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The Sky's the Limit	By : Spleef Category: +G through L > Jackie Chan's Adventures Views: 14395 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie Chan s Adventures, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Silence
- 2-Apologies
- 3-Spat
- 4-Dance
- 5-Bite
- 6-Claim
- 7-Honesty
- 8-Taste
- 9-Offering
- 10-Revelations
- 11-Almost
- 10
- 11
The Sky's the Limit
Chapter XI – Almost
o0o0o0o
The Sky Demon thought about his upcoming date with Jade as he cleaned up and put away the magical paraphernalia. He was eager to get Tso Lan out of the Void, and see his brother's reaction to the way information was shared in this world. He had almost everything he needed for the spells that would free his siblings, but there were still a few ingredients he had to obtain. It was only fitting that rare and powerful spells needed exotic and unique ingredients, but it could be frustrating.
He glanced at the Talismans again, weighing them in his palm and feeling the stone as he studied the simple designs of the Dog and the Ox. He had performed a quick spell on them to detect dark chi, and the spell had not found the slightest trace. He had also performed the spell on himself, one that would, in the past, cause a twinge of pain in reaction to the good chi utilized within the magic. This time, there had been nothing.
He checked his stock of ingredients, calculating what he already had enough of, and what he would need to replenish, since he would have to perform multiples of several spells over time.
There had been an evil taint in him, how come he had not realized that before? He made himself some tea and sat on the couch, there were still a few hours to kill before Jade came here. His head lolled back on the cushion as he stared up at the ceiling.
Hsi Wu had grown up hearing the sound of weaving, and he recognized the sound of the loom as he approached the door of his mother's bungalow, his sensitive ears picking up what the human servants could not. He knocked on the door before he let himself in, seeing the flurry of silk thread and the parts of the loom in constant motion as his mother's nimble fingers skillfully manipulated her craft. He was silent for several moments, simply watching. As a child, he was easily entranced by watching his mother work the loom, and he had never quite outgrown that.
Boon-ye was clad in a multicolored tunic that was cinched at her waist, and a matching ankle-length skirt, her knee-length black hair tied back in a simple braid held by a silk ribbon. Her foot handled the pedal deftly, keeping the moving parts at an even pace as she created row after row of silk cloth, quickly switching colors here and there as needed.
A servant saw him and rushed to bring him some tea. “Welcome, Young Master.” the man said as he bowed. The Sky Demon nodded and sat on the divan. Finally, his mother ceased her work and turned to her son, walking across the room and placing a kiss on his brow.
“So nice of you to come home. It feels like so long since I have seen you!” she exclaimed. He grinned.
“What's the use of having wings if you don't use them?” he joked. She smirked at that.
“You certainly exemplified that statement when you were little! You were such a hard one to keep an eye on!”
He grinned more widely as he remembered the servants chasing after him, begging for him to come down from any high-up place, a rafter, the branches of a tree, the roof.
“If you're flying around so much, you should be looking for a wife!” she gently chided.
“Mother!” he said, glad for his dark skin so she could not see him blushing. “I am in no rush to find a wife.”
“Oh hush now, you're a handsome young demon, what woman wouldn't want you?”
“I want a woman who cares about me for who I am, not my powers or inheritance.” he replied.
Boon-ye gave him a sober glance before she nodded. “That is wise.” she acknowledged. Since Tchangzo had entered puberty, Jiangshan was approached by men wanting to arrange marriages for their daughters with the Demon Lord's sons. The girls were varied, from human to demon and nearly every race in between. Jiangshan was known for his power and wealth, and generosity, and any girl lucky enough to marry a son of Jiangshan was assured a life of comfort and security.
It was not only the sons of Jiangshan who were sought after as mates. The household that Po Kong would reside over would never know hunger, for her cooking skills were legendary, and laughter would also fill that house because she was also known for her ability to put people at ease and to make them smile. And Bai Tsa was known for her beautiful voice and grace, and her eye for the arts. Artists, singers, sculptors, actors, and dancers often approached her for her critique, for she had an eye for elevation of any art form.
Before Hsi Wu could say anything further, there was a sharp rapping on the door. Boon-ye opened it to admit one of the servants from Jiangshan's manor. Typically, Jiangshan only sent a servant to the manors of his wives for a special invitation or announcement.
