PtM 18 - Chapter 2: Uncertainty

Today's chapter is a short one. Enjoy! 

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It took a week for Cha Ming to recover, and in that time, he familiarized himself with Mendin and its new power structure. He discovered that painted Daoists had become mainstream, and both the churches of Jezeriah and Harid Dej were fully accepting of them. It was to the point that they incorporated Painted Daoists into their clergy.

The separation of the Central Inkwell Continent had led to much chaos a few years back. Many countries rose and fell, and it was only when the Inkwell Clan came out in full force to raid and pillage that the political situation restabilized.

The impact of the Inkwell Clan’s rise wasn’t limited to any single country. Defensive agreements had been signed between Mendin, the Crimson Lotus Empire, the Slovana Empire, and even the demon lands.

It was surprising to most cultivators, and especially the short-lived rankers, how quickly hatred could be set aside in the face of a common enemy. But this was because they didn’t know this enemy and the absolute terror it had inflicted a hundred thousand years back. But the longest lived of demons and the oldest of artifact spirits remembered, and it was thanks to their insistence that these agreements were forged.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to get detailed news from other continents, so Cha Ming could only visit the Greenwind Pavilion. I can only bite the bullet and pay the old crook. I hope he doesn’t fleece me too bad.

Like all Greenwind Pavilion branches, the one Cha Ming visited reflected local culture and geography. The branch was built from steel and glass, with earthen undertones that spoke to the Rustar Republic and its mines. Blue and yellow stripe patterns were on display at every desk, and attendants wore garments made from rough and commonly available materials.

A set of spiral stairs took Cha Ming up an all-glass tower that overlooked a floating island. Inky waterfalls poured into ink lakes inhabited by communities of industrious ink sprites.

“It’s about time you showed your face,” said Elder Zhong as Cha Ming walked into his office. The man was wearing a worn, checkered suit, complete with a green checkered tie.

“What can I say?” Cha Ming said, walking up the desk. “You gouge me for all I’m worth every time, so this is naturally the last place I ever visit.”

Ninesky flew out of the Clear Sky World and stuck out her tongue out at Elder Zhong. She rushed past the old man to inspect a full-sized ship stored in a void glass bottle.

“Hey, watch that!” Elder Zhong snapped when she tapped the crystalline bottle. “That’s an expensive replica, one of only twelve in existence. You couldn’t buy it with all the wealth on the Inkwell Plane.”

“Are you sure you want to be talking to her that way?” Cha Ming asked, shooting Elder Zhong a meaningful look. “She might paint you out of existence, you know.” And for the first time since meeting the legendary immortal, Cha Ming saw a flicker of uncertainty cross Elder Zhong’s face.

“What do you want, Clear Sky?” Elder Zhong asked to change the topic.

“What do I always want?” Cha Ming asked him back. He took a seat in front of Elder Zhong’s ashwood desk.

“Information,” Elder Zhong said. “It’s always information with you. Could you please ask her to stop trying to lift that bottle? It’s heavier than it looks.”

“I’ve come for information,” Cha Ming confirmed. “Though I wouldn’t say no to bulk demiplane fragments. Do you have some on hand?”

“Could you even pay for them if I did?” asked Elder Zhong. “And how am I not surprised that your cultivation is even more messed up than last time I saw you?”

“What can I say, I like to bet big,” Cha Ming said. He stole a glance at Ninesky, who was now raising the bottle up to the ceiling to try and break it open. Elder Zhong was looking increasingly nervous, but Cha Ming ignored him and painted out a list of names with his finger. “I’d like information on these individuals please. As detailed as you can.”

Elder Zhong frowned when he saw the list. “You sure like to pick your targets,” the elder grumbled.” I’ll start with the easy ones: Wei Longshen and Xing Tianlong are relatively public figures. They are easy enough to contact, assuming they want to speak with you. Just go to any of our branches, and we can initiate an intercontinental communication request.

