“So what do we have here?” the Clan head asked me as I was standing in his office. Xian wasted no time and dragged me before the clan head. He was so quick in his actions I could not even speak with Astra and tell her to return and tell my parents about my situation.
What surprised me was how easily Xian accessed the Clan head. Doors opened before him with ease and all guards saluted him with vigor, while throwing me suspicious glances. I really did not think my braggart of a cousin could be so popular in the clan, but I was obviously wrong.
Xian demanded to be let in to speak with the Clan head and the great doors of the office opened without an issue, or comment.
Clan head was working on a painting when Xian barged in. He gave us one look turned towards me and gave me the question.
“She assaulted me in front of all the party guests and completely humiliated me!” he shouted, before I could get in a word edgewise, pointing a finger at me. It was a gesture so childish I had to roll my eyes.
“I did not assault you. I saved your neck and we are lucky that cultivator was unwilling to break rules in front of so many people, otherwise you would certainly be dead,” I explained to him, trying to be reasonable, but Xian was not in the mood for such luxuries.
“Stop saying such nonsense in front of the Clan head. He would not attack me, and even if he did, I would have taken care of him. No lowly cultivator can match my skill with a blade,” he boasted.
For a moment, I just stood there looking at the insanity he spouted from his mouth until the Clan head inserted himself into the conversation.
”Xian, I thank you for explaining yourself so profusely, but I wanted to know Mei’s side of the story first,” the Clan head said. My cousin looked at the Clan head trying to comprehend the statement, which did not put him in the first place, but he was silent and I could get my story out.
“Xian invited me to his party, where I discovered a cultivator. This cultivator arrived shortly before Xian issued an open challenge declaring himself the strongest man in the Jiaomay city in the cultivator's presence. The cultivator acted and offered to test Xian’s mettle, but his intentions were not pure. He was hiding his nature as a cultivator from those who did not walk the path. I therefore acted decisively and stopped Xian from accepting that challenge.”
“You knocked me on the ground, while I was not paying attention and ruined my reputation completely. I can never recover from such a humiliation and I see no reason you should deny duel to the best duelist of the Jiaomay city,” he ranted, and I was quickly regretting saving his neck.
“I doubt the best duelist needs to bribe his opponents, so that they throw matches,” I pointed out unwisely.
“How dare you accuse me of such a dishonorable act!” Xian reached for his blade. I did not know what he was doing, but I fell into my practiced defense stance and readied myself. I would really regret this later, but I would not get slashed because of some idiot’s ego.
“Stop this,” the Clan head only slightly raised his voice, and we both froze looking at the displeasure of our clan leader.
“Mei, are you sure that the cultivator was just not passing through and took offense at Xian’s behavior?” he asked me.
“I doubt he was just walking by. He scanned the area through his spiritual senses, but he did not dress himself as a cultivator and while some of the independent cultivators do not dress in traditional robes of cultivator, they still dress as a person of importance and the cultivator dressed himself only as an artisan would. He was certainly planning something.” I said, while my cousin seethed at being ignored.
“That is worrying, the clan head closed his eyes for a moment before he turned to my knowledge once more,” Could you tell if he belonged to a sect, or if he was an independent cultivator?”
I thought about the question recalling when my spirit sense touched the cultivator, ”I cannot say for sure, because I had not studied him closely enough, but from the brief touch of my senses his base did not resemble any of the sects in the area, but that might just mean he was practicing a less known method or is simply not from the Land of Three Rivers.” I offered my opinion and finally I dared to ask, “Do you suspect foul play?”
“When a cultivator comes ready to strike a rising star of our clan, it is a reason for worry. We had insulted no sect of note or earned their enmity, but someone hiring an independent or rogue cultivator to strike at our clan is possible. We have many enemies among the mortal population of the Empire,” the Clan head said. It was clear my message unsettled him.
“I do not see why you should make a mountain out of molehill. I would have struck the cultivator down with ease,” Xian said, proving that the lessons on the Empire the clan taught either did not stick or my cousin missed them all.
“I think you have been too sheltered, Xian, while I am sure you are capable even the lowliest cultivator would be your match. You need to be more cautious in the future and be more careful with your words,” the Clan head reprimanded my cousin.
Pain looked defiantly at our leader, ”I will abide by your wish, Clan head, but Mei still struck me and she now insulted my honour. I have the right to demand satisfaction,” he said. It was clear the Clan head’s demands.
