David

By the time Daoist Liang had herded David and his roommates - with the exception of Qitai, out of the house, the sun was low in the sky.

The overlooking view of Tianbei Valley from the little path that wound around Earth Peak was something David found incredible. To the south was a sleepy village that slowly became a city the further he cast his eye - one that loved flowers and vines and towers and bells. To the south and east was Sky Peak, an open volcano that belched and spit smoke into the air. And to the north and east was Sword Peak, piercing the clouds, populated with lonely pines and craggy rocks.

A single road slipped its way from the south and west into Tianbei Valley, from the city of Bei'an. This was the Skybound Path. It curved around the inside of the valley, visiting the entrances of Earth Peak and Sword Peak, before finishing its journey at the Skyforge.

At every hour of the day, disciples walked the Skybound Path in the black robes of the Ascending Sky in small groups. Up until this point, the most crowded the Path had been was on the night of the Lantern Lighting - where the residents of Tianbei partied on their front lawns all along the path, handing out mooncakes and well wishes to their neighbors.

But that was a local event - and while David estimated the valley held no less than half a million people from a cursory glance, from one end to another, it was hundreds of blocks long. Tonight, visitors streamed into Tianbei from the Skybound Path by the thousands.

"You said the auction was being held at the Sword Platform, right?" David clarified with Daoist Liang, who was leading them down the road towards the Skybound Path to join the river of bodies. There were disciples of many sects, delegations of servants and advisors hefting palanquins riden by undoubtedly important people, and even the occasional cultivator who flew overhead.

Daoist Liang nodded.

"How is it going to fit everyone?"

Daoist Liang looked at him, perplexed. David pointed at the people at the mouth of Tianbei Valley.

"Oh, not all of them are going to be at the Sword Platform," she said. "It's only open to the disciples of the sect, and anyone with an invitation. A handful are sent out to the Nine Great Sects, and a few to many other smaller ones. The cultivators who represent them are going to be invited in, and whoever they brought along will bring business to our city."

"But that still doesn't account for how many people there are," said Alice. The endless stream of people showed no sign of thinning.

"The grand auction has been a part of Tianbei's culture since the Ascending Sky was just a newly formed sect, trying to raise money," explained Daoist Li. "We've always had many excellent disciples who would bring treasures home from faraway lands, and our city and reputation has grown to match our achievements. Since time immemorial, this day's been designated as the day that auctions are held in Tianbei. There's at least a hundred auctions being held in the city tonight."

She pointed at the split in the road where David and Alice had encountered the huge welcome banner planted by the admissions office. It was gone now, replaced with an even larger one which was facing the wrong way for David to read. It was several stories high and even wider. "You see that crossroad? People are headed either north towards the sect or south towards the city."

There was a huge pileup at that particular spot on the road but, now that Liang had pointed it out, it was clear that the vast majority of people were headed south into the city. The cultivators headed towards Sword Peak came in three varieties - lone cultivators, large parties wearing sect robes of the same color, and servants carrying palanquins. Groups gave one another a wide berth.

From their vantage point, David watched these groups stop and greet others. In many cases, the disciples of various sects exchanged bows and well wishes. In others, weapons were drawn. No one seemed to care that they were stopping traffic - and those who knew the city took side streets to pass them by.

"As you can see, this is as much of a social gathering for cultivators of note and their sects as it is an auction,” said Liang.

“Why would anyone bother going to the smaller auctions, then?” asked Feiyan. “Everyone important seems to be headed north. Without counting those who haven’t arrived yet or have already gone inside, I can see the bottle green robes of the Rolling Clouds and the red silks of Song Mountain.”

“You can find some fantastic treasures at many of the auctions which are more the speed of outer and inner disciples," said Liang. "Of course the really special stuff will be at the Sword Platform, but you'll find yourself bidding against the war chests of entire sects. It's also a way for us to sell certain cultivation supplies to those sects without having to advertise."

David and Alice exchanged glances, something that Liang caught.

"If there's something you really, really want, I can lend you some money," she said, smiling. "We tend to make a lot of it - and it tends to sit around. I've spent a lot of time doing my postings for the sect, and I have a lot saved up. When the two of you become inner disciples, you'll do the same."

"You'll really do that?" asked David.

"Sure I will," said Liang. "But I do expect it back in the next century," she said. "That's longer than I've been alive, so I think it's reasonable for you to have made it back in that time." She frowned. "I could have probably gotten the Weis to lend you money as well, if they weren't going to a different auction."

David was quite glad that Li had mentioned the woman to them - they probably wouldn't have even known the auction was happening otherwise.

"So why aren't we also headed to auctions we can afford?" asked Kanhu.

"No one's stopping you," said Liang. "That banner-" She pointed at the crossroads again. "Is the official directory of the auctions happening in the city tonight. Anything listed there will gladly welcome a member of our sect."

The group had nearly finished their descent of Earth Peak in full, and was stepping onto the Skybound Path. They came to a halt at the entrance to Earth Peak. Kanhu still looked torn on where to go.

