《The Kingdom of Tribes》 Prologue Prologue How does one measure a journey? Will it be better to speak of it in terms of distance in time and space? Or would it make more sense to consider the depth of its heartaches and height of its joys? Such is the path of a mortal. Born crying and gasping into a world that resists the life, love and beauty of a human, and yet embraces all of these in their vastness in nature. Some say the gods play a game of chess with us, yet they neglect to consider the games humans play against one another in their fights for power, control and ultimate right to rule over others. Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng and his rebellious hordes keenly observed the mortals or Ji¨¡ngsh¨© as they called them, mere puppets! He knew what he had to do but he was not too certain of how to accomplish it. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. His beloved had perished. Her parting words to him were to gather her from the dust of the earth if he could. Her triune body had shattered, and the remains were scattered quite literally to the winds and the dust of the mortal realm. He did not know that the only thing that survived was her primordial seed which had made its way into Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er. Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng had a few goals in mind that became his lifelong quest and motivation in his dealings with the humans. He had to gather her remains. He also had to figure out how to restore her to wholeness. Then he could woo her, win her love and find a way to consummate their union which had to include some form of fully knowing her. If he succeeded, he could return to the heavens and rule them with her. The reigning King would abdicate and go into exile. He was not the only one with these goals. The King promised him a battle for her heart and had taken a huge risk in entrusting her primordial seed to Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er. It remained to be seen if their descendants would be worthy or unworthy vessels of her seed. 1 The Hidden Seed 1 The Hidden Seed Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and his wife, Y¨©n-er whom he renamed as Hu¨¬ Sh¨¥ng regretted their role in being evicted from their home in the garden. There was nothing to be done about it. When they left it, they entered a strange, new world outside it. It was beautiful but it did not compare with the safety and beauty of the garden they had left. It was filled with great dangers and beasts which were fierce, and the mortals learnt quickly to stay alert and protect themselves if they had to survive. It looked like the world had been through great calamity and was on the cusp of being reborn. Many things had transpired while they lived in bliss and safety within the garden. The greater beasts perished before these mortals emerged from their safe garden, giving them a slim chance of hope to bring a new dawn of civilization upon the untamed lands that stretched across in every direction. At that time, all the land was one, undivided mass only broken by the pathways of streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Around it was a great sea that stretched beyond the horizon. Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng, his hordes and their fallen beasts could not enter the garden either. All they could do was explore the mortal realm. He kept a close watch on these two mortals who mattered most to him above every other beast and ape that roamed the untamed lands. He scouted the mortal realms and gave out regions and territories to his trusted generals, making them overlords and elders to govern those lands. What could he do? He only knew the ways of the heavenly realms, the Kingdom that he was evicted from. Whatever he did in this new realm granted to him would be an imitation of the systems he was already familiar with. Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng was changing and with him these ways of the heavens would change to reflect who he was as a leader. His generals had their own armies of loyal underlings. They had the soul beasts that chose to follow them into the mortal world. They also had the stones of power which they owned and were free to use. ¡®How can I gather her remains into these Ji¨¡ngsh¨©?¡¯ Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng thought to himself. He spied on them daily without showing himself to them lest they recognized him from their meetings in the garden. Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er had gained consciousness and the wisdom of the Bride now resided in them. It was an untamed land, but they had all they needed to overcome its challenges. ¡®Look, Hu¨¬ Sh¨¥ng!¡¯ Zh¨¬ R¨¦n told Y¨©n-er triumphantly as he succeeded in making fire to give them light, warmth, and safety. Both of them learnt to make crude weapons and tools to protect themselves as well as to forage for food. They learnt to make garments and distinguish between the things in the untamed lands that could help them flourish and those that would harm them. It was not easy to reach out and take the fruits of trees as they once did. So, the mortals worked hard to plant seeds and harvest food which could be cooked over their fires. The King still visited them and whenever he did, they would give him gifts as an act of gratitude for continuing to protect and sustain them. Their survival thus far, was because the King watched out for them. Another reason was because the primordial seed of the Bride gave them the skills and wisdom to survive, adapt and emerge strongest among all the creatures dwelling in the mortal realm. Since the primordial seed carried the life of the Bride and her memories, it stirred the same passion in Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er that the Bride and the King once shared. They consummated their marriage for the first time from the loss of their innocence. Through this act they became one flesh and Y¨©n-er conceived her first child which formed in her womb from their union. This was different from the consummation between the King and his beloved, for she had no need to conceive or give birth. Their consummation involved him knowing her fully as his golden fire merged with her own blue flame. They returned to the state of being one just as they were in the very beginning. Y¨©n-er did not understand the first changes that came upon her with this pregnancy. In fact, it was not until she felt the first little flutters and kicks that she realized she was nurturing another life within her. Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er rejoiced while Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng was perplexed by the changes in the woman. He had never seen anyone pregnant in the heavens, not even among the living beasts in the twenty-four realms. While her womb grew, so did his curiosity and anticipation. ¡®It looks like it worked! This vessel must be carrying the Bride!¡¯ he told himself, ¡®Look how she expands like a water gourd!¡¯ He was not entirely wrong for the Bride¡¯s power was indeed water and the woman¡¯s womb was filled with it. The night came when after hours of hard labor, Y¨©n-er finally gave birth. The anxious Zh¨¬ R¨¦n was overjoyed. Their firstborn son! It was Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng who was sorely disappointed. ¡®Why is it a male? This should have been a female like the Bride!¡¯ he mulled with irritation. ¡®Wait! Is it the seed of the woman who will be in conflict with me and crush my power?¡¯ Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng said aloud with sudden concern. He continued to plot, ¡®If it is that seed the King spoke of, I must deal with this male before he gains the upper hand over me!¡¯ He lay in wait watching for an opportunity to ruin the life of this firstborn son that Y¨©n-er bore. Y¨©n-er looked at her son and said, ¡®Look! I have acquired a man just like his father ¨C handsome, strong, robust, and a goodly child. Perhaps you will right the wrongs and bring us justice. You must be the one who will crush the power of that wicked Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng! I will call you J¨±n-er.¡¯ Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er taught J¨±n-er all they had learnt from the King and his Bride in ages past. He was not alone for long. Soon, Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er had another son to accompany him. This surprised Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er as well as Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng. The latter thought to himself, ¡®Now, which of these males is the seed that will bring me harm? It is best to destroy both of them and be safe rather than sorry! Where is she? Why have these useless Ji¨¡ngsh¨© not yet birthed her?¡¯ Y¨©n-er looked at her second-born son and said, ¡®Did I waste my breath over this one or over his older brother? No, just as this child came after much struggle and sorrow, but brings me joy like water upon parched lands, I will name him Ji¨¡ng-er.¡¯ All that J¨±n learnt, his younger brother also learnt. Both boys grew strong and wise, but it was obvious that they were very different in nature. J¨±n was a man of the fields. He worked hard with his father tilling the land and planting seeds. His body grew muscular and tanned from the heat of the day. He was bold and wild and in him, his father saw the greatest potential of an heir like himself. Ji¨¡ng was a gentle soul. He loved the animals and the birds. He spent time in the open lands caring for the sheep and goats. They did not eat these animals back then. They kept them for milk and to shear their wool to make garments. He was quick to help his parents and dress the wounds of any animals he found in the valleys and the hills where his flocks roamed. Zh¨¬ R¨¦n thought to himself, ¡®J¨±n-er is sometimes alone in the fields. What if a wild beast from the untamed lands harms him? Let me give him my spear so he can use it to protect himself.¡¯ This spear was a wooden one with a stone head that had been sharpened and cut to perfection after long hours of labor. Zh¨¬ R¨¦n did not think of Ji¨¡ng, though it is he who faced greater danger as he took the flocks to the edge of the untamed lands where wild beasts roamed. It was the King who considered him and kept him safe. Ji¨¡ng found a strong branch of an olive tree. He worked on it for hours and made the first shepherd¡¯s staff. When he finished it, he ran and showed it to his mother. Y¨©n-er asked with curiosity, ¡®What is this strange stick Ji¨¡ng-er?¡¯ ¡®I thought it would be useful to prod and pull the sheep when they fail to heed me or got themselves in danger!¡¯ Ji¨¡ng replied with joy. ¡®You are wise beyond your years and most caring of the welfare of the flock,¡¯ his mother told him as she poured him a warm bowl of porridge for dinner. ¡®The King will visit us in the cool of the evening tomorrow. Have you considered what gift you will give him?¡¯ she asked.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡®Yes, I have,¡¯ Ji¨¡ng replied. He was excited and could barely sleep the whole night. He always looked forward to these visits from the King. He loved sitting at the King¡¯s feet and hearing stories of the heavenly realms along with his parents and brother. His parents had told him about the beautiful woman who once accompanied the King. They called her mother, and they called the King, father. She no longer came with him. They had asked him once, but he remained silent, and tears filled his eyes as he looked away into the distance. They never asked him again. They feared their disobedience had something to do with it. Perhaps she was angry and no longer wished to see them. Maybe she did not approve of the King visiting them. They could never guess that she was now dead, and they carried her seed, as her chosen vessels. The next morning, Ji¨¡ng quickly attended to the needs of his flock. Then he took the healthiest yearling lamb and brought it back with him. He bathed in the stream behind his home and dressed in fresh and fragrant clothes. He was ready though it was still early. He went ahead and waited in the shade of the cherry blossom trees where the King always visited them. J¨±n also knew about this visit. However, he was too engrossed in his work. He thought to himself, ¡®If I leave these things undone, the harvest will be ruined. What good is that? The King can wait awhile but this work cannot.