Vindicator’s Wrath - Chapter 17

“Is what you are saying true? All this is really that helpful?” Hong Wu said with cautious optimism.

“We’ll just have to see for ourselves,” Yan swept up all the valuables back into the bag of holding, “I’ll hold onto everythin for now. Safest place for it is the bag.”

Seeing all the precious items disappear in the blink of an eye dampened Hong Wu’s spirits. ‘I can’t even read the jade slips let alone use the items. Still, I would have liked to at least look at them a little more. Forget it, this just means I need to cultivate faster!’

Yan handed Hong Wu a few spirit stones before heading off to focus on exploring the new cultivation techniques and spells. With more motivation than ever to break through, Hong Wu began furiously cultivating to reach the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. However, after another month of cultivating, Hong Wu hit a snag.

The fourth layer of Qi Condensation was unlike the second and third layers. Once a cultivator trapped their first strand of spiritual qi in their lower dantian, cultivating to the second and third layers was simply a matter of time and effort. The fourth layer of Qi Condensation was a different beast entirely. Cultivators would often hit a wall trying to break through beyond the third layer. Similar roadblocks would appear at the sixth and eighth layers of Qi Condensation as well, each harder to break through than the last. Cultivators often referred to these blockages as bottlenecks; many could cultivate up to these levels, but few would be able to pass through.

In a way one could compare this to the barrier to the first layer of Qi Condensation. The reason for the bottleneck came down to the simple fact that the impurities built up throughout a mortal life needed to be cleansed in order to make the body more suited to hold spiritual qi. It was for this same reason that the older you were, the harder it would be to breakthrough in your cultivation. Cultivation sects would almost exclusively choose youths to become disciples for this same reason. Common consensus dictated that your potential to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment began diminishing exponentially after the age of twenty.

Hong Wu had now collected thirteen strands of spiritual qi, which was decent progress considering her month of isolation and lack of reaction to pills. She was still three strands shy from officially breaking through to the fourth layer, but her progress had slowed significantly. ‘There is a way to break out of this funk, but I’d rather not.’

Since Hong Wu’s humiliation at the hands of Cang Rong, Hong Wu had not revisited the sect proper. She even forewent the cultivation resources she should have received since leaving the cave. Not collecting the pills and incense was effectively forfeiting your right to collect them, but Hong Wu had been willing to do that in order to avoid further embarrassment.

Word spread throughout the sect about the rather harsh punishment Hong Wu received. That coupled with a description of her unique physical characteristics made her stick out like a sore thumb. Hong Wu’s absence from the public eye only enhanced intrigue about the young cultivator who was so bold as to attack a fellow disciple inside of the living quarters. Plus, Cang Rong’s network of Drifting Clouds Quarter girls would definitely report back if Hong Wu showed her face, and she was not in the mood for another session of gloating.

‘It was fine to use my recuperation as an excuse in the beginning, but if I continue to hide like this then it will be the same as accepting defeat.’

Resolved to face whatever came of it, Hong Wu headed to the Ascending Clouds Pavilion. Being ready to confront her problems was one thing, but picking a fight was another. Hong Wu made a point to sidestep the Drifting Clouds Quarter. Being accused and reprimanded for causing the incident proved what side the girls who arrived at the sect with Hong Wu stood. If it were not for Lan Cixi, Hong Wu would still be locked up thanks to their complicit silence. Hong Wu did not want to get caught in another situation where she would not have any first-hand witnesses to confirm her side of the story.

Arriving at the sect proper, Hong Wu drew many expected stares. Friends’ discussions became hushed as she passed and disciples ran to report the news of her appearance. Ignoring the attention, Hong Wu briskly made her way further into the sect. Hong Wu reached the Ascending Clouds Pavilion without incident and grabbed her resources.

‘While I am here I might as well visit the Cloud District Exchange. Maybe I can still trade Hu Huan for an incense stick.’

Arriving at the Cloud District Exchange, Hong Wu quickly found Hu Huan conversing with a familiar customer. ‘Cang Rong! What is Hu Huan doing with her?’

Hong Wu’s blood began to boil. She started to feel a sense of betrayal, only to remember what Yan said about Hu Huan being a shill. ‘Anyone’s money is money. Is that it?’

Swallowing her anger, Hong Wu began to leave, but was stopped by a shrill voice. “Leaving so soon? It looks like you only just got here.”

‘She noticed me.’

Turning to face her mortal enemy, Hong Wu glared murderously at the proud, plump woman. Hu Huan looked towards Hong Wu with a wry, apologetic smile, but Hong Wu was not interested in his apologies. Truthfully, she did not even notice Hu Huan anymore. Hong Wu just continued staring daggers at Cang Rong not saying a word. People in the shop made way for the two at odds with each other, encircling them in a colosseum of people anxious for a show.

Cang Rong seemed to thrive on the attention. “So has the wretch finally found the courage to crawl out of her hovel? Done relying on that animal to support you? I swear, the both of you are laughably pathetic.”

Hong Wu continued to bore right at Cang Rong’s face wishing she could smash it with her fist. Unfazed, Cang Rong continued to hurl insults. “Why do you even bother staying in the sect? It is clear someone as base as you, both in appearance and temperament, does not belong on this mountain. The Black Mountain Sect trains immortals, not whores. Go back to your whorehouse, that is, if they’ll even take back someone as ugly as you.”

Hong Wu did not react to a single thing Cang Rong said. “What is it?” Cang Rong quipped, “Have you gone dumb as well as ugly?”

Hong Wu closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then returned her frigid gaze to Cong Rong and spat two words, “Fight me.”

The crowd started getting excited. This was what they were waiting for, a challenge. Everyone turned to Cang Rong eager to hear her response. Cang Rong replied to Hong Wu by laughing in her face, “Why would I ever bother to fight someone as pathetic as you?”

For the first time Hong Wu’s expression changed from her dark frown to a self-satisfied sneer, “Coward.”

Cang Rong’s cool demeanor collapsed at that. “What? Last time didn’t teach you? You want to get locked up for good this time?”

“Not here, the Roaring Tigers Arena.”

Truth was, the last time they fought had made Cang Rong cautious of battling again. However, to let on that she felt this way would be a huge loss of face. Regaining her composure Cang Rong quickly recovered with another comeback. “As if! You need to have at least a hundred merit points or something of equal value to bet to issue a challenge, sect rules. Old Sun won’t even let you take any jobs from the sect. How could you possibly afford to challenge me? You’re just a poor street rat they grabbed out of the slums of Heishan City!”

Cang Rong’s smug look returned to her face, sure of her victory. Hong Wu simply reached into her robe and pulled out two gray spirit stones. People that recognized the stones in the audience let out gasps of shock. Spirit stones were not something a normal Qi Condensation cultivator would have, let alone two. Cang Rong seemed confused by the rocks in Hong Wu’s hands, but judging by the reaction from the crowd the rocks did hold quite a bit of value. Hong Wu backed Cang Rong into a corner even further with her next words. “Ready to fight fair and square this time, or are you going to show everyone here your true colors and try to worm your way out of any real consequences you fat, greased pig?”

Dem some fightin words.

As always, thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments.