by Tao Wong
On command, Wu Ying and Tou Hei carefully got off their horses, making sure to make no aggressive motions. They stepped away from their rides, standing with their arms by their sides as Wu Ying gauged their opponents’ strengths. The weakest of them—the spear-wielder—was in the high Body Cleansing stage like Wu Ying. The others were in early or middle Energy Storage. Not easy opponents, but not too dangerous either.
“My brothers, why have you stopped us?” Tou Hei said.
“We are looking for spies, and you two are very suspicious.” The leader of the group pointed his dao at Tou Hei. “What are you doing in our country?”
It had taken Wu Ying and his friends over a week and a half to make it this far. Luckily, the border guard post had been simple enough to pass through. The guards stationed there were lazy, barely even paying attention. They were more intent on harassing a local fisherman and his daughter than the pair of them.
Since then, for the last few days, the pair had been making their way deeper into the country. To Wu Ying’s surprise, he’d seen few signs of a war being fought in the state of Wei. Oh, the farmers looked a little leaner, a little hungrier. There were few more vagrants on the road. But nonetheless, there were few signs of rampant destruction. In the end, the language was the same—with minor regional accented variations. The writing was the same, thanks to the Yellow Emperor, and the people… well, people were people.
So Wu Ying was surprised that they had been located so quickly by the cultivators of the Six Jade Gates Sect. As Tou Hei related their backstory to the group, Wu Ying watched them all carefully. He was grateful he had learned to suppress his aura, letting only a little of it leak. He even ensured that he was using the heretical chi gathering method, so that he would seem somewhat different, feel different, as befitted an independent cultivator. As for Tou Hei, his Energy Storage level was less of a concern. Everyone knew the monks had their own paths of cultivation and immortality.
“You are a wandering cultivator,” stated the leader of the guard team. “Prove it.”
“I-I don’t know how to prove what I am.” Wu Ying shook his head, wondering if they had deliberately demanded what would be impossible for him to prove. How do you prove you are not part of a sect?
“Show me your cultivation manual.”
Wu Ying hesitated. Anyone, even a wandering cultivator, would hesitate. The notes of a cultivator were private. Asking to see a cultivation manual was like asking to see a man’s small clothes. Unseemly and intensely invasive. Who wanted to show the holes and stains that resulted from life? Yet, understandable or not, his hesitation resulted in the opposing cultivators raising their weapons and pointing them at the pair. Wu Ying let his gaze track over the group, assessing them all.
“You are quite strong for a wandering cultivator. Body cleansing eight, is it?” the spear-wielder said.
“I’ve had a few fortunate encounters,” said Wu Ying.
“Like?” the leader asked suspiciously.
“I met another wandering cultivator, Elder Dun Yuan Rang, when I was early on in my cultivation. He helped me out of a difficult spot,” said Wu Ying. “I practiced with him and learned a little.”
“I have met Elder Dun myself.” The leader smirked, gloating at the fact that he had, he assumed, caught Wu Ying in the lie. “Describe him to me. Prove that you studied with him.”
Wu Ying hesitated then did his best to describe the wandering Elder. It had been nearly two years since they had met, since the Elder had saved Wu Ying from the bandits at the waterfall. When Wu Ying was done speaking, the leader of the other group was not smirking any longer.
“I was still—I still am—vastly inferior in cultivation to the Senior. I could not learn much from him, but I did spend time studying his form,” Wu Ying said.
“Show me.” The leader walked a distance away, taking station on the road itself. He raised his dao, touching it to his forehead as he readied himself.
“Senior Cai! You cannot do this,” the girl protested.
“Junior Ren, I am the senior here. I can do what I want.” Senior Cai looked away from her and gestured at Wu Ying. “Come then. Or die as a spy.”
Wu Ying grimaced but walked to the center of the road. He drew his sword and saluted his opponent. Inside, he was grateful for the arrogant Senior Cai. This was a method he could prove. His manual had too many notes, especially notes for a cultivation level that was much higher than what he showed.
Wu Ying took a deep breath, thinking back to the moment before Elder Dun had struck that last time. That single form, that simple motion that became a focused point in his attack. It had been many moons since he had considered that event. He thought he had taken all he could from that encounter, but now that he was thinking of it with his higher cultivation level, with his better understanding of the sword, Wu Ying realized that there was more to learn.
He could almost see Elder Dun, feel the way his legs bunched, his arms shifted, the way he positioned himself and the energy he had gathered. Imperceptible to Wu Ying back then, impressions that he had discarded came back. He copied those motions, integrated them with his own understanding of the sword and his own style, and crouched low.
“The Sword’s Truth,” Wu Ying whispered a moment before he threw himself forward.
It was his best lunge ever. He crossed the five feet that separated him from Senior Cai in moments, his sword aimed directly at Senior Cai’s heart. Wu Ying’s arm was extended, his body braced behind it, his legs flowing together in a single extended line into the earth. Everything he had learned from his father, from that image of Elder Dun, he used.
