A Thousand Li

by Tao Wong

  Wu Ying hesitated. He recalled how much he had paid for it, the trouble he had in acquiring plants and herbs before. Since his return, he had not been able to go on assignments, leaving him as poor as ever.

  “Pity,” Elder Li said, not letting Wu Ying continue his internal debate. “Very well. Understand that what you have, any true Gatherer would kill for. It is only luck that we are so few that you managed to acquire this without bloodshed.”

  “What is it?” Wu Ying said, his voice growing in alarm now.

  “A true World Spirit Ring. Not a poor copy whose size is fixed but one that can grow as you do so yourself,” Elder Li said.

  “But it was—is so small!” Wu Ying had heard of such rings before, rumored to contain such mass that they truly suited their name.

  “This one has been starved of its owner’s chi for many years. Centuries even.” Elder Li frowned, leaning forward. “What do you know of its origins?”

  “Nothing. The auctioneer did not speak of it,” Wu Ying said.

  She frowned. “Were you allowed to inspect the ring beforehand?”

  “No.”

  “Good, good. Then it might not be as dangerous.”

  “You fear others might know its true worth.” Now that he knew what to look for, he could see how the edges of the garden blurred, how the five elements gathered there in a thick mist of energy. He could not see what they did, but he could only assume it was growing the world.

  “Yes. Focus on drawing in more energy with your formations. Your ring itself will contain it, if you balance the development of your garden,” Elder Li said.

  “I will, Elder.” He hesitated.

  “Speak. I can see you have thoughts on your mind.”

  “How valuable is this truly?” Wu Ying blurted. “Surely there is a limit?”

  Elder Li peered at the ring, manipulating the flow of energy on the table a few times more before she leaned away from the table. “I cannot tell how strong your ring is. This is the first I have ever seen. But if legends are to be believed, the limit is that of your very cultivation. An entire world would be yours, if you reached immortality.”

  Wu Ying’s jaw dropped before Elder Li cackled.

  “Though I doubt this one is that powerful. The material is adequate, but not sufficient for a true immortal artifact. It is likely you will find its limits well before that. Even so, it should grow larger than this current size, given adequate care.”

  Wu Ying breathed out in relief. A true immortal artifact would have been too much for him to handle. Too much, perhaps, for the Sect to handle. Even so, he realized, as a poor Energy Gathering cultivator, this ring might be too much for him. If anyone learnt the true nature of what he carried…

  “Elder Li…” He trailed off, reluctance warring with caution as he ineffectually gestured at the ring. “Did you…”

  “No.” The next moment, she gestured, killing the visualization. “We will not speak of your ring again. What is to become of it, and your dealings with it, are yours now to deal with.” She paused and added, “I recommend you no longer speak of it with Ru Ping either.”

  Wu Ying’s brows snapped tight at her words. Still, he took the ring, slipping it back on his finger. He had more questions, but it was obvious Elder Li would not elaborate further. His refusal to give it to her, to trust her without cause, had damaged their relationship. Fairly or not, what they had would not go back to what it was. And the ring was his problem now.

  “Thank you, Elder Li.” Wu Ying bowed.

  “Your next reading assignment is in the usual place.”

  He sketched another bow then walked to the exit, idly turning the ring over on his finger, lips pursing a little. As always, every boon seemed to come with a bane. Every weed he plucked, another grew. Every plant he saved, he had to let another die.

  As Wu Ying crossed the threshold to the next room, Elder Li spoke up one last time. “You should have trusted me.”

  ***

  His afternoon session cut short, Wu Ying found himself leaving Elder Li’s compound earlier than normal. He looked into the sky, judging the time he had left before dinner and the setting sun that would force him to meet with Sister Yang once more.

  Books in his spirit ring, Wu Ying trekked down the mountain, paved roads brushing against his feet. He still cultivated, but mostly, he considered his most recent interaction with Elder Li. His hesitation had hurt and angered her. Perhaps he should have given her the ring. He was her student, but neither of them had taken steps to formalize the process to the same extent as he and Master Cheng had.

