The rippling heat and moisture washing over her skin was incredibly refreshing. Though a cultivator of the third realm like herself could largely regulate their body and cleanse themself with qi, it simply couldn’t compare to the comfort of doing so properly. Gu Xiulan leaned back onto the polished stone of the bench which stretched around the perimeter of the steam room with a sigh, looking up at the ceiling. The mosaic mural there depicted the day of consolidation, when the great clans of the wastes had knelt to the first Guo Patriarch.
Her arm itched under its talisman wrapping. The wrap was waterproof of course. Moisture would do terrible things to it, as she had found out in early days. “Thank you again for your hospitality, Lady Guo,” she said, sighing with relief.
She just wished she could banish the hollow feeling in her stomach every time she looked at Guo Xinyan now.
“It is no trouble, our loyal subjects deserve the comforts we may grant them,” Guo Xinyan replied. Somehow the older girl managed to look severe even in a tightly wrapped towel. Something in her posture and expression negating even the notion of casualness.
Was it a reaction, Gu Xiulan wondered, to the expectations placed on one who had the stigma of being a half blooded Zheng? It was a strange thing to wonder about, but after spending so long around Zheng Nan, she couldn’t help it.
“Would you tell me more of your experiences in the south?” Guo Xinyan said, leaning back on the bench herself, muscular arms crossed under her chest. “What are your sources?”
Gu Xiulan reached up, fiddling with the jade pendant still hung around her neck. “I am good friends with the Baroness Ling Qi, retainer to the heir of the Cai. Even after I returned, we have continued to share letters. It is… more difficult of late.”
“Of course, even a masterful defense cannot keep the roads at full capacity in times such as these,” Guo Xinyan allowed. “What is this you said of… foreigners from beyond the wall?”
“Apparently, there are some manner of humans living in the ice fields that are not Cloud Tribes,” Gu Xiulan said. “Ling Qi visited a settlement of theirs, and exchanged words… Apparently there is some mention of them in pre-founding histories, with their Diviner, so they are going to speak now. The heiress has been given leave to hold a diplomatic summit, to see if peace can be found.”
Guo Xinyan’s expression was stony, regarding her with a furrowed brow.
“It is strange, but I assure you it is true,” Gu Xiulan said defensively.
“I do not doubt you,” Guo Xinyan replied slowly. “Gods and spirits enjoy their patterns.”
“Excuse me?” Gu Xiulan said, furrowing her brow.
“The matter is being prepared for dissemination so it is fine to say this I think,” Guo Xinyan said. “In addition to the troubles in the Grave, there are reports of those who are not Dead, in the eastern waste.”
“Oh,” Gu Xiulan said, blinking slowly. “I…is that why the capital…”
“There was an immense gathering of the dead in the East, that was Grandfather’s destination,” However, in dealing with it, we discovered that the people of Golden Fields were not their only target,” Guo Xinyan said calmly. “There was some violence among scouts in both parties but, when Grandfather and the Patriarch unleashed their wrath upon the Dead, all fronts saw retreat.”
Obviously, Gu Xiulan thought.
“It is interesting, that the people of the Emerald Seas have found a similar conundrum,” Guo Xinyan wondered. “I will have to inform Mother, and investigate myself, when I go south.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Of course,” Gu Xiulan said. “If you were not yet aware of the matter, may I ask why the Ambassador was going beforehand?”
“The capital is secure on Grandfather’s back, no matter how battles rage, but… the cities agriculture was still damaged, in the conflict. The Golden Fields will need to greatly increase its agricultural purchases in coming years. I expect many domains to suffer from increased Dead corruption.”
Gu Xiulan gave a small nod… even when they were thrown back, the Ashwalkers brought the ash wastes with them. It would surprise her if yields were poor in the coming decade. She hadn’t considered that the capitals production could be similarly tainted.
“In turn, a more personal question. Why did I detect such intent outside. It was not qi deviation, but intent to violence” Guo Xinyan said flatly, startling her.
Gu Xiulan shrunk in on herself. “...It is a shameful, childish thing. I apologize deeply Lady Guo, I would never dare strike you in anger.”
“I might enjoy finding the heat of your flames,” Guo Xinyan said. “But not when I do not understand them. It is something to do with my destination. My betrothed? Are there complications with this friend? Is my betrothed a wastrel, one who has leaned on his privileges as an overlord with you?”
Gu Xiulan wished she could dissolve into the steam. “No. It is the opposite… Only a one sided, childish infatuation on my part. It is past.”
“Oh.” Guo Xinyan said, seemingly brought up short for the first time. “...I see. My apologies.”
“It is nothing, my emotions were merely frayed from my battles and journeys. I wish the two of you good fortune, better than mine,” Gu Xiulan said, hunching her shoulders. “Please, do not concern yourself further.”
There was a beat of silence, leaving only the soft hiss of steam rising through the grates on the floor and the bubbling of boiling water beneath.
“Tell of your Father’s campaign and your contributions then. I have heard good things, but the eyes of one involved will always tell clearer truths.”
Gu Xiulan nodded, holding back a sigh of relief as she did. “Of course, Lady Guo. It was realized that something more than the usual uprisings was afoot when my outrider company was sent to investigate a distress call from the formation engineers…”
***
It had been good to have the comforts of a manor again for a time, but Gu Xiulan would be pleased to be back on the road. Her hosts were exemplary of course, but these days, when she sat still for too long, was pampered for too long, she found something in the back of her mind itching.
She watched the vast dust cloud of Father Wanlisan vanishing to the south, plume rising into the vault of heaven. The main body of the Guo force was heading south, to fortify and purify the border and cut off the corrupting energies granting malign intelligence and resurgence to the Dead this far north.
With her now were only Zheng Nan and Zheng Yang, the Ambassador, her daughter, and their personal guard, and of course, her own outriders. “Lady Guo, I am honored to escort you to meet my Father. From here, the journey should not be long. He is currently encamped at the walls of the baronial capital for this region, coordinating our armies.”
“Very good,” the sharp eyed Guo Ambassador said, behind her fluttering fan. She sat sidesaddle on the back of her horse, long gown nearly reaching the ground. Gu Xiulan couldn’t help but feel self conscious under the older woman's gaze, clothed and armored as she was. “We are no longer in the backdraft. Shall we begin the journey?”
“Of course, Lady Guo,” Gu Xiulan said, raising her fist to her breastplate in salute. “Men! Form in order, twin column formation centered upon our guests. Let your eyes be sharp and your spears swift. We return now to my Father!”
There was a general call of enthusiastic acknowledgement, horses whinnying, armor creaking and dust kicked up as the block of horseman fanned out, and Gu Xiulan placed her helmet back on, the feeling of its comfortable lining and the slight narrowing of her range of vision were comforting. She could again just be an officer, a warrior, if a fabulous one.
She brushed out the twin plumes, and set her qi alight, making the banner on her back snap and flap at the hot wind that sprang up.
She caught Zheng Nan’s eye. He had been surprisingly reserved, and even now, jogging up beside her to join the march she couldn;t miss the way he put her horse between himself and the Ambassador.
She had appreciated the quiet, for a time, but it was honestly beginning to bother her, how off balance he was. Honestly, she was disappointed, she thought he had more pride than that.
Well. One way or another, it would be fine, once they reached Father, and could get back on campaign.