by Tao Wong
“Brother Long!” one of the coolies called to Wu Ying as the cultivator almost rushed past him.
“Yes, uhhh, Liu Chin, right?” Wu Ying said.
“Liu Chan,” the coolie corrected. “I am bringing up the letters and I saw one was for you. Did you want to get it now?”
“Of course,” Wu Ying said, smiling.
A few seconds of scrambling later, Wu Ying was holding the letter with his mother’s impeccable calligraphy on it. When it was stuffed into his shirt, Wu Ying thanked and tipped his acquaintance before taking off at a faster speed, eager to read the letter.
Plans were easily spoiled by reality. Wu Ying had barely taken off his shoes in his house before Ah Yee appeared.
“Senior Liu is waiting for you in the tea room,” Ah Yee informed Wu Ying.
“Oh! Thank you. Can you put this in my room?” Wu Ying handed over his bag, keeping only his parents’ letter with him.
Wu Ying quickly made his way to the tea room and spotted Liu Tsong seated elegantly in a chair, a scroll spread across the table in front of her.
“Senior Liu,” Wu Ying greeted her upon entering. “I am sorry for the wait.”
“No need.” Liu Tsong rolled up the scroll and made it disappear, placing it within the storage ring that shone on her finger. “I did not inform you I was coming.”
“Still, thank you for waiting. How can I help you?” Wu Ying said as he walked in.
“How did I do?” Liu Tsong said abruptly, looking shy.
“Do?’
“At the lecture, you idiot!”
“Very good.” When Liu Tsong looked increasingly unhappy, Wu Ying added, “I’m not being polite. You were very good. You spoke clearly and knowledgably. I can’t say I remember it all, but that is not your fault.”
“Oh, good.” Liu Tsong smiled and relaxed before she made a small stone appear in her hand. She pitched it directly at Wu Ying’s head. The action so surprised Wu Ying that he did not dodge the stone, catching it only when it fell into his hand.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“You didn’t buy the Principles.”
“Oh. My apologies. I was busy.”
“Fighting.”
“Yes, Senior,” Wu Ying admitted.
“Bah! Be careful about those idiots. They like to talk about growing strong because all cultivators must protect the sect, but in reality, they’re battle maniacs. All of them,” Liu Tsong said. “Hang out with them too long and they’ll start inviting you on expeditions to get demon stones. Then you’ll end up getting eaten.”
“Thank you, Senior, for your advice,” Wu Ying said.
Liu Tsong bestowed a smile on Wu Ying. It was not as if Wu Ying had not realized this fact already, so his words were not mocking. “Good. Now, did you have questions about what I taught?”
“Questions?” Wu Ying blinked then scratched his head. Well… “Actually, I did. The jingo leaf you mentioned, it’s not like the one I’m used to seeing…”
Hours later, Wu Ying found himself alone in his bedroom, mentally exhausted. He sat on his chair with a thump as the conversation with Liu Tsong played through his mind. After a few moments of laziness, Wu Ying sorted his purchases before he turned to the letter and parted the wax seal. Wu Ying blinked as the memory of the simple, exquisitely crafted jade seal that sat in his father’s bedside table drawer came back to him. The times he had sneaked in to run his fingers over the seal, and the one time he had been caned when his father had found him playing with it, sealing mud on the ground. It was one of the few relatively expensive items that the family owned after their fall from semi-respectability to farm life.
Wu Ying shook his head, banishing the memories, and stared at the letter within. Both his parents had taken the time to write, though the majority of the letter was filled with his mother’s beautiful calligraphy. His father’s was much shorter and tighter. For a superb swordsman, his father had never learned to transfer his skill with the blade to the pen.
Ah Ying,
Thank you for the letter and the money. You do not need to send so much. Even after the additional taxes for the war, we have enough to last the winter. The funds will go to buying more meat and some fish. Prices have gone up again, with the war and the loss at Yuna. We also shared part of this year’s rice harvest with the Lohs. Their eldest son came back injured. He lost his arm and is still recovering, but we are all happy to see him.
