Sky Pride

Chapter 3- What A Demon Wants

The toad was forced to cough up the technique after a bare few hundred tales of silver. On some level they knew it was a blinding fortune for mortals, but no one present cared. Actually performing the method was considerably harder, as it required using something called aura, which apparently wasn’t the same as vital energy or qi.

Tian didn’t believe it. Qi was literally everything. Aura was merely a variety of qi. He would figure it out sooner or later. Probably much later. He still intended to close up for a good long while after all this.

Tian and Liren didn’t see any particular reason not to hurry back to the mountain, and neither did Jin and Heavenly Demon. So they went. Tian very quickly decided that he hated rushing, but at least he got to ride with Liren in the rowboat. That made many things better. Far more surprising was when Heavenly Demon produced an iron whistle, and with a single blow, he summoned a jet black tiger whose eyes crackled with lightning. It was a spirit, though of what sort Tian couldn’t say. It was clearly different from what the Shamans on the steppes used, and the manner of use was entirely different too.

Tian cast a reproachful look into the spiritual vessel holding the wolf spirit. The spiritual pup gave him an aggrieved look in reply. Tian sighed and used a tendril of qi to stroke the spirit. He was being unfair. Still, Heavenly Demon did look very domineering.

Tian found he wasn’t jealous of the height, as seven feet was simply too tall. Rather than being grand or imposing, it was simply gangly. Nor did he feel he was inferior in appearance. The one he wanted to seduce was Liren, and she had made it clear she liked how he looked. Therefore, his appearance was perfect, which made him better than the Heavenly Demon. Cultivation skills, background, upbringing, status, all those were things he could do without or get for himself easily enough. But a truly domineering mount could only be chanced upon, not sought. He could only pray that luck favored him one day. Thankfully, he had long perfected hiding his feelings behind the mask of his face.

“You envy this Heavenly Demon’s mount? Not without reason, it is rather excellent. Only those who obtain a certain rank and standing in the cult may ride them.”

Domineering mounts could only be chanced upon! Tian was very firm in reminding himself. Very.

“Proof that the blessings of the Supreme Ancient Demons can be earned by effort and achievements, not simple chance like the revelation of daoism. Though this Seat imagines that revelation is a convenient method for those without sufficient means. Very self reliant. Very frugal. Humble. Humility is a virtue in your sects, this Heavenly Demon knows. How brave of you to live your humility so openly and notoriously.”

Tian could feel the killing intent Heavenly Demon always emitted prickling at him. Gently probing, searching for who knew what. Happy thought- he only needed to return Jin to Voidcatcher. Heavenly Demon was merely a tagalong. Maybe he could ask Voidcatcher to kill him so Tian could have all his stuff.

Forget it. Voidcatcher might kill him, but he’d never let the goods slip out of his hands.

“Can I not even dream, Grandpa? Must even this be denied me?”

Tian felt an old but strong hand settle on his shoulder. Grandpa Jun’s voice was warm and comforting as the first cup of tea on a cold day. Some things are impossible even in our dreams, Little Zihao. Just dream a little smaller, and be happy.

The sky was still endlessly blue, the sun shone in all its fiery glory, yet somehow, he felt lonely in the heavens. And a little cold.

“Oh stop looking so melodramatic. You know perfectly well that you will be rushing around on Burning Heaven’s back as soon as the two of you are reunited. Besides, would you rather sit on a grubby tiger, or ride in a boat with me?” Liren’s thoughts were mischievous, hiding their laughter. Naturally, he replied with a snort and a dignified look out the side of the boat.

“Really? Should I stop rowing then?”

“No, no, you need the exercise. I won’t deprive you.”

“Mmm.”

It took them four days to make it to the foot of the mountain. Tian was slightly, just slightly, envious when Heavenly Demon threw down an ornately carved wooden sculpture of a house, and a moment later, a modest mansion burst into existence.

“So shameful, this Heavenly Demon being forced to cultivate in this hovel. This Seat should have killed that… whatever it was called clan that dared destroy his portable palace.”

“Divine Hammer Qin Clan. You were off with those twin princesses discussing hopes and dreams over a jar of Ten-Thousand Blossom Fairy Nectar wine, and the Qin Clan tried to break in. They accidentally blew it up trying to get past the door. And you did kill them. Didn’t even spare the fleas on the rats in their basement, let alone anyone associated with the clan.” Jin helpfully reminded him.

“This Seat should have killed them a few more times. Once was not enough.”

“You sacrificed their male main line to the Demon Aba’shz-ner, The Glory of Repentance, known also as the Thousand Refinements of Suffering, as you condensed their remnant spirits into fuel for the skin lantern you crafted from the hide of the clan patriarch. Unless some ancient monster intervened, it should be blazing bright and howling their collective regret to this day.”

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“This Heavenly Demon said what he said and will not repeat himself. This Seat remembers now, they had those people in tubes in their basement, all separated into pieces. The floor was sticky. Exterminating all life in the compound was mere hygiene, not proper vengeance. Come, old Chanchu, let’s get the stellar ray gathering formation set. The night’s going to waste.”

Liren glanced over at Tian, finding him staring at the moon, as though he was a spirit exiled from that celestial place, pining for the goddess that lived there. She suppressed a chuckle.

“Come on in, I have our tent set up.”

“Ah yes. Our tent. Our… very luxurious tent.”

