Beware Of Chicken

Several disciples spoke quietly within the Outer Sect dormitories, deep in discourse over a scroll. The walls of the building had been freshly cleaned, and there was not a crack in sight.

Lu Ri’s smile widened.

Behind the dormitories were gardens. There were fields of herbs that, when hit by the high altitude sun, seemed to shimmer like jewels in the light, a slight iridescent sheen upon their leaves. Here too there were disciples, watering and tending to the Lowly Spiritual Herbs which fueled their early cultivation and healed their injuries.

He passed the halls and the training grounds upon his path up the mountain. He noted an Inner Disciple unleashing a devastating combo upon one of his juniors… Only for the young man to pop back up after he fell and frown as he retook his stance, shifting his legs slightly under the hawk-like eyes of another Senior Disciple. The woman was supervising several pairs today. The Inner Disciple nodded his head before the man and demonstrated the first move for the boy.

The Junior Bowed to his Senior, thanking him for the pointer.

A marked difference from before, Lu Ri was pleased to note. Pointers truly were pointers instead of thinly veiled excuses for the strong to bully the weak.

Lu Ri continued to the Great Hall. Higher up on the mountain there would be places for the Inner Disciples, and further still for the Core Disciples and Elders, yet even as one went to the highest peaks, and those within got their own private rooms instead of a communal dormitory… the same stark architecture remained. There was no gold here. The only treasures were those that could aid in cultivation.

Finally, Lu Ri came upon the Great Hall and opened the doors. There he beheld Elder Ran as he went over reports.

“The last task is the eastern annex. Continue with the work that we must do; for it is almost complete.” The disciples around him bowed as Elder Ran gave his command, his voice soft, yet heard by all. “I commend the work thus far. Distribue the rewards to the skilled and the worthy at the end.”

“Yes, Elder Ran.” The Senior Disciples obeyed.

“Now, you are dismissed. Lu Ri, Come, walk with me.” The Elder commanded, rising from his seat and gesturing to Lu Ri.

Lu Ri obeyed, walking behind the Elder through the wooden hall filled with the weight of history. They went past the Wall of Martyrs and, as was tradition, they both bowed to it before coming to a balcony.

“Your mission was a success.” Elder Ran stated.

“Yes, Elder Ran. I have found Jin Rou and, as per my commands, did not push when he refused to return. However, he provided me with a map and a means to contact him later.” Lu Ri produced the piece of paper and held it out for the Elder, who took it and nodded. “Further, I have delivered his reply to the Imperial Army.”

The Elder studied the page for a moment, before turning to Lu Ri.

“…How was his cultivation?” Elder Ran asked.

“Intact… and much stronger than when he left us. Yet it was…. Strange. Subtle, yet encompassing.”

Elder Ran nodded his head, letting out a small breath. “His temperament?”

“He was polite and kind. I do not believe that he holds the Sect with any ill will. I do not believe that he spoke any falsehoods when he said that we could contact him.”

The Elder studied Lu Ri for a moment longer before clasping his hands in respect.

“Then… I commend you, Lu Ri. Your diligence and skill may well have saved the Sect much hardship and much face. Such Diligence is to be rewarded. Go into the Vault of the Lonely Cloud; take any three items within as you so choose.” The Elder commanded, and Lu Ri had to duck his head to keep the Elder from seeing the surprise on his face. Three treasures from the Vault of the Lonely Cloud? That was absurd!

“Furthermore, you are to have access to the Skypeak for three months.”

The Skypeak, where the Qi of the Cloudy Mountain was thickest, and the most potent for cultivating and refining the Raging Cloudy Sword Formation.

Lu Ri could only bow.

“You are relieved from your normal duties until further notice, Senior Disciple. Collect your reward at your leisure.”

The last words brought joy to his heart, for a brief moment. Nothing but cultivation and study for the foreseeable future…? It sounded like a heavenly reward.

And yet, he paused. He thought back to the Plum Blossom’s Shadow and their diligence… Of his own thoughts on crafting something superior, and he found the idea of complete isolation not as appealing as it once was.