The war continues, though we are grateful to know that the army that threatened the village has been defeated and retreated to Wei for the winter. This year, they came within a hundred li of the village. Ah Hui did very well in the army and has been promoted to squad commander. His lieutenant spoke highly of his actions and the way he uses his size. Your Auntie Peng is very worried that Ah Hui won’t come home after they release him. If you can write to Fa Hui, maybe you can convince him not to stay. You know he always listened to you.
As for the village, because of the money you sent to us, we were able to contribute more to the village fund this year. Rather than sell the foal that was born to elder Qiu’s horse, we intend to raise it. In time, we should have two plow horses that can be used, which will speed up the ploughing. Of course, Su Chin complained about the extra cost of the feed, but you know how he is.
Your Aunti Pu’s chickens…
Wu Ying read through the rest of his mother’s letter quietly, enjoying the reminders of village life, of the community he had left behind but still managed to contribute to as a sect member. It warmed his heart, knowing that the money he sent back was being put to good use. The small politics and everyday tribulations of farm life grounded Wu Ying, making him relax and smile.
The next portion of the letter was less heartwarming, though Wu Ying knew that was his father’s way.
It seems even though you have grasped the Sense of the Sword, you still miss the Heart of it. That is to be expected at your age, and striving for understanding without proper enlightenment will fail you. I understand you have acquired numerous swords. If you have not done so, change which sword you wear and practice with each day. This will strengthen your Sense of the jian and force you to search for its true heart. Remember, it is fine to be cut, but to fear the cut is not the swordsman’s way.
As for your question about the transition between the Dragon’s Embrace to the Dragon’s Teeth, you may find the following four exercises to be of particular use. Each starts at the end of the embrace, with your jian positioned above your bottommost floating rib. Of course, you should attempt these exercises at differing heights after you have grown comfortable with them. Firstly, …
Wu Ying read over the exercises once quickly, then again more slowly. After that, the cultivator stood, drawing his sword from sheath, and repeated the motions as described. Wu Ying’s movements were slow the first couple of times before he sped it up, memorizing each motion in full before he tested the other exercises. Each repetition helped commit the exercise to his memory. Before long, Wu Ying grabbed the letter and headed out to his courtyard.
Dark or not, tired or not, Wu Ying found himself filled with energy. These exercises might give him the insight he needed to progress. Thus far, his father had yet to steer him wrong. If he managed to grasp the motion, he would have another powerful tool at his disposal.
Chapter 6
Wu Ying finally made his way to the front of the queue in the assignment hall after standing in line for twenty minutes. Early morning or not, the hall was filled with cultivators as always. Still filled with energy, Wu Ying offered the stiff-faced attendant a smile. The attendant returned a flat stare, waiting for Wu Ying to hand over his sect seal, then the attendant passed the seal over the spirit stone tablet. A few minutes later, having confirmed Wu Ying’s name and position, he left to get Wu Ying’s file.
Unlike in the outer sect, where each attendant’s desk had a specific number of assignments they needed to fill—meaning that sometimes, it was a matter of luck if a cultivator could find a good posting
—in the inner sect, everything was individualized. It was another minor benefit offered to inner sect members. Wu Ying knew that the benefit was as much for the sect’s sake as his. No one wanted a promising pill refiner sent to the painters’ guild.
“Long Wu Ying. You have about a week before your promotion exemption is over. Taken your time, have you?” the attendant said, a slight trace of scorn in his voice.
“I was told that so long as I arrived before my exemption ended, it was not a matter of concern?” Wu Ying said, concern bubbling up.
“There are no official repercussions. But your sponsor should have informed you that we allocate tasks on a first-come, first-serve basis. That is why most newcomers come by and begin their assignments immediately, even if it is part-time. That way they get the postings they desire. Or, at least, least hate,” the attendant explained. “Now I’m going to have find you something you won’t hate too much from these slim pickings.”
