The Third Cut - Chapter 4 preview (Patreon)

Crossing through the deep wilds, the pair moved more quietly. Wu Ying grew even more circumspect on his gathering, choosing only to take the items that he most required. Oftentimes, they would come to a stop, watching a location for hours at a time as the Gatherer ascertained that no traps lay in wait for them. Such traps came in a variety of manners, from plants that defended with poisonous sap or strangling vines or lulling flower scents to insects, reptiles and arachnids that lay in wait for the greedy.

It was only after they had, carefully, extracted a handful of berries from a bush whose branches were covered by a crawling vine that snapped and tore at any creature lured in by the enticing scent that Yang Mu chose to break their silence, drifting over to land on the sturdy branch Wu Ying had chosen to perch upon.

“I never knew there were so many varieties of dangerous plants…” Yang Mu said. “Or creatures seeking to stop the harvesting of such plants.”

Wu Ying grunted, unsure of her point but acknowledging her statement either way. He breathed in slowly and regularly through his nose, sifting through the smells the wind brought to him as he sought his next destination.

There was a particularly alluring scent, waterlogged and metallic that came from the north west. He knew it to be from a lotus of some form, likely a metallic lotus variety. A rare variation, only available in lakes and ponds that had a run-off from a mine or some other heavily mineralized content.

Near to him, of course, was her own scent. He wondered if she had realized what he was doing, knowing she had clamped down on her own aura to some extent. Enough that she was not noticeable except in close proximity like this. Floral soap beads, lavender oils and underneath, the human, clean and almost earthy musk that was just hers. Comforting and recognizable…

Further east, there was an acrid, almost rotting scent that filtered through the air. Either a dead animal or one of the plants that mimicked such deaths, luring prey towards it. The first might offer a beast core and scavengers that might be slain for their spirit stones. The second might allow him to locate fallen equipment and gather such plants for his own World Spirit Ring. Their necrotic properties could be useful for creating poisons and medicines.

“I do not, however, understand why there are so few that are useful for our purposes,” she had continued speaking whilst he was sifting out the scents. “Surely there must be more.” She gestured at the lush greenery around them.

“Ah….” Wu Ying hesitated, then stared at the woman. She returned his look, patiently waiting for his answer. Realising she was not idly asking and wanted him to elaborate, he continued. “It’s a matter of time, dissemination of knowledge and training.”

“Go on.”

Wu Ying nodded, then flicked his hand sideways. In doing so, he conjured up a small barricade of wind that sent their scent and words upwards whilst keeping his own voice low.

“Firstly, improper knowledge. Did you know that many books are not particularly well written? Even the seminal work, the XXX is replete with errors. Because of that, various individuals have attempted to fix the errors. Sometimes, doing a good job, but just as often, introducing their own errors. As such, whilst the works available on various herbs and vegetation is significant, they must be individually verified unless one knows the author well.” Wu Ying paused, then offered a slight grin. “And even then, in such instances, one must take into account the author’s own flaws.”

“After that, we come to the issue of seclusion of knowledge. Whilst I can sense a dozen herbs around us that might be of use, I know only of three that are likely of use. The others are unknown in their use to me, even though they burn with power. I could collect them but I neither have the knowledge, the tools or the market for such product. Another Gatherer might know three such herbs too – but a different three.”

Yang Mu made a face at that, interjecting. “Yes. Sometimes cultivators would arrive with unknown herbs or minerals or talismans, insisting they were of use. However, if we have no customer in mind for many of those wares, my mother would either refuse or offer them a much lower price than what they desired. It’s no use storing items that might degrade eventually if we have no use for them. Or can’t speak to their providence.

“Exactly.” Wu Ying said. “Every sect has their own knowledge, their own needs. That we keep much of it from each other means at times, what is desired in one region is useless in the next. Some items and herbs are, of course, widely used like the base Spirit Grass. But those are often grown in-house.

“As Gatherers, we – I – specialize in the esoteric and rare.”

“Ah…” Yang Mu nodded. “Which is why you avoid picking at some of the things even I recognize. Because there’s no point.”

“Exactly. I only have so much storage space,” Wu Ying said. Of course, he had a lot more than she likely knew – though he had wondered how much she had ascertained or been told of his World Spirit Ring – but it still made little sense to pick much of it from the wild. He was no roving locust swarm. Better to leave what he did not require or held little value to him and allow it to grow, supporting the wild life around.

