Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior Reforged: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 2
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Congratulations! Your senses now transcend the physical! Qi Perception is now Rank 1! You can now sense both physical and Qi manifestations around you within a 10-foot radius with concentration! You enjoy a passive +2 bonus to all Perception checks within this radius and all stealth checks and Qi cloaking disciplines will suffer an equal penalty when used against you. When actively used, you will enjoy a bonus in sensing the inner-workings of all Qi attacks and wards! With sufficient training, this sense can be used as a substitute for sight, independent of light levels, for purposes of combat, navigation, and object orientation. You will not be able to read or differentiate visual colors, patterns, or minute details without making use of additional senses.
Alex felt a quiet jolt of triumph with his interface’s acknowledgment of his new skill, suddenly sensing the world around him, within 10 feet anyway, more clearly than he ever had before. He could sense leaves fluttering on low hanging branches overhead with the evening breeze, the quiet rustle of the grass nearby, the hunched over, shivering figures of several captives. He didn’t see them so much as felt minute amounts of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy flowing through them. He had had odd flashes of insight into his environment, sensing words spoken and glimpses of people gazing at him in awe from the other side of a dimensional gate, like the beautiful girl he had rescued from the clutches of a demon before kissing oblivion himself, but never before had it blossomed into true understanding. And now, having achieved Rank 1, he could use this humble version of it at will.
Best of all, he could now sense the spiritual gate that was both infinitely vast and utterly minute, that served as the barrier between the pocket dimension that was his artifact and the physical world all around him. Not only that, he could just begin to make out the impossibly complex structure of the artifact he wore, of Gordian Knot-like complexity. He felt dizzy just trying to follow the impossible matrix of near-infinite recurving strands of Divine power, before pulling back, realizing it was both utterly beyond him and utterly unnecessary. He didn’t need to comprehend the structure itself, at least not at this incredibly early stage of his cultivation journey. Rather, he just had to have a sense of the blocked doorway cutting him off from the artifact.
Only when the spiritual gate was well and truly within his mind’s eye did he dare the next step, doing his utmost to sense whatever was cutting him off from the gate itself.
He suddenly felt an odd frisson of wonder, sensing at last the inner workings of the gate itself, the puzzle-like structure of interwoven Qi that served as the barrier between Alex and his ultimate prize suddenly apparent to all his senses.
He spent what felt like an eternity studying those interlocked strands before he was struck with sudden insight.
He couldn’t help wondering if the ring, divine artifact that it was, had somehow been protecting itself the instant after Alex had sacrificed all his earthly treasures for a cause far greater than himself. And perhaps it was that defensive measure alone that explained how Alex was wearing his prize still, reincarnated yet again if his odd dream off bobbing upon the River of Souls before branching off onto a far more earthly tributary had been anything other than delirium.
The important thing was that he had a second chance at life, and his ultimate prize was intact. All he needed to do now was be clever and savvy enough to unlock the puzzle before him, and it would be his to use once more.
His breathing slowed as he immersed himself ever deeper into the mysteries of his artifact, losing all track of time until a rough-booted foot jarred him awake the following day, and he realized, much to his chagrin, that he had eventually fallen asleep.
Though he felt no closer to understanding the mysteries of his ring, he did find his Qi Perception was aiding him in spotting all sorts of exotic plants and mushrooms radiating Wood, Water, and Earth Qi more easily than ever, even plants he had never seen before, discrete nibbles slowly giving insights into their nature, as well as an embarrassing bit of indigestion, until immunity to yet another toxin developed.
You have discovered Poison Toadwort. This toxin will cause severe intestinal damage when ingested by mammals with a delayed reaction time of 5-15 minutes.
You now have 50% Immunity to Poison Toadwort.
You now have 75% Immunity to Poison Toadwort. You have taken 10 Damage. You are currently suffering from Severe Cramps & Diarrhea.
