Xin spent most of his life in the forest, amidst the pine trees and little meandering springs. It was a type of beauty he was used to, the harmony and the elegance of the woods. But as they entered the valley that lay on the outskirts of Clay Nest, he felt his heart moved by a captivating sight, and for a moment, he even forgot to breathe.
The magnificent, elaborate nature of its beauty, the sheer scale of an open field penetrated by a majestic Azure river, the orange sky hovering above the distant mountains, pierced by the golden rays of sunlight — compared to his little hut hidden in a modest forest, it was another world.
It wasn't Xin's first time seeing this valley, but for some reason, it was his first time being so impressed. Last time he was here, he and his father travelled to Clay Nest, and he kept bothering him with questions about cultivation, which ancient hero was stronger, whether or not Qigong was actually useful, and all the little things that seemed like nonsense now. It was nice to learn to open your eyes and appreciate the beauty around, but Xin's heart also longed for the comfort of the past.
Lei called him out from behind:
"Hey, Xin. Whatcha thinking about?"
"The valley, the scale of it. The beauty. Last time I was here, I didn't even notice. It was just some open field and a river to me, squeezed between two mountains."
"Heh, you know, I've had some friends who were into wine, and they invited me to a party. Gave me a lot of different wines to taste."
"And?" How is this relevant? Xin squinted his eyes as he let Lei continue.
"And I did, and I said, 'I don't see much difference, they almost taste the same to me.' My friends were offended at first, until an older guy, who taught me lockpicking, by the way, said that taste is a skill to be acquired, and I will learn, eventually. I disagreed with what he said, but became a wine enthusiast myself not that long after. Now I can tell the difference, and it's important to me. Those wines I used to fancy a few years ago? Too simple now. But you know what I'm wondering?"
"Let me think. Happiness is an acquired taste, keep an open mind and life might surprise you?"
"What? That's not wondering, but the type of bullshit I tell girls when I want to get laid. You aren't as smart as you think you are. The real answer is, I'm wondering if I was right when I said it's all bullshit."
It's not about the wine. Of course.
"So are you saying that appreciating this scenery isn't actually growth, but me being indoctrinated by poetry and social expectations?"
"The way society treats beauty is shallow, even self-aggrandizing. It misleads people into elevating it where it doesn't belong, from the realm of feelings right into the realm of meanings, where it becomes a parasite, and starts dictating to you how to live. And it's not just beauty.
You know these folk who say stuff like 'all is art,' 'all is math,' 'all is calligraphy,' 'all is...' whatever. It's all a scam, an anxious fuck is trying to sell you on his bullshit because he in denial about being drunk on his own supply. He knows or does a thing well, so now he wants you to give this thing more importance. You get what I mean?" Lei was a bit anxious, he wasn't quite sure in what he just said, as he had just unleashed an urge from within.
It's all a scam, huh? A similar general statement, noticed Xin.
"Kind of. What I know is that I'm disgusted by anyone who tries to demand value or status by being a consumer, be it a wine enthusiast, an art critic or a book reader. Lame. Still think you're kind of delusional."
"Maybe I am. But listen, I once fell for this scam of worshipping art and beauty, too, thought that it makes me better than those around me, but I was just fooling myself into staying what I am, extracting value from the most low-effort thing I could come up with, instead of doing something more meaningful."
"You can devalue anything good in life like that. Love, beauty, loyalty, friendship—you can say that it's all meaningless, but 'meaningfulness' is a trap of its own. You use meaningfulness as the highest value, the same way these people worship art. What's the difference? You are also saying that all forms and functions of art and beauty can be reduced to this one particular example of what happened to you and some other people you know. Sounds dishonest."
"Maybe you're right, but you get what I mean, don't you? The pretentious fucks, they annoy me. They want to enslave everyone on their drunkenness, to sell everyone on their worldview, otherwise they are just some drunk fucks. And this thing with meaning, what do you propose?"
