As though used to it, Zhang Cai did not feel anything out of sorts when he woke up. He had his entire recollection of memories, and his heart was still heavy. Yet there was no emotion to be found in him; as soon as he came to be he cast a look to where the portal used to be, then down to himself, and at last to Old Master Jin. The old man cast a wry smile at him and patted his back.

After a brief conversation to assess his health, they left the broken adobe and descended the slopes going down the mountain. In about an hour they took a tour of the close areas. Zhang Cai, hugging the old master’s waist to fly with him, saw the minor distress quickly taken care of—a pair of elders and instructors were flying around the gathered crowd, most with bloodied ears and faces, and in open space cultivated rejuvenating pills to be distributed.

After descending, and watching Master Jin talk, Zhang Cai noticed Yu Yin in the crowd. The man cast him a relieved look, but did nothing more and returned to his tending duties. A few moments after Old Master Jin explained the sudden outburst as a mistake of his during cultivation, but everyone present cast him a most doubtful glance which he expected. But the intention was not to deceive, but to declare the stance of the sect higher ups.

Today, nothing of importance happened.

Zhang Cai perceived a few hateful looks. He supposed they had important matters which were disturbed, or simply the pain they were in caused them. Yet he did not pay them any mind. He was long used to hateful and vengeful gazes, and being a cultivator further solidified his will against acts of that sort. He also did not feel guilt, which he found queer as he thought, but did not dwell on it.

They went flying again, leaving behind the clamoring disciples, and passing through a ravine with wooden planks for disciples to walk Master Jin told Zhang Cai of Han Xuefei’s will.

‘’What about the others, senior?’’ He asked.

‘’I heard a fair lady’s voice, who called herself Rou Rou, but nothing else.’’

Zhang Cai nodded. Though Golden Deva wasn’t exactly on his path, he would take a detour there regardless.

‘’Do you know fairies, senior?’’

‘’Fairies...’’ There were sharp gusts of wind that rose to the cliff above them, which rattled the planks donning the mountainsides. Old master’s silver hair fluttered before his dull eyes. ‘’They died.’’

‘’...extinct?’’

‘’Their dwellings were burnt to ash—Xia Empire shattered the World Tree’s soul and enslaved their last princes and princesses. That was a hundred years ago.’’

The man let out a deep sigh. Even through the burnt skin, his melancholic, even indignant expression told Zhang Cai enough of his history. He must have been a witness.

‘’Would there be any members of them in sects or schools?’’

He nodded. ‘’Might be.’’

The man said nothing for a while, and they swooped down a sharp ridge to reach halfway down the mountain. There were the three-floored pagodas set upon dark stones, painted blue on walls and deep emerald on the tiles. They descended at the entrance, where stood a red gate that read Guest House, facing the open side of the mountain to the south. Under the dawn Sun’s milky white waves were plains and hills of gold, green, and brown. At the far end of his sight were the few trees, and, Zhang Cai noticed, he could see a touch of blue. That wasn’t the sea, but the end of the horizon line.

Once inside, a disciple led them to the second floor. An assortment of bright flowers filled up the hallway with twelve rooms across each other. The space inside seemed twice the length of outside, though this manipulation of space was not too foreign to Zhang Cai. All of them being empty, the disciple showed them to the first two rooms sharing a wall.

‘’Young Miss Shu is recuperating in the second room.’’ the disciple said.

Zhang Cai frowned. ‘’What happened to her?’’

The disciple opened his mouth, but a look from master Jin silenced him. Taking a bow, he left in a hurry.

‘’She used her heirloom to aid us against the Demon Emperor.’’ Old Master Jin explained with a stoic face. Zhang Cai felt a very faint touch of Qi blink over the master’s exposed eyeballs. The man might have looked frightening if he wasn’t used to the sights of the wasteland. ‘’Her condition is fine.’’

‘’For now, we all must take a rest.’’ Here Old Master Jin put a hand on Zhang Cai’s shoulder. ‘’Condition yourself. Two days later, there will be guests from the South. If possible, do stay until then.’’

