ShipTeaser

  “I asked you who you were!” Daiyu said again, her dark eyes cold. My words had obviously grabbed her i, as had our strength, and I was impressed she could tell at a gnce we were powerful, though I was rather curious about her assessment of my Qi, sidering I had an ability dealing with Qi, and I still wasn’t sure how it differed from aether.

  “My apologies. I’m Oshiro Moonstone Akio, and this here is Shaeu Tu Shae Dannan. Akio is my given name, and Shaeu is her given name. She follows Western naming order.” At my words Shaeu nodded regally.

  “That tells me nothing!” The girl said, angry. “I shall not be bullied or coerced, I am Zhao Daiyu, Bck Jade that remains Ever Beautiful!” Lips twisting at the name she spoke, her pride was strong, but I could see the fragility underh it. It’s as if she has nothing else to g to, to keep her together.

  “That is quite-quite the epithet indeed.” Shaeu ughed, amused. “I see why you would hesitate to call yourself so, it must be rather embarrassing, is it not-not?” Shaeu had also seen through her spiky defensive reas, the girl trying to make herself seem rger, more powerful. “I must say though, if you were to smile, you would be far-far more attractive, and perhaps live up to the title.”

  “What do you know?” the young girl snapped in response, needled by Shaeu’s ents. “I would see you smile, when your Sect, your family, has been endangered, likely destroyed, by your own failures! Those who do not follow the Heavens, the ways of the Dao, would not uand, especially a yāojīng such as you! And here I lie, powerless, trapped by my enemies in a fn nd, not knowing if my father, if any of the Sect still lives…” her eyes were empty again, radiating sorrow, and a thin trickle of blood leaked down her from her torn lip, ruby against her pale por skin.

  “Yāojīng? I do not-not know the word.” Shaeu said, and I had to think. It wasn’t one I learned myself, but from the etymological roots…

  “I think it must mean something like a faerie, maybe? It seems simir to other words like ghost or spirit.”

  Shaeu sidered that, before smiling broadly. “That does-does make sense. You have a keen eye.” She plemented Daiyu, though I didn’t think the girl meant the word as praise, and I was soon proved correct.

  “Evil spirit, have you e here to taunt me for my failures?” she cried out, and I could feel aether, no, not aether, but something slightly different gathering in her body, the thiher density of the world around us deing noticeably. “Begone! If you have no wisdom to share, leave me be!”

  She raised one hand, and my Eye fred, seeing the gathering of energy within her subtle body. Well, that’s strange. Her chakra work looks fully funal, but it’s put together in a very strange way. It seemed that the ether was not being turo aether, but instead a strangely simir energy, ohat was gathering in a tral location. Is that a Dantian? My Eye perceived ether aher with pure colours now, when I looked deeper, rather than silver or an iridest rainbow, and most of what Daiyu was gathering was red, or shading te.

  “There’s o be hasty.” I said, reag out and graspihin arm, feeling a faint tremble through her prison jumpsuit.

  “Unhand me!” she decred, unleashing the energy she was holding within. It surged into my body, attempting to render me unscious, but other than feeling a bit sick, I shrugged it off, my own energy to to supress. Seeing that, Daiyu defted, arickle of red running down her face.

  “I had little belief I could overpower you, less still in my current state.” She looked forlorn. “So, this is my fate. Know that I will never bow to your tortures. Disgrace me, humiliate me, tear my flesh, break my bones, I shall endure. I ot rest until I have avehe dead, and saved any who may yet live.”

  “I think you have the wrong idea.” I released her, feeling a little offended. I guess she’s nervous, a young girl, no matter how strong, being locked up alone in a fn prison. “Like I said before, I’m just here to talk. As it so happens, we came into some information about what happened in a…” her eyes brighte that, some life returning once again.

  “You will tell me?” she asked. “I have not been allowed to make tact with anyone I know in a, so I was uo…” she cut herself off, realising she was close to giving something away. “First, answer me. Who are you? Not your names, but who you are. Why are you here to question me?” she rubbed at her arm where I had grasped her, even though I hadn’t held her tightly.

  “I’m a didate, like you.” I said. When I had used my Eye, I could see a Divine Favour within her. “A Chosen of the Gods, if that makes it easier to uand.”

  “I am a Fae, as you noticed.” Shaeu agreed. “I am a princess of the Seelie Court, a Duchess of the Spring of Clear Refles, fiao Akio here. We have the ear of the powerful, so do not-not hesitate to speak. Wisdom for wisdom.”