  As much as honor and face, obligation and loyalty played its part, there were things that you asked and offered via an unspoken balance of social contracts that tied them all. It was not so simple as a student always having to listen to a teacher, nor did all teachers offer unconditional lessons.

  In the end, keeping the ring had been a risk and a selfish decision. On the other hand, cultivation without risk was a recipe for failure.

  At some point, he found his steps had taken him to a familiar building, one that rose high above and by its lonesome in its surroundings. His gaze tracked over the words on the entrance plaque, the detailed carvings on the pillars in the front and the wood that adorned it. He even stared at the pair of foo dogs that guarded the building, before nodding to himself.

  If there was a place to learn more about his unexpected boon, to progress his understanding of the Spirit Ring and its growth, this building was it.

  Within, Wu Ying nodded to the librarians who moved from one desk to another, carefully sorting books and acquiring them for the inner sect members who desired it. A simple query—about spirit rings in general—had him sent to the correct section. While he might have received more detailed and faster help if he was more specific in his query, he decided to heed Elder Li’s warning.

  Best be cautious and control how much people knew of his ring.

  Among the stacks of bound books, scrolls, and accordion notes, Wu Ying browsed. He flipped through works on spirit rings and spirit worlds, on extradimensional space that the influx of too much chi and the regulated use of talismans and enchantments created—or in rare cases, the flow of chi through natural formations and the influence of the Dao.

  He ignored anything to do with spirit worlds, those rare extradimensional spaces that contained entire lands. Some were natural, places separated from this reality by immortals or ancient, powerful Sects or just distant lands joined to this world or this continent via formations. Others were created by accident, when a powerful formation or an attack had gone awry, tearing lands away from the middle kingdom. Then there were the denizens who made such lands their own, or who created them—certain powerful dragons, certain dangerous spirits. The hundred hells could be considered another spirit world.

  Instead, Wu Ying focused on the artificial spaces created by humans. Spirit rings, spirit chests, even spirit buildings. Locations where the influx of chi and the control of a dao of space had warped their sizes such that they were larger than before.

  He flipped through the stacks before finally he made his way to the nearest table, his hands filled with a collection of works. Wu Ying placed the books on the dark wooden table, pulled out a chair, and sat. Deep in the library as they were, the surroundings were lit not just by the sunlight from outside but spirit lamps, each powered by a low-level beast core. Such illumination was significantly better, less hurtful on the eyes and nose than the tallow candles Wu Ying had once used.

  Dismissing the thoughts of illumination, beyond a quick consideration for the time left before his meal was to begin, Wu Ying threw himself into reading. Of course, rather than reading in detail, he skimmed the works, searching for mention of World Spirit Rings.

  All too often, the works had little or nothing to say on the topic. Even a book on enchantments buried the details of the creation of such rings deep in the back, in a single line rebuking any enchanter from attempting such a work until they were a Master
. If not Grandmaster.

  So deep was Wu Ying into his studies that he missed the presence of the man behind him. Missed the initial clearing of his throat. He did not miss the second, much louder one, that was backed up by a flicker of the cultivator’s aura.

  “Elder Ko!” Wu Ying stood hastily and bowed deeply. Of those he wanted to dodge today, the Elder in charge of the libraries was high on that list.

  “Studying again, I see.” No disapproval in Elder Ko’s voice. How could there be? He looked curious more than anything else. “Searching for a new ring? You’d be better off speaking to the auction house directly. Or a blacksmith.”

  “Thank you for the advice, Elder.” Again, Wu Ying sketched another bow. He waited, still standing, while the Elder thumbed through the books.

  “Interesting selection. Not purchasing one then”—his fingers were lightly on the cover of a book detailing famous spirit rings—“but looking for something else.” He pushed a few more books around, revealing their titles—A Primer for Smithing Spirit Rings, A Treatise on the Dao of Space, the Collected Volumes of Er Ku—before he regarded Wu Ying. His gaze roamed over him, landing on the hands that Wu Ying held to his sides.

