flipped through a few pages of a book; when finished, he would close it and continue sitting. Yue Wushuang occasionally glanced into the distance; when finished, he would withdraw his gaze and continue sitting.
Zhang Qingyuan stood to the side holding the heart lamp, not daring to make a sound.
Bai Ze lay prone in their midst with its eyes narrowed as if asleep, yet everyone knew it was awake.
Lu Mingyuan sat right in the center with his eyes closed, motionless.
He was waiting.
Waiting for those people to figure it out.
Waiting for those people to speak for themselves.
On the evening of the third day, the sun sank behind the mountains, leaving only the last smear of red light on the horizon.
Zhang Lingyun suddenly opened his eyes.
"Brother Lu."
Lu Mingyuan opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Lingyun was silent for a moment.
"I've figured it out."
Lu Mingyuan did not press him. He knew Zhang Lingyun would continue on his own.
Zhang Lingyun looked at the talisman papers.
"I've been drawing these talismans for over a decade. I used to think drawing talismans was for trapping enemies, killing enemies, and protecting myself."
He paused.
"Now I know that's not it."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Drawing talismans is to trap what should be trapped, not to kill. It is to protect those who should be protected, not for oneself."
He put away the talisman papers.
"Therefore, I am staying."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him and nodded.
Jiang Yichen opened his eyes.
"I understand now, too."
He looked at the sword in his hand.
"This sword has been with me for twenty years. I used to think a sword was for slashing. To slash through everything that stands in one's way."
He paused.
"Now I know that's not it."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"A sword is for guarding. To guard what should be guarded. To slash what should be slashed. But guarding is harder than slashing."
He sheathed his sword.
"Therefore, I am staying."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him and nodded.
Fa Ming opened his eyes.
"Amitabha Buddha."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Master said that snow just falls, and people just live. I didn't understand before, but now I seem to understand a little."
He paused.
"Snow just falls, no matter where it lands. People just live, no matter what they live as. But to be alive, one must do something."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"This poor monk will stay."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him and nodded.
Li Haoran closed his book.
"Brother Lu."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Master Zhu said to investigate things to fathom their principles. I have investigated for so many years; what have I investigated?"
He gave a small smile.
"I've investigated two words—Knowledge and Action."
He stood up.
"Once you know, you must act. If you don't act, what use is knowledge?"
He looked in the direction the students had come from.
"Those students, they know. Now, they must act. I must act as well."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"I am staying."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him and nodded.
Yue Wushuang opened his eyes.
He did not speak.
He simply laid 'shouxin' across his knees and looked at Lu Mingyuan.
That gaze was clearer than any words.
Lu Mingyuan looked at him and nodded.
Zhang Qingyuan, holding the heart lamp, stood to the side looking from one to another before suddenly speaking.
"Master, I'm staying too."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him.
"Do you know what staying means?"
Zhang Qingyuan nodded.
"I know. It might mean death."
Lu Mingyuan asked:
"You're not afraid?"
Zhang Qingyuan thought about it.
"I am afraid. To say I'm not would be a lie."
He paused.
"But what I fear more is Master walking in front while I just watch from behind."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Master, I've followed you for so long and learned so much. If I leave now, what use were all those things I learned?"
Lu Mingyuan was silent.
Zhang Qingyuan continued:
"Besides, you said that those who walk the path do not walk alone."
He looked at the others.
"If they can walk it, so can I."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him for a long, long time.
Then, he smiled.
"Good."
The sun went down.
The last smear of red light vanished at the edge of the world.
Night descended.
Zhang Qingyuan lit the heart lamp; the light flickered, illuminating the surrounding few yards.
Lu Mingyuan stood up.
He looked at those people—Zhang Lingyun, Jiang Yichen, Fa Ming, Li Haoran, Yue Wushuang, and Zhang Qingyuan.
Six people.
With Bai Ze, it was seven.
He looked at them for a long, long time.
Then, he spoke.
"Have you all made up your minds?"
The six people nodded simultaneously.
Lu Mingyuan asked:
"No regrets?"
The six people shook their heads simultaneously.
Lu Mingyuan was silent.
Then, he said softly:
"Good."
He turned and walked toward the depths of the ruins.
The six people followed behind him.
Bai Ze walked last.
After passing through a field of scattered rocks, a massive stone foundation appeared before them.
The stone foundation was square, each side dozens of yards long. Something should have stood upon it originally—perhaps a palace, an altar, or the base of a Heavenly Pillar. But now, only a flat stone surface remained, overgrown with moss and wild grass.
Lu Mingyuan stepped onto the stone foundation and stood in the very center.
The six people followed him up and formed a circle, standing around him.
Bai Ze lay at the edge of the stone foundation, watching them.
Lu Mingyuan looked at the group.
