by Tao Wong
Wu Ying’s chi was turbulent, unstructured, and dispersed through his body from the infection. Even the brief moment he had taken to reorganize his mind and meditate had allowed Wu Ying to gather a little in his lower dantian. But it was insufficient for his purposes. If he were to break open a meridian, he needed to harness significantly more chi.
The Meridian Opening Pill that he swallowed had, at first, a cooling effect on his body, clearing his mind. Taking the opportunity presented, Wu Ying directed more of his chi into his dantian, concentrating the gathered energy further. A change in the pill startled Wu Ying, the body of the pill growing warm now as it sat in his stomach. As it dissolved, pulses of energy were sent out through his meridians, rushing through his body. Rather than a comfortable warmth, the heat was like live coals under his skin, the energy a raging thunder compared to the gentle flow of his own chi.
Grunting, Wu Ying pulled at the energy, attempting to corral it around his dantian. He focused on channeling the energy, driving it around his meridians, where it cleansed and opened blockages, flooding back into his dantian where he focused it in a swirling ball of chaos. Of course, it was impossible for any human to have any of their meridians actually closed—but there was a difference between the fully cleansed, open meridians of a cultivator and a normal human. This process of cleansing was taxing on the body, however, and as such, it was often taken in slow increments. Typically, a Meridian Cleansing Pill was only taken when one was fully healed, for the risks otherwise were too great.
In this case, Wu Ying had had no choice. Done right, the cleansing process would drive the infection out in his sweat and, yes, his puke, snot, and potentially blood. Holding on to that truth, Wu Ying focused his mind through the pain, through the constant and ever-increasing surges of chi the pill provided him. He channeled all he could through his dantian, sending the chi into a spiraling ball of energy. Finally, when Wu Ying could hold on no longer, he guided the energy to the first of his uncleansed meridians.
On the outside, Wu Ying was trembling uncontrollably, his body flinching and twitching as the energy from the pill coursed through his meridians unceasingly. Eyelids twitched, his hair shook, and even his toes clenched and released uncontrollably. Black blood slowly escaped Wu Ying’s skin, only to run down his body as it mixed with foul-smelling sweat. But through all that, Wu Ying’s breathing stayed consistent as he worked to regulate his chi. In a corner of the medicine tent, unseen by others, Fa Yuan watched.
Finally, Wu Ying could no longer hold on to the ball of chi within his stomach. Like every other Body Cleanser in the Yellow Emperor’s Style, he had cleansed his lung and then heart meridians. Now, he reached inward and pushed the energy along the next meridian, the pericardium[7] meridian. The flood of power that coursed through his body wrapped around the muscle and tissue that protected his heart. The flood of faint yin energy as well as the fire element hosted within the pericardium helped to cleanse him further. But as his chi passed through his meridian toward his hand, he felt the pain of blockages being blown away by the sheer power of it.
Each exhalation led to a groan, each inhalation a second of release from the encompassing pain. Again and again, energy flooded his body, cleansing it of the infection, of the built-up impurities of life. The borrowed energy pushed his cultivation at an astounding rate, but his formerly strong body’s stored energy was used as well, thinning out the once-muscular peasant. In time, Wu Ying felt the difference, the ease that the chi flowed. But the energy from the pill had yet to subside. Without a choice, Wu Ying moved on to the next meridian, the kidney meridian. Even as his body flagged and his will ached, he pushed on. To give up now would be the end of it all.
Hours passed before Wu Ying came to. When he did, he found himself drenched in a sticky black substance, his clothing and hair so foul he struggled not to retch. In fact, around him, Wu Ying realized, was a gap, as even the gravely injured had been moved away from his bed. Yet for the first time in days, Wu Ying felt clear-headed, though extremely weak.
“Ah! You are done,” the doctor said, smiling. “Good. Get washed. Outside please.”
