The Sorceress' Revolt
Author: Toriumi Jinzō
Translator: Ainikki the Archivist
Ko Biji's Story
Part Nine: Reincarnation
The attack on Rai Ingyō’s residence had already been reported to the Imperial Court, and key points along the main roads were blocked off. Ryū Gen and his men had no option but to escape at night through the trackless mountains and fields, which would be difficult.
Moonlight shone on a fork in a mountain path as Tanshi and the salt smugglers fled the estate. Tanshi traveled with them a short way, then pulled Ryū Gen aside.
“Master Ryū Gen, we may meet again someday.”
“Yes. Let’s hope for that day.”
Tanshi had learned that Chō Ran had done his best to protect Ko Biji. The day before, he would have killed the man without compunction, but now Ko Biji and Rai Ingyō were dead; there was no need for further bloodshed. If Chō Ran had not rescued Ko Biji at the estate on Mt. Hua, she would have died there. Tanshi gave Chō Ran some consideration for that.
“Tanshi, beware of Sei Koko,” Ryū Gen said.
“I know.”
“Then farewell.”
Tanshi saw Ryū Gen off as he rode his horse to the north. Before he was out of sight, Ryū Gen turned around and said, “Watch out for Chō Ran, too.”
“I will,” Tanshi said.
Chō Ran had fled for the moment, but he was not a man to sit idle forever. It seemed likely to both Ryū Gen and Tanshi that he’d return to China eventually, and neither was sure if he’d be a friend or an enemy.
“What will you do?” Ryū Gen asked.
“Go back to the Shaolin Temple, I guess.”
“You should hold a memorial service for Ko Biji’s spirit.”
Tanshi gave him a cynical smile. “Since when do you believe in spirits?”
“I don’t. But you still have your memories of her. Ko Biji lives on in your heart.”
Tanshi nodded. “I’ll remember her.”
Tanshi was determined to become a Master of Daoism so that he wouldn’t lose to Sei Koko again. He believed they would fight one another again one day. Ko Biji’s body was gone, but something of her spirit remained in Tanshi’s memories. When she was reincarnated, he hoped that she would reincarnate as her own self, and not whatever twisted soul her mother had bargained with.
I have to fight Sei Koko again. If she manages to enslave Ko Biji’s spirit, I’ll have to free her, he thought.
“Another farewell. We say goodbye a lot,” Ryū Gen said.
Tanshi chuckled. “Well, we’re sworn brothers, Master Ryū Gen. I’m sure we’ll find each other again.”
“We have the same goals, Tanshi, deep down. That is why we have always understood one another.”
Tanshi smiled. “Take good care of yourself, Master—no. Brother.”
Ryū Gen smiled back. “You too, brother.
Tanshi rode south alone. Ryū Gen watched him go. Tanshi descended the mountain on horseback, limned in silver moonlight.
***
Few things ever changed in Hakūn-do Cave. The sun shone bright over the serene paradise contained within. En Kō bowed his head before his goddess, who was present in the cave as a halo of light.
“Lady Kyūten Genyo, do humans believe in reincarnation?” En Kō asked.
“Do you believe in it, En Kō? You are also an ancestor of mankind.”
“When I was born, nature was God. When spring came, the plants would sprout and flowers would bloom. When autumn came, they would bear fruit and eventually wither away. Then spring would come again, and the plants would come back to life. All of nature would come back to life. I suppose that’s a kind of reincarnation—death coming back to life. I’m not sure if it’s the same thing for humans. Humanity is part of nature, but nobody knows what their past life was like. I don’t remember anything about my past life, if I even had one.”
“Humans seem to be more interested in the future than the past. They want to be happier in the future than in their past and present.”
“But there are many humans who are scared of a terrifying hell that comes after death.”
“Humanity wants to be safe, even after death. When they are reincarnated, they wish to be reborn as they were before. The reason humans wish for a long life is because they fear death. If humans no longer feared death, what do you think would happen?”
En Kō thought for a moment. “Will Ko Biji be reincarnated?” he asked.
The goddess considered her answer. “It’s a problem. Is it possible to reincarnate with the same mind as our former selves? If this were possible, humans would be effectively immortal. Even if the body changed, the will, or the mind, would be eternal.”
“I see. It seems that Sei Koko believes this and is waiting for Ko Biji to be reincarnated.”
“The world of humans will change a great deal if Ko Biji manages to reincarnate with her memories intact.”
“Yes. It will be interesting to see how Tanshi deals with that.”
“‘Interesting’ is not the right word. The future of humanity is at stake. Things might take a horrifying turn for the worse at any time.”
En Kō scratched his head and apologized. “I’m sorry, but… I was just curious. Can Tanshi really win against Sei Koko? Perhaps you could lend him a hand?”
“Absolutely not. I gave his pewter staff magnetism, but he had to train himself to use it properly. I could not possibly give him any more help.”
“He worked so hard because of love.” En Kō didn’t need expression on his face to look sad, somehow. “I suppose there’s nothing to do now but wait and see how Ko Biji reincarnates.”
Despite everything, En Kō was hopeful about Tanshi’s future.
***
A few years after Ko Biji’s death, a wealthy man from Bianliang named Ko Kō (nicknamed “Moneybags” by his associates) and his wife welcomed the birth of a baby girl. The long-awaited child was given the name Ko Eiji by Ko Kō, and she was raised with great care.
END OF BOOK ONE
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