"This place is the core of Mount Buzhou. Eons ago, the Heavenly Pillar stood here. Gonggong crashed into and broke the Heavenly Pillar, causing the heavens to collapse and the earth to sink, yet this foundation remains."
He paused.
"Today, we shall establish an alliance here."
Zhang Lingyun asked:
"What alliance?"
Lu Mingyuan looked at him.
"The Zhenyi Alliance."
Jiang Yichen asked:
"Suppressing what anomalies?"
Lu Mingyuan looked in the direction of The Rift.
"Suppressing that thing called the Dark. Suppressing the demonic creatures crawling out of The Rift. Suppressing this Dharma-Ending Kalpa."
He looked at them.
"Even if we can't suppress it, we must try. Even if we can't guard it, we must try. Even if we die here, we must guard it."
Fa Ming pressed his palms together.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Li Haoran looked at him.
"Does this alliance have rules?"
Lu Mingyuan shook his head.
"None."
Li Haoran was startled.
"None?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
"No rules."
He looked at them.
"You are not my subordinates, not my Disciples, and not my vassals. You are people willing to walk with me. People willing to guard The Rift."
He paused.
"If you are willing, stay. If you are not, you may leave at any time."
Li Haoran was silent.
Yue Wushuang suddenly spoke.
"Then why call it an alliance?"
Lu Mingyuan looked at him.
"It is called an alliance because we walk together. Not because of rules."
He looked at them.
"Rules are set by men. Human hearts change, and so do rules. But the heart that walks together will not change."
He paused.
"As long as this heart remains unchanged, there is no need for rules."
Silence.
The wind blew, making the grass rustle.
Zhang Lingyun suddenly asked:
"Does this alliance have a name?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
"Yes. The Zhenyi Alliance."
Zhang Lingyun asked:
"Who named it?"
Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment.
"The Queen Mother of the West."
Zhang Lingyun was stunned.
"The Queen Mother of the West?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded.
"She said someone needs to guard that Rift, guard those who have died, and guard the things that were never attained. When many people guard together, it is called the Zhenyi Alliance."
He looked at them.
"Now, we are those who guard."
Jiang Yichen looked at him.
"When did you come up with this name?"
Lu Mingyuan was silent for a moment.
"The Queen Mother of the West asked me if I knew how to proceed. I said I would keep walking until the day it is mended. She said 'good'. Then she said—"
He paused.
"She said a person like me would have many followers. Those who follow me shall be called the Zhenyi Alliance."
He looked at them.
"I didn't understand then. I understand now."
Fa Ming pressed his palms together.
"Amitabha Buddha. Since there is a name, a place, and people, there ought to be a ceremony."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him.
"What ceremony?"
Fa Ming thought about it.
"An alliance oath."
He looked at the others.
"People walking together should say something. Once it is spoken, the heart is settled."
Li Haoran nodded.
"Senior Brother Fa Ming is right. When scholars form a society, they also take an oath. Not for themselves, but for posterity."
Zhang Lingyun looked at him.
"Will you speak?"
Lu Mingyuan shook his head.
"You all speak."
He looked at them.
"Say whatever you wish to say."
Silence.
After a long time, Zhang Lingyun spoke.
"I, Zhang Lingyun, Talisman Master of Longhu Mountain, hereby swear today—"
He paused.
"From this day forward, I shall guard The Rift, suppress the anomalous demons, and protect all living beings. While the talisman remains, I remain; should the talisman perish, so shall I."
He pressed a talisman paper to his chest.
Jiang Yichen spoke.
"I, Jiang Yichen, Swordsman of Mount Qingcheng, hereby swear today—"
He looked at the sword in his hand.
"While the sword remains, I remain; should the sword perish, so shall I. Guard The Rift, suppress the anomalous demons, and protect all living beings. The Way of the Sword is the Way of the Heart; the Way of the Heart is the Way of Humanity. As long as the Way of Humanity is not extinguished, the Way of the Sword shall not end."
He raised his sword above his head.
Fa Ming spoke.
"I, Fa Ming, Martial Monk of Shaolin Temple, hereby swear today—"
He pressed his palms together.
"Amitabha Buddha. This poor monk has no talisman and no sword, only this stinking sack of flesh. While this sack of flesh remains, I remain. While I remain, I shall guard The Rift, suppress the anomalous demons, and protect all living beings. Should this sack of flesh perish, so shall I. But before I perish, I shall guard for as long as I can."
He closed his eyes.
Li Haoran spoke.
"I, Li Haoran, Confucian scholar of Yuelu Academy, hereby swear today—"
He looked at the record of near reflection.
"Master Zhu said to investigate things to fathom their principles. I have investigated for half my life and found two words—Knowledge and Action. Once you know, you must act. Once you act, you must walk to the end. Until that end, I shall guard The Rift, suppress the anomalous demons, and protect all living beings. Even dying on the path is a form of action."
