Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior’s Path

by Johnson, M. H.

  The dazzling network of power grew so great, he feared his soul might shatter under the strain, which he was suddenly certain would have the real-world equivalent of igniting a quark bomb exactly the size of the heart pounding in his chest. The pressure only grew as the impossibly vast sea of untapped potency roaring through his soul slowly forged itself into first a fifth, and then a sixth massive cord, both of which Alex suspected were so vast and potent that they would be the envy of the gods above.

  Perhaps they were the envy of the gods. That might explain why they had been so eager to destroy him over who knew how many lifetimes.

  Painful? Yes. The sheer pressure of channeling so much potency that had been locked away so tightly for so long was so great, it had taken everything in him not to howl with the agony of his own forging.

  A howl that would have been as much triumph as agony when torment turned to sweetest relief and his mind finally cleared enough to glimpse his character sheet and appreciate just how far he had come.

  _____________________________________________________

  Alex Hammer

  Class – Cultivator: Disciple of the Dual Path (Unlimited potential. This is a Divine path.)

  Rank 6 Divine Bronze Cultivation Achieved

  Physical Characteristics

  Strength - Bronze Rank 5 (41) (Relentless Resolve is now recognized as a core element of your path.)

  Vitality - Bronze Rank 5 (41) (Eternal Resilience is now recognized as a core element of your path.)

  Quickness - Bronze Rank 4 (35) (Chaotic Unpredictability is now recognized as a core element of your path.)

  Finesse - Bronze Rank 4 (35) (Mastery of Oneself is now recognized as a core element of your path.)

  Spiritual Characteristics

  Scholarship - 14 (Exceeds 90% of Population.)

  Perception - 17 (Exceeds 99% of population.)

  Willpower - 19 (You have the resolve to walk in the Valley of Death and slip free of the River of Souls.)

  Qi Pool – Silver Rank 4 (140) (20 points reserved: Divine Soul Stone anchored. Note: forged and peripheral channels now enjoy added resiliency!)

  Health Points: 451

  Perks

  Insightful – Rank 2

  Charismatic – Rank 2

  Lesser Shadow Affinity - You can now see Shadow Qi! You have +5 to spot all those using Shadow to ambush or confuse you.

  Golden Apple of Wisdom consumed: Increased chance of cultivation breakthroughs.

  Favored Skills

  Golden Realms Kung Fu – Rank 6

  White Crane Kung Fu – Rank 7

  Silver Swan Kung Fu – Rank 6

  Poison Spitting – Rank 5

  Stealth – Rank 4

  Qi Disciplines

  Adderstrike – Rank 8

  Bullrush – Rank 7

  Black Swan (Soul Cleave) – Rank 6

  Dark Qi Projection – Rank 5

  Forest Flight – Rank 5

  Forest Sense - Rank 5

  Piercing Strike – Rank 3

  Qi Absorption – Rank 5

  Qi Deflection – Rank 1

  Qi Flood – Rank 2

  Spirit Crane Strike – Rank 6

  Storm Flight – Rank 5

  Storm Strike – Rank 1

  Summon Portal – Rank 3 (10)

  Water Walking (Soul Stride) – Rank 6

  Qi Perception Linked Disciplines

  Artificer - Rank 6

  Find Weakness – Rank 5

  Qi Perception – Rank 7

  Soul Sight – Rank 5

  Spiritual Teacher (Spiritual Student) – Rank 6

  Elemental Strikes & Counters learned at Royal Phoenix Academy

  Flame Fist – Rank 4

  Fire Shield – Rank 4

  Oak Strike – Rank 5

  Thorn Shield – Rank 5

  Shield of the Grove – Rank 2

  Stone Fist – Rank 5

  Avalanche – Rank 3

  Earthen Shield – Rank 4

  Water Strike – Rank 5

  Water Shield – Rank 5

  Favored Body Cultivation Technique:

  The Eternal Fox Unified Cultivation Technique – Rank 12

  _____________________________________________________

  40

  Alex jolted awake with a gasp, momentarily caught off guard by the changes in his body. He felt both drained and incredibly refreshed, his clothes momentarily tight around muscles he didn't recall being quite so big... before seeming to stretch and shift just enough that the ancient attire fit him perfectly once more. But the added definition to his chest and arms was quite apparent, even beneath his once more comfortably fitting changshan shirt.