  “The ear of the powerful?” Daiyu queried. “Does that mean you have the information I seek?”

  “That depends.” I answered. “You want to know about your Sect? Well, to be ho we know little about a, and less about Cultivation as. Until a few months ago, I’d have dismissed it as merely fanciful tales. So, why not tell me precisely what happened, and in exge… well, what do you want, other than information?”

  “That I ot say, until I know.” She breathed out, clearly curious, yet also wary. “I was grievously injured and fell into the sea, drifting for many days, only g’e, the Goddess of the Moon, keeping me alive.”

  “A moon goddess?” Shaeu grinned. “A fine omen indeed-indeed.”

  I shushed her, allowing Daiyu to tinue. “My injuries were… caused by enemies, faithless dogs who have sold out the loage we guard. Since I was defeated, they know the Incorruptible Jade was involved. I…” she frowned, clearly unwilling to speak.

  “Look, I appreciate you are probably unhappy about being imprisoned here, but you didn’t try to escape, when you could have, and you didn’t permaly harm any of the guards.” I looked around at the gouged walls, seeing frustration within the scars. “We help each other. If you cooperate, maybe I eve you released.”

  “Escape? Perhaps, though my strength would not be suffit to overe your soldiers. Qi ot stop steel, not yet, not enough.” She pouted. “As for killing, my hands are red enough with blood. A Cultivator must be ruthless, a daughter of the Five Great Sects, even more so. But my heart is weary, sick. I would not kill needlessly, not when I must save all my rage and vengeance for the faithless dogs who betrayed us.” She groueeth together balefully. “Even were I to escape, I do not speak Japanese, I am no expert with your teology. I have little ce of returning safely to a, and even if I did…” she was trembling with rage and other emotions.

  “I uand. So why not tell me what you ? I won’t ask for Sect secrets or other matters, but you clearly want to know about what happened, right? You’ve been asking everyone for information.”

  “I know my Sect was attacked.” She sighed, defeated. “I have a … a friend, I would suppose. She is not a Cultivator, merely an ordinary woman, but Caishen chose her. The Party that leads a nowadays, they have rooted us all out, the Sects, those the Heavens have blessed, and are f us to do their bidding, like timid dogs eager for scraps, while the master eats rich, bloody meat.” She scowled. “Ordinarily, we would have paid them no mind. We Cultivators live in seclusion within our Sects, doing what we must, as we have since Kunlun abandoned us.”

  Kunlun, huh? That seems important. But maybe for ter. Seeing as she was talking, the words p from her as if a dam was being released, I merely smiled reassuringly, while Shaeu kept quiet, watg with her amber eyes.

  “We were forced to sve away for those the Party chose, strengthening them, at great detriment to our own powers…” she suddenly ughed, a wicked ohat was full of malice, yet also somehow cute. “… well, they shall not plunder mine further, for I shattered it.” after mhter, she tinued. Shattered it? Does she meaerritory? Curious, I trated, and found that I could indeed break my Anchor, even from this distahough I felt it would take some time for the Anchor to be destroyed, due to the distance. Hastily, I withdrew my will. Yeah, not doing that by act!

  “My father, the honoured Patriarch of the Sect, believed there was one who was able to find those with power.” Her face went bnk, and I realised when her emotioo she buried them. I see. A bit like what Tan do nht? She ate such a Favour, I believe.

  “He felt that assassinating this seeker would give us a way out, or at least offer opportunities. reed with us. So, we finally located this treacherous snake, a out with allies from other Sects to strike. It should have been a trivial matter for those as skilled as us.” Her face still an expressionless mask, only the tremble in her voice betrayed her distress.

  I see. A young girl, sent out as an assassin? She seems mature, but I ’t imagine she’s any older than Eri. Maybe even younger. I’m already not liking these Sects.

  “When we arrived, the man was already dead, his guards too. Their strengths had been torn from them, devoured!” she shuddered. “And it was an ambush, those from the Party as that had cast their lot in with them waiting for us. That bitch…” she groueeth. “Well, most of us were killed, and I was gravely injured. I took a ce, trusting to the Heavens, and threw myself from the cliffs into the seas below. I had expected to die, but… the Heavens have given me a ce for vengeance. Yet here I am, trapped and blind.” She swallowed. “When I was rescued…” she hesitated, clearly unwilling to speak.

