Chapter Two Hundred and Fourteen - Lead the Oxen to Water

Forget not their wild nature, they are not as our partners.

Intelligent, yes.

Cunning, yes.

But their civility comes only from the recognition of strength.

The law of the Jianghu and the law of the Jungle are not so far removed as many would pretend.

“Lords Among Beasts,” by [Jade Arrowheads Come Calling]

The disturbance in Fu’s soul was strange and dislocated, prompting him to ponder what it was their second halves were currently undertaking, if only for a moment.

An auspicious morning, it seemed.

Even his disciples could feel it, for there was an invigoration in their continual sets of the [True Wind God Arts] that was not there in days passed. One that could only be attributed to the Heavenly Roaming Prefecture’s rise in Qi density.

A knock sounded across his courtyard, and the rearmost disciple opened it wide for Aunty Quan to no less than bowl him over.

Her matronly [Spirit Hare] held a glare as icy as [Winter] itself.

“Gao Fu,” she called. “Explain yourself!”

Hushi stirred beneath the douli as affronted disciples moved to action, intent on removing the one that would dare address their sect leader this way.

“Matron, hold your tongue. If you have complaints then they are surely worthy of my ears first. Sect leader Gao Fu need not be troubled,” ordered a brash youth of a disciple.

Aunty Quan darkened. “Mind your manners, little boy. I’ll speak to Gao Fu how I wish when it concerns my flock.”

An eight-armed blur held the disciple’s jian in place before it could be drawn, and Fu arrived as a swift second. “Disciple. Cloud Dragon Hall does not answer insult with blades, and more so, no insult was given. If you are slighted on my behalf, I extend gratitude, if you feel slighted yourself then I must ponder if this is where you truly belong.”

“It’s this that I’ve come to speak about, Gao Fu,” Aunty Quan grunted.

Fu held the weight of his gaze upon this disciple for long moments before parting, leading his guest deeper into his private chambers.

A kettle was delivered in moments, though he had not even thought to ask.

The fumes of sweet tea calmed Aunty Quan well as she sat. “This morning I came across this beneath the pillow of my eldest charge,” she said, clattering a dagger across the table.

“A dagger,” nodded Fu. “Has the boy possessed it long?”

“I don’t allow blades in my orphanage, Gao Fu, save for those that cut our meat. The boy is red about the ears now, but when I asked he said it was for protection against your disciples.”

Shuidi bristled, emerging. “Our disciples. This Gao Shuidi does not raise villains, Matron Quan.”

“Even so, the boy isn’t known for lying,” she bit back. “Nor would that explain his bruises. Done in hidden places, where falling sleeves or daily work wouldn’t expose them. I’ve known husbands to strike in the same places.”

A moment passed.

“Don’t tell me wisdoms, Fu. Don’t say ‘boys will be boys’. You’ve done right by us, but a child has a right to safety, no matter what shape their home takes.”

Fu could only nod. “Could he place these disciples?”

“He won’t, for fear of reprisal. They are children with [Spirit Beasts], and yet, this doesn’t make them cultivators. I only ask-”

“Please, Matron Quan, accept my apologies,” he said, dipping his head. “We will investigate this matter immediately.”

Aunty Quan slurped more of her tea, and merely said, “Good,” before departing.

The screen shut firm.

“A product of our absence?” he asked aloud. “Have we not instilled enough good virtues in these disciples? To grant them talent in the [True Wind God Arts] and purity through the [Shrine of Final Skies] while they remain solitary has perhaps, brought about ill effects. If their number must fall, then so be it.”

Shuidi’s [Intent] flared. “Ghosts.”

Some dozen moon-facing disciples filled his study, angled upon eaves, shadows and door frames.

“Venerable senior, we exist to enact your will,” voiced the closest mask-clad assassin before him.

His [Senses] expanded, and he found them able to penetrate two of this number. All else about them he gleaned from the [Primordial Law of Tribulations].

Inadequate.

“Senior Pinxui has kept you busy I see. This growth is admirable, in most,” he said. “There are two among you that have progressed no further since your recruitment.”

