Next morning, Dawn spilled over the temple's tiled roof like liquid gold but the air of thick with tension.
Master Zi Chen asked usual was standing in the training, his silhouette tall against the rising sun, waiting for Liang and Jún. This time Liang and Jún arrived at the same time but not together, this time they arrived right on time, though their footsteps said otherwise -- one steady, the other impatient.
"We are returning to the forest," Master Zi Chen announced.
"Both of you."
Jún frowned. "Again! After what happened with me yesterday, you still want us to go into that crazy forest. I thought yesterday's lesson was enough."
"This isn't training," Master Zi Chen replied. "It's remembrance."
Liang's brow furrowed. "Remembrance....? Remembrance of what, Master?"
"You will see." Master Zi Chen replied.
No more words were spoken, Master Zi Chen without any word started walking, Liang being a loyal student followed Master Zi Chen and Jún unwillingly also followed Master Zi Chen to Gŭ Shén Lín forest.
Deep into the Gŭ Shén Lín forest....
They walked for hours, deeper than they had ever gone before -- beyond the river's bend, beyond the stone carved with forgotten glyphs. As they climbed over the twisted roots and passed through the veils of moss, the forest began to change, the air felt colder, heavier, as if they had to stepped into a memory not their own.
And they saw it.
A crumbling temple, veiled in vines and silence, sat nestled beneath the roots of a colossal tree. Its arches were cracked but had their form -- like a mouth that has whispered lots of secrets too ancient to remember.
Master Zi Chen stepped forward, closely looked at the temple, his voice soft.
"Liang! Jún! You are looking at this temple?" Master Zi Chen asked.
"Yes, Master!" Both Liang and Jún replied.
"This temple was built long before the dynasty. It is where I first met my Master. It is where I first heard the Void."
Liang glanced at Jún, uneasy.
"The Void?" Jún asked, arms crossed.
Master Zi Chen didn't answered him, he simply said.
"You will get to know about it."
After saying that, he walked towards the ancient temple's door, he placed a hand on the ancient door and it opened with a sound of stone sighing.
Inside, they found a meditation chamber. Stone Lotus petals encircled a circular basin of clear water. A flame flickered at its center floating on nothing.
"Sit" Master Zi Chen said. "Let your spirits listen."
Liang and Jún at first didn't listened to Master Zi Chen's command because both of them were looking at the temple. Examining every single detail of the temple through their eyes.
"SIT" Master Zi Chen said again but this time in louder tone. "LET YOUR SPIRITS LISTEN."
They both obeyed.
Master Zi Chen also sat down in meditating position on the big stone block and closed his eyes.
Liang also closed his eyes and started meditating. He could feel the pulse of earth beneath him, slow and steady. A warmth, ancient and deep filled the chamber.
Jún tried to focus but his thoughts swirled, unruly. Something about this place made his skin crawl.
All of them were mediating peacefully and then, far away.... something stirred.
Master Zi Chen felt something unusual so opened his eyes to see and there is saw.....
Some birds flying away from tree. Master Zi Chen then went back to his meditation but this he got it wrong it was not bird who caused the stir it was his own demonic creation Zhēnwū hiding in the trees and watching them closely.
Zhēnwū from the such far was able to see Master Zi Chen, Jún and Liang. In his mind he was having several thoughts.
"Hmm..... there is Zi Chen along with his two disciples. Seriously Zi Chen still giving mentorship at this age. However, unfortunately for him these two will be his last disciples who he will teach. After some time I will end his life by ripping his head off and popping his eyes out."
Zhēnwū had a closer look on them. At that moment he was having thoughts of attacking Master Zi Chen.
"But why I should wait? How about I kill Zi Chen right now and take away Liang."
At first Zhēnwū thought this was right idea and decided to attack Zi Chen, he moved his leg and it caused some stirr. Master Zi Chen then again opened his eyes after hearing the stirr and looked around. Zhēnwū stopped himself and immediately dropped his idea after acknowledging the power of Master Zi Chen.
"No.... No..... I am doing wrong. I should not underestimate Zi Chen's power and his strength. He still have it. I can repeat the mistakes of my past... I have to be smarter this time."
Master Zi Chen looked around and he again saw the birds flying. Thinking that it was caused by birds he closed his eyes again while Zhēnwū was patiently waiting and keeping a close eye on them.
The sky bled the crimson as the sun was about to go down behind the hills.
Master Zi Chen commanded.
"Now you both can open your eyes."
Liang and Jún opened their eyes peacefully.
"So how you both are feeling right now?" Master Zi Chen asked.
"Good Master." Liang replied however Jún didn't enjoyed that much because he wasn't focused in meditating.
"What about you Jún?" Master Zi Chen asked. Jún was startled and he lied to him.
"It was good Master! However not much speacial at all."
Master Zi Chen smiled and said.
"Don't worry you both are going to have something speacial."
"What, Master?" Liang and Jún asked curiously. To which Master Zi Chen said.
"You both wanted to know how Xuèshén Yin is made?"
"Yes Master!" Both Jún and Liang answered.
"Then you both have to together to get some spring water and blood spirit ginseng which looks dark red in colour."
Master Zi Chen commanded them to bring it together. Liang was ready to do it however Jún was not ready to go Liang.
"Master..... me with Liang!" Jún said.
"Yes! Why? Is there any problem?" Master Zi Chen asked. Jún then started to make excuses.
"But Master he is just a kid. In this deep dense forest it is not safe for him to walk with me."
Master Zi Chen smiled and replied.
"Then you as a elder brother should take care of your little brother." Master Zi Chen said.
Jún wasn't interested in going with Liang. He was already disliking the idea but he realized that there is no other option for him.
"Brother Jún, should we go now?" Liang asked politely.
"Yeah..... let's go." Jún replied but in lower tone.
Both Jún and Liang walked together out the temple for the search of spring water and Master Zi Chen watching them from behind, smiling seeing them together.
Zhēnwū looking both Liang and Jún walking out of the temple alone, Master Zi Chen not with them.
"This is the perfect moment." He whispered and started following Jún and Liang silently hiding into the shadows.