The Magistrate: Chapter 17 (Patreon)

Chapter 17

Elder Tan

The following day, Disciple Xi slowed his pace as they reached Mist City's gate. It was late afternoon, and there were too many mortals moving through the streets for him to continue running as fast as he liked. An accidental collision could leave them crippled. Slowing down allowed Disciple Wo to catch his breath and ask the questions he'd been wanting to ask all day.

"Why are we going straight to the sect?"

Tobias leaned back, enjoying the slower, less bumpy ride. "My assignment papers instruct me to report to Lower Magistrate Yun's office at dawn, twenty-three days from now. It stipulates that I should not report to him before that date."

"So, we're going to the sect without an assignment?"

"Elder Mist gave me a formal invitation to study at Mist Sect this morning. Your names were attached."

"What did they want in return?"

Tobias sighed. "It's nothing you have to worry about."

"It sounds like they're trying to bribe you."

"It's only a bribe if I use their invitation to study cultivation. If I use it to prepare for my assignment, it's not bribery."

Disciple Wo chuckled. "Magistrate, are you seriously planning to use an open invitation to study at Mist Sect to come through their archives to prepare for your assignment?"

Tobias nodded.

"Do you have any idea how valuable this opportunity is?"

"Do you have any idea how easy it is to be executed for corruption when your superiors don't like you?"

Disciple Wo winced and fell silent.

Disciple Xi followed the curve of the road towards the cliff face at the far edge of Mist City. Just before they reached it, the streets gave way to a deep canyon and a massive bridge that spanned the divide. To the right of the bridge were the Mist Falls. A spirit waterfall that erupted from the middle of the enormous cliff and turned into mist before it reached the ground, soaking the sect of the far side of the bridge with a water-chi-rich mist.

Only during extremely heavy rain did the falls hold together and reach the canyon floor, cutting a violent torrent that ripped a path through the countryside. The aftermath of the destruction always led to five years of plenty, so the floods were welcomed, not hated.

Tobias took note of the people on the bridge. Goods of all varieties were being brought across under tarps to protect them from the stray mist that fell. The city they had passed through and the bridge they were crossing showed a lot more trade and interaction than Cloud Sect. The ease of transport was likely the reason. Compared to the Cloud Mountains, it was a simple matter to reach Mist City and cross the bridge, even though it was a quarter of a mile long.

Disciple Xi slowed to a walk as they reached the far side of the bridge and then found a spot to leave the rickshaw near the entrance to the sect. He used a technique on Disciple Wo to remove any dirt and sweat from his body, and then the three made their way to the sect entrance on foot.

A constant stream of servants entered and exited the gate, moving to the merchants' wagons to unload their goods. Beside the gate sat the most beautiful woman Tobias had ever seen. She was poised and refined with jet-black hair that caught the light and features that made his young heart thump in his chest.

Tobias walked past his assistants and tried not to stare as he bowed to the elder and offered the scroll Elder Mist had given him. "Magistrate Finch greets Elder Lin, the Gatekeeper of Mist Sect."

She glanced at the documents. "I expected you earlier." She motioned to three younger women inside the gate, and they came forward. "These are your guides. They will give you and your assistants a tour of our sect so you can decide what you wish to study. You and your assistants have my permission to remain within our sect between dawn and dusk. If you are found within these walls outside this period, you will be executed."

Tobias nodded. "My assistants and I will respect your rules, Elder Lin."

"Welcome to Mist Sect, Magistrate Finch."

Tobias cupped his hands and bowed. "Thank you for having us, Elder Lin." He turned to his guide and felt his teenage hormones kick him in the teeth. His guide was even prettier than Elder Lin.

She bowed to Tobias. "Core Disciple Shen greets Magistrate Finch."

Tobias returned the bow. "Magistrate Finch greets Core Disciple Shen. Are you by any chance related to Outer Disciple Shen of Cloud Sect?"

She smiled. "You know my cousin?"

"Not well, but we've met on several occasions."

"How might this one be of assistance?"

"Since it's late in the day, we'll limit ourselves to a quick tour of the sect. I would like to know where everything is."

