THE HUNTER OF DARKNESS

Entering the Realm of the Genies

“You know my father, Elder?” It was A Long's turn to be stunned by Zhao Wen’s question.

“Hahaha… I know him very well. You weren’t even born when your father, Fang An’s mother, and other warriors fought to secure your father’s right to become Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. And as for Fang An’s mother—she’s the aunt you've been searching for,” Zhao Wen replied with a chuckle.

A Long stared closely at Fang An. From his facial structure, A Long could tell that the red-haired young man carried Mongoloid blood, just like him.

“So you're Aunt Mei’s son?”

Fang An nodded. A wide smile spread across his face as he finally stood before his cousin.

“This is Uncle Zhao Wen, head of the Temple of Immortality. Since both of us are headed there anyway, it’s better if we go now—especially with Uncle Zhao Wen to guide us.”

“That’s a good idea, A Long. We don’t know if other demons might show up,” Zhao Wen agreed.

“Very well, I’ll go with you.” A Long smiled in response.

Several hours had passed since the incident at the foot of Mount Tianmen. At last, they arrived at the Temple of Immortality.

“You both should rest first. One of my disciples will prepare rooms for you,” said Zhao Wen. He then whispered something to one of his students.

“Yes, Uncle,” Fang An and A Long replied in unison.

A disciple of the Temple led them to their room. Coincidentally, the room prepared for them was the same one once used by Fang Yun.

Zhao Wen hoped both young men would become noble warriors like Fang Yun and himself, always walking the path of righteousness.

Night quickly gave way to morning. Birds chirped joyously to welcome the dawn atop Mount Tianmen, which was now slowly warming after a night blanketed in mist. Roosters crowed loudly, asserting their dominance.

Fang An and A Long stepped out of their room, their faces refreshed. The unexpected reunion of the two cousins brought a special joy to them both. In fact, A Long began to consider staying longer in Jawadwipa after meeting Fang An.

Inside the Temple’s main chamber, Fang An and A Long bowed respectfully before Zhao Wen and the sage Zhao Jian.

“Please, have a seat,” Zhao Wen said.

“Thank you, Uncle,” they replied.

“This is Master Zhao Jian, the founder of the Temple of Immortality,” Zhao Wen introduced him.

“Fang An, come closer,” Zhao Jian said.

Fang An stood and walked toward the elder. His heart filled with questions about what the founder of the temple intended to do with him.

Once Fang An sat beside him, Zhao Jian took hold of his right wrist. His eyes closed as he focused, trying to sense the energy within Fang An.

His brow furrowed deeply as he detected a vast power inside the young man—greater, even, than what Fang Yun had once possessed. But how could that be, he thought. Fang An’s power came from Fang Yun…

“Did Queen Qian Hui say anything to you about what you should do in the future?”

Fang An nodded and pulled out the Flame Whip Manual from under his robe. “After I mastered this book, Grandma said I should find someone to help perfect it. But I still don’t know who she meant.”

Zhao Jian stroked his long white beard as his thoughts wandered, trying to figure out whom Qian Hui had meant.

His gaze then shifted to A Long. “Come here.”

A Long approached with his head lowered. He wasn’t sure why, but Zhao Jian’s aura felt incredibly powerful—something rarely seen even in his homeland.

Zhao Jian took A Long’s wrist once the son of Emperor Xiao Yu sat beside him.

“Zhao Wen, A Long’s elemental energy is similar to yours—both are aligned with the element of cold. If he’s willing, you can train him in your martial arts.”

Zhao Wen nodded. “Well, A Long… would you like to be my student?”

A Long raised his head to look at Zhao Wen. A smile crept onto his lips before he nodded. “I am ready to learn from you, Uncle Zhao.”

“There’s something I need to tell you both,” Fang An suddenly said. He took a deep breath, then continued, “Next week, I’ll be marrying Princess Xian Lie. I hope both of you will come as stand-ins for my parents, who are unable to attend and give their blessing.”

Zhao Jian and Zhao Wen exchanged surprised glances. Then their smiles bloomed like ripe pomegranates.

“You’re going to be the son-in-law of Emperor Li Wei?” Zhao Wen asked.

Fang An nodded, his expression calm.

“The blood of the noble Feng Yu lineage flows in your veins, Fang An,” Zhao Jian said. “It’s no coincidence that you’ll become a nobleman—or even a king—someday. Especially since Emperor Li Wei has no other children besides Princess Xian Lie.”

“I never thought about it that way, Master. I want to be like my father, who was never tempted by luxury. The path of righteousness he always emphasized—that’s the path I will walk.”

“Hahaha… Just like Fang Yun. His humility was what made him admired by everyone,” Zhao Wen laughed heartily.

“Then you must arrive at the palace in five days, Fang An. You’ll go ahead with my student, and A Long will follow with me and Master Zhao Jian the next day,” he added.

“Yes, Uncle.”

Suddenly, Fang An remembered the tournament to be held at the palace soon. He suspected it would happen after the wedding—which meant his journey would be delayed even further.

Days passed in quiet rhythm. A Long trained hard under Zhao Wen’s careful guidance. Although at first he struggled with the different martial forms from China, his determination helped him gradually grasp the tempo and flow of Zhao Wen’s techniques.

Two days before the wedding, Fang An bid farewell to Zhao Jian and Zhao Wen and began his return journey to the palace. He was accompanied by a temple disciple as a guide down Mount Tianmen.

However, halfway down, Fang An told the disciple to return to the temple. He believed he already knew the path and didn’t want to trouble the young man further.

Leading his white horse, Fang An continued his descent. To break the silence, he whistled a tune that could easily damage anyone’s eardrums.

He walked on until, without realizing it, he wandered through a portal to another realm—a place where genies lived and interacted.

For a while, Fang An didn’t realize what had happened. But as he came upon a towering, majestic palace before him, a deep frown formed on his brow.

“Why is there a palace in a place like this?”