When the attendant said the last, he gestured to the pile of wooden sticks he had laid out before him. On each stick was the written details of a job that was waiting to be filled. As few inner sect members changed jobs that often, this method allowed the serving attendant the ability to review all the job openings as well as the applicant’s file.
For a time, the attendant read through Wu Ying’s sect scroll before he set it aside and sorted the sticks. Many of those he put away immediately, muttering so low that even Wu Ying’s enhanced senses found the conversation garbled.
“All right.” The attendant looked up after ten minutes and faced Wu Ying. “I’m done with the sorting. Is there anything you’d like to do?”
Wu Ying’s gaze darted to the pile of discarded slips, a question in his eyes.
When the attendant saw that, he sighed. “You really are a troublemaker, aren’t you?”
“I do not mean to be, Senior.”
“I set aside all requests that are meant for those in the Energy Storage stage of their cultivation. Then I set aside those requests that you have shown no aptitude for. That includes entertainment requests, high scholarship requests, and others requiring high artistic value or connections,” the attendant said. “Is my work satisfactory?”
“More than satisfactory. I’m sorry, Senior.” Wu Ying bowed in apology and winced internally. Being too paranoid was as likely to get him into trouble as not being concerned enough. “I am not sure how this is meant to go. Do I get to choose which task I am assigned to?”
“As an inner sect member, yes, to some extent. You inform me of your interests and your criteria; I see if there is anything that would work. I warn you, there is no more spaces in the pharmacy or herb garden, so you can forget about those.”
“Herb garden?” Wu Ying said, curious.
“Yes, the herb garden. The building connected to the main pharmacy? Where we tend and grow those herbs that we require regularly?” the attendant said with a roll of his eyes.
Wu Ying flushed, recalling the building and its mention by Liu Tsong during her lecture. Of course, the number of people who could work in the garden was low. Furthermore, Liu Tsong had discouraged his application to it since the herb garden—at least for those at his stage—consisted of the same few products produced indoors. It would be many, many years before he would be allowed to tend the more important and precious herbs if he joined the main herb garden.
“If I’m looking for contribution points more than anything else?” Wu Ying asked.
The attendant perked up. “Ah! I have a few outstanding jobs that would fit that perfectly. They have both a hiring reward and a long-term employment reward.” He quickly fished through the pile and set three slips on the counter. After a slight hesitation, the attendant pulled a fourth slip and added it. “These are the ones. Read it and I can go into details.”
“Refuse disposal.” Wu Ying shook his head. Somehow, he knew that it was more complex than a simple refuse disposal task—the outer sect members dealt with the everyday refuse.
“Ever since the Beast Tamer passed away, the refuse from the tamed beasts has grown. We are desperate to find someone who knows how to handle their refuse properly,” the attendant said and leaned closer. “But since you said no, I can tell you it was a good choice. Their waste is toxic without proper care and handling.”
“Sparring partner with Elder Hsu,” Wu Ying said as he shifted to the next slip. His eyes drifted down and saw the contribution points marked. “This has a low recruitment bonus but a high on-going payment amount.”
“Yes.” The attendant kept his face entirely neutral until Wu Ying made him detail the task. “Elder Hsu is a bare-handed practitioner. He studies the Sucking Snail style of combat. As a high-level Body Cleanser, you should be able to practice with him once a week.”
“And?”
The attendant continued to be entirely neutral, raising Wu Ying’s suspicion further. He pushed the slip aside into its own corner. He could always come back to it later, but being someone’s punching bag was less than ideal. After all, he had fought a Core Cultivator once and nearly died. And while it was unlikely this practice was as dangerous, there must be another reason for the lack of applicants.
“Medicine tester for Elder Qi. No,” Wu Ying said immediately, pushing the slip away. No hesitation. Which kind of fool would put untested, untried medicine into their body? Perhaps if Wu Ying was truly out of all options, but he was not that desperate.
