Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior Redeemed: A LitRPG/Wuxian Novel - Book 5

by M. H. Johnson

  Gambling with his life every time he dared this mad path.

  Not that he really had a choice in the matter, but still.

  Alex shook his head, forcing his mind back to the present, all too easily visualizing a stopwatch ticking away in the back of his mind.

  He mimed stuffing all his prizes in an enemy backpack he claimed, though in truth he transported it all into his brass ring.

  And after forging a pocket realm now possessing the circumference of a small moon, he got no warnings that he was close to any sort of maximum capacity, and doubted he ever would again.

  He then got up and truly took a look at the men and women staring so intently at him, wide eyes filled with either awe or desperate fear.

  No one flashed him a welcoming smile or offered any nod of friendship.

  Not even Xian Hong, who had returned along with her brother and mentor, looked at him like a friend. Her solemn gaze was now utterly unreadable to him.

  And Yan Song, his intent stare asking so many questions.

  Questions Alex knew better than to try to answer with so many furtive eyes now locked upon him.

  Instead, he sauntered up to the caravan master.

  “I’m going to walk along the road for a time. If your caravan wishes to follow, I have no objections.”

  The rotund man flashed a relieved grin. Alex glared. “Just so long as it’s understood you’re not helping me in any way get to Baidushi. I could get there far faster on my own. If anything, you all are a burden. Is that understood?”

  Alex ignored the dark murmurs this arrogant declaration caused, even as others lowered their heads in shame. And Alex knew he had no choice but to say those words, to make it clear to the fates themselves, no doubt watching even if the gods could not, that he was gaining no benefit from his act, so triggering no doom.

  If anything, he was putting himself in unnecessary peril, burning away time he didn’t know for sure that he had to spare.

  The merchant quickly nodded. “It will be as you say, lord cultivator. My name is Master Yin Zun, and I will make sure the city guard knows of your...”

  “You’ll tell them no such thing,” Alex said with a bleak smile. “You’ll tell them an arrogant, presumptuous Ruidian brought trouble to your caravan, for they were hunting for my head, not your own. And if the city guard has any sense, they’ll do everything they can to make sure I never enter the city. Understood?”

  Alex glared at the confused merchant who nevertheless gave a reluctant nod. “It will be as you say then, lord cultivator. May I ask for your name?”

  Alex smirked. “No, you may not. Now shut up and follow. If you’re lucky, you might just make it to Baidushi alive.”

  And when the caravan was finally together Alex found them moving at a pace no faster than Sun’s Caravan had, so he was not forced to push himself in any way.

  Yet despite their slow progress, Alex sensed no sign of any reds coming their way. It seemed, strangely enough, that Alex had successfully broken through their perimeter, and with that squad and scout dead, it was like the main force wasn’t even aware that the perimeter was broken. They probably thought their men were still patrolling, and if the scout didn’t show up with warning, they were assuming all was well.

  The act of fools, Alex thought. But then again, he had killed two Silvers, a double handful of Bronze, and all their aerial scouts. Maybe whoever was left was barely able to handle the reins of command.

  Truth was, he had no idea what was going on. And so long as they left him alone, he didn’t much care.

  Alex was almost surprised at how long it took for Yan to gather the gumption to walk by his side.

  For long awkward moments the man just stared straight ahead, matching Alex stride for stride.

  “Alex, I—”

  “You’re an idiot,” Alex snapped, keeping his gaze straight ahead. “I told you to avoid the main roads!”

  “That’s easier said than done, Alex!” a suddenly angry Yan said. “Don’t you think I tried my utmost to keep those kids safe? But not all of us have a perfect sense of where things are in relation to endless forest, unless we’re in sight of the road. And when I dared force us deeper into the woods...”

  Alex could sense the man’s shudder. “I could sense them, Alex.”

  “Sense what?”