¡¯ He did not really have the patience to hear stories. He liked the gifts the King gave far more than anything else. They were precious, like nothing he ever saw before. When he was finally done, he gathered some of the best crops from his field in one hand. He took the spear his father gave him, in the other hand and made his way to the place where the cherry blossom trees grew. The sight he saw from afar enraged him. Ji¨¡ng was already there and had presented his gift to the King. The King looked joyful and had given Ji¨¡ng a jade pendant that was intricately carved and strung on silk, woven cord. ¡®How dare he? That useless brother of mine!¡¯ J¨±n thought to himself. ¡®I am appointed the heir of this household. I am the legitimate spear-bearer. He should have waited for me to give my gift first and receive my reward!¡¯ He grudgingly took steps forward and reached them. His countenance was fallen and his face held back anger and disappointment. His attitude rendered his gift unworthy and the King who searches hearts saw what was in the hearts of both young men. The King was well pleased with Ji¨¡ng¡¯s gift and had already accepted it. He did not even consider J¨±n¡¯s gift because of what was in his heart. This caused J¨±n to be very upset. The King turned to him and spoke gently to him, ¡®J¨±n, why is your face so gloomy and sullen? Why are you filled with anger? If you did what was good joyfully, would I not accept your gift too? If you continue in this path, evil lurks at the door of your heart for you are drawing away from the law of heaven and earth, the law of love. The evil one desires you, but you can master yourself even now.¡¯ J¨±n had no desire to listen to the warning of the King. Instead, he inclined his ears to the nightly whispers of Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng who sought to destroy both brothers. Ji¨¡ng thought nothing of what happened. He continued to care for the flocks as he always did. He did not boast nor show off the pendant the King gifted him. If he had paid closer attention, he would have noticed the mocking smirk on his brother¡¯s face when they sat together for meals. He would have wondered why his brother was slowly drifting apart from him, even avoiding speaking or interacting with him. The world was still too fresh with innocence. One would not expect evil from someone as close as a brother. After some days had passed, Ji¨¡ng¡¯s sheep got into the freshly cultivated field that J¨±n was still working on. When J¨±n saw his brother chasing after the sheep, his anger boiled over. He grabbed his spear and rushed towards his younger brother. Before Ji¨¡ng could react, J¨±n knocked him down with force. While Ji¨¡ng was still gasping for breath and trying to stand up, J¨±n shouted at him. ¡®You are useless! I hate you! Look how you have ruined it ¨C you and your stupid sheep!¡¯ J¨±n started. ¡®J¨±n, what did I do to you that you have hit me?¡¯ Ji¨¡ng managed to say. ¡®What did you do? You dare to ask me that? You know that I am the spear-bearer of the family. Yet, you presented your gift first to the King to win his favor. He totally disregarded me! What were you trying to do? Are you seeking to be the spear-bearer? You know father will listen to the King!¡¯ J¨±n yelled back. ¡®No, that is not my intention. Here, take this pendant which the King gave me. You can have it. Brother, see ¨C I love you. I will never seek what is yours!¡¯ Ji¨¡ng pleaded. ¡®Just stop it! Stop it! That pendant should have been mine ¨C it is not for you to give it!¡¯ J¨±n continued to yell rabidly as he punched his brother. He did not notice that his brother was no longer conscious. In mad rage that now controlled him, he took his spear and thrust it into his motionless brother. He bent down and pulled the bloodied pendant off Ji¨¡ng¡¯s neck. Seeing all the blood on his hands and spear and spilling out of a suddenly gasping Ji¨¡ng who revived for a very short while and was in his dying moments, J¨±n fled. He washed his spear and himself before returning home. ¡®Where is Ji¨¡ng? He usually brings back the flock before you return,¡¯ his parents wondered aloud. ¡®He told me he is heading to the untamed lands as he found some fresh pasture there,¡¯ J¨±n lied. That night, the King came to J¨±n who avoided the field where his brother¡¯s body lay cold and exposed. ¡®Where is your brother?¡¯ the King asked him. ¡®How am I to know? He is a grown man. Am I my brother¡¯s keeper?¡¯ he asked. ¡®What have you done J¨±n?¡¯ the King asked with deep pain in his voice. ¡®Do you not know that I heard the voice of your brother¡¯s blood crying out from where it flowed freely in the field? It reached me even in the highest heavens!¡¯ J¨±n was shocked. ¡®What will you do to me?¡¯ he asked the King. ¡®You have killed your own brother in an act of rage. Since you killed him in the field over which you labored and fed his blood to it, henceforth you must toil with blood, sweat and tears over the fields for they will not readily yield their harvest to you. As for you, get out of here and go roam the untamed lands,¡¯ the King declared. ¡®No! This is too harsh a punishment,¡¯ J¨±n pled with the King. ¡®You will no longer meet me nor allow me to meet my parents. These fields are all I have ever known ¨C my home, my life, my all. The dangers in the untamed lands are too great. There are beasts and wild beings there. They will surely kill me if we encounter one another!¡¯ The King placed a mark on J¨±n¡¯s forehead that looked similar to the one that he had placed on Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng back in the heavenly realms. At that time Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng had harmed his own brother, Zh¨¬ Sh¨¥n in jealousy and anger. Indeed, Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng wanted to destroy both mortal brothers with one stroke. He did not perceive that the King used his own plot to carefully knit together another trail marker in the history of mortals for his beloved to find when the time came. The King assured J¨±n, ¡®This mark will warn the wild beings in the untamed lands to refrain from killing you.