“Would you really wish to fight with a woman for your honor?” The Clan head was clearly trying to dissuade my cousin from this act.
“I must prove my skill in battle and I am sure Mei will provide me with a decent challenge,” he said smirking.It was clear he did not believe I could go toe to toe with him.
Clan head shrugged, “Well, it might be an important lesson, but it will happen here far from prying eyes and only if Mei agrees,” he lined out the conditions.
I thought about them. My health would suffer, but by beating my cousin I could shut him down. It was clear he would not let this go without a confrontation, sadly keeping it private meant no one could witness my superior skill ,but my cousin would know. It was a simple decision to make.
“I agree to a fight with Xian,” I said.
“Perfect,” the Clan head said and somehow a wall panel opened revealing a sizable training room filled with weapons and a combat area. It was an ideal ground for the upcoming fight.
Xian was smiling and walking like the world was his as we walked to the room. I stood on one end and considered the upcoming fight. I saw him fighting, while he never saw my style, which gave me an advantage.
His style was not that special and was based on a powerful attack forcing his opponent on the back foot. I doubted he would change his approach with me, whom Xian clearly underestimated and would not consider a threat no matter what I did, which left me with the option of getting a weapon, or fighting barehanded. I was trained in both, but taking him out without use of a weapon would send him a significantly stronger message.
I took a combat stance and waited for my cousin to get ready, ”Will you not get a weapon?” Xian asked, looking at me like I was some kind of idiot.
“I have everything I need,” I answered him. His grin turned malicious as his anger spiked.
Clan head stood to the side, ”The fight will be to the first blood or to surrender, whichever comes first,” he declared.
Xian did not wait for the ceremonial bow or asked for the start of the duel and instead moved swiftly to me preparing for a strike. He was quick, but I trained for my whole life from early morning to sundown in fighting and so my body moved automatically.
I slipped past his blade with ease. He proved himself more capable as he moved out of my reach swiftly using his blade to deter me from going after him, but his swing went too high. It swiped a few of my hairs as I ducked under the swing.
The blade came too close to my head. It was clear I was not training enough lately. I would need to create a routine, which would allow me to exercise even with my condition.
All of this went through my head as I once more moved to strike Xian, he was still in motion dodging my first attack and could not dodge me the second time. I grabbed his leg unbalancing him.
He looked rather surprised as he fell on the ground waving his sword about trying to find a foothold. He failed to do so and the splat he made as his back hit the ground was very satisfying.
He tried to rise, but I moved and pulled the sword from his hand. He tried to grapple with me, but I still had enough strength to overpower him and he was in my grip, futilely trying to get out.
I felt something wet around my nose and I knew I overextended myself once again, but my cousin could not see the blood and his struggles grew weaker by the second.
“ I yield,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt.
I looked at the Clan head who nodded, and with his permission I let go of Xian.
“Let this be an important lesson to you Xian. Do not underestimate your opponent and be more aware. Mei saved your life, remember that and learn from this opportunity,” the Clan head said to Xian.
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The look of hate Xian gave me suggested he would not heed our leader’s advice, but I doubted he would try to do something, because I have proven I was stronger by our duel. Unsurprisingly Xian did not wait and left without saying a word.
I needed to find a towel somewhere and stop the bleeding, “Honored Clan head, can I be excused? I need to find an infirmary.”
“Thank you for your service to the clan. I will take your information into consideration, but you should keep quiet about the cultivator. We do not want to cause panic. You should visit a medic’s office on your way back please. Your blood is staining the floor,” he pointed at my nose.
“Thank you for your leave,” I bowed and swiftly left.One of his servants passed me a towel, which was everything I needed and so I could go directly back home. Somewhat annoyingly, I had to wait for a long time before my nose stopped dripping blood.
When I arrived there my mother’s scared gaze, who was pacing around accompanied by Adra, met me. They did not wait for a moment before besieging me with questions.
“What has happened, mistress?” Adra asked, but backed down as my mother surged forth.
“Are you okay? You are so pale.” She went to check on me immediately running her hands around my body checking if I had every body part and everything was in order.
This performance rather embarrassed me, but I was happy I had the presence of mind to clean away my blood, so that my mother would not worry.
“I am okay, everything resolved itself peacefully.” I reassured her.
My statement did not mollify my mother though, ”What do you mean resolved itself? Adra said Xian dragged you to the Clan head. He is powerful and beloved by the clan. He can apply immense influence on the Clan head. You should not make him into an enemy.” She repeated the talking points she gave me to prepare for this party.
“Clan head agreed with my point of view.” I said to her, but my answer did not help with her confusion, but she did not pry further, although I wished she would have a moment after. Instead, she returned to the business of the day.
“That is perfect timing, actually. Doctor Francos arrived with the first dose of your cure and wants to do a checkup on you. I planned to send him away, so he can come tomorrow, but now we can catch up with him,” she said.
“Oh great, The doctor got his incredibly rare ingredients already,” I said my good mood evaporating with each sentence.
My mother ignored the sarcasm laden voice, “Exactly, I told you he is a professional,” she smiled and gestured to Adra to follow us , ”Now let’s go, so you can get your medicine and grow strong and healthy,” she said to me.
I walked behind her. In truth, I could use this opportunity to explain my plan of convalescence to the doctor and hopefully he would approve and I could get on with it.
We entered my mother’s rooms, where the doctor was waiting for her and now that I looked around I saw the barren walls, floors and tables and knew this was because of me. I steeled myself to solve this issue. I would make the money I cost my parents back, meanwhile I had a doctor to persuade.
“Ellena Silverhand, if I arrived at an inopportune moment, then I am sorry and I will arrive some other day. It is of no bother to me,” Doctor said to my mother as soon as she entered his sight.
“I think it will not be necessary,” my mother said and as I entered, I saw a flicker of disappointment on the doctor’s face, but a pleasant smile immediately replaced it.
“Thank you for your presence. I would like to discuss a method I intend to pursue to strengthen your medicine,” I said to him. I had no reason to tell the doctor just how highly I thought about him and flattery never hurt.
“Perfect, I can now with your permission examine your daughter once more and adjust the dosage of the medicine,” he said to my mother, while ignoring me once more.
“You have my permission to examine my daughter, but Mei has ideas and concerns. I think you should address them,” my mother insisted. It was nice to see that she wanted to fulfill our agreement.
“I will address any concerns the young miss might have,” the doctor stated.
“Thank you. On my way here I spoke with cultivator Li of Thousand Books, who offered me a way to strengthen my body, which involves meditation with a specifically made object, which should ease my symptoms and help me with healing. I wish to pursue this course of treatment,” I said to the doctor, weighing the truth carefully. I had to avoid insulting the doctor’s pride, so that he would not forbid the method which might cure me.
He did not even think about what this would mean for my treatment for the second. “I see no issue with doing so, but I should warn you young miss. You should not listen to any wandering weirdo calling himself cultivator. It might lead to an awful end soon enough, but I do not see any harm in meditation over some superstitious amulets.”
I wanted to argue, but I saw no point in it. I got what I wanted from the doctor, but I could not leave his insult to my benefactor unanswered and so I decided to at least poke the self-important ass somewhat.
“You have secured ingredients, which should have taken months, as you said to us, to gain rather quickly,” I pointed out.
The doctor was blind to my barb and even smiled at it, “Indeed, I was fortunate my supplier was just passing through the town and had the necessary materials. Thanks to your swift payment I could secure the crucial ingredients swiftly and in decent amount,” he was once more talking to my mother, instead of me as he was checking my breathing.
“How fortunate, indeed,” I muttered, but my mother was in awe of this suspicious individual and his dubious expertise and so I suffered his presence in silence.
“I see you are stable and your health did not deteriorate further,” the doctor finished his examination with these words proving once more his incompetence. If I focused closely on my body, I could feel the repairs Cultivator Li made slowly coming apart. My health was in fact getting worse.
“That is a relief to hear,” my mother said smiling, which made it doubly sure I would not dispute the doctor’s notion.
The doctor bowed to my mother and with a practiced flourish pulled out a series of phials with suspiciously looking brown liquid sloshing in them. Each phial was just big enough for one gulp and the liquid in them did not look exactly appetizing. Which somewhat surprised me, because I was used to rather weird concoctions I had to consume to strengthen my cultivation.
“Your daughter will have to drink one dose of the medicine in the morning and one dose in the evening. This should fix her Qi imbalance and strengthen her body. I will prepare more medicine, when your current batch runs out.” he explained to my mother. It was not hard to see the gambit he was playing, but I had little recourse, then to go with this money leech, until I actually figured out a method which would actually help me.
I looked at the fourteen phials suspiciously and picked one. “There goes the evening does,” I uncorked one and the smell of rotting earth hit me straight into the nostrils, but it was not that much worse than low Earth Qi rich potions I tried to drink and utilize, when I was first starting on my path.
