Violet Heart

by Patrick Laplante

  “Peak-foundation-establishment members,” the barkeep said, wincing. “You’re too late. Anyone at late grade or higher was taken. Only Luo Xuehua is left; she’s in her courtyard, but she seems busy. Foundation-establishment members aside, all core-formation cultivators were subjected to an emergency requisition. I even had to cancel other missions to make it happen.”

  “I understand,” Yue Bing said, massaging her eyebrows. She looked around the room once more, hoping to find someone she’d missed among the tables and mugs of ale and glasses of wine. Many heroic individuals looked at her with bright smiles, hoping to be recruited. Fortunately for them, she couldn’t bring herself to send them to their deaths.

  Seeing that there was nothing she could gain here, she bid farewell to the barkeep and walked to the accommodation quarter. She had a room there, but it had been a while since she’d used it. As she entered the courtyard, she noticed a blind woman with pale skin and a frosty complexion walking away from a door in disappointment.

  Apparently, I’m not the only one desperately recruiting cultivators, Yue Bing thought.

  “What brings you here today?” Luo Xuehua asked as Yue Bing entered the garden area between accommodations. “Weren’t you supposed to stay in the Southern Battlefield for a year?”

  “Plans changed, unfortunately,” Yue Bing said, sighing. “We had someone cross the wall—a rather dangerous individual. They sent me out to catch him.”

  “That’s extremely concerning,” Luo Xuehua said. “Cultivation level?”

  “Unquantified,” Yue Bing replied. “Most peak-foundation-establishment cultivators aren’t his match. I was hoping to recruit a squad, but unfortunately, they’re all out.”

  “I was hoping to do the same,” Luo Xuehua said. “I received a message from your senior.”

  “Zi Long?” Yue Bing said. “Is everything all right with him?”

  “For now,” Luo Xuehua said. “But he sent me a message for assistance. The Violet Heart Sect is causing him some trouble. Which is awfully ironic, given his relationship with Brother Fan.”

  “Something must have happened to Brother Fan, then,” Yue Bing said.

  “Something did happen to him, which is why he went there in the first place,” Luo Xuehua said. “And just yesterday, his life slip cracked. I was about to rush over and help him, but Brother Zi asked me to find some muscle if I could. Unfortunately, my door knocking hasn’t rustled up anything quite yet. I may have to head there alone in the end.”

  “What an interesting coincidence,” Yue Bing said. “I happen to be heading to Violet City myself. The fugitive is headed there. At least, he is according to the teleportation circle he used. Do you think both cases are related?”

  “I’m not one to believe in coincidence, if that’s what you mean,” Luo Xuehua answered. “Now I’m even more worried. Why don’t we head there together? I’d feel a lot better with a genius doctor accompanying me.”

  “Hardly a genius, and hardly a doctor if you ask some people,” Yue Bing said.

  “I see you’ve taken a blow to your confidence at long last,” Luo Xuehua said. “It was inevitable given your fast progress. Why don’t you tell this senior sister all about it on our way north?”

  “They’re not exactly a welcoming bunch, are they?” Yue Bing said, looking around Violet City. Due to Fan Yong’s death and Xuehua’s insistence, they’d made good time by using the sect’s teleportation arrays. Everyone in the city was working hard and seemingly busy. But beneath this thin mask, Yue Bing could see frowns and suspicion. These people had evidently seen better days.

  “Let’s not waste time here,” Luo Xuehua said. They passed through the busy streets and arrived at the foot of the mountain, where a violet arch guarded the steps to the sect. Just as they were about to step through, however, the sect guardians swung their weapons to bar their path.

  “Halt,” the guards said. “My apologies, misses, but the Violet Heart Sect has been sealed. Entry onto the mountain is currently forbidden.”

  Luo Xuehua frowned. “I’m a personal friend of Sect Master Fan Yong, and we’re both colleagues of his from the Alabaster Group. Surely you can make an exception for us?”

  “Unfortunately, these directions come straight from the grand elder and the elder council,” the guard said apologetically. “Unless the guild master himself were to pass his instructions to me, there’s nothing I can do for you.”