Senior Cai was caught by surprise by the explosiveness of Wu Ying’s attack. He hesitated for only a fraction of a second, but that fraction brought the weapon inches closer. A hasty block came too late, the strike pausing a half-inch from plunging into Senior Cai’s throat as Wu Ying’s momentum ended. The Sect member flinched and glared at Wu Ying, his posturing come to an end.
Senior Cai gulped before he stepped back. “That… that wasn’t Elder Dun’s attack.”
“No, it wasn’t. I am not his disciple. I just spent a little time with him. I took what I could learn and integrated it with my style.” Wu Ying stepped back and sheathed his sword, looking the man in his eyes. “But I’m sure you can see what I learned.”
“I did,” another of the dao-wielders said. “It’s a poor imitation, but it is an imitation. And it’s not something someone could gain from just watching.”
Senior Cai glared but eventually sheathed his sword and gestured for the group to go. Wu Ying exhaled, relieved as the cultivators took off, heading down the same road Wu Ying and Tou Hei were journeying on.
Neither of the friends spoke for long minutes as they got back on their horses and rode, letting the tension and adrenaline fade in silence. Only when they felt safe, a couple of hours later, did the pair speak.
“That was close,” Wu Ying said.
“Yes,” Tou Hei agreed.
Wu Ying sighed. Perhaps they might have to reconsider their travel plans. If they’d had to fight, they would have lost for sure. But… part of the reason for doing what they did was to avoid a fight. Mulling over their options, the pair rode on in silence.
***
That evening, Wu Ying made his way to the group at the rest stop’s only remaining table. The stop itself was no more than a small, ramshackle two-story structure that had seen better days. It was manned by a single merchant, one who was both portly and slow with his service while having the hangdog expression of one who had been set upon by the world repeatedly.
“What did you learn?” said Yin Xue when Wu Ying took his seat.
“The owner explained that our dinner is a result of the despicable army of Shen coming by a few days ago and taking all his provisions.” Wu Ying picked up his curved spoon and dipped it into the watery rice porridge that had been served as dinner.
Supplemented by thin strips of pork that had been steamed over the bo
iling porridge and flavored with dried, salted fish, the meal was only barely sustaining. The three nobles turned up their noses at the meal, but Wu Ying had eaten similar repass before. Droughts and an overabundance of water could impact a harvest, leaving peasants with little to eat. Still, Wu Ying wished that the innkeeper had used some of the fresh spring onions and wild ginger Wu Ying had traded to him for his night’s accommodation. It would give the porridge a little more body.
“At least the wine isn’t bad,” commented Bao Cong. He raised a small teacup that he was using and swirled the wine before he sipped it.
“Peasants are very good at hiding the important things,” sneered Yin Xue.
Wu Ying bristled but kept his mouth shut.
They had been careful to introduce themselves to each other when they arrived at the rest stop, still putting on the pretense that they didn’t know one another. Even if the innkeeper had doubts, he was only one man, but it was still good to practice.
“I told him about our encounter earlier today, Brother Long,” Tou Hei said. “I believe the noble lady would be willing to journey with us for mutual assurance. We are all concerned that there might be even more bandits or army groups. It would only take a single misunderstanding for tragedy to strike.”
Wu Ying raised an eyebrow at Li Yao, surprised to see that the group had discussed and made a decision on this while he was speaking with the innkeeper. Still, he had been considering joining up again. It would not be too surprising for a number of small groups to travel together for safety. Even if there was the threat of betrayal, Li Yao’s group was larger.
“That is good,” Wu Ying agreed then supped on his meager dinner.
The group followed his actions, holding off on talking until they had finished their meal.
“Did the innkeeper mention anything about the army? Maybe where they’re located? Or where they are headed?” Yin Xue said, leaning forward. “We want to avoid them if possible.”
“No such luck. The men they sent were not very talkative,” Wu Ying said.
“Then we will have to play it by ear,” said Bao Cong.
Having said all they needed to, the group broke up, heading to their quarters for the night. In this case, it was a sparsely furnished bedroom for Li Yao and the main common room for the others. As Li Yao walked up the stairs, Wu Ying could not help but send a longing look after her. It had been many days since they had had a chance to talk, and he had to admit, he missed her company.
***
The next morning, the group left early, none of them particularly interested in the breakfast the shop owner would try to press upon them. They all had better and more filling foodstuff in their storage rings. Once they were sufficiently distant from the rest stop, they spoke more freely, though they kept a lookout for additional ambushes.
“How much farther, do you think?” Li Yao asked. “I’m quite sore from riding all day.”
“If it was a small raiding party, then ordinary military doctrine would have the main army within a few hours’ ride,” Tou Hei said confidently.
Wu Ying also recalled that lecture on the practicality of resupply for the raiding party and the return of acquired goods to the army. Small groups would travel in the close countryside, pulling whatever forage they could locate for the main army and adding to the army’s supplies. After all, a single cartload gained of the enemy’s provisions was worth twenty of their own. The larger groups, those that consisted of entire platoons with a large number of wagons and carts, would forage further. It was a dangerous job and often resulted in losses to the foraging groups if they were defeated by their opponents.
“So only a few days then?” Bao Cong said rhetorically.
