Book 6: Chapter 20: Fox Tale

Book 6: Chapter 20: Fox Tale

Those words rang in his ears. Im dying, Sen. How often had Sen himself uttered nearly the same sentiment? The effect of those words on him was almost primal. He knew the lengths that someone in that situation might go to. He understood that it would be a short step from where he himself had been not so long ago to finding it acceptable to sacrifice anyone you needed to in order to survive. He didnt think that the fox had gone that far. He might have been willing to use Sen and Li Yi Nuo to get what he needed, but Laughing River had been at least a little halfhearted in his efforts. After all, hed let Sen scout ahead, even though the fox must have known that they were close to their destination. Letting Sen find it and see what was waiting there was almost certain a sign of some second thoughts about the whole thing. Of course, that assumed that what the fox was saying was true and not simply another layer of planning and deception.

Li Yi Nuo was tugging on his hand, urging him to leave as he said they would. Yet, her expression suggested that she knew it was a lost cause. Sen wasnt as certain that it was a lost cause. He thought hard about the situation they all found themselves in. He wanted to just go. Things back at the ruins hadnt changed just because he had more possibly true information. He still didnt see a way to get into the ruins because that tide of unholiness around the ruins wasnt just going to let them walk in. Even his hiding ability would be all but useless. Sure, it might blind some of the monsters, ones that relied on spiritual perception rather than actual physical senses. Anything that had actual functioning eyes would be able to see him. Of course, if I, he started to think and shook it off. Making a plan was pointless until he knew a whole lot more, starting with whether the fox was even telling the truth.

Sen let go of Li Yi Nuos hand and turned to face the fox. The trickster with the twinkling eyes, the infectious grin, and the quick jokes was gone. In his place, stood a lean figure with dark eyes and a deadly serious expression. Sen reminded himself that being a trickster could mean playing the serious part as well as playing the fool. He steeled his heart. Dying because he wasnt paying enough attention or let himself get taken in by a good story was not the way he intended to leave the world. Sen didnt say anything right away as he tried to get a read on the fox. Unfortunately, Laughing River had had lifetimes to perfect his performances. Sen expected that it would only be wholly unwarranted confidence that let him think he knew what the fox was up to at any given moment.

Dying? Sen asked. Youll have to forgive me if Im a little incredulous. After all, dont you become immortal once you get your last tail? Or something like that. Im a little hazy on the myths.

Laughing River pursed his lips in dissatisfaction before he answered. We are immortal, but were also not. There are a bunch of rules about it that Ill spare you. Lets just say that, for the purposes of this conversation, Im not immortal that way.

Sen waited for the fox to continue. When the fox didnt come up with anything else, Sen shot Laughing River an annoyed glare.

Lets say, for the purposes of this conversation, that Im going to need a lot more than that.

I really am dying. You can ask Caihong about it the next time you see her. You can even check for yourself.

Sen nodded. Oh, rest assured that Ill do just that. What I dont understand is why youre dying or why you needed to come here to find a solution. Or why you couldnt find one somewhere else. I get the sense that dying business isnt new information for you. Just how long have you known? How long have you been looking for a fix?

Thats a lot of questions, grumbled Laughing River. It could take a while to answer all of them thoroughly.

Its fine, said Sen. I have the rest of your life.

The fox gave Sen a look of genuine surprise. Thats pretty cold, Sen.

Sen turned and very deliberately looked at Li Yi Nuo before turning back to Laughing River.

Alright, said the fox. Ive got no room to point fingers about being cold. Seriously, though, well be here forever if you want a thorough, in-depth review of how I got here. Im a lot older than you are.

How about we just start with the essential highlights and go from there, said Sen.

Even that could take a while, muttered Laughing River.

Nothing but time over here, said Sen walking over and leaning against a massive tree trunk.

Okay, super high-level, big picture stuff. I like it here. I mean, sure, its dangerous and filled with violence-crazed cultivators like your girlfriends master, said the fox, gesturing at Li Yi Nuo, but look around you. Theres a lot more wilds to this world than human civilization. Its everything I could ever need.

Yes, immortality is such a burden, Im sure, said Li Yi Nuo.

Laughing River gave her a stern look. Dont make jokes until youve tried it. Immortality isnt free, girl. Which is actually my point. I became immortal, but there were rules if I wanted to keep being immortal. In my defense, I did try to follow them. Mostly. Usually. Enough that the heavens didnt get too mad at me.

The fox fell silent, seemingly lost in old memories. Sen let it go for a little while before he nudged the fox.

But? asked Sen.

But it turns out that I wasnt as good at not making the heavens mad as I thought. I was told to ascend or else. I may, possibly, have not taken that or else as seriously as I should have.

Sen thought he had a sense of where this was going. So, you just went off and did whatever the hells you wanted until that or else started to settle on your shoulders.

And then for quite a long time after.

The heavens made you mortal again? asked Li Yi Nuo.

Um, its a bit more complicated than that, but lets say that's true for our purposes.

Then, why not just ascend? asked Sen.

Yeah, that was still possible for the first, oh, thousand or so years. Like I said, I like it here. I kept putting it off. When I finally decided that the heavens werent just joking around, it turned out that I waited a little too long. I dont have the power Id need to ascend anymore. Or, maybe I should say I dont have the right kind of power anymore.

Sen started banging his head against the tree he was leaning against. And theres some relic or construct or artifact in those ruins that will let someone just ascend?

Not just anyone. You couldnt use it. Not until youre quite a bit farther along your path. But there is something in there that I can use. I wont get into the finer points because neither of you has the right background to understand. The simple answer is that theres a treasure in there with a very strong time-space affinity. Itll be enough to let me get where I need to go.

And you know how to use it? Are you a space cultivator? asked Li Yi Nuo.

Me? Oh, definitely not. But I have had centuries to figure out what I would need to fix my tiny little error in judgment. I spent that time learning the essentials and developing enough of an affinity to make this work.

You cant just develop new affinities, said Li Yi Nuo.

Human cultivators cant, said the fox while giving Sen a speculative look. Im not human. And I was dying. I was quite motivated. Dont worry. Its so agonizingly painful that most spirit beasts would never put themselves through it. I wouldnt have put myself through it if there was any alternative other than death.

Li Yi Nuo asked Laughing River a few more questions, but Sen wasnt paying attention anymore. The fox could be lying, but that story was just absurd enough that it had the ring of truth. Plus, there was a simple enough way to check the most essential fact of the story immediately. If Laughing River really was dying, it likely meant the rest of the story was true. If the ruins did contain a time-space treasure, that would give the story even more credence. Of course, that just brought them around to where they started. The treasure might be what the fox needed, but that in no way meant that it was possible to physically acquire that treasure. Plus, there was still the whole problem of offending the heavens by taking something from a sacred ruin and all the karmic fallout that would go along with it, if the wrath of the heavens didnt simply kill them. Even if he ultimately decided to go along with the mad scheme, he wasnt sure what to do about Li Yi Nuo. She had no stakes in this situation and no reason to risk death and karmic retribution. One problem at a time, Sen told himself. He looked at Laughing River, who cut off mid-sentence.

First things first, said Sen. Open up and let me take a look. Then, Ill decide if we have anything more to talk about.