The Fried Dough Daoists were eventually allowed to escape, but not before Tian extracted a promise from them to put on a demonstration for the whole delegation from Ancient Crane Mountain. He was quite sure it wouldn’t be honored, but that wasn’t the point. He had his instructions, and he was quite content to assist Oily and Doughy in understanding their inferiority.
That, and he couldn’t let the Crane have all the fun pushing around the Fried Dough Daoists. That wings-spread pose was quite domineering.
Tian stroked his chin. He liked to cross his wrists behind his back when he was instructing ‘juniors,’ however defined. It could be quite a combination. Him with his hands behind his back and a faint smile on his face, her standing tall on his shoulders, neck and wings both stretched to their full extension.
There was potential there. Real potential.
Brother Wang was finishing up his own little adventure, though it didn’t go quite how Tian expected. He had been hauled off to see a towering waterfall, cultivation under which could grant insights into both the true meaning of water and temper the body at the same time.
“Left. A bit left. Ooh, that’s what Daddy likes.” The big man’s groan was wet with satisfaction, clearly audible over the thunder of the falls. Tian suddenly didn’t want to turn the corner and see what was happening. He steeled himself and pushed on. And through. A crowd of Five Element Courtyard disciples had gathered around the waterfall, and they didn’t look pleased with what they were seeing.
“Yes. More, ah more! Grind down. Squeeze. Use more oil if you need to. Be lavish.”
Tian stiffened his spine. He had seen many terrible things. This would be, at worst, one more. He had to struggle a little to push through the final line of people. It was almost like trying to push through a hedge.
Brother Wang was seated comfortably under the waterfall, fully dressed in his sect robes, clearly not minding being soaked. And why should he mind? Standing off to one side, out from under the waterfall, were two tray-carrying disciples from the Courtyard. One carrying a wine jug, the other a selection of snacks. Brother Wang reclined comfortably against a profoundly uncomfortable looking disciple’s back as his feet were being massaged by yet another disciple.
He had every reason to look comfortable. Brother Wang was sitting on yet another disciple’s back. Much better than the slippery, cold stone.
“I think I misunderstood how trial grounds are supposed to work.” Tian had to speak up to be heard over the roar of the waterfall. Standing near made his ears feel like they were being drummed on from the inside.
“Oh, Brother Tian! This isn’t a trial ground. This is just a nice spot to come and meditate.”
“I thought you could find insights into the dao of water here? And temper your body?”
Brother Wang laughed. The jiggling flesh made his chair shift and conceal a groan. “Brother, you can find insights into water anywhere. You could find them looking into a roaring kiln! And tempering your body here is just a lazy way of building some endurance. This is a good waterfall to meditate under, nothing more. Though it seems my groaning and struggling under the weight of it gave some people the wrong idea.”
“Did they make bets, Brother Wang?”
“They did, Brother Tian, they did, and lacked the stones to back them up. But we worked something out.”
“And I thought I was bullying the Fried Dough Daoists. I have so much to learn.” Tian shook his head. Then controlled the urge to slap his hand over his mouth. He hadn't wanted to call people names. That seemed too petty, even if he was trying to dominate the younger generation. Better to triumph through strength.
“Don’t look down on yourself, Brother. You just lack experience. Your foundation in the gentle art of oppressing punks is already rock solid. Who are the Fried Dough Daoists?”
“One of my guides was doughy and the other oily and I cooked ‘em both, so-” Tian answered helplessly, his voice piercing the ears of all the gathered disciples.
Brother Wang chortled and waved his cup at the disciple holding the wine jug. He sharply stepped forward and refilled the drink, looking like he was seriously reconsidering pursuing longevity.
“See? A natural talent. Ah, but I shouldn’t keep you standing. Pull up a debtor and have a seat. The waterfall is wonderfully relaxing on your shoulders.”
Tian shook his head. “I’ve never been able to build a heroic physique like Brother Wang or my big Brothers at the Temple. I’m afraid the waterfall would just knock me around.” Tian ignored the crane giving him side-eye. The Crane didn’t understand what he was saying, therefore she had no reason to give him funny looks.
