Immortal Connections - Chapter 37 preview

Chapter 37 - Fa Yuan

She found him, late in the night, seated in her private study. Not her private-private one, which was warded against even him - but the one she had set aside for meetings such as this. The enchantments and formations utilized were particularly geared to stop eavesdropping, such that only when she passed the threshold had she managed to spot him within.

Fa Yuan took her seat on the opposite of the desk, noting that he had a tea set before him, an earthen jug filled with purified spring water perched on one end of the small table. She breathed in a little, sorting through the scents to pick out that of the tea blend he was drinking - Triple Morning Hua Mountain Monkey blend. Picked by the infamous Hua mountain monkey tribes, brought down to the farmers who had created a symbiotic relationship with the creatures. The common people believed the Hua Mountain Monkeys to be descendant of Sun Wukong himself and revered the mountain, the small sect that had grown up around it and the farmers. 

An expensive blend, one he only ever drunk when he was tense.

"Sect Head," Fa Yuan greeted the man, eyes sweeping over his form. No sign of injuries, no sign of wear. Extending her senses further, she pressed against his own spiritual aura that encompassed the mountain and the numerous clouds that were part of his dao and element, so replete and low-hanging were they that they covered up the fast setting moon in the horizon. “I did not expect you at this hour.”

“I find myself unable to sleep these few years,” the Sect Head murmured. A hand came up, running through his hair which had thinned and became a vibrant white ever since the fight with the King of Cai. The loss of an old friend, his own inability to stop the other had weighed upon the man and his own push towards the peak of cultivation had grown more pronounced. “How was the party?”

“The usual,” Fa Yuan said, detailing quickly the various pledges of allegiance, the gifts that were of note and the shifts in allegiance amongst the sects. She ignored reporting on the internal politics of the sect, though she was quite aware of them. That was for the Left Guardian to handle, though she was well aware of such changes.

No, her viewpoint was focused on the external.

“The Prince did not come,” the Sect Head said. “Do you think he still holds your martial brother’s departure against us?”

“No. I believe he has accepted that such things were unavoidable,” Fa Yuan murmured. It amused her, how Ah Ying had managed to make the Fifth Prince a loyal and willing ally, when their first encounter had been via her martial brother striking and insulting him. 

Then again, the battle against the King of Cai and the betrayal by the Third Prince had caused certain upheaval. So much so that even now, years later, the reverberations could be felt. 

“Do we have his support then?” Sect Head (?) said.

“We do. He’ll continue supporting the development of the Imperial armies, offering him greater sway among the generals. In turn, they will aid us in pushing for greater participation by the sect in the exploration of the mystic realm.”

“Good, good.” The Sect Head sighed. “If only the Wei kingdom’s internal politics were not as obscure to us. Have you had any advancement there?”

“Mild. You understand how it is – I must build new connections as the former Right Guardian’s are leery of approaching me, or being exposed. And we’ve discussed how it is best to leave their ties to us hidden, in case of future conflicts.” She traced the edges of the wood blotter on her table as she talked, her motions elegant and swift. “In a few more years, I believe I will have some that may provide us details at the highest level, but for now…”

“We must await the official correspondence. And what little information the competing sect’s in the Wei offer us.”

“It is for the best, really. The downfall of the Six Jade Gates sect amongst the Wei has seen the royal family strengthen their presence. Orthodox sects are in decline unless they side with the royal family and I have had some disturbing reports about acts taken against non-aligned sects. Until such things are managed, much will be in flux.”

“Should we take action to help them?”

“And meddle in our traditional enemies internal politics?” She raised an eyebrow at the blatant manipulation and test. Even now, years later, the man kept testing her competence. “Only if you wish to see us admonished by the royal family.”

The Sect Head smiled a little at the answer before he sobered moments later. “I worry that they will change, that they will swing too far to the other side. Leaving us as one of the only kingdoms left where the sects are on equal footing with the kingdoms.”

Recalling the conversations she had with Wu Ying after his return and his journey through the Middle Kingdom, she could not help but say. “Many other kingdoms have sects that are the kingdom…”

“And look how that has turned out for them. How many of those have actual cultivators of strength?” He snorted. “We just dealt with a cultivator who ruled a kingdom, who made it his very own sect – and look at the disaster that caused. His dao of conquest saw him waging relentless wars throughout his reign, and now that he has fallen, his kingdom fights itself and all the people they once ruled.”

“I know.” After all, as the Right Guardian, knowing about the external world was entirely her job. Of course, knowing what was important and what was not for the sect was also part of it. Finding the balance between inquisitiveness and curiosity and forecasting future concerns was always tricky, though some issues could often be set aside. Even for cultivators, the crossing of thousands of li were an arduous process. “Even so, you cannot believe that our methods are the best.”

“Maybe not best, but certainly tested. We have spent centuries under this rule and we understand how it functions. To change that now, for another form of rulership will see numerous issues, issues that will have to be ironed out. Safeguards against the royal kingdom growing too strong, from stopping the oppression of the common man, to ensure that we have sufficient strength in the armies. Or, conversely, that the we – or the Wei – do not expand at the expense of those beneath.”

“It does seem that all these cultivators ruled kingdoms, without a check on them internally, seek expansion more often than not.”

“Not always, but it’s not surprising. When the cost of such actions are not paid by the leaders, then it is easy to sate the taotei’s thirst of blood with the lives of others.” 

Fa Yuan sighed, tapping the table. “If so, perhaps we should do something for the Wei.”

A single eyebrow arched, questioning the change in decision.

“Nothing upfront or elaborate. Nothing that can be traced to us and used as a weapon…” She tapped the table, thinking. “Perhaps Yang Mu can aid us in this.”

“The Silver Merchant?” A momentary pause before the Sect Head nodded. “Utilizing her contacts to provide aid to the orthodox sects might work, but are they not beleaguered?”

“They are.” Fa Yuan’s lips thinned in anger and frustration. As much as she wished, there was little that she could do to aid her martial brother’s companion. The entire battle was being conducted in the shadows and multiple kingdoms away. None of the powers that sought her parent’s death dared to challenge the Verdant Green Waters nor their supremacy in the kingdom of the Shen. At the same time, they could offer little support when all parties avoided the kingdom.

“And Elder Liu?”  the Sect Head asked, shifting subjects a little.

“Continuing to look into the disturbance in the balance I divined,” Fa Yuan said. “I have had no word from him since he located the disturbance and began tracking the demons that emerged.”

“Dark sect and then demons.” A long tired sigh. “A time of turmoil is upon us. A turning of ages, each and every time brings with it chaos and tragedy. All we can do is brace for the trouble and ensure our charges are ready to ride the storm when it arrives."