Immortal Connections - Chapter 22 Preview

Chapter 22 - Wu Ying

A hand brushed down green and blue robes, touching the edging and the creatures stitched into the robes. Drawing comfort in the feel of the silk, marveled at the quality level. Funny, how could think that one had grown accustomed to luxury, to find that there was always another level above. Wu Ying could not help but wonder how the Emperor felt. If it was something he even considered.

Silk worms, fed upon immortal mulberry bushes and allowed to feast on immortal chi had grown fat and strong in lands below, the heavenly hills and valleys. The geography of the thirty six heavens was still abstract to him, only read about in documents and viewed on maps – enchanted or not. A part of him, the very same part that had gained him access to the heavens, yearned to walked those lands, to experience them for himself. To find the mulberry groves and watch the silk worms spin their webs, to talk to the weavers and farmers, to dig his hand into the very earth and taste it.

Perhaps, if all things went well today, that might happen.

“Quickly, quickly!” Shou Ren called out from outside the door. “You take longer than the women to dress.”

“I’m certain that is not true.” Wu Ying touched his face, made sure that the light dusting of makeup that helped smooth out his skin and made it a little lighter was well applied before he reached out and dabbed at the scent oils, placing them on his neck and arms. Running through the list that his martial sister had trained into him mentally, he was, finally, satisfied.

A small part, an ignoble part, a part that he normally ignored and quashed was thrilled when he slid the paper door open. Shou Ren stood, mouth open for a time before clicking it shut, straightening self-consciously and patting at his own hair.

“You…” he coughed, cleared his throat. “Your martial sister? The fairy taught you that, didn’t she?”

A simple nod was sufficient as he strode out, sliding the doors closed. A wave at the enchantments above and a flicker of power locked the room from casual intrusion.

“Why do you not dress like this normally?” Shou Ren said, slipping in beside Wu Ying who strode down the corridor with a touch of power and grace that he normally lacked. A straightness to his back, an additional sway to his hips, an arrogance to his movement that came from holding the sword in his mind. Swift and impartial as a cutting blade, he moved, and just as beautiful as the arc of an executioners swing.

“Too much work. Especially for ruffians like you,” Wu Ying said. “The Jade Emperor on the other hand…”

Shou Ren chuckled. “Best be careful not to look too pretty, you might find yourself added to his court.”

“No worries there when you’re around.” 

“Flatterer.” On the other hand, the man sounded quite happy at the statement. Together, the pair joined the flow of cultivators near the end, only a few tardy members rushing out to enter the main courtyard of the Palace of Lesser Harmonies. “At long last, we are presented.”

“Worried?”

“About my eventual assignment?” A pair of fingers, resting lightly against his belt clenched tight for a moment, ruffling the silk before relaxing. “Of course not. When the outcome is already pre-determined, only a fool would worry.”

“Are we not all fools, to have come so far?”

Together, the pair slipped through the crowd to join Xin Heng. She offered them a timid smile, a duck of her head, even as other outcasts, those not destined for the martial world returned silent greetings. They stared at Wu Ying suspiciously, drifting aside to give him more space; initial dislike and distrust having grown further as they wondered what he was doing there.

After all, the invitations to join the martial groups had not faded. If anything, his training with them had intensified. Though he had, thus far, managed to avoid commitment, the time for delays had come to an end. One way or the other, assignments would be complete in the next few days – after the initial presentation.

The courtyard itself was crammed full with the two hundred plus risen immortals. Clothing and armour was varied, though the central and southern plains style and cut of clothing dominated the group. Not too surprising, considering the preponderance of population in the Middle Kingdom came from those regions too. Everyone was dressed as best they could, understated jewelry and accessories on display while weapons, like Wu Ying’s own Ren were carefully sheathed and peace bonded.

Not that the one who was to meet them had anything to worry about a group of ragtag Ascendants, not if everything that Wu Ying had studied was anything to go by. Only a few – a very exceptional few like the Heavenly Sage – could match long-term Ascendants upon arrival. After all, the integration of immortal soul and body was all too often too new, a little unstable still and too much of the mortal realm lay within them, even after the Heavenly tribulations.

Just as interesting, he noted the presence of a quartet of guards hovering in the background and at the edges of the courtyard. Resplendent in their golden armour, scale mail and plate mixture, lightweight and comfortable while offering a high level of protection; Wu Ying could also sense the dao emanations from the armour itself. No simple pieces of metal – even immortal-chi infused metal – were these, but works created by an immortal smith who’d imbued their concepts into them. Each piece of armour would provide protection over and above the basics of the metal itself, guarding soul and body alike.

As for their weapons, even looking at them made Wu Ying feel like his eyes were bleeding. Only his own aura, brought forth to guard him and his own soul protected against the polearms, the very concept of killing and sharpness imbued into the weapon. A bloody, dangerous infusion of dao. On a mortal plain, such weapons would kill mortals by their very presence.

These were not the weapons of guards, not weapons one should bear for everyday duty. These were weapons of war and slaughter, and their presence bode ill. 

“Problem?” Shou Ren muttered.

Before Wu Ying could answer, a surge of power washed over them. An overbearing dao presence pressed upon them, causing the Ascendant’s knees to buckle. Only a few managed to keep their feet, Shou Ren surprisingly one of those. The rest, like Wu Ying, were forced to hunch and kneel as the Jade Emperor’s projection appeared at the head of the courtyard.

Bringing, at last, their presentation to start.