The Fourth Fall - Chapter 32 preview

They met, later that evening, to discuss all that they had learnt. There were many such things to discuss, from their progress in their negotiations to what the duellists had learnt. Wu Ying and Yin Xue were not the only ones challenged that day, not even the only ones challenged in the ring. Elder Hsu had his own fights, though his hand occurred much earlier in the morning, as the man had approached the ring himself, searching for opponents. Outside of the martial cultivators, many others, freed from the negotiations had been carefully tested.

Being the first evening after such a contested day, it was no surprise that the cultivators had been brought in for a discussion.

"No substantial movement on the wording of the cultivator seals," Sect Head Yan himself reported. It would have to be a quick meeting, by virtue of further meetings with their counterparts after this was done.

"We have, I believe, resolved the standing of the Two Rooster village," Elder (?) said, making a face. "We have moved onto the Three Rooster village."

"Really?" Yin Xue could not help but ask.

Wu Ying chuckled. While seeming silly, he could easily understand how village-level rivalries could create naming conventions like this. Especially on hte border, where cultivator lords were less likely to have a direct say on matters, the only government oversight being the tax collector that arrived once a year.

Elder (?) shrugged. "I did not make them up. There isn't, however, a Four Rooster village." He said, firmly, before he could be interrupted. "Border discussions on the north east will continue for a while." He shrugged, not seeming to care. Which was not surprising, since he was only involved in the discussion peripherally.

"We are still arguing if there are three or four border forts. And if there eight or fifteen bridges across the Wu river, which we've established as the north-eastern border," Right Guardian Chang said.

"Do you need me to fly over and verify?" Wu Ying offered.

"Oh, we will. However, the negotiation on who the surveying personnel are to be, and the definitios of bridges and border forts must be settled first."

"Of course." Wu Ying managed not to roll his eyes.

"The Fourth Prince is currently involved in negotiations about marriages with the Cai. It is... contentious," Fa Yuan said. "We, of course, have few reasons to have signfiicant ties, but both Wei and Cai desire our participation in the matter. Thus far, the Fourth Prince has managed to keep such discussion at bay, but at some point he will have to commit." She inclined her head a little. "I have been helping him with spirit messages and compilation of lists of potential wedding participants."

"Male and female?" the Sect Head asked.

"Yes. Their dowries and ages as well, of course."

"Good." The man smiled at Fa Yuan approvingly. Noble house marriages were more complicated, what witht he pasing of both weapons, martial styles and cultivators. "We will have more to report after our own briefing." A pause, then he gestured at the Elders and the few high ranked Energy Storage cultivators allowed into this meeting. "Report."

"I was requested to participate in a tea ceremony. The fellow tea master was one of the junior Ministers. The equivalent of a third grade Minister I believe." A slight shrug by the speaker, one of the younger Energy Storage cultivators that were part of the entourage. His name eluded Wu Ying, what with the wind cultivator having nicknamed his horse face due to his unfortunate features. "Their technique was flawless. At least, to my eyes." A slight bow of the head. "However, their actual leaves..."

"Yes?" Sect Head Yan said, annoyed at how long this was taking.

"Ah, it is just that it was less than pristine. A second picking, not a first. It was..."

"Poor quality. The materials they utilize. The ink and the cotton, the brush that my own opponent wielded." Elder (???) said. He waved a hand, idly. "Good workmanship and technique, excellent conceptualisation, held back by poor quality materials. Their ability to convey their intent falls short of their skill, because of their materials."

Moments later, a few of the other cultivators who had faced challenges in the artistic and less martial aspects confirmed the initial impression. None of their opponents had quality materials. In more than a few cases, they had requested a look or review of their own opponent's tools. Though none had indicated jealousy, longing and desire was hard to hide.

"Thoughts?" Sect Head Yan asked, curiously.

"Poor. They are too poor to purchase quality tools, to aid their secondary cultivators. They stimy their secondary occupations, due to lack of resources." Patriarch Yi said. "They either do not value secondary occupations as much as their war efforts or do not have sufficient funds to devote to both, equally."

"Maybe they have issues with acquiring such supply?" Wu Ying offered. After so long with Yang Mu, he understood a little more about trade networks, about boycotts and how merchants and traders might avoid a country that was constantly involved in wars. Or whose own merchants were focused upon acquisition of materials meant for war rather than other luxuries.

"Perhaps. It is something we can explore further," Sect Head Yan said, consideringly. "Honored Elder Yang's insight into these matters will be extra valuable if that is the case. If you will...?"

"I'll ask her to have her people look into this. And if she is able to further influence the acquisition of such matters." Wu Ying rubbed his chin. "Though it might be better for us to trade direct with them. After all, we do have some valuable teas, wines and the like."

"Continue the boycott, if there is one, and allow them to suffer, while we provide them the luxuries, so that we can fill our coffers?" Right Guardian Chang said, surprised. "Why, how manipulative and mercenary of you, Head Long." A beat. "I approve."

Wu Ying smiled thinly, but Sect Head Yan was nodding in thought. In the end, the actual decisions would be made by the Princes after all. They were just here for their support on the martial end as cultivators and their information gathering capabilities on that end. Well, that was not entirely true, for the Sect Head and Patriarch and even Yang Mu had wider roles.

He was just the muscle.

"The lack of resources and training or skill is not showing in anything to do with their martial preparations. Their portable rings are of high quality, though they only had a single one for Core Formation cultivators." Elder Hsu replied. Of course, the fact that they could even have a single, portable ring like that astounding. A ring that could be broken down and put together to contain the strength of Core Formation cultivators was an expensive and intricate matter. Significantly more difficult and costly to build than a stationary ring, even one that was built upon a moving spiritual instrument. "In addition, their horses, their armour, all of it is high quality. Standardised, of course, but even their basic soldiers have better quality - and better maintained - armour than ours."

"These are their best, are they not?" Right Guardian Yang said.

"So are our people, and yet, I would say the quality of their equipment is still better. And their training...." Elder Hsu shrugged. "Greater. All their people are blooded, the ones they brought. In some of their mortal guards, you can sense the killing intent still roiling in their aura."

"That is not always good," Fa Yuan said, mildly.

"Not for a civilisation, perhaps. Not for peace at home But to finish a battle, to fight? Oh, I would say it is very good." Elder Hsu's eyes darkened as he added. "I fought them. Three times. And each time, I lost."

The words brought a chill to the room. It was not as though the majority of the Elders within were ignorant of this matter, but to have it stated out loud, by one of the premier martial cultivators in the Sect was still sobering. Some, the younger, the less confident sought to remedy the matter, pouring themselves generous cups of peach and plum wine to consume.

"How badly?" Yin Xue asked. No mocking, just a serious mien.

"The first, by the largest degree. The others were closer. I almost won the last battle," Elder Hsu said. "He managed to get an arm out and cast me out of the ring, through the formation itself."

"Could you have won in a real battle?" Fa Yuan asked curiously.

"How many other watchers were there?" Wu Ying said.

"The last one, certainly. Not the first, unlike fortune was on my side," Elder Hsu answered immediately. "Or I made preparations. And nothing else was showcased." Everyone nodded in understanding, for of course he had not shown all his techniques or abilities. "And only three others. It was an early battle. I believe most of you were still managing matters at the negotiating tables."

Another series of nods, and Wu Ying considered. He looked at the Sect Head, then asked. "Sun Bin's strategy?"

"Likely." the Right Guardian answered instead, looking annoyed. As well as he should have, for the strategy worked only if one was unaware that the opponent was utilising it. Or even considering utilising it. Yet, they had gone out, without intent and an overall plan.

"Well, if that's the case, I must have upset them," Yin Xue said, somewhat happily. After all, he had won his fight.

"Perhaps. Or they learnt what they wanted from you," Xue Meng said, the Right Guardian shaking his head. "I will think of this matter more."

"But what's the point? Surely they knew we would know they did this, later," Wu Ying complained.