Zhang Cai had the intention to depart soon, since he had caused great trouble to the man. But that feeling stemmed from rationale, not from conscience. Thinking now, he felt an unreasonable infuriation at the disciples in the banquet, and more so at himself for getting caught up in their fervor. But that was a momentary thought. He took a deep breath, and it flew out of his chest, out of his mind. It was easy to blame others.

He took a deep bow, almost twisting his waist, and spoke with a firm voice. ‘’Thank you, senior.’’

Old Master Jin nodded, then unhurriedly raised him. ‘’I will take my leave.’’

‘’Farewell, senior.’’ He gave another bow as the man flew out of the west-side window. A few moments passed as Zhang Cai stood alone in the hallway, where he observed the wild assortment of flowers in blue-patterned porcelain vases, and later took a few steps forward to lean out the window.

Outside, with the Sun rising to his back, a deep shadow was cast onto the cliffs below, cloaking the fields with an oval shape. It reminded him of the Emperor for a second, and that feeling went away. He listened to the wind whisper—the constant buzz and gale of the air was a lovely part of this sect’s charm. Down below, hung by the gates and even the corners of the tiles were small wind chimes and bells, chiming and ringing at every other air burst that rose from the chasms.

Laying both arms over the window’s counter, Zhang Cai rested his head on his roughed forearms and thought of what happened. Nothing too focused, nor in detail, as the events passed his mind moment by moment. As if watching it all from an observer’s eye, without too heavy of an emotion except the ever so rare rise of a passion at the sight of an extraordinary spirit.

He felt...dulled. As if his emotions had been caged. And also confused. There were memories in him that he didn’t recognize, of dozens of years he never experienced, of places and times so apart that, when he thought of them, a headache assaulted him at a reminiscence.

‘’These must be the memories of the others.’’

His head was cooler now, and he smelled wet rain in the wind. He had never done that before.

Looking up, he saw a dark collection of clouds climbing over the mountain’s back to push Southwest. As if he recognized it, a word got stuck in his mouth, but never left even after minutes of contemplation. There were memories, indeed, but his consciousness, or soul, refused to associate them with himself. There was no assimilation, nor absorption, just a catalog of scenes he could look around at any moment.

He felt the moisture gather through his Qi, and stuck his head back in as the first splatters of rain came down the sky. Soon the pitterings joined the chimes and rings, and spending a little more time listening to them Zhang Cai returned to his room. He took no notice of the furniture except the bed, which he quickly sat on and meditated.

His body empty of both foul Qi and water Qi, Zhang Cai gathered his pulls again. He felt, though a little fainter than a condensed thought, that he could pull more than before. His capacity was the same, but it seemed he had a better grasp of the ambient Qi. ‘’Is it the effect of those souls?’’

There seemed to be more changes to him, which he explored further. Each of his pulls now gathered three old pulls, which he decided to call a strand. Now he strained his mind, and as he did he found out that five strands of Qi streamed into the sphere of his dantian, then spread out to his meridians. Revitalized, he chose to take in four strands per pull, and quickly refilled his reserves.

Having nothing else to do, Zhang Cai slowly melted the ice Qi in his system bit by bit. He absorbed the remnants, then continued, until his meridians were sucked clean, at which point he returned to gathering Qi. If he could continue in this manner, it would take him less than two weeks at most to get rid of the ice Qi blocking his pathways. Required time for revitalizing his meridians, however, remained a month.

He let out a breath of frost, then continued for a few hours. Once done, he gazed up and down the room. Apart from a study table and a mirror, there also was a wardrobe with spare clothing. Most were loose robes fit for indoors, painted blue and white with silver lines going round the shoulders. Taking out his clothes, Zhang Cai took a look at himself in the mirror— traces of the rough encounter remained fresh on him. Patches of wet mud, a few bruises from the shockwaves formed purplish-blue marks over his chest and belly. He no longer seemed starved, nor malnourished, but except his arms that had put on some muscle he still seemed too thin for his liking.

