PtM Book 16 - Chapter 4: Old Friends, Painful Memories

2/3 this week!

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The first canopy creaked as Cha Ming walked across its floor of interlinked vines and branches and packed leaves that had accumulated for millennia to form true soil. What appeared to be trees growing out of the canopy were in fact the taller branches of the trees poking out. The puddles were accumulations of rain that had yet to trickle down the slick tree trunks that Cha Ming had noticed when he’d first arrived.

Cha Ming had wanted to avoid this place, for it reeked of danger compared to the ground floor. The changes in the trial had necessitated that he changes his strategy, however. It wasn’t only others that could stalk the world above and observe the happenings of the lower world.

The Savage Deity Battle Arts once again proved their usefulness. Stealth was necessary for survival, and Cha Ming had gotten plenty of opportunities to refine these skills. And with Claddings of Light wreathing him in shadows, and the Crown of the Starry Sky to sense danger, Cha Ming felt especially safe.

The first half day on the first canopy had provoked a strong reaction, but now, most creatures avoided him actively. The spiders and snakes and squirrels had learned their lessons, and the red-eyed monkeys no longer made trouble for him.

There were few things he feared, and people were one of them. Animals were much easier to understand. Three days, Cha Ming thought as he spied on a group of four such individuals on the ground level. All four were Dao Gods, much like most of the one’s he’d encountered. Three days, and hundred new faces. It can’t be a coincidence.

What was more frightening was that they spoke as though they’d been there all along. These people didn’t seem unfamiliar with the terrain and navigated it with practiced ease just like he did. This could only mean one of two things: either they’d always been there, unaware of each other, or they’d started off in identical locations that had somehow been superimposed into a smaller area.

Both options were equally frightening.

Beast waves came just as regularly for everyone, Cha Ming observed, and the number of beasts attacking seemed proportional to the amount of cultivators present. Fortunately, Cha Ming was able to save energy by frightening or redirecting most of his waves, thereby saving valuable energy.

The number of survivors was now 4,136 and was continuously decreasing. Sometimes, it was the demons that got them. Sometimes, it was other human cultivators.

The group of four were skilled and chose a path that was slightly inconvenient to follow along, so Cha Ming dropped down from the canopy and onto a tree trunk and climbed down it like a spider. He fell to the ground weightlessly and crawled nearer to the party on all fours.

“Did you hear something?” one of them said, scanning the area with her soul force. She found nothing but continued staring slightly to the right of Cha Ming before continuing.

“You’re being paranoid Albright,” one of them said.

“No more than you, Three Seasons,” Albright said. “All of us managed to survive this long because of our caution. And with what we’re planning, shouldn’t we expect others to do the same?”

“No one here is weak,” another agreed. “Except maybe those from the initiator’s plane. There are a hundred cultivators from that place, so they’re more likely to have picked up dregs.

“Dregs or not, they’ll be the top hundred geniuses on their plane, Swift Moon,” the fourth said. “Don’t be careless.”

“Just so,” Albright said. “It would be foolish to underestimate even the hundredth strongest genius from an entire plane.”

Cha Ming maintained a careful distance as he followed them. He wasn’t sure exactly what they were doing, but it sounded like they would be attacking other cultivators, and probably an entire team of them.

They weren’t targeting him personally, but he saw no reason not to follow along. They couldn’t sense him, and knowing where they were was far preferable to not knowing.

They were soon joined by another team of four. A few minutes later, a third group joined them, bringing their total count to twelve cultivators. Though they acted as a single unit, they did not seem comfortable with each other individually. Judging by their conversations, most of them hadn’t met until three days ago.

One part of Cha Ming wanted nothing to do with this. These people hadn’t attacked him, so he shouldn’t actively provoke them. Yet another part of him justified that these people were plotting against other poor cultivators. What was the harm in picking them off if there was an opportunity?

“They’re coming this way?” One said. “You’re sure?”

“A total of six cultivators, yes,” said another. “They seem to be a group from the same plane.”

“The initiator plane?”

“Most likely.”

“Then let’s wish them a warm welcome, shall we?”

