The Fourth Stage - Chapter 10 preview (Patreon)

Nascent Soul. Deep into Nascent Soul territory. That was the only reason the Sect Head could have exerted his will so strongly and destroyed his work. Well, that and the fact that this was his territory his sect. Depending on the Sect Head’s dao, that very fact could offer him greater leverage upon the environment and the elements around.

Not that Wu Ying had a grasp of the Sect Head’s dao. Even if it had pervaded the surroundings entirely for a moment, it had been as thought he was staring into a deep pool, one without limit. He could not see the bottom of it, just gain a general sense of the Sect Head’s dao.

Conceptual in nature, and focused upon governance. Funny, that so many should have dao’s relating to that in the sect bureaucracy. But even some mild consideration showed why that was so – a cultivator whose focus was upon the dao of anarchy or violence would be of little use in the hierarchy of the sect. At least, not without significant consideration made for their daos.

A sobering thought that. Those who stood in as Sect Head or were otherwise titled in the Sect might not be the most dangerous individuals. But then… was that not how he would have described his own Master’s place in the Sect? He did not hold official rank within the Sect, but few gainsayed his decisions or actions. The might of his sword was sufficient to make even the most truculent of opponents avoid him.

It probably also helped that Master Cheng wanted to interact the least amount possible with the others. He was, by definition of his own dao, a non-threat.

“Long Wu Ying. Student of Master Cheng Zhao Wan. The Verdant Gatherer.” The Sect Head tilts his head to the side, continuing after a moment. “Martial brother of our own Fairy Yang, whose presence illuminates our sect. You have returned to us, stronger than ever. Nearly approaching the stage where you might ascend, it seems.

“If the injuries that you carry can be healed. If the dao inspiration you seek is acquired. And if the knowledge you have found can be resolved.”

Wu Ying blinked, surprised at the degree of insight. He wondered how the Sect Head knew that, and then found himself chiding himself. Why would he not? He was, after all, the leader of the sect. He need only ask for anyone else – even his friends – to inform him of Wu Ying’s troubles.

Silence, after that pronouncement. It was a contemplative and oppressive silence, one that drove the crowd to wait with bated breath for the Sect Head to speak. None dared to interrupt him, even as the quiet dragged on.

“It seems to me that you are both arrogant and dangerous enough to be a threat to the sect. That in your growth – one that we have had little enough to do with – you have gained deep understanding of yourself. But because you’ve grown strong, grown powerful without us, you also have few enough ties and obligations to the sect.” The Sect Head leaned forward, his voice dropping such that it was almost a whisper. A whisper that enhanced cultivator ears could still pick out. “So tell me, why should we not end this matter now. Before you become a threat to us all.”

“A threat?” Wu Ying said, incredulous. “Is that where your mind journeys to? That you see any who do not bow and scrape as a threat?”

“Arrogant, insulting, forward. You have no reason to work with us, no reason to work for us. You resent being sent out, you trample over our customs and you challenge my Guardian. Can you truly swear on your dao soul that you hold no small grudge against the sect?” Shu Ren asked.

Wu Ying hesitated, for he could not do so. He was angry with the sect, he did resent them. But… “Just because I have some minor anger and disappointment does not mean I would become your enemy either.”

“Perhaps not. But if one sees a weed in the field, do you let it grow to become a problem or do you pluck it out beforehand?”

“And what if I’m not a weed but a precious herb?”

“Then, I recommend you start sprouting.”

Wu Ying blinked, startled. Then, he broke out laughing, shaking his head. His laughter was full and uproarious and, yes, a little hysterical. He had come back, expecting if not to be feted, at least received with minimal reaction. Instead, he was accused of dishonoring the sect, his past associations discarded and his loyalty questioned.

And now, he was told to sprout.

With an aggressive motion, Wu Ying sheathed his weapon. He stalked towards the Sect Head, his voice rising as he neared the man.

“Very well. If you think me so much a danger, then pluck me out, here and now. Whether I was a weed or a spirit herb, whether I would have been an enemy or a loyal sect member, let us discard it. Let us end this, here and now, if you so desire it.” Wu Ying head rose, his eyes gleaming with fury. “If you require members that grovel and whine, that bow and scrape to your every whim, then you are right. I am not a member of the Verdant Green Waters.

“So take my robes and my sect association. But know this, if you try to take my life, that I have no intention of going easily.”

