Cai Gen shrugged. “I didn’t hire him at all. Pure serendipity, actually. He came along at just the right time to help us finish off a group of rather annoying bandits.” He said this with a chuckle, though his eyes were hard. “Put the word out, will you? The slavers are stalking the ley lines once more.”
The guard’s eyes hardened. “Lord Wan Duan will not be happy to hear about that.”
“Good. The sooner those bastards are put down, the better.”
Shi Hong peered thoughtfully at Alex. “What’s your specialization, Ruidian?”
Alex blinked. “I apologize, honored sir. I’m not sure I understand the question.”
The guard frowned. “What’s your elemental affinity? The color of your gem?”
“None, I’m afraid. My strength, I guess you could say, is with arms, not gem magic.”
“Ah. Pity. The Jianghu Defender’s Association is always looking for talented Ruidians actually willing to venture beyond their communes. Plenty of coin to be made hunting down herbs, spirit beasts, or slavers.” He said the last with a pointed look Cai Gen’s way.
Alex blinked. “Jianghu Defenders?”
Cai Gen chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll explain it all to him. May your shifts be as quiet and peaceful as you could hope for, Shi Hong.”
The guard smiled. “And may your trades be profitable and your kin find powerful husbands and fertile wives.”
The pair exchanged nods before the farmer led their caravan through the gate.
Alex felt a chill racing down his spine as he looked up at the massive open portcullis they were now passing under. He could just imagine the rattling sound of the spiked metal latticed grille crashing down upon any wagon unlucky enough to cross at just the wrong moment.
He feared neither tunnels, nor heights, but that massive, imposing structure that reminded him so much of an open maw in a stone golem actually left him feeling more than a bit uncomfortable. He was halfway tempted to spring right out the wagon before being brought to his senses by Cai Gen.
“Do enclosed spaces make you uncomfortable, Alex?”
Alex grinned. “Nope. I just don’t like being under several tons of steel capped gates that could probably slice an elephant in half, just one strained rope from crashing down on top of us.”
The older man’s eyes twinkled. “Yet, somehow, I get the feeling you’re one fellow that gate would never touch.”
Alex shrugged. “I still hate riding under it.”
The man gave a thoughtful nod as they came out the other side, and Alex was inundated by the sudden crowd of bustling men and women before them, wearing the entire gamut of attire from changshans and qipaos to robes of linen and silk to shirts and pants of dyed cotton that looked almost western, every color under the sun on display. Many of the merchants and laborers were wiping sweat off their brows or dabbing it off with cotton handkerchiefs on what was a rather warm day with the full glare of the midday sun beating down upon them, little shade being offered by the buildings nearby.
Alex’s nostrils flared at the enticing scents of a dozen different food stalls nearby, all strategically set up along the main thoroughfare they now rode along to catch the eyes and noses of hungry townsfolk and even hungrier visitors who might have gone quite a ways since their last proper meal.
Alex’s stomach rumbled at the sights and smells of roasting duck, pork, and numerous other meats, flashing a pleased smile as an enterprising fellow caught his gaze and immediately headed their way with skewers of meat and a basket filled with red bean buns as well.
Cai Gen flipped the man a fat copper and received several skewers and buns, passing an almost embarrassed Alex one of each before digging in himself. “A good, tasty way to mark the end of the first leg of our journey, no?”
Alex couldn’t help but smile and nod, mouth full of sweet and savory meat and delicious bun, washing it all down with a flask of watered rice wine Cai Gen passed him.
“Normally I’ll allow my clan a meal or two at the inn, but we prefer not to eat all our profits, and so just snack upon some of the fare we brought. Still, a skewer and a bun are small enough prizes for our clan’s official hero.”
Alex couldn’t help grinning at that, knowing his helm hid most of his flush.
Cai Gen tilted his head curiously. “I do find one thing intriguing.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, traveling underneath the bowers of the forest, who comforts with fruit and shade as readily as she destroys the foolish is one thing. But ever since we crossed the river, we’ve been exposed to the glaring mistress overhead without surcease. I’m surprised not to see you loosen the straps of your armor, or at least that overly-padded excuse for a helmet soldiers so love to wear, now that we are most assuredly out of harm’s way.”
Alex winced, realizing that both his borderline inhuman vitality and Rank 9 Eternal Fox meant that he was a bit more inured to the elements than was normal. He frowned, now realizing he couldn’t remember the last time shifts in the weather had phased him. And he guessed that made perfect sense.
Since his Dark Qi metabolism had developed to the point that he could efficiently channel the entropic buildup of excess heat back into ordered energy that would supercharge his cells via Power Healing, even to the point where he could minimize the natural decay of aging and restore his cells to a pristine state of health, that meant he was now probably all but immune to temperature extremes. Within reason.
Of course, the shock of instant temperature shifts was a different matter entirely. A ball of fire or a whip of flame would burn him like anyone else, even if his Energy Absorption skill meant he wouldn’t burn quite as badly as most would.
Still, in the heart of a city, and this definitely was a city to his mind, catching sight of numerous flat-roofed three-story buildings on either side of the wide central thoroughfare, it was probably a better idea to blend in than not.
He took off his helmet, miming putting it in his bag as he plopped it safely away in storage before pulling out a thin white silken jacket, one of the corrupt merchant’s many items now in Alex’s ring which he really should categorize one day. Though made for a bulkier person, it fit over his lamellar armor quite well.
Alex smiled. “Just like wearing a tabard. White reflects light, so I feel better already.”
The farmer quirked an eyebrow as if to say Alex looked mildly ridiculous and wasn’t fooling anyone, but he wasn’t going to belabor the point, both of them ignoring the constant stream of eager-looking hawkers approaching the wagons with hungry grins and various and sundry to sell.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, Alex, now that you’re here, what are your plans?”
Alex frowned thoughtfully at that. “To be honest, I... hadn’t even given it much thought,” he said, forced to acknowledge that he had just been living in the moment. Of course, he knew what his ultimate goal was, forging an eight-element dual path cultivation technique, and acquiring the resources needed to do just that.
Though ultimately he intended to travel to Baidushi, the capital of the entire province, at the moment he wasn’t looking forward to trying to crack his way inside yet another major Academy, only to face the same challenges and hardships that had made Dragon Academy both a fantastic proving grounds and a nightmare, facilitating his breakthrough to Bronze, yet leaving him absolutely no better off in terms of classical cycling techniques.
What he needed right now, he supposed, were cultivation manuals. As many different ones for as many different combinations of elements as he could get his hands on. Hopefully, if he was lucky, it would be enough for him devise a cycling technique perfectly suited for himself. And considering how much his kind was despised in Yidushi, perhaps he’d have much better luck finding what he needed by avoiding the major cities altogether.
Alex gazed thoughtfully at the farmer who was obviously far more than that, carefully weighing his options, finally deciding that nothing ventured, nothing gained. “I don’t suppose you k
now where or how I could possibly get my hands on cultivation manuals?”
The farmer blinked, both their voices soft as their caravan sedately made its way to the quarter of the city smelling of hay, manure, and livestock, the bustle of people soon replaced by the bleats of livestock and the neighs and nickers of a thousand different mounts.
Cai Gen gazed at Alex for long, thoughtful moments. “Are you a cultivator, Alex?”
Slowly, Alex nodded.
His host flashed a sudden fierce smile. “Oh, how they must have loved you when you dared the academy.” He chuckled, slowly shaking his head. “For you to even be here, among the living, after enduring that pit of hell… I can only guess you’re a heck of a lot more powerful than the average Basic cultivator. Not that I need to guess, seeing how easily you tore through those bastards who almost butchered my family.” His eyes twinkled. “Well do I recall how you butchered that Bronze, moving so fast not a single one of his vile axes could touch you.”
He gave a satisfied nod. “I’m guessing anyone stupid enough to mock or underestimate you got put in their place quick enough.”
Alex swallowed, lowering his gaze. A little bit shaken by just how perceptive this man truly was.
He didn’t jerk as his host gave another powerful clap on his shoulder that Alex felt right through his armor. Far stronger than a typical farmer should be capable of. “Not that I’m going to tell a soul about business that’s not my own. Besides, I’m guessing in the end, no matter how well you fought, you couldn’t win against an entire school eager to see you fall. You were smart to leave when you did, lad, however strong you might be now, or had hoped to become. The fact that your cultivation base is still intact tells me you made the right choice, as far as I’m concerned.”
Alex forced a smile, ignoring the twisting in his gut under this man’s too perceptive gaze. “Especially since it led to me being right where I was most needed on that road.”
The farmer gave a slow nod. “Interesting how that all worked out. And I’m grateful for it. Beyond grateful.”
Alex nodded. “Me too. So how did a guild notorious for controlling the underbelly of Yidushi get spoken of so casually by the guard here, and with such an interesting name?”
“The Jianghu Defender’s Association?”
Alex nodded.
“It’s a long story, lad. The gist of it is, the sect isn’t evil so much as filling a power vacuum, forging order in what would otherwise be chaos. If crime can be controlled so that most thieves can feed their bellies without wantonly slaughtering innocent souls and the well-to-do know just what organization to contribute to so they need not worry about crime at all? That’s a blessing for everyone, including the rogues avoiding a bloodbath. If anyone gets out of hand, the city administrators make the problem very clear to the Jianghu representative, and the clan handles those ugly little problems without anyone else getting their hands dirty.”
Alex nodded. “This I know. But here it seems different.”
“It is. Here, the city is much smaller, and Administrator Wan Duan has a vested interest in keeping city profitability at an absolute maximum. Not only for the sake of his own coffers, but so that there are as many merchant trains absolutely filled with tons of produce, grain, and livestock headed to Baidushi as possible. Because if the twenty million souls populating that city have full bellies, the risk of civil unrest is kept at a minimum. This, of course, makes the crown princess happy. If she’s happy, Wan Duan’s family fortunes are assured. But should wanton extortion or base criminality take hold to the point that farmers are less willing to see Erjizhen as the haven it truly is...”
“…Wan Duan loses his head.”
Cai Gen chuckled. “Politics at its finest. I’m damn glad I left. Anyway, Wan Duan is a fierce proponent of meritocracy. He doesn’t care about your origins or background. Your race and sex mean nothing to him, save for those few women so strikingly beautiful they end up joining his harem. If you can fill a role and do it well, you will make coin and earn prestige. But should you dare to cross him...” The farmer shrugged. “We have no prisons, here. You redeem yourself by embracing the ugliest municipal jobs, and at the end of your sentence, if you’re skilled, you’ll find yourself with better food and accommodations, with a job you’re now skilled at. But if you fail him twice, or fail in your job...”
“I get it. No third chances in this city.”
The farmer nodded. “The Jianghu sect is the ultimate gray. But Wan Duan is very much black and white. A compromise was reached. In this city, the Jianghu Defender’s Association grabs all our social misfits and trains them either as market security, city maintenance, or foraging for valuable herbs and hunting for beast cores.”
Alex nodded. “So, the rogue profession is out. You’re either a trader, farmer, or adventurer. But rogues just get the noose.” Alex winced at Cai Gen’s odd look. “So the Jianghu sect’s basically an adventurer’s association in this city.”
The farmer nodded. “And the sect makes sure that the contracts are open to all. Any guard or soldier or anyone with a feel for the forest can try their hand at gathering wild spirit herbs or, if they’re really brave or crazy, actually hunting down spirit beasts. And some folk actually make a decent living at it too.” Hard brown eyes peered into Alex’s own. “Here’s where it gets interesting for you. The demand for beast cores isn’t just the Jianghu sect filling Baidushi orders for the governor’s sake. The academy just outside the city is also hungry for any beast cores or spirit grass you can find.”
Alex blinked. “There’s a temple nearby?”
Cai Gen nodded. “Morning Dew Temple. Not that near. But not that far, either. About a dozen miles northwest. Area’s about as rich in wild spiritual energy as any cultivator could want. Best of all, there’s a well-worn path leading right there, taken regularly by suppliers selling foodstuffs or farmed herbs to the school directly. But they keep these interactions to a minimum for obvious reasons, and the school prefers wild cultivating herbs as being the most potent of all.”
Alex nodded. “So I could work for the Jianghu and get paid in silver or gold for beast cores and spirit herbs I find, or I could take a chance, head on over to the cultivation temple, and see what they’ll offer to purchase cores off me directly.”
“You got it. And as deep as mercantile pockets are, if you’re looking for cultivation tomes...”
“Selling directly to Morning Dew is definitely my best bet.”
The older man’s eyes twinkled. “I would say so. And here we are, lad. Time for us to get set up and for me to go speak with the caravan heads so eager to buy our grain.” He then pointed back down the way they had come before giving Alex’s hand a friendly squeeze. “That way lies the Jianghu Defender’s Association. They can certainly explain that side of things to you far better than I. Just don’t let them rope you into any signed contracts!”
Alex quickly nodded, in complete agreement. After his experiences with Hao Zei’s vile manipulations, having seen the twisted ways Qi and Fate could be used to trap people who dared to sign those things, sometimes even without their consent or knowledge, he had absolutely no intentions of signing any documents in this world, ever.
“Good. We should be here for a few days at least. You’re even welcome to sleep here if you can’t find any other accommodation, and should you find the city not to your taste, you’re always welcome to try your hand at farming!” Alex and the elder shared a laugh at that. “You have the Cai clan’s gratitude. Never forget that, Alex.”
Alex smiled and nodded as he left the farming clan now getting themselves squared away in the massive warehouse-like affair of storage space and wagon stalls, stablehands scurrying around like busy little ants as Cai Gen fell into animated conversation with a well-dressed beaming man who could only be the building’s owner.
Alex caught the gazes of Chun and Fang both, wearing their best silken dresses, hair arranged in elegant weaves with silver pins flashing in the sun, both of them bea
utifully made up with crimson lips, a touch of blush, and expertly applied kohl.
Alex had done everything he could to avoid their gazes the night before, but he allowed himself to look full on and admire what he was walking away from now. If they had wanted him to appreciate just how strikingly beautiful they were with his final gaze goodbye, they had certainly succeeded.
Alex swallowed when they waved a warmhearted farewell, and he couldn’t help but wave enthusiastically back, genuinely touched by the kindness he had received while traveling with Cai Gen’s clan.
They had been everything Dragon Academy had not.
He took one final look at the voluptuous pair of girls gazing so intently back at him, and he somehow just knew they would never cheat on him or break his heart if he gave into mad impulse and swept them up in his arms. And even if he hampered his cultivation base for a century, Eternal Fox gave him a literal eternity to heal whatever damage he caused himself. So why not embrace a few decades in bliss? Before forcing himself to turn away, ashamed to see the fires of hope flicker in the girls’ eyes, having stared so hungrily at the pair while daring to entertain such dangerous fantasies.
Still, he would try to remember to stop by before they left, and drop off a present for the girls. He could do that much, at least. And if he couldn’t find sleeping accommodations? He could always slip onto a rooftop and flip into his ring.
He laughed softly to himself, knowing he would be in serious trouble if he actually took up Cai Gen on his sleep accommodation offer, doomed to lose himself in the twins’ hungry embraces and surrender to a lifetime’s worth of sweet bliss, and let the world take care of itself for a change.
Even if his dreams became nightmares, forever haunted by the millions of lives lost, simply because he had finally begun to wake up to what he truly was, and wearied of being a perpetual pawn in the dark games gods so loved to play.
The hell with it all. He would do what he chose to do, and be who he chose to be. And right now, above all else, he would do whatever it took to ascend. To become so powerful that no person or power could cavalierly toss him from the board of life, as so many had already tried to do.
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior's Oath: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 4 Page 18