Immortal Connections - Chapter 54 preview

Chapter 54 - Wu Ying

The trip through the city was quiet for the first portion, though slightly uncomfortably so for Wu Ying. Not because of the strangeness of the city, for he found himself acclimatizing to that quickly enough. It was easier – in many ways – to acquaint oneself with luxury than with lack, after all.

No, the problem was in his companion. Ze Mu glanced his way on occasion, lips thinned. Twice, he opened his mouth to speak before he clamped his lips tight again. Only, ten or so minutes later, to try again. If they had not such a distance to travel, if Wu Ying was not taking, to some extent, the farmer’s suggestion to take his time, to match his pace to the surrounding peasants, they might have arrived faster.

Yet, he saw no reason to speed up. Though his clothing might be somewhat different than other, though he might draw attention with the tan of his skin, with his martial bearing and the sword on his hip and the pack over his shoulders, none seemed to take offense or chose to break their light amble.

Only when Wu Ying had stopped to purchase a snack, some baked crispy bread mixture stuffed with meat and vegetables, and consumed it, did he choose to push the matter. If nothing else than to put to end the gormless carp beside him.

“Just ask,” he commanded.

“I… it’s rude,” Ze Mu said.

“So’s staring. Or trying to rob me. Hasn’t stopped you yet.”

“I apologised!” When Wu Ying stayed silent, the younger immortal braced himself and spoke. “How old are you?”

“That was the question? All that, for that question?”

“It’s rude!” Ze Mu dropped his voice, glancing around. “No one asks those questions, not here. It is the height of impropriety.”

“Because everyone looks the same age, and acts similar after a while?” Wu Ying lips twitched in humor. “I had passed my fifth decade before I ascended.”

“Five…” the boy frowned. “Then, you’re not much older than me!”

“Those who haven’t even reached their second decade are often considered very young for an adult, even in the world below.”

“I am twenty one!” hissed Ze Mu.

“Really?” Wu Ying sighed. “You immortals really do mature slower than us.”

“How old did you think I am!?” 

Rater than answer him, Wu Ying moved over to a roadside vendor, waving to get his attention. He ordered a handful of the man’s dragon beard candy, smiling as tiny toothpicks were embedded in the soft candy and paying the other in the bandit’s funds. Only when the transaction was complete did he ask his question, getting better directions.

Chewing on the candy that he had been offered kept Ze Mu silent for a time, but when he finished the treat, he could not help but ask. “Is the Middle Kingdom really that different from the first realm?”

“In many ways, yes. More dangerous for sure, more conflict and suffering.” His head turned, the quiet crying of another brought to him by the wind drawing his attention. “In other ways, we are similar.”

"What do you sense?" Ze Mu asked. 

"Humanity." Wu Ying murmured, a part of him wishing he had time to look into these things. Yet, he hardened his heart for the moment. THere were too many who were in distress, too many beggars and abandoned for a single immortal to make a difference. Not if he chose to act now, at least.

Perhaps, later, when he had settled himself, had found the necessary information and met this Mother Ong, when his own world was not so much in turmoil could he help them. As always, one had to care for ones own fields before helping another's - no matter how much you understood that both were linked.

"I think this is the place," Wu Ying said, breaking the silence between the pair as they strolled up to a walled compound.

"Why do you say that?" Ze Mu asked.

His head rose, and Ze Mu followed Wu Ying's gaze to spot the crouching figure on top of the wall a short distance away. Silhouetted against the sky and clouds above, it took a moment to understand the sheer size of the rooster sat upon the wall, it's body puffed up with gold and red flowers, it's tail a splendid display stuck out behind it as a feathered crown covered its neck and showcased the extra large and sharp beak.

"Ji De." Ze Mu breathed out, naming the rooster. "That is a massive rooster."

"Pity it's not a hen," Wu Ying said as he strolled up to the door, ignoring the stare pressed upon him as he rapped on the door.

"Why a hen?" Ze Mu said.

"Think of the size of the eggs." Licking his lips unconsciously, he cocked his head to the side as the rooster let out a loud call, somehow making it sound unimpressed. Wu Ying's eyebrow rose. "My apologies, Honored Ji. Are you, in fact, sapient?"

Another crow, a bob of the head and body that was more marked.

"Then, I take back my insensitive words."

No answer, though the rooster continued to regard Wu Ying. A moment later, the door swung open. No one met Wu Ying’s gaze in front, and it was only movement at the bottom of his vision that gave indication of who it was that had opened the gate. 

Crouched at the bottom, dressed in silk robes was a monkey. They bobbed their head at Wu Ying’s gaze then held out a hand, its body blocking entrance to the compound within.

“Ah, I… have no…” Changing his instinctive reaction, Wu Ying recalled the smart and well reasoned Ji De. “A message, I take it?”

A chittering nod, fingers curling back and forth in a beckoning gesture.

“Right. Of course. I just…” Wu Ying trailed off, wondering if he had time to pen a simple introductory missive. From the way the monkey was growing impatient, he doubted it.

“One of our herbs, perhaps?” Ze Mu suggested instead.

“Oh, good idea.” Wu Ying reached sideways, detaching a box that contained the Twilight Imperial Lotus and handed it over, a small smile on his lips. “For your… mistress. We have more to offer for sale, if she would speak with us.”

The monkey took the box, slammed the door shut on their faces and then, behind the doors, Wu Ying sensed it scurry away. His senses were significantly muted within the compound, simple privacy wards set across the walls ensuring that even my sense of the wind and air behind the walls were clouded.

He held no resentment for that, after all, no one wanted to be spied upon. Additional enchantments on the walls of the residences themselves further strengthened the privacy wards, such that once the monkey entered a building, all sense of what occurred was barred. 

With nothing left to do, they could only wait till, long minutes later, the door was swung open and the pair were beckoned within. It was not without a little caution that Wu Ying noted that the silent feathered guardian above had disappeared, traversing the grounds to rooms within.