I Return, interlude, and image.

Beware Of Chicken

Fist off, an image that I commissioned.

Break the Rocks

A scene from the end of the volume by the artist Fuyudust. I think this turned out fantastic.

Sidestory: 9413

9413: Pronounced in Chinese, it sounds like nine die, one lives.

=================

“Tang Shuren, Rise.” A voice commanded him, and he did as bid, rising from his kowtow. He looked up, at the Monument to the Martyrs, and the three floating, ghostly forms of the Spirits the Founders had created. The stark, stern visage that had greeted him when he entered now had the barest hints of smiles on their faces.

Another spirit stroked his beard. “You have completed every exam; you have proven your virtue. Tang Shuren, In the Name of the Founders, we name you Senior Disciple of the Cloudy Sword Sect.” A blue robe was placed around Shuren’s Shoulders. He bowed again to the spirits. “Go with honour, Tang Shuren.”

“I swear to uphold the tenants of the Cloudy Sword Sect,” he swore.

The spirits approval was a tangible thing, as he turned and left the Hall of the Founders, his head held high.

=====================================

Tang Shuren, Senior Disciple of the Cloudy Sword Sect, woke up with a gasp. He was freezing, drowning, and in great pain—

He bolted upright, off the stone floor. His eyes opened wide, seeing only clear blue and stone.

And then he remembered, as he stared around his cell. The Qi restrictors on the walls. The little shelf entirely exposed to the elements.

Shame burned in his gut.

“Tang Shuren of the Senior Disciples.” Elder Ge intoned, his eyes filled with bitter disappointment. The Elder himself was completely unstained and pristine, despite the blood coating the ground around him. Another disciple was carried off by his fellows, to be placed into confinement.

Tang Shuren had been numb, as he approached his Elder. As he stood in front of a man he so admired, who was staring at Shuren like he was an insect.

“Do you have any words, boy?” Elder Ge demanded

Tang Shuren could only bow. “This Tang Shuren has shamed himself and the Cloudy Sword Sect. Please, show this Shuren the path, Honoured Elder.”

He rose, and put his hands behind his back. He made no move to flinch away from the Elder’s blows. He planted his feet and stared straight ahead.

He accepted the discipline until darkness overtook him.

Tang Shuren stared out into the endless blue sky. The Qi restrictors let him feel every freezing gust of wind, and the cruelty of the sun. Enough to be painful and uncomfortable, yet not enough to kill. Shuren stared at his knuckles, and at the rough clothes on his body. He sat in the lotus position instinctively, preparing to meditate to ward off the chill.

Yet his heart was too disturbed to even begin to meditate. Negligence. Allowing Seniors to brutalize their juniors. Disregarding the upkeep of the sect.

How had it all come to this?

Had he not once been an exemplary disciple? A man who cleaved to the words of the Honoured Founders, and been raised up high for his regard? Had he not been an Inner Disciple, granted resources beyond most could imagine?

He could still remember the pride he had once had, ascending to these hallowed ranks. For a hundred years, he had been a Senior Disciple. To show his appreciation for the sect. At first, he had been zealous in his duties. He had been the reliable, dependable Senior Brother.

For a long time, he had been content.

And yet... He did not grow. At first he was merely concerned. It was to be expected. Things took longer, as one rose higher.

Then concern turned to worry. He had completely bottlenecked. He felt nothing from his cultivation sessions.

He rose to the top of the Senior Disciples, in seniority and rank.

Yet still, his cultivation did not progress.

Worry turned to fear, that this was as far as he could go. The Honoured Founders always said to take care of one’s body… so, he of course followed them. He started meditating more. He had to continue to progress in his cultivation.

It was an excuse.

It started off small. He stopped supervising the work details as much. The Outer Disciples were all good and diligent, of course. They would work well without his guidance. A battle between disciples? He was supposed to have intervene…and yet… it had already mostly resolved. It would have taken longer for him to step in than for things to continue as they were.

Each excuse built on things. What started as small cut corners began to widen into cracks, as the worry about his bottleneck consumed him.

He still remembered the thought that had taken him, when rumors of a death came through the compound.

“It's only an Outer Disciple.”

