The Third Kingdom - Chapter 30 preview (Patreon)

The crowd finally arrived, guards, wandering cultivators and the sect members tumbling into the broken and destroyed fields all too late. Perhaps they had been rushing over from the start, though if that was the case, he would have expected a bunch of broken legs.

No. Chances were they had been hampered from arriving. Perhaps by the guards, perhaps by the fire or perhaps by common sense. Few individuals would throw themselves into the midst of a battle between Core Formation elders, not without being one themselves.

With his secret exposed, Wu Ying chose to make full use of it. He allowed his aura to blanket the surroundings, let it thrum through the air and subtly warn off those who would approach him for answers. More than a few wandering cultivators came to a stop a dozen feet from him lest they anger him.

Elder Eng had chosen not to do the same, but the respect and deference given to the sect elder kept others away from him as he sat, cross-legged whilst recovering. Kong Lai stood watching over the man, only the lightest coating of sweat on her brow indicating how much such exertion cost her.

In the distance, hovering over his own master, Shi Fei worked healing charms and pills into Elder Tsui’s mouth whilst the Seven Pavilion’s overworked healer did his best to clean and bandage the Elder’s wounds. Wu Ying listened to the constant excuses the man muttered as he tried to forestall calamity should Elder Tsui pass away, a distressing reminder of Elder Cao’s prowess.

As for her slayer, Gao Qiu had the woman in his arms a short distance away. Surrounding him and her were the surviving members of the guard on one side and the members of the White Flower Merchant Association, the group facing off against one another. Yet, neither side dared make a move, leaving them in silent impasse under the night sky.

“Expert Long…” Guard Captain Teng Fei spoke up, having crossed to the front of the crowd around Wu Ying. Teng Fei was breathing heavily, his voice tight and pressured as he fought against his better instinct to stand before the wind cultivator.

“Yes?” Wu Ying cracked an eyebrow and then sighed. He truly did not want to get involved but Elder Eng was in no condition to speak nor was Elder Tsui. That just left him. And before the flood of unruly cultivators grew out of hand – which might endanger him even further, bereft of energy and wounded as he was – he needed to take steps.

So.

He dropped the aura pressure, drawing back its heaviness and repressing notes whilst allowing himself full use of his spiritual senses. He would need every second of warning if an attack was launched, after all.

Taking his unspoken invitation, Teng Fei closed the distance to stop halfway, just outside of Wu Ying’s blade reach. Not that it mattered, for the cultivator could extend his blade intent but symbolism signified. “What happened here, Expert Long? And who, exactly, are you?”

“Elder Cao was the killer. She kidnapped Liu Tsong, intending to draw me out. Intending to…” Wu Ying shook his head. “Intending to sow chaos. To make these tournaments and auctions unsafe, too dangerous for others to take part in. She was never retired, she still worked for the government and all this, the killings, the injuries, the thefts are all a government plot.”

Teng Fei’s lips thinned, doubt in his eyes. Even if he might have had suspicions of his own, it was one thing to be suspicious, another to have it confirmed in such a manner. “Those are serious accusations. Do you have proof?”

Wu Ying paused, considering. Did he have proof? Did he have anything to confirm what had been said or done here? Staring at the churned blood and destruction, he winced.

Seeing the answer on Wu Ying’s face, Teng Fei stepped forward, lowering his voice. “The death of an ex-general… it is a serious matter.”

“Speak with the other Elders when they have recovered. They will support my words.” Wu Ying stared at the man, his lips compressing. “On my honor and my hopes of immortality, I have spoken no lies in this matter.”

Teng Fei turned his head from side-to-side. His eyes drifted over to the Seven Pavilion’s merchants, to  their servants at the edges. To his employers, all looking fearful and upset. Many seemed about to faint, for they could see the end of their families, their lives as merchants spread out before them.

Whether they chose to divulge the details or not, the revelation of such a plot in their tournament would see the government take action. They would not let word of a plot this damaging spread, not easily. Without evidence – and perhaps even with – the easiest way to handle matters was not to.

It was a dangerous world out there, after all.

The other wandering cultivators were slower on the uptake, but they began to realize what it meant soon after. Some, the most fearful, the most decisive left immediately; the formation keeping them imprisoned destroyed in the battle between the four Core Formation cultivators.

“I… this is not something I can speak to.” Teng Fei flicked his gaze over to Elder Cao’s body. “I cannot… this…” Duty warred with self-preservation, as he struggled to come up with a solution.

His gaze turned to his guards, many who looked ill. They too understood what it meant, for the government might just choose to kill them all to remove all traces of their betrayal.

“Betrayal.”

The word reverberated through the darkness, catching them all by surprise. It was strong and loud, and at the same time it was accompanied by a surprisingly powerful aura. Wu Ying’s eyes narrowed, realizing that Gao Qiu had been hiding his own cultivation level. He was no Core Formation cultivator, but he did stand at the peak of Energy Storage and maybe was even a half-step into Core Formation. It seemed it was not just him who had been hiding his cultivation level.

Silence, and then Gao Qiu repeated the word.

“Not by us, though the kingdom will see it that way. No. The State of Zhao betrays us, stealing the best of our men and women into the Everlasting Army, declaring us free to train – but never giving us any resources to do so. And now…” His voice dropped, drawing the crowd in.

“And now, they murder us. They send their general’s in the middle of the night, sullying our reputations and institutions. They betray their promises of safety and comfort, their very words shown to be false. What they cannot control, they will destroy. It has always been so. It will always be so.” Again, he paused.

“Until we choose otherwise.”

No surprise the words caused a susurration of noise, as whispers and startled exclamations rang through the night. Teng Fei moved away from Wu Ying, a hand dropping to his sword automatically, but then he hesitated. Knowing the truth of what Gao Fei had to say and yet, struggling with it as the binds of loyalty and understanding fought within him.

