Torsten Hewson
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v2 c76.3: The Delivery part 3
🕑 Added 2021-11-05 22:17:52 +0000 UTCRou stared up at the night sky, filled in with a thousand cracks of gold, and the glimmering points of stars. It was warm here, like a late summer evening. The deck he was sitting on felt comfortable and worn, as if it had seen a thousand nights just like this. Area they were in seemed both endless, and tiny at the same time. The grass stopped not far off the deck, fading into darkness, yet Little golden trails continued onwards, far, far away until Rou couldn’t see them anymore.
Rou contemplated his surroundings, absent-mindedly tapping his leg. After all this time, a letter.
Gramps…
So the old bastard was fine. That was good! Better than good. Rou was glad he was okay. Glad it wasn’t something Rou had done that caused the old man to leave. Gramps had been angry at somebody else; that’s why he had been so short. It had been about some other guy calling in a favour. He’d even apologized in the letter.
That meant something. It had to. Gramps hadn’t just abandoned him.
Rou was still angry. Really, he just said it was a mission, then didn’t explain, the bastard. He dumped him off at the sect, Rou had worked like a dog—
And then he died. Or would have died.
Rou sighed, and glanced at the leg he was tapping. It terminated at the ankle, turning hazy and indistinct, before transitioning to the other guy’s leg.
There was silence. For once, at least, the other guy was quiet. He wasn’t saying something stupid or inane, shoving memories down their shared….whatever, like an annoying asshole. He quietly sipped the tea from home, as he sat beside Rou. The flavour and smell dredged up bittersweet memories.
The asshole had let Rou in for a while. It might not have been intentional, but the other guy hadn’t fought it. Something had happened. When he was reading that letter, it had been Rou alone.
For a brief moment, he’d felt a flash of exhilaration. It was his chance. Perhaps he could be the one to take command permanently! But as quickly as it came it faded.
The only reason he was alive in the first place was because of the shattered remains of the other man propping him up. A hand that reached out, and kept him around, when he was fading away into the darkness. Picking up the pieces and putting them back together, even when he barely had enough will for it himself. Now, he felt more and more alive. More like he was living again, despite the walls between them. Able to see and taste and experience outside of this waking dream, rather than simply watching from afar and longing.
Jin had a thousand chances to snuff him out. A thousand chances to destroy what was left of the man once called Rou.
Yet he hadn’t. He hadn’t even once considered it.
Rou sighed, and looked to his side at the other guy.
“Hey.” He whispered. Jin perked up, his good eye opened, glancing at him, while the other was a ruined mess, covered completely in gold.
“Thanks.”
There were no real words needed, other than that. Jin nodded to him, not bringing any more attention to it. He understood. They were kind of similar, like that.
There was silence, as they sat together.
“So. What do we do about the Cloudy Sword Sect?” Jin asked. Rou rolled his eyes.
“See how sorry they really are, take them for whatever reparations they’re gonna give, then tell them to screw off.” Rou declared instantly.
The other guy looked surprised.
“...huh. I thought you would have wanted to go back. Go and get that heavenly ascension power.” He muttered.
Rou stared at the idiot.
“Our Qi don’t work right using traditional techniques. We might have to destroy our current cultivation to start practising normally again.”
A farm. Something he had never even seen before, being from a city. He had scoffed at the other man’s memories, thinking them worthless and idealized. But the more he worked on it, the more he loved it. Something that was his. No corpses in the streets. No gangs to sully it. Lazy days by the river. Seeing it grow and change. Knowing that it was his work that made wonders.
The people who wandered in and stayed. Some left, but if they counted, really counted, they always came back.
“We’d have to leave the farm, we’d have to give up every single thing we have now to go back—”
Meiling pulling up her shirt and exposing her stomach, grinning at him as she turned, showing him the small bump. A child. His child.
Bi De bowing to him, and following him like he was something worth respecting. Staring at him and definitely choosing to stand with him until the end.
Tigu jumping onto his back, like that little girl next door used to, before her skin turned pale and grey from the Demon's Black Hate.
A happy boar. A proper pig. A clever little rat. A stoic ox. A gluttonous carp, a kind old snake, and a naively powerful rabbit.
