Sundered Soul: A Wuxia/Xianxia Cultivation Novel

by Rick Scott

  “It would be a small mercy,” Mei Ling said casually. “Certainly he could be accompanied for the safety of all involved.”

  “The prisoner is in isolation awaiting interrogation from the imperial high command,” Hu Dong said. “I would not wish to prejudice that. Else be accused of treason myself.”

  “But there are military personnel here already, no? The reinforcements arrived from the capital yesterday. Four lieutenants and of 13th Dan,” Mei Ling said. “Could not one of them attend with you while the boy pays his respects?”

  “They are here to guard the village,” Chief Jubie said. “With what we know now, about what happened to Han Village, we especially can’t risk something such as this.”

  “It’s one of four mystic warriors, Chief Jubie. And for but 10 minutes.”

  Hu Dong eased back on his stool with a sigh. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt. She is under my watch until she is handed over to the capital. I have already sent word by sparrow. I suppose if it’s done within the hour it won’t matter. I will send word to have one of the officers join us.”

  Mei Ling smiled at Kenji and he offered her a bow of thanks in return. At least some are still honorable here…

  “I believe that settles our business for the morning,” Chief Jubie said and then he smiled at both Shinoto and Chet Fai. “I wish you both the best in your studies. You are welcome to visit Amatsu at any time—given that your strict sect master permits you to leave, of course.”

  Hu Dong chucked.

  “Sadly the visitation is not reciprocal,” Chet Fai said with a fake smile as he looked straight at Kenji. “I suppose that means that this might be farewell for a time, between Kenji and myself…and between him and my dear sister, of course.”

  The bastard… another subtle attack.

  “A quick word, Kenji?” Chet Fai said. “Before we depart?”

  The assembly dispersed and Shinoto looked up at him haplessly. “I’m so sorry… I don’t know what to say, Kenji.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “The fates work in strange ways.”

  He hugged her briefly and felt like he was somehow sent back through time yet again. A different village and yet all the same constraints still remained. Even the fact that he had the body of a rebirthed immortal warrior didn’t matter.

  Chet Fai approached and Kenji had the urge to punch him again. “Let’s talk in private,” Kenji said and led him away from Shinoto.

  They stopped at the edge of the village square where the markets were still being set up for the day.

  “I want my father’s book, Chet Fai,” Kenji said. “That wasn’t yours to give away. None if it was.”

  Chet Fai released a tired sigh. “Let me explain something to you. I vowed to seek vengeance on whoever was responsible for the death of my parents and the destruction of my village. And lo and behold it turns out to be you.” He scowled as his words became filled with venom. “I always suspected something gravely ill about you. You’re cursed, Kenji. Were it not for my fool of a sister’s misguided affections for you, I’d long since have told the chief who that demon was really after and sent you back out there in the wild for it to find you and finish the job.”

  His chest heaved with anger. “The only demon here is you, Chet Fai…”

  The boy scoffed. “Let this be the last time we speak of this. The rules have changed now. Stay away from Shinoto and I’ll leave you in peace. I’ll make sure that no one knows of your little secret. But trifle with me and she’ll know your secret as well. She’ll know you as the true monster who killed her parents and destroyed our whole village.”

  Kenji’s stomach churned with anger and disgust.

  He almost wished he could become his true self for a moment, the wild-haired Bloody Duke, able to cut Chet Fai down in a single stroke. But Shinoto worked for him in both ways in that respect. As much as he hated him…Chet Fai was still Shinoto’s brother… her last kin in the world.

  And he couldn’t take that from her. No matter how vile he was.

  “I pray the fates be kind to you, Chet Fai,” Kenji said with a bow.

  Chet Fai smiled and nodded. “I’m glad we have an understanding.”

  * * *

  Chet Fai returned to the Chief’s house and then departed along with Shinoto up the winding steps that led towards the mystic school. It was poised on a high ridge overlooking the village. For someone with Qinggong, reaching there was perhaps not so much effort, but the steps looked to go on for what had to almost be a mile.