  “Look, I want to help. But I need you to be ho with me.” I said, and she relented.

  “I was given one of these telephones. I do not uand how they work…” she tinued. “… but I remembered that my friend I mentioned had given me her phone number. I remembered it. Cultivators must have excellent memories.” she said self-depregly. “When I talked to her, she said my Sed many others were on a proscribed list, and that… and that the Incorruptible Jade had beeroyed. Though there may be faint hope that father and some others may have escaped.” Her eyes went dark again, brooding. “I o know, if they live, I would save them and whatever precious legacies of the Incorruptible Jade they fled with, and if they perished…” her face twisted, a hateful expression on her beautiful features. “… then for the Heavens and my Dao, I would seek vengeao cast those who destroyed that which should remain unbroken into the afterlife, to suffer for eternity as they no doubt deserve!”

  I see. Despite her age, she’s a warrior. I wonder if all Cultivators are like that? “So, this friend of yours, you still remember her number?” I asked.

  Daiyu looked at me sharply then. “I have no wish to get her involved. She is a normal person, swept up in this chaos. I will not sell her to you!”

  So, she still retains some kindness. That’s good. “That’s fihough depending on what your future holds, having a friend is never a bad thing.” I leant forwards, serious now. “Since you shared with me, I’ll return the favour. I believe in keeping my word.” Behind me, Shaeu nodded happily. “So, we received a tip-off from America, and it must have been about all the civil u and purges you described. There were survivors, but before you get your hopes up…” I could see her expression ge, so I wao avoid giving her false hope. “… the Ameris ’t firm any members of the Incorruptible Jade as part of those.”

  “I see.” She o herself, speaking softly. “Yes, I should not expeuch. The Heavens are cruel, to make us strong.”

  “Look, are you hungry?” I asked, wanting to soften this hard topic. “I get the guards t you some food.”

  She eyed me warily. “I have been well-fed, yuards are not as cruel as some of the Sects, they treat their prisoners with decy. I have not been disgraced or tortured up to her.” She eyed me cautiously. “When I saw you stride in santly, I felt sure you were a Young Master of some repute, and that my time to suffer had e at st.”

  “Such a thing…” Shaeu burst out ughing, tears streaming from her amber eyes. “I am quite-quite amused! Akio is a lusty male, that is not-not in doubt. But he has no-no taste for f others. Besides, Eri, Hyath and I satisfy him regurly, with others who will no-no doubt join us soon.”

  She looked at me with some pt. “Yes, a Young Master indeed.”

  “I resent that! I’m only with those I want to cherish and make happy.” I protested. “Anyway, you probably are bored of Japanese foht?” I sigo the camera, and the door opened, a guard ing in. “Look, you send some people to a det ese Restaurant a some of everything for takeout. I’ll pay, of course, and you guys eat anything that’s left over.” I produced a number of ten-thousand yen bills. With that done, I turned back to Daiyu. “So, shall we talk more over dinner?”

  ********

  Around forty mier, Daiyu was looking at the massive spread of ese food id out in her barren cell. We’d had tables brought in, and it looked like a proper buffet. She looked hesitant, but theomach grumbled noisily, causio flush with embarrassment. Shaeu was already digging in, stuffing dumplings into her mouth.

  “Don’t worry, help yourself.” I advised her. The look she gave me iurn was wary.

  “If the food is drugged, I swear I shall kill you before you defile me. I have reached the Peak of Foundation Realm after my ordeal, I hold the effects of even the most powerful aphrodisiacs at bay for a short time. You may be strohan me, but if I am prepared to die, you will find me no easy prey!”

  Aphrodisiacs? “I assure you the food is fine. Really, you think I would have my way with you while Shaeu is here?”

  “Men of power are lusty and often have perverse appetites, just like that bastard g Gui.” She spat. “Besides, I am an enemy, held at your mercy, and my Sect is likely gone. I have no bag, I could easily be a toy to satisfy you.”

  “Do such drugs really exist?” Shaeu raised one eyebrow, curious, speaking iween mouthfuls of food. “I know some who would be most-most happy to feed them to you, Akio!” she snorted, amused, before addressing Daiyu. “Eat. I uand your trepidation, but I assure you, on my honour as a princess, the food is quite-quite good and safe!”

