The Sixth Trial took the form of the open wild: a lush forest, soaked with a mist of aspiration and bloomed with fruits and flowers. Bamboo groves rose interspread like the remnant of a shower of jade spears. The two children looked around. Above stretched without end the open sky. Glancing back they found the blue doors gone — instead, a vast ocean shorn by a black beach greeted the two sloping downwards. Rather than venture into the forest potentially filled with beasts, the two made their way to the shore. Jang-Guo allowed himself to be supported by Qiu’yue’s shoulder so as not to hurt himself when going down to the beach.

On the beach there stood a red banner embroidered with gold letters. Jang-Guo read the banner for Qiu’yue. The two looked at each other with a puzzled expression. Rather the only expression to be conjured up was confusion. The banner had only this poem embroidered (in a poor, amateurish fashion) :

“Visiting the Taoist Priest Dai Tianshan [Bring Heaven and Mountain] But Not Finding Him

[A poem by Li Bai...intertextuality is an amateur’s wet dream : P]

A dog's bark amid the water's sound,

Peach blossom that's made thicker by the rain.

Deep in the trees, I sometimes see a deer,

And at the stream I hear no noonday bell.

Wild bamboo divides the green mist,

A flying spring hangs from the jasper peak.

No-one knows the place to which he's gone,

Sadly, I lean on two or three pines.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Jang-Guo shouted. With a “tch” he spat onto the black beach.

“Does he want us to find a goddamn priest? We just did this trial! Qiu-di, what do you think?”

“Eh?” Qiu’yue gasped. She furrowed her brows. “I guess? But Papa used to read me poetry and I don’t think that’s what it means.”

Jang-Guo nodded. “My old man did too. Me and Meili memorized all of Kongzi’s [Confucius’s Chinese name] poems. Maybe Li Bai wrote this one when he was drunk.”

Qiu’yue puffed out her cheeks. “My father loves Li Bai’s works the most.”

“I’m not mocking his works — I’m mocking his character. It’s well known he drowned trying to kiss the moon reflected in a river.”

Qiu’yue sighed angrily. “Well, at least we can agree on what the poem means right?”

Jang-Guo nodded. “But that has nothing to do with this trial right now. Sun Devouring Moon is surprisingly sentimental. Perhaps he once fought against the Great Swallow years ago [Reference to An-Shi Rebellion], or with. Though, cultivators should not worry about the matters of dynasties — they rise and they fall.”

Qiu’yue agreed, though the political philosophy left her lonely. She looked at Jang-Guo who spouts righteous passion and found him with an unbearable look. And then she smiled. “Tang-ge, let’s change the cloth around your thigh with the banner.”

As they made their way over to the banner, Jang-Guo spoke again. “Qiu’yue, is Meili beautiful?”

At first, Qiu’yue did not answer. She was simply too joyed and awed by her Tang-ge calling her by name. “Big Sister Meili is really beautiful. And kind. And strong.”

“Beautiful women live beautifully short and tragic lives,” Jang-Guo said. “My old man always said that. He always worried about Meili getting in trouble because of that. I worry too — she’s my little sister. I hope she never becomes like Yang Gui Fa, or Xi Shi, or Diaochan [Ancient Beauties of China].”

“Little Qiu’yue doesn’t really understand, but Tang-ge will protect Big Sister Meili, right?”

Jang-Guo nodded, “Even if it is an immortal, I will protect Meili.”

Qiu’yue giggled and caused Jang-Guo to frown.

“Oi, brat, why the hell are you laughing?”

Qiu’yue didn’t answer and went to work. After a little while, the red banner was wrapped around

Jang-Guo’s wounds. The two rested on the black beach, listening to the waters kissing the shore.

Wide-eyed, Qiu’yue exclaimed, “Sun Devouring Moon Senior is amazing. Are you sure this isn’t an illusion, Tang-ge?”

“Does it matter if it feels so real?” Jang-Guo replied. “This much probably isn’t even worth the peh of an ascended cultivator like Sun Devouring Moon.”

“Tang-ge, what should we do? Go into the forest?” Qiu’yue asked.

The two ventured into the forest. A great sense of calm came over them, the instant they stepped foot into it. Abandoning their worries and flinging their fears to the ground, the children explored the forest in merriment. They plucked flowers to sniff, fruits to ravage, and fell asleep under the gentle thickets of bamboo. Yet, even in their sleep, the two continued to move about after a short moment of rest: eating, playing, and singing.

