“Seven Gates… of Hell?” Grisla read.
A compelling title if that was the author’s intention. As Grisla thought about that, he looked at both face and back to see if their name was mentioned. Not a thing. Even more strange because the tome was thick enough to be split into five. Would someone really write that many pages inside a work without desiring their name to be mentioned?
Flipping to the foreword, written in possibly the smallest legible handwriting one could do, ‘Abandon yourself, and traverse the gates. Find what we cannot, in Abaddon.’ Entranced, he read it again. Taking each word in as its own sentence. He couldn’t understand, but he wanted to… so he did it again…
“Grisla…Grisla!”
He blinked, then turned his face entirely away from the thing. Before he was aware of it, a film of sweat had already shown up on his forehead. Two hands shut the tome closed on him, the owner at staring him from overhead.
“Shu, is something the matter?” Grisla said.
Shu placed a hand on her hip, “Yeah, there is. Don’t see it?”
Because he didn’t answer her fast enough, Shu’s hand moved his jaw much the same as a puppeteer. After his vision swept over the interior, he noticed.
“You’ve been staring at that thing for ages! You know how late it is now? Everyone else has packed up and left, and they’re the people with actual work to do. Listen, I can’t leave until you do, not only that weirdo, but you also haven’t cleaned up at all!”
It looks as though her breach in conduct again was okay, so long as there was nobody else but the two of them in the Archives. Or, to Grisla’s depressing guess, they think watching a dunce staring mindlessly into a book wasn’t worth their effort anymore. He sighed. “A thousand regrets, Receptionist Shu. I’ll get out of your hair then.”
After putting the pile back as it was, Grisla raised up the tome. “A minute of your time, do you know anything about this?”
Shu, who was busy pushing in the last set of books on a shelf, spared him an eye. “That? Never seen it before. And now? You’re better off tossing it back to the pile, my professional opinion.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Can’t be serious. That pile is junk nobody’s going to touch. Before your little mouth drools out a ‘Why’ it’s because though its junk, it’s literature still. Tossing them would be a bigger tragedy, yet…”
She shrugged, “Nobody’ll read ‘em. So, they’ll be stuck here, gathering dust and rotting away for forever.”
“Yup,” when she put the last book in the shelf, she turned to face him, “isn’t that thrilling? You must’ve found quite a gem then! Something that not even the old masters of our sect, the great talents among us, and even the brilliant minds couldn’t see!”
Grisla groaned. When she made it off her small ladder, looking at Grisla’s face made the gears turn in her head, a brief period of pity in her expression. Before he even got a chance, she yanked it out of his hands and cracked the first page open.
“Whatever this is,” she turned the page, “it’s not interesting. You came here to find a cultivation manual or, something, correct? To be blunt with you this’s not it.”
Grisla looked in, “I did say that. Though, this thing has me drawn to it.”
“A starving wolf can be drawn to anything.” She shut it closed.
“It’s yours.”
He tilted his head, “Come again?”
Shu shoved it into his chest. “It’s filled with heretical gibberish, nonsense that appeals to no one who cultivates. Reads more like the scribblings of the mad. Now, if you’re reading it because you can relate, then my deepest sympathies, I knew something was off about you.”
“Go to hell,” Grisla snapped.
“It’ll be that way if I don’t get my sleep, which, you’re delaying.”
Grisla didn’t know what to think.
She’s at the top of the list of the brattiest girls I’ve met. Bei Mei’s no slouch but, this one…
He shook his head, heading for the door.
“Huh? Ya think you can skedaddle on me that quickly? Don’t give me that face. I’ve still got another pile over there and there! Hurry up, give me the ‘Violent Ends’ and ‘Spring Lotus Manual’!”
----------------------------------------
The last lock to the Earth Archives was put in place with a click. Shu and Grisla took an extra moment to ready up the place for the next day—replacing candles, checking inventory, and the ledger, which Shu spent more time whining about than editing, was the last of their—her, responsibilities at the end of it. All the while Grisla stole glances here and there back to the Seven Gates of Hell, which looked just as eerie as it did when he first touched it, no matter the surface it was placed on.
When they finally got out, Grisla had it with him. They were walking together to the gate and meanwhile…
How did I get roped up into that?
“I appreciate your help,” Shu said. “Really sped up things there.”
He scoffed. “Uh-huh, I’ll bet. Especially when they’re forced against their will.”
She punched his arm, “Oh, stop it. You could’ve ditched me at any time, and I wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it. It so happens that you’re a tinge nicer than most.”
Shu threw side glances to his gift. “Hey…”
“Hey, are you listening?”
“A little,” he admitted. Noticing what he’d said, he expected to face some retaliation from the crazy Receptionist.