"I get you, at least I think I do. Regarding the lack of meaning, I have no solution, so I propose we keep walking."
Xin saw a point in what Lei said but also felt that there was something missing. Something important.
As it later turned out, Lei was just eighteen, a year younger than Xin. The pair kept exchanging sophistry as they moved, but at some point, as they reached the first cultivated fields and man-made buildings, Xin froze in his tracks.
"Wait. See those dots in the sky?"
Lei squinted his eyes.
"Are those birds? Cranes?"
Xin's eyesight was sharper than that of a regular human.
"No, I think those are cultivators, probably on flying swords. Around a dozen."
"Shit, what if they detain us?"
"Why would they? Cover your shoulder with your bag and keep walking, act normally. Let's just bow or wave respectfully. I haven't dealt with such folk much."
"Fine. By the way, one day I'll have my own flying sword. Those things are rad!"
"Fire path has plenty of flying techniques, there are many artefacts and options apart from flying swords. They are expensive and lack the utility of other methods."
"You're only saying that cause you can't afford one. Hey, don't be a shitter, let me dream! They look cool, and I want one, end of story. They don't spend your qi, either, which is cool."
"Fine, I don't mind. Me? I want a magic armour and a cool weapon. Always dreamt of wielding a fancy polearm, the way most of these heroes are depicted with swords always looked lame to me."
"And me, when I get rich, I'll buy..." They indulged their fantasy some more, distracting themselves from the memory of Tealstone.
As they talked, that group of cultivators flew past. Some of them looked ordinary, wearing black robes, some had vibrant, multicoloured hair, emanated powerful auras and had fancy weapons. Their flying swords also ranged from regular looking longswords to horse-sized sabers covered in feathers, emanating fiery energies. They flew in a perfect pointed triangle, forming a wedge formation, and were headed towards Tealstone.
"Two days too late, guys." Lei dropped a melancholic remark.
"If they clear the tide's remnants and save some people, that's still better than nothing. Well, at least the Conclave is over. Wonder what the result is and what it means for us."
Another exhausting march, and the pair could see the city slowly come into view. Its stone walls were protected by massive towers, each housing hundreds of soldiers, and were covered by clay, which Xin assumed granted it its name. There were several suburbs sticking to the main city, some dealing with river trade, as the city itself only had water access through the aqueducts and wells.
Some suburbs dealt businesses not allowed in the city itself, like dyeworks and slaughterhouses, while others, situated on the opposite side of the outskirts, were the residences of the elite. These people usually didn't enjoy dealing with the noise and the smell of the city and wanted a quiet place all for themselves.
An important landmark was a Five Elements Transition school, which was basically a sect that dealt in martial arts, alchemy, and artefact trade. It stood on a big hill near the city, had its own fortifications and little villages, housing more than two thousand mortals.
It was their unique formation, Five Elements Transition, that gave the whole sect a name. This unique formation allowed every xiandao cultivator, no matter the element, to contribute meaningfully in mass battles, and thus it was a sect famous for its meritocratic approach and a wide array of recruitment.
Still, it wasn't even in the top ten sects of the continent, as when their sect leader entered closed cultivation, it exposed their lack of truly elite masters and locations with rare materials, leading to the sect being bullied out of big politics, lowering their prestige. This forced the school to take a proactive interest in mundane trade and Clay Nest politics, as it was one of the areas where they could display their strengths without getting repressed.
Lei told Xin all this as they moved through the outskirts of the city, and many barkers tried to get them to stay in their inns for the night. They also offered to sell them trinkets and street food, yet Lei was ruthlessly rude towards them, swearing at them and even kicking one of the more audacious teenagers away. Xin rolled his eyes at his partner's temperament again and again.
"The gates are close, let's endure for a bit. I know a guy there that we need to talk to."
They approached the Northern gate, decorated with Tortoise and Lion statues, representing the founders of the city and their clan animals, and huge fabric banners, painted in beautiful amber colours, adorned with the heraldry of the Xuanwu clan, protectors of this city. It was the "turtles" who defeated and integrated the "lions" through battle, intrigue, and trade hundreds of years ago, giving them the power over the valley and half of the North.