“Cao Wenluan did not return to the Crimson Lotus Empire and is currently in Slovana. He’s made a big name for himself in Crystal City’s arena, and it’s only a matter of time before he challenges the local king and begins a string of shocking conquests. Or so my informants tell me.

“Princess Gabriella?” Cha Ming asked.

“Her father is looking to find her a suitor,” said Elder Zhong. “She’s become a very prominent figure in Slovana, and rumor has it that she’s being groomed to inherit her father’s position.”

Cha Ming nodded. “What about the next few names on my list?”

“Funny that you should mention Petros Sullivan,” said Elder Zhong. “I’ve been trying to recruit him for our interplanar information division, but he keeps delaying, saying something about a contract.”

“Would there be any way for me to get a hold of him?” Cha Ming asked.

“No, because he’s intentionally keeping his whereabouts hidden,” said Elder Zhong. “In case you forgot, he has a grudge with the Church of Jezeriah. They’ve noted that he purged their goddess’s blessings and took it personally.

“Moving on, I know just about as much as you do about Cardinal Undine. As for Salamani, I have a detailed dossier for you to peruse. It’s a lot easier to get you information for locals as opposed to those that went to the Heartforge Realm. Patriarch Heartforge insists on strict non-disclosure.”

Cha Ming took the many dossiers Elder Zhong had laid out and leafed through them. “He’s next in line for pope?” said with a frown.

“Which makes dealing with him especially tricky,” said Elder Zhong. “Cardinal Undine obtained a similar position upon her return. Rumor has it that Oster Fireblight was supposed to receive a similar honor, but that he’s been completely inactive and has ignored all envoys sent by his church. His current location is the Flamebrand Republic, where his family originates from.”

Elder Zhong gave him another few information jades containing general information. Cha Ming’s understanding of the continent increased by leaps and bounds, and he became familiar with basic void maps linking the continents.

Ironically, the miser didn’t even bring up payment. But Cha Ming could see why this was the case –transcendent resources were no longer meaningful to either of them. Currying favor with Cha Ming and ensuring his success and ascension was a safer bet.

“Both Wei Longshen and Xing Tianlong are now crown princes of the Crimson Lotus Empire,” Cha Ming muttered as he reviewed their information. “Interesting. I wonder if the emperor knows how heartless an individual Tianlong has become?”

“He does,” said Elder Zhong. “We spoke about it at length.”

“I noticed you haven’t mentioned Silverfish or Elder Ling,” said Cha Ming.

“Their situations are a little complicated,” said Elder Ling. “Partially because of a non-disclosure agreement that’s still running its course, but mostly because Daoist West Sea has gone missing.”

Cha Ming frowned. “Even the Greenwind Pavilion doesn’t know where he is?”

“We know that he’s gone into hiding,” said Elder Zhong. “But you’ll be happy to know that he took the individuals known as Drezil, Clever Dusk, and Graceful Twilight with him.”

“What about Silverfish?” Cha Ming asked. “According to what I know, he’s Elder Ling’s apprentice.”

“Silverfish, or Blackfish as he often goes by, has been missing for the better part of three years,” said Elder Zhong. “As for Serrendil, she’s still in Slovana, and is the nominal leader of the Dragon Vein Kingdom. She hates the limelight and is known to disappear for years at a time.”

“Which only leaves my master, Sun Wukong,” Cha Ming said. “Where is he, Elder Zhong? I doubt you’d stop paying attention to him even for a second.”

Elder Zhong winced. “The Monkey King’s situation is complicated. Revealing this information will require me to break certain high-profile deals. Deals that I am reluctant to break.”

Cha Ming leaned forward and placed both hands on the desk, and Ninesky, who was still busy playing with the bottled ship, looked down at them with interested. “What do you want?”

“What do you mean, what do I wants?” asked Elder Zhong. “We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends that don’t let their frighteningly powerful companions drop precious bottled ships from great heights.”

“Ninesky, could you be a little gentler with Elder Zhong’s things?” Cha Ming said. Ninesky reluctantly flew back to his side. “You were saying?”