Wu Ying complied with the doctor’s orders, helped along by an unhappy attendant. As he washed himself in the provided barrel of water, as the gunk from his cultivation slowly peeled off his body through repeated scrubbing, Wu Ying could not help but marvel at his body. Even though he felt weaker and hungrier than ever before, his senses were sharper, his proprioception—his sense of his own body and balance—better than ever. And as weak as he felt, Wu Ying could not help but note that he was able to stand and clean himself without the help of the attendant. Even if it did require a significant number of rests on the convenient footstool.
When he finally returned, Wu Ying was grateful to note that his bedding had been exchanged for something cleaner. Thankfully, someone had dropped off the clothing he had brought with him, so Wu Ying had a set of clothes to wear. Even his frugal nature could not stand to wash and wear the thoroughly soiled clothing he had cultivated in. It was much better off as fuel for the watch fire.
“Eat!” the doctor ordered Wu Ying, pointing at the piles of food set on his bed.
When Wu Ying moved to speak, the doctor shook his head and pointed at the food. As his stomach growled, Wu Ying could not help but agree to the doctor’s suggestion, digging into the food.
“Is good!” Wu Ying commented around a mouthful.
The doctor, having come back to check on Wu Ying, smiled slightly. In truth, Wu Ying knew the taste had as much to do with his hunger and his expanded senses as the cooking skill of the chef. But still, it tasted like heaven itself after days of bland broth and porridge.
“When you are done, pack your things. As you are no longer sick, we need your bed back,” the doctor ordered.
“Thank you for your care,” Wu Ying said, bowing to the doctor around a mouthful.
The doctor waved the words away and gave Wu Ying directions to not only his squad but his benefactor. Wu Ying left quickly, debating what to do as he hurried into the camp. In the end, Wu Ying decided to see Zhao Wan first. Better to speak with the Elder and not let him wait. From the way the general had acted, Wu Ying knew that the Elder was significantly more important than anyone in his squad.
It did not take him long to find the tent. Unlike the tents of the army, this one was colorful and bright. After announcing himself and being invited in, Wu Ying stepped into the opulent tent. The duo from the Verdant Green Waters Sect were seated in chairs around a tea table. Both turned to stare at Wu Ying as he entered, their gaze raking over his form.
“Fourth level?” Yang Fa Yuan said.
“Fifth,” Zhao Wan corrected.
“Not bad,” Fa Yuan said.
“You saw through my cultivation already?” Wu Ying said with a blink. At the Body Cleansing stage, each growth in cultivation was small, its external effects minor. To see through his cultivation in so short a time, their eye of discernment must have been significantly higher than anyone Wu Ying had ever met.
“Of course,” Elder Cheng said. “It seems you have taken full advantage of the opportunity presented. In that case, I shall present you another opportunity. Join the Verdant Green Waters Sect as an outer sect member.”
For a moment, Wu Ying could not believe what he had heard. In a large sect like the Verdant Green Waters, disciples were split into numerous levels. Someone joining the sect would either be a direct, core, inner, or outer disciple, with varying benefits given to disciples at each level. As the largest sect in the kingdom, even an outer disciple of the Verdant Green Waters held a higher status than a regular inner disciple in any other sect in the kingdom. It was rumored that the benefits offered to outer sect members put other sects to shame. If he worked hard, Wu Ying might even become an inner disciple and be given a chance to learn the core teachings of the sect.
But…
“I thank you for the offer, Elder Cheng,” Wu Ying said, bowing with gratitude. The truth was, the offer w
as better than anything a simple farmer’s son could ever expect to receive, no matter their past lineage. The offer was so much more that Wu Ying did not even know how to react.
“Are you not going to accept Tai Kor Cheng’s offer?” Yang Fa Yuan said angrily.
Wu Ying could not help but wince at her tone. Not accepting immediately was certainly an insult to Elder Cheng. But…
“I have never considered being a true cultivator,” Wu Ying said, bowing slightly. “It is not something that was ever an option. And I have a mother and father, a farmland…”
When Fa Yuan opened her mouth, Zhao Wan raised his hand, stilling further words of condemnation. “It is good that he is considering it slowly. Once you enter the martial arts world, the world of cultivation, there is no turning back. Our lives are filled with both opportunity and danger, as you well know, Little Yang.”
Fa Yuan sniffed but quieted down.
“Thank you, Elder,” Wu Ying said.
“Go back to your squad. Think about the matter. If you decide to join us, speak with Little Yang again. I have to leave soon, but she will take you to the sect.” Elder Cheng waved, an obvious dismissal that Wu Ying took with grace, bowing as he left, his head spinning.
Him? A cultivator? The Heaven sure had an amusing sense of humor.
It did not take Wu Ying long to find his squad. It only cost him a few questions to better-oriented soldiers. When he found the squad, his eyes widened to see that many were cleaning and caring for weapons and armor that obviously had recently seen use. Spotting his big friend among the other conscripts was easy.
“What happened?” Wu Ying said to Fa Hui when he managed to make his way over.
“Wu Ying. You’re alive!” Fa Hui exclaimed with good cheer, standing and clapping Wu Ying on the shoulder. “I’m so glad.”
“As am I. But what happened to you all? Were you in the battle?” Wu Ying said.
Well, perhaps he shouldn’t have been that surprised. After all, the entire army had clashed but a day ago. Still, to add untested and untrained conscripts to the fight seemed foolhardy. And certainly not something the army would normally do, if his father’s stories were to be trusted.
“We were!” Fa Hui said with a grin. “At first we were placed with the reserves. But about halfway through the day, a lot of our reserves were sent back to the camp to deal with a disturbance there. Soon after that, the army of Wei pushed our lines hard and even managed to break through!
“Of course, they sent us in then, along with the Elder from the Verdant Green Waters Sect. You should have seen Elder Pang when he fought! One slice of his blade and dozens of soldiers fell. Those cowards from Wei would have run if it wasn’t for the Elder from the Six Jade Gates Sect showing up.”
“Rubbish. It was only a dozen with each strike,” Sun An said, peering closely at Wu Ying with a puzzled look in his eyes.
“Then?” Wu Ying said as he prodded Fa Hui to continue his talk.
“Well, after that, Elder Pang and the Wei Elder fought above us, running along our shoulders and striking at one another with their swords. Not that I had much time to see them fight —we had to push them back ourselves,” Fa Hui said. Fa Hui then proceeded to regale Wu Ying with tales of the fight, of the chaotic scene that accompanied the push of the spears as each army attempted to shove the other back. In the end though, even Fa Hui ran out of ways of saying things were chaotic, bloody and deadly. “I hate to say it, but Yin Xue was actually quite brave. He charged the Wei Elder and managed to exchange a single blow with him. It allowed Elder Pang to launch an attack that the Wei Elder could not block, injuring him. After that, the Wei coward ran off and we pushed the army back.”
Sun An snorted. “Brave or idiotic? If his horse had not balked, he would have lost his head. As it was, he’s lucky all he received was a cut across his chest.”
“That kind of luck, I would take. Elder Pang was so grateful, he even offered Yin Xue a chance to join the sect as an outer discipline!” Fa Hui said.
“Him too?” Wu Ying muttered.
At the exclamation of shock from his friends, Wu Ying found himself having to explain what had happened to him over the past few weeks. Luckily, it did not take long for him to relate his side of the story.
“And you turned the Elder down?” Fa Hui said, shocked.
“I didn’t turn him down,” Wu Ying said defensively. “But my parents—”
“Would understand. You are being offered the chance to become a cultivator! To gain immortality, or at least a long life. And if you become an inner disciple, you could easily pay for extra help for your father,” Fa Hui said. “You cannot be hesitating over them!”
“I can,” Wu Ying said. “They are getting old. And you know my father cannot work that long in the fields. I do most of the work as it stands. And it’s only an offer to be an outer disciple.”
“But you could still afford to send something back to help, could you not?” Sun An said. “I hear that even outer disciples receive three taels of silver a month. On top of not having to feed or house themselves.”
Wu Ying could only nod in agreement. When Fa Hui prodded him, literally, Wu Ying shook his head and stood. “I best report in to the sergeant. I’m sure he has something more to say to me. Perhaps with the fight over, we’ll be sent back?”
