Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 55

A few days passed, and things returned to normal. Except for the Morning Midst Village having less disciples in the Divine Spire at any one time, it was like nothing had even happened. Uncomfortably so. Chao kept asking himself, what was the point? Elder Harnish wasn’t a fool according to every source, so how couldn’t he know this would’ve happened? Which meant he knew, and yet he acted anyway. What made it worth it? What did he gain?

The obvious answer was that somehow, he’d been able to open the spire’s vault and was hiding it for some reason. If that were the case, then why hadn’t he just taken the contents and left before Pangfua’s return? Which led Chao to believe that he hadn’t been able to open the vault, or if he had he was somehow unable to take what was inside. If the later were the case and he had a way in, Chao couldn’t exactly blame him for keeping it to himself even if he wouldn’t do the same himself. But now, the Morning Midst Elder had been banished from the spire. Was he waiting for an opportunity to sneak in, or was he planning on waiting until the joint sect allowed him access again?

In the end, the man’s actions just didn’t make sense.

He and Huifen had joined Pangfua at the vault’s defensive formation and found nothing out of place. He’d learned that what the elder had said about directing killing intent toward the vault or pylon was true, but it wasn’t new information either. It had been the same for centuries. Only those independent cultivators or sects unfamiliar with the spire wouldn’t know.

“What is it?” Huifen asked from her seat on the floor within their protective barriers on the sixth floor. It was the first time they’d returned there since Pangfua had come back from her visit to the merchant guild.

He couldn’t help but catch the worry in expression. “It’s nothing new. I still feel like there’s something we’re missing. What benefit did Harnish receive in doing this?”

She sat aside her prize Ice Phoenix Tome that held the first technique of the third pillar that she’d been studying. “Hmmm. I haven’t puzzle it out either.”

“I’m thinking about approaching Baros and asking him directly,” he said.

“Don’t,” she replied, reaching over and placing her hand on his own. “There is no telling if he’s involved, and if he is, then it’s unlikely we’ll get an honest answer. That alone isn’t a reason not to try, but it will draw suspicion to Tao and Fen’er, especially now. If Sage Harnish is really up to something, keeping our identities concealed is more advantageous now than it was when we first arrived. Hiding from possible assassins is one thing. Giving Pangfua two hidden sages to call upon if there’s hostility is something else entirely. If what you’re thinking is right, she might need us soon.”

“I don’t disagree… However, could it not stop whatever he’s up to if we reveal himself?”

“It could. That might be all it takes. But what if it only delays it until we leave the spire? Remaining hidden will allow him to continue with anything he has planned. Being able to respond with our help puts Pangfua in a much better position.”

“I just don’t like her being in that position in the first place.”

Her face lit up, and she gave him a smirk. “I’ll have to tell Big Sister you’re worried about her.”

Chao opened his mouth to respond but found no words to respond. He felt the blush hit his face, but narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying I shouldn’t be?”

She just grinned wider. “Would you prefer to take her place?”

Glancing to the side, he only had to think about it for an instant. The moment he looked back he saw her downturned expression.

“Of course, you would,” she chuckled lightly. With a sigh, she added. “Instead of speaking to Baros directly, lets approach his hidden betrothed, Dvora. I’ll do it.”

“You sure? Will it not draw suspicion?”

“I think it’s far less likely. If what he said is true, then she wants to distance herself from her sect already and she’s still being disciplined. If not, then she’s manipulating him and unlikely to mention us. Besides, trust your wife. I can be persuasive.”

***

She’d spoken with Baros just yesterday. He’d promised her they’d be leaving soon. He had the rest of the funds and Dvora had seen his sincere enthusiasm. It was only then that she dared to believe that everything he’d spoken of was would actually come true. She’d even tried to give back the pouch of money, but he wouldn’t take it. They’d chanced her getting in trouble as she laid out her schedule to him in detail. Leaving without being caught would take as much effort from her as it would from him. It wasn’t just getting outside the Divine Spire with time to spare before anyone would miss her. It would require misdirection to give them some time. They were working on their own situations within a certain window. Leaving tomorrow wasn’t possible, but within a week it was doable.

As she passed through the meditation chambers of the seconds floor on her way to get some sleep for the first time in two days, she stopped mid step. Tong Fen was waiting at the entrance of this rarely used chamber. She told herself that the fairy wasn’t there for her, but then the woman motioned to a side chamber.