She handed him an umbrella. "Follow me, please, Magistrate Finch."

Disciple Shen turned and led him inside. The sect was divided into outer, inner, core, and elder districts, with the more important districts closer to the waterfall. Mist fell on every surface, causing everything to remain wet. Small drains ran beside the footpaths, holding a constant trickle of water. Moss was used instead of grass, so the sect had an otherworldly feel.

Disciple Shen took Tobias through the sect as he'd asked, showing him where everything of importance was before ending their tour at the entrance to the sect. By that point, the sun was beginning to set in the distance, and Tobias went to join Disciple Xi and Wo, who were waiting out front.

"How were your tours?" He asked as they began walking to the rickshaw.

Disciple Xi smiled. "I wrongfully assumed we would need to prove ourselves. I visited their alchemy workshop and met Elder Zhao. After reading my notes, she invited me to study under her."

"Is that good news?"

He nodded. "There is more than one recipe for making most pills. Elder Zhao has promised to teach me alternate recipes for the pills I already know to expand my understanding of alchemy."

"She won't teach you how to make new pills?"

He shrugged. "I forgot to ask."

"You forgot to ask?"

He nodded. "She asked me what I would like to study, and I told her that I wanted to better understand how to make the pills I already know how to make. She said the best way to do so was to learn alternative recipes. I start work with her in the morning."

Tobias turned to Disciple Wo. "How was your tour?"

Disciple Wo frowned. "Elder Cho wants me to report for physical training tomorrow morning. My guide literally shuddered when she heard the offer. Then she was really nice to me for the rest of the tour. It felt sort of like I was being prepared for my execution."

"You were," Disciple Xi replied. "Elder Cho is famous for her gruelling training programs. She'll squeeze every benefit she can out of your cultivation base."

"Should I be grateful?"

"The last few steps on the road to peak performance are always the hardest to achieve. Most don't bother with them because they require a great deal of effort for very little return. It's easier to grow your cultivation than reach your full potential. She's going to push you harder than any trainer normally would."

"So, I should be grateful."

"Yes. If you survive her training program, you'll have everything you need to grow when you begin body cultivation."

They reached the rickshaw, and Tobias climbed into the back. "We need to find a place to stay for the night."

***

The Bridge Inn was an elegant establishment that catered to the wealthy who visited Mist Sect. The cost of staying for the night was almost a tael of silver, though. Tobias paid for a room, but he wasn't happy about it. The service and meals he received were impeccable, but the poor peasant in him felt the rate was utterly outrageous.

When he walked into the assignment hall the following morning, he was still grumpy about the cost of his lodging. A hush fell over the hall as the female disciples spotted him. Men were even rarer in the Mist Sect than women were in Cloud Sect. All of their servants were women who had fled unwanted marriages, making his presence an oddity.

However, Tobias knew they weren't looking at him with any affection. He was fully aware of how ugly he was. Being short with squashed, asymmetrical features and crooked teeth left him with no other way to describe himself.

Tobias did his best to ignore the curious eyes following him as he made his way to Elder Tan and bowed. "Magistrate Finch greets Elder Tan."

Elder Tan, like Elder Lin, showed no signs of ageing, which meant that she was only a few centuries old. She wore the white robes of her sect, with four bands around her cuff, but carried herself casually.

Elder Tan returned the bow with a slight tilt of her head. "I've been told you might like to study our archives." She raised her hand and beckoned over one of the attendants. "Disciple Chin will help you find what you need." She dismissed Tobias with a flick of her hand.

Tobias turned and walked towards the disciple, hurrying towards him. She was a mousy-looking young woman without the features of someone who had entered the initiate realm.

She dropped into a bow. "Outer Disciple Chin greets the Magistrate. How may this one be of assistance?"

"I would like to look through the assignment hall's archives."

She nodded. "Follow me."

They made their way through a door behind the help desks, ignoring the state assignment hall, and into a familiar place filled with scrolls and books. It had the same setup as the archives in Cloud Sect.

"Where would you like to start?"

"Disciple registration records."

Tobias wanted to know how far cultivation, divinity and natural talent took the disciples here before he began handing out assignments. That would make it easier for him to improve his success rate.

