[RSM] Chapter 114. Escape II

[I was supposed to post this last night. I put my kids to sleep, and I slept next to them. And I was too tired to touch my laptop. So I could only do it now. My apologies. Also, RSM will be on break for the entire month of December. I will be pausing billings around 29-30 November. ]

Maybe it was survival instincts, maybe it was just wisdom. It was a lesson he learned rather early in life, that there was no use fighting all the fights, and it was infinitely better to win without fighting. 

A shame that he only got to apply that wisdom properly in this life. 

The group of six moved, and luckily, it seemed that one of their pursuers were not particularly persistent. They followed for a bit, and then once they realized they were not closing the gap fast enough, they backed off. 

There were many other foes to hunt.  They were not the only alchemists with a bounty. 

The second group that headed their way also attempted to catch up to them, but alchemists were good survivalists, even if they were not the best combatants. They had pills to boost their speed, boost their stamina, and allowed them to shroud their presence. 

They fled for two days, and they were finally at the true edges of Kaorlia's territory, and ventured closer to the lands of the Silent Mountain Sanctuary, one of the ten Great Sects. 

"The nearest town is Little Yellow Leaf Town." Gana Adan said, and looked around. "Do you think we should rest there?"

Another alchemist, who went by the name Taha Tarmath, shook his head. "Kaorlian sympathizers should still be here. If we want to rest, we should head deeper into the Great Sect's territory. We can charter a merchant ship or a carriage out from there. Little Yellow Leaf is too small to help us."

So, the group of six continued. A few of them were not in their best fighting forms, and could still use a few more days of rest and some time in healing chambers, but it is what it is. 

That they did not encounter any Kaorlian forces was already exceptionally fortunate. 

They travelled for another four days, and ran through what was mostly vast forests filled with spirit rodents. 

In theory, entry to these forests required permissions from the Great Sect, but that was if there was enforcement of said law. Law that the Great Sect that was rather reluctant to enforce these few weeks. 

Past the forests of the Spirit Rodents, they reached one of the first major towns of the Great Sect, and though still considered a fringe area, there was a proper branch sect of the Silent Mountain here.

A city named Silver Mines Fortress, it is one of the large mining cities owned by the Silent Mountain, and if he remembered correctly, the Branch Leader here was a man in the 8th realm named Hendric Silvermines. The alchemists were already hoping to find a place to relax, but as they approached the gates, an Elder of the Silent Mountain stood in front of them.

"Distinguished gentlemen and alchemists, I'm afraid that the Silver Mines Fortress is currently closed to outside cultivators. I must ask that you leave."

Gana Adan blinked. "Wait, why?"

"It is not a decision privy to me, but it is a collective decision made by the leadership of the Silent Mountain. I am but the messenger." 

"Could we not charter even a flying ship?"

"I am afraid your request would not do. Prince Kaorl has declared that all merchant ship departures are to be scrutinized by the Kaorlian Officials, and all merchant ships will be subject to searches by sanctioned cultivators. Failure to comply will be a criminal charge."

Gana Adan raged. "My Prince has gone mad! Those crooked ministers!"

Taha sighed. "He is no longer our prince, Gana. The foul ministers have poisoned his mind to hate us." 

Gana, once of the Grand Ironshell Sect, looked at the elder of the Silent Mountain. "And the Great Sect stands with the Prince?"

"The Great Sect is a sect loyal to the crown. Until the Emperor decides otherwise, we will obey the Prince's directive."

"Even when it is wrong? Even when this is madness?" Gana pushed, much to Tundra's amusement. Gana reminded him so much of himself, when he was younger. He was so much more principled, much more fiery. He could see that same desire to speak out. 

Age really mellowed him, because over the years, he had learned how to hold his tongue, and manage his fury. Yet, there are days he wished that he still possessed that deep, burning flame. 

He tapped Gana Adan on the shoulders. "It is not the elder's decision to make. We will have to find alternatives. Are we still permitted to move about, then?"

"Not within the cities this close to the border, alchemist. That said, I believe if you travel even further south, past the spine of the Jagged Steel Peaks, you may find more accommodating cities." The elder of the Great Sect answered, clearly sympathetic, but not willing to stick out his head to disagree with Prince Kaorl, or the decision of the greater elders. 

Tundra relaxed, he could feel the man wasn't hostile. "Are there villages or places where we can go, to get some rest?"

"I am afraid the directive is fairly clear, though if you happen to find some abandoned village or secluded cave, then no one can be blamed. I don't happen to know of any." 

Tundra nodded. "Very well, let us go, we will have to find our own place to stay." 

***

The six alchemists gathered to rest around a fireplace, deep in the woods. There was nowhere to sleep, a good thing that they didn't need much of it. Their food was simple, the flesh and meat of some spirit beasts nearby, cooked over a simple flame. 

Again, in the best of times, they didn't need it. But alas, some of them are still nursing wounds and restoring their cultivation.

So, the six sat about, and Tundra listened to them grumbling.

"What is the Emperor thinking?" Gana Adan countered. "Even if he has a hundred years to live, he cannot allow this to stain the name of the royal house!"

"The Emperor's life is short, and I believe he intends to test the other children. The Golden Dragon Emperor has a tradition of allowing the children to rise up, to stand up for what they believe is right. Though it is a crime for us to rebel against the Emperor, it is not for them. After all, all Emperors want their children to surpass them." Taha Tarmath responded. Though he said those words, Tundra could see that the man didn't believe it. 

