95 Life is a Dance

The golden light embracing Gong Lan's soul was no longer burning as intensely as before. Instead of a searing light repeatedly piercing her, it now felt like a warm blanket that brought heat to even her coldest extremities.

The first few weeks had been hellish, and there was no way she could isolate her senses or even pass out. She could only endure. Her soul had been safe the entire time, being nourished under the bodhi tree's gentle embrace. It was completely voluntary, of course. She could have ended the process at any time. But by doing so, she wouldn't be able to help her brother, her friends, and herself.

Throughout the painful process, she was forced to relive the many atrocities and sins she'd committed throughout her lifetime. Fortunately, her soul had been wiped clean during the Yellow River's cleansing process, meaning that she didn't need to pay anything for any of her past incarnations.

Despite the golden light's warming glow, she still felt a little cold. Her soul curled like an infant to conserve the warmth that permeated it, certain that one day she too could feel a world full of warmth and be free from suffering.

Weeks passed, and her soul, which was clothed in a cocoon of light, finally showed signs of emerging. A crack appeared on the cocoon, and a flood of information surged into her mind.

Peak resplendent soul. Only a resplendent soul's light can banish the darkness in other people's hearts.

Using her soul's strong arms, she ripped open her silky cocoon and emerged into her mental space. To her surprise, the cocoon didn't disappear. Rather, it shrank and transformed itself into a golden raiment made from the finest soul silk. A wondrous sight greeted her, a world filled with golden light. Animals wandered peacefully as they traveled to and from a golden bodhi tree that had established itself in the middle of her mental space.

Why did this place change so much? she wondered.

It changed because of your willingness to change, the voice said in her mind. It is radiant because you allowed the light to burn away your impurities. Is this not what you wanted? Now that your karma has burned away, you no longer need to fear the influence of karma in your everyday life. You can sever your attachments with ease, transcending to the Buddha realm to live a life in peace.

Gong Lan's soul frowned. Isn't that a little too easy? How can I just sever my attachments?

It is quite easy, the voice assured. I have ensured that you no longer owe karma. You may leave when you wish. Besides, attachments are the source of suffering. Acquaintances lead to conflict and complex feelings; possessions lead to greed; even the simple act of eating leads to gluttony. By ignoring these things, you can maintain your newfound purity and improve yourself in the heavens above. Isn't this the goal of all martial artists?

But what about all the people who rely on me? she asked.

What of them? the tree replied. They care for you, but they can never help you. Wouldn't it be a great relief to them that you are well off and going to a better place? Those who care about you will be happy for you. Only selfish people would think otherwise. In fact, I challenge you to think of those you care about and their reactions.

At the bodhi tree's prompting, she had a vivid dream. In this dream, she visited her brother and told him she was leaving to be happy for all eternity. A great smile appeared on his face, and he told her not to worry about petty things and to move on.

In another room, she met Cha Ming, who smiled and said he was glad that she had found what she was looking for. They would be fine without her. In one final room, she saw Feng Ming. After hearing her wondrous tale, his eyes widened, and he said, "It's better to be lucky than good! Good luck on your travels."

She didn't think of anyone else. All the other people she really cared about had long since passed away.

You see? the tree said. Those who truly care about you just want you to be happy and free from suffering. Why don't you follow my guidance and transcend? Leave this mortal plane and contribute to spreading peace in a transcendent realm.

Why can't I do the same in this realm? Gong Lan retorted.

You can. There's nothing wrong with it. However, it would be akin to a master physician applying ointment to a stubbed toe. Or an exorcist listening to a confession while devils and ghosts ravage the countryside. The greatest good can be done in the higher realms. As a benefit, you will be able to live much longer and help so many more people. Here, you will only grow old and wither away.

The tree's urgings made sense on an intellectual level. However, how could things be so simple? When she'd imagined the conversation with her brother, she didn't miss the fatigue he tried to hide so carefully. When she imagined Cha Ming, she didn't miss his disappointment at not being able to fight alongside her. When she thought of Feng Ming, she could see the silent taunting hidden behind his eyes. He was thinking, I thought you were out to get me. Have you given up already?

