The Third Realm - Chapter 7 preview (Patreon)

Doors swung close in the wake of Wu Ying stepping across the threshold, slamming shut behind the group. He was the last to enter, having been caught in the process of understanding and memorizing that moment, of stepping between.

His soul – that tiny, newborn soul trapped and sheltered within his core – trembled at the smell, at the process of progressing from one realm to another. It was not enlightenment, but its close cousin, experience that filtered into it, giving nourishment to the new soul.

Only as the door began to close and at the prodding of the – till then silent – guards that Wu Ying had hurried within. His presence was part of the bargain, his aid in dealing with the monster that had taken over the mystical realm within.

Inside, the mystic realm was wider and larger than he ever believed. Stretching about for hundreds of li, Wu Ying could only sense the edges of the realm due to his wind, the air flowing around him and bringing impressions of a world that ended abruptly.

Unsurprisingly, the wind was unhappy, used to flowing where it would, moving when it desired. To be constrained, even in an expansive area such as the mystic realm made it testy which resulted in Wu Ying’s hair and robes being snapped around him.

“A problem, Expert Long?” Pan Hai, seeing the wind’s reaction around the cultivator, could not help but ask.

“No, not at all.” He felt no desire to explain the details of his cultivation, of its connection to him and his wind body.

Head lifted a little, he breathed in. Another scent here, another wind that he was unused to. Hints of it only, too modest for him to identify it in detail. It shifted, changing from one to another, chaotic and adaptive. By virtue of elimination, it must be the last wind – Hell’s.

Strange, that such a beautiful land, so similar to the one above was host to the winds of Hell. Then again, they were standing – even if it did not look like it – in the corpse of a half-immortal snake. Even if there were sloping, bamboo forested hills and gullies, flowing water and high above, a sky filled with clouds; this was not the outside world. It helped, of course, to remember that when there was no sun for illumination but the glow of the snake’s bone all around them.

“Is there no day or night cycle?” Wu Ying said, curiosly. Surely there had to be, or the plants around him would be much different. Mutated to live in constant sunlight. And they felt, to his senses, normal. Or as normal as any plant infused with the on-going Yin chi and elemental chi mixture that living in this mystic realm must have.

It did, however, explain why the clan chose not to live in here all the time. It could not be good for the mortal form, to exist in such a place for extended periods. Especially for children and their like.

“The bones fade in brightness eventually, following the movement of the sun. Our alchemists believe that the bones react to the introduction of Yang energy from the sun, combating the degradation of the corpse by releasing Yin energy.” Pan Yin was the one to reply, gesturing to the sky above with pursed lips. “It’s why the light is so much softer than the sun itself.”

Wu Ying nodded, breathing in again. The world, this new realm was different and he was adjusting towards it slowly. It felt strange, to be in a land that was so close to the one before, and yet was different on many subtle but fundamental levels.

He was not the only one who was having problems either – Liu Ping and Pan Chen were both looking around, adjusting to the world in their own ways. Pan Chen was just walking around, hand on his sword, a tightness in his young eyes.

It was amusing, to see him out of context of the training grounds, unsure and uncertain of himself. Across the blade, Wu Ying forgot his age, his youth and inexperience in all things but for the jian. Here, he was struck once more that for all his ability, his talent, he was still a child asked to take on responsibilities and experience events that none of his peers would be expected to face for at least a decade.

Liu Ping’s own reaction was more animalistic. She was crouched low, running fingers across the grass, tearing up clumps and digging into the earth. She spat at the ground, mixed her saliva in it, and then seemingly dissatisfied with the change, shifted a little on her feet.

The woman paused, looked over her shoulder and then grinned wide at Wu Ying when she saw him looking. No trace of guilt in there, none of the shy or reserved graces of a noblewoman. Still, he was glad she was choosing not to mark the land any further.

“Come. There is much to see and where we must go is still a distance,” Pan Hai said, gesturing to the group to follow. One of the otherwise silent companions took off, moving ahead of the team to scout the area before them while the rest of the group followed along at a more sedate pace.

It was time to explore the new mystic realm.

***

Travel through the forest was strange for Wu Ying. Thankfully, since they were limited by the speed of the still-in-Body-Cleansing-level Pan Chen, Wu Ying had more than enough time to ascertain the differences. More than once, he stopped by a particular location to pick at herbs or review the changes in the plants that had grown up in this strange environment. Yin-aspected star anise, go-go berries, fennel and lotus roots, three eared black fungus and flowers of every kind made its way into his ring or storage boxes.

He was not the only one picking at the plants though, the others undertook to do some gathering too, though on a more select basis.

“We’ve got a list,” Pan Yin replied, upon questioning. “If we succeed, we will have more than enough time to pick the rest. In the meantime, we’ll be taking those items we are most in need of or are extremely rare.”

“I won’t be as polite,” Wu Ying said with a grin.

“Wouldn’t expect you to,” Pan Yin replied. Then, turning her head, she stared at Pan Chen who was being accompanied near the back by her sister. “Hurry up, you two!”

“I’m. Doing. My. Best,” Pan Chen replied, panting out loud. “I’ve got to take two steps to your every one!”

“Mmm… more like three to two,” Pan Shui said.

“Not. Helping!”

Wu Ying snorted, drawing a breath and letting his senses leak out further. In the distance, he heard a rumbling of power and movement, moments before the flash of blood and violence appeared. The scent of one of the attackers was familiar, musky and feminine whilst the second was colder, drier. Still, there was no urgency to her scent and the battle was over within moments.

It took them another two li before she returned, the body dragging along behind her.

“Found one!” Liu Ping said, tossing the body beside their feet. The snake before them was a constrictor of some form, though it’s original body had altered from living in here so long. Now, only hints of the green of its original shading could be seen, the monster’s skin and scales a light, jade green that faded into the lighter colours of the greenery here better.

“Yin-aspected snake…” Pan Hai nodded in approval. “But this one looks young. And small.”

Nearly a full score feet long, and small. Wu Ying snorted a little, though he did not doubt the elder.

“It’s Spirit Stone is strange too,” Liu Ping replied, hefting the aforementioned crystal. It was a faceted sphere that gleamed with a dull light instead of the vibrant energy Wu Ying was used to. On the other hand, his senses told him it was brimming with energy, close to breaching into what he would consider the Energy Storage level.

“Don’t you think you should be using a weapon?” Wu Ying said, instead as he eyed the weaponless cultivator.

“No. This feels more comfortable.” Liu Ping denied him immediately.

“How. Much. Longer?” Pan Chen, having caught up to the middle panted out.

“Another two days at this pace is where we last saw it,” Pan Hai replied.

“Two days!” Pan Chen let out a groan, while Wu Ying smirked a little. Two days meant a lot more herbs for him to gather.

***

Late at night that evening, Pan Chen had fallen asleep almost immediately. Towards the end of the day, Liu Ping and Pan Yin had taken turns carrying the youngster, giving him a little break from the relentless hike. Prodigy or not, he was still a child after all.

After a quick and simple meal, consisting of rice, foraged herbs and mushrooms and root vegetables along with roasted snake – the majority spirit beast they had fought during the day – the remaining members of the group had retired.

Leaving Wu Ying and Pan Shui to stand watch for the first portion of the evening.

“So, you’ve been avoiding me,” Pan Shui said, resting a hand on her elbow and catching Wu Ying, who had been busy penning notes about his experiences, off-guard.

“What?” he said.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” Pan Shui stated again. “What? More interested in my sister?” She put a finger to her chin, almost mockingly thoughtful. “Are you more into older women?”

“No. I’ve barely seen her too!” he rebutted. Then frowned. “Why am I defending myself with you? You’re a child.”

“Oh, so you do like older women!”

Memories, of some of the older, more mature women in his life flashed through his mind. Fairy Yang, Xiang Wen, Fairy Xi and her stern sister, Liu Tsong… Almost all of them older than him. Beautiful, stern, wise…

“Oooh, there’s someone isn’t there?” she cackled, watching his face. “Who is it? Someone you’ve been dreaming about perhaps?”

“No one,” Wu Ying said. “A few…” He sighed, thinking of Xiang Wen, Li Yao, the tepochorist… “A few who might have been more. But my path, it takes me far and wide, and it would be an unfair path to ask another to wait.”

“You’re an immortal, no? Or on the path to immortality?”

“Yes?”

“Then, what’s a decade or two?”

Wu Ying opened his mouth to explain, only to pause. She was not wrong, on the face of it. It was more complex than that, of course. It was not a matter of just waiting. There were missed opportunities and heartache and longing, painful rejection and moments of burning passion that left one reeling. There was… life, passing one by no matter which way he chose.

Yet, perhaps, it was time for him to stop choosing for others. To stop ignoring the hints and subtle innuendos, the potential for something more than just light flirtation. Even if it meant more heartache later on, when or if the relationship failed.

But…

“You might be right.” His lips creased up a little. “But you’re still too young.”

Pan Shui rolled her eyes. “And my sister then?” She crinkled her nose. “I’m sure father would not mind adding you to the family, so that removes one major objection.”

“Why are you so intent in matchmaking for your sister?” Wu Ying said, curiously. Of all the females, she had shown the least among of interest in him – at least in the sense of a potential mate.

“She’s pass thirty, you know?” she replied, wrinkling her nose. “And she might, if she’s lucky, make Peak Energy storage. You know how it is, when you’ve passed that age.”

Wu Ying did. The likelihood of her breaking through to Core Formation decreased after thirty. Something to do with the hardening of the meridians, the increased inflexibility of the dantian which was needed in compressing the energy to form the core. Maybe even the firming up of views and insecurities of an individual as they aged, or the hardening of their souls, such that creating a new nascent soul within was more difficult.

A lot of theories, but no one knew for sure. Just that the number who managed to grow a Core after that age dropped significantly.

“I don’t understand how that relates to me starting a relationship, though,” Wu Ying said.

“She’s father’s Eldest. And normally, she’d inherit. Become the next Clan Chief. But she’s not strong enough, not by herself. If she brought in…”

“Me.”

“someone with strength, then it’d firm her position.”

“And love?” Wu Ying said.

Pan Shui giggled at that, then sobered when she realized Wu Ying was not joking. “What has that got to do with anything?” She shrugged. “She’s beautiful – if not as beautiful as it’s rumored your martial sister is, so you might have a warped sense of what beauty is – but she is beautiful. She’ll be a dutiful wife. And…” She wrinkled her nose, and lowered her voice. “We don’t mind if eyes and hands wander a little, when they’re not at home.”

Wu Ying’s eyes bugged out. He stared at the sixteen year old, speaking of affairs and cheating with such ease. She giggled then, after a moment, and he began to relax, thinking she was joking. Only to freeze again, when she assured him she was not.

Foreign clans. They were always so different.

“I’m sorry, but if I am to marry one day, it will be for other reasons than pure necessity or safety,” Wu Ying said eventually. Because that was what would be offered. And really, having this village, this land as a safe haven he could return to… that would not be a bad thing.

“Nor would I have expected you to,” Pan Yin’s voice caught them both by surprise. Wu Ying more, since the wind had been quiet to her waking or her approach. Even his own spiritual senses, normally extended to guard against dangers had not twinged upon her. For she was no danger. Not even now, when a trace of irritation could be heard in her voice. “I can account for my own affairs, Ah Shui.”

Pan Shui grinned unabashedly. “No you can’t. You nearly married that ugly lump of a Ciu, just because he was the Chieftain’s son.” She smirked. “I got you out of that one.”

“If I recall, it was more Pan Mui.”

Muttering softly, Pan Shui added. “I came up with the idea!”

“I’m sorry my troublesome younger sister bothered you about this,” Pan Yin said. “It was clear you were neither interested nor likely to agree. Which is why I and my father chose not to pursue the option.”

Again, Wu Ying felt a little disoriented. Of course she could not choose otherwise or by herself. She was, after all, the Chieftain’s daughter. Still… “And what happens to you then? If you are not able to progress your cultivation or marry someone suitable?”

“Leading the clan has never been purely about strength-”

“Though it helps,” Pan Shui muttered, softly.

“-but wisdom and foresight. Contributions,” she gestured around them. “In the end, the Elders will decide and I will abide by their decision. I can – I will – aid whoever they choose. Even if that person is too young and foolish at times.”

He traced her gaze over to Pan Shui, the weighty regard and another flower of knowledge blossomed in his mind. “That’s why you’re so anxious. You’re trying to dodge responsibility!”

“I’m not!” Pan Shui automatically protested. Then, after a second, shrugged. “Maybe a little. I’d make a horrible Chief.”

“Probably.” He agreed.

