Heavenly Shae

Chapter 26: "Team Wrap-up Meeting."

Chen made slow progress along the steaming road. Mainly because the heat of the steam was a bit too much to bear, and he had to wait for it to dry fully before fixing the cracking anyway. He only claimed it was the latter, but Shae suspected the former just as much. She had tried walking over it and was uncomfortably warm after only a few paces.

She silently wished she had a large supply of warm water to use the steam like a sauna and clean herself off.

The dried and cracking dirt only went a hand deep into the mud. Though, it ran deeper near the road edge where there was less mud to dry. So, Shae asked Chen to just look for voids or softer spots where the mud was softer, or where water had pooled. They marked those with wooden stakes Shae quickly made from loose branches.

They had given up on trying to get the water out after their first attempt made a mess of the road. The water being pushed to the surface quickly turned too much of it back into mud. Shea had to use the skills Fedir taught her to patch the spot with wood planks cut from the trees.

Guard Shu snuck in just before the caravan's arrival. She had found a water vine, but it had already gorged itself on water from the rain.

"So, this swollen bit is full of water?" Shae asked.

"Not just water, you can't cut it open and drink it. Well, maybe better than dying of dehydration, but it's not recommended."

"Uh, not sure how you'll take this: can we cut it off and just use the plant as a pump?"

Shu scrunched her eyebrows together. "Why would I have a problem with that?"

"Well, because it's a plant, and you use wood qi?"

"So? I don't follow."

"Uhm, well like, what if I wanted to burn down a forest?"

She shrugged. "What for?"

"I guess, just fun? Don't you like plants? Get angry when people trash them for no reason?"

She sighed. "Oh, ugh, this old idea again. No, I don't like plants. They're just things. Burning a forest down would be wasteful, but I wouldn't stop you. Well, maybe if there were spirit plants in it. But those are different, they are alive, more so than mortal animals."

"Uh, right. That makes sense." Shae paused then pointed at the vine, right where the water sacs were.

"Oh, uh, yeah. We can try that." Shu nodded.

After some struggle to get the plant to stop healing the wound, then to stop it from trying to make another water pouch, they got a working pump out of it. It ran very slowly without Shu running wood qi through it, but it did dry out the mud quite well.

"So, what else is in this?" Shae asked while playing with the first water bulb they cut off the plant.

"Why do you still have that?"

"I'm thirsty." She stared blankly. "And it's good to know how to scrounge for water. It's it like a cactus?"

"What's a cactus?" Chen asked. The three had started working together to soak up the damp spots they had marked out. The caravan was already using the road and passing them slowly.

"It's a spiky round plant that grows in deserts and fills itself with water."

"Oh, those." Shu said. "Uh, probably not. Teach said the vine more or less stores it as watered down sap, nectar, and some other fluids. Gets a decent bit of wood and water qi too."

"Nectar too? Does it flower and fruit? If not it could be the plant's ovaries."

Chen coughed a few times. "What? Did you say... Ovaries?" His cheeks flushed slightly and he looked away.

Shu rolled her eyes. "Pay more attention in botanics class. Plants have all sorts of embarrassing organ names. This one did have flowers, but that doesn't rule out your idea. Hmm, it's not supposed to be poisonous, and the flowers were tasty."

Chen gaped. "You ate them?"

"Yea, they have wood qi."

"Do you want this for wood qi?" Shae asked.

"No, too much water mixed in. Wait, don't!" She said as Shae tipped the bulb into her mouth and drank from it.

The young woman swallowed. "What, you said it wasn't poisonous."

"That doesn't mean safe. What will you do with the qi? I don't think you're wood or water based. What is your qi, if you don't mind?"

Shae shrugged. "Kind of between pure and divine. But something about my cultivation base can soak up any kind of elemental qi. As long as it's pure enough. The last wood qi I tried didn't work, so I was hoping this would."

"Heh, this wood." Chen chuckled.

"Okay. Two questions: what the fuck? And: what the actual fuck?" Shu asked.

"Um, you know that tribulation on Pilgrim's Rest Mountain? From a month or so ago. That was mine, thus divine qi. Second answer is: I'm making it up as I go, which is why I need to go to the sect, or I'll be completely lost at meridian cleansing."

"You're not lost now? I wouldn't have gotten through body cleansing without my manual." Chen said. He looked back to see the two women staring. "What? Oh, come on, you can't tell me you could have just free-formed it, Shu."

