He chuckled ruefully. “And fast as I am, even I can’t catch a spirit panther who has decided today is just not his day. Not without burning through a heck of a lot of Qi, at least.”
Ying Tai gazed into his eyes for long moments before sighing and resting her head against his chest. “So strong, so fierce, and even as I tremble, half in fear, I remember how safe I felt in your arms when you came to my and my daughter’s rescue.”
Soft, passionate lips met his own one last time before she pulled away with tears in her eyes, despite her smile. “Go, hero. If you stay any longer, I’ll definitely make you mine.”
When a somewhat dazed Alex found himself descending from the treetop village by dint of a clever pulley system a smiling young man of mixed heritage insisted on him taking, he noted not just a couple villagers working by the roots of the massive collection of trees, but the entire village seemed to be there, almost as if they were waiting for him.
Upon catching his gaze, all of them dropped to their knees, kowtowing before him.
A powerfully-built Ruidian with a brilliant crimson gem glittering upon his forehead was the first to get up, flashing Alex a grateful smile as he moved to clasp his hand.
Alex grinned back, instantly knowing who he was by the little girl snuggled against his side.
“Thank you, hero, for coming to our village’s rescue. Had you not been there...”
His gentle smile hardened into something fierce and cold. For just a second, Alex could sense the dark path this man had once taken with a Ruidian’s elementalist gifts before settling down in this village that had been so well hidden from the eyes of man before now, perhaps finding his heart swept up by a woman just as captivating as the daughter who had come so close to captivating Alex as well, holding him with such tender warmth when his whole sense of self had been crumbling.
“I’m glad I was,” Alex assured, slamming shut the messages suddenly popping up on his interface so quickly, so adamantly, that the man before him didn’t suspect a thing. No more than his daughter had. But instead of relief, all Alex felt was regret as he turned his gaze to where he knew close to a dozen villagers had perished, close to the site where Alex had performed his act of righteous butchery, but all he saw now was freshly tilled soil.
The village elder gave a sad nod. “My daughter will be out soon, communing with our grove and the forest around us. If fortune favors us, hopefully those monsters will never be able to track their way through these forests again.”
Alex frowned. “I don’t suppose you have any idea how they were able to find you, when they never have before? And striking at such an opportune time, when almost half the village was away...”
The chieftain glared coldly at the patch of roots and loam marking where the slavers had fallen. “And I was a fool to let confidence transform to carelessness. Never again will I allow so many of our town’s able-bodied men to be lured away by any contract, no matter how profitable. And our policy of meeting up with our clansmen in town in case there is trouble or opportunity was a foolish one. Guarding the village should have always been our first priority, twenty years of perfect isolation or no.”
Alex’s eyes widened at this. “So, you guys do mercenary work?”
The powerful Ruidian shrugged. “It would be more accurate to call it guard duty, really. We help protect the caravans that form up in Yizhen before heading to Baidushi. For all that we are near self-sufficient here, even we savor the luxuries and exotics we can purchase in the capital city, and the coin we earn goes far.”
Alex nodded at this, noting the gems on a fair number of Ruidian foreheads, as well as an equal number of the True People, as they called themselves. Pure Han Chinese to Alex’s eyes, with the lithe grace and smooth features he had come to expect. He was glad to see people of such diverse origins banding together to form their obviously tight-knit community. It gave him hope for places like Yidushi, and Alex’s eyes did note at least one youth of clearly mixed blood who nonetheless sported a small sapphire gem upon his adolescent brow.
The chieftain grinned, as if reading his mind. “I can tell you’re a pureblood, Alex, like so many of our clans strive to be, out here in the wilds. But there is a boon to be had in forging unions of love and blood with differing tribes. Your grandchildren might be elementalists yet, and pick up other talents besides. Perhaps most importantly, at least a few will become one with the land like Mie Tai’s mother,” he said, giving his granddaughter a hug
Alex grinned. “Were I an elementalist and not a cultivator, I’d take comfort in your words, and wouldn’t hesitate to let a certain girl know she wasn’t the only one who had been moved beyond simple words today.” He smiled sadly and shrugged at the man’s curious expression. “But as I am a cultivator, and the path I take forbids my surrendering my heart to anyone, even the sweetest druid I have ever met, until I’ve reached Silver...”
