by Tao Wong
“I—”
“Don’t lie. I know you were thinking about it,” Elder Li said, narrowing her eyes at Wu Ying. “I know all of you fools were.”
Wu Ying shrugged. It was true that he had—he was—considering joining. However, unlike what she thought, he leaned toward not doing so. Not only because of Li Yao’s displeasure and disapproval, but because the guilt he felt about abandoning his friends two years ago was a lie. His returning would not change their position in the army. It would only put him in more danger.
“You are a Spirit Herb Gatherer. You have skills and a base of knowledge that is rare. And your combination of martial skills along with that knowledge will allow you to go far,” Elder Li said. “You have a future, one that does not have to include pointless violence. Or the risk of a war.”
Having said her piece, Elder Li turned her attention to the plants. She sighed and whacked Wu Ying on the shoulder before pointing out mistakes he had made. Afterward, she questioned Wu Ying on his recent studies, laying her cane to his shoulders whenever he hesitated or gave the wrong answer.
***
Next to speak with Wu Ying was Liu Tsong, a half day later. The beautiful apothecary apprentice had been busy during the winter, first healing from her injuries and then spending more time waiting on her secluded Master while practicing her apothecary. The only time Wu Ying had met her was during her introductory classes that she continued to teach. It was she who had helped him adjust the herbal remedy. However, beyond that, she spent most of her time in solo practice, as during her Master’s absences she had been given the run of her Master’s various apothecary cauldrons. At least, those she could handle.
“Senior Li!” Wu Ying greeted Liu Tsong with a smile and bow.
All around, the various members of the gardening group glanced over, drinking in the beauty of the senior cultivator. While she was no Fairy Yang, she was still one of the more beautiful members of the Sect.
“Wu Ying. Thank you for coming out to speak with me.” Liu Tsong tilted her head, eyeing the blooming plants with a critical eye. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to spend more time with you.”
“It is fine, Senior. I have been busy too, trying to improve my cultivation.”
“Yes.” Left unsaid was Wu Ying’s failure. “I wanted to ask about your intentions. For the war expedition.”
“I am uncertain as yet.”
“Pity. I had thought to work with you again,” Liu Tsong said.
“You are participating?” Wu Ying exclaimed in surprise.
“I intend to. I have plans to put together a party myself.” When Wu Ying looked puzzled, Liu Tsong explained. “If a group comes with a set team, they are often able to keep team members together. It improves the safety of the group, after all. And we did work well together.”
An unbidden memory. A taotei throwing itself at Wu Ying, intent on eating his face. Sword in hand, ready for one last, final lunge. To make his mark before his death.
“Wu Ying?”
“It’s nothing,” said Wu Ying. “But I will have to disappoint you, Senior. I will not be taking part in the war, I believe.”
“Very well. If you change your mind, let me know.” Lit Tsong looked a bit sad but shook it off. “Now, tell me all about your remedy. How is it working for you? Is it as effective as we had hoped?”
“Very much so, I believe. You know how it is with these cultivation exercises,” said Wu Ying. “It’s not as if I can judge it on a numbered basis. It’s just what I believe it feels like. And it does feel as though it is effective. Certainly, it seems to have found a number of impurities in my bones to replace.”
“Good. I have been thinking though. The juju beans we had used. If we switch them out with the yellow and purple spotted mushrooms from the fourth peak…”
***
To Wu Ying’s surprise, the next person to discuss with him the upcoming war was his own Master. Master Cheng, of course, did not come down to the gardens to visit him. Instead, he summoned Wu Ying to his residence. In the evening. It was after Wu Ying had completed demonstrating his progress in both cultivation and martial styles that Elder Cheng broke the topic.
“You’re probably considering joining the war, are you not?”
“I am not, Master.” By this time, Wu Ying was pretty sure he would not indulge in the war. Even if he could fight, he was not a martial specialist. While he enjoyed playing at the wargames, it was still a game. No one died. And Wu Ying was certain the Sect and its members could deal with the upcoming storm.
“Interesting.”
