Rue was being tight-lipped.
“Why do you never talk when I actually want you to?” Shang groaned. He was stretched out on a cot in a high class inn. The cot was almost tall enough for his long frame. The bottoms of his feet only stuck out a little. He sunk into the down filled blankets, reveling in its plushness after a month of sleeping on the hard packed earth. Everything would be perfect if Rue wasn’t intent on making his life more complicated.
You should learn to appreciate more of what I say, Rue said.
“That’s not the point.”
I won’t tell you, yet. It’s for your own good. No, I will not tell you why it’s for your own good. That defeats the point of keeping it a secret.
Shang rolled over on his bed, stretching his overused muscles. Koyo was staying in the same inn two floors up. He did not know how to act around her. She seemed nice enough, but she also treated him like a servant. That did not bode well for their potential compatibility.
“I’m guessing she’s someone important?” Shang asked. He had a guess on who her family was. Her violet eyes and hair gave her away.
Maybe, it’s hard to say in the grand scheme of things. But you should just try to keep to her good side. From what I can tell, she’s at least Third Realm and only a few years older than you.
“I’m guessing that’s impressive?” Shang asked.
Very! Well at least here. The Third Realm is often called the Mind Realm. Within the lower Realms, it’s known as the most difficult one to enter. To achieve the spiritual insight and the stability to break through before the age of twenty is amazing. Though, my knowledge may be a few hundred years behind. It’s possible that it’s not that rare anymore. Rue’s tone made it clear just how likely he thought that was.
The First Realm is thought to be the easiest to enter. With the right materials and the right density of qi, it takes very little talent and effort to push a young cultivator into the First Realm, the Nascent Realm. But foundations are important and often overlooked. We will not rush this step.
Shang nodded. That must be why everyone was looking at him with a mix of pity and distaste. If it was that easy, it’s weird that he hasn’t formed a core yet. It didn’t really bother him. So far, most people have just ignored him, and Shang was plenty used to that.
The next morning, he ate with Koyo in the boarding house. After a warm bath and a night of sleeping on a bed, he felt reborn. Shang talked happily about the food as he ate, always attuned to Koyo’s reactions. His wariness of her was beginning to dissipate. From her reactions, he could tell she was enjoying herself, but trying to hide it.
“Do you always talk with your mouth full?” She asked.
Shang gulped down the food in his mouth before answering. “Sorry Sister Koyo, I’m just really hungry.” At his words, as though summoned, a young girl came in with another plate laden with salted duck eggs and fish. She kept her gaze averted the whole time as she set the food on the table. Shang felt uncomfortable watching her, unused to sitting idle while others served him. When she left, Shang could see her sneak a surreptitious glance at Koyo.
“Did you order this?” Shang asked, already digging in.
“No,” Koyo responded. She seemed mesmerized by Shang’s very violent methods of food consumption. Shang bobbed his head. The staff had been treating Koyo like a goddess ever since they arrived the night before. Free food and the best room seemed to be expected by Koyo.
“Are you not hungry?” Shang asked.
“No, I am. I’m just not used to eating with someone else,” she admitted. Shang felt a bit embarrassed. He had assumed she had invited him to eat with her, but thinking back, maybe he was expected to wait on her.
“Apologies, Elder Sister. I thought—”
“It’s fine,” she interrupted. Shang took her at her word and continued eating. The food was really too good to pass up. He, with some help from Koyo, managed to clear the table. He stretched back on the seating mats, arching his body in pleasure.
“That was the best,” Shang said.
“How did that much food fit?” Koyo asked incredulously.
“I need that much food. I’m still growing, see?” Shang lifted his leg, indicating the shortness of his pant leg.
“Yes, I see.” Her lip curled in distaste. “You’re from AnSan was it?”
“Mhmm”
“Remind me to never visit,” she said flatly. Shang barked a short laugh. He wasn’t sure if she was joking, but it was funny. This girl was harmless. Obviously, her willingness to help a weak little boy like Shang spoke to her kind heart.
