The ancient temple loomed over them, its grandeur softened by time and the elements lending it a divine aura unlike any place Wu Chen had ever been. His heart felt tranquil here, peaceful, as though earthly problems were of little importance. The sweet sound of wind chimes and soft chanting came from deeper within and made even the air feel holy. His eyes took in the various benevolent Buddha statues that held great prominence, and he realized that he felt safe. It had been a long time since he had felt like that. He closed his eyes and silently thanked Buddha for the gift.

A young monk in a dark grey robe slowly walked down the worn stairs. He looked to be in his twenties, although his wide smile and cleanly shaved head made him appear ageless. As he approached Wu Chen, he held his hands with palms together and dropped into a polite bow.

'Amitabha. Welcome, welcome!' He said, his smile bright.

Wu Chen politely returned his bow but felt a little awkward and sad. When they had made their plans to visit this temple, Lu Yong was meant to guide and provide introductions. Now, he was no longer by Wu Chen's side, and he was at a loss as to how to proceed.

'I am Wu Chen, and this is my Guardian Chu Haoyu. I was told to come here by my previous Guardian, Lu Yong.' Wu Chen explained, his voice catching on his name.

'Ah! You are Wu Chen Gongzi. The Old One has been expecting you. He has asked that we bring you to him as soon as you arrive.' The monk turned to Chu Haoyu, his face showing a hint of awkwardness. 'The Old One insisted that Wu Chen Gongzi come alone. He will be with us for a month while we treat him. I hope Chu Haoyu Gongzi will not take offense.'

Wu Chen was shocked! He hadn't expected that Chu Haoyu wouldn't be allowed into the temple with him. He turned a disappointed look towards Chu Haoyu, who smiled back at him.

'It's okay, Wu Chen.' He said, patting his shoulder. 'I will return in a month. It's more important that we do as the Old One wishes.'

'But...you're my Guardian. We should stay together.' Wu Chen argued, his eyes sad.

Chu Haoyu shook his head and pushed him gently toward the monk. 'Go. I will return, and when I do, I expect to see a smiling Wu Chen instead of this sour face you wear now.'

Wu Chen blushed and nodded his head. Then he followed the kindly monk up the stairs, his head turning back to glance at Chu Haoyu every now and then. Chu Haoyu stayed on the stairs smiling until Wu Chen entered the temple, and then he jumped on his sword and disappeared into the canopy.

************************************************

It took the better part of three days to reach the massive construction site. Chu Haoyu landed just outside of his temporary palace and couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief. Its opulence would be most welcome after so many weeks of rough travel by foot.

Chu Haoyu entered the small palace briskly, and within moments, a towering bald eunuch and several beautiful female servants dropped to the floor to kowtow before him.

'Your Majesty, your humble servant greets you with utmost respect.' They said together.

'You may rise. We will be taking a bath first. Send that new male concubine the Wanhui gifted us to the side chamber. We like his fox eyes. Be sure the room is adequately supplied with the things we might need. Also, when we call tomorrow, we expect the head overseer to bring us a report on the overall construction progress and prepare a tour of the Imperial Palace, focused on the Inner Court.'

'This servant hears and obeys, Your Majesty.' The eunuch bowed and left to perform his tasks.

From what he could see as he flew over, most of the palace was complete. However, on this visit, he was most interested in the Hall of Heavenly Harmony where his Dragon Throne would be placed, and his personal living quarters in the Palace of Divine Purity. He had left strict instructions before he departed last time, and he had to be sure his orders had been carried out properly.

Chu Haoyu headed toward his bathing chamber, followed by the female servants. The tour could wait. He had been forced to hold his desires back for far too long. The young concubine was no Wu Chen, but he did have fox eyes that looked slightly similar. Chu Haoyu smiled wickedly as he entered the bath chamber, and the doors closed behind him.

************************************************

Wu Chen followed the monk through a labyrinth of hallways dappled with sunshine. The further in he went, the safer he felt. It was like having his soul washed with water of a perfect temperature and emerging free of negativity and unnecessary thoughts. Time became irrelevant.

Somehow, he found himself standing alone before a set of massive wooden doors. Where his guiding monk had gone, and when he'd left? He did not know. He just knew that he did not feel afraid. There was only a sense of peace and open-minded curiosity. He reached his hands out and pushed the doors open with just the tips of his fingers.

A blinding light greeted him, but he did not flinch. The light was pure. Cleansing. Welcoming. He entered the light and emerged into a small bare room lit with candles that flickered in various holders all along the edges. In the center of the room, a very thin old man sat in the lotus position with his palms together, and his eyes closed. His black robes hung on his thin frame in loose layers, and his wispy white mustache and beard fluttered as he chanted quietly to himself.