  Daiyu looked at us for a moment, before letting out a quiet sigh and reag for her favourite dish. An expression of happiness crossed her features, before she swallowed and spoke up grudgingly. “It is not bad. The taste of home. Although it cks the necessary herbs and spices to enrich my Qi. But as a prisoner, I should be grateful, I suppose.”

  “Iing. There are herbs that help with Cultivation?” I asked, and she paused, clearly weighing up whether to speak of it, before deg to tell us.

  “Yes, though in such a Qi-starved nd, unlike Kunlun of the past, only the weakest pnts grow. Most are lost to us. Though perhaps in time, with the Earthly Qi increasing again, they may perhaps return…”

  Kunlun again, huh? “Well, yeah, you’re not going to find such things here in Japa of all in the food at a takeaway, no matter how high-css.” I joined iing for a while, and we made further small-talk, before we would move onto weightier matters.

  “So, how are you walking about so freely, yāojīng? The world here is not strong enough to support one such as you.” Daiyu was asking Shaeu, her hands now moving instinctively, ferrying food to her mouth while she talked.

  “I have a is Shaeu.” She pouted in reply. “As for how I am here-here, Akio makes it possible. I have a majestic Throne in his Territory, and it allows-allows me and others to dwell ierial world. I am quite shocked you do not-not know of such.”

  “I see. I did have a foothold in the Spirit Realm.” Daiyu mused. “But before I could uhe many mysteries there, I was called upon by the dogs of the Party.” She looked disheartened again. “Even so… do you not worry about children? It is even possible? I suppose you must have other human es, and they give birth. You mentioned Hyath and Eri, yes?”

  I nearly spat out my food at that, and Shaeu was very pleased. “Well, the Fae way of birth is likely possible for us, and if not-not… well this body here is perfect, in every detail.” She grinned. “Though I do-do fear if I was to be pregnant, I could be trapped in this body for many-many months, as it may not-not be safe to abandon it aurn to the Boundary with a child within.”

  “For now, I’m not thinking about having children.” I shook my head. “The world is in grave danger, we o prepare for that, rather than start a family.”

  “I see.” She smiled, seemingly more at ease after my embarrassed response. “So, you were not lying when you said you were someone important.” She looked at the spread, which we were making inroads on, but the sheer amou there would likely be ample leftovers.

  “Indeed, Akio has the ear of this Prime-Prime Minister, and the head of the military of this nd is going to be his Grandfather-in-w. He is the stro in Japan as well, I would-would say.” Shaeu puffed out her chest proudly.

  “I see. A Young Master in truth.” Daiyu replied.

  “Well, not all people with importance have to be jerks and arrogant. I like to think I’m pretty down to earth, after all, I was an ordinary nobody a few months ago. As for being the stro, I ’t say for sure, but I bet I’m up there…” I gestured to the camera, and when the door opened, a soldier came in. “ I borrow your pistol?”

  He looked troubled for a moment, but eventually ha over. I passed it to Shaeu, who gleefully poi at me. “You said Qi ot-not stop steel, yes? Well, I do not-not know this Qi well, but watch.”

  Daiyu looked on, horrified as Shaeu unloaded the full magazine of the Minebea-P9 into my fad throat. I winced as the bullets stung a little, even drawing some faint beads of blood, though that quickly healed. Okay, maybe that was a little risky. But sidering my stats now they shouldn’t be capable of hurti all, so why when Shaeu does it do they… oh. Yeah. Her League.

  “See?” I said, trying to look like nothing was awry. I took the pistol and ha back to the very armed soldier. “I’m pretty strong. So, let’s get down to what you wao know.”

  Daiyu nodded eagerly, so I began. “I don’t know how the Ameris found out, but the sects involved are…” I listed them off, but when I said Mountain Fang, her expression ged.

  “Is there something wrong?” I asked.

  “Mountain Fa were with me that day.” She said softly, an expression of pain on her face. “Brother Wei, the sisters…”

  “Well, at least some of that Sect mao flee a.” I soled her.

  “Yes. Perhaps Brother Wei might live yet, though I doubt it.” she looked down for a long moment, thinking, before she looked at me, her eyes now burning with desire. “I am powerful. I was called a Heave genius, breaking into Foundation Realm at just sixteen. I am far stroill now. Yet here I am merely a little fox. But I would borrow the authority of a tiger if I could.” She wasn’t looking away, resolute. “These survivors, they may well know what happeo the Incorruptible Jade, and even if they do not… they will be desperate to strike back, as I am. We of the Sects, we repay dishonour with vengeance. An eye for an eye. If you truly are the Young Master here, then I ask to borrow your authority.”

