The Fourth Stage - Chapter 13 preview (Patreon)

“Elder Kim,” Wu Ying bowed to the other man, glancing around the man’s residence. He took his time, curiosity driving him to review it in detail. It had changed a lot, ever since Elder Li’s death. Unlike the former Gathering Elder’s own predilections to bring her work home, cluttering the residence with pots and plots of spirit herbs, Elder Kim had a more organised living space. It was still filled with greenery, but his were decorative for the most part to help complement the simple but tasteful furnishings.

“Do you like what I have done with the place?” Elder Kim said, hands opening slightly. “I understand you were one of Elder Li’s personal students.”

“Only Senior Goh,” Wu Ying corrected. “Though she did teach me much, I was never officially a disciple under her.”

“Of course, of course. My apologies,” Elder Kim said. “I can show you around, if you wish?”

Wu Ying shook his head, turning his full attention to the Elder. “I would not want to inconvenience you. It is enough to know that the residence and the Gatherers are in good hands.”

“No inconvenience at all. I think it would benefit our further discussions if we at least saw the grounds,” Elder Kim said, gesturing for Wu Ying to follow him as he turned and walked past the initial entrance room, past the greeting room and towards the back of the house.

The wind cultivator inclined his head and followed, curios to see what his winds could not tell him. Even though his spiritual sense was extended, it was only vaguely overlaid around him. A more careful sweep and observation would have been considered rude, especially in the sect where so many Elders lived. Privacy amongst so many strong individuals was a matter of negotiated courtesy after all.

The grounds that Elder Kim showcased to Wu Ying upon exit was both achingly familiar and yet, subtly different. It took the wind cultivator a few moments to understand why, as his gaze danced across over the view.

The general shape and form of the grounds had not changed. The fields were in the same place, the long rows of plants and the hedges made of carefully manicured, spiritual herbs that broke up different fields entirely familiar. The large greenhouse to the left of the house as he exited, made up of shored earth on one side and clear glass the other – facing south to ensure it got the maximum amount of light at all times – was the same as well. Wu Ying knew that behind the greenhouse, out of sight, were the holes built into the earthen embankment that allowed the cultivators to burn wood and excess dried dung to heat the entire greenhouse during the winter months.

On top of that, the groves of precious peaches and plums could be seen, dotting the mountainside. If anything, he sensed that the trees had crept upwards, taking over from the wild trees that had been emplaced there. It would take many years before the fruit trees would be offering significant harvests, but like the very same plants scattered throughout the sect; such actions were to benefit generations to come.

Even so, the increased density of such plants were a small thing. And while he noted the placement of various statues, plants and other masonry to alter the flow of environmental chi to suit the current climate and season, that was normal as well. Even if he might not have experienced those exact configurations, he could sense Senior Goh’s hand in this.

No. It was the mixture of plants in this backyard, these specialized gardens and the individual cultivators who traversed the grounds that were different.

“You’ve changed what you’re growing,” Wu Ying said. “Those are… Chinese snake gourds(5), are they not, in the leftmost fields? And those are chuan xiong aren’t they, over there. I also see fuzi and mu xiang hua(6). Are you making liniment for swelling?”

“Among other things.” Elder Kim said. “There’s been an upswing in demand, due to inflammation from the latest infection.”

“Why grow it here though?” Wu Ying said, puzzled. “Would not the lower fields be better?”

“Ah. You didn’t notice the formation changes,” Elder Kim said. There was a sense of self satisfaction in his voice when he spoke, as though he was happy to have found a flaw in Wu Ying’s education and ability. “Your… Senior… and I have emplaced numerous, subtle, formations to speed growth in these fields. It requires a degree of environmental chi that can only be supported here or higher, thus making this the most appropriate place.”

“Oh,” Wu Ying said. “But still, these are powerful herbs.”

“And the recent sickness affects even cultivators.”

“Really?” Wu Ying said, surprised. It was rare that diseases affected them, their greater stores of chi and overall healthiness shielding cultivators from such indignities. “These fields are necessary then, to protect the Sect.”

“As well as earn contribution points and resources,” Elder Kim said with an avaricious smile. “Many other sects lack the ability to produce herbs in such large numbers.”

