Alex nodded. “Thank you.”
The man beside him smirked. “Speaking civilly now, are we? Has your fierce hot temper finally cooled?”
Alex flashed a humorless smile. “Enough to show courtesy to a man who obviously cares about his people.”
“How about enough to tell me where you were trained, who your mentor was, and how the hell a Ruidian boy who can’t be older than my son is not only a cultivator, but actually broke through to Bronze?”
“I can give you an answer to your third question, but you probably won’t like it.”
“And what’s that?”
“I’m not actually a Ruidian.”
That earned a surprised snort. “Then what are you? A fairy? A dream? An inhuman pawn of the gods? Or better yet, a greater spirit beast in human form?” The headmaster slowed down ever so slightly, rubbing his chin with a smile. “That alone might explain your Ruidian appearance and odd powers.”
Alex shrugged. “Does it even matter? I’m someone who bested three idiots and gained unlimited access to the libraries.” He locked gazes with the man by his side. “And for not trying to scheme or connive some way to curtail my promised privilege, that alone makes you better than every single puffed up bureaucrat or cultivator in Yidushi or Dragon Academy. For that alone, you have my sincere, heartfelt thanks.”
Xiao Shen smirked. “And now a bit of unctuous flattery to make sure I keep my word, so as to be worthy of your praise.”
Alex shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”
The hall rang with bemused laughter. “Indeed it can’t, Alex, and fear not. In this place, with our cultivation ground to dust, predators who would gladly kill us below, and Headmaster Bingwen who would gladly see us die above, the integrity of our spirit is pretty much all we have left.”
Alex peered thoughtfully at the man, measuring his words carefully. “I have two questions for you, Xiao Shen.”
“Ask away.”
“Do you have any access to silverbell blossoms at all?”
A breathless silence hung in the air. For the briefest of moments Alex felt a sudden surge of hope. With that alone, there was so much he could do!
But moments after getting over the shock of the question, the man slowly shook his head. “I bitterly regret that the answer is no. According to the treacherous edict that binds us, we have no rights to any alchemical supplies, are forbidden to risk any sort of ‘taint’ by attempting to manufacture our own, and must immediately see that any pristine alchemical ingredients are sent to the head alchemist of Dragon Academy without fail, or suffer severe repercussions.”
The man’s eyes flashed with sudden heat. “Those bastards not only deny us restoration potions, they have made it impossible for us to make any for ourselves!”
Alex flashed a bleak smile. “Please tell me that the fires of hate I see in your eyes are for a certain arrogant alchemist who utterly despises kitsune and Ruidians alike, and will happily destroy the cultivation base of anyone who crosses him.”
Xiao Shen stood suddenly stock still, peering at Alex with hardened eyes.
Alex felt a curious tingling shudder. The gaze before him belonged to no Bronze.
“What do you know of this alchemist, Alex?”
“I know his name was Lai Leng.”
Alex’s smile widened at the suppressed flinch in the man’s eyes. “Please tell me you are not his creature, Alex. I would so hate to have to kill you.”
Alex laughed at the odd mixture of threat and concern in one fatherly tone, chillingly certain that the man before him posed more of a threat than any other person here at this temple.
“That pathetic vindictive worm did everything he could to destroy me.” He smiled right into Xiao Shen’s eyes. “And now he’s dead.”
To his credit, the man didn’t scoff. “Were you the one who killed him?”
Alex slowly shook his head. “My master stayed my hand.”
“I see. And who is your master, Alex?”
Alex gazed thoughtfully at the man before him. “If I had one bit of advice to give you, that might actually make a difference in your lives beyond anything else you can imagine, I think you should write to the headmaster of Dragon Academy. Write, and explain your plight in full. Apologize for any wrongdoing and plead for mercy, understanding, and an immediate request for restoration potions. You might be surprised by the response you get.”
A powerful hand far stronger than any Rank 1 Bronze tightly gripped Alex’s wrist. “Tell me what you know, Alex. The time for games has passed!”