“Everyone is requested to come to the Hall of Plenty for supper tonight.” the man said, bowing to his mistress and young master.
“Why?” Boon-ye asked.
“Master did not say.”
“Very well. Thank you for the news.”
The man bowed out and left, and Boon-ye stroked her chin. “I wonder what it could be.”
“Do you have any idea what it could possibly be?”
“No.” Boon-ye could usually guess, based on how the servants acted or the rumors she heard. Once, Jiangshan had secured a huge amount of gold in an especially profitable business deal, and had used some of that money to surprise each of his wives with an extravagant gift.
In Boon-ye's case, it had come in the form of her current loom, which produced the finest materials, and had been constructed by elves. Gifts from these magical folk did not come cheap, but nothing rivaled the silk that Boon-ye could create with her loom. The fifth wife of Jiangshan had an inkling of her gift beforehand when she heard about Jiangshan's deal and how he had been meeting with mysterious guests, one of which had been an elf.
“Well, with Father, I doubt it could be anything bad.” Hsi Wu grinned, and his mother chuckled. “There's that.” Bad news was never delivered in the Hall of Plenty.
o0o0o0o
As Hsi Wu and his mother entered the Hall of Plenty, they were greeted by the servants, and the odor of savory dishes filled the air. Jiangshan had his own table on a dais at the opposite end of the hall, and each wife had their own table, arranged in a semicircle in front of this dais. The first wife's table was to the left, and went in descending order to the one on the right, placing Boon-ye's table next to Hau's own, an unfortunate arrangement for both wives. The children sat with their mothers. Servants quickly moved around, placing platters and covered dishes at all the tables before being dismissed. Everyone was eager to hear Jiangshan's news.
The father and husband of the occupants in the hall was an impressive sight. Some would call him gnarled, but his exterior appearance was only a front for his much gentler inner character. He spoke in a deep, rumbling voice, and his sheer size and appearance commanded respect and attention from even the most pompous and arrogant men.
“Doubtless all of you have wondered why I call you here tonight. I shall waste no more time in making my announcement. The Jade Emperor has invited us to the Celestial Palace as his honored guests.”
There were murmurs and gasps of awe and shock from the wives and most of the children. The Jade Emperor was legendary among the people of the land of Chin, and beyond. Though he had the power to rule over all of Chin, he did not exercise this power, preferring to live in seclusion in the Celestial Palace and rule over spiritual matters, leaving earthly matters to others. His invitations were rare, and for the Jade Emperor to have invited Jiangshan showed that he held this ancient demon in great esteem.
“When is this to take place?” Hau asked. The other wives had no doubt that she and her son would try their damnedest to impress the Jade Emperor and gain further favor from him.
“We have been invited to attend the Summer Solstice festival.” That was almost two months from now. Jiangshan always held Solstice events, for his family and servants alike, lavish affairs in which everybody could participate. What would such an event be like with the Jade Emperor? The wives and children whispered amongst themselves excitedly, and Jiangshan smiled indulgently, returning to his meal and letting his family discuss this exciting news.
o0o0o0o
Hsi Wu looked at the clock on the wall, surprised at how much time had passed. It was almost time for Jade to be here, and he had not even started supper! He frowned to himself before he decided on an easy solution – delivery.
He called Jade, checking the clock to make sure she was done with her shift at the museum. She answered the phone after a couple of rings.
“Is pizza okay for dinner?” he asked.
“Sure, no problem.”
He smiled a little in relief. “Can you bring the flute? And something to test the presence of bad chi? I don't mean a basic detection spell, but something that finds even the faintest trace of it.”
“Um... sure.” He could hear the surprise in her tone.
“You'll see what I mean when you come over.”
o0o0o0o
Jade was let into the building, and wasted no time in making her way to his apartment. She had brought the flute, and a spell she had found in one of Uncle's spell-books, along with the needed ingredients.
“Ah, you've arrived just in time, my dear.” he grinned as he opened the door. She smiled at him as she walked in, noticing the pizza had already arrived and was sitting on the counter, its box one of several cardboard containers stacked neatly. He closed the door behind her and went to the counter. “I got one of these deals where you get these dessert breadsticks and buffalo chicken along with the pizza.”
