“See that window looking into the fifth floor?” Killjoy asked. “There’s someone working at the desk. He’s been marked.”
“You can tell that from way over here?” Cha Ming asked.
Killjoy shook her head. “No. I identified him earlier and recognize his face. I did some asking around, and apparently he rarely leaves the building. That leads me to believe there’s something hidden inside it. We’re going to infiltrate it.”
“Any plans on how we’ll do this?” Cha Ming asked. “Should I call Huxian?”
“If we have to,” Killjoy said. “In truth, I’m worried about those monkeys.”
“You found more of them, didn’t you?” Cha Ming said.
“Not monkeys, but different types of demons,” Killjoy said. “Black skin, black fur, black feathers. All types of features that match up. Pitch-black eyes and the like. Many demons are fleeing demon territory, and it seems the raiders are taking advantage of this to scoop them up. We don’t know why they’re doing this, but we intend to find out.”
“That doesn’t sound ominous at all,” Xiao Bai said.
Does any of this tickle anything in that large memory bank of yours? Cha Ming asked Sun Wukong.
Maybe… Sun Wukong said. Sometimes things like these happen when a plane is in danger. Mutations and demonic variants happen more frequently. Still, it’s strange they should all share the same features. That’s very uncommon. Usually it’s random.
What does it mean? Cha Ming asked.
It means the plane feels this feature is required for its survival, Sun Wukong said. Remember, a plane’s will is mostly unconscious. That applies even to transcendent planes. There are reasons for that which I won’t delve into. Anyway, each plane will have strong survival instincts. Only game-changers like a Taotie could evade detection.
So something here is threatening the plane? Cha Ming asked.
Could be yes, could be no, Sun Wukong said. This could be a symptom of a greater ill. Regardless, it’s clear some group is trying to capitalize on it.
“Let’s keep Huxian out of this for now,” Cha Ming said. “When we spoke to the Iridescent Phoenix Clan, it seems they also had such demons, which others tried to capture. Whether or not they still have ink-variant demons like the Star-Eye Monkey Clan remains to be seen.” Though Cha Ming doubted they were involved in this scheme, it was still a possibility. They would need to investigate after they somehow prevented a war between demon factions.
“Look, I think he’s doing something,” Mi Fei said.
“Let’s follow,” Killjoy whispered. They retrieved their stealth tarp and stalked toward the building’s shadow.
The Li Clan shipping yard wasn’t as large as the Xia Clan’s. Unlike the efficient open-aired shipping yard preferred by a proper logistics company, it was much heavier on the storage side. The shipping yard was filled with assorted warehouses where ores and other materials were stored. They followed the man as he hurried to a medium-sized warehouse in the northeastern section of the yard.
“Interesting,” Cha Ming said. “That warehouse appears empty from far away.”
“And now?” Killjoy said.
“Now I can’t tell,” Cha Ming said. “That means something.”
The warehouse was well protected. It was guarded, and the door only opened when verified through body aura via an identification formation. Now that he was closer, Cha Ming could see many high-level runes swimming through the walls like they were a liquid. This formation was beyond him—at least a peak-level formation artist would have set it up. One specialized in reinforcing structures.
“Can you break us in?” Killjoy asked.
Cha Ming shook his head. “We’ll probably need to follow someone in. I could possibly shape change to do that.”
Killjoy frowned. “Auras are tough to copy.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not a problem,” Cha Ming said. “We just need to wait until he comes out.”
“I heard something,” Xiao Bai said.
“Me too,” Mi Fei said. “It sounded like breaking glass.”
No sooner had she spoken than an alarm rang out. Lights began to flash around the building. They followed Xiao Bai to the back of the building where a cloaked figure was fighting off armed guards.
Cha Ming prepared to interfere, but he quickly realized this figure was much stronger than they were. They easily tore through the guards, cutting them in half before rushing toward the wall faster than even Xiao Bai could handle.
“Whoa,” Xiao Bai said as a silver slash split the wall in two and the figure broke through the protective boundary in the facility and escaped its pursuers.
“My tracking talisman missed,” Mi Fei said. “Whoever that was, he was too fast.”