Gou Ren helped him build the drop hammer. Yun Ren laughed as he pranked somebody. Xiulan’s soft smile, Pops nodding to him like his own father used to.
To Rou, it was like the heavens on earth. But that's what the other guy wanted to create, wasn’t it?
Rou grit his teeth.“— and if you think I’m leaving my family alone, you got another thing comin’.” He snarled.
Jin’s eyes widened.
They may not have liked Rou. They may not have liked a street rat full of piss and vinegar. But the life was his, just as much as Jin's. The affection he felt for them wasn’t imagined.
“The Cloudy Sword Sect fucked me up once; I’m not gonna let them fuck us up again, and I’m sure as hell not letting them fuck up what we have now.”
Jin smiled. Rou turned away, glaring at the darkness around them.
“Like you would have gone anyway.” He muttered, before shaking his head. “The bigger question is. What do we do now? The Cloudy Sword Sect knows about us. We’re dumping Gold Grade Rice onto the market. We even asked that Chyou woman to put together an expedition to the south. We can’t stay a secret anymore. Somebody has already come knocking. This time it was just mail, next time?”
Jin sighed, looking down into his tea.
“Yeah. I know. The world ain’t sunshine and daisies, and I’ve gotten a bit complacent. It's the Azure Hills. I thought we were strong enough to handle anything that came towards us. Who would look at this weak place? But now, we got the Cloudy Sword Sect interested in us. Gramps is apparently strong enough that the Cloudy Sword mobilized a Senior Disciple to deliver mail.”
Jin lapsed into silence.
Rou frowned. He never had known how strong Gramps was. Never really tried to see. But weren't strong guys supposed to have all sorts of special cultivation resources? Rou hadn’t got any from Gramps, not as far as he remembered.
“We protect what's ours.” Rou finally said. “If the Cloudy Sword Sect really is looking to make amends, well, they can help us out when we need it.”
Jin rolled his eyes. Then smiled and asked. “Can we ask people if they dare oppose the Cloudy Sword Sect?”
Rou barked out a laugh.
The two half-men stared at each other. At the web of gold, and the points of connection between them.
“We protect what's ours.” Jin said, holding out his arm in a fist.
Rou tentatively reached his arm out, and punched Jin’s fist with his own.
The two ruined, mirrored halves pulled together.
“Remember to write a letter to gramps, would ya?” Rou asked.
Jin nodded. “I’ll let him know we’re okay. If he wants to see us again, he can come and visit.”
Rou felt his eyes start to close. But he did have one more question.
“Hey… do you think Yin would be willing to crap in an envelope for us?”
“She might actually do it.” his other half mused. “But come on. Asking a lady to do that is just rude. We can go and fill the letter with horse shit, like normal people.”
Rou’s eyes closed, a little smirk on both sides of their face.
===================================
My eyes opened. I stared at the ceiling of the inn. My hand absently came down to stroke the rabbit sleeping on my chest. A rooster was sitting beside my head, and a snake was coiled tight around my arm.
It wasn’t quite like waking up to Meimei, but it was the next best thing.
I gently scooped Yin off my chest. The rabbit grumbled, and curled tighter into Big D as I laid her down. Noodle woke up from the movement, staring at me a moment, before nodding his head, and slithering off to coil up near the others.
I stood up and padded over to the desk, where there was already a brush and paper prepared.
A letter huh?
What to write?
I pondered the message, and reached out, grabbing Gramp’s letter, and looking at the seal on the bottom.
I pressed my Qi into it.
The seal shuddered, and disintegrated. With a muffled pop, a sword and a scroll appeared in thin air.
Both were simple and unadorned. But the sword was high quality steel, and the scroll had another seal upon it.
I stared at the gifts.
Gramp’s gifts.
I pondered them. A sword on my mantelpiece, perhaps. Or I would train with it. I didn’t know quite yet. Carefully, I packed both away for the journey ahead, and turned back to the desk.
I grabbed the brush, dabbed it in some ink, and started.
“Hey, you drunken old bastard….”
======================
The next day, Lu Ri beheld Jin Rou once more. He no longer seemed to be unsettled. His back was straight, and his stride was self assured.
There was no trace of any confusion or worry that Lu Ri could detect.
