Author's Note: Inconsistent uploading, I know. Doing summer homework. Less time. Also had to update other story. Further confession: I like jumping around when writing...so I'm working on stuff that should be less prioritized, but is more interesting to me at that moment. As Always, Thanks for Reading.
A red-haired youth walked the streets of the festival, bamboo stick a strict pace. Those new to the pill kingdom laughed at his disability — only for him to jab them in the solar plexus with deadly accuracy and a cold gaze. Those who knew of his reputation made way for him; some even bowed despite the knowledge of his blindness.
The young boy stopped in front of a humble stall of wooden branches and tattered cloth. Despite its appearance, a crowd engulfed the small establishment. A portion of the crowd was curious of the juxtaposition of the humble stall with the colorful and bursting stalls around it. The rest, a small elite, knew of the owner’s reputation.
Yet, there was nothing about the owner to suggest greatness. Like the stall, he was a simple and aged man. Wrinkles decorated his kind face and white hair brushed the dirty ground like a broom.
Though, one thing of interest was this: rather than thrusting piles of pills into open palms, the old man took the people’s palms into his own to study. Then he would peek at their tongues, eyes, and even chest. He did all of this before doing one of four things:
For a curious housewife, he simply sent her away with no pills. For a simple peasant, he burned moxa on his sun-wrinkled back. For a plump merchant complaining of sudden nausea, the old man gave him a list of herbs to make into soup — and not much else. And for a cultivator who was afflicted with severe internal after-effects from a fight, the old man merely massaged the poor girl with qi flowed to the tips of his fingers.
The humble old man gave no pills.
The red-haired youth tapped his way toward the front. He waited patiently for the old man to finish his last examination. The old man gave specific directions to avoid wet places to an old woman.
Then the old man broke down his stall, fitted it into his wicker basket. Finally, the crowd dispersed.
“Hai’Deng!” The old man greeted the youth with a hug. Hai’Deng pushed the old man away when he leaned up to kiss his cheek.
Then Hai’Deng frowned, “Elder Wang, why do you insist on calling me Hai’Deng? My name is Yi’ge Nei-Xiu Si the Third, of the Lei’Yo-La House [Ignatius of the Loyola].”
Elder Wang picked up his gnarled walking stick and slammed it down onto the cobblestone road.
Pouting, he replied, “Because Yi’ge Nei-Xiu Si is very hard to say! And that name doesn’t even mean anything. It’s just a bunch of random characters thrown together so we can pronounce foreign words; it’s stupid.
“At least my name has meaning. And it’s a good name too; if I had a son, that would be his name. Hai’Deng! Ascending Seas! Add in my clan name, and it’s King Ascending Seas! How grand! How brilliant! Poetry at its finest!”
Hai’Deng continued to frown. He shook his head, “Elder Wang, you know my name is the only thing my parents left me.”
Elder Wang snorted and began walking forward. The red-haired youth followed by the old man’s side. Elder Wang responded to the boy’s claims, “Bull-crap that your name is the only thing they left you. Don’t you have your bones, flesh, and soul? Who do you think those came from? And you also have your sister and that red scarf! Can’t you give this lonely, old man close to death this one pleasure?”
“Elder Wang!” Hai’Deng groaned. “Can you please not joke about your condition? And, can’t you just respect the name my parents gave me?”
“Only if you respect what I want to be called,” Elder Wang smirked with eager eyes.
In tune with his response, the bamboo stick slammed against the cobblestone road as it landed,
“No, Elder Wang.”
Elder Wang stopped walking completely. He spun to face Hai’Deng and slammed his walking stick against the boy’s. “Why not? I think Handsome Boy Shuhe is an excellent name!”
The boy pulled his bamboo stick away. He threw his hands up into the air and half-yelled, “Because that’s simply ridiculous, Elder Wang!”
Elder Wang puffed both his cheeks out. “Hmph, then, I think Yi-whatever-the-shit-it’s-called is stupid! I’m calling you Hai’Deng, and that is final.”
As the odd pair bickered, they chanced upon Senior Sha’s collapsed body.