“Oh, yum.” So that's what these other packages were, Jade mused. Two plates and other eating utensils were already set on the coffee table, and he brought the packages to it, sitting down and opening them. She took two slices of pizza and several pieces of chicken, placing them on her plate and sitting back. She'd had a light lunch in anticipation of dinner with him, so she sat back, eager to enjoy her meal. She said nothing about the flute or anything magic or demon-related.
The meal was eaten in relative silence, aside from a comment about something they were seeing on TV. After eating several of the cinnamon-flavored breadsticks, she licked her fingers and wiped her mouth with a napkin. He closed up the boxes and placed them in the refrigerator for later, and turned back to her.
“I want you to try the flute, with the spell that was supposed to banish me in the first place.”
“... What?” Her voice was filled with incredulity at this. He grinned before he pulled a pouch of ingredients from behind the counter. “I didn't ask you to bring these ingredients because I know one is rare and I didn't want your uncle to notice what you were looking for, in case.”
“Hsi Wu, are you crazy? Do you want to go back to the Void?”
“Relax. Of course I don't want to.” He was buoyed by the concern in her voice, and the obvious fact that she didn't want him to return to the Void. “Just put together the ingredients and enchant the flute, all right?”
“I can't do this.”
“Fine, I will.” He mixed the ingredients together and took the flute from her, enchanting it with the same spell that had been used to banish him all these centuries ago. The flute gave out a brief green glow as the magic settled into it. Before, this would have given him a painful shock as good chi reacted against dark chi, but he felt nothing but the mild tingle that came from feeling magic on one's skin. All the while, Jade watched him silently. He handed her the flute.
“Here, say the spell and blow.”
“I don't want you going back...”
“And I won't.”
“But why...”
“Just do it. Please. I want to prove something, all right?” he said, pressing it into her hands. She looked down at it as if it might bite her. “Trust me, Jade.” he whispered as he squeezed her hands.
She slowly lifted the flute to her lips and blew only slightly.
“Harder. Don't be afraid.” he encouraged. She blew harder, making a distinct note. Her eyes widened a little when she saw nothing was happening, and he grinned. Cautiously, she tried a different note. When nothing happened, she tried the rest of the notes carefully, her fingers going down the flute.
Jade set the instrument down slowly, her hands shaking a little. She was relieved that the Sky Demon was still standing before her, but the very same spell that Uncle had used had completely failed now. She could easily chalk it up to Hsi Wu using a wrong ingredient in the spell, but she'd seen them all when he mixed them together.
“How is that even possible? An Immortal created that spell, and...”
“These spells were created to banish evil to the Void. Such spells work by creating a barrier to prevent dark chi from passing it unless they were opened from the other side, like with the P'an Ku box.”
“That also works in reverse, like evil magicians holding good people prisoner.”
“Of course. What works for one works for the other. Such is ying and yang. But for such spells to work, you must use the opposite.” It was not always as simple as that and he had no doubt Jade also knew that, but it was one of the basics learned in magic.
“... So, the flute did not work on you, because you have no dark chi.” Her eyes widened, and he grinned.
“Yes, darling. I am officially un-banish-able. At least with good chi.”
“So... you're not even a little bit evil anymore?”
“I wasn't evil to start with.” he said in a serious tone.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, I just...”
He smiled reassuringly and reached out to squeeze her arm. “Relax, okay? I know. Just come and sit down with me, all right?”
She nodded and let him lead her back to the sofa. “Do you still want me to perform the chi detection spell?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Only if you really want to, but I think the flute has proven that unnecessary.”
“Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you. So... what's the deal? If you were not evil to start with, then what happened?”
“I still don't have the complete story but I remember some things from the past. I remember being a happy child, getting along with my siblings, and also humans.” He stared off wistfully for a moment, he had yet to remember what happened to his father along with his mother and the other wives. “Have you ever heard of a demon named Jiangshan?”
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, she had heard that name somewhere but she couldn't remember where. Some names appeared often within Chinese mythology, such as Kwan Yin, P'an Ku or the Jade Emperor. This one... obviously not as much.
“I know I've seen that name somewhere. Maybe in one of Uncle's old books.”
