by Tao Wong
“You have much to think about.” Elder Wen finished her cup of tea and stood. “Inform my attendants when you are done. They will deduct the requisite points and return your sect token to you.”
“Thank you, Elder,” Wu Ying said as he stood and bowed.
“Take care. And remember, on your first expedition, there is no shame in being cautious,” Elder Wen said before she walked off.
Wu Ying sat back down to ponder his decision and her final words. Was she hinting he should pick up the silk robes?
Chapter 17
The day of the expedition arrived all too quickly for Wu Ying’s taste. When Ru Ping realized Wu Ying would be joining the expedition, he initiated an even more intensive set of lessons, forcing Wu Ying to work the fields and repeatedly harvest the plants they expected to encounter. In the little free time he had left, Wu Ying bought a set of light, banded armor and threw himself into cultivation and training with the martial specialists. Pill refining could take a backseat to increasing his survival chances.
At the main paifang that marked the boundaries of the sect proper, Wu Ying looked around at the expedition group. Elder Lu, the gatekeeper, spoke with the other Elders, while the remaining members of the expeditionary force spoke to one another.
“Why are we waiting?” Tou He asked, looking about at the gathered group. “Are we not all here?”
“We are, but it’s not yet a fortuitous time to leave. I understand Elder Li paid for a reading to ensure we face better fortune,” Chao Kun said.
“Har. That’s all superstitious rubbish,” Li Yao said as she joined them, her quarterstaff on her shoulder.
All three men turned toward her with varying expressions of disapproval and disappointment.
“Are you saying Elder Kim’s foretelling is rubbish?” Chao Kun said.
“Ah… not Elder Kim,” Li Yao backtracked. “But most fortune telling is wrong.”
“Street fortune tellers and charlatans are not Elder Kim. He is well known for his ability to read the will of heaven,” Chao Kun said.
“Yes, of course. I never understood what delaying our journey would do. We could leave now and get to the flower sooner,” Li Yao said.
“The journey is at least two weeks long,” Chao Kun said. “And that is if we travel directly to the kurinji flower. But worry not. We have a week’s leeway.”
Wu Ying smiled in agreement, recalling the additional information Ru Ping had imparted to him. The flower had been first located over a decade ago. Soon after, Elder Li had traveled to the clearing to verify the find and ascertain when the kurinji would next blossom. Ever since then, this expedition had been in the making, though quietly. After all, no one in the sect wanted another cultivator or sect to learn of this fortuitous encounter.
“Congratulations on your breakthrough,” Wu Ying said to Li Yao. “It was good timing.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” Li Yao said with a smirk.
“You’re at Energy Storage 4?” Wu Ying said, recalling previous conversations.
“Yes! I’m much stronger now.”
“Of course you are,” Tou He said.
That should be obvious. A single increase in cultivation at the higher levels saw a significant increase in fighting strength, unlike when one was at Body Cleansing.
“What? You don’t believe me? Come, I’ll let you taste my stick!” Li Yao said, pulling her quarterstaff off her shoulder and shaking it at Tou He.
Her words made the group cough and look away, with Li Yao growing increasingly crabby as the group declined to fight her.
“Thank you all for coming,” Elder Li’s voice cut through the chatter, drawing everyone’s attention to the Elders.
Wu Ying was surprised to note a new Elder had joined them, one clad in the Elder’s traditional black robes but with a much more ornate headdress. Similar to the ones worn by the Hall Masters, but with gold and green trimmings.
“Elder Kim will be seeing us off and blessing this journey. Please.” At her last words, Elder Li gestured to the group.
The group, except for the Elders, dropped to their knees. Elder Kim pulled a small bamboo whisk from his storage ring, an urn of blessed water in his other hand. As Elder Kim walked around the group, he chanted, the words esoteric and confusing, a melodic susurration that enveloped and held the group still, its melody resonating with the Dao of the universe and drawing in chi from the surroundings. Each spray of water offered benediction and cleansing as chi wrapped around the expedition’s members’ bodies. As chi cloaked Wu Ying like water, it merged with his flesh, bones, and meridians.