Elder Cheng fell silent. Wu Ying waited to see what else the Elder had to say, or if he had anything more to say. It seemed to Wu Ying that Elder Cheng was debating something, the way his fingers tapped at the teacup. Rather than bother him, Wu Ying chose to stay silent.
“Are you not concerned about your parents?” Elder Cheng finally said.
“Somewhat. I worry about my village and my parents. But… I believe that the army will be able to guard them. They have managed to do so for so long already,” Wu Ying said. “More so, I’ve already made arrangements with Elder Li and the city below. If things are truly dangerous, the village can evacuate here.”
“Really?” Elder Cheng looked surprised. “That is quite ambitious of you. Adding an entire village to the Sect.”
“There is ample land to sustain cultivation around the Sect. It is remote here, making it difficult for many to begin, but I have saved, the village has saved, enough, I believe.”
“It is good that you have considered the matter.” Elder Cheng sipped from the teacup he held before he gestured to the teapot. Wu Ying hurried to pour the drink for the waiting Elder. “I find that many of our brethren forget the ties that bind us, the karmic debts that formed between them and their mortal parents. I believe that our inability to tie off those debts properly is the reason so many of us fail to ascend. If we cut ties from what we were without fulfilling the needs of our destiny, are we not eating our own flesh?[62]”
“Yes, Master.” Wu Ying bowed to Elder Cheng, then tilted his head as a thought struck him. When Elder Chang raised an eyebrow, he asked, “Are the gods not bound by the threads of karma then?”
“A good question. Perhaps they are bound even tighter than we are.” Elder Cheng looked at Wu Ying then nodded to himself. “That is perhaps something only the immortals themselves can answer. But I believe so.”
Wu Ying nodded. It made sense. The Dao encompassed all, and karma was but the threads of the Dao making itself known.
“I was not going to advise you on either cause of action. Nor will I advise you now. Your fate is yours, as it always has been. But I will speak to you of the potential within this war.” Wu Ying made an inquiring noise, prompting his master to continue speaking. “It is simple really. There will be more Elders, some of them in the Core Formation stage, acting during this period than you will see in the next decade. Potentially more than in the next generation unless matters escalate. It is possible that some of our more illustrious Elders, those in the Nascent Soul stage, might even take part.”
“But I am not certain what I would learn from them. I fear I am too far beneath them.”
“That too is possible. But you will never know if you are not there to witness the matter, no?” Elder Cheng shook his head. “Sometimes, caution is good. At other times, a cultivator must be bold to progress on his path.”
Wu Ying mentally grimaced. Those words sounded wise, but they were of little help to him or the actual making of a decision. In the end, he could only bank on his own beliefs and in that, Wu Ying felt he was not advanced enough. Not yet.
“I did have a question,” said Wu Ying to his Master. “If I might ask it?”
“If it is not too important, you may do so.”
“When we first met, you were taking part in the war. I do not understand why you and Senior Yang were doing so.”
“Because of my dao?”
“Yes.”
/> “This question touches upon more things than you need to know. An answer now might affect your destiny more than you know. Are you sure you wish this question to be answered?” Elder Cheng stared at Wu Ying, assessing his reaction.
Wu Ying debated what reason could be so impactful that Elder Cheng would change his usual stand on non-interference. Then again, his allowing Wu Ying to choose the answer was his way of letting Wu Ying tie himself tighter to him. Or not. Why would Elder Cheng take part in a war, take part and tie himself to the world further, by acting on something on such grand a scale? Then again, on further consideration, Wu Ying had not seen either Senior Yang or Elder Cheng take action during the war. Were they just there to watch? That did not make much sense to Wu Ying either. Even their very presence could cause ripples, could alter destinies. Like his own.
In the end, Wu Ying shook his head and declined Elder Cheng’s offer. Perhaps it was the wrong choice, but if his Master really felt he should know, Elder Cheng would tell him. Embroiling himself in further affairs would just make his own life more difficult. It was not as if Wu Ying had not enough matters to deal with.
