Felix waited for Cixi until he noticed her eyes had glazed over in thought one more. He examined her for a moment longer and then shook his head.

The lessons she has learned seem quite different from the Sect. Is it a cultural difference between the Kingdom compared to here? Maybe our Sect is the weird one.

“Disciples, listen!” Said Elder Akeno, his voice seemingly everywhere. “Go to the medical Pavilion. Now.”

A little abrupt, is he not? A habit of the powerful I suppose.

Felix helped Cixi to her feet even as other disciples streamed toward the Medicine Pavilion. Many ran with supernatural speed or performed movement techniques that left strange phenomena in their wake. Hurrying to join them, Felix employed [Shifting Sand]. After traveling mere meters, he looked back to find the trio falling behind.

That feels like my fault. A man should bear his burdens.

Dropping completed to a mundane walking speed, he allowed the boys to catch up. Lungs pumping and face red they ran past him. He shook his head and with minimum effort caught up.

Well, this is a nice example of the effects of cultivation. …Am I really basking in out running ten year old? Though it does feel good.

A few turns later they found Cixi waiting for them. She gave the trio a considering look but joined them. Their little group had fallen far behind others from the lesson and they could only make out some of the slower disciples far ahead. Occasionally disciples from the farther reaches of the sect would appear to soon leave them behind. Eventually, they reached the Medicine Pavilion and at the back of a still growing crowd. Felix gave the gasping boys a look of pity and then turned to evaluate the scene.

Above the medicine building itself, six experts stood in the air and talked amongst themselves. They didn’t even spare a glance at the crowd below. Many of the disciples gave the six nervous or considering looks.

A little weird to have experts here with no elders nearby. More importantly, was I just too distracted on that first morning, or does the sect really have this many disciples? I can’t seem to find Xue. It's not like she doesn’t stand out in a crowd. Ugh, I bet she is doing that invisible thing. Oh, and there is the weirdo with the bathtub. Wait, what are the Onooka doing here?

Looking to his right, he observed the small crowd of masked and cloaked individuals. As usual, they stood in silence through their hands blurred in rapid communication. The two-meter gap that the Thousand Seasons disciples kept made the small group stand out like a sore thumb. The cause became evident when some of the nearer disciples sent the cloaked looks of obvious distrust. Then the shortest Onooka Clansman seemed to spot Felix and sent him a cheery wave.

Ah shit.

Felix almost flinched at the weight of looks the fell upon him. Forcing a smile on his face, he returned the wave.

I am not going to be intimidated. Though alienating myself doesn’t seem like a great plan. Most other disciples don’t seem to care anyway.

Cixi tugged at his sleeve and Felix gave her a confused looked. She pointed above the medicine hall.

And double shit.

At least a hundred core level cultivators or above filled the space. The roof of the medicine building itself had been taken over by the Thousand Season Elders, with their feet somehow finding purchase on steep tiling after the building’s spires were all taken. On the centermost spire, the hunched figure of Elder Akeno surveyed the crowd. The guest elders also slowly looked down at the disciples below.

Those are not kind looks. I can feel part of me panicking. What thoughts do such men have when they see lower level cultivators? How many cultivators’ lives have they taken? Perhaps it would be better if I just look toward my elders so as not to offend someone with eye contact or some other such bullshit. Wait, where is Elder Rong?

“Well, Elder Akeno.” Came a deep baritone.

The speaker lounged on his side as he floated and gave Elder Akeno a lazy glance. Felix squinted and could make out the furry elephant symbol of the Mammoth Sect on the man’s chest. The man twirled a still steaming leg of some beast between his corpulent fingers before bringing the haunch to his mouth. Many of the disciples and even a few of the guests flinched as the Mammoth Elder’s mouth extended impossible wide and then crunch down, cleaving through meat and bone.

Slurping and snapping sound filled the area as he continued “Excuse my manners. I have a terrible habit of talking with my mouth full.”

The Mammoth Elder opened his mouth grotesquely wide once again and stuffed the rest of the limb in. Then without even chewing, he swallowed it all down.

“Much better. Now as I was saying, please don’t wait on us Akeno. I, Elder Shan of the Mammoth Sect look forward to your show of commitment.”

Felix tore his eyes away from the Mammoth Elder Shan to see agreeing nods from many of the guests. Though a few gave the Mammoth Sect Elder disgusted looks. Elder Shan ignored them as he met Elder Akeno’s gaze, absently pulling out another hunch of meat from his interspatial ring.

“He has a point Brother Akeno.” Said a mustache man with the symbol of the Clear Sky sect on his chest. “We have all agreed to follow you on this new path, and even given you the helm as a more permanent system can be put in place. A public stance to your own disciples would reassure many.”

Elder Akeno’s eye's slid glacially slow from now eating Elder Shan to meet the Clear Sky Elder's eyes. Once again, a silent staring contest ensued.

