Chapter 10: Sure as Fate (3)

Chapter 10: Sure as Fate (3)

You, Yang Xingling spat, glaring at the two approaching figures.

Hello, Sister Yang, that damned Wu Guanzhong said. It has been awhile. I hear that your training has borne fruit. My congratulations. Then, he turned toward the remaining three Seniors who were now joining by her side, greeting each of them in turn. Brother Liu. Brother Song. Sister Qin. Where is Elder Hua?

She ignored how the term of address grated at her. Sister this, Brother that two years ago, such formality would never have been spewed by Guanzhong.

Yo, Guanzhong! Song Quanhao greeted with his usual vibrant cheer. Elders off to scout out the group of beasties to make sure they havent moved. She says shell be back in the morning, and to be ready for her return. But more importantly Senior, youre finally free from captivity! I knew that youd be let out one of these days!

Enough nonsense. Xingling stormed up toward him. What the hell are you doing here?

The bastard actually had the audacity to look confused. Did you not receive Elder Yangs response to Elder Huas update? he asked. He said that he would ensure that you all were aware that assistance would be arriving within the week, and

Of course we received my fathers damned reply! she interrupted. What I want to know is why you are here!

With the recent troubles in Penshan, Elder Yang felt that it was for the best that

I dont care about what my father feels. Passivity. Deflection. As always, Wu Guanzhong was trying to weasel his way out of this. You dont leave the Sect for the past two years no matter how much anyone tries convincing you and only now you decide to step out?

The look of slight embarrassment on his face was wrong. The old Guanzhong no, the real Guanzhong, the one who she had grown up with would have risen to the challenge, and issued a duel right there and then, and fought until one of them could no longer move. This mockery that was the Wu Guanzhong before her couldnt be compared to who he once was.

Two years. Ever since he had been taken under her fathers wing, he had become an utter coward. He had politely refused to leave on any missions out of the Sect, opportunities which he would have jumped upon at a moments notice when he had been an inner circle Senior. No matter how much she pleaded with him, all he did was find ways to deflect. He stopped issuing spars and bouts, and a year and a half ago, he had stopped accepting them entirely.

Spineless. An eagle who had lost its wings and talons. People could say that to his face, and all he did was smile that same damned fake half-smile of his, and continue along with his day.

But Xingling knew better. He hadnt lost his skill Guanzhong still practised in the training grounds, and the fierce blows that had once made him a formidable warrior hadnt dulled in the slightest. Somehow, however, he seemed to think that it wasnt sufficient, that there was something lacking.

He had refused to fight. When he wasnt meditating or continuing with those same forms he had already mastered, all he did was serve as her fathers little lapdog, play niceties with the Juniors who hadnt even completed their foundation in bodily cultivation, and continue practising his skills without ever using them.

And now, suddenly, after two full years of inactivity, he was here.

He remained silent, simply continuing that serene smile that she swore her father must have taught him. Ignoring him, she turned to the one who Guanzhong had travelled with. And who the hell are you?

The stranger was obviously someone outside of the Sect. His features were foreign slightly messy brown hair that was very loosely pulled back into a little tail, startled-looking blue eyes, wearing a flowing coat with sleeves just past the elbow and tails that went down to his thighs. The coat covered an inner layer of garment, with pouches, satchels, and a book strapped by his belt. He was shorter than Guanzhong, and his form was lean, with little muscle to speak of.

He was obviously a cultivator, but an extremely pitiful one. She could sense his qi, but it hadnt yet been fully settled into a firm foundation for further refinement. It was at the stage of a Junior who barely had slightly more than year of training. In the Sect, it was not yet even deserving of being promoted to the inner circle of Juniors, and receiving the daoshi that came alongside the title to begin the second stage of bodily cultivation.

Brothers and sisters, this is Sylar Spellsight, Guanzhong said on his behalf. Sylar, these are Yang Xingling, Song Quanhao, Liu Yao, and Qin Shurui. Sylar here was the one who had uncovered our yet-unknown enemys attempt to cause harm on the Lu family after they had infiltrated Penshan. It was only thanks to him that we know of their sinister designs for Jinxiang.

