《Unrivaled Existence (A World Ark Tale)》
Chapter 1
¡°Things that are done, it is needless to speak about...things that are past, it is needless to blame.¡± - Confucius 551-479 BC
Old man Fang hated visiting the Shadow Ruins. It was a place seemingly devoid of life, but somehow made you feel like you were always being watched. Even during the day, unnatural shadows flickered about. If Fang had been more superstitious, he would have sworn some of the shadows were moving. The older villagers called the ruins ¡®kayamah al makubo¡¯ in their dialect. Roughly translated it meant ¡®place of uneasy souls.¡¯ Fang scoffed at their superstition, but he couldn¡¯t deny there was something uneasy about the place. If it weren¡¯t for the Mika herbs that loved to grow near the dilapidated structures, Fang would give an arm and a leg to stay away.
Today, he had no choice. Young Wen Er had fallen sick three days ago with no signs of recovering. The village''s supply of Mika herbs had ran out. As the village healer, Fang didn¡¯t trust the village bumpkins to collect the herbs. They probably had no clue how to distinguish the herb from common weeds. No, such tasks were better left to himself.
As the only educated individual in the village, Fang harbored a sense of superiority. After all, in his younger days he had studied at the prestigious Tai Lin Academy in Xi Mao and had traveled somewhat extensively throughout the empire. Fang had visited places the villagers could only dream about, such as the Golden Pagodas of Emperor Tai Ming and the Crystal Waterfalls in Dong Hang. Most of the villagers had never even journeyed beyond the village¡¯s boundaries. Towards these myopic farmers, Fang could only shake his head.
¡°What a nice day. Pity I must spend it all finding herbs in this god forsaken place,¡± Fang mumbled. He surveyed his surroundings. Decrepit stones, formations, underpasses, and half-worn walls, reminders of a golden age long gone, stretched endlessly for miles. Fang conjectured that these ruins must have been the foundation of a great city in the past.
What puzzled Fang was that there was no mention of such ruins in the academy archives. Surely a significant archaeological site would have been well known among scholars. It was for this reason Fang believed he was the first to discover the ruins. Of course, the villagers had known about the place long before he had arrived, but they didn¡¯t count. In Fang¡¯s eyes, discoveries were reserved for the intellectuals and scholars. Farmers, whose purpose were to toil the land, had no say in these matters.
¡°Another one. This must be my lucky day,¡± Fang thought happily as he spotted a patch of Mika herbs hiding in the shade by an abandoned well. Fang hurried over. Placing the herb basket down, he knelt to get a closer look. Despite Fang¡¯s disgust for the villagers¡¯ ignorance in herbology, he had to admit that even he had trouble distinguishing Mika herbs from weeds. Aside from their numerous similarities, the Mika herbs differed from weeds in only one respect. Mika leaves had lightning-shaped veins, which were difficult to identify without close inspection.
Satisfied by what he saw, Fang pulled out a dagger sheathed in leather. Careful not to cut himself or damage the plant, he slowly worked at the roots of the herb. Fang was so engrossed in the task that he failed to notice small cracks beginning to appear on the ground under him.
¡°Almost done,¡± Fang thought. Just as the last roots were cut, the ground suddenly gave way. Fang only managed a yelp before he fell into the pit along with the collapsing dirt and rocks.
When Fang regained consciousness, the first sensation he felt was a sharp pain originating from his left ankle. Luckily, he had reacted fast enough and had formed a qi barrier around himself during the fall. The thought of almost dying made Fang shudder involuntarily. Had he been any slower and had he not been a Qi Adept rank cultivator, he would have met his maker today.
"What is this place?¡± Fang asked no one in particular. For the first time since he woke up, Fang tried to observe his surroundings. He was most likely at the bottom of the hole, but Fang couldn¡¯t verify since the opening above provided insufficient light. ¡°That must have been at least a 50 meter drop,¡± Fang whistled.
Forcing himself up, Fang began circulating qi towards his broken ankle to accelerate the healing. If only he had paid more attention to his qi cultivation when he was younger, he would not be in this predicament. During the fall, Fang had barely conjured a qi barrier. Since his proficiency with qi manipulation was below average, Fang¡¯s barrier was inconsistent. The barrier absorbed most of the impact from the drop, but it hadn¡¯t been strong enough in some areas.
Fang rummaged through his pockets and pulled out an obsidian stone the size of his palm. He injected a bit of qi into the stone, causing the stone to light up. Fang thanked the gods that he had the foresight to bring a lamp stone on this trip.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
¡°What the hell is this place?¡± Fang muttered a second time. When the stone lit up the area, Fang was surprised to see intricate symbols carved on the walls around him. He limped closer to one wall. ¡°Gods, this looks like an array. Wait, what¡¯s this? A concentric eight-sided star. I think I¡¯ve seen this somewhere,¡± Fang remarked. Against his better judgment, he reached out and gently rubbed the symbol. Not a moment later, a devilish hissing sound echoed behind him.
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Fang fearfully shouted, turning around as fast as his broken ankle would let him. He held the stone above his head to cast a wider reach. Fang could see flickering shadows near where the light met the darkness. Complete silence greeted him. All Fang could hear was his own furious heartbeat.
Just as he was about to dismiss the hissing as a figment of his imagination, it began anew and grew louder. The shadows at the edge of the light flickered more violently. Had Fang not seen it with his own eyes, he would not believe the shadows were encroaching into the light. The effective area illuminated by the lamp stone slowly retreated. When the radius of the light was only a meter in diameter, the shadows suddenly surged forwards and slammed Fang into the wall behind.
At the speed he was attacked, Fang had no time to react. The force of the shadows knocked the breath out of him, and his head smashed the wall, drawing blood. Fang fell onto the ground and whimpered. The earth began to fiercely shake. Gasping for breath, Fang quickly erected a qi barrier above himself to prevent getting crushed by stray rocks.
The engravings on the walls started to glow and rapidly increased in brightness. At one point, the light around him was so blinding, Fang had to close his eyes and lie there.
¡°If this earthquake doesn¡¯t kill me, this array probably will,¡± Fang cursed silently. He thoroughly regretted not having left the Shadow Ruins sooner. In fact, earlier during the day he had already collected more than enough herbs to treat Wen Er¡¯s illness. However, figuring he had already made such a long trip, Fang decided to collect some more.
¡°Greed is death¡¯s seductive kiss,¡± Fang recalled a proverb from his early days at the academy. While Fang wasn¡¯t particularly afraid of death, having already lived 70 years, his regret stemmed mostly from the fact that Wen Er urgently needed the medication only he knew how to concoct.
In the last 20 years living among the villagers, Fang had only taken one pupil, Wen Er. She was an orphan from age four, and unlike most villagers, she had an aptitude for learning and boundless curiosity. Moreover, her talents in cultivation shocked Fang. If only she had been born to a prominent family, Wen Er would have had a bright future. There were times Fang was tempted leave his place of hiding and bring the girl to a nearby academy to get accepted. Though he risked death if caught by his enemies, Fang couldn¡¯t bear to see a flower wither among the weeds.
¡°Dammit!¡± Fang shouted, resigning himself to a bitter death. Then, as quickly as it began, the earthquake stopped. Fang dared to peek and noticed that it was no longer blindingly bright. The hissing had also stopped. Using the wall to prop himself, Fang mustered enough strength to stand. However, he was not prepared for what he saw next.
Standing a couple of meters away stood a brown-haired boy in golden silk robes. Being a former scholar, Fang had seen his fair share of extravagant clothing, but never in Fang¡¯s expansive experience, had he seen the designs on a robe move by themselves. Indeed, standing before him was a handsome fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy whose robe sported a dragon that swam ceaselessly on the fabric.
¡°Wuh,¡± Fang uttered. He was so awestruck by the sight that he didn¡¯t even question how the boy got there or why the earthquake and hissing had stopped.
¡°Greetings, sir. I¡¯m not sure where I am. Would you kindly tell me?¡± the boy asked in an entrancing voice. The boy smiled, which strangely brightened the room despite the lamp stone being the only source of light.
The boy¡¯s question brought Fang out of his trance.
¡°We¡¯re somewhere below the Shadow Ruins,¡± explained Fang, pointing up at the opening above them. ¡°What¡¯s your name, and how did you get here?¡± Fang inquired.
Fang¡¯s question seemed to hit the mark. The boy¡¯s smile faded, and he stood there for a while as if lost in thought.
¡°It¡¯s really strange, sir, but I can¡¯t seem to remember. Do you know?¡± responded the boy after some time.
Although the boy¡¯s sudden appearance was difficult to acknowledge, Fang couldn¡¯t help but lower his guard. Call it what you will, but after surviving many perils, Fang had developed a sixth sense about people. The boy seemed pure and lacking ill-intent.
¡°I¡¯m not sure either. There was an earthquake, lights, and hissing noises, but they¡¯ve all stopped. Then you appeared out of nowhere,¡± said Fang. ¡°And now we¡¯re both stuck down here, and my ankle is broken,¡± Fang continued though he didn¡¯t know why he was complaining to a fourteen-year-old boy.
¡°I see. If I have any responsibility in causing your predicament, I apologize. Since it seems we are fated to meet on this auspicious day, I do not mind being of service,¡± said the boy. Looking up at the opening, the boy made a determined face. ¡°Is that the way out?¡± asked the boy.
Fang nodded in acknowledgement.
¡°Well then, perhaps I have a solution.¡± The boy grinned.
[Chapter End]
Chapter 2
¡°Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence.¡± - Mencius 327-289 BC
A boy stood at the edge of a precipice overlooking an ominous chasm. Above, dark clouds morphed in perpetual agitation. Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the world in brief intervals. Despite the general eeriness of his environment, the boy gazed nonchalantly into the distance.
It was his 3,269th attempt to escape this damned dimension, but who was counting. The boy had been trapped in this reality for longer than he could care to remember.
¡°If I can gather enough lightning qi and redirect it into the abyss, maybe the shockblast will generate an exit,¡± he thought optimistically.
The boy knew his attempt was a far shot. In the uncountable period of time he had been stuck in this plane, he had learned one hard truth. Whenever he did anything drastic, whether it was absorbing all the qi or killing himself, the dimension would reset itself, and he would wake up on the edge of the cliff just like the very first time. More than once, he had tried to fly as far away from the chasm as possible, only to realize that the far edges of the dimension were enclosed by an impermeable gray mist.
¡°Here goes nothing,¡± the boy joked. With no more than a thought, he beckoned the lightning qi above to coagulate near his outstretched hand. Then, the boy fired the highly compressed lightning qi into the abyss below. He waited for a reaction, but nothing happened.
The boy¡¯s shoulders drooped in disappointment, and he sat down with a sigh, dangling his legs over the edge. Patience was another virtue he had become familiar with over time.
¡°Maybe next time Xiao Long,¡± the boy spoke sadly to the carefree dragon that glided to and fro on his robe. ¡°You know, you and I aren¡¯t so different. The fabric is your prison, and this dimension is mine,¡± the boy said with a wry smile.
While he contemplated his loneliness, the world around him abruptly froze. The boy instantly sensed the time dilation. After living in this plane for so long, the boy had learned to detect even the smallest of fluctuations in the qi. He noticed that the clouds had stopped moving, and several newly-formed arcs of lightning froze midway in the air.
A rift appeared a few meters behind him. Light spewed out from the torn fabric of space. The boy got up, slack-jawed, and watched the portal stabilize.
¡°Did my attempt work?¡± he wondered. Regardless of its origin, the portal was a welcoming sight for sore eyes. Fearing an eternity in prison, the boy leapt into the rift without any hesitation.
