The youth then turned to glare at Alex’s scribbles. “Why are you bothering with a stylus and tablet? Just take the tiles that interest you.”
Alex gazed up at the man. “What happens if you can’t fulfill the quota of whatever tile you sign up for? My name’s Alex, by the way.”
“Yohan,” the youth said. “Your next find is penalized for your failure, of course. But you only get bonuses for orders you signed up for ahead of time. And the gold-lined jobs have limited openings or demand. You could spend all season hunting some rare exotic creature, only to find there was zero demand when you finally came back to town.”
Alex shrugged. “I’d rather not lock myself into any obligation, and I refuse to sign a damn thing. I know how twisted contracts can be in the hands of those cultivators that can manipulate Fire and Fate,” Alex said. “This way, I can just hunt for whatever catches my interest, sell it directly when I have it on hand, and if it doesn’t work out, I owe no one anything.”
Yohan furrowed his brow. “I’ve never heard of anyone being trapped by dark contracts. Save in the stories, of course.”
The girl, however, had paled. “Thank you for the warning. The thought of wujen magics gaining a lock upon my soul… My name is An Li, by the way.” She flashed an almost rueful smile. “A mixed name for my mixed heritage.”
Alex blinked, only then noting the faint bronze cast to her skin and higher than average cheekbones in a face that was otherwise vaguely European-looking. He wouldn’t have even noticed if she hadn’t mentioned it. Then his eyes widened, focusing on what was most important. “Wait, you’re saying you’re of mixed descent?”
She flushed. Yohan glared. “Don’t pretend you’re superior just because you’re a pureblood, Alex. All the clans know what happens if we intermingle only with each other. Outside marriages keep our blood strong, and a full half of our tribe still has the gift!”
An Li gave a proud nod. “Even though my mother only has a flicker of the power, my sisters and I are fully joined to our gems. I’m no weaker than any elementalist in your own tribe, I promise you that!”
Alex flashed an apologetic smile. “No, you misunderstand. I’m not criticizing you at all. I think that’s great! I know a farming community with several mixed-blood children the father abandoned, because they can’t bond to any gems.”
Yohan eyes lit with sudden curiosity. “Which farming community is this, Alex?” He cleared his throat, as if realizing where he was, speaking to a newly met acquaintance. Fortunately, most everyone else was completely ignoring the trio of Ruidians now whispering in a secluded corner.
Alex furrowed his brow. “Just some chance-met friends on the road. I’m sure you can understand my keeping their confidence.”
Yohan scowled for just a moment, before shrugging. “Of course. You hardly know us, after all. But I can assure you of this, at least. Healthy girls of mixed heritage, especially if their father was a known elementalist, would be prized in any of our communes. It brings fresh blood into our clans with the promise of powerful offspring just a generation or two away, instead of three or more.”
The tall youth flashed what was no doubt intended as a reassuring smile. “I’m sure we’re not enemies, Alex. My clan’s been free of blood disputes for decades, and our eyes are always open to fresh alliances. Perhaps it’s a conversation we can take up again, once we are better acquainted.” He gave a curious tilt to his head. “And I can see you yourself are as powerfully built as any native, even if you look as pureblooded as can be. I’m guessing you also have mixed blood flowing in your veins like my cousin?”
An Li nodded thoughtfully. “And his clan has to be from somewhere far away, with his straw blond hair and eyes that blue. And his hair’s so thick and lustrous, it hides his orb-bond completely!” She flashed him a curious smile. “I’d be interested in knowing your element, Alex. You already know ours, so fair is fair.”
Alex held her gaze, already knowing what to expect when he lifted up his locks, revealing a bare forehead. “Sorry to burst your bubbles, but I’m not an Elementalist. I’m just some guy who’s good with a spear.”
Yohan furrowed his brow, and with that single gesture, all his earlier warmth faded to cold disdain. “I think we’re done here, cousin. I doubt this poor fool’s oddly flat forehead has felt the caress of an orb bond in generations.”
