The theft didn’t bother him; that was between them and the spiders. Truth be told, he might have done the same himself if the spider had refused to cooperate. But it did make him wonder what had happened to the precious treasure. Wang Jun hadn’t alerted him about its discovery, and the Greenwind Pavilion, who he’d commissioned to watch out for the treasure, hadn’t told him about it either. That meant it was still in the Blackthorn Conglomerate, likely in their vault. He’d have to get access somehow and retrieve it. Conveniently, he’d also need to raid it to call his plan a success. The pieces were coming together.
The air was free of dust when he finally arrived at the surface. There was no one around the fissure when he exited, which made sense given that he was in the uncharted zones.
“It’s deserted but not unexpected,” Sun Wukong said, appearing outside the Clear Sky World. Here in the Shattered Lands, he was free to wander about. The Spirit Temple had no wards or spies this far in demon territory.
I hope they made it, Cha Ming thought. There’s a worry in my heart, something I can’t shake away.
“That’s something different,” Sun Wukong said, shaking his head. “I feel it too.”
You? Cha Ming thought. You’re a ghost. You don’t have a heart.
“I have a spiritual one,” Sun Wukong said, glaring at him. “Anyway, I feel it more than you do, even in spirit form. This distress isn’t something humans should feel, only demons. The plane is in danger, and all of nature is feeling the pressure.”
“Is it the South?” Cha Ming asked.
Sun Wukong shook his head. “It’s the creature. Huxian warned you before we left for the South. Before, it was only them that felt it because they had local influence. Now, a sense of crisis pervades the entire continent.”
“That bad?” Cha Ming muttered. Well, nothing he could do about it down here.
Sun Wukong returned to the Clear Sky Brush, and they flew back toward the wall. The first group of miners he stumbled upon were early-core-formation cultivators trying out their luck in the peripheries.
“Fellow miners,” Cha Ming said, landing beside the trio, who frowned when they saw him. Their strong bodies crackled with power as they got into defensive stances. “Have you seen the five Bear brothers?”
A tall but thin man, their leader, scratched his head in confusion. “We’re new here,” he said. “We’ve never heard of these ‘Bear brothers’ of yours. Got a description of them?”
“Bear One is tall but bald, his eyes clear blue,” Cha Ming said. “Bear Five is particularly large, and he likes to fight with his fists. Bear Four is a swordsman, and he likes to carry a sword at his waist at all times.”
The man shook his head. “Can’t say we have, sorry.”
“Sorry for troubling you,” Cha Ming said. He flew away from them and back toward the barracks. The fact that they weren’t in the danger zone where they usually operated filled his heart with dread. Many heads turned as he flew past. Those who could fly freely in the Shattered Lands were few and far between.
Soon, he reached Bastion Wall. It seemed so tiny now that he’d seen the massive chamber that held the Leyline of Gold. Its walls, made of thick metal, wouldn’t last a second under the shifting grounds deep beneath the scurrying miners.
That, he thought, is likely why they built it here, where there are no quakes. He now realized it served a dual purpose. For one, it kept the demons out. For another, it kept that dreadful life-leaching aura that the Life-Leaching Monarch emanated at bay.
A few figures walked out of the guard shack when he arrived. He was relieved to see that one of them was a tall bald man with clear-blue eyes. The man broke into a grin when he saw Cha Ming, as did two of those who’d stepped out. It seemed that Bears One, Three, and Four at least had pulled through.
“I am glad that you have made it back,” Bear One said, clapping Cha Ming on the shoulder. “I thought you lost in that dreadful tunnel. So did everyone else. There is a betting pool, you see, and we have all lost spirit stones guessing how long it would take for you to come back, if at all.” He chuckled heartily. “Though it seems the Iron Lady will be winning a fortune. What a discerning eye she has.”
“Miss Ge?” Cha Ming asked, incredulous. She was the last person he’d expect to put money on a bet. Her cold pragmatism and cynicism was well known among the miners. She bent no rules, not for anyone.
“The very same,” Bear One said.