The gate guards both wore impressive, if a bit impractical ornamented plate armours. The guard's job isn't just to guard, but also to look imposing, so it seemed like the city didn't hesitate to invest in them. They were probably at least rank one cultivators, too.
After standing in line for five minutes or so, their turn came. Lei approached one of the guards.
"Hi, meathead. Is Hou Meng Yun available?"
"Oh, it's you, scoundrel. What do you need?"
"Need to talk to him, guild business. He has a pass, he just needs to come out and I'll enter, right? His office is near the gates."
"Right, but wait, what's that with your arm? I promised to cut it off last time, did someone beat me to it?"
"It's stuck in your sister's arse, brother. Any other dumb questions?"
"Running your mouth again? It's a civil violation, be happy that you're with the guild."
"You started first, if you can't handle some banter — stick to the protocol. Bring me Meng Yun, will ya? I am dying of exhaustion."
"Let him in, for fucks sake, we've got a queue here." The second guard didn't enjoy this exchange at all.
"Fine. You, boy! Bring Hou Meng Yun, fast!" He shouted at one of his subordinates.
Minutes later, Xin and Lei were sitting in an old office, right near the gates. It was a small warehouse, with just one cabinet for work related stuff, and a foyer for guests. Nothing fancy at all. Xin caught just a glimpse of the city's internal view before Lei pulled him into this building.
An energetic old man, sixty years of age in looks, in stylish merchant style clothing entered the room.
"The servant will bring some tea shortly, got some appetisers as well, if you want to. Lei, what happened?" He made one gesture pointing towards Lei's shoulder, then another one, drawing a circle in the air, as if asking "and in general?".
"There was a massacre in Tealstone. A beast tide. A massive boar."
"That we know. The herald made an announcement in the morning. Terrible news, but luckily we are much more fortified here."
"Then we got attacked by a yaoguai and some bandits, this here is my new friend, Xin. He saved my life, and I saved his. I vouch for him, he'll be a good recruit."
"Oh, that's interesting. Have you ever vouched for anyone?"
"No, why would I bring competition?"
"And how is this guy different?"
"You'll see for yourself." This guy is different because he kind of gets me, unlike most of you shallow fucks, and he'll help me grow my arm back.
The merchant played with his thin moustache.
"Let me make a wild guess, young man. You've got some qi powers? What stage?"
"I am a mortal still, but I've got some powers, yes. How could you tell?"
"The way you carry yourself, you are much younger, but you are looking at me like I am your equal. Unbothered by what I have to say. Whatever, Lei vouched for you, I assume you'll have at least some value."
"I didn't know that I am perceived like that, I was just listening carefully, trying not to draw attention or speak too much. Weird. But still, I am looking for work, and I've got some useful skills."
"And here's the twist. We won't be needing your immediate services. And yours, too, Lei."
"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"
"You'll be joining the Five Elements Transition school."
"No way! Why? Why would it benefit you? Or us?"
"Let me explain. Oh, here is your tea. Thanks, honey." He winked at a somewhat ordinary looking middle aged servant woman who just walked in. He then took a pretty long sip, which was considered inappropriate, and put his cup back on the tray. "Needed this stuff, sorry. Was a tough day, you have no idea! So, let me explain.
The Conclave is over, there was a big divination and all sorts of debates and secret intel exchanges. All the cultivators and ministers returned, distressed, and brought the emperor's edict with them."
"And the edict?" Lei raised his eyebrow.
"The Edict is to mobilise. The divination predicted an invasion from another dimension, in four years time or so, and all the sects will enter a cooperation agreement, exchanging materials and knowledge. This will be supervised by the bureaucrats."
"Another dimension? That's fucked." Lei scratched his temple.
