Chương 16: The Break of Dawn

It didn't take long for the arcane energies of the Grey Hilt to disperse, burnt away by the Emperor's light. Xing Jia and her juniors tweaked the formation a few times to hurry the process along, especially once they began to feel the sweep of curious spiritual perceptions from Verdant Plains Town. They'd made quite a scene in the plaza. Hao just hoped this would be the end of it for today. He felt as though the Grey Hilt had snuffed out his flame and left nothing but ash.

Between the curses, sleep deprivation, and hook-torn memories, he just wanted to collapse into a long, uninterrupted rest. Still, maybe putting a few arrogant, backwards Lonely Plains cultivators in their place would make him feel better. He had a lot of frustrations to take out. Master Wan was pensive, taking measured sips of his rice wine as he inspected Xing Jia's work for any flaws. Hao watched the man—no, the Acolyte —with searching eyes. The Acolytes were legendary even to the Great Nine, standing above all.

Most unusually, they were revered by the Great Nine rather than regarded as the next hill to climb. No other sect in Sunbeam could boast three Immortals at their head, let alone claim the Emperor himself as their benefactor. Even the arrogance of the Great Nine didn't stray into such hubris as to challenge the Sun Dragon Acolytes. The Acolytes stood between the Great Nine and the Dark World. That was service enough to forgive the grave offense of undeniable superiority.

"I must go," Fairy Geng's clear voice broke the breezy quiet of the Lonely Plains. She stiffened as yet more spiritual sweeps cast over them like a gust of wind. Master Wan nodded and the two Ruminators shared a few words before Fairy Geng said her goodbyes to the rest of them. Hao stiffened as she strode over to him.

"You did well, Cultivator Xiao."

"Thank you," Hao said, swallowing a lump in his throat as her serenity swept over him, easing the throbbing soul-deep ache that was the Grey Hilt's parting gift. A sensation like a cold mountain stream brushed the cracks in his spirit.

"This one does not deserve your praise." Fairy Geng leaned closer. Hao twitched. The last Ruminator to stand so close to him was Yuchen back in Plum Blossom Village. He trusted Fairy Geng well enough—perhaps more than he should. But a greater presence straying so near would always put him ill at ease. The best Hao could describe the sensation of being near a Ruminator was like the sensation of having an adult looming over him as a child.

It didn't matter how friendly an adult was when he knew they could snatch him up by his scruff.

"There's gold in you," Fairy Geng whispered. Her blue eyes seemed to scrape past Hao's outer layers, peering through the smoke and blood and flame.

"Don't tarnish. Master Wan will help you shine, if you let him." Hao could only nod.

"Farewell, Lord Wan! The Lonely Plains are a little safer now," Fairy Geng said, stepping away from Hao.

"Safe travels, friends. I will calm the situation in Verdant Plains Town. I'm certain there's unrest since we left in such a hurry."

"Thank you, Fairy." Master Wan bowed low in turn.

"As always, the Lonely Plains are more radiant with your presence." With that, Fairy Geng raced across the prairie in a blur, vanishing into the golden grasses.

"Hurry on!" Master Wan barked a minute later.

"We can't leave Junior Long alone with the caravan for long. There are crows about." A caravan guarded by a lone Calcinator was easy prey. Most of the cultivators in Verdant Plains Town seemed reputable sorts, but why leave things to chance? Particularly given Master Wan's status. Hao suspected they were transporting more precious materials than most other caravans in the Lonely Plains could fathom.

"Come, Cultivator Xiao!" Master Wan called as they finished cleaning up the Grey Hilt's mess. Xing Jia swiftly stored the dozens of formation flags she'd use to create the qi-gathering array into a storage ring.

"Let's see what you're capable of." With that, Master Wan bolted off, leaving Xing Jia and the Calcinators behind. Hao blinked, then grinned despite his exhaustion. He was up for the challenge! Wildfire billowed within his spirit, filling him with power as it burned wispy unrefined qi within his dantian. Hao tensed, stowed the Cheng Spear away, and darted off after the Ruminator, pushing himself to his limits. Grasses vanished behind them.

