Chapter 17 #4
“Perhaps it is, at that,” Nili concurred, her gentle smile firming.
“I can only imagine how exhausted both of you girls must be. Come, let’s get to the tower and get you all accommodations worthy of your station.
” She gazed thoughtfully at the trio. “Hmm… we’ll imply you three are friends who met along the road and that you, Ya Ling, frequently delve with your companions.
If we assure that you three are a set item, it will decrease the likelihood that they try to split you up or even refuse Ya Ling entrance altogether. ”
Ya Ling’s eyes widened. “They would do that?”
Nili shrugged and sighed. “Tensions are running high, and for all that Waste Qi is developing in quite a number of Spring’s and Autumn’s elites, no matter their exotic purging techniques, politics is always a factor.
Just be gracious and think before you act, and all should be well.
Now, the plan is simple. We’ll slip you in before another change in shift, so that Alex doesn’t run into the same confused man he was first greeted by.
That would be a strain to hide, even for my arts.
Once Alex is grounded in academy life, however, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Early tomorrow, the princess and the rest of our band will join you for a single short delve to establish both our credentials and boost morale, and of course, because we’re still in desperate need of a Water core. ”
The look she flashed them sent volumes. For all that they were cloaked in Shadow, Alex noted that there was still plenty Nili wasn’t saying.
Linnea looked confused for just a second, before Alex squeezed her hand.
Because what he had dared to softly say in proximity to friendly trees whose rustles would confuse any outsider listening in, he had no intention of saying out loud where they presently walked, an area of the city without any trees at all.
“Nili has a Bronze Water core. Dongfang Hong’s spies have infiltrated the court and probably the academy. If everyone sees the princess doing even a token delve, then no one will suspect us of getting ready to plant the core at Liushi’s ritual site in the dead of night in the very near future.
In short, we’re assuaging our enemies’ fears so they feel no need to squeeze tight their gentle grip upon Wanshi’s throat, which is right now so light that most don’t even feel it.
Yet. Because Dongfang Hong’s emissaries are going for a diplomatic win, here.
But if they sense us immediately racing for the northern ritual site, they’ll move to intercept, and it will be all-out war. ”
Linnea nodded her understanding while devouring her honeyed treats. Fortunately, Ya Ling’s jaded smile made it clear that she understood even without Alex having to make any mental connections at all.
“So, we’re going to sign up as a small delving party looking to join with others and take this opportunity to relax, recover, eat some good food, maybe even enjoy a bath and sauna?” Ya Ling said hopefully, earning a smile and nod from Nili.
“Baths and saunas are now considered almost decadent. But for experienced Ruidians and Silver-tier cultivators—and their favored guests—yes, such luxuries can still be arranged.”
“And if you give me a copper tub, or hell, a stone basin, I can give you a hot bath anyway,” Alex assured, before blinking at the smile Ya Ling gave him.
“So forward!” Linnea teased. “I hope my delving sister isn’t the only one who gets the hot bath experience, tonight!”
Alex chuckled good-naturedly, eyes twinkling with genuine warmth. “Thanks again, my friends. To think that you were so worried about me that you risked your lives because you were worried about me…” He swallowed the painful lump in his throat. “Thank you both. That truly means a lot to me.”
Linnea grinned. “Ooh, I do believe he’s tearing up. Next thing you know he’ll admit to having feelings for us, and isn’t it wonderful that we’ll be sharing the same quarters together?”
“I’m not sure if that would necessarily be a good idea,” Alex began.
“Well, then think again, Alex, because that’s exactly what will happen,” Nili calmly declared, earning a blink from him and a pair of matching grins from the girls now rather possessively claiming his arms. Which, of course, earned a fresh snort from Nili.
“Think it through, Alex. A young, powerfully built Ruidian male will turn enough brows all on its own. That you’re also being accompanied by two young women in their prime, both a Ruidian and a cultivator?
All will suspect you three are married in all but name.
Perhaps even that this is your way of accruing a hopeful fortune so you three can start your own clan.
” She smirked as all three of them suffered blushing cheeks, Silver-tier Finesse alone keeping Alex from stumbling…
and making it so easy to catch Ya Ling when she did stumble.
