The Third Kingdom - Chapter 13 preview (Patreon)

They found him in his room that evening. Training and the duels had continued but at a more subdued pace. At times, for stretches that included even hours, some of the rings would lie completely untouched as cultivators gathered and gossiped. The restaurants and living rooms were filled, voices hushed as they spoke to one another, speculating about the death.

At first, Wu Ying had joined in the meals and speculation, speaking with one group or another, introducing himself and listening more than talking. It soon wore on him though, the attitudes and words being tossed about; and he had left for the rooftops. Jealousy, paranoia and baseless speculation turning into ugly rumors were not conversational pieces Wu Ying chose to indulge in.

To his surprise, he found himself not the only individual lounging on the clay roofs, silently watching over those below or in a couple of places, practicing their qinggong techniques. He noticed the Pan sisters seated on their residence’s rooftops, murmuring to one another. Pan Shui even waved at him, a greeting he returned though he chose not to approach them.

Instead, he lay on top of the rooftop, allowing the wind to bring with it snatches of conversation and the scents of those below, allowing him to map the world around him. Whispered conversations, of Cui Wen and where he had been afterwards, a mental map of sightings – at times contradictory.

“Outside, at the dueling rings. I swear, I saw him with another cultivator. The big, hairy one from the Dan county; the one who wields that oar?... Doing? Well, their shirts were off and there was… grappling… no, of course the barriers weren’t activated!”

“Stalked out of the restaurant, nursing his chest. I tell you, it was that Shen-cultivator who killed him. He uses a jian too. And you saw how they fought.”

“Stabbed in the back. His skin was green around the wound. Poison, I know it by sight! Just like the Fu brothers…”

“He was talking with that other Elder, the Crimson Flowers one. Late at night, on the rooftop I tell you…”

“… saw him sneaking around, in the back alleys, watching three cultivators. I swear, I think he was following them…”

So many conversations, so much contradicting information. Rumors, born of mischief or conjecture, of fractured memories.

Wu Ying listened, though he asked the wind for more concrete information. It supplied it to him, notes of blood and spilled food. Too much, for these were wandering cultivators and they all had fought. Some failed to clean their weapons well, leaving lingering traces in sheathes and blades. Others bled and hurt, from the fight beforehand.

And not once, did he pick a location of where the attack had happened. Whoever had slain Cui Wen had washed the blood away, cleaning earth or pavement and hiding it from all.

The day passed in that way, long hours of speculation, of random fights as tensions rose and murmured speculation. A few cultivators took to the roads, choosing to leave – only to be turned back by guards at the perimeter of the land.

That brought another round of discussion and rumor, with a small altercation quickly stymied by the sudden entrance of Elder Eng and his stern disapproval. Wu Ying noted the shift in the aura of the one in the compound, them beginning to stir before Elder Eng chose to act first.

Evening came and Wu Ying retired to his quarters, no more knowledgeable about what had transpired but as troubled as any other cultivator.

That was when they found him, of course.

***

“Thank you for speaking with us, Cultivator Long,” Guard Captain Teng Fei and Chu were the only two members in the small room they had set aside for this discussion. A single room, bereft of anything but the table, three chairs that they occupied and a tea set. Of course, Wu Ying could sense him there. Behind the wall, listening, watching, judging. Unseen, but his presence as clear as a candle in a dark room.

“Not at all. Your work must be difficult with so many of us here,” Wu Ying answered.

Certainly, his only experience - outside of a few novels and stories – with a murder investigation had been a killing when he was a child. Enraged wife finding her husband in bed with his sister had proceeded to murder him, before she was stopped. Not exactly a difficult case.

“Cultivators do present a unique challenge,” Guardsman Chu said, though her eyes gleamed with excitement. Hands were poised over a scroll, ready to write whatever was spoken.

