Immortal Connections - Chapter 46 preview

Chapter 46 - Yang Mu

She should have anticipated the problem. 

Staring at the small army - soldiers and cultivators alike - gathered before her, Yang Mu berated herself for her lack of foresight. It was clear, now with the benefit of the perfect understanding of the present, that past her should have foreseen the issue with traveling at speed with such a large group of powerful cultivators.

No kingdom, no sect, no one with sense would be happy or confident with such a force traversing their lands. The most cautious, the ones whose paranoia about being overthrown would be the first to act, bringing their soldiers and cultivators together. 

Not to mention her enemies, many of whom would be happy to set others upon them to lower their numbers, weaken their resolve. Mayhap, some of her enemies had tendrils sunk into the royal architecture, into the nobles and sects that were standing before them. Perhaps some of these standing before her were sworn enemies of her parents, just hidden behind pleasant smiles and the courtesies of polite society.

Sometimes, she wished that she had the simple enemies of her lover – the primal beasts and cults that chose to meet him with claw and sword directly, that pushed him to the utmost in the martial realm. Even his enemies in the sect had mostly sought to curtail his influence rather than seek his destruction in later years.

Then again, she doubted she could have survived the attention of those he so often courted. Perhaps in that way, each of them sought out the enemies of the same type and strength that they might contend with, that they were each able to manage.

“Honored cultivators and general, you do us great honour by meeting us at your borders.” Yang Mu guided her horse to the front, plastering a wide smile upon her face that was, for the most part, genuine. Best to consider them good customers first, rather than troublemakers. “Though I fear we must decline any invitations you might offer to visit. We are hurrying on to our destination.”

“Most lauded Silver Merchant, fearsome Twilight Spear and, of course, the honorable Thirteen Ghost Seeker. We are honored to have you all visit our humble kingdom. You and your compatriots.” The speaker was the general of the army, clad in darkly burnished armour with the insignia and helmet to indicate his rank. Beside him, his attendants stood as well as his bodyguard – though his own strength visibly pulsed in the ether as he flexed his aura in greeting. 

“Your greeting is warm and munificent, General Wu.” Her eyes darted over to the pair of cultivators sitting beside the general in spots of honour. “I beg your pardon, but I fear I know not the names nor faces of your companions.”

“Ah, my apologies. I should have mentioned them.” From the flicker of ill-concealed irritation she noticed among the pair, Yang Mu wondered if such an oversight was by chance at all. “This is protector Lau and clan head Qiu.”

“Welcome.” 

“We are honored to meet you.”

The pair echoed the introductions in order of their introduction, though again, she noted how the clan head bristled at being introduced last. Behind them, other members of their families flanked the pair, and a third family, clad all in white sat astride their horses. They glistened like sharp blades, their restrained aura almost cutting in its presence. Auras as sharp as the blades they all wore, she assumed.

Once again, routine greetings were exchanged by herself and her companions, the Twilight Spear leaning on his weapon in such a way that he looked half-asleep. Of them all, the old man had taken their swift journey hardest of all.

“My royal master understands that you are not, of course, able to visit him. However, he felt it was ill-suited for such a gathering of heroes for them to arrive and leave without some small greeting and presentation. If you would…” He gestured backwards, to where a series of large tents and the various cookfires had been laid out. 

Yang Mu hesitated, then glanced around at her companions. Though she was loathe to take the time to treat with them, declining the invitation was tantamount to a direct insult. One that she could not, in the long-term, abide by. Even in the short-term, perhaps, for the insult might be too much.

She could only hope that such delays were not planned for them at each new kingdom. Or else they would have to adjust their route, to avoid the smaller and meaner ones in their efforts to reach their destination.

Damn kings and their petty egos.

***

If there was one thing that could be said was a benefit of being treated by a royal personage was that they never skimped on the luxuries. She had experienced much the same before, most recently when they had traveled to the kingdom of Wei and then treated with the Cai, but it never failed to impress her a little at the spread.

Anything and everything that one could desire could be found, the tent itself easily rivaling most dining halls in even the richest merchant or clan's residence. Course after course arrived, delicately designed individual meals with the rarest of meats - all spirit beast farmed and gathered, of course - and vegetables, gilt edging and fine porcelain bowls so thin one could almost see through them. Artwork and tapestries hung off the edges of the tent, each one a masterwork of its kind showcasing everything from royal life to outstanding landscapes.

Service was impeccable, servants moving in and out, picking up dishes and depositing them with the barest of motions, almost appearing and disappearing as though by magic from their sides. The wines were constantly rotated, various peach, rice and plum wines traded out to fit the dishes as they arrived or swapped for plain - impeccably pure, refreshing spring - water. 

Appetizers to soups to single courses of meats and vegetables to desserts. One after the other arriving, all the while Yang Mu and the others defending themselves from casual probing about their intentions. Thankfully, the truth was more than sufficient.

"Down through your... fifth road, I believe? The one that runs parallel for a while before we catch a boat along the canal that links to the Yang river. Once we are there, we will catch another boat and head south." Yang Mu repeated, once again. "There will be no time to trade, unfortunately. Nor have I brought my usual goods."

"Surely the Silver Merchant has some small items..." The clan head was smiling wide, eyes gleaming with greed and avarice. 

"Sadly, no. The majority of the items I have on me for trade have been already spoken for, promised to others along the way. I can, however, ensure some of my contacts make their way to you? If you have a list of needs..."

"Surely you don't intend to pass by my clan as well?" Protector Lau rumbled.

"Of course not. The offer is extended to all here, though whatever information you have needs to arrive before we leave at the end of this meal."

"Surely you can tarry a little," General Wu’s eyes tracked sideways to where the Twilight Spear was sat, being fed by his dutiful grandniece. 

Yang Mu's gaze tracked his and watched as the older man coughed into a handkerchief, hacking for a time before he recovered his breath, his grandniece stroking his back. She pursed her lips, tilting her head sideways, only for her other major player to return her gaze placidly. His lips moved a little, sending a message to her.

"I would not mind a day's rest. There is a disturbing amount of yin chi to the north of us. Most likely an unconsecrated or purified cemetery. Maybe a mass burial ground or an old battleground that's been left untended. It would be good to deal with it now, before it becomes a problem."

Yang Mu inclined her head, knowing that the man was dedicated to his own cause. It was not just a duty to him, but a calling, an obsession. She had never met someone as focused on his duties, and even in their rush, he often found time late at night or during the pauses to conduct his exorcisms, prayers and burials for those they came across.

Just as importantly, she noted how the other cultivators that had joined them were tired, tired from the constant march. While she had not driven them to complete exhaustion, she knew that the lower level cultivators had drawn significantly upon their chi reserves to keep to the pace she had set. Once they reached the canal, she had planned for them to rest and recuperate, but there was nothing stopping them from resting now.

"It seems we might stay the day, if you have space for us." Yang Mu found herself reluctantly agreeing.

"Splendid. Splendid! Now, come, come. Eat more. We have much to talk about tonight, then."

Sighing, Yang Mu inclined her head in acknowledgment. It seemed, whatever she wanted, she would be stuck with dealing with them. Perhaps, she might even be able to turn this to her advantage.