When he stepped out on the other side, the first thing he noticed was an overwhelming presence of lost souls. ¡°Interesting,¡± he mused. Having mastered the Dao of Life, the antagonistic souls posed no threat to him. However, they could very well hurt the injured man lying on the ground in front of him.
¡°I¡¯m not going to let them hurt a potential friend,¡± the boy thought to himself. The shadows hissed synchronously, preparing for another attack. Little did they know, they had come across one of the few existences who held complete dominance over them.
The boy effortlessly summoned a spirit vortex. A white arch fully materialized around the vortex and released thousands of translucent chains that latched themselves to the shadows. The black masses squirmed desperately to break free, to no avail. With a nod from the boy, the chains began slowly reeling the souls in.
¡°Go in peace. May you all find better fortune in the next life,¡± the boy prayed.
Once all the souls in the vicinity had been taken care of, the gate disappeared and the atmosphere lightened considerably. The boy wanted nothing more than to celebrate his newfound freedom with the man in front of him. However, afraid he might scare the other person away by acting unruly, the boy decided to wait for the man to come around on his own.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
In the meantime, the boy tried to identify other threats with his qi sense. A complicated look briefly flitted across the boy¡¯s face when he discovered an array around him. This was second time he had felt unsettled in a long while. The first time occurred during the brief moment he crossed the portal. At the rift¡¯s threshold, he was subjected to a powerful mind technique that imparted him with knowledge of a new language. Only a cultivator who had mastered the Dao of Insight could overcome the boy¡¯s considerable mental defenses.
¡°First it¡¯s someone capable of using the Dao of Insight, and now it¡¯s someone skilled in the Dao of Space-Time,¡± the boy thought. ¡°An interesting day, indeed. This array answers as many questions as it introduces. And that concentric eight-sided star appears to be the source of my imprisonment. Utilizing my own qi core to entrap me in a stasis. Genius!¡± the boy commented silently.
Now knowing that the array was the reason for his incarceration, the boy felt like one piece of the puzzle had been put in place.Though the boy detested the individual or individuals who imprisoned him, he could not help but admire their talents. As a cultivator who had mastered more than one Dao, the boy knew how rare such accomplishments were. The universe contained many secrets, and to even understand a tiny bit of reality was an enormous achievement.
The boy¡¯s momentary reflection was disrupted when he noticed the man in front of him begin to regain his bearings. Then their eyes met.
¡°Wuh,¡± the man uttered a sound. Now that they were face-to-face, the boy had realized the man in front of him was fairly advanced in age. The old man wore a simple grey shirt and tattered brown pants. His greying hair was neatly tied together in one knot at the back.
¡°Greetings, sir. I¡¯m not sure where I am. Would you kindly tell me?¡± the boy spoke in the friendliest way he could with the new language he had acquired. Not wanting to frighten the man with his sudden appearance, the boy tried to show a sincere side of himself by smiling.
Unfortunately, his actions only seemed to jolt the old man. For a brief moment, the boy had thought the man couldn¡¯t understand him, but his initial fears were quickly dispelled.
¡°We¡¯re somewhere below the Shadow Ruins,¡± explained the old man, pointing up at the opening above them. ¡°What¡¯s your name, and how did you get here?¡± the old man inquired.
The questions prompted a flurry of emotions in the boy. Who am I? Why was I imprisoned? Why don¡¯t I have memories of my past? These were all questions the boy longed to answer. Although the boy retained his abilities, the lack of memories always made him feel like an empty husk. After all, one¡¯s experiences contributed largely to one¡¯s identity. Following that logic, the boy was a nobody, regardless of his vast cultivation capabilities.
¡°It¡¯s really strange, sir, but I can¡¯t seem to remember. Do you know?¡± the boy responded, thinking that speaking the truth was more beneficial at the moment than a lie. For reasons he couldn''t explain, the boy had taken a liking to the old man in front of him.
Earlier, he had noticed that the array required someone else¡¯s blood in order to be broken. Judging by the smear of blood on the wall, the boy surmised that the old man had unraveled the array by accident. Even if it wasn¡¯t on purpose, the boy was thankful.
¡°I¡¯m not sure either. There was an earthquake, lights, and hissing noises, but they¡¯ve all stopped. Then you appeared out of nowhere,¡± the old man replied. ¡°And now we¡¯re both stuck down here, and my ankle is broken.¡±
The boy detected a hint of frustration in the old man¡¯s tone. The man¡¯s emotional state wasn¡¯t particularly surprising. Judging by the way the old man favored his right leg, the boy knew he had been injured. Moreover, the old man had probably been frightened for his life after encountering a horde of lost souls.
¡°I see. If I have any responsibility in causing your predicament, I apologize. Since it seems we are fated to meet on this auspicious day, I do not mind being of service,¡± said the boy. Looking up at the opening, the boy decided it was time to repay his dues.
¡°Is that the way out?¡± asked the boy.
The old man nodded.
Though there were still many questions the boy needed to resolve, he had realized it wasn¡¯t going to happen right this moment. Maybe the world at large held answers for him. The boy¡¯s eyes widened in anticipation, a feeling he hadn¡¯t experienced in ages. And for the first time in a long time, the boy felt hunger. In the other dimension, the concept of sleep and food was nonexistent. It was different in this world, and his body adapted accordingly.
¡°Well then, perhaps I have a solution,¡± said the boy, grinning at the thought of a nice meal.
[Chapter End]
Chapter 3
¡°A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.¡± - Laozi 6??-531 BC
¡°Really?¡± the old man exclaimed. ¡°What do you have in mind young man?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure how to say this, but I think I can fly us out,¡± the boy replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. He didn¡¯t want to belittle the old man, but the ¡®problem¡¯ that the old man had stated wasn¡¯t really a problem from the boy¡¯s perspective. Compared to being trapped in a powerful array, their current situation seemed like a joke.
¡°Bwahahahaha. You want me to believe you¡¯re an advanced Temporal Heaven cultivator?¡± laughed the old man. ¡°I like you even more now, boy. Cracking a joke in a situation like this shows you haven''t lost your head. Maybe if we work together, we can find a way,¡± said the old man with renewed vigor.
The boy frowned slightly, surprised by the old man¡¯s response. He hadn''t pegged the man for someone who would judge others based on their appearances. ¡°Maybe I''m mistaken about him, or it''s possible he really believes someone my age can¡¯t have my level of cultivation,¡± the boy pondered. Through their exchange, he realized there was much about the world¡¯s customs and beliefs he had yet to learn. Showing his cards carelessly might get him into trouble in the future.
¡°Anyways, I think I need to sit down for a bit,¡± the old man grumbled as he found a spot by the wall to lean his back. ¡°So, you don''t really remember your name or anything at all?¡± the old man asked, eyeing the boy critically.
The boy shook his head.
¡°I don¡¯t mean to intrude. Your business is your own, so you¡¯re not obligated to tell me anything,¡± the old man spoke. ¡°I just thought it was kind of weird how you showed up out of nowhere wearing those strange clothes. If I didn''t know any better, I''d say you¡¯re a young noble who got lost while using a teleportation array. Though I¡¯m not sure how it could cause amnesia¡,¡± he trailed off.
The boy knew that the old man didn''t buy his amnesia excuse, not that the boy could blame him since he had purposefully left out a lot of details. ¡°Maybe it''s better to conform to his guesses for now,¡± the boy decided.
¡°I have no reason to lie about my lack of memories, sir. But what you said sounds plausible. Where should I begin to look?¡± the boy questioned.
¡°Ah. Therein lies the problem. We¡¯re a long way from the nearest town, Fu Luo. You¡¯ll find a minor branch of the White Jade Merchant Guild there that deals in information and can relay messages,¡± the old man replied. ¡°Also, I apologize for my manners earlier. It''s just that I haven''t acquainted myself with proper folk in a while. Rather than being called ¡®boy,¡¯ why don''t you come up with a temporary alias for now?¡±
The boy¡¯s face brightened at the prospect of owning a name. There hadn¡¯t been a need for one until now. ¡°Since you suggested the idea, I''m guessing you have something in mind,¡± said the boy.
The old man smiled. ¡°Why, as a matter of fact, I do. Based on my first impression of you, I''d like to recommend the name, Jin Long, in reference to the golden dragon on your hanfu.¡± The old man¡¯s face radiated with pride that made it difficult for the boy to reject him. Furthermore, the boy didn¡¯t feel any particular aversion to the name.
¡°Alright. It sounds good. I will call myself ¡®Jin Long¡¯ for now,¡± the boy agreed.
¡°Perfect! By the way, I don¡¯t think I have properly introduced myself. I am Fang Mo, but you may just call me Fang. It is a pleasure to meet you. If we die here, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here to keep company at least,¡± Fang said, cupping his left fist. ¡°Now that¡¯s settled, let¡¯s think of a way to get out of this damned hellhole. This array bothers me.¡±
Fang pushed himself off the ground again and stared resolutely at the opening fifty meters above them. Jin Long didn¡¯t want to distract Fang, but he didn¡¯t think there was a solution better than the one he mentioned. The walls sloped awkwardly, effectively eliminating any hopes for climbing.
¡°Fang, I would like to show you something, but I was hoping you¡¯d keep the secret to yourself,¡± Jin Long said softly. Fang, curious of the Jin Long¡¯s request, turned his attention to the boy.
¡°I¡¯m a destitute old man. You have my word, for all its worth.¡±
Seeing Fang¡¯s sincerity, Jin Long started to levitate himself, eliciting a loud gasp from the older man.
¡°This may come as a shock to you, but I am truly capable of flying,¡± Jin Long explained, doing a few swirls in the air to prove his point.
Fang was completely wide-eyed. His jaw would have dropped to the ground if it could. He didn¡¯t see the boy use any special items, and with his own qi sense, however weak, the old man had felt extreme qi fluctuations induced by the boy.
¡°Gods, I must be dreaming. My bo...,¡± Fang began, ¡°I mean Young Master Jin Long, I sincerely apologize for ever doubting you.¡± Fang bowed until he started to grimace from the pain in his ankle.
¡°Jin Long will do. I am no young master or at least not right now, and I¡¯d prefer to keep it that way. I¡¯d like to remain anonymous until I recover my memories at least,¡± said Jin Long. ¡°But since I¡¯ve proven my skills, may I take you up with me?¡±
¡°Of course, Youn...Jin Long!¡± Fang replied, nodding enthusiastically.
Jin Long increased the concentration of air qi around them and swiftly lifted them up towards the opening. The boy¡¯s usage of qi was efficient, requiring no extraneous effort. In mere moments, they were back above the surface. The late afternoon sun beated down on them without any remorse.
Fang looked at the boy with a subtle mixture of awe, wonder, and fear, which Jin Long noticed. The boy began to worry. If he didn¡¯t stamp out the fear that was taking root, it would likely prevent them from ever forming a genuine friendship.
This time it was Jin Long¡¯s turn to cup his fist. ¡°Fang, I hope you don¡¯t mind listening to a selfish request. This younger brother, Jin Long, would like to be friends with you.¡±
Since Jin Long¡¯s request wasn¡¯t at all what Fang expected, it took a moment for the older man to process its implications. Fang blushed and smiled coldly before responding.