  “And what-what will you give for such? Your tale, while most iing, it is not-not enough.” Shaeu observed. “I think it is fate. Akio here, he too has the blessing of a God of the moon.” She revelled in that, very pleased at my new powers.

  “What I offer?” Daiyu paused, and I took that opportunity to speak.

  “We have those with Fht, and we’ve e to a clusion that there’s a good ce these fleeiers might cause death aru in Japan.” I warned. “So learning more about the capability of Cultivators would be useful.”

  “Why would they do that?” Daiyu seemed genuinely puzzled. “Our enemies are the Party dogs and those of the Five which betrayed acy, lig the feet of those who have nht to even and us, begging for scraps.”

  “Well, we have no proof, but we are taking it seriously. Any insight you could give is valuable. I wouldn’t ask for deep secrets, but you talk of Qi. Wheered, you said I was Accumution, at first? Is that a stage?”

  Daiyu looked bitter, before speaking. “Yes. I fot that the blessings of Heaven appear like Cultivation to our eyes, at least without detailed scrutiny. I was surely seeing your blessing. A moon God, you say?” At my nod, she tinued. “Well, I do detect that you seem to be refining Qi, a genuine effort, it seems. The first stage a Cultivator must learn is how to take the scattered energies of Earthly Qi that surrounds us, refining it within ourselves to make it Qi we use. These teiques are many and varied, and over a lifetime one may learn improved teiques. I myself know of three.” She grimaced. “Now, pared to the richer world of our aors, our honourable predecessors, the Qi is thin. My best teique is one from the legacy of our Sect. I shall not speak of how, but it allows a skilled Cultivator to release their spirit and travel to the Spirit Realm while sleeping, where the Earthly Qi is more plentiful. I could never maintain it for long, but even so, a night spent Refining Qi in such a manner was worth weeks of endless struggle here. Not just anyone could master su art.” She said proudly.

  Shaeu and I exged looks, likely thinking the same thing. I see, even before the dest of the Divine favours, Cultivators had a way to ehe Boundary. It sounds like she couldn’t stay long though, simir to when I first began my journey. Back then my chakra work and silver cord were crappy and barely funal, so after a while the pressure built up, and I needed ever-esg amounts of aether to remain. Though now I don’t even notice that, and the perfected works Chirurgery creates seem able to retain presen the Boundary for lengthy periods as well.

  “That’s fasating. Well, I do have a skill that is reted to Qi.” At my words, her curiosity iqued, so I tinued. “My Spiritually Pure Physique rejects the most inferior forms of Earthly Qi and has a slight affinity for the pure Heavenly Qi. Qi within me will be slowly purified, though this effect currently ot elevate Earthly Qi by more than a single Rank.” I still wish I knew more about Qi.

  There was a long moment of silence. As it tinued, stretg out unfortably, I eventually leaned closer, looking into Daiyu’s eyes. “Uh, are you all right?”

  She blinked, seeing me so close, before scuttling backwards, flustered, making a delightful noise of surprise. Whehered her breath, ign Shaeu’s snickering, she spoke, incredulous. “Spiritually Pure Physique? That is a Foundation teique long lost since Kunlued!” she shook her head, stunned. “The Five Great Sects used what teiques we had, improving on them over the many geions since…” she looked at me with noticeably more respeow. “… is it possible to teach me such a teique? ging one’s Foundation, the realm after Qi Refining, is seldom done, as it cause regression aion, but if an inferior teique be repced by one more suitable, taking the risk is worthwhile, and as I have not yet broken through to Accumution…” she smiled sourly at that. “… of course I have not, nobody has for hundreds of years.” She sighed. “… well, the risks are outweighed by the bes.”

  I’m not a Cultivator, I don’t even know how I gai, other than through the High Moonlight Spirit Water. So maybe if she had some of that, she could gain it too. I don’t know… Buyiime to think, I asked her what Foundation teique she was using. Immediately I regretted it, as she was so vehement about guarding her Sect’s legacies, but to my surprise she didn’t protest.