Hao's muscles ached with pleasant exertion as he sprinted across the plains, swiftly catching up with Master Wan's steady lope. They ate up miles in a minute, circling far from Verdant Plains Town and the potential trouble there.

"Ah, you're quick! Good," Master Wan said with a laugh. The old Ruminator wasn't even breathing hard. It was as if he was just on an afternoon stroll. Every motion was swift and powerful, yet steady as the sun's shine.

"Let's speed things up, then. Junior Xing and the rest will catch up soon enough." Master Wan raced ahead, effortlessly pulling away from Hao. His competitive spirit raged within him, urging him onward. Hao could run for hours—days, even—at a steady pace, but now he pushed himself into a hard sprint. He burned away Master Wan's lead inch by inch, straining as his lungs ached and his muscles screamed.

The Ruminator still seemed unbothered by the hard pace, constantly increasing his speed whenever Hao drew close, and it wasn't long before a long caravan of fifty wagons or so grew visible on the horizon. Master Wan slowed enough to run by Hao's side.

"You have ten breaths to make it to the caravan. If you do, I'll—" Hao didn't even need to hear the reward. The challenge was enough. He exploded forward, fighting to control his breath as he raced across the Lonely Plains with cinders swirling behind him. The caravan loomed closer and closer, and he stumbled into it, wheezing, ignoring the alarmed cry from the lone Calcinator guarding it. Most frustratingly of all, Master Wan somehow beat him there!

The Ruminator was already lounging up on his personal wagon, which was an enormous thing warded to the Hells and back. Master Wan raised his wine gourd in salute to Hao.

"Eight breaths! Not bad. I'll show you a few tweaks to your spear style later." Victory was the sweetest reward, but Hao couldn't appreciate it just yet. He wheezed, swiftly guiding qi to restore his stamina, but ten minutes of sprinting took its toll even on a Distillator. Cultivators with a solid earth aspect were built more for stamina, but Hao had embraced the Wildfire: he was fast, but he sputtered quickly. Not that a mortal could even imagine pushing their body to such an extent.

Their hearts would have exploded minutes ago. Cultivators were made of much sterner stuff. Hao recovered swiftly enough, though the Lonely Plains' poor qi concentrations slowed him somewhat. He straightened after a minute or two, still panting, and glanced around at the dozen or so mortals staring at him from atop their wagons. One baby with a tuft of black hair watched him with an unnervingly intense stare.

"My friends, this is our new protector, Xiao Hao," Master Wan introduced, raising his wine gourd in a toast. Hao wheezed out a greeting.

"Welcome to the caravan!" He patted the spot next to him.

"Come on up, Cultivator Xiao. Or should I call you Brother Xiao, now? We have much to discuss."

"Brother Xiao is fine," Hao said, leaping effortlessly up to the wagon. A little boy cheered, though the rest of the merchants seemed unimpressed. No doubt they were well-used to cultivator antics.

"My thanks for your hospitality. I can't say I expected the day to end up like this."

"The Winds of Heaven shift suddenly," Master Wan said, pausing to glance over at the horizon where Xing Jia led her Calcinators back to the caravan, which sped on a little faster than Hao would've expected over the paved Lonely Road. Every step seemed to take them a fraction farther than it should have.

"Tell me, Brother Xiao, what do you see in my pupils? One trained by the Great Nine should perceive more deeply than most." Hao swept his spiritual perception outwards, scraping past the well-honed defenses of Xing Jia and the others. They were trained to veil themselves, but time on the road had honed Hao's spiritual senses. It was essential when surviving the wilds.

"Enough to tell that an ambush wouldn't end well for anyone stupid enough to attempt it," Hao commented. Master Wan smiled.

