Immortal Connections - Chapter 28 preview

Chapter 28 - Yang Mu

The small encampment outside the town’s walls was busy when the trio approached it the next morning. The town guards had not refused entry to the group, but they certainly had recommended that the small caravan not enter the town itself and, being good guests, the majority of the caravan had chosen to camp in a small space set aside for such eventualities. They were still within the town walls view, but far enough away to calm the nerves of the local militia. At least by a little. Yang Mu knew they would be glad to see the group leave this morning, for the combined strength of those outside the walls was sufficient to raze the town as easily as flipping over one’s hands. Especially with their only significant protector had joined them.

Yang Mu let her steps linger a little, her body turned enough so that she could see the reactions of her companions as they neared. Sadly, her surprise was insufficient for the old man; his aura had long ago extended and surveyed the residents of the camp. His companion however provided all the delight that she desired.

“They’re all cultivators!” the physician – introduced to Yang Mu as Tang Hsin Min – stuttered.

“We’re all cultivators,” Yang Mu murmured. “Except for the smallest child, most have taken the Yellow Emperor’s decree as good sense and endeavored to improve themselves.”

“No, I mean real cultivators!” Hsin Min said, waving a hand forth. “I don’t sense a single cultivator below Energy Storage in the group, and at least three Core Formation cultivators!”

“Martial cultivators too,” Yeye Tang the Midnight Spear said, leaning on his spear. “And ones who have seen battle, not like those poseurs of Buddhist monks.”

“You do not approve of them?” Yang Mu asked, curiously.

“What kind of mixed up belief system is it that preaches pacifism but teaches violence? That declares violence acceptable but only in the bounds decided upon by the striker.” Spearmaster Tang snorted. “They’re no better than preachy thugs, except that they fight for alms and beliefs rather than coin.”

She was certain there were objections to be made to the characterisation of the monks, a group of individuals most admired, but it was not one she was willing to seek out. She was, after all, a merchant – not a preacher. Her role was to find common ground, not create divisions.

“These are the others you spoke of then? The ones meant to keep the flies from bothering us while we devour the meal of enemies you set forth for us?” the Spearmaster said.

“They are.” She watched as a pair of cultivators broke off from the packing group, approaching them with their arms hidden in their sleeves. The matron who approached them was striking in a mature way, her hair done up high in a bun and covered by a demure black hat. Behind one, standing to the side such that he might draw the massive mace slung across his back, her bodyguard and protector stood with his arms crossed, ready to act at a moment’s notice. “Tang Chin Lang, the Midnight Spear and Vanquisher of the Unending Snake, may I present Patriarch Pu Ruo of the Red Spider Cult and Guardian Mai.” 

That brought a frown to the pair’s faces, for nothing in their dress – other than a small sect seal attached to their belt – gave sign of the sect name. No spider characters along the line, no web motifs, no trim in red or any other indication. In fact, when the entire sect – numbered in their twenties – were taken in totality, the lack of any hint of the sect name was particularly telling.

"Going into hiding already?" Tang Chin Lang grumped, stomping the butt end of his spear into the ground. "What kind of group are you putting together, Cultivator Yang?"

"We are not hiding," Patriarch Pu spoke up before Yang Mu could, cutting in. "Your mistake is a common one. When our founder originally chose our name, it was much clearer, though over the years, the form of address has been shortened. We are still, officially, the Red Spider Slaying and Bedevilment Cult."

"The Red Spiders being...?" 

"A dark sect, one that has been permanently destroyed. Even so, our work is not done." Patriarch Ru waved the pair towards the caravan, as she continued. "I would be honored if you joined us in our wagon to speak about our history. We are always recruiting."

"Even someone like me?" the spearmaster said with a smirk, one that made the lines on his face grow ever more deep.

"Of course. Any sect would be grateful to have one so trained. But we are no official sect, but a cult that joins together at times to seek  out and destroy any dark sect's we might learn of." Patriarch Ru continued leading the man within, gesturing broadly with her arms. "It is why we have no members in the lower ranges, for bringing such children on our missions would be foolhardy at best."

"Interesting. I have heard of such hunter cults before," Spearmaster Tang said, reaching out to stroke his own wispy beard with one hand. "Though I had never expected to see one so large or formal."

Patriarch Ru nodded. "It is no surprise. Just like we hunt them, the dark sect hunts our cults too. Breaking us, removing our methods of training, our cultivation techniques that allow us to investigate and identify them and to talk between groups is of utmost importance to the dark sects. We are one of only a half-dozen to have lasted more than a hundred years."

"Fascinating. I will hear more of this." Contrary to his words though, Chin Lang slowed and then stopped. He turned, carefully, to look at Yang Mu. "After I have met the one who is of note. Unless you were intending to deceive me?"

It was Patriarch Ru again who spoke up, reaching over to place a gentle hand on Chin Lang's arm as it held the spear. "Merchant Yang did not lie. There is one other - a Daoist monk and cultivator - who has joined us. However, he is resting at this time, having spent the night at work."

"Work?" Chin Lang said, suspiciously. "I sensed no fluctuations in chi last night."

"He was building formations and blessing a graveyard," Guardian Mai was now the one to speak, punctuating his words with a stab with a meaty finger into the distance. "He brought me along to handle the jiangshi that had awoken, while he reconsecrated the ground. Foolish villagers moved their cemeteries at the word of a charlatan and left the old cemetery to rot. If he hadn't sensed its growing decay, they would have been overrun in another turning of the moon."

Yang Mu noted how the old man glanced at his granddaughter, how she nodded ever so marginally before he relaxed and turned back around to Patriarch Ru. 

"Well, what are waiting for then? I trust you have proper tea?" He lowered his voice, muttering to the Patriarch but still loud enough for everyone - especially cultivators at their level - to hear. "That merchant likes her teas all too fruity and light for my taste. It's all well and good for the young, but at our age..."

"Our age?" Patriarch Ru said, an eyebrow rising. "Surely you jest at placing me at your level, Honored Spear."

"Beauty has a leveling effect of its own."

Behind the pair, forgotten; the granddaughter let out a long and breathy sigh. She rubbed a hand over her face, muttering something about reducing the amount of ginseng and ginkgo biloba(8) in his soup. It was only a moment more before the Guardian broke into conversation with her, drawing her away from the pair who were ascending the private carriage. 

All of which left Yang Mu alone, for the moment. Just a moment, before the caravan head arrived with questions, intent on verifying their route and with pointed questions of whether the Merchant intended to divert them again, and with the usual exclamations of lost profits and time. Which, of course, meant even more coin loss.

Leaving her so busy that she almost missed the figure hiding in the trees, watching the departing caravan.

Footnote: 

8 - Herbs that traditionally were considered natural aphrodisiacs.