Their meeting took place once more in the pavilion. The streams bubbled pleasantly, and the last flowers of summer filled the air with a heady scent.
Lu Ri greeted him, standing to receive his guest, and his Spirit Beast Disciples.
“Senior Brother.” Jin Rou said, after the pleasantries had been dealt with. “I will not be returning as a disciple to the Sect. Too much here requires my attention.”
Jin Rou’s voice was calm. His voice had a firm strength behind it, as he met Lu Ri’s gaze.
Lu Ri frowned internally. For a brief moment, he desired nothing more than to take Jin Rou back to the sect by force, and finally put this chapter behind him. Elder Ge had said not to push the issue, however, so he pushed aside the impulse.
“Your decision is unfortunate.” Lu Ri admitted. “But understandable at this time.”
“However, if the Cloudy Sword Sect wishes to make amends… I can think of a few ways.” He smirked, a sly note entering his voice. “I do not wish us to be enemies. And I have this, If you need us to speak again.”
He held up the transmission stone Lu Ri had given him yesterday.
Lu Ri nodded. “I shall convey your wishes back to the sect.” He said. He did need to report his success in person, after all.
“But... uh, I do have a request. Could you ensure this reaches the right place at the Imperial Army Headquarters in Crimson Crucible city for me? It's my reply to Gramps.” Jin Rou brought out a scroll case, one that was firmly sealed.
Lu Ri stared at the letter, his entire journey flashing before his eyes. Every moment of frustration and searching. There was the brief urge to smack it out of Jin Rou’s hand.
“We are to make amends.” Elder Ge said.
Lu Ri plastered a stiff smile onto his face. “I shall convey your letter Jin Rou. Though I must ask…” He glanced at the spirit beasts, and considered the man’s well hidden power. “Are you certain of this course of action? The Cloudy Sword Sect’s protection and backing is no small thing.”
Jin Rou considered the question for a moment, before smiling.
Something arrived. Or rather, it was revealed to him.
It blanketed the entire pavilion with a gentle touch. It slowly expanded over the entire city. It grew until it went past what Lu Ri’s senses could detect. Feather light and hard to distinguish. It was all round Lu Ri.
It was vast in its size, yet quiet in its intent. It was the land under his feet, it was the air in his lungs, it was the sky above his head.
Yet it did not seek to crush him. It did not shout its power, or intent. It was simply there, silent and unmovable. Diffuse, and hard to grasp. For a moment, Jin Rou was the land, and the land was Jin Rou.
Lu Ri’s eyes widened. He still could not feel what Jin Rou’s level was. It was shrouded to him. Yet this was utterly beyond anything he could have expected.
“I think I’ll be okay.” Jin Rou said, and smiled. The roses were straighter. The stream’s water seemed to clear. The grass deepened in its colour, and stood taller.
Lu Ri had lived for longer than most mortals. He had seen many tournaments, with wondrous techniques.
Yet it was his first time witnessing a power so subtle, yet so vast. He longed to ask. To question. To know just what exactly Jin Rou was doing.
Yet he could not. Jin Rou’s intent was clear, and he had a mission to fulfill.
“I shall go then for now, Jin Rou. May the heavens favour you.” He intoned.
Jin Rou Stood, along with the Spirit Beasts. All bowed their heads.
“May the heavens favour you, Senior Brother. And here.” He brought out another package.
A large jar of Maple Syrup.
“Something for the road.” Jin Rou said with a boyish smile.
=====================
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Lu Ri: Finally delivers his letter.
Jin: Hey, buddy, you do me a solid...?
Comments
Len
Liked the original parts with the boys "adopting" the kid and the interaction between tigu and misty lake girl. like the overall fight in this version. so maybe something with a blend of both for the "final" version?
Jon
Could be similar to Kintsugi or kintsukuroi (Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with gold)
twigthe1st
Great chapter. One of my favourite
is_dave
I find the portrayal of Rou and Jin in the dreamscape confusing. At first it's described that their bodies are Frankenstien'd together, but then Jin turns to Rou, hinting that they are two incomplete bodies sitting next to each other. Shouldn't you pick one?