From outside the forest, the ocean waves swelled until a great big swath of blue crashed down like thunder. Yet, no great boom occurred. Rather as the great wave fell the black sand rose to greet the surging tyrant. Transformed into a typhoon the leaves of the nearby forest rushed toward the tyrant’s commands. Gathered in one place, the phenomenon consolidated into a man. Without a doubt, that man could only be Sun Devouring Moon.

A strange mist surrounded him, a pure white cloud. He glided over toward the sleeping children. The man nodded in approval as he watched from a distance.

“So these two are the candidates for my legacy,” he whispered to himself. He grunted and an overwhelming force exploded from him. Sun Devouring Moon contained it like a sturdy armor around his body. A great writhing third eye opened on his forehead and the blue eye inspected the children. The man relaxed his body and the eye closed.

“The boy is good: righteous, hot-blooded, and compassionate — he will wield my Art well,” Sun Devouring Moon smiled. A frown quickly replaced his smile. Looking at Qiu’yue who was frolicing about in her sleep, he clenched his fist but changed his mind and released it. The man sighed. “Little girl, you are much too dangerous. Not only are you the offspring of that fox, but your body absolutely cannot cultivate all of my Art — nor of my Yun Yue Sect. Perhaps, I should kill you now. But to kill a child would mock my title as Sun Devouring Moon.

“And you did conquer the other trials. The First Trial, you showed courage and resolve. The Second Trial, you showed humanity. The Third and Fourth tested your comprehension of the Way. And the Fifth tested our Fate. Yet, Fate is of no consequence without Willpower — that is the Way.” The ascended cultivator chuckled to himself, the creases on his face stretching. “Little girl, you may just make things more interesting around here.”

With that, the man snapped his fingers. Collapsed into a puddle of water, sand, and leaves. Only the faint scent of fire remained.

Within the minds of the children, a sweet dream played out. A wonderful paradise in which everything was fine — ensnaring the pure hearts of the young cultivators with sweet promises of nothing.

“Qin Kuai, today you shall pay for Liu Da-Ge’s death!” Jang-Guo shouted. The boy was now a man who towered above that despicable traitor from years ago. A helmet with iron flames fashioned on the side donned his bald head. Wrapped around him was a set of heavy scale armor sculpted from blessed black steel with spiked shoulders and dragon decor. Visible from the face obscured by the helmet stretched a fierce pointy beard. “By my given name, Tang Jang-Guo, my blessed divine title Sage of Unconquerable Earth, I will bring justice under the watchful eye of Lei Gong!”

Opposite the avenger stood Qin Kuai — perfection. Despite being older, he looked younger, yet exuded an air of arrogance — won and deserved — which smothered any sense of greatness from Jang-Guo. His frame was delicate like the stem of a lily yet possessed of fortitude like magnolia trees. A heroic face curled in an elegant mocking smile — one in which you felt justified, for you are but a worm underneath the feet of this great immortal god. Clean-shaved and handsome, long flowing hair flowed down his back graceful like a river.

Qin Kuai’s gray eyes glanced at Jang-Guo once. Pulled out a fan from within his white robes and fanned himself as he yawned.

“To think, to believe, I find a letter days past,” the god began, “challenging me to a fight, a duel and feast of death — only to be met with a bald mad thief stolen of a better man’s name and armor.”

Jang-Guo clenched his fists causing his metal gauntlets to clatter. “Thief? Oi, Qin Kuai, don’t you fucking play with me! You, you are the thief. All those years ago, you stole from Liu Da-Ge and caused his death. And today, on the anniversary of his death, I will avenge him!”

Qin Kuai surveyed the surroundings. “It seems you brought but yourself. Ridiculous. Hmph, since there is no crowd, I have no desire to give you even a sliver of face. Come, let this old daddy show you King Yama.”

At that, Qin Kuai closed his fan and dashed forward. As the god dashed forward, he shouted with a mighty “Hoh!” and ten dozens sword blades bursted from behind him, shadowing his flight as if metal wings. With a roar, he leapt and slammed down, rolled forth as layers of gold covered his entire body like fur or a thin layer of gold leaf. Then, the god shot forward like a divine spear.