“You’re funny,” Sun An said, smirking.
Wu Ying could only offer a wry grin. They all knew that this was but a skirmish. The war had dragged on for years. It was unlikely that it would end over a single fight.
As Wu Ying reported in to the sergeant—and received latrine duty for his lack of participation in the earlier battle as punishment—he found himself wondering what, exactly, had him hesitating. Sure, life as a cultivator was significantly more dangerous. Everyone had heard about the fights between sects, the constant battles between cultivators as they searched for spiritual herbs, for weapons, for cultivation manuals. Of the feuds that grew between individuals.
Was it fear? Wu Ying dug into himself and the latrine, cleaning the sides and moving the refuse to the wheelbarrow, where another unfortunate would take the fertilizer to be deposited elsewhere. No, Wu Ying decided, it was not fear. It was uncertainty and the unknown. All his life, he had known what would happen. Even being conscripted had not been particularly surprising. He knew what to do in the army, or what was expected of him at least. Life as a peasant might have been boring, but it was predictable. The calamities they faced were pedestrian, common.
But a cultivator? That future was more uncertain. What would he do with a hundred, two hundred years of life? With the strength to fight a dozen men? With the respect of others? For the first time, Wu Ying found that his horizons did not end at the back of an ox or behind a plough. Perhaps…
Perhaps that was enough. A chance. An opportunity for something more. Something better. It was not a declaration of wanting to become the number one under heaven. Or gaining immortality like one of the eight immortals of Daoism. But it was all he had. And for a farmer’s son, it was enough.
For now at least.
Chapter 5
The next morning, Yang Fa Yuan was waiting for him at the exit to the camps. After completing all his tasks yesterday, Wu Ying had returned to inform them of his decision. After brief greetings, the pair joined up with the rest of the individuals who had been chosen to join the sect—a sparse four others who waited beside the gates with their horses. Wu Ying had to admit, if nothing else, the look of astonishment and doubt that Yin Xue shot him when he arrived with Fairy Yang made his initial doubts about his choice seem trivial. Already this new life was paying out.
“Come. We will go to Er-cheng, where we will take the boat the rest of the way.” With that said, Fairy Yang led the group to the edge of the camp. At the road, she turned her head toward the group and said simply, “If you fall behind, you fail.”
Having passed on her ultimatum, Fa Yuan mounted her horse and set it to a slow trot. Each step of her horse took her farther
from the startled initiates, before Wu Ying woke himself up from his surprise and took off jogging. Immediately, the rest of the group followed, though Wu Ying knew that this was an unfair challenge. As the only one with humble beginnings, he was also the only one on foot.
Once Wu Ying had caught up, he slowed down to keep pace with Fairy Yang while silently marveling at the chi coursing through his body. A significant amount of food and a good night’s sleep seemed to have restored his body to a state that was even better than before. Moreover, Wu Ying knew that he was still not at his peak state either. Given more time and sufficient food, he would be able to reach heights he had never known.
With those thoughts, Wu Ying ran alongside Fairy Yang. Occasionally he glanced over to see the back and side of the young woman escorting them and noted how no matter how far they had gone, neither her clothing nor her physique was stained with sweat or dust. It was partly the visage of the curves of her body, pressed tight by the wind of their passage, that drove him on. Not that he ever had a chance with such an august personage, but he would not be a man if he didn’t admire her form.
“How are you able to keep up?” Yin Xue said with a frown, looking down at Wu Ying, who continued to run alongside them even after they had crossed a number of li.
“Good eating,” Wu Ying said with a flash of a smile.
He then ignored Yin Xue, trying to focus on his breathing as he ran. Running, in truth, was not something he had much experience with, beyond races around the village among his friends. All of which Fa Hui had won. Long distance running like this was a different game altogether, and his initial surge of enthusiasm waned as the li went by, replaced only by the stubbornness that lay in his core. He refused to fall back, not now that he had chosen to go down this path.