And after an agonizing bout that earned more than a few cruel laughs from the guards as he spent half the morning racing for the trees, he was grateful for the notification he had been desperate to get.
Congratulations! You now have Full Immunity to Poison Toadwort.
You now have 65% Immunity to the effects of all caustic compounds or inhaled irritants.
Intestinal damage fully regenerated.
The other plants he had plucked were far more benign in nature, Alex detecting natural harmonious affinities with the body’s own humors. He sensed several would be good for speeding general healing rates, several others for treating localized infections. All in all, it was a rewarding if exhausting day from a gathering perspective, and best of all, the girl he had treated the day before was able to keep up with the caravan as a whole, taking a tremendous weight off Alex’s shoulders.
And when Scar caught his gaze and Alex felt the man’s killing gaze upon him, all he received was the smallest of nods.
But it was enough.
Of course, he knew he had already been granted a certain amount of leniency, allowed to forage as long as he was within clear sight of the caravan. And a smirking Tang Dan who had so enjoyed tapping the bronze bracelet he wore and pointing to Alex’s collar whenever he caught sight of Alex that first day now didn’t even bother with pointless threats, only grunting when Alex caught his gaze.
“Master Scar wants you to take a look at one of the slaves, boy. You’d best get going,” said a guard when they stopped for lunch, Alex now expected to compound during their midday rest. Alex just nodded deferentially before being led to a man wincing with pain near the lead wagon.
He caught the look of despair in the man’s eyes, winced when he saw the badly blistered feet.
The guard sneered down at the injured man. “You’d better hope you heal quick, or your death won’t be easy, worm,” was all the guard said before walking off.
Desperate eyes peered into Alex’s own. “I know what you did for Yan Yan, healer. I pray you can save me as well.”
Alex flinched, feeling utterly unworthy of the title ‘healer,’ but there it was. He frowned at the man’s blistered feet, considering them, before giving a slow nod. “Actually, I might be able to do something for you. Wait here, I’ll get what I need.”
The man chuckled. “It’s not like I’m going to be getting up anytime soon.”
Yet with the application of several compresses and poultices, as well as a fresh pair of boots the surly quartermaster only surrendered when Alex wondered aloud what would happen if Scar lost a perfectly good slave because of the man’s stinginess, the captive was on his feet once more.
“Thank you, lad. Thank you!” the man said, his weary eyes filled with gratitude.
“You’re still going to be in pain,” Alex warned. “But this should see you through ‘til nightfall, and with any luck, you’ll be well on the mend after a good night’s sleep.”
After an unexpected heartfelt hug from the man, Alex was allowed at last to grab a quick bite to eat before it was time to pack his crude compounding equipment and prepare for gathering once more, taking a humble sort of pride in his growing collection of salves and elixirs, stored in the myriad clay pots that had suddenly become available to him, their contents and purposes marked with a tiny brush in English. No one, not even Scar, had bothered asking for any translations, at least not yet.
And as exhausted as he was by nightfall, he still made time to check on Yan Yan. The girl offered him a wan smile. “I’m free of pain for the first time in days.” She lowered her head. It broke Alex’s heart to see her we
ighed down by shame that should never have been her burden in the first place. “This one thanks you, healer.”
Alex shook his head. “I’m no healer, just an unworthy student who should have learned more when he had the chance. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
And grateful as he was to see the young woman on the mend, he turned his gaze to his true focus, the soft brown eyes of the captive cultivator locking with his own. And more clearly than ever, he saw the terror mixed in with her defiance.
He could only imagine how it must have felt, to go from a position of prestige and respect to that of a helpless slave, betrayed by closest kin. And now, her powers constrained by steel and deadly peril, she was utterly vulnerable to the cruel wiles of any man to gaze her way.
A quick glance revealed no guards looking their way, the slavers already grown used to Alex’s elevated status and relative freedom of movement, compared to the other captives. Good.
“How are you?”
