Pure Jade

by Patrick Laplante

  The falcon nodded. “Its origins are linked to my ancestor. He was good friends with the monarch at the time. In fact, these mountains were named after my ancestor. Every generation in my family takes on the name Silverwing to honor him.

  “I’m not too sure what the jade plate is for. No one is. Except maybe the monarch. All I know is that there are nine mountains, and each mountain peak holds a jade plate. It is rumored that there is a tenth plate in the valley between the mountains, but no one dares to go.”

  “Why not?” Huxian asked.

  “It is a valley of death,” Silverwing replied. “Only the monarch and his inheritor dares to go there. I’m surprised you don’t know all this, though. The current inheritor is on your mountain peak. It’s that True Seer Great Owl. The reason the old sovereign never touched him was because he’s the progeny of the monarch.”

  “That’s very interesting,” Huxian said. “See? That information was totally worth those useless techniques. By the way, do you want to go have some fun today?”

  “What kind of fun?” the bird asked suspiciously.

  “I want to go tease the tiger,” Huxian said. “I heard that he’s guarding a yin-yang dragon fruit. It’s been maturing for almost 108 years, the perfect maturity for such a fruit.”

  Silverwing hesitated. “I suppose this fruit is for you to break through to late purification?”

  “That’s right,” Huxian admitted. “I’m worried that the humans will come here to make trouble, so I need to be as strong as possible before they arrive. Otherwise they’ll end up taking over your mountain. I think we both don’t want to see that happen.”

  “All right,” Silverwing said. “But we need to be careful. He’s a half-step core-formation demon beast. I have a very high defense, so I don’t have much to worry about. He could kill you in a single strike, however. And by the way, he’s actually a lion. There’s a big difference.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m very fast,” Huxian said, rolling his eyes. He was touched by Silverwing’s concern. “Lei Jiang, you run ahead to scout.”

  The three small beasts quickly moved through the forest that encompassed the nine mountains. The scenery changed drastically once they arrived at their final destination: Reptilian Mountain. The forest quickly turned hot and dry and the trees increasingly sparse. It became just like a savannah, a habitat filled with tall grass. It was ideal for hiding predators.

  “Do you have any idea how he managed to terraform the forest?” Huxian asked Silverwing.

  “It’s a very impressive feat, but it makes sense given the lion’s mixed bloodline,” Silverwing replied. “What other animal can you think of that can change the terrain so easily?”

  “A geomantic boa?” Huxian guessed.

  “Wrong!” Silverwing said, chuckling. “It was a geomantic python, a much higher tier demon beast. He bragged about it just a few years ago. While he doesn’t have the ability to lay traps, and his ability to terraform is mediocre at best, he was still able to change the terrain on this mountain to the most suitable climate for him and his pride.

  “He’s much stronger than a normal half-step core-formation beast, and his claws and fangs are naturally coated with a strong venom. His defenses are also absurd, so he can attack without worry.”

  “Then we should make sure we don’t bother him,” Huxian said.

  “And how will we do that, given that we want to take the fruit he’s been guarding for the last hundred years?” Silverwing asked.

  Huxian was at a loss for what to say. If this lion was as strong as Silverwing said, they were courting death by stealing from him.

  They soon arrived in a wide clearing surrounded by many feline creatures. Most of them were lions, all female, of course. A male lion would never tolerate other males in its den unless it was looking for an heir. They all sat patiently, awaiting the arrival of their king.

  “How much longer until the fruit ripens?” a young cub asked.

  “It will ripen when it ripens!” a lion that Huxian could only presume was its mother rebuked.

  “No need to be so harsh on the little cub,” an older female lion, presumably the mother of the entire pride, said. “The yin-yang dragon fruit is a fruit of balance. It will ripen today halfway between high noon and midnight. We are here both to guard it and to congratulate your father on his upcoming breakthrough to core formation. He will enter seclusion after retrieving the fruit. Then we will begin raising your younger brother to become his successor.”

  Huxian and his friends were hidden in a small shadow. Huxian’s shadow abilities were very useful for clandestine operations. “How can we steal the fruit in such open terrain filled with lions?” Lei Jiang said. “It’s basically impossible.”

