Kindling, page 19
part #6 of Painting the Mists Series
Little by little, the mist approached him. One by one, those who that had joined him collapsed into pieces that were fiercely devoured by the gray mist. When the mist reached him, he heard another voice in his mind. It was an ancient voice from before creation. His soul began shaking as he heard the dreadful voice.
Many became three and three became two;
All existence a fog of gray.
The moment he heard these words, his soul completely shattered. It joined the gray mist as though it had always belonged there. The last thing he heard was a deep sigh, and the last thing he saw was a receding yellow river, abandoning him to his fate.
Yu Wen sank down on one knee as the cloud receded. Beads of sweat rolled down her brow as she crunched down on a moon cake. Unfortunately, it only replenished a small portion of the energy she’d consumed during the fierce struggle.
How can he be here? she thought as she recalled the black-eyed man’s devilish figure. Her surroundings faded as the formation glowed around them and brought them to a hidden place within the bridge.
Yu Wen blinked twice as she appeared within a chamber filled with jade-colored furniture. It was a familiar chamber, one she’d used many times before. Xiao Bai appeared beside her and slumped into her tiny basket at the foot of a large bed.
“I missed my bed so much.” Xiao Bai yawned as she sprawled herself out. Yu Wen ignored her and walked over to a jade panel near the bed and pressed it. An elderly lady appeared. “Please contact my father and tell him I’m in danger. Tell him he needs to get to Jade Moon Garden as soon as possible.”
“As you command,” the elderly lady said before disappearing.
“I shouldn’t have used Grandmist Essence so blatantly,” Yu Wen said, sighing. “But without it, Cha Ming and the others would have died.”
“Why, what happened?” Xiao Bai said, looking at her curiously. “The Bridge of Stars was built by the Jade Emperor himself. What are you so worked up about?”
“He’s coming,” Yu Wen said, shivering. “I can feel it.”
“If he could find you here, he would have done it long ago,” Xiao Bai said reassuringly. “Besides, don’t you have your father’s cloak? As far as hiding goes, I can’t think of a better soul-bound treasure in this universe.”
“It’s different this time,” Yu Wen said, pulling at her hair. “He saw me.”
“Saw you?” Xiao Bai exclaimed. “How?”
“I used my Grandmist Essence to fight him on the bridge,” Yu Wen said. “Only a handful of people can use Grandmist Essence in the universe. It won’t take him long to figure it out.”
A scar on her back began to ache. She shivered as a frightening presence washed over her. “It’s too late,” she said fearfully. “He’s already here.”
The elderly lady appeared once more. “My apologies, Princess, but communications don’t seem to be working.” She hesitated. “Also, the humans and demons on Jade Moon Planet have suddenly gotten restless.”
Yu Wen sighed. “Is Cha Ming awake?” she asked. The lady nodded. “Then transfer my moon stones to him and his brother fox and allow those who came with him to cultivate here for two years. I’ll give you instructions based on the situation on the surface. Jade Moon Planet is too chaotic to set foot on now.”
“What about the cultivators already on the planet?” the custodian asked.
“Inform them to head over to Jade Moon Garden as soon as possible and consolidate our defenses there,” Yu Wen said.
“My lady, I advise you to abandon the planet and flee,” the custodian said.
“What, and watch the others die?” Yu Wen snapped. “No, not this time. We have what we need to resist him on Jade Moon Planet. We’ll be able to hold out until my father realizes something’s wrong.”
“As you command,” the custodian said before disappearing.
Yu Wen and Xiao Bai, exhausted from the intense battle, drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Chapter 18: Burying Embers
“Greetings, Senior Sister,” a student said as Hong Xin approached.
“Good day,” Hong Xin said with a warm smile that chilled the girl to the bone. “How is your practice coming along?”
“I-I’ve practiced as you taught me,” the girl said nervously. “But it’s so cold to do as you say.” I’ve been giving it some thought, she sent secretly. I want to join.