I steeled myself and kicked the whole phial into me with one gulp. It burned as it went down my throat, but what made it worse was its consistency, which was slimy and so it clung to my throat, prolonging the sensation of burning and causing my gag reflex to emerge after so many years. I did not know how a person unsteeled by years of pills and elixirs could drink this demon’s brew.
The doctor looked at me surprised, but when I did not throw up, he forced himself to smile, ”Perfect, now the young miss will have to repeat this procedure every day until your health fully recovers. It will take at least a few months before her body will regain its balance of Qi and she will heal, but any disruption in the treatment regimen could have devastating consequences.”
“I will make sure Mei uses your medicine according to your instructions,” my mother said.
“Then honored lady, let's discuss the further payments for my medicines,” the doctor said smiling. Both of them departed to the office, when I realized he would pump my parents out of as much money as possible. The money they did not have. If the cultivation method in the manual worked. I would have to stage an incredibly quick recovery.
The smell of burning mud hit me in the nostrils. I looked at the source and noticed the vial I was still holding. It was potent to dim my senses with just one gulp.
“Adra please dispose of this,” I asked my maid, as I gave her the empty vial.
Adra looked hesitant at the remains of the concoction in my hand, ”As you wish mistress,” she said as she took the vial from me in one hand the other hand on her nose trying to dull the smell, “You are indeed a brave mistress. I could not drink this substance, even if my life depended on it.” she said as she held the vial as far away from her body as possible.
“It is not that much worse than things I have been ingesting regularly. At least it does not wriggle going down as that damned Live fire root, that was a mistake,” I explained to her remembering the incident with the herb, which should have increased my affinity for Life Qi temporarily. The results were disappointing and ultimately messy.
Adra looked at me with her eyes wide. I solemnly nodded and focused on the effect of the “medicine” on my body. The elixir was rich in Qi that was true, but as I studied it, it became clear that it lacked any dominant aspect, which would be useful for cultivation and the Qi from it was flooding my body with no structure. I doubted it would have any proper medicinal effect outside of the terrible taste, but my understanding of herbalism was at best limited, with plants not used for cultivation. I guess it would have helped with some conditions, but it was wholly inadequate to deal with self-devourment syndrome.
Adra was still standing in the room, waiting for an order “Go before you faint from the smell,”
“As you wish for a mistress, but I must inform you that a letter addressed to you has arrived. I put it next to the mirror in your room,” she informed me. I waved her away and went to read the letter swiftly.
When I held it in my hands, my hopes were confirmed. Anna was writing to me. I recognised her handwriting. I opened the letter and began to read.
Honored Elder Sister
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I have decided to write to you about the goings on in the sect and to thank you once more for the cultivation resources you have given me. They were a great boon indeed. I have used them wisely and efficiently and with their help I have pushed my cultivation further, for I have now reached the peak of the Earthly Body stage and it provided me with a great opportunity.
I smiled at Anna’s success. It was nice knowing at least something worked out.
The elders have chosen me as one of the Outer sect disciples to travel into the Shadowstar forest and join the hunting expedition there. I am sure, that I will secure enough resources to get me to the Flowing soul bottleneck, or even into the stage of Flowing Soul itself and it is all thanks to your generosity that the doors of the inner sect lie open to me.
Speaking of the inner sect Arthur Esset has been successful in the tournament and has been proclaimed inner sect disciple in defiance of the common decency, but this position unfairly gained means he is too busy to influence the outer sect and his clique is slowly drifting apart and losing their cohesion. Only Delan keeps shadowing Arthur and trying to be a good lackey. Sadly, he will be joining the expedition to the Shadowstar forest as well and so I will have to endure his presence, unlike Chang who had the presence of mind to join one patrol for a long-term assignment and thus does not have to endure Delan’s constant boasts
Such is life in the sec at the moment, I will certainly visit you next year, once we are allowed to leave the sect, unless I make an inner sect disciple in the meantime. I hope you will recover from your wound completely and we will enjoy some shopping and gossip about the sect and your family.
Good luck and Ancestors protect
Anna of Eshnoi city Ertai village
I finished the letter. It was good to have a slew of good news and I knew it was not only by my help Anna achieved such success. I only hoped she would reach further in her cultivation. But this was no time for idle thinking, that would come later. Now was time for study and so I put the letter down and returned to trying to decipher the manual in front of me. I was sure it had more mysteries to divulge.