Immortal Connections - Chapter 50 preview

Chapter 50 - Tou He

Negotiations to send an army – even a small portion of one – across a kingdom’s boundary was extensive and elaborate, even if said kingdoms were allies. It helped in this case to have a Nascent Soul cultivator along to oversee and guarantee the reason for their presence. Of course, it also helped that the kingdom had been dealing with the incursion of demonic refugees themselves.

“One more group, you said?” Tou He frowned as the new soldier – a colonel in the kingdom of Chu’s army – finished his quick report. “How many? What are they doing?”

“Right now, recovering. It seems transfer through the dimensional rift is rather taxing on the demons, as is handling the transfer to our world. They’re a small group and dealing with them should be simple enough.”

“What do you mean by dealing with them?” Tou He said, warningly.

The colonel did not seem to recognize the danger he was in or the ex-monk’s tone of voice, continuing blithely. “Wiping them out or driving them across back to their dimension, of course. Which we should do soon. My men have been ready for days now, waiting on you all to arrive.”

“Why didn’t you do that before our arrival?” Colonel Lo asked suspiciously.

“I have orders not to make a move till your arrival.”

“Convenient.”

“Some of us follow orders well.” 

“And some of us have heard of the Two Gorges, Colonel Ean.”

“You dare!?” Straightening, Ean’s hand dropped to the dao that he carried by his sword. Yet even Tou He could tell he was posturing, not a single ounce of killing intent leaking from him. Moments later, he let the weapon go and snorted. “Just because I’m ordered not to engage with you people, you act so uppity. Remember, you are on our land.”

“The colonel meant nothing by it,” Hua Feng spoke up, mollifying the other man’s false outrage. He cut a glare at the other soldier before continuing. “We are grateful for letting us come and deal with this matter.”

“Better.”

Colonel Lo crossed his arms across his ample and muscular chest, visibly pouting. Ignoring the byplay, Tou He instead added. “We are not going to be massacring anyone that is unnecessary.”

“What do you mean unnecessary? They’re demons,” Colonel Ean said, confused.

“Cultivator Liu here does not believe in the unnecessary death of any creature,” Hua Feng said. “Even demons.”

“A demon lover?” Then, staring at Tou He’s bald head, he rolled his eyes. “Oh, you’re one of those heretical lotus eaters.”

Tou He smiled placidly, murmuring. "Amithabha." 

"Yes, yes. Well, you're supposed to be in charge, right? You've taken responsibility for everything going on, or so I was told." Colonel Ean said, eyes narrowing. "So if you want us to coddle the baby eaters, that's your problem. Can't say my men will be happy about it, but I don't see them objecting too loudly."

"If they do, I expect you'll handle it," Hua Feng said, sharply. "As we will handle our people."

"Of course, of course." The man waved his hand dismissively. "So, we going in now or tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." Colonel Lo returned to the conversation firmly. "My men need a day to rest and recuperate. We have pushed hard to arrive here in time, and the formation masters in my troop need time to study the rift and the environment.” He frowned. “I’m surprised as well to see now formations to block the spread of the demonic influence around. I would have thought you’d have taken steps already, considering this is your land.”

A shrug. “Not my orders.”

“Even so…” Hua Feng said.

“Some other regiment will be coming in to deal with it eventually. That’s not what we’re tasked with,” he said stubbornly.

Tou He stared at the colonel for a long time in silence, enough so that the man started to shift uncomfortable under his gaze. Eventually though, Tou He looked away, back to the army compound they were in that was being set-up. Already, much of the encampment had been completed, new tents and cookfires laid out, latrines already being dug and perimeter torches laid out. Along the way, new formations were being implanted in the perimeter to help the cleansing process, massive braziers that had been carted along being set-up.

Not that it was necessary right this moment, for Tou He’s aura blanketed the area, guarding the surroundings. It interacted with the leaking demonic chi, burning it away and purifying the very air with ease. Unfortunately, with the constant leaking, the ground itself had been poisoned, such that he had to cleanse the entire encampment area multiple feet down with his flame before it had been safe. Only the working of various earth cultivators had managed to bury the ashes away, though the area outside of his direct control would continue to be poisoned for years to come.

As it was, it was clear that the process of cleansing the surrounding region would be arduous. Purple and pink plants, twisted new fungi and flora all sprouted around. No living creatures not twisted existed in the surrounding area, the few smaller creatures that Tou He sensed were warped too. Rodents with an extra pair of legs, roaches and insects that had mutated to subsist on the new flora and even more strange, alien creatures that had crept out of the rift itself.

Most of those had died, though some of the hardiest lingered near the rift itself, burrowing into the ground, consuming roots and insects, contributing to the continual corruption of the surroundings. What lay behind the rift itself, Tou He could not tell; but he did wonder if it was seeing some similar form of corruption from their realm’s presence.

Funny to think that their own environment might poison the demonic realm, though it was true enough. Sometimes, such things were but a matter of perspective. 

“Any news of the demon’s army that is driving the refugees?” Colonel Lo asked.

“None.” Less casual now, the other soldier answered. “We can’t get a soldier close and any spirit spies we send are destroyed by the rift itself. My scouts keep promising me they’ll work out how to get something across but…”

“But?” Hua Feng said.

“It’s been weeks. And frankly, none of us are trained to deal with such rifts.” 

“Your kingdom might want to change that,” Hua Feng said. “This isn’t the first we’ve heard of.”

Again, that casual shrug as though he did not care. This time, Tou He struggled to read the other soldier, uncertain if he really was so blasé about the matter or just putting on an act. It grated on him, the part that had sacrificed so much for others, that dutifully took on risks and responsibilities for the betterment of others.

And yet... Part of the reason he chose to do that was for others to live lives the way they wished. Even if it was not in the manner he would have chosen, that was part of the deal. Tou He could not - should not - dictate their lives. He could preach, live by example, showcase a better path...

But everyone walked their own roads. Karma and the debt one accrued were not his to dictate. He was but a humble servant to the world, not its judge or jury or executioner. 

Peace be on him and all his actions, soon enough he would have to face the consequences of his choices anyway. As did they all.