With little else to speak of for now, Wu Ying rode ahead of the group slightly. He continued to scan the surrounding vegetation, hoping to acquire some additional herbs and resources. While the roadside was likely picked over, there was still hope of finding some better herbs and vegetation. Especially those that were more easily mistaken. Whenever he did locate a new item, Wu Ying dismounted and extracted the herb, storing it in his bag before returning and catching up with the team. At times, when a herb or vegetable was more valuable, he’d store it in his ring. Doing so would decrease the value of the item, since it would die and fail to regrow, but it was better than leaving them to be stolen or rot.
Traveling in a group as they were, Wu Ying was not as worried about demon beasts. After all, with most of his friends being unable or unwilling to suppress or hide their auras, most demon beasts would avoid their group. Really, only the injured or sapient races would chance attacking creatures more powerful than them.
In the meantime, Wu Ying watched for herbs and turned over their upcoming introduction to the state of Shen’s army. He dreaded it, to some extent, knowing they would have to tread a careful line. They had their own objectives, and one that they did not, could not, allow the army’s to conflict with. Yet at the same time, they did not have any real bargaining strength. Not as low-leveled as they were—relatively speaking.
***
A day and a half later, the group crested a barren hill, stripped of its timber in recent days, and were greeted by the picturesque sight of the riverside town of Guitong. Short, gently sloping hills rose up all around the town, bracketing in the town as it sat by the river, protected by its high walls and guard towers. On some of the farther hills, terraced rice fields had been cut into their surroundings, locations for farmers to feed the city. Now, they lay barren and untended by the farmers who hid behind the walls.
Around the city, the Shen army sat before the walls, siege engines being built from the wood that had been brought and the forests that had been cut down around the city. All along the front of the walls stood the beginnings of long trenches that were to encircle the town and ensure the defenders could not escape. With Body cultivators in play, the trenches were already a couple of feet deep and stretched toward the river’s edge. Of course, the sodden ground threatened to disrupt the work, making this particular siege tactic more difficult to complete.
The town of Guitong was laid out in the usual manner for a riverside town. A small dock allowed ships to land and deposit their goods, while a wall that reached the edges of the river and a little past it covered the rest of the town. In the center of the town itself, with roads leading from the docks and the three main gates, was the magistrate’s office. Wu Ying knew, from his studies in the second year, that the state of Wei had few large noble houses, most of those being relatives of their king. Instead, they used bureaucrats—magistrates—to oversee major cities and collect taxes for the government. Small noble houses, like Lord Wen’s, had been subsumed into the official kingdom lineage, leaving them related to the Emperor by marriage, however distantly. That was why the ancestral home of Lord Wen was left mostly empty in Guitong, and the main branch family now lived in the capital when they were not fighting and joining the imperial army or serving as magistrates.
As for the besieging army, Wu Ying noted the straight lines and orderly set up for the various units of the besieging force. He could now see, with his greater understanding and training, the order in the chaos that he had first experienced as a peasant arriving in the milling throng of the army. He saw how each unit was set up, read the unit flags that indicated the unit’s locations, and spotted where the generals and other commanding officers’ tents were.
Before the group could continue their journey, Bao Cong pointed out the incoming platoon of soldier scouts. Leading them was a familiar face, seated with casual ease on a horse that stood half a hand taller than the soldiers’ own. Wu Ying sighed and shook his head, wondering whether it was destiny or luck that saw him meeting those he knew. Sometimes, it seemed destiny placed too heavy a hand on his actions.
Chapter 13
On Wu Ying’s command, the group rode down to the approaching soldiers from the state of Shen. With friends and allies so close, Wu Ying’s group found themselves relaxing, some of the tensi
on from the past few days draining away. Traveling behind enemy lines, even disguised as they had been, had been stressful. Thankfully, the army of the State of Wei was mostly deployed outside the country, leaving the Wei countryside bereft of their protection but for a few roving patrols of guards and cultivators.
“I thought you didn’t want anything to do with the war,” Liu Tsong called the moment they were close enough to speak. A flick of a gaze at his companions had her adding, “I’m also surprised to see the company you are keeping.”
“It’s a long story.” Wu Ying had to shrug a little at what probably was a strange sight. At least to those who knew him and his friends.
“Cultivator Li, do you know these people?” one of the soldiers, a red crest on his helmet flaring high to indicate his rank as a unit leader, said to Liu Tsong while he eyed the group before him.
“Yes. Even if they look the way they do, they are my Sect members. Though”—Liu Tsong swept her gaze over the group—“I’m sure they will be willing to show their Sect seals.”
After prompting, the group pulled their Sect seals from their storage rings and showed them to the suspicious guards. Liu Tsong crooked her finger and the seals flew to her hand, manipulated by her control of the flow of ambient chi. She touched them, one after the other, infusing a little chi into the seals to verify their authenticity. When she and the guard were satisfied, Liu Tsong sent the seals back to the group with a half smile.
“I need to continue my patrol. But we will send an escort with you to greet the general. I’ll speak to you all later tonight.” Liu Tsong gestured to the guard, who proceeded to designate two of his men to lead the group back to the army.
