The Undying Memoirs Part Four: Silence

"I'll be fine, I told you that already!" he exclaimed, his right hand starting to glow with a bluish flame. "It's just the fatigue of the long travel here to the upper world."

I was a bit taken aback by his retort, and my grip tightened on the tea set tray. How inconsiderate could someone get? I was only worried and his bullish pride gets in the way. Were he not injured I would have taught him a lesson--and I would had Qi Xun Jue not given me a restraining glare. Qi Xun Jue was still examining him from afar from head to foot, and I noticed a slight uneasiness on his part.

"Is he, then, one of us?" I whispered to the Seer as I placed the tea set upon the small night table beside the bed.

"What do you think, little water jasmine? Your instinct is as correct as my visions." Qi Xun Jue replied as he walked out of the room, leaving me to watch over him.

He was still sitting on the bed, his back to me, not even acknowledging my presence. I tried to offer him tea, yet he still sat there, in a defiant silence. He had drawn an invisible wall between us, and I scramble for words that would help me break through. I waited for a reply, yet none came.

"What was your name again? Lord Zhuan Xu did not even introduce you properly to us."

Another round of silence. Strange--here I am, master of words, killed by the slience of a stranger. A stranger soon to be under my wing as Keeper, yet with this silence, how can he be one? I would even prefer all that fake civility to this silence.

"Very well--if you do not wish to talk, then I should leave. I have more pressing matters to attend to."

Frustrated, I left the room.

The Undying Memoirs: Part Three

Following my lovely Sui Mei's entry, I now place mine *winks*

The Undying Memoirs
Part Three: Keepers Unite

[ColdFlare's Point of View]

As I felt the woman leaving, I then sensed the presence of a strong human entering the chamber from whence I lay. He seated himself on a nearby chair and examined me closely. I may have had my sense of sight deprived by the enchanted black blindfold given to me by the Ten-Veiled King, but I can definitely feel my way around.

"Are you well?"

It sounded more of an imposition than a question, but I obliged.

"I'll be fine. I just don't know why I had to be laid back like this when I'm actually better."

"Well, it's necessary, boy. You come from a place where pain knows no deeper meaning. Here, it's important to take care of yourself well. I assume you know why you are here?"

"I was sent here by the Ten-Veiled King of the Underworld."

"And similarly I was called in by the Celestial Monarch of the Heavens. You understand now that we are to work together on the mission that the Heavens and Underworld had set upon us, do you not?"

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"Very well. I am teaming everyone up to ensure that there is enough to defend the Land with when the Soulless attack. You are to join Sui Mei and Qi Xun Jue here."

Sui Mei... a womanly name... the name instantly struck me with greater force than the latter mentioned, for it seemed to strike at places I had never thought existent within my body. Years of pain and agony may perhaps have wiped it off and now the feeling is surprising. Or is it because I have lived a life of bloodlust that I had really never paid any attention to its detail?

Perhaps she was the person who tried her hardest to restrain me from getting up... it felt weird even for myself, for I cannot explain the impact it has given me. But I must not be burdened by it. It will affect my overall objective. Years of intense training, meditation, and cultivation, are not to be wasted by such trifling things.

"You are the soldier once known as Cold Flare, are you not? The mystical Fa Shih who introduced Ritual Sword use?" the man asked once again.

"Yes, I am."

"My name is Zhuan Xu. In the great Immortal Hou Yi's name, I am to oversee all of your actions here in the Perfect Land. I pray with everyone's assistance we can overcome the increasing threat of the Soulless."

"I will do my best."

"Good. I leave you to Sui Mei and Qi Xun Jue now."

As Zhuan Xu left the chamber, the woman returned to the chamber, this time with another man who seemed to have the faint traces of age in his movements.

"Are you all right now? You might still have a fever." Sui Mei said concernedly.

"I'll be fine, I told you that already!" I said, annoyed at the pursuit of my condition. "It's just the fatigue of the long travel here to the upper world."

