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Chapter 36: "Hardly Enough Lunch."

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Another knock came at the door.

"Who dares interrupt hug time with Fairy Yun!" Shae called out in mock outrage. She looked up to see the second captain. "Oh, Lou, you're still here?"

"Well, yes. You didn't ask me to leave."

"What am I, the guard captain? I don't need to dismiss you, do I?"

"Well, no. But I am here for your protection."

The knock came again, sharper this time, then the door opened to admit Doctor Ho, the formations flashing just before it opened. "Sorry to interrupt, but I do have a busy schedule." He came in and handed Shae an envelope. "Nurse Jo had placed it with your other belongings, which you can recover at the front desk. Inspector Tan assures me we acted according to policy. If you are still upset about it, there are channels other than me to vent your frustration. You are clear to leave, please fill out the paperwork at the front desk." He bowed curtly and left.

"Oh, Doctor Ho." Shae called. "My apologies for my earlier attitude, anesthesia and all. Thank you for your hard work."

He looked back to nod to her then left.

She looked at the envelope, it was stamped with an official looking seal, like letterhead paper would be. "Oh? What's this?" She flashed it between Yun and Lou.

"That's the emblem of the city guard. Well, the one for paperwork." Lou replied.

"Uhm? Why?" She was still confused.

"We are at the guard's hospital." Yun smirked at her.

"Oh, okay." She cracked it open and dumped out the single bent piece of wire it contained. "Ah!" She yelped.

"Hmm?" Yun hummed a question.

"I think it moved." Shae looked at the metal wire in her hand with a creased forehead.

"Well, you did say it was a living spiritual tool, yes?" She leaned over for a better look.

Lou had also stepped forward to do the same.

"Well, yea, but it never moved on its own. Just flexed easily and could be straightened out with a bit of qi flow."

"Hmm, try it out." Yun smirked again.

Shae tilted her head and shrugged. Running a small bit of her qi down her arm. Slowly at first, she was still weary of her injury, then to her palm where the pin sat. "A bit of qi, then I just pull it, and think it should straighten-" she reached with her left to bend the pin, but before touching it the pin twitched then snapped fully straight. "Ah!" She almost dropped it. Then once she caught her breath she said, "That's new."

Yun finally released her held laugh, bursting into giggles and louder guffaws.

Lou wasn't as entertained, but had a wide smile. "That is in line with what I expect from a living tool. Can you get it into other shapes? Just with a thought?"

Shae tried to frown at the woman beside her, but her own smile was hard to resist. "Well, clearly someone was expecting that." She focused back on the pin, and the ring shape she usually bent it into. Sure enough, it curled into the ring shape after a short delay. "Huh. That's handy. Much easier than it used to be."

"So, you avoided losing a rare spiritual tool? That's good." Lou commented.

She nodded and removed one of the other hairpins that she was still wearing as earrings. "Hmm, guess I need to sort out what changed, the other ones didn't change too."

Yun rubbed her back, "I believe you can figure it out. If not now, it can be a research project at the sect."

"Hmm, any suggestions?"

The pair of adults looked at each other, then grinned. "I think you can handle it." Yun said.

"Traitors!" Shae called out, then smiled.

A cough came from the hallway.

"Oh, right, door's open again." She huffed, then put her earring and ring back on. Grabbing the envelope to clear it away, she froze. "Wait, we're at the guard's hospital? That's not open to serving the public is it?"

"Heh, I was wondering when you would catch that." Yun smirked.

"Ugh, why didn't you mention it earlier?"

"I didn't want you to rely on just that fact, it's not enough anyway."

"But is it something?" Shae turned to Lou. "Why was I brought here, instead of a public hospital?"

He shrugged. "We were on guard business, and the inspectors don't have a hospital."

Shae gestured to the man with an open hand and looked at Yun.

"Okay, that is a good response." The fairy conceded.

Lou raised an eyebrow.

Shae tapped the law book as though that was answer enough. Then she frowned at the door. "Is Tan still out there?"

Lou nodded. "I believe so."

Shae sighed and looked at Yun. "I should apologize, shouldn't I?"

Yun shrugged and smiled. "If you think you need to. We should get going, either way."

"Hmm, only if there is food on the way. I'm starving."

"You ate earlier." Lou commented.

"Half a bowl of noodles is hardly enough lunch," she complained.

"Oh, what kind?" Yun asked.

"Uh, spicy? From a street cart."

Lou filled in the blank for Yun. "Soba noodles in sweet cream sauce. Lots of spice."

"Oh, those are nice. Though I prefer slightly less spice, myself. Is that what you want?" She asked the young woman.

"Hmm, maybe something heavier? What about something like that last course Chef Van made? The dumplings? Any food carts do those?"

