STNS: Chapter 465 (Patreon)

Something I want…

Wu Jian tapped his mask. There were a lot of things he wanted, but very few of those were something he believed this ghost woman could grant him. He wanted to get revenge on the people who destroyed his clan. He wanted to build a safe place for his loved ones. Those weren’t things this woman could give… but what about something that would help him achieve that goal? Something like one of those guardians might work.

“Can you make another terracotta guardian?” asked Wu Jian.

Lili Ling looked at him like he was crazy. “You actually want one of those things after all the trouble it gave you?”

Wu Jian crossed his arms. “Of course I do. Those terracotta guardians were strong. They would make a great sparring partner.”

“You mean you actually want to fight them?! Are you crazy?!”

“I’m quite sane, thank you.” Wu Jian felt a little offended, but he did his best to explain. “I need to get stronger, and the best way to do that is by constantly battling against people and creatures stronger than me. Only by struggling every day can I actually become strong.”

Wu Jian had noticed that his strength wasn’t growing right now. That was because nothing had really tested him, really pushed him past his limits. The most he had done recently was sharpen and refine the skills he already possessed. He wouldn’t say all of his enemies had been weak, but the terracotta guardians were the strongest creatures he had fought in a long time.

The battle against the terracotta guardians had pushed Wu Jian to his utmost limit, forcing him to draw out every ounce of strength he possessed and put it into a single attack. Thanks to that, he now had another power within his arsenal. One could only imagine how much stronger he’d become if he could train like that every day.

Lili Ling looked at him like he was mad, but Tang Tiantian placed a hand on the other woman’s shoulder and smiled. “You aren’t a cultivator, so I understand why his desires might not make sense to you, but for those who long to acquire strength, I can’t help but admire his idea.”

“You cultivators are all insane,” Lili Ling mumbled.

“Hmmm…” Queen Medusa placed a hand on her lips. The act pushed her seductively plump lips together. “I do think I have a spare terracotta guardian somewhere around here… Oh, yes.” She snapped her fingers as though remembering, then floated back toward her coffin, bypassed it, then rummage around behind the coffin. She came back with something in her hand. “Here you are.”

“Uh…”

Wu Jian accepted the item, which did look like a terracotta guardian. This one wielded a staff instead of a sword and shield or dual scimitars. Everything about it was the same as the terracotta guardians he had fought with the others to reach this coffin, except for one big difference. This thing was so small that it fit in the palm of his hand.

“I know what you are thinking, but that’s how all terracotta guardians look at first,” Queen Medusa said. “You need to pour your chi into it in order to activate it. Once you do, it’ll grow in size and become animated. I don’t recommend doing that here. These things are quite big.” She clapped her hands. “Now, there are a few things you should know about this. The terracotta guardians run on chi, obviously, and they will last until the chi you used to animate them runs out. Once that happens, they revert back to this little statue you see here.”

“Then the only reason those other guardians were constantly active is because they were running on the power of a leyline?” asked Wu Jian.

“Correct! You’re quite smart. I do so love smart men.” Queen Medusa clapped. She did look oddly happy. Maybe a little too happy?

While Wu Jian was happy to receive something so valuable, this was not the reason they had braved this legacy tomb. Master Yun Chi stepped forward to speak with Queen Medusa.

“My Lady, the reason we came all this way was because we heard a rumor that Medusa’s Tears were located here.”

“Medusa’s Tears?” Queen Medusa looked shocked for a brief moment. “Do people actually want my tears now? I did not realize you people derived joy from my sorrow.”

Master Yun Chi looked uncertain. “That’s… not what this is…”

Queen Medusa smiled, though it looked mocking. “I’m teasing you. I know what it is you seek. Here--” she held out her hand and a bottle appeared from within a swirling nebula, then floated over to Master Yun Chi. “--this bottle contains that which you seek. Do be careful when handling it. That liquid is quite potent, but it loses its potency very quickly once the lid is opened.”

It turned out Queen Medusa’s Tear were not actually tears at all, but rather, a rare and mystical substance that took the form of a shimmering liquid. This ethereal essence was a translucent fluid that glowed with a faint, otherworldly light, exuding an aura of potent chi. The reason it had been given the name Queen Medusa’s Tear was because she made it by imbuing her chi into a pure oasis in the middle of the Qing Province for over five hundred years.

When distilled and refined, this liquid could be used as a key ingredient in high-level alchemy pills, granting them unparalleled potency and power. However, harnessing this power was no easy feat, Queen Medusa warned Master Yun Chi. Queen Medusa’s Tear was incredibly volatile and unpredictable. Its mercurial nature made it hard to control and those who sought to harness its power needed to tread carefully, lest they risk being consumed by its raw energy.

Dangers aside, they had gotten what they came here for, and thus it was time to leave. Wu Jian would be glad to finally get back to the Sui Kingdom, where Hou Jingshu, Zhou Lihua, and Youmei were waiting for him.

***

Silver Moon Lily Cafe appeared as tranquil now as it ever had, a true sanctuary amidst the bustling life of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Everything was bathed in a soft, ambient lighting that enveloped the care in a warm and gentle glow. Enchanting shadows danced along the walls, which contained numerous tapestries hanging from them. The intricate tapestries, delicately handwoven from threads of expensive silk, were complimented by the soothing melodies of the zither, which served as a harmonious backdrop to the intimate conversations of those sitting inside.