“He's only come up a couple of times in my research, and believe me, I've looked through a lot.”
“Well, the older a myth is, the less information there is on it, usually. Why do you ask about him?”
“He was my father.” he said evenly as he looked at her.
“I wonder why there isn't more information about him, then. Given he was the father of eight Demon Sorcerers.”
His eyebrows furrowed at that. He hadn't thought of that before. Though having famous children didn't always mean someone would be famous, it did seem odd that Jiangshan was so scarcely mentioned. “No. That's... but... why?”
“Why what?”
“It's like... someone tried to erase him from history.”
o0o0o0o
Shendu growled to himself as he felt the rumble of hunger pains in his stomach. His siblings had been in here a lot longer, and their stomachs had been deadened to the need of food. He almost wished he were a statue again, because without flesh, he did not feel the effects of deprivation.
He cursed his siblings and the Chans for his predicament. If only he had been able to get into Jackie instead of Valmont... If he had ensured that Lo Pei had died when his village had... if Jade hadn’t torn that page out of the Book of Ages... so many what ifs.
The only thing that comforted him was the hope of outsmarting his siblings again. He had created a backdoor the first time, before he was banished by the Immortal with the sword, but that spell only worked once. His siblings had grown considerably wiser to his antics, and he was usually outright ignored, if not abused and lashed at. For almost a decade he’d had to endure the Void with seven angry siblings, as well as a very pissed-off child. None of his pleas and wheedling had worked on them. And now he was sure they were plotting against him. Not that they didn’t always, but he sensed there was something different. It had started shortly after their youngest sibling had escaped the Void.
No one could figure out how it had happened. Shendu of course wondered if the Sky Demon had created his own backdoor, but if he had, why didn’t he use it right away? Or had he been able to gather ingredients during his brief tenure on Earth before being re-banished? Shendu had searched far and wide for clues, only to find nothing, but now he was certain that at least one of the other siblings knew something.
o0o0o0o
Jade had studied magic under Uncle and Tohru. Never had she thought that she would ever do so under a Demon, and here she was, poring over old texts and researching spells with a person that had once been her bitter enemy.
“Hey, I think I found something.” She pointed to the text. Shin Huangdi, also spelled Q’in Shi Huang, was most famous for being the first Emperor of China, having brought seven provinces together into the first unified Chinese empire in the third century BCE. Though he was a ruthless emperor and far from being a good man, no one could deny his contribution to Chinese history.
His life ended in the pursuit of immortality. Nearing his fiftieth birthday, he feared death, and did what he could to prolong it. He was of course not the first or last monarch to fear death, and was but one of many men throughout history who sought a magical means to evade death. In a time where many misconceptions and outright wrong information was abound in medicine, this was a gamble for many involved, and it cost the Emperor his life.
It was agreed by most historians that mercury pills – quicksilver being thought as having magical properties due to its fluid state – were what hastened his demise. The sicker he became, the more mercury he ingested.
“There’s a mention in here of Shi Huangdi traveling to the area where you think you grew up.” She tapped her finger lightly on the page, taking care to not press too hard. The books were ancient, and Hsi Wu had found them after remembering an archive where Tso Lan had kept some of his books. “He sought out the lord, hearing that he was a powerful magician. However, he was turned away.”
“Let me see that.” He gently took the book and turned it towards himself, reading the passage. Though Jiangshan was not mentioned by name, the Sky Demon had the nagging certainty that his father had turned the ill-fated Emperor away. Suddenly, he had a flash of memory.
o0o0o0o
“Be wary of humans who would seek to exploit you.” Jiangshan said, his large hand resting on his youngest child’s bony shoulder. He, Tso Lan, and Tchangzu were all seated in a parlor that obviously belonged to their father. “We have a responsibility to use our power wisely, not just us, but anyone who wields magic, be they demon, mortal, or any other race. People will come to you, asking for favors, begging for help. There is nothing wrong with helping those less fortunate than you, but you must discern the deeper reasons they ask you for aid.”
“Why would there be a deeper reason for say... bringing water to alleviate a famine, or healing a sick child?” Tchanzu asked.
