“You three took out this many and you’re all standing? Did you have a fourth member of your party?”
“Yes, we’re still standing, and no, we didn’t have any fourth party member. I hope this means we passed whatever test you might have had?”
The monk peered thoughtfully at Alex, slowly bowing his head and stepping back. “I must say, I am both surprised and relieved to see you all among the living. Yes. By all means, please be welcome within our monastery.” His welcoming smile immediately hardened. “So long as it’s understood that no matter the perceived provocation, you will cause deliberate harm to no one here, save in self-defense!”
An Li and Yohan immediately nodded their assent.
Alex flashed a jaded smile. “So long as self-defense includes protecting my property as well as my person, and that no one is allowed to tamper with my drink, food, air, sleeping quarters, studying resources, or deliberately bar my way to the public areas of the monastery, most especially the exit. And if anyone challenges me to a sparring contest or a duel, any stricture is lifted upon mutual agreement of just how far our sparring match will take us.”
Xiao Shen blinked before snorting. “You sound almost as cynical as an academy cultivator.”
Alex smirked. “I know.”
The man shook his head. “If I didn’t know better… fine. Your modified oath is acceptable. But have a care, Alex. Some of my brothers might just take you up on that offer, curious to see how a martial Ruidian compares to a cultivator. But don’t worry. They won’t strike any harder than they would against a novice initiate. Not unless you manage to truly surprise them!” The last he said with a doubtful chuckle.
“Now come. Let me see you to your quarters, show you the dining hall, and take you on a tour of our humble monastery.”
Xiao Shen then led the trio through the towering entrance into an edifice built more like a fortress than any place of contemplation. Alex couldn’t help but note how row upon row of sleeping quarters could easily billet countless soldiers, he and his companions picking a pair of rooms closest to the dining hall and claiming the bronze keys hanging just inside.
They then headed to a grand tiled dining hall that could easily feed a small army, for all that only a few of the hardwood tables and benches were occupied, shadows flickering away from the men and women filling their bowls with stew, a crackling fire heating up a kettle in the central alcove. Alex noted that only one of the five grand cooking alcoves was actually in use, though the other four looked like they could be brought to bear with a little preparation.
Alex and his companions followed Xiao Shen’s lead, the man seeming content to have ended his front door duties with their admittance, now filling wooden trays with bowls of rich, meaty stew and fresh baked bread before bringing it to an empty table.
Alex’s eyes lit up upon spotting the crock of butter on the table, quickly lathering it onto his fresh-baked bread before taking a bite of warm buttery goodness mixed with the tang of sourdough, letting loose an audible groan of pleasure as he did so.
It had been so long since he’d had fresh-baked bread!
His companions were eyeing him strangely, though the monk smiled. “It is good, is it not?”
Alex gave an enthusiastic nod, not bothering with words, devoting himself for a time to scrumptious eating.
An Li sighed, frowning down at her own bread before dipping it in stew and nibbling on it. “I miss my grandmother’s rice. Better than any bread, and better than the poor excuse for rice bowls down in the city by far.”
Yohan shrugged, happy enough to dip his bread in his stew, though also forgoing the butter. “Bread, rice, fresh plucked fruit, or well-stewed meat, it’s all tasty in my book. But fresh greens? Inedible pig feed, as far as I’m concerned.”
An Li nodded at that. “Literally the stuff of nightmares.”
“That’s because you poor Ruidians don’t know the art of proper salad preparation,” Xiao Shen teased, though he made no move to add any greens to his plate either, Alex noted, when he finally went up for air after begging the bemused cook for a second helping of stew and bread both.
Xiao Shen frowned when a relaxed An Li loosened her attire, Alex’s poultice and the streaks of blood a definite contrast to her pale freckled skin. “Did you take injury recently, child? Your neck tells a perilous tale, and only a fool would dare what waits below if they are at anything less than the peak of health.”
An Li paled and shuddered, food before her forgotten.
