Grisla yawned on his way out. Trying to learn a new technique and keep up his usual training schedule meant he had to forfeit a portion of his rest. Barely keeping his eyes open, his steps were just a little bit lazier, and a little bit more sluggish underneath the waking sky.

There was some extra weight on his person; the “preparations” he stockpiled made him feel like a walking rock. It took the whole of his afternoon after the Jadestone encounter to store his most needed item—an Earth Restorative Pill; before arriving back to his guest room—haggling, and flipping items made it possible for the pill to be bought. It was his lifesaver in a pinch, that will likely come. Serving a different albeit similar in certain ways to a Soul Revitalizing Pill, it would restore his shallow pool of Juva over time, instead of an instant rise in energy.

His reasoning being it’ll sate his core’s constant leakage, and at the same time, serve as a pacesetter so he doesn’t exhaust himself in one battle alone.

He decided to forego the weights he carried, there wouldn’t be time to spare risking such a thing in the open. Especially, if Hu Wing is working for Ji Nan’s interests, Ji Nan would’ve heard what happened by now anyway. And prepared as he should.

Ji Nan’s invitation detailed the meet before departure: West Gate, Windswallow Street; nearby ‘Jade Fortune Restaurant’. He had to ask for directions on his way there. He’d decided to come ten minutes before departure, in caution and in a chance to eke out a moment of sleep.

Grisla stared at his hand. Then his medallion started to blink.

  Seri spoke, “Don’t feel down about it. Not everyone is meant to mess around with souls.”

  Grisla closed his hand. “You may be right. However,” He scowled, “it would’ve served as the linchpin to countering Ji Nan. I have nothing but speed over him. I was personally taught that lesson; should I take that hammer of his dead center then it’ll be my grace of luck to not be paralyzed. What am I supposed to do now? All things considered, backing out is the sensible thing to do.”

  “True. Nevertheless—you’re still walking, aren’t you?”

He stopped, and the mourning breeze tickled his robe.

  “Listen, I won’t say what whether you’re doing is wrong or right; I’ll leave that dilemma to you mortals. Being cautious is a valuable trait for cultivators following the Path,” She paused. “Conversely, great fortune and destined chances will never be grasped by the foolish, irresolute or incompetent.”

  “I can’t refute it wholly.” He nodded. “You’ve helped me. I wouldn’t have met you and the rest without risking myself in the Wilderness, right?”

  Seri replied instantly, “We’ve no reason to elect a coward as our representative, even as a substitute.”

  “Good. ‘preciate the opinion.”

  “That’ll be ten taels.”

----------------------------------------

He sensed the group before he saw it—and the grim frown arrived. In retrospect, his gut was kicking the door and screaming sense from the other side. Sometimes passing a note underneath just in case if he’d gone deaf somehow. The mass of Jade Fate disciples outnumbered all the involved passerby’s, cause of that, the pedestrian flow was constantly moving around them or taking an immediate turn away to somewhere else not here.

And, obviously, all of them were donned in the sect’s colors, making Grisla’s approach all the more evident. Numerous Spiritual Senses fixed a lock on him. Some drifted off before a breath had finished. Others probed him as some sort of cat’s curiosity. There was a bigger concern amongst the latter—there were another handful within, who did not let their attention drift from him. They mingled in their groups, trading smiles whilst not even sparing him a glance, but their other ‘eyes’ told a different story.

There were too many people and too densely packed for him to know exactly who—he couldn’t pinpoint because each person’s Spiritual Sense is like their own writing; individual and personal. The only one he’s familiar with is Ji Nan’s, but he hasn’t even caught sight of him yet. Where would a self-important person like Ji Nan be?

It didn’t take long. There was almost like a subgroup within them. Ji Nan looked as the same as he did when they first met, just that now he pretended as if Grisla hadn’t come; Instead, talking with some female disciple.

Being the oddity here meant that the naïve idea he had of blending with the crowd was a delusion, instead, for as long as he’s a participant on this trip, he’ll be the first to be noticed. Alluding from the conversation with Shu as of recent, nobody will be aware of his identity, except that he’s obviously a guest from somewhere. Only Ji Nan and his people nearby will have the know.

On a cursory scan, he confirmed what he’d already suspected—he was the weakest here. Taking the place from the fifth cycle disciples who tagged along as companions to their stronger senior disciples. Many of them were just as prepared as himself, with their weapons strapped along their backs, or held over the shoulder. He took a note of their weapon preferences, remembering it as a just-in-case. There were others who carried nothing in the open. Grisla flicked his gaze back to Ji Nan.

He used his companions as pack mules.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Well, he’s being resourceful, at least.

Grisla bumped into a disciple.

The unaware disciple had a nasty expression. Gone faster than a snowflake, he smiled: “Apologies, my mistake younger broth—” His spiritual sense got a taste of Grisla’s level. An expression not quite as disdainful as before, but nowhere near as amicable as he could show came to him, and he immediately walked off.

  Grisla had a self-deprecating smile. “Guess I’m not that interesting as he thought.”

  “I’m inclined to disagree,” A voice said.

Behind Grisla, Ji Nan. Who was backed by his trio, with auras he couldn’t ignore.

  Ji Nan sized him up. “You’ve recovered well,” he said. “I was worried you wouldn’t wake up, from what I’ve heard.”

  “I ache from time to time. Thought there would be more to it, but I guess not.” Grisla shrugged.

  “There could always be more,” Ji Nan gave him a tight smile. “Always, more.”