Jang-Guo laughed with force and slammed his palms together and struck the earth. From that meteor strike a great cataclysm tore the earth, rupturing the ground and splitting the very leylines.

As Qin Kuai dodged the earth-ripping strike by leaping into the air, Jang-Guo charged forth. The earth clambered up his arms and formed great thick claws for him. The metamorphosis continued onto his ribs, encasing the exposed parts of the metal armor with protection. From the encased ribs grew three sets of arms.

Jang-Guo continued tearing into the earth. Qin Kuai rained gold needles and silver blades down onto the charging lunatic from above. Jang-Guo’s extra arms guarded against it and took in the metal thrown at them. The excess earth flowed up Jang-Guo’s arms to become swords, spears, shields, and bows!

Qin Kuai retreated properly like a heron. “Hmph, and I was expecting an interesting martial art. That is merely the most basic of basics! Brute strength cannot go against a blessed chosen being like me.”

Qin Kuai moved his body skillfully and he shot forward. Too Fast. Even spectators would only be able to think such. Yet, similarly, those spectators would think Too Strong of Jang-Guo.

Though Qin Kuai shredded through Jang-Guo’s earth in a single breath, in the very next breath Jang-Guo had repaired it.

“So you have an abnormal affinity for the earth, so what? It does not deny the basic mundane commoner art that you practice!” Qin Kuai laughed. With a mighty sweep of his fan, the gold peeled from his body and shot forward like quail feathers along with his flying blades. Those ten dozens blades diverged into ten dozen more blades, then more and more until the entire sky became

warped in silver and gold.

The blades fell inevitable like rain. Qin Kuai turned his back with a snort. But stopped.

As the dust cleared, he felt life emanate from behind. Muttering to himself he turned. Smack! Cursing, he guarded against the sudden blow with his fan. Blown back by the impact, he landed on his feet daintily.

“So, you lived.” He responded. Then he raised his brows. “And without a single scratch.”

“This may be the commoner’s art, but the commoners always emerge above the blood of the elite!” Jang-Guo declared with fire in his eyes.

The two immortals collided once more. This time with more force. With more speed. With more blood and determination.

And this time, the collision left wounds — minor ones — but wounds nonetheless on both. Qin Kuai cracked his neck.

“Peasants should stay peasants lest they be slaughtered for feast,” he said. The storm of swords behind him condensed in his hand into one beautiful immaculate white sword. The gold fell back onto his skin and sharpened.

The air crackled with life: movement and chaos. The ground shook with anticipation: death and rebirth. And the two men glared at one another with hatred: pride and longing.

The third collision turned into the fourth and the fourth turned into the hundredth! Until finally, both deemed time to put an end to this farce.

Gathering everything into one sudden swift blow contained with the force of the Heavens, Qin Kuai bled from his eyes. Jang-Guo shifted his weight and prepared himself to meet the final strike with his own secret move. Gathering all the earth onto himself, he became encased — becoming an avatar of the earth itself. Several meters tall and blessed with eight arms, each held a potent weapon. And its face reminded Qin Kuai of a devil with curved fangs.

The two struck. A great explosion erupted and leveled the land around them: mountain, rivers, trees. At the center of the crater, Qin Kuai’s sword pierced through Jang-Guo’s avatar. Cracks appeared on that earth-built form to reveal the bloodied man inside.

But the victory lied with Jang-Guo. Though seven of the avatar’s arms were annihilated by the weight of the sword, one remained and pierced through Qin Kuai’s chest.

The god fell dead and Jang-Guo stood over him in glory.

And then the scene shifted. Jang-Guo is a hero. He is surrounded by women of all kinds — and he drinks and laughs with rosy cheeks. Then everything collapses as his wife’s face turns into Qin Kuai’s, as does his son’s and daughter’s. He shouts angrily and begins to slaughter all for that is his duty as the avenger. And once everyone is dead, he cries.

But the scenery shifts again, and he is glorious once more — accomplished and surrounded by victory after revenge.

And so the cycle continues.

Sun Devouring Moon sighed as the fifth iteration of that dream played out in Jang-Guo’s mind. He did not know whether to cry or laugh as he watched from his place of seclusion.

“That boy is like me,” he laughed sadly to himself. “Revenge, what of it, if not that.

"He even has that poem wrapped around his wound. To find Tao is to let go. Boy, can you let go? Can you find it? And can you leave it? That is the purpose of this Trial."

