A Thousand Li

by Tao Wong

  In turn, the monsters had killed half their horses, heavily injured both Wu Ying and Yu Kun, and left everyone else with minor injuries. None of them had come out of the attack unscathed, though only Wu Ying had managed to put himself in such a precarious position.

  “Jumping on a bird! What kind of idiocy is that?” Wan Yan berated Wu Ying, who was seated, leaning against a tree.

  In the distance, the group had split up, with Yu Kun the only one seated, watching the skies with his bow. Ostensibly on guard, but mostly healing.

  “The kind that kept me alive,” Wu Ying said. “Or did you forget the exploding feathers?”

  “I forget nothing,” Wan Yan hissed, eyes flashing. “Everyone else managed to escape without throwing themselves onto a bird.”

  “Whatever. Shouldn’t you be helping?”

  Behind the pair, the remainder of the team was harvesting the birds and their spirit stones. Even if the majority of the flock were not in the Energy Storage stage, their stones were still valuable. Never mind the feathers, which could be used by blacksmiths to produce cloaks and perhaps even pieces of armor.

  Wan Yan gave Wu Ying a tight, humorless smile. “I volunteered to make sure you were well.”

  “I live. So feel free to go help. Or is it too far beneath you?” Even if Wu Ying had gotten over his own views about the majority of nobles, it seemed that not all of them had gotten over their own self-importance. Wan Yan, sadly, seemed to place herself on a pedestal high above them all.

  “If you’re well enough to blather on, you should collect some herbs. I’m sure this far in, there has to be something good.”

  “You let me worry about Gathering. You just make sure we get all the spirit stones.”

  It annoyed him that she was probably right. Now that he wasn’t in agony or the midst of a battle, he could pick out a few tantalizing scents. Limping to them would be difficult, but having rejoined hip and leg, he could probably make it into the woods.

  Wan Yan sniffed, turned, and walked away.

  She was only a few steps away before Wu Ying called, “How did you take down the Core Crane?”

  She called out her answer, never bothering to turn around. “When it finally landed, Xiang Wen and I managed to cut off its wings. Then Tou He used his staff to batter it until it died.”

  Eyes narrowed, Wu Ying wondered what she was leaving out. Like why the crane had landed, giving up its advantage. Still, he was grateful no one had fallen. It was always a danger on such expeditions, especially when a surprise—like a Core-level spirit beast—was all too possible.

  Extracting one of his swords from his spirit ring, Wu Ying stood slowly. He used the sword as an impromptu cane, limping deeper into the stand of bamboo. The best kind of apology he could give them after failing to help out would be locating those tantalizing, fragrant herbs he could smell on the horizon. Certainly, injured as the flock was and wary as they were now, it was unlikely that there were any further dangers. At least, not until another spirit beast moved in.

  Chapter 18

  The return journey took twice as long as their initial trip. Not only were they injured, they were also missing half of their horses and burdened by the carcasses they had butchered. Even if the meat had been stored in spirit rings to preserve it, the bones and feathers still had to be carried physically. None of the cultivators had a spirit ring large enough to contain all that they had managed to acquire. As such, the remaining horses were burdened with the bones and feathers of the birds, as well as the large bags Wu Ying had packed. Among them, an entire hemp bag of soil.

  Even so, they made relatively good time. As cultivators, their bodies healed faster than any mortal’s. Wu Ying, in particular, had his body cultivation techniques to rely upon, using them to help toughen his bones, repair the torn ligaments and skin, and replace his lost chi. That last issue was the one that plagued Wu Ying the most, for he found that the careful balance he had managed to acquire was thrown awry by the battle. Once more, he was plagued by the aches in his body, bloody urine, and a pounding, ever-persistent headache. The discoloration on his skin, once receding, had returned with a vengeance, liver spots growing as he failed to clear toxic chi and old blood.

  It was no surprise then that Wu Ying was grateful for the sight of the island city when it rolled out from the evening mist as their boat carried them close. Lights glinted across the lapping waves, casting reflected diamonds through the air, reflected from the spirit lamps and lanterns that dotted the quayside. Their boat came in slowly, oars carefully dipping into the river before dripping water as they rose, while the creak of wood accompanied the captain’s barked orders.