¡¯ When J¨±n realized there will be no chance for him to remain, he took his spear and packed a few belongings. He filled his water gourd and took some food. Before his parents could find him, he quietly left the home he knew and wandered towards the untamed lands with great apprehension. After a few days, his parents noticed a foul smell from the fields and the birds of prey circling overhead from its source. ¡®It smells worse than when one of the flock creatures die!¡¯ Y¨©n-er said with some dread. ¡®Could it be a creature from the untamed lands?¡¯ She made her way to the fields along with Zh¨¬ R¨¦n, both armed and ready. What they witnessed next is not something any parent would want or should see. Their hearts broke. They had seen dead creatures including their own sheep and goats that died. This was the first time they saw the effects of death on one of their own kind, their son, their beloved and gentle Ji¨¡ng-er! They knew by now that J¨±n had killed him and fled. They buried their son in the field and took back the olive shepherd¡¯s staff that he had made to protect his flock. Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng was very pleased. He had put a wedge of separation between J¨±n and the King, rendering the former unfit as a weapon against him in the future. Ji¨¡ng was dead and the King did not seem keen to breathe life into him again. There was no more threat. Meanwhile, J¨±n entered the untamed lands. All kinds of mighty beasts still roamed its vast wilderness. There were creatures that looked like humans and also primitive cave-dwellers. These cave-dwellers were wild beings to whom survival mattered the most. They had base instincts like the creatures around them. They survived the calamities their world was plunged into while life in the garden remained secure from such harms. They had rudimentary tools and knowledge, and a very basic framework of family and culture. They had seen the King and also Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng¡¯s hordes with their soul beasts. They feared these strange heavenly beings and avoided them. They had seen the fiery, glowing mark on Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng¡¯s forehead. J¨±n mistakenly entered one of their caves to seek shelter for the night. It was terribly dark for they knew nothing of how to make a fire. J¨±n easily made a fire to warm himself, and as its light filled the cave, his eyes met that of the astonished cave-dwellers. They saw the mark on his forehead and mistook him to belong to the same clan as the heavenly beings. They trembled in fear and muttered, making unintelligible sounds. He did not understand them, but he knew they feared him when they saw the mark on his forehead. They were also amazed by the fire he had just made. He had the wisdom to know an opportunity for survival when he saw one. This untamed land of his exile became a place of renewed hope for J¨±n. He taught the cave-dwellers speech. He showed them how to make weapons of stone and wood to protect themselves more effectively. It was his skills in farming that they learnt. Slowly, they formed a settlement outside the cave which they could defend against other cave-dwelling clans and wild beasts. J¨±n took one of the women of the cave-dwellers as his wife and they had children. He named his first-born son Zh¨¬ which means wisdom and knowledge, for J¨±n had heard stories of the Bride who accompanied the King. He felt distant from the King and decided he will seek her to help him. He also thought of himself as the spear-bearer and rightful heir of his father. Therefore, it was befitting for him to be the savior of the cave-dwellers, bringing them the light of wisdom and knowledge. The settlement that J¨±n built, he also named it after his son, Zh¨¬ and he dedicated it to the honored lady Wisdom. This was to Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng¡¯s great delight. It was the latter¡¯s intention to make the whole earth worship his beloved woman, the Bride of the King, the one he stole from the heavens and whose death he had caused. Her primordial seed had other plans. It did not go with J¨±n. Nor did it die with Ji¨¡ng. Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er had a third son after losing both their sons. They named him Ji¨¤n H¨®ng with the hope that he would establish something great. The seed chose to enter and rest in him. 2 Progeny 2 Progeny The cave-dwellers were also made by the King and the Bride. However, they were not chosen to be trail-markers of their story. That burden had fallen on Zh¨¬ R¨¦n, Y¨©n-er and their descendants. It was an act of mercy to the cave-dwellers because it spared them from the schemes of Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng for a while. J¨±n had taught the cave-dwellers many things and had become a leader among them, both feared and revered. He taught all that he knew to Zh¨¬, his son after whom he had named the first settlement in the untamed lands. Zh¨¬ had many children, but it was his great-great-grandson who became most noteworthy. This is because the boy was just like his elder, J¨±n whose favorite he was. The spoilt boy¡¯s name was Gu¨® W¨¥i and he was known to be very impulsive and violent. Whatever Gu¨® W¨¥i wanted, Gu¨® W¨¥i got. He only had to complain to J¨±n. Eventually, his sense of entitlement grew, and he began to grab what he sought. If someone resisted his attempts, he would lose his temper and beat them up. People learnt to stay out of his path if they wanted peace and quiet. Gu¨® W¨¥i had the distinction of being the first man to take two wives for himself for he was a man of unbridled passions. The first wife was the homely and gifted Xi¨´. The secondary wife was D¨¤i y¨´ known for her great beauty. Neither dared to cross him lest he beat them in fury. They tried to live in peace out of fear. One day Gu¨® W¨¥i was walking around in the market area