What the fuck is going on? I can’t tell if they are communicating with a technique or simply playing some kind of gaze based chicken. There must be some political shenanigans going on… Still, isn’t it ballsy to offend someone in their home base? Ugh, why can’t people I just read people's power levels or some other nonsense? I can’t even tell if they are speaking from personal or political power.

Then Elder Akeno began to laugh. It was a rasping throaty sound that one would expect from an old mortal. The mammoth Elder began to chew faster, and the Clear Sky Elder’s mustache began to twitch. Felix absently noted how one of the guests with a scaled spear on his chest seemed to be trying hard to be overlooked that he stood out. A few guests lost comportment and the strength of their cultivation pressed out. Many of the weaker disciples flinched and chu nearly collapsed. That stopped as Elder’s Akeno laugh cut off and those guests found themselves crushed under his killing intent.

“Well, fine then.” Said Elder Akeno, giving those guests one last glare. “I was going to make this short, but I see you all want a bit more emotion. No half measures, right?”

He turned his eyes on the crowd below, his weathered face becoming solemn.

“Disciples.” Said Elder Akeno. “The Empire and the Kingdom have decided that the Central region is theirs. Putting aside their millennium old rivalry, they made plans to keep us in check while ravaging the area for resources.”

The still recovering crowd looked to him and Akeno nodded.

“Yes, you heard me right and they likely would have succeeded if not for two of your fellow disciples. Mere days ago, one of our Onooka allies was fleeing an attack force of the Empire when they happened upon Disciple Xue and Felix.”

Felix felt the weight of eyes upon him once more and then time couldn’t resist slightly wincing.

Xue, I need an invisible technique too.

“A day’s journey away from our very sect, those empire bastards had the audacity to exterminate your fellow disciples. Luckily those of the Thousand Season are not easy prey and from their struggles, we were able to stop their plan.”

Elder Akeno looked down at the crowd and frowned. The crowd below was clearly angry but also nervous.

What does he expect? This conflict is so large and Xue is the only one that has reached the core level.

Elder Akeno slowly began to rise off the roof as his back unbent. The Thousand Season Elders gave mixed expressions as the back cracked and popped until it was ramrod straight.

“What is the one lesson I taught you all! That will is the only true virtue of a cultivator! Will to power. Will to deny power. Yet I see you all standing there unnerved. Your elders were nearly killed. Your fellow disciples were almost silenced. Your very future of immortality was endangered!”

Well of course not, but- Thought Felix but then he looked around. His fellow disciples were taking this very seriously.

“No true cultivator can stand that. The powers of the central region have gathered here today to stand together under a united Martial Alliance. With us as the guiding force. Yet they doubt our commitment. Should they?! Will we let the Empire take those that matter to us? No, we send them to the grave! Will we let those bastards of the kingdom use us as a stepping stone? No, they shall be ours!”

Elder Akeno drew his sword and stabbed it toward the sky. Chipped and scratched, it seemed to stand in defiance of all.

“For we are the Thousand Season Sect!” Screamed Elder Akeno

“And we Don’t abandon our own!” Roared the disciples.

Felix flushed as he realized that he had yelled along with them. A mad conviction pumping through his veins. Even the Onooka clansmen seemed excited though they did not make a noise.

Elder Akeno cast a feral grin at the roaring crowd and turned to face the guests who stood staring down at the spectacle.

“Well, allies?” Said Elder Akeno, his voice still traveling to every ear. “Our disciples, from core cultivation all the way down to essence gathering, have made a commitment. Now I ask you to show me yours.”

Felix watched the myriad emotions of the gathered experts become conflicted and his eyes opened wide.

Was that a trap of pride? Ugh, what is this craziness! I thought I was finally obtaining a grasp over my own fate.

The guest elders floated stunned before they voiced their own commitment. Then many flew down to the entrance of the sect but a good portion, the Mammoth Elder and Clear sky sect included, flew back up toward the Hall of Gathering. The disciples boiled like the ocean in a storm, many still too overwhelmed with fervor to know how to react. Eventually, excited discussion burst out and the tension eased. Felix watched this for a bit and then made his goodbyes. He made his way down a path and looked around him.

“Xue, could you please come out?” Said Felix.

She faded into existence on his right and gave him her usually cold expression.

“How did you know I was here.” Said Xue.

“I guessed.” Said Felix.

“What?” Said Xue.

“I said I guessed. It was just a hunch really. I was banking on you showing yourself and you did.”

“Well, I suppose I fell right into that, didn't I.” Said Xue. “Perhaps I should be cross with you but that is a less deadly way to learn to be careful of being misled by an opponent’s words. I will have to keep a closer eye on you.”

Felix nodded absently.

“Xue, what do you make of that?” Said Felix.

“What? Shouldn’t that be obvious? There will be war. I don’t believe it could be any plainer than that.” Said Xue.