JohnJohn2195
Think lu ri and elder ge are gonna cough blood up when gramps gets the letter and surprise horse shit in side only for him to start cracking up and saying oh that grandson of mine.
Kara Nina
I think gramps would be happy Rou is still Rou after what happened...after a while when he's calm enough to appreciate it again.
Ed
Wow! That would be an amazing Domain. Seems he could use it as such.
Wyatt
That 'tightly sealed' scroll case is sus as hell. I have this image of the scroll being dropped off, and some busy body underling trying to read gramps mail and getting a horse poo splosion in the face. Or... just gramps. Hard to figure which would be funnier!
STORRM
"Picking up the pieces and putting them back together, even when he barely had enough will for it himself" hit me like a brick to the face! amazing chapter dude, fucking loved all of it, god damn! keep up the amazing work my dude!
Gavriel
This chapter is awesome; they were one, and I am vindicated Jin Rou is OP, and the cloudy sect can kiss Rou's butt until he feels vindicated too
ByzFan
Love that someone in the know finally gets a glimpse of how strong Jin Rou's become. Thank you.
Alex
He hasn't... yet
Daniel
Can someone remind me what chapter Gramps found out Jin left the sect?
NoAriGuy
A fun conclusion to Lu Ri’s first journey, cant wait to see how long it takes hime to find grmps 😂
Inglorien
This chapter was absolutely amazing!
Augustus
It was an impulse, which can be the exact opposite of what you would normal do in certain situations, for example, the impulse to throw yourself of a cliff when standing at the top of one aka the "call of the void." Normal sane and reasonable people can easily ignore them but typically have them.
Umut Numanoglu
It is very unfortunate that Senior Brother is not really welcome to the farm. I wished to see his reaction and maybe exchanging some techniques so senior brother could help teaching the world MCs Dao
John Brady Anderson
I absolutely loved this chapter; the one thing I would say is that it seems out of character for Lu Ri to only stop himself from trying to force the issue because of his orders, he has always come across as more reasonable and even considerate than that.
Mickey Phoenix
I could *not* stop laughing at this one! “But come on. Asking a lady to do that is just rude. We can go and fill the letter with horse shit, like normal people.”
Michael
What's the lesson? Never volunteer?
fatbo
Great chapter! "Staring at him and ->definitely<- choosing to stand with him until the end." I think that should be defiantly
Christopher Bates
I hope he filled the letter case with gold grade rice and at the bottom of the letter he tells gramps that the rice he poured out is gold grade so he better pick it up.
Gabriel
This story is one of the few stories that will consistently get me to feel emotion. Thank you.
Kadhat
Oh, so Lu Ri has been on one of those endless reputation grinding quests this whole time. Gramps will no doubt give him another letter
wave_emoji
Nice. Already looking forward to the next chapter, this was one of the best chapters in a while.
Jan Alexander
Its nice to see Jin and Rou conversing. Gramps would receive a smelly letter. Hahaha. Earth-chan has finally fixed the golden road.
Take my money!
Luke Preston
I love this story
Willis Peterson
Thanks for the chapter certainly looking forward the next one
Nick Youngstrom
This is one of your best, my friend.
Ronin_Ryker
Thanks for the amazing chapter!
NoodleGod
Wow, what a lovely chapter. Poetry, I tell you
Chad Hagner
I loved the Earth's power subtly flowing over the land. What a good touch, letting Lu Ri know he has power without letting him know he has POWER.
SuperiorFreak
I mean, I don’t think anyone doubted he would unlock it. Bi De could unlock it if im not mistaken.
Jeff Scott
The perfect balance between getting a better hint of his power, where he stands in relation to everyone else (WAAAAAY above), but without quantifying it, without knowing the ceiling and where he stacks up to truly powerful sects in the wider world/universe. Plenty of room for future world building and expansion.
Steven Whitfield
You give to the land and the Land Gives Back!
Bonifacio Mario Peña Jr.
A bag of golden-jade rice. He would probably start looking forward to doing deliveries. And then we see the start of the swift cloud delivery sect.
paul Emmer
Strong vast and mysterious well done I long to read on your talent is remarkable and rare keep up the great work
Calico C
He seemed a bit addicted to the maple syrup, so I can see him letting it slide for that payment.
