I sat on the floor of the grasping life palace, holding a cup of tea in my hands. I held the warm porcelain to my face, inhaling the aromatic herbal aroma and sighing as it soothed my frayed nerves.

  This was the first of many gifts Wang Ren had returned with. He’d obtained it from a trader in Two Horse Town, one of the nearby settlements. I was glad for the comfort and the sense of normalcy it brang to have something as simple as a cup of tea.

  We’d been living rather savagely in our first few days here. We foraged for fruits, nuts, and mushrooms while hunting local animals for meat. There was only a single small stream for fresh water, which made bathing difficult.

  Now however, Wang Ren had brought some homely comforts, good news, and also some disturbing news. I looked up from the tea after taking a deep sip that warmed me from within.

  “While I am glad for the tea, I need to know the situation with the local forces. Are we in any danger?” I finally asked.

  Wang Ren chuckled, tossing me a pouch. “Here, take it. More tea so you can remain relaxed and not bother the rest of us,” he joked, before his expression turned serious.

  “We might be. It depends how we handle the current predicament. There are many local forces, but we can ignore most of them. I spread news of the healing available, but as for what will come of that, only time will tell. There are three forces around us that we have to keep an eye on, however,” he explained.

  “Three? That’s quite a few,” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “Back in Three River City there was only the sect and the city lord, though the latter became less of a problem as my cultivation increased.”

  “It’s not the same. None of the surrounding powers are anywhere close to the power and influence of the Cloudy Falls Sect. We lucked out with the location in that regard. Million Flowers Celestial Peak is on the border between the territory of two sects. The Cloudy Falls Sect and the Soaring Sword Sect. Neither really controls this area, so we won’t need to fear reprisal from them unless we go out of our way to anger the tiger, so to speak.”

  I nodded in understanding. That was great news. I wasn’t sure if I would’ve preferred a completely fresh start away from the Cloudy Falls Sect, but at the very least we could put them out of mind for now.

  Wang Ren continued after he gave me a few moments to digest the information. “As for the three forces we need to be wary of, we arrived at a rather inopportune moment. Or a fortunate one, depending on how you wish to proceed. The first force are the Li Clan—a local clan that specialises in formations. Their patriarch is only an eight-star Qi Gathering cultivator, but supposedly they have a Foundation Building ancestor hidden in the shadows.

  “The second force, who in my view are poised to be the biggest threat to us, is a mercenary army. They are known as the Azure Tigers—their leader is a nine-star Qi Gatherer and he is aggressively expanding their lands. Apparently they are backed by the Soaring Sword Sect, but those might only be rumours.

  “Why do you think they pose such a danger to us?” I asked. It was important to know about any threats to our safety before they could rear their heads.

  Crouching tigers and hidden dragons that could strike at any moment were my biggest worry. Enemies that you could see were rarely the ones who struck you down.

  “They are the closest and most aggressive of the three. They are already expanding their lands and apparently their leader Hu Qing has been eyeing Million Flowers Celestial Peak for a while. That is also the reason the locals suspect the Azure Tigers are backed by the Soaring Sword Sect. The peak lies just beyond the border in the lands of the Cloudy Falls Sect and claiming it would be a huge boon and also a way for the sword sect to get a win over their eternal rivals. You remember how antagonistic the relationship between the two sects is?”

  “Yes. Even during the blooming of the Ten Ascensions Lily they were there, causing chaos. I’m not surprised they want to try and grab this mountain. Unfortunately it belongs to us now, so the only way they will claim it is from my corpse,” I snarled.

  “Good, good. That is the attitude a sect leader needs in these times. Do you want to be defensive or proactive? Will we remain on our mountain until someone comes to find trouble or do you wish to root it out weed and stem before it can drag us down?” Wang Ren asked, an eager glint in his eye.

  I considered his question. We were a healing sect, so seeking out conflicts wasn’t something that would benefit us.

  On the other hand it was wise to eliminate problems before they reared their heads as Wang Ren said. “Tell me about the third force. I assume you saved them until the end for a good reason?”