when he spotted a woman whose face shone with innocence and a gentle beauty. He grabbed her hand and tried to drag her back to his home. She screamed for help, drawing the attention of a burly man who was looking at some farming tools in another stall. The man rushed at Gu¨® W¨¥i and struck him. In the ensuing fiasco, Gu¨® W¨¥i was wounded when the man dashed him to the ground. At this point, Gu¨® W¨¥i who was much smaller than the man but seething with a gigantic rage, lifted a large pot that was in a stall and crashed it on the man¡¯s head killing him instantly. He stumbled backwards only to be struck by a mere boy barely into his youth. The boy jumped on him and beat him. Gu¨® W¨¥i easily overpowered the boy and cast him down. He took another large stone pot that was nearby and crushed the boy¡¯s head with it. The woman could not stop yelling. Desperate tears ran down her cheeks as she begged those standing around for some form of help. No one dared to extend any help to her for they feared Gu¨® W¨¥i and his family line of power. On the street lay the bodies of her husband and son, their blood flowing freely into the uneven path. Gu¨® W¨¥i stumbled backwards and quickly made his way home. When he got there, he called his wives. He spoke, ¡®Look here Xi¨´ and D¨¤i y¨´. I have killed a man for wounding me and a boy for striking me. If the King warned all to not harm my elder J¨±n lest he be avenged seven times, then should any dare harm me, I will be avenged seventy-seven times!¡¯ He said this because he knew elder J¨±n¡¯s story and why he carried a mark on his forehead. However, he claimed such protection from the King without the King himself promising any such thing. Knowing this, he made an open threat so that others assumed the King had promised him such protection and did not dare to take revenge. Xi¨´ and D¨¤i y¨´ both gave birth to sons who carried the wisdom that elder J¨±n had. Xi¨´¡¯s first-born son Shu¨« was accustomed to living near the river. He pioneered the making of tents and kept livestock just like Ji¨¡ng. Hu¨¡n was his younger brother. This was a cheerful boy who pioneered and mastered the use of the lyre and the flute. D¨¤i y¨´ gave birth to a son named Sh¨¡n J¨±n. He was brilliant in forging metals and often went into the mountains to find materials for the things he wanted to make. He was a well-tempered man and found favor in the eyes of elder J¨±n. In due time, he became the chieftain of the tribe and the next spear-bearer. He had a beautiful sister called Eu-meh. She was one of the most graceful women alive in her times. Her walk, demeanor, musical voice, long hair and clothes together made her look like a celestial fairy. Men and women turned to stare at her whenever she went past them. It was her surpassing beauty and grace that first drew the attention of Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng and his rebellious followers. Now, Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng was not aware that the primordial seed was not among the descendants of J¨±n. He mistakenly thought that it was J¨±n¡¯s line that carried the purest form of the shattered remnants of the Bride. ¡®They are extremely intelligent. It is her mark for she was Wisdom,¡¯ he thought to himself. ¡®There is a beauty born among them. Though she is but a shadow of my woman, she is still a lovely shadow. This must be another sign that they carry her remnants for me to gather!¡¯ Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng did not know how to gather the remnants, restore and make them whole again or how to become one with the Bride through consummation as they were vastly different beings. ¡®I will need time to figure this out. Also, the laws of heaven forbid Ti¨¡nsh¨« from having relationships with these human Ji¨¡ngsh¨©. I think I will wait and observe things first,¡¯ he decided. Over the next generation, more girls were born among J¨±n¡¯s descendants. Many of them grew into beautiful women like Eu-meh. Their fashion, mannerisms and speech changed drastically so that they were no longer anything like the cave-dwellers whose ancestry they shared. Other families dwelling in the city of Zh¨¬ also began to imitate the culture and trends of their royalty, the family of J¨±n. Within seven generations, anyone who went past these people would not be able to guess that they were the same cave-dwellers who lived in shabby and diseased spaces previously.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng loved the northern, snow-capped mountains because they reminded him of her and their time in the northern realms. Whenever he moved around the mortal realm, he always chose the northern regions as his centers of power and built homes for himself in the heights. He liked these places also because not many humans ventured into such harsh terrains and heights. One day while Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng was sitting in his abode brooding with dark memories of the Bride and her death, his trusted general, B¨¢i L¨¢ng came before him with a report. ¡®Master, my men have gathered information that some of our generals and other Ti¨¡nsh¨« have ventured down the mountains and are making their way to Zh¨¬ and its surroundings. They have used their own living stones to cast illusion spells so that they can walk with the appearance of mortals,¡¯ B¨¢i L¨¢ng said. ¡®What is their purpose?¡¯ Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng asked nonchalantly as he drank wine and petted W¨§i H¨®ng who was sleeping at his feet. ¡®They desire to have relationships with the female Ji¨¡ngsh¨©. They are lusting after them and want to experience this forbidden love. They want a taste of what the King and Bride had,¡¯ B¨¢i L¨¢ng reported with a little trepidation as his master hated hearing any mention of the King. Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng suddenly sat upright almost sending W¨§i H¨®ng rolling down the steps and startling B¨¢i L¨¢ng. ¡®Here is my chance!