  “It’s better to turn back,” the falcon said, nodding. “Our lives are more important.”

  Huxian shook his head. “We have to risk it. This is too good of an opportunity. Lei Jiang will run a distraction while I dive in to grab the fruit. What are your thoughts?”

  “That’s suicide!” the falcon cried. “I’m all for helping you, but I’m not for losing my life. Besides, I don’t have a bad relationship with the old lion. Why antagonize him needlessly?”

  Huxian sighed. “I see how it is. Very well, you can just stay back, and we’ll try our best.”

  The falcon looked at him with a hurt expression but said nothing. Instead, Silverwing flew up and perched himself on a nearby tree, observing everything.

  Hours passed while Huxian and Lei Jiang waited patiently.

  I can’t believe he’s not helping you, Lei Jiang said. What an ungrateful bird!

  He’s not ungrateful, Huxian said. He is being cautious, and the technique I gave him isn’t worth his risking his life. This is perfectly reasonable of him. I don’t want you causing trouble for him and ruining my plans.

  Lei Jiang wore a resentful expression. Fine. I know I can get that fruit for you.

  Don’t focus on getting the fruit, Huxian said. I need you to be an annoying and flashy distraction. Even if you must die, I need him distracted until I get the fruit. If you’re still alive by the time I get the fruit, try your best to escape.

  A look of determination flashed in Lei Jiang’s eyes. I am willing to die for you, Master.

  Huxian did not reply but instead continued to observe the pride of lions. The hour was drawing near.

  A frightening pressure appeared in the sky a quarter hour later. A large scaly lion walked in the air from afar. He ignored all the nearby beasts as he gloriously pranced over to the maturing fruit. Purification-realm demon beasts could not walk in the air in this way; only core-formation beasts could. This was a small advantage the Reptilian Lion Sovereign had gained when forming his false core, a faint imitation of the true core he would condense to enter core formation.

  “My pride,” he roared, “it is good for you to be here during this glorious moment.”

  “We are joyful in being able to take part in my lord’s1 glory,” the oldest lioness replied submissively.

  “After I retrieve the fruit, I will retire into seclusion,” the Reptilian Lion Sovereign said. “Pick a newborn male cub of your choosing and raise him as you see fit during my absence. You will naturally be in charge and may kill anyone who displeases you.”

  “As you wish, my lord,” the lioness replied humbly. The nearby lionesses trembled in fear.

  “Beautiful,” the Reptilian Lion Sovereign whispered while watching the fruit mature. It was like a normal fire dragon fruit, but the fruit’s flowerlike husk was white and black, infused with the powers of light and darkness.

  As far as Huxian was concerned, it was a waste for this lion to consume it. Huxian’s attributes perfectly matched the fruit, while the lion’s attributes did not.

  An incense time passed, and the sun began setting on the horizon. “Almost there,” the Reptilian Lion Sovereign whispered.

  Now! Huxian yelled mentally. He slithered into the long shadows created by the setting sun while L
ei Jiang transformed into a purple bolt of lightning that darted toward the fruit.

  “What gall!” the Reptilian Lion Sovereign roared as he swiped at the Calamity-Swallowing Mouse. Lei Jiang didn’t reply. Instead, the sky turned dark as he summoned purple lightning in the shape of a storm. It rained down and formed an offensive shield around him, which spread out and began attacking the scaly lion.

  “That hurts!” the lion shouted in surprise. The lionesses nearby could only watch in fear and awe. They would be burnt to a crisp the moment they so much as touched the purple lightning shield.

  Only a few more moments, Huxian said as he waited beside the fruit. It had almost reached its peak of maturity.

  Not a problem, boss. I can handle him, Lei Jiang said. But he spoke too soon. Suddenly the pressure given off by the lion skyrocketed, and Lei Jiang found himself suppressed on a fundamental level. It was the power of the lion’s false core that restricted him. The solidified bloodline present in a demon core was much more concentrated than a purification beast’s bloodline.