It was still early morning when the pair made their way to the recruitment field. As they walked closer to the gorge, the shoddy wooden shacks at the edges of camp shifted into more statable structures of stone. It could have been mistaken for a permanent city built by an inebriated city planner. The roads hutted and curved and buildings lacked ordered spacing. Even so, Shang was enthralled by the sheer number of people. He couldn't help but gape at the bizarre amalgamation of strange beasts and people walking the same path as him. They were so close to the gorge that he could make out the faint crashing of water in the distance. He glanced at Koyo, wanting to share his excitement. Koyo’s face was blank, her eyes half-lidded in boredom.
A large domed structure dwarfed the neighboring buildings. The sides of the recruitment fields were open, with support beams exposed, holding up a crystalline roof shaped into a large dome. Shang had never seen anything like it. His jaw hung even looser as they approached the doomed structure. The light refracted off the dome creating a kaleidoscope of color and shapes on the ground and on Shang's skin as he moved under its canopy. The roof protected the field from the elements while allowing light to pass through. Shang kept his gaze pointed up as he walked under the dome. He could still see the blue sky above, though the clouds and sun warped with the edges of the crystalline structure. It was the same sky he'd always known yet the glass transformed it into something foreign and majestic. Its unusual sheen and contours the sky of another world.
He was so enraptured that he walked straight into a wall of muscle. The force of the impact made Shang’s nose and forehead ache. He reflexively bowed in apology but stopped short when he made eye contact with the wall. A mountain of a man with dark black eyes and even darker eyebrows glared down at him. His face was made all the more menacing by the blood. His whole body was covered in a dark red ichor reeking the coppery scent of freshly spilt blood. Shang continued bowing, mumbling apologies while simultaneously backing away.
“Who let a pink-nosed child in here?” His voice boomed, causing palpable vibrations in the air. He leaned down, studying Shang at eye level. Shang couldn’t tell if he was trying to be menacing but Shang was thoroughly frightened. He threw out his hands placatingly as he continued to back away. “You have a strange scent,” the big man said. His face was inches away from Shang. His nostrils flared as he sniffed audibly. Despite his imposing size, his face was still youthful, devoid of any facial hair.
“He’s with me.” Koyo’s voice was soft but the big man’s head snapped towards her. “Cut it out you overgrown dog.” Shang started sweating, doubting the sanity of his so-called companion. The big man’s face did not react, but the equally large man next to him puffed up his chest in challenge.
“Show some respect to your betters, you imperial snake.” The large man’s friend stepped forward, leaning down to spit in Koyo’s face. “You stink of ash and blood. It’s disgustin—”. Faster than Shang’s eyes could perceive. The man was on the ground, a thin stiletto sticking out of his cheek. Koyo knelt to retrieve her weapon. The sound of the blade sliding out of the man’s face and his animalistic groans of pain made Shang’s stomach twist in disgust. The suddenness of such a violent act reminded Shang of that night.
Cultivators turned their heads at the commotion before sagely stepping away, pretending to see nothing. Soon, the four of them stood isolated, the crowd making way around them. The dark-eyed man surveyed his fallen friend, but his eyes never left Koyo. Shang looked between Koyo and the man on the ground, thoroughly regretting his choice of companion.
I did warn you to get on her good side, Rue said.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
“Peace, Yong-sa, there was no need for violence,” the blood covered man said. His voice was calm, but his eyes were narrowed and focused on Koyo. “My disciple is ignorant to the world. I hope you will excuse his indiscretion.” Koyo glared at him, eyes burning. Her face had completely changed, contorted with rage. Shang found it hard to even recognize the placid lady he had breakfast with only hours ago.
“You speak too humbly Master Bataa, your disciple appears to know much,” Koyo said. Her voice sent chills down Shang’s back. The fallen man pushed himself off the ground with effort. The skin around the hole in his cheek was mottled in black, the edges of the wound throbbing red, but the bleeding had stopped. Master Bataa put up a large hand, silencing any retort from his disciple. The injured man stepped back at his master’s gesture, head bowed in surrender.
“Nevertheless, I hope you’ll not hold a grudge against the Vul clan for his mistake. I speak for both of us when I say that we were only surprised to see you here,” Bataa said. Koyo responded with a shrug. The tension had left her stance, and the blade disappeared back into its holster. Master Bataa bowed in recognition. “I hope my disciple will live to tell the tale?”
