Pilgrim 3, p.7
Pilgrim 3, page 7
“A request?”
“Whether you like it or not, you will one day take my throne, and I would like for you to handle a few things for me while you are still of the living.”
“Why?”
His father shrugged, and as he did the ruler of Diyu slowly rose a foot or so into the air, his purple-black armor gleaming for a moment. “It will be good for you, that’s why. There is a yokai in these mountains that I would like you to kill for me, one known as a kappa. It will certainly prove challenging, and if you fail, well, I guess I know where I will see you.”
“You want me to… slay a yokai?”
“Not any yokai, a kappa. Consider it a challenge.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Would you really like me to come up with a threat? You’ve seen my power, and you know that I am able to move people between the realms if I’d like. Just think of Suja Village, think of what I could do if I wanted. And once you’ve thought of the worst thing you can come up with, imagine it being even more appalling than that. Do I really need to elaborate any further? Deal with the kappa by heading to the northeast, toward the sky lake. I will come once you have slain it. Good luck.”
Tengir Gantulga vanished.
.Chapter Two.
Danzen had the mind to turn to the east, to march right up to the barrier separating Diyu from his realm and begin the search for his father, gutting any demon that got in his way. He was not an errand boy, and he didn’t like how their conversation had ended, his father giving him an ultimatum: do as I say, or I will do something to the people you care about. Even with all his posturing about who he was before he became the ruler of Diyu, and perhaps something more behind the relationship with Danzen’s mother, their interaction came to a bitter, yet predictable, end with his father’s request.
He thought about simply ignoring his father and heading back to his monastery, disregarding his ultimatum. But doing so would put the lives of others at risk, and Danzen didn’t know how successful he would be if he called his father’s bluff. Was it an idle threat? Was there really any point in trying to determine this or not?
He knew there wasn’t. All his father wanted was the death of a yokai, something Danzen was clearly capable of. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen the next time his father came around if he actually went through with his request, what the next task would be. Not only that, Danzen didn’t want to have a relationship with the man, even if his brief backstory of his life had piqued his interest to some degree.
Curiosity wasn’t worth the sacrifice.
Danzen stood in the shade of the alcove for nearly half an hour, contemplating where he should go next. He wasn’t tired, but he could use some rest. Not here, somewhere far away from the site of the incident.
He made the split-second decision to turn back, and headed in the direction that he had come. It made sense to him that his father was able to change his form at will, and it only reminded Danzen that he needed to be more careful when it came to the people he encountered and the choices he made: Tengir Gantulga could visit him anytime, and he wouldn’t know the difference.
One thing was certain as he passed beneath a remarkable stone archway, carved by time and stained by erosion—Danzen needed to leave the valley for a while, possibly for good. The villagers were constantly being brought into his affairs, and sooner or later, they would be put in the crosshairs yet again.
It was inevitable.
He stopped again and begrudgingly turned in the direction that his father had indicated.
Sending his power into his legs, Danzen shot forward and reached the edge of a cliff, where he pulled himself up. He began running, his focus now on the horizon, ignoring the crimson of Diyu to the east, the subtle cerulean sky with a few wispy clouds to the west, the Panchen Mountains doubling as purgatory as they maintained the divide between living and the dead.
Jumping even higher, Danzen reached another ledge, pebbles tumbling down the side of the cliff as he got his footing. He then shot forward off a rocky rim and landed on a flat surface among a collection of sandstone-colored hoodoos, many shaped like hourglasses with bloated bottoms. Traveling even faster now, Danzen eventually found himself along a stream, one that would grow as more snow runoff added to its girth, the altitude dropping, and the landscape as waterfalls took shape.
It was a familiar area to Danzen, a place he had visited multiple times by this point. He came to Dalan the hermit’s home and was spotted by the older man, who was perched on a small overhang and looking down at him.
“Pilgrim,” Dalan said as soon as Danzen reached him.
He took a quick look around at his hermitage and saw that the man had just finished dicing some herbs.
“Is something the matter?” the hermit asked once Danzen didn’t say anything.
“I need to find a kappa.”
“Come again? Did you say a kappa? Why would you need to find that?”
Danzen hesitated. Something told him that it was best to keep his father’s visit a secret. “It’s just something that needs to happen.”
“A kappa would be a challenging yokai to handle, if that’s what you intend to do. They are nasty creatures, prone to fits of violence, and overwhelmingly disliked by the yokai of the mountains. I’m sure you would find the same opinion of them in the forest as well.” Dalan motioned toward the ground, a grimace appearing on his face. “Come, sit with me.”
Danzen did as he was instructed, and the hermit joined him once he had prepared a small saucer of tea.
“And this is something you are convinced you must do?”
Danzen nodded.
“In that case, you may be a little unprepared.”
“Why is that?”
“Your armor, the rest of your weapons… where are they?”
“At the monastery. I didn’t think I would need them.”
“You’re confident.”