Alex gazed thoughtfully at the man now definitely radiating the power of a Silver.
“Elder Panheu challenged the bastard Gold wearing the headmaster’s robes to a duel. Assuming he survived… you might just have a powerful ally who will do what he can to come to the aid of cultivators so willing to forge themselves in the fires of darkbeast hunting.”
The cultivator actually paled, stepping back. “Panheu actually dared to claim the robe? Deadly as he is, he’s only Silver!”
Alex slowly shook his head. “Actually, he had just broken through to Gold, and was savvy and crazy enough to use that sweet window of transcendence I guess we all get after a breakthrough to take on the headmaster. And believe me, I doubt anyone had a greater breakthrough than what Elder Panheu endured just before his fight to the death.”
Alex flashed a dark approving grin. “When it comes to forging oneself in the fires of conflict, he walks the walk as much as he talks the talk. I’ll give him that much, at least.”
Xiao Shen shook his head. “He was always a crazy, masochistic bastard, with a reputation for breaking his students, or forging them into the finest cultivators Dragon Academy had ever seen.” The man suddenly paled. “And now you’re saying he’s the new headmaster? And you… who are you to him?”
“His disciple.”
Xiao chuckled softly. “A Ruidian disciple. Who else but Panheu?”
Alex frowned. “Or I was his disciple. He sort of kicked me out with a smile on his face and a magical treasure to my name, and wished me the best of luck finding my way in life. Maybe because he was about to enter a deathmatch and knew that if he lost, I’d be killed in a heartbeat. As it stands, I still have no idea who won. Though I’m still among the living, so hopefully that’s a good sign.”
The cultivator nodded. “I would tend to agree. Still, I will take your counsel to heart. I shall write the most fawning and apologetic letters, so if that golden bastard of a former headmaster is still in power, he will do no worse than sneer with contempt, thinking I am but pleading for some curative potions. On the other hand, if your former master should be in power...”
“You might just get the restoration potions and whatever other help you need, and maybe even be freed from those damned infernal contracts. I’d recommend you avoid mentioning my name, just in case Elder Panheu isn’t among the living anymore.”
Xiao nodded, gazing at Alex curiously. “I will avoid mentioning your name altogether, till I know Panheu has succeeded in his quest, in which case I shall write the most unctuous, fawning letter, singing your praises, that I can possibly dream up.”
Alex chuckled at that, before his gaze hardened, peering into those gentle eyes gazing into his own with such concern. “I think I finally figured it out what seems so off about you.”
His comment was met with a polite raised eyebrow. “Oh, and what would that be, young Alex?”
Alex sighed. “You’re too damned nice. You seemed genuinely shocked by how vicious the duels were, pled for your companion’s life without shame, and looked horrified by the almost casual ruthlessness behind Chon Lin’s laughing grin. As if actually surprised that of course the man had every intention of stabbing me in the back to secure that greater beast core for himself. As if I was anything more to him than yet another competitor in his own personal game of ascension, and my spotting his move and bargaining for a truce were the only moves that could have possibly earned his respect.”
“It wasn’t my
life or my hopes and dreams he respected, but that I actually understood and was willing to play his ruthless game. The game that all, save for a handful of cultivators who found me a useful tool and incidentally found that they actually liked me as a person, were playing.”
Alex shook his head. “You act like you’re actually concerned about my well-being. For everyone’s well-being. Even my old master was perfectly happy to make a fortune gambling my life, and I don’t begrudge him the fortunes we both made because he, unlike almost everyone else at the Academy, actually took pleasure in watching me overcome impossible obstacles. At least he wasn’t just looking for an opportunity to laugh at my shattered foundation or broken corpse. He might have forged me in fire, but at least mine was a blade he wanted to temper, not destroy.”
Hard blue eyes gazed intently into enigmatic brown. “This is what I can’t figure out. How can you be so damn nice, be so concerned for the welfare of broken old men, mercenary cultivators, and clueless Ruidians, yet still hail from the most ruthless cultivation academy imaginable?”