  If nothing else, the path of cultivation was certainly doing wonders for his physical well-being, and, save for momentary dizziness that was quickly overcome after chugging down a liter's worth of water, he had never felt quite so in tune with his body as he did at that moment, his movements now perfectly coordinated, feeling more centered in body and mind than ever before.

  And he couldn't help but shake his head in wonder, absently rubbing his brass ring.

  For all his promises to himself to keep alert and at least partially attuned to his surroundings, when it had come time for him to ascend, he had been completely lost in his pursuit of perfection, utterly vulnerable to any hostile force that might have come his way.

  Thankfully, none had.

  He took a deep breath and stretched, still not sure exactly how long he had been caught up in the rapture of his breakthrough, though his aching bladder and quick use of the facilities provided made it clear that it hadn't been a matter of hours.

  Inasmuch as the time had stretched for an eternity, it had simultaneously passed in the blink of an eye.

  Taking a deep breath, he gathered together his books and notes, ate some of the rations Liqin had been kind enough to prepare, and flipped over the lever, effectively negating his ‘do not disturb’ sign.

  Despite his Qi Perception, Alex was honestly surprised to receive a tentative knock in less than a minute from none other than a very worried-looking Liqin, whose features immediately brightened in a delighted smile.

  "Alex! You're fine! I mean, of course are. But I was a bit, well… worried. So I did tell an acquaintance to let me know if... but you look fine!" She blinked, a slow smile spreading over her features as soft fingertips brushed the fabric of his changshan tunic. "I mean, more than fine. You must have put on ten pounds of muscle in the week you were cultivating! How much did you eat?"

  Alex blinked at that. "Wait, I was out for a week?"

  "Of course? Wait, you didn't... wow, you really were lost in your breakthrough!"

  Alex chuckled softly as she continued to brush her fingers against his chest and squeeze his arm. "Liqin..."

  She flushed. "Sorry."

  "Not a problem. Believe me, in another time and place..."

  "You'd slam shut that door and let me show you what a real woman can do to the man of her dreams?"

  Alex flushed, because she was more right than he’d like to admit, but his friend laughed off her own words as she hooked the door with her foot and slammed it shut before presenting a crock of chicken and rice stew.

  "Here, eat up. You must be famished. And with all that delicious muscle you've gained... best you take care of it!"

  With a grateful nod he happily dug in, absolutely devouring Liqin’s scrumptious repast before flashing an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry; I didn't think I was that hungry, and I didn't even offer to share..."

  But Liqin was just gaping at him with something close to awe. "Alex?"

  "Um, yes?" he said, noting that the door was indeed securely shut, which was probably for the best, considering that he had entered this room under a researcher's pretext. But the way his friend was looking at him... just as hungrily as he had looked at the stew presently filling his belly.

  "Alex, for a second there, I think you were moving as fast as me."

  Alex coul
dn't help grinning at that. "Wouldn't that be something?"

  She barked a laugh, but her eyes were now hungry for something more than him. "Alex, I don't suppose you can tell me about the path you walk?"

  He raised his eyebrows. "But what about all your earlier protestations that we are what we are, and there's not much we can do but follow our destined path?"

  He chuckled softly at her suddenly crestfallen expression before his gaze turned serious.

  "Of course I'd be happy to teach you what I can, Liqin. You know that. But I think what would come easiest for you are the schools of kung fu which I'm striving to master, two of which I think you'd find very useful. However, you've already made it clear that that's not something you're comfortable pursuing right now."

  She frowned, biting her lip. "I... you're right. I was just rereading the fables I shared with you when last we spoke, so... let's hold off on kung fu for now." She gave a helpless little laugh. "But whatever it is that you're doing to grow faster and stronger, and just all around ever more delicious... that's not something you can teach a Water girl with a love for cooking and an affinity for speed, is it?"