Coming to a stop the length of a hallway away from the Sect Head, Wu Ying glared at the man, one hand resting upon the pommel of his sword, the other gripping its sheath. He stared at the other fiercely and without fear, daring the Sect Head to take action.

And if perhaps part of his courage came from the knowledge that his friends were standing, hands on weapons, body angled towards the Sect Head, that was knowledge that he kept close to his heart.

***

“So arrogant. So independent. So fierce,” the Sect Head said.

Guardian Pang, having moved to flank Wu Ying by the side smirked, sensing his victory. He leaned forwards, pulling at the flames within his core. Like Elder Mo who stood a short distance behind as well, the pair were extremely low on chi, but still, they readied themselves.

All around, Elders readied themselves for a fight. Most palmed or activated defensive talismans and equipment, content to allow the martial cultivators, the Guardians and Enforcers to deal with Wu Ying and his friends. Only a few like Elder Hsu readied themselves for the fight, though few of those looked happy to do so, eyeing Fairy Yang, Liu Tsong or Tou He with trepidation.

“But I guess our Head of Wandering Gatherers would need to be.”

Silence, as the words the Sect Head spoken were slowly assimilated. Then, surprise as the group woke up and shouted, hands waving in excitement and mouths open to shout objections or exclamations. Wu Ying struggled to keep his face serene, to hide the surprise that he experienced. By the slight smile that graced the Sect Head’s lips he knew he had failed.

“Sect Head!” Guardian Pang spring to his feet, hands clasped tight in a martial bow. “You cannot mean to do this. Did you not see what he just did!”

“I did. One cultivator beat three. And one of those beaten was a Guardian of my sect. It makes me wonder if, perhaps, I should be reviewing that decision.”

“Sect Head!” Startled, Guardian Pang bowed low.

Wu Ying could not help but smirk as he looked at the tired man, and so he caught the glare that Guardian Pang shot him as he kept his head bent.

“Rise, rise. I have no desire to change my mind, yet.”

Guardian Pang rose stiffly, shot Wu Ying one last glare and then leapt into the boxstand. Elder Mo, realizing they had lost slowly slunk backwards to the entrance rather than take a more active approach to leaping away. It was only Elder Hsu who wandered over, a wide grin on his face as he smacked Wu Ying on the shoulder, his muscles gleaming with sweat.

“Well done, boy. I am glad the Sect Head chose not to cast you out and declare you enemy. It would have been truly a waste.”

“A waste?” Wu Ying said.

“Yes! I want a second chance to fight you,” Elder Hsu said. “That trick of yours, of becoming wind. Can you do it all the time?”

“In a way.” A hand came down, touching his leg and he sighed. “There are… well… consequences to such action.”

“Your injuries,” Elder Hsu said, wisely.

“Does everyone know about them?”

“Only those of us with ears.”

“So how did Guardian Pang know?”

Elder Hsu broke out laughing. He slapped Wu Ying on the shoulder again and then walked away without answering, leaving the wind cultivator staring at the man’s back before he found himself looking upwards to where the Sect Head sat, silently regarding the surroundings.

A slight tap of his fingers against the armchair resounded through the arena, drawing attention back to the Sect Head Yan amidst the side conversations that continued. He leaned forwards as he spoke, his voice bored once again.

“This interview with Head Wandering Gatherer Long is over. We look forward to the information and herbs he will bring to the Sect and the numerous classes he provides before he leaves again.”

Wu Ying cocked his head to the side, amused by the words but as the Sect Head continued to stare at him, he could not help but incline his head in acceptance. Both promotion and eventual dismissal from the sect was implicit in his new role.

Thankfully, it suited him, for the very idea of staying within the Sect for the rest of his existence was anathema. There was a wide world to see, and he only had viewed such a small slice. He would not be contained in a cage, no matter how filled with silks and herbs there might be.

As though he had said everything there was to be said, Shu Ren stood up. The sect head smiled that small, enigmatic smile once more and then disappeared, moving so fast that Wu Ying could not sense his leaving. Or, to the wind cultivator’s shock, his passage.

A spatial dao perhaps? Or a formation? Yet, no clue of what and how the man had chosen to enact his disappearance was left behind. A factor that made Wu Ying sweat, just a little.

There was always another mountain to climb, another individual who was stronger, faster, more powerful.

Caught in his musings, Wu Ying missed the appearance of his friends. The western wind, in its mischieviousness, chose to convince the others to allow his friends to approach and not inform him. As such, when Fa Yuan chose to strike him in the arm, eyes narrowed, he was caught out by surprise.

