3

In Huǒrè de Bǎolěi

As morning dawned, the King and His Bride made their way towards the rainbow bridge between the two mountains. She had made a crown of flowers and placed it on her locks. Hopping with joy like a little child, she stopped midway across the bridge. As he caught up with her, she stretched her arms upwards and then flung an arm around his neck as she joyfully planted a kiss on his cheek. As unrestrained as she was, he was always caught by pleasant surprise whenever she did such little things. It amused him and made his heart feel warm.

‘Look! There must be a hundred little rainbows dancing in the air as the waters of Shēngmìng zhī hé thunder beneath us,’ she said. Then she placed her hands on the guardrails of the rainbow bridge which were hewn of clear crystal. She rested her face on her palms as she looked into the distance all around them. They could see all twenty-four realms from here and the pathways to their main portals were lit like jeweled tunnels of golden-blue light radiating parallel to the branches of Shēngmìng zhī hé.

He imitated her posture and looked at her with a slight frown before turning his attention to the realms. ‘Is it not lovely how they are all so different, but they are one, united, kingdom? There is peace in all the realms, and everyone cooperates with one another to ensure life flourishes to the fullest. My heart is content,’ he thought aloud.

‘Hmmm…. I was thinking the same thing,’ she said, before holding his arm and pulling him towards Huǒrè de bǎolěi. They had planned to head their and examine some of the fiery stones scattered around.

Now, Huǒrè de bǎolěi was devoid of trees, gardens, and water. But it was where the living, breathing, fiery stones dwelt. The stones were of different colors and hues so that it was impossible to count all of them. Moreover, whenever a stone was picked, seven more of its own kind grew in its place. Within each stone was its own spirit, bearing the same color as the stone and dancing like a flame in a gentle breeze. When one spoke with the stones, then the spirit in them would awaken and engage in conversation.

These stones were filled with the wisdom of their Makers. Every word spoken came from their mind and memories. Anyone could ask them a question and reflect on their response. Their replies were not always straight-forward answers. They needed the hearer to equally engage and wrestle with the possibilities. Only then would they gain wisdom and apply it carefully for the benefit of all. The full power of each stone could only be released by someone who matched it with equal wisdom. Sometimes, the power could not be released at all until the stone was used in some practical manner to help someone.

The faintest pinks and tones of red were the stones of lesser power and could be used by beginners in their journey of growth. The light they released was intense, but it could not travel far nor deep. Within a limited sphere however, it could shatter many things. The blues and purples were stones of very great power and even experts would need practice and great mastery to gain their treasures. Their light was soft but strong, traveling far and very deep. It had power to heal and rebuild whatever lay even great distances away from it. These stones complimented one another and where one was weak the strength of the other made up for it. They worked together to build heavenly objects and places. The stones of violet, indigo, and blue hues worked very well in the northern and southern portals. The ones of yellow, orange, and red hues worked very well in the eastern and western portals. The green ones could be used anywhere, and they brought balance to regulate the powers of the other stones.

Due to their immense power, the stones were used to honor and reward the Tiānshǐ with authority and all they needed to carry out their work in the realms. These stones cooperated with their owners and bent to their will, taking on the shape of weapons, tools, ornaments, or other objects of power that could be used to help life in all the realms to flourish well.

The stones were guarded by Xióng Zhǎn and Jiàn Shēng. Everyone needed personal, engraved seals to enter or leave, but there was no problem with moving freely within the mountain for it was meant for all beings. Even the King and his Bride had their own seals as they subjected themselves to the same rules required for everyone else. They were not above the rules that they made. There was mutual trust that everyone only took what they needed. They were not to gather more than what they would use for a given purpose. If one unknowingly took more than was needed, once the task was complete, the extra stones would disappear from their keep and return to the mountain where the seven that replaced it would also disappear.

Xióng Zhǎn was always prim and proper, being more serious and reserved than Jiàn Shēng.

‘Are you sure you do not want the last of these sweet pomegranates?’ Jiàn Shēng asked with mock seriousness as he wiped the dripping, garnet juice on his sleeve with an air of carelessness.