The twelve cultivators got busy building traps and setting up formations. Cha Ming had participated in several armed conflicts at this point, and he could tell at a glance that they’d clearly never worked together, and that many of the traps and formations conflicted.

To make matters worse, this group had four leaders, and as a result, they were not able to remedy these deficiencies by the time six cultivators appeared not far away.

A startlingly strong soul sense swept across Cha Ming as they arrived. It reeked of death and spoke of music.

Cha Ming’s soul was incredibly weak, so he hid behind a tree trunk and hugged it before transforming into bark to hide his presence. Bark with a few tiny eyes poking out of it.

He heard shouting as the group of six walked into the ambush, and a wave of techniques activated. He felt a familiar aura wash over him as a large, burning shield appeared and blocked most of the onslaught.

Lightning crackled and struck the earth where many formation nodes had been put down. Whoever these people were, they had known exactly what they were walking into.

Then came the music. The haunting sound of a flute. Cha Ming couldn’t help but feel sorrow bubbling up inside himself as he saw the small army of ghosts appear and ambush the ambushers. It couldn’t be, he thought, as something loosened up inside of him, and the small seed of iridescence gained a breather in his spiritual sea. It can’t be.

His body moved without thinking. Cha Ming reassumed his human form and sprang into action, keeping his body low and his posture flexible. He edged up to one of the twelve ambushers that was currently fighting six ghosts, and pounced.

The Dao God was caught completely off guard. He didn’t even have time to react, because Cha Ming’s Savage Deity Aura came crashing down on him. Cha Ming took a practiced step forward and attacked him over and over again with the Savage Deity War Staff, grinding away his divinity just as he had the blade wielder not long ago.

The cultivator tried to counter or defend himself with his domain, but Cha Ming’s own destruction domain tore it apart like paper. Every time the cultivator’s demigod body tried to regenerate, Cha Ming tore a new chunk into him with the Savage Deity War Staff.

Cha Ming’s appearance had not gone unnoticed. A fire-wielding Dao God appeared beside him and summoned a burning dragon with violet wings. It blasted out a gust of violet and red flames that sprayed out like a liquid.

The attack forced Cha Ming to break away from his target and give up on killing him. He infused his staff with destruction qi and threw it at the target like a spear. It struck a focal point in the technique and broke it apart with raw, crushing energy.

Since Cha Ming was distracted, his first opponent, who had almost died at his hands, counterattacked. He was a swordsman with a domain of ice and metal that filled his surroundings in icy razor wire.

Alas, Cha Ming’s destruction domain was the bane of all domains and shattered the razor wire. Cha Ming resummoned his staff and threw it towards the Dao God, forcing him to block it or suffer serious damage.

He didn’t see the spear wielder close in on him, and therefore couldn’t react on time when said spear wielder rushed over like lightning and threw a spear through his body. It landed two feet away from Cha Ming.

That same Dao God landed beside the spear and retrieved the spear before throwing it out again. Cha Ming, taking advantage of the distraction he provided, accelerated time for a single second to run up behind the opponent he’d chosen and pincer him. Caught between Cha Ming’s Savage Deity War Staff and the lightning dragon of a spear, the cultivator’s expression turned crazed. His energy became unstable. He was going to self detonate!

“Get back!” the owner of the spear yelled, but Cha Ming ignored him. He had learned to trust his instincts. He accelerated time for one more second, attacked the cultivator with his Savage Deity Aura, freezing him in the process of self-detonation.

Alas, his instincts proved wrong this time. He realized that decisive did not mean intelligent. His aura had given him time, but not nearly enough to destroy him before it went off. Now, he had to face the explosion at point blank range.

That was when a sound pierced through the chaos of battle a second time and struck the suicidal cultivator’s soul, stunning him a second time and giving Cha Ming the extra half second he needed to stab out with destruction-qi-laden staff. The Dao God’s body, on the verge of breaking apart already, scattered into thousands of motes of light. Many of which rushed into Cha Ming, but most of them were lost in the void.

“Are you all right?” a familiar voice asked. It stirred up Cha Ming’s sealed memories, and a portion of the gray mist receded.

“Captain Xing,” Cha Ming said, looking up. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Captain Xing frowned. “Do I know you?” Then his eyes widened in recognition.

