Chapter 8: Journey Continues

The four of the future disciples were in the wagon. Now that Jin was up, he was curious about the other two.

“I’m Tai Zhen Jin, I’m from the mountain pass branch village.” - he introduced himself, meeting the gaze of two Kai siblings.

“I’m Tai Kai Yuan. This is my sister Chi.” - he pointed at the girl - “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Sorry about all the mess, I hope this wasn’t too hard on you” - Jin smiled. Bei sneered. If anyone, it was him that deserved an apology.

“Not at all, your friend was making sure that… things don’t go out of control” - finished Yuan.

“And you are lucky he did.” - chimed in Chi - ”Otherwise I’d have kicked you out of here and let the clansmen escort you back to the dumpster village you’re from.” she finished.

“Chi!” - Yuan warned. Chi replied with a “Hmph.”

Jin raised an eyebrow. He didn’t quite expect to be treated like a country bumpkin, by a fellow clansman no less.

He looked at Bei.

Bei only looked positively amused.

“What’s up with her? She’s a Tai clan’s princess or something? I thought our clan wasn’t that big.” - asked Jin, smiling.

Yuan sighed.

“We are not. And it’s not like the Kai family is the top dog of the Tai clan either. Chi’s been spoiled by our Grandfather. He’s one of the grand elders of the clan.”

Chi glared at his brother. “I’m here you know! And I’ve not been spoiled. I’ve been groomed by the grandfather, how many times are you going to make me repeat that!”

“Is what she says.” - explained Yuan.

After being ignored again, Chi was starting to get red.

“Nothing wrong with being a little spoiled,” - said Jin. - “so long as she can back it up.”

Chi reddened again. They were talking about her as if she totally wasn’t in here.

Bei’s amusement only grew, as a slight grin started appearing on his face.

Yuan sighed.

“Grandfather did not skimp on resources when it came to preparing us, Chi, being his favourite, received even more exceptional treatment. Her Vitality and Energy have received support that the rest of the clansmen could only dream about. Her mental aptitude however...”

“WHY ARE YOU TELLING THEM ALL THAT” - Chi exploded.

“...is nothing to take notice of, unfortunately, and so her mental faculties are somewhat less developed than they could be.”

“STOP TALKING ABOUT ME AS IF I’M NOT HERE!!!” - Chi huffed.

“I see. But your talent must be pretty good too if you’re joining the Nan Liang house?” - asked Jin.

“I barely managed to scrape by their bottom line. Within the clan, sure, nobody would sneeze at it. At the house I’ll be the bottom tier, I’ll need to work extra hard to keep up, and I do intend to do that.” - said Yuan resolutely.

“I’ve been told that the Southern Alliance is quite anxious to expand. They will not skimp on resources nor will they cut corners when it comes to training their disciples. They are extremely focused, and it puts every other house in a bit of unease. They can’t really put much fault on the Alliance though - it’s just the alliance’s behaviour has been highlighting inadequacies of other houses.” - he added.

Jin looked at Bei. Bei clearly knew things he did not, that’s why he wanted to join the Southern Alliance instead of the Beast Mountain Sect.

Bei winked at Jin, noticing his questioning look. Well, that’s as much as he’s going to get from him.

“I didn't know that.” - admitted Jin.

“Of course you didn’t. Why would a country bumpkin like you know anything? I have no idea what they expect by allowing the likes of you in. You’ll only bring shame to the Tai clan.” - Chi muttered. She was no longer fuming red, her face was hidden in her folded arms, resting on her knees.

“Cannot deny some truth in the girl’s comment here.” - Bei jeered happily.

“I never said I wasn’t a country bumpkin.” Smiled Jin.

Yuan laughed. Finally relaxing a little.

Maybe things will not turn out as bad as he thought they would.

The day has gone by, it was evening. The moon started waning. Jin looked at it. There was no trace of eeriness from yesterday’s night. The memory was still fresh and sharp, yet also seemed like a dream. Isn’t life just a dream though?