¡°I am honored that you would consider me worthy. However, the basis of a solid friendship is equality. On the one hand, you are a blessed existence, destined to achieve great things. I, on the other hand, am only a disgraced scholar living out the last of his days.¡±
Fang¡¯s eloquent yet honest reply caught Jin Long off guard. His disappointment must have been obvious because Fang quickly added, ¡°But this doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t try. In fact, I have a selfish request of my own.¡±
Upon hearing not all was lost, Jin Long¡¯s mood turned for the better. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d be more than happy to help.¡±
¡°I have a young pupil, Wen Er, whose suffering from a severe case of cultivation deviation. I had come here to collect the herbs for her medicine,¡± said Fang, pointing at a straw basket sitting near the edge of the opening. ¡°I know I have no right to ask you to fly me to the village, but any time saved getting back increases my chances of saving her.¡± Fang bowed extremely low. ¡°I¡¯m willing to do anything to save her, she¡¯s like a daughter to me¡,¡± Fang croaked, the look on his face personified his grief.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Touched by Fang¡¯s affection for his student, Jin Long¡¯s regard for man¡¯s character improved. ¡°I would never refuse a friend in need,¡± the boy replied, helping Fang straighten himself. ¡°Since time is of the essence, let¡¯s retrieve the basket and leave.¡±
With Fang¡¯s right arm draped around the boy¡¯s shoulders, they made their way over to the basket. Once the old man was ready, Jin Long began manipulating the air element around them to generate greater thrust. Knowing that they would be traveling fast for this trip, the boy enclosed themselves in a powerful qi barrier.
¡°The village is eastwards, away from the setting sun,¡± Fang directed. Jin Long nodded, and they shot off into the horizon. Before long, the boy glanced down at the ruins one last time. If the fates allowed it, he would like to come back one day.
The advantages of flying were quite obvious to Fang. A trip that had taken him a whole day to complete, when he had been uninjured, could be done in only a fraction of the time if they flew. The journey from the Shadow Ruins to the Village of Miao Tou was perilous because one had to trek through a small part of the uncharted Great Western Forest, home to vicious ranked beasts and exotic man-eating plants.
On his way to the ruins, Fang had braved the dangers out of sheer desperation. Yet while he was stuck in the hole, the old man realized just how stupid decision had been. The forest was a dangerous place even for a Qi Adept cultivator like him. Had he perished on the way, Wen Er would have had to suffer alone before she died.
Fang wasn¡¯t foolish enough to believe the villagers cared for them. Wen Er, along with her deceased parents and Fang, were outsiders. For one reason or another, Wen Er¡¯s parents and Fang had ended up settling down in the same village despite the villagers¡¯ animosity towards non-natives. Other than a handful of open-minded individuals, Fang wouldn¡¯t put it past the villagers to let Wen Er die if he never came back. They only tolerated the pair because he was the village healer and had his uses.
¡°Funny how the fates play with the lives of men. The xenophobic villagers have looked down on me for the past twenty years. Yet, today I¡¯ve met an extraordinary individual who wants to be friends with me. A fourteen-year-old Temporal Heaven cultivator is heaven-defying. I wonder what his background is?¡± Fang mused, a long list of possibilities running through his mind.
The boy hid many surprises, not least of which was his monstrous cultivation. Fang had no doubt Jin Long withheld the entire truth, though that was to be expected. Everyone had their secrets, even Fang.
¡°Must be getting senile. There was a time I would have groveled and killed to curry favor with a Temporal Heaven cultivator,¡± Fang thought. He turned to look at the boy who had a smile plastered over his face, seemingly enjoying the view from their altitude. From above, everything looked peaceful, a great contrast to the horrors that existed under the canopy trees.
They touched down at the outskirts of the village at dusk. It was Fang¡¯s idea. He would already have enough trouble explaining the boy¡¯s presence and eccentric clothing, let alone trying to explain how they had been flying if they had been spotted. In almost anywhere else, a Temporal Heaven cultivator would have been shown great respect, but not in the Village of Miao Tou. Ignorance spawns a multitude of sins.
Although Fang wasn¡¯t afraid that the villagers could hurt Jin Long, his priority right now was to treat Wen Er¡¯s illness. Consequently, he wanted to minimize any potential disruptions.
As the pair made their way deeper and deeper into the village, they began attracting a crowd. In the twilight of sunset, the villagers¡¯ faces were further distorted by the flickering torches, casting an ill-boding ambience. Fang¡¯s heart sank. He had hoped they¡¯d arrive without much fanfare, but the way the crowd followed and spectated suggested there was drama up ahead.
Sure enough, upon approaching his hut, a middle-aged woman in brown garbs rushed out.
¡°Hatukni!¡± she cried, running towards Fang. ¡°Big trouble. I drop liquid medicine yesterday. No on purpose. Wambi no good. Dying!¡± the woman reported hysterically.
Fang¡¯s heart sank more from the bad news. Milani was the village seamstress, one of few villagers whom Fang trusted. It was highly unlikely a diligent person like Milani would just accidentally spill the medicine intended for Wen Er. Years of political experience helped him clearly assess the situation. Fang suspected there was foul play from hostile parties.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Milani. I¡¯m back with the Mika herbs. I will concoct the medicine right now,¡± Fang comforted her. Nodding to Jin Long, Fang continued to limp towards the door with the boy¡¯s help.
It was at this moment three burly villagers blocked their path. Judging by their expressions, they didn¡¯t seem too happy to see Fang, especially the black-bearded man in the middle.
¡°Hatukni, who is this intruder you bring with you?¡± the man spoke in the village dialect.
Fang recognized the three men in front of him. They were some of the village¡¯s best hunters, and the man in the middle was none other than Jakabu, a highly respected hunter who also happened to hate Fang¡¯s guts. Jakabu was the nephew of the village¡¯s shaman whom Fang had exposed as a fraud more than once.
¡°Look Jakabu, I don¡¯t want any trouble tonight. This boy has helped me survive the trip to kayamah al makubo. He is a friend, a punai,¡± Fang gestured at Jin Long.
Though Jakabu was primarily known for being a muscle-man, Fang knew better than to underestimate him. The man was cunning and had proven himself more than capable of eliminating his rivals. Tonight, it seemed Jakabu wanted to delay Wen Er¡¯s treatment by stalling them.
¡°Hatukni, you are permitted to live here because the chief allows it. I may not agree, but I trust our chief¡¯s decision. But you bringing a stranger to this village puts us all in danger. Look at his bewitching clothes. How do you know he isn¡¯t a baknah in sheep¡¯s wool,¡± Jakabu shouted loud enough for the crowd to hear. Jakabu was deliberately arousing the crowd with his damning speech, and it appeared to be working. Many of the spectators nodded in agreement and whispered among themselves, pointing at Jin Long.
¡°A baknah? This fool doesn¡¯t even know who he¡¯s accusing,¡± Fang seethed silently. ¡®Baknah¡¯ was a term the villagers used for bandits who attacked the village from time to time. Fang circulated his qi to calm himself; he couldn¡¯t fall for Jakabu¡¯s trap, not tonight. Wen Er¡¯s condition couldn¡¯t wait that long.
Fang wracked his brain for a peaceful solution.
¡°Fang, why do these men block our paths?¡± Jin Long whispered.
In the heat of the moment, Fang had completely forgotten to keep the boy updated.
¡°Jin Long, it appears these men don¡¯t trust you. I tried telling them that you¡¯re a friend, but they probably want chain you up somewhere and interrogate you. I¡¯m not going to allow that to happen,¡± Fang whispered back. He said that in order to protect the villagers. Only the heavens would know the extent of the damage if Jin Long decided to unleash his wrath on the village.
¡°Then let them.¡±
¡°What?!¡± uttered Fang, who was flabbergasted by the boy¡¯s willingness to comply.
¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I suspect you want to solve this problem peacefully. That¡¯s the easiest way to shed liability. Remember why we even rushed here in the first place,¡± said Jin Long in a quiet but firm tone.
Fang observed the boy with a strange twinkle in his eyes. He had yet to meet a young master or powerful cultivator who¡¯d lower himself in front of peasants. ¡°This boy isn¡¯t so simple,¡± Fang concluded. For the first time since they¡¯ve met, Fang realized that the boy was extraordinary for reasons other than his cultivation or background.
Fang cupped his fist. ¡°This unworthy friend will thank you in advance. I promise I¡¯ll get everything resolved with the village chief once I¡¯ve cured Wen Er. In the meantime, please spare their lives,¡± Fang pleaded.
The boy chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not one to enjoy shedding unnecessary blood. I promise you they¡¯ll be fine.¡±
¡°What are you two conspiring, Hatukni,¡± asked Jakabu menacingly.
¡°Our punai is willing to go mashkalal, Jakabu. Isn¡¯t this what you want,¡± Fang answered.
Jakabu smirked, and ordered his two companions to take Jin Long away. Seeing the boy¡¯s thin stature, the brutes didn¡¯t bother applying any shackles. Jakabu strode confidently next to Fang and whispered in his ear.
¡°The chief can¡¯t protect you forever, Hatukni.¡±
Fang glared at Jakabu. In the past twenty years, he had worked hard to keep his cultivation a secret from the villagers. But today, Fang could barely keep himself from crushing the arrogant hunter. If it weren¡¯t for Jin Long¡¯s sacrifice, Wen Er¡¯s urgent condition, and his own broken ankle, Fang didn¡¯t know if he could¡¯ve kept calm throughout this ordeal.
After the hunters left with Jin Long, the crowd began to dissipate. Fang asked Milani to help him through the door.
Wen Er was lying on the table in the main room. Seeing the vitality sapped out of the normally energetic girl pained Fang greatly. He scrambled and limped to the girl, who lay on layers of soaked padding. Her face was deathly pale.
¡°I¡¯m here Wen Er,¡± Fang consoled the unconscious girl. He patted her damp hair, and wiped the sweat off her forehead with a clean towel. With trembling hands, Fang held two fingers to the pulse on her wrist. Fang¡¯s face turned bitter - this was going to be a long night.
[Chapter End]
Chapter 4
¡°People reside within qi and qi resides within people. From heaven and earth down to the ten thousand things, each one requires qi to live.¡± - Ge Hong 283-343 AD
Jin Long was led to a remote part of the village occupied by three abandoned huts. The dwellings sat near the village¡¯s outer perimeter wall, which boasted ten meters in height and was wide enough for three guards to patrol laterally.
¡°Muksha, baknah!¡± shouted one of the hunters. The greasy-haired man shoved Jin Long towards the hut on the left.
Any normal man put into the boy¡¯s situation would have feared for his life. One couldn¡¯t help but feel inferior facing the three herculean hunters. Each man towered at over six feet five, and Jakabu, the most intimidating specimen of them all, was approaching six feet seven. They purposefully wore sleeveless fur vests that made no effort to hide their bulging biceps.
But Jin Long expressed none of that fear or amazement. As a cultivator, the boy relied on a sense of confidence from having understood and dominated certain laws of reality. Whereas the hunters could snap bones with their bare hands, the boy could crush bones without lifting a finger. A non-cultivator stood absolutely no chance against a master qi user like Jin Long in a direct confrontation.
Jakabu uttered something in the village dialect. His companions ventured into the pitchblack hut with their torches, leaving the boy and Jakabu by the doorway. The room began to brighten little by little as the men lit various wooden fixtures on the walls. Once his sight returned, Jin Long noticed that the hut had been stripped bare. The only objects in the hut were numerous shackles that haphazardly lay on the ground near a vertical support beam.
While the hunters weren¡¯t exactly gentle with Jin Long and eyed him with distrust, they didn¡¯t try to harm the boy. Jin Long was shackled to the wooden beam, one shackle for each limb, and then left alone. Seeing that the boy didn¡¯t speak their language, there was no attempt at communication, which suited Jin Long just fine. He wasn¡¯t happy about his treatment, but he understood the villagers¡¯ distrust in strangers. The natural laws of the world favored the strong, so the weak had to live prudently if they wanted a chance to survive.