  “Is that truly the only way?” Yue Bing asked.

  “He might have been exaggerating but not by too much,” the other guard said. “We can let you through if you get an elder to sponsor you. As a note, due to the sect-protecting formation being activated, only sect members would be able to manage the climb. That is, unless a sect member helped.”

  “Thank you for your kind assistance,” Yue Bing said, pulling Luo Xuehua along. They walked for a half mile before speaking via voice transmission.

  There’s something fishy going on, she sent.

  They didn’t even mention the sect master’s death, Luo Xuehua added. That’s not common practice. My guess is they’re using a blanket lockdown to prevent us from helping Brother Zi. This avoids the need to offend specific organizations like ours. Given that Brother Zi can’t come retrieve us, we’ll have to find another way in.

  Let’s gather some information first, Yue Bing sent.

  She made some quick inquiries, and before long, they arrived at a nondescript building with an azure-colored doorway. What smelled like a fresh spring breeze washed over them as they passed through the doors. They passed the desks on the first floor and proceeded up several flights of stairs. They only stopped once they had reached the fourth and final floor.

  “How can I help you fellow Daoists?” a man in an azure robe asked as they arrived.

  “We wish to inquire about the upper echelons of the Violet Heart Sect,” Luo Xuehua said directly.

  The man’s eye twitched. “The manager will be here shortly. Only he can make decisions on such matters.”

  Yue Bing and Luo Xuehua entered the only booth in the small floor. It expanded into a lush garden filled with conifers, purple rocks, and rivers. This gave the garden a local feel that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else.

  True to the man’s words, an older azure-robed man entered thirty breaths later. “I hear you’re both looking for news relating to the Violet Heart Sect,” he said. “But I hope you’ll appreciate that it’s rather difficult for us to reveal too much. After all, they are our protectors, our lifeline in this city.”

  “We’re not looking to harm the sect in any way,” Luo Xuehua said reassuringly. “We just have a few questions.” She placed a clear crystal on the table.

  To Yue Bing’s surprise, it was a top-grade spirit stone, worth ten thousand high-grade spirit stones. The amount she was willing to pay to find him was very telling of their relationship, no matter how cold and distant she acted. “Something has happened recently in the sect, causing them to close their gates. I want to know what it is.”

  “This is definitely a sensitive matter,” the man said, licking his lips as he eyed the spirit stone.

  “We already know that Fan Yong, the sect master, has died,” Luo Xuehua said. “What I’m looking for are minor details. Like why they decided to lock it down instead of holding a public funeral, as per the usual custom.”

  The man tapped his fingers on the table, thinking for a while. “I hear it’s a matter of succession,” the man said. “Apparently, an outsider arrived and obtained the sect master’s inheritance. It has all the elders riled up, and they’re not certain how to handle the matter. Apparently, the outsider has a heavy background that they can’t ignore. Otherwise, they might have just gone ahead and killed him to be done with it.”

  Luo Xuehua breathed a sigh of relief. “Do you know of a way to get us inside the sect?”

  “I couldn’t do it for all the money in the world,” the man said. “This relates both to power, succession, and face. It’s a very emba
rrassing matter for the elders, and they won’t allow anyone onto the mountain unless absolutely necessary.”

  “How is the health of each of the elders?” Yue Bing suddenly asked.

  The man smiled. “That’s easy enough news to share. While most of the elders are in excellent health, the second elder’s health has always been… unstable. He has a chronic condition that has been sapping away at his vitality for the past thirty years. While he still has a few years remaining, the reward he offered for his treatment back then was something that would make even core-formation cultivators apprehensive. Unfortunately, every single spirit doctor, even grandmasters, failed to cure his condition.”

  “I happen to be an excellent spirit doctor,” Yue Bing said. “Would you be able to contact him for an audience?”

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible given the sect lockdown,” the man said. “My apologies for being blunt, Miss Yue, but your reputation is also far from stellar at the moment.” Seeing her shocked expression, the man chuckled. “Yes, I know who you are, who you both are. I’m in the business of knowing. I received some important news some time ago from the Southhaven Battlefield. Quite a few soldiers and even generals aren’t happy with you. And a high-ranking spirit doctor, might I add.”