Wu Ying idly considered the woman, testing her aura. Rank mortal, not even with a single meridian open. Not that he needed to actually use his spiritual sense to know that, what with the slight lines across her eyes, the pimple at the edge of her hairline. Things a Body Cleansing cultivator would have cleared except in the most sever of cases.

“Have you undertakens many cases involving cultivators?” Wu Ying asked, curiously.

Teng Fei leaned forward, cutting her off before she could answer. “Honored Expert, if you don’t mind, we have many such interviews to conduct. If we could perhaps focus on that…?”

Wu Ying nodded.

“Then, perhaps you could tell us of your interactions with Cultivator Cui,” Teng Fei said.

Relating the experience of last night was simple enough. He abbreviated the fight itself, ending with, “… and after things calmed down, I left for my room. I had some travel rations left over and supped on that, after which I cultivated and rested in my room till this morning.”

“And you did not leave your room after you entered it?” Teng Fei asked.

Wu Ying shook his head.

“Did anyone see you return to your room? And when, roughly, did you do so? Did you ask the servants for some tea, or a washcloth or otherwise interact with any others?”

After each question, Wu Ying would answer in the negative before the next question was asked.

“I see. And the next morning…?”

Wu Ying continued to relate the remainder of his actions when he awoke, from a simple stretching routine after cleansing himself to having breakfast and then shopping. As he remarked upon each of these instances, Guardsman Chu wrote it all down.

“Thank you,” Teng Fei said, leaning backwards once Wu Ying was done. “That was very helpful.”

“You are welcome.” Wu Ying sipped on his teacup. He cocked his head to the side, feeling a minor fluctuation in the environmental chi. He had sensed that before in the Sect, though not that often. Spiritual Speech, like any cultivation technique, had to be trained.

Interesting that the Core Formation cultivator hiding in the other room knew it though.

“This might be an impertinent question…” Wu Ying nodded for the guard captain to go on. “But you antagonized Cui Wen at the restaurant.” Another nod. “Is there perhaps some hidden animosity?”

Wu Ying’s eyes narrowed. He was not dumb. He knew he was a suspect, and perhaps telling the truth was not the best option. But then again, not answering might just result in a fight or further suspicion. So, truth for now.

“Cui Wen annoyed me, with his arrogance,” Wu Ying said. Then, guessing that he probably had learnt it by now, and if not, knowing it would come out, he added. “You know of my true sect affiliation?”

“The Verdant Green Waters.”

“Yes,” Wu Ying said.

“However, you are not wearing their robes. Nor did you announce your affiliation on registration,” Cui Wen said. “Not doing so can lead to… incidents.”

“Like the one we had?” A half smile on Wu Ying’s face as he waved his hand. “I am somewhat in disgrace with my sect. An issue with a recent expedition. I had hoped to travel for a while without bringing them into matters.”

Guardsman Chu looked a little confused, though she smoothed out her face when she noticed Wu Ying watching her. Teng Fei on the other hand had a much better political mien. “Of course. I would not look to pry into your personal business, Honored Expert.” He paused. “Beyond the bounds of my duty, of course.”

“Of course.”

“But you took offence to what Cui Wen and the others said to you, then? Could you not have explained matters instead of antagonizing him?”

Wu Ying considered his words silently, going over the night in his head once more. There was much truth to what was said. He had chosen the most aggressive route to answering Cui Wen. But…

“Even wandering cultivators should not need to bow their heads to arrogant sect members. Skill and dao enlightenment is all that matters. I decided that it was worthwhile to teach Cui Wen that.”

Teng Fei rubbed his face at the answer. “Of course.”

On the other side of the wall, Wu Ying felt a slight shift in the aura around the hidden cultivator, what he could only characterize as approval. He chose not to say anything though, especially when Teng Fei returned to questioning him. Going over his statement in detail, varying his questions and jumping around the timeline. Seeking to catch him out in a lie.

Wu Ying turned his focus fully on the Guard Captain. For now. He would find out about the hidden expert later.