“Cha Ming?” another voice said. That second voice was much more familiar. It was none other than Wei Longshen, who’d gone through life and death with him in the Dripping Blade and Burning Lake Prefectures.

A few final screams sounded out before a pair of Daoists, and a pair of Dao Gods appeared. They bowed to Captain Xing. “Prince Tianlong, we’ve cleared up this bunch. As predicted, they weren’t much of a threat. I’m starting to seriously doubt the quality of cultivators who enter the Heartforge Realm.”

Xing Tianlong shook his head. “It’s not that they aren’t strong, but that other planes will only receive ten invitations at most. These cultivators were from at least six different groups and hindered more than helped each other. And to be honest, one of you almost died. If not for Brother Clear Sky’s intervention, there would be one or two less of you.”

Wei Longshen looked at Cha Ming with a complicated expression. “Cha Ming. I should have known that you of all people would be here.”

Cha Ming frowned. The situation was extremely uncomfortable. He had grown used to the wilds and had grown unfamiliar with the ways of people. What’s worse, he and Wei Longshen hadn’t spoken or seen each other since the Burning Lake Prefecture. Also… he thought of something, but that thought burned at his soul, and gray mist swept in to take the pain away.

Wei Longshen coughed uncomfortably. “It’s a bit awkward meeting you here after so long, but seeing as you and Prince Tianlong know each other, would you like to sit down for a chat?”

“Sit down…” Cha Ming muttered. It had been a long time since he’d spoken to anyone. It had been a long time since he’d done anything but focus on survival. “All right. Let’s sit down. Let’s… talk.”

He followed the six to a small base not far away.

***

“So you’ve been surviving here alone this entire time?” Xing Tianlong said in amazement.

Cha Ming frowned. “Wasn’t it the same for everyone?”

“We were brought here in groups of three,” Wei Longshen said. “Then, when all the competitors were somehow through together a few days ago, we were able to use the artifacts we brought to track each other down and reform our group.”

“We prepared for just about anything you can think of,” Xing Tianlong said. “Thus, the formations and the temporary shelter.”

After so long living in the wilderness, Cha Ming could only marvel at these hints of civilisation. They reminded him that had he chosen to, he could have easily created furniture, cooking equipment, and a dwelling.

“I came alone,” Cha Ming said. “I was sent here with a care package but found my soul bound treasure’s storage space locked. Moreover, I wasn’t even given a choice to come here – I simply blinked, and I appeared.”

Wei Longshen frowned. “You’re saying you were forced to come here?” He and Xing Tianlong exchanged a look. “May we see your invitation token?” He and Xing Tianlong revealed bronze invitation tokens, while the others revealed iron tokens.

Cha Ming hesitated, then revealed his clear token. It looked like a piece of transparent crystal. “I think mine’s special somehow.”

Wei Longshen and Xing Tianlong burst out laughing, as though he’d just said the world’s funniest joke. “Well that answers that question,” Xing Tianlong said.

“What question?” Cha Ming said.

“We’ve been wondering why the odds were so stacked against us,” Xing Tianlong said. “Cao Wenluan got a gold invitation, which makes sense, but a bunch of his lackeys got silver tokens while we only get bronze ones. Talk about unfair.”

“And then there’s the White-Eyed Tiger Clansmen,” Wei Longshen added. “I heard they got twenty invitations before we left. I remember them hating you quite a bit, so everything makes sense.”

“I’m confused,” Cha Ming said. “I have no idea what’s going on.”

“You’re serious,” Wei Longshen said, frowning. “Well, regardless, it’s clear that the one who asked Patriarch Heartforge to open up the Heartforge Realm knows you. He must have also sent you here with quite a few benefits, because that’s only way to explain the disparity between people who know you and people who hate you. According to my sources, he has the right to give you anything, but whatever you receive, your enemies will receive double.”

“I remember reading something about that,” Cha Ming muttered. He could barely remember his first day in the entrance trial.

“Bear in mind, we may have even gotten invited because of him,” Xing Tianlong said. “Or at least these four might have been. Not Longshen and I.” His words were a bit rude, but the four did not seem to disagree with that assessment.

“Sorry.” Cha Ming said, looking down.

