Chapter 17: The Soul

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    As the days pass, the rolling hills give way to tall, lush trees. There are so many trees around them, it looks like they could swallow the narrow road at any moment. Along the way, Liu Jin and Xiao Nan talk about a variety of subjects. Liu Jin tells Xiao Nan of amusing anecdotes that happened at the clinic and things Old Jiang has put him through. Xiao Nan tells Liu Jin of things that happen in the Xiao Sect and uses the opportunity to teach him about the balance of powers between the various factions in the Empire.

    Like that, they reach the fifth day of their journey.

    Elder Brother, Liu Jin starts, is there anything special I should know about the situation in New Moon Town? I do not want my ignorance to inconvenience you.

    Xiao Nan is quick to wave his concerns away. There is nothing to worry about, Little Brother. This visit is more of a formality than anything else. New Moon Town is not a significant place. As such, our branch there is no big deal. The founder of the New Moon branch is a cousin of Uncle who was never all that good at cultivation by the standards of the main branch. Were giving them plenty of face just by having me be the one to visit.

    Even so, the town was deemed significant enough to open a branch there, wasnt it? Surely, there must be something to it.

    It would be foolish of the Xiao Sect to open branches without rhyme or reason. Sects open branches in order to expand their influence. In other words, a place where a Sect opens a branch must either provide a valuable resource or offer an advantageous location. For example, Eastern Port Citys closeness to Poison Fang Canyon is a boon to the Xiao Sect as it lets them harvest the canyons resources with relative ease.

    If the Xiao Sect decided to open a branch in New Moon Town, then surely there must be something of worth there.

    Well, you are not exactly wrong, Little Brother. Right now, we are in the Whispering Woods. Xiao Nan gestures to the many trees around them. This area is rich in Steel-Skinned Trees. They provide very durable wood, useful for construction and certain weapons. Our Xiao Sect harvests them and sells them in other cities across the Empire.

    Liu Jin nods as he digests the information.

    However, Steel-Skinned Trees are not a high-priority resource for us. As big as the Whispering Woods are, there are bigger forests with greater resources across the Empire. For those reasons, our New Moon Town branch is not all that important. Our Xiao Sect just happened to notice an opportunity here and opened a branch. In fact, beyond our Xiao Sect, New Moon Town only has two other major powers: The Hu and Lun Clans.

    Are they important? Liu Jin asks. Xiao Nan snorts.

    How could they be? Xiao Nan shrugs his shoulders. They are simply the two major clans of a small town. Compared to our Xiao Sect, they might as well not exist. Originally, they were the ones who controlled the harvest of Steel-Skinned Trees in this area, but then our Xiao Sect moved in. Little Brother can imagine what happened next.

    Two clans of a small town cannot possibly compare to a Sect that is ranked among the Top 100 of the Empire. Liu Jin understands Xiao Nans meaning quite clearly. The Xiao Sect had come to New Moon Town and quickly established itself as the dominant power.

    Elder Brother seems to know a lot about the situation already, Liu Jin says with some admiration. Though Xiao Nan treats this visit as unimportant, his knowledge is certainly not lacking.

    Xiao Nan scratches his cheek. Since I am someone who is going to become an Elder one day, I am expected to know these things. He sighs. If I had my way, I would focus only on cultivation, but Uncle would pull me by the ears if I skipped my lessons. Having too much responsibility is a tragic thing, Little Brother.

    Liu Jin chuckles as he imagines Xiao Nan being pulled by the ears by Xiao Zheng. Before he can reply, however, Xiao Nan lets out an excited cry.

    Finally! The teen says as he looks out into the distance. I almost thought we were out of luck for a moment there. What a waste this trip would have been, if so.

    Elder Brother?

    Look! Xiao Nan points to the road ahead. Liu Jin squints but can see nothing but the road and the trees. There is not even a small animal to be seen. Liu Jin is about to say this to Xiao Nan when he notices it.

    A glint. A tiny flicker in the distance.

    It is coming towards them, Liu Jin realizes. No, he corrects himself, it is flying towards them. As it grows closer, Liu Jin is able to discern its shape. Its a bird, a very small one, probably no bigger than one of his fingers. However, that is not the most remarkable thing about it.

    The bird is completely transparent as well as devoid of any color, giving it a glass-like look.

    Liu Jin watches as Xiao Nan extends his hand and the bird lands on the tip of his finger. It lets out a happy chirp.

    Good boy, Xiao Nan says, gently petting the glass-like bird with one finger. Now, lets see what you found.

    Before Liu Jins eyes, the bird shrinks and is absorbed into Xiao Nans body. The childs eyes widen at the sight. Xiao Nan closes his eyes and hums thoughtfully.

    Somehow, Liu Jin doubts it.

    ~~~

    Liu Jin understands perfectly.

    As expected, a group of bandits was lying in wait. They quickly surrounded them and demanded that they give up all their valuables. Even now, Xiao Nan and the leader of the bandits, a large bearded man, are exchanging insults.

    Exchanging insults and taunts, Xiao Nan tells him, is an essential part of the bandit experience. It is important to get the verbal upper hand before the actual conflict starts. Liu Jin cannot say he understands that. He is also not really paying attention to the words being exchanged. His focus is on the bandits themselves.

    He cant believe it.

    There are twelve of them, just as Xiao Nan said. Most of them have swords or knives. A few, including their leader, have spears. Just as Xiao Nan said. Some of them have armor, but it is minimal. Even their leader does not have much compared to what Liu Jin has seen the city guards of Eastern Port City wear. Again, it is all just as Xiao Nan said.

    What Xiao Nan did not say was that they would be so weak!

    Inner Realm, Third Level.

    Inner Realm, First Level.

    Foundational Realm, Seventh Level!

    Liu Jin can feel the bandits Qi quite clearly. They are not even bothering to hide it, the opposite in fact. They flare it as though it were a muscle to flex, trying to be intimidating, somehow thinking their meager level is worthy of respect. However, before them stands Xiao Nan. It is like watching a mouse trying to intimidate a tiger.

    Liu Jin does not understand.

    In front of him are grown men. Even the younger ones look to be well over twenty. The oldest one is probably close to forty. Certainly, Eastern Port City has some adults who are still in the Inner Realm, but those are fully aware of their weakness. In the Xiao Sect, someone who has not left the Inner Realm before seeing eighteen springs is worthy of scorn. A grown man who is still at the Foundational Realm? That is completely unacceptable.

    Of the twelve bandits, only their leader is at the Nascent Realm.

    How is this possible?

    In the Xiao Sect, there are people in their teens who are already in the Nascent Realm. Even in the rest of Eastern Port City, there are some who reach the Nascent Realm while in their twenties. How can there be a bandit leader who is only at the Nascent Realm? If he is going to be taking peoples belongings by force, shouldnt he at least have the strength to back it up?

    Are the people around here truly so weak that this man is able to live as a bandit? So weak the men before them are counted as a threat?

    Seeing Liu Jins confusion, Xiao Nan gives him a knowing grin. Little Brother, I do believe you are starting to understand my wisdom.

    Liu Jin blinks. A smile forms on his face. I do believe I am, Elder Brother.

    Whats this? The leader of the bandits bellows. Two brats who reek of their mothers milk dare think they can ignore the Fifth Commander of the Black Bear Group!

    Now Little Brother, these men here are fully prepared to steal from us. I do believe some turnabout is fair play. If something catches your eye, be sure to let your Elder Brother know.

    You dare ignore me!

    Liu Jin looks at the bandit leader. A judgment is instantly made.

    I like his scarf.

    ~~~