“Owww!” Wu Ying cried, clutching his arm. It was not a performative cry either, for she had struck with her pointing finger closed to the first knuckle and targeted to a pressure point, such that it deadened his arm immediately.

“You idiot! Were you trying to get us all killed?” Fa Yuan said. “Daring the Sect Head to fight you?” She snorted. “You might have gained much in your passage, but you are a frog in the well still, to think that you true heights you have to scale.”

“I don’t know about that, I think the fool can just about see the peak now,” Liu Tsong said, arms crossed. “And that’s just made him reckless.”

“It’s a very steep cliff, yes.” Tou He sighed. “One that many fall from by themselves. Or are pushed.” The ex-monk swept a gaze over Wu Ying, then gave a small shake of his head as he realised the other man was untouched.

“Well, I figured you were all here to help catch me.” Wu Ying re[lied to their castigation with a grin. Then he froze, and bowed his head a little. “Thank you. All of you.”

“That was quite the risk, Ah Ying. Why did you take it?” Fa Yuan said, more somberly now.

“Not that much of a risk. I might not be a true Nascent Soul cultivator, but I’m close to it. Or somewhere in-between,” Wu Ying said, waggling his hand sideways. “Body Cultivation is strange, as you know.”

“Without the seventh wind you’re not.” Fa Yuan said, firmly. “So you thought you could beat – or match – the Sect Head? How about the other Guardians then?”

“Not beat. But more the resources that I represented. That you all did.” Wu Ying sighed. “It was a gamble, but one that had to be taken. I will not bow to them. As the Sect Head said, my progress has been a matter of personal discovery and though I owe the Sect significantly for their aid; they were the ones who chose to sever ties with me. I will not be tied down again, just because of some minor matter of face and hierarchy.”

Fa Yuan lips pressed together tightly. “It seems you learnt more from our Master than I thought. Including some of his bad habits.” Then she waved a hand, as though discarding the matter. “Well, it matters not any longer. The risk you took has borne out, though you might find your stay in the Sect more difficult because of the way you chose to assert your place.”

“So be it.” Wu Ying let his hand rest on the pommel of his sword. “I am ready to face them. Did our Master not remind us to cut cords early, before they thickened?”

“He did. But he was speaking of karmic cords of obligation. What you chose to do, well…” She sighed. “You might have the level of resentment they harboured, even magnified their dislike.”

“A man cannot change how others feel, only the standards they hold themselves to,” Wu Ying said.

“So like our Master.” She looked over at Tou He, then shook her head a little.

“What?” Tou He said, warily.

“I was about to ask you to convince him, but realised you’re as bad as he is,” Fa Yuan said.

“I am not!”

“Were you not about to congratulate him?”

“Of course!” Tou He replied. “He’s the Head of the Wandering Gatherers now!”

“A group that consists of he, him and himself.” Fa Yuan rolled her eyes. “It was nothing more than a sop to his inflated ego.”

“And a way to have our new head begin training others of his kind,” Liu Tsong added. “Brother Goh was never the kind to learn those skills and the new Gathering Head has been… slow to impart his knowledge.”

“He was a wandering gatherer too?” Wu Ying said, raising an eyebrow. They were a rare breed, especially among the sects. If anything, he’d met more gatherers of his kind among the wandering cultivators than the sects.

“I have some skill in it, though nothing like the Verdant Gatherer.” A new voice, cultured and relaxed cut through their conversation.

The group turned, Wu Ying surprised that someone had managed to make it this near to overhear them without any of them learning of his presence. Not only had the man some impressive control over his Core Formation aura – inhibited such that it showcased both his level and yet, not radiating outwards – but also several enchanted objects that lowered his physical presence, such that even the wind had ignored him.

“Elder Kim,” Liu Tsong bowed to him. So did Tou He, but as Wu Ying was about to do so, Fa Yuan made a small motion with her hand, signaling for him not to do so. He idly noted that she did not bow either, instead offering the man a small smile.

Svelte, surprisingly untanned but with a slight shadow around his lips and chin where stubble had begun to grow back, Elder Kim also sported a short headdress, the jinxian guan, which hid his hair and hairline in an elaborate cone with a crown folded on top. The jinxian guan were worn by scholars and lower-level government officials in the kingdom. Most cultivators chose to ignore such headwear, preferring the jieze at most or the shufa guan, minor headdresses that kept their hair in place.