An Li actually blanched. Far from just mild disappointment. She looked almost horrified. “No. It’s worse than that. Far worse. Look at the shape of his skull. You know what that means. He’s one of them!”
An Li and Yohan’s gems took on a sudden fierce shimmering glow. The entire room instantly stilled, everyone tasting the sudden tang of death in the air.
Alex was appalled. How had a friendly exchange with people he had almost hoped might like him turn to this? But a part of his mind knew to expect nothing less. Hatred and murderous intent wherever he went, no matter the source or justification. It all amounted to the same thing.
Every tile against his own.
Very well.
He’d kill them all.
Alex flashed a fierce smile, no longer caring when half a dozen surprised yelps made it clear his sudden summoning of his glowing fangtian ji had made a definite impression. All his attention was focused solely on getting a feel for his opponents, doing all he could to read their every movement, to sense the instant they intended to attack.
Soul Sight skill check against Ruidian Elementalist. Penalty for unfamiliar category of opponent! Skill check failed.
Alex felt his heart start to race as time seemed to slow. He was facing an opponent he hadn’t fought in over a thousand years, and even back then he had done all he could to get the jump on them before they could launch a single arcane attack. Only now did he even have the skills to analyze the flow of powers when attack they did, though his opponents had the presence of mind to defend themselves before attacking, Yohan summoning a tight whirling shield of Air, An Li surrounded by a ring of flame.
“You won’t find us easy marks, savage!” hissed An Li, glaring at Alex, her off hand fumbling desperately for something obviously not on her belt
When Alex spoke, his words were cold as ice, with all the killing fury he could project as a Bronze. “I won’t be the one to strike the first blow. Posture all you like, accuse me of whatever the hell you want. I don’t really care. But the minute you strike out at me, your heads will roll.” He flashed a bleak smile. “You won’t be the first pair of fools who tried to kill me this week. But I promise you, I’ll be the last foe you’ll ever see.”
Panicked fury met Alex’s words. Alex’s guts twisted. He sensed An Li hadn’t heard a word he said, glaring at him as if he were a monster after her own children. “Creo Pilu—!”
Quickness check made! Your Rank 1 Bronze blows her mortal rank away! Modified Bullrush successful! You have raced through Compressed Flame Field! Speed, armor, and Qi Absorption have absorbed all but 3 points of damage! Your golden locks have been singed! Finesse check made. Skill check made. Fangtian ji has broken your opponent’s skin without tearing open her jugular!
An Li gasped, her terrified eyes pinned by his own, soft warm flesh dripping crimson tears upon the tip of his ji.
The entire crowd had gone deathly silent.
All Alex heard was An Li’s trembling sob. All he felt was the terrified pounding of her heart thrumming through his weapon as blood trickled from the shallowest of cuts. With just an ounce more pressure, he could wash the room in her blood.
“Are you really that stupid?” Alex roared into the silence. “From your first words and the look in your eye, I could tell you were measuring me. Trying to judge my worth.” He gritted his jaw. “From the second you saw me, you were measuring if I had what it took to be your mate. To father your children. Only to seek my death seconds later, because for some stupid reason my gemless brow frightens you?”
He turned to glare at a speechless Yohan, the young man’s wind ward faded to nothing. “And you
’re right. My family’s flat foreheads haven’t known the touch of an orb bond for centuries. News flash, my people have never known the touch of any damned orb! Still doesn’t mean I can’t kill you faster than you can blink.”
An Li opened and closed her mouth silently, at an utter loss for words.
Alex shook his head, stepping back through the ring of fire he hardly felt, save to pour his belt flask of water onto his now smoldering head, his eyes not leaving her own for a second. “You’re an utter fool. You know that, An Li? All your dreams of a dynasty mean nothing if you’re dead and buried in the ground.”
An Li’s haunted gaze never left his own as a suddenly frantic Yohan tightly gripped her arm. “Dispel your ward and come on! We have to leave. Now!”
