The Magistrate: Chapter 16 (Patreon)

Chapter 16

The Cloud and Mist Elders

Disciple Xi insisted there was no need for Tobias to take a carriage. Foundation realm disciples were stronger and faster than any horse. The sect had specially designed rickshaws that allowed them to transport their belongings across the state quickly and efficiently, even if they lacked a storage ring to do so. This would reduce the three-week journey across the state to just two days.

Tobias found that hard to believe, and seeing it firsthand made him reassess everything he knew about Disciple Xi and cultivators in general. Tobias had seen feats of strength and speed during his time at Cloud Sect, but he hadn't seen a man run forty miles an hour while maintaining a conversation and pulling a loaded rickshaw behind him. The fact that Disciple Wo could keep up with him was nearly as surprising.

Cloud Sect had done everything they could to keep Tobias away from their secrets, so except for the occasional elder flying around on a sword, he had seen very little of what they were truly capable of.

"I never imagined that this was what an initiate realm cultivator was capable of," Tobias said in late afternoon of the first day.

"Can't talk," Disciple Wo said breathlessly.

Disciple Xi chuckled at Disciple Wo's discomfort while increasing their pace. "This is only the beginning, Magistrate. Opening and cleansing his body meridians has allowed Disciple Wo to attempt to reach the physical peak of the mortal form."

Tobias had watched the Olympics and professional athletes hundreds of times, and none of them were capable of what his two assistants were casually displaying to him. What they considered to be mortal limits and what he thought they were were entirely different.

"I don't understand what you mean," Tobias said.

"Opening and cleansing your body meridians allows a cultivator to access their full potential. Tempering your body through training is how you achieve this potential."

Tobias had still only read the one cultivation manual, so his knowledge about cultivation was limited. "I thought opening your meridians increased all your physical abilities?"

"It's more accurate to say that it shifts them to a new normal. Strength is the easiest to explain. If a man does nothing to improve his strength between when he begins cultivating and when he reaches the initiate realm, his strength will double. However, the maximum strength he could achieve through intense training would go far beyond this."

Based on what Tobias had experienced, he assumed this meant there was a genetic change to cultivators, but the underlying principles of how the body functioned remained mostly intact. "Since disciples aren't pedantic about reaching your maximum strength before reaching the initiate realm, I have to assume that there is no downside to waiting."

"Correct. Only those who walk the martial path bother with training to their limits as they grow. The rest of us begin earnestly pushing ourselves only after we reach the initiate realm. You will notice that I'm slowly increasing our pace as Disciple Wo adapts to our speed."

"Bastard," Disciple Wo hissed.

"I do this to improve his endurance and agility."

"Bastard," Disciple Wo repeated.

Tobias chuckled. "I've read the size of your meridians influences your physical abilities."

"They do."

"If the size of your meridians is so important, why don't body cultivation methods focus on growing them?"

This was one of the few things he'd forgotten to ask Disciple Ching about.  

"Chi and training only allow you to push your body so far. You can't go beyond the limits of your mortal form, which is why body cultivation focuses on changing the body and these limits rather than focusing on growing the size of your meridians."

"So larger meridians give your body more chi to use, but your body can only use so much, so increasing the size beyond a certain point is pointless."

"Not pointless, just less than optimal. Having larger meridians makes it easier to function in areas where the chi saturation is lower and reduces the risk of cultivation-related injuries. I've doubled the size of my greater body meridians since I reached the initiate realm, but those who walk the martial path would have tripled the size of their meridians by now."

"Why not do the same?" Tobias asked.

"Cost, time, and need. As an alchemist, my energy meridians are more important, so I invest my resources in growing them, rather than growing my personal strength."

Tobias had been careful not to ask these questions in the sect. He didn't want to seem too keen on cultivation. He was extremely curious, though. He was also aware that Disciple Wo was young and might not know what information he shouldn't share. Disciple Xi was not like that. He was old enough to understand how the sect operated.

"I don't fully understand what the difference between the twelve greater meridians and the eight energy meridians is," Tobias lied.

"The twelve greater meridians are a natural part of the body, so like your heart or lungs, you don't have to think about them for them to function. The eight energy meridians are not a part of the body but a part of the spirit. They require conscious effort to use but greatly increase the amount of chi you can gather and project inside and outside the body."

"Why's that important?"

"Now that we are outside a chi-rich environment, Disciple Wo's greater meridians struggle to gather enough chi for peak performance. This is not an issue for me because I can use my energy meridians to gather chi from far outside my body to supplement them."

"Techniques," Disciple Wo hissed.

"Energy meridians are also necessary for techniques. Without them, we could not twist nature. Though it is more accurate to say that large amounts of chi is necessary for techniques and energy meridians are the only way to obtain this amount."

"Have you read the Zodiac Cultivation Manual?" Tobias asked.

"It's standard reading for every disciple."

"It mentions three techniques for growing body meridians."

"I'm familiar with them?"

"If growing your energy meridians increases how much chi you can gather and how much you can use, does that make it easier for you to grow your greater meridians?"