"Hmm, not sure, we could probably get Van to make some, but it wouldn't be quick."

"Dumplings? There's a place in the north quarter that works fast." Lou suggested.

"Oh, you'll have to show us then." Yun smiled.

"Bring Tan along!" Shae insisted.

"Really? I'd think you'd want some distance, still?" Lou asked.

Shae shrugged. "I plan on making nice, well, trying to." She looked around the room. "Ugh, not in here, this room isn't helping my mood. Can we go now?"

Everyone nodded in agreement and they set off, first stop, just outside the door.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Inspector Tan." Shae said pleasantly.

"Wise Shae." She returned. "You're doing well?"

"Well enough. Some of me heals fast. I need to say something, Inspector Tan." She inhaled deeply.

The group was interrupted and pushed to the side as a group of nurses passed by in a rush.

"We could go back in?" Lou pointed at the room.

"No, there's too much bad air in that room." Shae gave half a smile. "Inspector Tan, I apologize for my earlier behavior. While I was under the influence of those drugs, to some degree. That doesn't excuse everything. To you as well, Second Captain Lou. I'm sure my age could excuse some behavior, but that doesn't mean I need to let it, or let myself ignore my mistakes."

They both looked at each other and nodded. "Considering the circumstances, I hold nothing against you, you are forgiven." Lou bowed.

"I agree. If I wanted a reasonable discussion, I should have chosen a better time to pester you." Tan smirked. " You are forgiven. Now let me apologize as well."

"Hmm, no, not yet." Shae shook her head. "I need to thank you both first."

"You did before." Lou said.

"Not properly, I don't think. At least, I feel I need to say it again. Lou, thank you for quickly retrieving my spiritual water, and for hesitating enough to not cut off my arm." She smirked. "That must have been a challenge to trust me enough to not do the most pragmatic thing."

He shrugged. "The noodles slowed me down."

Yun raised an eyebrow. "The noodles? The same ones as earlier?"

He nodded and mimed eating them.

Shae ignored the distraction. "Tan, thank you for guiding me through the trap. And at the end, for... interrupting me." She paused. "I hesitate only in the wording, nothing more. While I still believe in the words I was saying at the time, you were right to think there could have been unintended consequences." She bowed low to them both.

Tan smiled, "It was what needed to be done at the time, nothing more."

"Still, I feel I might owe you both. As silly as that sounds. I'm not familiar enough with these kinds of debts. Perhaps a small favor, not work related, something personal."

The two smiled, though Lou's was more smirk.

"That sounds fine, though we both owe you as well. In a work related way." Tan inclined her head. "You did resolve the case, after all."

Shae waved a hand. "Bah, I've had enough of that, let my legal counsel handle it." She leaned into Yun.

Yun smoothly picked up the thread, "Yes, I insist I do. Inspector Tan, please direct all further matters to me directly. I will be representing Wise Zhi Shae from here on out."

Tan paled slightly. "Uh, of course. But I must ask, because my superior would require me to: what interest does the house of Yun have in the smuggling case?"

Shae looked up and mouthed 'house?'

"Not my house, and not in the whole case. This is just me representing Shae. As her friend, I need to watch out for her interests."

Tan relaxed considerably. "Oh."

"And considering there is a spatial item involved. We must make sure little Shae gets everything she is owed."

Tan slouched. "Oh."

Silence stretched out briefly until Shae's stomach gurgled loudly. "To dumplings!" She called out and turned to walk down the hallway.

"Other way." Lou chirped.

She quickly rushed back.

"And we have paperwork at the front desk to do," Yun chimed.

The young woman slowed. "Aww. Can't you do that for me later?"

Yun snorted. "I'm your legal counsel, not your assistant."

Lou followed behind but Tan did not.

"Tan!" Shae called and waved. "You're coming too!"

"Uh, am I? I don't think you need me at the front desk."

"No, for food! You have to come, or..." She smirked.

"I don't like that look. I'll come."

"Aww." The young woman deflated slightly.

The paperwork went quickly; Yun asked for a copy to be sent to her and Shae had to sign off on the request.

Their walk to the edge of the city was brief and Lou's dumpling restaurant was a small mom and pop shop tucked away off the main road. They all got a table together, but Yun and Shae ditched as soon as their food arrived, saying they needed to hit the road. Coincidentally forcing Lou and Tan to share a meal together. The dumplings weren't exactly road food, but Yun's spatial item made it a simple task to juggle the food and Shae's bag.

"Hmm, it's going to take all night to catch up." Shae whined as she finished the delicious meal.

"For you maybe, but this is why I'm here." Yun smirked then removed something from her spatial storage.

As she unfolded it, it looked like a large version of a folding fan. "Oh! Is that a flying fan?" Shae gasped.