Wu Meiying sat at a low wooden table made from polished oak. A cushion beneath her softened the pain she might have otherwise felt after sitting there for so long. There were other tables as well. Tea tables with bamboo chairs adorned with intricate designs. She could have sat at one of them, but she preferred to keep her own company, and those longer tables meant she’d be sitting beside other people.

She was already gathering quite a bit of attention. Wu Meiying’s ears were not good enough to make out individual conversations, but the number of people pointing and looking at her was enough to let Wu Meiying know she was quite the hot topic among the patrons present.

A cup of tea and some silver lily teacakes sat in front of her, though she hadn’t touched either yet. Both were in stasis. She had used her powers over the Dao of Time to freeze the food so it would remain fresh. Wu Meiying would have normally indulged herself by now, but she was waiting for someone.

Time passed by before the person she had been waiting for entered the cafe. The young woman with auburn hair that went down to her knees and almond-shaped eyes the color of a verdant forest looked around as though trying to find a good place to sit. She had skin like freshly fallen snow. The pure white dress she wore with crystal patterns embroidered upon the surface complimented her fair skin and features.

Wu Meiying smiled, closed her eyes, and reached out. She touched the Dao of Time, molded it, manipulated it, and suddenly appeared beside Mei Ling. The woman nearly jumped when she placed a hand upon her shoulder.

“It seems you are having trouble finding a place to sit. Come. Sit with me.”

Mei Ling’s eyes widened. She glanced around at the other patrons, but nobody was paying attention. In fact, they weren’t even moving. This entire cafe had been frozen in time.

“What… you… you’re Wu Meiying…”

“There is no need to be on guard. I’m not here to do anything to you. I just saw that you were struggling to find a seat and wanted to offer you a place at my table.” Though her hand on Mei Ling’s shoulder was gentle, there was a firmness that caused the other woman to flinch. “Come, sit with me.”

“O-okay…”

They went to her table and sat down opposite each other. Everyone began moving again the moment this happened. Mei Ling was so startled that she stared at the people who had suddenly began speaking and moving once more. Wu Meiying was glad for that. It meant the woman hadn’t noticed the way her body sagged forward. She did not have enough power to stop time like that for long. Even what she had just done was pushing it, but she needed to display her power here to shock Mei Ling into compliance.

Wu Meiying hailed down a passing waitress and asked for some tea for her friend. The tea she got Mei Ling was called Da Hong Pao. It was a rare tea renowned not only for its flavor but also its unique ability to enhance a person’s cultivation. Legend had it the tea leaves, grown in the mineral rich soil of the Heavenly Sword Mountains, absorbed the essence of the leylines during their growth. When brewed and consumed, this tea could amplify a cultivator’s power. If they consumed it just before meditating, it would help them gather the yin and yang essence of heaven and earth into themselves.

It was also Mei Ling’s favorite tea.

The woman before Wu Meiying stared at the tea like it was something to fear.

“What’s wrong?” asked Wu Meiying with a curious tilt of her head.

“… Nothing.”

Despite her obvious fear, Mei Ling reached out and took a drink. The tea was still her favorite, after all. She wouldn’t let it go to waste.

Wu Meiying smiled.

“Did you just get back from a mission?”

“… I did.”

“It must have been arduous. You’ve been gone for such a long time.”

“It did take some time to accomplish, but I managed it.”

“Your aunt must be very pleased by this.”

“…”

“What is it? Why have you gone quiet?”

“What do you want?” asked Mei Ling, unable to withstand the subtle pressure of their simple conversation.

“Oh?” Wu Meiying smiled. “I just wanted to ask about your mission and see how you’re doing? Is there something wrong with that?”

“You and I have barely said two sentences to each other, and I know you don’t get along with Aunty Mei Qi. I can’t see any reason you’d want to speak to me other. But you must have one.”

“Hmmm. Well, you are not wrong.”

Wu Meiying began searching the timelines, checking to see what had changed between now and the time Mei Ling entered. She was pleased to see nothing had changed yet.

“I’ve received some information that I believed you have the right to know about. It is quite… troubling.”

Mei Ling furrowed her brow. “What information?”

Wu Meiying summoned a small slip of paper, placed it on the table, and slid it over to Mei Ling. “It’s about your parents.”

Stiffening, Mei Ling grabbed the slip and read the contents. Wu Meiying munched on a teacake was Mei Ling’s eyes grew increasingly wider. When she finished reading, she slammed the paper onto the table and glared.

“Do you expect me to believe this?! How dare you!”

“I do not expect you to believe it without evidence,” Wu Meiying said with a shrug. “However, you can find the evidence if you follow the instructions in that slip.”

“How do I know the evidence I’ll find there is real? For all I know, you could have planted it there yourself.”

Wu Meiying shrugged. “Whether you believe the evidence is real or fabricated is up to you, of course, but I believe you will realize it’s real once you go there and see for yourself. Your aunt did everything she could to remove the evidence of her crimes… but she missed some things. I recommend you go there see for yourself. You don’t have to, of course--and oh! Take this.” Wu Meiying produced a necklace similar to the one Wu Jian wore, though it’s design was subtly different. “It will keep you safe from prying eyes.”

Mei Ling hesitated for a long time before taking the necklace. Wu Meiying smiled as she finished off her tea, polished off the teacakes, and stood up.

“I shall take my leave now. I hope you won’t hide from the truth when you see it.”

Wu Meiying left the pensive Mei Ling to her thoughts. There were now only two futures that lay before Mei Ling, and Wu Meiying was certain she knew which one the young woman would choose. Mei Qi and her allies would now have one less pawn to play on their board.