Demonic Tribulations - Chapter 3 preview (Patreon)

Chapter 3 – Wu Ying

Captain Mao strode forward, the metal tipped end of his guandao striking the ground with each footstep. Flanking him before the open gates of the palace were four members of the palace guard, two more than there had been upon Wu Ying’s first arrival. Further behind, inside the palace itself, he noted another quartet of guards waiting, their spears held at attention.

“Guardian Chu. Welcome back to the Palace of Lesser Harmonies,” Captain Mao greeted the other, as he stepped off his horse and walked forward, leaving the reins of his steed hanging by the creature’s side. So was well trained and intelligent was the creature that it did not move when left alone.

“Captain Mao, thank you for your kind words. It is good to be back.” Guardian Chu made a small gesture and the guards by Wu Ying and Fa Yuan gestured for them to get off. If he had not been another immortal, descending from the steed with his hands bound and his feet weighed down would have been difficult. For an immortal however, it was only mildly inconvenient, even though he could not call upon the aid of the wind in any way.

The chains holding him were enchanted in a variety of manners, most of all, to cut off his own sense of the Dao. It was a strange thing, to be part of the world, and yet separated from the inner workings of it. Not entirely, of course, but he floated upon the Dao and the world around him like oil on top of water, unable to access the Dao without the application of will.

“I present to you the fugitive Long Wu Ying, once a guest of the Palace of Lesser Harmonies and the latest addition to the Palace as a guest, new Ascendant Yang Mu. His partner and potential accomplice in his law breaking,” Guardian Chu said.

“She has broken no laws,” Wu Ying growled, rattling the chains on his arms. “You know this. You prejudice Captain Mao against her with such words.”

“I would have been anyway, knowing she is your woman. No one of good sense would mingle with a lawbreaker like you,” Captain Mao said. “Your very existence taints all that interact with you, spreading the taint of your vile deeds.”

Yang Mu’s eyes grow flat at the pronouncements, her back drawing upwards. She stared at the other, but Wu Ying stepping forward distracted her from what she might have said. “I apologise for whatever troubles I might have caused you, Captain.” Bowing, Wu Ying straightened. “However, I ask that you keep your mind open to all others who might have relations to me. After all, Guardian Chu and yourself are amongst those.”

“And how we’ve been smeared.” Then a sneer, as his gaze turned to Xin Gang. “Though I understand you might have found opportunity in your journey through the realms.”

“I have?” Guardian Chu said, surprised.

“Do not play games with me. I have tired of them. Your many letters and warnings about a crumbling and rotting bureaucracy in the lower realms have sparked much discussion amongst the palace. So much so it has even reached those of us who are in disfavor.” Another sneer, this time though it seemed to Wu Ying to have been turned on himself. “Of course, there is much discussion and argument about how such a thing could happen. After all, finding such rot is the job of the Ministry of Justice. That a mere guard from the Ministry of State found such matters…”

To Wu Ying’s amusement, the dawning horror of events and Guardian Chu’s unbending pursuit of duty as he saw it played out across the man’s face. Befuddlement to surprise to slow horror and fear before, surprisingly, firming to resolve. That unbreakable resolve that had been so much of the other man’s character in all their interactions.

It was that unyielding honor, that righteous sense of duty that Wu Ying grudgingly admired. It was why he had endeavored to trick, flee and otherwise distract his pursuers rather than harm than directly – not that he actually believed he had a chance in beating the. In anything but the ability to flee, even the lowest member of the retinue were his superiors.

In time, perhaps, he might match them; but he was still coming to terms with his own immortality. Though his mortal self might have been burnt away in the searing light of tribulation, the gaps that had once been mortal were still present; patched over by immortal chi and a developing dao.

That immersion in the dao, in immortal chi would take years, perhaps even decades to resolve. He would have to study and sublimate himself in the Dao, to understand his own path within it; and slowly emerge stronger.

“It is good that my entreaties have an effect,” Guardian Chu said, softly. “I look forward to justice being enacted on all those who have broken faith with the Jade Empire.”

“Do you know, Ah Gang, that sometimes, your prissy demeanor is quite offensive,” Captain Mao muttered. “Well, so be it. Just know that there is even discussion of having the individual who was so rigorous in finding such mistakes be elevated to the position of roaming investigator for the State department.” A voice dropped, laced with meaning. “Independent of the Ministry of Justice.”

Guardian Chu was silent to the words, though the implications… Even Wu Ying with only a few months worth of education in the court bureaucracy could understand that such a role was unique. Dangerous. It was what the Ministry of Justice was meant to do, and the creation – and staffing – of such a role with the approval of the Jade Emperor was an usurpation of the duties, showcasing a staggering lack of trust.

Yang Mu was silent throughout this entire display, her head turning from one to the other as they spoke. Her eyes glittered in that way of hers, and though she might not have the same education in immortal bureaucracy as Wu Ying had recently received, the various governmental pillars of a mortal kingdom below was patterned on the celestial above. Moreso, unlike Wu Ying, she had received a proper education on the government bureaucracies and the implications of such things, perhaps even more than a mortal scholar might have.

After all, the implications of changes in mortal bureaucracy was rarely discussed, more a trained understanding gained by experience or reading between the lines of history. Whereas as the daughter of a pair of Nascent Soul cultivators, Yang Mu was likely to experience and manipulate governments to her bidding on the regular. As the daughter of a famed merchant more so, she might even request certain privileges for her goods, if such favors were not otherwise to outstanding.

“Captain Mao,” Guardian Chu’s voice had grown colder, the earlier warmth upon seeing the other faded, “do you formally take charge of Ascendants Yang and Long?”

Brought back to the point of why they were here, drawn away from his earlier taunting, Captain Mao gestured. The four guards from within the building trooped forward, all four flanking Wu Ying and pushing Yang Mu away from his side by their very presence. None took charge of her directly, though she was well within their reach. “I do. You are relieved, Guardian Chu.”

“Thank you.” Xin Gang turned then, to stare at Wu Ying and Yang Mu. He might have chosen to say something, but in the end, he mounted his steed without another word and retired. The last thing that Wu Ying saw of the group was the staring, diviner’s eyes of Guard Qin. A gaze filled with malice and a foreshadowing of future accounting.

Then, they were gone and he was being led into the gates of the palace itself.