Then Sun Devouring Moon peeked at Qiu’yue’s dreams and found once more a great oddity. “That girl may not be able to solve this trial. She is far too young and inexperienced. There lies no greed or thirst or semblance of even revenge in her. Yet, she is of that fox — so perhaps…”

It was understandable Sun Devouring Moon’s concerns. The Sixth Trial tested one’s Willpower: both the will to chase after a goal, but also the will to keep oneself from straying from the Way.

“That girl possesses no goal at all. Though it is heartwarming to see her live happily with her parents.” Then Sun Devouring Moon frowned. “Though, that fox makes me want to just slaughter her spawn without mercy.”

The old man sighed once more and resumed his observation. “Only two weeks left before the month is up.”

Several days passed. By now the pleasant dreams had turned into severe nightmares for Jang-Guo. He was trapped in a bitter cycle of revenge. So great was the illusion that his fists were bloodied and his eyes stained with red. Qiu’yue on the other hand was playing as a five year old girl should. Yet, to onlookers, a certain sadness was to be felt from watching a little girl talk to a mother and a father who simply were not there.

“Perhaps, they are not Fated to succeed my legacy after all,” Sun Devouring Moon said to himself.

He sighed and a wistful look entered his eyes. “Tomorrow is Dongzhi Day. Ha, what is the use of such a day for an immortal — especially one with no family.”

The old immortal anticipated no changes from the two children and retired from observing them for the day.

On the following day, Dongzhi Day, Sun Devouring Moon found Qiu’yue to exhibit the first signs of a nightmare — though more appropriately a sense of reality.

Qiu’yue was eating tangyuan [kinda traditional food] with her family when a great aching overcame her. She clutched her head and her peach wood chopsticks fell to the ground, causing a clatter and commotion.

“Qiu’er, Qiu’er, are you alright?” Her Mama called with concern.

Tears came to the little girl’s eyes. “Mama?”

“Of course it’s your Mama, Xiao Qiu,” her Papa confirmed.

The little girl’s parents gathered around her with concerned looks. Her Papa sent for a doctor. Taken to her bed, she was examined by the doctor who declared her to be healthy.

“Qiu’er, are you alright now?” Her Mama asked.

Surprisingly, Qiu’er shook her head. “Mama, Papa, I feel like I’ve forgotten something — something very important,” she cried.

“Shh, nonsense,” her Papa told her. “Xiao Qiu, Papa and Mama are both here, there is nothing wrong. Nothing at all.”

Frowning, the little girl brought her face close to her doting parents’ faces. Her frown increased.

“You aren’t Mama!” And she pushed away the woman. And she pushed away the man.

The little girl grasped her aching head with tears flowing down her cheeks. “My name is Sun Qing! Mama calls me Qing’er; Papa calls me Xiao Qing! Sect Master gave me the name Qiu’yue. Not Mama or Papa!

“And I have friends: Tang-ge, Big Sister Meili, Senior Brother Sha, and Cai! I have to become strong. Ugh,” the girl moaned as a flood of memories engulfed her. “And I have to find Mama and Papa. I have to.”

Rather than reacting violently to the exposed truth, the two fakes smiled and leaned forward.

“Xiao Qiu, what are you saying? Papa is right here.”

“Qiu’er, you are such a funny girl,” her Mama giggled. “You have been dreaming too much.”

“No, I haven’t,” Qiu’yue screamed back. “I talked with Cai about it.”

The two parents looked at each other concerned. “Maybe you should call the doctor, dear.” “Maybe, I should, darling.”

The girl leapt up and said with tears, “Mama never calls Papa, dear! She calls him Yan Yan. And Papa calls Mama, Yin Yin!”

“Qiu’er, you’re being too agitated. It’s not good for your body,” the woman chided gently.

Qiu’yue sat back down. “Mama, do you know what day today is?”

“Dongzhi Day,” she replied with a smile.

“It’s my birthday,” Qiu’yue said sadly and quietly.

The girl’s eyes opened and she wiped the wetness from her eyes. She said to herself that she was a cultivator.

Sun Devouring Moon sighed and decided to materialize himself in the Sixth Trial once more. Qiu’yue noticed the odd happenings but was more concerned about Jang-Guo’s state to pay further attention. The old immortal observed the girl with his third eye once more.