“You must consider the consequences of your actions, especially when your aid could alter the path of many people. Say someone comes to you to ask for help in protecting their army. What are they fighting for, what is their goal? Be careful lest you give aid to a despot.” He glanced at Tchangzu as he said this.
“Or people who seek knowledge for the wrong reason.” Tso Lan countered. Jiangshan laughed, his voice deep and booming.
“Of course knowledge is never far from your mind, is it?” he asked his second-eldest son, but his voice was free of reprimand. “I will tell you a tale of one who came to me for aid. You all doubtless know of Shi Huangdi?”
“Yes, Father.” Tso Lan said, knowing his history well. “He unified the seven warring provinces of Chi’n.”
“Yes, but at great cost.”
Tso Lan nodded. Being a scholar and especially studied in history, he was aware of the emperor’s persecution of school and his destruction of many valuable books, now forever lost to the ages.
“You actually met him?” Hsi Wu said, surprised. Jiangshan smiled indulgently. Most people, especuallt humans, would have found that expression terrifying because Jiangshan’s face was so grizzled, but his family knew better, and he smiled back at his father.
“Yes. He came to me because he was dying. He wanted to be immortal, and rule China forever.”
“Dynasties never last forever.” Tso Lan observed.
“And they never will. Humans fight too much.” Tchangzu said.
“Are you going to be silent and let me tell my story?” Jiangshan asked sternly. His sons fell silent. “I’d heard much of this man, of course. Whether the states of Chi’n wanted to war with one another was none of my affair. History is ever-changing, and a long time ago, I found it wise to stay out of these conflicts. That did not mean I was not aware of what was going on, and I became aware of a man unifying these states. War does not come without death, but Shi Huangdi committed needless crimes. He tried to rewrite history. He destroyed many schools and books. Had he lived longer, he would have attempted to bring more land under his control.
I could see in his eyes that he was hungry for power. If he were granted immortality, he would not rest until the entire continent, the world, even, was his. He tried to plead his case with me, telling me that after his death, his empire would be split, and that would cause needless suffering. His body may have been weak at that time, but his mind remained strong. He asked of me, would continuing with one empire not be better than letting Chi’n fall into pieces again?”
“A less astute man would have agreed with him.” Tso Lan interjected. Jiangshan nodded, allowing the interruption.
“Indeed. When people come to you for help, pay close attention to not just their words, but their deeds. I could have given this man an elixir that would cleanse the poison from his body and let him live for hundreds of years. There would be chaos after he died, but there would be even more chaos if he continued to live. I told him that nothing ever remains the same in history, and that the only thing that would become immortal about him was his name.”
“And what did he say?” the youngest demon asked eagerly, wondering what the Emperor would have said to having his request turned down.
“He begged. He offered me all the gold in Chi’n. I said no. He offered me all the beautiful young women in Chi’n. Again, I said no. He even offered me his crown. What need do I have for a crown coveted by mortals? He asked me what it was that he could give me. He was genuinely surprised that someone as powerful as me should not desire so much. I told him I was happy with my lot. I did not need to impress others or have people bow to me. Because I do not thirst for power, it is so much easier for me to find happiness.”
It was not hard for the sons to see the wisdom in their father’s words. Jiangshan was a peaceful demon, preferring to spend time with his wives and children. Though his lands and wealth were vast, he was also generous, and even his enemies would be hard-pressed to find anything about him that was repugnant.
“If you were completely happy with your lot, you wouldn’t need a wife.” Tchangzu teased, and Jiangshan laughed. He had been single at the time Shi Huangdi approached him.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you need until you come across it. And when I met your mother...” His eye twinkled, and Tchanzu grinned. Jiangshan had acquired each of his five wives through happenstance. He hadn’t gained a second wife merely because he was bored with his first. He had met Tso Lan and Bai Tsa’s mother when he made a trip to the West, fallen in love with her, brought her back, and so on. He had a heart big enough for all his wives and children, and no one could complain that he was a bad father or husband. Except for two, but no one wanted to bring up that unpleasantness when having such an enjoyable time with their father.