  “I will devour you for sustenance before eating the yin-yang dragon fruit,” the lion said. “This way, my odds of success in core formation will double. Did you really think that your pathetic speed could contend with my false core?”

  Lei Jiang, clearly suppressed by the lion’s solidified bloodline, attempted to run away. However, the speed it was most proud of didn’t matter in front of the gigantic lion, who swatted him aside with ease. Huxian heard breaking bones, but he steeled himself. Getting the fruit was most important. If one of his generals died, he could always replace him.

  As the lion pounced on Lei Jiang, Huxian jumped from the shadows and swallowed the fruit whole. Its powerful energies did not immediately dissolve into his bloodstream but were stored away for a later date.

  “How dare you deceive this sovereign!” the lion roared, appearing directly beside Huxian.

  What shocking speed, he thought. He mustered every ounce of his power but soon discovered that the gravity around him had been amplified a hundredfold. An enormous, venomous claw came crashing down on him. He braced himself for his inevitable demise.

  I’m sorry, Cha Ming, Huxian thought. I tried. He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable 20,000-jin paw strike.

  Peng!

  The paw didn’t land. He opened his eyes and saw brown and silver feathers. “Silverwing!” Huxian shouted.

  “You dare meddle in my affairs and help these thieves, Silverwing?” the lion roared. “Do you think I would hesitate to annihilate every bird on your mountain in retaliation?”

  “You can say whatever you wish,” Silverwing said. “But if you dare do such a thing, I will eliminate every cat in the mountain range. We both know you can’t kill me. Both because you don’t dare and because you’re physically incapable.”

  The lion hesitated, then looked to the side at the crumpled Lei Jiang. “Fine. But this one stays with me as an apology.”

  Seeing the blood running down Silverwing’s beak, Huxian was ready to make this concession. However, before he had a chance, the large falcon spread its wings. “I’m taking the mouse with me, and you can’t stop me. However, we are indeed in the wrong. In the future, I owe you an equivalent herb or fruit, and it will be much more suitable to your constitution. This will happen within the next ten years.”

  The Reptilian Lion Sovereign’s eyes narrowed. He seemed about to yell out in indignation but suddenly held himself back. “Very well. You may take the mouse, then. I’ll give you face for the sake of your ancestors.”

  Silverwing bowed his head slightly and calmly picked up both Huxian and Lei Jiang in his talons and flew off. They retreated until they arrived at Huxian’s mountain, where Silverwing dropped them unceremoniously. Huxian, seeing Lei Jiang’s dire state, coughed up a tiny bit of blood essence and fed it to his follower, whose erratic breath quickly recovered.

  “Many thanks, Silverwing,” Huxian said. “If you hadn’t—”

  Paff.

  A wing struck Huxian across the face, sending blood flowing out of his mouth. “What’s your problem?” Huxian asked, growling.

  “What’s your problem?” the falcon asked with a menacing glare in his eyes. “I warned you he was powerful, and you wouldn’t listen. Not just that, you used your slave as bait. I saw it clearly. You were willing to sacrifice him for that fruit. I thought I knew you, but I was wrong.”

  Huxian gulped and was immediately filled with something he had never felt before: regret.

  Seeing Huxian’s expression change, the falcon shook its head. “You’re just a kid. You know nothing. But you should appreciate friendship, Huxian. I saved you today because you are my friend. I risked my life today because you are my friend. And I saved Lei Jiang’s life because he is my friend, too.

  “I didn’t have to save you two, but I did. You need to appreciate what you have. Otherwise you might lose it all one day. If you don’t care for the people around you, even your closest friends and brothers will abandon you.” Silverwing looked up toward his mountain peak. “I’m entering seclusion now to recover from my wounds. I don’t want to see your face for a week. But when I do, I hope you’ll have reflected on your mistakes.”

  Silverwing disappeared in a flash of silver, and Huxian was left alone on his mountaintop. He was dejected and confused. He felt regret. From what he understood, his ancestors had always treated his generals as disposable commodities. However, the more he thought about Lei Jiang, another new emotion surfaced.

  Guilt.