Seconds turned into minutes, the power seeping into their bodies. When Elder Kim finished, he was back at the head of the group. Elder Li gestured, and the sect members stood. Wu Ying silently assessed himself, feeling the blessing that lay in his bones, the traces of heavenly chi that tilted luck in his favor. It was not much, a sliver of silver in his favor against the weights of fate. Then again, so much of this world existed and changed because of the smallest of things.
“Thank you, Elder Kim,” Elder Li said.
A chorus of thanks erupted from the group before Elder Wei gestured and the group took off down the hill. As Wu Ying joined the run, Xi Qi caught Wu Ying’s gaze. The gatekeeper flashed him a quick smile and nod, offering his own silent blessing before the pace of the expedition took them away.
They travelled down the mountain and around it, taking the first main branching road. The expedition could have left via another exit and cut their journey short by a few hours, but Elder Kim had recommended they leave by the main gate. It did not matter, not really, to the group of cultivators. Once they took the branch, the group sped up, easily outpacing the movements of any low-level cultivator. There were no horses this time—the creatures were too easily scared off by the monsters in the spirit lands. Better to move on sure feet.
As one of the lowest-level cultivators in the group, Wu Ying found himself running at nearly full speed to keep up with the light jaunt of the others. Clad in the light armor he had purchased for this trip, he found the increased weight mildly frustrating, the restrictions on his movement more so.
Once again, Wu Ying mentally cursed the fact that he knew no qinggong skills. Idly, Wu Ying wondered if the bracer he carried could perhaps be adjusted, even transformed, to store and expand chi to allow him to run lighter. An idle thought, since if it was possible, it would have to be done by a celestial designer and enchanter. And Wu Ying could not afford either.
All Wu Ying could do was run and cultivate, drawing in the chi from the surroundings to help refresh his body as he jogged behind the group. Beside Wu Ying, Tou He ran effortlessly, matching his friend’s pace as he looked about with a half-smile. Behind, a pair of porters, individuals tasked with carrying the sundry mundane items the Elders could not or would not carry in their storage rings, followed. They took the run with ease, long legs stretching into a li-eating lope. And right at the back, Chao Kun and a pair of other martial specialists watched the rear, wary of ambushes.
At first, Wu Ying just ran. The land around them was well-known and picked over, with little to interest a harvester or cultivator. Animals did make their way in occasionally, but for the most part, the land around them was well cared for in the way wilderness set next to civilization had a tendency to become. Still wild in some parts, but tended. Deer paths became well-worn trails, earth pounded down by the relentless trek of humanity. Occasionally Wu Ying caught glimpses of logging and harvesting, trees and vegetation taken when someone felt a particular need. If not for the sect’s desire to keep the land around them green, Wu Ying knew the forest here would have been bare.
For the first few hours, the world was normal and placid. At some point, as they made their way down the mountain and entered the valley in the mountain range, that changed. The first sign of the change was in the pathway they ran. The path, no longer ground under countless feet, became sparse, with newly broken vegetation by the the cultivators ahead of Wu
Ying.
Next was the change in the vegetation. The vegetation grew greener, more bountiful. Fed by rain and untouched by man, more of the trees grew higher and taller. Below, the undergrowth grew thinner, if no less lush, feeding off the sparse sunlight that filtered through the leaves.
Lastly, Wu Ying felt the change in the chi. The environmental chi around the sect was dense and plentiful, drawn from the surroundings and the dragon line which ran under the mountain range. The chi in the surrounding forest was nearly as plentiful, if rawer, more untamed. It was also, unlike the chi in the sect, more heavily aspected to wood, earth, and water. As Wu Ying ran, he noted how certain members of the expedition grew stronger, more carefree, and others slowed as their natural aspects struggled against the environment.
After long hours of running, the expedition finally came to a clearing. The porters broke away to the clearing center to set up a cooking fire and begin meal preparations. The Elders took seats away from the others, quietly conversing or cultivating. As Wu Ying caught his breath, Ru Ping walked up to the cultivator with a smile. One which changed as he closed on Wu Ying.
