Crown of the Starry Sky: Book 11 of Painting the Mists

by Patrick Laplante

  “Two things,” Cha Ming said. “First, I want you to find out if there have been any disappearances in the city. Among demonkind.”

  “I don’t need to investigate that. Demons go missing all the time,” Huxian said.

  “In cities?” Cha Ming asked.

  “Good point,” Huxian said. “The watch might actually keep track of that.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Cha Ming said. “Please coordinate with the city watch and any leaders in the demon community on this. Second, I want you to investigate strange variation demons with black or inky fur. Mutations resembling our friends in the other room. Call it a hunch.”

  “Sure,” Huxian said. “Sounds easy.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Special Night asked.

  “Yes,” Cha Ming said. His soul entered the Clear Sky World and found what he was looking for. Origami birds, trapped in their own dimension. He poured power into the Space-time Camera and took a picture. The origami birds froze in time. He then took the sealed sphere out of the Clear Sky World and passed it to Special Night. “From what I understand, you can find people quite easily. What about Dao Lords?”

  “It depends on a few factors,” Special Night said, looking at the orb curiously. “Is this a piece of someone’s body?”

  “A member of the Origami Clan turned into these cranes when struck with too much force,” Cha Ming said.

  “Then it may be linked to his life force, if he is indeed a Dao Lord,” Special Night said. “Daoists aren’t strong enough for that, but Dao Lords are. Thankfully, it’s not a demon you want me to find. Humans are much easier. Do I get a budget?”

  “I can give you a thousand mid-grade inkwell jades to start off with,” Cha Ming said. “Ask if you need more.”

  “We’ll see…” Special Night said. “That’s not a lot, I’ll have you know.”

  “Just don’t go shopping at the Greenwind Pavilion,” Cha Ming said with a shrug.

  “And get robbed?” Special Night asked, horrified. He was glad to see that the feeling was mutual.

  Cha Ming then looked to Crying Toad. “As for you, my friend, I have a very important job for you.”

  “Me?” Crying Toad said. “I’m not very good at this kind of thing.”

  “Well, we have a bit of a problem on our hands,” Cha Ming said. “Our captives were remotely detonated, as were any corpses. I’m going to need you to cook something up to help us find them.”

  “Like what?” Crying Toad asked.

  Cha Ming told him via mental transmission.

  “Hm. I’ve never tried that. Might need a bit of research.”

  “I can give you days, but I can’t give you weeks,” Cha Ming said. “These attacks are coming far too frequently.”

  “I’ll hurry up,” Crying Toad said. “Do I get a research budget too?”

  “Five hundred mid-grade inkwell jades,” Cha Ming said.

  “What? That’s way less than her budget,” Crying Toad protested.

  “Yes, but I trust her,” Cha Ming said. “Don’t you dare ask me for more.” He was sure Crying Toad could find something. Then he’d probably find a way to pocket the rest by purchasing “research materials.”

  “What about me?” Shneraz said.

  “For now, I want you to find information on that Golden Dragon,” Cha Ming said. “It was a Golden Dragon, wasn’t it?”

  Shneraz hesitated. “Yes and no. I’d need to ask some questions to be sure we’re thinking about the same person.”

  “Try to find out who it is,” Cha Ming said. “We can’t use law enforcement. The attack was on demon territory, so we lack jurisdiction.”

  “When you find out, what will you do?” Shneraz asked.

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  Shneraz nodded. “I’ll put the word out. It may take some time to find her. My kin are always busy. Always on trips or missions. And we don’t like to waste resources on communication devices.”

  “Please do,” Cha Ming said. He looked to Silver Fish. “You’ve dealt with her as well. On a less-than-official capacity. I want you to look into these same unofficial circles you got your tips from. I need to know which cases she’s been involved in, their results, and any news about her victims. I want to know if any were ever ransomed.” Silver Fish nodded. “In the meantime, I need to go back to the guard station.”

  He left the guard house shortly after. Huxian and friends took off with their new guests in a cramped transport driven by a demon with exceptionally large arms. As for Cha Ming, he took a taxi back. The small ship was fast, and he didn’t have to focus on driving.