“The covenant I speak of isn’t a major one,” said Elder Zhong. “Just a minor agreement with two low-tier immortal emperors, Jezeriah and Harid Dej.” He swept his sleeve, and Cha Ming found himself floating in a dark and empty room. A projection of the Inkwell Plane appeared. The fractured plane then shifted to a side view, revealing a belt of demiplane fragments and a huge number of pocket realms. There were orders of magnitude more than on the Chasewind Plane.

Elder Zhong zoomed into one such pocket realm. It was some sort of military complex that protected a massive tree. “Your master, Sun Wukong, was taken here along with the survivors of Verdant Crossroads.”

Cha Ming’s eyes narrowed. “Survivors?”

“There are more than you’d think,” said Elder Zhong assured him. “For many reasons, the biggest one being that Sun Wukong voluntarily surrendered. The infiltrators I sent in some time ago inform me that the elders of the various clans were not overly mistreated.”

“What of the Titan Clan and the Daoist Sects?” Cha Ming asked. He hadn’t found a trace of them anywhere in Mendin.

“They were also taken captive,” said Elder Zhong confirmed. “You will find them all in this location, though I cannot speak to their specific condition.”

The projection of the pocket realm enlarged, revealing many layers of spatial locks. The tree, Cha Ming noticed, was almost as large as the rest of the pocket realm put together. It radiated both good and evil, punishment and tolerance. It was a living contradiction protected by both Jezeriah and Harid Dej’s followers.

“This isn’t a small lineup they’ve got guarding this thing,” Cha Ming muttered. “Investigating this place would be both risky and difficult.”

“The tree is extremely important to both goddesses,” said Elder Zhong. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this is the single most important location for both churches on the Inkwell Plane.”

“So rescuing Sun Wukong…” said Cha Ming.

“Would be extremely difficult,” Elder Zhong said. “Considering all the safeguards in place, and the presence of two major divine temples, I would suggest negotiating with both goddesses. If you like, I can act as a mediator.”

“My reception in Fierra tells me that they won’t be too keen on it,” said Cha Ming.

“But I’d put money on it being easier than breaking in,” said Elder Zhong. “Besides, I wouldn’t worry about him. He could probably break out at any time. He just doesn’t want to, for some strange reason.”

Cha Ming nodded. “That’s because he’s waiting for me. He could ascend at any time, I’m sure.”

“All the more reason for you not to go,” said Elder Zhong. “He’s in no actual danger.”

Cha Ming eyed the pocket realm. “That’s a very powerful planar fragment they’re using. It didn’t end up here by coincidence. It seems artificial. Planted.”

“Good eye,” said Elder Zhong. “How could you tell?”

“It’s too big for a piece of debris, and too well-proportioned to be a damaged fragment,” said Cha Ming. He magnified the tree and its deep roots. “Do you have a dossier on this location?”

“I do,” said Elder Zhong. “But the information I’ve managed to collect is limited.”

“Give me what you can,” said Cha Ming. “I’ll also need to trouble you on a small matter.”

Elder Zhong nodded. “If it’s infiltration, I can provide you with a way in. If it’s a war you want, I know several mercenary companies that I can recommend.”

Cha Ming shook his head. “I won’t need that sort of help.”

“Then what do you need?” asked Elder Zhong.

“I need a map,” said Cha Ming. “A big one. A detailed one.”

“Maps are what I’m best at,” said Elder Zhong. “Too many cultivators die for lack of good maps, and those who have them are reluctant to share them. What kind of map can I gift you, Clear Sky?”

“I’ll take a map of Mendin, for starters,” said Cha Ming. “I’m told the continent is poor in energy and rich in pocket realms. The more detailed the better.”

“Interesting. I would have thought you’d need more detail on the Realm of Good and Evil,” said Elder Zhong.

“I’ll take that as well,” said Cha Ming. “And don’t worry. I won’t forget this favor.”