“I didn’t come into the mountains with the intention of hunting this yokai. It is something that has arisen since. I’m sorry I can’t go into detail, and your discretion is appreciated.”
“In that case, it is my discretion you will have,” Dalan said after a long pause in which he chewed on his lip for a moment. “The way I see it, there are many things operating in these mountains, and one must be careful what they are influenced by. Then again, perhaps it is best to go along with the situation at hand, especially if going against it would prove detrimental.”
“Perhaps. What do you know about this yokai?”
“All I know is that they are fierce fighters, with tough skin and short tempers. It is said that if you drink from their skull after killing one you will grow immensely stronger, that they keep a nectar in their cranial cavity that can increase someone’s strength tenfold. It is one reason why they are so bitter, at least from what I’ve heard. While it is no longer the case, for hundreds of years kappa were hunted by man, demon, angel, and yokai alike. It’s a wonder there are any left in these mountains.”
Danzen grunted in response.
“They move quickly, and their hands consist of three long claws, not unlike that of a bird, yet larger and sharper. If you do plan to kill one, be prepared for a grueling fight. It will not go down easily, and there is a high probability you could get injured during the exchange. This is why I asked about your armor. It would be helpful.”
“I’ll manage.”
“I’m sure you will, but if I may make one suggestion, perhaps it would be good for you to get some rest before you make your attempt. You can seek the kappa in the morning, after you’ve had time to properly form a strategy. I don’t have much to eat around here, but I’m sure that I could ask you to see to that over the next hour while I finish the herbal preparation I was making. What do you say? Would you be willing to stay and rest? I could use the company. And for that matter, could you fetch us something?”
Danzen stood. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
****
Danzen thought about nabbing a few fish from the waterfall below, but ended up venturing a bit deeper into the mountains in search of a goat or sheep, something he could hunt. He was feeling savage, the former assassin recognizing a part of him that showed itself from time to time, likely tied to his demon blood.
It was hard to deny who he was, or what he was capable of, and to be so easily swept to the side by his father’s power both humbled him, and reminded him of what he was up against. While Tengir Gantulga was stronger than Nomtoi, they were both opponents the likes of which Danzen would never be able to topple, at least not at his current power level. They could easily crush him, and he knew this. And until he got strong enough to shield himself from their influence, they would continue to be able to affect the course of his life.
Astra at his side, Danzen crept around a large rock balanced atop a thin column, expertly sculpted by nature, looking as if it would never topple. The strength of the next boulder he came to appeared fragile, Danzen careful as he slipped around it.
His eyes closed, the former assassin reached forward, searching his environment through its echo lines. He saw his own echo, a faint outline of white-purple, and as naturally as ever, he began to bend it, moving forward with his sword as it swelled within him.
He discovered through his practice that taking stances and moving at a tenth of his pace made his echo hum with power, and even though he was on a mountain pass somewhere not far from Dalan’s hermitage, with a mission to bring back something for an afternoon meal, Danzen felt the urge to bend. It was why he had come to the mountains to begin with, with who he thought was Abbot Monpo.
It was something he craved.
Astra held over his head, Danzen slowly brought the blade down, noticing that almost electric spark at the tip of his blade, his sword ready to be loosed, a weapon forged of bloodlust. With his eyes clenched shut, he slowly returned it to its scabbard and withdrew Nomin’s blade, noticing a difference between the two killing instruments. It was something he needed to grow more familiar with, the blind assassin’s weapon instantly bringing memories of their final fight at his mother’s monastery, white flowers all around them, how she went against Nomtoi in Diyu and joined Danzen in the end.
That was something he would perhaps need to ask his father about at some point, her well-being. The last thing he wanted to hear was that his brother had done something to Nomin. Her basket-hilted short sword in hand, Danzen flourished it once, noticing a lasso-like whip of energy at the tip, one that was even brighter than his boomerang sword. Was there more to her weapon? Was there power he had yet to unlock?
Danzen slowly thrust her sword forward and twisted it, a corkscrew of energy spiraling up his arm. With a short breath out he moved back, and connected the blade behind him to his other hand, the tip of her weapon now facing upside down as he brought it forward again. Everything was done in a calculated motion, the power of Sunyata within him and without him.
Once again, he found himself wondering if it was even possible to rebuild heaven. How would he go about doing it? Could it really be as simple as just collecting remnants across the land? And for that matter, what kind of response would it bring from his father in Diyu?
Continuing to bend his echo for the next twenty minutes, Danzen thought deeply about the subject. He knew that he wasn’t supposed to be multitasking while bending, but with his eyes closed, and energy radiating all around him, he found himself in the perfect place to contemplate what-ifs. It was a way to eventually stop his father, as it would balance out the power of hell, restoring order to the world.
Still, the question remained. What would Tengir Gantulga do if he found out his half-breed son was thinking about restoring heaven? It wasn’t like Danzen would be able to go there anyway with the blood that was on his hands. But others could go, people like Khamdo and Enkhmaa, innocent villagers that didn’t deserve to spend their lives in Diyu, so it was worth an attempt. It was worth a shot.
He would do it for them, not for himself.
Danzen was moving so slowly now that a mountain goat around ten feet up didn’t notice his presence. Nomin’s short sword once again in its sheath, Danzen quietly withdrew Astra, his blade finding its target, the mountain goat dropping to the ground as Astra returned to his grip.
Life and death, it really was as quick as that.
After cleaning his weapon, Danzen hoisted the mountain goat over his shoulders and began the trek back to Dalan’s hermitage. He skipped from one rock to the next, following the sound of trickling water which grew into a roar as he neared the waterfalls.
Bending his echo had an effect on Danzen, heightening his senses and leaving him feeling rejuvenated. He only wished he had gone for longer. But a target had presented itself in the form of the goat, and the assassin in him had taken over.
As much as Danzen didn’t want to admit it to himself, the likelihood of him ever closing the chapter on his years as a trained killer wasn’t high, but at least it had its usefulness from time to time, like his quick reaction when spotting his prey.
Only a hunter could move like that.
Danzen spotted the white fox perched on the overhang outside of Dalan’s hermitage. He didn’t know what he would tell Kudzu, but he certainly didn’t want to admit that his father had reached out to him and invited him to take action or else.
An excuse came as soon as he joined her at the hermitage.
“The kappa attacked my mother,” he said instead of hello, Danzen assuming that Dalan had already caught her up.
“A kappa?” Kudzu tilted her head to the side, one of her ears flinching. “How?”
“She went for a walk in the mountains. She’s uninjured, but I have to handle things.”
Confusion splashed across her face. “What’s a kappa doing in these parts?”
“I don’t know.”
Dalan, who overheard this part of the conversation, simply nodded as he came to Danzen to retrieve the goat. “Very good,” the hermit said. “These particular goats breed like rabbits. It should make a mighty fine meal with plenty of leftovers.” Now crouched in front of the goat, the old hermit looked up at Danzen and smiled. “You’ve done well.”
“I was hoping you would bring fish…” Kudzu admitted.
“That can be arranged.”
“Fish as well?” Dalan asked. “I’m never one to turn down a feast. And why not? On a warm day like this? Let us eat like kings of the past! I even have some prickled flower petals that have a spice perfect for fish.”
“It shouldn’t take me long.” Danzen turned back toward the waterfall. He dropped to the rocky path below, Kudzu soon joining him.
“What do you know about kappa?” she asked.
“Only that they are a formidable opponent, that the inside of their skulls contain a liquid that some say make a person stronger.”
“I can’t speak to that part,” Kudzu said as she sat before the waterfall, her eyes fixating on the frothy white. “But I can agree that they are formidable, very territorial as well. Your mother must have gone pretty far into the mountains to actually encounter one considering they only live near the sky lake.”
“The sky lake?”
“Snow runoff has created a lake over there,” she said, nodding toward a series of crests to the northeast. “There is a lake up there and it is quite gorgeous. Possibly the freshest water in Genshin Valley; kappa have called it home for hundreds of years.”
“Dalan mentioned there was just one kappa.”
“Maybe he means on the side of the lake, it isn’t small by any means. During the late summer, an island sometimes appears in the center of the lake said to be shaped like a snapping turtle. I haven’t seen it, but yokai believe that those who do see it will prosper for the year to come.”
Danzen’s blade flashed into the water and returned to his hand, a fish at the other end. He placed the fish on a stone, Kudzu watching it as it slowly died. “They are getting bigger now that winter is over.”
“I noticed that.” He sent his blade into the water yet again, Astra returning empty-handed this time. Focusing on the waves below, Danzen sensed the movement and loosed his sword, his boomerang blade returning with the fish this time around. He placed it on the rock next to the first one he had caught.
“And you intend to kill the kappa?” Kudzu asked as she watched the second fish slowly die.
“I intend to.”
“I will go with you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“But I want to. Tomorrow. There’s no sense in journeying there now unless we want to find a random cave to sleep in for the night. Dalan’s place is much more comfortable.”
“I was already planning on staying, regardless…” Astra returned with another fish on its tip. “We will try to make it a quick trip. We need to go west. Or I do, anyway.”
“You know I’m coming with you, right?”
“I know.”
.Chapter Three.
Dinner became a feast, just as Dalan had promised. There was little discussion of the yokai that Danzen planned to slay the next morning, which was something he was perfectly fine with. His interaction with Tengir Gantulga still sat poorly with him, even if assassination missions were something he had dedicated the majority of his life to, something he excelled in.
Once again, he was ready to move on.
Danzen fell asleep that night with his back resting against a smooth rock, the sounds of yokai in the Panchen Mountains coming to him as he tried to rest. What was out there? How many yokai actually lived in Genshin Valley and its surrounding areas? The mountainous yokai seemed to be more active than usual, something which seemed to disturb Kudzu, who eventually made her way over to Danzen and rested by his side.