  He smiled and nodded. “You’re too smart, Sect Leader,” he praised. I chuckled and he continued. “The third force is currently at war with the Azure Tigers, which means we could make a long term ally and eliminate a problem at the same time—killing two birds with one stone.

  “They are a merchant group known as the Golden Leaf Consortium, who own many spirit herb farms in the surrounding lands. They have a few powerful cultivators who have been able to defend against the Azure Tigers, but the mercenaries have grown ruthless; burning farms in the night and slaughtering mortals as a warning.”

  “Despicable,” I spat. Destroying your rivals' business interests was one thing, but killing mortals as a cultivator was needless cruelty. The kind I’d vowed to never overlook. “You think we should assist this Golden Leaf Consortium to defeat the Azure Tigers?”

  “I do. Both of us are powerful beyond our realm. With my master’s technique I am confident in being able to slay this Hu Qing—especially with you by my side. If it was simply a matter of justice, I would still recommend this course of action, but there are great benefits to be had from this move,” he added with a smirk.

  “The spirit herb farms. We could negotiate a deal. That way we can set up large scale alchemy operations alongside the regular healing business. Smart thinking.”

  “Indeed. Fishing in troubled waters is often a fast way to riches. There is a medium sized city nearby too and the lord seems to have a solid head on his shoulders. We can sell your products there—your disciple’s too.”

  “That’s good. I was worried she would grow aimless and wild without something to do.” I saw that he still seemed conflicted. There was something he still hadn’t told me. “What’s the catch?” I asked.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “The Li Clan,” he replied with a sigh.

  “The formation specialists? Are they allied with the mercenaries?”

  “Not quite. They are truly devious. I cannot be certain, but I believe it was the Li Clan who instigated this conflict in the first place. After some research I learned that they had a lot of disputes with the consortium due to the merchants bringing in their own formation specialists from their headquarters rather than contracting the Li Clan.”

  “They paid the mercenaries?”

  “I can’t be sure. The situation is still unclear. I only had a few days and the gossip of fishwives isn’t always the most reliable source. From what I can tell, the Li Clan isn’t involved on the surface, but there were too many coincidences for them to be unconnected,” he finished, waiting for my judgment.

  “Chaotic indeed. You were right. I’m not sure how we should proceed, but I know that I cannot ignore such wanton cruelty right on my doorstep. If we were to join the conflict, what would you recommend as our first step?”

  “We need to establish contact with the Golden Leaf Consortium. We can offer healing services, but keep your alchemy knowledge under wraps for now. The problem is, they won’t believe two Middle stage Qi Gathering cultivators will make a difference in their battle. They wouldn’t refuse our help, but if we want to gain the most from the situation we have to hold a strong position.”

  “You are the expert when it comes to battle and strategy. I trust in your judgment. I’m sure you already have an idea,” I said, waving a sleeve.

  It was true. There was no warrior as wise as Wang Ren that I’d met during my new life, save for elders and cultivators far beyond our realm.

  “I do. We need to build an air of mystery around the sect. Bring some locals here, heal them, but make a ceremony of it. They’ll return to their towns and villages, spreading the word of the powerful healers in the mountains,” he explained with a mischievous smirk.

  “I like it. I would’ve preferred to be more personable and open, but that might be impossible given the situation. I defer to your expertise. I assume that when the Azure Tigers hear someone else has claimed Million Flowers Celestial Peak they will make a move, which is when we strike?”

  “Like lightning in the middle of the day,” Wang Ren answered, clenching his fist.

  ****

  Wang Ren had taken Xiao Cui down the mountain to travel around again. This time he had dressed in gaudy robes and given little Cui a matching set.

  They were posing as followers of the mysterious healer on the mountain, spreading the news that their generous master was accepting patients. Our strategy was in motion, but that didn’t mean I could rest easy until they returned.

  I had to prepare the grasping life palace for a grand healing ceremony. It was time to get Yu Chun out of hiding—she was perfect for this task.

  She quickly became enamoured with the idea of a performance. I think she truly enjoyed her role back in Three River City—minus the chains that bound her to Councillor Gao.

  Du Wen even managed to get enthusiastic about the idea, rushing around the palace and figuring out how we would decorate it in order to impress the visitors that were going to start streaming in. Together, the pair transformed it from a plain wooden hall into a colourful, luxurious grand theatre worthy of the title ‘palace’.