“The others?” Cha Ming asked, looking to Bear Three and Bear Four. He noticed that Bear Three had broken through to the peak of marrow refining since their escape. Bear Four had also obtained a new sword. Those were both promising signs.
“Safe,” Bear Four said. “Bear Two didn’t really need any more money. He was just here to top up his funds before closing himself up again. Something about wanting to increase his qi cultivation. As for Bear Five…” He shook his head. “That one came too close to death. With his ability, he’d never felt so sure he would die. He decided to go back to his home kingdom after cashing out.”
“I see,” Cha Ming said. “I don’t suppose you still have his contact information? In case I need to send him a message or package?”
Bear One smiled. “I’m sure he would appreciate hearing from you. There is also an agreed-upon gift that you must deliver, if you still possess it.” There was no way for them to verify if Cha Ming still had the metal they’d pilfered, but they trusted in their contract. The consequences for breaking it were severe and would hamper his cultivation. Perhaps they even trusted him personally, given their recent life-or-death experience.
“Don’t worry, his gift is still here, as is yours,” Cha Ming said. “I’ll be stopping in town to put it in safekeeping for all of you. Once I leave, that is. I’d imagine that will be shortly.” As he spoke, two guards ran over from the lift. “Here, I have something for you.” He fished through his storage and took five papers he’d crafted for each of the Bear brothers before arriving. They each bore a copy of the sign Cha Ming had left for the Life-Leaching Monarch.
“What is this thing you have made?” Bear One asked, fingering it curiously. “It looks somewhat like a Northern talisman, though it does not contain their usual power.”
“Think of it as a farewell present,” Cha Ming said. Then, mentally, he sent a different message. In the future, there will be trouble north of the wall. Should you see a massive rush of demonic spiders climbing up to the surface, escape as quickly as you can. But before you do so, put on these armbands. They might just save your life.
Bear One’s eyes widened. He took them and immediately placed them in his personal storage treasure. There is quite the story accompanying your survival, it seems, he sent back. One day, when all is peaceful, you will need to share this story. He didn’t press him further.
Up on the wall, a figure suddenly appeared. He didn’t use the lift like most people did. Instead, he flew straight down to where Cha Ming and the others were standing. To Cha Ming’s surprise, it wasn’t Tian Zhi or Director Yong as he’d expected. It was Prince Shen. His distinctive yellow robes stood out beside the miners, who wore drab colors and didn’t bother to clean themselves off. Bear One and the others got down on one knee. Given their prior meeting, Cha Ming didn’t feel the need to be overly courteous, so he gave a simple bow.
“Brother Pai Xiao, I was relieved to hear that you were still alive, but seeing is believing,” Prince Shen said, his excitement clear from his toothy smile. “We were concerned when we received the news that you’d been trapped underground, as your teammates can no doubt attest.”
“The guards questioned us thoroughly,” Bear One said, “to eliminate foul play as a cause of death.” We did not divulge anything we shouldn’t, he sent to Cha Ming separately. As per our contract.
“I’m happy to hear of your concern,” Cha Ming said. “Judging by your presence here, I take it I’m free to return to Bastion?”
“That’s exactly what I’ve come to tell you,” Prince Shen said.
“In fact, I’ve been instructed by my royal father to escort you to the Blackthorn Conglomerate personally.”
“Then I’ll be happy to accompany you,” Cha Ming said.
The prince flew up, and Cha Ming moved to follow him but hesitated. For a brief moment, he felt he should return those items he’d borrowed, so he flew toward the guardhouse instead.
“No need to bother yourself with formalities here,” Prince Shen said. “As the crown prince of the Ji Kingdom, I have full authority over its assets.”
Cha Ming hesitated once again. For some reason, he couldn’t help but feel that it would be a bad decision to do as the prince said.
As he stood there, frozen in indecision, the old gray-haired Mrs. Ge walked out the front door. She looked at the prince and sniffed. “You would dare break protocol with me, young man?”
“Na-Nanny Ge?” Prince Shen said, his face paling. He flew back down and clasped his hands, bowing in apology. “I-I wasn’t aware that you were stationed here. It’s simply been ages, Nanny Ge. How goes your ailing husband?”
