Chapter 24
“Thank you, Alex,” Kuaisu said with an apologetic grimace as Alex gently lifted her now well-padded form up to the air vent leading outside.
She gazed longingly at the lush jungle maze they were now leaving, even if the fruit-laden maze had been stripped free of countless ripe prizes rich in spiritual energy.
“Even though we collected the entirety of that Gold-tier beast and properly dressed our kill, I would have loved a chance to explore this sanctuary’s lost secrets. ”
Alex flashed a bittersweet smile, quietly promising himself and the doomed sanctuary that he would do his best to plant at least a few of those precious seeds within the tiny grove he had made in the world above as he slipped free of the lush warm paradise that had come so close to claiming so many of their lives, bracing himself for the brisk chill that to the others felt like Death’s winter come at last. “Me too. But Lao Tie is right. We have a duty to secure the city that goes far beyond our personal fortunes. And how ironic would it be if our lives were to be lost to greed, and a city’s future hopes as well? ”
He shrugged, nodding to the others as he gently slipped free of the Wind’s embrace for his feet to touch the snow that supported his weight without issue, thanks to a now supernaturally attuned lightness technique that made traveling through snow drifts that most of their party needed snow shoes for effortless.
“There is that,” Kuaisu agreed, flashing Tang and Wu Xien both relieved smiles. “And seeing as I’m missing half my leg…”
Alex winced. “We’re going to get that healed. One way or another.”
This earned a sad sigh. “I certainly hope so. Because as much as I love the idea of being feted as one of the city’s heroes, I’d much rather enjoy it on two whole feet.”
“Agreed!” Lao Tie said. “And we’ll make treating you all and making your full recovery our top priority, as soon as we’re granted royal audience!
” He turned to Alex, eyes still alight with the fires of excitement, even if his cheeks were blue with how cold the howling winds were blowing…
despite Ya Ling now doing all she could to surround them in a protective ward of buffering air that Linnea did her best to heat up.
Alex furrowed his brow. There could be no doubt—it truly had gotten colder. Drastically so. And whether it was simple chance or presaged far greater perils soon to come, Alex knew there was only one course of action that would ensure their survival.
“Come on. The sooner we get out of here, the better.”
“Damn right,” Tang agreed, rubbing his bandaged side even as he helped a stumbling Wu Xien forward. “That bastard of a cat left its mark on both of us, beyond what even our companion’s potions can cure.”
“Not to mention costing me a leg,” Kuaisu said with a wry smirk from Alex’s right shoulder, his left now holding a trembling Rachel, whose haunted gaze and pale gray lips filled him with such alarm that he didn’t hesitate to send a steady stream of potency into her, earning a grateful smile and a kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you, hero,” she whispered, before her dusky cheeks flushed, all the more so when Linnea glared her way before easing her expression into a wry smile.
“I guess that’s acceptable. He is carrying you like the hero he is, and your natural gifts will serve our future clan well.” Linnea turned to beam at Ya Ling, who was, in fact, carrying her. “Isn’t that right, sister wife?”
Ya Ling’s cheeks flushed before the smirks of their boon companions. “I’m just glad that everyone made it out alive.”
“So am I,” Lao Tie said in quiet agreement, gazing fondly at his fellows. “So are we all.”
He then turned to gaze in the direction he swore the rift out of there could be found, Alex and Rachel both dismayed to find that the lichen patches she had worked so hard to create, that Alex had thought such a useful lifeline for so many reasons, had been both flash frozen and covered by at least half a foot of powdery snow.
“We’re just a mile out, and if we can keep up with our Ruidian friend’s pace…”
“Won’t be a problem, Lao,” Tang assured, sharing a tired smile with Wu.
“Damn right it won’t,” Alex said with a smile of his own, continuing what he had been subtly doing since they had first left the delve.
You have shared a portion of your potency with: all node-linked party members!
Healing rate has accelerated. Frostbite has been mitigated.
You have consumed 0.001% of free potency.
Ya Ling’s eyes widened. She turned to Alex, mouthing, Thank you.
Alex grinned, though his smile became strained with how intently the others were now looking at him.
Tang snorted, for all that his pace had visibly picked up, the color returning to his cheeks. “I’ve never heard about him being a healer in the tales, have you?”
Wu Xien chuckled. “Certainly, we’re making a tale worthy of the bards today!”
A flushing Alex, hating even to acknowledge all that was being implied, cleared his throat, catching Lao Tie’s gaze.