“Only by braving the cold can we forget our feelings,” Hong Xin said. “You will never successfully cultivate the Freezing Heart Sutra with your talent otherwise.” Not just anyone can join, Hong Xin sent. Have you done as I said?
The girl’s eyes shifted. She approached Hong Xin and handed her a hairpin with two red stripes. Although it had one less stripe than Hong Xin’s pin, it was a grave offense for a first-grade student to steal someone else’s hairpin.
I can only give it to you for three hours, the girl sent. After that, she will begin to suspect.
Hong Xin infused a subtle charm into the pin. She hid her movements as she did this. For all the girl knew, she’d done nothing. She then handed the pin back. There’s no need, Hong Xin sent. This was only to test your devotion. Put the pin back, then come to Mistress Huang’s room at the time I mentioned. And remember, tell anyone about this, and you’re dead. I’ll make sure of it.
The girl gulped. “I understand,” she said before heading back to the dormitory.
“How kind of you,” a woman said, stepping out from behind a tree. “One would almost think you’ve developed feelings for the girls.”
Hong Xin shook her head. “Please have a seat, Mistress Huang,” she said, motioning to the bench in the middle of the courtyard. It was summer again, but the air surrounding Hong Xin was laced with ice. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Just answer the implied question, dear,” Mistress Huang said.
Hong Xin smiled. “I’m just doing what we’ve been taught in the lessons. I’m garnering support through indebtedness. Even someone with a heart of ice is affected by karma. I’m simply sowing small favors so they might give me back coal in the winter.”
“Is that what it is?” Mistress Huang said. “I, too, did similar things, for all the good it did me. My favors were unappreciated, and my efforts in vain. In the end, I was forced to discard everything and subdue everyone with a stick instead of a carrot. You might do well to learn this lesson.”
“Different people, different styles,” Hong Xin replied.
“Different path, different way,” Mistress Huang said. She looked up to the clear summer sky with not a breeze to be felt. “It seems like it might be storming soon. It’d be best not to plan any outings tonight.”
“It doesn’t seem that way to me,” Hong Xin said. “According to my experience, it won’t rain for another three days. I spent a lot of time outdoors before I came here.”
“Think what you will, but mark my words, it will rain,” Mistress Huang said.
“Then I suppose I’ll tell the juniors and earn many more small favors,” Hong Xin said. “Not that I go outside in the evening. I always seclude myself for three hours. From what I understand, you do the same.”
“Indeed,” Mistress Huang said. “The timeframe coincides with the best time for clandestine operations. If I lock myself away during this time, people will think I’m up to something. It keeps them on their toes, keeps them wondering what I’m up to.”
“You should have told me sooner,” Hong Xin said, taking out a teapot. “I went out of my way to frighten everyone off so they wouldn’t dare bother me. They all know where I go.” She poured them both cups. Mistress Huang accepted it and took a sip.
“They knew in the beginning, but do they know now?” Mistress Huang said. “It’s best to remind them periodically, so they wonder as to your whereabouts. It adds variation to their thoughts. Not only will they suspect what you’re up to, but they’ll also wonder if you’re actually doing what you said you were doing.”
“Many thanks for the wise words,” Hong Xin said. She held up her cup. “A toast to you and your sincerity.”
Mistress Huang held up her cup. “Just be careful about the storm,” she said, chugging down the cup of tea like it was wine. “It’ll be a nasty one. You wouldn’t want to be caught out in the rain.” Then she stood up and walked back.
Is she trying to warn me about our meeting? Hong Xin thought as she watched her walk away. But how could she possibly know about it? The members constantly supervised each other. And they were all very happy to be there. She inspected their hearts during every session.
Hong Xin shook her head and took out her flute, playing gently as she always did. Snow covered the hot grass as she played her frosty tune. Many students exited the dormitory and entered the courtyard, sitting down within the frosty circle. One of them was the student she’d just spoken with. They let the cold wash over their cultivation and their soul, edging ever closer to the Frozen Heart Realm.