She led him through the shelves to a collection of books. "Which records do you need?"

"All of them."

"All of them?"

"Yes. I need to understand how far divinity and talent will take you in this sect."

She frowned. "How will these records show you that, Magistrate?"

"Cultivators begin taking more risks once they reach the limits of their divinity and talent. These risks lead to higher rates of death, which your records will show. With this information, I can discern how many energy meridians someone can open before their cultivation stalls, and they begin taking greater risks."

Her mouth dropped open, and then she turned and raced for the door, sprinting between the shelves like her life depended on it. Tobias watched her go before he turned and picked up the nearest set of records, beginning to look through them.

There was a gust of wind as Elder Tan appeared next to him a minute later. "Disciple Chin informs me that you believe you can judge how far a disciple's divinity and talent will take them with some accuracy."

Tobias bowed. "I can tell within one meridian."

"How?"

"Would you like me to show you?"

Elder Tan nodded. "What do you need?"

"These records, paper, ink, brushes, and time."

She reached for the shelf and swept all the books into her storage ring, then led Tobias to a table and unloaded them again.

Tobias showed her the information he was recording. Then the two of them each took a book and began gathering the necessary data. The disciples were separated by their divinity, talent, age, cultivation, skill, and whether they were alive or dead, along with many other factors. Lunch came and went, but by midafternoon, they had collected over a century of data. Elder Tan was extremely efficient with paperwork, completing ten entries for each one Tobias could.

Tobias then began the math, showing Elder Tan his formulas so she could copy his calculations. An hour before sunset, they had the basic information.

Elder Tan peered at the results. "What exactly does this tell us?"

Tobias tapped the page. "This tells us half the story. A disciple with a divinity score of five on average will open five greater energy meridians before being unable to progress."

"What's the other half of the equation?"

"A person's natural divinity and cultivation talent are two separate measurements. Those in the top 25% of skill will be able to go further and open six greater energy meridians. Those in the top 10% will be able to open eight energy meridians. The top 1% will make form two spiritual droplets before their cultivation stalls."

Elder Tan picked up the page filled with the outliers. "These individuals do not fit into your equations."

"If you check their records, you will find that they've used specific pills to progress their cultivation beyond their natural limits or experience enlightenment."

"What do you need this information for?"

Elder Tan had been entirely relaxed and helpful while working beside him, so Tobias was more than happy to share his insights. Most people hated talking about statistical analysis even in his old life, but Tobias loved it. She was also nothing like the elders of Cloud Sect, who were restrained and aloof.

"I use it to judge if I should give an assignment to someone. Those at the end of their natural path become frustrated and begin taking increasingly larger risks. They believe that if they push themselves, they will break through their bottleneck. They take my assignments not because they can fulfil them, but because they might not be able to. If I let them do what they want, they end up dead or apologetic, and I end up with an unfulfilled assignment."

Elder Tan shook her head. "Do you know what you have here?"

Tobias nodded. "I have proof that your sect is throwing away the lives of its disciples.

"You do. But before you judge us too harshly, you should know that we have no choice. You cannot tell a cultivator that they have reached the end of their path without proof, and you cannot treat a cultivator as if they have reached the end of their path without proof. Several lifetimes of experience are not enough proof to tell another to stop reaching for the heavens."

"Yet you think this is."

She nodded. "It's undeniable."

"Only if people are rational. They aren't. Also, you're coming to the wrong conclusions. This data doesn't show when they must end their cultivation path, but when they must change how they progress."

"Change how they progress? I don't follow."

Tobias leaned back. "I have almost no divinity, but I have an open stomach meridian due to a pill that could open it for me. They can progress the same way I do."

"Those pills are wasteful, requiring rare resources that general meridian opening and cleansing pills don't."

"They're only wasteful when given to someone who doesn't need them, but those at the end of their natural path do. It is also equally wasteful to give general meridian opening and cleansing pills to those who can't use them. If you use the information before you and go through your sect records, you will be shocked by how many general pills are wasted by those at the end of their natural path."