  Killjoy, did everything go all right?

  There was a lot of interference. An army of administrators practically attacked us. You’re lucky I have experience dealing with red tape.

  Transportation again?

  It’s a cutthroat business. Especially when it comes to permits. Need anything else?

  For now, just try to find out about the whereabouts of White-Eyed Tiger Demons and Origami clansmen. Oh, and the Cloudreach God Clan. Also try to find out anything you can about incoming caravans.

  Sure. I see you sent me a summary of what everyone else is doing. Sounds solid. What about you?

  I’m going to the guard house, Cha Ming replied. How is Mi Fei? She seemed down.

  You saw that too, huh? Lady White took her home. Apparently, that was the first time they were separated on a mission. And the first time she was trounced so badly.

  Drat. I didn’t consider that.

  It’s fine. It’ll be good for her development. Her fighting style is a little crazy and wasteful. She’s got power in spades, but she wastes it faster than an Iridescent Phoenix Clansman burns through money.

  I’m hearing all these jokes about the Iridescent Phoenix Clan demons, but I still haven’t met any of them, he said.

  You will, Killjoy said. I’d hate to spoil the surprise, though. Killjoy out.

  Cha Ming sighed. He looked through the window at the approaching skyscrapers. It was dawn, and the red sun was just peeking up over the city. The skies were only slightly cloudy, even outside the unenchanted territory that fell outside it.

  Something’s up with those monkeys, Cha Ming said to Sun Wukong. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t believe in coincidence.

  They’re strange, Sun Wukong agreed. But mutations happen all the time. I think what’s stranger is their tribe’s behavior.

  What do you mean? Cha Ming asked.

  Well, every demon type has certain quirks, Sun Wukong said. Those phoenixes you keep hearing about are arrogant. Foxes play pranks on each other. Cats are territorial. Tigers are hierarchal and prone to fighting. Wolves and dogs follow their pack leaders.

  And monkeys? Cha Ming asked.

  Monkeys are combative, Sun Wukong said. They come in many varieties, but one thing never changes: They live and die together. They wouldn’t abandon clan members, even if it meant war. A chieftain would rather go hungry himself than cast his own people out.

  So you’re saying they’re lying? Cha Ming asked. It didn’t seem like it.

  I’m saying the situation in their clan isn’t normal, Sun Wukong said. It makes you wonder. Although… they are Star-Eye Monkeys. Much of this could be due to an accumulation of madness.

  Madness? Cha Ming asked.

  It’s to do with their natural abilities, Sun Wukong said. We’ll see soon enough, I’ll wager. He said no more as they continued the drive.

  Not much happened on the way back. Cha Ming was exhausted, but he had no time to rest. Just more pieces of the puzzle floating in his mind. Exiles from a clan that were acting strangely. Bandits—both human and demon—robbing trade caravans heading through demon territory. Origami clansmen. White-Eyed Tiger Demons. A space-time quest for Huxian. Silver Fish and the prefecture lords.

  “Sir?” a voice said. He woke up with a start. “Sir, you fell asleep. We’re here.” They’d arrived at the guard station.

  “Thanks,”
Cha Ming said. He paid the man and stepped off the ship. He then made his way up to his room, stopping only to make polite conversation. The short nap he’d been afforded had been refreshing. His body—no, his soul ached. “Maybe soul-healing tea this time,” he muttered. That would teach him for using limit-breaking abilities. He took a tin from his cupboard, grabbed a pot of water, and brought it to a boil.

  As the tea steeped, he caught a flicker in the room. He sighed and used his transcendent force to open a cupboard and fetch another cup. “You really don’t need to sneak in like that,” he said.

  “Good eye,” Captain Xing said, appearing from a dark corner.

  “It’s easy to see you when you’re not trying to hide,” Cha Ming said.

  “True,” Captain Xing said. “Soul-healing tea. It’s not one of those disgusting kinds, is it?”

  “Please,” Cha Ming said. “I can’t do everything, but I can at least pick good tea.” He poured them both a cup. They drank, and Cha Ming relished in the cooling sensation that filled every fiber of his being.