"Hmm. Probably not." Shu shrugged. "Not with wood qi, that's for sure. Needed the manual to aspect properly."

Another sect cultivator stepped over from the wagon passing by. "You three know you are in public, yes? Stop talking about cultivation, especially your own styles."

They all turned and forced a cough to the side. "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Jan." Shu said, the other two bowed to Jan, as thanks.

Shae took another sip from the plant bulb.

"Oh-stop-that." Shu slapped the plant out of her hand. "Here, take my waterskin."

They were about halfway done when Aidel found and dragged Shae to Mistress Ping. Chiden tagged along as well as a few of the workers. The others had set up a card game and refused to be disturbed.

"Miss Shae, still haven't cleaned up, I see."

"Mistress Ping. Apologies, for the smell. This is Mister Dong Chiden, a carpenter by trade, and his wife Dong Aidel, who managed the dozen workers that helped to clear the road." She pointed to the workers behind her and those in the ditch playing cards. "Before I forget. Is there a stream nearby that I could wash in? Later, I mean."

"Nice to meet you, Mistress Ping." Aidel bowed.

"Same here, though I think we met once, a decade past." Chiden gave a shallower bow. "Miss Shae, there's a river straight east a few li. Though it does feed the local farms and Flame Well. If you don't mind a bit of alkali, there's a stream and slough out west, past the farms, follow the slope of the land and you'll find it."

The young woman sniffed her clothes. "Alkali would be like a clean summer's breeze. How far?"

"Further than the river, but not by much. The farmers will know it as Brittle Pond."

"Thank you."

"Right, I'm busy. Why a carpenter?"

"Cut the trees more efficiently. And into more useful lumber." Shae snapped off.

"Good. Did you promise I'd pay them."

"No, I'll pay them. I thought you might want to meet the people that did most of the work-"

Chiden choked and coughed.

"-and they said the unclaimed timber could be a boon to the locals. Which they all are."

"Ah! That's the angle." Ping smiled. "Did Miss Shae promise you any rights to the wood?"

Aidel responded, possibly because Chiden was still recovering. "No. We mentioned you would have claim rights, since you hired her. She paid well for Chiden's expertise and our work, including a fixed bonus for clearing the second path before your arrival."

Ping looked surprised. "How honest of you!"

"We bargained hard and she was generous. I'd rather have friendly relations, than grasping for small slivers."

"Good on you, then. It will be good to have another reliable contact, even this close to the city." She extended a hand to shake both of the couple's.

Shae refused a handshake. "I'm quite filthy. I'll give you a hug later instead."

One of the workers cracked out a laugh.

"Only the one? I thought it was a better joke than that." Shae complained.

"Hah, it was very unexpected, Miss Shae." Chiden said with a boisterous chuckle. A few others stopped holding back their laughter. "Meetings involving a cultivator are usually a tense affair."

Shae frowned. "I'm literally covered in mystical shit right now, how is this tense?" That got her a few more laughs, and she smiled.

"Quite well said, Miss Shae." Ping smirked. "Would you prefer privacy to discuss your own performance and payment?"

Shae shook her head, then froze. "Considering how filthy I am, passing money around seems awful. Let's walk and talk, into the wind. I'll have to ask you two, and five, to wait just a bit longer. Hopefully, you won't have to launder the coins after."

Ping smiled, "That would be excellent."

Ping started their walk with, "So, you do want me to pay them?" And a knowing smirk.

Shae smiled back and explained that, "Yes, that would be easiest..." quickly going into detail about their bargain and what she owed the workers.

Ping was surprised how well she paid them but said that cultivators were known to be generous, so it wasn't too much. Shae asked if she should give the couple another tael as a tip, and Ping agreed.

"But you're a bit short by half, with just that quarter stud."

"I believe I was promised a bonus for a full clear, and based on the quantity of trees."

"I still see trees in the road."

"Do you run more than two wagon trains side by side? Two full paths let the caravan pass without additional delay, or stretching it out along the road."

"Hmm. If I had a tighter purse, I would argue the details, but I agree with the sentiment."

"If it's still not enough, I have this." She tossed the woman the sect coin.

She almost dropped it in surprise. "I can't hold this for you. I can barely break it into gold."

"It's not entirely mine. I kind of filched it from Master Long. In front of a crowd. He might want it back and I'd rather not be caught with it while traveling to the slough."

