Chapter 38 Friends Old and New

Felix walked toward the Hall of knowledge, humming a song he couldn’t remember the words to. He let out a sigh as the name escaped him and looked to his left.

Xue said she just wanted to practice a movement technique, Iceberg something, but I think she just wanted to stop answering all my questions. Wait, doesn’t her cultivation method prevent her from learning such techniques?

His eyes narrowed but all he found was an empty road and the underbrush at its edge. Not the sound of steps or rustle of robes.

Is she even still there? I bet she went on ahead.

Frowning, Felix poked the empty space. Halfway to the destination, his finger became cold. Very cold. With a yelp, he retracted his hand as if burned. He stared in shock at the frost that was only now starting to melt from his fingertip. Then a familiar laugh sounded out.

Felix blushed for a moment but then he joined his unseen companion in quiet laughter. With a shake of his head as he continued up the path.

Well, do stupid things, get stupid results. Still, she didn’t need to try and freeze my finger off. I mean, I assume that was intentional. Ugh, and the feeling is coming back. I hate that tingle.

Felix worked the cold out of his hand while navigating the way to the Hall of Knowledge. Their guest viewing session had put them in an unfamiliar area.

Ugh, this is the seventh intersection so far. I swear these paths make no sense.

Taking the one that he thought was correct, he felt an invisible hand gentle guide him down the other.

Well, I suppose I don’t need to know where I am going with a Xue powered guidance system. Though I would prefer voice-activated in lieu of her grabbing my shoulder.

“Junior Brother Felix, for Karma has relented and brought us together again.” Said a familiar voice. “Let the Dao be praised for your senior brother is here to offer guidance!”

Felix blinked as he finally noticed the two disciples coming down the path. Then a grin spread across his face.

“Greetings Junior Brother Martel,” Said Felix. “I fear you are confused. Don’t worry, this Senior Brother will lead you to the light of the Dao.”

Martel let out a deep laugh and bound down to meet them. He stopped on Felix’s left and shivered. He looked around, shrugged, and gave Felix a slap on the back.

“It is good to see you’re well.” Said Martel. “I was worried how’d you fair by yourself, but you seem to have done alright. I mean, you’ve already cultivated back to essence gathering six! If I didn’t know you had already cultivated before, I would’ve developed a heart devil.”

“Well, I have had a few good opportunities.” Said Felix. “But what happened to you? I seem to remember a certain someone promising to help me.”

“I had planned to, I swear.” Said Martel, his smile slipping. “I wanted to see you the next day, but I had a sect task to do. Routine stuff but it took a bit of time. I was on my way to find you when Elder Shen appeared. The fat bastard ushered me to the sect entrance, stuffing my pockets full of defensive talismans. It made me look like a government official, I tell you. I tried to protest but he just mumbled something about making room in fertile soil. Then I was out of the sect and developing saddle sores.”

“Oh,” Said Felix, hiding a wince. “I am sure I have no idea why he would do that. Still, are you sure you should be bad mouthing an elder like that? I mean, you never know when they would be listening.”

“Felix, Felix, Felix.” Said Martel with a slow shake of his head. “Our elders may have their divine sense, but do you think any of them are wasting their time watching us? They surely have better things to do than concerning themselves with essence gathering disciples. We’ve hatched many pranks and as long as they are not discussed in certain buildings, we were fine. Like this one time, we played this prank on elder-

Martel was cut off as Felix placed a hand over his mouth. Martel stared and pulled Felix’s hand away

“Felix,” Said Martel slowly. “I am not sure what you have forgotten, but touching other people’s mouth is not socially acceptable.”

“Martel, I am currently under surveillance.”

Martel froze and his eyes went wide.

“Well, I am not sure why you are telling me something like that brother,” said Martel. “but I have nothing to hide. I was just mentioning that one time I helped Elder Ja with chores. HAHAHA”

Felix watched as beads of sweat appeared on Martel’s forehead. Then Martel snapped his fingers.