  As a group, they hobbled onto the dock, Wu Ying nearly falling from the swaying gangplank as a wave shifted the boat behind him. The hasty hop led to him landing on his injured, but mostly healed, leg. He flinched and stumbled, only to be steadied by Tou He.

  Yu Kun followed last, passing payment to the captain as promised, one arm still in a sling. The crane that had crashed into him had shattered the bones in his hand.

  “I’ll expect the contribution points by tomorrow afternoon,” Wan Yan stated firmly before striding off and leaving the deckhands to deal with her mare. She only carried a small bag of goods with her, leaving behind the accumulated trophies of the assignment.

  Wu Ying opened his mouth to object, but Xiang Wen called out, “We’ll just take the porters out of your portion then.”

  The group could not help but trade grins as Wan Yan hesitated a second before she kept walking. The woman’s grating personality had worn on them all, especially on the interminable track back.

  “It’s good that she’s too prideful to bicker with us,” Yu Kun said. “Because I was going to hire porters anyway.”

  As if conjured from the sky itself, porters appeared, a couple of them yawning and rubbing their eyes. It took only a few words before they grabbed bags, most of them only able to manage a single overstuffed piece of luggage. They were, after all, low-level Body Cleansing cultivators. Not even technically part of the sect.

  “I’ll accompany them to the assignment hall and ensure everything is marked down properly. There won’t be anybody there to judge what we brought in though, not until tomorrow. So anyone who wants to accompany us for the evaluation should meet us at the tenth bell in the morning,” Yu Kun said.

  The two brothers offered their thanks and declined to be there, while Tou He indicated that he was more than happy to trust Yu Kun. When the ex-wandering cultivator turned to the last two, Wu Ying chuckled ruefully.

  “All things considered, I probably should be there for my portion at least.” Wu Ying inspected the bag that he had refused to give to the porters. “I’ll also need to have them evaluate this properly.”

  “You never did tell us what’s in there,” Xiang Wen said.

  “No, I didn’t.” Wu Ying smiled. He picked up the bag with a grunt, wincing as a lance of pain shot through his chest.

  Xiang Wen raised an eyebrow while Wu Ying waved goodbye to Yu Kun. He limped off, while Yu Kun waved the group of porters on. Wu Ying managed to get another half dozen steps away before Xiang Wen caught up with him, falling into step beside the slow-moving cultivator.

  They walked in silence for an entire street, Xiang Wen glancing at Wu Ying out of the corner of her eyes. He kept his mouth shut, focused on churning chi through his body to help ease the ache in his bones and the exhaustion that tugged his eyelids.

  “So?” Xiang Wen finally said.

  “The herb?” Wu Ying said, pulled from his thoughts and cultivation. He sighed and touched the bag strap. “It’s actually a series of plants.” He dropped his voice, glancing about as he added, “Metal-chi-infused ginseng. Close to at least a few hundred years old.”

  Xiang Wen’s footsteps stuttered, surprise crossing her face before she hurried after him. “Seriously?”

  “Yes.” Wu Ying nodded, patting the bag. “The soil was thoroughly soaked with metal chi. It’s why I took
some of the younger ones as full plants and the bag of soil. Done right, it can be replanted and become a resource.”

  She nodded quickly, her jaw working for a second. “How much?”

  “Can we get for it?”

  She nodded. Wu Ying hid a small smile, noting the glint of avarice in her eyes. Not that he minded, since he knew she needed the contribution points just like him. Still, the hint of corruption in her aura reminded him of the danger of caring too much for her.

  “How much do you need?” he asked.

  Xiang Wen stiffened for a second, before giving a purposeful, insouciant shrug. “Just enough to get the manuals I need. And some herbs.”

  Wu Ying nodded, noting her evasion. He considered pushing it but knew he did not have much right. Or leverage. All she had to do was wait until tomorrow to learn.

  “I actually am not sure. Something like this would be worth a significant amount in my Sect. But here…” Wu Ying shrugged. “It could go either way. The lack of a proper Elder to care for the plants could be an issue.”