"You should go to one that interests you," advised Liang. "The auctions happen every year, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to participate in, or at least spectate, the grand auction. The reason I'm going to the big one is because some of my plants are being sold - and I want to see how much my work is worth to the world."

“I think I will, then. I have a bit to spend and I’d like to make the most of it,” decided Kanhu. “Good luck finding whatever you’re looking for,” he said to David and Alice and Feiyan. “And I hope your plants make you many taels,” he said to Liang, before he melted away into the crowds headed into the city.

“He’s quite nice, for someone from Minghai,” said Liang, after Kanhu was out of earshot.

“What’s wrong with Minghai? It’s part of the Middle Continent as well,” said Feiyan, who often listed new and interesting things she found wrong with Minghai every time she spoke with Kanhu.

Liang considered the question with a small smile as the four turned left, and up the Skybound Path. Most of those on the path were headed in the opposite direction, wearing black robes. They were disciples from the Ascending Sky who lived on Sword Peak or Sky Peak.

“Not much,” admitted Liang. “The weather is nice and the food is great. But it is a bit of a lawless city, if you can call a collection of a hundred islands a city.”

“I thought we had an emperor,” said Alice, looking directly at Feiyan.

“There are a handful of cities that are allegedly autonomous,” said Feiyan, with a sneer. “What sort of backwater did you come from, anyway?”

“Either by law or by fact, the Great Sects are in control of their cities. It is often said that each dynasty is a reaction to the previous one. The Dun’s policies were heavily controlling towards the cities, so the Zhu’s policies had to be more lax.”

“Too lax,” said Feiyan. “The Sects make very many demands while paying very few taxes. And the Still Waters pay the least, and recruit nearly anyone who’s awoken.”

“If it weren’t for the Still Waters recruitment, there would be even more pirates than there already are,” said Liang. Her deep frown told David that she’d only voiced the most mild of her disagreements.

Feiyan balled her fists together and opened her mouth to disagree vehemently, but she was cut off by a voice from behind them.

“Unfortunately, it does mean that the sect, rather than the city, is full of pirates.”

It was one that David recognized.

David and Alice turned around, delighted. In front of them was a classically handsome man who looked a few years older than David.

The sword which the man clutched mid-scabbard had been found in a cave by the city of Jiangxi when the man was young - it had been an exciting story.

The hairpiece he wore was the deepest green, something sentimental - it had been his mother’s favorite. She’d passed nearly forty years ago but he’d confessed to them that he still missed her.

His pale yellow robes were a gift from his elders when he’d become an inner disciple, for services done on behalf of his sect - a secret that had lasted all of fifteen minutes on the road to Dongjing.

Liang did not turn around - instead, she stopped in the road and began clapping softly. It was a sarcastic, aggressive clap. When Liang spoke, her voice came out in a deadly whisper.

“You have some nerve, showing your face in Tianbei. Three decades of avoiding me must have given you new courage, Chan Changshou. Does Chan Changshou no longer fear this humble daoist?”

“I’ve missed you, Du-du,” he said, solemnly, to the back of her head. He waved at David and Alice, winking. “It seems like a lifetime ago when we were all young, watching the Sword Dialogue from that little teahouse in Xijing as forgettable outer disciples in our respective sects.”

“Do not call me that,” said Daoist Liang, furious. She stopped clapping and finally turned around. Her disdain almost had a physical presence.

“Why didn’t you come to Wenjun’s funeral, Du-du? We thought you’d actually died in the caves, until we heard news of you forming your core and being promoted.” Chan’s voice was still sad and somber, but his eyes were too bright with humor - and a touch of anger.

“Is that a guilty conscience, for leaving me behind? Master Feng was ever so displeased - the first collaborative mission we’ve had with the Clear Skies in four thousand years, failed.”

“For what it’s worth, I apologize for any loss of opportunity you may have incurred in that mess,” said Chan. He did actually look sorry, too. “I do wish Honored Master Feng was a more reasonable-”

“Is that your idea of an apology, Chan Changshou? Inserting yourself into my conversation in my home without announcement, then bad mouthing my Peak Master?” Liang sounded amused, but her ramrod straight back and the way her jaw clenched proved otherwise.

“That’s the great thing about apologies.” Chan had realized that conflict was inevitable at this point. “They’re offered, but there’s no requirement to accept them.” He smiled, too charming and clever to do anything but enrage Daoist Liang. “In a way, doesn’t that make an apology more valuable than a gift?”

“You must forgive me for being impolite, then, Chan Changshou.”

As Daoist Liang continued to speak, her words rose in volume with her Song.

“I’ve prepared nothing quite so precious as an apology for you today. But I do have a gift - and I’ll be quite offended if you don’t accept it.”

The rhythm of her speech and her Song were now perfectly synchronized.

“I will take nine breaths by the time I’ve finished, you will have left Tianbei, on account of our old friendship.”

Chan closed his eyes - David could hear the sound of his Song as well - it was different from what he remembered. Chan had established his foundations since they’d last spoken. David watched as Daoist Liang’s shoulders rose and fell, again and again, until he counted nine.

“I see you’ve made your decision,” she said.

Liang raised an open palm.

“Qing,” Chan confirmed.

Liang defied gravity.