The Third Realm - Chapter 31 preview (Patreon)

The Viscount defied a number of Wu Ying’s expectations. Firstly, the fact that she should have been named Viscountess; though the use of a non-gendered terminology might have been a peculiarity of the kingdom’s own social mores. Secondly, the approach to the fort and the insides had been artfully blocked from his spiritual and wind sense, with additional blockages strengthening till they reached the internal courtroom itself which had leaked not an iota of her presence.

And lastly, the simple fact that the Viscount was a child. Nine years old, with the serious demeanour of one who had a burden placed upon them all too young. Her hair had been piled up, held back by the headdress that she was forced to wear, her clothing stiff and layered to force her to sit upright.

“Viscount Khao. I present to you Cultivator Long Wu Ying of the Verdant Green Waters sect.” A deep bow from the Captain that Wu Ying copied – though not as deeply. There were, of course, certain degrees of courtesy and relationships that had to be maintained.

“The Verdant Gatherer?” Viscount Khao said, eyes shining brightly. “Oh, my. So they were right!”

Wu Ying hesitated, surprised. “That… is not a title I have heard in many years.”

Viscount Khao smiled then. “Your coming was foretold.”

“By who?” Wu Ying said, on-guard.

If she noticed, the Viscount showed no sign.

Captain Ren on the other hand had let his own hand drop to the short sword he still carried, as had the quartet of guards in the court room. Two directly beside the Viscount, two at the doors. And another four, hidden above in alcoves with javelins – enchanted and empowered – ready to throw if necessary.

“Mmm… one moment.” She reached downwards, finding the delicate porcelain bell in white and blue. She rang it, the sound revibrating through the pillared court room, the entire location barely forty feet long. It followed much of the plans of the fort itself, where space was at a premium and the furnishings, while luxurious and of the finest quality, were sparse.

From a side door, an official clad in the black robes of a scholar appeared. She leaned over to whisper her instructions before the man scurried out, leaving Wu Ying to ponder the words the wind had brought him.

“Bring the scroll.” What scroll indeed? Still, unless it had been enchanted and imbued with a killing dao, it was unlikely to be too dangerous.

He eyed the Viscount who looked all too satisfied with herself and decided that asking was not going to get him the answers he needed. So that only left fleeing, before the scroll was brought, or playing it out.

In that sense, there was little to be said. He would do what was necessary and see what they had to say, because he was tired of running. Anyway, it was unlikely to be directly dangerous. Curiosity pulled at him, and when the scroll was brought forth, Wu Ying was quick to take it, lifting the scroll with the wind and bringing it over to him.

Ignoring the considering looks of the others, Wu Ying turned the scroll over and over. His spiritual senses probed it too, verifying that it was no more than the piece of parchment paper that it seemed. The only object of surprise, in fact, was the seal. A familiar seal of the Verdant Green Water Sect, one only available for use by the Elders. Personalised along the edges further by the name of the owner.

Elder Sister. Wu Ying blinked, a sudden lump in his throat and tears in his eyes. His hands drifted upwards and caught the still spinning scroll, pulling it closer and turning it such that the seal was facing him. His finger traced the red seal, feeling the edges of the wax, the impressions left behind. Touching it brought him closer to her, to his friends, than ever.

He fought down the surging emotions, doing his best to keep his face placid. He knew he had failed, that he had shown more emotion, revealed a weakness to be exploited perhaps, but a part of him could not find the energy to care.

Still, rather than open the scroll immediately, he placed it within one of his storage rings.

“My thanks for conveying the scroll to myself,” Wu Ying said. “It is… fortunate… that the divinations brought it to me. I look forward to reading the contents.”

“But you won’t now,” Viscount Khao said, disappointedly. She pouted at Wu Ying, looking put out at not learning the contents.

“I wish to savour the news within, if possible,” Wu Ying said. “News from the Sect is rare, for myself.”

Viscount Khao made a face, but then her gaze darted to the side. Captain Ren was giving her a stern look, which made the Viscount straighten her posture and smoothen out her demeanour. “Of course. Well, I offer you residence within our fort. I understand you have spent much time in the deep wilds. I am certain you wish to rest and cleanse oneself.

“Perhaps we can speak further, when you’ve rested?”

Fascinating. Obviously, there was something they wanted from him. Yet, they were polite about it. Whatever they needed from him – and he could guess, being a gatherer – was likely not urgent. Which meant…

“My thanks, Viscount Khao, for your consideration,” Wu Ying said. “I am a little weary and would be grateful for a moment to rest.”

“Then rest, you shall.” She rang the bell again, and instructed the servant to show Wu Ying to his quarters. No mention of getting them ready though, which meant this was all planned.

Curioser and curioser.

***

In the privacy of his rooms – located in the northwest corner of the fort and thus leading to open air and the plains beyond – Wu Ying finished setting up the simple protective talismans he wielded. He stared at the half-dozen talismans he had left in hand, knowing that he would need to acquire more soon. Even though his preference was the reusable formation flags he had acquired, talismans were easy to set-up, quick to take down and most importantly; more flexible. Perfect, for example, to create a ward against eavesdropping and to alert him if someone entered his room without notice.