Alex winced. Of course they could have washed it off, after An Li had used the potency of her portion of the kills, or earned experience, as Alex still liked to think of it, to heal herself. But none of them had even thought of it until this very moment, concerned purely with survival and getting to the temple as fast as they could.
A concerned-looking Yohan patted her hand. “It’s done. We made it. That’s all that matters, cousin. And you’ll be Rank 4 Before you know it!”
An Li nodded, flashing a wan smile Yohan’s way before turning to the surprisingly concerned monk. “The fight with the spirit wolves was a closer thing than we let on. Fortunately, we killed them before it was too late. My wound is sealed and sterile. I’ll remove the compress in the morning and I doubt there will even be a scar.” She swallowed. “If I’m lucky.”
The monk smiled. “Because you channeled the flow of their dying potency through you like a Water Qi specialist might channel healing energies through the sick. Truly a remarkable gift your clan has, and glad I am of it.”
An Li flashed a brilliant smile, the ruby on her forehead sparkling in the firelight with her auburn hair pulled back in a bun, bright hazel eyes now looking Alex’s way. “I am grateful too. More than words can say.”
Alex felt his cheeks redden under her intent regard, turning back to focus on the monk. “I’ve been meaning to ask, does your monastery have anything like a cultivation library a supplicant might make use of?” He kept his voice low, hand flashing one of his spirit stones. “A supplicant more than willing to pay top rate for the privilege, so long as he is treated fairly, and not despised because of his race.”
The monk gave a low, bitter chuckle. “A Ruidian wishing to make use of our manuals? Do you truly think it could do you a lick of good?” He sighed, shaking his head. “Such would be impossible, I’m afraid.”
Alex swallowing back his sudden bitter surge of disappointment. “Might this one inquire as to the nature of the obstacle before us?” He furrowed his brow, keeping his expression carefully innocuous. “I know this isn’t a formal sacred city academy, but you do have a cultivation library, don’t you?”
Xiao Shen’s features flushed with a sudden spike of fury. “Our library used to be the envy of half the academies in all of Cuijing! Independent cultivators used to pay top rates, just for the privilege of studying our tomes! But most of those selfish fools refuse even a single darkbeast hunt for the privilege of accessing our library, never mind that all of our tomes could forge them channels strong enough to break through to Silver!”
Alex mimed regretful concern. “I apologize if I have offended.”
Xiao Shen chuckled bitterly, stealing a glance at several of the other monastery cultivators eating, looking just as wan as he. “A grand Silver library, sure to give any Bronze the edge he needed to break through. Never mind how few of us actually have that potential. We all like to dream that we do, and it never hurts to forge one’s channels using the best techniques under the sun, right?”
He sighed, shaking his head. “It was the enticement of that library that brought so many of us here. And far from being our salvation, it has become our doom.”
Alex blinked at the man now looking both withdrawn and bitter.
So many questions he wanted to ask, but right now he knew it was best to say nothing at all.
Still, he took those moments his host was lost in brooding reflection to eye the other monastery cultivators present, such a contrast to the handful of men and wome
n talking in animated whispers one table over, obviously guests like Alex’s group was, their lively eyes and hopeful features the farthest thing from the withdrawn gazes and threadbare robes worn by most of the monks. One of them filled the cavernous dining hall with his laughter, as the larger than life warrior recounted a recent fierce battle, and Alex couldn’t help but to grin and think of them all as adventurers.
It was a mixed group as well, Alex was pleased to see; a trio of slender Ruidians with gems flashing upon their brows nodded gamely as the largest of the pair of obvious body cultivators in their group continued to tell his tale, both of them dressed in armor much like Alex’s own.
One of the pair seemed to instinctively sense his regard, though Alex hadn’t even used Soul Sight on the man, but his smile and nod were friendly enough when Alex did the same, before turning back to his companions.
Yet for all that the group was brimming with energy and enthusiasm, it was in sharp contrast to the rest of the dispirited diners. The adventurers were a splash of colorful patter on a pallet otherwise lifeless and gray.
