Demonic Tribulations - Chapter 90 preview (Patreon)

Chapter 90 – Yang Mu

Yang Mu stared at her companion, as he came over to her, cradling a teacup in his hands like it was a precious new life. Considering how much chi she sensed emanating from the object, it was quite possible. She wondered what effects one might have, drinking from it.

Such immortal treasures often were imbued with the dao concepts of their maker. As a joint effort between the master potter and Wu Ying himself, whatever dao that emerged was likely to be a cojoined effort – a sharing of concepts that mattered to both of them.

“It is quite lovely.” Then, meeting those brown eyes that seemed to have darkened a touch over the course of the day, she saw the spark of enlightenment that lurked It refused to fade away, not yet, though in time it would mute itself. Like a splash of ink in a cup, forever altering the water itself but requiring constant addition till the drink was changed.

“As are you.” Wu Ying glanced at the new ring that pulsed on her finger. Took his gaze back to her, a smile gracing his lips. “You have been busy too, I see.”

“One of us needs to work.”

“I did mine while we were coming here.” Twitching his hand, he made the teacup disappear into the singular immortal storage ring he carried. A mark of how important it was. “I think, it’s time we found a place to rest.”

Bags under his eyes, grown heavy. A heaviness in his posture and the way he held himself. She could feel the tug of wind all around her, both physical and metaphysical as his moving cultivation technique drew chi into him at a level that she could appreciate.

He must be exhausted, to let her sense that.

“Do you need to say goodbye to your teacher?” Yang Mu asked, prodding him before he walked off and disgraced them.

“No student of mine, he is.” The old woman snorted. “What kind of shop do you think I run, here?” Looking at her actual students, she dropped her voice. “Have you seen something so pig ugly since Cousin Liu sent his grandniece to study?”

The laughter that erupted was unkind, though it was not malicious. The apprentices laughed to appease their master, the master teased to mark an important distinction. To impart the title of student meant more than just a word, it implied relationship and obligation that neither party desired.

“May I at least know your name?” Wu Ying said, helplessly.

“Are you blind, boy?” A finger rose, pointed to a sign that hung above her shop. They both eyed the swirling demonic script, stylized further due to its use as a marker. Yang Mu narrowed her eyes, picking out individual portions but unable to grasp the meaning. “Or just unable to read?”

Wu Ying coughed, embarrassed and the old woman rolled her eyes. “Call me Sistani.”

“Thank you again then, Master Sistani.” Yang Mu copied his motion, offering her own show of gratitude. “I heard something about bargains…”

“Talk to my apprentices. And if you’re looking for a place to stay, down the street and ask for Rastin. He runs a decent inn, keeps his bed clean and the floors swept. He also orders in his meals, unlike the other fools, knowing where his talents lie.” A sniff. “Or not.”

Yang Mu bowed, glanced at Wu Ying. He gestured for her to go, grateful that she would take the time to make a purchase or two. Or, as he soon found out, nearly the entire shop. Just how much did she make on this trip?

Soon enough, they took their leave,Yu Ag had no fear about asking for additional directions from strangers and Rastin’s inn was sufficiently well known that finding the building was short work.

The establishment itself was nothing to look at – either physically or spiritually. Yang Mu noted the old security formations, the worn doors and fastenings and the single older man hurrying down the stairs as they knocked on the barred doors. She sensed his daughter too, studying upstairs with a tongue stuck out as she worked her letters.

“Not our usual standards,” Wu Ying said, softly.

“Eh, we’ve stayed in worst,” Yang Mu replied.

“Normally we’d pick something a little more defensible. Do you think…?”

“Maybe. But do you think he could stand the consequences if we did?” She sighed. “I sometimes think of the restaurant owner we left behind when we visited Nanyue. The formations we carved into his room must have caused him so much trouble.”

Wu Ying frowned.

“We gifted him work that others would have paid thousands of tael for, if they could find a cultivator willing to work for simple coin. If his establishment was not bought over by someone more powerful, the best he could have done was sell the room itself and all the carvings directly. And even then…”

“Yes.” Wu Ying sighed. “Were we fools?” They both knew that the formation’s effectiveness would have declined if moved. Chances were, the proprietor would be ‘asked’ to sell his place, if he had not some other protector. And such protection had cost too.

“We were young.”

“Not that young…” Before he could continue, the door was thrust open and the demon proprietor was there, greeting them. It might have taken a moment to open his own residence, but once present, he was a whirlwind of efficiency.

In moments, the pair were stored away on the top floor of the five level residence. A private bathing chamber, large enough to be a pool, took up a portion of the suite, trickles of steam rising and petals of yellow and green floating upon it.

“I’ll be taking my bath first.” She turned to Wu Ying and added. “If you give me twenty minutes, you’re welcome to join after.” A nod to a nearby bucket. “Though perhaps wash yourself a little before?”

“I’m clean.” Wu Ying sniffed. “My robes have a self-cleaning function. And I utilize my chi to wash myself every day.”

Yang Mu sashayed over to the bathroom doors, putting a little extra hip motion in her walk. She started undoing the belt, dropping it to the side with one hand, then the ties on the side of her robe as she walked, leaving portions of her clothing behind. Turning her head, she slid the top portion of her robes over her shoulders, leaving one bare and the other covered by her hair.

“Well, you can insist on that. Or you can come in after washing. But we are alone.” Her lips parted, and her tongue slipped out, touching the top of her lips before she added. “At last.”

One of the things she loved about him was that, given sufficient hints and a proper invitation, her companion could, eventually, secure the deal.