Chương 14: Chapter IV Verse II — Climbing the Sacred Mountain & the Conversation Across a Thousand Miles

He arrived at the base of the winding mountain stairs, where three paths diverged. To the left are the grand stairs, while to the center, crowds of tourists and beastfolk queued to enter a cave mouth just beyond. To the right, a steady stream of porters pushed wheeled portable divine vaults, right alongside more tourists that are mostly gods. Galan noted the efficiency with a nod. Quite the setup they got here. At least the tax money got put to good use.

He took the left path, joining the flow of travelers ascending through the dense foliage. Occasionally, the trees parted to reveal breathtaking vistas of jagged cliffs and shimmering sea. After close to an hour of relentless ascent, the path opened into a massive clearing. It was a rest stop—climbers slumped over bowls of noodles, others lingering near the bathrooms or leaning back against benches, catching their breath before the next stretch.

Some emerged from a provisioner's store on his right, carrying satchels and neatly wrapped bundles, while in the far corner, a garbage processing facility hauled away trash in large wooden carriages. Galan slowed his pace to take in the scenery, the aroma of broth noodles and the clinking of drinks filling the air. At the end of the clearing, he noticed a group of tourists peering through telescopes, their gazes fixed on the sky. Galan followed their line of sight.

There, far above the water, teams of skyfolk soared through the air, locked in a fierce match of heaven's conqueror.

"Maybe I'll take a break," he murmured.

"The theater ain't going anywhere." He reached out with his mindcast, sharing the vision of a spectator to get a closer look. It was a calculated aerial chaos. Teams of massive, red-skinned daiten-gu, a bigger ten-gu with long red noses, and smaller crow ten-gu dove and spiraled, fighting for possession of the ball of light. The daiten-gu acted as interceptors, using their bulk to block and tackle, while the crow ten-gu darted through the gaps, passing the ball with effortless grace. The match went into overtime.

A yellow-clad crow ten-gu wove through the defenders, chased by two angels and a daiten-gu. Seeing no path to the crown of light, she locked eyes with a distant teammate, a small putto, one of Cupid's many baby-like clones. She wound up for a throw toward the crown, then snapped her wrist at the last second. The ball arced away from the goal, sailing right past a lunging angel and landing perfectly in the putto's grasp, just as she was tackled by her pursuers. The crowd gasped.

The putto spun, pulling his arm back like an archer drawing a bow. With a fierce glint in his eye, he launched the ball. It soared across the field, bypassing the stunned defenders, and flew straight through the crown. The ring flashed with radiant light. Trumpets blared, and the sky erupted in confetti as teammates surged toward the triumphant putto. Galan severed the connection, returning to his own eyes as the crowd around him cheered.

"So they brought the sport over," he mused.

"Does that mean they also implemented the Supreme League here? I'll look into it later." Stolen story; please report. As the cheers faded behind him, he continued along the path. Silhouettes of hawks and falcons carved through the sky, gliding alongside the skyfolk. A passing breeze carried the distinct calls of the ten-gu returning from the match, mingling with the distant voices of other creatures. It was a peculiar, half-laughing chorus that stirred memories of home.

I wonder if the others are doing alright without me, Galan thought. He reached out with his mindcast, pushing his consciousness across the vast distance to contact one of his wives, Cang Cu. Her thoughts formed in his mind, a warm, grandmotherly voice tinged with excitement.

"Aa Chuan, have you arrived?" She sent, invoking his Chinese pet name.

"Yeah," he sent back.

"How are the heavy hitters?"

"They're doing well," Cu replied.

"Vardo is handling his imperial duties just like you did. Everyone says he resembles you more every day. Bandea has been running the village smoothly. Everyone feels safe. And Almoina... she went on a journey with her friends. She said she'll become the best heroine the world has ever seen."

"And what about you?"

"I'm taking care of our grandchildren and the orphans with my parents. You?"

"Things are going great so far. I even got a nice crown made of cherry blossoms from one of the ten-gu."

"Ohh... You're already doing the usual?" Her mental tone dripped with sarcasm.

"Look—I just got here—I wouldn't start swooning women immediately—I have more self-control than that—it was..." He paused, feeling her amusement.

"Ugh, just a chance encounter, that's all."

"Haha. Alright, alright," she laughed.

"So, is Tsushima as good as they say?"

"A lot better, actually. They're welcoming of foreigners and magical creatures. Even the food's great. The Council taught them well. I just... wish they'd stop taking the hard-earned money of the poor."

"It can't be helped, Hubby. Creating businesses in an archipelago of that size requires some serious financial backing. Someone has to pay for it. Of course, you can use some of the village's money as a substitute if you want. I'm sure everyone won't mind."

"Yeah... I'll deal with them once I get to that point. Anyway, I'm climbing one of the islands in Tsushima—the view here is amazing. Want me to show you?"

"Oh, hold on, I'll go somewhere quiet first." A moment later, she returned.

"Okay, I'm ready!" Galan stopped on the path. He snapped his toes to cast his mindcast, gathering the raw concepts of his surroundings: the ocean stretching past the horizon, the ring of smaller islands, and the countless flying creatures soaring in the warm breeze. He packaged these sensations and sent them halfway around the world through his omniscience. After a few seconds, he felt a warm tingle of shared emotion.

"It's so beautiful..." Cu whispered in his mind.

"Yeah, I know, right? Would love to take you here once I get my footing."

"Just remember to tell me about the women before you propose to them, okay? I won't let you marry the most boring bed warmers in town."

"Ha, very funny," Galan smiled.

"Alright, I have the final of a fighting tournament to watch. I'll talk to you again later tonight."

"Of course. Think to you later."

"Heh, Later." He let the connection fade, the sounds of the mountain returning to the forefront. He continued his climb, passing large caves carved into the rock face. One held a bustling bathhouse and restaurant, the smell of grilled fish wafting out. Another echoed with the roar of an internal waterfall, where travelers showered beneath the cascade. He noted the thick bamboo aqueducts channeling the water, a clever mix of nature and engineering.

"So they still use bamboo to infuse the water. Good to see they did their homework," he said, impressed. As he neared the summit, the rocky formations rose sharply. He passed a clearing occupied by the skyfolk and their flying ships, ranging from small boats to massive carriers resting in designated bays. Winged workers tended to the vessels, polishing hulls and repairing engines. Finally, he reached the top.

The landscape opened up before him, a sprawling expanse of lush greenery interspersed with vibrant wildflowers. Cherry trees lined the path, shedding pink petals that drifted through the air, blanketing the ground in a soft, bright hue.