Two hours later, she heard a sharp crack. She paused her playing and looked over to one of the students, Ling Xia. Her kindling core was carefully concealed inside a layer of thick ice. Just now, she’d reached the first level in the Frozen Heart Sutra, making her the twentieth student to complete her perfect disguise under her tutelage. Each one of them had obtained some achievements in her personally developed cultivation method—Icy Shell, Molten Heart. The heart kindling and heart dousing arts complemented each other, making their cultivation advance by leaps and bounds.
“Congratulations, Senior Sister,” Hong Xin said.
“Congratulations, Senior Sister,” the others echoed. The girl in question was a fourth-grade student who’d been in the academy for six years. Reaching the first level in the Frozen Heart Sutra was a requirement for graduation. Therefore, she’d been stuck in the academy for many years. Now, she’d only need to give a stunning performance at the yearly concert to graduate.
“It’s all thanks to you, Junior Sister,” Ling Xia said gratefully. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go cultivate and solidify my foundation.”
“Yes, let us all rest for the day,” Hong Xin said, stowing away her flute. The cold in the air dissipated, the snow melted, and the students sighed in relief. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” she said.
She then walked back to her accommodations and began cultivating. After the familiar scan passed over her, she cast a glamour and walked over to the wooden box in the teacher’s room. Mistress Huang’s token was still there.
Perhaps I’m overthinking things, she thought as she walked over to the usual classroom.
Hong Xin looked at the stage with concern as Ling Xia danced. Her style was passionate, and she danced with a ribbon. An untrained heart would have melted instantly and handed over their life’s fortune after seeing only a few movements. Unfortunately, the ones they needed to influence weren’t normal people. Ling Xia still needed a qualitative change in her kindling technique to stand a chance at melting the layer of ice on the students’ hearts.
“How was it today?” Ling Xia asked expectantly. Sweat dripped off her lovely body.
Hong Xin looked to her companions left and right. All eight of them looked unimpressed. Although many people in the eighty they’d recruited and were sitting behind them had been affected, it was far from sufficient.
“I don’t want to be mean, but the bar is really too high,” Hong Xin said. “You’ve reached the first stage of heart kindling, which is admirable. But only performers at the second stage will be able to have a large effect on the plan.”
Ling Xia cast her eyes down. “I just don’t know how to do it. I’ve tried and tried, but to no avail.”
Hong Xin sighed. “Let’s try it again.” She walked toward Ling Xia, her every step causing the fire in the woman’s heart to burn brighter, to the point that the external layer of ice showed signs of melting.
“Be careful, Sister,” Bai Ling cautioned. “The slightest mistake could destroy her disguise.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Hong Xin said, taking one step further. A small layer of water appeared between the flame and frigid outer shell. Do you have any regrets? Hong Xin sent gently. One you haven’t told us about yet? An unfulfilled desire, perhaps?
Ling Xia hesitated. There was once a boy. We spent a month together when we were fifteen. We were inseparable. She shook her head. That was before I started cultivating.
Very good, Hong Xin sent, blowing gently into Ling Xia’s ear, causing her to shiver. Shut your eyes. Think of the yellow flame in your heart as your unrequited love for him. I want you to imagine going back to your hometown. I want you to kiss him and make love to him. Have a baby and live a wonderful life together.
Ling Xia’s body flushed red when she heard this. Her eyelids fluttered, but she bit her lip and did as she was told. The yellow flame in her heart flickered a few times before suddenly shrinking. Ling Xia frowned before sitting on the ground. The yellow flame began fighting an invading chill.
“Will she be all right?” Bai Ling asked Hong Xin as they saw this development.
Their souls kept careful watch on Ling Xia, who was now experiencing an illusion. At Hong Xin’s direction, it contained both love and hatred, pain and relief. She was experiencing a lifetime of love and its corresponding suffering in mere minutes.
“She should be fine,” Hong Xin said. “I’ll stop it if it gets out of hand.” She’d tried similar procedures before, but never so forcefully. This was now the third time she’d tried it on Ling Xia, and each time had revealed progressively deeper secrets hidden in her heart.