Wu Chen bowed low to the old man and sat in the lotus position with his palms pressed together directly in front of him. They were so close that their knees were almost touching. Once he was seated, the old man stopped chanting and opened his sparkling eyes.

Wu Chen was trapped in that gaze. Inside was hidden all the secrets of the universe, the heavens, the earth, and the gods. He dared not blink for fear of missing some vital piece of information, some secret he had yet to discover. He fell deeper and deeper in his quest for answers, his curiosity urging him to keep going. It was never enough. There were always more questions. No matter how many answers he was given, he could not be satisfied. Frantically, he searched, but it only led him to more questions, and he began to feel frustrated and angry.

'Are the answers so important?' A voice asked him softly.

'Yes!' Wu Chen answered emphatically.

'Even the gods don't know all the answers. What makes you think you are more worthy?'

Wu Chen did not know the answer, and it again frustrated him.

'I think it is more important to have questions.' The voice sounded happy.

'Why?' Wu Chen asked curiously.

'Because it means there is still mystery, magic, wonder, and dreams.' The voice whispered.

'Tch! Keep your mystery, magic, wonder, and dreams. I've had enough of them.' Wu Chen growled.

'Really? Is your life so bad? I wonder...' The voice coaxed.

'You tell me! I have an injured soul, I was enslaved for 300 years, I have terrifying nightmares, my family and clan are in danger, I lost Shandian, and... ' Wu Chen swallowed back the tears. 'I lost my Lu Yong.'

'Tsk, tsk, tsk. It does sound like you are having a hard time, young one.' The voice said sympathetically. 'Let's see if some of these questions have an answer together, hmmm?'

Wu Chen was lifted by an unseen giant hand, and they traveled through a multitude of galaxies and universes. His mind expanded, his need for answers overwhelmed by the questions surrounding him. He almost screamed with the pressure, and then the hand stopped.

'I have found some of your answers, young one. The newly born question is, do you want them?' The voice asked gently.

'Of course I want them! Why wouldn't I want them?' Wu Chen cried out desperately.

The voice sighed, 'Because if you have these answers, they might change the way you feel about things. They may change who you are. They may change what you might become. I ask again. Do you want them?'

Wu Chen was upset, but he wasn't stupid. There had to be a reason the kind voice was hesitant to tell him the answers. Sometimes, knowing the truth wasn't for the best. Did he want the answers? Was he willing to take the risk?

'Can I choose the questions?' Wu Chen asked carefully.

'Yes.' The voice said, a hint of approval in its tone.

'Okay. Can my injured soul be cured?' Wu Chen asked hesitantly.

'Yes.'

'How can my injured soul be cured?' He asked.

'It will be cured when your fate is revealed.' The voice answered.

'Then you can't cure it?' Wu Chen asked with disappointment.

'No. Only your fated task can cure it.' Replied the voice patiently.

'I understand. Thank you. How can I stop my nightmares?' Wu Chen asked next.

'There are two ways. The first way is temporary and involves blocking a part of your soul, which could weaken your cultivation by a minimum of one level. The second way is permanent, but it can only happen when your soul is repaired.'

'I see. Thank you. How can I help my family?' Wu Chen asked quietly.

'This too is tied to your fate. You cannot do anything significant before you complete your fated task.' The voice said with a note of sympathy. 'Not all tests in the world are for you. Some are for the future leaders.'

Wu Ying! Thought Wu Chen immediately. He nodded in understanding. Perhaps this trouble was a test for the clan heirs, including Wu Ying. He already knew how to get Shandian. That was a matter of finishing his quest. As for Lu Yong? There was nothing he could do about that. His lover had his own fate as well. Knowing that did not make Wu Chen feel any better, though.

Wu Chen thought a moment, and then in a shaky voice, he asked, 'Do you know who enslaved me?'

'Yes.' The voice said, a hint of hesitation in its tone.

'You don't want to tell me?' Wu Chen guessed.

'No. I do not want to tell you.' The voice said with sadness.

'I see. It must be tied into my fate as well, correct?' Wu Chen asked, feeling defeated.

'Yes. These are all the answers I was able to collect for you. Any other answers, you must find on your own.'

Wu Chen bowed politely, 'I thank you for taking the time, Old One. May I ask, how can I put the blockage on my soul to stop the nightmares temporarily? I am willing to risk the loss of cultivation.'

'Then I will perform it now, young one. It will be painful, and you will be in a coma for a week to heal. Expect to feel weaker when you wake.'

'Thank you for your care.' Wu Chen bowed again.

Blinding pain. Screaming. Darkness.