  The young cultivator fought the sudden urge to hide his hands behind his back, but the momentary twitch made Elder Ko smile. He gestured and Wu Ying reluctantly raised his hands, showing off the World Spirit Ring.

  “Interesting. I recall there being an interesting addition in the listing of items you and your party members acquired from your recent foray.” Elder Ko’s eyes grew distant for a second before he came back to the present. “Yes. Three things of note on your side. The Sun Lotus Blossom, a World Spirit Ring of small size, and a Spirit-level jian gifted to you by your Elder Sister.”

  Wu Ying shifted uncomfortably while he waited for the Elder to get to the point.

  “My attendants are well trained. We could acquire further information to aid you in developing your ring,” Elder Ko said, his voice turning annoyed. “Are they not trained sufficiently for you?”

  “That… that isn’t. I did not mean to imply that, Elder.” Wu Ying bowed again. He really was doing that a lot.

  “Of course you did not,” Elder Ko said. “You lack the spine. And while rough, you have learnt basic courtesy.” His eyes narrowed. “You are looking for something more than how to rebuild the environment of your ring.”

  Wu Ying’s lips pressed together, choosing not to answer the statement.

  “Interesting.” Elder Ko eyed the ring again. He turned, taking in the various cultivators who moved through the library, intent on their own studies. Then he nodded. “Very well. Continue.”

  Wu Ying blinked, watching as Elder Ko walked off, leaving him to slump back into his seat bonelessly. He watched Elder Ko surreptitiously, but the Elder walked through the library, making his rounds and eyeing the various books being read or consulted by the cultivators. When he was intercepted by a cultivator looking for his advice, the pair disappeared behind a set of shelves, leaving Wu Ying to his own thoughts.

  For a time, Wu Ying mulled over the encounter. Wondering how much he had given away. How much the Elder knew. Eventually though, as the start of the hour was called out, he returned his attention to the books before him.

  Only to be interrupted a half hour later when an attendant arrived, bearing a series of books, all copies.

  “Your seal.” The attendant dropped the stack of books onto the table, holding out her hand.

  “I did not—”

  “Elder Ko says you are to read these,” the attendant said, cutting off Wu Ying. “Seal.”

  Reluctantly, Wu Ying handed over his seal and watched the usual consultation and copying fee be taken out. Receiving his Sect seal back, he focused within long enough to note that he was now truly in a pathetic state. All the points he had gained for working with Elder Li had been wiped. Even the few points from the herbs he had provided after the expedition were gone.

  Turning back to the books, he swept them into his spirit ring and stood, moving to return the books he had been reading to the shelves. Whatever the Elder had provided was likely to be better. And if his secret—or at least, hints of it—were now part of the library’s records, it was not his fault. Nor could he change it.

  Chapter 4

  Days quickly passed for Wu Ying. In between his packed schedule, the cultivator did his best to read the documentation that had been provided to him. Rather than skimming, he took a more studied approach, reading the various scrolls and books in detail. Even so, he realized, that detailed information about World Spirit Rings was sparse due to their general rarity, not just in their creation but also in their specialized use.

  The vast majority of such World Spirit Rings were similar to Wu Ying’s ring as he had first envisioned it. A small plot of land that could sustain plants with careful care and attention taken. A toy for those who weren’t Gatherers. Even the largest non-true ring was only a hectare in size and required significant, constant care. Easier and better to just have a permanent residence where mundane servants could do much of the work you were forced to do yourself via chi manipulation.

  At the same time, the creation of such a product was both difficult and extremely expensive. The material requirements were high, the cost of the failures while learning to produce such an item even higher. With so few gifted enough to forge such a piece of equipment, and even fewer individuals needing them, the lack of documentation was not surprising.

  Even so, Wu Ying held a little hope that the documents would eventually provide him the guidance he required. A part of him debated if he should be digging deeper into formation mastery, the esoteric discipline that Ru Ping studied.