When Wu Ying declined, he could almost swear he saw a trace of a smile on Elder Cheng’s face. But if it had been there, it disappeared so fast that it had been but a mirage. Having said his piece, Elder Cheng dismissed Wu Ying.
As the cultivator strolled down the mountain in the cold air of the evening, passing by outer sect disciples who lit the pathways, he could not help but reflect on the discussion. His talk with Elder Cheng had left him with more questions than ever, but a less burdened heart. All that talk of opportunity and danger had left him with the realization that he had no desire to join the war. Even the vestiges of guilt blew away with the night’s air.
His path, his journey was not in the war. Whatever gains there might be.
Chapter 6
Spring was well into bloom by this point in time, with the warmth of longer days and the abundance of newly bloomed plants. Wu Ying was seated in his courtyard, legs crossed, meditating and drawing in more chi. For the last month, he had been working on the chi regeneration exercise, improving it by inches. Over the last month, he’d realized he was not ready to try again for another breakthrough. Whatever that impetus was to drive him to the next level, he lacked it. Perhaps as Master Cheng said, he was lacking in experience.
Perhaps joining the war would have provided Wu Ying with that impetus. But joining the war, fighting in it, killing people he knew nothing of was not something he wanted. Experiences, good experiences, were what he needed to push himself onward. Things that would help him consolidate who and what he was. Not the horrors of the battlefield.
Of course, he could be wrong. He could have just had insufficient chi in his last breakthrough attempt. Last time he’d tried a breakthrough, he had used twice the amount as when he first began. Now, he could potentially begin the process with three times as much. After all, in the time he had spent training, he had increased his storage capacity in his dantian.
It did not matter. He had time. Even if this was the best time for him to be pushing ahead with his cultivation, he was still young. A small delay would not harm him, especially if the other option was death or the damage of his cultivation base.
Another breath in. Another out, and memories of goodbyes surfaced.
Chao Kun and Liu Tsong, in a team with a few other survivors from the expedition. Those who were willing to risk their lives. The envoy had finished the negotiations a week after he had arrived, and the Sect had agreed to triple its normal commitment to the war. That meant that there were at least two Core Elders with each army in the field. There were even rumors that one of the Sect Protectors had joined the army. At the Nascent Soul stage of cultivation, his presence could make a significant difference in the war. It was unlikely that he would directly intervene unless matters grew too perilous though. At his level of cultivation, it was difficult to justify meddling in the affairs of mortals unless it was part of one’s dao beliefs. That was why Sect Protectors were rare and often taken from specific daos. Not only did one have to have the required strength but also the right dao.
Of more immediate concern, over twelve teams of inner sect members had joined the kingdom’s armies. It was the largest gathering of martial specialists that Wu Ying had ever seen. And might ever see. It had taken nearly a quarter of all the martial specialists in the inner sect to make up those numbers. If you included the various members who were out experiencing the world, the Sect was understaffed. Especially as the slew of assignments requiring their particular expertise grew within the kingdom itself.
Wu Ying himself had just returned two days ago, having finished another assignment. All this activity had been boon for him and his store of contribution points. Wu Ying had his pick of assignments that allowed him to deal with physical threats and gather herbs at the same time. Of course, all those boons came with the added risk of injury due to insufficient numbers. Jobs that should have been carried out by Energy Storage cultivators were assigned to people like him.
“So. You’re back.” An arrogant, familiar voice.
Wu Ying’s breath stilled before he exhaled and calmed his chi, sending it back to his dantian. As he opened his eyes, he gestured to Ah Yee who had rushed in after his visitor, profusely apologizing and explaining how his guest had pushed past her.
“Yin Xue.” Wu Ying greeted the other, unfolding himself with easy grace and picking up his jian as he did so. He belted the weapon to his side, his gaze raking over the nobleman’s son.
Yin Xue was dressed in inner sect robes, having made his way into the Sect last fall. Wu Ying had to admit, it suited the teenager’s bearing and slim profile. Yin Xue had a longer, narrower face than most which, combined with his pale skin, gave him a noble bearing. One that the young man had grown into in the past few years.