Ignoring the Outer Disciples, when they spoke against their fellows. Uncaring of a few sprigs of spiritual herbs, when questioned on them.

When it came time to deliver a report to the Elders.. He decided that they did not need to be bothered with such petty concerns either. He knew how they must feel, as their cultivation slowed to a crawl.

‘Everything is going as the Founders Will it.’

Shuren’s eyes snapped open, and his fist clenched.

He had strayed from the path. He had perverted the Honoured Founder’s words.

Just how far had he fallen, out of his own worry? Out of his own negligence? Only when Elder Ge thrust it into his face did he realize the extent of his own failures.

Bitter tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.

And now he was paying the price for it.

For three more hours he simply sat, staring out at the endless expanse before him, until the door to the cell was opened. One of his fellow Senior Disciples, Zhao Xicheng was standing on the other side. His once fellow stared at Shuren without emotion.

“Elder Ge has requested your presence.” he stated simply

Shuren rose, and followed without a word.

The entire Sect was a hive of activity, as Disciples repaired buildings. The serenity of the mountain had been shattered, as they worked, or other Senior Disciples posed questions to their juniors.

Inner Disciples had been assigned several outer Disciples each, to properly trade pointers with, and pass on their own wisdom.

Shuren was taken to the office of Elder Ge, this too filled with man Senior Disciples, as they heeded his commands.

“Are you Certain, Elder Ge—?” Yichou, another Senior Disciple asked asked Elder Ge, worried.

“Yes, use all the treasures of the Southlands I have collected. We all have our penance to pay for inaction.” The man stated without hesitation. Elder Ge had been in the Southlands for twenty years, gathering reagents. And yet he commanded what he had gathered to be spent on others without a second thought. “The one in the Red Sky Storage to Brother Shou. He has long desired a Seven Essence Soulroot.”

“As you will, Elder Ge.” Yichou agreed immediately, delicately taking the storage ring from Elder Ge, before leaving.

“Elder Ge. Tang Shuren, as you ordered.” Xicheng stated calmly.

The room went quiet, as Elder Ge turned to Shuren.

“Leave us.” He commanded.

The room emptied.

“Tang Shuren. You have written false reports. Allowed Negligence to flourish. You have spat upon the Words of the Founders. What have you to say for yourself?” he asked, his voice calm and matter of fact.

“I have no words with which to defend myself, Elder Ge.” Shuren stated immediately.

“These acts could be punishable by death, Tang Shuren.”

“If that is Elder Ge’s wish, then it is his wish.”

The Elder gazed upon him with shrewd eyes, before sighing. “The Elders share some of the blame for our inattention.” He stated simply. “It is for this reason only that I have not slain you where you stand.”

The room was cold, as Elder Ge’s Eyes sharpened, his intent filling the room ,and nearly once more driving Shuren to his knees, until the pressure abated.

“But you have made no excuses for yourself and your actions. This at least, allows you some manner of leeway. I shall be merciful, and allow you to choose your punishment.”

Shuren knew every punishment prescribed within the Cloudy Sword Sect’s bureaucracy. It was something that had to be studied extensively.

He could be banished from the sect. He could have his cultivation damaged. He could have a hundred other acts of penance to show his shame.

Yet none of those would allow him to regain his honour. None of those punishments would allow him to correct his own path.

So he chose the only one that would.

Shuren bowed his head. “Elder Ge. Please Allow This Tang Shuren to undertake jiǔ sǐ yī shēng.”

Nine Die. One Lives.

He said perhaps the only thing that could surprise Elder Ge.

Elder Ge was struck speechless for a moment.

“You would ask for this?” Elder Ge asked.

“Yes, Elder Ge. Please allow this Tang Shuren to regain his honour.”

The Elder examined him for a moment. “If you wish to live in hell for your sins, then I shall allow it.” He stated simply.

=========================

Tang Shuren kowtowed three times before the Monument to the Martyrs. It was in the center of a truly ancient stone room, lit with braisers burning with blue light. It was a place of reflection and meditation, and where those of the Cloudy Sword Sect were judged.

There was a whisper of Qi, as three ghostly blue men faded into existence before him. Their eyes were stern, their faces stark and unforgiving.

“Who calls upon these spirits?” Their voices boomed as one.

