The Magistrate: Chapter 14 (Patreon)

Chapter 14

Spring Growth

The poor work while the rich sleep. It's a universal truth, no matter how far you travel. Tobias was leasing six compounds from the sect to house their disciples. Previous disciples of the sect had leased each one in the past, before abandoning them over the past twenty years. They'd had ideas similar to Tobias's but, for one reason or another, had never managed to make them work. This initially scared Tobias until he found out most of those reasons were due to mismanaged funds, bullying, fighting, deaths and gambling losses. Gambling had never been a problem for him, and all the martial disciples that he was hosting were hunters with limited talent, content to slowly earn the sect points they needed to progress, instead of chasing down rogue cultivators for larger rewards. They also weren't the type to pick fights with their fellow disciples.

Uncle Nang was waiting for Tobias at the main house of the largest compound when he arrived. "Uncle Nang greets his Lord."

Tobias returned the man's bow with a nod. "Magistrate Finch greets Uncle Nang. How is everything coming along?"

Children had been put to work clearing trash and scrubbing every surface. Older children were splitting wood or hauling water from the underground reservoir. The adults were repairing and repainting buildings, retiling rooves and checking for any potential problems.

In many ways, they were different from Tobias' family, but in all the ways that mattered, they were the same. Tobias could see their focus, their drive, the need to keep their heads down to survive in this world.

Uncle Nang paused. "There's more work than I imagined, but we should be ready by the time the disciples arrive. Would you like a tour of your residence?"

For this to work the way Tobias wanted, the primary residence on each compound needed to be his. That would allow him to claim that the disciples were guests in his home, rather than tenants, and provide the Nang family with legal protection.

"I would," Tobias replied.

Uncle Nang took him through the building, showing him every room and commenting on the many minor changes that would need to be made. This compound had the largest and most lavish of the main buildings, which were just as extensive as his residence in the sect. It would allow him to host guests without stepping on the sect's toes.

"This is where the central garden will be," Uncle Nang said, sliding open a wall. It's bigger than all the other central gardens combined, so we're restoring it last."

Uncle Nang continued the house tour before taking Tobias to the nearby buildings. Each of them was a much more modest dwelling, built in the shape of a U around a private garden. Outer disciples did not have cultivation chambers or chi gathering arrays like core and inner disciples. However, they all knew how to create a basic formation to gather chi, so they would take care of that themselves.

When Tobias finished his tour, he stopped at the gate. "I'm off to tour the other compounds. I'll be back for the night when I'm done."

Uncle Nang bowed. "I'll have your room ready for you upon your return."

Tobias did his best not to smile. "You don't know how lovely that sounds. The thought of not having to walk up and down the Cloud Steps on the same day is delightful."

***

Cloud Sect traditionally opened its doors to new cultivators on the 21st day of Spring. The week before was when the disciples had their previous year's contribution assessed. Most disciples were well aware of their failure before the actual date, but every year, a few disciples who walked too close to the line found themselves pushed out of the sect to make room for new, potentially more promising disciples.

With nearly two hundred outer disciples voluntarily leaving and a few inner ones, the sect had entered full recruitment mode, with elders visiting towns that hadn't been visited in decades. The recruiters found significantly more talent than they expected, bringing back hundreds of young men who had scored five and six on their divinity tests, with a handful who had scored higher. Anyone with that much talent was never turned away, so more than one hundred outer disciples were displaced by the influx.

Tobias had no interest in housing any of them. They were in their situations because they lacked the discipline to perform to the sect's standard, which, while potentially life-threatening at times, wasn't unreasonably high. Without the sect's oversight, the disciples would do much worse. However, many of them had friends among his guests, and those guests intervened on their behalf, requesting that he assess them. Tobias couldn't refuse to meet with them without insulting their friends, so he had to perform the assessments.

Tobias handed Disciple Tang back his mark as they sat in his office. "You've used quadruple the resources that someone of your divinity typically would by now. Do you know why that is?"

Disciple Tang's shoulders slumped. "I'm a terrible cultivator."

Tobias nodded. "Everything in your record agrees with your assessment."

"This one is sorry for wasting your time, Magistrate."

He got up to leave.

"Sit down, Disciple Tang."

The man, who was nearly twice Tobias's age, leapt into his seat, despite how softly he had spoken.

