Chen Fei and Tan Xiaoling were already waiting when He Yu and Li Heng arrived at the main sect gate the next morning. As they approached, Li Heng slipped into the overly formal mask he wore around Tan Xiaoling.
“Li Heng, He Yu,” the princess said, betraying the ghost of a smile. “I’m glad you could join us.”
“I would not dare to refuse your offer of resources, Princess Tan,” Li Heng said stiffly.
“Nor would I,” He Yu added after a moment.
Tan Xiaoling shook her head. “This is going to be a long day if I have to deal with both of you acting like that. The Jade Kingdom is far from the Shrouded Peaks, and within the sect we are peers. Treat me as you would any other disciple.”
That took a massive weight off He Yu’s shoulders. All of this formality was new to him, and he feared it was only a matter of time until he slipped up and offended someone. It wasn’t surprising that Tan Xiaoling didn’t want them kowtowing to her. She’d quickly struck up what looked like a close friendship with Chen Fei. Maybe that was just the way nobles conducted themselves with commoners they were forced to share homes with during their time in the outer sect. It was similar enough to how Li Heng treated him, after all.
Likewise, Li Heng seemed to relax a bit as well, but not completely. Perhaps it was due to him being more aware of the formalities of rank. Whatever was keeping him on edge, Tan Xiaoling had clearly noticed, but for the time being, she appeared content to accept the small amount of ground Li Heng had ceded to her request.
Their destination was a cave higher up the mountain. Tan Xiaoling said it would take a few hours to get there, assuming they didn’t run into any trouble.
“Trouble like the mist spirits Chen Fei and I encountered on our way up the mountain?” He Yu asked. He’d rather not have to contend with them again, but at least with more powerful disciples along he supposed he didn’t have to worry too much.
“Spirits such as those have no business going any higher than the lowest reaches of the outer sect,” the princess answered. “They’d be little more than a snack for the residents of the upper slopes.”
That hadn’t been at all what he’d wanted to hear. Based on the slight falter in Chen Fei’s step, she hadn’t either.
“I’ve not had the opportunity to explore much of the higher peaks,” Li Heng said. “What sorts of spirits dwell there?”
“Nothing that would overly trouble you or me,” Tan Xiaoling said. “I’ve encountered some wood spirits, but they’re a cowardly type and most are only around late First Realm. A few of the stronger ones could be compared to early Second, but they’re far more rare. None dared to approach me when I was alone, so I doubt they would do so to us as a group.” That was comforting to hear. The prospect of having to fight wood spirits on his day off wasn’t something He Yu had planned on. Chen Fei visibly brightened as well. “There are stronger spirit beasts on the mountain, however. I’ve heard rumors that an awakened bear nearing the peak of the Second Realm has been seen wandering the mountain. I haven’t encountered any signs of it, though.”
“Spirit bears can be dangerous even at low levels of advancement,” Chen Fei said.
Tan Xiaoling nodded. “They can. As I said, though, I don’t expect trouble. I scouted the area thoroughly and found no signs of it. I suspect that if we’re to encounter any trouble, it will come from our fellow disciples.”
Li Heng hummed and nodded at that, as though he’d expected as much. Chen Fei looked even more nervous than she had a moment ago.
“I thought fights were forbidden for another three months,” He Yu said.
“They are,” Tan Xiaoling said simply. “But the sect elders aren’t as strict in their ban as Senior Brother Ren’s actions on our first day here would suggest. If you fight within the outer sect proper, or somewhere the sect elders have a particular interest in, then you can be certain someone will arrive and put a stop to it. Or, at the very least, they’ll hand down punishments after the fact.
“However, the sect encourages competition. A small dust-up between disciples over resources out in the mountain wilderness won’t draw any real attention. Especially if the disciples exercise restraint in their conflict. That’s why I asked Li Heng to come, and also why I’ll be joining you all. At least for the time being.”
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“So this cave then?” Li Heng asked.
“Nothing you or I couldn’t get elsewhere on our own,” Tan Xiaoling said. “Make no mistake, though, our time will not be wasted if we cultivate there. He Yu will benefit the most, as he is still only at the Qi Gathering stage. Chen Fei doesn’t have access to the kinds of resources provided by either of our families, so this will greatly aid her cultivation as well.”
That answer seemed to satisfy Li Heng but only ignited more questions in He Yu. “Why go out of your way to help us?” He Yu asked, before thinking better of it. He really needed to get better about being so forward with powerful people.