“We will not stand by and let the state take our lives without a fight. We will not stand by and allow injustice to rule the land. We deserve a life, an existence beyond the dregs the king and his corrupt advisors deign to offer us.” Gao Qiu walked forwards, coming close to the guards who had stood watching him, moving away from the support of his people so he could speak with the wandering cultivators.

There was a tense moment when one of the guards looked as though he might not move, before he reluctantly did at the last second. Gao Qiu never hesitated, his steps taking him pass them all so that he faced the others.

“The White Flower Merchant Association and many other groups have been growing, finding supporters among all walks of life. We will not stand by and watch as our family, our friends, our kingdom continue to be ground under the heel of the corrupt and greedy. Our loyalty is not limited to those who are rich or connected or gifted, it is extended to all who have true hearts and untarnished honor.”

A long pause, as he waved his hand around. “Any who wish to join us are welcome to do so. Even for a few days, to escape the watchful eye of the kingdom.”

His words were a direct challenge, to Teng Fei, to the wandering cultivators around.

The Guard Captain raised his chin after a moment’s more hesitation, before his voice rose, firm and loud. “The culprit of the murders has been found. We will report the incident and their death, after further investigation in a week. During this time, we will not be holding any unassociated individuals in the compound.” His gaze flicked to his guards, many who looked worried as he continued. “As the tournament is over, pay for the event will be provided this morning and all guards are dismissed.”

“Captain!” A shocked voice, one of the men stepping forwards. “You cannot!”

“Cannot what? I have a duty to the Seven Pavilions and the kingdom. I will see the matter reported, as fully and clearly as possible.” His gaze rested on Wu Ying and then jumped to the sect elders, before he continued. “We will require statements from those present at the end.”

Wu Ying nodded, staring at the Captain who had firmed his stance, even knowing that he might very well be killed for his choices now.

“We will not let you face this alone, Captain!” the initial guardsman speaker called out. “I will not abandon you.”

Teng Fei’s gaze landed on the guardsman and then skipped over to a few others who had stepped forward as well. For a second, Wu Ying could see him conflicted before he nodded, accepting their decision.

Raising his voice again, he began giving out orders to pass on his statements. The crowd, realizing they were being given a chance to escape, moved swiftly, their initial shock washed away. Some moved towards the village, but many others approached Gao Qiu who had a slight satisfied glow around him.

It would not be long, Wu Ying estimated, before the Seven Pavilions temporary village and even their compound was emptied. Seated and exhausted, he continued to pull upon the ambient chi, refilling his dantian.

He watched as Gao Qiu, glowing with the success of his words and radiating his glowing belief in the rightness of his cause drew rebels to him. A just cause perhaps, but Wu Ying could not help but note that Liu Ping lay, discarded and forgotten now that others flocked to him. Others were caring for the injured young lady, but in this moment, Gao Qiu had moved on.

He regarded Teng Fei, the Guard Captain having stepped up at this moment. Choosing to stay and hold true to his promises to a regime that had already betrayed him and killed one of his subordinates. Not in naïve hope of changing the outcome perhaps, but in the rigid belief that duty had to be honored.

Much like the torn and desecrated remains of Elder Cao. Wu Ying wished she had spoken further, explained her point of view. Perhaps clarified her anger, the dao that she wielded. How she could justify her actions and the deaths of even her subordinates.

He watched, as members of the Seven Pavilion’s merchant cartel broke down, weeping, their lives destroyed by the simple vagaries of fate. Their chances at growth and prosperity destroyed by the uncaring plots of those above.

Kong Lai, by the side of her Elder who breathed and cultivated, the smell of blood renewed around her wounds as she pushed herself to stand guard over her uncle who had no regard for her, who still grieved for his own lost disciple that he loved more than her.

Love, lost; life, deceased; honour, shattered; duty, binding.

The winds swirled around Wu Ying, bringing with it snatches of conversation, exclamations of surprise, moments of clarity and thrumming anger. He listened and watched as hundreds of lives and their paths diverged, as a wind blew through their midst.

The heavens demanded, punishing him for the temerity of going against their dictates of where and how the winds should blow, what rains should fall, what plains would be seeded, which forests would stand safe from the gales. The heaven dictated, and Wu Ying, having seen the damage he did; capitulated.

The kingdom of Zhao contended, guiding the development of mortals, strengthening the borders, dedicating resources to the creation of formation and enchantment masters to ensure the on-going maintenance of the kingdom wide formation. The creation of the Everlasting Army, the support of the rulers and now, this plot. All for the greater good of those below. Cultivators and mortals, capitulated.

Wu Ying’s eyes widened as enlightenment arrived, dancing through his mind. The Dao noticed, as his own path changed – just a little. He still believed that the Heaven’s and their reprimand of him was not in error – the damage he had done was considerable.

Like a child that played and broke his parent’s tea set, he deserved to be chastised. The lesson was important, but the lesson was not to never touch tea sets but to have greater care. To move with deliberate focus, to serve with kindness and graciousness and to always, always be aware of one’s surroundings.

It was not to punish, until one died.

Understanding grew, and Wu Ying’s path changed just a little. Somehow, he knew, that this minor change in direction would, in a thousand li, bear great fruit.

For a moment, the world vibrated with understanding. Then, it slipped away, and only a few noticed the change. It was only a small moment of enlightenment, not worth acknowledging by the heavens.

So he watched. He learnt. He drew forth wisdom and experience from the events and experiences this day. The choices others made and the way they bent to the world’s will. Or stood against the forces that arrayed against them.

Deep within Wu Ying’s Core, a nascent soul soaked in the experiences, his thoughts and beliefs and grew. A little differently. A little altered.