“Very well. We shall await your commands,” Li Yao said, though she looked worried.
As Elder Li had taken Ru Ping and the majority of the martial specialists, there were a few guards left. And one was still injured. As it stood, the injured guard had been forced to exert his cultivation to keep pace with them, adding internal injuries to his external ones. The week of rest had been meant to allow the man to recuperate.
“What do you think they are talking about?” Wu Ying said.
It was simple enough to him. Elder Li was in trouble. They should help her. Was that not what Liu Tsong had spoken of? The bonds between sect members? As for Elder Wei’s comments about leaving them, it had just been words. After all, no one had been left.
“I know not,” Li Yao said, nodding over to where the Elders conferred in their tent. “But they are unlikely to leave Elder Li. She might not be as treasured as Elder Wang, but her abilities have provided many with much-needed medicine and pill ingredients. Losing her would be injurious to the sect.”
Wu Ying touched the hilt of his sword as he turned away, staring in the direction the party had left a day ago. He could not help but wonder what could have delayed them. What it was that might have killed the group, if they had died. The pixiu’s ominous words resounded in Wu Ying’s mind once more, and he could not help but dread what they would find.
It was an hour later when the three Elders broke from their meeting. Elder Po walked to Wu Ying as he sat, reinforcing his cultivation. As the Elder neared, Wu Ying settled his chi and stood.
“Long Wu Ying?” Elder Po said.
“Yes, Elder.”
“Did Elder Li teach you how to harvest the kurinji flower?” Elder Po said, getting to the point immediately. Wu Ying nodded. “How confident are you at harvesting the plant successfully?”
“Not at all, Elder,” Wu Ying admitted. “The flower is tricky and requires one to control their aura and chi flow minutely. While my aura is well controlled, I am still new to this. Fluctuations in my aura and chi while harvesting the kurinji will affect its potency. To do the best job possible, two individuals are required as well.”
“Can you teach, or at least guide, a second?”
Wu Ying frowned. “I could, but I too have just started learning.”
“Understood,” Elder Po said. “One of us will aid you if necessary. You will have to teach all of us Elders nonetheless.”
“Are we not looking for Elder Li?”
“Of course. But we must also plan for the fact they are not alive. We want—no, we need—the kurinji flower. Even if it is not as potent if you harvest it, we must finish this expedition,” Elder Po said.
“Yes, Elder,” Wu Ying said. “Elder…?”
“Speak.”
“Why is it so important?” Wu Ying frowned, looking around and recalling the fallen. So many fallen.
Elder Po hesitated, then he stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Do not speak of this to others. The sect has learnt the Six Jades Sect had three Elders break through into the pinnacle of the Core cultivation stage over the winter.”
“Three?” Wu Ying’s jaw dropped. The Six Jades Sect were the Verdant Green Waters’s rival sect from the State of Wei. They were who the sect fought on the battlefields when the two states warred. And if they deployed all three pinnacle Elders, the balance of the war would tilt drastically toward the Wei.
“Yes. The armies will clash this year, as always, but it will be muted. The Elders must reinforce their cultivation. But next year…” Elder Po shook his head. “That is why we must have the pills. We are close to breaking through. All of us. But enlightenment has yet to strike. Our cultivation has bottlenecked.”
Wu Ying bowed his head, understanding at last. This, this expedition, was about more than money or contribution points or the self-serving development of a group of Elders. This expedition was about survival. Of the sect and the state.
“I will do my best, Elder.” Wu Ying could not help but add, “But I hope I am not required to.”
“So do we.” Elder Po placed a hand on Wu Ying’s shoulder then removed it before gesturing. “Pack yourself and get ready. We leave after lunch.”
The group that left after lunch consisted of Elder Po, who knew where the flower was located; Elder Wei, who brought her cauldron; Liu Tsong; Li Yao; and two-thirds of the remaining martial specialists. Including Wu Ying, that number totaled nine members, leaving Elder Dong to care for their base camp and the porters, cooks, and remaining specialists.
Knowing they needed to travel fast, the group packed easily consumable food and the minimum amount of camping materials. In theory, the location was a half day journey for non-cultivators, a short few hours’ run for the group. Once again, Wu Ying had to admit, his lower cultivation level would slow the group. Even if he had achieved another level of cultivation, the gap between them all was large. But at least, Wu Ying comforted himself, it was not as if they could finish the job without him.
Once they had left the boundaries of the camp, Elder Po beckoned Wu Ying to where Elder Wei and himself waited. Liu Tsong, gliding beside the two, smiled at Wu Ying as he neared.
“You will inform us how we are to harvest the kurinji flower,” Elder Po said. “Now.”
Wu Ying gulped, seeing the seriousness in the pair of Elders. Drawing a deep breath, he pushed his hesitation aside and began.
A short minutes later, Elder Wei snapped, “Enough with the conditions and the humble words. We understand. You are a neonate. If we fail, we will not blame you.” The Elders next, under-her-breath word was probably not something Wu Ying was expected to hear. “Much.”
Wu Ying gulped again but took the fear within him and pushed it away, focusing instead on reiterating what the Elders needed to know. After a half hour more of discussion, Elder Po clapped to end the talk.
“Good. That is sufficient. I understand you recently broke through again?” Elder Po said.
“Yes, Elder.”
“Unfortunate timing,” Elder Wei said. “Your aura control has grown shoddy once more.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Go. Practice.”
“Yes, Elder.”
Wu Ying took advantage of her abrupt command, falling away from the pair and focusing on his aura. He had not spent much time practicing his aura strengthening technique recently, so he knew the Elder’s harsh words were correct. If a little hurtful.
As the group traversed the mountain, ascending steep slopes, the amount of vegetation decreased at an alarming rate. At one point, Elder Po stopped and pointed wordlessly at a tree trunk. Elder Wei stepped forward, using a conjured ladle to push against the shattered edges of the tree itself. Wu Ying edged closer and frowned as he realized the stump looked to have been shattered not by claw or blade but by teeth. Remnant strips of bark still hung on the edges of the dying tree, tiny gouges from claw marks showing how even the bark itself had been ripped from the tree.
The pair of Elders shared a knowing glance before they waved the group on. As they climbed, the trees grew further and further stripped, bereft of bark, leaves, and often their very trunks. Bushes were ripped from their moorings, chewed portions of the leaves and branches scattered about. Wu Ying eyed the green carnage, grateful to note from the dried-out remnants that this destruction had been done weeks ago.
Up and up, the group climbed. Eventually, the clearing leveled out and they increased in speed. Wisps of low-hanging clouds floated around the mountains, hiding and revealing sharp cliff faces and bare rock in the distance. In front of them, mists floated, shrouding the clearing they journeyed toward. As they moved forward, Wu Ying sensed the difference in chi. Something. Somehow…
“What is that?” Wu Ying asked Li Yao, who trotted beside him.