v6c42: Ice Heart Treaty

The Imperial Herald stood upon his flying sword with his hands clasped behind his back. He flew behind Shen Yu, who was guiding the way; he was flanked by Xiao Ge of the Cloudy Sword Sect, who was given the honour of escorting his person.

It showed the might of the Empire, bringing but one escort, even if that escort was within the Imperial Realm… but when meeting another at these lofty heights, it was only proper to show such respect of the Spirit Beast’s might.

A show of strength… but not one that was overbearing. A meeting on equal terms; quiet, and not a true imposition. Perfect for speaking with one whom His Imperial Majesty wished for a cordial relationship with.

And His Majesty did wish for cordial relations. In the weeks past the Herald’s return to the north, he had been busy. He had donned many guises, and set about the villages and sects of the sparsely populated north with one mission: to ascertain the nature of the Thunderhooves from those who lived along them.

Those tales reinforced the picture painted by Shen Yu. The mortals of the north had great reverence for the Spirit Beasts. They claimed them as bringers of good fortune… even though objectively in most stories the giant Spirit Beasts simply passed by without even acknowledging any human’s existence. Though when they did, it seemed more like simple consideration than actual kindness. Small things, like stepping over fences or walls instead of onto them. Altering their path slightly so as to not trample through a field.

Which to mortals, he supposed, was as good a reason as any to think a Spirit Beast actively benevolent and worthy of respect, if a bit misguided. The majority of Spirit Beasts tended to not make obvious signs of themselves, and many went out of their way to avoid humans—it was why they could have roads at all. It was the destructive ones that everyone remembered.

What was more interesting though, were the tales of the Thunderhooves as guardians against some manner of greater evil from the north. Many stories had battles in them—far away things that, despite their distance, still made the ground shake, the bellows of the Thunderhooves mixing with the roars of what the locals called the Xiong Xiong—the terrible bear. None had ever seen the Xiong Xiong, but in the aftermath of the great battles there were lakes of blood spilled. Some of the pools were said to be deep enough to cover two adult men, with one standing on the other’s shoulders.

The mortals were adamant that should a Thunderhoof fall in that battle, their villages would be destroyed, and only the Thunderhooves prevented this. He was even shown the supposed site of one of the destroyed villages, and it did indeed seem to have been wiped clean from existence by massive paws.

The only tales he had heard of attacks by a Thunderhoof was another recurring story, about a greedy poacher who had killed a calf, and the story always painted the human as the one in the wrong, his wickedness bringing deserved wrath upon his head. The villagers, after finding out what had happened, beat the man and gave him to the offended party, along with a great tribute… which caused the attack to cease. Which again reinforced the way the mortals saw them.

The reverence was, surprisingly, largely repeated among the sects—though on further meditation it was not too unusual. The cultivators who lived in the north were from the north. Their forebears commanded this cultural respect. Killing them was seen in poor taste, rendering the hunts uncommon. As calves, they were little better than mortal animals, and had no reagents useful to cultivators—while the ones useful enough to be cultivation aids were grueling hunts that one couldn’t even boast of without their reputation suffering… not that it stopped those who were convinced it would benefit their cultivation.

All of this together made the path forward clear when Shen Yu reported that the Thunderhooves had accepted the meeting. Contingencies five through eight were discarded, and two through four were relegated to the reserve. Of course, things could always go wrong when they began to speak… but the Herald was optimistic.

Shen Yu’s sword slowed as they approached the Ice Heart Forest.

The forest they approached was large, with a cold aura that brushed against his Qi. The Herald could feel a bit of quiet danger from it. The forest felt like it did not wish to welcome him. Many places had such a feeling, but the more interesting part was that, according to knowledge gained from Shen Yu through the Spirit Beasts that had created the effect, the forest would feel warmer and more welcoming to mortals, so they would take refuge within its boughs and then be safely sent on their way.

Again, an act of benevolence that truly stood out in this world… but His Imperial Majesty would never mistake kindness for weakness. In this harsh, desolate place, it was an expression of strength. They were strong enough to offer mercy. Rich enough to think nothing of giving aid to the weak.

The wards, too, were a masterwork in gentleness and subtlety. There was nothing at all that would say to most cultivators that there was anything of true value here, let alone an Imperial Realm Spirit Beast.

Well… normally, he supposed.

Because there were certainly signs now. They were awaited by ten Thunderhooves. The titanic Spirit Beasts were relatively unadorned. A crystal here, some manner of paint there… all save for one.

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One bore the pelt of a bear that was as large as he, wearing it like a cape that nearly dragged on the ground. Its fur was white as the purest snow, it had claws as long as Jade Armor halberds; the head, mounted on his shoulder, had teeth like palisades and a face that even in death was locked into a snarl. The Thunderhoof was covered in great, ropey scars, and was missing one of his eyes.

Yet the grandest of all was the largest Thunderhoof. He bore a mantle of storm and stellar light. His antlers rose like a grand crown. His Qi filled the air, and left no room to misinterpret the might of one in the Imperial Realm.

They looked up, noticing the arrival… and as one, they began to stomp their feet.

Thuum, Thuum, Thuum!

Hooves slammed into the ground in unison, causing the ground to tremble and quake.

Thuum, Thuum, Thuum!

The trees shook and pitched, and the sound was so great that it resembled nothing less than the divine applause of the heavens.

The Thunderhooves were aptly named.

Thuum, Thuum, THUUM!

An aurora burst to life as their Qi filled the air, flaring outwards, and allowing the Herald to see their might and resolve… without a note of challenge or hostility within.

Excellent.

Shen Yu’s own sword floated halfway between them both… then turned sideways so that Shen Yu was standing as almost a third party. The Herald acknowledged the statement for what it was. Though he often helped the Empire… here, he was unlikely to take sides.

With one last stomp, the rumble ended, and then there was silence.

“Be you He Who Sweeps The Forest Floor Of Snow and Opens The Way?” the Herald asked. It never helped to assume.

Then, the greatest Thunderhoof spoke with the Qi Speech of a Spirit Beast.