The Third Kingdom - Chapter 17 preview (Patreon)

“You wanted to see me, Elder Cao?” Wu Ying murmured, standing in the narrow wooden corridor. Even from here, he could smell it – the stench of heart’s blood spilled, hear the buzz of insects that had come to feast upon the corpse and its discarded remnants. Another building, but so similar to his own in layout. Bare furnishings, just a few fresh cut flowers and paintings all around.

“Yes. You fought against the dark sects in your kingdom, correct?” Elder Cao said, beckoning him closer.

“Yes, Elder.”

“Then what are your opinions on this?” She gestured into the room. Within, Investigator Chu stood, measuring blood splatters as she crouched on the floor. There was no one else in there, just the Investigator. Even Elder Cao was standing outside, not that the room had that much space.

Wu Ying breathed in, filtering scents and auras. Liu Jin’s aura was gone, only traces of his presence still present and that, probably, from his stay in the room. Liu Ping’s was much fainter, the sister having likely spent some time within. Hers was mixed with the smell of frustration, rage and grief; the hormonal balance stark. None of that, from the corpse though. At a guess, he probably had been killed while still asleep.

There were other cultivator essences too. Elder Cao’s, the healer, the Investigator and yes, the Guard Captain. Even Gao Qiu’s was part of the background, as well as maybe… Well. There was quite a lot of notes floating through the background, making it hard for him to pick it all out. But yes, there definitely was at least one more scent.

More interestingly was the body itself. Liu Jing lay on his bed, his throat slit, the wounds around his chest still bandaged and dark. On the bedspread and along the ground, blood had dripped. But that was not why Elder Cao had called him in.

No, it was what had been marked on the walls. Words, a drawing. Painted in drying blood, infused with conception by an artist, but lacking chi. Just looking at it, he could feel his soul being attacked, the dark desires painted bringing forth feelings of anger and pride, jealousy and pain.

Wu Ying hissed, stepping away from the painting and tightening the chi around his body, protecting himself from the painting. He looked away, breathing slowly, searching the air for hints of the dark, the bitterness that he had come to associate with the chi from the dark sect.

Yet, he could not find it.

“What do you see?” Elder Cao spoke, finally, when the silence kept going.

“The painting in blood. Whoever is involved – if it’s not multiple people – has gained conception in painting. Whoever killed him, they did it fast, but they took their time while painting.” Wu Ying said. “This, the painting, it’s an attack. A statement.” He sighed. “But I cannot say if it is a dark sect member. I am no expert, and there are so many…”

“No signifiers to you?”

“If painting in blood can be considered that, certainly. But an individual can be twisted without joining the dark sects. And there is no twisting in their cultivation bases that I can recognize left behind,” Wu Ying replied, looking at Investigator Chu and then Elder Cao. “Perhaps others might have more to tell you, but that is all I can provide.”

“Pity. I had hoped you would be more useful,” Elder Cao said.

“If the dark sect were that easy to root out, they would not be such persistent thorns in our existence, would they?” Wu Ying said. “Even the major clues I knew came from the corrupted orthodox members than the dark sect members themselves”

The Elder glared at Wu Ying at his first sentence, not used to being chastised. Both the Guard Captain – standing outside – and Investigator Chu looked at Wu Ying with horror and surprise, that he would dare speak back. Nagging suspicion flowed across both their faces, but Wu Ying ignored it.

Instead he continued. “I’m surprised you asked me here. Asking a suspect for their opinion is not normal procedure, no?”

“Between our conversation last night and the timing of this death, we are certain you are no longer a suspect.”

“When did he die?” Wu Ying asked, curiously.

“Between the fourth and seventh hour after the midday sun reached its zenith,” Investigator Chu said. “I will, I hope, be able to ascertain a more accurate timescale soon.” She was eyeing the drying blood, lips curled a little.

“So accurate?” Wu Ying exclaimed, surprised.

“We spoke to Liu Ping and the healer, confirming when they left Liu Jin alone and when he was found again. That made for a very narrow window.” Elder Cao was frowning as she spoke, looking a little dissatisfied.

Wu Ying could not help but ask. “What is wrong? Beyond the obvious murders.”

