Jiang Chen reported the matter of Song Qifang's demand for the Violet Dawn Sword Art to Dean Dong.
Not to lodge a complaint, but because he had defied the deputy dean's wishes, and this was something Dean Dong must know of. Otherwise, if Song Qifang were to work some scheme behind his back, it would be more than Jiang Chen could bear.
Of course, Song Qifang might well do no such thing. He had been many years at the Maple City Academy, and his reputation had always been excellent. Even his asking Jiang Chen for the sword codex could be seen as thinking of the academy's good.
But the disparity in their strength and standing was enormous, and Jiang Chen could not but prepare himself against each possible turn, guarding against trouble before it came.
Dean Dong heard him out, and merely raised an eyebrow: "A decrepit old man. Pay him no heed."
Jiang Chen quietly marveled. The dean was indeed blunt...
Still, it was not his place to add to that.
Dean Dong went on: "And how has your cultivation been of late?"
"Before the middle of next month, I shall complete the construction of my second Dao vortex."
"Not bad at all. The more Dao vortices you build, the faster it goes. Before the Gate of Heaven and Earth, cultivation is mostly a matter of grinding away with water and stone. From the Roaming Meridian realm to the Cycle realm, the only true barrier is the construction of the Minor Cycle. For you, that is no hard thing. And so, when you reach the Cycle realm, the Dao arts engraved within the Celestial Palace must begin to be weighed now. You must understand — the first instant-cast Dao art engraved in the Cycle realm is of the utmost importance to every cultivator. It is not a matter of the greater the power the better; you must find the Dao art that suits you best."
"This disciple understands."
Dean Dong considered a moment, then added: "Should anything like what happened in Riverview City come about again, you may report it to me in advance. So long as you have reason and grounds, the Maple City Academy will never abandon its own disciple. Remember — your Senior Brother Zhu may not always be able to protect you. But this academy can."
A warmth spread in Jiang Chen's heart. With Dean Dong he had truly known a feeling that was equal parts teacher and father.
But Dean Dong gave him no chance to voice his gratitude. Having spoken, he merely waved his hand: "You may go."
...
Deep in the night, Jiang Chen started awake from his sleep.
He threw on his robes, took up his sword, and walked out into the courtyard.
The black-veiled woman simply stood watching him with a smile; in the cold of winter she was still dressed threadbare and thin, as if with a careless breath of wind she might drift away entirely.
"Do you remember the three things you owe me?" she asked.
Her voice drifted lightly through the night, feather-soft too.
Startled, Jiang Chen asked: "Now? Today?"
By now the midnight hour had passed; this was already the eleventh day of the winter month. It was the day of the County Academies' Grand Selection.
The three county academies were the State Dao Academy's most direct reservoir of cultivators.
One such as Lin Zhengren, who had won admission to the State Dao Academy through the Three-City Trial, had been guaranteed a place. One such as Zhu Weiwo, whom the State Dao Academy had summoned directly by letter, had been specially recruited. Both were but a minority.
The joint examination held by the three county academies once every five years was the broadest path into the State Dao Academy, admitting one hundred cultivators each cycle.
Every disciple of the Maple City Academy who had cultivated for five years or more had registered for this Grand Selection — and of course Li Yun among them. After their journey to Three Mountain City, their bond had grown closer, and today Jiang Chen had meant to see him off.
The black-veiled woman said softly: "The first of these things — today."
Jiang Chen thought it over, then turned back into the house. "Wait a moment."
He left a note for An'an, telling her that he had gone out on sudden business, and that if he could not come back that day to fetch her, she should go to Ling Chuan.
In truth, An'an was no longer much of a worry now. Whenever Jiang Chen could not spare himself, Tang Dun had more often than not taken up the duty of carrying An'an to and from the old schoolhouse — in his words, he had to do something for the teacher to set his mind at rest. And since both had been taking martial instruction from Jiang Chen, they counted, loosely, as fellow disciples of one master, and their rapport was easy.
Jiang Chen closed the door once more and came out; the black-veiled woman had already floated up onto the rooftop, receding into the distance beneath the moonlight.
Jiang Chen made to overtake her. The silhouette ahead flitted and swayed, seeming within reach, yet ever kept a space between them.
"Miss, how should I address you?" Jiang Chen asked, hurrying on at a span of some four paces' distance.
"Have I not told you? Call me Sister." The voice drifted back, so sweet it was barely distinct.