Condensing blobs of water, he cleaned himself, and shot the dirtied sphere out the window to the empty mountain. Changing his robes with the spares, he put the old ones beside the study table and took another look in the mirror. He played with his hair, but it didn’t exactly change except it now laid a little more back. He looked not so dirty now.

When he felt it was enough, and looking out his room’s window found the rain going stronger than before, he stood up and descended to the floor. While coming up, he had seen a kitchen of sorts, where he hoped to eat a meal. Being Rocksmote, he could spend more time without food and water, but still needed the nutrients to keep himself healthy. Most people would frequently eat until the Late-Threshold realm, from thereafter they no longer needed to sustain themselves.

Even then, there were certain kinds of food that could provide benefits to Qi circulation and Meridian density. Unlike pills that one could form immunity, meals provided the same benefit given that it was digested. Pills, of course, provided a larger benefit in the short-term.

Thinking of that, Zhang Cai stopped beside Shu Ligui’s door. There were a few cheap sixth-grade pills in his pouch that provided around ten strands of Qi, made for the most novice of cultivators. He had never taken a pill in his life, except his master’s treasured healing Pill and the underwater breathing pills. The decision stemmed from his master’s warnings, telling that his constitution was a little special, hence risky to consume medicinal products.

He never found out why, though now being a Rocksmote he could observe his body better. Putting the thought of experimenting with pills to a side, he descended the stairs and came to see a few attendants in the halls. There already were two pots over ovens, over the counters that overlooked the tables and cushions spread in the hall, and a cauldron that smelled wonderful.

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Noticing him, a few questioned Zhang Cai, and he responded in kind. They had just taken the furniture out of the courtyard, under the rain, so most were wet. That being the case they would bring the meal to his room after wiping them dry, so he obliged, asking for another serving for Shu Ligui as well as a more proper desk, and went back up to gaze out the window. A little time passed when he sensed a probing Qi wash over. He turned around to knock on the door.

‘’Hello, Miss Li?’’

‘’Come in.’’

Sliding the gate open, Zhang Cai saw Shu Ligui seated on the bed, her back supported by a large pillow. A dark blanket was over her, and her untied hair had been left dangling all over, hiding most of her features. Her sword, still in its sheath, remained under constant caressess of her hands.

He took a chair from the study table to his right and, facing her, sat at an appropriate distance. He leaned a little back.

‘’How are you feeling?’’ she asked before he spoke.

‘’Uh...better.’’ He showed a faint smile. ‘’My head is all empty though. How are you feeling?’’

‘’Better.’’ She replied the same. A lightning boomed outside, so both stopped to look outside the window.

‘’Terrible weather,’’ Zhang Cai said. ‘’I just talked to the people below. They will send up some meals after drying the furniture. They got all wet in the courtyard.’’

She seemed to think a little, before looking at him. He then noticed that she was a little paler than before. ‘’I might pass.’’

‘’I don’t think you should miss Li.’’ he said.

‘’I am not in the best condition to eat, sir Zhang.’’

‘’Food is a good medicine though.’’

She formed a faint frown, but soon dropped it. ‘’You should not have bothered.’’

‘’It is nothing.’’ He waited a while, considering his words. ‘’Thank you, for helping me.’’

‘’I have not sent the letter yet, sir Zhang.’’

‘’I don’t mean the letter.’’ he said, then quickly corrected himself. ‘’ I mean thank you for that as well, but yeah.’’

‘’It was nothing too serious.’’ She replied.

Zhang Cai raised his brows, gesturing with his hands to his face.

‘’Have you got a chance to look at your face, Miss Li? Because that looks more than nothing too serious.’’

‘’I am afraid not...’’ She looked around the room, then moved to rise towards the mirror.

‘’Wait, wait, I’ll get it. You don’t move.’’

She halted, then sat back down with a sigh. Zhang Cai dragged the mirror before the bed, and she let out an audible gasp.

‘’...I look terrible.’’ She admitted.

‘’Qutie terrible, yeah.’’