For a second, Elder Cao pursed her lips, casting a glance at both the other guardsman. At the Guard Captain’s nod, she continued. “These actions, they do not make sense. So many of you were visible at the tournament, it will make our job easier. On top of that, this death…” She shook her head. “It is nothing like Cui Wen’s.”

“Perhaps they stopped hiding?” Wu Ying said, tentatively.

“Or are trying to cast blame on another,” Elder Cao replied.

Wu Ying nodded. He had no answer to that.

“Will you aid us?” Elder Cao said, suddenly. When he looked surprised, she gestured to the Guard Captain Teng Fei. “You were at the tournament, watching. Tell us who you saw, when you saw them. We will be corroborating every witness statement. Even if they expect us to do so….”

“It can still provide information,” Teng Fei finished.

“Of course. Anything I can do,” Wu Ying replied.

Elder Cao gestured, dismissing him and Teng Fei. The pair filed away, the Captain leading the way, moving with a slow ponderous gait that seemed weighed down by the deaths of those before.

Wu Ying could only hope that no more deaths would occur before they located the killer.

***

Gao Qiu was waiting for him, in his own temporary residence when he finally made his way back. Wu Ying led the other to his room, and even before he could provide tea or snacks, the other man was speaking.

“Why did they call you in?” Gao Qiu asked suspiciously, leaning against the wall leading to the corridor, the thin wooden door shut beside him.

“They wanted my input on the body,” Wu Ying replied. “They believed I might have some knowledge about it because of the… well, state of the room.” He finished quietly, realizing he was uncertain how much the Elder might want him to speak on it. Not that he expected the details to stay hidden for long – cultivators were notorious gossips after all. It had something to do with the need to talk about cultivation systems, to explore daos and concepts and argue about things that made them rather talkative.

“I saw Liu Jin’s body,” Gao Qiu said, softly. “I heard Liu Ping scream and came out of my own room. I caught only a glimpse of her before she dashed out, and went to look in on Liu Jin afterwards. I saw the… painting.”

Wu Ying nodded. “Then you can see why they thought it might be the doings of a dark sect member.”

“Or demonic cultivator.”

“No,” Wu Ying shook his head, denying the statement.

“What do you mean? Only a demon would paint that, with another’s blood!”

“Demonic cultivators find it very hard to hide, especially when utilizing their chi.” Wu Ying’s memory flashed back to his own encounter with the demonic Core cultivators whilst rescuing his martial sister. “They might be able to hide a little, but when they make a statement like they had done before – they would not likely able to hide their twisted cultivation. There was no hint of the demonic in the painting or the room.

“Or the village.”

“Then what? You think someone is trying to throw suspicion away?” Gao Qiu said, pushing off the wall. “What for? Why kill both a sect cultivator and Liu Jin? What’s the point of it all?”

Wu Ying shrugged. “I think, if you could understand that, you would know who the killer is.” His lips twisted in a rueful smile. “Though I think whoever did the killing made a mistake.”

“Why?” Gao Qiu said.

“Because most of us were at the tournament,” Wu Ying said. “The Guard Captain and Elder Cao were confirming alibis when I left, cross-referencing eyewitness reports. It should not be hard for them to work out who was the killer using that.”

“Ah.” Gao Qiu frowned. “Who is Elder Cao?”

“She’s the…” Wu Ying trailed off, then shrugged. “The Core Formation Elder watching over the tournament.”

“You met her?” Gao Qiu said, surprised. “I thought they were staying within the compound?”

No surprise that he had noticed, it was not as though Elder Cao was hiding her own spiritual presence. Even light as she let it rest upon the surroundings, anyone with any awareness would have felt it. Unlike his and the other Elders who had their own auras retracted, Elder Cao’s blanketed the surroundings in subtle warning.

“I did. Last night.”

“What is she like?”

“Old. An ex-general. A guerilla general, to be exact.” Wu Ying shook his head. “Important, and strong. Probably in the upper tiers of Core Formation stage. She also wields her weapon well. But she seems to take her job seriously.”

“Is she just here for the tournament then?” Gao Qiu asked.

Wu Ying shrugged.

“Of course. It is not as though she would tell you.” Gao Qiu bit his lower lip, worrying one corner.

“What is it? Why are you worried about her?”