“What are you doing here?”
“Your village has been making plans to leave for the Sect,” Yin Xue said.
“Maybe. What of it?” Wu Ying said, apprehension shooting through the cultivator.
“My father has learned of the matter and put a stop to it.” Yin Xue’s gaze dropped as Wu Ying clutched at the hilt of his jian. “Calm yourself. I had nothing to do with it.”
“And why should I believe anything you say?” Wu Ying snapped.
Yin Xue tilted his head as he considered Wu Ying. Eventually, he spoke. “Did you know when I lost to you, my father was silent for months? Afterward, he sent me a single letter.”
“Oh?”
“I’m to no longer concern myself with the family. Since I have begun my path as a cultivator, I should continue it.” While Yin Xue tried to keep his voice calm, there was still a hint of bitterness in it. “My brother will take over my place. I am to find glory here.”
“You were disowned?” Wu Ying said.
“No. I am to become a strong cultivator, to support my family,” Yin Xue replied.
But Wu Ying saw the twitch in Yin Xue’s lips, the way he raised his head to stare down his nose at Wu Ying. Those were words that had no real meaning, unless Yin Xue did manage to break into the Core Cultivation stage or higher. Then they would expect him to pay the family back, to offer his support.
“And you didn’t tell them my plans to get a little revenge?” Wu Ying said, still distrustful.
“As if I paid that much attention to you.” Yin Xue snorted. “I have better things to do. Like breaking into the Energy Storage stage. And gaining more contribution points.”
Wu Ying frowned, then let his gaze roam over Yin Xue again. His eyes narrowed as he noted how the nobleman’s son wore plain Sect robes, not the upscale robes sold in the armory. In addition, Yin Xue lacked the usual assortment of jewelry that many of the nobles wore. No jade amulets or bracelets, gold hair pieces, rings, or belts except for a single necklace that Wu Ying caught peeking out of Yin Xue’s collar. More than that, as Wu Ying let his aura sense expand, he realized that Yin Xue had made a li
ttle dig at Wu Ying. For Yin Xue was in the beginning stages of Energy Storage, unlike him.
“Then why tell me?” Wu Ying said.
“My father has blocked all communication. By the time you learned of it, it would be too late,” Yin Xue said.
“You want something.”
“So distrustful. Can I not be sowing seeds of karma?”
Wu Ying pursed his lips but finally nodded thanks. “Do you have more details?”
Yin Xue shook his head. “It was a passing note in a letter from home.”
“I see.” Wu Ying grimaced. He wished he had more details. How had Lord Wen stopped their planned migration? Had he hurt anyone? How did he do it? Why would he do that?
“Are you that dumb?” Yin Xue said. Wu Ying blinked, realizing he had spoken the last question out loud. “What use is a lordship when there is no one taking care of the land? A village without villagers offers no tax. Of course he would stop them.”
Wu Ying twitched. He had considered every aspect, every possible issue from the villager’s perspective. He had checked with the Elders and the magistrate. He’d even set aside a store of funds so that he could pay for food during the first winter. It was expensive, but compared to the price of the spiritual herbs he sold, it was something he could afford. He’d even sent enough funds to purchase the travel passes for the entire village. But not once had he considered how his actions would be seen from Lord Wen’s side.
“Can you guess what he would do?” Wu Ying said, subdued now. Worried.
“It would depend on how angry he is. But most likely? Confiscate the funds you sent and place restrictions on their travel. Without a pass, no ship will take them on,” Yin Xue said. “He might punish your Chief though. It’d depend on how angry he was.”
Wu Ying nodded, understanding the point. Initially, the travel pass would have been easy to acquire. After all, with Chief Tan coming too, he would use the seal provided with the village’s huki[63] and stamp all the necessary passes from the village. After that, they only needed to receive a stamp at each city they entered—which was a formality so long as one had the funds. It was the first seal, with the approved travel destination, that was the hardest. As a Sect member, he bypassed all these restrictions, only having to flash his Sect seal—if his robes by themselves were not enough.