"'Sister' is too vague, after all; it cannot name one so particular and specific as you." Jiang Chen answered with utter earnestness, and utter confidence besides.
He had long ago sought out Zhao Yan with just such a question, and Zhao Yan had taught him to answer in this way.
"Oh?" The black-veiled woman deliberately paused, waiting until Jiang Chen had drawn up beside her before turning, with a look half-vexed, half-pleased, to flick a glance at him: "Who taught you to say that?"
"No, I—" Jiang Chen glanced aside. "I made it up myself."
"When a man lies, his glance tends to waver, afraid to meet my eyes."
Afraid to look at you? Jiang Chen thought, and made a point of turning to look at her, his gaze firm.
"And to cover over a guilty conscience, he will sometimes grow all the more resolute."
Best I keep my mouth shut. Jiang Chen thought.
"Hehe." The woman shifted her words: "Since on our very first meeting, I already saw your naked body..."
In the midst of Jiang Chen's unexpectedly reddening face, she turned to: "The lotus on your back — then call me White Lotus."
"Very well, Miss White Lotus." Jiang Chen looked much relieved, and resolved that if he could avoid conversation, he would.
Yet he soon asked: "So what is it we are going to do?"
"You will know when we arrive." said White Lotus, who had tossed off a name at random.
"Then, where are we going?"
"You will know when we arrive."
"..."
Thus they passed the road without words.
White Lotus seemed bent on probing the limits of Jiang Chen's speed. Once past Maple City she kept accelerating, and only when Jiang Chen began to show obvious strain did she ease off somewhat.
The sky shifted by degrees, and the scenery receding at the roadside changed by degrees too.
Unable to hold back, Jiang Chen said: "Are we bound for Three Mountain City?"
"You will know when we arrive." White Lotus seemed to take a teasing pleasure in it, and delighted herself with her own words.
Jiang Chen could only swallow a bellyful of questions and press on after her with his head down.
By the time White Lotus finally halted, the sun had climbed high.
Gazing at the towering peak before him and hearing the faint roars of beasts, Jiang Chen sensed something ill: "What business do you have on Jade Balance Peak?"
White Lotus looked at him, her eyes seeming to laugh: "Have no fear. I will do nothing that goes against your principles, nor anything that would send you to your death."
"And so, what exactly is it?"
"Come up with me first."
"Wait? We are going up Jade Balance Peak? So many fierce beasts, and only the two of us?"
As if long prepared, White Lotus bent and ducked into a rocky cave, and in a short while came out bearing two animal hides.
She draped one over herself and tossed the other to Jiang Chen.
"Put it on."
It was roughly a tiger hide. It felt fine to the touch, but seemed not to have been too carefully cured, and had a rank, fishy smell.
"Wear it for what? To pass ourselves off as beasts?" Jiang Chen felt that everything today had become rather absurd.
"Didn't you ask how we were to climb Jade Balance Peak?" White Lotus, wrapped entirely in a great animal hide — a fox pelt, perhaps, its pattern very lovely — walked past Jiang Chen. "This is the answer."
"No." Jiang Chen's head ached a little. "Do you mean to say that wrapped in a beast's hide, the fierce beasts will take you for one of their own?"
"The fierce beasts have no wits. Did you not know?"
"That may be so, but—"
"Too absurd, isn't it? To think that before such a savage horde, one could slip in by so very simple a method? Some things are hard for us not because of some difficulty real in the world, but because of a difficulty lodged in our own minds."
White Lotus took out a jar of medicinal ointment, smeared some on her hands, then picked out a little more and gestured for Jiang Chen to offer his hand, daubing a bit on the back of it as well.
She explained as she rubbed: "Add this ointment that masks our scent. Only the barest trace is needed, and there is no fear the beasts will discover us."
Her fingers were cold, and held a subtle warmth and softness as well, circling lightly a few times over the back of his hand before drawing away.
"In short — difficulties have their answers; fools alone have none." She concluded at last.
"It rather feels you are insulting me..." Jiang Chen muttered even as he draped the tiger hide over himself.
Then, his gaze froze.
It froze upon a rocky cave in the far distance, before which, vague and indistinct, he saw several Killer Rock Bees darting in and out.
But he distinctly remembered how, not long ago, the city lord of Three Mountain City, Dou Yuemei, had slaughtered every one of that breed to the last.
"These Killer Rock Bees... were they not exterminated?" Jiang Chen asked.
There was a note in his voice of panic he himself had not noticed.
"What do you think?"
White Lotus's voice held a hint of a smile that was no smile.