"They're well-forged, particularly for Calcinators. Their bodies are refined, albeit a little homogenous, and their qi flow is harmonious. Their spirits…there's a glint to them. An inner glow. I'm not sure what they've adopted."

"The Sunray Physique," Master Wan explained.

"It's common enough in Sun Wall City and the Golden Capital, though rare elsewhere."

"Yang-based, I take it?" Hao shouldn't have been surprised. No doubt the Sunray Physique was favored amongst the Acolytes, or at least in their students.

"Correct. It requires exceptionally high concentrations of yang qi to make practical, much higher than the ordinary levels across the Empire. Even the Corelands have difficulty advancing the Sunray Physique." Hao shook his head. Developing the Sunray must be absurdly expensive! His own experiences were limited, but the Corelands had one of the highest yang qi concentrations on the continent thanks to the Emperor's proximity. The only places that could be higher…

"They must stay stagnant for a long time between your stops in Sun Wall City and the Golden Capital," Hao observed, earning a surprised look from Master Wan. A few of the Calcinators sent lingering glances at Hao as they set to work at Xing Jia's behest. She ruled the teenagers with an iron fist.

"Though I suppose the months between must be good for stabilizing their foundations."

"Correct," Master Wan said after a moment, rapping his knuckles against the worn wood of his enormous wagon.

"I call them my little beansprouts! They grow swiftly in the light, then they learn to wield their strength in the months between. It keeps the power from growing to their heads."

"I wouldn't have expected Calcinators to weather the Grey Hilt—the abomination, so well." Hao corrected himself when Master Wan shot him a reproachful glance.

"Even I struggled against it. I assume the Sunray Physique played a role in defending them from its influence? Xing Jia's formation helped, of course. She's quite skilled."

"That she is!" Master Wan beamed down at Xing Jia, smiling as she steadily directed the Calcinators, ensuring they were each at their station. She paused to chat with several of the merchant families who made up the caravan, smiling and laughing with each.

"She'll make a fine Ruminator." So Rumination really was within Xing Jia's sights, though Hao suspected he was a step or two ahead of her in terms of cultivation. Perhaps she'd make for a good sparring partner. He'd missed having Sister Fu to test himself against. Rumination was practically unheard of for wandering cultivators, especially those in the Lonely Plains, though even Yuchen would have realized there was more to Master Wan's caravan than met the eye. Hao and Master Wan chatted for a time.

Despite his nature as an Acolyte, Hao swiftly realized that Master Wan was quite the passionate merchant as well, eager to wax on about his caravan.

"... no, no, we don't bother with simple goods. We have a long route. It's important to maintain our margins, even with our benefactors," Master Wan said, lowering his voice a fraction. No doubt he kept his true nature a secret even from the mortals of his caravan.

"There are networks which supply Sun Wall City with foodstuffs and other logistical concerns, but those rely heavily upon storage scripts to make the trips worth it. We aren't so well-supplied. We focus on high-value cultivation supplies to trade to sects along our route, picking up new materials along the way, while reserving our core cargo for direct transfer between Sun Wall City and the Golden Capital." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Acolyte business, no doubt.

Hao was certain that the Acolytes alone kept Master Wan afloat, but the Ruminator seemed to embrace his role as a Ruminator-Merchant Lord of the Lonely Plains. Everyone needed hobbies, Hao supposed. Senior Brother Jun had his cats. Master Bolin had his schemes. Perhaps every successful cultivator found their own outlets.

"And you slay heretics along the way," Hao murmured, careful to keep his voice down so that none of the chattering mortals in nearby wagons could hear. None of the cheerful men and women employed by Master Wan were particularly shy about their eavesdropping.

"What a busy man you are." Master Wan just chuckled.

"So you go from Sun Wall City to the Golden Capital and back again," Hao said, measuring the vast distance in his head. Sun Wall City was the westernmost point of the Sunbeam Empire, their bulwark against the foul Dark World and its corruption, while the Golden Capital sat in the very center.