  “Packs of spirit beasts. Not just solo hunters, but groups of wild creatures, gazing our way with a predator’s hunger. And no, Alex, I wasn’t worried for my own sake. I can take care of myself. But one misstep, and I could lose one of the children, especially if those creatures worked to separate us and kill the weakest amongst us. And that was a risk I was unwilling to take.”

  Alex frowned at that, realizing Yan Song was right.

  Whereas Alex, with his mastery over his environment and hunter’s senses, would have delighted in predators wanting to play with him, any cultivator who couldn’t sense the forest’s secrets all around, anyone without internal Qi techniques that allowed them to strike with devastating speed while giving nothing away in terms of Qi flow that a savvy opponent could sense, or lacking the ability to spring effortlessly in or out of the trees, or regenerate potentially lethal wounds in minutes or even seconds... Alex could appreciate how the lack of all his hard-earned abilities that he now almost took for granted would cause other cultivators sleepless nights filled with dread, were they forced into the forest depths with no strong allies or secure shelter in sight.

  “You’re right. I expected too much from you. It won’t happen again.”

  Yan Song chuckled. “You can be a right ass when you put your mind to it, you know that?”

  Alex grinned. “I know.”

  “Alex?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you.”

  Alex shrugged. “I was in the neighborhood, and had nothing better to do. Besides, those bastards had some cute toys.”

  “You mean like that helmet you’re now wearing and the steel shield now at your hip?”

  Alex grinned. “Pretty much, yeah.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t fully kit yourself in their armor.”

  “And be mistaken for one of the Red Prince’s men? Which might engender all sorts of interesting questions by entire regiments wondering why Zhengtu’s centuries-long ally felt the need to send armored guests trouncing along her roads without papers, permits, or any official protocols being followed at all? I think not. The helmet’s close enough in design to those worn by the pathetic excuses for guards in this caravan that it doesn’t stand out so much. Besides, only the helmet and shield are magical treasures. And those things are almost expected to look at least somewhat out of the ordinary, artifacts being custom-made for one self-important cultivator or another over who knows how many hundreds of years. The rest of the gear, save for the amulets, are quite obviously armaments belonging to a different army entirely, so best we avoid using them altogether. And that reminds me...”

  Alex handed out three of the amulets. “The amulets radiate a low-ranked Qi Ward that will turn any mortal weapon aside and lessen the impact of at least a few cultivator’s blows, if they’re not too strong.”

  Yan’s eyes widened. “Alex, these are priceless! I can’t tell you how—”

  “Just shut up and take them. You three need them far more than me.”

  Yan opened his mouth, caught between exasperation and ire, before finally shaking his head with a smile. “I owe you one, Alex.”

  Alex smirked. “You owe me three. And I’ll call us even if you can actually get your charge safely to wherever she has to be.”

  Yan bowed his head. “It would be my greatest honor to accomplish just that.”

  Alex frowned. “You sure you’re going to be safe, once you hit the city?”

  Yan Song frowned. “A royal escort should be waiting for us. But with the way this mission has gone so far...”

  “Best to make your way unannounced until you’re actually in the palace and Cui Long can get a good look at h
is future prospective wife.”

  Yan Song froze. Alex continued walking on.

  “Alex! How could you possibly...?”

  “Oh, come on. It’s obvious. Princess coming out of hiding once she hits marriageable age, heading for the capital of the principality closest to your own nation’s borders? Even if she’s not destined to inherit, she’s still royal blood of an entire nation, whereas our Prince Cui Long is destined to rule a single principality. But it’s a wealthy trade hub adjoining your own nation, so, why not? Stronger relations between neighbors, stronger ties of kinship and alliances. Who could lose in a situation like that?”

  “The Red Prince, of course,” Yan Song sighed.

  Alex chuckled softly. “Of course. You’re no fool, Yan Song. You know as well as I that Xian Hong’s enemies must be whoever stands to lose the most from stronger relations between the kingdom of Yantu and Baidushi city, or Cuijing Principality, or perhaps this nation as a whole. This is politics, after all. No telling how deep this goes.”