"Hush, that's not all of it. All the sects will enjoy some extra funding, but will have to start building up their militaries. There is a big amnesty for demonic cultivators, those that didn't murder and rape. Contrabanda, thievery, espionage, illegal refinement, drugs — all will be forgiven, as long as they enlist into sects."
"That's crazy, I still don't get what it means for us."
"We do lots of business with the Five Elements school, right? There will be tryouts, and the procedures for sect advancements will also be loosened. There is a big quota on cultivators of different stages they'll need to fulfill. That means they'll need talented recruits.
Now, there will also be lots of resource injections into military and sect logistics, and with this new law, both city and rural taxes will be increased, so we need to explore the new ventures, otherwise we'll choke. We also need to find some taxation optimization mechanisms, if you know what I mean. That's the current plan."
"So, legal loopholes, corruption and contrabanda. You guys never change. By the way, a bunch of Fisting Enthusiast club bald frauds tried to recruit us, rather aggressively. Was it connected?"
"Probably, there is a quota, remember. So, every sect will be holding the tryouts, and there will also be regular tournaments with big prizes organised later. All state funded. The sects that demonstrate their ability to nurture talent will be elevated into commanding positions, and those that fail will lose prestige and funding. If some sect is found forcibly recruiting people, the bureaucrats might stall the legal process until the invasion, as this recruitment directly benefits the state. Maybe the Fist sect felt emboldened." More like embaldened, hehe. Xin smirked.
"They've been pulling this shit for years, those cretins. Doubt the guys we talked to knew about the Edict. Enough about them.
So, you want us two to enroll into the Five Elements Transition sect, spy on them and get stronger? Sounds fine, even if I hate being put into another hierarchy just like that. But what's in it for us?"
"Wait, you don't oppose the idea? The guys above were pretty anxious, said you usually have problems with authority, and that it will be hard to persuade you."
"Let's say I was born anew. What's in it for us, I am asking again?"
"So, we'll match any salary you guys are paid there, for three months or so. Two jobs for the effort of one. You'll have access to our trade goods, and if we commission a job from FETS, you'll get priority on it. Later, if things go well, we'll have more assignments for you."
"Sounds good. Thing is, my arm is fucked up, there is no way I don't blunder the tryouts."
"That changes things, of course, but it's not the end of the world. Yet. Look, I know a guy, he could get you a prosthetic, it's not very strong or agile, but it's something. Given how strong you're, you'll pass the trials even with a wooden arm, no doubts about it."
"Grassroot arm? It's not just weaker, it blows! And it can barely control the fingers!"
"Be glad it exists at all. So, how about I loan you some money, good interest and all that, and you get this arm?"
"Fuck it." Xin interjected. "You need a guy to do a job for you, you should be ready to take a loss. Let's compromise and say you loan him some money at zero interest. He pays back with his sect salary, in increments."
"You aren't a guild member, young man, don't act so brazenly with me. I am already giving him a contact, what do I get from it?"
"You get nothing, then we both grow and progress, and you collect your rewards from cooperating with us. Hou Meng Yun, please see reason. Lei is worth it, I promise, and I am also reluctant to work with someone willing to choke on some petty interest, please take it into the equation." Fucking usurers. Hate them.
"Fine, fine, I get it, you little squirt. So be it."
Lei acted as if he took this help for granted, but internally, he was filled with delight. I made a friend!
"Good. Give me the alchemist's contacts, and let us rest. Is the safehouse still available for use?"
"Sure, but don't overstay your welcome, it's not an inn."
Lei exchanged some minor details with Hou Meng Yun to catch up to speed with what's going on in the city, then the pair finished their tea and left.
In the safehouse, situated on the poorer side of a Northern district, a company of noisy folk was having a meeting, filled with drinks and gossip.
"Right, so I needed a lockpick guy, yeah? Called this cunt Lei, and he demanded that I throw my bouncer out, as he can both fight and lockpick for one and a half pay. Can you imagine? And so I did, and we went to work, and you know what? It went great, saved plenty of coin. Guy kicked some asses and unlocked the safe, but you know what grinds my gears?"
