The city of Thousand Swallows (the birds, that is) was a beautiful one. Its walls were painted white, the gates glowed with a protective formation, and banners hung over its mansions and pagodas. Even the rain didn't entirely dim the bright colors of the city.
I honestly expected a border settlement to be more militaristic and less decorated by images of swallows.
The first signs of approaching war were visible, too. A stream of people carrying their life's possessions on their backs or carts moved in and out of the gates. Some people sought shelter inside the walls, while others tried to get away from the enemy before the inevitable attack.
The Lin forces were a sight to behold as well. Three thousand soldiers marching on horses. After two days under drizzling rain, they looked like an army of toads marching to conquer all the dry land.
Cultivators like myself, who had the luxury of covered wagons and palanquins, had it better.
Those at Qi Condensation could've actually just flown to our target on their fancy swords, but the army moved with the speed of its slowest members. In our case, those were the supply wagons.
My wagon shook and swayed as the wheels carried it forward. The pillow under my butt wasn't enough to swallow all the impact, but I barely felt any discomfort thanks to my purified and enhanced body.
I could lift two horses, what's some bumps to my iron ass! Or, well, I could've lifted them if one didn't kick me in the forehead.
Never make bets with soldiers after drinking two bottles of cultivator-grade wine. Even if you really need some distraction from the upcoming war to not become gray-haired from stress.
When our procession approached the city gates, I leaned closer to the small window in the wagon and tried to see the view inside. I never saw cities of that size…
Fen Kuang snorted.
"Gaping like a country bumpkin, Brother Yujin."
I rolled my eyes, even if he wouldn't see it.
This was the worst part of the journey so far—Lin Chu sent me to be Fen Kuang's aide! Not to be sent into the worst of the fight, but to "learn from his experience", as Lin Chu put it.
Lin Tan avoided the war, staying behind to "train and protect disciples too inexperienced to fight". However, he sent there his best disciples, and Fen Kuang was their leader in his absence.
I didn't know whether it was because Fen Kuang had a lot of combat experience, as visible from his weathered face, or was close to reaching the Qi Condensation, or because he was a master of kissing Lin Tan's ass. Probably all three.
Our dislike was mutual. After the story with Fen Chun, Fen Kuang clearly held a grudge. However, to his credit, he didn't express it with more than insults.
Besides us, there were four dozen other disciples at the low or middle stages of the Qi Foundation, and five cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage. That included Lin Chu and Lin Deng.
To my dismay, Elder Xiao stayed behind to keep cultivating in seclusion.
I turned to Fen Kuang.
"And you are blind to all the wonders and joys of the world, Brother Kuang. Keep your eyes closed, and you will miss your wife finding her joys with someone else."
Not my most far-sighted decision, aggravating Fen Kuang like this, but he's been wearing my patience thin for the last two days.
And his reaction was priceless—his cheeks reddened, his mouth gaped, and he was about to cough blood from sheer offense.
I smiled and turned back to the window.
Our army was met with a crowd of people, eager to greet the cultivators in charge and curry favor. While the soldiers scurried around like agitated ants, carrying supplies and cleaning their horses, the cultivators were enjoying their privileges and securing the best quarters for themselves.
Finally, I was able to escape Fen Kuang's company. As Lin Chu's disciple, I had to stay together with him, and he was the guest of the governor. There I rested after the journey, until Lin Chu's messenger found me a few hours later, telling me that Lin Chu wanted me on the walls.
So to the walls I went, hiding under an umbrella, because the rain was unpleasant even if I was too much of a cultivator to become sick from it.
Lin Chu, instead of an umbrella, had an unfamiliar shield technique around him. I looked at it curiously and gathered Water Qi in my hand.
No, that was wrong. Lin Chu's Qi was moving anomalously in his chest! That was trickier, but maybe it if I—
"Disciple Ru, the Clear Sphere technique isn't activated with one's hand. Knowing who our enemies are, it will be good if you learn it, so I will show you it later—but right now, stop being distracted."
I dispersed my Qi. Oh well, then later it is! If only other people were as generous with sharing knowledge as my teacher…
"My apologies, Master! What did you need me for?"
"Disciple Ru, you will assist me in a ritual."
Only then my attention fell on the strange sight near us. Under a tarp protecting it from the rain, someone drew a circle with blood and white powder. Three tied and gagged men were inside, staring at us with frightened eyes.
The crossbowmen posted on the walls gave us a wide berth, watching the preparations for the ritual with fear and awe.
Shocked, I looked back at Lin Chu, who gestured at the circle like it had pigs inside, not humans. Who were they? Prisoners, or just unfortunate peasants? I didn't ask, afraid to know the answer, and knowing it won't change a thing.
This world was a sick place.
"The ritual of the Circle of Hungry Spirits. I will use it to strengthen our defenses by creating traps near the walls. It won't cover the entire length of the wall, but five Circles will improve our defense by a lot."
I swallowed.
"Are you going to summon the spirits of these people, Master," I gestured at our sacrifices, "to attack our enemies? Three doesn't sound like much…"