“The best way to gain a wife is to just let it happen. Put yourself out there, you never know who will become what. I’ve made friends in places others would think unlikely. Keep your mind and heart open, for friendship, and love, is a blessing. When you see the one, or ones meant for you, you will know.” Jiangshan advised.
o0o0o0o
Hsi Wu rubbed his temples, letting the memory seep in. “Yes. This book definitely refers to him.” he said in affirmation as he looked down at the pages. Yet why was Shi Huangdi’s name mentioned while his father’s was not? His father had been right about one thing, Q’in Shi Huang was a name that had become a part of Chinese history, and he was now known all across the East and the West. Anyone wanting a crash course in Chinese history would come across his name, and his demise.
“I think we can take a break for now.” he said, closing the book before he looked at Jade. He recalled his father’s words about friendship and love. He’d found both in a rather unexpected place.
“Wow, you’re right.” Jade said, checking her cellphone. “It’s getting late.” It was nearly ten o’clock.
He rose from his seat. “You’re welcome to stay the night, you know.” he said in a whisper as she also got up.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have to work in the morning, and Tohru will worry if I do not come home.”
“You can just call him and tell him you’re sleeping over at a friend’s house. It’s not exactly a lie, is it?’ he asked with a smirk.
“It’s... not proper.” she said. It was obvious from the tone of her voice that she knew this was a flimsy excuse.
“Not proper? Come now Jade. We’re both adults, it’s our right to enjoy our relationship.” he said with a purr. She took a step back, though not from fear. He matched her step with one of his own, staring into her eyes. He reached out to touch her arm, feeling a delicate shiver under the thin linen that covered her arm.
“Come now, don’t tell me that the girl who used to laugh in the face of danger is afraid of the big, bad Sky Demon.” he said with a grin.
“Tch, don’t be silly.” she said, rolling her eyes, but he could see the blush in her cheeks.
“Prove me wrong, then.” he challenged. She suddenly moved forward and pulled him in for a kiss. The feel of her body against his own was almost too much, and he felt himself respond in more ways than one. He slid his tongue past her lips, greedily plunging into her mouth. His tongue wound around her own possessively as he reached up to cup her face before one hand slid down her side, squeezing her hip, pressing her close to him so that she could not miss the evidence of his desire.
Instinctively, he started to guide her to the couch, lowering her against it as he continued to explore her mouth, keeping her distracted as he tried to undo her belt. At this, he felt her squirm against him before she broke the kiss, pushing him off her. He had to fight every instinct to remain on her, and surrendered to the gentle shove.
Much to his pleasure, she was blushing even more, her eyes glazed over with what was undeniable want.
“I... think I’ve proven myself to you enough.” she said, trying to smirk, and barely succeeding. Her heart was pounding, and there was no denying the warm ache in her loins. How easy would it be to simply surrender to her desire, and let the Sky Demon carry her off to bed and give her a night she knew she would never forget?
“Are you sure?” she heard her would-be lover purr. It took all of her willpower to not look into his eyes, because if she did, she was sure the last vestiges of her self-control would crumble.
“Yes, I am sure.” she answered resolutely as she climbed off the couch and retrieved her purse.
“You want me as much as I want you. I can smell it.” This was hissed from right behind her ear, and she almost jumped at that.
“Good things come to those who wait.”
“Is that a promise?”
Her eyes widened at the unintended implication of her words. Or, on a subconscious level, did she mean it? “I really need to go!” she finally managed to say.
“You know I will not give up until you’re mine.”
“You’ve made that much clear.” she said after feeling her heart skip a beat. She did not dare look back at him.
“Just wanted to be sure.” He slid into her line of sight, a smirk on his lips as he opened the door for her, bowing like a gentleman. “I think I know what you will dream of tonight, my jewel.” he added in a drawl, his eyes glinting.
“Hmph. I know what you’ll be dreaming of.” she retorted as she walked through.
Damn, he thought after he closed the door. That cheeky little minx, he had been so close. He could practically taste her desire, and her scent still lingered in the air, teasing his sensitive nose. Even in human form, his senses were amplified, and he shuddered as he swallowed. So close, yet so far, and now he was going to need a long, cold shower.
o0o0o0o
Though the name Q’in Shi Huang is most likely unfamiliar to you unless you’re a history buff, die-hard JCA fans will remember that this is the man whose treasure Shendu promised to Valmont in the first season.
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The Sky's the Limit