After all, he had his own world to supply him with much of those needs.

“So that is knowledge. You said time and I assume, training falls above too.”

“Exactly, though training also of those apothecarists and cultivators we must work with.” He gestured at the surroundings. “If I bring a new plant to an apothecarist, would they recognize it? Are they trained to experiment on such plants to bring about a positive reaction? Or will they, accidentally, create a poison? Or another harmful product that might injure an individual in the future?

“It is why physicians and apothecarists are both leery of experimenting, and yet hunger to do so. It is both a path to vast riches and penury.”

“And that’s what you mean by time and training.” Yang Mu, waving Wu Ying quiet as he moved to correct her. “There’s obviously more, with the amount of time needed to find more of the same kind of plant, the training to process and gather it properly, time taken to learn all that and so forth.”

“Exactly.”

“Very well. We may go then.”

Wu Ying snorted a little at her casual dismissal of the topic and her sudden impatience. Still, he had ascertained their best route for now, so he took off once more. Those metallic lotuses intrigued him. As he said, they were rare and he hoped, by spending some time there, he might learn how to replicate the process in his World Spirit Ring itself.

***

Three hours later, impatient as Wu Ying walked the surroundings, poking and prodding at trees, digging up at the mud and regarding the inflow of water from the river to the pond that held the copper lotuses, Yang Mu made an announcement.

“I shall go find us dinner,” she said. Then, gesturing upstream, she added. “You’ll find me further up that way.” A head tilted a little, taking in the sloping, mist-shrouded hill. “Unless you are done?”

“It will be a few hours at the least.” Wu Ying hesitated, eyeing the ground and rubbing his chin. “I’d prefer the rest of the day in fact. I believe there might be a change in the energy flows when the moon rises, when Yang gives way to Yin. I would set some formation flags and talismans to help me record and understand the changes.”

Huffing a little in impatience, she left without another word. Wu Ying forgot about her actions within moments, as he took her silence for assent. Taking out an eight sided compass, he began the process of judging the flow of environmental chi in the surroundings, removing a brush and paper to note his findings.

If he was right, the inflow into the pond was not just influenced by the higher metallic content within the water itself, but also a feature of the concentration of Yin energy in the surroundings. Along with the growth of supporting plants around the pond, the pond had intensified in the amount of metallic yin energy it contained, allowing the copper lotuses in the center to form.

The lotuses themselves were few in number, numbering just over two dozen, of which more than half were normal – mortal – lotuses, with just a tinge of the copper element within them, another half dozen in the spirit range and but two in the saint level of progress. Wu Ying debated what to do internally, even as he took additional readings, tested and sampled the water and earth and sketched details about the pond, the vegetation surrounding it and the rocks that formed this natural formation.

In particular, he debated taking or leaving the saint-level copper lotus. The strongest lotus might have a chance at progressing, becoming an immortal copper lotus in a hundred years. In a decade, he copper lotus itself might grow in strength further, becoming more potent. It would sell better then, be more useful for those at a higher stage of cultivation. And, of course, such individuals were wealthier.

On the other hand, Wu Ying could vaguely sense the movement of carp and catfish within the pond itself. Some were large and potent, their energy brushing against his spiritual senses as he stared into the water. Others were but mortal or spirit level carp, not at all a concern.

Good eating, perhaps, though it was obvious that Yang Mu had other plans for dinner. Perhaps she did not enjoy the taste of fish? Or perhaps, she had sensed the denizens within the water and had chosen not to bother them. For at least the largest within, a creature that lurked at the bottom of the pond was potent, it’s presence a watery shadow in Wu Ying’s mind. And even that much was only available to his senses due to the training and experience he had gained diving in the eastern ocean.

No. Leaving the lotuses behind might be a mistake, for there was no guarantee the creature below would not consume the lotuses in the interim period. Of course, normally such fish were not consumers of vegetation, but certain rules bent as one gained in strength and cultivation level.

If he could ascertain the aspect of the creatures within the pond, the potent creature at the bottom, he might be able to verify if the creature was safeguarding the lotuses or cared little for them. Whilst most creatures grew in harmony with the environment, gaining the elemental aspect that was most prominent, some might develop in direct opposition. These creatures were often the most potent variety, for they naturally struggled against the world.

It was, perhaps, a metaphor of existence. It was easy to go with the flow of social existence, choosing the occupations, the residences and even the loves that their parents and society dictated of them. Harder though, to oppose such heavenly dictates and rise above.