The story about him and Ji Nan still hasn’t made its way out to all avenues. A blessing for Grisla—if Hu Wing was an estimation, then not only would he have to contend against Ji Nan and his group, but possibly everyone here. If that story broke out.

Grisla blinked; then again, why didn’t it?

  “I’m grateful you’ve invited me Brother Ji Nan.”

  “There’s no way I would’ve forgotten about you. You might not be one of ours, but, you’re just as important as… well, any of us. It’s a prime opportunity for our generation to mingle and test our fortune.”

  One his cronies behind him added: “Just don’t get in our way, our even mine! Brother Ji Nan is showing excessive courtesy to you, fourth cycle! Remember that—” he cried in pain.

  Ji Nan moved his foot. “My fellow disciple is saying he hopes my trust isn’t misplaced in you; despite your disadvantages here I have faith in your adventure with us.”

Ji Nan and his extras moved on. Leaving Grisla stirring his thoughts.

He sneered; I get it now.

  The small handful of disciples that know don’t have that information public—and that’s both an effort of the Elders and Ji Nan himself. Public appearances, eh? Don’t want anyone to know that your junior disciples died while under your command? By a fourth cycle, no less?

The more cordial Ji Nan is, the louder his instinct for danger yelled. It was as if the Ji Nan who nearly pounded his ribcage to powder was executed and summarily replaced by his gentle twin.

As he watched his group depart, Grisla was thinking.

  He used this invitation for two things: One, to see if I’m as stupid as he presumes. Two, if I deny, then that means not only am I fully aware of his intentions, and anyone in my predicament will cling to the Elders for safety like a child. He’d have to work his head trying to find a way to get at me, but now that he thinks my death is all but assured, whatever plans he had in place are unneeded. How cute.

He folded his arms.

  It’ll take two nights till we arrive at the site. That’s the only time left to think of something. If I don’t…

The meeting was filled with all the visitors meant to be part of the journey; Grisla leaned on a building corner whilst the podium ahead of the gate was surrounded by some Jade Fate Elders. Chatter between the disciples quelled slowly, at the pace of one Elder who was coming to take the podium for himself—each step killing a notch of volume. When his hands grasped the Elderwood, the street wide enough to fit a battalion was a cemetery.

  “I am Head Elder Jang. I’ve come here to tell you: Don’t die.”

  “…That is all.”

The silence was so deep it began to sting the ear.

Grisla raised his head. Huh?

He wasn’t the only one. Many in the crowd began whispering to each other.

“…The High Elder, why’s he like this?”

“I’ve heard it from my sister, last group that went to the Well of Wonders the High Elder didn’t even show up—bet the only way he showed up here is because the Vice Patriarch chewed him out…”

The High Elder didn’t stay a moment to see the reception, departing with a blast of wind. In the wake of this embarrassment, the Elders after a moment of awkward discussion sent one up to the podium. “The Well of Wonders is used as a training grounds for all our exceptional talents who have an adequate chance at becoming a pillar for our sect in the future—raising our strength, boldening our position in the world. A forgotten castle from an era predating us by about, to our best estimate, two thousand years.”

Portions of the crowd who hadn’t a clue about the history, muttered between themselves again.

  “…Two thousand back? That’s…”

  “The Ancient Era!”

  “The One-City Kingdom’s founder and first monarch came from that time…”

Grisla was just as taken as the crowd.

  The Ancient Era? Known as the “dark age” for cultivators. A time where our knowledge on the human body, martial arts, and the Path was infantile. During that, we were just some pumped up mortals. Wars of conquest, wars because we could, and wars for reasons forgotten. Chaos incarnate.

  “…We discovered this by chance. An expedition on the lookout for Shade Beasts a hundred years ago stumbled upon it; the party that made it inside did not come back. Therefore, another party went to retrieve the first—they did not return either.”

If the Elder’s recitation of their history was supposed to be a warning, well, it was working, as Grisla looked around.

  “Our sect had to do something. In the end, our experts and elders were sent. Daring to trespass where denied before, thankfully, the heavens had some mercy on our people and our older generation was able to return—but with extraordinary news on the backs of their treasure. There was more to be found!”

  “But heavenly advancement is not free of charge! No! Our Elders desired to grab more of those treasures, braved the dangers, and then cleared the path for future generations!”

  “The Well of Wonders now serves as a prime training ground for all of our young sect disciples, who wish to serve their sect and then indirectly serve their lords of the Grittus clan. Fear not, young ones. Our Elders had wisdom; they did not pilfer all the good fortune for themselves, no! They managed to leave many caches of treasure and knowledge behind because some of it is not of use to them, or, they’ve got the generosity of a million saints and decided to invest in the future, rather than themselves,” the Elder said.

The crowd’s mood swung after every sentence the Elder spoke. But now, as the participants’ hearts were filled with hope, trying to reach for a destiny that may be theirs, Grisla saw that on many of their faces—in their eyes, they think this is the day that will begin their legacy, the first word of their history.

Ji Nan wasn’t immune. Even better, as many turned to him assuming this’ll be the opportunity made for him since birth, their hero to claim the greatest of the spoils. From what Grisla read, Ji Nan will be the guide and leader of this adventure. Making his life go from hard to disastrously difficult.

Once the Elder’s speech was finished, and the crowd was set and ready. Ji Nan took the lead at the gate, ready to lead his outer disciples to their destinies. All the while Grisla stood in the crowd, burrowing a hole into his back.