Chapter 28: Rumblings and a Realm

Chapter 28: Rumblings and a Realm

The chirping of birds roused him from his slumber. Outside his window, red and yellow leaves swayed with the wind, colored in the brilliant shades of autumn. A cool breeze, not yet cold, shifted through the gaps in the door and the paper window.

A hand nudged his shoulder. Hui shifted slowly, eyes half-shut. Ten ten more minutes.

Are you awake? a male voice asked.

Hui startled upright, swinging his legs out of bed. Oh shit, dads home! Up, Im up.

Black crashed into his vision. His head bobbled, light as air. He staggered.

A hand caught him. Careful.

Thats not dads voice. He shook his head, waiting for his vision to return. Blinking, he made out white robes, dark hair, a white jade crown sitting at the crown of the mans head. What the hell? Who is Master, thats Master. Weiheng Wu.

Hui rubbed his face and sat back down, hanging his head. Everything hurts. He drew at his robes, peeking under them.

Pale scars stared back at him, crisscrossing his flesh. He rubbed a finger over the closest one, feeling its raised edges. Right. The fight.

Chang Bolin He shook his head. He couldnt be allowed to live. I had to put him down.

Memories filtered back, slipping around the pain. He scrubbed his face. That girl who was she? Not Xixing, for sure. Not elder sister Mei either, shes softer.

At last, something came through: the flash of pink in the pavilion, high above the arena. Lan Taijians inheriting disciple. Why does she feel so familiar, then? Why save me?

Sitting beside him, Weiheng Wu held out a shallow dish. A thick, black fluid clung to its sides. Drink it.

The acidic smell tingled in his nose. Hui drew back. IIm fine.

Your organs and meridians were damaged in the fight. Drink it, or be crippled.

Pulling a face, Hui took the dish and knocked it back. He swallowed it in one go. Even then, the bitterness bit his tongue and burned in his throat.

Heat settled in his stomach. Without any assistance, the fluid rushed through him. He felt it rage through his body, aggressively mending whatever hurts he had.

Wiping his mouth, he grimaced. What happened to a spoonful of sugar?

His master tipped his head. Do you not like the medicine?

No, no, of course I like the medicine! It, it just, the taste is a little much.

Weiheng Wu looked at the dish. Ill consider it next time.

Next time? Glancing at him from the corner of his eyes, Hui asked,Did did Master brew this medicine?

Weiheng Wu nodded.

Gratefulness overtook Hui. Master would do that for me? Ah, the first time as well, was that Master's medicine? It feels good to have someone care for--

A strange feeling twisted in Huis guts. He leaned forward, pressing a hand to his stomach. A thought suddenly struck him. Er did Master follow a recipe?

A recipe? What would I need that for? Weiheng Wu asked.

Ah thats what I thought, Hui said, smiling. His guts wrenched again. He dug his nails in, clutching on for dear life. "Mmm, and last time, when I had a fever..."

"That? Simple qi-calming medicine. I fetched some from Cauldron Peak. No, this time, your body was in dire straits, so I took things into my own hands. I had high hopes that the complexity of the task would challenge me, but medicine brewing is quite simple. It was easy enough to craft a new medicine," Weiheng Wu replied, waving his hand dismissively.

"Ah." Hui's smile, and his stomach, trembled. Master, is this small disciple your guinea pig? Could I please opt out of this study?

Weiheng Wu stood, folding his hands into his sleeves. I understand youve been causing trouble recently. As your master, I must take responsibility for you, so this puts me in a difficult place.

Another gurgle. He hunched over, hugging his gut. Hold on. Hold on, Hui. As fast as he could manage, he ducked his head a short bow and said, This disciple hears and obeys, Master. Thank you for your valuable insight, Master.

Weiheng Wu snorted. I wouldnt mind so much, but Sect Master Lan sat outside my cave and sang until I finally left seclusion, and I cant bear anything interrupting my cultivation. Therefore, until I break through to the sixth realm, you need to lay low.

Sang? Huh? His guts twisted, and Hui paled. No, I dont care. Its not that important.

Hui facepalmed. Now is not the time to get philosophical, Master! Besides, what the hell is with that argument? Are you saying no one can own property? Water is a natural resource. Can no one can own a glass of water?

Oh? Is that your disciple? the woman asked. She narrowed her eyes at Hui, and a terrible pressure slammed into him, full of sharp anger. Hui felt a sword pierce him, the now-familiar sharp sensation pushing through his skin.