  Alex smiled sadly, shaking his head in apology. "I'm afraid not, Liqin. There are some things I think I can teach you—very, very useful things—but forging a Water-based technique that would incorporate all of my strengths? My Spiritual Teacher skill isn't nearly high enough to manage such a feat. And honestly, I think I'll need years, if not decades, of study before I can do anything like that." He gave a rueful chuckle. "Right now, I'm still just trying to find my own way forward."

  Liqin sighed, flashing a forlorn smile. "I figured as much. Now, how about we get you back to the Aspirant's Quarter?" Her expression turned pained. "It's been a long week, Alex. And things have... well... best you get back there and get in good with your masters while you can."

  Alex blinked, a cold chill racing down his spine.

  "Liqin?"

  "They're increasing the pace of their training, Alex. Mandatory assignments are now being enforced for everyone below Silver." Her gaze turned pained. "The headmaster visited all of the quarters the other day. As to the threats I overheard? I don't even want to say the words aloud."

  She shuddered and shook her head. Alex felt a cold chill with her next words. "I'm surprised he didn't kill me when he caught my gaze. Damn good thing Sudong loves my cooking." With a start, he realized he had been peering too intently into her frightened eyes, and she hadn't said a thing.

  She flushed beet red. "And here I am, at such a loss for words that I'm just staring at the one boy in the entire school that I have absolutely no chance of winning over." She chuckled ruefully, and the awful weight of foreboding instantly lightened. "Sorry, Alex. I'm probably worrying you over nothing. Maybe the headmaster just wants to make a good impression on the royalty who will be attending our school next season. Well, anyway, let's get you back where you belong before anyone else tries to break into your pagoda."

  Alex started at this, feeling a growing sense of alarm.

  "Don’t worry, it's intact. I checked. I think someone was claiming that since you fled, whatever you left behind was now free for anyone bold enough to take it." She flashed an arch smile. "Obviously, the door he tried to break in disagrees."

  Alex smirked at that, but he couldn't completely hide his growing anxiety. "Best we head back to the Aspirant's Quarter, then."

  Then he frowned. “But what about the books? What if the librarian on duty fails to put it away or steals them?”

  “Librarian’s oath, of course. ‘No librarian may willfully misfile, destroy, deface, or misappropriate library property.’ And if word got out that a deep Silver renter was falsely accused of stealing books… can you imagine the mess this would cause if suspicious cultivators are forever following the librarians, yelling at them not to try anything funny? All would be discord and chaos, the smooth flow of study and information effectively ruined. The head librarian would happily flay the culprit alive for that offense!”

  Alex grinned. “That’s all I needed to hear.” He wasted no further time, quickly gathering his notes and journals, then dashed out the door just before the noon bell rang.

  Liqin flashed a wicked smile as the noon bell muffled the room’s own parting song. “There’s no way anyone heard that, or expected you to leave. Now put on this robe and follow me!”

  She then darted around the corner in the blink of an eye, and before the disinterested guardians beside the gate at the end of the hall could do more than raise their brows, Liqin was already chatting them up and slipping them what looked like a small wicker basket filled with rice cakes for all their hard work, before waving farewell while scooting a hunched-over Alex down the stairs and through a side corridor. He soon found himself in a warren of side passages parallel to, but only occasionally intersecting, the main halls of the grand library, and then, with nothing more than a nod and a smile for a yawning guardian, Liqin proceeded to guide him down a tunnel that appeared to lead right under the edifice itself.

  The guardian’s idle smile, however, faded as she caught sight of Alex.

  “Why is he going with you, Liqin?”

  A smiling Liqin’s head popped right back out of the shadowy passage.

  “Oh, I’m helping him dodge some rather hungry Spirit Wolves lounging around, waiting for students too lost in their thoughts to guard their backs. Besides, considering what’s waiting for him outside? I think he finally sees where he belongs.”

  This earned a wry smirk from the Silver guardian, whose ageless features could have belonged to a woman of twenty-five, or two hundred and fifty. “Alright. For you, Liqin.” She peered intently at Alex for long moments, as if taking his measure. “You wouldn’t happen to be carrying any library property on you, would you, Ruidian?”

  Alex solemnly shook his head. “Nothing that wasn’t given to me, I can promise you that.”

  She grinned. “Considering the cost of breaking oaths around here? I’ll take you at your word. And if you’re smart, Ruidian, you might think about staying in the servant’s passages for longer than a single trip. Maybe for the next few years. Might be much healthier for someone who sticks out as much as you do.”

  “She is right, you know,” Liqin teased several minutes later as they made their way down the otherwise empty corridor, the overlapping wards protecting the library bypassed with a single trip down a servant’s passage. “Life is far safer, and sweeter, for servants than most cultivators struggling topside realize.”

  Alex smiled but said nothing, just focusing on their environment as they made their way down the winding maze of servant’s corridors that truly did run underneath the entire academy, it seemed. Alex’s senses focused to hyper-alertness whenever another presence pinged upon his Qi Perception, but his flinches and clenched fists were for nothing as they met only harried-looking servants quickly passing them by.

  “I swear, Alex, you’re so jumpy down here, it defies belief! I’m telling you, this is the safest part of the entire school!" Her gaze grew troubled. "Even with our unexpected guests." She then gave a reassuring squeeze of his hand. "Especially down the passages I take you."

  Alex winced. “If this were a game, you would have just triggered a dozen red flags.” He laughed at her flummoxed expression. “It’s alright. I know it’s far safer down here than it is topside, and frankly, I’m grateful that you’re even showing me this route," he assured, now finding it absolutely effortless to keep up with his friend, and beyond grateful that his breakthrough had gone so well. Of course, the admiring glances Liqin kept shooting his way made it clear that she had also noted that aspect of his transformation, though mostly her gaze was chest high on him. So he purposely flexed and winked, laughing at her sudden mischievous smile.

  "You sure you can't cheat even once, Alex? I won't tell your cultivation base if you won't."

  Alex laughed at that. "I don’t suppose you have any ideas about what kinds of things the tunnel library guards
would accept as a fair bribe for stress-free access?”

  Liqin smirked, handing him several red bean paste buns. “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about. That’s the route taken by all servants who’ve earned sufficient privileges and credits to make use of the library, after Father or I introduce them to the guardians on duty, of course, with the understanding that they only make use of the library well after nightfall. Either that, or they go ridiculously early in the morning. And the snacks aren’t even a bribe, anymore than the sweet rice cakes I always give to the Silver tier guardians who were guarding your floor earlier, because I know what a pain in the rear their guests can be. It’s just my way of showing that I care. And if they’re nice enough to look the other way when I sneak my lover back into the servant’s quarters after we took advantage of an empty room and a spectacular view like we did today...” she winked and laughed. “You get the picture.”

  Alex laughed at that, both grateful for Liqin’s ability to make friends, and to think on her feet. If nothing else, at least now he knew the servant’s protocols for slipping into the library after-hours in their own quest to improve their cultivation bases. He doubted he'd be able to make much use of it, but one never knew.

  "Alright, Alex. Now that you're finally able to keep up with me, let's see how far we can push you."

  "You're on," he said, and Liqin seemed almost to disappear with a laugh as she broke into a sprint down what was otherwise an empty stretch of corridor. Alex gamely raced at her heels, and within moments, the pair found themselves topside again, shrouded in the shadows of the pavilion which lay behind them. They had emerged via a servant’s entrance into the grand building, from which the sound of bamboo sticks clashing and the muffled cry of students clearly indicated a sparring match taking place.

  Liqin flashed a breathless smile. "And I still beat you."

  Alex laughed. "That you did! Probably because your Quickness is Bronze Rank 5. Or maybe even Rank 6, because your specialization lets you transcend typical limits."