A solemn nod from the bearded man. “Just from the accounts I had been given, I knew you had to be a cultivator, and a powerful one at that, or a gem master from a legendary clan. But any fool can see your brow is free of any ornamentation the moment the breeze rustles the hair on your forehead.”
He tilted his head. “But even from what little I know, achieving Silver is no small thing.”
One of the villagers chuckled at that. “Did this boy not actually manage to save our entire village, I would call him a fool to think he had any shot at all of that. But instead I will call him a hero,” said the bowing man that Alex could sense radiated a basic cultivator’s strength with four, perhaps five meridian channels cleared.
Alex grinned and bowed back. “I’m glad I heard the call for help. And believe me, I know that Silver is a long, long way off, even if I’m no weakling as a Bronze.”
The basic cultivator smiled at that. “And for a Ruidian youth younger than I to achieve Bronze is remarkable in itself. Pity you won’t stay. My cousin would make you very happy, and I would absolutely love to have a Bronze training partner.”
Alex shared a good-natured chuckle with the man before turning back to Ying Tai’s father.
“Still, it is interesting that the very day half your clan’s fighters are returning from a caravan run and the other half are what, switching places?” Alex earned a nod at that. “That is precisely when those bastards struck.”
The chieftain frowned, nodding his agreement. “I’m not a fool, Alex. I know what that means as well as you do.”
Alex nodded. “There’s a serpent in Yizhen. One that needs skinning.”
This earned Alex a number of bleak smiles.
The chieftain barked his laughter. “After all you’ve already done, putting an end to those slavers and rescuing our sanctuary from dire peril, it would shame us to put any further burdens upon you. But our faces are well known in Yizhen. If we were to return now, whoever might be involved would know that we know. As it stands, should we adhere to our normal routine, or never show up for another damn assignment, instead keeping plenty of men at the ready to spot and eliminate any slaver scout attempting to track us down...”
Alex nodded. “We avoid giving the game away, and no band of psychotic slavers will know exactly what happened. They won’t know if their men perished at your hands or to the wiles of a forest that no doubt hates them. Or perhaps they fled of their own accord, without caring enough to inform their command. They are slavers, after all.”
“Exactly.”
Alex smiled. “Then all I need is whatever equipment your typical Ruidian looking for work as a guard would wear, and for someone to point me in the right direction.”
The chieftain nodded, Alex soon kitted up in the ubiquitous lamellar armor, open-faced helm, gladius, and spear that seemed to be the norm for all serious soldiers, at least in this part of the empire. Of course, the armor plates were made out of toughened and properly boiled rawhide, not bronze, and the helm had definitely seen a lot off wear, but it was all serviceable enough, and well able to stop a mortal guardsman’s spear
or sword thrust. His lower legs were only protected by thick leather boots and his arms and wrists by nothing more than a quilted jacket worn under the rawhide plates, but quilted linen was remarkably effective at warding light slashes to the arms, particularly if one was flowing with the blow and suffered only a glancing cut. And most importantly, Alex was now deep into Bronze, could move as fast as an Olympic fencer, and could summon Dark Qi to shield his forearms, fists, and shins at will.
The armor both served as excellent cover, and might save his life against an unexpected arrow or any surprise attack, which could lay even a skilled cultivator low. And even against fellow cultivators, wearing armor he could move comfortably in could provide a vital extra edge, so long as the differences in their power levels wasn’t too extreme.
