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Chapter 54: "One Strong Leg Technique."
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Less than a quarter hour later Shae caught up to Master Long at the forward-most scout position.
"Miss Shae, you're in much less of a hurry today?" Long said as she approached.
"Master Long. You could say my morning workout was rather draining. Plus, I heard you weren't as far out today."
"Ah, yes, you're Senior seemed rather intent on testing your limits. Did you give her as much trouble over testing you as I received?"
"Well, Senior. She openly informed me of her intentions regarding the workout, and I agreed with her goals. I had very little reason to be upset. Surprising that the spycraft specialist has less need for hidden intentions than some do." She smirked at the road ahead of them.
He grunted lightly. "That you know of."
"Hah. True, true. I'm sure she could easily hide her motives from me. I might find out and be upset, eventually. Yet, so long as her motives don't affect our interactions I don't think I'll mind so much." She gave him a playful glare.
He huffed. "So, what brings you to this edge of our little safety net?"
"Safety net? Is it that bad out here today?"
"Hmm. I wouldn't say that. There's little different here than any other day. I certainly wouldn't say bad, it's a rather lovely day."
She succeeds at him. "Master Long, I think you're dodging the question."
"More that I'm being pedantic, Miss Shae, and you dodged my question first. Now to answer yours first: this stretch of road is more dangerous than the last, just as the one before it. The final stretch to the sect is slightly more so. That area is only kept under control by proximity to the sect and the aid of the canyon."
"Huh. I don't feel surprised. Guess I expected that." She inhaled deeply. "Why I came out here was related to that question, and this next one. Master Long, if someone wanted to, say, sprint the rest of the way to Gatewash, what would you say to that?"
"Heh. Depends who it is? For you? Hmm... If you had Apollo teach you a subtlety technique, once she began teaching you in the time since the caravan left Minlin, then I'd still hesitate to let you leave." He shrugged.
"Uhh.. seriously?" She snapped her attention up the road, then to each treeline at their sides. "It's that dangerous? Why aren't we seeing more attacks? Have you just been scaring everything off?"
"Some things flee quickly, no doubt. It's less about danger than risk, and running ahead would be an unnecessary one. If we needed to send a message, I'd rather let one of the mortal scouts go, they'd be safer, but Mistress Ping wouldn't allow it. Again, because it would be an unnecessary risk."
"Hmh. So, you or Apollo would go. And why is a mortal safer?"
"Maybe one of the guards that has a good movement technique or escape talisman. The mortal is safer because he is not a cultivator, spirit beasts prefer spiritual prey. The ones that are likely to attack someone on the road are predators, true to the name and stronger for it."
Shae had a brief flashback to her trip down the mountain. Meeting a certain wolf that effortlessly stalked her just to play. She shuddered.
Long glanced at her briefly. "It's good that you know what I mean. I think I won't have to lock you in one of the wagons."
She took a deep breath and remembered something else from that time. "Oh! I do have a movement technique, and an escape talisman."
"One strong leg is not a movement technique."
"It was faster than Brother Chen's."
Long tilted his head. "The earth cultivator? Not surprising, and not impressive. Earth is by far the slowest for movement and the hardest to learn. Do you know what accomplishment stage he's at?"
"Umm, no?"
"I'd be surprised if he's past small success, and that's without even knowing what technique he's trying to learn."
Shae hummed uncertainly.
"And where did you get an escape talisman? Don't tell me one of the other students got that sect coin off you for a sweet word and shiny scrap of paper."
She started a grunt of offense, but had to turn it into a smile. "Heh. No, it's a proper one I received as a gift from the monks in Minlin."
"Hmm. As a reward for your wise words? I would assume that it is real, then. Yet, I'd still need to see it to verify."
Her hand went into her robes, just over her heart then froze. Kwan said this was valuable didn't he? Maybe I shouldn't reveal it.
"Well?" He scoffed, then glanced over eventually. "Bah, heaven's sake. I'm not going to steal it, girl."
She looked up at his flat expression, an offhand comment, for sure, and yet, "I'll hold you to that, Master Long." She revealed the glowing green talisman, offering it to him, and he took it casually with an eyebrow raised.