“Cultivating?” Ru Ping said, wrinkling his nose.
“Only way to keep up.” Wu Ying exhaled noisily through his nose. “You’re fast.”
“Well, of course.” Ru Ping shook his head. “Make sure to bathe each day.”
“Of course, Senior,” Wu Ying said, eyes narrowing. What kind of statement was that?
“Come. Elder Li wants us to take a quick survey of the forest. There might be something worth harvesting,” Ru Ping said, gesturing around them.
Wu Ying frowned. “Already?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, we’ll have protection,” Ru Ping said, indicating Chao Kun, who stood nearby.
“Very well.” Wu Ying sighed but followed. This was the reason he had come along, after all.
Forty minutes later, the pair returned, a few plants and some cuttings in hand. Elder Li inspected the plants then waved over them, making the lot disappear. She proceeded to do the same with the cuttings before sending the pair off to eat.
“I thought it was not possible to store live plants in storage rings?” Wu Ying said to Ru Ping as they collected the toasted bread.
“It’s not normally,” Ru Ping said. “But Elder Li has a mobile herb garden. That is where those plants are sent.”
Wu Ying’s jaw dropped. “A mobile garden? But doesn’t she still have to plant the herbs?”
Ru Ping shrugged, as uncertain about the peculiarities of the garden as Wu Ying. Rather than attempting to answer questions to which he had no answer, Ru Ping directed Wu Ying to finish his meal. “We have a long way to go.”
True to Ru Ping’s words, the expedition continued late into the day. Hours went by at a jog, punctuated by the occasional stops to deal with aggressive beasts. The first time it happened, Wu Ying did not even learn of the attack until he came across Tou He, bent over the corpse of their demon beast attackers, skinning and gutting the creatures.
By the time the group made camp that night, the expedition had had to deal with four fights, including one which involved all members of the expedition as they were attacked by giant flying ants. The creatures, arisen from a disturbed ant nest, had swarmed the expedition in search of biomass. Luckily, Elder Dong had launched a series of fire chi palm strikes, burning and destroying the ants’ delicate wings and allowing the hard-pressed expedition to deal with their attackers without significant injury.
Late that night, as Wu Ying returned from the temporary shower the group had created, Ru Ping intercepted the young cultivator. “There you are. Be ready in ten minutes. We should harvest additional herbs before the night grows too dark.”
“Are we going to do this every night?” Wu Ying said, frowning. Thus far, they had acquired some uncommon and rare herbs, but nothing of great value like their target.
“Of course. How do you think Elder Li intends to pay for this expedition?” Ru Ping said. “If you’re here, we might as well make full use of you.”
“Is this the reason you wanted me along? To harvest what we find as we travel?” Wu Ying said.
“Mostly,” Ru Ping said. “Elder Li will require a second pair of hands when she harvests the kurinji flowers. I will aid her, of course, but if there is an accident, it is best to have a spare.”
Wu Ying made a face he quickly hid from Ru Ping. To think, he had been threatened and abused because they needed a spare. Even after all this time, even to someone he thought was a friend, he was nothing more than an extra pair of convenient hands.
Ru Ping, either ignoring Wu Ying’s dissatisfaction or not seeing it, reiterated their timeline before walking off.
In short order, as Wu Ying sat near a fire, Li Yao arrived and sat beside him, offering Wu Ying a bowl of roasted peanuts.
“Thank you.” Wu Ying took the bowl and chewed on its contents.
“Why are you making such a sour face? Did you suck on something distasteful?”
Wu Ying flashed a smile at Li Yao before he sighed. “I’m just frustrated. It seems I’m here as nothing more than a mobile harvester.”
“And?” Li Yao said with a frown. “We’re being paid a princely sum in contribution points to be here.”
“It’s dangerous,” Wu Ying said, looking around.
“Bah. Big Winged Wood Ants are nothing,” Li Yao said, shaking her head. “And Senior Ge is here, as are the Elders. This is the safest expedition into these lands the sect has launched in years.”
