v6c49: Watching it Grow

“Thank you again, Senior Disciple Lu Ri. Are you headed back to your post?” she asked him as her team watched the Elders and the audience congregate in groups before slowly moving towards the exits.

 

Lu Ri put on his hat and gave her a nod. “I will resume my northern vigil,” he said, loud enough that the Elders could hear him… and draw their own conclusions about what he meant, though it was the truth. “Good day, Grand Marshal.”

 

With that, he turned and left. The Elders watched him go silently. He strode from the Earthly Arena, his coat billowing around him as he set off for his next duty, a true cultivator.

 

Things had gone as well as Xiulan could have expected as they closed down the official meeting; now, came the real work. Tigu, Delun, Loud Boy, Rags, Yin, and the Torrent Rider set about gathering the Younger Generation, carefully sliding them back into the roles that they had joined, with the Blazing Swords, the White Tigers, the Masons, and Rags’ burgeoning information network. Bai Huizhong staggered off with Bao Wen to the town beyond, his face still pale.

 

Xiulan herself went to her office, after Xianghua clapped her on the shoulder, giving her a little smile.

 

She didn’t have to wait long for the first knock at the door, with her assistant Sarnai of the Ravine escorting in Elder Chen of the Framed Sun Sect, the first of many.

 

Truth be told, this was where most of the actual work got done, with Elders approaching in ones and twos to ask her questions they hadn’t felt comfortable discussing earlier.

 

There were quiet questions about what she thought of Jin’s intent, of the Cloudy Sword Sect’s intent, and always the last one. What would they do if the Demonic forces came again in the future?

 

She answered each question as truthfully as she could. Jin would stay up north for the most part; the Cloudy Sword Sect would largely be in the Sea of Snow for the duration of their time, and the final question…

 

“I saw how strong they were, but in the end they were not unbeatable. I have seen it. You can see it. We’re all growing stronger. All we need is time. Time we are now afforded. With the wisdom of our Ancestors and the path we are on… it is my belief that in less than fifty years we could give a good accounting of ourselves. In one hundred, we will meet them directly,” Xiulan swore. “It will take work, but we will not fear the darkness. We know what’s out there—and if they return, the Azure Banner will fly over their graves.”

 

Her words were heeded. Her conviction was clear to the Elders… and now they had an enemy to think of. There was an undercurrent of fear, but it was tempered. To the Azure Hills, the Demons had been a distant, abstract threat. Nothing ever happened in their corner of the world; they were so weak even the Great Enemy avoided them.

 

Now, they were a target.

 

The myth of their unimportance had been shattered.

 

The demons had come for their forefathers and been driven back when they had stood together. Would their children tarnish their legacy? Would they let down their ancestors by failing?

 

The answer, Xiulan hoped, would be no. They would not be found wanting. And judging by the looks in the Elders’ eyes when they left, her conviction, and the respect the Cloudy Sword Sect had for her, they seemed to start to believe too.

 

It was a horrible thing to think, but in a way… it was almost beneficial that the Demons had attacked Jin’s home; they had failed, and now the cultivators of the Azure Hills were galvanized.

 

Framing for each Elder the path ahead and convincing them that the alliance was the path forward was necessary. However, that didn’t stop all the meetings from being utterly exhausting. She expected to meet with all of the Sect Masters save for her father and Xianghua.

 

The Grand Ravine, surprisingly, had waited until the end rather than push forward to the forefront as she had expected.

 

They were served tea by Sarnai, Baatar’s granddaughter, and Xiulan’s aide. Butter tea, which Xiulan had developed a taste for. Sarnai brewing the tea gave Xiulan time to gather some of her distracted thoughts, and the final product was just as delicious as Xiulan remembered.

 

“Thank you, Sarnai,” she said. The other woman bowed and retreated. Xiulan sat up straighter. “How may I help you, Patriarch Baatar?”

 

The older man chuckled. “First, I wish to congratulate you, Grand Marshal, and thank you for your service. You have done well. The Grand Ravine is pleased with your leadership, and your defense of the Azure Hills.”

 

Xiulan paused, and allowed a small smile to came to her face. “Thank you, Patriarch Baatar,” she replied, inclining her head. The man felt utterly truthful, his Qi open to her senses, and his respect for her was clear in his tone.

 

The man nodded. “As for the Grand Ravine, we need no extra reassurances. Your words and actions are enough to know the path forward. Though, I do have a more personal inquiry, if you will allow it, for it is rather rude. The technique you used… that resonance you called. It resonated with the entire province. It resonated with the earth, and roused it to action.”

