The Fourth Stage - Chapter 11 preview (Patreon)

Celebrations – true celebrations – with other cultivators could last long into the week. The fact that Wu Ying was not just raised as a new Elder but also the Head of a new department ensured that the celebrations had continued throughout the night and across multiple days.

The gifts from his peers and fellow Elders had flowed in on the regular. He had only had time to take a quick break to be measured for new robes and receive his updated sect token along with directions to his new residence before he was forced back into the Fourth Jade Palace to continue receiving the gifts.

These gifts had come in a variety of methods, forms and formats. Some arrived with the Elders bearing them, displayed for all to see their largesse. No surprise that Wu Ying suddenly found himself the owner of a large armory of swords, some no more useful than as a decorative piece – even if a very pretty and expensive piece – and others nearly as sharp as Ren.

Other gifts were of the practical form. Formation stones from Formation Master Wang to be added to the exterior of his residence to enhance the chi-gathering arrays further. Beautiful paintings to be laid in tea rooms where Wu Ying could sit and contemplate the greater dao inspirations within. Furniture, carved by master craftsmen that would relax the body and enhance an individua’s connection to the wood element. Robes of the strongest silk, traded for from a nest of sentient spiders progressing towards immortality and led by a Nascent Soul matriarch.

Then, there were the gifts that were veiled insults. Delivered by inner sect cultivators, wrapped in simple silk and ribbons, with barely a note attached to them. In Guardian Pang’s case, a poem with allusions to Wu Ying’s lineage – or lack of it – and his lack of culture accompanied the gift. His followers were no less insulting, from a sounder of spirit pigs delivered to the hall that Wu Ying deposited within his World Spirit Ring with a wave of his hand and an extension of his aura to a painting – and deed – for a sailing vessel moored in the city below.

Wu Ying kept a smile on his face and a polite mask throughout, accepting all such gifts with great equianmity. It helped, of course, that his martial sister was willing to explain the hidden meanings under some of the more obtuse insults to ensure that he did not lose face by acting too ignorant. It further helped, that from her seat beside him, Yang Mu was able to helpfully tally the cost of these ‘insults’ and what she could get for them through her own contacts.

After all, how much more insulting would it be, to sell off such items in short order. A weapon gifted could still be wielded against the gifter.

Most of all though, Wu Ying found that most of the Elders now angled for future benefits. His placement in the hierarchy settled, the Elders who were not entrenched into an antagonistic relationship sought appointments in the future, long lists of sought after herbs passed on with their gifts.

Once again, Wu Ying found himself quietly grateful for Elder Li. No matter how their relationship might have soured towards the end, her initial guidance had set him upon a path of wealth and prestige. If one that was somewhat atypical of the Sect’s typical hierarchy.

Still, through the night of feasting and gifting, a few incidents were exemplar to Wu Ying’s attention.

The first came, early in the morning the next day, as the first wave of guests took their leave and another began their preparations to join. Late night dishes were swept away, cold food set aside and light snacks left behind while below, warm congee and other, heavier breakfast meals were prepared.

In that lull of visitors, Wu Ying found Yang Mu. A minor exertion of both their wills forged a tight seal around them, ensuring privacy. Once it was settled, Wu Ying wrapped his arms around her, feeling her head resting on his chest as she leaned into him.

“You idiot. Did you really think I could have broken you out from those sealing formations?” Yang Mu complained.

“Of course.”

“I’m both flattered and frustrated,” she complained, thumping the side of her head against his broad chest.

“You’re telling me you hadn’t worked out a way through?”

“For you, maybe.” She grimaced. “That Elder Wang of yours is very good. Though he didn’t exactly plan for someone attempting to burrow through the formation from the outside. Even so, if not for the fact that you managed to bring down the entire protective formation, I don’t think I could ever have gotten anything in.”

“Ah, so he’s better than you then?” Wu Ying teased.

“More experienced for sure.” She sniffed. “Some of his methods are a little dated.”

“Of course.”

“Still… it was risky. And if you had run, you could never have returned. You’d have given up your home for your arrogance and immortal journey.”

“Yes.” Wu Ying closed his eyes, resting his chin against her head before he added softly. “But at least I’d have done so in good company.”

“So bold.”

Wu Ying grinned, clutching her tighter. Yang Mu let out a little squeak, looking up to reprimand him only to find his lips meeting hers. Warm flesh tasting of peach wine and hibiscus, a trace of northern mint and southern cinnamon. Hands pulled tight, before finally, broke apart.