  Mei Ling made her way towards him as he gazed up at the buildings, built right into the rock face.

  “Impressive, is it not?” she asked looking up with him, balancing nimbly on her Tengu sandals.

  “Yes, very much,” Kenji said and then bowed to her deeply. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did, by the way.”

  She smiled. “For a moment I thought you might have risen to strike all three of them.” She then chuckled. “A sight I would perhaps still like to see one day.”

  Kenji chuckled with her but raised a curious brow.

  “I’m glad to see you eventually restrained yourself though,” she continued. “It’s a skill one must learn in order to endure the indignities of the hierarchy. I know the rightful place of chief should be yours.”

  “You do?”

  She nodded. “But you’re not the only one to have their rightful claim legally swindled from under them.”

  Kenji thought about what she could be referring to, but could only come up with one thing. “Are you speaking of Chief Jubie?”

  “Chief in title only,” she said with a harsh laugh. “An outsider appointed by the interior minister himself when the old chief passed. For advanced as our society is when it comes to the mystic arts, a woman in any other role is still second best.”

  Kenji nodded and thought to how doubly hard it must have been for Shinoto, trapped in the body of a girl, not even a woman, to stand up to the powers that be and her cunning older brother. “I’m sure it must be frustrating for you.”

  “As for you,” she said with a smile and Kenji nodded in agreement. “You must learn ways to take back what was stolen from you over time. It’s the only way to keep yourself sane.”

  They both shared a laugh then.

  “When you are ready, young Kenji,” Master Hu Dong called to him from the dais. Next to him stood a soldier in olive-and-yellow military robes, her face stern and no nonsense. Kenji still had no idea what he would do or even say to the Xjian woman, but if this would be his one chance to see her, then he had to make it count.

  Master Hu Dong then gestured towards the endless tiers of winding steps. “I offer you to take the scenic route. But do be quick… the lieutenant has but an hour to spare. You may have your word with the Xjian woman when you arrive.”

  Chapter 26 – The Mystic School

  Kenji’s thighs burned with exhaustion after reaching only halfway. The stone steps leading up the cliff side were steep and narrow, making the climb more like ascending a ladder rather than climbing stairs. Master Hu Dong and the army officer had long since vanished from his sight, ascending the steps with ease.

  As he pushed on, his thoughts wandered. How was he going to make this work? He couldn’t outright ask Olja anything specific while being observed by the officer. And neither did he want her volunteering anything about himself either—if she even knew. Still, he had to somehow find out why she had come…why she had protected him.

  And how much she knew about the Bloody Duke.

  Curse this fate… he thought. Then on top of everything, there was Chet Fai and what he’d done with his belongings. They were his only possessions and he needed them back. But how? He couldn’t simply steal them back, could he? Certainly not from within the mystic school itself. Perhaps it was as Mei Ling had told him. He needed to find a more creative way to take back what was his…perhaps over time.

  But he didn’t have time. Not with those Tsu warriors out there still seeking
his doma. A doma he couldn’t even use. But what if he could?

  Kenji doubled his speed as he saw the crest of the steps come into view.

  If he had such strength then he’d be the one dictating the rules. Even starting afresh as an Off White he’d perhaps be more powerful than Hu Dong…or the potency of his Qi would be, at least. He pondered how that would even work. What would it take for him to ascend a single tier with such dense Qi? Would he ascend faster and reach first Dan right away? Or would he perhaps need a whole orchard’s worth of rebirthed fruit just to reach second tier?

  But in the end what did it matter?

  He was about to dismiss the idea entirely, considering his doma was still sealed, but the thought triggered something else. Kenji paused and searched within his robes. His fingers touched two small objects within his pocket and his hopes soared.

  Thank the heavens…!

  Withdrawing his hand he gazed at the two miniature pears in his palm. That greedy bastard Chet Fai had perhaps forgotten about them…else surely he would have taken them from him while he was unconscious. New ideas surged. Kenji finally had a bargaining chip to play this corrupt little game.