“Elder Wang, I smell blood,” Hai’Deng remarked with contempt. He sniffed the air and turned to the alley beside Senior Sha’s body. The red-haired boy’s ears perked up. He growled, “Someone is causing trouble during my pill festival!”
“Aiyah, Hai’Deng, what is wrong with that brain of yours,” Elder Wang shook his head in amazement. He pointed at Senior Sha’s mangled form and exclaimed, “You smell blood! Clearly that means there is someone who is injured. As healers and pill makers — as part of the great Black Pearl Sect — is it not our duty to look after those hurt first!”
“And who better to hand that duty to than you, Elder Wang, blessed Sage of the Pulse,” Hai’Deng remarked with a bow before dashing into the street alley.
“Aiyah, just because this old man — wait, no, handsome old man — is gifted, they think I’m a god,” Elder Wang grumbled to himself. Regardless, he saw to Senior Sha’s injuries. “Let’s see: ruptured organs, excessive bleeding, shock, and impotency. My, just because I’m the Sage of the Pulse doesn’t mean I’m a miracle worker!”
Still, he took out his supplies from his wicker basket. First, he applied some moxa on the poor boy’s back and face. Next, he jabbed a few silver needles near the joints and various qi points. Once he ensured the immobilization of the young boy’s movements and the restriction of shock, he fed the boy a few select pills. Finally, Elder Wang shot his palms forward, striking the boy’s back — transferring warm qi to direct the natural healing of the body. Digging his nails deep into Senior Sha’s back, drawing blood; however, more of the old man’s qi flowed into Senior Sha’s body.
This warm qi accelerated also the effects of the pills. As the pill was ingested, a burst of energy and herbs exploded throughout Senior Sha’s body. Very quickly, the organs repaired itself. Within moments, Senior Sha breathed normally again. And soon after, he opened his eyes and gasped.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Elder Wang said, “Well, young whippersnapper, aren’t you a lucky — Oh my Buddha! May the devas forgive me! Where did I go wrong? Perhaps it was a sin to be called the Sage of the Pulse. My child, I am so sorry. Your face, it’s — I, well, perhaps a knife and some pig skin will fix it.”
Senior Sha teared up. He looked up at the old man and muttered, “I was born ugly.”
Elder Wang perked up and laughed. Stroking his beard, he exclaimed, “Ah, as expected, I am the Sage of the Pulse.”
Hearing Qiu’yue’s screams, Senior Sha grabbed hold of the elder’s leg. “Please, can you stop the fight? You’re the Sage of the Pulse, right? That means you hold influence in the Black Pearl Sect, right?”
Elder Wang tilted his head and explained, “Actually, I’m an outsider. In fact, the head of the Black Pearl Sect despises my guts and innards. And people who do respect me usually do not engage in murder without reason. Finally, I have little combat skills to speak of. Now, I ask you, why would a Black Pearl Sect disciple try to kill you?”
Senior Sha made a bitter face and looked down at his feet. Hearing Qiu’yue’s screams, he glanced toward the alley.
“You can tell me as we walk,” Elder Wang spoke. He picked up his walking stick and marched into the alley. Senior Sha followed. “And do not worry too much, a friend of mine has gone ahead of us. Though he is a bit reckless and hot-headed.”
“Then why hasn’t he stopped the fight yet?”
“He is blind. Finding his way through alleys has always been a challenge for him even if he can sense qi and sound at a heightened level. Though, him being geographically challenged has to do with him being directionally challenged more so than being blind. The better question is why haven’t you told me why you and your friend were attacked.”
“I, I threw up on some outer disciples.”
“Ah, that is why children should never take so many pills. It is a danger. Still, that is not all. Outer disciples — especially ones indulged in pills — are not able to completely rearrange one’s internal organs with a single strike.”
Senior Sha hesitated, but replied. “We killed the outer disciples we offended. It was self-defense!”
Elder Wang spared him a look. An indescribable look filled with shadows. He smiled, “Impressive. However, though I am ultimately an outsider to the Black Pearl Sect, I and they consider each other family regardless.”
Senior Sha’s face paled. He gulped and lapped his lips. “Will we be killed?”