“Just head to the tavern closest to the south entrance when you get to Yizhen, and ask where a man can find a decent paying job. They should direct you to Sun’s Caravans which is always setting up a fresh merchant train out of a dozen or so produce wagons or more, heading off to fill all the bellies in Baidushi. The gate guard probably won’t require a bribe, so long as you make it clear you’re there to work. They always need more caravan guards. But just in case...” The chieftain handed Alex a rough pouch filled with copper tiles and a finer felt pouch filled with silver coin.
“A single copper feather should see you in the man’s good graces, with any advice he has to give there for the asking.”
“Thank you,” Alex said, solemnly accepting the coin, sensing that to refuse would have been an insult.
The chieftain smiled. “No, hero. It is we who thank you. And I know it’s less than likely that you’ll find anything of note, as no clerk or assistant of Sun sticks out in my mind as being any more or less suspicious than any other. Still, it will serve as an easy route to Baidushi, should you wish to see all the wonders of the capital city for yourself.” He chuckled softly. “I know that’s a dream held close to the hearts of many a young Ruidian with a hunger for adventure, eager to explore the world at large. That was my dream once upon a time as well, before my heart landed me here. And should you find yourself taking the return journey, perhaps we will meet again when you come this way.”
The chieftain flashed a warm smile. “Perhaps you will find yourself pining for a certain girl, and decide there are other things in life that matter just as much power. Or perhaps not. But should you ever tire of the cultivator’s life, and wish to spend your days among people who will appreciate you and always be grateful to you...”
Alex solemnly bowed his head. “I’m grateful to know there’s at least one village that considers me a friend.”
“More than that,” said the chieftain with a twinkle in his eye, and Alex didn’t hesitate to give Ying Tai’s daughter a careful hug before taking up his gifted spear and waving the villagers farewell.
His new Forest Sense skill, perhaps just an offshoot of his Qi Perception, perhaps far more than that, quickly led him to the major ley line serving as a trade road, just a few miles away. Alex could sense the raw spiritual energy radiating forth, seemingly from the depths of the world itself, which kept ley lines free of roots and growth, and so served as an excellent road of either hardpacked earth or stone, aiming flat and straight and cutting right through the forest.
Free and clear of debris as the roads were, the arching branches of the trees on either side of the road still closed ranks overhead, which worked wonderfully to shelter one from the brilliant heat of the midday sun, the cool shafts of green-tinted light slipping between the foliage overhead leaving Alex feeling like he strode along an endless woodland cathedral.
Alex flashed a carefree smile, delighting in the songs of birds overhead and the aromatic scent of fecund growth, fruit blossoms and wildflowers perfuming the air, the verdant green broken up by patches of color with numerous copses of fruit trees heavy with their bounty to be found, their luscious prizes just a single effortless leap away.
At least, they were in easy reach for someone like Alex, at that moment gazing fondly back at where what he’d always think of as the druidic village high in the trees behind him, now forever imprinted upon the world map interface in his head, which, along with his easily visualized character sheet, served as the final remnants of the AI interface that had accompanied him when first he had awakened in this exotic realm.
He allowed himself to savor the fantasy just for a moment of what it would be like to live a simple, happy life in Ying Tai’s village, free of all the tumultuous chaos plaguing the world all around, before shaking his head with a melancholy smile, taking a crisp bite of the apple in his hand, and making his way to town.
4
“Name and purpose for visit?” asked the bored-looking guard equipped much as Alex himself was, leaning against the reinforced wall beside the open gate leading into the walled town about a quarter the size of Erjizhen, if Alex were to hazard a guess. The man completely ignored the wagon train heading out and a number of massive wagons filled to the brim with produce or grain rolling in, pulled by oxen or what looked like oversized spirit beast horses, which didn’t surprise Alex in the least. This was a trade town, and guards interfered in the business of merchants and farmers getting food supplies to impatient cities at their peril.
“Name’s Alex. I wanted to hire on as a caravan guard.”
The man frowned, peering hard at Alex’s forehead. “Lift up your helmet, would you? Hmm... you’re not one of those jewel masters, are you? You could get double rate or more, if you were.”
Alex flashed an almost apologetic smile. “I’m afraid not. Just someone who’s good in a fight.”
