“You are a wandering cultivator,” stated the leader of the guard team. “Prove it.”
“I-I don’t know how to prove what I am.” Wu Ying shook his head, wondering if they had deliberately demanded what would be impossible for him to prove. How do you prove you are not part of a sect?
“Show me your cultivation manual.”
Wu Ying hesitated. Anyone, even a wandering cultivator, would hesitate. The notes of a cultivator were private. Asking to see a cultivation manual was like asking to see a man’s small clothes. Unseemly and intensely invasive. Who wanted to show the holes and stains that resulted from life? Yet, understandable or not, his hesitation resulted in the opposing cultivators raising their weapons and pointing them at the pair. Wu Ying let his gaze track over the group, assessing them all.
“You are quite strong for a wandering cultivator. Body cleansing eight, is it?” the spear-wielder said.
“I’ve had a few fortunate encounters,” said Wu Ying.
“Like?” the leader asked suspiciously.
“I met another wandering cultivator, Elder Dun Yuan Rang, when I was early on in my cultivation. He helped me out of a difficult spot,” said Wu Ying. “I practiced with him and learned a little.”
“I have met Elder Dun myself.” The leader smirked, gloating at the fact that he had, he assumed, caught Wu Ying in the lie. “Describe him to me. Prove that you studied with him.”
Wu Ying hesitated then did his best to describe the wandering Elder. It had been nearly two years since they had met, since the Elder had saved Wu Ying from the bandits at the waterfall. When Wu Ying was done speaking, the leader of the other group was not smirking any longer.
“I was still—I still am—vastly inferior in cultivation to the Senior. I could not learn much from him, but I did spend time studying his form,” Wu Ying said.
“Show me.” The leader walked a distance away, taking station on the road itself. He raised his dao, touching it to his forehead as he readied himself.
“Senior Cai! You cannot do this,” the girl protested.
“Junior Ren, I am the senior here. I can do what I want.” Senior Cai looked away from her and gestured at Wu Ying. “Come then. Or die as a spy.”
Wu Ying grimaced but walked to the center of the road. He drew his sword and saluted his opponent. Inside, he was grateful for the arrogant Senior Cai. This was a method he could prove. His manual had too many notes, especially notes for a cultivation level that was much higher than what he showed.
Wu Ying took a deep breath, thinking back to the moment before Elder Dun had struck that last time. That single form, that simple motion that became a focused point in his attack. It had been many moons since he had considered that event. He thought he had taken all he could from that encounter, but now that he was thinking of it with his higher cultivation level, with his better understanding of the sword, Wu Ying realized that there was more to learn.
He could almost see Elder Dun, feel the way his legs bunched, his arms shifted, the way he positioned himself and the energy he had gathered. Imperceptible to Wu Ying back then, impressions that he had discarded came back. He copied those motions, integrated them with his own understanding of the sword and his own style, and crouched low.
“The Sword’s Truth,” Wu Ying whispered a moment before he threw himself forward.
It was his best lunge ever. He crossed the five feet that separated him from Senior Cai in moments, his sword aimed directly at Senior Cai’s heart. Wu Ying’s arm was extended, his body braced behind it, his legs flowing together in a single extended line into the earth. Everything he had learned from his father, from that image of Elder Dun, he used.
Senior Cai was caught by surprise by the explosiveness of Wu Ying’s attack. He hesitated for only a fraction of a second, but that fraction brought the weapon inches closer. A hasty block came too late, the strike pausing a half-inch from plunging into Senior Cai’s throat as Wu Ying’s momentum ended. The Sect member flinched and glared at Wu Ying, his posturing come to an end.
Senior Cai gulped before he stepped back. “That… that wasn’t Elder Dun’s attack.”
“No, it wasn’t. I am not his disciple. I just spent a little time with him. I took what I could learn and integrated it with my style.” Wu Ying stepped back and sheathed his sword, looking the man in his eyes. “But I’m sure you can see what I learned.”
“I did,” another of the dao-wielders said. “It’s a poor imitation, but it is an imitation. And it’s not something someone could gain from just watching.”
Senior Cai glared but eventually sheathed his sword and gestured for the group to go. Wu Ying exhaled, relieved as the cultivators took off, heading down the same road Wu Ying and Tou Hei were journeying on.
Neither of the friends spoke for long minutes as they got back on their horses and rode, letting the tension and adrenaline fade in silence. Only when they felt safe, a couple of hours later, did the pair speak.
“That was close,” Wu Ying said.
“Yes,” Tou Hei agreed.
Wu Ying sighed. Perhaps they might have to reconsider their travel plans. If they’d had to fight, they would have lost for sure. But… part of the reason for doing what they did was to avoid a fight. Mulling over their options, the pair rode on in silence.
***
That evening, Wu Ying made his way to the group at the rest stop’s only remaining table. The stop itself was no more than a small, ramshackle two-story structure that had seen better days. It was manned by a single merchant, one who was both portly and slow with his service while having the hangdog expression of one who had been set upon by the world repeatedly.
“What did you learn?” said Yin Xue when Wu Ying took his seat.
“The owner explained that our dinner is a result of the despicable army of Shen coming by a few days ago and taking all his provisions.” Wu Ying picked up his curved spoon and dipped it into the watery rice porridge that had been served as dinner.
Supplemented by thin strips of pork that had been steamed over the boiling porridge and flavored with dried, salted fish, the meal was only barely sustaining. The three nobles turned up their noses at the meal, but Wu Ying had eaten similar repass before. Droughts and an overabundance of water could impact a harvest, leaving peasants with little to eat. Still, Wu Ying wished that the innkeeper had used some of the fresh spring onions and wild ginger Wu Ying had traded to him for his night’s accommodation. It would give the porridge a little more body.
“At least the wine isn’t bad,” commented Bao Cong. He raised a small teacup that he was using and swirled the wine before he sipped it.
“Peasants are very good at hiding the important things,” sneered Yin Xue.
Wu Ying bristled but kept his mouth shut.
They had been careful to introduce themselves to each other when they arrived at the rest stop, still putting on the pretense that they didn’t know one another. Even if the innkeeper had doubts, he was only one man, but it was still good to practice.
“I told him about our encounter earlier today, Brother Long,” Tou Hei said. “I believe the noble lady would be willing to journey with us for mutual assurance. We are all concerned that there might be even more bandits or army groups. It would only take a single misunderstanding for tragedy to strike.”
Wu Ying raised an eyebrow at Li Yao, surprised to see that the group had discussed and made a decision on this while he was speaking with the innkeeper. Still, he had been considering joining up again. It would not be too surprising for a number of small groups to travel together for safety. Even if there was the threat of betrayal, Li Yao’s group was larger.
“That is good,” Wu Ying agreed then supped on his meager dinner.
The group followed his actions, holding off on talking until they had finished their meal.