“But what of the plants that were here before?” Wu Ying said. “Many of them were planted here because of their need for a chi rich environment. Nevermind the ongoing demand within the sect, especially among the Elders.”

He might not have been tasked to take over the space like Senior Goh, but Wu Ying had worked the fields long enough to know that their very presence had been necessary for the smooth development of the sect and the apothecarists.

Again, that self-satisfied smile. Elder Kim raised his hand, showcasing a storage ring to Wu Ying. The jade ring was engraved all along the body, the visages of dragons, phoenixes and elephants within. More than its costly presence though was the flow of chi coming from it and the presence of a familiar – if slightly different – dao.

“Ah…” Wu Ying exhaled as realization struck. “You have a World Spirit Ring.”

“Yes. Much like yourself,” Elder Kim said. Wu Ying froze in surprise, making the Elder’s smile grow wider. “Oh, yes. Cultivator Goh told me about it. Not that it’s that much of a secret, at least for those who know how to listen to stories.”

Wu Ying laughed, a little awkwardly. “I guess you are right. The amount of herbs I carry and their freshness is hard to explain otherwise.” He paused for a moment, just long enough to carefully put together the next words. “Everything that Elder Li built, it’s now in your ring?”

“Mostly. Some were not worth keeping – whether because I had better quality items or because of I have a similar herb to substitute.”

“And the rest?”

“Moved to other locations.”

“Of course.” Wu Ying gestured for Elder Kim to precede him. “I’d be curious to hear your reasoning about some of the other changes you’ve made, if you wish.” Then, as his eyes darted to the various cultivators working the fields, fewer than before he noted which was surprising considering what Tou He had mentioned about the increase in interest, added, “and meet any candidates that you think might be worthwhile for me to speak with.”

“Of course, of course.” Elder Kim smiled, though this smile failed to reach his eyes.

Trailing behind the man, half-listening to his words, Wu Ying sent a flicker of intent at the winds that swirled around him. They gusted away, plucking at robes as they went to carry his intentions into the surroundings and return, later with the news he requested.

***

“You finally found time to visit your old Senior, did you?” Goh Ru Ping said later that day, gloved hands on his hips as the sun began to set that fall day. Most of the other cultivators had left already, but Ru Ping was still in the lower fields where the majority of our gatherers had been confined to. “Oh, my apologies, Elder. I should be more careful about how I speak.”

There was no hiding the bitterness in Ru Ping’s voice as he spoke. Wu Ying found it rather surprising, considering how the man had generally been quite jovial. Certainly so when he realised that Wu Ying and he had been on entirely different paths as Gatherers.

“My apologies, Senior,” Wu Ying said, bowing a little. Not too far, because he was in a higher position than Ru Ping. Hierarchies and formalities and the respect due to one another had altered, especially with their changed positions. For all the time he had away, Ru Ping was still only an Energy Storage cultivator, stuck at the peak and yet to step into the next realm. And yet, the man had been his Senior before, no matter how high Wu Ying had climbed.

Such things mattered. Or they should, at least.

You did not abandon friends just because you had a better harvest one year. Even when Ah Tsien had injured himself while caring for the village oxen, his parents had made him bring them bowls of gruel through the winter. Charity and respect and humanity was not something to be rationed, just because one had been fortunate. If anything, Wu Ying knew, his parents would have said the opposite.

The more you had, the more you could give.

“Don’t call me that. You’re no junior of mine anymore.” Then seeing the flash of hurt on Wu Ying’s face, Ru Ping waved his hands. “No, no. You’re an Elder now. Master Li would have been glad that at least one of us managed it.”

“Why…” Wu Ying clamped his mouth shut, choosing not to ask. But it was enough for Ru Ping, who laughed bitterly.

“I tried. A few years after you left, I managed to achieve Peak Energy Storage. I thought I was ready. I thought I could do it, and hearing that you had…” He shook his head. “I journeyed to the top of Heaven Ascension Peak,” the cultivator nodded to a distant peak in the same mountain range, one that stood even higher – though much more steeply – than their own, “and faced my first – my last – Heavenly tribulation.”

There was no need to ask what the results were. But Ru Ping was not done, peeling the gloves off his hands to showcase the lightning scars that traced their way down his hands.