The guard nodded. “Which a proper caravan man should be. Alright, kid, head on in. Just try not to make too big a fool of yourself your first night drinking in an inn, or we’ll have to kick you out, and those spirit beasts can get mighty hungry at night,” he said with a chuckle.
Alex forced himself to smile back, clasping the surprised then pleased guard’s hand when he felt the copper coin within. “Any tips you can give an up-and-coming guard completely new to Yizhen?”
The man rubbed his whiskers, peering thoughtfully at Alex. “You’ll want to head to Sun’s,” he said at last. “Largest caravan consortium for a reason. They always treat their guards right, and farmers get prime rates on produce, livestock, and grain. Some of the other smaller caravans?” The man shrugged. “One hears things. Tang’s caravan, for instance. He promises to beat even Sun’s rate upon run completion, though he doesn’t really have the margin for it, his guards earning half again what Sun’s do. But the poor sop’s gotten hit three times this past year. Yet not once has Tang or either of his sons suffered a single injury. His guards? That’s another story. Funny, how that works out.”
Alex smirked. “Not for the guards. And I’ll bet the Tangs are doing as well as ever.”
The guard suddenly looked uncomfortable. “I couldn’t say anything about that. And neither should you. But a new caravanner just starting out? Best stick with the biggest, safest wagon trains. Same tip as I give everyone else.”
Alex nodded solemnly. “Sun’s Caravans are the way to go. Thanks for the tip.”
The guard nodded, bemused expression once more in place. “And whatever you do, avoid the special at Sing’s. New cook’s a disaster. I don’t know how anyone could manage to mess up prime spirit boar, but there’s always one idiot out there who manages to do just that.”
Alex winced. “And I’ll bet that meat costs a pretty copper too.”
“Doesn’t it? You’re best off sticking with the mundane livestock always on the menu, seeing as we’re a major distribution center for the capital. Han’s is a bit upscale, but the cook is a miracle worker, and the bottom half of the menu is something even a guard like me can afford.”
Alex nodded. “Han’s for dinner, Sun’s for employment. Thanks for the tips,” he said, passing through the gate and making his way down the wide central thoroughfare that characterized every city or t
own, no matter how big or small, that he had ever been to on this world, assuring plenty of room for everyone from the busy pedestrians wearing changshans, simple tunics, or robes, to guards wearing lamellar armor of bronze or rawhide, with spears used as casual walking sticks, to the well-to-do merchants wearing squared-off hats and an assortment of silks and furs.
Hair styles for the men varied from completely shaven to a single well-oiled top knot to having it all tied back in a ponytail secured with a silver hair ring. The latter tended to be aloof-looking individuals, no doubt of means, all of them wearing dao at their hips, no few being at least basic cultivators when Alex allowed himself to focus on them for the few moments necessary to trigger his Soul Sight.
The few women he saw wore qipaos a bit more sedate than the ones he had seen in Yidushi, long gowns and short coats being a far more common sight. Their hairstyles were quite similar to the ones favored in the big city, glossy dark hair wrapped in tight buns with silver pins or elegantly knotted ponytails.
A striking contrast from Yidushi was the more relaxed pace everyone moved with, more nods and smiles than the harried tension he had seen in Yidushi as people made their way along the central boulevard. And though Alex saw a number of impressive pagodas and spied any number of shops with exotic wares on display, there were far more warehouses than manors, and numerous staging areas connecting right to the central boulevard. Which made perfect sense, since this was a town that specialized in centralizing produce shipments and trade.
But the most striking difference between this town and Yidushi were the number of Ruidians he saw here, particularly the women, who had been all but hidden from public view in Yidushi, more than a few green-eyed redheads with glittering gems on proud display upon their brow catching his eye, the girls wearing qipaos perfectly matching their counterparts, with crimson ringlets done up in pins that matched the color of their jewels.
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior Redeemed: A LitRPG/Wuxian Novel - Book 5 Page 6