Heroes of the norm, individuals who rose to prominence within such structures were common. From the three brothers of the Eastern Han dynasty to Judge Bao and his upright sense of justice, striking down the corrupt and criminal. Heroes of the society that had brought them up, that worked within the confines of their societal restrictions…

Yet, there were those who stood in entire opposition to such societal precepts that inspired as well. Sun Wukong(1) was, of course, the most prominent of these rebels who set themselves apart from society. His punishments – from being trapped and cooked alive to imprisonment for five hundred years under a mountain were legendary. Then, there were those like Fan Lihua who defied traditional roles and their very kingdom, to marry those they loved and paid in the death of their clan.

Tragedy, punishment and pain dogged the steps of those who defied the dictates of society. Much like it dogged the steps of cultivators who defied the rule of heaven. There was no easy path, for like him, yet cultivators and these heroes continued their struggles. Till tragedy finally consumed them, or they rose above it all.

A fitting allegory then, to cultivators.

Hours were spent at the pond, readings taken and the camp set-up. Wu Ying’s contemplations of the dao were interrupted only by the return of Yang Mu, the woman proferring a brace of slain ground birds for Wu Ying to cook for their dinner.

It was over the dinner of fire roasted birds, a medley of picked vegetables and rice that Yang Mu broke their silence, dropping a small rock in the space between the pair.

“You should head north later,” Yang Mu said.

Wu Ying glanced down at the rock, noting the reflections arising from the object. “Why?”

“Can you not see?”

“Metal of some form, yes.” He shrugged.

Her eyes narrowed and pointed her chopsticks at the rock. “Not just any rock. That’s high grade iron ore, infused with additional metal chi. I also saw some fire garnets in the striations, though I did not have time to investigate their quality.”

Again, another uncaring shrug, making her glare.

“Do you not care? My family would have bought properly mined ore for dozens of tael.” She snorted. “Or just traded for high quality beast cores.”

“Did you bring a pick?”

“What?”

“Did you bring a pick?” Wu Ying mimed the action of breaking the rock apart by swinging the pickaxe over his shoulder with his right hand. “A shovel and pails?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Neither did I.”

“Why not?” Yang Mu said, frustrated.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I’m not the gatherer!”

Wu Ying finished chewing on the drumstick he had pulled from the chicken laid before him, extracting the meat from the bone with his teeth before tossing the bone into the fire before swallowing the meat. Then, and only then, did answer her. “And I don’t do rocks.”

“Why not?” she repeated.

“Too much to learn.”

That answer made Yang Mu hesitate. She looked down at the rock, picking it up and turning it around before she shrugged. “It’s not that hard. There aren’t that many variations of metals and rocks out there. And while I wouldn’t expect you to mine the earth itself, there should be no reason to not extract those on the surface.”

“If I knew the difference in grades and types, it might make sense,” Wu Ying said. “But it always seemed to me that there’s more work involved in that then it was worth. I remember crushing, tossing and melting down a significant amount of ore each time we needed to purify the metals coming in.

“Herbs are easier.”

“You worked as a blacksmith?” she cocked her head to the side at that, eyeing his arms. He had not the massive thews of a blacksmith, though he was not in any way slender. His days working as a farmer and martial artist before progressing far on the path to cultivation had ensured he would never fit the slim, slender form so expected of most cultivators.

“A little. I had no real skill,” he said. “It was enlightening, but sufficient enough for me to learn not to bother with mining.” He grinned. “Anyway, how deep a seam did you find? Where would I carry these rocks? Am I expected to carry them with me till I find another sect? And who would buy them? All problems if I started moving into something new. Better to specialize and study what I can.”

Yang Mu eyes narrowed once more and then she let out one long huff. She gestured down at the rock, speaking slowly. “Fine. But we’re going by the seam tomorrow. I’ll gather the metal if you are too lazy to do so.”

“You should have done so earlier today, then we wouldn’t be delayed.” She growled a little under her breath, and Wu Ying grinned. “But because you were trying to be considerate for me, we’ll just do that.”

Silence greeted his words, and he debated, briefly about prodding her further to thank him. That fleeting mischievous thought disappeared soon though, as he turned his attention back to breakfast. Time enough to test her further, later.

After all, they had many li left.


Footnote:

1 - The Monkey King, aka the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal