Book 5: Chapter 8: Cabinet of Wonders

Book 5: Chapter 8: Cabinet of Wonders

“What kind of task?” asked Sen.

While there had been no overt change in Fu Ruolan, Sen felt a subtle, gnawing apprehension go to work on him. It felt like his intuition had noticed something that had escaped his conscious understanding. He eyed the woman warily, expecting some kind of hideously impossible demand.

“I require three superior quality, air-attributed dusk mushrooms,” said Fu Ruolan.

Sen waited to see if there was more to it, but the nascent soul cultivator said nothing. After a few moments, her expression started growing bored. Realizing that only questions would secure him more information, Sen thought hard about how to phrase them.

“Why do you need them?”

Fu Ruolan glanced skyward for a moment before asking in a casual tone, “Does it matter? Are you saying that you’d refuse to do it if I told you this was a pointless task?”Explore the labyrinthine roots of this substance at Nøv€lß¡n

Sen considered those questions. “No. I suppose it wouldn’t matter. I said I’d do what you asked of me.”

“Good. Ming may have tolerated unchecked curiosity about his motives,” she paused. “Knowing him, he encouraged it. We do not share that approach. My motives are my own to keep or share as I see fit.”

Sen couldn’t say he liked having that knowledge gap imposed on him, but he also knew that there was precious little he could do about it. Even if her motives were off the table, he hoped she might be willing to share more practical information with him.

“I’m not familiar with dusk mushrooms,” said Sen. “We didn’t have them where I was, and Auntie Caihong never mentioned them.”

Fu Ruolan pursed her lips for a moment before she nodded. “I don’t suppose you would have had them on that mountain of Jaw-Long’s. Too far south. Too close to the ocean. You’ll need to head north to Mt. Solace. You’ll find them on the upper slopes if you look hard enough.”

“What do they look like? There are a lot of mushrooms in the world.”

Fu Ruolan snickered. “Well, that’s certainly true. Follow me.”

Sen sighed, knowing full well that he would not be given access to anything in that storage treasure even if he asked.

“No.”

“Not even going to ask?” she prompted.

“I suppose I could, but only someone who was actually insane would give another cultivator access to something like that. I know that I wouldn’t. So, why bother asking when I know the answer.”

“So, they did manage to beat some wisdom into you. That’s encouraging.”

“Thank you?” asked Sen, not sure if there had been a backhanded compliment in there.

Fu Ruolan didn’t answer, choosing to refocus on the matter at hand. “You have three months to accomplish your task.”

Sen almost asked why but managed to hold the useless question back. He was certain that there was a reason, maybe profound, maybe prosaic, but certain to be withheld. He’d operated under a cloud of ignorance before. He could do so again.

“I understand,” said Sen.

“When will you leave?”

“Tomorrow. At dawn.”

“Will you take your cat friend with you?” asked Fu Ruolan, ushering Sen toward the door.

Sen shrugged. “I will if she wants to go.”

“Well then, good luck to you and her if she elects to go along. I’ll see you in three months.”