The yellow flame shrank little by little. They watched worriedly as it became so miniscule that even someone who’d just started practicing kindling cultivation would exceed it. It flickered a few times, almost vanishing. Hong Xin shook her head and moved toward her to stop the illusion. However, she was quickly repelled by the woman, who maintained a bit of her consciousness.
“She wants to fight to the finish,” Hong Xin said, looking back toward the five. “I can’t pull her out safely without damaging her mind. I say we let her finish.”
“Agreed,” Bai Ling said.
“Disagreed,” Ji Bingxue said.
The rest agreed in sequence. Hong Xin returned to her seat and watched as the flame flickered between life and death. This scene continued for a half hour before finally flickering one last time and returning with an orange coloring. It then grew and grew until finally converging into a molten core. The surrounding ice that had melted healed itself over.
“Congratulations,” Hong Xin said.
“Congratulations!” many junior sisters exclaimed.
“Thank you all so much for your support,” Ling Xia said. “With me, our odds of success are even higher. We’ll rescue many more of our sisters before finally—”
A creak interrupted her. Everyone looked to the lone door at the back of the room, which opened slowly. Hong Xin’s face remained unchanged as a new student, Yi Ju, walked through it. The students let out a sigh of relief, but Hong Xin did not. She stood carefully and walked toward the door.
“Why did you do it?” she asked as she walked over to Yi Ju. The many students around her frowned and began murmuring. “Why did you sell us out?”
The murmurs intensified.
“I didn’t have a choice,” she started.
“That’s enough,” a voice said from behind the younger student. A red-robed woman with a red pin walked in. Mistress Meng and eight others had arrived. Hong Xin recognized Mistress Shan and Mistress Yuan from before. Mistress Meng’s frosty gaze swept across the room before focusing on Hong Xin.
“How ambitious,” Mistress Meng said, clucking lightly. “You’ve recruited a quarter of our students. I confess myself impressed that we didn’t discover anything sooner.”
“Then you’ve seen my ambitions,” Hong Xin said, staring her down. A fire rose up in her heart, invigorating those around her. These flames joined together and formed a fiery bird that dove down against the mistresses, who summoned an icy shield to deflect it. The shield cracked, causing the small group of mistresses to combust their blood essence and further fuel the shield.
“Don’t let up,” Hong Xin told the women behind her. “If they escape, we’re all dead.”
“And what then?” a voice suddenly said behind her. The fire she controlled lessened as the enthusiasm of those behind her waned.
“What will we do if we kill them?” another voice said. “Can we escape?”
One after another, a dozen students from those she’d recruited spoke up. They used dousing magic to demoralize Hong Xin’s rebel group, who now fell leeward against the icy shield. The shield then transformed into an icy dragon that rapidly coiled around the weakened phoenix. Hong Xin and those linked to her coughed up icy blood as their combination technique collapsed, and the icy dragon caused the temperature in the room to plummet.
“You came really close to staging an all-out rebellion,” Mistress Meng said. “You sowed doubt in their minds but neglected to consider that we could do the same. In the end, you have nothing to blame but your naivety and wishful thinking.”
Hong Xin clenched her fists, which were slick with blood that had frozen over. The icy shards bit into her skin as she glared daggers at the evil woman.
“Take them away,” Mistress Meng said dispassionately.
The mistresses and the twelve turncoat students shackled the remainder with thin cold chains and icy black collars.
“It’s a pity that such an interesting heart cultivation method is incompatible with our organization’s requirements,” Mistress Meng said as she closed a heart-locking collar around Hong Xin’s neck.
The cold seared Hong Xin’s heart, but the pain she felt was nothing compared to her feelings of anguish toward her sisters.
“I suppose you’ll be taking me to die now?” Hong Xin said as the last of her hope vanished with her cultivation.
“If you’re lucky,” Mistress Meng said. “The headmistress will be looking into this case personally.”
