Chapter 15 #12
Bemused, Alex caught it, ignoring Nili’s furious flurry of handsign suggesting it could be a trap.
Alex found that it was anything but. A quick glance revealed an absolute fortune in gold, platinum, and spirit pearls of all things.
Alex blinked, not quite sure what to make of such a gesture from a man he had fully intended on killing.
A man he was now forced to see as something other than a complete monster when Xien Su winced and chuckled, struggling to bow.
“A most worthy battle, honored Tong. And the stakes… truly invigorating! A purse is a small price to pay for illumination, and I’ve learned much from our brief spar. I suspect you did as well.”
He gave Alex a measuring look, both of them ignoring the fierce whispers, rebukes, and pleas from those around them. At that moment, there was only the pair of them.
“I tasted it, you know. A glimpse of what could be. And thanks to you, I sense my flaws. Unforgivable weaknesses that I must correct, if I am to hone myself any further. If I am to ascend.” He gave Alex a curious look. “You sensed it as well, did you not?”
Alex didn’t bother denying it or insulting them both by pretending he didn’t understand what Xien Su meant. Instead he gave the man a solemn nod.
Xien Su flashed a pleased, broken-toothed smile, though Alex had no doubt that he’d have a perfect set of chompers soon enough.
“Good. Good! I sensed you, too, growing along your path. A path we ascend together, even in pristine opposition, for only in courting death like the most intimate of lovers can we continue to grow. You know this, yes?” And the warmhearted chuckle he gave when Alex denied nothing, flashing a cold smile of his own, silenced the entire chamber of murmurs, all of them now gazing at the pair of them like they were monsters, or legends.
“Good. Good!” He smirked toward the anxious-looking healer. “I go now to… rest. Rest and meditate upon our encounter. Perhaps we shall be able to trade pointers again at a later date?”
Alex shrugged, committing to nothing. Yet even this was enough for a satisfied nod as the man allowed himself to be led away in a concerned healer’s bustling wake, leaving a flustered Lord Guo looking utterly out of sorts.
Even more than that, he looked… Yes, Alex thought he saw a trace of fear mar the man’s perpetual arrogant mien.
As for the three other Silver monsters whom Alex now knew better than to underestimate, their eyes were filled not with hatred or killing intent or fear…
so much as respect. Several sent cautious nods his way, which Alex coolly returned.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the court’s spirits seemed to lift, the musicians playing dizi and erhu with particular fervor as the Red Prince’s emissaries departed.
Sunlay was positively beaming, and even the prince looked pleased.
It was only then that the honors and accolades were granted to those noteworthy individuals who had proven themselves by either directly or indirectly serving their city.
Alex was given to understand that guards, mercenaries, and commoners who had acquitted themselves honorably were recognized several times a month, which did much to boost morale and productivity both.
All in all, Alex thought it a smart move, though he wasn’t sure how he felt about the prince singling him out to fete personally, and the look Sunlay was giving him would have made a less stoic Tong’s cheeks blush.
Fortunately, Sunlay now knew who he was, if Nili’s earlier animated whispering and the princess’s look of surprise had been anything to go by.
But the smile she gave him certainly wasn’t fit for any married man, which he supposedly was, and he didn’t want her to inadvertently lose face in court, so he merely bowed his head solemnly, accepted the kind words, and allowed a still-highly animated Rachel to do the speaking for him, though he increasingly wished he hadn’t been coaxed into playing the role of a mute.
“I do hope you will both consider yourselves guests of the court,” Princess Sunlay had said at the last, earning a bow from Alex and an excited squeal from Rachel.
“We would love to, Your Gra—” Rachel winced when Alex gently squeezed her hand. “That is… our goal is to challenge the rift and pluck what treasures we may. Perhaps even a Water stone, if fortune truly favors us.”
Her words earned indulgent laughter from the princess, even if a few courtiers had glared at her presumptuousness in speaking so boldly to a member of the ruling family.
“Well then, I wish you both an excellent hunt! Perhaps fortune will continue to favor such heroes as yourselves. We shall make sure you both have access to the sect’s premier suites and are paid top coin for any cores you retrieve, as we shall for any bold adventurer willing to dare the rift.