"Even an initial advantage is an advantage. And it might be that they were testing Elder Hsu in full, for he is known to be one of our stronger martial cultivators." Xue Meng shrugged in the end. "But now we know the extent of their strength."

"They might be expecting us to base our understanding on that." Fa Yuan cautioned.

"A false strategy, then?" Sect Head Yan nodded in understanding. "We shall keep that in mind. Elder Wen, what did you learn?"

Yin Xue straightened a little, unconsciously at being called. He regarded the group seated around the room, offering a slight nod but did not delay long, knowing the Sect Head needed to leave soon.

"They lack much defense against demonic chi. Though they have chaos in their souls, demonic chi itself worms into their cultivation. I can disrupt their cultivation, briefly, given enough strikes. Or surprise."

That brought a thin and tight smile from the Sect Head.

"And their skills?" Xue Meng said.

"Adequate. He was good, as strong as me. His control, his degree of skill with the sword, similar. What he didn't have was my advantages. He only had a single element too." A smile, grim fraced from in Xue. "I didn't showcase mine."

"Good." Now the Sect Head turned, faced Wu Ying. The unspoken question hanging in the air.

"I had three battles, learnt three things." Wu Ying raised a single finger. "Their base style. Sophisicated, brutal, simple. It should have been a dao, if not for the fact that it was used in a shield wall. It's better than the base method we teach, at least a Peak method as exhibited by one I fought. There are levels to it, expands so that one can use it at higher levels." A shake of his head. "Created by someone who has the Heart of the Jian. Maybe even the Soul."

"This was their vanguard, no?" Xue Meng said, the Right Guardian looking a little offput.

"It was what they were taught, starting out. Their first fighter, it never suited him. He tried to layer another on it, but he has no talent for the sword." Wu Ying's lip twitched. "Should have given him a spear."

Shu Ren sighed. "Their base army is that much better than ours?"

"Their martial technique at least. Their training, their obedience," Elder Hsu said. "Facing them in battle, their army... It would be bloody. We'd have to outnumber their men, at least half again."

"What else?" Sect Head Yan said next.

"Second thing. Their aura control, at least among the vanguard, is very good. A touch better than our average Sect Head, but not our martial cultivators. I would say they focus more on the physical." He paused, waited for questions. No one felt the need to elaborate further on that. They all had their impressions of their opponents over the last few days. "Lastly. Their aura, their combination method, their dao. It all is interlinked, and it is a vulnerability."

"How?" Fa Yuan asked.

"Their daos are... superficial. They've pushed upwards, because of their battles, their cojoined auras and cultivation methods. They support one another, but because they rush upwards," and now, Wu Ying's lips twitched, because he knew his own circumstance could be described in that way too, "their daos are shaky. Poor foundations, supported by pillars of individual cultivation methods. They shelter amongst one another.

"And if you close them off, you block their auras working with one another, you shake that foundation. You make them vulnerable. Individually."

The Sect Head was not smiling at this, though the others were. Instead, he was frowning, for he saw the other side of the coin that Wu Ying had yet to reveal. The others saw his reaction soon enough, one even went so far as to ask. "What?"

"Together, they're stronger. Stronger than any one of us. We talk of a weakness, but it is a weakness only a few of us can exploit when they are grouped. To win, we'd have to seperate them."

"And they don't seperate," Xue Meng said, peevishly. "Not the vanguard."

The group looked shaken for the most part. Yin Xue looked mulish, refusing to believe. Elder Hsu considering, reviewing his own fights with this knowledge. Fa Yuan on the other hand was contemplative. There was a light in her eyes, one that Wu Ying knew too well. Before he could interrogate his suspicion or her, the Sect Head spoke.

"So. We know their strengths. Their weaknesses. We know what we must do." He stood. "The Patriarch and I must go. We will convey what we have learnt to the Princes. Perhaps the Wei know more." A smirk, as though the idea of the Wei learning more was laughable. "There is much we must discuss, and we will inform you all when we know something. Till then, watch. Be careful. This is but the first move."