"Do you know why, despite your lack of cultivation skill, you have been allowed to stay for so long?"

He shook his head. "No, Magistrate Finch."

"You've been allowed to stay because, while you can't cultivate, you are a very skilled junior alchemist. If you had scored more than five on your divinity test or showed signs of improvement at cultivating, one of the alchemist elders would have sponsored you."

Disciple Tang scowled briefly before regaining control of his features. "Thank you for clarifying my failures."

"You've got alchemy skill and drive, but most importantly, you've reached the natural end of your cultivation path. You fit the criteria for becoming my guest."

His scowl froze. "You'll take me?"

"On one condition. You have to work on your alchemy under my assistant."

His eyes widened. "You want me to work under The Pill Monster." He realised what he'd said the second it left his lips. "This one means no disrespect. The name is not an insult. The gatherers are in awe of his abilities."

Tobias chuckled. "That's a good way to describe him."

"This one would be honoured to work under such an alchemist."

"Good. Come back after lunch. I'll have the letter of introduction you need to become a guest."

Disciple Tang repeated his thanks several times, bowing over and over again before finally backing out the door. Tobias wrote the letter of introduction before going to the door and inviting the next disciple in. Disciple Tang was a rare case. Tobias only approved one in ten disciples that were being forced to leave, so despite speaking with forty-five disciples, he'd only taken four additional guests.

Cloud Sect needed a better support system for their outgoing disciples. Not for those whom Tobias rejected, but for those like his guests. Disciples who reached the end of their natural path but had the skills and drive to go further.

In many ways, they were like university students who'd finished their studies and wished to continue as academics. They didn't need to attend class but needed a space to study independently and research the depths of uncharted knowledge. Alternatively, some of them just needed to get a job with a steady income.

Disciple Wo stopped by his office before lunch, and Tobias sent him to find Disciple Xi. Tobias continued interviewing people until he arrived.

Disciple Xi closed the door. "You wanted to see me?"

"I've found an alchemist for you to work with."

Disciple Xi frowned. "I don't need an assistant."

"Disciple Tang doesn't have the cultivation to assist you. He's barely opened and cleansed his greater body meridians and has failed to open any of his energy meridians. That's why I want you to work with him. He's the tonic-making version of you."

Disciple Xi took a seat. "You don't fully understand what you're talking about, Magistrate. Pills and tonics are entirely different disciplines. Making tonics takes a fraction of the skill that making pills requires."

Tobias nodded. "It also requires lower-quality materials. Disciple Tang has spent the last decade creating the same tonic formulas over and over again. He's so good at making them that he can use materials others can't."

"That's not that impressive."

"He hasn't failed to make a tonic in the past three years."

Disciple Xi frowned. "He's using lower-grade materials without failing."

"He's figured out the minimum requirements to assure success. Don't you find that interesting?"

Disciple Xi's eyes widened. "If he's worked out the minimum requirements-"

"Then he might have a methodology," Tobias finished.

"And if I can learn how it's done with tonics, I could develop one for pills."

"Exactly."

Disciple Xi frowned. "Why has he only opened greater meridians?"

"He's terrible at cultivating with no talent whatsoever, but willing to fail repeatedly to succeed. I think he's stubborn. You can ask him if I'm right when you meet him."

Disciple Xi nodded. "Which compound will you host him at?"

"The main residence. I don't have anywhere prepared for an alchemist, and that one has the most space. Will he need an alchemist's workshop?"

"Yes. However, building an alchemist's workshop is expensive. It requires arrays to vent and purify the toxic fumes, others to gather chi, and more to reinforce the structure to prevent it from exploding if a pill formation gets out of control. It takes decades to recoup the cost of building one, and that's with an entire sect of alchemists paying you to use it."

"Is there a cheaper option?"

"Only for elders. They can do everything a workshop does with a pill furnace. The rest of us need a workshop."

"That's unfortunate."

"Nothing is preventing him from walking up the Cloud Steps and using the sect's workshop."

Tobias smiled. "And there's the cheaper option."

Disciple Xi shrugged. "If I think he's worth the effort, I'll loan you the money you need to acquire another compound and build the workshop."

"Seems like a poor investment."

