Torsten Hewson
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v2c45: The Blossom's Shadow and the Storm
🕑 Added 2021-07-12 17:56:51 +0000 UTC“I shall become a farmer, Senior Brother.”
Those were the words Lu Ri had once more structured his search around. After his wonderful meal in Pale Moon Lake City, he had decided to continue to scour the Azure Hills until he found a lead. He had a feeling about this province. A hunch told him he was missing something, and so he would follow it. It could be the heavens guiding him, for long he had toiled already. It had been merely a few months, so it was not too desperate of a search quite yet, but he still wished to properly complete this task. To that end, once he was ready to resume his task, he delved deep into what was known as the Grass Sea. A grand name for three thousand li of rolling hills and grasslands.
It was in this area where most of the population of the Azure Hills lived. Prime land for farming, and it had some amount of ambient Qi, which gave birth to the petty Sects that grew here. Like weeds clinging to the side of a desolate mountain. Stunted in their growth, and utterly unnoticeable in their power. He had heard a boastful tale of an Elder reaching the second stage of the Profound Realm, and how he was sure to make his sect rise with such a feat.
Lu Ri kept his peace, and his Qi suppressed.
At the same time he scoured the Grass Sea himself, he deployed the Cloudy Sword Sect’s resources. When he thought he would have to spend more coin, he thought of the normal prices of Raging Waterfall Gorge, or perhaps the Howling Fang Mountains.
In this case, however, it was certainly no drain on his resources. But one did get what they paid for.
There were no normal organisations, like the Twelve Shadow Moons here. The secret information brokering organizations that kept their hands on the pulse of the world. Even those had left this place behind.
Thus, Lu Ri had to hire a multitude of more independent groups..
There were a few hiccups. He had gotten three reports of himself, and the incident that had shattered the Heavenly Ascension Stone pendants.
But Lu Ri had learned the teachings of the Founders well, and was himself a man used to organizing disciples into more coherent forces.
One swift reorganisation later, and they were functioning quite a bit better, without any trace of the Cloudy Sword Sect’s involvement. Indeed, these men argued quite a bit less, and few dared to even raise objections as he dismantled their inefficient framework.
He quite enjoyed himself. To take such worthless systems, and recreate them as the Founders had described a properly functioning organization was quite heady.
The other reports occasionally provided some false starts. There was a man with a hammer, who looked roughly like the description given for Jin Rou, but it was later revealed that he was the Young Master of the Hermetic Iron Sect, a sect of less than ten members up in the north-east. It was a constant game of going back and forth. Venturing into the Grass Sea, and returning to Grass Sea City, collecting his reports, and then venturing out again.
Lu Ri was getting increasingly efficient at sorting through mortals and records.
When he returned again to his base of operations his men were waiting with triumphant smiles.
Lu Ri raised an eyebrow as they bowed in unison, sinking down to a knee.
“We have a report, Master Scribe,” the man declared, using Lu Ri’s assumed title for this group. “This one is truly unusual.”
Lu Ri gestured at him to continue.
“I was lucky to receive this. A merchant from the Howling Fang Mountains recently visited the Misty Lake Sect, with a delivery of Mist Blossoms. Extremely expensive. He was deep in his cups, and gossiping like a hen, when he let slip something that was merely idle conversation. He mentioned that there was a rumour that one of the Young Masters of the Shrouded Mountain had been confined to the mountain for some reason or another. Useless… if not for something else.”
At this, he gestured to one of his comrades, who bowed as well. “Last year, one of my men from our previous organisation intercepted a transmission. Priority from a village in the north. Someone had been attempting to impersonate members of the Shrouded Mountain Sect, and was defeated. Specifically, a Young Master of the Shrouded Mountain.”
Lu Ri’s eyes widened, as the pieces came together. The Shrouded Mountain was beyond anything in the Azure Hills. They had some accolades to their name, though they were minor in comparison to the Cloudy Sword’s.
Could… Could this be it?
“Do you have a name?” he asked.
“Verdant Hill, Master Scribe. It will take us a month or two to get everything set up there and confirm things.”
Slowly, a smile spread across Lu Ri’s face. Could this be what he was looking for?
He thought immediately of heading to Verdant Hill himself, yet stayed his first reaction. The two pieces of evidence were quite interesting on their own, but they were no guarantee.
