Wudang: Legends Of Qi Earth - Chapter 204 The Veil V

Alex understood what they were feeling, but there was still work to be done, chief amongst that was the fact that the fish was still singing. Obviously he was the only one who could hear it, so he gave them all a nod and asked them to wait for him, but they refused. The last time they had let him walk into that cave, he had come out with throat ripped out and practically dead, if only for a few minutes. They weren’t going to let that happen again.

As soon as he entered the cave, he made a beeline for the pond that held the salmon, his blood was still all over the place, and though much of it had fallen into the pond, there wasn’t even a single hint of red in the pristine blue pool, just a salmon happily swimming about, until suddenly it stopped and then floated out of the pond encased in water. Alex, Devonte, and Cross were surprised by the turn of events, Khan on the other hand had different plans.

“Master what do you reckon we should do, the only option available to roast it, but we can have an exquisite fish pepper soup ready in a few minutes if we maybe raid their camp for utensils and ingredients. Just look at the body of this fish, I’m pretty sure it would be very delicious.” Khan said with his eyes sparkling and drool escaping from the side of his mouth.

“And that’s where you’re wrong young demon; beautiful as I looked I do not taste great, the price to pay for wisdom and knowledge is steep, just ask the all father Odin, he had to give up an eye, and what of Solomon? His lust for women knew no bounds as a result of his divine wisdom. There was no secret that could be hidden from him, not unless it is buried in the heart and minds of a woman. My dear child, I am very bitter!”

This conversation was extremely weird to say the least, Alex and the others just watched as Khan had a banter with the salmon that sounded like an aged woman. It was akin to a parent talking to a child, and the rest of them all seemed to have been forgotten in the process. But the conversation also had to come to an end eventually.

“How are you sure you’re bitter, do you taste yourself. I think you’re just trying to come up with excuses so that I won’t eat you!” Khan argued as he walked around the salmon, probably looking for an opening to attack.

“You see that pool over there, it has been with me for a very long time. When I was fished out of a rock spring by the great prophet Moses, he had been left with no other choice but to use a piece of the spirit Kings mantle to make the water I was fished from less bitter. Since then, every spring, every ocean, every sea, river, lake, or pond that I’ve lived in, I have made bitter. If you think I lie, then take a drink and see for yourself.”

Alex felt that at least he should warn Khan, before the bloody Kamaitachi go on and does something he shouldn’t, but as always, before Alex had the chance to speak, Khan had dipped his entire head into the pond. Everyone was shocked, chief amongst them was the salmon as she sighed and said out loud in a tone heavily steeped with pity.

“You poor fool, at least know you would be a lot wiser than most.”

Alex cocked his head to the side in confusion, but got his answer when Khan pulled his head out with his eyes terribly red. Then he started hacking and coughing and even going as far as licking the ground to get rid of the horrible taste in his mouth, not too long after he started crying too. So much so that they all couldn’t help feeling sorry for him, even if Cross was currently taking a video, Louis would certainly appreciate the gesture.

“What the hell is that?” Alex asked the salmon, and she was all too willing to answer.

“This is the (Pisinia ths Sofias) or in simple terms, the pool of wisdom. My name is Sofia, and I am the salmon of Wisdom. I have waited long for a new king to serve, seeing as the last king I served lost his way, would you be willing to take me into your service? All I need a bucket of water to live in, and I promise to be useful to the best of my abilities.”

That was unexpected, but something didn’t make sense to Alex, and while he wasn’t averse to the idea of having some sort of spirit of wisdom to serve him, especially one that has served so many spirit kings and normal kings before him. But still…

“Aren’t you a spirit bound to Finn, but even more so, if you’ve served many spirit kings before Finn, then how come you’re here. From what I know, whether you’re a mask spirit, or a bound spirit, your time alive ends once your master is killed, how come you’re here and even lived long enough to serve multiple kings?” Alex asked as he warily observed the salmon, ignoring Khan’s antics in the background.

“The answer to that if quite simple young king, I’ve never been bound to a mask or to a king. The pools are all they need to have the full sum of my abilities, some even choose to eat me, like Finn once did, they only kept me around because my wisdom along with theirs could even pierce the veil of time and divine the future or possible futures.”

For a fish, this salmon was too powerful, it was beyond ridiculous to think that just drinking a fish’s bath water would give a person wisdom. Wisdom was abstract, it wasn’t tangible and wasn’t something knowledge can give. No matter how intelligent you may be, wisdom was not an attribute attained by intelligence. It was a trait like honesty, greed, selfishness etc. that someone can just find themselves having.

It could be gained from life long experience and from the understanding of the world and the knowledge it holds. But to be able to bestow wisdom… that’s just insane. But here they all stood watching a talking fish tell them that it was possible.

“Master she tells you the truth, and honestly speaking I believe she would be a welcome addition to our ranks. A spirit king is not all about battles, he has to lead and build and create just as much as he has to fight, destroy and undo. She can be not just a strategist, but can also help you manage your assets.” Khan said as he sat back on his haunches, fully dealt with his stupid foray into the bitter waters of wisdom, but…

“…..”

“…..”

Alex looked at Khan who looked back at them with a calm look on his face, Cross and Devonte had their jaws hanging halfway to the ground at the sight in front of them. The way he spoke, the clarity of his words, the sheer…. WISDOM! in it was so startling it was as if they were looking at an entirely different person. Alex shuddered as he pulled out a blank mask and offered it to the salmon.

“I’m sorry my king but you might be making a mistake, I have no combat capabilities, all I have and all I am is wisdom. It is abstract and can’t really be fully relied on in times of distress, the most I can be iss a voice of clarity, without adding any real power to you. Are you sure you would have me become a mantle spirit.”

Well would you look at that, wisdom was humble. But Alex had a feeling, he wasn’t looking at a fish that could bestow wisdom, he was looking at the physical representation of that notion. He had no idea why it had to be a salmon though, but this was wisdom and he would be nothing but stupid if he let such an opportunity go away. After all Khan had said that a spirit king was more than just a fighter, he was leader, and every good leader needed wisdom to lead. It wouldn’t be bad if he had the literal representation of it with him, he would surpass every king in history,

“Sofia, it would be my extreme honor if you can become one of my mantle spirits, after all…. what’s a king without wisdom?”