“We haven’t had many guests to our Jade Fate Sect as of recent. I’d like to thank your power, or wherever you come from for doing business with us.”
“’Course, I haven’t had a trip like this in a while.” Grisla said.
Before he knew it, they had chatted for quite some time on their walk over to the gate. To Grisla, Shu is… an interesting acquaintance, one to be kept if he wants to be able to browse the Earth Archives again. It was hard to stifle his weird excitement for the tome, though. If only there were someone like Shu, but more experienced—he’d tackle through an army to get some answers.
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Then, they stopped. As both were cultivators, the presences up ahead were walking torches, despite the darkness of the night. Not bothering to hide their Juva, instead letting it bare; in the mortal world it’s the same as brandishing a sword. The intent clear. Three girls and a guy approached.
“Friends of yours?” Shu asked.
“I was going to ask you the same,” Grisla sighed. “Or do you not have any at all?”
She threw a face to him, “Watch your mouth, I haven’t decided whether or not to bring a complaint up about you.”
“Sure, sure, whatever.”
His Juva moved to his extremities. Grisla wasn’t an imbecile—he was fully aware that being audible with his level of cultivation will only bring grief to his stay here, for the duration of his stay unless he had to, he’d keep a low profile. Act as a guest would and Jadestone would uphold their agreement. Till push came to shove, there wasn’t a drive to do anything rash.
The group, to Grisla’s surprise, ignored him. Looking straight towards the only other person here: Receptionist Shu; whom Grisla couldn’t tell whether she was cheered or displeased on their coming.
“Sister Shu, how good to see you.” the tallest of them, the girl, bowed. She even offered a barely-but-trying nod to Grisla.
Shu greeted her with a grunt. “What is it? Let’s skip the cordial nonsense and get to the point of where you’re going to ask me for something.”
The group sneered, but the lead girl spoke, “Agreed. I’ll cut to it then—we’re looking for someone.”
Grisla has a feeling…
“Do I look like the lost and found to you?” Shu said.
“We heard a tip that a Grittus was here.”
“A what?” She asked again, to confirm.
“A Grittus,” the girl emphasized.
As if a child was shown a magic trick, her eyes lit up, “Why didn’t you say so! You mean a real deal member of the Grittus clan?”
The group nodded. “We’ve been on the lookout for such a character.”
To Shu’s side, Grisla’s face remained indifferent.
Hasn’t even been a full week since I got out of that bed, and now I’m being bothered already?
He was curious, was the Orlith mentioned first or Grittus to get them to look for him? Then again, when he thought about it, who told them that—
“So, what’s the story then?” Shu said.
Both Shu and the girls of the group connected on the same wavelength. They huddled together with their gossip, leaving Grisla and their carryon out to dry. Whatever hostile intent held before was like a figment of the imagination.
“I’ve heard he’s been among us for some time now, he just wasn’t public about his presence here,” One said.
Shu, giddy, asked: “Who is it then? Could it be Chosen Xinrei?”
“That’s what we want to know!” they said.
“He could be trading pointers with Brother Mo as we speak!”
Brother Mo—Mo Qingshan. Grisla remembered that name being mentioned last time, but only now did he connect the dots. Mo Qingshan was the Jade Fate Sect’s Xinrei—their ace Chosen. He’d heard some chatter about him, here and there, back then. The clan was both too busy and too conceited to think about their vassals’ Chosen, so he never got a decent estimate of his strength.
The issue was a non-issue. Grisla had a private moment of stupidity for himself. The paranoia of the world being after him must’ve finally gotten through. In fairness, he did have just cause. Still won’t spare him from Seri’s ridicule, or White Tiger’s—
“It’s quite rude of you to leave without a word, Brother,” a voice said.
The group craned their heads. So did Grisla, who wasn’t sure of what was coming next.
“Apologies. I must be on my way,” Grisla bowed at the boy halfway to manhood.
“I didn’t excuse you yet,” he scoffed. “Where’re you going?”
His polite face was on display once more. “I’ve had a trouble come up at home but, if you do need something, I might be able to assist.”
The disciple took notice of that "might", smiling. “You’re a guest, right? What’s your name?”
Grisla blinked, it would be wise to just make something up and be on my way but…
“Name’s Grisla.”
I have no intention to run away forever.
The disciple ran it through his head, and it showed on his face as he was trying to connect his face to a name. Respectably, he did it a couple of times in thought until he finally decided that Grisla was… a nobody to have caution against. It was like the realization was shared wordlessly between him and the group, as they immediately returned to the topic before.
“Grisla,” the disciple couldn’t be bothered to nod, “nice seeing you.”
“Yes. May your night be swell.”
Shu gave him an odd look before returning back to the gossip.
“Hold on, a moment again please,” the disciple said once again.