  I didn’t tell them about the war that loomed overhead. They were still mortals and while they might face some danger I would ensure they were kept from the worst of the fighting.

  They’d only just escaped an awful situation back in the city and I didn’t want to plunge their lives into chaos once more. When the work was finished, I stepped outside and then entered from the front entrance to get a feel for how my potential patients would experience their first view of the refurbished grasping life palace.

  The once plain doorway had received a coat of crimson paint. That had been courtesy of Du Wen—apparently he knew how to create natural paint from plants we found in the forest.

  Combined with the scarlet and rich brown wood, it was a far cry from the grandeur and opulence of Teng Shi’s palace, but it was an elegant and magnificent structure fit for the central hub of our sect. Still simple in build, but that also fit my own tendencies.

  Healing didn’t need to be excessively opulent, only functional. A little attention to aesthetic detail went a long way, however. Taking my first step inside, I allowed myself a smile at a job well done.

  Teng Sheng had been furiously hunting the local wildlife in an effort to train himself and thanks to the plethora of beast corpses he’d brought back, we had been able to create wool tapestries to decorate the hall. Curving wooden sconces and ornate carvings poked out from the walls at regular intervals, yet again elegant but not flashy.

  The centrepiece of the room was a green meditation mat surrounded by drawings and inscriptions of cultivators healing beasts and men alongside some brief poetry. That addition had been little Cui’s idea when she stumbled in on us transforming the place.

  In front of the mat were three mats woven from brown wool in a much plainer design, without decorations, for any supplicants to kneel as they made requests of the grand, mysterious healer—me.

  I wasn’t a huge fan of the fanfare that was required, but Wang Ren had told me it was essential to his strategy. I trusted him with my life and didn’t believe he would lead me astray, so I would comply even if it made me cringe.

  “Fantastic work, both of you,” I said cheerily, making Yu Chun and Du Wen beam back at me.

  Sweat glistened on the man’s brow, but Yu Chun somehow looked as if she’d stepped out of her dressing room moments before without a hair out of place. Despite being a mortal she managed to outstrip plenty of cultivators when it came to flair.

  “Thank you for dragging us out of the house,” she said, gently squeezing my arm. “I needed that. I know it wasn’t your fault, but it’s been hard adjusting to…” she waved around the general space, “This.”

  I gave her a melancholy smile. “I know. You’re doing amazing. When we’re properly settled I want to start researching ways to turn you all into cultivators,” I replied, attempting to brighten the suddenly sullen atmosphere. “If that’s something you’d want, of course.”

  “Maybe. I’ve seen what cultivation does to men and women. It twists everything that was beautiful and… good about them—turns it into a pale facsimile of what was once a person. It makes greed, pride, and lust a thousand times stronger,” she replied, her body present in the moment as her mind went elsewhere.

  “But… power is law in this empire. Without strength, we are simply dust in the wind. I’d rather not have false hope. If you truly make a breakthrough, then we can talk about it again.”

  With that said, she left me with a sickly sweet smile that was blatantly falsified. I didn’t bother trying to stop her. I always managed to ruin the mood…

  Du Wen placed a hand on my shoulder as he followed after her. “Don’t worry about Chun, she’s a strong girl. Things haven’t always been easy for us and I think she’s scared to even consider that a bright future is a real possibility. Give her time. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us, Zhao Dan,” he said, giving me a final clap and then leaving me alone in the palace.

  Given the building’s ostentatious name, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to call this a throne room, but again I didn’t appreciate the connotations that description wrought. I was no king or city lord.

  I was a Sect Master. However, that was an educational position. The guiding light who was supposed to lead their followers to greatness. Or so I believed.

  The coming months and years would put my beliefs to the test. If we survived these trials and tribulations, I had hope that the Grasping Life Sect could chart a path to the heavens themselves.

  Now, all that remained was to figure out my persona. Mysterious, powerful, and yet equally generous. How was I to portray such a figure?

  In truth I wasn’t confident I could pull it off without flaw, but it was only acting. How hard could it be?