Long accepted the talisman with a nod. "Interesting central glyph. Not the usual style. Feels quite powerful, though. By the glyph encapsulation, it seems to be similar to a physical enhancement."
"Uhh, the encap-slation?"
"Encap-su-lation." He enunciated it clearly, then leaned over to point at parts of the talisman. "This outer linework. The details along it are very similar to something like Leaden Bones, or Steel Skin; both defensive talismans."
"Sooo, encapsulation is like the shell? Are you a talisman crafter?"
He gave a brief grimace. "Shell isn't a terrible descriptor. The talisman term is encapsulation, and means a few specific things which I am not quite qualified to explain because I am no talisman master. Your Elder Ghon could have explained it, and I believe several of his students, along with their students, are still at the sect and teaching."
"Huh. He never seemed too excited to explain formations or talismans. Though, he might have thought I wasn't ready for it." She shrugged.
"Hmm. Strange... Although." He glanced at her. "I'd understand if he didn't want to dive into such a large topic with you, Wise Shae."
"I have no idea what you could mean by that, Master Long." She raised an eyebrow.
"Heh. I should also say: talismans are not a first year skill. Too many impatient youths trying to do all kinds of things and usually burning their face or fingers off with exploding talismans. Lucky for them the sect healers are quite skilled."
"Ah, I understand. We had a similar problem where I'm from. Kids like fire and loud noises, put them together and those kids get themselves hurt rather quickly. Almost always boys."
"Heh, can't say I kept track enough to specify a group. Anyhow, they can teach you some about identification first. So you can confirm what you're holding is what you think it is. That is where my knowledge comes from. To identify this further," he held the talisman close to his nose and sniffed once, "Hmm? A strange aspect I don't recognize. Do you know who made this? If they had a unique qi type they likely used it in its creation."
"Yes, he did. And yes it's quite unique." Shae smiled. "It was made for me by Wise Kwan of-"
Long nearly missed the next step, planting his foot far too hard with a loud clap, and sending a cloud of road dust out to the side. Luckily it was away from Shae. He coughed once, into the sleeve not holding the talisman, and a gust of air blew the dust further away from him.
He didn't take another step, eyes fixed on the talisman. "Is this... is it really? You're sure he made it?"
"Yes, I'm quite sure it was made by him and with his qi." She stopped as well.
He took a deep breath, still staring at the talisman in his hand. He said the name in a whisper, "Wise Kwan. Could it be someone else? What monastery?"
"The Golden Orchard Monkery." She noticed his left eyelid twitch at Monkery.
He inhaled sharply "It's absurd that they still call it that."
She smirked. "I thought it brought a much needed air of levity. Unlike certain too serious sect names."
"Hmm. Yes, I suppose. I've always thought the capital's Heaven Defying Platinum Palace was a bit pompous." He smirked as he said it then snapped back to stoic. "Don't repeat that to them or anyone else. I'll not protect you, and I'll deny it endlessly."
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She raised an eyebrow and tried to laugh off his stern expression. "Heh. They're a bit sensitive about it?"
"Yes." He simply said. Then remembered the talisman in his hand with a start. "I'll buy this off of you-" he rushed out the words then stopped himself and coughed to the side again, holding a finger raised for her to wait.
When he turned back he was intensely serious. "Miss Shae, I will gladly pay you a small fortune for such a recent example of Wise Kwan's work." He bowed partway to show he was serious; any lower and it could have only been seen as mocking.
She shook her head. "Before that, I was going to ask if you could afford it, but now I'm curious: how much is a small fortune."
He glanced at the talisman in his hand. "Enough to buy your way into the sect and still have funds to last you to core formation, maybe further if you spend carefully."
She let her surprise show, and inhaled sharply. Am I really considering this? The small financial struggles she had seen the peasant guards working through had certainly made an impact on her. The Earth proverb 'need money to make money' rang through her head. She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. And what would Kwan think knowing I sold it off just to live comfortably for a few years?
"No, Master Long. I thank you for the generous offer." She bowed lower to him, to show respect to his station and his offer.
He clearly hesitated but began to offer it back to her. "Do you know what this is? I'll give you another escape talisman."