¡¯ he thought to himself. ¡®Have them tailed and observe what happens. Give them any help they need to be accepted among the Ji¨¡ngsh¨©. Do not hold back. Let them gain favor and adoration. However, forbid the others from joining them. Anyone who goes among the Ji¨¡ngsh¨© for a similar purpose will face punishments in the dungeon,¡¯ Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng commanded. ¡®Master, would this not be against the laws of heaven? Pardon me, but I do not want you to face retribution,¡¯ B¨¢i L¨¢ng said. ¡®I know what I am doing. This is just a little experiment to serve my purposes. Anyway, if we are questioned, we can inform the Council that we disciplined those who sought to do such things in our dungeons. The ones who indulged themselves left earlier and should be dealt with by the Council directly. We can wash our hands off!¡¯ Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng said with disdain before talking about his own Ti¨¡nsh¨«, ¡®Let them not blame me. I have sent them help even though they never told me about their intentions to go down the mountains.¡¯ B¨¢i L¨¢ng bowed and left his presence. He thought nothing of how willing his master was to make scapegoats of his own followers. He mounted Y¨¡o m¨® who was waiting for him at the entrance of the large, palatial hall, Y¨¡o m¨® was B¨¢i L¨¢ng¡¯s soul beast. He whistled sharply and Y¨¡o m¨® howled as they rushed through the mountains carrying the message to the other rebels. Meanwhile, far away from the city of Zh¨¬, Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er had a third son, Ji¨¤n H¨®ng. He brought them great comfort after their loss of Ji¨¡ng, who their older son, J¨±n killed. It was this J¨±n who met the cave-dwellers in the untamed lands and established a city among them. Ji¨¤n H¨®ng was a lot like Ji¨¡ng but there was something vastly different about him. He had an innate wisdom from infancy. This enabled him to learn things very quickly. He was also bold, strong and able to innovate and create new things far better than his uncle J¨±n. This was the gift of the Bride¡¯s primordial seed that sheltered in him for its survival. It gave its bearers great wisdom, lengthened their lives, healed them quickly of their injuries, enabled them in many areas of proficiency and gifts, gave them strength and war-like qualities, and a strange affinity for water. While Ji¨¤n H¨®ng was still a child, he ventured into the abandoned room that once belonged to Ji¨¡ng. As a curious child, he meddled around and played with the things he found. He crawled under a bed and found the olive staff that once belonged to his younger uncle. He pulled it out and took it with him. From then onwards, he became the owner of the olive staff, the true chieftain of the mortals. When he was old enough, Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er called him and spoke with him. ¡®Son, there are things you must know so that you will stay alive,¡¯ they told him. With heavy hearts, they recounted their time in the garden, all the things the King and the Bride taught them, how Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng betrayed them through deception, being cast out of the garden, the joy of bearing their two sons, and the horrific loss of the younger who was killed by the older in a fit of rage. As this history spread down Ji¨¤n H¨®ng¡¯s line, it took on the form of story-telling. Ji¨¤n H¨®ng and his descendants also made it a habit to avoid the untamed lands. In later times, they kept away from the cities that were similar to Zh¨¬ though they crossed paths and had trade dealings with them. They associated these places with J¨±n and his descendants, taking them to be dangerous places of vice and immorality. They chose to make their homes in the wild places or anything that could remind them of a free and beautiful garden in which their ancestors once dwelt with the immortal ones. Perhaps this is why they did not draw the attention of Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng and stayed hidden for a while. He thought they were backward as they held on to the life and practices of Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er, pastoral people roaming the wild and living apart from others who had gone on to build great cities. Ji¨¤n H¨®ng became the chieftain of his clan. In those days, the people lived for very long periods of time for the mortal realm was not yet polluted and their food and drinks were clean. So, it was natural for an elder to hand over the role of the chieftain to a younger man even though the elder remained strong and alive. The young chieftains could approach the elders for council and guidance due to this advantage. He led his flock to the calmer streams of a distant river. It was here that he found and rescued a beautiful woman of Zh¨¬. She had slipped while doing her chores by the riverside and thought she would surely die. She managed to hold on to a large log that had fallen in and was heading downstream. It was from her that Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er heard all that J¨±n had done and how he had established the city, and taught the cave-dwellers great things. Since they knew where the city was located, they avoided it from that time onwards. The woman settled among them and did not seek to return to the city as she was not well treated among her family. For the first time she felt a sense of love and worth in this new family who accommodated her. Ji¨¡ng named her M?i and married her. She gave birth to a son whom she named Y¨¬ch¨¦n for she dreamt and longed after the heavenly garden that her new family spoke so often about. There was something strange that happened around the time Ji¨¡ng was born. The King only appeared to his parents when he was not around. Slowly, those appearance began to dwindle as if he was weaning them off his presence so that they could embrace their mortality more fully. By the time Y¨¬ch¨¦n was born, the King no longer appeared to Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er. They heard him but his voice was like a little whisper within them that they had to concentrate to listen above the din of the daily noise and clutter of their lives. It was in those days of the King¡¯s disappearance from the mortal world that Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er began to actively seek and call out to him. The King had to withdraw and allow mortal history to unfold upon its appointed path. He was still among them, it was just that he was hidden. He was not the only one who went into hiding. The primordial seed followed his example. It knew, that the greatest wisdom sometimes is in staying hidden till one¡¯s time has come. 3 Emergence of Evil 3 Emergence of Evil The rebellious Ti¨¡nsh¨« who went down the mountains without informing their leader, Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng, were filled with great lusts. They had used their living stones to cast spells of transformation on themselves and their soul beasts who followed them. They appeared like mortal men and mortal beasts albeit with all their supernatural powers and knowledge retained. In the generations that followed, they seduced the women of the city of Zh¨¬ for in appearance and strength, there was no true mortal man who could compete with them. They also seduced the people of the city, including J¨±n, their elder and Sh¨¡n J¨±n, their chieftain with the knowledge and prosperity they offered them. It was easy to win Sh¨¡n J¨±n over because he was a lover of weapons and forging of metals. The Ti¨¡nsh¨« with their superior knowledge, materials and skills gave them weapons that could bring down great beasts that roamed the untamed lands in those days. They taught them to eat the meat of these beasts and make ornaments from their bones and teeth. They also showed them how to manipulate the inherent powers of the mortal world to cast spells and use magic to harm one another. All these gifts came with their own hidden costs and unspoken words of guilt and shame. It is human nature to assume that those who look outstanding and are helpful must be good in nature as well. How far that is from the truth! The Ti¨¡nsh¨« initially hid their true motivation in exposing themselves to the mortals under the guise of harmless goodness. When they sought brides for themselves, the people of Zh¨¬ willingly handed their daughters over to them thinking that the young women would fare better and climb the social ladder by being wives of such men of esteem. Even the line of J¨±n intermarried with the Ti¨¡nsh¨«. This is when their masks slowly began to slip. Initially, there were rumors of wives who were being beaten and abused but none bothered to listen. They even hushed the victims, thinking that they were lying without cause. Once the Ti¨¡nsh¨« managed to gain the trust of the people, they established themselves in the positions of power and leadership so they could lord it over the mortals. They developed a system of hierarchy of power and servitude which became the first model for politics in the mortal realm. Through trade and politics, they made slaves of other cave-dwelling mortals who could not match their intelligence and guile. Zh¨¬ grew and expanded, but it was built on the decadence of its rulers and the blood of its weakest. The Ti¨¡nsh¨« told the people, ¡®We are gods of the highest mountains which you see and fear. Mountains covered by mist, wind and snow. We descended from them to bring you hope for without us you have no hope!¡¯ This was partially true for they had once dwelt in the frigid heights which Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng loved. The people came to believe that there were more gods lurking in the mountains and they were not wrong. Some who ventured near the mountains out of curiosity met bloody fates and their torn bodies were recovered by the people. Yet others spotted the likes of Y¨¡o m¨®, the beast of B¨¢i L¨¢ng, and other soul beasts. These and their masters were spying on the Ti¨¡nsh¨« who ventured down to live among the people of Zh¨¬. Thus, gods and legends were born among the fearful. ¡®The gods walk among us. Their beasts are fearsome! Like thunder and lightning their sounds echo through the ravines and desolate places,¡¯ they said. The Ti¨¡nsh¨« who dwelt among the mortals saw the opportunity and took it. ¡®Why do you fear these gods? Do you not see that we too have the power of gods in us?¡¯ they said. Then they revealed their true selves and their powers which were no different from that of their brothers who remained in the northern mountains. ¡®Look, do as we say and we will protect you from them,¡¯ the Ti¨¡nsh¨« said. They made the mortals bring to them all that they desired. Meats of different beasts they had grown to relish, women and children to exploit and eventually even men. They showed no mercy. They murdered the just and violently killed any who dared stand up against them. They began to grab land and its produce, wealth and treasures which they hoarded for themselves, taxing the people for ownership of various things so that those who once worked joyfully were now paying because they worked. The lazy grew lazier, the evil grew more wicked. Violence filled the streets and there was no law or order. Each one did as they pleased. The victims of crime and murders now appeared often and their bodies could be openly found in places once filled with the laughter of children and the chatter of people going on with their daily routines. Now, the Ti¨¡nsh¨« who lived in Zh¨¬ had children with the many women they owned apart from their wives. These children were strange beings. They appeared like normal mortals, some tall, some short, some giants and some dwarves.