“Sorry?” Xing Tianlong said. “Whatever for? This is the chance of a lifetime. How about you? How have you been? It’s been so long since I last saw you, and back then, you were a half step into the rune gathering realm!”

Cha Ming averted his yes. “I’ve been fine.”

Xing Tianlong was about to continue speaking, but Wei Longshen shushed him. “What happened, Cha Ming?” Cha Ming didn’t answer. “How’s… how’s Yu Wen?”

The name set something off inside him. He didn’t know why, but his blood began boiling. And the pain that he’d kept locked away for so long came at him like it never had before.

Something snapped, and all the savagery that had built up inside the seed in his spiritual sea exploded outwards. It smashed into Wei Longshen, sending him flying into a wall.

Cha Ming sprang forward and grabbed him by the robe, then pressed him to the wall by the throat. A single motion was all he would need to snap his neck. “Don’t you dare say her name!” He growled. “Don’t you dare, after everything you’ve done!”

Wei Longshen gasped for breath, but Cha Ming didn’t let go. He simply started at him with a mix of bewilderment and confusion and pain. Finally, Cha Ming realized what he’d done and let go of his grip. Wei Longshen dropped to ground, coughing.

Xing Tianlong appeared beside Wei Longshen to support him, but Wei Longshen waved him off and spoke to Cha Ming, who was leaving. “What happened to her, Cha Ming?”

Cha Ming felt the anger boiling up, and the pain come back full force. “She died,” he said. They were simple words that clawed at his raggedy soul. Just admitting that simple fact was unbearable, and if not for the cool mists from the Savage Deity Battle Art supporting him, he’d probably have slipped back into a vegetative state. “She’s dead,” he said. “And nothingto be done about it.”

Grief flashed across Wei Longshen’s face. It was clear that this was the first he’d heard of it. “Who did it?” he asked, wiping a trickle of blood form his mouth.

“A goddess,” Cha Ming said.

“One of Mendin’s?” Wei Longshen asked, but Cha Ming didn’t answer.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with these matters,” Cha Ming said. “No one can touch them in this realm. I will settle accounts with them in the immortal realms after I ascend.”

Now that part of the fog was chased away, Cha Ming realized why he’d probably been sent alone while the others had been sent here in teams. Had he faced these people when he’d first arrived, he never would have woken from his stupor, or if he did, he would have quickly relapsed.

The Savage Deity War Staff might have been a last resort given to him by Sun Wukong, but it was obvious now that without its support, he would have perished.

“Sorry,” Cha Ming said. He packed up his things and walked out of the shelter. The more distance he put between he and the others, the better.

He was few steps out of the camp when Wei Longshen flew up beside him. Cha Ming tried to chase him off with the Savage Deity Aura, but he refused to give in and wreathed himself in an aura of death and misery.

“Stay,” Wei Longshen said. “Talk.”

“No,” Cha Ming said, shooting him a cold glare. Then his expression softened. “I’m sorry I lashed out at you Longshen, but this pain… is not something I can currently deal. If I’m alone, it’s bearable. But with others around, I have to remember.”

“Remember what, Cha Ming?” Wei Longshen said. “Comfort? Company? I’ve seen many bad cases of trauma, but never one where being alone was beneficial.”

Cha Ming took in a deep breath and calmed himself before speaking. It was taking everything he had not to bolt away like a frightened deer. “Longshen... I should not be functional right now. My soul’s a mess, and my heart is broken, and all that’s keeping me going is my need to survive. I can’t have comfort. I can’t have company. I need to be alone. You can’t help me, Longshen. Not here. Not now.”

Wei Longshen hesitated. “I can try speaking with Tianlong. If I asked, he’d take you along despite your injuries.”

“That’s very kind of you, Longshen,” Cha Ming said. “But no. It’s better that I go. Talking like a normal human being is much more than I can handle right now. Please try to understand.”

Finally, Wei Longshen nodded and stopped pressing the issue. “Take care then. We’ll find you in the Heartforge Realm after we pass this entrance trial.” He turned around and returned to the tent.

As for Cha Ming, he left the warmth of civilization and returned to the cold and inhospitable wilderness. The place where he belonged.