She glared at him and quickly reached for it. "No. I said I won't sell it, Long." Then she threw her intent at him, focusing on-
She staggered and tried to catch her balance, blinking at her empty outstretched hand. What? What was I doing?
"That," Long started, speaking with more intensity in his voice than she was used to. "That is why you don't use intent against your elders." He pulled a slip of paper from his robes and added it to the one he already held outstretched to her.
She slowly took them, still unsure exactly why. She glanced at the new paper, ink glowed yellow-brown, then at the first one which held a familiar green glow. She recognized it and immediately took a step away from Long.
"Heh. I said I wouldn't take it, didn't I? It wouldn't be for me, anyway. Still, I'll not see you waste it like it's a simple charm." He pointed at the talismans. "Since you refused another escape type: this one is a shielding talisman. Earth qi based, so mind its weaknesses, but it should block most weaker core formation attacks. Though, only one or two."
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, and closely looked the green escape talisman over. It was as she remembered it, and a faint sense of Wise Kwan's qi still lingered.
"I'll ask again. Do you know what Wise Kwan gave you?" His firm tone returned for the repeated question.
She took a breath, slowly piecing back together the last few sentences they had exchanged before Long's sudden lesson in manners. "Yes. I am aware of his specific talent in making unique escape talismans."
Long held her gaze without flinching. "Please be more specific, if you would. Additionally, did he give you any instructions? Do you have any plans for that talisman? Beyond dire emergencies?"
"You know about the enlightenments I sparked in Minlin? And how I sat with the monks for their ritual?" She paused at each question so he could nod. "Wise Kwan also sat with us, and I gained a sense of his power then, though it wasn't particularly obvious in the moment. Later, when he gave me this, he dropped a few more clues, and I sorted it out."
"Just like that? Like some riddle?"
"It's not such a strange concept for me. In my past world, they tell many stories of legend and myth and imagination, far far more than the mortals here do. They weave words into fantastical realms and bring those worlds to life for us to experience through more than just song or poem or theater." She carefully placed the talismans back into her robes, over her heart.
"Store them separately, please. The qi shouldn't mingle, but I can't be certain. More importantly, it would be a tragedy if you grabbed the wrong one in the moment of need."
She paused her reverent placement to find another inner pocket for the shield talisman, the slightly less honored placement was over her left kidney. "I shouldn't joke about it, but at the time I made the mistake of commenting that it was a rather simple concept. Honestly, I'm surprised he let me keep it."
Long raised a concerned eyebrow. "Now I'm concerned I have the wrong read on it."
She shook her head. "Like I said, the people from my past-" she sighed and closed her eyes as she thought, I guess I can't pretend to be so distant. "My people. We are rather creative in the most absurd ways. Dream up enough worlds, enough fantastical logic to build a reality on, and eventually your dreams might be correct. We have branches of every science devoted to theoretical understanding, then creating ways to test those theories. Eventually, concepts like fire, electricity, gravity, even time, become quite simple in our minds." She shook her head again. "Though, that simplicity is from exposure and boredom. Not comprehension."
Long's normal idle movement had frozen still. Even through the stony mask he seemed to be struggling to swallow something unpleasant. "And, did he say anything else? What are your plans for it?"
"He said that if I don't use it, one day I might be able to study it. Which is what I plan to do."
He nodded slowly and exhaled, releasing some of his frozen tension. "Good." Then his eyes briefly went wide before he squinted them closed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "When did you expect to do that?"
She smirked. "Well, the immediate danger seems to be this trip. Then I'll have some time before classes start in the new year, correct? I can probably squeeze in time around the solstice."
Long groaned and didn't hold back the frustration from his qi or intent. "Of. Course. You. Would."
Shae covered her mouth with her sleeve as she began giggling at his reaction.
He waited a few breaths for her to settle and most of his obvious annoyance to pass. "While I understand that was a joke, I still feel the need to clarify that you are far too inexperienced to gain the maximum benefit from studying that talisman. Even accounting for your personal brand of absurdness, even combined with being a lost soul: I'd still recommend waiting until you reach core formation."
That cut down her pleasant mood. "That long? You think I need a Dao to understand it fully?"