“A pity, a pity,” Sun Devouring Moon sighed to himself. “Though you are certainly the one who shall complete my legacy, you will not become a sung hero. I am sorry to burden you with this regret of mine, you who have both resolve, will, and humanity.”

Sighing one last time, the old man left the site of the Sixth Trial. He headed for meditation, his mind disturbed by the girl’s intrinsic chivalry.

Qiu’yue shook her Tang-ge’s shoulders, but he would not wake. She called his name, but he would not wake. She inserted her own qi into his body, but he would not wake — and Qiu’yue grew frightened and retreated from her Tang-ge.

She looked at her palms. Qiu’yue thought herself useless. Yet, after an incense passed, she grew angry at her self-loathing and returned to shaking and calling her Tang-ge’s name. Biting her lips, the girl also began to punch the boy in hopes of shocking him back to reality.

Then, the girl remembered something Cai told her. Something which Big Sister Meili explained with a blush.

The naive and young girl clenched her hand into a fist and looked at it. Qiu’yue closed her eyes and uttered a prayer. With one swift motion, she punched Jang-Guo’s crotch.

In Jang-Guo’s dream, he was about to deliver the killing blow. But the punch to his little brother in reality jolted him and he was slain.

“Fucking hell! Your mother, oh my father,” he screamed and cradled his crotch. Qiu’yue quietly slipped away and watched from a distance. “Qiu-di! Come back here, you brat!”

As Jang-Guo cursed, the scenery around them melted away. The two were transported into someone’s living room — though lacking of windows and decor. Rather, it was nothing like a living room at all. The young cultivators were in a cavern reminiscent of the Chrysanthemum Chambers.

Only a table and three chairs occupied the center rather than monsters. One of the chair was occupied by Sun Devouring Moon.

The man waited for Jang-Guo to finish cursing before addressing the two children. He told the two to take a seat.

“You two have suffered much,” Sun Devouring Moon remarked as he poured the two roasted tea. “And that is a good thing.”

The two cultivators were unable to argue with that. The mantra was carved deep in their souls: Pain is suffering; suffering is strength!

“Now, before you undertake the last trial, I want to talk a little.”

The two children nodded.

“My legacy consists of two parts; almost everything in life is of two opposites. That is the Duality of the Way, no?” He took a sip of his tea. The children mimicked him. “Along with a treasure — no complaining on that part, you hear? — there will be a task you must accomplish. From the trials, no doubt you gathered some idea of what that task might be.”

The children nodded.

“Good, good. Now let me tell you the task plainly as possible.” He looked at the children with hard lonely eyes. “Someone from my past has infiltrated my Sect for years now — and I want them dead.”

He watched the children for any reaction. Jang-Guo remained blank-face. Qiu’yue paled noticeably.

“Girl, what is your name?”

“Qiu’yue, Sun Devouring Moon Senior.”

“If you cannot kill, you will die.” Before Qiu’yue could reply, he turned to Jang-Guo. “And you, boy?”

“Tang Jang-Guo.”

“Good name, good name. But that is a name from another life — dead now. Do not let it consume you.”

The two children glanced down at their feet. “Yes. Thank you for your wise words, Sun Devouring Moon Senior.”

“Now that we have rested and discussed the main parts of the legacy, shall we commence the Final Trial?”

The two children nodded earnestly.

Sun Devouring Moon nodded and stood up. He began to strip his clothing, causing Qiu’yue to cover her eyes and blush.

“Girl, stop covering your eyes.” He commanded. The girl obeyed.

Sun Devouring Moon sat a little from the center cross legged. Only his crotch was covered. The old immortal was impossibly skinny. He was exceptionally bony to the point of being like a stack of twigs.

The two children stood up uncertainly and walked over to the old man.

Sun Devouring Moon looked at the children and said to them, “Kill me.”

Author's Note: Inconsistent updates lately. I'm sorry for that. I honestly can't remember how to do chemistry....and I have like a few more days to cram before Finals. Ughhhh.

Anyhow, wrapping up the Trials. This was suppose to be a long chapter, but I want to practice writing cliff-hangers, so I am sorry for that too. Lol. As always, thanks for reading.

P.S. I just realized I've been calling him Sun Devouring Moon when I first introduced him as Sun ENGULFING Moon...man, what a slip up.