The word from her father had been dire. He seemed to reason that this was only just the beginning, and that a storm was brewing not just in Penshan, but possibly Jinxiang province as a whole. Messenger kites charged with spiritual energy had been flown out, recalling those who had been on training pilgrimages and putting those already in Jinxiang on high alert. Elder Hua had been instructing them in martial combat, with the aim of having the four of them destroy the Demonic Beasts in the chasms below as a final test at the end of their training, but her father had made it a special priority to put an early end to their extended training exercise.

Her father was a timid man who rarely left the Sect these days. But he was not senile, and when the word had come from Penshan, everyone knew that he was being deadly serious. Elder Hua had brought their training to a close, even though they were supposed to continue on for another two months.

But him? This foreign cultivator? He hasnt even finished his foundationfor bodily cultivation.

And what the hell was that cultivation base supposed to be? It was vastly different from that of the Righteous Heart Sect, which infused and strengthened the body with the natural elements, binding the energies of the natural world through the excess yin and yang energy that their bodies produced.

As a yang-dominant cultivator, she was well attuned to those who had cultivated themselves by refining their yang, but her recent breakthroughs with Elder Hua had enabled her to mildly pick up traces from those based on yin as well. What the foreigner utilised wasnt derived from those of the Sects of Penshan; neither based on yin or yang, or any of the natural elements.

I made the same mistake in underestimating his skill as well, Sister Yang. He glanced over at the foreigner. Trust me when I say that I have learned my lesson well. It wouldnt be farfetched to say that his knowledge of the Spiritual Arts rivals even that of Elder Yangs.

There was a beat of silence.

No, really? Quanhao swore, sounding amazed. Elder Yangs?

Hes lying, idiot, Xingling snapped. Look at his qi. His meridians aren't even open. He can't have achieved the First Comprehension, and there's no way he's succeeded in discovering a Revelation.

Guanzhong shook his head. A week ago, even that wasnt there.

Really? Qin Shurui spoke up, frowning. But thats

And were supposed to believe you just like that? Xingling scoffed. Im starting to wonder how much of what else he said is true.

Its true, Guanzhong defended hotly. Elder Yang arranged for us to have a duel, and

Abruptly, she and her fellow Seniors who had been scrutinising the foreign cultivator whirled toward him. She had been about to question how plausible it was for someone to complete in a week what Juniors took close to a year to achieve, but this new revelation took precedence.

You what?

The foreigner blinked, looking at Guanzhong with confusion, but Xingling couldnt possibly care less about him right now.

We had a duel

Nice! Quanhao cheered, interrupting him. He surged over, clamping a hand on Guanzhongs shoulder. Youre finally back with us! I knew you would get over your slump one of these days! Challenged him like you used to after you caught his lie, did you? Gave him a good smack, until he called you grandpa?

No, Quanhao, he said, embarrassed. It well, truth be told, I was equally surprised when Elder Yang insisted for us to have a match.

Forget whyyou two even duelled are you telling me you lost? Liu Yao asked, mouth agape.

No, actually. The foreigner finally decided to speak up. I lost, and in quite a spectacular manner, too.

Guanzhong gave a wry grin, one of those from the old days. You still left me bedbound for two days while I gathered energy to recuperate, Sylar. I must admit, it was quite nostalgic.

No way? Quanhao spoke, sizing up the foreigner. Nice! You woke up the sleeping dragon!

Im not sure nostalgic is the word you should use for a situation like that, the outsider said, eyeing Guanzhong. You really werent kidding when you said you used to be hot-headed, huh?

It made no sense. Elder Yang was notorious for being the sole one of the three Elders who stuck to the basics, and made his disciples repeat the same old exercises of the Foundational Forms, and engage in practice in the Baijian Basic Sword Arts, Fist of the Steadfast Heart, and Ten Heavenly Forms that all Seniors had been exposed to since the day of their promotion. Guanzhong had long mastered all those arts since before even becoming a ranking disciple. His technique was flawless, and he could rattle off their principles by heart.

Yet, for two years, her father had never deemed him worthy of beginning the next stage of cultivation with the Nine Processes Unification Scriptures. Unlike Elder Hua and Elder Shang, he rarely took his disciples away from the mountain for field training. Few people applied to be his students, and ever since Guanzhong had become his charge, her father had stopped actively seeking out new personal disciples.

