Fatherly Asura

Equal parts pride and frustration came as Fu searched for his Wayward Winds.

This pride stemmed from the fact that Udvah led them so deftly, and to such an extent that their discovery proved impossible. A true ghost, in Warship form.

The frustration stemmed from unknowing.

Hushi shared an old affection, mounting his chest so he might deliver reassurance through a squeeze.

“Xiong,” called Fu. “The [Paifang] stands below. Let us meet it.”

Purple stained the man’s temple, indicative of a recent blow, but he did not complain as he urged the vessel gently into descent.

The [Paifang], as the other had, stood alone. Wardens of gently rising, rocky peaks, where rarely travelled paths were beaten.

But unlike that which led to the great phoenix’s realm, here was destruction.

Dull, or pale now. The arch stood as a broken husk. A four pillared affair with decorative struts aside the main threshold, and each of these held splintered tops as if some Heavenly hand had torn off its cap.

Fu set a palm against it.

Shuidi.

The [Spirit Crab] mirrored his gesture, sharing her mind with their whiskered sage. What returned were impressions of latent power. Not vestiges, or remnants, but undiluted profundity.

“New sights, Gao Fu. Such circumstance brings novelty.”

Truly?

“The [Paifang] retains strength in abundance. Even shattered, it does not fade.”

Aarushi arrived. “Senior, the [Paifang’s] state, this sixty-first rate disciple might guess Senior Udvah’s task is complete. As you have done, the [Mystic Realm] beyond lies collapsed. Are we to begin the next steps?”

“The phoenix’s realm was of [Core Formation Grade], this, of [Foundation Grade]. Seven days have passed since our entry to the trial there, between then and now, he may well have emerged. How long it took for the [Paifang] to become this, only the Wayward Winds will have held the days in count,” he said, musing. “I have witnessed a collapse before, in a realm of similar grade. Not its end, but the haste employed to strip it of resources.”

On a fool’s hope, Fu pushed Qi through his brooch.

As his nature dictated, Su Sai emerged to begin commentary. “Time, then. How fortunate, for I’ve many questions about this blind act you’ve had us perform.”

“Few things can be said that you have not witnessed. The [Reliquary] was entered, its [Trial] complete. To share more would cross a line between what cousins, such as you and I, might say,” said Fu.

“My, this sudden remembrance of Sect propriety, it seems to ebb as tides do,” Sai said, frowning towards the [Paifang]. “You’ve perplexed me. Have the Clouded Courts always employed such methods? One hand to poison initiates and- oh, forgiveness, the same hand to deliver benefits untold?”

Shuidi impressed that she might dissolve his flesh with [Hundred Poisons Synthesis].

It betrayed caution, but Fu now viewed such open challenge as less of a priority where this cultivator was concerned.

Owed perhaps, to the gratitude felt at the [Trial’s] completion. Done not by ghosts but through Su Sai’s persistence.

Or perhaps for the Loosened Tongue Draught he had applied during the great phoenix’s delivered [Epiphany].

“Cousin Su Sai,” he smiled. “Why would you say so dishonourable a thing?”

The man’s face twitched. “To undermine your authority before disciple Aarushi and ensure my survival,” came unwanted words, having his [Spirit Serpent] hiss violently. “I- There is an ailment within me.”

A resonance returned through Fu’s brooch.

Su Sai could not know this, and poisoned, his body reflected this. Fists curled minutely, his serpent coiled, and pupils straightened. “Cousin Gao Fu, it’s clear the [Trial] has overcome me. Our game cannot be played like this.”

“The [Trial]. There is credit owed for it. You completed it where I could not, nor disciple Aarushi. But one bucket does not quell a fire long set,” said Fu, and returned to inspection of the [Paifang] so his back might stand exposed. “The game, as you called it. It will end.”

[Senses] betrayed nothing, yet certainty was never the ghost’s game.

“End. Such finality,” taunted Sai.

His [Qi Suppression] learnt, the man’s techniques would come without warning. If he employed [Inner Qi] to reduce his poison’s effect, this too would be hidden.