“Still…”
“Cultivation—”
“Is not a safe activity,” Wu Ying finished the common saying. “I know. But this is the second year I’ve been in the sect, and the second year I’ve left it.”
“Don’t act as if you aren’t enjoying the run. Or the harvesting,” Li Yao said. “I saw your face on the journey. You were smiling and relaxed, more than I’ve ever seen you. Well, except when we’re not in the sect.”
“That’s because…” Wu Ying clamped his mouth shut. What he’d been about to say would be insulting to Li Yao. He was more relaxed because out here, there were no nobles. Or fewer. No random social constraints or rules he did not know. No snobby rich kids showing off the latest gift from their parents. Or jumping ahead in their cultivation because they had managed to buy the latest pill. No. Out here, even with the expedition, Wu Ying did not have to worry about those things.
“Because?”
“Nothing,” Wu Ying said.
Li Yao narrowed her eyes at Wu Ying, but he smiled back at her. She sniffed and stood, muttering something that sounded very much like a curse as she left Wu Ying alone with his nuts. Wu Ying rubbed his greasy fingers for a second, feeling the salt the peanuts had left, and watched Li Yao flounce away.
Still, Wu Ying had to admit, the snack and Li Yao’s reminder that he was out of the sect brightened his mood. Even if he was here, facing more danger than he would have liked, Wu Ying was still enjoying himself and earning a large number of contribution points.
Perhaps, as with all things, Wu Ying needed to adjust his mindset. And, he had to admit, probably get over himself. Even on the farm, there were often times he’d had to do things he disliked.
“Those are Purple Night Glow Mushrooms,” Ru Ping said as Wu Ying eyed the aptly-named fungus. Joined by Tou He and another pair of cultivators as guards, the harvesters were making their way through the surrounding forest. “Very poisonous if ingested. The frills under the cap are where the poison rest.”
“Are we harvesting it?” Wu Ying had never done so before, but he knew the basics and was already reaching for his gloves.
“In a way. Get a container, cut the mushrooms free, and scrape the frills completely. Be careful to not inhale any when you do so,” Ru Ping informed Wu Ying. “Leave the rest. The pill refiners have little use for the poison, but the physicians occasionally use it to burn off infections.”
Wu Ying bobbed his head before he pulled a cloth from his storage ring
, wet it, and wrapped it around his face. As Ru Ping moved away to harvest other flora, Wu Ying eyed the mushrooms and gauged the size of container he would need.
“Dangerous work,” Tou He said, having stayed by Wu Ying’s side. The monk had exchanged his quarterstaff for a pair of tong fas, preferring the shorter weapons for use in the forest.
“It can be,” Wu Ying admitted. Not surprisingly, many spiritual herbs had defense mechanisms. Sometimes, it was as simple as large and aggressive thorns. Most had more elaborate and dangerous protections. “Please back off. You don’t want to breath this in accidentally.”
“Yes, sir.” Tou He chuckled and moved away, letting his gaze roam over the surroundings.
Under the new moon and a cloudless sky, their greatest source of illumination were the lamps the group had brought. Of course, the illumination reduced their ability to notice potential threats, but the light was necessary for the harvesters to undertake their delicate work.
Harvesting knife in hand, Wu Ying sliced the stems of the mushrooms, pulling them off the dead tree they had grown upon. Wu Ying’s movements were slow but assured, each mushroom plucked and placed on the brown wax paper he had arranged before him. Wu Ying took the time to clear all the mushrooms before he moved to the next step. With a small metallic oval wire tool, Wu Ying positioned the mushrooms on the wax paper and scraped the frills clean before discarding the cleaned fungi. In short order, Wu Ying had a pile of yellow-green remnants which he deposited in a clay bottle with the aid of a wax paper funnel. Once he had capped the bottle, Wu Ying breathed easily at last.
“Now what?” Tou He said.
“We find Ru Ping and see what else he wants us to harvest,” Wu Ying said. For now, he would store the harvested material outside of his storage ring.
Together, the pair headed in the direction the other harvester had left in, Wu Ying’s head turning as he searched for more spirit herbs to collect.