Koyo paused before answering. “The poison is only a qi inhibitor, there will be no lasting damage,” she said, gesturing at the disciple’s blackened face. Under his master’s stern gaze, the disciple kowtowed in formal apology with gritted teeth. Koyo’s face was again impassive. She looked down at the large groveling form without acknowledgment.
“Come,” she said, motioning to Shang. Shang could do nothing but obey. He followed her through the crowd. The crowd parted around them like a river around a spear.
Rue…Yong? As in the Principal family that rules this continent? That Yong? It was just as he’d feared.
…Yes? But you know that family is huge. There are thousands of upstart cultivators walking around with that name, it really means nothing.
Shang shook his head in resignation. He had to jog to keep up with Koyo’s fast pace. “So…you know him?” Shang asked lamely.
“Not personally," Koyo muttered.
Shang's eyes slipped to the sheathed stilettos under her robes. He hadn’t realized she was wearing them. Koyo’s quick steps led them to the center of the field, towards a blue flag with an emblem of a large yellow bird. They scouted out this group earlier in the day, group blue-four.
The teams in minor four were broken into colors depending on the level of exalted beast they targeted—green for First Realm beasts, blue for Second Realm beasts, and yellow for Third Realm beasts. Shang wanted to pick a green team, not wanting to push his luck, but Koyo insisted that the money and resources gained would not be worth the time. They had compromised by agreeing on a blue team.
A white-haired man stood by the team flag in a leather vest. His chest was embossed with a lightning bird. Ten other cultivators stood around him. Some looked younger than Shang while others were well into old age. As they approached, Shang slid a sideway glance at Koyo. She looked back at him expectantly, and Shang stepped forward to speak.
“Captain Nio?” Shang asked. The white-bearded man turned towards him with eyebrows raised.
“Lady Koyo and I would like to join the group.” The man’s face scrunched in annoyance when he studied Shang. He opened his mouth to refuse, but stopped short when he saw Koyo standing behind him. He looked uneasily between Koyo and Shang. The captain licked his lips nervously.
“Are you sure? I don’t think you would have a good time out there boy,” Captain Nio said. His voice was reedy with age.
“Thank you for your concern captain, I will be entering the gorge as lady Koyo’s attendant. I may not be able to do much, but I will do all that I can to be useful.” Nio shuffled uneasily as Shang spoke.
“I don’t know…Our scouts just got back, and they found a large den of chaos scorpions. We will need all the fighting power we can get, especially those with shadow affinities.” Nio glanced meaningfully at lady Koyo.
“Won’t I be enough?” She interjected.
“Well, l-lady Koyo, apologies if I’m overstepping, but I heard that your family’s affinities leaned towards fire and…”
“What do you know of my family?” she snapped. Nio’s face blanched at her tone, and he nodded dumbly. “Our scouts just went to report our route to the administration. We just have to wait for their approval.” Nio looked like he wanted to say more. “Usually, when you register for a team, we do a detailed spiritual scan. It helps us keep track of the different strengths in the group and informs us on how to split the cores and gems afterward. Those of higher realms get a larger piece of the cut. Of course, they’re also expected to do most of the killing.” Nio reached into his pack, pulling out an orb infused with an eerie red light. It resembled the testing orb from FuJia but for the reddish hue. With Shang’s new spiritual sight, he could see the red wisps of qi that emanated from the orb like dozens of ethereal appendages.
“There’s no need for that. I have entered the Third Realm and I specialize in close combat weapons and poisons. As you say, my fire affinity is strongest,” Koyo said. Her body was tense with her arms folded. Nio looked like he wanted to object. His better judgment won out, and he gave a dejected sigh.
“Alright, then you, get over here,” Nio said, gesturing at Shang.
Rue, can I be scanned? Shang asked hurriedly.
Yes, that device is far too rudimentary to detect me or the codex, Rue said. Plus, it might be quite…helpful. Feeling relieved, Shang walked over to the captain. As he approached, he could see the arms of energy from the orb reach out to him hungrily. Shang leaned away, but the arms followed.
“Stop squirming, haven’t you been scanned before?”
Shang proffered an open palm towards the orb. The red arms of qi wrapped around his hand before sinking beneath his flesh. Shang’s spirit shivered at the intrusion. The feeling was not painful, only disconcerting. Nio asked for his name and Shang gave it. Soon, the space between them began to shimmer and faint crimson words coalesced from qi.