So Fu felt the wind, expectant. “There is an [Oath], and if survival is valued then you would swear it.”

It was [Intent] that flew in place of violence.

Shuidi impressed disappointment, for it was one of rage, and equal parts doubt.

“You’d have me bind myself to you? Forsake the righteous and dwell in shadow. No, Gao Fu, this won’t come to pass.”

Fu rebuffed his [Intent]. “Why?”

“The Su will be no base clan. Their name- my name demands to be known!” hissed Sai, now a likeness for his rearing beast. “A toil of generations delivered me here, to see that undone discredits everything. When all is done, when [Thrice Clouded Boa] cuts free this land and her lesser twin arrives in tow, my tale will be spoken. And the stain of dishonourable deeds will not crowd it!”

A fisherman could not judge deeds done for family, and yet, a ghost could not allow errant candles to reduce the dark.

[Half Cloud Step] put Fu at Sai’s ear, and such an act blazed the rage-thick [Intent] outward. Its density such that Aarushi crumpled against the broken [Paifang].

Fu only suffered it until his next whisper. “But what tales are spoken of victims and unfound corpses?”

Dense shadow cast atop the cultivators as the sun was blocked, now obscured by the descending bulk of a dull-teal Warship. The bridge extended aside Su Sai’s silence, landing some few strides from the [Paifang].

“Amituofo,” sounded Udvah, moving with gun-supported step. “This humble disciple greets his senior.” How the met three were arranged did not escape his notice, and his bow showed wary eyes.

Aarushi dispensed her own bow, still frail from the showing of [Intent. “Senior Udvah, this sixty-first rate disciple extends greetings,” she said, and came to his side. “If she might tend to these wounds?”

The Vajra smiled kindly, lifting a fold to bare a well mangled shoulder. “Amituofo. Aarushi has good eyes. But duty comes before pain, yes?”

“The world is vast, but I would think your task a success to see the [Paifang] shattered,” said Fu. “Is this so?”

Passing by the still-silent Sai, Udvah proffered the [True Orchid Path] fragment. “First, a different answer to different questions,” he said, and stamped his gun before the [Paifang]. “Amituofo, this lacking disciple hopes he is forgiven.”

Touched by the [Shaving of the First Gate], violet overcame the shattered wood. Some ghostly silhouette spread from its fragmented tips to reach higher, reconstructing both pole and cap alike to have it show as whole.

Fu set the fragment against it. “It is not [Imperial Realm 6,514]. Not that which you collapsed,” he nodded. Indeed, the connecting star upon his map highlighted a realm some few connections distant. “Then to ruin a [Mystic Realm] does not eliminate the power to travel between them. Brother, have you tested this?”

“Amituofo. Ten times, for this number removes much guesswork.”

A look showed blackness where Udvah’s [Trial] had taken place, leaving but one connection to another realm. The phoenix’s, soon to vanish.

[Senses] interrupted, finding movement as Hushi impressed… confusion.

What comes? This moment holds many factors, let us hope more are not added.

Conscious of Su Sai, Fu looked to the surrounding ground. To small crevices and darkened places that birthed an emergence of flicking tongues. Great then, was the susurration of a thousand serpents as they flocked towards the Wayward Winds.

The sun-facing cultivator met them, emboldened by his exuberant [Spirit Serpent]. “She has come,” he grinned with no handsome smile. “Can’t you feel this? It’s as if we walk through the Divine Clouded Mountain. The reverence of serpents.”

Then he speaks true. Our Elders have come, or at least walk among the Imperial Realms.

He had encountered [Spirit Serpents] in his recent travels, and none had behaved as these did now. Almost dismissive of the cultivators’ presence, for they passed by unconcerned.

From the mortal beasts amongst these ranks to those on the cusp of attaining [Spirituality].

Su Sai embraced the sight. “[Thrice Clouded Boa’s] exalted [Bloodline] extends even here. You’d best put in your eyes, Gao Fu. My Elder sees all, and to arrive when you spout such demands tells much, no? She is displeased.”

A true beast stalled before them. [Foundation Realm], dense, and of snow-white scales. Stark against the deep green irises that flicked between both men.