"How long does it take you?" A good six thousand miles separated the two enormous cities, though the journey would be eased by the gentle nature of the Sunbeam Emperor's domain. Grasslands, welcoming meadows, and peaceful forests filled much of that space. Their progress would be further sped by the complex, well-maintained spiderweb of roads established by the Emperor. It was still a vast distance, though higher cultivators could easily make the trip in a day.

Those were far beyond the imaginings of a humble Distillator or Ruminator.

"Without the wagons, I could guide my students along our route in two months or so," Master Wan began. Hao nodded along. A decent Calcinator could maintain the pace of a mortal horse's gallop for a good day's run. Master Wan's pupils were a step above 'decent'.

"That's traveling at a fairly leisurely pace, mind you." Hao nodded. As always, the limitation was the caravan itself, not to mention the mortals who staffed it. They were agonizingly slow, not to mention fragile. His father mitigated that problem in subtle ways: maintaining short, high-profit routes, training his mortals in cultivation to increase their fortitude, and utilizing river networks at every opportunity. But Master Wan possessed rather more resources than a half-destitute Distillator.

"And the caravan proper?"

"Six months or so with all of our stops," Master Wan said, pointing out various enhancements to Hao like a proud father.

"See the script on the wheels and wagons? They strengthen the wood and lighten our load, easing our passage and speeding our way. I invested a small fortune into ensuring the wagons can withstand attacks from anyone short of Integration, and the beasts are fed qi-infused millet that I purchase from the Three Fields Sect…" As a merchant's son, Hao couldn't hide his interest as Master Wan explained his well-oiled operation.

It was only natural for it to be so optimized after two centuries on the route, though Hao soon grew impatient for the real answers.

"I love logistics," Hao said drily once Master Wan finally took a breath.

"Truly. But we left the plains with some unfinished business to discuss, yes?" Master Wan chuckled.

"Ah, I've been going on for ages, haven't I? You'll understand once you've gained a few centuries under your belt. Time makes wrinkled old windbags of us all!" Hao snorted.

"Very well, ask away. But first…Junior Xing!" Master Wan called as Xing Jia laid into one sullen teenage Calcinator who'd apparently been slacking in her guard duty.

"Come on up when you're done." Xing Jia nodded, then went back to glaring at her unfortunate subordinate.

"... act like you've done work today!" Xing Jia wagged her finger at the girl, who stared ahead with glazed eyes as she was reprimanded.

"Don't disgrace our master with your grumbles and moaning, Junior Mei!"

"No work?" Mei squawked.

"That artifact—" Xing Jia's glare could have curdled milk.

"—was nothing, and I haven't accomplished anything at all worthy of note," Mei finished glumly, sighing as she took up her position as a sentry.

"Sorry, Senior Sister."

"Ah, youth!" Master Wan laughed. Xing Jia finished organizing her subordinates and leapt up to the wagon, squeezing in alongside Hao. She kept her spirit tightly veiled, glancing at him with blatant mistrust.

"Now, where shall we begin? You've been remarkably patient for one wrestling with Wildfire."

"I've had practice." Master Bolin never took kindly to impetuousness. An uncontrolled flame is wasteful. Powerful, yes, but just as likely to burn you as it is your enemies. It's best to snuff out rampant flames and start anew. Wouldn't you agree, Little Hao? If Hao remembered correctly, Master Bolin had made that rather transparent threat after he'd lost his temper in a spar with Yuchen, allowing Yuchen's Master Kang to gain some petty advantage against Master Bolin during their disputes.

Pissy sect politics, in other words.

"I've heard tales of the Sun Dragon Acolytes from my former sectmates," Hao said quietly.

"My master told me stories of the Dark World as well. What is an Acolyte doing away from Sun Wall City? And you…are you veiled? I expected someone—""Stronger?" Master Wan seemed more amused than offended, thankfully. He raised his hand to placate Xing Jia, who looked ready to draw her blade at Hao's blunt words.