  “I Cultivate the Invincible Jade Yang teique.” She pursed her lips. “The name is grand, and I like to believe it is the equal, no, surpasses the teiques of the other Five Great Sects. But put wings on a pig, and it will still not soar like a Qilin.” She shook her head. “Those from Kunlun would have scoffed at such a cobbled-together art. It is a teique of earth and light, but is more suited to men. I have been trying to modify it to a Yin teique, but despite my genius…” that bitter smile again. “… I have been uo. Even so, it seems I have aptitude for the earth aspect.”

  “Earth.” Shaeu said, making an unpleasant face. I saw that and patted her head, smiling.

  “Don’t be like that, Shaeu. It’s soon time for you to plete the set. I know we do it, together.”

  “Yes, I know that.” Shaeu said, enjoying my affe. “Yet it still-still fills me with trepidation, even though I have mastered fire, water and light, earth still makes me tremble.”

  “You have multi-elemental teiques?” Daiyu was surprised again. “Making eleme in harmony is grievously challenging.”

  “Yes, though I’m not sure you could call them Cultivation.” I shrugged, still holding Shaeu close. Daiyu looked at us, before sniffing, her urned up at our dispy.

  “I have seen some of our most a dots and records regarding the Accumution Realm. One begins fortifying work on the Dantians, gathering a great sea of Qi which best suits one’s nature, infusing it into every aspect of one’s being. If done successfully, higher realms, those from the distant past, supposedly open. Though all those records, manuals and treasures are now lost to us.” Her head drooped with sorrow. “The Incorruptible Jade ends with me, it seems.”

  “Well, why not say it begins anew with you?” I soled her, feeling bad for the girl. The more we talked, the more I realised she wasn’t a bad person. Cold, yes. Capable of great violen the course of her duties too. But at heart she was dedicated to her craft, and loyal to her Sed her family. If my father was attacked, and I didn’t know whether he was alive or dead, then I’d be furious too, seeking vengeance. After all, didn’t I tell Treyvon and Aliyah I’d even go after the President of the USA if I had to? “As long as you survive, you rebuild. And you remember a lot of what your Sect had, right? Besides, maybe one day you recim what you lost.”

  “You… you think so?” she asked.

  “I do. Shaeu here has fulfilled her dream. She got the respect she was denied, cleared her reputation, and eve her main.” Shaeu smiled at that.

  “I am not-not quite done. I go higher, further, with you at my side.”

  “So, you see…” I addressed Daiyu. “… there’s still hope. I won’t tell you something trite like I’m sure your father is okay or I’m sure that your Sect got away because I simply don’t know. I don’t believe in false hope. There’s real hope though. I’m sure your father is happy that you at least survived. And if the legacy of your Sect is so important, it lives on in you, doesn’t it? Rebuild for those who ’t, and most of all, for yourself!”

  “I was the one who failed, if we had only waited, then…” she began, anguished.

  “You ot-not wind back the clock. What has happened ot-not be ged.” Shaeu said. “Besides, if you did-did your best, you should not-not be so hard on yourself. Even Akio and I fail sometimes.”

  “That’s right.” I reassured her. “Only a few days ago… we lost a lot of people. Young people. And a young woman, a didate like me, she died in my arms. I failed to rescue them. I wasn’t fast enough or strong enough. But I did rescue some. I was distraught, but I ’t let that failure weigh me down, otherwise it’ll just happen again. So stand up. You want to find out what happeo your father? Well, you have information to trade with us. I’ll see you get a fair price.”

  Daiyu shook her head. “I am no fool. My value is little, pared to what you could get for my death. The Party and those treacherous Sects, they would no doubt look favourably on you and your try were you to sell me to them. It would show others who may be thinking of rebelling that nowhere is safe. When I see a free meat bun, I always assume it is poisoned. I am seldom mistaken.”

  “Well, dinner wasn’t, was it?” I gestured to the uen food. “Look, I get you are paranoid, lost, but I’m not the sort of person who sells out people to death or worse.” Not uhey deserve it, like Kondou Kazuo, or there’s no other real choice, like with Yamato-saher applies here.

  “You may be an arrogant Young Master, but you don’t run the try.” She scoffed, her eyes hard. “I despise people who make promises they ot honour.”

  “As do we.” I said, and Shaeu nodded. “What it es down to is, our is are aligned. We want to prevent the potential threat from these runaway elements, you want information from them, and need bag, as you’ve lost your own. I provide bag. If you are prepared to let Shaeu bind you to a promise of cooperation with her befuddling winds, you leave here with us right now. And if you agree to help me, that makes you my ally, my friend. And I never back down when my friends are in trouble.”