  These pears would soon be some of the last rebirthed fruit left in existence.

  And their value now was immeasurable.

  He finally held an advantage. As infuriating as it was to watch Chet Fai use his belongings to gain his way into the mystic school—it had at least revealed one key thing.

  Master Hu Dong was a man who could be bribed.

  * * *

  Kenji arrived to find Hu Dong and the Lieutenant waiting for him just beyond the red paifang that marked the entrance to the mystic school. It lay upon a small terrace, etched out of the granite cliff side, much like a rice paddy upon a hill. Three buildings bordered a central square, where at the moment a group of a dozen or so students were assembled and taking instruction from an older student wearing robes marking him as a 3rd Dan.

  Most of the mystic artists appeared to be adolescents of 1st or 2nd Dan, the oldest no more than twelve or thirteen. He spotted Chet Fai and Shinoto among them right away, much smaller than their peers, yet ironically, much older as well.

  Both their eyes went wide when they saw him, but Kenji pretended not to notice. The less fuel he gave to stir Chet Fai’s ire the better, but he did feel somewhat odd regarding Shinoto now. What would he do now that she was here?

  Or rather, what would she do?

  He still hadn’t revealed to her who he truly was. And perhaps he couldn’t. A heaviness settled in his heart as he realized what Chet Fai did might indeed be the best thing for her—to keep her far away from him. Kenji had no idea where his true fate now lay and perhaps it would be unfair of him to try and drag Shinoto along.

  After all, he had no idea what Olja might tell him.

  Shinoto gave him a weak smile as she practiced her martial forms with the rest of the group. Perhaps she would be happy here. To finally become the mystic artist she had always dreamed to be. Kenji had been content to be merely by her side before. But things had changed now. He was no longer a dullard child who needed to advance. He was a legendary mystic warrior who needed to understand his past and discover his fate.

  “The prisoner is this way,” Master Hu Dong said and gestured towards the two-story building in the center, between the two others. As he followed after him and the lieutenant, Kenji gave Shinoto a small wave and smile.

  Too focused on her forms, she didn’t notice him.

  It was just as well. Depending on what he learned from Olja…their paths might soon diverge.

  * * *

  Kenji took keen note of the other two buildings as they passed by them, heading towards the third. “Are these the dormitories?”

  “Yes, separated by male and female,” Hu Dong said.

  “How many students?”

  “Eighteen at the moment… well I suppose that number will be twenty now.”

  Kenji nodded, feigning interest. He considered making conversation with the female officer, but her cold demeanor and dour face warned him against it. She was perhaps middle-aged and by the markings on her uniform, had achieved 13th Dan. He still didn’t know what Dan Olja truly was, but if freeing her became a necessity, it would likely not come by force.

  They entered the main building that was adorned with sculptures of celestial dragons spiraling around the main pillars supporting the roof. A large hall lay inside, with a rock garden at the center. Kenji immediately went to work trying to spot where his belongings might be. He didn’t see Hu Dong holding them any longer, so he must have stowed them somewhere. But the room seemed to be devoted entirely to the mystic arts. Various weapons and scrolls of calligraphy denoting the four major art forms, all hanging upon the walls: Blade, Fist, Spear, and Soul. There were subsets listed as well, but they were moving too quickly for Kenji to take note of them all.

  He did, however, pay careful attention to which path they took through the wooden corridors of the building interior. A right towards the back, left at a fork. Kenji spotted what looked like a small library at the opposite end of the corridor and his heart jumped with eagerness to catch a glimpse of perhaps his father’s book, but unfortunately they passed right by it.

  They ascended a short flight of stairs next and arrived within a large dojo. A loud shout rang out from the back of the hall, accompanied by a bang.

  Hu Dong paused, looking alarmed, and quickly doubled his pace. “This way.”