Calico C
A large jar too, for free. The restaurant that he loved gave him the barest drizzle on his biscuit.
Calico C
He’ll be back for the maple syrup. Something tells me his taste buds will make him a repeat character.
Armo
He will probably say the letter is from Jin Rou, at which point one of Gramp’s contacts would pick it up.
Zachary Bender
I liked the display of power. Something I’ve wanted to see for a while. Cheers!!
Obran
At least the army won't be hard to find. Though he might have a hard time if he claims "I have a letter for gramps from your grandson. Are there any grandfathers here?"
Owls
I feel bad for Lu Ri now. Another letter to deliver. If Gramps asks him to become the go-between, he can hardly refuse but he might end up spitting blood.
Sassy
The reward for a job well done is another one, Lu Ri, this is an important lesson to learn.
Alex Bennett
This chsoter was great. A lovely conclusion to the message arc and the few chapter we've seen "the other guy" have always been some of my favorites.
James Squibb
Absolutely amazing as always! I love how you made his power come to life. It is often we forget that power isn't just the one shouting from the rooftops, but the still quiet voice.
J B
I am glad that Jin got the scroll and sword out with NO difficulty. Seems fitting, given the changes he's already made and the growth he's already shown.
J B
v8 c99.9: The Delivery of the Return of the Delivery of the Return of the Delivery of the Return of the Delivery of the Return of the Delivery. Subtitled - Lu Ri made Jade Emperor's club for qi sword travel
J B
Wouldn't it be interesting if Elder Ge showed up and tried to strong-arm Jin? Jin, in effectively resisting, shows off something that Gramps sees in the distance on his way to visit?
Noah
I think it’s more thematically satisfying for the two to just realize after a while that they are the same person now, and the barriers they’ve created between themselves are imaginary
Noah
“We had a secret genius/nuclear warhead handed to us and we let it slip away!”
Noah
It’s his Dao. He just hasn’t accepted it yet
Noah
The split personality thing has been thing for a while. It just hasn’t been brought up as much. The Land even said at one point that the two halves of Jin Rou love to claim they’re very different, but they’re actually super similar.
Brian P.
Eh I suppose A) that's the army's problem at that point, not Lu Ri's and B) Gramps is out killing demons with Elder Ge, so he'll know either way.
Noah
I’m not sure if he’s the strongest. The Turtle, the Fox, and the Old Lady could probably put him in his place. At least that’s the sense I get. One of the my favorite parts of this story is how all these “hidden masters” are hiding out in the weakest place around cause nobody bothers them.
Andres Mullerbeck
jin: "What use have I for someone else's heaven? I'll build my own."
MountHermon
http://www.davidbrin.com/postman.html
Drakenclaw
It was all round Lu Ri. all around
RageBone
I didn't notice any Errors, that is a regression! 10 Next time or i don't know what i'll do.
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the great chapter. I love the interaction between Jin and Rou at the start. I wonder if they will ever fully merge.
Noah
We always knew he would be able to pop the seal. Lu Ri said Bi Di was at the second stage of the Profound Realm, and Jin is obviously way more than him
No Step On Snek
I absolutely loved the ending. Nice to see Jin be able to flex some of that power just a teeny tiny bit
K M
Even if he turns out to be a split personality that is still a seperate consciousness shoved into a metaphorical basement having to live his new life of watching the world out through a window that someone else controls. Don't know how it will be resolved. The whole setup worries me and i cannot help but compare to the very similar setup used in Savage Divinity (trapped original warrior consciousness inside the reincarnator's mindscape... both talking about the new guy's love interest(s) as if she is a wife/fiancee to both of them).
ChanceOfFoxin
This is the best :D
DocteurNS
It is for them to see Mount Tai... and deliver letters to it.
DocteurNS
Lu Ri, the cultivator with the dao of the postman.
Klatue
A wonderful way to end this part of the story. 😁
SoulofaGremlin
I love this.
RJKY
Cultivators & their Audacity. Asking for mail to be delivered.
Sean McClain
Jin should ask the earth spirit to make a vessel for his body's room mate so he can just be his brother and then he can go on his own adventure or just stay around the farm and marry some nice local girl. Or he can sacrifice himself to save Jin from an attack or something, leaving them as two in one is not a satisfying way to end on now that we know he is real enough to have his own thoughts and feelings.