Yong Ming flashed a bitter smile. “How the hell do you think? I’m a captive with a damned collar linked to a dark cultivator around my neck. Clearly, I’ve never been better.”
Alex winced. “Sorry, stupid question.”
She sighed, shaking her head. “No, Alex. I’m the one who should apologize. You’re the last person who deserves my bitterness. And after what you did for poor Yan Yan? You’ve already proven yourself worthy of my respect, no matter your heritage.”
Alex blinked. “My heritage? Oh. Yes. I look Ruidian.”
She raised a curious eyebrow. “Are you not? You look like a pureblood to me, but if you say you’re of mixed heritage, I won’t gainsay it.”
Alex grinned. “My heritage is certainly mixed up, but that’s neither here nor there.” He frowned in sudden concern. “I know it may seem an odd question, but you’re the only person I haven’t seen eating...”
Her gaze hardened. “That’s deliberate. Everyone knows that cultivators, even those who have taken only the first steps, can endure deprivation far better than most. And Fang, if it wasn’t already obvious, intends to break me. I haven’t eaten for five days. But since they don’t yet intend to kill me, at least they water me like a pack mule, every morning.”
Alex frowned. Not satisfied with a quick furtive glance, he closed his eyes and accessed his newest gift, focusing so deeply for an endless moment he actually felt spiritually drained.
Qi Perception in active use. 1 Qi point used. No hostile presences detected.
Alex opened his eyes once more, having sensed nothing nearby save the huddled forms of female captives finding what comfort they could in their food and whispered conversations.
Most importantly, not even the slaves were looking his way.
But Yong Ming was. The sudden intensity of her gaze sent chills down his spine.
“You’re a cultivator!” she quietly hissed.
Alex frowned. “You could sense that?” That worried him. It was clear he knew far less about the limitations of his gifts, or the ability of others to detect them, than he should. If Tang Dan were to sense the use of his gifts, Alex knew he’d be in serious jeopardy.
“Yes. I felt the Qi surge right out of you! It was subtle, though. It would have felt like the softest of brushes against any other cultivator more than a few paces away. But you’re Ruidian. That’s impossible!”
Alex silenced her when he plopped a still-warm piece of fatty, juicy meat into her mouth.
Her eyes widened with surprised outrage that quickly transformed to gratitude.
“Eat it slowly, and just that little bit. More than three days fasting and you should introduce food slowly, or you risk serious cramps.” Just one of the many factoids he had picked up when he had embraced fasting along with other alternative cures for the cancer that had ultimately killed him. As to whether it had helped, he thought it had, but even if fasting could rejuvenate the body and help to alleviate the symptoms of numerous chronic injuries and ailments, stage 4 cancer was stage 4 cancer.
A few lucky souls he knew had actually experienced complete remission.
Alex hadn’t been one of them.
Yong Ming just glared at his words, devouring the food and opening her mouth wide as if expecting more. Alex sighed and surrendered the remainder of his food bowl, keeping a careful eye out for anyone who might find his extended absence suspicious.
“I’m a cultivator, Alex. Having mastery over my own body’s functions are among the very first steps I was expected to take.” She frowned thoughtfully. “But there are almost as many traditions as there are cultivators. Maybe you follow a different path?”
Alex shrugged. “As long as you don’t cramp up, it all works for me.” His brow furrowed. “Alright, I have to head back or they’ll get suspicious. Yong Ming?”
“Yes, Alex?” she asked, quickly swallowing the hastily devoured food.
“What’s your cultivating status?”
“Fifth rank Basic Cultivator,” she said with a certain amount of pride.
“Can you fight?”
Her eyes blazed. “Put a naginata in my hands, and I’ll show you what it means to fight!” she hissed.
Alex frowned.
She gave a rueful shake of her head. “Or a spear. I’m almost as good at fighting with a short spear or quarterstaff. Not that it will do any good. With these enchanted collars, all that Ogre Magi has to do is wish us to burn, and we will burst into flame.”