Elder Tan sighed. "I do not need to. At the end of your progress through the initiate realm, it is easier to afford the general pills you need, so I have a fair idea already of how many we waste each year. What did Cloud Sect do with this information when you gave it to them?"

"It's never come up."

"You didn't think to tell them?"

"I am not assigned to instruct Cloud or Mist Sect on how they should operate their sect. However, I've made no attempts to hide what I'm doing. If Elder Po had asked like you did today, I would have happily shown him, but he chose not to ask."

"So, Cloud Sect doesn't know about this?"

"The elders don't know. However, the knowledge is freely shared among the disciples. This Spring, two hundred disciples at the end of their natural path chose to voluntarily leave the sect and take up residence in the city to make room for the next generation. They no longer needed oversight or education but time to gather the resources they needed to progress."

"I'm surprised they could live with the shame of failure."

Tobias chose his next words carefully. Cultivators were touchy about this sort of thing. "Is it failure to reach the limits of one's abilities and then make room for the next generation to learn?"

Elder Tan scoffed. "Cultivators are supposed to challenge the heavens."

"Even those who do not have the ability to do so?"

"Even then."

"How does taking a new path outside the sect constitute no longer challenging the heavens? If anything, it shows your intent to continue despite reaching the end of your abilities. You are, in essence, challenging the limitations the heavens place upon you."

Elder Tan smirked. "Is this logic how you convince them to leave?"

Tobias nodded.

"You spit in the face of tradition, but the evidence you've provided proves those traditions are incorrect. Having read this evidence of the existence of a natural path, I must agree with you that there is no shame in making room for the next generation once you have reached the end. However, our sect does not have the luxury of pushing our disciples into the city."

"Why not?"

"Mist City is not a chi-saturated zone like Cloud City."

"It isn't," Tobias said, surprised.

Elder Tan shook her head. "When Mist Sect broke away from Cloud Sect, our founder placed the sect within a greater chi gathering array that draws in the chi erupting from the Mist Falls. Mist Sect's grounds have more chi than Cloud Sect, but Mist City has a fraction of the chi that Cloud City does."

"Why not send your disciples to Cloud City then? It isn't like you're asking Cloud Sect to let them into the sect. You're only asking that they be allowed to stay in the city to take advantage of the environment."

Elder Tan paused. "It's more complicated than that."

"Does it have to be? I have several residences in Cloud City where I host disciples from Cloud Sect. I provide them with the same amenities as Cloud Sect for a small fee, freeing the disciples to work on their cultivation without the worries of the mortal world. Your disciples could just as easily be my guests."

Elder Tan turned to Tobias. "You are housing Cloud Sect's disciples."

"Almost two hundred of them."

"Without any problems?"

"Those who reach the end of their natural path are hardworking and diligent. They are not the sort of people who cause trouble. Having said that, this is the first year I've hosted disciples, so I could be wrong. I'm also only hosting hunters and gatherers."

"Why only those two?"

"The disciples need to be self-sufficient in order to grow their cultivation, and living in Cloud City doesn't interfere with those professions."

Tobias noticed that the light was beginning to fade and began gathering the data he'd collected.

"Are they self-sufficient?"

"The gatherers are. From what I'm told, having a larger garden is a benefit, not a hindrance, so gatherers always have more spirit herbs than they can sell, though many they can't sell are inferior. I take their excess spirit herbs to pay for their accommodation, so they didn't have to dip into their sect points."

"What about the hunters?"

"Bones are the least valuable part of their catch, but the part the gatherers are most interested in. They want it for fertiliser and will happily part with the accommodation points they receive from trading me their spirit herbs. I'll know if this is enough to make the hunters self-sufficient by the end of Summer."

Elder Tan watched Tobias. "What do you get out of this?"

"A peaceful night's sleeping, knowing that I haven't offended cultivators by not helping them when I could. Also, a large amount of money."

"Where do you get the money from?"

Tobias glanced at the setting sun. "Elder Tan, would you like to continue this conversation with me over dinner in the city? Otherwise, we can pick this up tomorrow. If I do not leave now, your gatekeeper will be fatally upset with me."

