Chapter 139
Gifts Given and Taken
There was ash and dust floating in front of him, carried off by the ever-calming winds. The stir of Qi that just nearly shattered the spacetime around him was all but gone, and his heart—awoken as though it had been slumbering for centuries—was beginning to quiet, too. He'd done it, something he felt he could in his bones; yet, his mind found it so extreme and so impossible that there was a rare battle raging on within him. But both battles had ended, and he was the victor.
As the world settled and dispersed, he saw the shocked expressions of everyone down below; there was always awe and terror in their gaze, to one degree or another, but today... today it was overwhelmingly terror. It was as though they were looking at something unknowable, at a creature beyond this realm, someone who'd taken the skin of their Master and donned it for itself, set to stir the world against them.
Smiling faintly, he vanished and reappeared up the cliff, in the small house, immediately keeling over and vomiting a mouthful of blood. Though he'd won, he was still severely injured and would need at least a month to recover... unless he went to the Forest.
He quickly caught the thought and twisted himself into a knot over it; if he went, he knew well enough that Master Leo wouldn't bat an eye and would help him heal up immediately. But if he went, he would also create distinct associations in his mind and would begin believing that he could go there any time he wanted. That in and of itself wasn't necessarily bad, but most mistakes were ever committed in the time of hubris—and there was no greater hubris than believing any wound he incurred could just be healed.
So, he elected to suffer a month—considering what he'd done, any ramification would take a bit longer than that.
"That was a brave face you put on."
"Instead of quips, maybe help your Master?" He chuckled as Xiaoling helped him to the praying mat, taking out a few dozen healing pills that he simply rejected. The kinds of wounds he incurred could not be healed by pills they were capable of creating. "It won't help. The Nascent Qi is like a string of razor blades cutting into every inch of my body; I can only meticulously go one by one and crush them."
"We could--"
"--no." He quickly interrupted, smiling inwardly over how similarly they thought. As Master so Disciple, indeed.
"You've actually done it."
"Hm."
"You killed a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator, Master," he said, sitting down.
"I did."
"When the word spreads... no, we have to initiate an immediate lockdown and recall all our Disciples currently out on missions. I'll personally go and bring back the kids that went to the Dragon's Realm."
"No, no, that's the worst thing to do now," he said. "I'll need at least a month to recover, and if we close the doors, it might lead some to believe that the damage inflicted upon us is beyond reproach. No, what will happen is that the countless sects will send Envoys, and right behind them, the spies; I'll retreat into the underground chamber instead of here. I've already left behind a few talismans here that will activate if someone of note tries to peek. You should simply welcome everyone who comes and let the word spread like wildfire."
"Will do," she said. "Ah, I almost forgot—Liang visited us, accompanied by Master Leo's other Disciple and an older gentleman. They've come seeking help."
"Help?"
"Master Leo... wants to create a Sect," Yu Minge frowned—not because of potential connotations of competition, far from it, but due to potential connotations of the cause. As well as he could get to know a man in a day, Yu Minge understood that Master Leo was a rather... free-spirited sort. Had he had any worldly ambitions, he would not have walled himself off inside one of the most inhospitable places in the world, far and away from mankind. If he was creating a Sect... "I offered myself, but it looks like I will have to send Elder Ag."
"Send Elder Ag," Yu Minge said. "And send young Zexian."
"Never suffer a loss, huh?"
"A bit," Yu Minge cracked a smile. "But we need an Envoy of our own, and Elder Ag is... uh... methodical. Not necessarily social. Send some supplies as well, as many as we can spare."
"... get well soon, Master."
"I always do, Xiao'er."
"Haah. Why do I even worry?"
**
Lu Yang couldn't help but swallow yet again; there was a knot in his throat, a mixture of awe and fear, that was difficult to dispel. The fight above in the sky was beyond impressive, but it was also terrifying; Central Ashlands would not stand by and would either send an Inquisitor or an actual army to make an example out of the Holy Blade Sect.
There was just one question: would Master Leo allow it?
Though Holy Blade was impressively strong, he was still only one man who just barely managed to defeat and kill a man at the Nascent Soul Realm. Though nobody else likely saw it, he noted the severe injuries the Sect Master suffered, which he would need at least a month to recover from.
He mulled in silence for a moment before he took out a small bottle; inside was Master Leo's new medicinal concoction. The two had tested it on some animals and deduced that it was about as good as anything else, except it took far fewer herbs to make.
"Uncle Yang?" Yue called him out.
"It will be our gift," he said with a faint smile.
"Oh," she seemed to have understood and nodded, taking a sip of the tea. Just then, the space before them rippled, and a figure stepped out.
"Sorry about that," Elder Xiaoling said, her lips stretched out into an apologetic smile. "Are you two alright?"
"Just fine, thank you," Lu Yang said. "Offer your Master my congratulations when you next see him—the feat he'd just accomplished is truly unprecedented."
