The Luxe Life Reboot: Cultivating in the Wild

Chapter 20

The World Thus Spun

The world was eerily silent, but only for a moment--then, it broke out into a strange, rhythmic song. All the animals joined in a concert, slowly leaving the forested area and closing in on the two. The world was alive with their voices, and all Leo could do was close his eyes and let himself be taken in by the strange sadness. It overwhelmed his heart, tearing it open--but not in a way that would scar him, but rather in a way that allowed him to appreciate life even more.

He hardly felt sadness for the old man who died--he'd just met him earlier today, after all. Even if they shared a poignant conversation, that was all there was to it. The old man himself admitted to not being a good person: a murderer, a thief, and who knows what else. Leo didn't have energy or emotional capacity to spare to feel sadness over people like him.

But, still, it was the passing of a life--for all the man's sins, he was now gone. Whether the rage caused by his actions ought to be burning onward even after his demise... it was not up to Leo to decide, but rather those he slighted. He could only stand by the man's side as he drew his last breath, fading away.

Opening his eyes, Leo saw several animals gathered around the man--a strange eagle suddenly grabbed Tian Yu by the shoulders, lifting him up rather gently. The song continued, growing louder and more melancholic, as the eagle carried the man into the pit, toward its depths, eventually settling him into one of the cave openings. As the eagle left the opening, it closed down behind him, and a strange mark appeared on top, as though to indicate it was someone's grave.

There were only three other such places inside the pit with the similar marking--whether they were of the other Cultivators who stumbled upon this place, or some animals... Leo didn't know, nor did he have the means of asking.

He simply continued sitting as the song slowly wound down to its end--most of the animals scattered, leaving behind the fading shadows, though the usual suspects remained, cradling up around him.

Leo sighed and stood up, bowing toward the pit and the distant tomb before turning around and leaving. The man came out of nowhere, much like that thunder some days back, sweeping past like a raging torrent before vanishing. And now... he was gone, forever. Life was truly a mystery, Leo silently mused, one that was to never truly be solved.

**

Lan Yue was on her knees, staring at the cracked tablet under the flickering flames of the candlelight. There was heaviness in her chest, but her eyes were dry. Of the six tablets present, only one was cracked--her grandfather's. Though she knew he didn't have long to live, and that he'd dried up his potential, she still thought they had a few more years.

She was angry--angry that he'd chosen to abandon his family and run off to die alone in the wilderness. Even to this day, she remembered it vividly, the day he talked about the Nameless Forest. There was the kind of yearning in his voice that she was desperately familiar with, but what angered her was that he yearned not for more time with her... but for some dream he had as a child, his idealized, perfect death.

Gnashing her teeth, she kowtowed thrice toward the tablet before leaving the dusty, old room. She knew where he was, and she knew it was her duty to drag his corpse back home and bury him with the rest of their family. But... if she told this to anyone, they'd chain her in the dungeon sooner than they'd let her go to the Nameless Forest.

No matter how talented she was, or even how strong she was, the Nameless Forest was a tomb for countless who were far more talented and far stronger than she was.

Even now, she was already feeling the wall, the bounds of her talents. Other children were catching up to her, with a few even having surpassed her already. At best, she might become like her grandfather, a master of the Fusion Realm, but she would go no further. It was frustrating, but it was the reality of things. Every person born into this world was born with predetermined talent, and sans some extremely rare, heavenly opportunities, that talent could not be changed.

Stepping out into the light once again, so looked around the well-adorned pavilion of her family's main house--her grandfather had married into the Lan Clan when he was rather young, but had barely made any attempts to become someone of importance in the family. Though he was considered one of the Elders, he had virtually no say in the matters, and was mostly just left alone to wander the Lower Ashlands as he always had.

But to Lan Yue... he was more than just her grandfather--he was the man who made her fall in love with martial arts. And, more than that, he was the one person in the entire family who'd shown her love, even when her lack of talent became apparent. Her own father and mother began treating her worse, especially so when her younger brother's Spirit Roots turned out to be mid-Tier Sky Root, and he became destined to eventually enter into one of the four Tier IV Sects.

Her grandfather, however, never treated her any differently.

For that, she had to go and retrieve his body, no matter what. Considering his advanced age and the stories about the Nameless Forest, chances were that he died at the periphery, and never managed to go any deeper into the forest. As such, there was a chance that he was only a couple of miles, at most, past the boundary. If so, she was somewhat confident in being able to take him back. Her footwork, despite her lack of talent, was still one of the best in the entire Clan, so if there was something amiss, she was at least confident in running away.