“Dead,” Mrs. Ge said with her impassive nasal voice. “As you will be if you dare leave without following my rules.” Her sharp eyes, hidden behind her half-moon spectacles, bespoke of a strength that Cha Ming hadn’t noticed before. He considered testing her and thought better of it.
Let it remain an eternal mystery.
“Of course,” Prince Shen said, sweating profusely. “Go on, Brother Pai Xiao, please return her things.”
Cha Ming wasn’t sure whether to be impressed by the old lady’s grasp on the heir to the kingdom or by the hilarity of the situation. Still, he threw up ten storage rings, one of which contained the pick and shovel he’d been loaned as well as some of the heavier, more expensive ores. The other nine had been disposable replacements he’d purchased from them at a usurious price. They were all chock full of ore as well.
Mrs. Ge gave them a quick scan. “Personal storage?” she asked. Cha Ming tossed her the storage ring he’d brought with him the first day. “Still five hundred jin, I see. No need to show me the contents. Whatever ores you could smuggle would be less valuable.”
Then she peered at him with a gaze so intense he felt like his body’s secrets were bared before her. She could see through his flesh and bone, his marrow, and his qi pathways. Fortunately for him, he’d completely changed his physique and not just the outer shell. The qi in his pathways was of fire and gold, and so was his body-refining technique.
“Congratulations on your breakthrough,” she said, noticing he’d advanced the qi cultivation in his disguise to late core formation and late marrow refining.
“Many thanks, Miss Ge,” Cha Ming said. He wanted to follow Prince Shen and escape her prying eyes, but he remained standing. Leaving without payment would be out of character. Her eyes continued to search him, even going so far as to probing his soul aura. Then, after finding nothing, amiss, she looked away.
“I take it spirit stones are your preferred payment?” she asked. Cha Ming nodded. She threw a cheap disposable ring over to him. To his surprise, it contained the exact payment he’d expected. It seemed that all the scales, the procedures, and the like, were unnecessary under her inquisitive gaze. The agonizing rules were there for her entertainment and enjoyment.
“Mrs. Ge,” Bear One said, “this one accepts his loss.”
“Same here,” Bear Three said. Bear Four followed closely, and soldiers clamored over, sending their wagers to her. She caught them deftly.
“Let that be a lesson to all of you,” Mrs. Ge said. “Be sure to pay attention at all times. Always be watching. Always.”
“Madam!” the guards yelled, bowing.
Cha Ming was surprised to see that Prince Shen had joined them.
A short while later, they were trudging up the wall using the lift instead of flying directly. It seemed Prince Shen would rather waste his precious time than further offend the scary lady. They soon arrived atop the wall, which overlooked the Shattered Lands to the north and Bastion to the south.
I’m back, Cha Ming thought, gazing over the pristine and orderly city. Though he’d only been gone for two months, it seemed like ages to him. The city had grown into more than just a place; he had friendly coworkers here, people whom he’d spent substantial amounts of time with. There was also Mo Ling, the industrious girl he’d rescued from Liaoning. Unknowingly, much like Haijing and Quicksilver, Bastion had grown into another home.
A home he’d soon destroy.
The lift locked, and the door opened. Now that the guardhouse down below was out of sight, Prince Shen turned to Cha Ming and handed him a storage ring. Cha Ming inspected its contents and noticed two objects. One was a core-transmission jade, a much smaller one than he was used to seeing. Another one was a golden seal. It radiated a powerful aura of karma. Cha Ming had never seen its like before.
What happened to you was unfortunate, Prince Shen sent silently. And it happened at an unfortunate time. These two items should ensure that our progress remains unimpeded in the foreseeable future.
The prince flew off the wall, and Cha Ming followed. Using Prince Shen’s authority, they flew through the streets much higher than anyone else dared, completely bypassing normal traffic as they made their way to the Blackthorn Conglomerate.
What happened? Cha Ming asked as they rounded a street corner. A few lesser-core-formation cultivators who happened to be flying in the streets ducked out of their way.
Our timeline has shifted, Prince Shen said. We have six months now, and I have a feeling it might shift again. The Breaker must be completed by the time the grand vizier arrives, or all our heads will be served to him on a platter.
Boss Tian and the others? Cha Ming asked.
Those incompetent fools might be decent craftsmen, but they are terrible innovators, Prince Shen said. If they were in Haijing, like so many of the professionals in our kingdom were until about a year ago, they would have access to more resources and time essence to mask their incompetence. But here in the South, we do not have such luxuries. This project is much too sensitive in nature to send them there, especially given recent events.
It all made sense to Cha Ming now, the rush for innovation. In the past, making the Breaker would have been far less challenging. It seemed he’d damaged them far more than he’d realized. Not only had the attack on Beihai been botched, wasting many resources in the process, but he’d personally killed the Obsidian Syndicate’s greatest minds. As such, they had to scramble to reinvent the wheel. Furthermore, they had to attack quickly, as the North’s advantage would be widening with every passing day. That explained the ever-shifting, ever-dreadful deadline.
What about the blood masters? Cha Ming asked as they entered the Blackthorn Conglomerate headquarters. Staff scrambled out of their way as they flew through the building toward the main office.
Your employer threw money at them, of course, Prince Shen said. Here in the Ji Kingdom, it’s the best form of apology. They reverse engineered many of your improvements, creating a weapon that increased performance by ten percent in short bursts, with no risk of mental instability past one hour of exposure every twenty-four hours. This time, they had the good sense to insist on testing.
Cha Ming nodded. He wasn’t happy that they’d modified his work, but the results he’d obtained in exchange had been worth it. He’d also gained an understanding on how grudges were settled in the South: with money and blood. If he wanted to set up an irreconcilable grudge, he’d need to cripple the Blackthorn Conglomerate’s finances.
They flew up the steps in the corporate office and walked down the hall to the conference room, where Director Yong was holding a meeting. The moment he saw them, however, his body language changed. He stood up and began ushering grumbling cultivators out the door. The grumbling stopped the moment they saw the prince.
“Come in. I’ve already called for Tian Zhi to come upstairs,” Director Yong said. He smiled and turned to Cha Ming. “It’s so nice to s
ee that you’re safe and sound. We worried about you greatly.”
“Thank you for your worries,” Cha Ming said. “I’m just happy to be back home and am itching to get back to work. The Shattered Lands are a dreadful place. Very boring, and not a forge to be seen.”
“We’ll make sure you get an upgrade to your forge,” Director Yong said. “I see that your cultivation has increased.”
“I had some fortuitous encounters in the Shattered Lands,” Cha Ming said. He didn’t elaborate. They took a seat in the boardroom, and as Director Yong fiddled with a jade treasure that projected an image on the wall, Tian Zhi ran in. He relaxed visibly when he saw Cha Ming safe and sound.
“Let’s get right to it,” Prince Shen said. “There’s not a moment to waste.”
The image on the wall shifted as Director Yong spoke. “As you all know, Project Breaker has been in the works for around ten months. Due to unforeseen events in the North, we’ve been tasked by Grand Vizier Zhou to construct a device capable of breaking a transcendent-grade wall. Though the hope is to completely destroy the treasure, shattering a portion of it and allowing our troops through is also acceptable.”
The image shifted. To Cha Ming’s surprise, it showed a replica of Southhaven Wall, one of the least-important battlefields in the entire North.
“Though the goal is to be able to break through any section of the wall, Southhaven Wall is the true target. This wall is also stronger than most.
“It’s difficult to say exactly what the wall can handle. We speculate that it’s an initial-grade-transcendent treasure due to its size and length. The plane can only bear so much strain, and sending too great and too large a treasure would be met with fierce resistance from competing transcendent powers.”
The image changed again. This time, it showed a broken wall.
“To facilitate our testing, three pieces of ancient wall we obtained in previous wars have been transported to Bastion. Two are here in the Blackthorn Conglomerate, and one is in the royal palace for final testing. We’re hoping for the attack to take place a year from now.”
Shattered Lands: Book 8 of Painting the Mists Page 32