“I don’t think that was a he,” Cha Ming said.
“Was it someone you know?” Killjoy asked.
“Someone we all know,” Cha Ming said. “Fortunately, I’m able to track said person.” Or at least, a person in the Clear Sky World was. Sun Wukong was standing next to a golden music box, which projected a golden karmic thread. “Follow me.”
They left the shipping yard while taking extra care not to trip on their emergency security measures. Once out, they climbed onto a pair of stealth ships and shot off into the night. The sky was a flurry of activity, since the city watch was now involved in the chase. The golden thread they chased after sped off at a frightening pace and evaded pursuers with uncanny precision. The Spirit of the Clockwork Ancestor wasn’t allowing her to get caught.
“This way,” Cha Ming said. They took a detour to the west. For a time, they heard sirens and emergency calls. The city watch swept the various districts, and indeed, they were caught once or twice on their way. Fortunately, being a member of the Kingfisher Guard had its benefits, and they were immediately let go without questioning. Cha Ming took a roundabout route in case they were being followed, and only after an hour had passed did he adjust his course to a rundown part of demon territory.
They landed in a junkyard, a place where all the refuse in the city accumulated. If not for the walls around the facility and the modicum of security, the place would have been crawling with homeless vagrants. As a result, only cultivators who were down on their luck lingered here. The bottom rungs of society—mostly demonkind, Cha Ming observed—rested here and tended to whatever grave wounds ailing them. Only the most helpless of beings would loiter here.
“She’s here,” Cha Ming said, landing outside a makeshift shack of wood, concrete, and metal. He knocked on the door but received no reply. He hesitated, then pushed aside the large board that covered the entrance and entered.
The Pale Lady was lying on a broken mattress. The floor was covered with black blood.
“She’s wounded. Badly,” Killjoy said. She shook her head and forced a healing pill into the Pale Lady’s mouth. Her cloak had been torn to shreds, and her face was covered in scratch-like cracks filled with a white powder. Her hair was bleach white, and her pointed teeth were grinding against each other painfully.
“Your pills won’t help her,” said a voice.
“Who goes there?” Killjoy asked, drawing her sword.
“You forget me so soon?” said the Clockwork Ancestor as she appeared above the wounded demon. “You wound me.”
“What? How are you here?” Killjoy said.
“It’s complicated,” Cha Ming said. “But this is how I was able to track her. Did you discover anything that can help us, Clockwork Ancestor?”
“I will not say,” the Clockwork Ancestor said coyly. “Perhaps she will. If you help her.”
Cha Ming sighed. He’d dealt with her enough times and knew there was no beating an answer out of her. “How can I do that?”
“It is difficult,” the Clockwork Ancestor said. “My people have not been treated fairly in this realm. The materials needed are difficult to obtain. One option is the Li Clan. Another, the Iridescent Phoenix Clan.”
“Those aren’t options I’d like t
o pursue,” Cha Ming said.
“Then the only ones that remain are her people,” the Clockwork Ancestor said. “Only they can help her.”
“She’s an outcast,” Cha Ming said. “Shneraz said they wouldn’t give her the time of day.”
“Those are your only options, I’m afraid,” the Clockwork Ancestor said.
“How much time do we have?” Cha Ming asked.
“Very little,” she said. “And that’s with me helping her. Now get on with you. I have much work that needs doing.” The Spirit of the Clockwork Ancestor plunged back into the Pale Lady’s body.
“Hm,” Xiao Bai said, inspecting the woman’s wound. “She’s not in good shape.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Cha Ming asked.
“Looks like a nutrient deficiency,” Xiao Bai said. “She hasn’t been eating well.”
“She just needs food?” Cha Ming said incredulously.
“Not normal food, dummy,” Mi Fei said. “Anyone can get normal food.”
“I think approaching the Li Clan is out of the question,” Killjoy said. “Perhaps the Iridescent Phoenix Clan?”
“They might just kill her on sight,” Cha Ming said. “Apparently, she’s wanted by their clan. Or so Shneraz said. Not a bounty, since that would be dishonorable. Give me a moment.” He took out his communication jade and placed a call. A grumbling voice answered.
“What is it?” Shneraz said.