She cast him a glare. ‘’Sir Zhang, I think I will need to teach you how to behave first before anything else.’’

‘’Am I really so offending?’’

‘’Quite so.’’ She snorted, then explained in a calmer voice. ‘’Other young masters and misses of large families tend to cut off a few heads over...the particulars.’’

Zhang Cai turned a little glum, and she seemed apologetic. Though it lasted a moment on both of their faces before they dropped the expressions.

‘’Are you sure it is a good idea to come with me, Miss Li?’’ Zhang Cai asked right after the bout of silence.

He felt a little nervous.

‘’Being...you know...’’ He played with his fingers, leaning forward. ‘’Thick strands of fate thing, I mean.’’

‘’Sir Zhang, do cover up yourself first.’’

‘’Huh?’’ Looking down, Zhang Cai saw his robe stretched down, showing his bare chest. He quickly covered it and sat upright, muttering apologies. He forgot how loose these robes were.

‘’Second,’’ She continued. ‘’I find nothing disagreeable with you being Fatemarked. I hope you realize sooner that most people would like to be on your goodside, rather than reverse.’’

‘’Why? Am I not dangerous? You saw yourself, two ridiculous challenges in the span of weeks. This one even...’’

She didn’t say anything, but only kept her gaze clear on him. Zhang Cai lowered his chin, casting his eyes down, but still he felt her looking at him.

‘’I do not know what to tell you, sir Zhang, but I am neither naive, nor weak. I assure you that I could survive where you could not. Also, without challenges, what meaning is there in a quest?’’

Ignoring most of her remarks, he replied. ‘’Isn’t life more important than a quest?’’

She seemed to consider something, and as she did she stopped caressing the sword in her lap. ‘’I have long dreamed of going on a quest, to see the world. If I so pleased, being of my station of life, I could have remained a doll in my house, married a man I did not know, or got into any kind of profession my family would allow, be it cultivating pills or forging artefacts.’’

‘’I could, or I can live my life in peace at any moment I wish. But I assume you know yourself, sir Zhang, that not all lives produce the same joy. Though this was an assignment forced upon me, it is on line with my wishes as well, and I believe you are a person who will contribute to my person rather than degrade its worth.’’

‘’...so you are determined?’’

‘’In short, yes. That is the case.’’

Zhang Cai let out a sigh. He tapped his feet a little, very faintly, then halted it.

‘’Then, again, thank you Miss Li.’’

‘’You're welcome.’’

They fell into a comfortable silence, broken by the occasional thunder that rattled the mountain.

‘’Would you like me to accompany, or...’’ Zhang Cai rolled his eyes. ‘’Impose is the right word? Impose on you while eating?’’

‘’...’’ She had a blank, almost amused glance, though she quickly turned her head away.

‘’Imposing on someone means forcing them.’’

‘’Ah...uh.’’

‘’No matter.’’ Wiping her nose, for some reason, she cast him another glance. ‘’I would appreciate it for the moment. I am unable to cultivate for a few hours, and they don’t seem to have any entertainment around.’’

‘’Alright.’’ He nodded. As if it was a signal, he heard the footsteps outside the door, and the attendant calling out.

‘’Let me handle it.’’

He rose, had the attendants deliver the furniture inside. They set the steaming trays over small tables, Shu Ligui received her own designed to eat on bed, then quickly left after giving a bow. Hearing the soft whoosh of the closing door, Zhang Cai took up the chopsticks and pierced the glowing chicken. There was a bowl of meat broth as well, though he couldn’t identify the meat inside. A large bowl of rice accompanied them, and a large jug of spring water.

He poured a cup for Shu Ligui, and they ate a little as they talked of random things coming to mind.

‘’Ah, Master Jin said there would be guests coming down South. Do you know who they might be?’’

Taking a spoon of her soup, and her complexion a tad bit better, Shu Ligui pondered a moment. ‘’They might be the coming from the Li family.’’

Zhang Cai’s hands trembled. ‘’Really?’’

She seemed to understand his thoughts. ‘’I’m afraid my brother-in-law will not be with them. Either the Third or the Fourth elders will be present, at most.’’