“You will definitely be punished. We lose too much face if we do not. Face is the currency of the martial society. To give face is to have face; but to lose face is to lose everything. You having killed outer disciples on our own territory — on top of offending them prior — is simply too many slaps to our face.”
“I was the one who threw up on the outer disciples to begin with, I’m the only one who should be killed!”
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Elder Wang stopped. He turned and shook his head. With a grim smile, he said, “That is not your choice to make. It is to the victors.”
The two neared Qiu’yue and the beautiful fairy. Hai’Deng was nowhere to be found. The scene arrived at was a gruesome image. Rather than killing Qiu’yue outright, the fairy sought reparations — an eye for an eye.
There was no sign of the cute little girl to be found in the alley, only a battered doll. No, she was a mutilated doll, deprived of soul and sense. Humanity stripped away, only the most primal of instincts remained. But it was not fear. It was hate and anger which Qiu’yue held.
Despite the bloodied eyes puffed out like tulips; despite her becoming a blue flower, myriad shades of blue and violet draped in red; despite flesh flayed from skin like fish scales, set aside in layers; despite her face stomped upon by the fairy; despite all that, she growled with bared fangs — a golden glint like liquid sun in her eyes.
“What a fascinating girl,” the fairy remarked. She gasped when Qiu’yue’s flesh wounds healed in but a few breaths. “Everytime, remarkable! This time, it took a quarter of a breath less. If I butcher your flesh and sell your blood as pills, I wonder, perhaps —”
“Perhaps what, Xi Shi?” Elder Wang stepped forward. His walking stick slapping the ground with every step. “If you wish to punish the girl, I can allow even this torture. However, I do not recall human pills being the way of the Black Pearl Sect.”
Xi Shi glanced over. She covered her smile and tipped her head high. Laughing, she responded, “And I do not recall you being a Black Pearl Sect elder, Mr.Wang.”
“However, I do have influence, Xi Shi. Do not make regrets, make peace.”
Xi Shi stomped on Qiu’yue’s back, cracking her spine. The growling little girl coughed up blood as her breathing became more erratic. She then promptly lost consciousness.
The fairy said as she twisted her heel, “She has killed someone from my faction. The girl has slapped me over a thousand times over — no, she and that ugly brat over there has pissed all over our Black Pearl Sect’s home. I will not make peace.”
Elder Wang stroked his beard. He chuckled, “I did not mean making peace with these children; they will be punished. I meant make peace with me and do not ever think of human experimentation ever again.”
“Elder Wang, there exists people who very much like to see an outsider gone from our sect. You cannot fight, nor is any of your followers here to guard you. If I killed you, I wonder how prosperous I will become.”
“Prosperity is found not from suffering, but from love.”
“And I do love killing.” The fairy smiled coldly. Xi Shi kicked Qiu’yue toward Elder Wang and dashed forward like a snake.
Elder Wang caught the girl gingerly. He clucked his tongue, “Youngsters today, no patience at all.”
Frowning at those words, Xi Shi immediately turned to intercept Hai’Deng’s strike. The bamboo stick held despite the great impact. Though it showed signs of simply bursting apart. Hai’Deng flicked his wrist and the bamboo stick coiled around Xi Shi’s fist. Then he diverted the fist toward the ground before quickly striking her chest five times. Like the crashing of the seas on shore, Xi Shi sprayed a mist of blood. Retrieving his bamboo stick, Hai’Deng slammed it down onto Xi Shi’s shoulder.
The fairy crumpled onto her knees. Yet she made no sound. Rather, she opened her mouth to scream but no words came. Hai’Deng tapped around until he found Xi Shi’s head. He leaned forward and growled.
“Who are you to cause chaos during the festival, Xi Shi JieJie [Big Sister]? Remember, I am this sect’s mad mutt. I will not tolerate any disturbance. Especially not from a person not even fit to lick my feet.”
Though she was unable to speak or move, the fairy tried her hardest to show her understanding. Hai’Deng nodded. He said, “Good. Now let us begin your punishment. How about taking all your other senses as well? And not in the usual way. What I mean, is that you will need both reconstructive surgery and several types of pills. Oh, you don’t want that? Why, I want that.”