‘We are on duty here Jiàn-er. Please be more serious!’ Xióng Zhǎn said as he nodded his head in disapproval and indicated he did not want to eat. ‘Look! You have stained your sleeves – it is messy all over!’ he continued as Jiàn Shēng laughed and suddenly attacked him, threatening to smear the juice on his face.

As they chased each other, they sensed the approach of others and quickly returned to their stations. Both fixed their clothes of residual smears and waited to host whoever was coming their way. To their pleasant surprise it was the King and his Bride.

Both, Xióng Zhǎn and Jiàn Shēng crossed their arms across their chests in an ‘X’ and bowed their heads in greeting. The King and his Bride likewise greeted them with the same gesture. Xióng Zhǎn and Jiàn Shēng greatly admired their Makers and standing at such proximity to them caused them to admire them even more. They were impressed with the indescribable beauty of these immortal beings and entranced by the glow of fiery gold and blue in the eyes of these lovers. While the King showed Xióng Zhǎn the engraved seals needed to enter the mountain, the Bride turned her gaze upon Jiàn Shēng.

Her eyes sparkled even more when she saw him, and her polite smile quickly turned to a very soft giggle. She restrained bursting out in laughter lest she embarrassed him. Then she quickly pointed to the edge of her own lip as she looked at him with a mixture of merriment and mischief. Jiàn Shēng was not too certain what she was doing, and he became even more confused with her signalling.

‘Why does she want me to touch the edge of her lip?’ he wondered. ‘I better obey!’ and he hesitatingly reached out towards her face. She quickly brushed his hand away and shook her head in disapproval as she laughed aloud. She wiped the edge of his lip quickly and showed him what had caused her to giggle. He had forgotten to clean his face in the hurry to appear good and serious, and he had missed a trail of pomegranate juice that was making its way down his chiselled, and strikingly handsome face in the most unceremonious manner.

The flurry of quick moves drew the attention of the King and Xióng Zhǎn. Xióng Zhǎn squinted his eyes at his brother and nodded his head as if to say, ‘I told you so!’ The King looked as amused as his Bride.

‘You can come and get some pots of wine if you love pomegranates so much,’ he told Jiàn Shēng, ‘We will be on our way first,’ he continued as he entered the path towards the fiery stones along with his beloved. She smiled at both of them but there was the slightest hint of a little more merriment when she looked at Jiàn Shēng – it was like her eyes had not succeeded in containing her inner amusement.

As they disappeared around the bend, Jiàn Shēng looked grumpily at Xióng Zhǎn. ‘Why did you not tell me about it? That was so embarrassing!’ he complained.

Xióng Zhǎn laughed out as he replied, ‘I did not see it, otherwise I would have told you. You know that. Now cheer up, later we can duel at my place and go explore the northern realms.’ Mention of a duel cheered Jiàn Shēng and he smiled broadly as he nodded his head in approval.

Like Méiguī shān, Huǒrè de bǎolěi was intriguing. While on them, the dimensions were so vast that it felt like one was wandering through plains and valleys rather than a single mountain itself. Different paths led to stones of different hues. As one passed by, you could hear the stones whispering to one another and if they were interested, they would call out to the passers-by to see if they could match their powers and wisdom. In the lower reaches were the stones with hues of red, then orange, and going a little further up, were the yellow ones. Then there was an abundance of stones with hues of green before the ones of blue, indigo, and violet in the upper reaches.

The King and his Bride entered the region of the red stones. A collective hush fell over the place before the awe-struck stones began to sing melodiously and call out to their Makers. She wasted no time frolicking among them and engaging in conversations. But he knew what he had come for and made his way through them towards a very narrow path. He squeezed through it and came into a hollow cave after walking some distance. The cave was enclosed on all sides with crystals in hues of red. He scaled its sharpest wall and made his way to the point where it touched the roof of the cave at a very dizzy height. He smiled and reached into a cleft in the rock. There was a tiny, perfectly round garnet in the deepest maroon hue. It was also the strongest, wisest, and most powerful of all the stones in the region.

‘Come here little one, I believe we need to wrestle in conversation,’ the King said kindly. The spirit of the red garnet was awake and alert. It was excited and honored to be chosen.

‘Why did you pick me? I am the smallest and obviously there are better stones out there,’ it said.

‘The wisest and most powerful know how to stay hidden. Their treasures can only be found by searching them out,’ the King replied.