Jin smiled to himself.

“Let’s try it” - he thought.

He stole Bei’s Guqin. It wasn’t easy, as Bei could be incredibly perceptive when he wanted, but that was nothing a little observation and some additional diversion couldn’t fix.

Jin slowly plucked on the strings, paying attention to what sort of sound they formed. He didn’t really produce any music. Just trying things. Making sounds. The sounds were not unpleasant. They were just single notes. He gave each note time to dissipate, once it did, he produced another.

Soon, Bei climbed on top of the wagon.

“I’m not very good.” - Jin started.

“Did you think that once you become an expert you magically can play an instrument?”

“I wouldn’t know, if I didn’t try.”

Bei sneered.

“How about I bind you and throw you in the nearest lake. Maybe we’ll find some other expert powers you might have if we try that.”

“Haha, I’d rather not.” - Replied Jin with a note of embarrassment.

Bei sat down beside Jin.

“So what’s the plan?” - Jin asked.

Bei smiled.

“Must there be one?”

A moment of silence.

“Maybe not.” - replied Jin, soaking in the night.

“There’s not much opportunity right now.” - said Bei

“That’s why we need to join a house. For now there’s little to do but wait and go with the flow. All that needs to be done has been done.” He lightly added.

“As far as external matters go.”

“Is that so?” pondered Jin.

Bei threw a flute on Jin’s lap.

“This will suit you better.” - he said.

Another moment of silence. Bei sighed.

“What’s on your chest Jin?” - He asked, in a slightly annoyed tone.

Jin thought for a minute.

“Nothing. There’s nothing on my chest at all. It’s a little strange. Still… I think I’m just confused. Confused and restless.” - Jin said - “Now that I said it out loud, it sounds like a recipe for trouble.”

Bei burst out in laughter.

He took the guqin from Jin, using the chance to “accidentally” hit Jin’s head with it as he was turning around.

Jin flinched and started massaging the spot.

Bei sat down. “Trouble is good.” - he said with a smile, and started playing a song.

---

Jin closed his eyes, in an attempt to enter the void. It took him a couple moments to summon the right memories and feelings, but once he did, inner light illuminated his vision.

“Things are calm again.” - Jin said.

The boy nodded approvingly.

“So this was the aperture space.” - Jin continued

The boy furrowed his brows a little.

“That much should have been obvious? Weren’t you aware before?”

“No. I don’t know anything. I’m on the way to a cultivation house with a hundred different disciples now.”

“So you don’t know who I am?”

“No.”

“I am the ruler of this space. From your side, you’d hear people referring to me as an aperture guardian.”

“How should I refer to you? I am named Jin.”

“I go by Kasm.” - the boy smiled.

“Kasm… Good name. How are we connected, Kasm? How come when I enter my aperture, I’m transported into your domain?”

The boy laughed.

“The aperture is mine, but it is also yours. We are connected to the same spirit self. In a broader sense, we’re one. Though of course, experientially, we are not. All you need to know is that your wellbeing is mine, and mine is yours.”

“Similarly, this space, although created by me, is not for me alone. It is also for you.”

Jin was surprised and still confused. It took him a while to process.

“I see.” - he finally said.

“Since we’re on the cultivator’s path now, we should act quickly. We should acquire Gusu and start tempering the energies soon. I procure it, it is one of your duties. Do you have any arrangements?”

Jin thought for a minute.

“To acquire a Gusu specifically, no. However, as I mentioned, we are on a journey to a cultivation house. I only know that there will be opportunities there.”

Kasm looked at Jin for a couple seconds and shrugged.

“I see. Since the arrangements are in place, it’s all fine then. Let’s resume this conversation once the destination has been reached and the situation is cleared up a little.”

Jin nodded.

“That’ll be all then. Until next time.” - Kasm waved his hand, and Jin got kicked out of the space.