“Tang Shuren, Honoured Spirits.” he whispered, his head low.

“Why have you called upon us?” They asked again.

“To receive your judgement. This Tang Shuren has shamed both the Sect and Himself. So great Are this Shuren’s crimes that he asks to undertake jiǔ sǐ yī shēng.”

The Spirits were silent at his declaration.

“Then your crimes are truly great. Tang Shuren, show us your resolve. The spirit in the middle demanded. “For once this trial begins, there shall be no escaping it.”

Shuren rose. He took a knife, and raised his hands, cutting his topknot from his head, and casting it into the burning blue flames.

He shed his robes, and knelt again before the spirits.

All three drew spectral swords, and pointed them at him.

And then the pain hit. The spirits were not gentle, as they pressed their will into him. Invasive, and searching. Shuren did not resist, even as his body and mind screamed at the feeling of violation.

But it was all self inflicted. The Spirits would either judge him worthy.. Or slay him on the spot, burning him to ashes for approaching them without being resolved.

After what seemed like an eternity, the spirits withdrew partially. He still felt them within his body, but they had apparently been satisfied by what they had seen.

The hall seemed to scratch and spin, as the spirits laid their hands upon him.

“What is civilization?” A spirit asked, as Shuren felt a blade glide across his scalp, beginning to shave off the rest of his hair.

“That which separates man from beast. Within the bonds of the Rule of Law, all are made superior. It restricts the excess, it punishes the wicked, it increases the virtue of all men.” Shuren answered.

“What is true power?” Another demanded, as a needle punched into Shuren’s back, inking a formation into his skin.

“Wisdom is the truest power. Cultivation is not merely the pursuit of the force of arms, but it is attaining enlightenment. To cease learning is when one truly dies. Kowtow before a mortal who enlightens you; show disdain to the barbarian who has only the strength of his arms.” Shuren said, as steadily as he could. his vision swam, and he nearly screamed with the effort of not moving.

“What is the Will of the Founders?” all three demanded.

“To teach, to defend, to Master oneself. To live a virtuous life that is self-evident to all who witness thy actions. ” Shuren gasped, as Qi invaded his body and soul.

The pain finally stopped, as robes were placed onto his body. His vision stopped swimming, as the Spirits rose back up.

“Tang Shuren, the third to willingly accept the charge of jiǔ sǐ yī shēng. Your name is no longer yours. You are now Yun Shu, the virtuous stray cloud. In the Name of the Founders. Yun Shu, you are charged with nine thousand four hundred and thirteen days of continuous combat within the bonds of the Imperial Army. You are to never refuse a duty; never allow the wicked to go unpunished; never suffer the demonic to exist within thy presence. You are to be a paragon of virtue, a mountain rising above the clouds. Till the time this charge is complete, or until the end of thy days you are now an instrument of the Founder's Will upon this earth. The heavens shall observe thy every action.”

Yun Shu rose. “This Yun Shu thanks the honoured Spirits of the Founders for this opportunity.” he said quietly.

The spirits all observed him, their eyes upon him cold, yet filled with the tiniest measure of respect.

“Go, Yun Shu. Go, and regain yourself.”

He turned from the Hall of the Founders, and left, exiting the room and coming abc out into the cold, stark beauty of the Cloudy Sword Sect.

Elder Ge awaited him. He stood at the head of two rows; every Disciple of the Cloudy Sword Sect gathered behind him.

“Penitent! What is thy name?” Elder Ge thundered.

“This one’s name is Yun Shu, Elder of the Cloudy Sword Sect!” Shu returned, his head bowed low.

Elder Ge observed him. Then, slowly, he raised his hands in the gesture of respect.

“Xiao Ge of the Cloudy Sword Sect pays his respects to Yun Shu!” Elder Ge shouted.

“We pay our Respects to Yun Shu!” The rest of the Disciples declared as one, all lowering their heads.

Yun Shu strode in between the rows of bowling disciples, he did not look at any of them, as he strode forth from the gates of the Cloudy Sword Sect.

A ninety percent chance of death. Nine thousand days of struggle.

And then, he would be reinstated with full honours into the Cloudy Sword Sect, as the Founder, honoured Zixin had done.