‘What treasure is hidden in me?’ the stone pressed on.

‘I made you, and when I did, I ensured to hide in your depth the secret of life itself. It is in your veins, and in your blood. Your color carries the power of life force in it and can make things live. I distilled your spirit from a drop of my own core and mixed it with the waters of Shēngmìng zhī hé,’ the King answered.

‘Indeed! How do you wish to use me? Will it be worth giving up my life for within this sweet, secure space in the cleft of the rock?’ the stone wondered aloud.

‘I plan to combine your strength with that of stones from every hue and forge all of you into a single stone of great value,’ the king revealed.

‘That sounds interesting... with our unified powers who can tell what can be done? Alright, I will go with you,’ the stone said resolutely.

The King gathered the stone and made his way back. He found his Beloved playing by the red crystals and motioning to her, they made their way hand-in-hand to the region where the stones of orange hue dwelt.

From a distance the sound was like that of many dancers for the stones were indeed forming shapes and moving like dancing flames. As fiery as these stones were, they did not burn those who walked among them. As the King and his beloved approached them, the stones danced in great abandon as joy filled their core. She excused herself from him and joined them in their dance as he went through the fiery ones towards a patch of broken ground.

The nearer he drew, the crack appeared greater and deeper till it was obvious that it was a crevice plummeting a great distance beneath the surface. He dived in without fear and landed in a molten river of deepest orange. Anything in our world would have melted long before it reached the surface of the fierce liquid. As he hit its surface and went deeper, his eyes glowed fiercer with its own golden-orange light. The molten river was as clear as water before him and once he reached its depths, he dug out a palm-sized object that in appearance was like an oyster. He surfaced and then flew up the crevice till he reached the place where the ground was broken.

He gently tapped the object and it slowly opened. Inside it was glistening, molten, orange fire. It said, ‘Who awakens me from my slumber? I have worked hard and…,’ it broke in mid-sentence as it realized who it was that woke it.

The King laughed and completed the sentence, ‘Surely you deserve rest!’

‘Excuse me, my Lord. Forgive me for my foolish blabber. How may I help you this day?’ it enquired of him.

‘Your fragrance has grown strong over time, and you have done your task excellently. You have ensured the core of the mountain stays barrier-free and pliable, melting the things that divide. Now help me and merge your power of breaking down every barrier, along with that of other stones to create something far more beautiful and excellent,’ he explained.

‘I am curious what would happen if our powers combined?’ the fiery mass wondered.

‘You will have rest and many other gifts, but you will bring your gift to the table and bless others with the power to melt dividing walls of any kind,’ the King reassured it.

The spirit of the stone smiled and arose and as it did, the molten form became a beautiful gem like a shimmery, iridescent, orange pearl. It rose from its bed within the oyster and hovered over the open palm of the King. He took it and made his way back to where his Bride was. She was lying among the dancing flames and when she saw him, she jumped up joyfully and said, ‘Are we ready to press forward?’

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‘Yes, my love,’ he whispered as he gently tapped her nose and they walked further towards the region where the stones of yellow hue lived. These stones were unusual as they seemed to be spewing embers from their cores. The sound of burning filled the air though it was cool to the touch. The stones themselves felt cold but it was their hearts that were on fire, glittering with sparkling gold within.

‘Do you want to follow me?’ he asked his Beloved.

‘Er… no. I want to look around and find something as well. We will meet here when we find what we came for,’ she said as she smiled at him knowingly.

This time, he went to the place that had a great number of yellow stones of every kind forming structures like stalagmites and stalactites on either side of the pathways running between them.

‘There you are!’ he said as he reached an extremely shiny, mirror-like, pale yellow stalactite. Fiery embers floated softly around it as it responded, ‘Master, it has been awhile. Have I grown well?’

‘Everything precious must be tested. Let us see,’ he said as the embers became like a rope of lightening and wound themselves around him. At the same time, a matching, fiery, gold river flowed from his veins and entwined with the binding causing a fire to begin. The stone and the King began to change as they wrestled with one another’s strength. Each one’s hue changed from their own to shades of golden bronze and copper before both shone like a mirror distilled of pure gold. The stone broke its hold first.