Bat
I love you still make it a mystery of Jin cultivation. Leaves us guessing and waiting to see. Would love to see him fight once.
Ali Sivas
It be funny if the Gramps was even more difficult to locate or the Gramps also gave hime a side quest, like those annoying chain side quest in games that go on for ages
Marcus Österberg
Can't say I enjoy the two spirits one body shenanigans. Much prefer remembering a past life or something similar.
Andrew
Thank you!
LiamOfOrmonde
Just. One. Small. FAVOR!
Robert Mullins
I think earth-chan had already arrived in one of the chapters just before they first met. He just released his aura/presence, with some level of earth-chan enhancement depending on what she had available in the area.
Ichypa
Gotta say, even though we’ve only seen him twice, three times if you count the interlude, I really like Rou. He’s a great character.
Drakenclaw
Did Jin just let loose, or did gaia arrive? And are the old arena enchantments are going to reactivate now?
Darkarma
A least he gets a jar of his favorite syrup for the road.
Michael
So ends this chapter in the Saga of Lu Ri, the Patron of Messengers.
jetblackvalias .
Also I thought Lu Ri’s mission was primarily to find him; if Jin doesn’t want to come back that’s still job done, so he seemed uncharacteristically angry in his internal monologue.
crusaderstar
Sometimes this story hiccups, sometimes its threads snarl and knot. And sometimes, like this chapter, it absolutely sings. I want to next fifty, the next hundred chapters of these characters and this world. Bravo!
Dee
Fantastic writing as always. Looking forward to the delivery of Jin’s “care package” 😂
Jokarun
And all of a sudden the Sect elders are going to be like, Oh so the old guy actually had some kind of super disciple and didn't tell anyone. We REALLY screwed the pooch here.
The Lost Pages
You are such an incredible story teller. Thank you for the joy you bring to my face every single week. Yours is a rare gem and the best way I can describe it is that your story has a soul.
Tim Johnson
nah, i feel like if lu ri cant determine, its gotta be at least earth, which is why it feels like he is connecting to the land. maybe a little too on the nose but.
JohnZ
12 years later: v8 c99.9: The Return Delivery Part 9
PatronTurtle
Poor Lu Ri. Mailman once more. He may want to set up a permanent Network so he doesn't have to do all this again
Mantiqore
I expect the Elder to visit... hopefully gramps is faster. I'd trust the old drunkard more than a sect elder
Zoe
Now just how long for gramps to gets his letter
Steven Howell
its awesome every time jin flexes on people
Makromag
I loved this chapter and I'm really glad Lu Ri gave us some measure of how powerfull Jin is in cultivation world: plenty.
Magnus Gullhav Leikvik
NIce
K M
Not to ask for a spoiler but this isn't going to go the savage divinity route is it? I don't think i could stomach a 'baledagh arc' in this wonderful story.
Melmoth
oh heck yeah, Jin is definitly the strongest thing around in the azure hills... oh god you know exactly how much we are all speculating on Jin level, don't you, you massive tease? This stroy brings me such infinite joy.
jetblackvalias .
I thought Jin and Rou got along? Jin seemed a bit mad towards him this chapter, before they started talking at least.
Ironforge
Truly the only reward for good work is more work. :D
Matthew Clark
Really love the feel of this chapter, especially since the two Jin Rous have finally come together!
Mantiqore
Love it. Especially the end comment lol
Aaron
Great chapter. Wondering where your are planning to end this book? End of the tournament?
Craig
Lots of hints and background in this chapter. So the fact that he could pop the seal means Jin is over the profound realm? Rou (or some fragment there of) is still around. And the land is doing something to add to them
Joel Bullock
Damn definitely at the Spiritual Relm
Jonathan Brewster
This wasn't what I expected at all but I am so glad it turned out this way. The imagery of Jin's power wafting out like a fresh, gentle breeze makes the wait worthwhile.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 This is how to exceed expectations even after stoking them so high. Bravo!
Ford-Thomas Frank Loveland
At least this time he knows exactly where to take it should be much faster