It was a conundrum. Should he continue his search here? Should he travel up to Verdant Hill immediately? Or should he confirm the rumour in the Howling Fang Mountain?
Lu Ri pondered for a moment, and made his decision.
“Send your best. I will head to Howling Fang Mountain,” he decided, and turned back to his men. “I shall give to you a powerful transmission stone for this search. Contact me when all is ready.”
“Yes, Master Scribe!”
Lu Ri nodded. “Your Master thanks you for your diligence,” he declared. “It shall be rewarded.” He brought from his sleeves their payment, and the men’s eyes widened.
“We live to serve our Master Scribe!” the men shouted, once more lowering their heads. “Glory to the Plum Blossom’s Shadow Organization!”
Time to see if there was anything in the mountains, again. The rest of his organization would be tasked to continue his work here.
His men left, swiftly going about their tasks, and Lu Ri frowned at his still dark transmission stone, given to him by Elder Ge.
He hoped his Elder was having more luck than he. Though his superior did not need luck. He had skill.
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Xiao Ge hoped Lu Ri was having luck in his search. Or more luck than he, at least.
Indeed, it was lucky to not cross Shen Yu’s path when he was angry. A far cry from the look of joy, before he heard the news. He thought his brother would be joining him on campaign, not delivering this manner of message.
Brother Shen Yu’s face was carved from stone. He did not scream. He did not rage. His fury was the silent kind. Cold and intense.
“Were our bonds any less deep, Ge, I would be trying to kill you right now. Be grateful our brotherhood extends this far.” His voice was deceptively calm.
“Indeed,” Ge stated. “What has been done is unforgivable. For a child entrusted to us by our Brother to be treated in such a way through our own negligence is grounds for our blades to cross.”
“…and that is the second reason. Brother Ge, ever ready to take responsibility.” The two men stared at each other. The air was thick with the scent of death, the corpses of the demons already beginning to foul under the heat of the sun.
“What happened to the Cloudy Sword?” Shen Yu sighed. “What happened to the Young Masters who raised the peasant boys, simply because they had talent?”
The disappointment and wistfulness hurt more than any anger ever could.
“The one who initiated the conflict awaits whatever judgement you shall declare. His father bows his head in acceptance, and our Brother Ran has returned, to make sure that head stays bowed.”
Shen Yu turned his head to the heavens, and closed his eyes. “As much as my heart screams for vengeance, I will content myself with this offering, as it is made in good faith, and with humility. I have no wish to cross blades with you in anger.”
Ge bowed his head. “Nor do I, Brother.”
“…Am I ever to be without a legacy?” Shen Yu finally asked, the cold expression finally dropping, simply leaving a man who looked drained.
Ge frowned. “We have a man searching day and night. We will find him, Brother. Broken things may yet be reforged stronger than ever.”
Shen Yu considered his words. “Yes… Yes. From what I have heard, he is not yet too far gone.”
The man’s eyes opened, and his Qi flared.
“Brother. I tire of this distraction. I tire of this demonic incursion. I tire of Tou Le’s careful strategies. I tire of that Bastard eating up my time. The time for restraint is over.”
The air became solid. Shen Yu’s intent flooded the mountain, and every demonic corpse screamed, withering and disintegrating. His power grew, like a gathering storm.
“Restraint? Rationing of power? What is losing a mere Ten Years of Cultivation?” he asked, his eyes shining like miniature stars. "This distraction of a conflict ends now. These demons, hiding in their corrupted realms... I will have them out by the roots."
Elder Ge smiled and rose, releasing his own intent. His hands clasped in front of him. The clouds descended from the heavens, a thousand ravening black maws.
“Spear or Shield, the Black Clouds of the Silent Sky will smite all who dare impede your path.”
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Lu Ri: These spy organizations are so inefficient! I need something better!
Lu Ri: Forges together a hundred disparate clans into a single information gathering apparatus like he's used to in about a month.
Lu Ri: See, that's better. much easier to administrate!
The Plum Blossom's Shadow: Glory to Master Scribe! Glory to our Lord! He shall lead our ascension to the most powerful in the Azure Hills!
Additionally, My Covid vaccine got moved up a little, to Wednesday. There will still be a post on wednesday, but I may be taking Friday off, depending on how I feel after it.