  Yan Song gave a thoughtful nod. “True. Which makes me curious about whichever royal or noble is pulling your own strings, Alex. Who do you serve? I’m assuming either Cui Long personally or his family?” He frowned thoughtfully. “You couldn’t be one of Spymaster Shi Tan’s lads, could you?”

  Alex smirked. “Hardly. I’m just a guy who was at the right place at the right time, and connected some dots. That’s it.”

  “Connected some dots?”

  “Read between the lines and put two and two together? Saw the truth behind the lies? Made my perception check? Take your pick.”

  The powerfully-built cultivator stared long and hard at Alex. “You truly are a strange one.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  Yan Song frowned, now gazing intently at the woods all around them. “Alex?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t you think we should be scouting ahead?”

  Alex shook his head. “There are no reds for several miles, and like I told you before, lesser spirit beasts tend to avoid caravans with so many people. We’re pretty much safe, for now.”

  “How do you know all that? Did the woods tell you? Is this part of your gift as a wild cultivator?”

  Alex smirked. “If you like, sure. We’ll go with that.”

  For a time, they walked silence.

  “So.”

  “So.”

  “Is Xian Hong, like, terrified of me now?”

  Yan Song sighed. “She saw you butcher multiple people in hot blood, Alex. You’re her hero, but we all saw the mad bloodlust in your eyes.”

  Alex winced, lowering his gaze. There really wasn’t much he could say to that.

  He felt a powerful hand squeeze his shoulder. “And we’re beyond grateful for it. Had you not been the man you are, the savage you are, she would already be dead. She knows that better than anyone.”

  Alex nodded. “The important thing is she’s safe.”

  “Agreed.”

  “And anyone’s going to turn a tad bloodthirsty if countless people have been trying to kill them, almost since the day they found out they could cultivate.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  “And don’t even get me started on my former master’s favorite training regimen. If your disciple’s not being forged in fire with multiple students trying to break them at all times, you must be doing something wrong.”

  Yan chuckled softly. “That’s either a man eager to forge Silvers, or a cold-blooded psychopath.”

  “Maybe a bit of both. Though honorable, even friendly, in his own savage way.”

  “So now we know where you get it from.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Alex?”

  “Yes?”

  “Who was your former master?”

  Alex grinned. “Former Jianghu assassin turned honorable instructor. Come to think about it, that describes all of my favorite instructors.”

  Yan was gazing at Alex strangely. “You mean there was more than one?”

  “Of course! Though only one taught me directly. The rest mostly manipulated me from the sidelines. But in a friendly sort of way.”

  “That explains so much right there.”

  Alex smirked. “Yeah, I guess it does. Let’s just walk on in silence, and pretend that last bit of conversation never actually happened, okay?”

  Yan chuckled softly. “Hero’s prerogative, Alex. The storytellers will remember the tale however you wish to tell it.”

  Alex coughed, stumbling forward in surprise.

  “Alex, are you alright? Did you take injury? Don’t let stubborn pride put you in peril, Alex! We need you too much for that,” said a suddenly-alarmed Yan, mask of sangfroid bemusement torn free to reveal the concerned man underneath, who, despite his rock-hard jawline and powerful body cultivator’s physique, looked at that moment more like a concerned uncle than anything else.

  But Alex quickly waved his concern away.

  “No, I’m fine. But if you really want to do me a good turn, how about you be the one to share the tale? You can paint the hero any way you like, even take all the credit, for all I care.”

  Yan Sing snorted. “I highly doubt that a certain princess has any intention of downplaying the honor and glory her hero has earned, fighting on her behalf.” A powerful hand tightened on Alex’s shoulder in gentle warning. “After all, she is the third in line to inherit not just a city-state’s mantle or a principality’s honor, but the golden throne of an entire kingdom. To disregard the glory and honor earned by her champion would be to demean princess and country both, and I know you too well to think you’d ever want to do that.”