Xiao Shen sighed, giving a sad shake of his head. “To be so cynical, so damaged, when you’re hardly more than a boy. Come, Alex. We’re almost there.”
He refused to say anything further, quickly making his way ever deeper into the temple tunnels before stopping at last in front of a massive door of bronze that shimmered with a dozen runes and talismans in a hall that was otherwise completely empty. “And this is the library, Alex, the chamber you were most eager to see. The most secure room in the entire temple.”
Insight check made!
Alex’s heart began to hammer. “You’re more than just the gatekeeper. Aren’t you?”
Xiao Shen nodded. “I am.”
“In fact, I’m willing to bet that the person who has ultimate authority around here isn’t Fan Fan the broken librarian at all. But you.”
Xiao Shen’s gaze hardened. He gave the tiniest nod of assent.
Alex took a deep, shuddering breath, sensing that he was on the precipice of something perilous and grand.
His salvation, or perhaps one path to it, lay just behind those walls.
But one wrong move…
Alex swallowed. Heart racing.
So many odd things clicking at once.
Peril as well.
But if he danced with the dragon well enough, he might just claim the most glorious prize of all.
“Do I have your permission to make use of the room attached to this door as I see fit?”
Xiao Shen gave a cold chuckle. “What an odd turn of phrase. But yes, Alex. You do. And I do think you’ll savor the prizes within this chamber.”
Qi Perception check made! The door and nearby cultivators both radiate complex weaves of Qi!
Alex’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Really! Why would that be?”
Xiao Shen winked. “I’ll tell you a secret, my boy. We have more than just a few Silver tomes to entice a couple old fools into destroying their cultivation bases, thinking we can make a fresh start here, away from Headmaster Bingwen. No. We were offered a much more powerful enticement than that! Just beyond this door you will find copies of every tome of worth in the academy itself! For nothing is more sacred than the preservation of knowledge, and should disaster strike Yidushi, at least the secrets of our forebears will be preserved for all time.”
Alex swallowed. So many clues revealed.
“So, you really don’t mind my taking as many books to study as I can carry?”
This earned a soft snort. “Of course not. So long as you destroy none of the tomes, the whole library is open to you, to use as you see fit. Now come, Alex. You have earned Fan Fan’s permission to make use of the library, and my consent to use whatever you think will benefit you. All you have to do now is get through this door, and the library is effectively yours!”
Artificer skill check made!
Whispering soft words that caused ripples in the Qi all around them, the older cultivator solemnly put his hand upon the door, silently directing Alex to do the same.
Alex swallowed, working as fast as he ever had before, daring to summon forth that which he had only ever done before in his ring.
You are attempting to use your Qi in ways you never have before! You have suffered Lesser Backlash. You have suffered Mild Peripheral Meridian Strain!
Thinking fast, he kneeled over, coughing abruptly.
“Are you alright, Alex? Perhaps you were hurt worse than we thought. Let’s hurry up here, then we’ll head straight to the healers.”
Alex waved the man off, taking deep breaths. “No, it’s alright. Let me just… catch my breath.”
Heart racing, Alex did all he could to soothe his frantic mind, knowing he needed to focus, to concentrate, to direct his flow of Qi like he never had before. At least, not in the real world.
For countless moments he mimed ragged breaths, feeling the increasingly impatient stare of the man looming over him.
He could all but taste the taint of Dark Qi in the air, like a wet mugginess, that so many found so very distasteful. But he had always enjoyed saunas, and what others saw as waste he embraced as the sweet power it was.
Best of all, it was helping him.
Just like perspiring in muggy weather, even if it brought most people no relief at all.
At first it was an odd trickle, like sweat coming from his pores.
His heart sped in exultation as he gazed down at his still-gloved hands, the palms inside now slick with oily sweat, and perhaps something else as well.
He forced himself to stand, ignoring the lingering pain.
He had endured far worse, and he had a prize to claim.