¡°Seems like everywhere I go people want me locked up,¡± Jin Long commented to himself. He played with the manacles on his wrists. ¡°Hopefully, they¡¯ll provide some meals at least.¡± The boy clutched his stomach at the thought of food. He sat down and leaned against the pole. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll try and take a nap. I want to see if it¡¯s as refreshing as I remember.¡± Figuring he wasn¡¯t going anywhere anytime soon, Jin Long made himself comfortable and closed his eyes.
Jakabu was a man of ambition. He wasn¡¯t particularly bloodthirsty as some of the other village hunters, but he honed an ability to focus and perform when it mattered. This evening, he had stalled old man Hatukni just as his aunt had ordered. Jakabu knew Hatukni had returned from kayamah al makubo to treat Wambi¡¯s sickness. If Wambi died, it would cast doubt on Hatukni¡¯s abilities and open up the idea that Hatukni wasn¡¯t the god-healer some made him out to be. But the sabotage required finesse; Wambi¡¯s death couldn¡¯t be seen as caused by outside interference.
However, Jakabu didn¡¯t expect the old man to bring a stranger back from the trip. Last he checked, the ruins were deserted, and the boy didn¡¯t look like he was someone from the area. The boy¡¯s bizarre clothing added to Jakabu¡¯s confusion. Faced with an unexpected variable, he decided to keep the boy under locks until he had a chance to consult his aunt.
Jakabu observed the boy secretly from the moment he laid eyes on him. There was no fear in the boy¡¯s eyes, even after they led him away from the residences towards the village¡¯s isolation huts. His behavior wasn¡¯t at all like that of the village kids. Not only was the boy calm, he exhibited certainty, as if Jakabu and his companions were the ones at his mercy. Jakabu¡¯s sense of danger had been fine tuned from years of hunting deadly beasts, and they were tingling tonight, screaming at him to run.
¡°Must have drank more yellow grass rum than I thought,¡± Jakabu admitted, shrugging off his jitters. After they imprisoned the boy, Jakabu departed for the village center where the chief and other prominent families resided.
Jakabu trekked through the village¡¯s various layers. The village was organized based on social hierarchy. The village chief and village elders lived in huts near the center, forming the first layer. From there outwards was the second layer, a ring of huts occupied by the village hunters and their families. The hunters were widely respected since they provided meat and defended the village from baknahs. It was every boy¡¯s dream to become a hunter, and it was every girl¡¯s dream to marry one.
The third layer was composed of an even larger ring of huts around the second layer. Most of the villagers, who provided useful services, such as smithing and tailoring, lived in the third layer. Lastly, the fourth layer, by the perimeter wall, consisted of villagers who had little standing or little to offer. Anyone who lived in this layer were considered pariahs, allowed to coexist only because they made the other villagers feel good about themselves.
When Jakabu entered his aunt¡¯s hut, he was bombarded with a pungent smell. It wasn¡¯t an herby-type smell, rather it reminded Jakabu of decomposing fruit and dried carcasses, tangy and unwholesome. He remembered how he hated his aunt¡¯s place as a kid with its gloomy lighting and weird skulls. It creeped him out then, and it unnerved him even now.
¡°How did it go?¡± hissed his aunt, emerging from the shadows. Jakabu jumped. For a grown man like Jakabu, he wasn¡¯t afraid of much, but his aunt had an uncanny ability to appear from the unlikeliest places. Plus, her bloodshot eyes and black-feathered cowl accentuated her eccentricity.
¡°Aunt Madessa, as per your orders, I successfully got rid of Wambi¡¯s medicine and made it look like an accident. The seamstress doesn¡¯t suspect a thing. I also tried to stall Hatukni tonight, but there is something else you should know,¡± Jakabu reported.
¡°Yes, I know,¡± his aunt snapped. ¡°My men told me Hatukni brought a boy to the village. The boy supposedly wears a magical golden dress. How fascinating.¡± Madessa¡¯s eyes gleamed madly.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
¡°He¡¯s dangerous.¡± Jakabu¡¯s sudden remark spurred a raised brow from Madessa. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know how to explain it. There¡¯s something about the boy I can¡¯t put my fingers on. Anyways, I have him locked up in one of the isolation huts on charges of spying. I suspect you would like to meet him for yourself.¡±
¡°Thank you dear. I knew there was a reason I chose you for this job,¡± replied Madessa. She moved closer and reached out to caress Jakabu¡¯s cheeks. Since Jakabu was substantially taller, the woman had to tiptoe to barely touch his face. ¡°After your parents died, I tried my best to raise you. I think they¡¯ll be proud of the man you turned out to be.¡±
Jakabu swiftly intercepted his aunt and pushed her hands away.
¡°I¡¯m not a charity case. You know I¡¯m only helping you because we¡¯re family. Furthermore, you promised me you¡¯d find a way for me to marry the chief¡¯s daughter, and there hasn¡¯t been any progress lately. I¡¯m growing impatient,¡± said Jakabu threateningly. After years of dealing with his aunt, he had learned not to fall prey to her witchery and charm.
¡°Patience, dear. You will receive what you deserve in due time. Now, report the situation to the chief and give him this for his cough. Tell him it''s medicine from me to relieve his pain.¡± Madessa pulled out a flask made out of animal bone and handed it to Jakabu.
Jakabu took the bottle and left. When the hunter disappeared from view, another man slinked out from the shadows. In comparison to Jakabu, this man was thin and gaunt. He had a hollow look about him, but his eyes held the same emerald quality as Jakabu¡¯s.
¡°Mother, I don¡¯t know why you tolerate his arrogance?¡± the man asked in a nasally voice. ¡°I want to pound that smug face into the ground.¡±
¡°Hush baby. He still as his uses. Ambitious and cocky, like his father. Once you become the village chief, we can dispose him all the same.¡±
¡°But I want the chief¡¯s daughter for myself! She¡¯s of marriageable age this year. I will not allow Jakabu or any other man to deflower her,¡± the man whined. He licked his lips in lust.
¡°Shut up, Kielshu! I only wish you had half your cousin¡¯s competence. You will be wise not do anything rash and ruin my plans. Go inform Elder Vushina and Elder Paroka I want to meet them tomorrow. Once you¡¯re done, figure out why the two men I had posted near the forest failed to ambush Hatukni on his return,¡± Madessa barked.
Kielshu shut his mouth and scurried out of the hut. ¡°Just wait mother, one day you will pay for the humiliation I suffered all these years,¡± the man fumed.
The light from early dawn peeked through the cracks in Fang¡¯s hut. The old man came around just as it began to get louder outside. Many of the villagers had woken up to start their day.
¡°Ouch,¡± Fang blurted. He had worked late into the night and administered the medicine to Wen Er before he passed out on his work desk. Since then, the adrenaline in his body had run dry, and right now Fang felt incredible soreness and pain. His broken ankle sent periodic spasms up his leg. However, Fang spared no thought for himself as he anxiously checked Wen Er¡¯s vitals.
¡°Good, her breathing and pulse have stabilized,¡± Fang thought, relief flooding through his veins. He wouldn¡¯t know the full extent of the damage to her body until she woke up and let him run some diagnostic tests. Fang prayed that the sickness had spared the girl¡¯s meridians.
Someone knocked on the door. Fang grabbed a wooden staff by the corner and walked over to receive the guest. Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the delectable smell of pork buns and roasted chicken. The individual who brought the food was none other the village seamstress, wearing a grey tunic and a headscarf that hid her wild black hair.
¡°Milani, you didn¡¯t have to,¡± said Fang.
¡°Nonsense, Hatukni. You have traveled a long journey to save Wambi. I¡¯m only expressing thanks on her behalf,¡± Milani replied, beaming at the old man. She entered the hut and placed the tray of food on his work desk.
¡°Wen Er¡¯s doing fine. The Mika herbs worked better than I thought.¡±
Fang invited Milani to sit, and the woman happily accepted. There was an awkward moment of silence between the two.
¡°Poor child.¡± Milani looked at Wen Er sympathetically .
¡°Yes, Wen Er has suffered a lot, but she¡¯s a strong girl. Had she lost the will to live, even my medical skills would have been ineffective.¡±
The woman looked at Fang and smiled.
¡°Wambi is lucky to have you then. Are you feeling okay by the way?¡± Milani glanced at Fang¡¯s swollen ankle.
Fang quickly waved it off as nothing. Being cared for felt good for a change. He liked hanging out with Milani. She was observant, kind, and open-minded. Her husband died when she was in her early twenties, before Fang had arrived. Despite the tragedy, she learned to make a living by sewing and designing clothes. Fang knew the village ostracized her after she became a widow, but they couldn¡¯t deny her talents, allowing her to stay in the third layer.
¡°Umm, you don¡¯t mind if I¡¡± Fang pointed at the buns. The smell of food reminded him just how hungry he was.
¡°Of course not, they¡¯re for you, the hero of the story,¡± said Milani amusingly.
¡°I¡¯m no hero,¡± Fang replied in between bites. ¡°I met an extraordinary boy on this trip who¡¯s the real hero. I wouldn¡¯t have returned in time to save Wen Er if it weren¡¯t for him. Oh, that reminds me. Could you do me a favor, Milani?¡±
¡°Yes. What would you like help with?¡± There was no hesitation in her reply.
¡°I need to make it up to her sometime. She¡¯s too kind,¡± Fang thought.
¡°Jakabu and the others locked the boy from yesterday in one of the isolation huts. Could you bring some food to him? I have no doubt he¡¯s starved. And would you let him know I¡¯m working on getting him released?¡± asked Fang. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you with this request. It¡¯s just that I owe him a lot, and I would¡¯ve gone myself if I didn¡¯t need to keep tabs on Wen Er.¡±
¡°No, no. Don¡¯t worry. Right now you should make sure Wambi¡¯s okay. Business is kind of slow these days, so I¡¯ll have time to visit him later.¡±
Milani got up and moved towards the door.
¡°I need to get going Hatukni. I just wanted to drop by and make sure everything¡¯s okay. And I also wanted to apologize for spilling Wambi¡¯s medicine. Heaven knows what would have happened if you didn¡¯t come back in time,¡± said Milani, guilt contorting her face.
Fang limped over and grabbed Milani by the shoulders to comfort her.
¡°Look it¡¯s not your fault. I haven¡¯t even had to time to properly thank you for taking care of Wen Er while I was away. You may not know it, but you¡¯ve been a blessing to the two of us.¡±
Milani smiled shyly.
¡°Hatukni, that was nicest thing you¡¯ve said to me. I will visit the boy and pass your message on.¡±
Fang nodded, watching Milani readjust her headscarf and step out.
¡°Milani, I¡¯m curious about one thing,¡± Fang began.
¡°Hmm?¡± She turned around and gazed at Fang curiously.
¡°I haven¡¯t heard you speak in the village dialect to me in at least two months. Didn¡¯t you say you were practicing the common tongue?¡±
¡°Oh, I still am. But it¡¯s nice to have a proper conversation with you once in awhile. Anyways, tata.¡± Milani grinned and waved goodbye.
Fang stood at the doorway, watching her silhouette shrink into the distance. An indescribable yearning shook him at his core. ¡°Refocus your thoughts old man. She¡¯s too young for you,¡± Fang persuaded himself.
Although Fang was over 70-years-old, his cultivation slowed his aging and bestowed him with a naturally younger appearance. To outsiders, Fang may have only looked like he was in a late forties or early fifties, though deep down he felt much older. In comparison, Milani was actually in her early forties, perfectly capable of finding another man to settle down.