  Can I really recruit Silverwing as my general? he thought. No. I could never do that to Silverwing. What a terrible thing to do to a friend.

  The Reptilian Lion Sovereign lounged next to the giant jade plate on his mountain. He was moping, and for a good reason. A large shadow approached him from afar before landing beside him.

  “Why couldn’t I just kill the mouse?” the Reptilian Lion Sovereign said. “Is it really so important?”

  “The mouse is irrelevant,” the figure said. “But it’s Silverwing’s friend. That alone should be enough.”

  “I know how you operate,” the Reptilian Lion Sovereign said. “You wouldn’t save the mouse just for Silverwing’s sake.”

  A pause ensued. “You’re right. I wouldn’t,” the figure said. Then, without further explanation, he vanished.

  * * *

  1 In Chinese culture, an ancient way of referring to one’s husband is to address him as “my lord.”

  Chapter 11: Brush Maker

  “Cha Ming, it’s so good to see you again!” Feng Huoshan said warmly. The attendant, who had paid little attention to him the first time he visited, now clasped his hands and bowed in greeting.

  “My apologies on not making it sooner,” Cha Ming said. “I needed to take care of some matters and wasn’t able to come back until now.” Dark circles surrounded his eyes, as his sleep had been restless. He had strange dreams where he was the sovereign of a mountain, overseeing the life and death of countless beasts.

  Last night, he’d fought a frightening adversary—an incomparably powerful lion covered in scales. Only with the help of a silver-winged falcon did he survive. While the dream was very interesting, it made him long for the companionship of his little brother, Huxian.

  “Not a problem,” Feng Huoshan said. “Would you like me to show you around?”

  “I would be in your debt,” Cha Ming replied, smiling. He followed the older talisman master through the same hallway as before. But this time, instead of bypassing the different rooms, they stopped for a tour and an introduction. Their first destination was the mission board. It was in a large stone room and consisted of four large jade plaques that constantly displayed internal and external requests. The writing on the plaques continually shifted in a futile attempt to display all the information contained within.

  “You can check the details of any posting by inserting your incandescent force,” Feng Huoshan explained. “The majority of the postings are
internal. The guild has several long-term contracts and also requires a minimum stock of mortal-grade talismans for the storefront. We supply various sects and clans, and we even supply a set number of talismans to the royal family every month. Members can complete these tasks either for internal credit or cash renumeration.”

  “Senior Brother Huoshan, what can the credit be used for?” Cha Ming asked.

  “They can be used to purchase guild materials at cheaper prices,” Huoshan said. “Various inks and brushes can be purchased. Or you can pay for private lessons or tutoring from senior artists. For the most part, however, people use their credits to browse the library.”

  “Makes sense,” Cha Ming said. “What about the external postings?”

  “External postings are a little more complex,” Huoshan said. “The simplest sort is when a sect requires a large batch of talismans over and above the regular contract. The rewards are more lucrative, but the timelines are usually extremely tight. This usually happens before large expeditions, smelting trials, or fights between sects.

  “Next, there are consulting jobs. They mostly have to do with appraisals or miscellaneous advice. Lastly, there are custom jobs. Typically, these are either requests for specific magic-grade talismans or the customer has a need to fill, and they aren’t exactly sure if talismans are the way to go. Let me give you an example. Let’s say the mayor’s son wants to go on an expedition, and the mayor wants a life-saving treasure. He isn’t too sure what he wants, but he’s sure that he wants an item that gives his son unparalleled speed for at least an incense time so that he has time to reach his Dao protectors1. Or perhaps he believes that running away is cowardly and wants a powerful offensive talisman that can slay his enemies. We let him know which talismans are available and at what cost and effect. He will then decide whether to proceed with an order.”

  “Are we reimbursed for the consulting time involved for these postings?” Cha Ming asked.

  “If only,” Huoshan grunted. “It’s just a cost of doing business, but it’s often the only way we can sell our higher-end products. Those on display might sit there for a long time before getting sold. Magic talismans are sold on consignment. A custom job, however, has a guaranteed sale if you win the contract.”