  “Then we’ll have to make my reputation stellar,” she said, looking at the top-grade spirit stone. “The information you’ve given us isn’t worth nearly as much as this stone. However, if you do us a favor, it can be.”

  “What would you like me to do?” the man asked.

  “It’s like this,” Yue Bing said. “I’ll be working in town for the next week. I want you to keep track of everything I do. After one week is up, I’d like you to send my portfolio to the second elder and tell him that I’ll only be in town for three more days. I am, after all, a busy woman who can’t stay in one place for too long.”

  The man looked at her awkwardly.

  “Don’t worry, this won’t affect your reputation,” she said. “If it’s not worth reporting, then don’t.”

  “There’s another matter,” Luo Xuehua chimed in. “I’d like you to report to your contacts within the sect that Zi Long is a senior member of the Alabaster Group, not just a junior one.” She revealed a white medallion which was much more ornate than Yue Bing’s. “I also happen to be a senior member, one who is here specifically to inquire on his behalf, and I would take great offense if anything happened to him.”

  “I’ll be sure to relay your message without delay,” the manager said gravely.

  Having concluded their business, Luo Xuehua and Yue Bing left the premises.

  “What now?” Luo Xuehua asked.

  “Now?” Yue Bing said. “Now we create miracles.”

  Chapter 26

  Yue Bing and Luo Xuehua pushed through crowded streets as they made their way to a large bluestone building. Many people waited in front of its tall doors, hoping to be selected to journey inside its hallowed halls. Most of these people were either sick, injured, or crippled; a minority of them were perfectly healthy, taking time out of their busy day to accompany their loved ones for medical attention. This was the Spirit Doctor Association, one of the most respected places in Violet City.

  “They’re pompous enough,” Luo Xuehua said softly as they made their way through the crowds. Instead of pushing through physically, the blind woman kept her incandescent force around them as a barrier. Lesser cultivators instinctively parted before them, greatly reducing the amount of pushing and shoving on their way to the building. “They make people wait outside just to be admitted. Wouldn’t it be better to issue them a number?”

  “What, and give up on all the prestige?” Yue Bing mocked bitterly. “This was one of the many reasons I left Quicksilver’s Spirit Doctor Association for the battlefield. I was afraid of becoming like them if I stayed for too long.”

  As she spoke, she flashed a silver badge representing her identity as a master spirit doctor. The attendant opened the doors reverently, allowing both inside without any trouble.

  The moment they walked in, a sterile smell filled their nostrils. The lobby was mostly devoid of decorations, save for an eerily familiar, bloodred ankh encircled with twin snakes, topped off with a pair of angelic wings. This universal symbol of medicine was as old as the profession itself. No one knew its origins, but no one dared change it. Here, tradition was often more important than saving lives.

  “How may I be of assistance?” an attendant said, running up to them as they were admiring the hall.

  “I wish to meet the association head to introduce myself,” Yue Bing said. “I hope to use my skills in medicine to assist him during my short stay in this city.”

  The attendant gulped. “I’ll relay your words to the grandmaster’s assistant,” she said. She clasped her hands together and bowed, leaving Yue Bing and Luo Xuehua to their own devices.

  “Won’t asking for an audience directly seem pretentious?” Luo Xuehua asked. “I’m no expert, but an organization that cares about face, respect, and seniority as much as this one would likely get offended.”

  “To save time, I need to offend,” Yue Bing said. “If we move at their pace, a lifetime will pass before we can enter the Violet Heart Sect. Besides, it’s not like we’ll get to meet the grandmaster right away. We’ll first have to confront his gatekeeper.”

  As she spoke, a man in blue robes walked up to them. He was a peak master-grade spirit doctor, two full ranks above Luo Xuehua.