Of course, there were significant disadvantages. Talismans were, by nature of the material used for most, less powerful than formation flags. Subtle and skilled use of senses or dao’s could bypass a series of talisman created wards, and it required little effort to break them. The simpler and more focused the use of a talisman, the more powerful it was.

In this case, a paired series warded and alerted Wu Ying. They could not stop someone entering, but if either were tripped, Wu Ying would be alerted.

Even that much, he had to admit silently, was likely an over paranoid reaction. Certainly, his host had done nothing to make him suspect treachery. Yet, as a lone cultivator, with neither the backing of his Sect close at hand nor the aid of companions, Wu Ying had learnt to be extra cautious.

The room itself was spartan and small. A portion of the room, secured by a silk privacy screen contained the oval wooden bath, already filled and steaming. Small runes, powered by a tiny demonic spirit core kept the water warm and clean. The wooden bed in the other corner had a stuffed silk futon to provide comfort, whilst a lighter silk blanket was folded and sat at the bottom of the bed. Delicate embroidery covered both futon sheet and blanket, the serene scene depicted reminiscent of the world outside. Fishing fleet, gentle waves and the fish they sought to haul, all delicately and well embroidered.

The only other piece of equipment was a desk, pushed up against the window and a chair; calligraphy brush and other paper supplied for use if Wu Ying so wished it.

Spartan, but high quality work. Just like the rest of the fort.

Taking the seat beside the table, Wu Ying summoned the scroll to hand. He turned it over once more, verifying that the seal had neither been tampered with nor trapped. After long perusal, he deemed it safe and untouched. Or done by one who had much more skill than him.

A depressing, paranoid but necessary thought.

Then, his finger slid under the wax seal and he broke it open, unrolling the scroll to read the details of the message within.

Dear Junior Brother;

It has been many years since we last communicated. I am assured by Elder Tan that you are well at the time of the receipt of this message. They tell me that you have grown strong in your cultivation path, that you have formed a Core and that you do well, embracing the wind and developing your Body Cultivation.

Stories of your travels and your activity has filtered their way to us, of the mysterious Gatherer clad in green robes who has fought spirit beasts, defeated corrupt noblemen and seen off bandits, all whilst somehow having the right ingredient at all times.

Obviously, stories have a tendency to be exaggerated but, congratulations on all your successes.

I apologise further on the delay in getting this message to you. As you know, I was in secluded cultivation for a time; and additional complications arose in the Sect that precluded my contacting you. It was only recently that it was possible, and at that time, your success in embracing the wind as deeply as you have has clouded divination attempts significantly.

The wind is fickle and so is your fate now.

As such, this is the third message sent to likely locations of your presence as divined by Elder Tan.

Know that the Sect and myself look forward to your return. That your parents are in good health as are your friends. And most of all, that you are where you need to be, at this moment of time.

May you be guided by the Dao in all your decisions.

Your Senior Sister;

Yang Fa Yuan

Wu Ying stared at the message for a long moment, reading it over and over again. There was a part of him that found it amusing, the way it was both highly personal and yet impartial. It was very much a letter only his Elder Sister could write, he felt.

Still, his gaze lingered on a few spots. The acknowledgement that his banishment was over, as far as the Sect was concerned. That his parents were well, though likely missing him. It would not be said, of course, for they would never wish to intrude upon his path.

Yet…

He breathed deep then, trying to shake away the pain that clutched at his chest. The tears that rose in his eyes. He missed them, missed his family, his friends and even the familiar routine and sight of the Sect. Travel was important, travel was central to who, what he had become.

Yet, he was human. All too mortal, all too prone to heartache and loneliness and loss. He missed them, and on the worse days, ached for the familiar, for those he once considered bond mates. Almost, almost, the letter was his undoing, as a desire to return home; to rest and to stop travelling for a time rose within him, nearly impossible to stem.

He took a step closer towards the window, wishing to let himself pass through it, to enter the skies and fly away. To return home, and to see parent and friends, to abandon his path.

Yet, a single line held him back. Perhaps she had known what would happen to him when he received the letter. Perhaps his reaction had been divined. Or perhaps, it was but happenstance.

But the reassurance that he was where he needed to be, held him still.

For long moments, Wu Ying just stood still, the deep, soul ache of loneliness and homesickness throbbing in his chest. Tears dripped from his eyes, as he felt the depths of his isolation; his otherness.

Eventually though, even that faded. Eventually, he looked down and noted that the scroll had further length to unroll and a tiny arrow pointing to the left(13). He frowned, unrolling the scroll further to find a further message.

It’s been boring since you left. Come back when you can but don’t forget to bring some snacks!

Tou He

The laughter started from his stomach, bubbling up through his chest before breaching his throat and spilling outwards. He ended up dropping the scroll, clutching the table as he laughed and laughed, the final message from his friend, his best friend perhaps breaking through the melancholy that had settled over him.

From the corner of his room, Wu Ying laughed, and remembered that all things passed. In the end, even the wind returned to where it had been. He would just trust in his friends, in his family, that they would still be there when he returned.