“I came by to greet the newest Elder of our Sect and a fellow Gatherer.” Elder Kim offered a smile to Wu Ying as he spoke, before he gestured around him. “With his similar domain, I expect the pair of us will be working closely together. It is my wish that such a partnership be of the most harmonious kind.”

“As do I.” Wu Ying hesitated, then let out a little chuckle. “I’ll admit, I do not know the full sphere of responsibilities that I have been tasked with, so I expect further discussion will have to happen in the future.”

“Of course, of course. I look forward to that time then.” Elder Kim offered a slight inclination of his head before walking off, leaving the group to watch over his departure.

“A strange man,” Wu Ying said, taking the time to ensure that their words could not be overheard now. “Where did we say he was from again?”

“A small sect, the Fertile Saplings. He was their dying sect leader’s choice for his successor,” Liu Tsong said, mild distaste in her voice. “He joined our Sect when he was approached by Guardian – formerly Elder – Pang and his people.”

“Ah…” Wu Ying frowned. “Dying sect leader?”

“Old age mixed with alchemical poisoning,” Liu Tsong replied. “They were a small sect and were never able to purchase high quality pills. The buildup of pill toxin from continual use in an attempt to build his core and reach Nascent Soul saw to his hasty death.” She sighed. “Their arrival in the sect with his sect in tow was for treatment and other pills. That they were unable to gather that and also lost one of their most promising students was a tragedy.”

“I did not know that,” Tou He said, frowning. “I knew he’d arrived from another group, but not the details. He has always been more than polite with me.”

“Oh yes. He’s very good at sucking up. Even Elder Wei likes him,” Liu Tsong said.

“You don’t?”

“His pursuit of my hand was, for a time, quite brazen and persistent.” She grimaced. “Now, I hear rumors that he has turned his attention to the women under his tutelage.”

“And no one has seen to that?” Wu Ying said, surprised.

“It is but a rumor.” Liu Tsong shrugged. “Without proof or a complaint, there is little that we can do.” She glanced at Fa Yuan as she said that, indicating who the we in this case meant. “In addition, it is... uncertain if our complaints would meet much assistance. Some Sect Elders do not see such mixing between Master and student as overly intimate.”

“Only when it does not involve them,” Fa Yuan added, grimacing as though remembering something particularly noxious.

“It seems much has changed in my time away,” Wu Ying said.

Fa Yuan scoffed. “Not as much as you think. Master Cheng just avoided most sect politics and so, the higher end of it was hidden from you too.” She paused, and added. “And me. I had not realised how much our Master’s reputation had shielded me as well.”

“Oh…” Wu Ying looked at the troubled visage on her face, and then at his friends. Now, he was feeling as though he had put them in even more of an awkward position. Now, he was feeling as though perhaps he was a little too blasé with his choices. If he had not freed her, if he had been stronger or maybe found greater aid, perhaps his Master would have survived and so much could have been avoided.

If…

But that was the tyranny of time. It took all that had been gifted to each mortal without remorse and shared not at all.

“That’s a problem for later. For now, we have something more important to do.” Tou He clapped his hands together, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“What?” Wu Ying said, eyeing his friend warily.

“Why, your celebration, Elder!” Tou He said. “I took the liberty of booking out the Fourth Jade Palace, and had the cooks begin preparing meals as of last night.”

The peels of laughter as Tou He began to discuss the rather elaborate menu followed the group as they left the arena. Wu Ying knew that there were matters yet to be resolved, but it was a matter for the future. For now, he would bask in their victory with his friends and family.

As they walked out, he felt the wind wash over him. Hot and dry, it brought with it the smell of cooking flesh and boiling oil, of blood and the echo of shouts long since faded. Unlike the cold remoteness of Heavenly wind, Hells wind washed over him with a personal warmth.

The Heavens saw to the greater good of humanity, but the Hells sought the betterment of the individual soul. Their tortures, their judgment could only be meted out on an individual basis, their weighting the decisions of each mortal as they traversed the middle kingdom.

When kingdoms went astray, it was the radicals who placed them back on the righteous path. When heavenly dictate was lost, only by rebelling could it be restored. Heaven sought order, but too much order was stasis. Life required anarchy and growth, and so Hells wind blew, bringing with it change.

Threads of understanding and enlightenment wormed their way into Wu Ying’s soul and body. Where Heaven had punished, the Hells set aright. Point and counterpoint, he learnt, ever more of those two most tumultuous of winds.