Alex frowned, keeping his eyes intently on the back of one quietly eating cultivator until he got the message he had most feared. Unfamiliarity penalty in effect. Bonus for oblivious state and waste-saturated meridians in effect. Soul Sight skill check made!
Just like the gatekeeper, this man’s entire meridian network was damaged, choked up with near toxic levels of waste Qi and, Alex sensed, he was just a few months away from ugly tumors metastasizing all over his body. How Alex even knew that, he couldn’t precisely say, though he had no doubt that it was true. Despite that, the cultivator possessed two Bronze cords in surprisingly good condition. And he would never advance further, so damaged his foundation otherwise was.
“To dare Silver, one must first fight and prove themselves worthy of Bronze,” said Xiao Shen, gazing intently at Alex once more. “That is one of the precepts our temple stands by. It is a regulation to keep thieves and ne’er-do-wells from entering the library under any pretext, no matter how artfully contrived or on whose authority they claimed to borrow. Of course, it is also an enticement to draw in talented Basic cultivators, those showing any aptitude, and, perhaps most importantly, the unusual degree of… vitality needed to flourish so close to the rifts. Those Basic cultivators unable to prove themselves in the Trial of Might who nonetheless show promise are sponsored by an interested monk, and we do our utmost to raise them to Bronze as fast as possible, sparing no resource to do so.”
Alex blinked at this surprising act of generosity. “So, any Basic cultivator with talent need but make a good-faith effort to access the library and a monk will sponsor him all the way to Bronze? Without bleeding him dry or exploiting him? This seems extremely… generous.”
Xiao Shen gave a bitter shake of his head. “Believe me, Alex, our aspirants will be paying us back for their intense training soon enough. I can only hope they find the boon worthy of the cost.”
Alex smirked, turning to his companions. “See? I knew this place was riddled with dark secrets. It almost has to be, with foreboding statements like that.”
Yohan nodded. “This is why we are fortunate to be Ruidians. We can purge the impurities that naturally accrue with exposure to the dungeon and its denizens. The experience earned more than makes up for the fraction we pay in cleansing ourselves of the taint, and we increase in power and wealth both.”
An Li swallowed. “Until the day we make a single deadly mistake and lose everything, including our lives. And our families so desperate to have us earn as much coin as we possibly can, because they over-extended, just might find their most promising scions buried in an unmarked grave.” Her eyes flashed with sudden heat. “They promised us we were done with this last year, Yohan. They promised me a husband!”
Yohan sighed and nodded. “I know, An Li. But that man was unworthy of you, and you were right to decline his offer. And the merchants squeeze their claws about us tighter than ever, tasting our desperation. Even with your idea of outsourcing our purchases, which saved us considerable silver, still we need to do this. You know that. And this will be our last time.” He flashed a cajoling smile. “Besides, just last week you were excited about the prospect of achieving Rank 4, building the biggest house in our new village, and savoring the envy of all your sisters!”
An Li flashed a wan smile. “You’re right, I was. But after what happened tonight…”
“We came closer to death this night than we ever have fighting those beasts in the caverns below. I know.”
Xiao Shen gaze fondly at them all. “Truly, our temple is grateful to have you all delving on our behalf once more. Sadly, I am unable to offer more coin than precedent allows. You know that already. But I promise you won’t make one copper less than if you sold your cores directly to Baidushi’s own cultivation academies! Besides that, if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, including a visit to our healers whenever you have need, you are more than welcome to make use of those resources, and at a considerable discount. Though of course we can do nothing for the taint...”
An Li bowed her head. “You have always been good to us, Xiao Shen, when other monks wanted to turn us away. Thank you for that.”
Xiao Shen chuckled ruefully. “Believe me, my brothers’ attitudes have changed considerably since you two last dared the caverns. They wouldn’t dare turn away anyone willing to keep the chaos in check, since we all know who pays the price if the surge cannot be controlled.” He paled, shaking his head
Alex gazed carefully at the tired-looking man who radiated such an odd mixture of corruption and resolve, weakness and strength. “Let’s assume I actually want to take on whatever gauntlet or trial will allow me access to the library. Will I then be able to study the tomes within?”