With a shudder, the girl snapped out of her daze, her swirling whirlwind of fire fading to nothing save for cheerful flames now crackling on the floor as the panicked cousins raced out a different door from the one Alex had entered.
Alex sighed and shook his head, giving all the would-be adventurers no doubt enjoying the odd show a frustrated shake of his head, glaring at the fire that could lead to so much damned trouble that it wasn’t worth the risk of leaving.
“Water powers activate!” He cried out in deliberate English, allowing his fangtian ji to flip back into storage as he twisted his arms in a complex weave before a stream of water flowed from his cupped hands, the small pockets of flame hissing to smoke and steam.
“Another Ruidian wizard,” whispered one of the onlookers.
“Is that possible without a jewel?”
“Hell if I know. At least he put out the damned fire.”
“Did you see how fast he moved? My mentor wasn’t that fast, and he was a half-step from Bronze!”
Qi Perception suddenly blaring, Alex spun around, though he kept his face utterly calm, hands carefully at his side as a trio of angry guards burst in. The two front door bouncers glared his way with spears pointed at his jugular, as well as a third whose Bronze cultivation status immediately pinged upon Alex’s senses, the man hiding nothing as he tried to cow Alex with his presence alone.
“Hands where I can see them, Ruidian! Disputes between Elementalists are strictly forbidden in the city! You’re coming with me.”
Alex tried to project calm. “I hardly think that’s necessary, sir, do you? As you can see, there’s no dispute going on here, just me putting out some accidental flames from an over-excited adventuring partner.”
The man turned to glare at the onlookers, hooded eyes measuring adventurers either looking away cowed, or saucily grinning right back.
“He’s right, you know,” offered one observer. “All he did with his water magic was keep this place from burning down.”
Alex pulled out three pristine Qi-infused apples from his pack. If nothing else, the Bronze’s widened eyes made it clear he was perceptive enough to sense their value without Alex needing to say a word. And the fat silver Alex had pressed next to the apple he passed to the Bronze earned not even an eye twitch as the man palmed it before taking a bite of his apple, giving a thoughtful nod of his head.
“Fine,” he said, mouth full of rather succulent apple. “At least you’ve proven yourself as a harvester. And since your fool of a friend singed no more than varnish… we’ll let this go. But if you or your friends are caught using fire within city limits again, drunk or sober, we’re going to have a serious problem.” He glared at Alex. “You all want to work on your battle tactics? You do it outside the city. Are we clear?”
Alex bowed his head. “We are indeed, honored Bronze.”
The man smirked. “At least you’re not a complete fool. Now why don’t you head on out, using the same side door your friends left by. Best for both of us if you’re scarce for the next few days,” the man said under his breath.
Alex quickly took the hint, darting away as the background chatter increased in pitch and volume, knowing that if he stuck around after the guards no doubt received wildly different accounts of what had actually happened, they would be duty-bound to take him in for questioning anyway. Something the experienced Bronze had probably already figured out the moment he had pocketed Alex’s coin and told him to vanish.
Though Alex felt a growing sense of unease when he found himself walking down an unfamiliar hallway, he didn’t let it show when he caught the bemused gaze of the same petite hostess who had greeted him at the door. “Come. This way. You’ll exit the opposite side of the building as your ‘friends.’ Do you know mapsign?”
He nodded.
“Good,” she said, handing him a small piece of parchment. “Quickest way out of Erjizhen while avoiding any unexpected complications. It also leads to the Northern Trade Road. I hear there’s plenty of wild herbs to be found in the forests on either side, just a day’s hike past the city, with very few spirit beasts grazing there that time of year.”
Alex grinned. “Thank you. Seriously, I appreciate it.”
She squeezed his hand, warm brown eyes positively twinkling. “If you want to thank me, do it properly when you’ve earned enough coin to take a lady out to dinner.” She winked. “The private rooms here have some of the finest fare you’ll find in the entire city.”
Alex bowed his head. “I might just do that. Before I dash, I don’t suppose you can show me the trail to the Morning Dew Temple?”