"Hmm. Or back to Flame Well."

"Huh?"

"To return Marta to Fedir?" She pointed to the knarr.

"Oh! Right, I suppose that is necessary. Yes, not for that either."

The coin disappeared into Ping's clothing. Shae couldn't follow where she placed it. "Do you have spending money?"

"For Flame Well? Yes, a few more taels and a silver crown."

"Hmm. Take another tiara, you'll need a serious bath, even after the slough." She tossed Shae a silver crown, then gave her directions to find Fedir, and to a bathhouse. "Tell them I sent you, and ask for my usual. They also have laundry. You won't go through that town without stopping there ever again." A devious sparkle flashed in her eye.

Shae examined the woman and thought that she did look a bit fresher than she remembered. "Alright. Do you need me back tonight?"

Ping shrugged. "I suppose tomorrow is fine, you run fast enough I don't have to worry."

"You would worry?"

"About my runners? Always." She looked serious.

Shae inclined her head in respect. "Thank you."

"And thank you. There is always room in the schedule for one delay a day. Two is a disaster."

"What about the timber?"

"Ah, yes. I was going to say it to them. They may take what they like, but should do it quickly."

"That's generous of you."

"Not particularly. I've no room to take any. But I did arrange for pickups from the city. They bargained too harshly, so they can have firewood. I'll let the Dong's know how much to leave to fulfill my agreement."

"Excellent. Thank you, again. Do you mind if I run off, this is starting to itch." She pulled at her robes. In truth they had been uncomfortable for a while, but she had been just distracted enough to ignore it.

"Go. Thank Fedir for me. And let the Dongs know you are going."

"I will." Shae waved and sprinted away.

The waiting couple nodded at the approaching young woman, then they grimaced slightly when the wind caught the wrong way.

Shae cut right to the point. "If you agree, Mistress Ping will take care of my debt to you. I would stay for it, but I need to see a slough about a basic bath."

The couple nodded in understanding. One worker behind them snorted a laugh, getting the warning of a sharp glance from Aidel. "Of course. Just to confirm, Chiden and I together are expecting ... taels?" She held three fingers close to her chest, out of sight of the workers.

"Correct, and you performed quite well so there should be a tip. You also have permission to collect what timber you need. Mistress Ping can explain it properly."

Both their eyes twitched open in surprise. "Wise Shae is most generous." They chorused and bowed. Then Aidel waved at the workers. "Thank Miss Shae."

"Thank you, Miss Shae." Echoed the five, save for one who said "Wise Shae." His bow was also a bit stiffer and shallow. Shae thought it was the one who laughed, possibly the first to laugh earlier too.

"And thank you all for your assistance." She inclined her head respectfully, as a full bow would be too much. "Ah, and, if any of you see that steamy cultivator again, please give them my thanks for their wet work." The group straightened up a little as she addressed them. She locked eyes with the joker and he smirked briefly, then went impassive as she talked. "Truly, I don't know how I would have dealt with this hot mess without them."

A few nodded their agreement but the moment was awkward.

"Ah, I believe planking out the road would have worked. Taken longer, but with your quick ax work, maybe only another hour." Chiden helpfully provided.

She turned back to him with a smile. "And that's why the advice of experts is always welcome. Thank you again, Mister Dong."

He blushed proudly and waved the comment off. His wife spoke next. "Well, I guess we have timber wagons to fetch." She clapped once. "Let's go!"

She swung by Chen and Shu as she left. "I'm off to get washed. Do you need anything from town?"

"Flame Well? We just left." Shu shook her head.

"Eh, anything?" Chen smirked.

Shae shook her head, mirroring the smirk.

"Can you leave the knarr, I'd like a few swings when we're done." He said.

"Ah, farts!" Shae slapped her forehead. "Forgot I agreed to that. I need to take it back to Flame Well. Is a dozen swings right now, fine?"

He nodded and took Marta from her. She quickly explained how to use the weight enchantment. He nodded and said they had similar ones at the sect. Shu called next for when he was done. So, Shae sat down for the wait. She made sure to be downwind of the train of wagons. Unsure what to do, she let the rhythmic sound of pack animals guide her meditation. The meditation practice of acknowledging senses and thoughts and letting them pass made it an excellent break from the smell of herself.

Her first step was to empty herself off qi. She had been cycling all morning and wanted to assess her exhaustion. Sure enough, her channels were sore, and muscles strained, especially those in her core and shoulders.