The assassin’s speaker dipped his head. “We are not afforded the same-”

Two heads rolled to the floor faster than these juniors might comprehend, and a further three were taken by such fright that their [Clouded Ghost Arts] flickered.

Six heads littered his floor before such a failure was corrected.

“The ghosts of Twenty Sunrises City disappoint me. There are at least thirty moons upon all of you, and the stains of long cultivation are clear. More is expected of you,” said Fu, straightening his douli. “But I call for another reason. Speak now if it is known, or discover who among Cloud Dragon Hall’s disciples has inflicted unkindness upon the orphans. The brutality of such harm cannot be tolerated.”

Many [Spirit Serpents] were among these ghosts. Rare, that the Sect’s [Heritage] was so thick here.

“As you will it,” said the group’s new speaker.

Fu nodded. “A menial task, but one that I expect you shall not fail in. Return swiftly, as it seems I must stop being so lenient on both sides of my disciples. We are fortunate, however, that there are simple steps to rectify that.”

🀨

Disruption came not half an hour later.

It was a point of frustration that Fu could not put his full attention upon the matters at Cloud Dragon Hall, for his duties in the Phoenix Melody Coalition ever called him distant.

Such was the way of winds.

Three fresh [Paifang] had opened upon the farthest reaches of Mingqin’s domain and their severity required much attention, warranting the presence of not only the Four Tiger Pill Society, but that of the Plum Phoenix.

The Qi about these three, pace-distant [Paifang] was in violent flux. Myriad densities of warring [Affinities] strove for dominance, pushing greater affectations of the elements from their epicenter.

[Death Qi]. [Soul Qi]. [Force Qi].

Fu held no control over any of these elements save for [Soul Qi], and it was a nebulous touch indeed. Lest he was to cultivate and [Pull] the rampant energies into his [Core], he could offer no swift solution.

He said as much.

Bojin and his [Spirit Stoats] were beings of ultimate neutrality, and only contributed with a flick of ink upon papyrus before dispatching it to an aide. “My Four Tiger Pill Society will deal with the [Soul Qi] realm. It is an acceptable boon for City Lord Mingqin’s lands, for this [Affinity] is not commonplace. If all are in agreement, I would not collapse it.”

“As you say,” agreed Fu. “With the shift of the Jade Songbird Prefecture’s Qi density yesterday, there is room to negotiate. The next threshold will not arrive swiftly. Have you thoughts on this, Mistress Plum?”

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“Pah. You think yourselves worthy of my input?” she sneered. “Still you act as if equals. Do as you will, but the realm of [Force Qi] is mine.”

Her form faded across the third [Paifang’s] threshold, unperturbed by the growing maelstrom of energies at their core.

“The [Plum Axe’s] progeny, have you much experience with them, Bojin?”

The alchemist dipped his head. “A strange question. It is as though you ask if I have encountered water aside a river or dirt upon a path.”

“Even so,” said Fu.

“Even so,” repeated Bojin. “She is a talent above them all. Worthy of the disregard.”

[Ink] shared through the [Primordial Law of Tribulations] spoke of as much. A nigh flawless existence, save that she held few of the Jianghu’s most unknown treasures.

“Her reason for joining this Coalition may be plain. To secure [Constellation Seeds] and what lies beyond - if her knowledge extends so far. A monster of her talent may rise to rival even those of the Cloudy Serpent Sect once this is achieved.”

Fu inwardly nodded at the mental impression, stepping towards the realm of abundant [Death Qi]. “We will fulfil ,” he said.

Though his [Dao of Conquest’s Exhalation] flared in opposition to these words.

The count between the Plum Phoenix’s departure and Fu’s arrival could be measured in mere heartbeats.

Yet the [Paifang’s] landing was clear.

What stretched before them in peculiarity was an ethereal expanse of pale yellow, reaching all horizons save for that above. There, a vast disc spread in perfect symmetry with that which was underfoot.

Flat, golden and some many thousand li high.

Twinned islands adrift in yellow skies.

An immediate sweep of their [Senses] did not reveal that which they sought, nor could the Plum Phoenix’s signature be found among the vastness of this great disc. Though the latter was no curse.