  “Grandmaster Gu is busy,” the man said as he lightly bowed. “He apologizes for being unable to greet you personally. I, as the vice head of the association, will take on this formality. Please call me Vice Head Bei, Dr…”

  “Dr. Yue,” Yue Bing said. “It’s regrettable that Grandmaster Gu wasn’t able to make time. Though I won’t be staying long, I’m sure that I would be able to cure many afflictions.”

  “I’ll be sure to inform you of any excess cases that our mid-grade master doctors aren’t able to cover,” Vice Head Bei said.

  “Mid-grade patients?” Yue Bing asked, puzzled. “Would I have asked to meet Grandmaster Gu with mid-grade abilities? With my capabilities, treating peak-grade patients is simple. I might even be of assistance in core-grade cases. Yet here you are, wasting my precious time.”

  Vice Head Bei’s eye twitched. “Pardon me, Dr. Yue, but this would be a great deviation from protocol. You’re clearly only qualified to treat mid-grade patients. I fear there might be repercussions if we were to overstep these boundaries.”

  “So you’re doubting my capabilities?” Yue Bing said. “Very well, I won’t be petty. Allow me to display my skills on a peak-grade case, and we can consider this matter closed. Afterwards, you’ll apologize and relay my words the association head.” The man didn’t move. “Please hurry, my time is precious.”

  At that moment, an assistant walked up to Vice Head Bei and whispered something in his year. Vice Head Bei smiled. “It’s been such a while since we’ve met such a headstrong member,” he said. “Forgive me for not being able to grant you your request. I’ve just now heard of your recent… exploits, and it would be unfortunate if anything happened due to your unorthodox means.”

  Dr. Meng must have reported me, Yue Bing thought. This is going to be troublesome. “The sages once said that disallowing a doctor to treat patients is equivalent to murder,” Yue Bing responded calmly. “Are you sure you want to accept responsibility for this based on the hearsay of a doctor whom, I might add, recently misled the marshals and generals of the Song Kingdom, leading to the death of thousands?”

  Vice Head Bei frowned. Meanwhile, the silent whispering around them had quieted down. Such a faceoff was unusual in the Spirit Doctor Association, as most arguments were settled behind closed doors.

  “You’ll have to forgive me for carefully investigating this matter prior to allowing you to see patients,” Vice Head Bei said.

  “Then you’ll have to forgive me for being stubborn and requesting to meet the asso
ciation head directly,” Yue Bing replied.

  “Not just anyone can meet him, especially if they’ve been accused of the same crimes as you have,” Vice Head Bei said heatedly.

  “I committed no crimes, and an incompetent doctor slandered me,” Yue Bing said.

  “I can personally vouch for her character,” Luo Xuehua suddenly interjected.

  “And who might you be?” Vice Head Bei snapped.

  Luo Xuehua smiled gently and revealed a white medallion showing her identity as a senior member of the Alabaster Group. “She is also a junior member of our group. Surely you wouldn’t dare judge the moral character of our members to be lacking, especially given our stringent recruitment criteria.”

  Vice Head Bei gulped. If it were just a lower-ranking member, he wouldn’t have much trouble chasing her off. But becoming a senior member was quite difficult, especially at such a young age. Moreover, two of their members were present. It was difficult not to give their organization face and at least hear her out. As he wracked his brains for a solution to his predicament, a man came scurrying down the stairs at lightning speed. The man was clearly a cultivator, and a powerful one at that.

  “Master instructs that I bring Miss Yue and Miss Xuehua up to meet him,” the man said.

  “What a coincidence,” Vice Head Bei said with a sigh of relief. “I just remembered that I need to check up on a patient. I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you.” He then walked off hurriedly toward the nearest door, likely to hide himself away while regaining his composure and accepting his loss of face.

  “This way, misses,” the man said, leading the way toward the stairs. Yue Bing and Luo Xuehua followed the tall green-robed man up the marble stairs. The walls between each flight were adorned with stained-glass depictions of famous characters. These included Shennong, the founder of medicine; Hua Tuo, the genius doctor who could heal any injury; the first poison master, Du Meiyin, a great contributor of medical arts before her disciples corrupted them and used them to harm mankind; and finally, Xi He, the sun goddess, whose light purified the art of medicine hundreds of years ago.