Fang shut the door with a sigh. A man like him didn¡¯t deserve a normal life. ¡°I will live out the rest of my days atoning for these bloodstained hands,¡± thought Fang, looking at his palms.
[Chapter End]
Map - Bailong Continent
For some of you wondering, yes, the story will explore most of the continent and the complicated geopolitics in the region. I have a good portion of the major plot lines developed, so I know where the story is heading and how it will end.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Since there is a larger story beyond this story, later I hope to introduce some recurring characters who will eventually play significant roles in the World Ark multiverse.
But that''s for another day ">
Chapter 5
¡°In all-under-Heaven there are three truths: Even wise people will find certain tasks unattainable; even strong people will find certain objects unmovable; and even brave people will find certain opponents unbeatable.¡± Han Fei 279-233 BC
Jin Long found himself standing on the surface of a lake. All around him was darkness, yet despite the lack of light, Jin Long was somehow able to see perfectly. He looked down. The clear water possessed an almost ethereal quality, casting his reflection better than any mirror in the world.
He was startled by his appearance. The reflection in the water possessed a chilling pair of crimson eyes. ¡°That¡¯s weird. I¡¯m pretty sure my eyes are blue,¡± Jin Long thought curiously.
Then, as if it was sentient itself, the reflection began smiling, its mouth stretching wider and wider until it looked inhuman. Jin Long held his breath, a cold shiver ran down his spine. Fear, an emotion the boy seldom experienced, gripped him in full force.
Jin Long didn¡¯t know why he was paralyzed all of a sudden. Perhaps it was the lack of qi in the lake world that made him feel vulnerable, or perhaps it was the unadulterated malice leaking out from the entity in the water. Nevertheless, a sense of damnation weighed on him, and there was nothing Jin Long could do to alleviate the feeling of despair.
The figure in the reflection stretched out its arms like it was going to embrace him. ¡°This might be dangerous. I need to run,¡± was the first thought that crossed Jin Long¡¯s mind, however, his feet wouldn¡¯t budge, much to his dismay. The entity only widened its smile, mocking the boy. Jin Long felt himself beginning to sink and redoubled his efforts to escape.
When the water reached his waist, the lake world mysteriously shattered, banishing him from the dreamscape. Jin Long woke up gasping. With each passing moment, the residual effects from the dream abated. Glimmering morning rays greeted Jin Long, and he could hear birds cheerfully chirping outside, a stark contrast to what he had just experienced. The boy wiped the sweat off his forehead and exhaled several deep breaths to calm down.
¡°I¡¯ve never felt this level of oppression and malevolence before. Whoever it is, he must have also mastered the Dao of Insight. Unless, it was the same person during my escape, but that wouldn¡¯t make much sense,¡± Jin Long deliberated. He organized his thoughts and committed the dream to memory, planning to revisit the details later.
The door to the hut creaked open, catching the boy¡¯s attention. A woman whom Jin Long remembered from last night stood at the doorway with a tray of buns. The sight of food cheered him up.
¡°Hello there,¡± said the woman timidly as she walked over and placed the tray beside him. ¡°Food. Eat,¡± she urged, which he was more than happy to comply.
¡°Phanks,¡± muffled Jin Long. The pork buns tasted heavenly in his mouth. Jin Long reckoned anything would have satisfied his ravenous hunger.
¡°Very welcome. You friend, punai,¡± the woman replied merrily. ¡°Me, Milani. Me, punai of Hatukni.¡±
¡°Hatukni? Who¡¯s Hatukni?¡± Jin Long asked.
¡°Hatukni? Ah, Hatukni. He old man, last night,¡± she explained.
Despite the woman¡¯s broken speech, Jin Long understood the gist of her intent. She introduced herself as Fang¡¯s friend. ¡°Any friend of Fang¡¯s is a friend of mine,¡± thought Jin Long. He retracted his qi sense. It was unlikely Milani posed any threat to him. In fact, even without qi protection, Jin Long¡¯s physique alone could withstand most harm done to him by non-cultivators.
¡°What your name?¡± Milani asked while observing Jin Long devour the buns.
¡°I¡¯m called Jin Long. I must say these buns are absolutely scrumptious, Milani,¡± he answered.
¡°Happy Jin Long like food. Milani need to go now. Bring more food later, okay,¡± Milani assured Jin Long who nodded. Although he felt lonely locked in the shack by himself, Jin Long understood that he was a prisoner. The fact that Milani had brought him food already spoke volumes about her relationship with Fang.
¡°Hatukni want me say, ¡®he get you out fast.¡¯ Wait. Patience,¡± said Milani. After Jin Long had grabbed all the buns, she quickly scooped up the tray and retreated. However, in haste, Milani had failed to see someone else entering the hut at the same time, resulting in the two bumping straight on. Milani¡¯s eyes widened upon realizing the individual¡¯s identity - the village shaman, Madessa.
Jin Long watched the two exchange a brief conversation in their foreign dialect. Milani kept her head bowed the whole time in the presence of the other woman.
¡°The woman in the black cowl must be someone of importance,¡± Jin Long guessed. Nonetheless, it wasn¡¯t their interaction that had piqued his interest but rather the strange spiritual aura that emanated from the woman. The aura fluctuated erratically, leading Jin Long to believe she inappropriately dabbled in the spiritual arts.
¡°Must be an amateur practicing forbidden techniques or rituals,¡± Jin Long concluded. The Dao of Life, which governed spiritual matters among other things, was a complicated power requiring the utmost prudence. Carelessness only invited disaster. In the best case scenario, the practitioner would simply die. In the worst case scenario, the practitioner could accidentally summon interdimensional beings, or daemons, capable of great devastation. Daemons caused concern for cultivators like Jin Long because they existed outside the bounds of reality. In a sense, they were truly heretical beings.
Having opened three Dao gates, Jin Long¡¯s mastery of the Dao of Life allowed him to sense these subtle spiritual perturbations. It worried him. The spiritual fluctuations suggested that an otherworld daemon had latched itself to the woman¡¯s soul. Luckily it had only managed to impart a small portion of itself, otherwise the woman would have already been dead.
¡°Great. This day just gets more peculiar,¡± Jin Long muttered grimly. The particular problem was complex, and no one was more qualified to handle it than him. He could always turn a blind eye, but that wasn¡¯t Jin Long¡¯s personality.
After she dismissed the seamstress, the village shaman approached the boy. A momentary look of shock escaped her neutral demeanor though she quickly caught herself.
¡°I apologize for the ill-welcome you¡¯ve received. I assure you, I¡¯ll have a talk with our men regarding how we treat visitors,¡± the woman spoke amicably.
If Jin Long hadn¡¯t sensed her spiritual decay, there was no way he could¡¯ve guess she practiced the dark arts. While the woman dressed weirdly, she appeared quite friendly. It wasn¡¯t Jin Long¡¯s place to judge how someone looked, especially since his own clothes attracted so much attention. But when Jin Long studied the woman more closely, he could see the physical toll of her sorcery evidenced by her wrinkles and bloodshot eyes.
¡°I¡¯m surprised you can speak my language,¡± Jin Long remarked, buying time as he crafted a plan. One option was to forcefully extract the daemon with a high possibility of killing the woman. Another was to observe and wait for better conditions. There was a chance to separate the daemon without killing the woman. Jin Long liked the second option because it gave him time to figure out what he was going up against. Failing once would make the second try much harder.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
¡°When I was younger, I lived in the nearby town of Fu Luo for some period of time, studying under a local witch doctor. I learned the common tongue then,¡± the woman explained. ¡°I am the village¡¯s master of ceremonies, Madessa. May I inquire your name and how you came to possess such interesting clothes?¡±
¡°I am Jin Long. As for my hanfu, it was given to me,¡± Jin Long lied. Truthfully, he¡¯d been wearing the robe for as long as he could remember. It never got dirty in the other dimension.
¡°Does your hanfu have any special properties?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± replied Jin Long curtly.
¡°How did you meet Hatukni, our village healer? Did you know him before?¡±
Jin Long didn¡¯t know what to say. He considered making up a story since the truth was too bizarre. Moreover, he didn¡¯t trust the woman and was beginning to get annoyed by the barrage of questions.
¡°It¡¯s okay. You can trust me. I just want to know the truth, so I can better plead your case to the village chief. I have a little something here that might help you relax,¡± said Madessa, pulling out an old leather-bound book from her sling bag.
¡°Now listen carefully, boy,¡± she began, her eyes carried a hint of madness. ¡°O spirit of wills, master of fates, lord of fortunes, I gladly offer my life force to the desecrated one. Grant me the power to control his will.¡±
The qi in the air vibrated, reacting to Madessa¡¯s chant. Jin Long didn¡¯t know if he should¡¯ve been more impressed by how crappy the spell was or by the fact that she butchered the pronunciation of the spell in Jin Long¡¯s native tongue, Arbelic. It took all of Jin Long¡¯s will not to burst out laughing. All jokes aside, the spell would have been potent to other people, just not him.
¡°That book is definitely interesting. I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s written in Arbelic. I¡¯ll need to get my hands on it, one way or another. For now, I should play along to prevent alerting the daemon. Given how small it is right now, it¡¯s not likely fully sentient yet,¡± Jin Long thought.
Jin Long pretended to lose focus and slumped over. He hoped he didn¡¯t overdo it. Madessa examined the boy.
¡°Stand up,¡± she commanded. Jin Long promptly obeyed, the chains rattling off his hanfu.
¡°Good, I didn¡¯t think the daemon would honor my request. Now boy, tell me your real name, who you are, and how you know Hatukni?¡±
¡°My name is Jin Long. I was traveling with my family at sea, but we encountered a storm. The next thing I knew, I washed ashore. I wandered around and met the old man by chance,¡± Jin Long replied concisely. He gave her partial truths; less was more in this case. It was by a simple stroke of luck that he had asked Fang about the surrounding geography during their flight to the village. The information Fang provided gave Jin Long just enough material to fabricate a lie.
Madessa had a look of disbelief, causing Jin Long to sweat. ¡°Did I mess up somewhere?¡±
¡°Are you a noble? And is your robe an enchanted item?¡± Madessa¡¯s questions were also to the point, not giving Jin Long time to think thoroughly.
¡°She¡¯ll suspect I¡¯m lying if I say it¡¯s not a special item. Probably better not to deviate too much from her expectations,¡± Jin Long surmised. Successful manipulation required the victim to think they¡¯re in control.
¡°Yes, but I¡¯m only a minor noble. The robe is enchanted to improve vitality,¡± stated Jin Long, hoping she¡¯d stop asking questions soon.
¡°That must be an expensive item then. I like it. Take it off and give it to me,¡± Madessa ordered. She reached over and unshackled Jin Long¡¯s wrists.
Without hesitation, Jin Long stripped to his inner garments, composing of a white shirt and grey pants, and handed the one-piece robe to the woman. Jin Long applauded himself for his resolve. However, that didn¡¯t make him any less displeased. Xiao Long, the dragon on his hanfu, had been his silent companion all this time. Leaving him in the hands of a stranger didn¡¯t sit right with Jin Long.
¡°I¡¯m liking this woman less and less,¡± he thought.
Once Madessa saw how decisively Jin Long handed over his prized robe, she smirked, somewhat convinced that the boy had fallen under her spell.
¡°Good boy. I want you to act normally for now and await my orders. You will tell no one of our conversation.¡±
¡°Yes, master.¡± It made Jin Long¡¯s hair crawl calling the woman his master, but he was patient, biding his time. In the future, the daemon would likely let it¡¯s guard down around him.
¡°One last thing. Boy, take this pill and consume it,¡± Madessa spoke while handing him a generic looking pellet. Jin Long, having no choice, took the pill and swallowed it. The pill instantly took effect, spreading a slow-acting poison in his body.