“Lao, about what we talked about…”
He raised his hand. “Fear not, friend Alex. I know you’re here ‘undercover,’ eager to serve the royal family in the most discreet of fashions.
Of course we don’t take certain rumors and old, dusty tales too seriously.
And unwanted fame will make your ability to blend in all the more difficult.
I understand. So I promise you, not a single one of my companions will whisper a word about the role you played in our tale this day. ”
Kaisu snorted. “Wait, really? After all that work, taking on a Gold-tier beast and, not to put too fine a point on it, saving all our lives like a damn hero in a storybook, this boy wants to fade away into quiet obscurity?” She peered thoughtfully down from the shoulder of the youth carrying her and Rachel through the bitter cold.
“In how many of the tales did the Fox’s Disciple ever shy away from glory? ”
Alex winced, his cheeks blazing. The only reason he didn’t trip over his own two feet with that left-field declaration was that his Silver-tier finesse would allow nothing less than perfection in his movements.
Tang held the snorting woman’s gaze. “In all the tales with happy endings, Kuaisu. In all the tales you’d actually want to live in.”
“If the boy truly wanted obscurity, then why the hell hasn’t he dyed his hair?”
Alex opened his mouth, at a momentary loss for words.
Because he couldn’t say that it was because he had grown so used to Shadow Qi and the cloak of obscurity kitsune were naturally so gifted with, or that, at least at first, no one seemed to think much of his straw-blond hair at all.
But now that he thought about it… why the hell didn’t he done just that?
“That’s actually a very good point,” he allowed with a rueful smile.
“I guess… let’s just say I hadn’t paid that much attention to the old, dusty tales, as you put it, until it all just sort of smacked me in the face.
But now that a couple good deeds on my end are serving as kindling for juicy rumors, perhaps I should do just that? ”
“Ooh… that’s putting a good spin on it! Sow doubt, deny everything, without telling any lies at all! Technically, I mean. So your cultivation base is still intact. Right?”
Alex smirked at Linnea’s twinkling eyes and impish grin.
“It wouldn’t hurt, kid,” Kuaisu allowed. “You’re clearly a genius, you hardly look older than any number of talented boys and girls still clearing their meridians, and you’re at least as strong as Wu Xien and as quick as me.”
“Stronger,” Wu Xien assured with a chuckle that became a shiver. “But damn it’s gotten cold.”
“And he’s faster than all of us,” Tang concurred with a respectful nod Alex’s way. “Were it otherwise… none of us would be here.”
“Stronger, faster, and he can cultivate the elements. Multiple elements. Not just enhance his Strength and physical resilience, as is the norm for most body cultivators,” Lao Tie declared, beaming warmly Alex’s way.
“No wonder rumors are circulating about our exceptionally gifted friend. Just one of the reasons why we will keep our secret close… and dare I say it, Kuaisu does have a good point. Dying your hair black—or red to match your Ruidian wife—would serve you well, if discretion is now your watchword.”
Alex couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “You’re right. That’s something I’ll be looking into, just as soon as things calm down.” Alex felt a lurch in his gut that was equal parts anxiety and excitement as he sensed the rift between worlds just ahead.
“I see the gate,” he said, locking eyes with Lao.
Lao dipped his head, pulling free one of the exceedingly valuable but by no means priceless cores of mixed elements, along with the others, all secured to an inner pouch.
Alex alone now held all evidence of storage pouches securely hidden.
“I’m ready. And though I think you’re being a bit overzealous, friend Alex, I can’t really fault you, considering the value of our prize. ”
Tang, panting due to imperfectly healed injuries and forcing himself through the snow, despite the bitter cold, nodded.
“The boy makes a good point, though. No need to reveal to the Spring faction just how valuable our real prize truly is. And the shattered Deep Silver core with so much ice that could replenish the valley if used in the right formations—declaring that as our glorious find is enough. Enough to be worth a tiny tale of hope, all on its own.” He gave a satisfied nod.
“And this way, there’s less chance, far, far less chance, of middlemen who would normally not even think of treachery giving in to once-in-a-lifetime temptation and claiming the true royal prizes that should be ours.
A betrayal that we might not even survive, should all of Spring faction, or at least their masters, decide that our inconvenient removal is worth the stain to their honor and perhaps a strain to their cultivation, if their sect would be given perpetual rule over the entire academy and the delves. ”