  “Bind me? Winds?” she asked, wary, perhaps knowing of simir Qi teiques.

  “I have the ability to fuse the mind, it is quite-quite true.” Shaeu said. “We have discovered that a better way to wield such power, is to seek-seek voluntary acceptance of it. An oath holy sworn uhe winds, it sinks deep-deep, and breaking given word then is… challenging. Indeed, you would likely see no-no reason to.”

  She still looked doubtful, but I really wanted her onside. Cultivation… it’s another route to power, most likely. Even if I’m not able to do it, others be. The stronger we are, the better. There was also the suspi that the Red Dragon Tsukiko-san saw in her many visions was also a, or at least somethied, so if it came to battle, having someone who had knowledge, and also apparently a person on the inside… well, I’ll have to sweete.

  “What… what are you doing?” Daiyu asked, sensing the ge in the flow of aether and elemental energy within me. P all of my energy into the sacral chakra, I densed all of my water element into a small droplet in my palm, the water shining silver.

  “Daiyu’er, you wao know about the Spiritually Pure Physique. Well, I’m not sure I teayone, but… for a friend, I’d try my best.” Her eyes were fixed on the shining droplet, her usually stoic expression shattered, mouth hanging open.

  “I’m not going to promise to help you get revenge. I don’t know the full circumstances, and some of the people involved may have their reasons. But if you think that the people involved are as vile as you say… well, ces are they’ll make a move on Japan at some point. And I will not stay silent, or show mercy then.” I made to y palm, but her hands shot out, grabbing my fingers in an iron grip. I could have overpowered her, but the look on her face, of such rapture, was amusing.

  “That… that is Spirit Water!” she breathed, shocked. “Of such purity, and flowing with a great yang energy! Even the blessing of g’e inside me aches for it… where did you get it? Such a treasure is found in the deepest of springs and purest of streams maybe on a hundred years!”

  “Well, that’s a tough oo answer. But… here.” I gently eased my hand free, and pointed a fio her mouth. The shining droplet slid down it, and as it neared her mouth she licked out, taking up the water. Swallowing it, she shuddered. Quickly adopting a mediative pose, she began to Cultivate, and Shaeu and I watched her with our Eyes, gaining insights as the energy was, instead of being ferried to her sacral chakra, broken down and ged, being simir to aether, yet still taining water and moonlight. I see. Just as aether be ged into elemental energy, rather ineffitly, so elemental energy be ged into something akin to aether. Is that the essence of Cultivation? I don’t know enough to say…

  After around twenty minutes, she was done, her eyes opening. “That recious gift. If only there was more. Breaking through to Accumution realm might not just be a dream…”

  Shaeu and I exged looks, but I didn’t want to promise anything else. “Well, I’m sure you uand such rare water ’t be easily given away.”

  “I know that. Though a favour unlooked for should always be repaid, lest my Dao suffer and my soul be clouded.” She looked at us then, weighing up her options, before she asked me, looking vulnerable, more her age, rather than the fident Cultivator, just a young, scared girl away from home, one who was full of self-loathing and fear. “I… want to do what is right. By my Dao. By my Sect. Even by my try, though I do nhese upstarts as the a we swore to protect when Kunlun fled like cowards. By my father, my honoured Patriarch. But I am all alone, and no matter how strong I am, against the might of the Great Sects that betrayed us, I am a chi, to be killed merely to scare the monkeys.”

  “That’s why you should reach out. We help each other.” I said, and she nodded slowly.

  “I… if the time es, when you see what my eruly are, scum who betray, steal and think nothing of taking everything for themselves… would you stand by me?”

  “Well, you did say you were part of an assassination mission, so I don’t think the situation is bd white. But I believe in ato.” That’s why I’m so gutted about Yamato-san. He never got a ce to. Of course, some, like Kondou Kazuo, are lost causes… but if even beings like Duke Formor relent, then maybe… “If the day es when they bare their fangs towards Japan, or us… well, they’ll be shown no mercy by me or mine. I know what it’s like to lose people.”

  “Us? You would stand up for me? But I am one who has killed, my hands are stained…”

  “Mioo. I’ve killed as well.” I interrupted her. “Did you enjoy it? Revel in it?”

  She shook her head, dark hair swaying, in trast to her drab, grey jumpsuit. “No, I regretted the y. But I uood why father wanted me to kill this man, as I uood the previous times. We did not act freed or cruelty, merely survival.”

