Chapter 5 #4
It was all Alex could do not to howl with fiercest exultation as his fangtian ji glowed with the might and fury of the storm once more, baptized by the sanguine spray washing upon the desert sands as the final Silver collapsed in a geyser of frothy lifeblood, his still blinking head rolling down the shallow dune.
Alex laughed in the midnight air, the brilliant stars above twinkling as if in warm approval as his boon companions of just days ago stared at him in stark disbelief, awe, and perhaps just a bit of fear.
“Hell yeah! Black Swan’s back, baby!”
His furious exultation immediately cooled when he sensed just how exhausted and terrified his would-be rescuees were. Even worse, they were staring at him as if he were the monster.
“Um, guys? It’s okay. I’m, ha ha, here to rescue you, princess,” he said, looking a shaken Sunlay’s way.
Sunlay’s eyes widened, cheeks flushing a warm hue against her dusky skin.
Nili fell to her knees. Her eyes filled with tears as she held her hands together as if in prayer. “You came! By WiFu’s mercy, you actually came!”
Alex shrugged. “Well, yeah. I was in the area and you called. Of course I came.”
Her husband held the shivering kitsune close while Quing Da gave Alex the strangest smile. “I take it you didn’t come from the city?”
Alex winced before those too-knowing eyes. “Um… that’s sort of a complicated question.”
This earned a snort. “You do know you’re as naked as the day you were born?”
Alex froze, feeling his cheeks heat up as he realized just how comfortable, soothing, and all embracing the desert breeze was to his exceedingly resilient, and sensitive, skin. “
Um… yeah. Then how did I…” He decided not to think too deeply about the fangtian ji in his hand, or where exactly the body he had claimed and had thought put into storage actually went, instead recalling that he hadn’t always woken up fully clothed.
Sometimes he was buck naked with clothes in his hand, needing just a moment to put them on before an outraged guard or such chased him up a tree. And other times…
He closed his eyes and smiled, raising a hand to catch the prizes revealed by a gust of wind. Treasures left by a long lost caravan, perhaps, only now revealed and lifted upon a nighttime breeze.
Alex ignored the looks his friends gave him as he donned his favorite changshan jacket, pants, and bone button shoes once more.
And the tricorn hat and inspector’s cloak were nice touches as well, Alex thought, his fingers feeling out a ring in the pants pocket that slipped on his finger as if it had always been there. And perhaps it had.
He doffed his hat with a rakish grin for the flustered-looking Sunlay.
“So, how do I look?”
“Like a hero stepping right out of the pages of Grandmother’s book of tales,” Nili whispered, the tears in her eyes shining so brightly under the stars high above.
“How did he do that?” Anjen, the male wujen dressed in what were now tattered cultivator’s robes, was giving Alex a look of slack-jawed disbelief.
Alex smirked, doffing his tricorn hat once more. “I mean, it’s not that hard. It’s how you smile when you flow into the one-legged bow so you look like you’re paying respects while simultaneously giving off smug vibes of insouciance that drive everyone crazy.”
Nili shook his head, chuckling softly. “You and Eldest were always good at that, weren’t you, hero?”
Alex winked. “I, of course, have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.” He then pointedly looked heavenward. “But the less we actually mention certain wild tales aloud, the less chance of headaches of a certain nature coming our way, you know?”
Nili blanched. “May they never look our way again.”
Alex carefully said nothing.
“I don’t suppose you would happen to have the key to this collar on you by any chance, hero?”
Alex grinned. “As a matter of fact…” With an act of will, he pulled the fallen wujen’s control device out of storage, earning nearly half a dozen reflexive flinches, making it damn clear that their enemies had already inflicted torments on them at least once.
Alex clenched his jaw, his killing hate for the corrupt Gold, the city he represented, and his cronies only growing.
“It’s okay, guys. We just need to tap the right button…”
“No, wait!” Zichen, the female wujen, cried. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll…” Her look of fright turned into one of wonder when the collar latch popped off, the woman immediately yanking her collar off her neck entirely a split second later, as did everyone else.
Alex winked. “Rank 8 Artificer, and I’ve dealt with these things before.
You’d better believe the first thing I did was neutralize the kill-surge.
” For some reason, his words didn’t seem to make his friends feel any better.