“Well, you can mope at the moon, or you can come on in. I don’t think the moon can change your mood, but I know I can.”

“Oh really?”

“Really.”

“Bold words. I shall just have to see for myself.”

She smiled, and the night turned brilliant.

The next morning, Tian found that Heavenly Demon had been quite right the night before. Compared to their tent, the poor fellow really was struggling to get by in a hovel. He sighed. It must be hard. He knocked politely at the door and waited.

And kept waiting.

Then waited a bit longer.

A bit longer still. The morning was half done already, and there was no sign of life from the house.

He kept waiting a bit after that.

“DEMONS ABOVE, WERE YOU GOING TO WAIT ALL DAY? DON’T YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO DO?” The door slammed open, the Heavenly Demon glaring down at him.

“Not all day.”

“Well it certainly seemed-”

“I’d wait a week or three if necessary. However long you needed to gather your courage. I can understand that you feel ashamed of your dwelling, and didn’t want to rush you. Compassion is one of our daoist virtues, and I know you have to gather your strength before appearing in public. Anyway, I was pitying your crummy shack, and thought I would comfort you with some tea. Judging by that flush on your neck, it seems you could use it. Come, join me. Life isn’t so hard if you have some company.”

The poor devil must have slept poorly. He was making a sort of croaking, creaking noise.

“You might as well. Brother Zihao’s tea service is a little special.” Liren had a little table set out and the cushions arranged just so. Tian gave her an appreciative smile, and set out his tea set.

“This Heavenly Demon drinks wine. Wine!”

“Why?” Tian asked.

“Why what?”

“The polite way to say that is to say ‘pardon?’” Tian reproved. “And it’s a straightforward question. Wine smells terrible, tastes worse, and at our cultivation level, the poison is incapable of triggering the disorienting or euphoric effects many find desirable. So, why drink it?”

The Heavenly Demon suddenly grinned. “You think you can’t get drunk on wine?”

“I will admit that I have drunk so little, it hasn’t ever come up. But it stands to reason.”

“Oh, this changes everything. This Heavenly Demon will try your tea service, be sure and serve him well. And tonight, we will try this Seat’s wine. Look forward to it, even the worst of his wine is better than the best this kingdom can boast.”

“Oh. Well. If you insist. This little daoist will just treat it as another opportunity to learn.”

The next morning, Tian loudly asked Liren if this was what a hangover looked like, and did she think it hurt? Heavenly Demon certainly looked green. Tian felt quite vindicated. This so-called immortal wine was unpleasant in every regard, entirely inferior to tea, and was only mildly useful for his cultivation. Still, it seemed as though it was a learning experience for everyone, and that made it worthwhile.

The days slipped past. At their speed and level of cultivation, it was less than a week to reach Ancient Crane Mountain. Tian didn’t need to go down to sense the mood of the kingdom. Even from outside the villages and above the cities, you could smell the fear. Between rebellions, fires, plagues, and now a barbarian invasion, even a strong emperor would collapse. They didn’t have a strong emperor. It was said, very quietly, that the pillars holding up the kingdom could be counted on one hand, and it was anyone’s guess whether those pillars would be undermined by schemers, or toppled by a fearful emperor.

Rumors of what happened in Burning Flag City had come north, but no one could tell what to make of it. It sounded wonderful, but the southlands were already being gobbled up by the Yuu. What good was it if a single city was preserved? Did it help them here, in the heartlands? As for the talk of a god descending, that was all it was. Talk. Isn’t it just a poetic way of saying a miracle occurred? There were cultivators on the scene. The listeners might be peasants, but they weren’t fools. There was no god so free that they would bother to descend on the Broadsky Kingdom. Not with the thin face of the current Son of Heaven.

A bloody smell rose from Mountain Gate City. The little settlements that had been springing up around the mountain had been burned. Someone had been very thorough. It seemed that someone wanted power to be concentrated in the city, and therefore presumably in the hands of whoever held the city.

“Think the Long Clan Headquarters is still un-looted?” Liren asked.

“I don’t know. Do you care?” Tian asked.

Liren looked at the city from above, unmoving for five minutes. “No. No I don’t. If I see one of the Longs out in the world, maybe I will do something, but not this. They have nothing I need, and nothing I want so much as being back home.”

“Do you think the Wang Clan has conquered the monastery yet?” Tian laughed.

“I’m wondering if they have kids.” Liren’s words snuffed out the laugh at once. She was right. It had been two years or so at this point. Three? He wasn’t sure, but it had been a long while. Three beautiful, healthy young wives, and the immensely sturdy Brother Wang. When combined with the nurturing power of the mountain, it would be stranger if they didn’t have at least one child.

Recently, the nights in the tent with Liren had been wonderful, but they hadn’t crossed that bridge just yet. Neither was complaining. They both wanted it to be at home. Not rushed, not… anything. Just them, in their own home, taking that next step on their journey when their hearts were ready. What with everything, Tian was sure he didn’t lack merits, but it was still scary. Would the heavens conspire to make them suffer? The Mad God was petty beyond belief. How much could merits really do?

He shook his head and focused on the present. Liren polled the rowboat up to the ward, well away from the city. Jin and the Heavenly Demon floated beside them. Tian put his hand on the ward.

“Teacher, your student has been successful. Come and see, your disciple has returned to you.”