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Chapter 57 – Wu Ying

The winds were blustery and chaotic this dawn, excited by his return to their immediate vicinity. It caught at his robes and his hair, pulling stray locks out to play with and wrap around his face. Wu Ying’s eyes narrowed a little in annoyance, especially when it obscured his vision or tickled his nose, but he knew it was the wind’s method of displaying its affection.

Beneath him, the horse he was riding released an annoyed snort and tossed its head, its own mane blowing around it. Unlike a mortal horse, however, that might be forced to suffer the antics of the elements, the immortal creature beneath his feet stamped on the air it trod upon. A ripple of chi emerged from the creature’s chest, subduing the unruly element.

“It seems even your steed has greater control of your element than you,” Yang Mu teased, edging her mare closer now that it was safe to do so.

“They were just happy and would have settled down eventually.”

“Eventually, being the point.” Yang Mu lips were turned up a small but heartfelt smile. Once she was close enough, she reached outwards and squeezed his hand when he clasped hers. “It’s been too long.”

“Keeping us apart these last few weeks did seem more performative than practical.” Wu Ying glanced sideways at the patrol that was riding beside them even now, guiding them forth from the gates of the Lesser Harmonies Palace to the remaining gate that would take them into the next realm. “Much like this.”

“We will ensure you enter the proper sequence, and afterwards, other patrols will take you through. When – if – you choose to run, it will be in the demonic realms themselves,” Captain Mao said, curtly. “If you choose to run then, or you fail to save the Purifying Flame, you will be declared enemies of the heavens. All just hands and bodies will turn against you, no aid will be proferred and you will be hunted as fugitives if you ever return to the heavens or the Middle Kingdom.”

“So it has been explained to me, repeatedly.” Wu Ying rolled his eyes and then looked at Yang Mu. “You won’t change your mind?”

“If you ask again, I’ll be the first to turn my hand on you,” Yang Mu teased.

Wu Ying smiled tightly, giving her hand a squeeze in gratitude for the unwavering support. It was his quest, but by tying herself to his fate, she risked it all. Perhaps the native immortals were not wrong, in that Ascendants were too mortal. Walking beside death for so long, they had not learnt to value immortality for the precious gift it was.

Then again, better to see all things – immortality, wealth and friends – as naught but dust and water. Holding too tightly to belongings, to supposed virtues and honors led to the wrong path all too easily.

“Tell me again, about the messages that Fa Yuan sent,” Wu Ying said, to pass the time. At the stately pace the horses were striding along, it would take time before they arrived at the gate. Even more whilst the various security procedures were completed. He kept loose attention on it all, idly noting they had grown ever more complex since his own escape.

“In her role as Right Guardian? Or about Tou He.”

“Both. Neither. Everything – about my parents, the sect. I’m curious to hear it all.”

“Of course.” Yang Mu was happy to relate matters to him, speaking quickly of the sect and the politics within, the turmoil caused by his own departure from the sect and, later, from the realm. How it had both simplified and added to the pressure faced by his gathering students, and also…

“They’re looking forward to exploring your mystic realm.”

“My mystic realm?” Wu Ying was visibly puzzled, his features matching Ya Wen’s not far behind.

“The one formed from your ring. What you used to kill Meng Dai?”

“Oh.” Wu Ying chuckled. “I’d forgotten about that.” At the look she sent him, he shrugged. “What is it the sages, say? The more that is given to the masses, the more that I may receive[1].”

“If you are gifting things way with the expectation of receiving more in return, that is in itself, not charitable behavior but selfishness with extra steps,” Ya Wen snapped, butting in to the conversation.

The pair turned to stare at the captain who was staring straight ahead at the console that was still being managed. It was Yang Mu who chuckled.

“Ah Ying is but justifying his terrible memory with grand thoughts.”

“I am content with what I have.” He patted the horse beneath him, turned and gifted Yang Mu a smile. “A good steed, fine robes and a beautiful companion by my side. What a good thing.” A hand drifted to his sword. “A straight jian to ward off demons and a world to see, what more could I ask for? What else I might require, I can pick from the ground or pluck from the heavens. When I gifted the king my ring, it was with all my heart and all the burdens it came with.

“Let another pick it up. I have enough.”

Yang Mu blushed. She ducked her head, even as the shift in heavenly chi around them signaled the opening of the portal.

“Oh, so wise. Does it not bother that others will make use of what you created? Do you not want to gift it to others?”

“What others? My parents have no need for such riches, nor could they protect it if they sought it out. My friends walk their own paths, and the sect itself has grasping hands and hungry eyes enough. Let them take on those burdens.” He shook his head, kicking the mare to follow after Yang Mu as the patrol parted in front of them, such that they could enter the swirling vortex of energies that was the center of the portal gate.

“Already, Captain Mao, what I have is more than I can hold. What troubles I have found, perhaps more than I can carry. Why would I seek to burden myself further, with matters of the Middle Kingdom. After all, even the Jade Emperor has decreed that we immortals should look upwards and leave the Middle Kingdom to its own devices.”

With those last ringing words, his horse entered the swirling gates, tugging him forwards. Onto the path set out before him by the Jade Empress. To save a friend, to wage a war against a realm.

Exactly the opposite of what the Dao would demand of him. But he had never claimed to be a sage.

[1] From the 81st Chapter of the Dao De Jing – “The sage does not hoard.

The more he does for others,

The more he has.

The more he thereby gives to others,

The ever more he gets.”