Book 8: Chapter 58: Bargaining for the Impossible

Book 8: Chapter 58: Bargaining for the Impossible

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as just saying he was sorry. If only mere words could truly undo misdeeds, thought Sen, the world would be a kinder place. The world was not one of kindness, though. A fact of which Sen was all too aware. Words were for the mind and, perhaps, the heart, but deeds were for the soul. After all, while much of Karma was shrouded in mystery, it did teach one immutable lesson. Debts must be repaid, in one life or another. Of course, that also required that the other person cooperate if only a little. And Tiu Li-Mei tried very hard not to cooperate. Sen didn’t know if was out of fear, an overabundance of politeness, or simply because she was stunned, but she tried to refuse any sort of recompence.

“This isn’t necessary,” stammered Tiu Li-Mei, waving her hands in front of her. “I don’t need anything. Truly.”

Sighing, Sen put on a stern expression and said, “It is. Even if you don’t require it, karma would. Better, I would think, that you at least understand the reasons.”

Tiu Li-Mei lowered her hands, slowly, almost as if in defeat. Sen wasn’t sure he’d ever seen such a bizarre display or someone so hellsbent on not getting something. Most people would have been falling over themselves to collect on a debt from a powerful cultivator.

“I suppose so,” she said.

“Good. Now that we’ve dispensed with that, what would you have of me? I have wealth I can share. Do you wish for a home? A manor of your own? Is there some elixir you desire? My alchemy skills are likely the match to anything you might request.”

Sen waited while Tiu Li-Mei looked like her mind was racing to find an acceptable answer. Which is probably exactly what’s happening, thought Sen. She’s trying to think of something she can ask for that will be of some benefit to her while not aggravating me. As the seconds dragged out to a minute and then two minutes, Tiu Li-Mei looked increasingly frantic. Sen finally took pity on her. He had put her on the spot.

“The debt is mine. You shouldn’t concern yourself with trying to guess what I will or will not find palatable. Tell me what it is that you wish. If I can grant it, I will. I can’t grant it... I will simply tell you that.”

Some of the frantic look in the woman’s eyes drained away. Her expression became more thoughtful. He saw a spark of something on her face for a moment before she shook her head.

“That,” said Sen. “What was that thought?”

Sen realized that he’d been lost inside his own thinking for a while and focused on the room around him. That was when he saw Tiu Li-Mei staring at him, her eyes wide, and her cheeks crimson. Sen wondered why she was blushing that way until he realized that he’d probably been looking right at her with some kind of intense expression on his face. He looked away to give her a moment to compose herself. He thought back through all of it. He wanted to make sure of himself before he gave someone that glimmer of hope. He also needed to decide if he was willing to take on something that so obviously exceeded his actual debt. If he could acquire the right ingredients and reagents, which he thought he probably could, then he was relatively confident that he could hold up his side of the bargain. As for the actual debt, he didn’t care so much about that. It was often buried under other concerns, but Sen did possess a deep curiosity about things. He wanted to know if this could be done. He wanted to find out if he could do it.

Tiu Li-Mei finally said, “I didn’t think it was—”

“Maybe,” said Sen, looking at her again. “I may be able to do it.”

The hope that kindled in her eyes burned like a pair of twin stairs.

“You can?” she asked.

“Maybe,” he said again. “I can probably open a path for you, but I cannot carry you the entire way. There are some realities to this that you need to understand before we take even the first step. Realities about what it will mean for you. The kind of pain you’d be taking on. The kind of world you’d be stepping into. The world you live in is cruel. I won’t deny that for a moment. The Jianghu is merciless and pitiless. So, sit down, and let me tell you what you can expect if you pursue this path.”

Sen spoke to her for nearly an hour. He painted as stark a picture as he could. He told her about the times he’d been forced to kill people because some young master’s pride was faster than their mind. He told her about the torment that was purging impurities. He told her about how cultivators almost inevitably lost connection with and sympathy for mortals. When he finally stopped talking, Tiu Li-Mei sat in silence for a long time. Given everything he’d just told her, he was glad to see that she was genuinely considering it and the ways that it would alter everything in her life, assuming she even managed to survive the attempt. Even so, Sen wasn’t surprised when she stood, bowed, and spoke.

“I would like to proceed.”

Sen nodded and said, “Then, it’s time for you to go end your service with Jing. This isn’t something I can do from a distance, and I’m leaving soon. If you want this, you’ll have to come with me.”