“Almost certainly.” Her sister chimed in at the same time.

“Hey!” Offended, Pan Shui put hands on her hips. She had spoken out of modesty and some degree of self-knowledge, but for the pair to agree so readily, it still stung.

The pair of offenders glanced at one another before laughing, making the younger girl grow even more furious. Still, it was clear that conversation, at least; was over.

Though, in the hours afterwards, Wu Ying wondered, how long before Pan Chen was raised as a potential replacement.

***

What was it about monsters that looked like mortal man at a distance, but were upon closer inspection, not, that twisted Wu Ying’s stomach? Was it their twisted mockery of humanity and the immortals? Or the mockery of the natural order of things, for these existences were often devolved and failed evolutions of a beast?

Or was it just that every such creature had attempted to sink their talons into his flesh, rob him of his life and sup on his immortal soul? That certainly was more than sufficient reason for him to find such creatures disturbing.

Easily deflecting a taloned finger swipe, Wu Ying riposted, sinking blade into throat. He tore his jian out with a twist of his wrist, using his greater strength and the excellent sharpness of his weapon to open throat with contemptuous ease. As his sword left the monster’s neck, he pulsed his aura and chi, leaving behind a swirling globe of air that tore through the monster’s aura and widened the wound further.

Stepping back, Wu Ying watched as the blood arced through the air, the familiar smell of rust and musk filling the air. Minor goblets moved to strike him, only for the wind eddy’s around his aura to deflect the corruption.

He held back, just like the other Core Formation elders, as the others in the retinue battled the twisted mockeries of snakes and humans. He had done so on instinct at first, but now held back from greater understanding.

Lead without leading.

Of them all, Pan Chen struggled the greatest, having to bypass not just the absolute difference in strength of rank but also size. His attacks, laced with preternatural sharpness still lacked the edge, the killing intent of a seasoned fighter, often leaving creatures wounded where they should be slain.

Yet, for all that, the child who had the Soul of the jian was an elusive ghost, sensing attacks before they had even begun moving, positioning himself and his weapon such that his opponents were forced to compromise speed, strength or timing to reach him.

And if he might take two or three strikes to kill an opponent, he was as elusive and flexible as the weapon he bore.

Liu Ping on the other hand marked the polar opposite of his tactics. Having chosen to discard the use of any weapon, she barrelled through the monsters, taking injuries by the dozen, a brownish-red glow around her as the bloodline chi of her evolved form created a defensive formation of magical fur and muscle. Strength triple, quadruple those of any cultivator at her stage, each of her blows crushed the snake-men below her black claws of bestial energy. She rampaged along one corner of the shrunken diamond formation, tossing the beasts aside with each attack.

In the other side, working smoothly together, the pair of sisters fought and controlled the monsters coming at them. Spears stabbed, cut and drove snake-men back, enforcing the distance and ensuring that none could near them without injury and a fatal wound. Though out-paced by her sister, Pan Yin held her own, her occasional slipups covered smoothly by Pan Shui.

A flick of his hand, an arc of energy striking and driving an opponent back. His jian came back to defense, as he and Pan Hai held the tip and sides of the diamond together, forcing the creatures to attack the others.

Alone or together, the Core Formation cultivators could have finished the war party themselves. An exertion of will, a focused series of strikes. But in doing so, they would deprive those beneath them of a chance to grow.

Standing in the center of the maelstrom, watching chi and blood and killing intent fly, Wu Ying found light shed upon his previous journey’s. The battles during his first and subsequent expeditions with Core Formation Elders in formation, their actions and the strength they had exhibited.

And his own… now.

How much had they held back? How much did they see, judge and choose to happen, to allow their juniors to rise or fall by themselves? The jianghu was a harsh world, where strength spoke loudly and the weak were forced to bow their heads. Honour and courage might carry one far, but strength rose triumphant in the dark of the night.

Without testing, the cultivators could never grow. Without risk, the opportunities for enlightenment faded. Without strength, the weak would run amok till karma trod upon them.

Another monster, another opponent, another strike. Hold back, watch. Save them when they needed it, if he could reach them. And watch, as the saplings struggled and matured, growing stronger and fertilizing their growth with the blood of their enemies.

And if that was not a condemnation of the strictures of heaven and their fates, Wu Ying did not know what else it could be.