She found she didn’t have the strength to resist. All the relief she felt just two days before when the woman’s husband had shielded her from the possible confrontation, turned to midst and floated away, leaving her a dry husk.

This woman in orange martial robes wore too unyielding an expression as she guided her into the room as Baros often did in one of the very chambers they met in. She couldn’t look the woman in the eye. Was this it? She been caught trying to seduce her own husband. Perhaps it’s exactly what she deserved after all the deception. So close to leaving this life for good only to lose her life days before escape.

As terrified as she was, she’d been through too much just to give up without a fight. “Sister Tong Fen,” she said, dipping her head.

“You fear I’m here for revenge?”

Her gaze made it all the way to the fairy’s waist before falling. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

“I’m not here for any such thing. What do you know about the Morning Midst Village’s purpose with the vault?”

She was about to feign ignorance when she stopped herself. Baros had admitted he’d spoken to them and asked them not to pursue her. He’d been so convinced. Perhaps she should believe him.

This Fen’er knew about them, but did she know that Dvora knew that she did? Playing dumb wouldn’t help her either way. It might even anger this monstrous woman if she really didn’t intend to harm her.

She mustered the courage and met the woman’s gaze. It was piercing and overbearing, but she didn’t look like she meant her harm. “Nothing directly, but…”

“Go on,” the fairy said, softening her tone.

She leaned forward and answered tactfully. “Whatever they did is over. A few disciples were paid handsomely for their service. One died in the process.”

“Are any of them injured?”

A chill shot up Dvora’s spine. This woman’s husband had surprised her the same way. She was actually concerned? Ringing her hands, she caught herself. It was a nervous tell she hadn’t slipped into in years without meaning to. She couldn’t believe she was about to do this, but just as her betrothed was trying to be honest, so would she. “My Baros is uninjured. We’ll be leaving as soon as we can slip away.”

She swallowed hard as if something didn’t taste right, but then she noticed the way Tong Fen was looking at her. The woman was giving her a thin smile.

“I wish you the best,” Fen’er said, but seemed to faulter. “We’re concerned Elder Harnish might be up to something that might harm more people. Is there anything you can tell me?”

Dvora scrunched up her face as she thought. “Nothing of his future plans. Baros did warn me to stay out of the vault’s chamber, but he’s been focused on leaving...”

“If you hear anything before you leave, especially if it might endanger others, please let me know.” She gave a martial salute.

“That’s it? Are you not going to tell my elders?”

“Why would I do that?”

“You’re allied with my Night Pearl Sect, are you not?”

Fen’er leaned forward as if to impart a secret. “I think what you’re doing is right. A gift from my Tong family.”

Dvora found the woman’s hand outstretched with something offered to her. She timidly reached out. Two pills were placed in her hand. Precious ones.

“Sorry I don’t have a spare jade container, but they shouldn’t lose potency as long as you place them in something in the next couple days. And be sure to keep them separate.”

“Why?” She asked, exasperated. “Why would you do this?”

“Because… I enjoy it.”

“Thank you,” she replied slowly and bowed deeply. Without know what to do next she added. “Goodbye.” And she left.

***

Back peddling, Huifen felt a sudden hand touch her lower back.

“That was unexpected,” Chao whispered awfully close to her ear. “So pushy.”

“Stop it,” she replied, embarrassed by his sarcasm. She hadn’t pressed her at all after she’d realized that the only reason Baros was involved was to earn enough money for them to leave. “Do you think we should’ve taken her into custody? We could’ve helped them leave after learning what they know.”

“You were thinking that, and you still let her go? And to gift them pills…”

“Enough of your teasing. You’re rubbing off on me.”

“You said you enjoy it.”

She threw a puff of ice qi in his face but acquiesced. “I do.”

“At least we know it was a ploy by Harnish to try something with the vault. He even paid a few disciples to do this something which got one killed.”

“It’s good information but doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already suspect.”

“Maybe Harnish has a thing for dragon’s breath candy and we can bribe him to tell us what he’s planning?”

Grabbing his hand, she didn’t answer his nonsense, and headed back toward the vault and then the upper floors. Just as she said, Pangfua would spend some time each day examining the vault’s defensive array for the next couple weeks. Whatever it was that Elder Harnish was planning, if he wanted to do it anytime soon he’d have to go through the sage to do it.