With a swift jab, Xi Shi was left with silent screams, as rivers of blood gushed from her eyes, nose, and ears.
Then Hai’Deng turned to face Elder Wang. He scowled. “I hear two extra sets of breathing. And they sound quite familiar.”
Immediately, Senior Sha stopped breathing. Hai’Deng turned to him and smiled.
“Oh, I was unsure exactly where you were. But now I know.”
Before Hai’Deng could do anything, Elder Wang stopped him. “Hai’Deng, stand down.”
“Elder Wang —”
“What are the four steps?” Elder Wang tapped his walking stick onto the ground like a gavel.
“Looking. Listening. Inquiring. Taking.” Hai’Deng recited those four steps quickly and with confidence.
“Yes, as doctors: We must first look at their tongues and appearance. Then we listen to their voice. Next, we inquire their condition. And then we take their pulse. As doctors, we must apply the four steps to even this! Let us first look at the situation — though with this ugly bastard over here, we should simply declare him a leper afflicted with syphilis.”
“Uh, I’m a virgin boy.” Senior Sha responded with a blush.
“Oh, good. We needed to make virgin boy eggs. There’s been quite the yin deficiency lately. Oh cheer up, boy. On the bright side, this probably mean you won’t be executed.”
“I rather if he did die,” Hai’Deng muttered as he swung his stick around like a blade. “You know how I am when people break the rules — especially a law as sacred as not killing on other people’s home soil.”
“It, it was self-defense!” Senior Sha cried.
“You are but some back-mountain country hick. And one barely at even a mediocre level of cultivation,” Hai’Deng said with a laugh. “So what if it was self-defense? Compare to your sect’s face and our’s, which is more significant?”
“Now, now. Before we jump to any executions, let us first exercise our roles as doctors first,” Elder Wang said with a roll of his eyes. Taking Qiu’yue’s wrist into his palm, his expression changed rapidly. At first it was curiosity, then intrigue, intrigue revealed shock and awe, but awe led to fear.
With a fevered expression, he turned to Senior Sha and shouted, “Boy! Who the hell is this girl?”
“I-I,” Senior Sha stuttered and fell onto his bum.
Elder Wang approached and slammed his walking stick in between Sha’s legs. The Sage of the Pulse leaned forward and hissed, “Who. Is. She?”
“She’s an orphan, Elder Wang,” Senior Sha replied.
“Whose orphan?”
“The general who betrayed the Emperor,” Senior Sha whispered.
With a complicated face, Elder Wang pulled himself back. He stroked his beard as he watched Qiu’yue’s body repair itself.
“Elder Wang, why are you so surprised?” Hai’Deng asked. He faced Qiu’yue’s general direction.
“General Yin Hong was my first student — from even before I was given the title of Sage,” Elder Wang chuckled wryly.
“Impossible!” Hai’Deng exclaimed. “Elder Wang, you’re nearly 500 years old. You became Sage when you were at the end of your first soul-severance at 135 years old. General Yin Hong is in her thirties at most. And she was still just a condensation stage cultivator when she joined the Yue Yun Sect. It does not add up.”
“There are stranger things than that. She herself has ascertained that she and my first student are one and the same.”
“Is that why you don’t believe she betrayed the Emperor?” Hai’Deng asked after a brief pause.
Senior Sha was silent with anxiety in all this.
Elder Wang ignored the question and turned to Senior Sha, “Something was done with her body, right? I assume it was the Scarlet Fairy of Dreams, Meng Yue.”
Senior Sha nodded. “A Lotus Ritual.”
“I know which one,” Elder Wang replied. He fed Qiu’yue a pill from his basket. “Her body’s regeneration ability has far surpassed even some cultivators. She shall be fine after some rest.”
“What about their punishment, Elder Wang,” Hai’Deng asked, carving deep grooves into the dirt with his bamboo stick. “They’ve killed our own.”
Senior Sha looked at Hai’Deng, then at Elder Wang.
The Sage of the Pulse sighed. “There must be justice. Regardless of all else, there must be justice.”