Later, a day later, during the height of an afternoon revelry; where Wu Ying was forced to submit to a crowing Elder Hsu, another messenger arrived. This one carried a long scroll sealed with the Sect Head’s own token.

Hastily dressing, Wu Ying received messenger and scroll, breaking the seal to review it in private as the party continued apace without him and his closest friends, the revelry a little subdued as the party goers awaited news of the missive.

“What do you think it is?” Tou He asked, curiously, a plateful of skewers in hand.

“How can you eat now?” Liu Tsong said, exasperated.

Tou He frowned. “Does not eating change the contents of the scroll?”

“No, but it’s not appropriate!”

“Well, so’s letting food go cold.” Tou He bit into the meat and pulled it off, tossing the bamboo skewer onto the plate.

“It’s probably nothing,” Wu Ying said. “After all, he declared me an Elder himself…”

“He also did so after letting you emberass his Guardian,” Fa Yuan said. “He might seek recompense for that. And the damage to the arena.” A slight pause, then she shook her head.

“You have a thought, sister?” Wu Ying said.

“Just an inkling of what it might be.” She nodded to the chewing monk. “But Tou He is right. There is no point in hesitating. What within will not change, whatever we think or say.”

Grunting, Wu Ying unrolled the document. He wished Yang Mu was with him here, but this was sect politics. And while she might be an Honorary Elder, there were things that were still best kept from her. If nothing more than to provide her a degree of protection.

To his surprise it was not a personal letter of congratulations or a matter of admonishment. Instead, it was a politely worded request – a demand, in truth – that he establish a department to train further wandering gatherers. In this, he would be charged with training such individuals who desired to pursue this path, removing them from Elder Kim’s purview.

“Well, the Sect Head has great ambition for me and my department it seems,” Wu Ying said, as he finished the document. At Fa Yuan’s behest, he handed the document over to her for reading. And then, answering his other friends, he continued. “I am to have at least three Energy Storage wandering gatherers trained in the next decade. At least one of them should, at the least, be on the path to Core Formation.”

“Three?” Liu Tsong frowned. “That does not sound much at all. The apothecarists have at least ten times that number.”

“After how many years of establishment?” Tou He said. “If it was easy to train wandering gatherers, we would have more already.” He cocked his head in consideration, then added. “I fear it’s more closely related to the tirpocherists and artists, a calling rather than a skillset.”

“Hah! You don’t think the greedy have not seen Wu Ying’s riches? Coming back, parading in with a Core Formation Fairy on his arm, a dao-imbued Saint jian and untold riches in his World Spirit Ring?” Liu Tsong snorted. “Or those with wind in their eyes, hoping to become like their hero?”

“The martial cultivators gain many new recruits every year when the sect opens its doors. Then, the first training session begins and many realise that that life is not for them. More drop out when they are given their first assignment, faced with the reality of risking their lives. And then, of course, when they return…” Tou He shook his head. “Even with the generous training resources offered, we struggle for those willing to undertake such tasks.”

“Resources. That is the rub, is it not?” Fa Yuan said, having perused the document twice over. When Wu Ying looked over, she rolled up the scroll and handed it back to him. “He has you there.”

“Who? Tou He?” Wu Ying frowned. “He need only ask.”

“Thank you, Ah Ying.”

Wu Ying waved away the thanks even as Fa Yuan shook her head in denial.

“Not him. The Sect Head. Well, it’s clear why he has held his position for so long,” Fa Yuan said.

“Long?” Wu Ying frowned. “He didn’t look that much older than us.”

“Nascent Soul.” Liu Tsong replied as though it explained everything. In some ways, it did. Once one neared immortality, the physical form became less important, reflecting instead the state of ones soul, for immortal soul and mortal form joined together.

“Focus, Ah Ying,” Fa Yuan snapped. “Flighty as the wind, indeed.” When she was sure she had his attention, she continued. “He’s trapped you. He has not designated any starting resources for your school. Anything that is required will have to come from you.”

“Thus extracting the fullness of my riches,” Wu Ying said, slowly. “And to train them up fully, I’ll likely have to provide them documents, manuals, scrolls…” He frowned. “Though does not the library have some too?”

“Of course, but not Elder Li’s personal library or notes. Those that she let you copy, that she gifted to Cultivator Goh. She was canny and jealous of her knowledge.”

“I could do the same…” Wu Ying said, trailing off in the end. He knew – they knew – it was a lousy threat. Did the Sect Head see that well, to understand that having grown up in the farming village, where every hand was shared, he would not abandon his students to flounder? A small matter then, to take from the children; if he did not offer it beforehand. “Damn it.”