"Yes. In cultivation, every problem can be overcome with more chi or more skill. However, it is significantly easier to create or acquire pills to increase the size of your greater meridians than your energy meridians, so while it does help, it does not significantly reduce the cost."

"Is the information in the Zodiac Cultivation Manual good?"

Tobias had been told that it was by Cultivator Ching, but he wanted a second opinion, because he didn't know if the man was a reliable source.

"It's all anyone needs to cultivate to the heavens. Are there faster ways? Yes. Does that make the Zodiac methods irrelevant? No. The twelve cultivation methods and their techniques in the manual contain the steps used to create every method and technique since the twelve sacred beasts taught our immortal ancestor how to cultivate. The manual only begins to fall behind other methods when you reach the foundation realm."

***

It was well after sunset when Disciple Xi pulled off the main road onto a dirt path. He didn't explain his actions as he slowed his pace to a gentle jog. Bamboo grew on either side of the path, quickly obscuring the road and reducing the moonlight that lit the landscape.

"Where are we going?" Tobias asked.

With how long they had been running for, he'd assumed they were going to be travelling all night.

"Cloud and Mist sect have an embassy at the end of this path," Disciple Xi explained over his shoulder. "We use it for trade negotiations and delivering mail. We can stay the night and gather information on which roads are safe."

"Am I allowed to stay here?"

"The location isn't secret. Anyone associated with the sect is allowed to use it. I've already obtained permission for you to stay."

Less than a minute later, the dirt road ended in a clearing. In the centre of the clearing stood a grand five-story building, illuminated by dozens of lanterns, with stables to the side. There were two doors, one on the left side of the building and another to the right. A servant stood at the left door, below Cloud Sect's crest and bowed as they approached. Disciple Xi stopped before the entrance and lowered the rickshaw to the ground.

Tobias disembarked, examining his surroundings.

Disciple Xi turned to the servant. "We need three rooms for the night."

The servant bowed. "They will be ready by the time you have bathed."

Disciple Wo held his sides as he gasped for air. "I need food."

"A meal will be waiting for you once you are presentable."

Disciple Xi turned. "The embassy is guarded by elders from Cloud Sect and Mist Sect. We are here as representatives of Cloud Sect and will be judged the moment we enter the communal area."

Disciple Wo nodded back. "I can wait."

Disciple Xi led the way, guiding them through the door and down a hallway to a changing room. "You can leave your clothes in here. The servants will have fresh clothes for you in the drying room when we finish bathing."

Tobias stripped with the disciples and followed them to the next room, where they scrubbed themselves with soap and water before continuing to a hot spring.

A large wall enclosed the hot spring, but Tobias could see steam rising above it, indicating it wasn't the only hot spring.

Tobias smiled with satisfaction as he eased himself into the water. The bouncing journey and the prolonged sitting had left him with a bruised backside and aching legs. It was not a comfortable way to travel, but given the amount of time they had saved, it was preferable.

Disciple Wo moaned with pleasure as he dipped his foot in. "These are not normal hot springs."

Disciple Xi raised an eyebrow. "You're perceptive. This spring and the one on the other side of the wall contain aspected chi with natural healing properties. The one in the dining area is the purest source of healing chi in The Three Kingdoms, but you need permission to cultivate there."

"Why?"

"You'll understand when we enter."

Tobias rubbed his aching legs as he took a seat in the hot spring. "What's the etiquette here?"

Disciple Xi closed his eyes and leaned back. "The common dining area is on the first floor. The residences are on the floors above. The building is divided into two halves. We must remain on Cloud Sect's half. Conversation across the dining area is permitted, but we must remain on our side."

The three relaxed in the waters for over an hour before climbing out and entering the changing rooms. The aches and pain Tobias had felt upon entering were entirely gone, and so was the bruising. Tobias noticed that their clothes were laid out, and towels were waiting for them.

Disciple Xi had done something with his chi as he exited the hot spring, leaving his body bone dry. He waited while they dried and dressed, then led them through another hallway to the dining area.

Elegant tables were arranged on two sides of the room, and a hot spring sat in the middle. There was no roof above it so the steam could escape, and an elder from each sect sat on the ground to either side of the hot spring in quiet meditation.

Tobias walked up to the elders. "Magistrate Finch greets the elders of Cloud and Mist Sect."

Neither opened their eyes nor acknowledged his greeting. Disciple Xi and Wo stepped forward and gave the same greeting before they all moved to the table laden with food. They ate in silence before being led to their rooms for the night. The hot springs had left him sleepy, so Tobias turned in early instead of staying up to read a book.

To his shock, he woke long after dawn. The light coming through his window was blinding, and the angle of the shadows cast suggested it was midday. He'd never slept so long in this life. He did feel better after resting, though.

In fact, he quickly realised that he'd never felt healthier. Tobias moved to the mirror in the corner of the room and froze. The acne scars that had covered his face for the past few years were completely gone. His skin was as flawless as a noble's. He began checking his body for his other scars, but couldn't find any.

They were all gone.

His flawless skin highlighted how unattractive he was, rather than improving his looks. The scarring had distracted from his features, so without them, he somehow looked worse. Tobias didn't care about his appearance, except that his flawless skin now made him look even younger. It was hard enough making people take him seriously already. This was going to make it worse.

