The Third Realm - Chapter 6 preview (Patreon)

Snow on the ground. Rare, in these hills. Even if they were further north, it was not that much that snow would appear on the regular. Not like the tales of the northern countries, where the snow lay on the ground for months on end and feed was hard to come by. Still, the wind spoke of colder weather to arrive, a frost and churning, frozen clouds that would stay for days on end. Even the south wind would do little, only the central wind helping to warm the onrushing chill.

Wu Ying listened as he heard the snap and crackle of frozen grass beneath his feet, smelled the crisp, fresh scent of northern air and the old mixtures of burning wood, fresh dung and the all pervasive tea leaves. He made his way through well trodden paths to the central square and the communal kitchen where he had been served his meals for the last few months.

Oh, others cooked and ate at home too; but the village provided a regular set of meals for the workers during the winter month. It simplified cooking and eating during this period and ensured everyone – even those who might have had a worse year than usual, were fed.

It was a very communal way of taking care of one another, something that Wu Ying’s own village had not undertaken except for big events. Those who had trouble feeding themselves would not be allowed to starve, with dishes and additional meals or caught fish or birds or ground soya bean provided by those who were more fortunate. But nothing organized, at least – not officially.

Wu Ying knew the whisper network of mothers and wives often saw to that, in ways that husbands and sons too busy with dealing the fields and woods could be bothered to do so.

Village life, where everyone knew one another. And where the effects of starvation and ignoring small evils were all too plain to see.

So unlike the big cities Wu Ying had passed through and which, he all too soon found himself uncomfortable within. Humanity, crowded cheek and jowl together, such that each barely had a pissing pot of their own to use.

Chief Pan found him after he had finished his meal, appearing by his side with nary a whisper. Of course, Wu Ying paid attention to the flow of the winds even now, to how his extended spiritual senses spoke of everyone’s location. There was no surprise when he arrived.

Except, perhaps, in the contents of the discussion.

“Expert Long, your stay has been comfortable?” Chief Pan asked, after the usual ritual greetings.

“It has,” Wu Ying said. “I shall miss the village when I leave in the spring.”

“Ah, yes. Of course,” Chief Pan nodded. “Pan Chen has informed me he is enjoying the sessions with you. He notes that it has improved his own understanding of the jian, to fight and work with one who has studied it for as long as you.”

“He is overly generous with his praise. Pan Chen’s a prodigy unlike any that I’ve ever met,” Wu Ying said, true admiration in his voice. It helped that the boy was so enthusiastic and generous with his own knowledge and enlightenment of the jian, such that any lingering jealousy had been squashed. “I’m sure what little I might have offered would have been something he learnt, eventually.”

“Perhaps,” Chief Pan said. “Still, it seems that our current deal has come, mostly, to a finish.”

“It has. And when the snows have melted and the flowers begin to bloom, I shall be on my way.” Wu Ying paused, then raised a single eyebrow. “Unless…?”

“Oh no, we are more than grateful to have you here.” Chief Pan waved his hand, dismissing Wu Ying’s insinuation. “Your help in hunting some of the local wild beasts and adding another Core Formation cultivator has done much to improve our safety. Especially in such turbulent times.”

“Good, good…” Wu Ying said, then fell silent. Waiting.

“Well, there is one other thing we might want your aid in.” At Wu Ying’s open gesture for him to continue, Chief Pan offered a tight half smile. “You probably have an inkling of it. The land below these hills, they are not normal.”

Wu Ying nodded.

“They in fact lead to a mystic realm, a place of great riches and power. One that we have safeguarded for many years. But recently…” Pan Chen looked suddenly embarrassed. “Well, we have found ourselves unable to access it to the fullest.”

“How come?” Wu Ying asked.

“Evolution,” Pan Chen replied. “Constant evolution.”

***

Days later, Wu Ying stood before the entrance to the mystic realm. The entrance to the realm itself originated from the not too surprising opening of the snake corpse’s open mouth. On the other hand, the entrance itself and its surroundings brought forth all kinds of surprise.

Firstly, was the intricate and highly developed formation that not only hid the entrance, but also ensured that any who stumbled upon it would never inform others. The first layer of defences was a subset of the illusion formation that hid the entrance making it seem like just another empty slope. Even during the hail-ridden evening, the formation showed no sign of giving way, mimicking the flow of raindrops down the grass ridden slopes perfectly. It even created illusory water, such that an individual placing their hands against the wet earth would believe it sodden and cold.

A true immortal formation was astounding and frightening. But nowhere near as frightening as the defensive portion of the illusion, for Wu Ying had been allowed to test the defence, only to find himself wandering a three foot by three foot space, believing himself to be within a deeper, much more distant valley during that period.

The other defenses, the carnage and killing formations, the entrapment and alarm portions, he had been, of course, disallowed from testing for his own safety. After all, he had no chance of breaking such a powerful enchantment.

Now, pass the formation, Wu Ying admired the surroundings. Propping open the mouth, a golden pillar stood in the center of the room, dominating the cavern whose depths stretched into the distance, the entire cavern the size of a large mansion itself.

The walls of the cavern were the bleached white bones of the dead snake’s skull, the hardened calcium of the floor beneath softened by a layer of moist soil. Hanging spirit lamps, powered by the remnant chi of the snake’s corpse glowed, shedding a soft yellow-white light that illuminated the surroundings including the quartet of guards watching over Wu Ying and those destined to enter today

“Have you satisfied yourself, Expert Long?” Pan Hai, the Fourth Uncle said testily. The man had grown even more impatient as Wu Ying had asked – and been allowed – to study the formation and the snake corpse.

“One last thing…” Wu Ying murmured. Bending low, he ran his fingers across the earth, letting traces of it fall through his fingers before taking another handful and sniffing at it. He stuck his tongue out briefly, tasting the earth too, a motion that made his companions protest.

“That’s disgusting! Did your parents never teach you manners?” Liu Ping, staring at Wu Ying’s fistful of earth said.

“They did. They also taught me to gauge good soil and not,” Wu Ying said, letting his hand fall and opening it to deposit the earth. Yet, he also pushed his hand down as he stood up, surreptitiously grabbing a handful into his World Spirit Ring.

Pity he could not get more, but he just wanted to test it further. Taking more than a handful would be outright theft. He felt a little bit of guilt at stretching the bounds of hospitality like this, but curiosity drove him on.

After all, from just the taste and smell, the soil in this mouth was filled with an unusual chi type. Musky, animalistic – bestial. Similar in some ways to Liu Ping’s own chi flavour, but drier, less vibrant in a way. A matter of it being dead chi or because it was from a snake and not bear?

Questions, so many questions.

“Does it taste good?” Pan Chen said, the bow bending his knees and waist a little, one hand dropping towards the ground.

“Ah Chen. Do you intend to give up the sword for the hoe?” Pan Yin, standing by the side asked. The kid flushed, shaking his head. “Then do not copy Expert Long. It is unbecoming.”

“For you,” Wu Ying said, turning his head and winking at Pan Chen. “I, on the other hand, am just a wandering cultivator and gatherer.”

“See. I told you, you shouldn’t work so hard,” Pan Shui who stood on Pan Chen’s other side faux whispered to him, all the while eyeing her uncle. “Otherwise you don’t ever get to have fun. Look at my sister. She’s already getting lines because she worries so much.”

“Mei mei!(2)” Pan Yin barked at her sister.

Pan Shui ducked her head in chastisement, but her goal had been achieved. Pan Chen who had begun to look down at not being allowed to do as Wu Ying had brightened, growing even more amused at the sister’s antics.

The two sisters, Pan Hui, Pan Chen and two other Elders were part of the group being sent in. Both Pan Chen and Pan Shui were here to aid them progress their martial understanding, a chance to test themselves in relative safety while still risking their lives.

As for Pan Hai and the other two Elders, they made up a significant portion of the village’s martial arm, leaving only a few behind to guard the village in their absence. Including Pan Hai, the village with Wu Ying would be fielding a total of three Core Formation cultivators, with the rest being at the Peak Energy Storage stage. Pan Yin was the only member who was significantly weaker, but her job was to safeguard and ensure that Pan Chen survived in the event of disaster.

“Good soil,” Wu Ying said. “Your cultivators should consider using it for growing spiritual herbs. Or even growing some in here.” He looked around the bare ground, frowning a little. “Something Yin aligned though. Most Yang oriented herbs would not survive here.” Rubbing his fingers together, he raised the dirtied hand and muttered, in thought. “Though any that survived and thrived would be even stronger from the pressure.”

“It has been discussed before,” Pan Hai said, flatly. “It was decided to not risk the mystic realm for such small gains.”

“Small?” Wu Ying raised an eyebrow.

Pan Hai gestured forwards, indicating the giant double doors of metal that dominated the other end of the cavern. Carvings were enscribed into the metal, enchantments that had been backed up and were part and parcel of the formations that surrounded them. The metal itself was a foreboding dark black, reflecting little light. Hints of its chi wafted through the air to Wu Ying, speaking of something cold and impervious and familiar. Only because he had caught hints of that same wind, that same energy recently.

“What lies behind is where the true treasure lies,” Pan Hai elaborated. “If you are done…?” He prodded again.

“One last thing. Please.” Wu Ying flashed a smile, walking closer to the doors. “I’m grateful for your patience. But this metal, it’s strange. I sense something different from them. Something… unusual.”

Pan Shui joined him on the way over, closely followed by Pan Chen. Yet, it was Pan Chen who dared to touch the metal, fingers running along the raised edges in thought.

“This is not earthly metal. It glows, soft and gentle, like the light of the moon, purified in the heat of the sun. It is hard, unyielding in its purpose but will shelter the world beneath its embrace.” Pan Chen’s voice was dreamy, as though reciting words that came from not his mind but heart. Grown up words from the nine year old. “This metal was forged in-”

“Heaven.” Wu Ying finished the thought for the child, nodding to himself. “This is Sky Metal.” He shook his head after a moment, staring at the massive doors that was twice again his own height. “Even in the Verdant Green Waters, I have never seen such riches.” Tilting his head to the side and upwards, he read the formation messages, followed the enchantments. There was something else here, another aspect of the formation beyond Carnage and Illusion and Trapping. Something…

“You need not look too long. You will not understand it,” Pan Hai said, making his way to the steps next to the trio. “But our ancestor was only allowed to use so much Star Metal, to leave so much in our care, because of what you cannot read. It is an anti-necromancy formation, to ensure that the body of the snake could not be used by others.”

“Was that a danger?” Wu Ying said, surprised. Surely if it was a danger, many more such formations would be present through the world. Rare though it might be for a beast to rise to immortality, there should be thousands of such corpses over the course of history.

“At that time, maybe.” Pan Hai shrugged. “The actions of Heavens above is not for us to question.”

Wu Ying let out a grunt, not wanting to directly disagree. On the other hand, if he had a direct ancestor that showed up every few centuries, perhaps he too might have more reverence to questioning the Heavens above.

“Now, are you done?” Pan Hai said.

Wu Ying nodded, drawing a deeper breath, trying to make sure he memorized the smell. The feel of the metal, the hint of the world above. In the meantime, given the go ahead, Pan Hai and the other Core Formation elder with them began the process of activating and opening the gates.

Silent, Wu Ying watched the process, committing as much of what they did, what he felt, what he sensed to memory as he could. In the future, perhaps, this could become the griss for his practice of the Heaven’s wind.

Long minutes of chanting and movement, of chi chanelled in specific methods into the formation. Slowly, locks and chambers within the door released, until the great metal chambers released and the hinges swung open. So perfectly balanced, the slight breeze from within pushed them apart, swinging the entire metal impediment towards Wu Ying.

As the doors opened and light streamed outwards, Wu Ying caught the scent.

The scent of a new, different realm. One set apart from the one they walked upon till now.

A new realm. And with it, the hint of danger within.


Footnote: 2. Little sister pretty much