"So this is a game to them? That the lives of so many talented alchemists sacrificed all in order for the princes to prove themselves?" Gana Adan cursed.

"Has it ever been any different?" Taha said. "I hope, in the depths of my heart and soul, that we have value to the Empire. But moments like this remind us otherwise."

But Taha's statement had a point. If the other Princes and Princesses did not rise up, then it is their fault. The Emperor may be frustrated, but he would only lend his support once a powerful Prince decides to act. 

"There must be a point where the Emperor is forced to intervene!" Gana countered. "Emperor Hiarl intervened in his final days when one of his sons was involved in a foul ritual! The Emperor must be checking and confirming facts before intervening!"

"I believe that case is fairly clear. The cursed Prince Kangarl dabbled in demonic sacrificial rituals." Taha rebuked. "This case is not so clear."

"We are not demons!"

"Emperors sentence soldiers to their death. Emperors order the death of entire sects. The Imperial family is one filled with numerous moments of brutality." Taha said, somehow Tundra felt that the more the two alchemists talked, the more they took opposing sides. Gana wanted to believe in the Empire, but Taha seemed to have somehow taken the opposing side. One who has lost faith.

Tundra had to admit, his own memory of the Imperial family has been one of weakness. One where they were all too mortal. The destruction of the Imperial Capital in the hands of the Zuja would be forever seared in his mind, how even the Golden Dragon fell to the might of the multiple Zuja Avatars.

It was a brutal battle. Zomo Sapphens, the Master of the Slicing Heavens, fought by the side of Emperor Yaorl, though Emperor Yaorl was a faint attempt at the glory of the current Emperor. 

But maybe more than that, Emperor Yaorl must have been weakened by all the foul agents within his ranks. There are ways to hide poisons. Poisons that are not 'poisons', but elixirs that enhance certain aspects while creating hidden vulnerabilities. 

"Prince Kaorl is not fit to be the next Emperor." Tundra said with a sigh.

Gana stood and was clearly offended, despite all that happened. "Lord Fox, that is something you should never say again. I will let it go as you saved our lives, but he was my patron."

"Was." Tundra pushed. "Then tell me, What did you like about him?"

"He is an honest man, who tries to do a good thing for the world. It was what drawn me to him!"

"And yet here we are. He claims that alchemists poisoned him. So you would still defend him?"

"I do." Gana said, but his voice wavered. "I need to know who poisoned him. It must be the plot of the other princes to bring a good man down and lead him off the proper path!"

"You sound close to him." Tundra said. 

Taha looked and sighed. "They were. Gana served Prince Kaorl for the last 200 years. They both rose in power over that time."

"200 years of service, and still he did this to you." Tundra said with a sigh. 

Taha looked sympathetic. "I believe Prince Kaorl thinks the same way. I think he certainly could not believe how all of us allegedly betrayed him. Even when we did not, the ministers were able to present so much compelling evidence otherwise. Prince Kaorl's poor cultivation condition spoke for itself."

"I did my best!" Gana said, his tone clearly defensive. "Those damned ministers did something! We were close friends! Now I realize they've been meddling with my pills for centuries!" 

Over such periods of time, it was possible to layer certain effects to weaken even their powerful bloodline. But, he couldn't be sure what the Zuja and the demonic cultivators did until he could check on Prince Kaorl's condition personally.

That, unfortunately, is something impossible now. 

***

It was a few days after, as they approached Jagged Steel Peaks, that Tundra detected some unusual presence. There was someone following him, or maybe, two. He wasn't exactly sure, because their presence was superbly hidden. 

It was also a fluke. There was a small stream that had a current of water spiritual energy, and that current temporarily served like a lens. It amplified their presence just only momentarily, enough for Tundra to pick up on them.

No one else did. 

He wondered whether they were friendly, or were some kind of enemy, and he has been on guard ever since. 

But as it so happened, their luck began to turn, as they encountered a convoy of merchants, travelling from the Silver Mines towards the Steelstone Peaks. 

They did not intend to travel with them, but they wanted to figure out what was going on. The merchants, as it so happened, were more than happy to trade news, gossip and stories for some spirit stones and coins. 

"The Emperor might be doing something soon." The merchants said. "We heard rumors that they've seen the Emperor's Grand Armada is restocking and preparing for departure, so maybe it has already left!"

Taha responded with cynicism. "Even if the Emperor moved, would he act against his own child?" 

The merchants shrugged. "We hope for the best. With the alchemy trade grinding to the halt around this entire area, it's going to be hard for us to make money. Many merchants have decided it is better to just pack up and take our pills elsewhere, before these cultivators turn against us and decide to rob us!"

It was a sensible choice. Some cultivators pursued a career as merchants, while many others hired cultivators as protection. But with the bloodlust in the air, these cultivators would run out of targets, and then they would turn their attention on the merchants who worked with the alchemists. 

It was just a matter of time before they were implicated or framed for collusion with alchemists. 

So, even though the merchants were friendly, ultimately Tundra and his temporary party of alchemists went their own separate paths. It was not good optics for the merchants, who relied on the goodwill and the implicit protection of the local authorities, to be seen mingling and travelling with wanted criminals. 

***