“I should be grateful at least that it left my handsome face alone. But the Core I began to form, it cracked under the force of the tribulation. I’m a broken cultivator.” Ru Ping rubbed at his cheeks, a sardonic smile tugging up one side of his neatly trimmed beard upward. “Physician Gu says that if I work hard, I may one day remove the shards of the core from my dantian in a decade or two and try again.”

Wu Ying could hear the unspoken corollary to that. He could see it in Ru Ping’s eyes, that he had little hope of that happening. Not even that far hidden, he could see the fear in the man’s eyes, for the pain of failure, the shame of it had been burnt deep within his psyche.

Few cultivators managed to ascend after such a blow. Certainty in one’s path was a pre-requisite for immortality, and even the smallest doubt could leave a chink for the heavens to exploit.

“My condolences on the failure. And I’m certain you will do better in the future,” Wu Ying said. It was the only polite thing to say, no matter what Ru Ping might say.

“Yes, yes. But you didn’t come here to talk to me about my failure, no?” Ru Ping said. “Here to see the fields and the changes the Elder has made?”

This time, his voice was flat. No judgment in them, no inflection. It was the lack of emotion in his voice that gave away Ru Ping’s true feelings about the changes, even if he dared not directly object to his superior’s actions.

“That, for sure,” Wu Ying said. “Much has changed, and while my new position and those I must train will differ greatly, it is from the foundation that you and Elder Kim build that I must select my new students from.”

“Hah. Yes. There’s quite a few wide-eyed fools who wish to follow your path.” Ru Ping said this over his shoulder, as he started walking down the fields on the upraised borders to guide Wu Ying about. “Though you should have come earlier to meet them, if you had wished to see the fools.”

“Later. There’s time enough for that later,” Wu Ying said. “Visiting with you and seeing these fields are enough.”

He didn’t tell Ru Ping that he had gained quite an understanding anyway, of both fields and gatherers, from the wind as it gusted down the hill. All through the day as he spoke with Elder Kim, the wind had returned, bringing with it details of the gatherers below, details that Elder Kim had avoided speaking of.

Like the fact that he now only allowed a small number of Gatherers to work with him direct. That such selection was based upon gifts and funds offered to him rather than talent. How those seeking to become wandering gatherers were sent out into the nearby woods with minimal instruction, and even less guidance. And how Ru Ping himself had taken up the unspoken burden of training the remainder.

“Well, I’ve got quite a lot of work to do. Would the Elder care to offer a hand, while I show him around? He’d learn a lot more that way,” Ru Ping said, teasingly. “I also have some robes the Elder may change into, if he does not wish to dirty his new clothing.”

Wu Ying looked down at his robes, the black silk edged with green that had arrived a few days ago and chuckled.

“Oh, this Elder actually made sure to have enchantments to remove dirt embedded in his robes.” He grinned. “After all, getting his hands dirty is how this Elder makes his tael.”

“Good, good.” Cheered up a little, Ru Ping regaled Wu Ying about the changes in the fields and the spirit herbs they grew. Some things, like the numerous fields filled with spirit grass had not changed. Those were a necessity for any sect with a strong apothecarist guide, but other fields were now filled with different herbs. It was these changes that Ru Ping spoke of, that and of cultivators they both knew about.

The litany of changes was vast, the cultivators who had given up cultivation, who had chosen to stop their journey’s or left the sect to marry other noblemen and noblewomen to strengthen the kingdom, who took to teaching or who’d been stymied was constant.

So many in a over a dozen years who had never progressed. Some, having elected to leave in search of their fortune and a fortuitous encounter and never having returned. And through it all, the litany of excuses, of broken hearts and shattered dreams.


Footnotes:
5 - Chinese snake gourd - trichosanthes kirilowii is one of the 50 fundamental Chinese medicine plants. Also known as Chinese cucumber, but it sounds more xianxia as snake gourd. It’s a flowering plant that turns into the gourd later. Currently, the plant is being researched for its effects against HIV.

6 - Chuan Xiong, Fuzi, Mu Xiang Hua; also known as Szechuan lovage, monkshood and Lady Banks’ Rose.  I’m using the Chinese names here because frankly, it’s just more appropriate.