***

“So, they questioned you too, eh?” Pan Shui called out to Wu Ying as he ascended the stairs to their floor. He turned, surprised a little to see her talking to him. Not that he had not spotted her downstairs, but she had been speaking with her sisters when he had passed by.

“Too? I assume then they spoke with you and your sisters?” he replied.

“Aye. They didn’t like us saying our witnesses were each other though.” She smirked before she shrugged. “But the woman guardsman, the investigator, she did agree our spears wouldn’t have caused those wounds.”

“You could have switched to a sword,” Wu Ying said, tapping his own storage ring. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who collects weapons of multiple forms.”

“Hah!” Pan Shui said, letting out a little, raucous laugh. “Too true. Her Captain chided her for answering me and said the same.” Then she narrowed her eyes, stepping closer and putting her head closer to his chest. “But we figure, they’re going to ask all of us.”

“Us?”

“Outsiders.”

“Ah…” Wu Ying nodded. “I have no reason to kill Cui Wen though. He was…” he frowned, searching for the politick word to use.

“Inconsequential? A mewling baby whose ego was larger than his tool?”

Wu Ying blushed a little. “To- tool?”

“His sword, of course.” Another smirk. “But watch yourself, Shen-man. We have our clan protecting us from being falsely accused. You…”

“Have nothing?” Wu Ying finished for her, choosing not to point out his own affiliations. After all, the Verdant Green Waters was many li away. “Surely they would not blame the innocent?”

Pan Shui’s eyes darkened and she stepped up again, leaving only the single step between them. Bending her head to meet his own gaze, she lowered her voice. “He is the direct disciple of a sect elder. The Seven Pavilions will be desperate to cover the shame of his death. Especially before the army arrive. For if they arrive…” She shakes her head.

“What of it?”

“These tournaments are a new thing. Only a decade or so. Too new to be considered permanent. Such incidents could have the kingdom banning them once more,” Pan Shui replied. “This isn’t the first such incident, after all. A lot of people have reason not to allow us our greater freedoms, even if the Third Prince champions this.”

Wu Ying winced, already envisioning it. Perhaps the conversation and speculation among the wandering cultivators had not been idle gossip entirely then but also had some elements of self-preservation.

“Thank you for the warning, Cultivator Pan.” Then, out of curiosity, Wu Ying asked. “Why are you so sure though, that I’m not the killer?”

“We sparred, did we not?” She stepped back, giving him space. “I felt your sword. It is powerful and strong, highly energetic while being flexible. Even if you float through our battles, it is still straightforward in its strength and focus.”

“You truly believe you can tell a man’s character through his fighting style?” Wu Ying said, surprised. It was one of those discussions that had its detractors as much as supporters. That the depths of one’s martial style showcased the truth of an individual’s soul too.

“Do you not?” Pan Shui said. “A man can hide much, and we did not fight to the end where truth really does shine through, but you are not that complicated.”

“I see…” Wu Ying said. He did agree, to some extent, that one could tell something of another via their weapon choice, the way they fought or choose to face an opponent. Someone who was aggressive and charged forwards was often like that in real life. While counter-strikers were often retiring and analytical, choosing to watch and only speaking when they had to.

However, humanity was more complicated than that. A retiring young woman amongst friends might be aggressive and wrathful in battle, a boy filled with energy throughout the day could find stillness in the mastery of the sword.

Then again, he only had the Sense of the Sword. She, the Heart of the Spear. Perhaps it was something one truly gained when an individual achieved that state of enlightenment. Perhaps he thought people were more complicated because he just did not see clearly enough.

There were more than a few tales of Nascent Soul cultivators able to see through aspects of their dao to the truth of it. A cultivator of truth, becoming the supreme judge of a small county; never making a mistaken ruling – even if not always ruling wisely. Another whose dao of painting had allowed him to pick apart dozens of fakes.

“Be careful, Sen-man.” Repeating herself once more, Pan Shui turned and trooped downstairs while Wu Ying debated her earlier question, leaving him alone on the staircase.