"His attitude?"
"If you put it this way, hahaha." The man enjoyed the attention, and was rocking on a chair, gesturing and spilling his drink. "The problems arise every time he opens his mouth. He either whines like a little kid, bratty and all, thinks if he swears I won't notice how childish he is, or gets all philosophical and deep, 'this art in your room is degenerate, let me explain'. What a cunt, that geezer! Where is he, by the way, does anyone know?" This question was met with everyone's smiles.
"Behind you, fucker." Lei pulled his ponytail slightly, and his chair lurched for a moment, then swiftly fell to the floor, and the man's legs were now above his ears as he groaned in pain.
Everyone laughed as Lei kicked the groaning man, somewhat gently, and took his chair.
"Cha Dai, Get lost. Jia Li, get me and my friend a room please." He asked an attractive young maiden, dressed in traditional clothing, looking out of place in this den of scoundrels.
"Double bed?" Jia Li revealed a playful smile.
"Very funny, you pervert, stop reading these shitty novels, how about you spend this money cultivating? Two beds, and bring the dinner into the room. We'll pay. No questions about the arm, I'll tell you all in the morning. That's Xin, he is in grief, he's from Tealstone, don't bother him."
After eating, they went to sleep. They didn't care about the noise outside, or the stench of bodies in this badly ventilated room. They wished each other good night, and collapsed into sleep.
Xin didn't let himself lose composure for these past few days, acting in a stoic and determined manner, but now he could finally relax a bit. Yet with this relaxation emerged the stress, repressed until he reached safety. His night was haunted by the nightmares, he couldn't remember their plot or meaning, only the feeling of dread and anxiety, and woke up pretty miserable, his face swollen.
"You squirmed and muttered all night, mate." Lei already woke up, and looked pretty fresh.
"It was tough, my memory is like a fog, and my whole body is heavy. Curses."
"Right, you'll get better. Look, I managed to collect some news while you were asleep. What you need to know is that tryouts are in two weeks. We need to prepare, maybe do a side gig or two. Me, I'll go get a new arm and hopefully return by evening. Then we'll train."
"Will you... you know?"
"Be good enough? With a weak prosthetic arm? To match a warrior like you? I'd say we are equals, and as you are underestimating me, I'll kick your ass."
"Sure, then I won't hold back. Hope you'll recover by tryouts." Xin wanted to express a playful smile, but his lack of sleep and stress made him uncover a psychotic grin instead.
"What's that? You look like a senile granma who shat herself. I'd better get going before you smear me with feces or start talking about your grandsons."
"Fine, scram." Xin smiled genuinely now.
Lei left for the House of Healing, funded by the Xuanwu clan, or rather citizens' taxes. Most basic procedures there were free, as long as one was able to endure a long queue, but the most valuable services required knowing the right people and having deep pockets.
Since Lei was gone for at least several hours, Xin chose to rest and meditate in a small garden behind the safehouse. He wasn't feeling right, and wanted to collect his thoughts. This place, an oasis of beauty amidst the chaos of the city, with nicely arranged flowers, stone decorations and a young cherry tree, seemed most welcoming out of everything he's seen in this city so far, even if modest.
As he sat down and focused, a ponytailed man that mocked Lei and one other man, a brutish look on his face, entered the garden and started smoking some smelly herb mixes.
"Oi, mate, you want a fag?"
Xin breathed out.
"Bro, he's meditating, don't bother him." The brutish man tried to get him to leave Xin alone.
"That's pretentious, I am trying to make an acquaintance, it's not like he's praying, who does he think he is to ignore me? I know he can hear me!"
Xin visualised slicing his throat with a Resonance Palm.
"Scram, fools." A female voice called out from behind. It was Jia Li.
She approached Xin and said:
"Young master, forgive me for interrupting, I brought a teapot with salted water and a towel. Here are some aroma candles if you wish, too."
Xin was moved. Need to say something intelligent. Young master, huh?