Elder Kang wanted Tobias to build one, but that didn't mean he would. While it would benefit the disciples, it wouldn't be profitable unless dozens of skilled alchemists were willing to use it. Tobias had seen too many businesses fail because of making foolish investments to fall into that trap.

"Then I'll give you the money for the workshop on the condition that you maintain it for me and make me the head alchemist."

"There are still the arrays to consider. Those are hard to maintain, from what I've been told."

"I have a friend who can take care of them. He makes my pill bottles. He's also the only genius without a sponsor."

"Then I accept your offer."

"That was never in doubt."

From anyone else, those words would sound condescending, but Tobais knew Disciple Xi was just stating a fact. Disciple Xi was not an emotional man. He tried to live a life detached from worldly desires like the sect wanted him to. Purchasing pills for his parents and his cousin was a matter of filial and family obligations for him, not personal interest.

"How's your cousin's cultivation progressing?" Tobias asked.

Now that the sect's annual assessment was finished, giving him pills wouldn't be held against him until the following year. That would give his cousin a year to work his way back into the sect's good graces. He had the same talent as Disciple Xi and similar cultivating experience, but he'd only opened six of his greater meridians. With the number of pills Disciple Xi had to feed him, that should change.

Disciple Xi smirked. "I hit him whenever he tries to leave my ki gathering array and shove another pill in his mouth. He's opened two greater body meridians in the past three days and cleansed the others. He's proved he's got the skill. I've proved I can supply the focus."

Tobias smiled. "How far do you think he will go before you run out of pills?"

"The cleansing pills are the bottleneck. Otherwise, he'd open all eight energy meridians without stopping. Sadly, I'll run out of cleansing pills after he opens his third."

"That's a big jump. Won't that cause problems?"

"For a normal cultivator, it would, but my cousin's growth is so far below his divinity and talent that his foundation is completely stable. He's proved that he has no excuse for his lack of progress except laziness."

"Have you considered what you'll do if this doesn't fix him?"

"I'm washing my hands of him, whether or not this fixes him. He'll have to stand on his own feet. If he falls, that's on him. I've done more than enough."

Tobias sighed. "Did I tell you my older brother Roro stole the money I sent my father to help them through the Winter and bought a sword to join the army?"

Disciple Xi shook his head.

"He probably had dreams of glory, which he believed justified his actions. He was always impulsive and foolish. The sort of person you couldn't rely on. His actions were very much in line with his nature. Outside of our family's protection, he survived less than ten days before he got himself killed by bandits. He was a burden."

"Did he know?"

"He knew. That's probably why he took the money and ran. He likely hoped he could make something of himself, so he didn't burden us anymore. But in the end, his foolishness and impulsivity got him killed."

"Why are you sharing this with me?"

"Your cousin is not like my brother. He is neither impulsive nor a fool. But in many ways, he is worse because he's filled potentially and chooses not to use it. I hope for your sake that his behaviour is not a choice, but some physical impairment cultivation can fix because I harbour no anger towards my brother for his foolish actions, he had little control over, but I would be a bitter man if I knew those actions were a choice."

Disciple Xi gave Tobias a sad smile. "Nothing would make me happier than for this to be true, but my heart tells me it's not."

"Let's hope for today that your heart is wrong, so we don't borrow despair from a future that may not happen."

The two lapsed into silence, thinking their own thoughts of what the future would bring.

***

Tobias was technically Lower Magistrate Han's underling, though the man didn't oversee him directly. Low Magistrate Han's return from his New Year vacation in the Capitol forced every magistrate in the city to attend a dinner in his honour. Presenting your senior with a gift was traditional on these occasions, so Tobias traded Disciple Tang accommodation credits to create a meridian cleansing tonic. It was much weaker than a cleansing pill, but also within a magistrate's means.

One advantage of working for the sect was that they controlled Cloud City, not the state. Therefore, sales within city limits were not subject to taxes or state records. Only goods that were taken from the city were tariffed and recorded. This allowed Tobias to accumulate a fortune without anyone in the ministry noticing.

As the magistrate overseeing the state assignment hall, Tobias was the last to present his gift. He walked through the dining hall, past the other magistrates, to the head table and bowed.

"Magistrate Finch commends Lower Magistrate Han on his exceptional service and inspirational leadership. Please accept this humble gift as a token of my respect for you."