‘’Hmm.’’ He nodded and ate his rice piece by piece. ‘’Do they have children to register, I wonder.’’

‘’Most likely.’’ She said, then thought of something. ‘’Right. It is almost summer. There will be a lot of disciples coming for trials to join the sect, as well as prominent families.’’

‘’The sect will be quite lively then.’’

‘’Yes.’’

Zhang Cai spilled a few drops of broth on his knee, which he quickly erased with water. ‘’Will it be a tournament or something like that?’’

‘’That tends to be the most common exam. But I suppose we won’t be able to see its entirety.’’

Zhang Cai put down his chopsticks. ‘’Master Jin insists we stay a little more...so we might stay a little longer.’’

‘’Also, you haven’t had the chance to do your duels yet.’’

She gave him a very, very weird look, which disappeared soon enough.

‘’My recovery might take over a week.’’

‘’That is fine.’’

She nodded and said no more. He could understand why she mentioned the time. He was very anxious to go as fast as possible, but with his current mental state he felt that constant stress of catching up would break him down sooner than later.

He would reach his master, one way or another. Just, the possibility of not reaching him, ever, was worse than being expelled. Zhang Cai knew his master loved him for who he was, and not because he was his disciple. He didn’t want to fall to his inner demons again because of that anxiousness...but not tarrying for too long was for the best.

‘’I should ask about them to Master Jin.’’ The man did warn him about the Demon Emperors. He must have known more than that. The realm itself, and the sight shown to him by the Demon Emperor. There were too many peculiarities.

‘’Do you know why Master Jin requested our presence?’’ Shu Ligui asked.

‘’...I have a faint idea.’’ Zhang Cai replied. ‘’Does Li family have an exclusive Goliath?’’

‘’I see.’’ She nodded towards empty air. ‘’They don’t. They only use the Continental Goliath, or one of ours to get their affairs done.’’

‘’One of? How many do you have?’’

‘’Three.’’

Zhang Cai gulped down his meat broth. Goliaths were gigantic flying constructs, designed to traverse large distances and were the main form of trading and traveling for humanity. Though they were strong as a species, compared to the vast continent they only covered around five percent of the territory. The existence of the overbearing hospitality culture was a result of this condition.

After all, most races, or whatever was left of them, always lived in fear of nature. Land travel was an overwhelming and risky business, because most beasts feared no one, and the wild ambient Qi always had the chance to produce a fearsome mighty beast where no one expected. Places near civilization had cultivators culling the population, but even that was exclusive to human territory. Outside, even Threshold-realms had to tread carefully at certain places. As such, humanity poured massive amounts of their wealth and people into developing these flying machines. These constructs could take on several Middle-Threshold, or a single Late-Threshold realm Xian, or a dozen Beasts of the same realm alone.

Having three of them spoke volumes about Shu Noble Clan’s influence.

‘’How much is a ticket?’’ Zhang Cai asked. He had little silver on him, though he supposed that he could sell the miscellaneous pills in his pouch for a hundred or two. Riding on a Goliath would cut down their travel time by a great deal. Also, there was a great chasm, or abyss, between the Central Northern Continent and the Southern Frontier, which even he knew existed. Even Spirit beasts stalked that place, and even a rumoured Divinity. If possible he would like to fly over it and continue safely.

‘’Fifteen hundred I think?’’

Perhaps he could beat a Divine beast?

Shuddering at the thought, Zhang Cai said no more, a little troubled. But the frustration went away quickly—he didn’t have much that went his way in this life. It was the usual for him. They chatted a little bit more after that.

Once their meals were done Zhang Cai carried the trays and tables back to the floor. The attendants protested enough at him for stealing their jobs, but he didn’t mind their reactions. ‘’Where do I put them?’’ He asked, and they just pointed wherever so he let the pile down. Thanking for the meal, he went upstairs again. He took back his pouch from Shu Ligui, bid her good rest, then entered his room.

He took out his sect manuals and began practicing.