For the last two years, Xingling had continually pestered Guanzhong for them to spar, only to be repeatedly shot down. She had even swallowed her dignity and begged at one point, wanting to help him return to his old glories, but he hadnt even batted an eyelid, continuing to meditate and practice in the grounds. The rivalry that had seen them both improve from strength to strength had abruptly vanished into just memories of the past. He had become stagnant in the Sect, while she had been sought out by Elder Hua six months after, and since then had exceeded the rival she had never previously been able to beat.

And now, her father had suddenly ordered for Guanzhong to duel not herself, who had been his closest rival for years, but this outsider?

It was absurd, and it was humiliating.

Two years, she forced the words out. For two years, youve refused every time I challenged you to a spar. You suddenly stop talking to me, and find every excuse you can to avoid me. Fine. I can accept that. She inhaled deeply, then fixed the foreigner with a glare. But this outsider shows up, and both you and my father suddenly decide to stop being cowards?

Any chance you could teach it to us? Quanhao asked greedily.

You know that learning the technique is restricted to ranking disciples, Quanhao, Guanzhong rebuked disapprovingly. Even if you know the principles involved, there is still much work that needs to be done to lay the necessary foundation. Until then, you will not be ready to draw in enough spiritual energy, and even if you succeed, it can be dangerous to release the Spiritual Formation before you progress to the next stage of your spiritual cultivation.

Finally! Something that actually makes sense! Now this was more Sylars territory; they were talking about Essence capacity, Essence flux, and Soulburn capacity!

Yeah, yeah. Spoilsport. Despite his words, Quanhao held no ill will. But man using a Spiritual Art without preparing the body? That stuffs wild.

It is good to see that the two of you have continued your progress, Quanhao; Shurui, Guanzhong said. It feels like a long time since you two were outer circle Seniors. Its good to see that your training with Elder Hua has been paying off.

You didnt all start at the same time?

Us? Nah, Shurui, Yao and I used to have to call this man here Senior Wu when we were Juniors! Quanhao grinned. Were going to be levelling the playing field now, though! Soon enough, all three of us are going to become ranking disciples too!

Now that Sylar was paying attention, it did seem like Guanzhong was slightly older than them. It was a rough estimate, but he would put Guanzhong and Xingling down as being in their early-to-mid twenties, close to Sylars own age, while the remaining three were probably in their early twenties.

Senior Wu, Shurui said. Does this mean that well be seeing more of you again?

Just call me Guanzhong, please. We are now of equal rank, Shurui, he said. And I dont know. I need some time to think things through, but I think that Ive finally found what I was missing.

Sylar glanced at him. Cryptic words. Did this relate to this Nine Processes Unification thing that Guanzhong had hinted at as being the next step in store for him as a ranking disciple?

Thats good to hear, Shurui said. She looked intently at Guanzhong. Dont rest easy, though. Well be catching up to you and Xingling.

He chuckled. You three always were my favourite little Juniors. Youve all grown into such fine cultivators during the past two months training with Elder Hua.

Careful there; your current Juniors might think youre playing favourites! Quanhao laughed. He glanced at the palm of his hands, and Sylar could see even in the dim evening light that they were callused and bruised. But yes, youre right Elder Huas training really is something else. Im glad she accepted the three of us when we heard she and Xingling were leaving for training.

Soon enough, you three will be ranking disciples as well. Guanzhong looked into the distance wistfully. How time flies. I still remember how you three used to watch our spars all the time, and plead with us for pointers.

The members within a single Sect had far more history between them than Sylar had appreciated thus far, he realised. Sylar had spent close to seven years travelling with his adventuring friends, their composition occasionally changing as some of their number unfortunately perished during their quests, or when they grouped up with other like-minded peers. He cherished them all, even though there had been times when they had butted heads.

For those who grew up in a Sect from the time they were but children, those ties had to be stronger still. It was no wonder why Xinglings reaction had been so intense.

You can still reconcile with her, you know. Quanhao nudged Guanzhong in the side with his elbow. Sure, shes got a bit of a head-start now, but youve never been one to be overshadowed by her for long.

Things have changed, Quanhao. He sighed. Xingling is still someone precious to me, but I dont hold the same feelings for her as I had before becoming a ranking disciple. I I dont quite know what to think.

Well, youve got plenty of time to think, boss. He grinned. Dont take too long, though! One of these days, once I finally get to the same level as you two, I might just snag her for myself!