Her beautiful kohl-lined eyes grew grave. She gave a soft sigh, but didn’t hesitate to caress his finger, kissing it with soft crimson lips and licking the tip before putting it to parchment and marking a faint red symbol Alex immediately recognized, despite the sudden pounding of his heart. “Do you understand?”
Alex nodded. He’d turn left just before the northern entrance and walk along the final main thoroughfare west until he came to a discreet entrance at the northwest corner. He knew mapsign, quite literally, like the back of his hand.
“Good,” she said with a farewell smile. “Now get going before Chenglei’s forced to bring you in for questioning, even if you’re the one who put out that crazy bitch’s fire.”
Thank you, he flashed using handsign, earning a surprised blink and a wry grin. Alex winced, realizing he had just given away the fact that he also had ties to the Jianghu sect. Then again, she obviously did as well, and as more than a hostess. Somehow, he wasn’t at all surprised to know that she had known exactly what had gone down the moment it happened.
Her graceful fingers flashed in the air. Get going, handsome. You’re making me hungry for more than just coin.
He laughed at that, flicking her a final apple she didn’t hesitate to catch and bite into, gazing right at him, juices flowing down her pert little chin.
Alex flushed and quickly made his way out of the city, deciding the girl had definitely won this round.
“Purpose and destination?” asked a bored pair of rough-shaven guards by the northwest city exit, the reinforced gate looking stout enough to ward off any siege, for all that this odd side road hardly had any pedestrians at all. They were also kitted in Royal Legionnaire standard, with bronze helms, lamellar armor, and steel-headed fangtian jis, the mirror of a dozen Alex had in storage, held in casual grips. Both radiated just enough cultivation potency that Alex instantly pegged them as triple gaters, meaning they were just strong enough to walk the High Road.
Alex couldn’t help smiling in approval. It seemed that, as weak in cultivation as the general population here seemed to be, Administrator Wan Duan had paid the coin necessary to hire a retired legion contingent to keep Erjizhen safe. Or perhaps they were part of an active duty regiment sent by Cui Zhe, the sovereign princess of Cuijing Principality. For all Alex knew, the help was a courtesy, with the unspoken threat that should trade be disrupted, they would be returning with the failed administrator’s head.
“Morning Dew Temple,” he said aloud.
The nearest guard furrowed his brow. “You’re Ruidian, so cultivation’s out. Let me guess. Defender’s Association assignment?”
“
You might want to think twice before taking this path, kid,” said the second guard. “There are easier assignments on the boards.”
His partner nodded. “He’s right. Most people don’t dare the rift without a party of at least four members. And you’d better have some cultivators or gem masters. Because a handful of mortals is just grist for the rift. Not that those monks will stop you from going in.”
Alex couldn’t help but smile at the pair of men, genuinely touched by their gruff concern. Far more like the remembered NPCs of his favorite games than the predatory smiles he’d almost come to expect from Dragon Temple guards who would probably be betting money on how long he lasted against whatever peril awaited. Come to think of it, that described even Elder Panheu to a T. Though at least his former mentor would flash a genuine smile when Alex managed to survive whatever horrific situation had almost killed him at the academy.
“No worries. I plan on meeting up with some associates,” Alex said, handing each of them a pair of pristine apples. “But thank you for the warning. We’ll certainly be careful.”
The closest guard beamed right back at him. “A genuine Apple of Life! My wife is due any day now, and she loves apples above all other fruit. Thank you for your kindness, and may all your forages be as profitable as the last one must have made you! Name’s Ping Ping, by the way. Good luck on your assignment.”
“My name’s Alex. May your wife have a safe and painless birth! And will you look at that? Another apple. One for you and your wife both!”
Both of the guards chuckled at that. “We’ll let the others know you’re one of the good ones,” said the second guard. “And the savviest collectors know to take this path and conveniently forget to head to the temple at all. I hear there are any number of prime harvesting spots within a day’s journey of the academy in all directions. Best of all, you never have to risk your neck taking on the monk’s crazed missions.”
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior's Oath: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 4 Page 20