‘You have grown much and have been purified by your core. You will purify others too,’ he said with satisfaction. ‘I need you to combine your powers of purification with the strengths of other stones that I am gathering. Will you come with me?’ he asked.

‘Indeed!’ replied the stone as it formed itself into a little five-dimensional, faceted triangle and floated into his palm. He made his way again to the entrance and found his Beloved waiting there as she had in all the other regions.

‘What have you been up to?’ he asked.

‘I got these five stones to make gifts for Xióng Zhǎn, Yīng Fēng, Pèi Zhōng, Zhì Shēn, and Jiàn Shēng,’ she said excitedly.

‘And where is my gift?’ he asked her jokingly. ‘You will see!’ she replied.

They moved towards the region where there was an abundance of stones in every shade and hue of green. These grew in the shape of crystal trees with crystal fruit and leaves. It looked like they covered entire plains and valleys into the far horizon as far as the eyes could see. She rose gracefully to the heights of one of the tallest trees and sat on its branch.

‘I will rest here for a while,’ she said as she stretched and made herself comfortable for a little nap. He nodded his head in agreement as he walked into a gentle valley. At its centre there stood the largest, crystal tree. Its leaves were of every hue of green from the lightest to the darkest. Surprisingly, its branches swayed in the wind like they were made of the lightest muslin. It bore crystal fruit of the same green hues as its leaves, and they were extremely abundant so that both, leaves and fruit lay scattered around its base.

‘My good friend, how have you been?’ he enquired.

‘My Lord! As you can see, fruitful but I feel I have hit a limit within myself and there is nothing more left for me to bear. It makes me sad. Is there a way for me to be more fruitful?’ it asked sincerely.

‘I am here for that very reason for it is about time for you to break-through. But you must combine your power with that of other stones,’ he said thoughtfully.

‘Most certainly! I will bear any price for greater fruitfulness,’ the tree said as it began to shrink to a small, emerald seed which floated into the hands of its Maker. He smiled and returned to the entrance, taking care to slow down each step as he wanted his Beloved to rest a little longer. But when he reached the spot where she had ascended to the top branch, she was not there. He looked around, and suddenly felt her hands close his eyes from behind.

‘There you are!’ he said as he pulled her hands away from his eyes and simultaneously pulled her towards himself. ‘What new game have you invented?’ he asked.

‘Guess!’ she said as she ran quickly to the exit and made her way towards the higher regions. He chased after her as she remained a step or two ahead of him. They were laughing and almost fell in a heap at the entrance where the blue stones lived.

She placed her finger on his lip as she suddenly became alert and listened carefully. ‘Do you hear that? I know that sound! I love it!’ she said as she quickly got up and moved into the place. The sound that had got her attention was that of gentle waves, some distant, some near, some rippling and others bubbling. The blue stones together formed shapes of waves in motion. In some places, it appeared like blue crystals poured out from openings like gushing fountains and made their way over the surface like sparkling water. The stones inherently had the property of fluidity in them. When you gathered them in the palm of your hand, they would sparkle like clear waters, and it became obvious that even a tiny drop had many little stones bonded together and moving as one.

She raced ahead of him through the paths as he chased after her. As they ran, she twirled joyfully and turned into a whirlwind of fire from the sole of her feet to the crown of her head. Her fiery form laughed joyfully and called out to him, ‘Let me clear the path before you so your feet will not strike upon these rocks!’ He laughed in delight as he continued to chase his beloved in her fiery whirlwind form.

They reached the shores of what appeared to be a mighty sea of crystals in different hues of darker blue. He placed his feet upon them, but she stopped him and said, ‘Uh-huh, I will make a way through the waters for you!’ Then she manifested herself in the form of a mighty wind and as she moved forward, the waters parted into two great walls of blue on either side of him. And as he walked through, he saw reflections of her through the crystal facets of the walls. Each reflection was as graceful as a mermaid in the depths, and each called out to him with merriment and joy. He was fully enthralled by her. Once they were out of the waters, they made their way further down the path till they came to a very beautiful, still lake made of lighter blues than the sea they had just crossed.

Here she suddenly changed from the wind into her watery core form and with a careless, backward glance at him, she dived into the depths. ‘Wait…’ he barely said before she disappeared underwater. He smiled to himself and nodded his head to himself. As he walked on the waters of the lake, they upheld him. He made his way towards the heart of the lake where a well stood.