"He will be delighted," he said as she sat down, her eyes quickly veering over to the small bottle in the middle of the table. "This...?"
"Master Leo's latest experiment," Lu Yang said, carefully concealing the intent; both would understand, but there were ways to do these transactions. "Per our brief experimentation, it is rather useful for curing common colds and such."
"Ah. Cultivators are known to suffer from common colds."
"Rather frustrating, indeed."
"... I can't take it."
"You are not very experienced with this, are you?" Lu Yang asked.
"Ha ha, what gave me away? My complete lack of decorum?" She laughed rather freely as her shoulders slumped. "No, I am not. All my life, all I ever did was fight. I would sit occasionally in the meetings and watch my Master navigate interactions just like this one, and they would give me headaches. Everyone in the room knew the truth behind the intentions, so I could never quite understand the point of the thereabout talk. That's what I called it."
"Ah. Clever," Lu Yang said, smiling. "Mayhap it is merely the ways of us old men. Means of disguising intentions for the sake of shallow deniability. For example, if we were representatives of another Sect, offering a potential cure to your Sect Master's ailments would require a level of payment that approaches a robbery. However, if we merely offer a cure to the common cold, perhaps a bag of tea or two would suffice."
"... oh. You... sound experienced," she said, the glint in her eyes sharp.
"I have had my share of experiences, indeed," Lu Yang replied vaguely, taking a sip of tea. "Without pretense—I truly do not know whether the vial will be helpful."
"... thank you, regardless," she said as the bottle disappeared. "I have mentioned your request to my Master. Unfortunately, I will have to rescind my offer in light of what just transpired."
"Of course."
"In my place, I will instead send Elder Ag—he's our third most Senior Elder, and has been in charge of our bookkeeping for almost a century now. In some ways, he will be far more beneficial to you than I would have. We, uh, we also... would like to send one of our Disciples. Not, not as a recruit, but, uh..."
"That is quite alright," Lu Yang said.
"Thank you," she smiled awkwardly and apologetically. "Here," Lu Yang found himself in possession of a rather radiant ring. "It's not much, but it's what we can afford to share."
"This--"
"--It's non-negotiable," she said. "As much as both my Master and I appreciate Master Leo, we would not sacrifice our home to please him. So, rest assured, this much we can afford."
"I thank you as well." Lu Yang politely bowed, stealthily stuffing the ring into the sleeve of his robes. He only caught a glimpse of what was inside, and though, indeed, it wasn't vast wealth, it was more than enough to help them get off the ground.
"If you should want," she said. "You can also hold your recruitment here. You can use our existing channels to spread the word."
"A generous offer that I must refuse," Lu Yang said. "Master Leo has no intention of competing for the Disciples other Sects would want to recruit."
"Oh," she exclaimed softly. "The offer, though, will stand." Lu Yang smiled elusively as he took a sip of tea.
There was a vast difference, after all, in the search criteria—all Sects, regardless of their Tier, sought Disciples with talent. Those who stood out were those who would best utilize the Sect's existing resources. For Master Leo, however, that was inconsequential; after all, he could make talent, something that no other Sect, here or elsewhere, could. Though Lu Yang hadn't seen it, he was certain that Master Leo could take someone without Spirit Roots and turn them into a generational prodigy everyone would be convinced had the rarest Roots.
"I must leave now," she said. "My mind is ringing with the Elders wanting to know what exactly is happening. If I delay any longer, they might just burst in here."
"Ha ha, of course. Do not worry about us."
"I will send someone to escort you to your lodging and will notify Elder Ag to meet you there."
"I thank you immensely, Elder Xiaoling," Lu Yang bowed.
"... as I you," she said, smiling. "You will always have a place here, Senior Yang. You and all of Master Leo's acquaintances."
She disappeared, leaving behind only a rippling sensation. Yue had been fidgeting the whole while, likely desperate to pose a question, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"What is it, Yue?"
"What'd she give us?"
"Stuff."
"... you're becoming more and more like Master."
"Wise?"
"Annoying."
"Ouch."
"No, not... annoying," she corrected herself. "You just... keep things close abreast, I suppose. I--I understand why. I'm weak and vastly unqualified to help in any meaningful manner. After all, I'm only here because I insisted--my presence is... inconsequential."
"Hm," Lu Yang mused for a moment, stroking his beard. "The matters of the world, Yue, are not to be hung around the necks of children. Master Leo himself told me that. We do not hide things from you because you are weak or because you are inconsequential. You're neither of those things, after all. We hide them to give you time to grow in the shade of the restless tree. As simple as that. Soon enough, once your wings have grown, you will be the blades and the shields fighting. And, if you'll indulge me a moment, you will rather miss these days of frustration."
"Did you?"
"Oh, immensely," Lu Yang chuckled. "Just like you, I was always frustrated when my father would kick me out of all the important meetings. Until, one day, I was not only allowed to participate but was forced to participate. Enjoy these days," he added as the doors opened. "They are seldom had later."