“Are you sure? Even a single test will give you as much as three month’s work anywhere else,” the attendant said.
“Definitely.” Wu Ying ignored the attendant as he turned to the last slip, the one the attendant had hesitated at offering. “Herb gathering. This one has no contribution points marked.”
“I know,” the attendant said. “How much you earn is entirely up to you. You can earn significant amounts of contribution points, but it is also dangerous, looking for those herbs.”
“Oh…” Wu Ying looked at the slips. “But it could be safe too?”
“Yes. But remember, you have a certain number of points you must contribute each month back to the sect for your expenditure. If you are too safe, you will not be able to pay your upkeep fee,” the attendant warned, tapping the slip. “I added it because you can earn a lot and because you have shown interest in pill refining. Still, this is not a popular task. It requires you to traverse the land behind the mountain.”
Wu Ying winced. While the sect itself was built on the mountain and was, in effect, made up of multiple peaks, much of the land between the peaks was not patrolled or otherwise cared for. After all, the vast majority of the sect worked and lived on the main peak. Only the Sect Protectors, Hall Masters, and other important personages had residences on the other peaks. Their residences in their isolated locations allowed them to converge the chi of the surrounding environment into their homes, speeding up their cultivation—something they could not do in the main sect. And no beast was foolish enough to attack these Elders when they traveled back to the main peak.
As such, significant amounts of land “in the back” of the sect were untouched. On top of that, there was the wild land that bordered the sect holdings. The sect’s very presence were a help the kingdom, since they kept the demon and spirit beasts from attacking other civilized lands.
Wu Ying understood the implications of herb gathering in such places. At least when he had traveled in the backcountry before, it was between waypoints of civilization, leaving the number and quantity of spirit and demonic beasts lower. But in the backcountry of the sect, there were no such waypoints, no civilizing influence.
Wu Ying tapped on the last stick before discarding it. As curious as he was to take the work, he saw two major problems. To start, he had just begun learning about the plants that were of use to alchemists. Even if he did have some advantages from his background, it did not mean he was confident he would find anything good. And furthermore, the task sounded as though it required Wu Ying to be out of the sect for long periods at a
time. That made no sense for Wu Ying, who was just getting settled into the sect.
“Are you taking the sparring matches with Elder Hsu?” the attendant asked, still entirely too neutral.
Wu Ying narrowed his eyes, knowing there was something wrong. A trap in the assignment. On the other hand, Wu Ying had to admit that even the small bonus it offered was enough to allow him to trade for some much-needed cultivation resources. Perhaps some Meridian Cleansing Pills or equipment. While the swords he had were decent for mortal equipment, those would not last long.
“The sparring rules are not to death, correct? And there won’t be any permanent injuries?” Wu Ying said, voicing his major concerns.
“Not at all. Elder Hsu will not kill you. None of the injuries suffered have been outside of the scope of the healer’s ability,” the attendant replied. “In fact, Elder Hsu has indicated he will cover all healing for his partners, ensuring they are in top condition for each session.”
Wu Ying blinked, tilting his head. This was… well, this was strange. But better than nothing. Resolutely, Wu Ying pushed the strip forward. If this was dangerous and painful, well, he had dealt with both. A cultivator could not grow in a greenhouse. He must explore the wide world and experience everything under heaven. Only then could he hope to face his final dao.
Days later, Wu Ying stood outside the Elder’s house. It was one of the larger buildings in this part of the mountain, set among the residences for the Elders and much higher than the areas that Wu Ying traversed. It was still a distance from Elder Cheng’s mansion, but since his sponsor had left, Wu Ying had not visited that building. Elder Hsu’s residence was a decent distance up the mountain and had a large expanse of land around it. After Wu Ying had made his decision, the remainder of the paperwork was completed without fanfare. Just last night, Wu Ying had received the letter from Ah Yee indicating he was to turn up today for his first match.