As silence slowly settled in, I felt the other person, Qi Xun Jue, examining me closely. It was like as if he was reading things in my mind, or the feeling that he knows something deeper than what I have just mentioned. Either way, the feeling was unnerving.

The Immortal Diaries: Part Eight

Good Day to the Path-Seekers of the Perfect Land!

Before I make a continuation to the Undying Memoirs, allow me in turn to place here one of the recent accomplished Immortals under the instruction and mentoring of the Immortal Antares. I present...

Ronrinesu, the Immortal of the Silent Storm

A mere mention of his name would silence the laughter of children playing out in the streets.

Once conidered a legend in the streets of Dragon City, he was only known under the name Ronrinesu, alluding to his silent style of execution. Feared by those who do wrong, he would quietly creep into the houses of the Empire's corrupt bureaucrats and return to the people the riches that were rightfully theirs, and sometimes even spilling blood. Rumors spread that he had the likeness of a god; but only a few had seen him, and none would dare describe what they saw for the fear of retaliation. He was, after all, a hero to many.

However, one night changed it all.

It was just to be a routine operation in one of the houses owned by an aide of the General Xia Feng. The aide had been accused not just of spying for the Yi, but also diverting the funds of the City to the enemy camps. Sneaking in, he made sure to bypass all the guards and traps, even side-stepping puddles of water just to make sure that no trace of his intrusion would be left. Having memorized the whole layout of the house, he managed without light, relying only on the glow of the full moon.

As he was about to leave the main inner hall with his loot, a voice cut through his thoughts.

"So you hope to right a wrong with another wrong?"

In the flickering light he saw a man, dressed in regal blue and carrying a small lantern. Quickly his reflexes sprung into action and with his sword he slashed at the man, but his blow was parried by a wall of water.

Fear crept into his veins; none had been able to parry his strikes before. There he realized who the man was--he was the Immortal Antares.

"You cannot wish to exact justice by commiting the same wrongdoings that the ones you say you punish do. If you wish to learn the right Path, follow me."

Leaving his sword and his past behind, he followed the Immortal into the night.

The Undying Memoirs: Part Two

As promised, here is now the second part of the Undying Memoirs, again written from my point of view.

The Undying Memoirs: Disguises

I tried to restrain him from sitting up--he was suffering from a very high fever, a terrible imbalance of the Yin and Yang in his body. Any activity might make his condition worse. Lord Zhuan Xu himself had asked us to keep a close watch over this man; yet judging from his aura, he was not just a simple human who managed to get himself lost in our territory.

"Don't move. You have a fever." I said, yet he still sat up, his bandaged hand pressing heavily down on the sheets and the other massaging his head. "Let me get you something to drink."

I stood up and went out to make some tea.

"Is he awake?" Antares asked as I went out; he was standing guard at the door with Zhu Rong. "Have you asked?"

"He is awake, though he has not said anything yet." I replied.

Surely he was not from around here. His clothes were little more than rags, singed at the edges and stained with blood. He had no weapon nor clan crest. Apart from his blindfold and his aura, there was nothing different about him.

The blindfold. We had not removed it since we found him; and we were told not to.

And I find myself wondering what lay behind them.

Yet who am I to take it off? I myself show only my other side--that of a fox--to strangers. Only the other Immortals had seen my true form, and I wished to keep it that way. We were all bound to secrecy for our safety.

Was he one of us, then? That I wished to know as I walked back to the room, carrying the tea set.

The Immortal Diaries: The Seventh Part

Before I post the second part of the Undying Memoirs, first let me post the long-awaited seventh installment of the Immortal Diaries. These next few installments would be about the new immortals; those who have recently ascended to the highest level of cultivation after their long and tedious training under the Senior Immortals.

Presenting one of the first to ascend the Path under the guidance of Antares, here is the story of LiuBei, Immortal of the Flowing Rivers.