And of course, should you actually manage to retrieve a core of Ice or Water, you shall be feted and honored with property, stipend, and titles worthy of any lord of our court. ”
Rachel froze, wide-eyed at those words, clearly stunned at the idea of actually becoming a noble with property and wealth to her name. She immediately dipped into a low curtsy even as Alex bowed solemnly and low.
“We would be honored, Your Grace,” Rachel said in a voice soft with wonder before a smiling servant led them back to their table, where they were promptly back-slapped and cheered by all the mercenaries who had forged themselves along Peril’s Path, most of them lacking wealth and resources and, often as not, being of commoner’s stock.
They were survivors who truly appreciated seeing one of their own get the best of arrogant, powerful cultivators who had gotten to play elite young master all their lives without a lick of hardship.
Or so the wandering cultivators like Gongniu claimed with good-natured chuckles as they toasted in Alex’s honor.
“Well fought, Tong,” the larger cultivator commended.
“You gave us face and showed those bastards what it means to cross soldiers who actually fight for a living!” His voice then dropped in a confidential whisper.
“But if you’re just a half-step Silver, then I’ve yet to take my first step as a Bronze!
” He chuckled good-naturedly, clapping Alex’s shoulder.
“Not that I’m going to pry into the secrets of the man who probably saved my sorry ass, but still.
To move with such speed, such grace, and actually be able to channel your elements into your blows like the most elite of cultivators! ”
The seven-foot-tall Strength cultivator gave an awed shake of his head.
“Body cultivators who can do that are just a half-step away from being wujen themselves. And you’re as fast as any sword saint I’ve ever seen!
When you hit that poor fool who would have happily run me through a dozen times before I could even cry yield…
” Gongniu’s gaze grew haunted, before he shook his head with a rueful chuckle.
“Well, call me humbled. When I sensed the caldera’s weight roaring through your fist, it was like I was in the middle of a thundering storm like you might see once a decade in these parts!
I swear I felt a shiver of illumination, just watching you. We all did.”
The entire table full of mercenaries nodded solemnly at that.
“You’d better believe we’ll be meditating on that fight just as soon as this wondrous feast is over… and as you can see, some of us are doing just that right now.”
Alex grinned, noting three men sitting perfectly still, glassy-eyed for all that their backs were ramrod straight, their minds clearly lost in deep contemplation, and Alex had no doubt that were they not at court, they would be embracing closed-door cultivation at that very moment.
The Ruidian couple merely lifted their goblets in toast. “No inspiration for us, but it was a damned good fight!” the man said.
“Not that we could follow it save after the fact, so quickly did you move and strike. But considering the clear disdain they have for our people, it was nice to see them being put in their place,” the wife quietly agreed with a nod to Rachel Lu.
“You have a strong, powerful mate. Your clan chose well, allowing you to marry him. May you both have healthy and strong children that will bring honor and safety to your clan.”
Rachel positively beamed at that, clasping Alex’s arm and leaning her head against him. “That is my dearest wish, Lisette.” She flashed a teasing smile. “Now if only we could claim a Water core and earn actual noble titles. That would certainly be an adventure worthy of the storybooks!”
The pair of Ruidians seated beside them drank to that, eyes twinkling with pleasure.
“Indeed it would. Axel and I would also love such a prize.” She tilted her head thoughtfully.
“I don’t suppose you’d like to delve together?
The sect here offers both generous bounties and comfortable accommodations for our kind.
They’re also quite skilled at organizing parties, and considering the…
state of affairs here, they’re now more accommodating than ever before.
Even Silver-tier wujen will happily party with us for equal shares and are just as courteous to us as we’ve always been taught to be to them. ”
Axel nodded. “As much as it saddens me to sense the city’s peril…”
“It’s nice to be so clearly valued, without a single disparaging comment from even the haughtiest blue-blood cultivator.”
Axel squeezed his wife’s hand. “For all that we feel an affinity for the city, during previous years… let’s just say the sect has had its share of spoiled young masters who resented the privileges promised to our people. And their comments were… cutting.”
“But that’s now all in the past,” his wife assured. “And the common citizens and shopkeepers have never been anything but polite, gracious, lovely people who appreciate hardworking customers with coin to spend.”