Immortal Connections - Chapter 3 preview

Chapter 3 - Wu Ying

The escort brought Wu Ying to the palatial gates which were propped open, a pair of gate guards standing watch over the entrance. The walls of the gates were thrice as a tall as a man, clay tiles laid against the tops to allow for easy run-off. Each of them were four feet deep, enchantments scripted all along the stones to reinforce and apply the dao concept of walls and impediment to the very air above it. It was the reason why it was impossible to just fly over the walls.

The troop landed on the cloud which was firm to their footing. With his feet in contact with the cloud, Wu Ying could sense the chi that permeated the structure, holding the diffused water vapour together. Pushing down a little with one foot, he noted how spongy it felt, growing firmer with increasing levels of pressure before it was hard as rock.

“Guardian Chu. Another one?” the lead guard asked, his armor subtly different than the Guardian’s. Among other things, his was less golden, only gilded along the edges of the armor and the armored skirt that he wore. Also, unlike the mounted guards, he held a chang k’ei fu – a halberd with a spear tip on the top. A more useful weapon when one was a guard, unlike the guandao with its long curved blade that made for powerful attacks while astride.

“Please alert the Vice Minister.” The guardian dismounted with practiced ease, landing on the cloud and patting his horse on the neck reflexively after he handed the reins of his mount to one of his guards. A pair had joined him on the ground, mimicking his actions and coincidentally surrounding Wu Ying.

Not as though he had anywhere to run.

“Of course.” A small gesture had the second gate guard step past the gate, disappearing around the corner. A small pulse of power emerged from behind the gate, quickly fading away. The gate guard eyed the positioning of the guards and continued. “Did he not come willingly then?” At seeing the tightness in Guardian Chu’s face, he added hastily. “It matters for our security arrangements.”

“This one was escorted here by the Lord Protector of the Seven Winds.” Guardian Chu offer a sardonic smile. “He did not exhibit any reluctance in coming when we met the great elder.”

The guard returned that half-smile as well. “Well, at least he’s not a fool then.”

“This ones name is Long Wu Ying,” Wu Ying said, tired of being spoken of as though he was not there. He stepped forward, ignoring the way the Guardian shifted to give himself more space to strike or the way the other guards closed on him, only stopping when they realized Wu Ying had stopped as well. “And you are, honored protector of the gates?”

"Mao Ya Wen, Captain of Lesser Harmonies Gate," Ya Wen said, puffing up his chest a little as he spoke.

Guardian Chu smirked as he interjected. "The Day Guard captain."

A slight inclination of her head at that, Ya Wen shrinking a little at the reminder. 

Wu Ying frowned. "Is the Night Guard position more prestigious then? In the Middle Kingdom, the day guard was always the more important post."

"That's because you don't have to deal with demons attempting t sneak in, creatures of the night and shadow," Guardian Chu said, dolefully. "They are strongest at night, for the strength of the sun is at its weakest and the moon can sometimes even benefit the heretics and demons." 

Of course, Yen Wa looked less than impressed. After all, the moon was the opposite of the sun in most cosmological definitions, the female half and the yin to the sun's yang. By its very nature, it was no less than the sun, just the opposite side of a coin, a necessary part of a cycle like the seasons.

Logically, at least, that was true - but an individuals' feelings, their thoughts and opinions rarely were entirely logical, often based off feelings and past experiences and their upbringing. It was clear, even from his minimal interactions with the Guardian, that he was a man of action and strength, filled to the bring with Yang energy.

Perhaps too much.

"The Guardian is not incorrect. The position of Night Captain is higher ranked among the gatekeepers. Though, for the guards and commanders of the army, it is switched," Ya Wen clarified. 

"Thank you," Wu Ying said, offering a little bow. He would have asked further questions, tried to grasp the basics of this new world, but he noticed movement behind the guard captain. "I hope to speak with you further."

"I hope not," Ya Wen said, a mischievous smile on her lips. "After all, most of the time when I'm speaking with new ascended, it's because they've tried to escape."

There was that hint that not all was well. that not everyone wanted to be in the heavens. Which made little enough sense to Wu Ying, even if he had objections to the way they ran the world. Yet, it was neither the time nor place to continue such discussions, for he who Wu Ying assumed was the Vice Minister had arrived.

The first thing that struck Wu Ying about Vice Minister Yu was their mode of dress. Not so much the glistening, bright gold robes - and he certainly was sensing a theme here with all the gold - but the style and cut of her robes. While armor came in a variety of types and formats, the robes that Vice Minister Yu wore were what even he would have considered old fashioned.

Current fashion was for lighter, aerier robes with wide cuffs and simple color matched patterns. Embroidery along the edges or around the shoulder at the top were common while skirts were often more complicated, with a variety of embroidered motifs and edging. Beneath those, of course, one could wear a pair of trousers, a fashionable addition most preferred by cultivators.

Vice Minister Yu though wore a round-necked yuanling style robe. They were entirely tied off, such that the round neck collar was not opened in the more relaxed styles that certain princes or gentleman scholars might utilize, with significant embroidered motifs running all along the robe itself. These motifs were filled with flowers, seals and stylized characters among other designs, all of which created a wonderfully elaborate – and likely painstaking – amount of time to create.

Along with the older form of robes, which were made of multiple thick layers, Vice Minister Yu also wore another old-fashioned hat, the wu sha mao. Like it’s namesake, it was made of black muslin with small spread wings on either side of the elaborate, jutting top. Gold characters were etched in the center of the hat, an indication of their position Wu Ying assumed.

“Vice Minister,” Ya Wen and Guardian Chu greeted the minister at the same time, bowing in greeting.

Wu Ying might have been born a farmer, but bowing – and picking up social cues from ones betters – was something trained into him both by station and, later on, by his martial sister. He echoed the pair’s greetings but also made sure to bow even lower, only tilting his head a little so that he could keep an eye on the feet approaching him.

Not that he was entirely blind. His spiritual and wind sense might be suppressed, but this close, he still had a feel of those around such that he was not entirely defenseless.

“This is the new ascended?” The vice minister’s voice was melodious, a pleasure to listen to. Not unexpected, considering like their visages, most immortals refined their looks over the period of cultivation to immortality such that they were the best of themselves. In this case, a pleasant and commanding voice, pale and unblemished skin, balanced muscles and strong bones.

"It is, Vice Minister."

"And the Lord Protector of Seven Winds took interest in him." Vice Minister Yu said the words as a flat pronouncement, a statement of fact lacking any judgment in it. Which, in itself was a form of judgment it seemed. "Well, I shall have to take extra care of him then."

"As the Vice Minister sees fit," Guardian Chu said. "By your leave."

A single imperious nod and wave of the hand had the man retreating to his horse and mounting it, waving his people away.

Leaving Wu Ying in another pair of hands and feeling like a sack of flour, being passed from one to the next. 

At least they weren't carrying him piled three or four on one at a time up a mountain.