Li Heng balked, but Tan Xiaoling only gave a slight smile. “Fei could use the extra help,” she said. Fei. Had they grown that close already? “And I am not my father,” she added, nodding towards Li Heng. Again, some understanding seemed to pass between the two nobles as Li Heng relaxed by another degree. “Aiding you and Sect Brother Li builds goodwill with you both. Besides, Chen Fei asked that I help you as well, Sect Brother He. This little trip allows me to accomplish all of those things.”
Well, at least she’d explained herself. He Yu had half expected her to give him one of her smirks and say something like “I have my reasons,” and leave it at that. He’d not expected that Chen Fei would single him out by name, and the thought of it caused no small measure of embarrassment. Although he likely didn’t know the cause, Li Heng seemed to have picked up on He Yu’s awkwardness and thanked Tan Xiaoling on both their behalf.
It took them until midmorning for them to reach their destination. When they’d reached roughly the halfway point, Tan Xiaoling pointed out a stream running down the mountain, close to the path they were on. From there, they followed the stream which led to a small pond at the base of a sheer cliff.
A waterfall cascading down from the top of the cliff fed the pond, and the cave entrance sat nearby. The rich qi around the pond carried a strong water aspect, and He Yu could sense the earth and mountain qi emanating from inside the cave even from a dozen feet away.
“Stay close to the cave entrance,” Tan Xiaoling said. “I don’t know how deep it goes and haven’t explored very far. There aren’t any signs of beasts or spirits as far as I can tell, but you can’t always be certain.”
Chen Fei cast an uncertain glance in the direction of the cave mouth. He Yu simply nodded. The qi here was so rich and dense that he didn’t think there’d be much point for him to even go inside the cave, let alone plumb its depths. Not wanting to waste any time, He Yu settled into the lotus position just outside the cave mouth and began to cultivate the White Mountain technique. Just as his awareness faded from the world around him, he caught Tan Xiaoling proposing a “light sparring session” to Li Heng.
As the sounds of martial practice mingled with the rush of the waterfall, He Yu’s awareness sank into his spirit and he focused on the swirling qi in his dantian. In the days since his breakthrough to the middle Qi Gathering stage, he’d gotten used to the increased density of his own qi, but he felt a renewed surge of pride and ambition when he contemplated it now.
Each breath drew in the abundant qi from both the waterfall and the cave. The difference between this particular spot and his cultivation chamber within the outer sect was almost as pronounced as the difference between the sect and the forest around Shulin. To cultivate in such an area would have been far beyond his wildest dreams before he’d met Zhang Lifen.
Even the middle Qi Gathering stage had seemed nigh unobtainable before coming to the sect. True, he’d been working towards it in the years since his father had bought him that old technique manual, but a part of him had never truly believed he could reach it. Not without instruction from someone like Dong Wei. Now his sights were set on advancing to the late Qi Gathering stage, the Foundation stage, and beyond. He would walk his Way to its end.
As he focused on his breath and cycled in accordance with his cultivation technique, qi coursed through his meridians. He sent the rich qi of the waterfall cave to his muscles and bones and organs. His whole body and spirit crackled with the qi of the upper mountain. This was his Way. His path to strength. With his spiritual awareness so focused on his future of unrivaled strength and ability, he nearly missed the shadow that loomed in the corner of his spirit. As soon as he turned his spiritual awareness to it fully, it loomed over him, obfuscating the visions of his future.
He was strong. Stronger than he’d ever thought possible. He stood atop a mountain, and the world stretched out beneath his feet. With one hand raised, he touched heaven. But he was alone. No signs of anyone, friend or foe, could be sensed for a thousand years’ journey in any direction. With the solitude came a sense of desolation that caused a disquiet to lodge in his heart. Far below the land lay in ruin, devastated by a battle that had raged for weeks. A battle between immortals.
The unease he’d first felt reared in his mind and spirit. Had he caused this? Had he, in his quest to become the hero he’d always dreamed he would one day be, destroyed the land he looked over now? He couldn’t have. Heroes didn’t destroy those they fought for. They wouldn’t be heroes if they did.
That thought did little to reassure him, however.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes. Chen Fei sat a short ways away, still lost in her cultivation. Li Heng and Tan Xiaoling exchanged blows, performing a complex dance of strikes, blocks, and counters. As He Yu looked on, the unsettling sensation faded, and soon he was able to turn back to his cultivation. Although he focused on cultivating the more physical components of the White Mountain technique, the dark spot on his spirit remained.