"Thanks?"
"That a question?" Jia Li scratched her temple.
"No?"
Fumbled it.
"Oh, right, he doesn't ignore her, but when I offer him an aroma candle it's like I don't even exist! Need to go and find a pair of tits to grow, I guess." The ponytailed man was irritated.
"You'll cook your own dinner if you run your foul mouth again, you pauper mongrel." Jia Li's expression went from peaceful and endearing to stern and imposing. Xin loved the contrast.
"Fine, fine, I guess I'll just fuck off. Bye." He left, and his big friend followed as well.
Xin smiled gently, unwilling to be too expressive.
"My meditation was interrupted anyway, so let's talk. What do you want?" Do I sound rude? The girl looks a bit anxious, blushing cutely.
"I know a bit of your story, and heard you saved Lei. Just wanted to say thanks."
"He is important to you. You guys together?" What? Am I braindead?
"No, no, I'd never! I don't see him this way, for some reason."
"As in? I don't get it."
"Well, he is great. He is caring. He is strong, and he is handsome and all that."
"Handsome? I'd say he isn't very masculine, maybe pretty. A kind of guy teenage girls love." Xin felt anxious around her, so he became brash and inquisitive to compensate. Tried to make her more anxious than he was, then she wouldn't notice. But he didn't even understand what he was doing.
"Well, many girls like him, some older men, too, ugh. But he is just not... Here? You get it? He is talking to you, but he is somewhere else. And then he just gets irritated, and goes and does something stupid. Fights someone, steals something valuable and leaves his mark on the crime scene, then gives the money away."
"I see that you love him, maybe like a brother, but yes, it seems that you deserve better."
Xin looked her in the eyes, maybe for five breaths or so, and then stared at the garden's decorative stones again.
"Deserve better? Like what?" Jia Li was nervous, Xin was too intense for her.
"I don't know. A person who is present, that's what you value, right? And this den of thieves, let's be honest, you look out of place."
"Xin, it's not up to you to decide. I am here to take care of people who took care of me, it's not my fault that I am different."
"Not their fault they are different, too. You need to at least go out and have some fun sometime, you know? In a different company."
"And how do you know that I don't go out? Maybe you also need to go out more?"
"Alright, let's both go out, I don't mind."
Jia Li was stunned. This guy might be worse than Lei! Absolutely irrational self-confidence, at least Lei felt like he was putting up an act! Did he just ask me out?
"Fine, we have a deal, Xin. Do you like my garden, by the way?" She smiled through anxiety.
"It displays the profound nature of the owner. Each piece of its structure represents a certain aspect of the emotions you felt at the time, and the ability to put these contrasts together means you have a good understanding of your internal balance." What am I even saying?
"Young master, that's profound. The garden is indeed more than a sum of its parts!"
"Can I say something as a hunter? If you don't mind, of course."
"Yeah, why not?"
"I see that there are pigeon feces on the fences nearby, but none here. And that bird feeders are well taken care of, but are currently empty? You probably feed little birds at designated times, and drive the pigeons away."
"No way! You could tell? That's amazing, your analytic mind can rival Lei!" She genuinely enjoyed his remark, but was then confused. "And what does that mean about my internal world?"
Xin was taken by surprise. He felt a need to say something smart. It was a life or death situation. You feed small birds so you are a hypocrite? Your parents didn't love you? Size is not all that matters? A bunch of random thoughts raced in his mind, as he kept a straight face.
"Only you can truly know. Please let me meditate and enjoy your garden now."
"Fine. I hope these jerks didn't make you too angry, please remember that no fights are allowed in the safehouse." Right, and what Lei did yesterday doesn't count? Not a fight, I guess.
And then she left. Xin tried meditating, yet his mind was stirred by the visions of a beautiful young maiden, the visions of people from Tealstone that were probably dead now, a tense situation with the Fist sectants and the bandit fight, all emerging arbitrarily. He tried to meditate on these feelings, but fell asleep in a lotus pose.