"No, I'm a simple Ruminator. You said you were from the White Rivers, yes? Given your skills, I'm certain your old master could slay me with a flick of his wrist." His finger, more like. Hao nodded all the same.

"I told you before that heretics are never idle. They're hobbled as long as the Sun Wall stands, so they do everything in their power to crack its foundations. Our great heroes venture into the Dark World to slay its terrors, but sorcerers breed like weeds. There are more than you'd expect sprouting up in the empire every year."

"Warden-Errant," Hao muttered, recalling Master Wan's title.

"While the other Acolytes point their spears outwards, you look inwards."

"Exactly!" Master Wan seemed pleased with Hao's deduction.

"Little tasks for little Acolytes." Before today, Hao never would have described any Acolyte as 'little'.

"There are dozens of Warden-Errants," Xing Jia contributed.

"They cover every corner of the Empire, seeking out heresy wherever it festers."" They," Hao said, picking over his fellow Distillator's words.

"So you're not one of them?"

"I haven't earned that honor yet," Xing Jia said stiffly.

"Master Wan is the only true Acolyte among us. I have not yet taken my Trials, though I will when we arrive in Sun Wall City. Master Wan is training me to follow in his footsteps."

"Some Warden-Errants are great. Others small. We all carry out the Emperor's will within the Empire proper," Master Wan explained.

"Transporting sensitive materials, carrying messages, lending assistance to sects along our routes when they discover evidence of sorcery…we are His eyes and ears. There's much to learn." Hao glanced over the eight Calcinators who darted around at Xing Jia's behest. All skilled, all trained to a quality practically unheard of in wandering cultivators. The puzzle pieces came together.

"And you sniff out worthy recruits." Master Wan only smiled.

"And why tell me this?" Hao asked. He doubted Master Wan was keen to share his true nature with every cultivator who crossed his path.

"Just because I told you I intended on taking the Sun Dragon Trials? I could have been lying."

"Because you withstood a heretical artifact," Master Wan replied.

"More than that, you helped us destroy it. You have the potential, Brother Xiao. You have a strong will and a sturdy foundation. If you would accept my aid, I believe you would become a fine Acolyte." Xing Jia stiffened at Master Wan's message even as Hao snorted. His foundation was a bit more than just 'sturdy'. He'd built it with blood, sweat, and a mountain of cultivation resources. Not to mention burnt corpses. He froze as Master Wan's last words sank in. An Acolyte?

Hao intended to conquer the Sun Dragon Trials and gain the Acolytes' famed Distilled Form, but to join their order…

"This isn't just an elaborate ruse so that you can get me to lower my guard and steal my spear, is it?" Hao asked weakly, throwing the distraction out so that he could think for a moment.

"Your spear is a fine prize, but I'm not in the habit of robbing those beneath me. It's bad for the soul. What sort of example would I be setting for my pupils?"

"I notice you didn't say anything about robbing those above you." Master Wan just smiled.

"You do have a fine weapon. If I'd desired it, I'd have taken it. Not without a fight, I suspect."

"Not without a fight," Hao agreed. He wasn't sure if even the Transient Burning Leaf would suffice to kill a truly powerful Ruminator like Master Wan, but he'd make the man earn his victory. Plus he'd go out of his way to kill a few of the apprentices that Master Wan so doted upon. That would sting worse than any wound Hao dealt to the Ruminator himself.

"Do you wish to join the Acolytes, Brother Xiao?" Master Wan's good eye peered at him while the jade prosthetic scanned the horizon for threats.

"You have earned your right to take the Trials. You will have my blessing regardless. I promise you that." Xing Jia frowned, her eyes sharpening as she watched Hao digest Master Wan's question. To join the Acolytes was the greatest of honors. Only the best were worthy of their ranks. Those who completed the Sun Dragon Trials were exalted, granted the finest Distilled Form, the finest training, and the finest opportunities. Such honors didn't come without a price.