Only to feel her flinch. Yet the naked hunger in her gaze made it clear, exquisitely clear, that earlier hesitations were no longer an issue with how she honestly felt for him.
She swallowed, as did he, a lacquered finger caressing his bicep through his changshan tunic. “You’ve gotten strong, Alex.” She bit her lip. “Very, very strong, since last we sparred.” Her shy glance became bold. “I think it’s time we had that rematch.”
Linnea pouted. “Only if I’m included, delve sister!” She crossed her arms, her mock glare’s impact mitigated by the honey still on her lips. Then she broke out in a cheerful grin. “It will be so much fun teasing him tonight!”
Alex forced a chuckle. “Yeah, as things stand, maybe it’s best if I rest on the floor tonight.”
Ya Ling’s look turned sympathetic. “Is it still, um… a problem?”
Alex chuckled ruefully. “I find myself walking old paths that come to me so fucking naturally that it’s ridiculous. But there’s a cost to resonating so strongly with what I had been.”
Alex pretended he didn’t sense all three pairs of ears and eyes focusing so intently on him while seeming to be intently on their path along the palm tree–lined boulevard.
Ya Ling squeezed his hand once more. “And that’s why you’re so strong now?”
Alex flashed a sad smile. “In part. Mostly, it’s because I’m wading through extremely treacherous waters, leveling up my skills and my body while putting down any asshole that thinks the girls of this city are theirs to use and throw away as they see fit.”
Linnea’s eyes widened. “Really? There are leveling opportunities worthy of a Silver, here? Alex, that’s both glorious and terrifying! Just how dangerous is it here?”
“Not nearly so dangerous as it was just a few days ago, thanks to our young hero,” Nili admitted with a rueful chuckle.
“Now? I’m betting it’s safer than most cities, for they all have well-hidden rat nests up to no good.
We just had ours cleaned out more recently than most. And if you girls were to look above the manor roofs, you could see the quartz tower serving as the central academy of Wanshi. ”
Linnea squealed with awe at the sight of the massive structure of pearlescent marble and quartz while Ya Ling momentarily stiffened, shaking her head with an odd mixture of awe and what Alex swore was jealousy.
“Ya Ling?”
The girl beside him shook her head in disbelief.
“How? Where did they even find the resources to build that massive edifice? With all that pearlescent marble and quartz, it glitters more brightly than the entire palace of Liushi, and it’s huge!
It towers over every other building in the entire city! ”
“The spirit quartz, far, far stronger than its mortal equivalent, was retrieved from the rifts, of course, over a period of decades. The building’s centuries old, and I don’t know if we could ever build its like again,” Nili conceded with a smile.
“Come, children. With luck, it will be no problem slipping you inside with our Ruidian friends, Ya Ling, and getting you all situated as a bonded group. Tomorrow, we shall meet up with my own party, and we’ll proceed from there. ”
Both Linnea and Ya Ling nodded their agreement, and in surprisingly short order, they found themselves being ushered past dozens of hopeful aspirants gazing at them with looks of envy and disappointment, yet Sun La, an elegantly attired Deep Bronze serving as their guide, seemed overjoyed to meet them, the ageless woman quickly explaining what would be expected of them, and the myriad opportunities for them to make their fortunes during these “exciting times,” as she put it.
“So what would we earn if we actually managed to pull a Water core from the deeps?” Linnea asked half in curiosity and half in challenge after a basic tour very much like the one Alex had enjoyed the other day, though the dining hall feast boasted different entrees than what had been there the night before.
Of course, Alex was happy enough to dig into the veritable feast that included rich plumb pudding, fruit compotes, sauteed fish, perfectly roasted suckling spirit boar, and pots of sticky rice sweetened with honey.
The handful of diners at the nearest table gave bemused smiles and warm chuckles, all radiating the potency of strong Bronze cultivators burdened by an unfortunate degree of Waste Qi that, remarkably, didn’t seem to hinder them at all.
“That’s what I like to see, a Ruidian eager for the delve and searching for the ultimate prize!
” one said to his fellows, their murmured conversation carried happily by the air currents tickling Alex’s ears from far more than the carefully crafted vents ensuring a constant and surprisingly cool breeze throughout the entire dining hall.