He was some distance into the lake when a storm built up and the lake turned chaotic. He smiled to himself, ‘She is playing and now I am the one she is playing with…’ His thoughts were hardly over when he suddenly felt a strong pull on his feet, and he was dragged underwater. His eyes glowed in their usual golden fiery hue as he was submerged. The lovers came face to face in the shimmery currents.

‘Why did you not resist?’ she chastised him jokingly.

‘I believe in you fully, that is why. I had no need to resist. I did not fear the storm. I only knew I loved you,’ he said as he calmly gazed into her eyes. All her play was breaking his inner restraint. Just like he was the only one who could tame her chaotic storm, she was the only one who could cause the calm, stillness of his inner being to be shaken and lose all control. Just as he reached towards her to kiss her lips, she suddenly dived deeper into the depths and caused a watery surge to spew him to the surface. He shook his head and mumbled, ‘I will catch you little fish!’

He reached the well which had a single, large, sapphire that covered it. With one word from him, it moved and floated to the side of the well. He looked into the depths of the well and whispered, ‘Awake, arise! Come forth.’

To his pleasant surprise, her watery form emerged in a sparkling mist that shone like many diamonds. She was covered with a magnificent, luminous veil that seemed to be made of liquid, shimmery iridescence. ‘You never cease to delight me!’ he whispered as he held out his hand for her.

She smiled and said, ‘Both arms!’ He smiled and held out both arms and carried her delicately in them as she draped her own arms around his strong neck. They got to the banks of the lake and there she alighted from his hold.

‘Is this what you were seeking?’ she said as she held out her palm. The veil over her face gently floated and formed a globule of water that was in parts aquamarine and in parts sapphire. It rested within her grasp. ‘Indeed, how did you find it?’ he asked as he took the tear-shaped globule from her.

‘I was also seeking a treasure when I found it close to the living streams that flow under these crystal waters,’ she replied.

‘Those streams of Shēngmìng zhī hé have their source in your core,’ he said.

She smiled and stretched forth her hand. A beautiful little wine cup of cut blue crystal appeared. In it the waters of the underwater stream bubbled forth. She offered it to him, ‘Then take this cup, as little as it is, to be full of my life and love – strong and mighty, able to move the mountains and shake the realms for you.’

He took the cup and was about to drink it when she stopped him. With a whisper she turned the bubbling water to her choicest spiced wine. He drank it and pulled her into his arms. ‘You have troubled my heart with just one glance of your eyes. With your steps you have drawn me after you so that I thirst like a deer in the valleys for your love.’ He sealed these words with the kisses of his lips and a gentle but firm hold on her so that she could not flee from him even in jest. They remained there for a long time before he carried her in his arms back to the point at which they entered the region of the blue stones that have the power to cleanse.

He did not stop carrying her as they pressed towards the place where the stones of deep indigo hues resided. These were so dark, that they almost looked like the beautiful black ink that paints the night skies. There was the softest of music heard among them like the undertones of many small bells chiming in harmony. It was a restful tune that sounded like a heavenly lullaby. These living stones formed inviting pillows. Resting one’s head on them would cause a deep slumber and the eyes would be open to seeing visions and dreams filled with the memory and knowledge of the stones that formed the headrests.

The lovers laid down together and shared a stone for a pillow. As their eyes closed, they simultaneously saw the time when they were an undivided one. They remembered how the fires of their existence swirled around them like the fluids in the womb. Each was aware of the other as twins sharing the space till the time of their birthing. They remembered how they danced through the emptiness of the unformed spaces and made all things in the realms. Then their memories shifted to the desire in their hearts to see each other face to face, and hold each other tenderly, sharing thoughts and heartbeats for they were deeply in love.

Just as they had first awakened beside each other, now their eyes slowly opened as they remained in the other’s embrace. He moved a curl off her eyes and whispered softly, ‘Tell me, why did you change the waters into wine earlier?’

Her lips broke into a soft smile. ‘I did it so that every time you drink a cup of wine hence forth you will remember me,’ she replied.

‘It is not like I would forget you,’ he smiled.

‘You had better not!’ she threatened him mischievously.

‘What would you do, if I ever did?’ he wondered.