More to the point, she still remembered the ghastly memories and the remnants of the massacre she encountered on the way to Jade Spring. The thousands of lives that had been lost in Fairweather. By leaving, she could help those in a realm up above. She would only need to give up on those she had seen and that she knew needed help right now.

No… I won't leave, she said. There are far too many things to do, too many people to help, and too many villains preying on the weak. How can I just abandon them?

Very well, the bodhi tree replied. But how will you stay? Your soul is on the cusp of transcending. If you do not stop it, you will transcend regardless. And then you will not be able to help anyone without karma interfering in your endeavors. You will have no choice but to leave.

Hearing these words, Gon Lan examined her soul once more, realizing that many invisible shackles that bound it were beginning to break. She didn't panic, however. Instead, she looked back at the golden tree in her mental space and smiled. Since you asked me all these questions, you must have a way to prevent this.

I do indeed, the tree replied. However, the price is a very serious obligation. As long as you are within this realm, you must protect me when I am in danger.

Gong Lan was confused. This is a serious amount of trickery for such a righteous tree. And who would dare to cause you harm while you still cast your shadow? Who could ascend the Stairway to Heaven and pass the monks that guard you?

The tree was silent for a moment before replying. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And that day will come, my child, it whispered. It will come sooner than you think.

***

Hong Xin danced to the joyful sounds of music and laughter as she served drinks to her cheerful patrons. She skillfully balanced her tray as she twirled through the crowd with a flourish. Unlike her previous job, they didn't attempt to trip her. Rather, they quickly cleared the way to give sufficient room for her performance.

Quick as lightning, she placed six drinks in front of her thirsty patrons before holding her hands to her chest. They watched in anticipation as she raised her hands, sending a colorful flicker of flames into their drinks and lighting them on fire.

Life in Castle Town was much different than life in Stonefell. Here, she could be herself and not be persecuted. The pay was good, and her manager didn't withhold her tips. Over time, she had managed to save enough resources and push her way to the seventh level of qi condensation. There were few people in town that could contend with her—not that she had to.

Hong Xin hated fighting. While there were much more lucrative occupations, such as guards and adventurers, Hong Xin preferred to stay away from these things. Thankfully, the patrons in Castle Town were all decent human beings. Whenever one of the younger men or adventurers acted up and tried to lay their hands on her, a few of the older men would give them a long lecture on human decency. Most people didn't require a second lecture, which involved a good dose of corporal punishment.

After delivering the latest batch, she spoke to their guests and ran up to the bar, where the innkeeper spent his day. "Three more flaming reds, three baiju, and a cinnamon ale," Hong Xin said cheerfully.

The innkeeper chuckled. "Hiring you was the best thing I ever did. Business is booming, and it's all thanks to you."

"Nonsense," Hong Xin said bashfully. "It's because you have such a great atmosphere. Even the most miserable worker or traveler would find a smile by visiting this inn."

The afternoon passed by joyfully, and soon the people who shouldn't have been drinking had passed out and returned home. The rest of the patrons were there for the atmosphere and intended to stay well past midnight.

Suddenly the door to the inn burst open, revealing a figure cloaked in red. The person's aura was stifling, forcing everyone to stop what they were doing. But the supressing aura left as soon as it arrived, and people went back to drinking as though nothing had happened. Hong Xin looked to the entrance and saw the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes on lowering the cowl of her cloak.

Fortunately, none of the younger folks were present, and the older men had the decency to limit their catcalling and speak about her in whispers. The woman ignored this light conversation and walked up to the bar, where she sat down and placed a large case on the ground beside her.

"Innkeeper," she said pleasantly, "I'm looking for a place to stay for the night. Do you have a room?"

The innkeeper gulped. "Yes, ma'am, I have just the room for you. We're pretty fully right now, so I'll bump you up to our luxury suite free of charge."

A young waiter who overhead this began whispering to him, "Sir, one of the other rooms just cleared out. It's not necessary to—" The man clenched his teeth as he was rudely interrupted by a stomp of the owner's foot.