Not until all their collars were off, at least, and then it was Princess Sunlay, choking back sobs as she hugged him tightly, shuddering in his arms for long moments before taking a steadying breath and stepping back, eyes twinkling with warmth and gratitude.
“Thank you, hero. We owe you a debt that I fear we’ll never be able to repay.” Soft, delicate fingers reached out and clasped his hand. “But if you wouldn’t mind accompanying us to Wanshi city, I will do my best to fete you as you deserve. With rank, honor, and title.”
“No title needed, just Alex is fine,” he assured with a gentle smile, sensing the anxious desperation behind the princess’s declaration. He sensed as well how truly perilous their situation remained, no matter how miraculous and storybook-like this singular rescue might have seemed for them.
He turned to glare in the direction of the corrupt Gold and his men. “And why the hell is that bastard lurking in the shadows of Qianshi City, anyway?”
Even as he said the words, he noted how everyone, save the princess, were rapidly flipping over the bodies of their would-be kidnappers and perhaps executioners, claiming armaments, weapons, and other prizes Alex didn’t bother looking too closely at, already knowing the ultimate prize they sought.
Sunlay gave Alex a pained smile. “I’d caution you against getting any closer than we already are, Alex.
There are several thousand desert-warfare specialists led by a Gold Titan.
It’s a miracle that you came when you did.
Had it been even seconds later, had we crested the sand dunes just ahead, we’d already be in their sight and fleeing for our lives with little hope of making it.
” She shivered, arms wrapping about herself in the cool nighttime breeze, giving Alex a haunted look.
“Alex, I’m sorry. So sorry. Had I known what they were planning, I would have warned you immediately. ”
Alex dipped his head. “I have no doubt of that, Lady Sunlay.”
Her hand squeezed his own. “Please, just Sunlay. Far more convenient with boon companions on the road, wouldn’t you say?”
Alex’s smile matched her own. “Fair enough, Sunlay. So, did those assholes explain all their schemes in their entirety with gloating monologues?”
Sunlay snorted even as a crestfallen Nili strode up to the princess, giving a despairing shake of her head.
“They are, or were, elite Silver-tier speed cultivators who had also managed to ascend past Bronze in Strength. Some of the deadliest foes you can imagine, and well aware of their own importance. Of course they gloated, while spitting in our faces and calling us worthless trash.”
She shuddered as she stared down at the assassin squad that had been so ruthlessly cleaved through.
“That monster Xien Tang who I refuse to call a prince manipulated the largest water clan faction in Qianshi City to assist in installing dark formations within multiple rifts.” She took a steadying breath.
“Those Duo Yi fools thought the Ice and Water cores would rupture and the waters would stop flowing, forcing the city to bow before that corrupt Gold and the water merchants who had given him an in. But it was more than that. Far more than that.”
Her companions went deathly silent as she uttered those words, even Nili radiating uncharacteristic fear, frozen like frightened animals before him. As if fearing that Alex would blame them for Qianshi’s peril.
“Alex, what you have to understand is that Xien Tang is the most ruthless and savage of monsters. He might have been bound by oath not to invade Qianshi directly if they failed to elect him as their prince, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t leave contingencies in place such that your entire city would be forced to pay a terrible price, if he were compelled to leave before he could diffuse his own traps. ”
Alex’s jaw clenched. “So, he’s the bastard to blame. Why am I not surprised?”
Nili gave him a concerned look as Sunlay spoke on.
“Alex, it’s more than just a carefully orchestrated attempt to choke off Qianshi’s water supply and force submission.
Those configurations were designed to unleash waves of monster breakouts from multiple rifts that will doom your entire city and force everyone to flee the caldera or perish to the abominations that will soon be overrunning the entire basin. ”
Nili glared in the direction of Xien Tang’s men.
“And that’s when Xien Tang plans to strike.
When the survivors of your city are fleeing and desperate.
Easy prey for slaughter, slave collars, and absolute dominion.
Once outside the city, the truce that Xien Tang was forced to sign will have zero weight upon him, and he will be able to do exactly as he wishes.
Whether through conquest or desperation, promising the citizens that he will clear the threat or just outright slaughter and collar everyone he can, he will claim your city before the week is out. ”
She lowered her head, ears wilting. “I am so sorry, Alex. Even with all my skills, I could only pluck a few strings free of the plot before, well…”
Alex gave her a fond smile before plopping his hat and cloak about her head and shoulders.