He frowned briefly, then shrugged. "While I'm sure you could gain something from it if you spend the next few years studying and preparing, the real reason is that it is an escape talisman. A powerful one. It could save you, even at core formation, even from..." He trailed off, glancing at the sky.
"Oh! From the core tribulation?"
Long sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose again. "Yes, thank you for dispelling the mystery."
"Will I really need that? I have done one already; a tribulation, I mean. It wasn't that bad." She shrugged.
He grunted. "It will be much worse. Worse even than a standard core tribulation. You might also get one sooner at the rate you try to do things. A tribulation's danger is scaled to the individual, and what stage of cultivation they are at. That individuality is why interference is sacrilege, and the heavens react poorly to it. Additionally, each tribulation you experience also makes the next one stronger."
The whole area dropped into silence, even the wind seemed to pause its constant tree rustling. Shae suddenly became aware of how loud her heartbeat was. "Oh," she whispered.
He nodded slowly. "It's good your concern is genuine. You will need to take it seriously when it arrives. However, try not to stress about it now. With any luck you won't be there for a decade or so."
She turned her head almost completely sideways. "With any luck? That sounds slow?"
"Heh, I didn't say it was your luck. Ha ha ha!" He let out a few loud bursts of laughter and turned to walking down the road again.
Shae's surprise left her a few steps behind.
"Now, I'm sure there's much more I could say, but let's keep it brief. Firstly, when you can reject qi from your body reliably you may wish to study more types of qi. Like that nectar qi at the restaurant. I'll not impose my own teaching methods on you, yet I can recommend study material. It will be good preparation for Wise Kwan's talisman." He paused to see if she'd interject.
When she remained silent, he continued. "Secondly, please, please, do not talk about or show that talisman to others. The one I would have passed it to, they would not hesitate to squash you like a bug for it, damn the consequences. Even your Senior Sister Apollo might steal it from you."
"She wouldn't!"
"Have you given her the chance yet?"
Shae glared at him.
"I honestly hope she wouldn't. If I hadn't specifically declared that I wouldn't, I would've had to very much consider relieving you of it. There are always other ways beyond blatant theft. You must remember, her type are... less strict about codes of conduct. They are trained to break laws, not follow them."
She continued glaring. "She. Wouldn't."
Long took a breath to look at the young woman. "I am glad you have such faith in her. I hope every member of the sect inspires even a fraction of that one day." He sighed loudly. "Has she told you what will happen when you get to the sect? Made any promises to visit you?"
Shae's hard glare changed to a frown, then she caught herself softening and redoubled her glare.
"Wise Shae, I don't say this to hurt the bond between you two. She seems honestly interested in your Sisterly relationship, and I hope for it to flourish. There are very few in her position willing to take on juniors." He took a deep breath and gave her another serious look before speaking, "Those in her role, gray-work. Whatever you think that may include: spycraft, information gathering, or even assassination. Apollo's group are part of the sect, and yet they are not allowed to operate within our sect's boundaries. They must lead double lives, separating their gray-work from their real lives within the sect. Even to the point of progressing their cultivation status separately. An Elder or Master might be treated as less than core for gray-work, simply because they haven't attained certain technical accomplishments to raise that status."
Her initial anger grew shaky as what he was saying fit together. It was frustrating, yet it made sense. "That's why we call her Senior, and not Elder?"
"Correct." He nodded. "I hope you two can maintain your friendship. You'll have to get quite creative with it while you are unable to contact one another."
Shae sighed and looked at the road in front of her. "I think she hinted at this before. There's no way for me to learn her real identity?"
He raised a hand, palm up. "Oh you could learn it. She could even tell you, of course. Yet, there will be consequences. The matter is rather out of your hands, I'm afraid. Did you still wish to run to Gatewash?"
"Huh? Oh, right. That's where this all started." She huffed. "No. I suppose it's not necessary. My headache is back anyway. Whatever you did woke it up again."
"What I did was called intent disruption. One of the main reasons you don't challenge others directly with intent. You already had a headache? What from?"
"Ugh," she groaned and massaged her temples. "I passed out from focus exhaustion last night." The words slipped out before she had a chance to consider them.
"You what!?"
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