  Heading towards the far end of the dojo, they passed through another corridor and came to a narrow room where two older students of 3rd Dan were standing outside, but looking within. Fear and trepidation marred their young faces. As the shout and bang came again, the two boys jumped.

  “What’s going on here?” Hu Dong said as he stepped between them.

  Kenji rushed forward to see as well. There, within the center of the room was a cage made of black iron bars. Within it was the giant Xjian woman with golden hair, now fully conscious, kneeling with her hands bound behind her back in chains.

  Olja!

  His heart soared to finally see her awake, but was pained at the same time to see her in such a condition. The cage was obviously built for people of smaller size and forcing her to kneel to fit within seemed an extra dose of humiliation and constraint.

  Olja’s sapphire eyes were furious with contempt and her lips were twisted in a scowl. She released another cry and then slammed her forehead full-force into the bars of the cage. The entire thing moved, despite her sizable weight pinning it down. The bar had bent slightly from the force of the blow and her head came away with a trickle of blood.

  “By the nine hells!” Hu Dong said, striding forward towards the cage. “I told you to engage the inhibiting runes before she awoke. She’ll break free at this rate!”

  “We did, Master,” one of the students, a boy close to Kenji’s age, said. “She’s using her physical strength alone. Not her Qi.”

  Hu Dong stared at Olja, looking both amazed and perplexed.

  “What?” Olja leered at him. “Never seen a woman who could beat you with your own arms before? Get me out of this damn cage!”

  Hu Dong scowled as he backed away from her. “I’ll advise you that you are now being held as a suspected spy and prisoner of war. You may wish to consider carefully what you say in the presence of this officer.”

  “I’ll say whatever I damn well please,” Olja shot back in her coarse foreign tone. “I want to know where the hell I am and why put me in this cage. Since when did simply being a foreigner become a crime? The Xjian are not at war with the Zhou Emp…”

  Her words trailed off as she finally caught sight of Kenji and her lips parted with a broad smile. “Well, curse the fates, look at you… still alive, eh? That makes things a whole lot easier. Where in the hells am I, kid?”

  “So you do know her?” the lieutenant said coolly, glancing at him.

  “Ah… not terribly well,” Kenji said, and immediately ste
pped forward towards the cage—before Olja or the lieutenant could say anything else. He dropped to his knees and bowed, at the same time taking note of the cage and its construction. It was made of iron as it seemed, but the bars were etched with glyphs. Kenji was not certain of the symbols or techniques used, but it was perhaps akin to whatever was suppressing his doma. Within that cage, Olja was now rendered as powerless as he was when it came to using Qi.

  “Oh, great master,” he said. “I wish to offer you my thanks for risking your life by saving me. You are now in Amatsu Village. We brought you here to be healed from your wounds inflicted by the demon.”

  “Yeah?” She then scowled. “Funny way you southerners have of showing gratitude. Tell them to let me out of this cage.”

  “Um…that’s unfortunately not up to me. I just came to give you my thanks and respects.” He chose his next words carefully. Perhaps she wasn’t fully grasping the gravity of the situation she was now in. “I’m sure once the Zhou military officials arrive from the capital, you can explain everything. The military is wary of the Tsu attack that destroyed my village two days ago.” Kenji then gave her a frown the others couldn’t see and shifted his eyes towards both the lieutenant and Hu Dong. “They are, as you can imagine, quite keen on learning who else might be responsible for the attack.”

  Olja’s eyes grew more focused. “How much time has passed?”

  “A few days.”

  “Days?” she said with sudden alarm. She then looked about the cage as if it had suddenly begun closing in on her.

  “Curse the fates!” she said and began struggling against her chains again “We need to get the hells out of here and get you up north before those—”

  “I know full well…” Kenji said, cutting her off and then thought quickly to shift the conversation away from what she’d just said. “…that when you’re questioned they’ll find no fault in you. I know an honorable person when I meet one and you strike me as so. But until the officials arrive, you’ll be here in isolation...unable to speak… to anyone.”