The Breeze of Dusk with the Scent of Musk

Chapter 27: Reversing the Rules of the Game

In the Crown Kingdom in the Peace Province in the Jasmine City, Zixin Quon, the emperor of the Chinese Empire, has been informed by his four cousins (Guang Quon, Jinjing Quon, Shirong Jinhai and Bingwen Jinhai) who are the four kings of the four kingdoms that his magic can be nullified. They told him the stories of the four messengers whom they killed after realizing that they can nullify the magic of Zixin by the Islamic Incantation. Furthermore, they sent Zixin the samples of golden taels that the messengers converted to stones. Moreover, Xiaosheng Deming, the king of the Crown Kingdom, reported to Zixin that he killed a suspicious magician who accused Zixin of producing counterfeit money. In addition, the five chief army leaders of the five kingdoms also reported to their kings the visits of the five messengers whom they killed for accusing Zixin of producing counterfeit money. The five kings, in turn, reported these incidents to Zixin. Zixin blamed the five kings and the five chief army leaders for their haste in killing the ten messengers and he told them that they should have kept them captives for thorough and detailed investigations.

Now Zixin realized that his magic is not kept a secret anymore. It is known to many people and he conjectured that there is a spy or a group of spies who leaked the secret of his occult magic to outsiders. Since the ten messengers who accused Zixin of producing counterfeit money worked according to one plan with unified style and method, Zixin conjectured that these ten messengers work for Yueliang Jian. Zixin felt deeply depressed and frustrated to know that his occult magic can be nullified by the Islamic Incantation. But until now, Zixin believes that his magic can be partially nullified. In other words, only money that is subjected to the Islamic Incantation can be restored to its original form and shape (stones). Since the effect of magic nullification is partial and localized, there is no need to worry so much because Zixin can keep things in control.

The Dream of Liling

The loss of the ten friends of Yueliang had brought deep sadness, sorrow and grief to Yueliang and his team. However, a Muslim is patient when calamities befall him/her and he/she knows that even if falsehood wins some battles, it will certainly lose the final battle. Truth always wins the final battle against falsehood. Tonight, Liling Heng, Yueliang's sweetheart, saw a dream during her sleep. She saw a cobra approaching her with the intention of biting her. Liling unsheathed her sword and chopped the cobra's head by a single strike. Liling felt that this dream is special and must be shared with Yueliang. After Liling shared her dream with Yueliang, Yueliang told her that she must share her dream with Mohammad Azzumurrud, the Arab and Muslim Koran memorizer, because he is very skilled at dream interpretation. When Liling shared her dream with Mohammad, Mohammad said: "The skill of dream interpretation is a gift from Allah to the true followers of the Prophets of Allah. Dear Liling, your dream is auspicious. I conjecture that you will be the one who will nullify the magic of Zixin and bring it to an end. The cobra symbolizes the magic of Zixin and cutting the head of a snake means eradicating evil by uprooting its source. In Arabic we have an eloquent verse of poetry:

إن كنت شهماً فأتبع رأسها الذنبا

لا تقطعن ذنب الأفعى و ترسلها

Do not chop the tail of a snake and let it go free; if you are chivalrous, let its head follow its tail (i.e. chop its head after chopping its tail).

Dear Liling, I hope, by the Will of Allah, you will be the one to terminate the magic of Zixin." Liling was very happy to hear this beautiful dream interpretation and she thanked Mohammad deeply and said: "Thank you so much, dear Mohammad. I hope Allah will grant me the power to nullify the magic of Zixin and bring it to a complete end."

Liling started to think about her dream and how she might make it come true. She finally got a brilliant idea inside her head where she said: "Instead of reciting the Islamic Incantation on money generated by the magical stick of Zixin, why do not I recite the Islamic Incantation on the magical stick of Zixin directly? The magical stick of Zixin represents the head of the snake that I saw in my dream. All the counterfeit money generated by the magic of Zixin emanates from the magical stick. Perhaps if I recite the Islamic Incantation on the magical stick of Zixin, I will nullify its effect and it will no longer work. In other words, reciting the Islamic Incantation on the magical stick of Zixin might make it lose its magical power and return to its normal state. If Zixin no longer can generate money by his magical stick, he will be forced to the wall." Liling liked the idea she got very much and she shared it with Yueliang, Taiyang, Junjie, Mohammad and the rest of her friends and they all liked the idea and commended it. Mohammad said: "You are brilliant, Liling. As you concluded, the head of the cobra you saw in your dream indeed symbolizes the magical stick of Zixin and chopping its head symbolizes reciting the Islamic Incantation on it. I greatly admire your interpretation that I could not reach directly." Yueliang said: "But how will Liling reach the magical stick of Zixin? There is a vast distance and the road is paved with difficulties." Liling said: "I hope that Allah will make the road easy for me for reaching the magical stick of Zixin. Islam teaches us to utilize the available means and put our trust in Allah. Allah is with us and He will make us victorious; we just need to be patient and diligent." Taiyang said: "I admire your wisdom, Liling. I hope success will be your companion all the way."