  “You owe me a favor, then,” Captain Xing said. “Admittedly a small favor. I’m not sure what you’ll do when their protection ends, though.”

  “I’ll think of something,” Cha Ming replied. “A lot of pieces are up in the air. I don’t suppose there’s a deadline for this mission?”

  “No,” Captain Xing said. “No hard deadline. Just bear in mind that with every passing day, it’s not just merchants, transportation companies, and insurance companies that are losing out. This is affecting the power balance in the area.”

  “I gathered as much,” Cha Ming said.

  “Next steps?” Captain Xing asked.

  “I thought you didn’t want to involve yourself in the case?” Cha Ming said.

  “But I happen to be curious and lack for better discussion topics,” Captain Xing said. “I personally find it helps to have a sounding board.”

  “If you’re offering,” Cha Ming said. He sipped from his cup. Another cooling wave washed through his body, though this one wasn’t as intense as the last. The scars on his soul began to fade. They itched like his body did as it repaired itself, healing the Dao scars that littered his body like thousands of tiny paper cuts. “I hate the Origami Clan. Sword cuts are one thing, but paper cuts?”

  “Definitely painful,” Captain Xing said. “Their Dao is strange and powerful. Their scars are difficult to heal.”

  “I had a run-in with them before,” Cha Ming said.

  “So I hear,” Captain Xing said. “They haven’t been a problem in other prefectures, as far as I know. This is the first occurrence. Otherwise, they’d be the subject of an intense investigation.”

  “They and the White-Eyed Tiger Clan were involved in a space-time quest with my demon companion,” Cha Ming said with a shrug. “Might be worth investigating.”

  “I’ll make a note of it,” Captain Xing said.

  Cha Ming placed his now-empty teacup on the table. He tapped his lips with his fingers. “Special Night and Killjoy are gathering information. Crying Toad is working on a special project I’d rather not discuss.”

  “Forbidden?” Captain Xing asked.

  “Just something I’d rather keep secret,” Cha Ming said. “I don’t know how things work around here, but from what I understand, the more I say something, the easier it is for someone to find out I said it.”

  “True,” Captain Xing said. “It has to do with karma. Words, especially repeated or written ones, have power.”

  “Huxian and his friends are taking care of the demon monkeys, and my gut tells me they are important,” Cha Ming said. “So the next step is rather logical. I need to go visit the tribe they came from.”

  “I see,” Captain Xing said.

  “So it’s fortunate that you came here to talk,” Cha Ming said. “I expected you to. I need you to approve something.”

  “Like what?” Captain Xing said.

  “A gift,” Cha Ming said. “I need something a peak-initiation demon would think is worthwhile. Preferably a fruit.”

  “You mean a bribe?” Captain Xing said. “I’m not big on bribes, and besides, they’re illegal.”

  “It’s a cultural requirement where I’m going,” Cha Ming said. “I recall there being an exception. It might not get me what I need, but it will get me started.”

  Captain Xing sighed. “Fine. But you need to answer a question first.”

  “Go ahead,” Cha Ming said.

  “Why did you let her go?” Captain Xing asked.

  “Ah,” Cha Ming said. “You spotted that.”

  “How could I not?” Captain Xing said. “I was watching. I may not be part of this mission, but I’m supervising it.”

  Cha Ming nodded. “There are two reasons. I will tell you one, because it’s the only one I can share.”

  “Go on,” Captain Xing said.

  “It’s my experience that Golden Dragons are noble,” Cha Ming said. “They have moral codes that bind them. From what my teammate Shneraz has told me, this is something taught strictly in every family.”

  “And what does that have to do with the price of lemon juice?” Captain Xing asked.

  “Well, if she were a villain, that would be one thing,” Cha Ming said. “But there’s a chance that she is being used as a tool. If I could locate said tool, and convince her, I may be able to obtain more information. Is that not reason enough? Moreover, this is a fortunate development, given that our prisoners self-detonated, and any corpses we recovered burst into flames and left nothing but ash.”

  Captain Xing pursed his lips. “Fine, I’ll buy that. Buy your gift. But don’t go overboard. We’re a problem-solving team, not a bottomless bank.”