“Nonsense. Brother is just young. Cultivate under the waterfall and become happy. Besides, you would be doing our hosts a favor. It seems that this Wang is simply too stout, and therefore the bet was unfair. You, on the other hand…”
Tian laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck, half bowing. He had always been on the short and slim side. “Well. I do want to see if I can improve my understanding of the water element. Maybe a short time under the waterfall. Ah, but I don’t dare bet too much. Brother Wang knows I am very poor.”
“Yes, yes. Just a short time.” Brother Wang looked very understanding, then smiled at his foot masseuse. “Put my socks and shoes on for me. I must stand and address your fellows.” A thought furrowed the big man’s brows. “Wait, didn’t I give you a cut of my winnings at breakfast? Your purse should be full to groaning.”
“Yes, but Brother knows I’ve lost my job in the sect. Those stones will have to last me a long while. After that, I’ll be running around doing odd jobs. Who knows what year and month it will be when I once again see so much wealth.”
“Confidence, Brother Tian, confidence! We all believe in you. Alright, you broke dogs! My Brother here can’t carry big bets, so all of you with light purses can take a risk worry free. What do you say, Brother Tian? Could you manage five minutes?” Brother Wang stood with easy confidence, ignoring the torrent battering his head.
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Tian smiled, looking a little awkward. “Brother, I think I can do a little better than five minutes. Isn’t five minutes just too bullying?”
“You heard him. Ten to one on seven minutes!”
“Brother Wang, really! Ten to one? Spare my small purse!” Tian waved his hands in protest.
“I’ll put down a stone on that.” someone from the crowd yelled.
“One whole spirit stone? Can you afford it?” Brother Wang sneered. “Fine, fine. ONE it is. I thought array masters were rich, but we’ve got one bunch that bets without the funds, and another bunch that couldn’t afford side dishes, let alone dinner. How disappointing!”
“TEN STONES! Boy, do you dare?” Another voice roared from the crowd. Tian carefully noted who bet, and nodded.
“Mmm. I do.”
Tian let Brother Wang whip up the crowd and harvest another pot of money. His attention drifted over to the waterfall. Brother Wang was reinforcing his body through some body cultivation art, drawing on the earth element to resist the rushing water. Tian had to control the urge to sigh. He would have to explain to his brother where he was going wrong later.
It was no wonder Brother Wang couldn’t find the educational secret hidden in the waterfall. His whole approach was backwards.
“Alright, Brother Tian. You just need to get to seven minutes of cultivation under the waterfall. No other arts permitted, just cultivation. I believe in you.” Brother Wang encouraged him. “Would you like to borrow my seat?”
“No thank you, Brother Wang,” The green looking daoist from the Courtyard visibly relaxed. “I’m sure I will have my own soon enough.”
Tian ignored the sudden roars of outrage and walked under the rushing water. His body had been refined again and again, to say nothing of the constant stream of minute refinements made by the Hell Suppressing Art. Never mind cultivating under the waterfall, Tian thought he could sleep under it in reasonable comfort. But that would be a terrible waste, and wouldn’t fulfill the Elders’ orders to take everything he could from the Five Elements Courtyard.
Advent of Spring cycled smoothly, the wood aligned art happily grabbing ahold of all the water qi around and drawing it into his lower dantian. It didn’t require any attention from him. Instead, he tried to feel the water. Feel the flow of it as it hammered down on him.
The water was moving fast and hard- yang. But the water was flowing with the course of the land. It had no will of its own, it simply accepted how things were. Passive. Yin. The water transformed into a quick moving little river at the foot of the cliff. Once more, the water was soft and gentle. The flow of the land shaped the flow of water. Infinitely adaptable to circumstances, utterly passive and yet, ultimately, the rock would wear away and the cliff would tumble down before the river was exhausted.
An old, old metaphor. People had been telling him about the river and the rock practically since he came to the temple. And here it was. As clear a demonstration as could possibly be hoped for. Some might look at the waterfall and see a challenge to be endured. Tian could only shake his head at their foolishness. You needed to relax. To let the water push you around a bit, without losing sight of your goal.