‘I will hunt you down no matter where you are, and I will find you. Then I will bind you to myself with cords that cannot be broken, and I will shower you with many kisses till you remember me once again!’ she declared.

‘Why now? That sounds like a very enticing invitation for me to forget you!’ he joked.

‘Dare you?’ she asked as she held him down and kissed him. Then she paused and said more seriously, ‘But, you should never forget me, no matter who else does and no matter what happens. Do you promise me that?’

‘You have my word. Look here, I have hidden you in the palm of my hand so that you will constantly be before me,’ he said as he showed his palm to her. It changed like a mirror in which all his memories of her were captured and anytime he so desired, he only needed to look at them to feel close to her.

They arose and their headrest yielded itself to them. It gently split into two equal parts that turned into a pair of turtle doves. the King and his Bride reached out and the birds flew to rest in their grasp.

‘There will be perfect rest when these two become one and our headrest becomes whole again,’ he said. They moved from the realm of peace and rest towards the highest reaches of the mountain.

This is where the stones in every hue of violet lived. Entering them was like coming into a realm of dazzling power and lights. Here many palaces and mansions arose into the endless distance. Each was filled with great splendor and wealth. There were signs and symbols of great power everywhere and weapons that duelled with one another. But none of these were the greatest in power. The King and his Bride smiled knowingly at each other as they parted ways.

After some time had passed, they returned to the same spot.

‘Show me what you found and let me see which one of us has found the greatest in this region,’ she said.

‘Let us bring out our treasures together,’ he said.

Again, they smiled knowingly and brought forth their treasures. In her hand was a basin meant to hold the water for washing feet. It was of a deep, violet hue and in it were the waters of the living stream that flowed under all the regions. He stretched forth his hand and the lightest of ploughshares took shape. It was of pastel, violet hues that sparkled from every facet in its heart.

‘What does your treasure do that makes it the most powerful here?’ he asked. ‘It serves, and how about yours?’ she asked in response.

‘It breaks the hardest ground and works it so that the land can yield its wealth,’ he replied.

‘It looks like both our treasures have equal power. Those who rule must serve and work the land for those in their charge,’ she continued, ‘Of all the weapons, the wealth, the mansions, and palaces, these two are the best for they will give their bearers something that none of the other stones here can give – the love of the inhabitants of their kingdom. Priceless!’

‘Now that our quest is complete and we have claimed these, let us return so that the forging can begin,’ he told her.

Their eyes gleamed with excitement as they made their way down the pathways to the entrance of Huǒrè de bǎolěi. They had work to do and they looked forward to the forging of the powers.

Xióng Zhǎn and Jiàn Shēng stood alert and watching as the lovers made their way towards them.

‘Did both of you find the things you came for?’ enquired Xióng Zhǎn.

‘Indeed, we have all that we need for the forging,’ the King replied.

‘The forging?’ Jiàn Shēng wondered aloud.

‘You will see,’ the Bride replied as she gave him a serious look and with sudden surprise in her eyes, she pointed to the edge of her lip again.

Jiàn Shēng instinctively reached to clean his face, fearing that somehow, he had neglected another spot or stain that sullied his otherwise perfect appearance. She smiled in amusement and said, ‘Do not worry about it, I will give you something to deal with such things in future!’

The King and Xióng Zhǎn contained their laughter as Jiàn Shēng looked caught between bewilderment and curiosity. The lovers made their way out of Huǒrè de bǎolěi and back towards Méiguī shān. They preferred their garden of love under the open skies to all the mansions in the realms.

Meanwhile Xióng Zhǎn and Jiàn Shēng kept vigil at their appointed stations. Xióng Zhǎn noticed a faraway look in Jiàn Shēng’s dark eyes like he was pondering over something.

‘Is something bothering you Jiàn-er?’ he asked.

‘The forging, what could that be?’ Jiàn Shēng mumbled as he came out of his deep thoughts.

‘We will find out soon,’ his brother assured. But Jiàn Shēng was lost again in troubling thoughts.

Truth works in strange ways. If you deny it or suppress it, your feet will lead you further away and each step back will become a very heavy, and painful foot forward. The sooner you return to face it, the faster and lighter your steps will be and the mind would be eased of its troublesome burden.