He let out a sigh, rubbing at the back of his neck. There was so much to learn, about daos, martial styles and the cultivation world he lived in. So much that was rumor and half-truth, that might work for one individual but fail for another, that sometimes he felt like he was swimming through murky water in the deep of the night.

Then again, if cultivation and enlightenment was easy, everyone would be an immortal.

***

The disturbance at his door was respectful, willing to wait for the long minutes that it took Wu Ying to safely exit his cultivation before he moved to open them. A small part of Wu Ying was grateful he no longer sweated out impurities as he had done so before. It was much better on his clothing and pocket book after all.

“Gao Qiu. Liu Ping. Liu Jin.” Wu Ying greeted the three, choosing to drop the honorifics. They had grown close enough that it was not an insult.

“Expert Long.” Gao Qiu spoke for the three, greeting him. Well, he had – but his strength allowed him to step past such things unlike them. “Are we disturbing you?”

“Not at all. I was just cultivating,” Wu Ying said, gesturing for them to come in. Not a big room, but it would fit all three of them, even if he did have to sit on the bed which he had been cultivating from until then. When everyone had found a seat, he continued. “What brings you this late in the evening?”

“It is good that we did not find you asleep,” Gao Qiu fell silent, looking around. The silence stretched out as he seemed to lose the nerve to say anything further.

“It is late and even if I only require a little sleep, I do wish to be well rested for tomorrow.” Wu Ying looked at the three before continuing. “And you three too.”

“Bah! I can win in the preliminaries without any…” Liu Ping fell silent as her brother poked her arm. She glared back at him but shut her mouth as Gao Qiu shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes. I apologise, Expert Long. I just wanted to know, did you get called in too?”

That again. Wu Ying barely managed not to roll his eyes. Not that it was surprising but… “Yes. I assume you were interviewed because you were in the fight with me?”

“Ummm… yes.” Gao Qiu shifted in his seat and then sighed. “They asked us where you were and, well, we could not lie. We did not see you after the fight.”

“Because I went back to my rooms,” Wu Ying said. Then, recalling the evening, he added curiously. “Where did you all go?”

“Dinner!”

“A walk!”

“To bed!”

The words were all jumbled up, spoken together. Wu Ying raised an eyebrow, turning from each member to another.

“I went to bed,” Liu Jin said. “Ah Ping went to eat and Ah Qiu…”

“Went for a walk?” Wu Ying smirked.

Gao Qiu shrugged. “I enjoy the evenings. And after a fight…”

He did not say anything to the excuse. It was rather suspicious, but the truth was that battles between demon beasts and humans were different. Even if no one had been killed, insults and blows thrown by a mortal had a tendency to linger, damaging the psyche.

Nor was it really Wu Ying’s place. After all, he could think of many reasons a man might want to take a walk alone and Gao Qiu was a good looking man, even if he was a little too stern and old.

“Did they question you long?” Wu Ying asked instead.

“Not as long as you!” Liu Ping said, laughing a little. “They kept you in there for a while.”

“You were watching?” Wu Ying said, recalling their earlier question. “Then why did you ask if they had called me in?”

“Uhh…” Liu Ping flushed.

“We were being polite,” Gao Qiu said, cutting in and glaring at the girl. She fell silent, before he continued. “We did not want to make you worried that we were watching you.” He paused, then added sheepishly. “Even though we are.”

“Why?”

“We were, well, we have two reasons. Firstly, if you are still joining the tournament, we were going to place our bets on you,” Gao Qiu said.

Wu Ying was not particularly surprised there was going to be gambling on the tournament results. He had not seen anything as yet but he assumed the bookies would set up tomorrow. If anything, it would be more surprising to find a tournament where individuals were not gambling upon the results. And if it was a merchant clan that was running things, he could not see them letting such a chance escape their grasp.

“Did you not have confidence in Liu Ping?” Wu Ying said, nodding to the young girl who looked a little sullen.