LiuBei, the Immortal of the Flowing Rivers

LiuBei was once considered the best chef in the Empire; his cooking unsurpassed by no one. He worked at the Imperial Palace as the Imperial Chef of the Empress herself but due to the fame and attention that he was getting from the Empress, some of his assistant cooks plotted against him and LiuBei was exiled from Dragon City for allegedly trying to poison the Empress’ dinner.

Traumatized and left with no other possession but the cooking utensils that he had brought with him to the Palace, LiuBei left Dragon City, leaving his bitter memories behind. He sought to refine his talents through traveling, heading to the farthest of towns and even working at several tea houses until he had enough yuan to continue his travels.

During his travels along the banks of the Carefree Pool, LiuBei was met with an unusual challenge. He had intended to camp out for the night in Yujia Forest and decided to fish for his dinner. But having waited all evening, he fell asleep halfway through the morning and did not even manage to make a single catch. For three days it went, as if Fate was playing a cruel trick on him: His travels would always culminate at places where fish would just be the only available source of food, and every time he would try to fish, no fish would dare approach his line.

“You’re doing it wrong.”

During his third night of fruitless fishing in the banks of Carefree Pool, LiuBei turned tiredly towards the direction of the voice. He was surprised to find a man standing beside him, watching his fishing prowess intently.

“For a man that is talented in the kitchens, you are an amateur at catching the very fish you cook.” The man said. “Here.”

He took the fishing rod from the awed LiuBei and cast the line in the water. Almost instantly three fishes struggled to grab the bait.

“Fishing is very much like cooking.” The man said. “To fish, one must have passion and devotion, similar to the way you act when you are facing your utensils and ingredients.”

As the man turned to go, the light of LiuBei’s campfire fell full on his face – it was the Immortal Antares.

“Y-You!” LiuBei cried out.

“Took you long enough to find out.” Antares replied calmly. “I can see in your eyes that you seek more than what the art of cooking can offer you.”

“I confess I cannot completely make others happy with just my talent.” LiuBei said. “But if someone would show me…”

Antares smiled.

“It’s your decision.”

Thus LiuBei followed Antares in his travels, and during this time, the Immortal taught him many things until he was ready to be shown the Path to Immortality.

The Undying Memoirs Part One

Good Morning once again to the Path-Seekers of the Perfect Land!

I presume many have started to wonder about the most recent turn of events by certain Immortals we know of in the Perfect World Message Boards. With that, we shall try to find out the stories behind those interesting turn of events.

Let me present, the Undying Memoirs~

The Undying Memoirs
Part One: Emergence from the Darkness

[Cold Flare's Point of View]

I lived a life of misery and despair whilst under the tutelage of the Ten-Veiled King of the Underworld. The ravages of the Yang down below were too much for any mortal being to bear and I felt I was being killed over and over again at each day I spent in the grim agony of the Underworld. Each passing second was torment in mind, body, and soul, and I felt I was being ripped apart with pain beyond any mortal might possibly contain.

But it had to be done. It was the pact I had made with my own blood and soul, to be in eternal servitude under the Ten-Veiled King after my shameful defeat at the hands of the enemies I had sworn to slay to the very end. It seems that they got me first, and I sold myself to the Underworld's service so I can exact vengeance upon them. And I have to be thankful despite all these despairs, for I was still fortunate to be taken in by the Ten-Veiled King himself to be taught and trained in these harsh domains of the Yang powers, and not resigned to being a common demon or soul. Perhaps there is still hope in me that the King wishes to cultivate.

In a way, the long, agonizing time of despair took its toll on me as I found the Path that I had thought I'd never see even after the day of my death. There I found my calling - to defend the world from being consumed by the Legion of the Soulless and be turned to the living hell that I have undergone. It was truly an honor for me and compensation for all the pain I suffered when the King asked me to return to the mortal worlds and join the others in the similar cause of defending the realm from the Soulless.