A good fisherman counts his catch upon the shore. Let us venture forth.

The three ghosts parted to cover as large a range as might be permitted for they knew that their duties within the [Death Qi] realm would soon need to be addressed. Only a spare handful of hours might be spent here before the Plum Phoenix concluded the realm’s [Trial] or the other Coalition members would dare to send aid after him.

An urge to streamline his affairs pushed Fu swiftly across the smoothened disc, ponderous over a [Beast Realm] that held no trace of [Spirit Beasts].

Then, the gong struck.

Some dreaded wailing arose in the immeasurable space between islands. It prompted a sharp look skyward, revealing a shift in the disc above.

In how it raced with meteoric speed towards its twin.

Fu smiled.

How cruel the Heavens are to concoct such a place.

Mere heartbeats passed and this obliteration came like [Tribulation].

The falling island’s collision was one of world-ending devastation, loosing such an explosion of [Force Qi] that both masses blasted and fractured into some thousand, thousand pieces. With prodigious speed these meteoric segments jettisoned to all corners, tearing through the air aside great continual flumes of force.

One in possession of the [Heavenly Spectre’s Shroud] need not fear such a thing, and Fu merely rode upon an escalating fragment as he surveyed the devastation.

His search had concluded.

Vast golden tentacles lurched betwixt each shattered fragment - these lesser islands - revealing myriad [Spirit Beasts] of boneless physique.

First to show were the [Spirit Octopuses], [Spirit Slugs], squid, jellyfish and myriad varieties of sprawling worm.

Feral things.

Before five breaths were taken these [Spirit Beasts] raced to savage their nearest foe, plunging the [Mystic Realm] into a further, bloodier chaos.

Again, Fu smiled. He felt a resonance for this unforgiving, incessant realm of strife rise within his [Spirit], and felt it a pity that the Plum Phoenix would work so swiftly to remove it from the Jade Songbird Province.

Distant impressions rose from Shuidi, expressing confidence.

Fu returned the same before manifesting the [Dao of Four Horizons].

Hushi mirrored this.

🀨

The [Death Qi] realm held its own [Tribulations].

An incessant rain fell upon these barren lands and might well have sapped the vitality of herb or grass had any remained across so stagnant a realm. Sand was its only remnant, coloured a lifeless grey over sloping dunes.

[Divine Sense] spoke of the [Reliquary] to the east.

Fu moved west.

His gait was one of measured slowness, but not wholly harried by the fetid raindrops that sought to devour his [Constitution]. It was a small practice of his [Dao of Conquest’s Exhalation] that swept this non-water liquid from the entirety of his form, contorting ribbons to ward against the worst of this cascading [Death Qi].

But more so for intrigue, as his trophies moved some many li beneath the dunes.

Particularity will gain no more advantage.

Between two sloping dunes, bland and mundane, Fu stooped. There, he discovered a curiosity. From a slight gash from his palm - made solid by will - crimson fell upon the dry dust.

He had not considered what effect purity would have upon it. Rivulets of [Mist Qi] held no trace of what he sought, despite its nature as blood.

Enough to gain interest, I should think.

With a soft motion he adopted the lotus, allowing more blood to trickle upon the dust before him. As one at late [Core Formation] the vitality lost was more symbolic than any risk to his physical wellbeing, and so there soon grew a turgid puddle amidst the grey.

Moments became minutes.

Minutes were all that was needed.

Force ruptured the dust many paces below, rising towards the surface. All his [Senses] might tell was of its swiftness and mass, an emerging form that might mystify those that had not spent white knuckled moments deciphering their shadows below calm waters.

Sand erupted as Heaven-crushing jaws wrapped about his form.

Each blackened tooth within the [Spirit Shark’s] titanic maw was twice Fu’s height alone and the evident gullet in all directions about him was darker than night itself.

The [Heavenly Spectre’s Shroud] reformed.

[Wind Phantom’s Breath: Impending Mortality Dew].

Teal mists saturated the [Spirit Shark’s] insides as Fu passed unharmed through its flesh, blurring to plunge his chain’s blade into a building-sized gill ridge.