Her Dantian was her next focus, she was disappointed to find she had used more divine qi than she liked. The cloudy reserve and the new enlightenment qi reserve were noticeably diminished. I hope the results prove worthwhile. She couldn't deny that there were results. Simply being able to recover quickly from mental focus exhaustion was an obscene cheat in her eyes. I'd like to save it for something actually important, though. Not just odd jobs. She assumed her mental focus had improved, but had no firm way to measure it. Perhaps the sect has a spiritual tool for testing it?

Her imagination stirred up other niche skills and testing tools that she might find at the sect rushed through her head. She took an intentionally slow breath and let them pass, her meditation letting her easily regain control of her thoughts.

She thought of the Cresting the Hill practice she had been working on, and felt no need to continue it today. A quick flow of qi in a specific pattern let her feel the qi structure the first practice established and she found another latch had clicked over. Likely signaling Cresting the Hill had been completed. She had an urge to check the practice book for the next, but remembered her current state of filth and decided she didn't even want to open her travel pack until after she washed up at the slough.

So, for now? She felt the qi around her. Mostly neutral, but she recognized earth qi where Chen had been working, and wood qi near that, where Shu's vine was working. She recalled the young water cultivator mentioning cultivating away the water and decided to try.

Only a little water qi was in the area, and less earth qi. She suspected Chen had been using up the latter. She drew the water qi towards her with thoughts of rushing rivers in the rain, but didn't absorb it. How do I move it around without it being personal qi?

Previously she had always just coaxed elemental qi towards herself in this same way, not grabbing at it like she did neutral qi. Except metal qi, that I had to pluck out of the air one grain at a time.

Is there enough water qi here to do anything with? She grabbed at the water and found it was swept along but she didn't get a firm grasp of it. Well, if it's like water, I need a bucket.

She chuckled at her own joke then let herself have an exaggerated internal sigh. I'm too tired for this.

Switching to drawing in neutral qi, she tried out variations of the flow pattern she used when absorbing the enlightenment. An inhale drew her qi from her Dantian and flooded out through her channels. She mentally gripped the neutral qi around her at the same time. Then an exhale pulled it in as her qi rushed through her system in a spiral vortex funneling down to her Dantian.

Shae couldn't tell if it was more efficient than her previous method of just grabbing and pulling while cycling at the same time. The rhythm helped her feel better about it. Even if it's personal bias, it feels much better.

Every dozen breaths she paused to check around herself. She expected to find signs that Chen and Shu had returned to fixing the road.

Strictly speaking, the work didn't need to be done. The caravan was already using the path. Yet, she expected it wouldn't last without a bit more attention. I suppose it doesn't need to last, the road is still there.

Eventually she felt she had recovered a noticeable part of the qi she used during the day. A dozen breaths to a minute, maybe? Half an hour?

She exited meditation to find the last wagons of the caravan passing her. Chen and Shu were nowhere to be seen, though Marta was stuck in the ground beside her pack.

A guard walked over to her when they noticed she had risen. "Miss Shae! Glad you are up. Brother Chen and Sister Shu said I should admonish you for cultivating in public."

"Oh? Is it frowned upon? Honestly, I thought they would wake me when they were done with Marta."

"Eh? Marta?"

"The knarr." She tapped the tool.

"Ah, right. Likely they didn't because it's not always safe to bother someone who's cultivating. Qi riots and deviations, yes? Ah they also said, about the knarr? It is very similar to weighted axes the sect has for training. Shu recommended you try them out."

"Hmm, I suppose I should have expected that. Now that I think on it: I was told not to cultivate publicly in Xengo Town because people could steal easily. Any other reasons?"

He nodded. "That's a good one. I've also heard high level cultivators can copy your cultivation techniques."

"Hmm, well, I've very little to lose."

"Eh!? That one you were using seemed potent enough?"

She shrugged. "I don't have a manual yet, just some practices... that I've had help with." She added when she saw his expression.

He shook his head with wide eyes. "Well I'll be sure to keep an eye on you, for when you get a proper cultivation manual."

"Please, it can't be that impressive. Have you watched many others cultivate?"

He paused with his mouth open, then nodded. "Fair enough. Well, have a safe trip to the city." He gave a rushed salute and hurried back to the tail end of the caravan.

"Hm. Rude, he didn't give me his name." She squinted after the retreating guard.