“Oh, I forgot about it in all of the excitement. Let me introduce you to your newest junior sister.”

Martel ran back up the path and all but dragged the other disciple down. The clearly confused girl didn’t fight it and Felix finally gave her a look.

I suppose that’s what we call phoenix eyes. Though honestly, there is something about her face that is distracting. Besides the fact that she is pretty, of course.

Felix’s brother ignored the girl’s bewilderment and presented her with an exaggerated flourish.

“Let me introduce you to our sect’s newest disciple, Sister Cixi.” Said Martel. “You should have seen it, brother. There I was in the middle of Elder Shen’s mission when I happened to hear fighting from afar. I of course rushed to see what was wrong and saw her surrounded by bandits. As a disciple of the Thousand Season Sect, I of course ran to her aid. Ah, it was a true fight. Together, we beat the bastards back.”

Then why is she looking at you like that…

Bringing his hands together, Felix gave a slight bow.

“Well met fellow Disciple Cixi,” Said Felix. “How did Martel convince you to join the sect.”

“The honor is mine, Senior Brother Felix.” Said Cixi in a quiet voice. “My original goal in coming south was to join the Thousand Season Sect. It is truly my great fortune that I happened across Brother Martel when I did. I have only heard rumors and was unsure what tests I needed to pass in order to enter the Sect.”

“Well, that’s great. I would love to hear all about it.” Said Felix. He turned to Martel. “By the way, where are you two headed? I am on my way to the Hall of Knowledge to study with Senior Sister Xue. Perhaps we can meet up and you can tell me more of your great adventure.”

“What?” Said Martel “Why are you studying with that bitch? Did you really get so desper-“

Martel was sent flying into the bushes on the side of the path. A cold feeling filled the air as Xue appeared over a downed Martel, her eyes ice cold. Felix covered his face and Cixi took a few steps back.

“Martel,” Said Xue “I see that Elder Ja was too lenient. It seems you have not learned your lesson from last time. As your senior sister, it is only proper I help educate you in her place.”

Martel untangled himself from the bushes, casually brushing stray leaves from his robes. He seemed indifferent to the bright red slap mark on his left cheek.

“Senior Xue, I did not see you there.” Said Martel. “May I ask why I am getting slapped when Felix is just as guilty?”

You little bastard. Don’t drag me into this.

“Don’t try to drag him into this.” Said Xue “Since he can’t remember, I’ve decided to forgive him. You though, are on thin ice.”

Martel’s lips cracked into a smile but froze as Xue’s eyes narrowed. She took a step forward and Martel nearly tripped as he backed further into the bush.

“Xue,” Said Felix. “Isn’t this a little much in front of the new disciple.”

Xue stopped and looked back to the wide-eyed Cixi.

“Fine. Well, junior disciple Cixi, good luck dealing with this moron. I hope you haven’t believed any of his bragging.”

Ignoring Martel’s indignant squawk, Xue disappeared. Felix helped Martel out of the bush and apologized.

“I better be going to.” Said Felix. “Oh, Cixi, where did you say you were from?”

Cixi was still stared at where Xue had stood but looked up at Felix’s question.

“I didn't,” She said, letting out a small smile. “I am actually from the edge of the kingdom. I belong to a small merchant family there.”

Felix paused and she frowned at his face.

“Is something wrong?” She said.

“No… I just have heard troubling rumors about the kingdom.”

“What? What have you heard?”

“Nothing concrete. Look I have to go. Cixi it was a pleasure meeting you. How about you come with Martel

She nodded and they exchanged goodbye. As he hurried to find Xue, he heard their voices fading into the distance.

“I didn’t know you came from the kingdom,” said Martel. “Which noble’s region did you live in?”

“That’s because you never asked. I thought you were just being polite. Count Niko’s lands if you must know.” Said Cixi.

Xue faded into existence as they neared the Hall of knowledge. Without a word, they found their way to the table they had occupied previously. An hour of reading later, Felix set down his manual and gave Xue a look.

