“You should not take part,” Elder Li said.
“In the war?”
“No. Dinner. Of course the war.” Elder Li thumped her cane on the ground to emphasize her point. “You are a Gatherer and my student. Not a stupid martial specialist.”
“I—”
“Don’t lie. I know you were thinking about it,” Elder Li said, narrowing her eyes at Wu Ying. “I know all of you fools were.”
Wu Ying shrugged. It was true that he had—he was—considering joining. However, unlike what she thought, he leaned toward not doing so. Not only because of Li Yao’s displeasure and disapproval, but because the guilt he felt about abandoning his friends two years ago was a lie. His returning would not change their position in the army. It would only put him in more danger.
“You are a Spirit Herb Gatherer. You have skills and a base of knowledge that is rare. And your combination of martial skills along with that knowledge will allow you to go far,” Elder Li said. “You have a future, one that does not have to include pointless violence. Or the risk of a war.”
Having said her piece, Elder Li turned her attention to the plants. She sighed and whacked Wu Ying on the shoulder before pointing out mistakes he had made. Afterward, she questioned Wu Ying on his recent studies, laying her cane to his shoulders whenever he hesitated or gave the wrong answer.
***
Next to speak with Wu Ying was Liu Tsong, a half day later. The beautiful apothecary apprentice had been busy during the winter, first healing from her injuries and then spending more time waiting on her secluded Master while practicing her apothecary. The only time Wu Ying had met her was during her introductory classes that she continued to teach. It was she who had helped him adjust the herbal remedy. However, beyond that, she spent most of her time in solo practice, as during her Master’s absences she had been given the run of her Master’s various apothecary cauldrons. At least, those she could handle.
“Senior Li!” Wu Ying greeted Liu Tsong with a smile and bow.
All around, the various members of the gardening group glanced over, drinking in the beauty of the senior cultivator. While she was no Fairy Yang, she was still one of the more beautiful members of the Sect.
“Wu Ying. Thank you for coming out to speak with me.” Liu Tsong tilted her head, eyeing the blooming plants with a critical eye. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to spend more time with you.”
“It is fine, Senior. I have been busy too, trying to improve my cultivation.”
“Yes.” Left unsaid was Wu Ying’s failure. “I wanted to ask about your intentions. For the war expedition.”
“I am uncertain as yet.”
“Pity. I had thought to work with you again,” Liu Tsong said.
“You are participating?” Wu Ying exclaimed in surprise.
“I intend to. I have plans to put together a party myself.” When Wu Ying looked puzzled, Liu Tsong explained. “If a group comes with a set team, they are often able to keep team members together. It improves the safety of the group, after all. And we did work well together.”
An unbidden memory. A taotei throwing itself at Wu Ying, intent on eating his face. Sword in hand, ready for one last, final lunge. To make his mark before his death.
“Wu Ying?”
“It’s nothing,” said Wu Ying. “But I will have to disappoint you, Senior. I will not be taking part in the war, I believe.”
“Very well. If you change your mind, let me know.” Lit Tsong looked a bit sad but shook it off. “Now, tell me all about your remedy. How is it working for you? Is it as effective as we had hoped?”
“Very much so, I believe. You know how it is with these cultivation exercises,” said Wu Ying. “It’s not as if I can judge it on a numbered basis. It’s just what I believe it feels like. And it does feel as though it is effective. Certainly, it seems to have found a number of impurities in my bones to replace.”
“Good. I have been thinking though. The juju beans we had used. If we switch them out with the yellow and purple spotted mushrooms from the fourth peak…”
***
To Wu Ying’s surprise, the next person to discuss with him the upcoming war was his own Master. Master Cheng, of course, did not come down to the gardens to visit him. Instead, he summoned Wu Ying to his residence. In the evening. It was after Wu Ying had completed demonstrating his progress in both cultivation and martial styles that Elder Cheng broke the topic.
“You’re probably considering joining the war, are you not?”
“I am not, Master.” By this time, Wu Ying was pretty sure he would not indulge in the war. Even if he could fight, he was not a martial specialist. While he enjoyed playing at the wargames, it was still a game. No one died. And Wu Ying was certain the Sect and its members could deal with the upcoming storm.
“Interesting.”
Elder Cheng fell silent. Wu Ying waited to see what else the Elder had to say, or if he had anything more to say. It seemed to Wu Ying that Elder Cheng was debating something, the way his fingers tapped at the teacup. Rather than bother him, Wu Ying chose to stay silent.
“Are you not concerned about your parents?” Elder Cheng finally said.
“Somewhat. I worry about my village and my parents. But… I believe that the army will be able to guard them. They have managed to do so for so long already,” Wu Ying said. “More so, I’ve already made arrangements with Elder Li and the city below. If things are truly dangerous, the village can evacuate here.”
“Really?” Elder Cheng looked surprised. “That is quite ambitious of you. Adding an entire village to the Sect.”
“There is ample land to sustain cultivation around the Sect. It is remote here, making it difficult for many to begin, but I have saved, the village has saved, enough, I believe.”
“It is good that you have considered the matter.” Elder Cheng sipped from the teacup he held before he gestured to the teapot. Wu Ying hurried to pour the drink for the waiting Elder. “I find that many of our brethren forget the ties that bind us, the karmic debts that formed between them and their mortal parents. I believe that our inability to tie off those debts properly is the reason so many of us fail to ascend. If we cut ties from what we were without fulfilling the needs of our destiny, are we not eating our own flesh?[6]”
“Yes, Master.” Wu Ying bowed to Elder Cheng, then tilted his head as a thought struck him. When Elder Chang raised an eyebrow, he asked, “Are the gods not bound by the threads of karma then?”
“A good question. Perhaps they are bound even tighter than we are.” Elder Cheng looked at Wu Ying then nodded to himself. “That is perhaps something only the immortals themselves can answer. But I believe so.”
Wu Ying nodded. It made sense. The Dao encompassed all, and karma was but the threads of the Dao making itself known.
“I was not going to advise you on either cause of action. Nor will I advise you now. Your fate is yours, as it always has been. But I will speak to you of the potential within this war.” Wu Ying made an inquiring noise, prompting his master to continue speaking. “It is simple really. There will be more Elders, some of them in the Core Formation stage, acting during this period than you will see in the next decade. Potentially more than in the next generation unless matters escalate. It is possible that some of our more illustrious Elders, those in the Nascent Soul stage, might even take part.”
“But I am not certain what I would learn from them. I fear I am too far beneath them.”
“That too is possible. But you will never know if you are not there to witness the matter, no?” Elder Cheng shook his head. “Sometimes, caution is good. At other times, a cultivator must be bold to progress on his path.”
Wu Ying mentally grimaced. Those words sounded wise, but they were of little help to him or the actual making of a decision. In the end, he could only bank on his own beliefs and in that, Wu Ying felt he was not advanced enough. Not yet.