  “I missed you too, Captain,” Cha Ming said. “Say, do you play Angels and Devils?”

  “Angels and what?”

  “Drat,” Cha Ming said. “It’s a game.”

  “You mean like chess?” Captain Xing said.

  “Wait, you know chess?” Cha Ming asked. “That’s a thing here?”

  “Well, it seems this evening won’t be a complete waste of time,” Captain Xing said. He summoned a small board full of familiar pieces and placed it on the table. “I found this game on a mission in Mendin. It’s hard to find anyone to play with out here. Are you any good?”

  “Let’s find out,” Cha Ming said. They began playing, and for a few hours, life no longer seemed so overwhelming.

  Chapter 15: Stargazer City

  When anyone thought of a city, they thought of buildings as far as the eye could see. Tall buildings, if that could be managed, but that wasn’t a necessity. Stargazer City didn’t resemble a city in any sense of the word. Yet here it was, named and occupied.

  Cha Ming and his companions Mi Fei, Xiao Bai, and Shneraz were stopped at the entrance by a team of lazy demon monkey guards with staves. They announced their purpose, and the guards let them through without any trouble, though they did make it clear to Xiao Bai and Shneraz, the two responsible demons in their group, that neither human could go unsupervised. They were humans, after all. Humans caused trouble. They were not normally allowed in demon cities. After several assurances and oaths, they went on their merry way. Into the heart of the city, where a massive tree loomed overhead.

  It was morning, and the sky was reddish and light purple, with few clouds in the sky. There were no weather enchantments in Stargazer City. Despite that fact, the weather was substantially different here than the weather outside. In the city, it was hot, slightly humid, and rained only at night.

  “It’s because monkey demons hate the rain,” Xiao Bai explained as they walked. “But they’ll tolerate it because it makes plants grow. Doesn’t matter which type, they’re all tree lovers.”

  True to her word, there were trees everywhere. Fruit-bearing ones were most popular. On principle, any demon who passed a tree could grab one of their fruits if they were hungry. In practice, however, a complex social hierarchy had developed to decide who h
ad priority on said fruits when conflicts inevitably arose.

  Bestial demons were not allowed inside the city, mostly due to their size and lack of intelligence. But plenty of demons were very liberal with the definition of “human form.” Tails were a must, and ears were common, though the amount of hair an individual demon had depended on their personal preference. In some cases, there was barely any, and these individuals were fashionably clothed. Others were more monkey or ape than human, satisfying themselves with the convenience of four limbs and whatever number of fingers they managed.

  Like one might expect, there was very little metal in Stargazer City. The outermost buildings were little more than poorly built shacks in an unmaintained slum. Yet as they approached the center, near the tree, buildings grew taller, and so did the trees. Sometimes, buildings and trees were wrapped around one another and completely inseparable. There were tens of thousands of buildings here, all made of living wood. It was a smaller city than the prefectural city—it had to be. There were no mortals here, save perhaps children. Every demon here had a human form, and any who reached adulthood were initiation-realm demons. Still, there were hundreds of thousands of them.

  “Rudeness isn’t really an issue in demon monkey culture,” Shneraz explained as they walked. “Monkey demons of all varieties are usually a little rough around the edges. They tend to be combative. Though the Star-Eye Monkeys, the ruling class of demons in this city, are a bit of an exception.”

  “They’re nicer than the other types?” Cha Ming asked.

  “They’re ruder,” Xiao Bai said. She was eating a snack she’d bought from a street vendor using strange yellow coins. It was meat, which was strange to Cha Ming since she was a rabbit, but nothing about her really surprised him anymore.

  “The situation is a little complicated,” Shneraz added. “Due to their unique abilities, depending on how often they’ve used them, they will either be much more aggressive than the average demon, or a lot less aggressive and more laid back. There is a duality in their clan.”

  “You can tell by the stars in their eyes,” Xiao Bai said. “See those over there? They’re aligned with the Builder constellation. The ones further down, the mean-looking guards with angry eyes? Those are aligned with the Warrior constellation.”