“Xue, was that really necessary? I mean, you sent him flying with that slap. That just seems like an extreme escalation for fellow disciples. What if you actually hurt him?”

“He deserved it. Also, don’t ask what it was about.” Said Xue, her eyes still on the book.

“Okay, I believe you on that account.” Said Felix. “This isn’t about him deserving it but the violence itself.”

Frowning, Xue finally set the book down.

Man, it is hard to get her to stop reading.

“Look, Felix, physical violence is very common. I am not saying that justifies what I did. I mean, it was justified, but that’s not what justified it. You just need to remember that many cultivators, our sect included, are involved in fighting to some degree. As for there being any danger in what happened, well, there wasn’t. Martel, as any cultivator that has done a bit of body and essence gathering cultivation, is robust. In addition to that, the way I hit him was designed to just look dramatic and leave a mark.”

“mm,” Said Felix. He looked away and shook his head. “I suppose. It still feels excessive.

Maybe it’s just me then.

His eyes met hers again.

“Did you hear my last question to Cixi?”

“I did. Did you think I had run away?”

“No,” Said Felix with a laugh. “I was just curious about your opinion.

“You mean like is she a spy? I don’t think so, but you never know. The timing does feel weird. A more likely issue is that she may feel conflicting loyalties in the future. Still, even if she is a spy, it is unlikely she could really be of much use to the kingdom.”

“That makes sense,” Said Felix. “It isn’t like low level cultivators can really do anything in an actual war. I would expect the experts would fight and once that’s decided, the victor could simply claim what he wanted. It is not like you or I could do much.”

“No,” said Xue. “That’s not what I meant. I was more referring to the fact that she would not be able to learn anything useful as just a disciple. Not unless she was insanely lucky. Though what made you think the war would be over that quickly?”

“Won’t the high level cultivators just fight it out? Bigger fist and all that. I saw your fight and there wasn’t much I could do in that. I would think it would be even worse in fights between Nascent Souls.” Said Felix.

“It is not that simple Felix.” Said Xue. “Beating a high level cultivator is one thing but killing them can be hard. Also, final confrontations are avoided because the fallout is not worth it. A third party could swoop in or some other such nonsense. Then there are the facts that people crushed quickly are more likely to unleash their trump cards. This is all not mentioning the benefit of war.

“So, you mean if war breaks out, it won’t be over quick.” Said Felix

“Well, it could.” Said Xue. “I just doubt it.”

“Then they just send low level cultivators to their death because they don’t want to risk their hides?”

“No. Some do but that is not the norm. Even in the most pragmatic sense, that is a waste of resources and breeds hatred from your followers. Wars more often become a matter of jockey for positions.”

“How does any of that matter if a nascent soul elder can swoop in?”

“That’s where you are wrong. Besides higher cultivators’ mobility, it is generally known that the higher cultivation you have, the more cockroach like you become. Don’t repeat that by the way, high level cultivators might not like it. Where was I? Oh yes, it is hard to kill someone with just low level cultivators but they do add something. Namely when you add in the assistance of other high level cultivators. The assistance of numerous core cultivators or one genius core cultivator can turn the tables in a fight and even one to kill the opposing nascent soul.”

“Alright, I guess.” Said Felix

Still sort of feels like sending lambs to the slaughter.

“Wait,” Said Felix. “What do you mean by the benefits of fighting?”

“Just that cultivators are often pushed to higher heights due to conflict. It isn’t even the accumulation of wealth that conflict brings. Well, not just that. Many bottlenecks and other limitations have been passed due to conflict. I have even heard of people with bad manuals and low talent using conflict to help breakthrough.”

“And how does that work?” said Felix.

“People aren’t sure but there are a lot of different thoughts on the matter. I believe we even have a few papers stolen from the empire somewhere around here that focus on the phenomena”

Felix watched Xue get back to her book and shook his head.

Madness.