Bearing the Emperor's blood came with responsibilities. Service. There would be no room for ripping up the White Rivers by their tangled roots and plunging his spear through Yuchen's smug face. There would be no room for wrapping his bloodstained hands around Master Bolin's neck and throttling the life from him. There would be no room for anything but cold, grim duty: hunting sorcerers in the Dark World and flinging himself against nightmares who made the Grey Hilt seem like a mewling kitten.

"I need the Sunstruck Dragon Form," Hao said simply. He would not lie to an honored Acolyte.

"Its strength is the only thing that will free me from the White Rivers. But I don't intend on taking their oaths." Master Wan hummed, looking unsurprised.

"I thought as much. Regardless, you have done a service to Sunbeam. You have my endorsement," he said, yielding a little too easily for Hao's liking.

"As payment for your aid, I will be happy to prepare you for the Trials. Will you accept my teachings?" Hao measured the Ruminator for a moment: a mighty surety of spirit which extended beyond his paltry cultivation, the strength to tear Hao's head from his shoulders, and gold-flecked eyes which reminded him faintly of Master Bolin.

For a moment, Hao was back in a burning forest, bound to a pyre, the world blazing red and choked with black smoke which scorched his airways raw and stung his eyes and blistered his skin while everything went up in flames— I'm not in the business of wasting talent, Little Hao. I won't put you through anything you can't hope to survive. Hao shook himself free of the memories of his Wildfire Awakening, casting away the phantom sensation of burning alive as his inner flame kindled.

He looked at the Ruminator sharply, dissecting him with the critical eye only one trained by a Great Nine Elder could achieve. Warden-Errant Wan Qing was but an ant to Master Bolin, a speck of dust before a tornado. How much could he truly teach him? But then Hao looked at the subtle smile playing across the Acolyte's lips, the laugh lines around his eyes, and the adoration of Xing Jia as she regarded her master. He caught Xing Jia's attention for a moment, a silent question in his gaze, and she nodded tersely.

He made his decision. Hao dipped his head in acknowledgement to Master Wan, though he bowed shallowly enough so that he could match Master Wan's gaze.

"I will accept whatever teachings you impart on our journey, Master Wan," Hao said quietly, though the Wildfire surged.

"But I am Xiao Hao. An ally, not a servant. I will fight for your people as if they were my own family. I will do all in my power to aid our journey to the west. I will protect, but I will not be a weapon." Not again.

"And I would not ask such a thing of you. Very well, Brother Xiao, I accept your terms! As long as you fight at our side, I will share all that I can with you. Emperor willing, you shall conquer the Sun Dragon Trials!" Master Wan's eyes glimmered. He held out his wine gourd to Hao.

"But first, let us seal our new partnership with a drink!" Hao grimaced as he took the gourd, feeling the liquid slosh within. Just holding the wine gourd left him feeling as if the sun shone hotter upon his back. He took a quick swig—"Hells Below!" Hao sputtered, barely choking down the foul stuff. It was rich with qi and incredibly potent, but it left him retching. Xing Jia actually laughed, then snagged the gourd from Hao's grip to take a long drink herself. She didn't even blink.

"What sick brew is this?"

"My brothers in the Acolytes call it the Emperor's Piss!" Master Wan laughed, taking another swig. He smacked his lips.

"Ahh, that's the good stuff! Congratulations, Brother Xiao, you're one of us now! Here, have another!"... Hao suddenly regretted accepting Master Wan's offer. But he'd drink a dozen gourds of the Emperor's Piss over spending another night with the Grey Hilt haunting his dreams. So Hao drank terrible wine. He listened to Master Wan's tales. He bickered with Xing Jia as the qi-infused alcohol went to both their heads. And for the first time in years, Hao felt human.