Alex sighed and nodded. “That is a problem.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Be safe, and try not to antagonize them. I’ll try to slip you some more food tomorrow night.”
And before she could say another word or any of the guards he sensed beginning their rounds could spot him, he had already slipped through the trees around the camp, waiting until just after the increasingly agitated guards had moved off before sliding himself between Peng and another slave, the latter only grumbling and shifting as Alex settled in, immediately feigning sleep.
“You play a dangerous game,” Peng whispered, when a cursing guard spotted Alex before calling his partner a blind fool. But the closest person Alex had to a friend said nothing else as he deliberately steadied his breathing, counting on his continued practice to avoid falling asleep even in his present curled position, turning his focus once more to his mystical ring.
And the shimmering gate and the complex puzzle of interlocking Qi blocking him from his prize.
Over time, the fluid, shifting puzzle at last solidified to a final form as he continued to pour all his focus on the obstacle before him. A golden lock for which he had no key. And somehow, he had to figure out a way to unlock his prize and reclaim it for himself. He frowned with mounting frustration as he struggled futilely to move what were eight tumblers, each tumbler comprised of a separate element of Qi. At first the solution seemed obvious. He thought of the basic five elements that comprised the standard paradigm in this realm, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire, slipping in Air, Lightning, and Spirit where it made sense to him. First, he unraveled yet another strand of Qi from his seventh meridian blockage using his Dual Path purification technique, visualizing separating the Light Qi into its eight component elements.
His first experiment had involved matching each of his eight elements to their respective tumblers. That had done absolutely nothing.
Then he had tried matching each element with its complementing element, using Water to boost Wood, Wood to boost Fire, and so on. And even after he had struggled with all his might, not a single tumbler had budged.
It was only when he tried to reverse the process, facilitating a destructive or purifying cycle, linking Fire to Metal and Metal to Wood that he finally saw results, paltry as they were. After hours of intense effort that drained him completely of his Light Qi, he sensed he had made the tiniest bit of progress. Finally, he was moving in the right direction.
But it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
All that effort, and he had shifted only a single tumbler.
It was all he could do not to cry from frustration.
And really, what did he expect? He was among the lowliest of cultivators, daring to manipulate a divine artifact. He supposed he should be lucky it hadn’t destroyed him outright.
Worse, with the cultivating he had done, he had generated Dark as well as Light Qi and had no place to put it that wouldn’t result in a wretched stench, should he dare to exude it from his pores.
And then he blinked, the solution suddenly so obvious.
What was Dark Qi, after all, but a representation of the forces of entropy, change, and decay? And grim as some might find that truth, it was only that steady flow of energy from order to chaos, reality seeking constant equilibrium, that kept the universe in motion, allowing everything to continually move forward in time. It was destructive, in that all things eventually broke down, yet without it, everything would be in a state of rigid perfection. Flawless, eternal, and utterly frozen in time.
To Alex’s mind it was a perfect example of dualism, Dark and Light Qi forming two halves of a greater whole, both absolutely vital to the continuation of the universe, for all that one aspect was glorified and the other despised. Just like Silver Fox himself, Alex supposed. And even if he was using universal principals from a universe forever lost to him, it still fit his understanding of Dark Qi perfectly. And that, in the end, was all that mattered.
After hours of concerted effort, it took every ounce of his willpower to continue on, wanting nothing more than to slip into exhausted slumber. But enticed as he had been by the puzzle before him, coming so close to a deeper understanding of his ring, he had overlooked the crucial cost of all that directed cultivating. To his horror, he realized that he had already crossed the point of no return. The cost of refining so much Light Qi in his desperate attempts to free his divine treasure from its bindings had left him with a massive buildup of Dark Qi that now had no place to go. The results would be disastrous if he dared stop now. His cover would be blown, his enemies would know exactly what he was capable of, and he would be too exhausted and drained to fight them off.