“Displeasure,” mused Fu, then addressed the serpent. “Is this why you have come?”

Aside, Su Sai’s own serpent hissed.

The snow-white beast spurned it, and instead dispensed a bow in Fu’s direction before ascending the bridge. This unsteadied Sai’s legs as one by one, the Wayward Winds left him to kneel alone upon the ground.

“Gao Fu,” cried a voice ten breaths later.

It was ignored.

“Senior,” it came again, and Fu slowed. “I would not be nameless.”

Shuidi clacked her pincers, much disgruntled as her cultivator returned his own words. “Then be named as ghost, for all know this title. In honor or not, fear holds no small reputation.”

🀦

Udvah regaled Fu with his [Trial’s] tale long into the night, and in turn the details of the phoenix’s were shared. In truth the content mattered very little, save for a basis on which to study further attempts in further realms.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on NovelFire, not stolen versions.

Yet Pinxui had already collated numerous reports. Those upon his table, set aside fragrant, bitter tea.

The scene stirred longing, for his Vajra companion - a newfound second - was no Zhu. In turn, Zhu could be no smiling daughter or diligent son. So they poured over all that was scrawled in quiet, exchanging each leaf when done.

When ‘[Constellation Seeds]: Observations,’ was finished, Fu’s nose wrinkled. An impression that roused Shuidi from her inspection of the two treasures before her.

The [Trials’] rewards. One cerulean phoenix feather, and Udvah’s claim, an iridescent conch that sat aside it.

“Tell me again, brother. What do the initiates know of our task?” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Udvah looked up from his papers. “Amituofo. Small things. The connection between [Trial] and closure is plain as wind on one’s cheek. Yet it was this disciple and Anfang that entered. All others remained aboard the Warship. [Constellation Seeds] were not named.”

“Our heads, and Su Sai hold this dangerous knowledge alone then,” Fu mused.

A croak sounded from Mangalam as his cultivator granted a thin smile. “Amituofo. Our. Forgiveness, Gao Fu, but our heads are your heads.”

Fu only nodded. “I speak as the Clouded Courts, if such a thing is allowed. A frog separated even from the smallest well.”

The surrounding quarters remained as they had on his arrival, clean and tended. He had no desire for any of the furniture or fineries pillaged from the opposing Warship some days ago. But this had it sparse, Fu thought, cluttered where small serpents found empty corners in which to rest.

Those bold enough to enter his chambers, at least.

It drew his thoughts.

“Reverence of serpents. Is it a mortal thought to wonder on the range of our Elder’s [Bloodline]? [Thrice Clouded Boa] or [Gleeful Viper]. A fool would rest easy to know they are near, no? But the [True Orchid Path] is unparalleled in vastness.”

In his absence, Pinxiu had discovered more fragments, and as such Udvah presented his own. A thousand, thousand stars that comprised the Empire of Abundant [Spring’s] domain. “What is best said? Ships in the night? Amituofo, ghosts pass unseen, and no whisper has come of Serpents but this fresh flood,” he said, indicating the resting, mortal beasts.

Hushi impressed thoughts of the phoenix.

“The [Trial’s] guardian told that our way home lies at the end of this [True Orchid Path]. At the end of distance untold, some thirty thousand [Mystic Realms] wide. Our Elders, our Cloudy Serpent Sect stands somewhere between here and there,” mused Fu. “For that, we must act as though their presence is yet to be revealed. We cannot rely on their support until our paths finally cross.”

Udvah stared contemplatively into his tea. At thinning steam. “Su Sai’s acts believed otherwise, no?”

“My hope is that the [Oath] will simmer these passions of his. He completed the [Trial] where I could not. The blind might see his use, if directed. If not, the realm holds many dangers.”

His companion left some time later, having delivered all he had come to say. Notes on the collapsed realm, [Constellation Seed], and behaviour of Fu’s initiates. Of which, spurred by the impressive villainy aboard the enemy Warship, many had progressed their [Clouded Ghost Arts].

Now he turned to his own, knowing well it was a neglected thing.

[Ink] unfurled.