The Fourth Fall - Chapter 33 Preview

After the third day, Wu Ying grew adept at declining challenges. After all, there was only so many times he could do battle with the various members of the Cai vanguard before it was clear that he outmatched them all in skill of arms. Within the bounds of the rulesets and the challenge, they could not match him.

They, of course, grew creative. Insisting on a variation of weapon styles, of differing victory conditions. Many of those, Wu Ying would decline, though the occassional challenge sparked his interest sufficiently for him to participate further. He knew they sought to understand his skills, his dao and his ability; but he too learnt much.

An archery contest on the seventh day, with even the King and Princes all participating saw Wu Ying, the Cai King and the First Wei Prince among the last standing participants. Of course, Wu Ying had been creative, utilising the winds to derail other arrows and aid his own. Only through the use of their domains or the sheer skill showcased by the First Prince of Wei had there been any challenge.

Wu Ying lost, the first of the final group to be sent away as his lack of true skill was exploited, as the archery competition grew in complexity. Moving spirit-imbued targets, shifting obstacles and, finally, the addition of interference from other competitors saw the archery competition reach a level that the wind cultivator's own elemental advantages were overwhelmed.

A challenge of spears. Wu Ying coming to rely on his minor knowledge of the weapon and memories of the Pei Clan. He fought and managed a draw, that time. The Energy Storage cultivator that they had utilised to challenge him having the full Heart of the weapon, but neither the physical strength or speed to compete with the wind cultivator.

The dao, the curved, single sided sword that was kin to the jian but only distantly was brought forth many times. It amused Wu Ying, to see that so many of the cultivators in the vanguard, the General who challenged him were more suited to the weapon. They sacrificed individual expertise and talent for the advantage of the unit, again and again.

And still, so many took the weapon up in their free time. Facing Wu Ying and his borrowed dao, they sought enlightenment. Asked, almost begged, to see Wu Ying's myriad text of the weapon that he had collected. Took rebuffs with ill-grace, and minor impatience as they waited the end of the negotiations and the passing of such text on an official basis.

For all his challenges, Wu Ying was rarely busy. He learnt to divert talk to his own passions, visiting with lower ranked cultivators and officials of the Cai and Wei to discuss herbology, farming and gathering. A small hill, stripped of wood and trees, was reshaped. The land torn apart, tilled and seeds planted. With so many powerful cultivators on-hand, it was a simple matter to provide for the plants, reshaping the earth into level fields and suppressing the growth of weeds and invading spieces. Other cultivators extracted water from the heavens or deep underground, providing parched land with much needed water.

Wu Ying could not help but wonder how the Verdant Green Waters and the surrounding lands managed. Without his or the Sect Head's presence, their benign influence on wind and cloud, the on-going drought would hamper the farmers. Though the sect had ensured the consistent and on-going updates to irrigation systems; the artificial and manufactured flow of water could never truly replace nature's lack.

Farming, speaking with cultivators and soldiers, joining the occassional hunting party, many who ranged farther and farther as spirit and demonic beasts escaped the rapacious grip of the three groups. The cultivator idled his time away, cultivating and watching, even as his companions grew ever more hectic.

It need not be elaborated, the pressures those at the highest stage faced. Stubborn, prideful and enmeshed royalty fought and maneuvered and the Patriarchs and Sect Head were but pawns in those games. The Wei First Prince's Uncle was always around, hovering in the background, making comments and suggestions that had the weight though not the official backing of royalty. In that morass of politics, the cultivators waded within, feeling outmaneuvered by the simpler command structure of the Cai.

At the same time, those below who had political acumen found their 'free time', constantly engaged. In the official talks, no advance could be made, as each group spoke the official lines. In the tea parties, the afternoon drinks and long moments of dining and refreshments, those not directly involved were approached. There, people like Yin Xue and Fa Yuan and Yang Mu might discuss their areas of expertise, their state's own inclinations and the kind of compromises that might be available.

Fa Yuan was, of course, the center of such activity. Even more than the Right Guardian, whose official position saw his own conversations stymied with suspicion. She spoke with negotiating teams of all stripes, utilising her own contacts in the Wei and Shen kingdoms, her understanding of cultivators and noble society to tread her way across competing demands. Yang Mu was a constant companion, offering insight in her own ways. Of merchants and merchant routes, of nations beyond the border of the group and trade goods that might flow, and; later at night, expounding upon connections that turned with each word.

More surprising was Yin Xue. The nobleman whose life had been brokered to the Wei with the Shen found himself brokering conversations with his new counterparts, dealing with 'family members' and other noblemen from the Wei. As required, he was often in their compound, training them in the family cultivation method, brokering details of what would be taught and not. In the meantime, he brought forth discussions about additional deals between the two kingdoms, the way they might work together and reinforced the existing, hastily constructed, peace.

A less direct method of support for the negotiations, but still important for it gave insight and bolstered the differing ranks within the Wei. For ranks there were.

"You're saying that the Wei do not all agree to the peace with the Shen?" Wu Ying asked Yin Xue, curiously. Not evening supper, late after the parties and meetings were done, but early morning breakfast. One of two times when the groups, the allies and friends, could speak with one another.

"Of course there are factions. Did you think the Shen are all one mind too?" Fa Yuan said, teasingly.

Wu Ying chose not to answer. It was obvious after all.

"Oh, my dear." Yang Mu leaned into his arm, briefly. He enjoyed the sensation, if not the reason for her sudden burst of empathy and caring.

"There are multiple factions, of course. But as far as we're concerned, there are three. The ones who think they can stand alone are the smallest group, none of whom are here or so I'm told. The other factions are split, between those who would rather ally with the Cai alone, and want to utilise them to defeat us in the future. And those who support the peace efforts in full."

"Both pulling in the same direction though," Wu Ying pointed out, waving the deep fried bread he held in his hand as a pointer. "Or mostly."

"The mostly is the important part." Yin Xue grimaced. "The mostly could be the difference between a war with the Cai this year, or with the Cai and Wei together in three or four."

"That soon?" Fa Yuan asked. No inflection, as though she wanted more information.

He supplied it. "When the rains come, and a year after, the Cai will turn their eyes on us if we have no peace treaty. Or, the Wei."

"Their armies are ready," Yang Mu agreed.

"Even with the Prince's marriage?" Wu Ying said. "If they attack, the Princess..."

"She will die. But she is only the third Princess. And I am only the son of a distant noble relation." Yin Xue shrugged. "The hostages exchanged will be slaughtered, but what of it? When glory is at hand, what matters such small sacrifices."

"Kingdom politics." Wu Ying stared at the youtiao he had taken up and found that his appetite had faded. He placed it on his plate, willed a tiny amount of chi into his fingers and dispersed the oil on them. Wasteful, but he had more than enough chi for something so small and wasteful. "So, what can we do about it?"

"You?" Yin Xue smirked. "Nothing. You just keep talking and learning and doing your gardening. There's nothing we need of you." Then, he looked somberly at Fa Yuan and Yang Mu. "Your aid, your knowledge on the other hand..."

"We'll let the Sect Head know. And the Princes." Fa Yuan sighed, rubbed at her glabella as she tried to stop herself from frowning. Doing it too much was going to give her wrinkles. And her beauty, however she thought of it, was still a weapon that she relied upon. "What can we do, to support the right side in the Wei?"

Yin Xue turned a hand over, a scroll appearing beneath it on the table. He picked it up and handed the scroll over to Yang Mu who unrolled the document, scanning down the list of requests. It was, not surprisingly, quite detailed. Lists of needs and wants from the various groups, ranging from the mundane like bolts of cloth and a variety of spices and incense to more esoteric cultivation goods.

"You know I can't give them any cultivation material," Yang Mu said with a grimace. She flicked a glance over at Wu Ying who shrugged. It wasn't as though he had banned her. It was the kingdom's decision to hold off further trade of cultivation items till an agreement was made. Only promises were allowed to be made, no actualy material to pass hands.

One of the many reasons why Wu Ying's company had become less sought after. Even by the Wei, especially as he'd been blunt on his intention of listening to the Sect Head's rules.

"Not now. But promises can be made. Especially if backed up via certain... sources." Yin Xue purposely didn't look at Wu Ying.

"They could just ask me," the wind cultivator muttered.

"No, no. Yin Xue's right," Fa Yuan said. "You're too blunt, too forward. You trade in a straight line, when what we want is a network of promises and trades." Even the mention of that made Wu Ying's head throb. "It's better that you just showcase your abilities and let us finish the deals. Maybe even some gathering?"

Wu Ying crossed his arms. A small part of him felt a little humiliated, that he was being handled like this. That he was not even allowed to make his own deals, that they thought so little of him. Another part was intensely grateful that he did not need to concern himself on those matters.

After all, he had his own hands full, trying to sense the full details of the security teams. For all his time off, in truth, his job was a secondary check on the security surrounding the negotiations. While there were numerous cultivators and guards watching over everything from approaches to the negotiating tent, the food and drink and even the fighting grounds, someone had to watch the watchers. At the very least, making sure they did not just vanish.

Who better than the wind cultivator, with his companions offering him their own insights, with his ability to cross ground with only a change of intent and his gift of knowing all those within his domain.

Knowing that, Wu Ying forced his ego aside. Packed it in with the compost of his petty feelings and illogical rage and buried it. Let it sprout into something more useful, like the knowledge that his own existence and his own failings  were supported by friends and sect.

"I can do that. Later today, I can join the hunt." Wu Ying gestured outward, encompassing the herd of horses that had been gathered in a valley below. They were being curried and cared for, sadles and bridles fitted to them as they were coralled by simple walls of force and dao intent. The creatures stayed together, content to wait for their riders, each of them a magnificent beast.

"I'm surprised the Sect Head let you refuse at first," Fa Yuan admitted. "I would be concerned most of all about an ill-fired arrow."

"Everyone knows that might happen. It's why it isn't likely to," Yin Xue said.

"What Elder Wei says is true, though while I was not officially part of it, the Sect Head did ask that I keep an unofficial eye on the proceedings." Wu Ying shrugged. "Not being physically present, not taking direct part would actually make my job easier."

"Then, perhaps...?" Yang Mu started, and stopped as he shook his head.

"It's fine. Not something I can't handle. There's only going to be three groups anyway, and the beaters are the least worrisome of them all."

Which was surprising, since the beaters were often the most likely to be attacked. But his concern was not their death via demonic beast - an all too common outcome - but betrayal. The death of a Body Cleansing or Energy Storage cultivator, of whichever party, while tragic was insufficient to derail the negotiations.

The death or injury of a Prince, a Minister or one of the Elders on the other hand.... Well, that was what Wu Ying was meant to handle.

"And anyway, I can see the Three Swords are joining the hunt too. They'll be carrying as much of the burden."

"If you think so..." Fa Yuan said, and if there was a trace of doubt, Wu Ying knew it was not for his own skills. Or not entirely. Strong as he was, it would take only a moment's inattention for tragedy to strike. And even the immortals were not omnipotent. Her concerns, what there was of it, were for their erstwhile allies.

"I do." Wu Ying grinned. "Anyway, it's just for a simple hunt around the instruments in forests where the majority of demonic beasts had already left. What could go wrong?"