Xiao Shen flashed him an impatient look, peering down the hallway. “The hour is getting late, Alex. It would be rude for us to disturb the healer when he is deep in slumber, and you can read all the books you like, just as soon as we get through this. Are you ready?”
Alex nodded.
As one, the pair of them placed their hands on the door.
Xiao Shen gave a happy nod. “There, see? Painless. At least for anyone who gave their oaths to obey Headmaster Bingwen in all things. So how are you feeling, lad?”
Alex couldn’t say a word.
Not that it mattered to Xiao Shen, the man dropping his grandfatherly expression at last, cold pitiless eyes gazing down into Alex’s vacant orbs.
17
Xiao Shen smirked at the body crumpled before him, his smile turning to a glare as he noted the shattered stone under the lip of the door, kicking away the pale arm that had clawed under the broken lip of the still-sealed barrier.
A final desperate act before death claimed its due at last.
“So clever with your words when first you entered this sanctuary. Making sure none of us would assassinate you, poison you, or strangle you in your sleep. Thought you could outsmart us, did you, fool? Did you truly think we didn’t know who you were? What you were? How much your head was worth? Still, we managed to goad you into three duels that should have killed you. And you actually managed to survive. So close to achieving your goals! Only to be defeated by a door you alone chose to touch. And now you’re just a corpse on the ground.”
He looked up as several cold-eyed men made their presence known. “You came too quickly!” Xiao Shen snapped. “He almost suspected something.”
The nearest shaven-headed man frowned down at the body. “Is he truly dead?”
“Either that, or close enough.” Xiao Shen flashed a cold smile. “If the poor fool is still lingering, his body will give out soon enough. The curses searing his body and soul were merciless in their forging and intent, as Headmaster Bingwen had intended. And you will carry him as gently as a feather pillow down to the bowels of the crater before depositing him with loving care into the blackest pit of them all! So it can never be said that he took an ounce of harm from our hands. But what happens after you leave is another matter entirely.”
The second assistant frowned at the doo
r. “Why is there a shallow crater underneath the door, master? I thought the headmaster instructed us to assure a perfect seal at all times.”
Xiao Chen chuckled coldly. “I suppose that’s what happen when multiple Death talismans unleash at once. Impervious to damage as the enchanted frame and hinges are, we dared not ward the floor. But it does not matter! No mortal force weaker than a Gold will be able to put even a single extra crack in the flooring around our most sacred prize.”
Xiao Chen snorted. “It is only because this Ruidian abomination channeled every single one of Headmaster Bingwen’s wards through his smoking corpse that the floor was damaged in the first place. But no matter. Some slaked lime mixed with sticky rice soup is an old mason’s trick that will seal the hole up so well no rat will be able to burrow through. A bit of added ash ‘til it all blends, then polish it down, and no one not looking for it will sense the damage.” He glared down at Alex. “I would skin you alive myself, were the job not one even a slave could perform!”
“Shall we strip him bare, Master Xiao?”
The true Headmaster of Morning Dew Temple frowned thoughtfully at the Ruidian, before his eyes brightened in a smile. “Yes… yes, I think we can get away with that. If he is but moments away from death, it will count the same as if he is sleeping, and we, his hosts, are doing nothing more than the courtesy of storing his gear away in his quarters. And since you can’t steal from the dead, or every scion who ever lived would be ward-blocked from their ancestor’s homes, his treasures should be free of all oath bindings within a day or so, depending on how much time the darkbeasts take to devour his flesh and consume his soul.”
He glared at his men. “Well? Delay no further! Strip him bare, and get him down to the pit! I shall place the goods in his quarters personally.”
“Understood, sir,” said the shorter cultivator. “What about his Ruidian friends?”
Xiao Shen chuckled coldly, his beady eyes glittering with cruel malice as his henchmen stripped Alex bare. “Oh, I have a delightful surprise in store for them, and one that doesn’t break any oaths made to this fool at all.”
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior's Oath: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 4 Page 27