"It will be three silver for the night," the innkeeper said. "Is that all right?"

The woman, whose lustrous black hair was draped halfway down her back, smiled and replied sheepishly, "Unfortunately, I am a little short on silver right now."

The innkeeper frowned, which Hong Xin found understandable, given that he'd already given her preferential treatment.

"However," the woman continued, "I make my living playing music. If you let me play for a few hours tonight, I guarantee your patrons will be happy, and you won't regret it."

"Oh, a musician?" he said, his face breaking into a grin. "It's been a while since we've received a traveling musician in this establishment. Don't worry about the room, or a meal, for that matter. As long as you play some interesting music, the men will surely appreciate it. Hong Xin, please clear some space for our guest."

"Sure thing, boss," Hong Xin said enthusiastically. She had only ever heard two performances since starting at the inn, and both performances were memorable experiences.

The woman bowed slightly after seeing Hong Xin. "Thank you very much for your hospitality."

It only took an incense time to clear a few tables at the back and set up a small platform where she could play. The woman carefully climbed onto the hastily constructed platform, placing the large case on the ground in front of a cushion. Then she opened the case and removed a light seven-stringed instrument from it. The delicate guqin was a fragile instrument, and it complemented the pretty lady perfectly. It was constructed with a blood-red wood, and its strings were made from a deep-red fiber.

"What's your name?" Hong Xin asked her while watching her set up.

"It's a happy coincidence, but my surname is also Hong," she said. "My name is Hong Yinyue ."

"Red Music?" Hong Xin said. "How fitting, given that you play a red instrument."

"More than you know," the woman replied as she finished unpacking her guqin. She seemed calm, but Hong Xin spotted a hint of sorrow that briefly flashed across her eyes, so she remained quiet and asked no more questions. After checking that Yinyue had everything she required, Hong Xin continued serving drinks. Her movements became a blur as she quickly filled one order after another, since the patrons all wanted to drink as they enjoyed the music.

A half hour passed, and Hong Xin had finally filled every order. Exhausted, she sat down on a stool and made eye contact with the mysterious musician, who had remained silent while she worked. The gentle murmurs in the bar were suddenly silenced with the single pluck of a string.

Hong Xin felt as though she'd slipped in a trance when the slow, gentle music began. She began to reminisce about her childhood. It was a pleasant, lighthearted tune that spoke of naivety and innocence. As the song progressed, she realized how much she missed her parents and how much suffering she'd likely caused them by running away.

Soon, the tune changed ever so slightly. The lightly plucked strings spoke of first love and the initial fluttering of a human heart. Hong Xin's heart began to pound as these memories invaded her consciousness, enabling her to remember those blissful moments. Unconsciously, she touched the used mauve hairclip that she had worn ever since she and Wang Jun had first met.

The warmth in her heart didn't last for long, however. The pace became hurried, and she imagined herself fleeing out in the wilderness, running away from home. When she finally found refuge, it was more hellish than she could ever imagine. The rhythmic thrumming of Yinyue's fingers caused her heart to palpitate when she remembered that awful night when she was forced to burn the bar owner to a crisp.

Then… silence. From this quiet atmosphere, a gentle melody slowly reached a crescendo, building up momentum. Everything before this had felt like Hong Xin's life was crashing down on her, but now, she felt only hope and calm. She remembered the kind farmers and helping them plant their fields. She remembered coming to Castle Town and finally enjoying her life like she should. She remembered the invigorating feeling when she had finally started cultivating again.

Then the music stopped. The song felt unfinished, yet for some reason, no one felt that it was inappropriate. One by one, the patrons began clapping and cheering for the beautiful musician playing her bewitching tune. She no longer wore her red hooded cloak, but rather wore a traditional red qipao. She didn't seem to pay attention to her audience. Instead, she smiled and looked at Hong Xin, hinting that this song was for her and her alone. Then she turned back to her audience and began strumming some joyful tunes.

"Are you all right?" the owner asked Hong Xin in a concerned voice. Hong Xin immediately realized that she had been crying this whole time.

