Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 14

Their parents and Sages Fang and Ping came to wish them farewell as they left the capital city. They’d had their official parting a few days before, so their meeting was brief. It was a happy parting.

Zan didn’t let them go without one last warning, “Stay humble and don’t let your cultivation levels and martial abilities go to your heads or you might just end up dead without knowing what happened. There is still much danger in this world, even to you. It is those dangers you don’t see that are often the deadliest.”

“And finally, beware the influence of other cultures and ideas. They can help sharpen you and open your eyes, but also corrupt. Corruption doesn’t happen all at once, but by degree. You must learn the difference between compromise and enlightenment. Compromise without enlightenment is just weakness character. You are cultivators. You’re called to strength. Now get going and don’t forget to buy everyone souvenirs while you’re gone. And keep your identity a secret unless there’s no other way. We’ll see you in a few years when the trials are about to begin.”

As they were departing, Sage Ping flew to Huifen. “Have a good trip, Little Sister.”

Chao could see that Ping was struggling. He knew they’d grown close, and this just went to prove by how much. The nature fairy had grown up in a much different culture. She’d never hid how she felt. Not even to the extent that Chao did out of politeness, let alone an ice fairy.

“You studied the jade I gave you and purchased antidote ingredients?”

“I did Big Sister. Thank you.”

“Just remember, sometimes it’s not the presence of evidence but the lack of it that will help you best discern which poison was used. I recommend memorizing the effects of all of them that lack smell and taste.”

“I’ll take your advice. I promise.”

Ping smiled broadly as if hoping it would help hold back her tears from falling. She embraced Huifen and said in hushed tones. “You are dear to me, strange ice fairy.” She giggled. “No matter what happens, remember that.”

It was a little too much sisterly affection for Huifen to handle, so she nodded up at the older sage with a modest grin.

Chao was just thinking how lucky they were to be in the position to befriend the couple when he was crushed into a hug by Sage Fang. “Little Brother, this one will also give you advice. If trouble finds you crush it with wisdom and might.”

“That’s it?”

“I was going to replace wisdom with fire, but you need wisdom more, I think.” The man roared in laughter, which was met with Father Zan’s.

“Be well, Big Brother. Cultivate well.”

Chao turned to Sage Ping, “Big Sister, thank you for befriending my Huifen. I’m eternally grateful.”

The sage just stared at him before dropping her eyes. “It’s my pleasure, Little Brother. Be well.”

He was almost sure he saw the woman cringe at her words. He didn’t understand why she was so demure around him while open with his wife, but it just enticed him more to want to get going and explore the world to see what other kinds of people he might meet.

A few minutes later and they were off.

They flew for a few kilometers before landing on a cobblestone road that headed toward the northeast. The monoliths their continent was known for stretched across the northern half. There were well known points of interest in the northeast and northwest.

They’d be meeting the joint sect’s disciples in the northwest in a few weeks at one of the most popular places for cultivators to visit. It was said to be the inheritance of an ancient divine realm cultivator. The problem was that because of its popularity, and easy to take treasures had disappeared long ago. All that was left were a few challenges and puzzles that hadn’t produced rewards for centuries. Still, almost everyone stopped there to try their luck just incase there were some hidden methods to receive one of the few remaining rewards.

Chao caught a glimpse of his wife’s sturdy leather slippers as she touched down. He chuckled to himself as her orange skirt settled over the lower half of her flawless legs.

“Everything okay?” She asked.

“Just perplexed that my wife can’t travel the world barefoot as she most definitely prefers.”

Ice qi gushed into his face, pushing him back. He caught a glimpse of her playfully rolling her eyes.

He created a space bend and hopped into it. Appearing at her flank, he lunged to sweep her off her feet.

She was ready and threw up a pillar of ice between them that he skirted around.

Screeching when she saw him appear, she jumped back while he continued to pursue.

“Halt!” Someone shouted.

Chao turned to see three guards in polished bronze and steel rushing toward them. It took him a moment to realize they were coming for him. At the realization, he started laughing. He found he had trouble catching his breath.

When the patrol reached them, they leveled their spears at him and declared, “Violence and thievery are forbidden on the emperor’s road. You, sir, are under arrest. My lady, are you hurt.”

They moved to surround him.

Putting his hands up, he responded cheerily. “There’s been misunderstanding. I was just going to pick the lady up off her feet so she could travel without having to wear shoes.”

“Tell it to the judge.”

“Is that what you were going to do?” Huifen said, amply enjoying my predicament.

The guards were just earth realm cultivators, so I mostly ignored them. “What did you think I was going to do? Tickle you?”