***

“My thanks, Viscount Khao; for your patience,” Wu Ying said, later that evening. The group had reconvened after a pleasant dinner, where conversation had revolved around local delicacies, spirit beasts and other details about the city and province itself. In other words, nothing of import. Only now, in the private study of the Viscount, did matters turn to more important and serious matters.

“Not at all. It’s easy to get tired, after a lot of travel,” the Viscount replied, hiding a slight yawn beneath a hastily raised cup of mung bean juice. The boiled water from fresh mung beans was meant to be good for the stomach, and the young Viscount had been sipping on such a drink the entire dinner. “Not that I’ve had a chance to travel much.”

“My master, you know…” Captain Ren began.

“I know.” She cut him off waspishly, then stopped and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. It’s…”

“I understand,” Captain Ren said, glancing over at Wu Ying and making the Viscount blush.

“Cultivator Long…” She began, sweetly and brightly. “I understand you’re a wandering gatherer of some skill and fame.”

“Some little skill, yes.”

Still brightly, the Viscount continued. “Have you done much acquatic gathering, then?”

“In lakes and ponds, yes,” Wu Ying replied. “Lotuses have quite the variety of elemental types, along with their nutritional value and use in medicinal baths. They are the most common, though the least of the items I’ve gathered.”

“But nothing from the ocean?”

“This is the first time I’ve journeyed to it, fully,” Wu Ying said. “I have done some minor collecting of seaweed that has washed against the shores, and spoken with some villagers of the process. But nothing of great value.”

He had learnt that lesson well enough. Best to find out what local governments felt about a wandering cultivator picking his way through their lands. Either that or avoid them entirely. In this case, with larger kingdoms making an appearance, making himself known and understanding the basic laws involved was useful. It likely – he believed – followed the old laws set forth by the Yellow Emperor, but it was always best to ascertain such facts for oneself.

Viscount Khao nodded, looking over to Captain Ren. There was a question in her eyes, that he answered with a short nod.

“Then, perhaps, we can come to a deal,” she said, with a smile. “If you’re willing, that is.”

“A deal?” Wu Ying said.

“We are in need of a Gatherer, to acquire certain items. However, these items are not on land but within the sea itself.” She smiled grimly, pain dancing in the depth of her eyes as she spoke. “I will not lie to you. The last two Gatherers we sent, the ones normally tasked with the process of acquiring the items, died in their attempt.”

“It seems this must item is of great consequence,” Wu Ying said, slowly.

“It is. It is the bedrock of my family’s wealth and our existence, here in this land.” She touched her chest, continuing. “Without providing this tithe to the King, our very existence as a noble house is at jeopardy.”

“Why tell me all this?” Wu Ying asked. “Surely you know that it will make your position more difficult when we negotiate my price.”

For the first time, a clearly mischievous look crossed the young girl’s face. She looked at Wu Ying, her eyes widening as she continued. “But Auntie Yang said that you’re a real hero of justice and would not let a poor child be sent to be executed. Was she wrong?”

Wu Ying reared back a little, caught off guard by the swift change in decorum and emotion. “She– she– she did not say that!”

Giggling, the Viscount pulled her legs upwards, gripping her knees and calves together as she spoke. “No. She didn’t. But the story’s of the Verdant Gatherer all agree on that point.”

“They do not,” Wu Ying said, his chin rising. “I’ve heard some of them too. About how I’m a demon who steals a merchant’s hard earned goods. Or destroyed a sect, leaving their Patriarch crippled and their Elders injured, all for daring to cheat me.”

“Did you do that?” Captain Ren said, curiously.

“No,” Wu Ying said. “I did fight my way out of a heretical sect once, and some members were injured during the process.” He paused, then rubbed his chin. “And I did have a challenge with the Patriarch of a small sect, only a dozen members strong, and in the battle I did cripple him.”

The Captain eyes narrowed. Wu Ying held a hand out, sideways.

“He and his sect were trying to rob me. They made up a challenge and then forced me to duel him,” Wu Ying said. “It was a lucky blow anyway.”

Remembering the all too brief fight, Wu Ying could not help but smile. The Patriarch, a Wood aspected fighter, had not expected Wu Ying to use his own wind aspect to shove the man forward. The fact that the wind had, for its own reasons, come roaring forwards with greater strength than normal had caught them both with surprise. The cut, meant to injure, had ended with the Patriarch crippled and nearly dead.

That was the unfortunate fact of battle though. Sometimes, no matter how good you were, no matter your intentions; injuries – bad injuries – might occur. Stepping into the ring, raising one’s fist, refusing to turn aside and control one’s ego meant that you too accepted all outcomes.

Dire and crippling as well as victorious and happy.

“As you said,” Viscount Khao said, her voice muffled behind her knees. “Distorted stories. Most of them speak of a man who will aid those, who need it. Will you aid me then?” Softer now, more desperate. “Please?”

Really, when asked so directly and in such a manner, what was he to do?

Footnote:

13 - Reminder that Chinese is written vertically, from right to left. So to reveal more, you would unroll additional lines to the left in a scroll.