¡°Wow. This woman is meticulous. She wants to make sure I¡¯m completely under her control. Even now she doubts whether the spell really worked,¡± thought Jin Long. Despite his amazement, it didn¡¯t change the fact that these petty tricks were futile against someone like him, who had easily nullified the poison with his mastery of the Dao of Life.
After Madessa confirmed the boy had consumed the poison pill, she placed his shackles back on and left without saying a word. With her back turned as she walked away Madessa failed to see the strange glint in the boy¡¯s eyes. If she had, she would have understood who the real monster was.
Wen Er woke up sometime during the evening of the second day after Fang and Jin Long returned. She felt sore and weak, as if she had played tackle with a mature hyperian boar. Teacher Fang fretted about like an old mum. He made her drink various bitter concoctions and did a flurry of tests on her.
¡°So, how do my meridians look?¡± Wen Er asked in anticipation. She had learned that the source of her sickness was cultivation deviation, which could have happened for many reasons, the most likely being that Teacher Fang¡¯s cultivation technique didn¡¯t suit Wen Er¡¯s physique.
The old man had kept trying to apologize and looked like he was on the verge of tears. Wen Er comforted him the best she could. Teacher Fang held a special place in her heart. It was he who took her in when her parents passed away. Everything she had, including her cultivation level, owed largely to the old man.
¡°I know it¡¯s bad, but I have a right to know, Teacher Fang,¡± Wen Er requested softly. The old man¡¯s face said it all though Wen Er preferred to hear it directly from him.
¡°My child, you must forgive this old fool. Better that you never started cultivating than to suffer this ordeal,¡± announced Fang, every word was a struggle to say. ¡°Not only has your qi core dissipated, all your meridians are completely ruined. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll never cultivate again unless we find a way to fix them.¡±
The news broke over Wen Er like cold water on a chilly morning. It pained her to hear the final verdict. She loved cultivating. It granted her a sense of control over her life and made her feel like there was something to work towards. Although Wen Er wanted to cry, she mustered all her strength to hold back the tears. She had to be strong, if not for herself than for Teacher Fang. Wen Er tightly clasped the jade pendant around her neck, a habit whenever her emotions were difficult to handle.
Fang sat on the side of Wen Er¡¯s bed and looked vacantly across the room. ¡°There¡¯s got to be a way...I remember there was an alchemist in Dong Hai...I wonder if he¡¯s still living there. He can help us... no he will help us...he still owes me¡,¡± Fang mumbled unintelligibly.
Wen Er wrapped her arms around the old man, leaning the side of her face against his back.
¡°Teacher Fang, you¡¯ve done all you can. I¡¯m grateful to be alive. Even though I can¡¯t cultivate anymore, there¡¯s still a lot I can do. You¡¯ve taught me how to read and write, and I¡¯ve read most of your books now,¡± said Wen Er, in a soothing manner.
¡°Yeah, but what good will that do in this backwater village,¡± Fang retorted. ¡°Wait, unless we leave this place. Move to the city.¡± Fang looked as if he had a moment of epiphany.
¡°But your enemies will find you. You said it yourself. It¡¯s too dangerous Teacher Fang,¡± Wen Er remarked.
¡°Nonsense child. We¡¯ll just have to be smart about it. Hide our identities. I have an old acquaintance in Dong Hai who may be able to fix your meridians. Yes, yes, that¡¯s a good plan.¡± Fang seemed to console himself.
Wen Er didn¡¯t try arguing with Teacher Fang when he had that look. The old man could be unfathomably stubborn at times.
¡°It¡¯s getting late Wen Er. You need to rest as much as you can. I¡¯ll take care of everything, don¡¯t you worry.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to go to sleep. I¡¯ve been doing that for the past few days already,¡± Wen Er pouted. She knew the old man had a soft spot for such expressions.
¡°I know, I know. How about let¡¯s make a deal. You rest tonight and tomorrow I¡¯ll take you to see the village chief?¡±
¡°Really? What for?¡± Wen Er asked excitedly. She liked visiting the chief¡¯s residence. His daughter, Melshan, was one of the few people who treated Wen Er nicely. In a way, Wen Er considered Melshan as an older sister, someone Wen Er looked up to. Melshan was not only kind but also beautiful, two endearing traits.
¡°I will be requesting the village chief to free a boy from the isolation huts. I want you to meet him. He¡¯s an extraordinary fellow. If it hadn¡¯t been for him, I would not have made it back from the ruins.¡±
Wen Er rarely heard Teacher Fang praise anyone. For someone to be spoken so highly by Teacher Fang only added more to Wen Er¡¯s curiosity.
¡°Okay,¡± Wen Er agreed. She let Teacher Fang tuck her into bed. Not soon after, Wen Er entered into blissful sleep.
[Chapter End]
Chapter 6
¡°Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.¡± Xun Kuang 310-235 BC
¡°Stop fidgeting Wen Er,¡± Fang whispered. He placed a hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder. They were waiting in the main reception room of the chief¡¯s residence, which was made up of five interconnected huts.
¡°I¡¯m looking for Melshan. Is she here?¡± Wen Er whispered back. She kept wanting to peek into the other rooms, but the old man held her in place.
¡°You can go play with her after we meet the chief.¡±
¡°Teacher Fang, I¡¯m thirteen years old! We don¡¯t ¡®play¡¯ anymore. Melshan and I just talk these days,¡± she retorted.
¡°Oh? I forgot you¡¯re all grown up now. What do you two brats talk about anyways? Enlighten this old man,¡± Fang teased.
¡°It¡¯s...it¡¯s nothing. Just girls stuff,¡± said Wen Er, her face turning slightly red.
Fang wanted to poke fun at her some more, but a stout, middle-aged man dressed in a white tunic came out from the back room. The man possessed a friendly disposition, one that Fang had gotten quite used to in the last twenty years. Fang couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the past. When he first met Balthe, the current village chief, the man had been a rambunctious nineteen-year-old with an attitude.
¡°Ah, Fang, so good of you to come see me,¡± Balthe spoke, clasping Fang¡¯s arm.
¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Balthe. You¡¯re looking for the better. How¡¯s the cough?¡±
The man gave a bright smile and pounded his chest. ¡°Feeling much better. The medicine Madessa gave me seemed to work wonders, believe it or not old friend,¡± remarked the man, turning his attention to Wen Er.
¡°My, look how you¡¯ve grown. I heard you were sick these past few days. I hope Milani took good care of you during that time?¡± Balthe sat down, gesturing Fang and Wen Er to do the same.
¡°Mhm.¡± Wen Er nodded. ¡°I¡¯m very grateful for Milani¡¯s care, Chief Balthe.¡± She chose a seat next to the man despite their different statuses.
¡°Wen Er!¡± Fang chided.
¡°It¡¯s fine Fang. She¡¯s just a girl. Besides, I like the attention,¡± Balthe joked, winking at Wen Er.
¡°Ehem. Yes, well, we also want to thank you for requesting Milani¡¯s help on our behalf,¡± Fang added.
¡°Ah, speak nothing of it,¡± Balthe dismissed it with a wave of his hand. ¡°Milani was more than willing to take care of Wambi. I merely permitted her to take a break from her duties, haha. Speaking of duties, where¡¯s my daughter? She should have been here to welcome you. That girl is more like her mother every day.¡±
¡°I¡¯m here father,¡± a female voice rang out. The three turned their heads to see a dazzling young woman approaching. Her brown eyes complimented her long black hair, which were intricately woven into braids.
¡°Melshan!¡± shouted Wen Er, who ran to the girl and hugged her.
Taken aback by Wen Er¡¯s energetic embrace, Melshan just smiled and patted the girl¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you on your feet, Wambi. I visited you while you were sleeping. How are you feeling?¡± questioned Melshan.
¡°I¡¯m as good as new,¡± Wen Er replied, though there was a bit of a pause. ¡°By the way, I love what you¡¯ve done with your hair. Can you show me?¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Melshan looked at her father, a moment of understanding passed between them. ¡°Come on Wambi. Let¡¯s go to my room and leave these old farts to their boring conversations.¡±
Wen Er enthusiastically followed Melshan into one of the adjacent huts. When the two girls walked out of earshot, Balthe and Fang resumed their discussion with more seriousness.
¡°So what can I do for you my friend?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard this by now. Two days ago I brought a boy back with me from my trip. I can vouch for his character and background, but right now Jakabu has him locked up in one of the isolation huts,¡± explained Fang.
¡°Who is this boy? How did you meet him?¡±
¡°Sorry Balthe. I¡¯m not at liberty to discuss the exact details. All I can say is that I assure you he means no harm to the village,¡± Fang beseeched.
¡°And so you want me to release him?¡±
Fang nodded. Balthe sighed and brushed his hair.
¡°I trust you Fang, I really do. But my hands are tied. Madessa and the others won¡¯t let it stand. You know our village¡¯s rules - the boy must be tried by the council.¡±
¡°He¡¯s innocent though!¡± Fang exclaimed.
Balthe opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it.
¡°Look, I can¡¡±
¡°I agree with Hatukni, for once.¡± A voice that Fang knew all too well interrupted them. The woman who entered the room was Madessa.
¡°Speak of the devil,¡± Fang groaned.
¡°It¡¯s nice to see you too, Hatukni,¡± Madessa commented sarcastically. ¡°As much as I hate to say it, I also believe the boy harbors no ill-will.¡±
Fang glanced at Madessa suspiciously.
¡°Madessa,¡± Balthe greeted.
¡°Chief Balthe,¡± she acknowledged.
¡°And you would know this how, Madessa?¡± Balthe asked.
¡°I spoke with the boy yesterday. He was quite frank with me, telling me about how he met Hatukni. It may be unimaginable for the old man, but I believed the boy¡¯s story.¡±
¡°Wait, what, you spoke with him?...,¡± Fang started to say before Balthe raised a hand and stopped him.
¡°Unless my ears are deceiving me, it seems like the both of you agree that the boy doesn¡¯t pose any danger to our village. Although I wish nothing more than to release him, the other elders have a say in this too. We can¡¯t make any decisions without a majority approval,¡± said Balthe.
¡°I¡¯ve seen to that already. Elder Vushina and Elder Paroka have agreed to let the boy go free, provided he is monitored by Hatukni at all times. If anything happens, the blame will fall on you, Hatukni,¡± Madessa emphasized.
¡°Hmph! I guarantee you there won¡¯t be any trouble, at least not of my own volition.¡±
¡°I sincerely hope so, for your sake, Hatukni,¡± Madessa responded.
Balthe looked uncomfortable at the turn of events. ¡°Well, I guess if the elders¡¯ agreed to let the boy go, I don¡¯t see why I should object. Madessa, next time I wish to be consulted first,¡± Balthe admonished.
¡°Understood, Chief Balthe.¡±
Inside, Fang was bursting with happiness. He hadn¡¯t expected his request to be so easily fulfilled. At the very least, Fang expected firm opposition from Madessa, who seemed to make it her hobby to create problems for Fang. Of course, their past history wasn¡¯t entirely cordial.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
¡°Now that this matter is settled, the chief and I need to discuss the upcoming hunter selections. I didn¡¯t know Hatukni was also interested...,¡± said Madessa, speaking as if Fang wasn¡¯t there.
¡°Er, I¡¯ll be going then. Balthe.¡± Fang got up rather quickly, cane in hand. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind letting Wen Er know, I plan to visit Jakabu and get the keys.¡±
¡°Will do.¡± Balthe nodded.
