Chapter 39: Arrival

[I've heard about the bullshit weak people spew about life. like how if life gives you lemon you make lemonade. That's just stupid, such a course of action was only for the weak, only for the people not at all willing to fight and give life the middle finger.

Question everything in life, but just be careful who you ask questions. Never sit back and let fate dictate the direction your life has to take, as it stands you're already going against the heavens by cultivating martial arts and the path of immortality, it would be completely redundant if you sit one place and let your hand get cut off because you feel it's your fate. There should be no reason for failure, no reason for pain, become the master of your fate and destiny, or die trying.]

THE LAST SPEECH OF AN ANCIENT GENERAL

The wudang mountain range was a thing of beauty, its rolling hills, forests, crisp and lush air gave someone the impression that they had arrived in paradise. Massive temples dotted the landscape in grand manners as courtyards, mansions, large halls and grand skyscrapers gave this place an aesthetic quality that could not be matched by anywhere else in the world.

It was the most natural marriage between different eras of architecture and nature. But above his all, was an assembly hall the size of six Olympic stadiums. They actually took a few minutes to drive over it as Alex watched with awestruck eyes over the massive taiji symbol over the roof of the assembly hall. In fact if he didn't know any better, he would say that they had somehow built a battling platform on top of the assembly hall, and it was the most beautiful thing that Alex had seen so far.

As they moved deeper into the mountains, Alex was able to see the disciples of the wudang sect moving around, going about their daily tasks. Many of them were dressed casually, but it seemed to be a regulation that they all had on sect robs with the yin-yang symbol on the back. And there were a variety of different colors; so far Alex had been able to count four; black, purple, gold and blue.

Many of the disciples paused what they were doing to watch the airship and its fly past. Some of the disciples even flew into the sky, some with their swords, and others with different tools, and the stronger ones literally standing on air as they cupped their fists in greeting to his grandfather. Looks like even though his grandfather was the former head of the sect; he was still quite respected by the disciples. Zhang sanfeng did not even look like he was bothered by what was happening, looks he was quite used to people fawning over him.

The airship flew deeper into the mountain heading northwest with a purpose. And finally it came to stop in front of a mountain peak that sloped upwards before ending in a grand plateau of soft grass and beautiful flowers. There were marble stairs that led all the way up to the top of the peak where the plateau was. Alec took a deep breath as they disembarked from the airship, the air on this peak was choke full of Qi, so much so that just by breathing, Alec could feel himself right on the cusp of the open meridian realm, looks like he was about to experience a breakthrough.

His grandfather came to stand beside him and Anya as they began to make their slow ascent up the mountain peak. His grandfather seemed liked he quite a few things to say to his grandson.

"Feng'er there are some things you have to know and understand about the wudang sect. it's nothing too complicated, just the basic knowledge and rules for the sect. so you and your friend should keep an open mind okay?" his grandfather asked as he turned to his grandson, his white full beard swaying in the wind.

"Yes grandfather." Alex answered for both himself and Anya, the previous light in his voice completely absent. His grandfather sighed, shook his head and continued speaking.

"There are quite a few ranks and denominations between the disciples. But before we go into that, I have to give the entire layout of the sect, eventually with time, you would know every square inch of this place, and it's your home after all.

The wudang sect has three palaces, three grand halls, seven major halls, seven minor halls and one temple. The three palaces are the sect heads palace, the vice sect heads palace, and the grand patriarch's palace, which is where I and your mom and the rest of our family live. The grand halls are the disciplinary hall; the place responsible for the security of the sect and also making sure that the rules of the sect are upheld in the strictest manner possible. The next hall would be the hall of martial enlightenment. It's the hall that holds all the knowledge of the sect, a library of sorts. But it is also a training hall and a teaching hall; which means it's one of the places where you would find the most disciples and sect elders at anytime of the day. It's the largest structure after the battle dome and grand platform, which is the large stadium like building you saw.

The third grand hall is the hall of convocation. It's where things like alchemy, blacksmithing and array carvings are made amongst other things. Auxiliary martial skills are trained there, and also pills, weapons and arrays are created by talented masters.

The seven major halls and minor halls were built to accompany the major and minor cliques created by the disciples. The sect encourages competition between the disciples; or rather it's a custom that started ever since the new sect master took over. The disciples make groups and battle amongst themselves to occupy either a minor or major hall. There's no need to pay attention to those halls, you're forbidden from paying attention to such shameful acts and degrading display of an outright insult to the principles the wudang sect was built upon.

And finally there's the temple, it's the place where important events and meetings are carried out. So it's mostly off limits to almost everyone in the sect. apart from what I've mentioned, there are hundreds of mountain peaks, and spiritual caves and immortal abodes. There are other important buildings, but those ones only show great importance amongst the disciples themselves so you will have to explore and find out about them yourself,

Zhang Feng, I know your view of the world has changed, and rightly so. You have to let go of any sort of naivety if you want to survive and grow strong, and I'm sorry we didn't give you a chance to grow up at your own pace, but this world is heading for a crisis, another war, but no one knows who the real enemies are. And it's a battle that we the older generation would not be able to fight, many of us are about ready to move to a higher plane of existence, and there's an unspoken agreement that only the younger generation can finally decide the fate of the world.

You have immense talent, and as such you also have immense responsibilities. Your father was naïve in thinking he could protect you from your destiny, because no matter how he ran with you, it would still come calling. Your journey has just begun, you have to get strong, and you have to make sacrifices, many sacrifices. But in the end you must remember to live, whatever little pleasure you can steal for yourself in this life, no matter how dark or bright, you have to take it, you have to live.

Finally you must understand something, the Wudang sect was built on the principles of balance and righteousness. I don't care how dark this world has become or how far from grace my Wudang sect has fallen, I need you to promise that you would always uphold that creed. Do good every time and be righteous, but if someone if dares to go so far as speak ill behind you or even insult you, KILL THEM IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT MERCY! I rather have you alive and unrighteous than dead. PROMISE ME!" Alex looked up at the sharp but aged eyes of his grandfather before looking back with as much conviction as he could muster.

"I promise grandfather."

"Hahaha! Yes! Good grandson. You should know a promise is a debt, and a real man keeps his promises. Well would you look at that, we've arrived, welcome to your new home Feng'er"