Chapter 31- Charting the Sky

The next few months passed more calmly. Elder Feng had apparently become entirely exhausted by surprises, and was downright eager to keep her charges from any unfortunate conversations they might have with other sects. Or creating new local religions. Tian had a few sleepless nights thinking about all the elemental charm he had been pushing into his voice in Burning Flag City, and wondering the effect it had on the mortals listening. In theory, a mortal wouldn’t notice the deeper meaning to it. But in theory, he was just serving tea and look how that turned out.

From what he could tell from the soldiers, the elemental charm in his tea was more like an echo or a whisper of a truth. A subtle nudge towards understanding, or a bit of reframing that provided a new perspective. It didn’t suddenly grant a revelation. It just helped someone understand truths they never considered. What Tian and Hong hadn’t appreciated was just how rare that was.

How could they know? Before going to the caves, they had never encountered the concept of ‘dao charm’ or ‘elemental charm.’ Elder Rui had said something about those caves being unique and special, but it hadn’t really stuck. Treasured cultivation ground. Trial ground to train up the younger generation. The Saintess feeding on generations of promising youths. What else was there to understand? And then everyone told them to shut up and never mention anything about it ever again, to anyone.

Tian started keeping a closer eye on Hong’s training sessions. Now that he knew what he was looking for, he could see how her spearplay incorporated that charm with every movement. Fire dominant and extremely Yang, but there was a balance to it now that elevated her past lethal to holy terror.

Elder Feng decreed that everyone was going to learn to get along. Now. Disciple Lin very much included.

A few days (and a new round of scrolls to read) after visiting Burning Stone Manor, Windblown Manor came to a stop over a patch of jungle. Elder Feng assembled them on the flying cloud platform with instructions.

“You are to stay together and work as a team. No one is to go off on their own. You will be put down on a river bank. You will reach that large tree- see it there? You will reach that large tree. All of you. There is a minor opportunity for you there, but it will require teamwork. You have three days, and frankly, I expect you to do it in less.”

She had been increasingly cranky, Tian noticed. She was coolly reserved when they first met, but he could see the irritation in her every time she looked at them. Was what Brother Wang said really such a big deal?

“Elder, What should we do about… Sister… Su?” Lin asked.

“I didn’t stutter.” The elder flicked her hand and the cloud swept them up and carried them into the jungle.

“Like coming home, eh Brother Zihao?” Hong asked.

“Mmm. I’d get used to it, if I were you.” He had forgotten just how loud the jungle was. Everything was screaming at each other, insects were everywhere, and even for immortal cultivators, the heat and humidity were miserable.

“Why?”

“Because if everything goes to hell, I’m grabbing you and running into the jungle. You can live here quite well, if you know how.”

The cultivators not named Tian looked around skeptically. A crocodile that could swallow Brother Wang in two bites slid off the riverbank, becoming invisible in the water.

“Let’s work hard for the eternal prosperity of the sect.” Sister Su suggested.

“Yes. Lets.” Hong agreed fervently.

Brother Wang raced up a tree trunk and hacked down a couple of tree branches. The trees were so tall, Tian almost lost him in the canopy.

“Here. We can carry Sister Su in her chair like a palanquin. That will let us keep mobile with minimum fuss.” Brother Wang suggested. Nobody had a better idea.

The expedition went quickly after that. Tian found them safe paths and “tasty” snacks in the wild, then grumbled when nobody else wanted to eat them. Hong and Brother Wang cleared out the few wandering beasts willing to attack cultivators, and Sister Su… just stayed quiet. She was mad as hell to be used as an obstacle for the others to overcome, and everyone knew it. The real surprise came at the giant tree, where Lin made herself useful.

The tree was the single largest thing Tian had ever seen aside from mountains and perhaps the Summer Torrent. It would take several minutes to run around even if he was using a light body art, and he couldn’t even estimate where the top was. Beyond the size was the staggering variety of plants and fruiting vines growing on, and from, the tree. Flowers blossomed everywhere, insects flew about, everything about it spoke of cooperative tranquility.

“I don’t believe it. How are any of these things getting enough sunlight? Fruits and vegetables especially need lots of sunlight to grow.” Brother Wang stayed well back from the tree.

“There is a terrifying amount of wood qi present, but then, I think we all assumed that.” Hong shrugged.

“The plants are cultivated.” Lin said. “This isn’t just a tree. It’s a kingdom. What you are seeing is just the outermost farmland.” She tilted her head all the way back and cupped her hands to her mouth. The monkey howl she made was loud enough to leave everyone’s ears ringing.

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