“Of course, I did. You were making that face.”

One of the guards raised their spear and stuck it butt first into the ground. “Lady, what is your relationship with this man?”

“He’s this one’s husband,” she said with a sigh. “I would take it as a great favor if you’d poke some sense into him.”

One of the other guards grunted and withdrew his spear. “Brats, its unlawful to play games with the emperor’s guards.”

Taking on a more sober tone, Chao replied. “It truly wasn’t our intention. You caught us in a bit of a mood, I’m afraid. We’re just leaving to go our first journey together and feeling rather adventurous.”

“You can still poke him, though.”

He glared at her but couldn’t hold it for long. She would’ve never been able to take light of this situation just over a year ago, let alone make the same joke.

“Lady, his warning is a serious one. We could arrest you both for a lesser offense.”

She then chose to bow to them. “This one apologizes. What my husband says is true. The timing of your approach couldn’t have been better. We’ve had a challenging last couple of years, so let me reward you for the amusement, even if it wasn’t your intention. Husband, lets reward them.”

“Yes,” he said, already searching for a few pills that would best help their cultivations. Since the three weren’t fire or ice cultivators, they had plenty of extra pills that could help them.

“Sorry that I don’t have any extra containers to put these in. As long as you take them within the next couple of weeks they shouldn’t lose their potency.” He tossed one to each of them.

Their astounded looks were expected, but that didn’t lessen the joy of sharing from their excess. Chao was about to join Huifen and leave when he thought of something.

“I understand you’re called the emperors guards and this is the emperor’s road, but don’t look down on Empress Sun Yan Ya now that she’s taking command. She’s one of the most impressive fairy cultivators in all of the Monolith Continent. Farewell.”

With that said, he walked over to his wife and waited for her to offer him her arm before he bent down and swept her off her feet.

“Now where were we?”

A surge of qi empowered his limbs as he took a few quick steps forward before bounding away.

“You’ll have to help me take off your shoes.”

Instead of a reply, he watched her tap the top of his head with her index finger. The chill came a few moments later. Looking up, it was hard to see exactly what had happened, but it was visible enough for him to see what she’d done. “You froze my hair.”

He was already trying to reverse create it when he saw the mischievous look in his wife’s face. She was fighting against his reverse and her ice laws were stronger than his.

“You’re going to give me frost burn on the scalp,” he cautioned, but she didn’t let up. There was only one thing left to do.

His arm was looped under her back and his hand was in position to find her ribs. He dug in.

***

“Sergeant, who were they? Some rich brats?”

“No one is that wealthy. And did you see that man’s leap? If we time these pills correctly, we could each enter the sky realm within a matter of months. Be sure to invest in a jade pill box and place them inside as soon as possible once we’re done here.”

“Could it be,” the third man said distantly. “They… Were they even human? They held no fear of us. Not even for a moment. Could they be ghost?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, private. They weren’t ethereal and held no ominous aura. Their presence was a merry one. My guess is that they’re demigods that hold some connection to this part of the world and were watching over us. You heard the man speak of the empress like he’d been observing her carefully.”

“Could they be elves?” The first guard mused. “The woman was so fair she seemed too beautiful to be human.”

“That’s possible, but since when were elves sighted in this region?”

“Then definitely demigods. Let’s spread the word about the empress being favored. Perhaps they will appear again to reward us.”

They quickly agreed.

***

“Husband,” Huifen said as they flew next to each other to skirt over a hilly region. “I enjoyed that as much as you did, but—”

“We must be ready danger at any moment. Yes wife, I haven’t forgotten. There are likely people still out there that were loyal to Emperor Sun. They’d want nothing more than to kill us if they got the chance. And father said that spies from the Northern Continent are common, as are those from the larger sects. Not all would be hostile, but…”

“It only takes one.”

“You’re worrying about poison? After what Big Sister Ping said, so am I.”

“Not in particular, though I have every intention of taking her advice. I just don’t want to grow neglectful because there’s no immediate danger.”

He puffed a small burst of heaven and earth qi into her face.

She gave him a sideways glance.

He turned away like nothing happened. “I’ll remain vigilant. What I’m most concerned about is that this will be our first time dual cultivating outside our own private rooms in palaces and mystic realms. Small town inn walls can be rather thin.”

Even with the cool breeze blowing in her face, he saw her go flush.

“Husband,” she chided.

“No one can hear us.”

“You’ll use a sound barrier, right?”

“You can be very distracting.”

“Then I’ll be less distracting.”

He went slack jawed. “I’m just teasing you. You have nothing to worry about.”

“You promise.”

“You have my most solemn oath.”