"Haha, not quite. Flying treasures are rather expensive and rare, almost as much as spatial items. I don't move around enough to justify flight."

"Expensive? I thought cultivators could just jump on a sword or fan and fly it around?" The young cultivator jumped into a surfing pose.

"Hehehe," Yun giggled at her antics, "maybe once at or above nascent soul, but no. The rest of us are ground bound. Well, unless you have a particularly compatible qi aspect. Wind is good for that. And some sword cultivators learn to fly early. We are stuck with the lesser gliding today." She unfurled the item and wrapped it around her like a cape.

"Oooh! Pretty!" Shae cooed. It was mostly a cape, with the outer edge pleated and like a folding fan. It attached at Yun's neck and to her upper arms, producing a sweeping frill across her back.

"Ready?" Yun asked and beckoned Shae to her.

She wiped dumpling sauce off herself with a handkerchief. "Hah, I was half expecting you to sweep me up like last-" right as Shae returned the handkerchief to her robes Yun did just that, grabbing the smaller woman and sprinting down the road. Shae let out a surprised shriek then laughed with glee.

As they picked up speed Shae noticed the frilled cape billow out like a strong head wind was holding it up. Yun's run gradually became hops that held them in the air much longer than natural as the spiritual tool gently held them off the ground.

Yun expertly controlled their descent, gliding into a long swoop just above the ground instead of a sudden drop. Each time they came close to the ground she would run and kick off several times, raising their speed again before pushing them into the air.

"Mmm, Yun, do you need to concentrate?" Shae asked quietly.

"A bit, yes. Did you need something?"

"No, I just wanted to talk. I'll try to rest instead." She snuggled into the woman's arms and relaxed. The speed and jostling wasn't much worse than a car or airplane, so she quickly found peace in meditation.

Quickly her mind found the questions her manifold journey had left her with. Then ones that she was supposed to think about today. Guess being on the road brought them back up? She wondered.

She remembered the qi practice as well, but recalled it was to be used after contemplating the questions. She had little more thought for the questions now, but one stuck out more than the others. They were all light-ish philosophies about violence, but she saw now that they were not intended as moral high ground to look down on others from.

The one that caught her was a very similar case to what happened to her. Broadly, if one lashes out in defense, yet strikes a killing blow, is that a just defense or simple uncontrolled violence? The practice's name of Painful Landing seemed to fit well with her guilt.

Yun roused her from meditation some time later, but she didn't feel like she progressed much further in her contemplation.

"Have we arrived already?"

"Not yet, only half way there, I think. We are passing through a town." She pointed ahead and Shae spotted one or two lights in the distance. The darkness of night had fully arrived while she rested.

"Oh! Still, that seems fast. Are we slowing to a walk? I could use a stretch."

"We can, yes." Yun didn't slow right away, but waited until the gates were within sight.

"Gates and walls? I thought this was supposed to be a small town."

"Most towns north of Flame Well need walls. Spirit beast activity rises as you approach the mountains." She set Shae down to walk on her own.

"Hmm, so there are lots around the sect?"

"Not lots, but more than here, certainly. They do a good job keeping the immediate area clear. The beasts are drawn to the increased qi density. The other less populated mountains, those are much worse. Supposedly getting through the range is impossible without cultivator protection."

"Supposedly?"

"There are rumors of runners making it through. Desperate couriers seeking their fortune with a single delivery." Yun shook her head. "I don't recommend it."

Shae hummed in agreement. Then focused and started the Painful Landing qi practice.

"Hmm?" Yun asked.

"Qi practice. A simpler one today. Might have to use it a bit tomorrow, since today was kind of a bust."

"Ah yes, from those monk's. Speaking of practice. I still can't believe you made progress with mental focus." She shook her head in disbelief.

"Heh, yea, yesterday was quite the training montage."

"Huh?"

"Oh, sorry, don't know the word for that. Hmm, training sprint? That's close. Is there a way to test focus?"

"Hmm. They have tools for it at the sect. Though you should avoid them. Such early progress might set unreasonable expectations."

Shae grunted. "Ugh. Right, good point. Van said the same." She hummed in thought. "Let's not talk about cultivation. Tell me about you. What's the Yun house? Are you a noble?"

It was Yun's turn to grunt. "My family has noble ties, yes. I left that behind when I joined the sect and became a cultivator."

"Oh? They didn't want you to?"

"They didn't expect the path I chose. They had been hoping for something more... traditional."

"Aahh! Say no more, if you'd rather not. I think I understand. I suppose we have that in common then."

Yun looked down at the young woman. "Hmm, maybe not exactly what you're expecting, but thank you for understanding."

Shae smiled.

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