The Fourth Stage (A Thousand Li #10)

=Chapter 1=

Long Wu Ying, the famed Verdant Gatherer, member of the illustrious Verdant Green Waters sect of the Shen kingdom, Core Formation cultivator, and Heart of the Sword prodigy stood before his greatest trial since leaving his sect to wander the Middle Kingdom .
Greater than the guard of the northern dragon king’s palace, greater than the Nascent Soul spirit snake he’d fought, greater even than the swarm of wind and water dragons that coaxed him into a night long dance amidst a typhoon.
Long Wu Ying, scourge of the dark sect in the states of Shen and Wei, faced his greatest trial and failed.
“Fine!” He threw his hands up, long sleeves on his green robes slipping down his tanned arms. So close to civilization, he still wore the formal clothing of his sect. Unlike the peasant robes—the shuhe—that he preferred to wear, these robes with their long sleeves and multiple layers made movement through the forest more difficult.
Not that a cultivator at his level found such concerns more than a trivial annoyance, what with the almost supernatural level of control over his body he had gained, along with strength and speed that defied mortal limits. But strong as he was, able to layer his aura over his clothing and self as he could, over the course of weeks, even the greatest care could not stop staining and dirtying when traipsing through the wilds of the world.
Another fact that the woman he had been speaking to would be wise to understand. Not that she was listening. Hadn’t listened at all, in the last three hours of arguing.
“You’ll let me come then, Honored Cultivator Long?” With an impish glint of humor in her eyes, Yang Mu put her hands together and asked ever so politely. Even if she had won his concession through argument and sheer stubbornness.
“I won’t be responsible for your life though. And I will be journeying through the wilds, Cultivator Yang,” Wu Ying said.
Her eyes glinted with repressed mirth—and perhaps even anger—as she answered, just before she sketched a bow. “I would not think of putting such an illustrious Elder out of his important work.”
“I’m not much older than you,” Wu Ying said grumpily. Elder! Hah. He might be in his mid-thirties now, but he still felt like a twenty-year-old. Maybe even younger. One of the side effects of cultivation was it extended the physicality—and sometimes, he felt, the temperament—of youth.
“Of course not, Honored Long.” Even if her tone and words were polite, Wu Ying doubted that was the true intention of her words. “Shall we continue our journey then?”
“Our journey?”
Again, that demure smile that had thoroughly no give. If the wind had not told him of her presence, he was sure she would have trailed him for days longer.
Wu Ying shook his head. “Before we do, I need to know this. How much danger am I in from your parents? Two Nascent Soul cultivators angry at me for stealing away their daughter is more trouble than it’s worth. If necessary, I’ll travel right back to their inn.”
“You would not dare…” Yang Mu trailed off, seeing the firm look in Wu Ying’s eyes. “I left a note explaining my leaving. And anyway, did you think they did not notice my departure from their domain? What kind of fools do you think my parents are?”
Wu Ying sighed. “My apologies to your parents.” Definitely not to the infuriating woman. She had been so much more polite when he had stayed as a guest in their inn. Much less aggravating for sure. “But you understand my concerns, yes?”
“That you fear my parents?” She shrugged. “Of course. Cowardly, but wise.”
“Are you choosing to aggravate me on purpose or are you just this blunt when your parents are not around?” he said.
“I speak the truth where I see it.”
“Then try speaking less. Your parents are not here to protect you, and if you try the patience of someone stronger than you, your head might just roll.” He shook his head. “Courtesy is important out here.”
Yang Mu smirked, and he found himself gritting his teeth. Once again, he considered just sitting here and cultivating. He had another layer of his core to build after all, so why not? Well, beyond the fact that he was missing any form of enlightenment to feed the Nascent Soul within him. The layer he formed without such enlightenment would be fragile. Also, his journey to understanding the southern wind and the winds of heaven and hell required him to continue onward.
Still.
Regardless of those minor considerations, annoying her would be satisfying.
But Long Wu Ying was an adult, unlike the petty child. If she thought she could keep up with him in the wilds, then so be it.
“Very well.” He strode off into the undergrowth, wending his way between trees and bushes with easy familiarity. He managed a dozen steps before she caught up.
“The way south is that way.” A finger raised, pointing about thirty degrees farther east than his current trajectory.
“I know,” Wu Ying replied, gritting his teeth. He did not stop moving or change direction though.
“So are you going to change direction?”
“No.”
“Ah. You’re one of those.”
“You know that speaking can draw unwanted attention, yes?” Wu Ying snapped.
“I sense nothing.”
“That’s the point.”
Silence greeted his final sentence. For a few minutes, he managed to travel in peace, heading for his goal. Maybe, just maybe, she could be taught.

Release Date: 1. Februar 2024

Pages: 439

Genre: Cultivation Fantasy

eBook ISBN: 9781778551390

Language: English

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