The other cultivator shook his head. “No. I’m not worried about her. Not really…” then seeing the doubtful look on Wu Ying’s face, he shrugged. “The generals of the guerilla divisions, the divisions themselves. They are the ones who handle or deal with wandering cultivators the most. They’re not well respected in the army or kingdom either, since they’re all considered outcasts and irresponsible.

“They’re also the ones tasked with hunting down and killing rebels when they are found.”

Wu Ying fell silent, turning over the information he had in his mind. The White Flower Merchant Association. The number of wandering cultivators here. Gao Qiu’s words and his actions. The way the sects vied for his attention, skirting around the rules.

“You think she might still be working for the army,” Wu Ying relayed the first of his conclusions.

“Yes. And though we haven’t broken any laws here…” Gao Qiu shrugged. “The kingdom is always watching over these tournaments.”

“As expected,” Wu Ying murmured. “No?”

“Yes. It’s always dangerous to come.”

“Yet you did.”

“Well, of course.” Gao Qiu offered a tight half-smile. “Liu Ping wanted to compete. And the prizes…”

“Were never something you expected to win,” Wu Ying said, remembering his words weeks ago. “In fact, you coming here was never about the tournament. And while you’ve been meeting with others, it’s not that much; not to socialize. You haven’t been buying anything much either…” He trailed off, realizing how suspicious the man’s actions had been. His whole team, in a way. They had hung out with him, but why him? Why even come to a tournament you never expect to win. Prestige perhaps, recognition; but then would they not have tried harder?

“Why did you come, Gao Qiu?” More remembered conversations, the man’s intention to set-up a relationship with him for the Association. “What is the Association, really?”

“This might not be the best time.” Gao Qiu shook his head. “We can discuss this later.” He turned to the door, only for Wu Ying to pulse his own aura. Gao Qiu dropped his hand from the door handle, turning back to face Wu Ying’s displeased expression.

“Who or what is the White Flower Merchant Association, Cultivator Gao? What did you try to drag me into?”

“I wasn’t going to draw you into anything that you did not understand,” Gao Qiu said, defensively. “I was going to explain fully.”

“Explain what?”

“We’re patriots. Looking to do the best for our kingdom. We believe that the current system favors the rich, the nobles and the king too greatly. It forces everyone to join the army, to serve them – whether they are worthwhile to be served or not,” Gao Qiu said in a rush, chin rising stubbornly.

“You’re rebels.”

“We are patriots. We serve the true kingdom – the people!”

Wu Ying stepped back and gestured to the door. “I’ve heard enough. You should go.”

“Is that it? You’ll just dismiss our plight? Is that your dao then? To watch others suffer, and do nothing about it? Not very heroic,” Gao Qiu said, incensed by the abrupt rejection. “Are you going to turn us in?”

Wu Ying shook his head. “I have no desire to get involved in your kingdom’s politics. Your secret is safe with me. As for my dao…” Eyes grew distant, before he continued. “I know little enough of your kingdom to ascertain who is right or wrong. Who am I, to interfere in your world?”

“Another wanderer on the path! Will you look away, from those in need just because their plight is not yours? Will you choose to withhold your hand because they are strangers? Of course you will. That’s what you all do.” Gao Qiu snorted. “I should never have expected better.”

“You speak as though the choice is obvious.” Wu Ying glared. “I might have reservations about your kingdom’s system but aiding a group I know nothing about seems just as foolish. You could be demon worshippers, dark sect cultists or just heretical cultists with a tendency to banditry.”

“How dare you! You’ve spent days with us and you think we would do that?”

“That’s the point. I don’t know you all well enough. I just learnt your rebels. What else are you hiding?” Wu Ying snapped. “Your lies might have been necessary, but they were lies. A few days means nothing, when dark sect cultivators spend decades being good and loyal cultivators, only to betray and kill and kidnap!”

Gao Qiu’s eyes widened and he shrunk back further with each sentence. At the end, he exhaled sharply, realization that perhaps his usual guilt tactics might not work against someone who had dealt with dark sect traitors in all too recent past.

“I see. I won’t bother you any further then.”

He pulled the door open, exiting. He turned around at the end, hand still on the door and frowned at Wu Ying, his voice lowering.

“You know, you might have seen the worse of cultivators; but if it blinds you to the best of us – then your enemies have won even more than you think.”

Before Wu Ying could reply, the door shut, leaving him alone in his room.