The charm in the waterfall really was dreadfully thin. You had to be ready to receive it. To catch it gently by not catching it at all. You let it flow around you, as you flowed with it. You weren’t a rock the river was wearing away. You were an eddy in the stream.
Once he had found the feeling, Tian invited the crane over. He used the unnamed art Lin had given him to push what he was feeling to her. To his shock, he got a sense back from her- the feeling of flying into the wind. The wind flowing around him like the water falling over him. The wonder of it all took his breath away. The crane joined him under the waterfall, where they happily cultivated for an hour.
“A fruitful cultivation session, Brother Tian?” Wang’s smile was wretched. “I see you took an utterly different approach from me.”
“Yes. I’m afraid my methods are always a bit too yin, so flowing with the water comes quite naturally to me.” Tian smiled and casually crossed his wrists behind his back. The crane flew up onto his shoulders and spread her wide wings. “Though sometimes, one simply must be yang. Now. Who’s got my money?”
The results were very satisfactory. His theory was confirmed- to be domineering and to command respect, height was necessary. Teamwork could manage what one alone could not- a towering height of more than six feet. Truly, the Five Elements Sect was showering him with the treasures of the dao. And money. So, so much money. He had never been so rich. He would have to do a little shopping.
The two Sect-Brothers retreated to the guest quarters to change into dry robes. They also agreed to gloat. There was a great need to gloat.
“Land, scriptures, money, people- the absolute necessities to cultivate immortality. I already had scriptures and people. How generous of the Five Element Sect to provide land and money.” Tian chuckled.
“Laugh while you can, Brother Tian. A very cute little bird told me they are softening us up.” Brother Wang had lost his usual smile.
“Hmm. Are you gloating about your friendly relationship with Daoist Mei?” Tian raised an eyebrow. Or tried. Everyone made it look so easy, but he was struggling to do much.
“Well, a bit. She’s worth gloating about. But no, this is something more serious. A hunting expedition through the cloud forests north east of the Five Elements Courtyard. They call it the Back Mountain. They use it for training their Earthly Realm cultivators as well as a place to harvest materials. Strict quotas on who can go in, what can be brought out, all that.”
“Alright?”
“Including the fierce beasts they… not exactly raise, but manage. They keep a stable population of them, harvesting some to keep up a steady stream of supplies.”
“So?”
“So, Brother Tian, a hunting expedition through the rugged, dangerous terrain of a cloud forest high in the mountains, in a land filled with dangerous animals, led by people who would really, really love to see us take a nasty loss, is a recipe for disaster. For us.”
Tian nodded and tapped a finger on the table. He was pretty confident he could run circles around just about anyone in the Earthly Realm in the jungle, but that was usually how people got killed - overconfidence. That, and one famously did not give array masters time to set up. It was exactly what Elder Feng had said would happen.
“Speaking of Daoist Mei, didn’t she say something about this? That the really good array masters didn’t fight with their hands, they let their arrays do the work for them. And if I was them, I wouldn’t use something obvious like their geomantic compasses. I’d set up some location were the geomantic energy formed a natural array. Something using the Art of Wind and Water. Powerful, hard to spot, harder to escape, and deniable.” Tian smiled slightly. He was interested to see what they came up with. He already had a lot to write Daoist Shu about.
Brother Wang nodded slightly. “She’s good company, smart, funny, and, candidly, I’m quite hopeful she’s open to taking things past flirting. And you are right. Throw in a few nasty critters, maybe a powerful poison or a dreadful disease, and they could make our lives hell. Or end them.”
“Hmm. I’m sure Sister Liren is rooting for you, but what’s Sister Su’s take on Daoist Mei?”
“The two of them, AND Sister Lin, intensely dislike her. Their reasons boil down to ‘she’s a foreigner,’ and ‘I can do better.’ Sister Hong even said that ‘A smart farmer doesn’t let their water irrigate someone else’s fields.’”
Tian sighed. Liren’s old damage was flaring up again. What best farming practices had to do with the current situation was exactly nothing. He would have to keep an eye out for more frog brains.
He would have an opportunity to hunt frogs soon. Tian looked over at the crane and a crooked smile escaped his serious face. The crane was a master hunter of frogs.
He was quite curious to see what the Courtyard thought was enough to stop him.