Thus I was given one final tedious task, one that seemed easier done the other way around - embark on the journey back to the mortal realm. The only reason why the dead never manage to make it back to the upper world was because of the strong barriers erected to ensure the division of the three realms - Heaven, Earth, and Hell. Sure, it was easy to get to the underworld, especially if dark powers made the journey easier for you, but to do the more difficult inverse of it, and with only you and your training to aid you, toI was surely in for a rough journey.

I had been accustomed to pain, but still the journey beyond celestial and dark borders tore what remained of my mangled and mutilated soul. I adapted to the dangers of the trip with all the skills I had learned but as I neared the end of the journey my strength gave way and I lost consciousness.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on a soft surface. I had to touch it several times for me to realize that, after years of agony in the Underworld, I finally got to lie down on a bed. People were talking not far from where I lay but I cannot glimpse them, for a black blindfold had been drawn on my eyes since I started my Path of Despair with the King. It was part of the training - to fully understand the meaning of agony and be one with it, one must be deprived of its most powerful medicine - sight. Deprivation of sight heightens the torment as you are given the feeling of being alone in the darkness, suffering in despair.

I tried to stand up, but two things restrained me - a brisk restraint from a hand that seemed to come from nowhere and a push back to the bed, followed by a jolt of pain that seemed to revive and reactivate in my entire system. I had completely forgotten that I barely survived the journey and now my entire body was in pain once again.

"Don't move. You have a fever." a womanly voice said.

Don't move? Who does she think she is to keep me from moving? Does she not think I can manage myself?

I got up to a sitting position despite the woman's restraining hand and massaged my head, as if my world was spinning slightly because of a dizziness that had settled in. With the aid of my heightened senses, I was able to ascertain that I was in a small house. Perhaps my mission starts here - to learn to coexist once again with others. Perhaps years of loneliness in despair has wiped it clean off my memory and like a baby learning to walk I must master it once again.

Guess who will post the next part?

Of Clan Funds and Honesty

Finally, a long overdue post. I saw this thread earlier and though I had to close the thread to prevent flaming, the threadstarter does have a point. Many clans have broken up due to in-game monetary issues, and not just clans, friendships have suffered as well.

Yet this issue is not as simple as it sounds. It is a common practice for clans to solicit donations from their members to have a working clan fund come TW bidding time, for it is grossly unfair to the clan master if the clan master alone would shell out the payment. Then once the war starts, there would be costs incurred in the building of the towers and the hiring of the catapults. All these would easliy amount to several million every week, and the returns from the territory would not be enough to cover all expenses. What's worse is had the clan lost, they would not be even able to recoup even a little Yuan just for the effort. Should there be any extra Yuan left over, it will be kept for the next week's war.

This is why some clans break up--thinking that the returns from the territory are more than enough to cover their expenses, they would still ask for a salary. It ends up (as the threadstarter suggested) as a paid mercenary service, and nothing more. Once the payments stop, it's time to go on and look for another clan with more yuan to burn.

They forget the true essence of a clan, its basic meaning--a group of players fighting for one common goal.

Transparency also figures in this case. To avoid these conflicts, clan masters (since they are in charge of the clan funds) should be transparent with what they spend the clan money for. Say every end of the war the master would be able to account for the bid, the tower-building and the catapult costs. It would also help to have a list of those who made donations to the clan fund and make it accessible to the public. That way, no one would complain about the money being misspent.

All in all, it boils down to trust. Some people join clans just for the name, expecting that with a well-known clan, becoming rich and famous will follow. They join not knowing the clan's officers, policies and regulations--that is why we require clans in the Garrison sections to illustrate what their clan is like so that players would avoid making misinformed decisions. When these issues arise, then chaos erupts. They fail to realize that building a clan takes more than having the best high-levelled players in the server; they must also learn to work together as a team and trust their clan master's decision (and yes, sharing the expenses is part of teamwork). The clan master, too, must listen to his members.

It also reflects our views IRL--we live in a society where corruption where trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. And we can't blame people for not easily trusting others, for sad to say, honesty and transparency are now rare traits.

What we can do is to start the culture of honesty ingame. Then bring it IRL as well, and hopefully change society for the better.