 

Xiulan closed her eyes. “Yes. It did. It is something I did not use lightly. What I did… was not without consequence to the Azure Hills.”

 

Baatar’s eyes narrowed. “How so?”

 

“It damaged the earth itself. The damage is repairable… but it is not something I care to repeat. That power is not mine to wield; it is merely granted, and only in the worst of circumstances.”

 

Baatar looked at her long and hard, considering her words, before the old man made his judgement. “It is good you treat that power with the reverence it deserves, Cai Xiulan. Thank you for answering my question. Now, I understand Master Rou has accepted our invitation to the Ravine. Tell me, how may we host him properly?”

 

Xiulan nodded at the shift in the conversation. “He will want a minimum of ceremony… and to see you as you are. He holds some interest in your culture, and would prefer it unsanitized. He will travel the Grand Ravine without fanfare, but understands there are some places he will not be allowed to tread, for they are important to your people. Additionally… his wife and son will be coming with him on his journey.”

 

Baatar paused.

 

“He shows us great face by trusting in our hospitality,” the man murmured, then he nodded. “I shall make the necessary arrangements. Thank you for conveying our message, Grand Marshal.”

 

“I promised, did I not?” she replied with a smile.

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The man’s face shifted from stern to something almost grandfatherly. “Indeed you did, Grand Marshal. Your words and deeds carry much weight within our Ravine, and I dare say outside it. After all, who else but our Grand Marshal can accomplish such impossible tasks?”

 

Xiulan chuckled. “Flattery will get you nowhere, you wily old fox.”

 

The Patriarch of the Grand Ravine stood, and made the gesture of respect.

 

And then Xiulan could finally, truly rest for a moment. Though only for a moment, because there was another knock on her door as An Ran and the rest of her students poked their heads in, hopeful smiles on their faces.

 

…Xiulan couldn’t be mad about that.

 

“Come in,” she called to them. “And tell me all about your solstices.”

 

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The rest of the day after the meeting had been quite relaxing for Bi De. Tigu and Yin had managed to command most of the attention, letting him, Ri Zu, Yun Ren, and Gou Ren have a relatively unmolested tour of the Dueling Peaks. Yun Ren had nearly joined Biyu… but she had to go off with Xianghua to finalize some matters about the Crystal Emporium’s induction into their ranks. It was a wonderful time, examining all the repair work and hearing Brother Gou Ren discussing his passion with the others who were a part of the Dueling Peaks Restoration Commission. Their enthusiasm was quite infectious as they brought out schematics and formation arrays they were working on. Gou Ren practically had stars in his eyes the entire time, traversing the newly-opened sections of the mountain.

 

They weren’t the only passionate ones. It was a joy to watch Tigu drilling with the White Tigers, and Yin racing along with the Blazing Swords. His Junior Sisters had grown into fine leaders while he was gone, their voices commanding respect and their troops motivated.

 

There were still the occasional hitches as they figured each other out again after the break, but those smoothed out swiftly.

 

Yun Ren’s crystal chimed, even while the rest of them watched on with warm eyes.

 

“They’re really building something here,” Ri Zu mused. “Ri Zu almost feels left out.”

 

“I’m sure you can join up. Tigu would love having you as her junior,” Bi De teased, but Ri Zu seemed to actively consider it.

 

“Ri Zu still has her notes on from when she was reworking the Shrouded Mountain’s Spiritual Doctor System…” she said.

 

“That is actually a fantastic idea,” Bi De replied. “Even if you do not join, I’m sure they would value your expertise.”

 

Ri Zu nodded firmly.

 

Eventually, they saw all there was to see and they ventured into Dueling Town. It was a lot emptier than the last time they had been here, but there were still a great many people on the streets going about their business. The fresh look of the repairs Bi De remembered had faded. They weren’t special or new-looking, they were just a part of the town now. But the difference was still visible. Little scars crisscrossed the place, scabbed over and healed.

 

Bi De knew his own home would recover just as well.

 

Eventually, the sun started to set and the town lit its lanterns. From the Dueling Peaks came the cultivators… and they were rather quickly accosted by the Xong Brothers’ friends.

 

“Hey Image Master—ahem, my apologies. Chen Yang pays his respects to Xong Yun Ren,” the other cultivator started, changing to a formal and quite stilted tone.

 

Yun Ren grimaced at the tone… and then his eyes caught onto the Still Image Recording Crystal case the other man had attached to his hip.