Name: Fu Shang Physical attributes Age: 15 years, Height: 6.44 chi, Weight: 175 jin Strength: 14, Speed: 16, Flexibility: 20, Dexterity: 25, Durability: 12 Spiritual Attributes Realm: not applicable, Core density: not applicable Meridians: 12/36, Meridian alignment: 100/100 Qi channels: 25, Qi capacity: 20, Qi perception:12 Yin/Yang: 48/52 Qi affinity: Wind, fire Path designations: not applicable
Shang studied the output carefully. His height and weight were in the imperial metric system, but he was surprised at their precision. It was hard for Shang to make sense of his other readings, having no point of comparison.
Rue interjected, clearing his throat theatrically. Allow me to explain. Attributes like strength and qi capacity are calibrated using the averages of each realm. These, technically, do not have an upper limit. First Realm cultivators average ten points on each attribute, Second Realm cultivators average twenty, Third Realm cultivators average thirty, and so on. Meaning the differences between ten and twenty, and twenty and thirty are not equal. The higher points your attribute has, the larger the difference will be between each point. Meridian alignment is as it sounds. They describe the degree to which your meridians line up with the qi nodes throughout your body. And look at that, a perfect score. You’re very welcome.
So, there are 36 meridians, not 12? Shang asked.
Yes, technically. Most cultivators do not try to open all meridians, even at the ninth realm. Having more meridians can negatively impact spiritual balance, which often is far more important than qi capacity. The first twelve are necessary to awaken your core, and certain paths require others, but usually, there are some drawbacks.
Shang carefully considered Rue’s words.
I don’t get it, you said an attribute score of ten was the average for First Realm, but I’m not even in the First Realm. Why are all my attributes greater than ten? Shang asked. From the way the captain was looking at him with mouth agape and brows furrowed, Shang knew his readings were somewhat unexpected.
Well you have me! That’s part of it. When I infused with your soul, some of my physical and spiritual attributes bled through to your puny human form. As you ascend, more of my attributes will mix with yours, so the gap between you and others in your realm will only increase. Keep in mind, this does not mean you’re as strong as a second or First Realm cultivator. Most of their strength relies on their core and techniques learned on their specific path, both of which you lack.
Shang jumped as Koyo’s head appeared past his shoulder. She was staring intently at the readings, looking between Shang and the words, violet eyes narrowed. Shang felt like a piece of meat set out for inspection.
LanSho Nio gulped in fear. He had been annoyed when the boy asked to join his team. A cursory scan confirmed that the boy was only a Foundation cultivator. A hindrance to the team. Even so, Nio did not dare refuse him. He shivered, thinking of those cold purple eyes. When the boy was inevitably killed, he hoped the girl would not blame him.
Now, seeing the scanner output, Nio didn’t know what to think. He reevaluated his original impression of the pair’s relationship. The imperial families were known for keeping pets. Nio had assumed the boy was nothing more than a favored servant. But these numbers! Nio had never seen anything like it. Certain families had such strong bloodlines that their Foundation cultivators were in a league of their own.
The boy, though, was a conundrum. He had a handsome if unremarkable face with slight features and a square chin, all pointing at the possibility of an august lineage. However, he didn’t share any of the identifying characteristics of the principal families on the continent. Those lineages were obsessed with purity, and each branch possessed distinct traits that made them easily identifiable.
Perhaps he was from a lesser branch of the Yong family? If so, why had he not ascended to the First Realm? Was it because of an obscure path that requires further refinement at the Foundation level? He was not on the Path of Violet Tears. There would be physical signs of that path. His eyes drifted to the Young Mistress. A headache was building inside Nio’s skull. At the age of one hundred, he had long given up on further ascension.
After he reached the third realm at age ninety and gained a position as an outer seventh disciple of the Lightning Bird Sect. He was content. In this part of the continent, it was rare for a commoner to push through the threshold into the Mind Realm. He had set his dreams for ascension aside and focused only on preserving his legacy. To start his own martial arts school and send his prodigious grandson to the imperial academy, he needed money.
His plan to gain riches in the PalTang Gorge was growing more complicated by the minute. First the Vuls and now this. He looked to the sky silently praying to the heavens, wishing for the tides of fortune to turn in his favor once again.