Nobody stopped her or questioned her as she left--just like her grandfather, in many ways, she was left to her own devices. The Clan only ever needed three children per generation to be strong--one beset to become a Clan Head, one beset to become a Sect Disciple and spread the Clan's name throughout the world, and one beset to become a Guardian, forever entombed within the Clan's confines so that they may shield it in case something happened.

Lan Yue would become none of them--at best, she might become an Elder with some minor influence, but she didn't want that. Rather, she would probably be married off before that even happened, likely to some merchant family in the Whitespire City.

But that was fate of the weak, and she could only surrender herself to the tide, but never stem it.

Journey to the Nameless Forest would take around five days, she gathered. Not too long, not too short. She could spend some of the few Spirit Stones she had on the Sky Crane, but it wasn't worth it. It was better if she saved the Spirit Stones for when she picked up her grandfather's body and began her return journey. There was no doubt it would be heavier, to the body and to the heart.

**

Song and Lya returned to their Sect with a little fanfare; though they've been gone for nearly two weeks altogether, it wasn't too out of the ordinary for the Disciples to sometimes take even months on their missions. As the two were merely Outer Disciples, and not even one of the Top 20 Chosen, there was no welcome at the gates as they passed the grand, arched entrance.

Holy Blade Sect occupied seven mountains altogether, though most of it was built within the valley framed by them. Buildings sprouted left, right, and center, most made out of hardwood, and the few more important ones made out of stone and jade.

The two bade each other farewell, going to their respective Masters--which was when the fanfare occurred.

Though reaching Core Formation at such a young age wasn't unprecedented, it was exceedingly rare. Even Heavenly Jade Pavilion, the only Tier V Sect of the Lower Ashlands, could only ever procure six or seven Disciples of Lya's and Song's age with Core Formation Realm.

Perhaps even the greater thunder was the fact that their Spirit Roots were improved, but that was kept a secret between them, their Masters, and the Sect Leader--precisely the person whom Lya and Song were meeting. They'd only ever seen the revered Leader from afar, on the day they joined the Sect, but were now sitting opposite of him, with vapors of tea vanishing into the air.

Venerable Holy Blade looked to be in his thirties at most. He had smooth and well-kept skin, a pair of azure-colored eyes, and long, golden hair. Unlike with the public occasions, where he donned the Holy Robe, gilded with gold and silver, he was now wearing a rather simple, white robes. There was a loose scabbard hanging from his waist, where the Divine Artifact of the Sect Resided--the namesake, Holy Sword. Every Sect had at least one, and they were often used as a last resort, as they had limited Divine Qi stored within them that could not be replenished, since those capable of doing so had long since vanished.

The man was examining both of them with a faint smile on his lips, while the two kids squirmed in their seats, feeling naked beneath the piercing gaze. Though they promised Senior they wouldn't say anything... could they endure?

"You needn't be afraid," the Sect Leader's voice was gentle and warm, like a midnight, summer wind. "In fact, you may share nothing, if you so desire. I have simply asked you here to congratulate you, and beseech you to continue cultivating, spreading the name of our humble Sect, far and wide."

"O-of course, Venerable Sect Leader!" Lya exclaimed as both Song and her lowered their heads. They were kids, still, and couldn't quite discern precisely what the Sect Leader meant.

"I would assume you ran into some fortuitous opportunity within the Nameless Forest," the Sect Leader continued, tapping his index finger lightly against the table. "Perhaps something like a Heavenly Pond. But, were it that simple, you would have simply shared." Lya swallowed, feeling the weight of the Sect Leader's gaze increase. "Or, perhaps you are saving the opportunity for yourself?"

"No, Sect Leader--"

"Song." Lya quickly interjected. Though they feared their Sect Leader, Lya knew better than to share what happened to them. While the Holy Blade was a renowned title that struck fear in the hearts of many, she felt that, should the Senior desire so, he could have easily stormed through the Holy Blade Sect and taken it for himself.

"Interesting," the man said with a faint chuckle. "You two will be selected for the upcoming Heavenspan Tournament. I hope you show good results."

"Yes, Venerable Sect Leader!"

"You are dismissed."

Both Lya and Song felt as though a grave burden had been lifted off of them; they feared that the man would press for truth, perhaps even scry their minds and pry their secrets open. However, they left the Sacred Hall free--there would be a greater scrutiny on them, they knew, especially during the tournament. Two nobodies who came from the seeming nowhere... they might even get accused of using Demonic Arts.

Whatever may be the case, they at least did not betray their promise to the Senior. If it truly beacame too overbearing, Lya had already decided to go to the Nameless Forest and seek shelter there. Perhaps, in some ways, there was no better place than it in the world.