Lower Magistrate Han beckoned him forward and took the small box he was offered. He lifted the lid, and his eyebrows rose before a smile spread across his cheeks.

He showed the cleansing tonic to his underling on either side of him. "A fine gift, Magistrate Finch." He closed the box and put it aside. "You've performed your duties to the state in an exceptional manner. Every assignment the state gives you is fulfilled, and it is done much sooner than we would expect. This has not gone unnoticed."

Several magistrates stopped their conversations to listen.

"Thank you for your gracious words," Tobias replied, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Lower Magistrate Yun has requested your assistance. The lower magistrate overseeing Mist Sect's state assignment hall has failed to fulfil one in seven state assignments. Lower Magistrate Yun has asked me if he can borrow you for the second half of Spring and the first half of Summer. You'll be responsible for correcting the inefficiencies of the previous lower magistrate and training his replacement. Should you succeed, there may be a potential promotion in your future."

Tobias knew this wasn't a chance at promotion but a chance to fail. He would have to run two assignment halls at once, with less than half the usual time needed to fulfil the assignments. He was being set up.

"Magistrate Finch thanks Lower Magistrate Han for this opportunity."

Lower Magistrate Han smiled, barely hiding his laughter. "I have faith you will do an exceptional job."

Tobias noticed his dismissal and returned to his seat at the far side of the dining hall. Magistrate Dew, the middle-aged man seated to his right, smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Congratulations, Magistrate Finch. Gaining the notice of another lower magistrate is rare for someone like us. You should be proud."

Tobias forced a smile. "I'm unaware of Lower Magistrate Yun's reputation. Would you be able to relieve me of my ignorance?"

Magistrate Dew enjoyed talking and came from a long line of magistrates. His family was not powerful, but they were woven into the bureaucracy. Their lack of ambition and diligence, combined with a wide network of magistrate uncles and cousins, kept them out of the power games but aware of everything happening. Tobias was almost entirely certain they were spies for one of the other two states or Great Clans.

The Three Kingdoms had once been a great empire, but that empire had fallen apart during the Great Plague. The loss of so many lives made it impossible to oversee so much land, and the Imperial Family had withdrawn to its original borders before the Five Thousand Year Expansion. The state governors and the Imperial Family were so interbred and friendly that war was impossible, but it was said that noble houses fought each other in the shadows.

Tobias wasn't sure he believed that.

However, staying out of their way was high on Tobias's list of priorities.

Magistrate Dew smiled happily. "I haven't met the man, but my uncle works for him and speaks highly of him privately. Lower Magistrate Yun is a member of the Yun family, a branch of the second-tier noble Yun family. I'm actually not surprised you caught his attention with your record. Lower Magistrate Yun is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and flawless execution of any task assigned to him. He only works with magistrates who have proven their capabilities, so catching his eye at your age is something you could build your career on."

"Cloud Sect personally requested me because I lack cultivation divinity. It is unlikely that they will free me to pursue other options."

"Lower Magistrate Yun is also known for stealing anyone with useful skills. He'd be willing to compensate the sect if he wanted you and has done so before. That's how my uncle ended up working for him."

"I doubt he will be that interested in me."

Magistrate Dew shrugged. "Who can say? From what I've heard, he isn't like other men."

"They say that about every lower magistrate."

"And it's always true, but it's truer for him. He's only twenty-four. He was made magistrate at fifteen, lower magistrate at twenty, and he's on his way to being a middle magistrate by twenty-five."

Tobias raised an eyebrow. "Are his family connections that good?"

"They aren't, which is why he's so impressive. His rise is purely due to talent. However, his sudden rise to lower magistrate made him many enemies, and his opponents managed to assign him to some of the worst positions in the state. His appointment to Mist City is his third assignment as a lower magistrate, and everyone is watching to see if he can fix the problems there as quickly as the others. They're all hoping his first two assignments were luck."

"Two is a coincidence, three is a pattern," Tobias muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing important. You were saying he has enemies."

"Yes. If he offers you a position under him, I'd take it. Everyone he associates with becomes a target. Without connections, you won't survive."

Tobias heard the unspoken offer of protection but chose to pretend he hadn't. Working for spies was a good way to get killed, so he decided to change the conversation to a less weighty topic, something to drag out time until he could leave. He had a lot of work ahead of him if he was going to have to travel all the way across the state to Mist City.