Elder Tan rose to her feet. "You're not getting away from me that easily."

***

The Bridge Inn's owners were beside themselves with excitement. They considered it a great honour to serve an elder of Mist Sect, and they didn't hold back, providing the most extravagant meal Tobias had ever eaten in his current life. Tobias chose not to estimate the cost of everything they were served, as it would have stopped him from enjoying it all, but he knew it would be a small fortune. While they ate, Tobias explained everything he had done for the outer disciples. He explained the pill making, the auction, and the profit sharing, showing why he received pills and extra money.

As the servants carried away their empty dishes, Elder Tan pulled a pipe from her storage ring and filled it with dried spirit herbs. "Discovering the limitations of divinity and talent is as important as discovering how to measure divinity. You clearly don't understand the importance of your discovery. It's going to fundamentally change the cultivation world."

Over dinner, Tobias had gained a better understanding of Elder Tan and now felt comfortable speaking his mind. "How?"

"Cultivators are only truly cultivators when they have a divinity of five, but that is still considered low. Those with low divinity have always been disadvantaged, but that will only grow worse when your discovery is widely known."

"They will be at a disadvantage if you continue teaching cultivation the way you do. However, if you were willing to change how you teach them, it could be very beneficial."

"How could this be beneficial?"

"Knowing your path will end early allows you to plan for when that happens. Choosing a profession that complements your future progress becomes necessary. This is limited to hunting, gathering, and preparing alchemy reagents for those with a divinity score of five. If these people were pushed in this direction, it would provide a sect with large quantities of low-quality ingredients, accelerating those with more divinity and talent into the initiate realm. They could then provide the ingredients to pull those below them up to their level. Together, they would provide what is needed to push those with more talent to the next realm to pull them up with them."

"You think this hasn't been tried?"

"If Mist Sect's attempts were anything like Cloud Sect's attempts, all you managed to achieve was resentment. You forced people into roles they did not want, while repeatedly telling them they were destined for so much more. Those were the actions of tyrants, and that is not what I'm proposing."

"What you're proposing isn't new."

"Telling people to become gatherers for the good of the sect is not the same as telling people they cannot challenge the heavens unless they can gain a lot of sect points, and the best way to do that is to become gatherers."

Elder Tan paused and then nodded. "I see your point, and I think I understand enough to bring this matter before the sect leader." She rose to her feet. "Thank you for dinner. I'm sure this will have done a lot for your career."

Tobias chuckled, thinking she was joking. "I hope not. I prefer to remain in obscurity."

Elder Tan paused. "That was not a joke, and what you want is no longer possible. I'll be referring to what you showed me as the Finch Equations. Your family name will be forever imprinted and honoured by the cultivation world. Have a good night, Magistrate Finch."

Tobias rose to his feet and bowed, feeling deeply concerned. "Good night, Elder Tan."

The moment she left, Tobias slumped to the floor, tired from his busy day. It was well after midnight, and he wanted to go to bed, but Disciples Xi and Wo would like to talk before that happened. Less than a minute after she left, they walked into the private dining room.

Tobias invited them to sit. "What does it mean if a sect elder has dinner with a magistrate outside the sect? Our discussion took us to sunset, so I invited her to dinner because it was the politest way for me to leave, but it seems to have a deeper meaning."

Disciple Xi filled three cups with wine. "It means you have her backing. Now, what did you have to do for it?"

Tobias took his cup and drank. "I didn't intentionally do anything. I went to the assignment hall to begin my research and started by determining where their disciples' natural limits lay. The disciple helping me asked a few questions, I answered, and then she ran to get Elder Tan."

Disciple Xi's eyebrows rose, and his eyes widened. "Your equations work for any sect!"

Tobias nodded. "All you need is enough data points. The more cultivators you can compare, the more accurate the data."

Disciple Xi downed his drink. "That would be more than enough for her to back you publicly."

"So, if I made an offhand offer to house Mist Sect disciples in Cloud City, would she be seriously considering it?"

"Is that what you spent half the night talking about?"

Tobias nodded.

"She wasn't giving you face. She was considering your offer."

"I was afraid you would say that."