“Exactly. Some secrets, some resources you could hold back but…,” Fa Yuan shrugged, “to train them properly, you will have to offer much.”

“Smart and manipulative,” Wu Ying said. “Well, it is what it is. I’ll just have to make sure to charge the sect more to regain what I spend.”

Tou He snorted. “Your companion is a bad influence on you.”

Wu Ying could only grin in reply.

***

The final encounter of note was on the fourth day. Yin Xue found Wu Ying late in the evening, as the party finally wound itself down. He came bearing a small storage ring, one that was on the verge of breaking down, the spatial dao within fraying under the pressure of the greater Dao. Within the ring, rather than cultivator riches, Wu Ying saw a trio of large boxes containing golden taels.

“Yin Xue. Thank you for the welcome gift,” Wu Ying said, as he quickly transferred the boxes into his own storage ring. He then slipped the other ring into a pocket, brow slightly furrowed. The gift was ambiguous in nature. Pitiful in a way for a cultivator to give to another, for mortal riches were of little import to most cultivators.

Yet, word had spread in the ensuing two days of the Sect Head’s requirements of Wu Ying. Already, cultivators in charge of the practical running of the sect had spoken with him about his needs. From scheduling classrooms to the requirements of brush and paper and access to the library were all beginning to pile up.

More, the cost of running a department were becoming apparaent. Unknown to him till now was the simple requirement for Sect Head’s to help subsidise those disciples and their growth within the sect. Whilst he had no students now, that would change all too soon and the cost of their subsidized growth – from mundane matters like clothing to meals to the furniture in their rooms – was rather staggering.

A simple matter to trade in turn for contribution points, or in some cases, to pull from their lands outside the sect. But Yin Xue well knew Wu Ying had no such resources, had no such riches.

So.

A practical gift?

Or an insult?

Unclear as always. Much like his relationship with the nobleman.

“You are welcome.” Yin Xue looked him over, eyes raking over Wu Ying’s form. “Still dark as a farmer and rude as a peasant.”

“We’re doing this, are we?” Wu Ying said. He let his own gaze cross over Yin Xue’s body, noting how the dark sect robes he wore were specifically tailored to him, such that it fitted even better than the normal Elder robes. Minor embroidery work on the cuffs and the edges of the robes spoke of additional fund outlays. Most striking of all was the man’s left hand, for it was bulkier than his right and an unusual cherry red, with streaks of gold where veins would have been. “You’re looking redder. Your borrowed strength seems to be doing you well.”

“Borrowed…” Yin Xue hissed. “I lost my true arm to your antics…” He hissed, suddenly and clutched at his arm, his face turning pale. He forced himself to straighten even as he hastily added. “Not that I’m not grateful for the strength my new arm has given me.”

“Yes, a new arm whose origins are unknown but for its name – Zhurong(3)’s Second Limb.” Wu Ying smile slightly. “Not at all pretentious.”

“Did you think you were the only one who could come upon fortuitious encounters? That the Heaven’s shined upon?”

“No. But one does wonder if it was the Heavens or something darker that gave you that arm.”

Now Yin Xue looked truly affronted, stepping close to Wu Ying and hissing. “You insufferable farmer. You come back, strutting in like you are the son of the Emperor himself, expecting everyone to bow to you. Did you think perhaps that you should have bowed, sent some gifts ahead? Smoothed out your arrival beforehand?” He shook his head. “Did you think about the kind of position you put me in? To choose between a companion and my Master?”

Now Wu Ying was the one to be surprised. He had not even considered it, in truth. But Yin Xue was not wrong – Guardian Pang, Elder Pang – was Yin Xue’s sponsor. He was the reason he was here. Of course Yin Xue would have to support him, even if he disagreed with the man.

Seeing the truth in Wu Ying’s eyes, he rolled his eyes. “You idiot. I buried our enmity long ago… but if I have to choose, I know where my loyalties lie.”

The wind cultivator winced as Yin Xue turned and stalked out, leaving him to watch his back be lost among the crowds. Leaving him to consider his actions and those he might have, accidentally, hurt.

He had few enough friends in the sect, and putting them in difficult positions had not been his intention.

Perhaps amongst all his duties, he should perhaps look at setting such matters right. However he might do so.


Footnote:

3 - Zhurong is known as the god of fire and the south, and in some stories is descended from the Yellow Emperor himself. In more historical allusions, he is the Minister of Fire.