This time, Grisla’s furrowed eyebrows faced the stranger. “Listen, I don’t have time for—”
A fist sprinted to Grisla’s face. Dodging it, he was about to say something until a second punch tried to take his chin off. Moving with grace, he casually sidestepped that.
The boy chuckled. “He wasn’t lying then.”
“What?” Grisla retreated a distance, posture readied.
The disciple slowly moved himself into a stance, bits of aura wafting out of him like an incense. “The Grittus wasn’t the only rumor around. Some chatter in the sect, something involving Brother Ji Nan and Sister Mu Yin.”
Shu and the girls were just as confused as Grisla. Shu spoke up: “Are you trying to bully our guest? What is wrong with you!”
“They went on an expedition,” he shot forward; forearm crashing into Grisla’s, “our honored Brother and Sister, and two others strung along.” When Grisla broke off for distance, he followed him as if a bounty were set on his head. The two moved at speeds no mortal could catch, but slow enough that the group can follow.
Grisla drove a knee at him—blocked instantly. He forced a palm into Grisla’s chest, for a counter, only—Grisla countered his counter, pushing the two of them back into the neutrality that they started with. Neither side struggling for air.
Shu stopped between the two. “Enough! Idiot, do you know what kind of trouble you’ll be in if our guest reports you to the Elders!”
“If he’s not a coward,” he smiled, “which I doubt he is.”
Grisla frowned. “So? Gonna explain your deal to me?”
“I’d ask you the same question. Faker,” the disciple spat.
“What’s your real level? Sixth or seventh cycle?”
“Fourth,” Grisla answered, lost in understanding.
The boy sneered. “Lying isn’t productive for your health, Brother Grisla.”
Shu looked at him, “What do you mean?”
He acted as if he were talking to an imbecile duo, “It has been kept a little under wraps, but I know all about it. Brother Ji Nan and Sister Mu Yin came back, with two less people than they journeyed with. The younger disciples ended up perishing in the Northern Wilderness to the Shade Beasts, but that doesn’t have a shred of truth.”
“What must’ve happened is, they came across an opponent they’re just too weak to handle. Weak enough that Brother Ji Nan and Sister Mu Yin ended up having to bail those losers out, if not, carry their corpses back. The thing is… Brother Ji Nan’s a bit of a talker.”
Grisla’s face darkened; I get it now.
Shu shook her head, “I don’t understand how this has anything to do with our guest.”
“Seems like you’re not as smart as you think you are,” he sneered, “some big shot Grittus shows up out of nowhere, unannounced, nobody’s heard or seen of him? Then, on a coincidence—this guy shows up here with the weakest cultivation in the sect? You’re the one, ain’t ya.”
Grisla blinked; Big shot? Oh, I wish.
“You’re the Orlith I’ve heard about. Grisla Orlith,” He nodded.
The girls’ eyes widened.
“You mean…”
“That branch family? He’s a Grittus clansman?”
“No way!”
Shu took a second glance at Grisla, and without even a notice for courtesy, she inspected him with her Spiritual Sense, bringing a slight chill to his skin. That deepened her confusion, “You’re a… Grittus?”
“Maybe,” he shrugged, “maybe not. Still doesn’t answer why you’re attacking me.”
The boy laughed again, “Because I’m going to expose you! For the faker that you are of course!” his aura exploded, the cultivation of a sixth cycle at Solidification burned bright. “I’ll force you to reveal that strength of yours, if ya’ don’t, then, I suppose you’ll just end up in a bed!”
“Nobody pulls tricks on my Brother Ji Nan and gets away with it!”
Before a beat had dropped, the rest had their auras peeling back like a fruit. Only one person didn’t have their Juva ignited—the lost Shu. “Wait, this is the Earth Archives, if you guys have an issue, take it up to the dueling square later!”
“Forget about it. Those worth their salt in honor get to stand up there, I’m already sullying myself enough to deal with him, but my relationship with my Brother takes precedence.”
Enough of it. I just want to read my latest catch, and here I am stuck with this?
Grisla offered a smile, “Out of the way, Shu. You might get hurt if you stay in our way.”
“What?! I’m helping you out, remember that idiot!” Shu said.
“I appreciate that, however—”
“However, we have business to settle.” The boy finished.
The boy’s strength was climbing higher, and Grisla felt it with every second, like a thumbtack pushing further and further into his skin. Objectively, he was outclassed. Especially when it came to raw Juva output. But the experience gained from the last battle calmed him, brought a weird… assurance.
Grisla had no reason to back out now.
Noticing his opponent hadn't done anything, “Holding back still?” The boy’s face twitched. “You’re going to die for that arrogance!” He shot forward, body whipping itself for a whirlwind of a kick.
“Holding back?” Grisla’s aura shot up with his sneer, “I don’t know the meaning of that, sorry.”