  Alex winced. “No. Of course not. I’m having far too much fun playing with her uncle’s favorite toy soldiers not to want to encourage them to seek me out for countless hours of excitement in all sorts of unexpected places.”

  Yan gave a sympathetic chuckle. “Fear not, my young friend. The moment the princess is properly announced and I may remove the cloak that binds me, her uncle will be forced to sheath his claws and swear to abide by the oaths sworn by all visiting lords of neighboring nations, whether they be Silver or Gold.”

  “And what would these oaths be?” asked a curious Alex.

  “I would think that would be obvious. To raise no hand directly or by proxy, so as to cause no deliberate harm or hardship to any native lord or fellow guest or their immediate kin, from the moment rice is shared from the same bowl. This is why you will almost always be greeted by servants holding a silver bowl of rice whenever you enter any lord’s manor, or that of any merchant or craftsman eager to exalt their station, aping their betters.”

  Alex nodded. “Ah. I note the oath only precludes them striking out at the aristocracy. But why aren’t there any provisions against lashing out at commoners for no good reason?”

  Yan chuckled “My dear Alex! To find you capable of such idealism, even after being forged in the bitter fires of your master’s kiln is something I find quite remarkable. In fact, I’d call it pure foolishness, did I not owe my life and the life of my sacred charge to just such an idealistic fool. One who dared to risk his neck saving people to whom he owed nothing, bound by no ties of love or kinship whatsoever, for all that bonds as strong as gold and steel bind us now. So instead, I will call you hero.”

  The powerful cultivator bowed his head with a wink. “May you always embrace glorious folly in the defense of a lady who will always have room in her court for noble fools such as yourself, Alex.”

  Alex couldn’t help but grin back. “Always happy to help a damsel in distress. And yeah, I know it was a stupid question. I already know how ruthless this world can be to those without power. It’s just, well, where I’m originally from, the ruling class at least put on the facade of caring about the millions of faceless workers toiling in their farms, factories, and shops.”

  Yan raised a curious eyebrow. “Fascinating. I wonder if I’ve ever heard of it?”

  “I seriousl
y doubt anyone around here ever has.”

  Yan gave him a look. “That was a leading question, Alex. You’re supposed to follow with the location of wherever you’re from.”

  Alex smirked. “Oh, I know that. But seriously. You’ve never heard of it. Trust me.”

  Yan folded his powerful arms. “Try me.”

  Alex shrugged. Why not? “Ever hear of a place called Earth? Or the United States of America?”

  Yan frowned, giving him the strangest look. “Are you sure you weren’t stabbed in the belly at some point? Warriors suffering from perforated abdomens sometimes make sounds like that.”

  Alex laughed. “That’s what my native tongue, English, sounds like. Now that I answered your question, you owe me an answer just as candid.”

  Yan’s eyes positively twinkled. “Oh, I see the game we’re playing now, lad. Very well, ask your question.”

  “Why is it you’re willing to speak to me so freely in a world filled with dark sages and wujen? I mean, the girl you’re watching over is third in line for the throne of an entire nation! That’s probably even bigger than whether or not I stumbled across a Jade tome, once upon a time.” Yan’s eyes widened at those words. “Yet you’re talking as freely as we used to discuss our sparring matches, and I gotta say, for a girl so important to be wandering about a potentially hostile kingdom with only a Bronze as an escort? It doesn’t really add up. No offense.”

  For long moments, Yan just gazed into the distance as they strode along the ley line serving as a trade road, surrounded by the soothing susurrations of the massive trees to either side. “Those were two questions,” he said at last. “But since the answers to both are inextricably intertwined, I’ll give you the second for free.”

  He revealed a plain lead disk upon a chain of silver he had looped around his neck. Alex frowned, sensing the subtlest tingle of... something.

  “I’m guessing that must be a cloaking artifact or something?” Alex asked, strangely gratified by the look of surprise flashing across the other man’s features.