  But mostly, he struggled. Day in and out, through cultivating, through cleansing his body, through the regular training sessions with Master Cheng and Elder Li, he struggled.

  Until one morning, a few days later, as Wu Ying woke from his cultivation, he found himself facing a somewhat familiar face. The rail-thin older woman glared at Wu Ying, a small diviner’s compass in one hand, a set of acupuncture needles in the other as she stalked around the seated cultivator.

  Knowing she was taking readings of his body, Wu Ying did not move, though he did call out a greeting. “Elder Xiong. A pleasure to see you this morning.”

  He noted not only was Liu Tsong in her customary seat at his lone table, but so were other inner sect members. Many had small scrolls with them, ready to take notes, and were intently peering at him.

  “Stop moving,” Elder Xiong said, her voice high and raspy. He knew it had been damaged in some unknown incident many years ago, impairing her health and, eventually, her cultivation. Now, she was one of the most respected members of the Sect as their lead physician. “And remove your robes.”

  Wu Ying complied with her instructions, removing the top portion of his robes to reveal his hairless, well-developed, and tanned chest with its numerous scars—including the large, radiating one just beside his heart. After checking with the Elder, he left his pants on, grateful to be allowed some privacy, though he was forced to roll up his pants legs and take a horse stance.

  As she walked, she muttered out loud. Imprecations and observations, noting mismatches in chi flows, blockages in his body that she sensed, and even the shape and size of his muscles. Wu Ying kept his face impassive, doing his best to not be embarrassed while being discussed with such vigorous detail to complete strangers.

  Having completed her eight circuits, she began another. This time, she inserted the needles into his body, muttering about stagnation, blocked points, and idiot youngsters. When the first needle went in and Wu Ying just stood there, bearing the pain, she barked at him to begin cultivating again.

  Each needle that slid into his skin was a hot poker going into his body, followed by a burning, aching pain that radiated from the point. Occasionally, the energy released radiated outward from the point of intrusion, sending its heated acknowledgment to the nerves and muscles along
his extremities. His meridians jumped and twitched, and his body bled a little from the wounds. His skin itself released a dark and oily substance.

  When she had completed her full circuit, the Elder walked out of Wu Ying’s line of sight, only to return with small spheres that were open on the top. She formed a small flame in one hand, which she applied to the inside of a cup, where it lit the alcohol within, before she pushed the still burning cup onto Wu Ying’s back. Almost immediately, without further oxygen available, the flame died, but not before exerting a strong suction force on the cultivator’s back, holding the cup to his skin[6].

  Again and again, Elder Xiong added the burning cups to Wu Ying’s back, covering it with the small three-quarter globes. Once she was done, she stepped back, using her sense of his chi flows and her compass to watch Wu Ying, occasionally taking hold of his wrist to check his pulse.

  In the meantime, Wu Ying breathed slowly, drawing in environmental chi and cultivating. Or at least, he tried to. Both needles and cups disrupted his normal flow of energy, opening up new, previously blocked sections while releasing even more toxins and dormant chi for him to deal with. He fought the shifting flows, using his body’s natural defenses to help cleanse the chi. He sweated, filtered, and breathed out the stagnant and despoiled chi, cycled new chi through his dantian, and broke it down to make the energy his own.

  Ten minutes later, Elder Xiong finally removed the needles and cups. Wu Ying’s back, under the heated, pressurized cups, had become dotted, the skin puckering as old, stagnant blood forced itself to the surface where it would be cleansed by Wu Ying’s body. In some cases, small blisters had formed around the puckered skin, the flesh literally cooking under the released yang heat.

  “Too much,” Elder Xiong tutted. Once she had the various cups off Wu Ying’s back and handed over to an attendant that he only now noticed, she took hold of a smooth bamboo scraper. Running it over the raised bumps of his skin, she scraped his body to help his blood flow. “Foolish. To get injured so.”