"It was just so beautiful. I just need to go wash my face and I'll be fine," she replied, running off to her room.

***

The music ended early that night, but everyone was so pleased with the performance that they didn't complain. Instead, they sat around and drank while talking about Yinyue, the lady in red who was so talented in music.

Midnight eventually came, and the boss was forced to chase the last of the men out. Finally, Hong Xin was able to eat her meal in peace. She didn't go straight to bed, however. Instead, she went to the backyard of the inn where she could get a bit of exercise. She wore a set of cultivator robes that she had bought at one of the shops in town.

Breathing in deeply, she closed her eyes and practiced a fluid punching and kicking routine, using the few techniques that she knew in quick succession. For some reason, the motions came much more naturally than before, and she finished her routine in record time. Still, she felt unsatisfied about her performance. Something was missing.

She continued practicing, but instead of firing off a predetermined set of punches and kicks, she began to improvise. As she practiced without thinking, she heard a soft piece of music. It was the song she'd heard previously, beginning at the part that represented her arriving at the farm on the road to recovery. Her motions slowed as she recalled the torrent of emotions passing through her after killing the bar owner, yet they gradually improved as the tempo of the music in her head increased.

Before long, she was moving much faster than before. The tempo of the music increased, reaching a feverish rhythm. Hong Xin felt like a fire was burning in her heart, banishing the cold that had invaded her soul on that fateful day. Sweat dripped down from her brow and soaked her training shirt as she danced, but she didn't care. She felt like all she wanted to do in her life was dance.

Finally, the music stopped. She stopped as well. She looked around but found no one. The music had been in her head all along, but it was music she could never forget. It was music that kindled her heart and soothed her soul, and she wished that she could hear it every day.

After calming her ragged breath, Hong Xin returned to her room and immediately went to bed. It was best sleep she'd had in over a decade.

***

It was past midnight in Castle Town. Yinyue wasn't sleeping. Rather, she just stood at her window and stared at the moon. It had been a long time since she'd taken up her old profession as a traveling musician. After all, someone of her renowned talent could invite herself at a king's banquet to give a performance, forget a small town like this.

Yet a few years back, she'd felt the urge to wander. She didn't know why, but she followed her heart.

Life is a dance, and sometimes you need to follow the music life gives you. It was a saying that she'd followed countless times in the past, and it had never led her astray.

Tonight, like many other nights, she pondered the reason why she traveled.

Why did I have to come here of all places? Why not a big city or somewhere scenic like the Fire Mountains? She knew the answer would come to her eventually. Every time she asked herself this question, she came a little bit closer to the truth.

Suddenly she noticed a flickering figure downstairs in the courtyard. It was that little girl that seemed so enamored by her presence. The reason she'd played the first song earlier was because she felt a lingering darkness in her heart, an ache that was difficult to remove. Yinyue's music art could heal the wounds in a person's heart and light a blazing fire from a heart's dying embers. It was a song that she had played for that little girl alone, and the many bystanders could never understand its profundity.

Yinyue smiled as she looked down at the figure, stiffly executing one stance after another in a rehearsed manner. If only she would learn to let go, I'm sure she'd be a great dancer.

To her surprise, the forms changed after about an incense time. It was as though the girl had subconsciously taken her advice and began dancing to a tune only she could hear. A surprised expression flickered over Yinyue's face when she realized that her rhythm and movements were according to the song that she'd performed for the poor girl earlier that day.

She learns surprisingly fast for having such terrible talent, Yinyue thought. She then continued watching her appreciatively from the window up above, not making a sound. Very few people have what it takes to dig themselves out of a pit of darkness. Only those who have lost all their light can learn to kindle the fire within their hearts.

Then, it struck her. Perhaps her reason for wandering was related to this girl? The more she thought of it, the more amazed she became. Fate worked in mysterious ways, but she couldn't fathom what it was thinking by sending her to pick up someone with such trashy talent.

Oh well, she thought. Life is a dance, and I don't lead, I only follow. If fate wants me to teach her, teach her I shall.