Fang walked quickly out of the room, afraid of getting roped into another responsibility. He was already busy enough as the village healer, getting called for all sorts of annoying reasons, some better left unsaid.
¡°Phew. Dodged that one. Now I just hope the boy isn¡¯t too mad with me,¡± he thought.
¡°Arms out. I measure your distance,¡± Milani said to Jin Long.
¡°She wants you to stretch out your arms, so she can take your measurements,¡± Wen Er translated.
¡°Oh, okay,¡± replied Jin Long, lifting his arms. Wen Er giggled behind him.
Today, Jin Long and Wen Er were visiting the seamstress to get new clothes. Fang had almost exploded in shock when he heard that Jin Long gave his golden hanfu to Madessa.
¡®That bitch. Has she no shame. Why would you even let her take that?¡¯ Fang had muttered angrily. Jin Long tried, unsuccessfully, to pacify the old man by lying about the whole affair. Since Jin Long was ¡®technically¡¯ under Madessa¡¯s influence, he wasn¡¯t supposed to tell anyone about their conversation.
Fang¡¯s reaction after the initial shock was to persuade Jin Long to obtain a new set of clothes. He sent Wen Er to accompany the boy. The girl gleefully accepted the task, eager to spend time with the new, handsome guest.
This led to their current situation. Jin Long could swear Milani was purposefully prolonging the tailoring session. Together with Wen Er, the duo had made Jin Long try out a variety of outfits before settling on a beige vest and trouser.
¡°Are we done yet?¡± asked Jin Long, feeling exasperated. He wanted to explore the village, which Wen Er had promised him earlier. At this rate they wouldn¡¯t get done until all the services and eateries had closed.
¡°Soon,¡± Milani replied. The woman continued her work, stopping only to give Wen Er a mischievous smile.
By the time the seamstress finished fussing over him, it was already late afternoon. A slight breeze picked up from the north. Wen Er and Jin Long made their way towards the livelier parts of the third layer.
¡°This breeze feels kind of good, doesn¡¯t it? Must be nice living here,¡± Jin Long pointed out.
¡°Yup, right now it does, though it¡¯s hardly early fall. Wait till winter, and you¡¯ll be frozen into a giant icicle without proper dresswear.¡±
Jin Long wanted to say such a scenario was unlikely due to his physique and command over the Dao of Fire; however, he elected to keep his mouth shut. There was no point in arguing with the girl, especially since people in this world tended to form preconceived notions about one¡¯s strength based on outer appearance. It happened with Fang and the woman, Madessa, and now Wen Er.
¡°Do I look so weak,¡± Jin Long wondered. Although he didn¡¯t like people looking down on him, it had its advantages. Humans always feared the unknown. Jin Long had quickly learned that his level of power was rare, if not unnatural, for his supposed age. If he planned to search for his memories, he would need help. Consequently, he wanted to avoid scaring people off or putting them on edge.
The two arrived at the market. To be honest, Jin Long found the village to be rather underwhelming, which was further confirmed when Wen Er described it to him. According to Jin Long¡¯s estimate, probably at most a thousand people lived in the community, a far cry from the opulent mega-cities he had read about in the books stored in his spatial vault.
Wen Er grabbed Jin Long¡¯s hand and pulled him along. The girl¡¯s hands were soft and warm, an unfamiliar feeling for the Jin Long. While the village wasn¡¯t much to look at, Jin Long found the aromas intriguing. Various herbs and ready-made-food were placed on straw mats to entice customers.
¡°Here,¡± said Wen Er, handing him unknown meat on a stick. ¡°Try it, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll like it. We call this a fried hamduck skewer.¡±
¡°A hamduck skewer? What¡¯s a hamduck?¡± Jin Long asked as he took the food.
¡°My gods, you don¡¯t even know what a hamduck is? Have you been living under a rock all your life?¡± Wen Er gasped.
Sensing that Jin Long was actually serious, she furrowed her brows. ¡°You really don¡¯t know, huh? I mean they¡¯re only like everywhere. They are these super fat birds that fly real low and often crash into trees. I call them hamdumbs sometimes. Does that ring any bells?¡± she asked once more.
¡°Nope. They¡¯re delicious though,¡± Jin Long responded after tasting the meat.
¡°Yeah they are... I just can¡¯t believe you don¡¯t know about them. They¡¯re like one of the most ubiquitous herbivores on the Bailong continent, playing important roles in many ecosystems. Just where are you¡¡±
Wen Er went silent. She had almost asked Jin Long about his past, which was the only thing Teacher Fang forbade. Of course, that made Wen Er more curious about the boy¡¯s identity. She wondered if this supposedly ¡®extraordinary¡¯ boy had been sheltered his entire life. His hands lacked calluses, ruling out a background involving farming or other types of manual labor. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s a famous boy-whore who escaped from his owner. His looks could probably pass,¡± Wen Er secretly appraised Jin Long.
¡°You seem pretty knowledgeable. Do you like reading books?¡± questioned Jin Long, oblivious to the girl¡¯s fanciful imagination.
¡°Yup. I love books. In fact, I¡¯ve finished most of Teacher Fang¡¯s collection. You know, each book contains a world of its own, accessible to anyone with the ability to unlock its secrets. They allow you to expand your knowledge without regard for time, distance, or social status. What I wouldn¡¯t give to see the Jajun Wars with my own eyes or visit the Ivory Library in Dong Zhou,¡± Wen Er rambled excitedly. Jin Long could tell she was passionate about the subject.
¡°The Ivory Library in Dong Zhou,¡± repeated Jin Long. His interest was piqued. ¡°What¡¯s the Ivory Library?¡±
¡°Uhh, other than containing the world¡¯s greatest collection of books across every subject imaginable. I heard the library employs over 10,000 scholars, some are world-class on topics such as arrays, cultivation, literature, politics, you name it.¡±
¡°Do they possess an extensive collection on history?¡± Jin Long asked.
¡°Duh, do I even need to say? It¡¯s probably the best there is.¡±
Jin Long wanted to ask more questions, but the man selling fried hamducks rudely interfered, shooing them away.
¡°You¡¯ve got the food, now bugger off baknahs,¡± shouted the man. Although Jin Long couldn¡¯t understand the village dialect, he could tell the man viewed them antagonistically.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Wen Er, pulling Jin Long away. They left the market vicinity and walked back towards Fang¡¯s hut.
¡°Why do the villagers treat us with such hostility? I¡¯m not just talking about the man. I¡¯ve been observing the way how the villagers look at us, and it doesn¡¯t seem like we¡¯re welcome here, or at the very least, I¡¯m not welcome,¡± expressed Jin Long.
Wen Er exhaled. ¡°It¡¯s not just you. The village generally distrusts outsiders. I remembered a time when they weren¡¯t so xenophobic. However, three years ago, an army of bandits began harassing the village. First it was stealing, then they started killing. Our last village chief took a party of hunters out with him to negotiate with the bandits.¡±
¡°And let me guess. They never came back,¡± inserted Jin Long. Wen Er shook her head.
¡°Since then the village¡¯s opinion of outsiders has turned south. It doesn¡¯t help that Elder Madessa and some of the other elders are spearheading a fear campaign.¡±
¡°The weak minded are easily influenced,¡± noted Jin Long.
¡°Look here pretty boy.¡± Wen Er suddenly turned and glared at him. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about them or this village. You don¡¯t know what they had to go through, losing their loved ones or having their huts burned down. What gives you the right to judge them like that?¡± Wen Er sharply rebutted.
Jin Long was at a loss for words. He had simply stated the truth, but Wen Er¡¯s reaction surprised him.
Wen Er softened her expression upon noticing the boy¡¯s confusion.
¡°I¡¯m sorry to lash out at you. It¡¯s just that even those of us who are weak have our own stories to tell. We are blinded by our love, our hate, our pride, our hopes. From the mightiest to the lowest, we can never escape these things that makes us human. I truly understand why the villagers hate us. I¡¯ve lost loved ones myself. Does this make it right for them to treat us this way? No, of course not. But we can strive to be better ourselves and not let this cycle of hatred consume us.¡±
Jin Long looked at Wen Er, a feeling of respect for the girl growing inside. He had been trapped in the other dimension without human contact for too long. The array¡¯s stasis properties had kept him sane but couldn¡¯t prevent him from losing some measure of compassion and empathy. Wen Er¡¯s rebuke rekindled parts of his character that had metaphorically gathered dust.
¡°You¡¯re right. I judged them without having considered their point of view. I apologize for what I said.¡±
Wen Er genuinely smiled at Jin Long for the first time since they¡¯ve met. ¡°Well, at least you¡¯re not as arrogant as I thought. And maybe you¡¯re right, a little bit. Some of the villagers can be jerks, but there¡¯s still a lot of good here. Speaking of which, I want to show you my favorite spot. Would you like to see?¡±
The look in the girl¡¯s eyes indicated that she really wanted to show Jin Long the place she had in mind. Since he didn¡¯t have much else to do at the moment, other than to learn more about this world, Jin Long decided to tag along.
A scenic pond, situated between the second and third layers, came into view. Wen Er extended her arms, urging the Jin Long to step closer to the edge.
¡°It¡¯s so pretty here, isn¡¯t it?¡± said Wen Er. The question was more rhetorical than not. Jin Long wasn¡¯t impressed by any means, but nodded all the same.
¡°I know it¡¯s not much to look at. I just like the peace and quiet. You see this pond. My parents helped construct it when they were alive. It¡¯s the reservoir holding the water from the only creek that runs through this village. This place reminds me of them.¡±
¡°Do you miss them?¡± Jin Long inquired.
¡°Everyday,¡± Wen Er sniffed.
¡°Well, well, well. What do we have here? The village weirdo and the baknah.¡± A voice spoke up from behind them, full of contempt.
Wen Er whipped around. Approaching them was a group of village boys whom Wen Er had more run-ins than she liked.
¡°I need you to go now,¡± said Wen Er very slowly, grabbing Jin Long¡¯s arm.
[Chapter End]
Chapter 7
¡°Those who realize their follies are not true fools.¡± Zhuang Zi 369-286 BC
¡°We¡¯ve got a problem,¡± said Wen Er. She and Jin Long had almost finished the day without any trouble, yet unfortunately lady luck had other plans. Bowcha and his gang was the last group of people she wanted to meet. ¡°Just our rotten luck,¡± Wen Er thought.
Normally Bowcha and his loonies weren¡¯t a problem. Because of Wen Er¡¯s cultivation, she always had the option of running away. However, with her qi core crippled and a liability at her side, she couldn¡¯t see a solution that didn¡¯t involve fighting.
The seven boys, between the ages thirteen and fifteen, fanned out, blocking the pair¡¯s escape. Bowcha, the largest of them at five feet eleven with mud-colored hair and freckles, stood in the back.
¡°You know Wambi the weirdo, I was pretty sad when I heard you got sick. I really wanted to test out my new staff before the hunter selections ceremony,¡± Bowcha snickered, eliciting the same reaction from the rest of the gang. ¡°But since you¡¯re still recovering, why don¡¯t I try it out on that boy over there. I want to see if a baknah bleeds the same color we do.¡± Bowcha pointed his staff at Jin Long.
¡°Leave him alone Bowcha. He¡¯s a guest. Besides, you¡¯ll have to go through me first, and I don¡¯t seem to recall you ever having beaten me. What makes you think it¡¯ll be any different today?¡± Wen Er challenged. Directing their attention away from Jin Long was her best option. The boys wouldn¡¯t hurt her too badly, but there was no telling what they would do with Jin Long.
¡°That¡¯s cause you¡¯ve never fought fair and square. Old man Hatukni¡¯s taught you some trickery,¡± Bowcha argued, looking at the other boys for affirmation. He simply refused to believe that a girl with Wen Er¡¯s stature could legitimately beat him.
But all of that was about to change. Bowcha had been training with his grandfather¡¯s staff for the past year and had learned his family¡¯s secret staff techniques. His father cut him no slack; he sparred everyday and received his fair share of bruises. Today he¡¯d enjoy the fruits of his labor and settle the score with Wambi. Beating up the bandit spy beside her was just bonus.
¡°Umm, what¡¯s going on Wen Er?¡± Jin Long asked, even though he already got the gist of the situation. The village boys surrounding them looked like they wanted to pick a fight.
¡°These guys are the village¡¯s resident bullies, and it appears we¡¯re their targets. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this,¡± replied Wen Er, not daring to take her eyes off Bowcha. Even without her cultivation, she was still proficient in martial arts. The endless hours Teacher Fang made her train ingrained the moves into muscle memory. She was confident she could at least create an opportunity for Jin Long to escape.
¡°We can¡¯t avoid a fight by the looks of it. When there¡¯s an opening, you run home and alert Teacher Fang,¡± Wen Er instructed, not noticing the lack of concern on Jin Long¡¯s face.
¡°This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve had an altercation with them, huh?¡± observed Jin Long.
¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡±
¡°And how do you plan to handle the boy with the staff?¡±
¡°Just trust me and do what I say,¡± Wen Er grunted in response.
¡°Time¡¯s up Wambi.¡± Bowcha signaled his gang to engage.
Using the element of surprise to her advantage, Wen Er sprinted towards the smallest boy in the party. Her idea was to take out the weakest link first. While he was small in comparison to the other boys, he still had more than half a foot on her. In order to overcome a larger opponent, she needed to use her momentum and his mass as leverage.
The smallest boy in Bowcha¡¯s gang, called Mantuk, saw the girl running at him and rushed forward to receive her charge. Wen Er smirked, her training kicked into gear. In no more than a breathe, Wen Er pivoted herself, redirecting Mantuk¡¯s overextended body and used her shoulder as a fulcrum to throw the boy onto his back. The force of the impact stunned Mantuk.
¡°One down, six more to go,¡± Wen Er noted. Most of the boys were no match for her. Only Bowcha, one of the hunter selections candidates, could hold his own against Wen Er, back when she had her qi core.
Seeing how one of their own was felled so easily, Bowcha¡¯s goons approached Wen Er more cautiously. Although they knew she was strong, they had expected her to be weaker after her recent illness.
¡°Stop. I¡¯ll take care of her myself. You guys make sure the baknah doesn¡¯t run away,¡± Bowcha barked.
¡°Crap. There goes my plan.¡± Wen Er didn¡¯t expect Bowcha to break with tradition. Usually he let his grunts wear her out before making his move.
¡°Feeling confident are we?¡± she taunted the freckled boy.
¡°I don¡¯t know how you pull off your tricks, but they¡¯re not going to work against me,¡± said Bowcha. ¡°There¡¯s something different about you today. Your movements are slower...sluggish. Do you need me to go easy on you?¡± he jeered.
¡°Why don¡¯t you come and find out for yourself.¡± Wen Er positioned her body sideways and utilized a martial stance.
Understanding a spectacle was about to begin, Bowcha¡¯s gang turned to watch but assembled around Jin Long to make sure he wouldn¡¯t slip away. However, running was the last thing on Jin Long¡¯s mind. He observed Wen Er¡¯s fight with interest. So far, he was impressed with her quick thinking and battle instincts. Now, he wanted to see how she would fare in a disadvantageous situation.
Bowcha carefully advanced towards the girl. Both warriors knew if he could gain a positional advantage with his staff, the fight would likely end in his favor. Without warning, Bowcha exploded into a flurry of swings. His transitions from strike to strike were polished, garnering even admiration from Wen Er, who struggled to evade each attack. ¡°I can¡¯t keep this up. I need to retaliate soon,¡± she realized.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
To launch her offensive, Wen Er needed Bowcha to relax his aggression. Since the boy was by no means a master staff wielder, slipping up was only a matter of time. True to her analysis, Bowcha briefly paused to switch his grip after a dozen or so swings. Wen Er¡¯s counterattack happened in an instant. She lunged into Bowcha¡¯s comfort zone, surprising the boy as he hastily whipped his staff at her head. Wen Er ducked, feeling the staff miss by margins, and proceeded to palm Bowcha squarely in the chest.
The instance her attack landed, Wen Er knew she committed a serious error. She had accidentally employed a martial skill and forgotten about her crippled cultivation. Bowcha stumbled backwards, expressing confusion and bewilderment. Then, finally understanding the implications of what had happened, he laughed.
¡°Well, well, well. Lost your touch haven¡¯t you. Seems like your tricks aren¡¯t gonna save you forever,¡± sneered Bowcha, resuming his assault with greater fervor. Wen Er, still flustered by her mistake, failed to properly time one of Bowcha¡¯s swings and was slugged in the chest. Bowcha¡¯s follow-through went low and swept Wen Er off her feet. She fell hard, gasping for air. Bowcha, reveling in his imminent victory, raised the staff like a spear and prepared to thrust down.
Wen Er was scared. Bowcha¡¯s expression accommodated no mercy. Wen Er wanted to move out of the way, but she was still dazed from the fall. She closed her eyes, preparing for the impending brutality.
¡°That¡¯s quite enough!¡± Jin Long announced, seizing everyone¡¯s attention. He could tell the freckled boy wanted to hurt Wen Er badly. Old man Fang cared a lot for the girl, and it would reflect poorly as a friend if she got hurt under Jin Long¡¯s watch.
¡°I¡¯m going to need you to stop,¡± said Jin Long. Bowcha and the others stared in confusion, unable to understand him.
Jin Long raised his hand and clenched it into a fist, casting a tyrannical pressure over the village boys that locked them in place. Bowcha and his goons whimpered in terror as Jin Long¡¯s face began to disfigure. His eyes were replaced with unnaturally round sockets, and his mouth elongated into a demonic smile. The rest of Jin Long¡¯s body assumed the form of a shadow wraith that exuded a sickening aura.
Jin Long¡¯s new incorporeal shape came from the stuff of nightmares. To the village boys, it reminded them of the monsters of yore, the subjects of campfire tales that the older villagers used to tell. Although the boys were hardly young anymore, what they saw in front of them tapped into their primal instincts for self-preservation. There was no doubt in each of the boys¡¯ minds that the wraith embodied the very essence of death.
Incapable of coping with the suffocating aura, the village boys fainted one-by-one until only Bowcha remained standing, though clearing suffering from his own version of purgatory. Jin Long walked towards the freckled boy, not caring to step around the unconscious village boys who were foaming at the mouths.
¡°Please...please spare me. No, stay...away...stay...away,¡± Bowcha pleaded as he watched the wraith approach. He had lost all reasoning and spirit, resigning himself to the walking manifestation of hell. ¡°Please¡,¡± Bowcha sobbed. A warmth, which felt oddly comforting, ran down his legs.
¡°I will show you mercy though you deserve none,¡± responded Jin Long, who flicked Bowcha¡¯s forehead. The boy¡¯s eyes rolled into the back of his head and he dropped.
¡°It worked better than I thought,¡± Jin Long mused. To be honest, he had his doubts about the efficacy of the mental illusions, which were partially inspired by his own experiences in the lake world.
Against cultivators, Jin Long would normally never resort to this method. Mental attacks were double-edged swords, capable of inflicting as much harm to the caster as to the target. An Arbelian scholar once conjectured that the resonating qi cores between two cultivators invoked a sort of rebound mechanism.
¡°Hey, you okay?¡± asked Jin Long. He helped Wen Er up, the latter groaning in pain.
¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be fine. What the heck happened?¡± She stared at Jin Long incredulously. There was no explanation for the odd series of events - the village boys looked like they had seen the god of death himself.
¡°What did you do to them? You¡¯re a cultivator, aren¡¯t you? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Wen Er probed.
¡°You¡¯ve never asked,¡± said Jin Long flatly. ¡°Come, let me get you home.¡±
A hooded figure walked into an opening in the woods. The moonlight and the torchfire offered just enough light to illuminate the area. In the distance, moon wolves howled in unison, orchestrating a solemn chorus.
¡°I really hate this shitty forest. Where the fuck are they?¡± the figure cursed.
¡°Calm your horses village boy. I¡¯m here.¡± A voice from behind caused the hooded figure to jump in fright.
The man who spoke stepped out of the cover of darkness, dressed in leather armor and carried a large cleaver on his back.
¡°Who are you?!¡±
¡°My name is irrelevant, boy. You only need to know that I¡¯m with the Red Phoenix Mercenaries. I¡¯ve been informed you have actionable information, yes?¡± asked the man.
¡°I¡¯m no boy,¡± the hooded figure hissed. ¡°I want to speak with Captain Zhang. This information is meant for him only. That was part of the deal.¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t earned the right to speak with the captain. I¡¯m authorized to carry out the operation on his behalf. Anything you want to say to him, you can say to me. If I find that you¡¯ve wasted our time, I will personally string you by the limbs and feed you to the wolves,¡± the mercenary menaced.
The hooded figure gulped; his earlier bravado vanished. The mercenary in front of him was a giant - probably as tall as Jakabu - and could easily make good on his word. There was also a certain sharpness the man had that the village hunters didn¡¯t.
¡°I...I...me...mean no offense,¡± the figure stuttered. ¡°I...I just want to make sure I get paid for my hard work.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll get paid once you give us what we need. Now spit it out!¡±
¡°Okay, okay. Look, I think I found a way for you to get past the village¡¯s defenses. The hunter selections ceremony is in three days, and the villagers always celebrate afterwards¡¡±
¡°And they¡¯ll be piss drunk,¡± the mercenary butted in. ¡°Ah, I see where this is going.¡±
¡°Right. I can take care of the guards from the inside and open the gate. Then you can go do your thing,¡± said the hooded figure.
¡°The plan is simple. I like it. But¡,¡± the mercenary paused. He grabbed the hooded figure by the collar and pulled him face-to-face. ¡°How do I not know this is a trap? Why would you betray your own kinsman?¡±
¡°I have no love for the village. My goal is to get out of this shithole!¡± the figure retorted, spit flying in all directions. Convinced by the answer, the mercenary let go.
¡°Good. But I can¡¯t let you leave until you consume this.¡± The man held a red pill in his palm.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡±
¡°Insurance. It¡¯s a slow acting poison that will melt your insides if you don¡¯t receive the antidote in time. Once you¡¯ve done your part, we will give you the gold and the antidote. And trust me when I say this - the antidote is as rare as the pill itself. Don¡¯t get any funny ideas,¡± the mercenary warned.
¡°Well...I...I guess I have no choice, huh?¡± The hooded figure took the pill hesitantly and swallowed it. ¡°How do I know you¡¯ll honor your side of the agreement?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t, but it¡¯s not like you have a choice now,¡± the mercenary grinned. ¡°You better pray we succeed.¡±
Once the hooded figure had left, the mercenary nodded. Three men stepped out into the clearing.
¡°Vice Captain Zuo Xie,¡± they greeted.
¡°Sir, how do you know he can be trusted?¡± one of the men inquired.
¡°He can¡¯t, but I¡¯ve seen enough of vermin of his kind to know he values his own life above all else. Greed and fear will keep him check. Besides, our client is getting impatient. If we want to find the book soon, we¡¯ll need to take some risks. Let¡¯s head back and report to the captain,¡± Zuo Xie ordered.