This is just to let everybody know, and I'll give everybody an update after I get my vaccine. If I feel fine, I'll post as always.
Thanks again to the edit squad!
Edit: a few more additions to make it more clear about the demon war.
Comments
Carl Mason
I kind of want him to discover and track the rice. And the syrup, and his other products.
Khanalas
He'll arrive at Cloudy Mountain to find that the skinner left for the Dueling Peaks Tournament, and will follow him after some investigation into crippled girls
Jeff Petkau
It would be hilarious if Lu Ri quietly fixes the evil body snatching cultivator problem and Jin never even finds out he had a mortal enemy.
Sassy
I imagine Lu Ri will tear out his hair when he finds out the reason he cant find Jin Rou isn't because he is in hiding or insignificant, but because changed his name to Rou Jin.
Nicholas Roberts
I'm really excited to see what happens when Lu Ri finally finds Jin! Good luck with your vaccine appt!
Corwin
I advise ignoring anybody who mentions VAERS, since they never seem to understand what it actually is.
Morog T Tiny
i advise reading the required disclosure from the drug company before moving forward with it. then to look at the info from the vaers database and realize that experts say it reports something under 10 percent of cases.
Slycerr
Best luck with your vaccine! On other things though, this chapter is really short. I don't want to sound ungrateful... but I read this chapter in like 5min tops...
Imspinnennetz
I felt fine for the first day and then was out for the next three days. Apparently, the person giving me the vaccine told me that the Pfizer vaccine usually gives the majority of the symptoms after the second dose while the Moderna vaccine gives a more even symptom spread.
Imspinnennetz
Lu Ri is probably going to have to introduce Pi Pa to this spy group as the chief bureaucrat. She is the one that Jin leaves to collate all the reports on Fa Ram. I am more interested in the reaction of the Magistrate when he finds out that the cultivators are setting up spy networks in his region.
Dee
Good luck with the vaccination! I had COVID a few weeks before the fed lockdown and when I finally got the vaccine it kicked like a mule. Still beats COVID by miles, though. Stay safe, and fair warning: some people don’t feel the vaccine for a day or two after they get it. Probs best to assume you’ll not be at your best on Friday.
Imspinnennetz
Spy organization: 'Master Lu Ri, there is a report of a rooster wandering the land accomplishing amazing feats and he is making his way here. What should we do?' Hijinks ensue
Red Viking
Don't be too hasty in declaring yourself healthy once you've been vaccinated, felt fine for a day or two, and then like shit for four.
VertigoMonkey
Probably more likely that he'll notice something is off or different about the person, but probably won't care as it's some small sect in his view and he has no historical context with either the snatcher or the original owner of the body (that we're aware of at least).
william wallace
Good luck with your shot. I was fine with the first one, second kicked my ass for 4 days. Full body arthritis and a massive headache. A friend of mine didn’t even get a sore arm. Seems real hit or miss.
The Lost Pages
Lu RI has to be my all time favorite accountant ever. Can't wait to see his reaction when he finally discovers "Rou Jin"
Sean Ulrich
I just thought of this but do you think Lu Ri could spot the Bloody Qi of the body snatcher? Force him to go on the run?
Sewal
Nope it's always been the shrouded mountain. Mentioned in chapter 8. You might be confusing him with the other "young master" who beat up Jin rou in the first chapter.
Arnon Parenti
I bet Grandpa Yu and Uncle Ge will come bearing gifts to Jin's baby and sectlings will wonder who the imperial prince is.
Enkelados
Im a little confused by the other sect mentioned. I thought that body snatcher guy was impersonating a guy from the same sect Jin was from?
Ronin_Ryker
Thanks for the chapter! Lu Ri is ever-so-slowly closing in on Jin, and I'm excited to see what comes of it. Will Jin simply rebuff any attempts to bring him back into the fold? Would the elders allow Jin his freedom and farm, or would they try to forcefully forge Jin into another cultivator made for destruction? Will they ever find out about Jin's fractured, chimeric soul? What would it mean for Jin if they did? Would they consider Jin as parasite or murderer for his soul getting shoved into a dead man's body? I'm excited to find the answers, and I know you won't disappoint.
Andrew
Thank you!
Sean Ulrich
Also found a typo: …Ten Years of Cultivation?” he asked,m his…
Sean Ulrich
Here we go! Things are picking up!