After examining every inch of his body, Tobias quickly dressed, hoping someone could explain what had happened to him, and hurried out of his room. He looked over the railing to the dining area below and spotted the two elders sharing tea. There were no signs of his assistants.

Cloud Sect's elder turned and looked up. "Your companions are still resting, Magistrate Finch. Please join us. There is much we wish to discuss."

Tobias frowned at the request but made his way downstairs and arrived at their table to find a seat waiting for him beside Cloud Sect's elder. "Magistrate Finch greets-"

"Just sit," the elder said. "We're both too old and uninterested to play etiquette games."

Neither cultivator looked a day over twenty-five, but both had the same pure white hair as Patriarch Lee.

Tobias frowned but took a seat. "What should I call you?"

The man smiled and placed his cup down. "Call me Elder Cloud."

The woman smiled and filled his cup with tea. "Call me Elder Mist."

"May I ask a question?"

"You may," Elder Cloud replied.

"You don't seem surprised by how long I slept."

"Sleep is the most common reaction to staying here. The healing chi emitted by the hot spring heals both physical and cultivation damage. The more damage there is, the longer you sleep. You've only opened one meridian, so you should have woken at dawn. The fact that you slept until noon means you had some serious physical ailments impairing you."

"How serious were my ailments?"

"It's hard to judge these things. We once had a disciple who slept for two days due to poor eyesight. It could be a minor affliction like that or something that could have killed you. Now enough of these questions, Elder Mist would like to speak with you about events you are now involved in."

 Tobias turned to the Elder Mist. "I wasn't aware I was involved in any events?"

Elder Mist paused. "You truly don't know?"

"I think you have me confused with someone else."

"Are you not the magistrate who was assigned to the state assignment hall at Cloud Sect?"

"I am."

"Then I am not mistaken. The events Elder Cloud speaks of are events that have not taken place. Others would prefer I not warn you, but the embassy is outside of sect politics. As such, Elder Cloud and I are free to intervene where we choose, though only on embassy grounds. We were quite surprised when you showed up last night, and both consider this a fortuitous encounter."

Tobias considered her words before being honest. "I have no interest in getting myself involved in any sort of politics, whether it be state or sect politics."

"But do you have an interest in living to see another day?"

"Is that a threat?"

Elder Mist shook her head. "Merely a description of the events you are walking into."

Tobias sighed, not liking where this was going. "I am a state magistrate, so choose your following words carefully.

Elder Mist smiled. "Are you aware that there are factions actively trying to steal Cloud Sect's secrets?"

"No word to indicate such intent has been spoken to me."

Tobias had only been told that three lower magistrates had attempted to do so, and no one had spoken of a grand conspiracy, so it was a diplomatic answer.

Elder Mist laughed. "You know how to leave your words unspoken. That's good for one as young as you. These attempts to steal sect secrets began with Mist Sect, but, like Cloud Sect, they failed. Have you heard of the trouble surrounding Mist City?"

"Nothing specific. All I know is that Lower Magistrate Yun was sent to correct problems."

"Rogue cultivators and bandits have become common. Merchants are being killed and important figures assassinated in the surrounding towns. Mist Sect believes that these events are related to the attempted theft of our secrets."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"As the magistrate assigned to Mist Sect's state assignment hall, you will be responsible for issuing the assignments to chase after these rogue cultivators."

Tobias scowled, hating where the conversation was going. "You're approaching subjects you cannot discuss with me, Elder Mist."

"I will choose my words more carefully then. The lower magistrate currently in charge of the assignment halls is an honest fool. His inability to perform his duties has led to the disappearance of more than fifty of our disciples over the past few years. His actions are not malicious. He is honestly incompetent."

"You need someone who can perform their duties competently."

"Yes. However, others outside our sect do not want this."

"So, doing my job correctly will make me a target of assassination."

"Yes."

Tobias finally understood the purpose of this conversation. "Mist Sect needs a competent magistrate who can perform his assignment without giving in to fear while remaining wary of the risks involved. The sects cannot interfere in matters of state without receiving assignments from the state, so your hands are tied when it comes to intervening outside Mist City. Thank you for the warning."

Elder Cloud glanced at the rooms above. "Why is Disciple Xi with you?"

"Yesterday morning, he had a feeling that it would be the last time he saw me. He insisted on coming with me. Disciple Wo had a similar feeling that this would be our last journey together, but the feeling weakened when Disciple Xi decided to join me. I brushed off their worries, but now realise they were probably well-founded."

Elder Cloud glanced at Elder Mist. "Your concerns were warranted."

Elder Mist nodded. "We are heading for turbulent times."

"We always knew that would happen when the world began to heal from the Great Plague and the chi saturation started to return to more natural levels. Those who have risen in power fear what will happen when we return to our true strength."

"Our enemies are running out of time."

Tobias rose from his seat. This conversation was far too close to something he would have to report for his liking. "Thank you for the tea. I will retire to my rooms until the morning."

Elder Cloud looked like he wished to object, but a look from Elder Mist silenced him. Tobias left the table and proceeded to the stairs, considering everything he'd learned.