Chapter 1 : Willow Retreat
Looking again at the scroll in his hand, Liu Li-Tai wondered just what his friend had discovered this time. Feng Jianyu was nothing if not a master at sniffing out potential trouble. And this time it semes he’d possibly dug up a den of demonic cultivators. And if that was the case, they could look forward to many missions just to root the cult out of whatever cave they were hiding in.
But for now, he had been tasked with a simple research mission. No cultivator went on such missions alone when possible demonic activity had been detected, so he had instantly set off for one of the largest but least used arenas.
Situated on a secondary slope, well away from the sect's main complex, it consisted of a massive walled arena protected by an even larger array. Unlike most arrays, it was not a defensive measure to keep intruders out, but to keep qi blasts and sword glares in. Pushing open one of the heavy, fortified wooden doors, Liu Li-Tai slipped inside, the door swinging shut with a resounding thud behind him.
The array overhead was active, a shimmering blue-green dome that was barely visible. Only when a stray blast struck it, would the translucent construction flair brightly for a brief moment. Below, in the middle of the wide open space, a single solitary figure danced. Every movement was supremely graceful, emphasised by the elegantly flowing robes of white and pale green that flared out with every precise motion.
The shimmering flash of a silver blade flickered back and forth, perfectly controlled as it formed intricate patterns in the air. The tall, elegant figure moved with liquid grace as he ducked and thrust, spun and parried. His movements so fast they created an effect like the afterimage of a sword glare, that lanced out from the blade with each controlled movement. Despite the visual effect, there was no qi imbued in the attacks. It was simply the shock wave from each powerful strike as the very air was forced to move before the blade. Such was the physical strength of a peak Formation Establishment cultivator.
Liu Li-Tai was content to wait for Zhou Jinhai to finish his sword meditation. Unlike most disciples, Zhou Jinhai didn't meditate in the traditional lotus pose, quietly somewhere out of the way. No, his partner was a sword prodigy, and had refined his own version of Moving Cultivation in the form of his sword meditation. Moving Cultivation was rarely done by disciples, no matter how talented, as the level of concentration and control over their body they needed while their mind was deep within their center was not easily taught.
Smiling to himself as he watched the other man leap and spin, Liu Li-Tai could only be content. His lover was special, and he, Liu Li-Tai, had claimed him for himself.
Not a single blast was sent out to test the barrier, which would have indicated a lack of fine control. Instead, only the shimmering waves of pressure repeatedly rolled across the arena forming intricate patterns as they criss-crossed like ripples on a lake. Zhou Jinhai's eyes were closed as he bounded across the tops of the tall bamboo poles the disciples typically used for balance training. The fluttering of cloth like a butterfly's wings as he shot high into the air, almost reaching the top of the shimmering dome before landing back at his starting position with a soft thump and puff of dust. His sword spun, flashing in the sunlight as it was slid back into the sheath at his waist. Then finally dark eyes opened, moving to regard Liu Li-Tai, as a small, demure smile formed, softening his features.
"A-Yu." He greeted, not even breathing heavily as he turned and clasped his hands before him in welcome. "Sorry, were you waiting long?" Dropping his left hand to rest lightly on the silver pommel of his sword, he folded his right behind his back as he started to make his way over. Liu Li-Tai grinned broadly as he moved away from the arena doors and strode to meet his partner, ignoring the typical martial bow in favour of draping an arm around Zhou Jinhai's shoulders, ignoring his partner’s sense of propriety.
"Not at all.” Li-Tai assured. “It’s always a pleasure to watch you train.”
Jinhai glanced his way, the tiny smile still lingering. “You could join me, you know..” he suggested with a pointed look.
Li-Tai faked a shudder. “You do enough for a whole sect. One of us has to be aware of what's going on day to day,” he teased.
Jinhai shook his head slightly, but didn’t push the matter. Instead as they reached the entrance to the arena, he paused to deactivate the shield above them. The shimmering dome flickered and dissolved as Jinhai turned back to his partner expectantly.
Li-Tai wasn’t surprised that Jinhai had sensed he had something on his mind. The man was incredibly perceptive.
“A-Lao has received news of a disturbance at Hanghua village,” he explained, diving straight into the reason for his disruption of Jinhai's training.
“It’s a suspected mid-level ghost incident possibly connected to his current mission. He has requested that we investigate the situation.”
Liu Li-Tai looked at his partner, expression patiently curious. He knew Zhou Jinhai would agree to the request. The man had never said no to a Hunt as far as Li-Tai could recall, not since they had known each other as children.
“I assume we are to have departed yesterday?” Jinhai finally asked, one elegant brow lifting in amused expectation. After all, they both knew their old friend Feng Jianyu had no patience when it came to potential concerns. Jianyu was the type to squash any trouble before it became a problem and then investigate the cause after the fact.
With a nod, Liu Li-Tai chuckled, as they exited the arena and Jinhai closed the large doors behind them. Together the pair strolled easily but with steady swiftness along the sprawling complex of pathways and pagodas, winding through willow groves and past tranquil ponds.
They soon arrived at their living quarters, a small cottage set back in a private garden, away from the main clan complex of rooms interconnected by covered walkways. A privilege given to Seniors and inner-clan members.
Together they entered, quietly packing a few necessities for a trip that may take several days. Pills and powders went into rings, talismans and formation flags went into pouches, swords settled on hips and cloaks were thrown over shoulders.
Soon enough the pair of Cultivators were ready, leaving their small home in swirls of pale white and green robes. Not the loose fitted light-weight versions of earlier but robust combat robes with narrow sleeves bound into bracers and slim skirts over thick trousers.
Without an emergency to necessitate speed, they walked through the estate, reaching the inner gate and crossing the invisible barrier, the jade jinbu hanging from their waists lighting up briefly as they passed. The Thousand Steps stairway dropped steeply down, clinging to the side of the Shoushan Mountain that was the home of the Liu Clan. Without thought, the two figures set off, walking easily down the steep and winding path, arriving in short order at the Outer Gate. Once again they stepped through, their sect seals again lighting up as the barrier recognized the imprint embedded into each.
Once past the outer boundary of the clan, the two stopped and in unison, left hands formed elegant shapes, their swords springing from scabbards to fly forwards and down, hovering before each man. Together they stepped up onto the glistening blades, one long and slender with a shimmering white hilt, the other broader, heavier, though no less perfect. The handle of polished green Jade glowing softly. Then they were off, soaring high into the air, quickly gathering speed and altitude as their swords bore them away, soaring high over the surrounding peaks and onward, leveling out to skim across the sky as rice fields, wide valleys and clusters of tiny homes swept past below.