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. However, they had some of the powers of their supernatural fathers. They were not as powerful for they carried mortal weaknesses and could be slain. No mortal could slay a Ti¨¡nsh¨« for they were true immortals, but this did not apply to their children. Hence, the people called the rebellious Ti¨¡nsh¨« gods and their children demi-gods. Some of the demi-gods went on to become heroes for their hearts inclined more towards their fellow humans and they sought to help mortals, redressing the injustices they suffered. These were the heroes and legends of old, the mighty men of tales that mortals tell. Most demi-gods went the way of their fathers. They wanted greater power which they lacked, more riches, more fame, more violence and greater evils. The demi-gods were not the same as their fathers, who were some of the rebellious Ti¨¡nsh¨«. All Ti¨¡nsh¨« are the sons of the King and his Bride. Not all the demi-gods were Nephilim either. Nephilim was the name given to a clan of unusually tall mortals, some of whom were demi-gods. The human body had begun to change and hence there were those born of abnormal heights but this was true of mortals in general and not just because of the intermarrying between the Ti¨¡nsh¨« and mortal women. It was these changes in the health of mortals that caused some to be dwarves and some to be giants. People, mistakenly claimed in later times that all Nephilim were offspring of the Ti¨¡nsh¨« and mortal women. They were called Nephilim because ordinary people had to look up to them just like how they had to look up for rain clouds. They were very physically strong but over many ages, their health deteriorated and being so unusually gigantic became a problem. They often worked for the highest bidders and fought for them, thus earning their keep. Many of them worked for the wicked demi-gods and were thus associated with and mistaken as one of them. There were many who fled the city of Zh¨¬ in those days. They took refuge in the caves of their ancestors and married other cave dwellers to survive and have progeny. They taught them the corrupted ways of Zh¨¬ from which they fled for its own corruption. Some of these also found their way into the family of Ji¨¤n H¨®ng and led some of his children and grandchildren astray. Yet, there was always a remnant among this line who refused to cave to such corruption and it was this line that the seed of the Bride traversed. The King knew of these things and watched what Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng intended to do. It was a regular practice for the King to take mortal form and walk among the mortals like one of them. He could easily transform and appear as someone they knew or a stranger passing by. Often, when someone ran into him in the wilderness or lonely paths, and he desired to interact with them, he took the form of a mighty warrior with a great, fiery sword by his side. He was often accompanied by one of the four brothers of Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng who had refused to rebel along with him. At times Y¨©ng F¨¥ng went with the King to bring messages to chosen mortals. When P¨¨i Zh¨­ng walked with the King, there was a soft, lingering fragrance that filled the place and sometimes it was that of wine and spices. It brought people peace and comfort. Zh¨¬ Sh¨¥n left clues for people to show them the path of wisdom, strategies and justice as directed by the King. When the King visited the clans of Ji¨¤n H¨®ng, mostly it was with Xi¨®ng Zh¨£n who was charged to protect them. The King and his Ti¨¡nsh¨« never left traces of their presence unless intentionally and so, Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng did not know that the King kept close watch over the line of Ji¨¤n H¨®ng. Also, since the King no longer appeared to them as he did to their elders Zh¨¬ R¨¦n and Y¨©n-er, Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng let down his guard and focused more on the line of J¨±n. The King spoke to the four brothers of Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng and the twenty-four T?ngzh¨¬ zh¨§ while they were gathered at his table at the foot of D¨¤sh¨¡n. ¡®Have you seen what the rebellious ones have done among the people of Zh¨¬?¡¯ Zh¨¬ Sh¨¥n replied, ¡®They have broken the laws of heaven. They were told they cannot have relationships with mortals and they have brazenly abused their powers to do just that!¡¯ Xi¨®ng Zh¨£n who was once closest to Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng wondered, ¡®Why does not Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng take action? Is he complicit in these evil acts?¡¯ The King responded, ¡®He is well aware of what he is doing and is responsible for the emergence of evil in the mortal realm. He appears to have no part in it but it is all part of his little experiment to gather the remnants of my Beloved.¡¯ One of the generals of the realms asked, ¡®What of the mortals themselves? Surely, they made their evil choices! Look, how they feed on their own and heartlessly kill the innocent beasts they were called to protect. They have grown corrupt and spoiled the splendor of your original intentions for them!¡¯ ¡®I sometimes look at them and regret I made them,¡¯ the King said with a sigh. ¡®Indeed, the wickedness of the mortals is very great and they will be held to account for their corrupt choices. Not everything can be blamed on Ji¨¤n Sh¨¥ng. I have searched the hearts and minds of mortals and they are inclined to evil continually. The fruits of their deeds is violence,¡¯ he concluded. P¨¨i Zh¨­ng asked, ¡®What do you plan to do and how can we help?¡¯ The next words the King spoke came from a heart that was deeply torn and grieved, ¡®I will wipe them out for they have corrupted their own kind and also the beasts among them. I will start all over again with a remnant and a new world with new boundaries for those rebellious sons who dwell in the mortal realm. I will judge them so that their brothers will not dare to transgress those boundaries as they did!¡¯ ¡®Is there a remnant that is worthy among them?¡¯ P¨¨i Zh¨­ng wondered. ¡®Yes, there is. One from the line of Ji¨¤n H¨®ng has found favor in my eyes. I will rescue him and his household. The rest of you, call your soul beasts and gather the choicest of mortal land and air-borne creatures. We will rescue them as well to fill the new world,¡¯ the King said with a renewed hope in his eyes. There is always hope even in times when there is the emergence of gross evil. There have to be worthy mortals who are filled with courage and willingness to be bearers of hope. It is such mortals who have the power entrusted to them to counteract the violence, and false acts of kindness and love that fills their lands in the name of goodness.