“You are weak enough to be offered my mercy,” he spoke. “Do not tempt it further. Go. Remain nearby until I call.”

Defiance thrashed this [Spirit Shark] beneath the sands, drawing Fu and his embedded chain with it.

How it plunged towards the earth’s depths differed no more than a mortal beast descending into any sea or lake.

As it was for this earthen [Death Qi] for Fu. A pure element without any trace of his vile suppressants of [Earth Qi] or [Sand Qi].

Thus his tethered descent was clean, and beneficial.

A sudden, second eruption tore greater jaws into the first [Spirit Shark’s] side, devouring a titanic strip of flesh between larger jaws.

In four heartbeats there came a third [Spirit Shark].

In ten, Fu knew not where the myriad more teeth struck nor originated from.

All became a frenzy.

One droplet that spawned a carnage some order of magnitude greater than the last second and that second before, culminating in the appearance of his true objective.

[Intent] ravaged the sands about this current madness of blood, thrashing and [Death Qi], quieting the frenzy.

The change was immediate.

Cold.

As though ice conspired to cool these not-waters and inflict a dire warning of impending [Winter].

Fu washed out his own [Intent], though blurred towards open air as he left this signature of himself behind. It would not do to confront this foe within its chosen domain, nor would he wish to miss the sight of it.

Some fifty paces high, he suppressed his sense of wonder.

No, he merely internalized how he saw a sky-breaking mountain rage through the endless dustfields of this realm. A battered, flesh-rid fin of such scale that the fisherman felt his mortality with painful alacrity.

Peak [Core Formation]. This can only be an Emperor among [Spirit Sharks]. From what [Demon Scar] did this terror swim, for surely a beast of this ilk is not of the natural world?

Swathes of desert cascaded from its rising mass, dousing dunes east and west as though they were mere droplets to be shed. To stand there, Fu knew he was no more than a speck against such impossibility.

A granule against infinity.

It was beloved by death, and he saw the sands about it grow greyer and less vital as though these lands underwent a second ending just by suffering its proximity. As did his [Core] and [Constitution] waiver under the oppression.

But he stood tall, nonetheless.

“I would have you submit, Beast Lord,” he called, priming his chain.

This calamity did not slow.

This calamity did not acknowledge.

Only surged.

Fu adopted the first set of his [Tempestual Phantom Tribulations], and conjured his [Dao of the Ephemeral Cascade] to begin a second downpour. At its calling he felt a sharp mental rebuke as less-tainted waters manifested in the lifeless clouds above, going so far as to draw slivers of blood from his nose.

[Profundity] massed about the Beast Lord to counter it.

A blackened whirlpool of such scale that Fu’s words were no longer worthy of it. The manifestation spread upon the shark’s endless flesh, drawing the assassin’s [Dao]-summoned rains sidewards and within.

Then its maw met him.

[Inner Qi] raged through Fu’s [Constitution] to negate it, and-

What is this?

The [Profundity] and [Death Qi] proved a formidable pair. A [Pull] ensnared Fu amidst these tandem forces, and despite his haste it clawed a hold. [Spiritual] and physical pressure blanketed his form to draw wisps of his misty flesh from arm, skin and face, sucking them into the expanding vortex before him.

To have oneself torn asunder was no small pain.

[Half Cloud Step].

His [Art] gained no purchase upon the skies, shifting him no further.

[Dao of Four Horizons].

All winds were drawn into the death-rich vacuum. He could not leap back, away or skyward to avoid this pull.

Fu’s eyes narrowed as some severe quarter of his remaining flesh was stripped bare, sent into the blackened void. His blood followed next, whisked away as he coughed up a fugue.

Without Hushi and Shuidi beside him, nor even within the same realm, he would be offered no aid.

How… novel. A tale to share on our return.

As the misty flesh of his navel began to wisp free he thrust out a palm, grasping the fading tethers of wind that entered this calamity. [Senses] expanded along its length, well winnowed the further he reached.

Thin.

Fragile.

And yet, aflow beyond the black.

His palm closed.

[Dao of Four Horizons].