Alex realized his voice had been a bit louder than he had intended. Both the hushed conversations nearby and the rowdy table of adventurers abruptly quieted, gazing intently Alex’s way.
Xiao Shen scowled in consternation before shaking his head with a chuckle. “You are serious. You are really willing to challenge a Bronze cultivator for the right to be considered his equal, worthy of those tomes?”
Alex frowned thoughtfully. “Not a death match. As much as I’d love a look at those tomes… I don’t want the blood of some poor monk just doing his duty on my conscience. But would I be willing to pit myself against one of your cultivators and risk serious injury for a chance to study those tomes? You’re damn right I would. Just say where and when.”
And before a thoughtful-looking Xiao Shen could give a reply, the cavernous dining hall rang with another voice. “Outrageous! This unproven barbarian actually has the gall to request admittance into our sacred library? Making a mockery of our sacred texts when we risk our lives even being here? This arrogant dog needs to be put in his place!”
Alex turned to meet the eyes of the glaring cultivator he had been scanning just moments before. However disinterested he had been, leaving himself open to Alex over a period of minutes until the cloudy sense of his polluted foundation finally came into sharp focus, he was definitely paying close attention to Alex now.
“Calm yourself, Fan Fan. He is a guest of this temple, along with his companions—”
“—The bastard get of invaders that nearly destroyed my city! They should have been purged a thousand years ago!”
And there it was, Alex smirked, recognizing the telltale stamp of the man’s purebred Yidushian features as the room went breathless with the insult given, the air crackling with sudden heat.
“Take back those words,” snapped one of the Ruidians from the nearby table, cheerful bonhomie replaced by sudden killing heat, all three Ruidian adventurers glaring at Fan Fan, the two cultivators at the table looking distinctly uncomfortable, lowering their gazes.
“I will do no such thing!” the man roared. “Your kind shouldn’t even be here! No, more than that! Your kind should have been purged from our land, years ago!”
Yohan groaned, cradling his head. “Bloody hells.”
“You will all stop this now, or I will expel all four of you!” Xiao Shen barked, his voice reverberating with Qi, echoing throughout the cavernous chamber.
The three Ruidians snarled, muttering soft curses, their swirling rings of fire dissipating, but not completely fading out. The one whose gem glowed brightest sneered at Fan Fan. “We have no problem with you, honored Xiao Shen, but this isn’t the first time this bastard has insulted us. We demand an apology, as is our right!”
Fan Fan’s bitter laughter echoed with vitality long since past. “Kick me out? If only you could, you stupid old fool!” he snarled at Xiao Shen, utterly ignoring the three ruby masters. “We were deceived, enticed, tricked, and bonded. Now we are cursed to spend our days tainted by poisons no vaunted Silver technique can hope to fully purge from our blood, forced by royal decree to stay and fill inflated quotas, and the potions to cleanse our meridians that we were promised are always and forever delayed!”
Xiao Shen’s gaze hardened. “Perhaps you’ve had a bit too much to drink, brother. I suggest you retire to your quarters immediately and meditate upon the folly of imbibing so much rice wine in your weakened state.”
Fan Fan gave a furious shake of his head. “You think meditation can pull us free of the noose upon all our necks? Trusting careful deliberation to see us past all obstacles as we look past all previous misunderstandings to forge mutually a profitable enterprise? That sounds just like the bastard who set us up! Don’t you get it, Xiao? Everything we were told was a lie! Our enemy deceived us with talk of making amends and fresh starts, coaxing us into letting our guard down until he had us right where he wanted us! And no one else gives a damn about our fates! We’re an afterthought to Princess Cui Zhe. I doubt she even thought twice of the contract that snake of a headmaster put before her before stamping her approval, and now our ancient rival will happily wave it in our face with threats of decapitation if we dare disobey a royal decree!”
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior's Oath: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 4 Page 24