  Xiang Wen made a face. Her footsteps halted as they came up to the next crossroad. Wu Ying stopped beside her.

  She looked him up and down consideringly. “Are you able to make it back by yourself?”

  “I’m mostly healed,” Wu Ying said.

  “Is that how you look when you’re mostly healed?” she said disbelievingly.

  “For now, yes.”

  A flash of pity crossed her face before it was suppressed. Xiang Wen hesitated a moment more, glancing down the road to where her own inn was. Then, rather than part with him, she gestured for him to continue.

  Wu Ying shrugged and walked again. He chose to stay silent, and surprisingly, so did she. In the dark of the night, the pair wove through the quiet streets of the city. And, to Wu Ying’s surprise, the silence was rather companionable. He even almost forgot that she might be the enemy.

  Almost.

  ***

  Morning the next day saw Wu Ying at the assignment hall, the bag over his shoulder. He had slept in, his body exhausted and unable to handle the constant travel, so he had only managed to grab a quick meal and complete a round of cultivation to help cleanse his body before he arrived at the hall. To his surprise, Yu Kun was not there as yet, though Xiang Wen was standing beside the hall, feet tapping impatiently.

  Wu Ying walked over to her, offering her greetings. She greeted him back and confirmed that Yu Kun had not already been there.

  “Why don’t you give them the herbs? At least they can get started on that. It’s not as if Yu Kun knows any better either,” Xiang Wen suggested.

  “Good idea.” Wu Ying made his way over to the counter and dropped the bag he had brought on it. “Long Wu Ying, Verdant Green Waters Sect cultivator, visiting. I have some additional herbs and soil that were dropped off by my sect mate Yu Kun earlier. If you could call the appropriate attendant, we can go over the herbal ingredients and discuss appropriate pricing.”

  The attendant narrowed his eyes, tilting his chin up. “We will dictate how much each herb is worth. We do not negotiate.”

  “Okay. Then just provide me the list and I’ll let you know what we intend to sell,” Wu Ying replied.

  “No. Once we estimate pricing, you are not allowed to resell the herbs to another in the city,” the attendant replied.

  “Who says?” Wu Ying said.

  “Sect rules.”

  Xiang Wen, who had followed along, raised her voice as she said, “That’s ridiculous. That means you could give any price.”

  “Are you saying we would cheat guest cultivators?” the attendant growled, sounding incensed.

  “Well, if you are making laws like that!”

  “How dare you!” The attendant stood and leaned on the table, pushing his face into Xiang Wen’s.

  She refused to back down, glaring right back at him.

  Wu Ying found himself rolling his eyes, sticking his arm between the pair and pushing Xiang Wen back. Once she had separated far enough, he slid a portion of his body between the pair such that he was facing the angry attendant directly.

  “I understand your reluctance. And your standard sect rules. But the things I have to show you are rare. They are all specialized. Your sect may not value them to the same extent as others. Certainly you know of me by now. I have been teaching your Elders and sect members how to harvest and grow spiritual herbs properly. The other attendant, he was quite accommodating and would recognize me.” The attendant gave a reluctant nod as Wu Ying continued. “Now, can you see how you might have an issue with what I bring back? If I choose to keep what I have, your apothecarist guild might be upset. And I don’t want to lug it around if I can sell it for a fair price.”

  At the last sentences, the attendant nodded a little. Still, he lifted his chin as he grated out, “Rules are rules.”

  Wu Ying nodded. “And I would not expect you to break them. It’s not your place. But perhaps your Elder…?”

  “He hates being bothered.”

  “I’m sure he does. But my other choice is not to sell it here and visit the merchants directly. Or keep what I brought. In either case, you’ll only get second choice, and wouldn’t that be a pity?” Wu Ying gave an elaborate shrug. “But if you’re sure, it’s up to you. I just won’t take blame for it.”

  The attendant glared at Xiang Wen behind Wu Ying, and Wu Ying turned around, spotting her smiling broadly. He proceeded to step on her foot. She let out a yelp, hopping backward, which brought a smirk from the attendant.

  “Oops,” Wu Ying said. “Now, about the Elder…”

  “I don’t know…”

  “You know, if it’s something good—and trust me, it is—the Elders might even reward you for bringing it to their attention.”