“We have the Pale Lady,” Cha Ming said.
“Hah. Caught her red-handed?” Shneraz said.
“Er… it’s complicated,” Cha Ming said. “She’s hurt. I’ve been told by a reliable source that she probably needs the help of her people to recover.”
“No,” Shneraz said instantly. “She abandoned her clan. These are the consequences of her actions.”
“She discovered something important, and the enemy wounded her,” Cha Ming said. “I need to know what she knows.”
Shneraz hesitated. “How bad is she hurt?”
Xiao Bai grabbed the transmission device. “Her face is scarred. She’s literally crying rust. Oh, and her lips are black.”
Shneraz cursed. “She’s pretty far gone. She won’t last until I get back. Let me think a moment. How important is this information? What’s the nature of it? If we’re going to help her, it could cost lives.”
“She was caught escaping a Li Clan warehouse,” Cha Ming said. “She was grievously wounded, but the Spirit of the Clockwork Ancestor helped her escape.”
“The ancestor?” Shneraz asked, his interest piqued. “You mentioned the Li Clan as well?”
“Is that important?” Cha Ming asked.
“They are our mortal enemies, so yes, it’s very important,” Shneraz said. “Clear Sky, is the spirit still with you?”
“She is resting,” Cha Ming said. “She spent a lot of energy helping her escape.”
“Hm. We’ll have to hope she left a trace of her power on her somewhere,” Shneraz said.
“I can’t see anything,” Cha Ming said, looking her up and down.
“You wouldn’t be able to,” Shneraz said. “Such marks are special. Go to the coordinates I give you. Bring her there. We have little to offer, but if the Li Clan is involved in all this… they should know. Ask for Vereniz. You may encounter problems.”
“Thank you,” Cha Ming said.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Shneraz said, then ended the conversation.
“Who wants to carry her?” Cha Ming asked.
“Not doing it,” Killjoy said. “She’s your pet project.”
“You need to take responsibility for your actions, Clear Sky,” Mi Fei agreed.
Cha Ming rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He picked up the surprisingly heavy woman and hefted her onto his stealth ship.
They arrived at their destination an hour later. The home of the Golden Dragons was deep in in the demon quarter, where some of the poorest demons lived. Perhaps it was due to Shneraz’s impressive demeanor, or his presumption that dragons should be wealthy, but Cha Ming found himself disappointed.
There was arguing. Weapons were drawn. Many higher-level demons arrived as they did. But unlike Shneraz, most of them were weaker than the average demon. Pathetically so. Their homes weren’t gilded or artistic like the halls of their ancestor. What few buildings occupied the small plot of land were plain and mostly free of adornment.
There were no open displays of wealth like they’d seen at the Iridescent Phoenix Clan. The things they did own were old but well maintained. The people inhabiting the dwellings less resembled Shneraz with his golden features and more the Pale Lady with her white skin and light scales. Everyone here had a sickly look about them. A few even had dark marks like those on the Pale Lady’s wounded face.
Children coughed and wheezed here, though occasionally, a young man or woman brimmed with life. Like Shneraz, they were strong, and their demon weapons were in good condition. Invariably, those members were fighters, whether that be in the form of adventurers, mercenaries, or bronze- or silver-ranked guardsmen. Fighting was a way of life in this demon clan.
It took a while to shove their way through. There was bitter arguing, but ultimately, the small crowd that gathered when they’d arrived relented. Cha Ming carried the Pale Lady inside and placed her on a bed. A few of the adults gasped when they saw her wounds and brought out small jade chests. They withdrew thin bricks of metal from them, which they shaved thin flakes from and mixed into a slurry. They then began force-feeding the wounded demon with a practiced hand. They’d evidently run into such situations before.
“You feed her too much,” one of the stronger men said. “She doesn’t deserve such treatment.”
“Are you the head of the household or am I?” a weaker-looking demon said. She was old and ill of health, but surprisingly, she was a peak-initiation demon just as the Pale Lady was. Yet she looked frail enough that a gust of wind could finish her off. She didn’t have the presence the Stargazer Chieftain had shown him.
“I defer to your judgment,” the man replied, bowing his head lightly to Vereniz, the matriarch of the Golden Dragons living in the Burning Lake Prefecture.
“We must feed her more than others,” Vereniz continued. “That is her nature. That is why we cast her out in the first place.” She shook her head. “Such a foolish thing we did.”
“She chose the wrong path,” the man said. “The elders voted on it.”
“A demon doesn’t choose her path,” Vereniz hissed. “She is born into it. You all forced my granddaughter to her death.” She looked to Cha Ming as the others fed the woman. “You. I sense the presence of the Ancestor on your bones. As I do on her, weak as it may be. Why is that?”
“The Spirit of the Clockwork Ancestor has been accompanying me due to strange circumstances,” Cha Ming said.
“You? A human?” the petulant demon from before said.
“Be quiet, Hershah,” Vereniz said. “Please continue, young man.”
“We met under strange circumstances, like I said,” Cha Ming explained. “The Spirit of the Clockwork Ancestor took an interest in the Pale Lady while we were out on a mission. She was intrigued and decided to follow her about. That was some time ago, but by coincidence, we encountered her as she was fleeing one of the Li Clan’s shipping yards.”
“I doubt it was coincidence,” Vereniz said. She handed a spoon to the middle-aged man who’d been arguing with her. “Here, you continue feeding her. It’s good practice.”
“Me?” Hershah said. He gritted his teeth, but he did as instructed.
“You might not know this, but Serrendil was born under unusual circumstances,” Vereniz said. Seeing his confusion, she nodded at the figure in the bed. “That is her name.”
“There’s no need to delve into anything too personal,” Cha Ming said.
“Quite the contrary,” Vereniz said. “If the Ancestor has shown interest in her, as a result, you are connected. You might not have seen this, as she has been malnourished, but S
errendil was born with darker features. You see, Golden Dragons typically have lighter hair. Golden, usually.”
“Shneraz has golden hair,” Cha Ming said, nodding. “Everyone around here seems to have golden or ashen hair.”
“Hers was black,” Vereniz said. “Most importantly, her scale signs were black as well. Scale signs indicate what variant of Golden Dragon one is. They are typically either golden or a fusion of gold and one of the other four elemental colors. In her case, they were dark gold. Almost black.” Cha Ming felt a shiver running down his spine, and the Matriarch gave him a knowing look. “I thought that might be important.”
“These metals,” Cha Ming said, tapping on one of the jade boxes. “I’ve seen them before. I use them to train in a footwork technique.”
She looked at him strangely but nodded. “Then it must be a Golden Dragon technique. These are not ordinary metals but dragon metals.”
“I have… a creation ability,” Cha Ming said. “I can create most materials if I expend enough energy. It’s not normally efficient, but these metals are hard to obtain. One day, I tried to replicate them, but I couldn’t. And now that I think about it, I had to sign an agreement when I bought more of them.” His eyes narrowed as he thought back to Cao Wenluan’s story. “Part of that agreement had to do with the Golden Dragon Clan.”
Vereniz smiled ruefully. “The Li Clan has been a thorn in our side. Over a hundred years ago, we used to live in the mountains. Back then, we prospered. But one year, we were tricked. Our leaders were not wise. We fought, but we were forced to flee. We thought everything would be all right since most things can be bought and sold in this world.”
“The Li Clan strangled your access to them,” Cha Ming concluded. “I am contractually bound not to sell such metals to you. At least not the ones I bought from the Li Clan.”
“Dragon metals are not of this world,” Vereniz said. “Most people do not know this, but these metals, even when mined, do not originate from this plane. Instead, they come from pocket realms that are interspersed in the fabric of the Inkwell Plane.
“Since our supply has been strangled and our supply chains destroyed, we barely maintain a feeble existence through agreements with the Iridescent Phoenix Clan, the Kingfisher Guard, and smuggling these metals in for an exorbitant price.” She shook her head. “Once, we were mighty. My grandmother was young when she passed without warning, and my mother wasn’t up to the task of leading us. She died fighting the Li Clan, and here we are. Only a shadow of a once-great clan.”
Crown of the Starry Sky: Book 11 of Painting the Mists Page 46