Book 2: Chapter 3: A Simple Meal

Book 2: Chapter 3: A Simple Meal

It was either late afternoon or early evening, depending on how generous one felt, when Sen finally settled on his next destination. As he considered the position of the sun in the sky, he decided that he simply wasn’t in the mood to spend yet another night camping. Sen didn’t have the natural aversion to camping that some people possessed and took a little quiet comfort in being away from the ever-present smell of garbage that came with town life. Yet, even in the caravan that he’d traveled to the city with, some of the people seemed to detest being outdoors once night fell. He’d found himself wondering why they’d chosen a life that required it of them so much of the time and almost asked a few of them. Then, he reconsidered.

They may have simply been born into it and found themselves trapped in a life they largely disliked but couldn’t escape. After that, Sen took a care to not forget that, despite the many pitfalls of the cultivation lifestyle, it also came with the benefit of substantially more choices. He could take a job as a farmhand or a caravan guard if he so chose. He could also seek a position as a scribe or even train to be a scholar, and no one would question it because he was a cultivator. Cultivators pursued strange interests for even stranger reasons, or so the general public seemed to think. It was in that very gap between the reality of cultivation and the perception of it that Sen intended to live, at least for a while.This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.

Before any of that, though, Sen intended to find a place to get a meal and a decent night of uninterrupted sleep. Even as he walked back toward the city, though, he couldn’t help but stare back at the ocean with regret. He tried to convince himself that he could always go back the next day and see if the heavens favored him. Before the thought had fully formed, though, instinct told him that whatever opportunity had been here would not return. He wondered about what he might have learned and where it might have taken him, but quickly cut off that line of thought. It wouldn’t do to dwell on it. He couldn’t expect every opportunity or possibility to yield results for him. All he could do was make the best use he could of the ones that did work out.

Passing through the gate, he found the same guard on the inside. The man looked tired, but he mustered the energy to smile at Sen. Sen smiled back and, after a moment of thought, walked over to the guard.

“It seems as though the ocean cast a bit of spell on you. Most folks don’t spend quite that long looking at it,” said the guard.

“Yes, I guess it did capture my attention there for a while. I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

“What’s that?” asked the guard, perking up with curiosity.

“I’m looking for a place to stay for the night. I’d prefer a place that’s quiet, but mostly what I want is to avoid trouble. If I can get a decent meal there, as well, that’d be great.”

The guard idly scratched his chin while he thought it over. “Well, there’s The Crow’s Nest. It’s not too far from here. Popular with the sailors. It’s not too quiet, but the worst trouble you usually see there is a couple of drunken idiots blowing off steam with a fight outside. Food isn’t bad. There’s also the Sunset Inn. It’s more expensive, but the food there is good and the owner doesn’t tolerate no foolishness.”

“I can see you’re not much of a talker.”

Sen lost what little patience he had left. “Leave.”

“Don’t be hasty, friend.”

“I’m not interested.”

“You haven’t even heard what I’m here about. As I said, my name is Cai Yuze of the Stormy Ocean sect.”

For a moment, rage welled inside of Sen, and then, just as quickly, it receded into an icy, deadly calm. The man seemed to realize he’d made a terrible mistake when Sen stood. Sen never broke eye contact while his hand dropped his jian. All Sen had wanted was a simple meal. That was all. Yet, it seemed that this sect could not leave well enough alone. He had tried to walk the better road before, sparing not one but two of their murderous disciples. If mercy wasn’t sufficient incentive to leave him be, perhaps death was the only language they understood.

“Just wait,” said the man. “I only want to talk.”

“Everyone from your sect is the same. All that matters is what you want.”

Sen heard Cai Yuze mutter under his breath. “Damn that girl.”

“Don’t blame her. She only did what you taught her,” Sen said, baring an inch of the jian’s steel blade. “Now, for the last time, leave.”