Oh no, not again.

Hui fell to his knees. Before he could fall off the sword, Weiheng Wu caught him by the back of the collar and hauled him upright, negating the womans pressure. The weight lifted off Huis shoulders, and at the same time, pain and the sharpness vanished.

Hui patted down his chest, searching for blood. Nothing?

Its only sword intent, Weiheng Wu replied, eyes locked on the woman. He nodded at her politely. You cannot harm my disciple with me here, either, nor will my protecting him impede me in any way. Please, enough.

She scowled. Please leave. This is the entrance to our sects secret realm.

Weiheng Wu nodded. He turned to Hui. See, everyone knows how to be polite. If theyre reluctant to use their skills, you must be firm.

Th-thank you, Master, Hui said. Sweat broke out down his back. Despite Weiheng Wu protecting him from the womans pressure, he still felt her killing intent sizzle against his skin. Oh no, I knew it. Masters pissed at me for causing trouble, seriously pissed. This is my punishment, isnt it? Im going to die. Im going to die for real, this time.

Weiheng Wu waved his hand. In any case. Hui, enter the secret realm. It should keep you out of trouble for at least a month. When you emerge, Ill be there to pick you up. Dont worry.

Master, what about when Im in the secret realm? Im worried!

You will not enter our secret realm. We wont allow it, the woman insisted. Behind her, another two cultivators rose into the sky, hovering on their weapons. One rode a staff, while another rode a saber, the blade broad and sharp.

Weiheng Wu leaned in. Youre interested in death qi?

Hui looked at him, startled. How? Did he hear me discuss it with Xixing? How good are Masters ears? Fifth stage cultivators are no joke!

Wait, then who else heard me? A chill ran down his spine. Hui rubbed his shoulders, suddenly uncomfortable.

This is the best realm to learn about it.

Oh, really? Hui asked. He peered down at the cultivators below, momentarily forgetting his fear. Death qi seems to be a bit of a taboo topic, from Xixings description. If I dont enter here, how hard will it be for me to find death qi again? I cant imagine that Starbound Sect has a source of it. Actually, Im kind of afraid to admit Im interested in it, especially after I forced a fellow disciple to have a qi deviation. To be fair, he deserved it, but still. If Im not careful, Ill end up labeled a demonic cultivator.

Mhm. Weiheng Wu hefted him by the back of his collar.

Hui snapped back to reality. He struggled, twisting against his masters hold. Master, wait, wait, hold up. This isnt ours, we really shouldnt

Between them and the cultivators on the ground, a black gash opened in the sky. The three green-robed cultivators formed up, standing between them and the gash.

Weiheng Wu threw Hui.

Earth and sky streaked back. Headfirst, Hui hurtled at the pitch-black gash, unable to see anything past it. The force of his passage blew the three cultivators formation apart, and the three of them scattered to the winds, one hurtling toward the ground, another toward the sky, another spinning off into the distance. The black gash loomed. He braced himself, ready to slam into the black, but instead, he flew into it.

After him! Kill the trespasser! the female cultivator on the sword shouted, still spinning gently.

Green-clad cultivators leapt up from the ground and rushed toward Hui and the black gash.

Master, why? Hui despaired, as the world faded away behind him.

In the depths of the gash, reality shimmered. His body, his vision, everything shuddered. He gasped and bit back the urge to vomit as everything scrambled around him, his insides, his outsides, all of them twisting over one another.

He tried to draw breath, but there was no air. Tried to move, to find he had no body. Hui saw things he couldnt comprehend, shapes beyond his universe.

He squeezed his eyes shut. Please, let it end!

Cold wind streaked past him. Gravity took hold, dragging him toward the earth. Hui opened his eyes seconds before he plopped to the ground. He scrambled and barely caught himself on his hands and knees, skidding over the pebbled ground. A gritty, dry earth in a dead gray slid out from under his palms. Icy wind blew, fluttering through his hair and robes. Dark, flat rocks about the size of a man jutted upright out of the slate gray earth.

Footsteps scraped over the dirt. Ragged robes brushed the ground.

Hui looked up, already smiling. Haha, its all a misunderst huh?

Pale bodies. Eyes all white, hair dull, lips dry and cracked. Arms stiff, mouths drooling, they shambled for him.

Huis eyes went wide. He jolted, then fell back, instinctively killing his qi. Undead? Master, are you trying to kill this poor disciple?