  “And if it’s not, he’ll scold me!”

  “As if he hasn’t done that to you before,” Wu Ying guessed.

  The attendant snorted a wry acknowledgment. He bit his lip, but Xiang Wen had schooled her features while eyeing Wu Ying’s threatening foot. Eventually the attendant asked them to wait while he summoned the appropriate individuals. The pair retreated to the side of the assignment hall and idly perused the assignments. While they waited, Yu Kun finally arrived.

  Wu Ying caught Yu Kun on events, making the ex-wandering cultivator sigh. “Did you not realize that there are blacksmiths desperate for good material to work on? Now you’re asking them to reassess older pricing. If they do it for our feathers, we might actually lose out.”

  Wu Ying coughed but could only shrug in defeat. It was not as if they could do much about it now. Before Wu Ying could explain about the ginseng, the Elder and the attending senior apothecarist in charge of purchasing had arrived. The group exchanged formal greetings, then had to do it again as the senior blacksmith apprentice hurried in as well, along with a few other blacksmiths, still dirty from the forge. When the Assignment Hall Elder glared at the attendant, the attendant was quick to assure him that there were to be no additional interruptions.

  “Now, I assume that there is no argument about the number of cranes slain or the payment for those slain,” the Assignment Hall Elder stated.

  “None at all,” Yu Kun was quick to say.

  Xiang Wen stayed silent, though she kept glancing at the glowering attendant and returning the same. Wu Ying mentally rolled his eyes as he turned to the Elder and added his own assurance.

  “Good. Now, I was told there’s a disagreement with the pricing of the material brought back,” the Elder said coolly.

  “Honored Elder, it is not that I disagree but that the herbs I brought back are still alive and their value might be difficult to ascertain,” Wu Ying said. “The provision of an ongoing supply could be of significant importance.”

  The Elder sniffed. “You’re the one who’s been training Elder Liew and the others in the ways to care for their gardens, are you not?”

  Wu Ying agreed to the statement.

  “And are you not worried they will n
ot be able to care for the herbs you brought back?”

  Wu Ying hesitated, seeing the trap.

  “I would assume that you would be able to teach them. Otherwise, what is the point of them paying for your lessons?”

  Wu Ying was wincing internally. “As you say, Honored Elder.”

  “And spiritual herbs are generally only useful if used appropriately,” the Elder continued, drawing a reluctant nod from Wu Ying and his friends. The Elder then gestured to the senior apothecarist before continuing. “And would it not be appropriate to say that our own sect members would know what kinds of pills are most in demand in the sect?”

  Another reluctant series of nods.

  “Then I see no reason why there should be any dispute about what the value of such herbs might be to us,” the Elder said.

  “But the ongoing availability—”

  “Will be estimated and added to it, as appropriate,” the senior apothecarist buyer said, cutting off Wu Ying. “We will assume a five-year supply in total, assuming the quantities are sufficient at high freshness grade.”

  “Five years is insufficient. The herbs I brought are much rarer and slower to grow,” Wu Ying said.

  “Rare does not necessarily mean useful.” The senior apothecarist crossed his arms. “We are not as large as the Verdant Green Waters Sect. What we produce is more varied, and in lower quantities and volume. We do not have hundreds of junior apothecarists attempting their first pills. We are more select in who we support. A rarer herb might not even be needed.”

  “True. But there are some herbs that are mainstays, and some that might be useful for anyone. Some spiritual herbs can be substituted in multiple recipes due to their overall compatibility, especially if they are readily available. Such as the ingredients for a Meridian Opening pill,” Wu Ying replied, thinking about some of the other items he had brought back.

  “Those pills are quite useless for many of our sect members,” the Elder said, obviously dissatisfied. “If this is what you called us for…”

  Wu Ying quickly shook his head. “No, Honored Elder. That was just an example. Perhaps we should stop speaking in generalities and just review the herbs I brought back.” He paused, before continuing. “If you are willing to allow me to withdraw certain herbs your buyer has no desire for. As you said, your honored sect is selective in its demands. I would not want to create a problem for your apothecarist hall with items they do not need.”