He pressed the book to his chest.
Yue Wushuang spoke.
He did not use words.
He simply raised 'shouxin' toward the night sky and gave a gentle swing.
A sword light soared into the sky, illuminating the entire ruins.
Then, he sheathed his sword and looked at Lu Mingyuan.
That gaze said everything.
Zhang Qingyuan spoke.
"I, Zhang Qingyuan, of Heyin City, Disciple of Master, hereby swear today—"
He held the heart lamp, his hand trembling slightly.
"I am not as formidable as them; I cannot draw talismans, use a sword, practice Zen Martial Arts, study the classics, or comprehend sword intent. But I will hold this lamp and light the way for Master. Wherever Master goes, I will light the way. For as long as Master guards, I will light the way."
He looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"As long as Master lives, the lamp shall stay lit. Even if Master dies, the lamp shall stay lit. It will shine until the day it can shine no more."
Lu Mingyuan looked at him, his eyes stinging.
Everyone had finished speaking.
They all looked at Lu Mingyuan.
Lu Mingyuan was silent for a long time.
Then, he spoke.
"I, Lu Mingyuan, of Heyin City, Disciple of Xuanweizi, hereby swear today—"
He looked at the group.
"I have no talismans, no sword, no Zen, no books, and no lamp. I have only a single life. This life was given by my Master, saved by Bai Ze, and is what you all are willing to follow."
He paused.
"I shall use this life to guard The Rift, suppress the anomalous demons, and protect all living beings. I will guard until I can guard no more, suppress until I can suppress no more, and protect until I can protect no more."
He looked at them.
"Until that day, we walk together."
He reached out his hand.
Zhang Lingyun reached out and placed his hand on top of his.
Jiang Yichen reached out and placed his hand on Zhang Lingyun's.
Fa Ming reached out and placed his hand on Jiang Yichen's.
Li Haoran reached out and placed his hand on Fa Ming's.
Yue Wushuang reached out and placed his hand on Li Haoran's.
Zhang Qingyuan reached out and placed his hand on Yue Wushuang's.
Seven hands were stacked together.
Bai Ze walked over and placed its front paw on the very top.
"And me."
It said.
In that instant, heaven and earth shook.
It was not a physical vibration, but a resonance of intent. The intents of the seven were linked at this moment. Talisman Arts, the Way of the Sword, Zen Martial Arts, Confucianism, Sword Intent, the heart lamp, and the Divine Beast—seven completely different forms of cultivation and seven completely different paths converged at this single moment.
Suddenly, a light flared in the sky.
That light rose from the center of the ruins and shot straight into the clouds, illuminating the entire night sky.
People within a thousand-mile radius all saw this light.
Those on the road stopped and gazed toward the source of the light.
Those in cultivation opened their eyes, sensing the significance of that light.
Those watching from the sidelines felt a jolt in their hearts, knowing that something significant had occurred.
Those with hostile intent frowned, sensing a threat.
Lu Mingyuan stood there, gazing at the light soaring into the sky, an indescribable feeling welling up in his heart.
It was not excitement, nor joy, nor a sense of tragic heroism.
It was—peace.
Like having walked for a long time and finally arriving at a destination.
Like having searched for something for a long time and finally finding it.
Like having waited for someone for a long time and finally seeing them arrive.
He withdrew his gaze and looked at the others.
They were also looking at him.
No one spoke.
But some things were understood without being said.
The light lasted for a long time.
Long enough for Zhang Qingyuan to grow tired of standing and sit on the ground.
Long enough for Bai Ze to lie down and rest its head on its front legs.
Long enough for the horizon to turn the color of a fish's belly.
Finally, the light gradually faded.
The ruins returned to tranquility.
In the eastern sky, the sun was rising.
Golden sunlight spilled over the ruins, illuminating the boulders, stone slabs, and wild grass, as well as those seven individuals.
Lu Mingyuan looked at the sun.
A new day had begun.
He looked at the group.
"Let's go."
He said.
Zhang Lingyun asked:
"Where to?"
Lu Mingyuan looked toward the Northwest.
"To The Rift."
He stepped forward.
The six people followed behind him.
Bai Ze walked last.
The moment he stepped out of the ruins, Lu Mingyuan suddenly stopped.
He glanced back once.
That stone foundation, the place where they had taken their oath, lay quietly in the morning light.
He didn't know if they would ever return.
But he knew that place would always remember.
Remember this day.
Remember these seven individuals.
Remember this alliance.
He turned around and continued walking forward.
Behind him, the ruins were silent.
Ahead, the road was still long.
But he knew that no matter how far he went, he would no longer be walking alone.
Because the alliance existed.
Because people were there.
Because those willing to walk together were there.