“We do…!” Gao Qiu said hurriedly. “But…”

“But there’s no reason not to place multiple bets!” Liu Jin said, eyes glittering a little. “You see, I have a system…”

“Idiots.” Liu Ping muttered under her breath, so quietly that Wu Ying figured neither of the other two heard. He kept his mouth shut, not wanting to get involved in that drama.

“And the second reason?” he asked instead.

“We have been hoping to speak with you about joining us.” Gao Qiu ran a hand through his long hair, pushing it down and ensuring it was in place. “Or us joining you.”

“Why?”

“It’s clear you’re more than just a simple Energy Storage cultivator. Perhaps even Core Formation?” Gao Qiu said, hesitatingly. When Wu Ying chose not to react, he continued on, bravely. “That kind of strength, even if you wish to keep it hidden, is reassuring. Our missions – escorting merchant caravans, locating beast cores and guarding camps – they will be easier. We will be stronger for it.”

Wu Ying was shaking his head soon after Gao Qiu made his proposal. To his surprise, there was no trace of disappointment on the other’s face, but expectation. “Where I go, where I need to go, it is not suitable for others.”

“Because you wander deep into the untamed lands, to gather your supplies?” Gao Qiu said.

Wu Ying nodded.

“Then, perhaps we could set up a deal, perhaps request you get for us some minor items…” Wu Ying was shaking his head already. “Surely there is no way for the kingdom to know?”

“It isn’t just that,” Wu Ying said. “When I leave, I’m not entirely certain where I’ll travel to.” He waved his hand outside. “That will make it hard for you to meet with me.”

“Ah!” Gao Qiu smiled. “That is no problem.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.” He reached into his robes and extracted a small wooden stick with carvings and words enscribed on them. Wu Ying could feel the gentlest of enchantments laid upon the stick, pushed into it so that one could verify the givers’ identity if you knew it to begin with. “You need only hand this to any merchant in the White Flower Merchant Association and you may send any items to us.”

“Convenient,” Wu Ying said, staring at the flat stick laid upon the table. “But if you inform me what little herbs you need, I might be able to gift them to you now.”

Gao Qiu smiled. “Well, it’s not just for us, you see. We’re part of a group…”

“Of wandering cultivators.” A single eyebrow rose interrogatively. An association of wandering cultivators – what a strange thought. The White Flower Merchant Association seemed to be more than just another business.

“Among others. Think of it as a brotherhood of mutual support,” Liu Jin spoke up, leaning forwards. “Support and belief.”

Gao Qiu shook his head, as Wu Ying moved to ask further. “I had not expected to get into this conversation right now, Expert Long. We will speak on this matter later. But perhaps one last question.” Wu Ying nodded for the man to continue. “Would you at least consider selling such goods to us?”

“Consider?” Wu Ying trailed off and then nodded.

“That is all that we can ask for.” Gao Qiu gestured for the other two to leave, while he stood up as well. He added as he continued. “It would be of great help to us. Strength and enlightenment should not be controlled, not by a single corrupt entity.”

Wu Ying did not comment, instead leading the group to the door and watching them leave. He watched them leave after the usual words of farewell before turning back to the small sip beside him, the words White Flower Merchant Association gleaming in the setting moonlight.

How… interesting.

There had been a lot unsaid in that conversation. Hints of more than just a group of wandering cultivators attempting to acquire spiritual herbs and cores on the side. A group that had tied itself to a merchant association already or controlled it from behind. One in need of significant amounts of cultivation resources, if they were willing to ask any random cultivator.

Perhaps Gao Qiu and his friends were more than just a group of wandering cultivators. Or perhaps he was just reading too much into things.

Storing the wooden slat in a secondary storage ring, Wu Ying stretched his body slowly. All these unanswered questions, of motive and ability, of death and murder; that could wait. Would wait. Time would tell.

As for now, tomorrow, there was a tournament.

One where he had been asked to throw.

And dangers all around.