  “Then I see-see little to worry about.” Shaeu grinned. “Bee our friend, Daiyu, and we shall help each other.” With that, Shaeu held out her hand, another drop of the shimmering water, one she had squeezed out, glittering. With a casual flick she sent it arg through the air, and Daiyu panicked, darting for it, mouth open, only showing relief when she had swallowed it.

  Damn, that was cute.

  “I… find it hard to trust. The path of Cultivation is a lonely ohat is why we group into Sects. Some say it is to share knowledge, but I believe… I believe it is to have those you share the times with. Friends and rivals. Cultivators must horde power. After all, to Cultivate is to seize what one desires from the world, even the Heavens themselves. Such often leads to temptation arayal.”

  “I like to look at it a different way. Being strong alone, I ’t protect everyone. If we are strong together, then we share the burden.” I answered her. “And to prove it, I’ll help you master the Spiritually Pure Physique. I have Shaeu bih her winds if you wish, so you know I’m not cheating you.”

  Shaeu looked rather affro that, but I felt it important to be fair. Too much is at stake. I’m getting a bad feeling, the more we talk about these Cultivators. Perhaps it’s my Fht starting to react… hesitation would only put Tsukiko-san and others at risk.

  “I see. Well, I do not know just what arts these winds are, but…” she met my gaze, dark eyes peering into my grey ones. “I swear it to the Heavens, upon my Dao itself, may my Cultivation be shattered if I break my oath, leaving me forever powerless. May g’e, immortal Goddess of the moon, n me should I prove faithless. For as long as you…”

  My Fht was screaming at me that something was about to happen. I wasn’t sure whether it was dangerous, but it surely wasn’t good. “Wait, stop, you don’t o…” I began, but she tossed her head, irritated, speaking out.

  “… aid me in my quest to restore the Incorruptible Jade, helping me show my ehe justice they deserve, protect me and teach me the arts you have promised, I, Zhao Daiyu, perhaps the st of the Incorruptible Jade, Bck Jade the Ever Beautiful, shall stand with you, and never betray you, unless I am betrayed first, following your orders. If betrayed, I shall not rest until I have struck you down, ended your faithless life! This I swear, the Heavens as my witness!”

  My Eye picked up something then, a vivid streak of what should be invisible lightning, somehow maed ierial, and it struck Daiyu. She shuddered momentarily, energy casg through her work, and the out a hasp, sweat dripping from her. “It seems the Heavens have accepted my vow.” She said, the floor damp from the falling droplets. “Now you must hold to your own bargain.”

  “That was foolish.” I chided her, worried, and the look she gave me was amused, despite her sudden weakness.

  “Why? My vow binds me more tightly than your winds ever could. Do you still not trust me?” she answered.

  “It isn’t that. Your vow… do Cultivators do that often?” Now I’m worried. That was clearly reag up high into the Astral. Too high. I don’t want anything that draws attention to Earth yet, that’s why I warned Saionji-san to be careful with his abilities…

  “Vowing to the Heavens and the Dao is only done when one wants to be absolutely sure others will trust them, so no, it is rather rare. None in our Sect have do iwo hundred years, so the records say.” She said, as Shaeu helped her steady herself. “If I break my oath, then I will never again be able to Cultivate, my spiritual body shattered.”

  “Well, please don’t make any more of those vows. Besides…” I realised then the full weight of it. “A girl such as yourself shouldn’t vow to follow someone else’s orders, especially a man.”

  “Why, is Young Master Akio…” she used my name for the first time. “… going to order me to please him? I had thought you said you were not such a man.”

  Shaking my head, listening to Shaeu’s gales of amused ughter, I realised icked up quite the firecracker. She’s feeling reckless, desperate, else I don’t think she’d have made su oath. But really, she made a good choice. I help her, and her knowledge be of massive use to both me and the Ministry.

  As I was thinking, she spoke again. “So, am I free to leave this pce? Or were you all talk?”

  “No, we go.” I looked at her then, gng up and down. “But first thing we o do is visit a clothing store, I think…”

  With that we strode out past the guards, who stood aside. Daiyu watched them apprehensively, but as soon as they let her pass she rexed.

  “So, what-what is ?” Shaeu asked, and I checked my watch.

  “It looks like the training school and these big-shots Hinata is bringing. There definitely is for the wicked…”

  ShipTeaser