Guanzhong looked sharply at him, and Quanhaos smirk widened. I hate it when you do that, Guanzhong groaned.

Remember when you used to chase Quanhao around the Sect until he begged for forgiveness whenever he teased you about Xingling? Shurui teased. Yao and I could never stop laughing.

Seriously?

Quanhao nodded, while Guanzhong gave a sheepish and embarrassed expression.

Now Im glad our duel ended the way it did, Sylar said. If you still were the same way today, it sounds like Elder Yang would actually need to scrape me off the mountainside.

You give me far too much credit, Sylar, Guanzhong said. I collapsed almost as soon as I was dragged to the infirmary.

That revelation startled Quanhao and Shurui. Quanhao pointed a finger at him. You managed to injure the boss that much?

He had potent Spiritual Arts, Quanhao, Guanzhong said. They were unlike anything I had ever seen. The Juniors who witnessed our duel are still talking among themselves about what they saw.

But then youre saying that even with your Steadfast Stone Purification Method and the Four Yin Mystical Tempering that only

Guanzhong shot him a warning look, and he clammed shut. I apologise, Sylar, Guanzhong said, turning to him. Even though you are an ally of the Righteous Heart, you are still an outsider to the Sect.

Drat. And here he thought he might have some newer insight into how cultivation of the body worked. Still, it was enough of a hint for now.

I understand, he reassured. Sylar looked over toward the chasms of the Demons Pass. What is Elder Hua doing, anyway?

Now that it was turning to night, the place gave off an even more unsettling vibe. He could imagine unknowing travellers journeying onward, only to suddenly lose their footing at the edge of a plateau, to fall to their deaths in the chasms below.

Shes rounding up the Demonic Beasts, Shurui said. Since we had to cut short our training mission, she is herding them inward for us to be tested tomorrow.

A test? Guanzhong frowned. I heard nothing about that.

Turns out its Elder Huas style, Quanhao said, shrugging. She wants to see how much weve grown during our time with her. From the first day out here, she told us that she would not be intervening during the test. Its up to us whether we live or die.

That sounds extreme.

Its how she made it to Elder that quickly, Shurui said. Say what you will about her methods, but you cant deny that theyve got results. Xinglings already on the Nine Unification Processes, even though she only became ranking after you did.

Guanzhong fell silent, once more looking into the distance. If he strained hard enough, Sylar thought he could see two blurry shapes flitting about on one of the plateaus. A quick Farsight confirmed that they were indeed Yang Xingling and Liu Yao, both of them making their way through sword forms at a rapid pace.

He cancelled the spell. He didnt know enough about martial combat to fully appreciate their art as they trained, and he couldnt pry any additional secrets of cultivation from them, since the magical sight granted by the spell did not possess the same Essence awareness as his own sight that had been altered through long-term exposure to Divination.

Instead, Sylar turned to the two inner circle Seniors. There were more productive things he could do. Do you know where Elder Hua is drawing the Demonic Beasts to?

Shurui glanced at him, making a silent judgment, then pointed. The main pack is somewhere over there, about five kilometres out.

Right. Thanks.

He sat down cross-legged. For what he had planned next, movement was impossible.

Arcane Eye was the godsend that made Diviners as useful as they were in adventuring. The invisible arcane construct was a scouting tool that Sylar had made much use of before, especially in open terrain. It wasnt all-powerful the sight couldnt extend past physical barriers, which made it less useful in urban regions where a humble and yet all-powerful door could prevent any attempt at his scrying.

Here, however, across vast plateaus and sunken fissures, there was no place that escaped his sight, so long as he searched hard enough. During the ride here, he had been curious about just what these Demonic Beasts were like, and he much preferred observing them from afar now than up close in the thick of action later.

Sylar clasped his hands together, a little habit he had picked up during his time of mastering the spell to help him with his concentration. He closed his eyes, fitting in the Fate and Spirit Essences into their pairs, bolstered with Wind Essence to allow it to be carried across the open air. It was a Fifth Level spell, but Sylar would rank it as far more potent than any Sixth Level spell in his current repertoire.

Try not to get me killed in the meantime, wont you?

Then, he released his spell. As a weightless Arcane Eye, he drifted, soaring above the connected network of chasms.