“First of all, war is never simple and that is not what I mean.” Said Felix.

“I know.” Said Xue. “But please be specific.

“I am trying it’s just- How can we ever hope to deal in a conflict between those of much greater strength. Even you are outclassed, and I am certainly but a leaf in the wind. I thought I had taken the initiative in confiding in you. Sure, I’ve made mistakes but had made headway in controlling my own future. Yet then a damn war occurs! Is fate laughing at me? Is the plot of my life just going to pull the carpet out from under me as soon as I am going to accomplish something?”

She watched him and then nodded.

“I want to smack you.” Said Xue.

“I-uh, what?” Said Felix, taking a few steps away. “Why are all the women I meet so violent?”

“That is just that nature of most people in the cultivator world from my experience. Though perhaps you are interacting with more women than men. Regardless, my point is that something greater than yourself uprooting you out of the blue is the nature of our world and you’ve just experienced it. Though you will more often than not be pitted against those too much stronger than you. Still, there is a simple solution to such an encounter that even the dullest can understand. Gain the strength to ensure you are not the one whose life is toyed with.”

Felix grimaced.

“True, I can gain strength and perhaps I am overthinking it,” Said Felix. “Still, that is something I can do about it in the future. What am I to do now? It is all well and good to simply say ‘get stronger’ but will rugged determination keep those I care about from being squashed like bugs. What good will all my power bring me if by the time I achieve it, all I love and care about in this world is gone? Shall I simply achieve immortality, strike down my enemies, and then stand vigil for all time over the graves of my loved ones.”

She did smack him. Though it was so soft that it was only the contact that surprised him.

“Felix, you can’t let yourself be lost in what ifs. Sure, despite our best efforts we can fail anyway. Yet only in striving for something can we actually make it a real likelihood.”

He looked down at his hand, clenching and unclenching it.

She’s right. I need to push my limit. I may be weak now but if I want to go beyond that, I need to make a commitment.

She tapped his shoulder and Felix looked up from his contemplation. They had reached an open area on one of the many small cliffs dotting the mountain. A large boulder stood embedded in the bottom of the cliff.

“What am I supposed to be looking at?” Said Felix. “The boulder?”

“Well, sort of.” Said Xue. “You did say you wanted an area to train.”

She walked up and Felix’s eyes widened as she lifted it with a single hand. A cave of darkness was laid bare before him. Then a wave of qi washed over him that he could feel even with his weak senses.

My god, I am not even meditating and I can sense that.

“What do you think of the immortal caves of the Sect, Felix? They are originally only meant for Core disciples such as myself, but I discussed it with Elder Shen and they’ve made an exception. It won’t be as useful for body cultivation but there should be sufficient supplies in there for that.”

He stared at the darkness and felt a tear come to his eyes.

“Thank you, Xue.” Said Felix and walked in without another word. Then the ground shook and he turned to find the boulder back in place.

Wait! How do I get back outside?

Grunk stood on the cliff's ridge and watched the forest fill out the land below. Even from his vantage point, all he saw on the horizon was green and a line of black pointed in his direction. The most disturbing fact was that the line was moving closer.

“Truly I find myself in quite the predicament.” Said Grunk to himself as his fingers clasped a worn dictionary. “Pursued by the ignorant until I was forced into this forest. Now my own ignorance has left me vulnerable before this new threat.”

He absently touched the bloody gauze covering his chest and winced.

These wounds really are taking a while to heal. Something was weird about that old codger’s attack.

He stared at the slowly moving column, trying to make sense of what he is seeing.

Wait, are those people? Is this what one would call an army? It is rather larger than I imagined it would be. I need better books. I was thinking fifty people from the definition. Ahh, once again I experience the transition of ignorance to knowledge.

“Halt!” rang out a voice. Grunk looked up to see a man descending from the sky dressed in black with a red clenched fist on his chest. “How dare you spy on the troops. Surrender now to the justice of the empire!”

Grunk turned to flee but found a similarly dressed man approaching from the other direction. Then the pressure of their cultivation washed over him.

Oh, if they are this strong, then I do not have a chance of escape. Unfortunate. Perhaps this is when one would use diplomacy?

Golden chains appeared from both men’s hands and before Grunk could react his limbs would bound. The first man landed right in front of him and looked him over.

“Boy, who told you that we would be here? What gave you the gall to think you could spy on us and not be spotted.” Said the first man

I had no orders or required braver just to look from a clifftop. These men don’t appear like they will be reasonable to the truth, however. People are such weird creatures.

“Appears we have an imbecile on our hands.” Continued the first man. Grunk flinched at the word ‘imbecile’.

“He doesn’t have the look of any of the Sects that should be nearby.” Said the second. “and his cultivation feels strange.”

“You’re right? I think he is using a mind cultivation technique. You wouldn’t recognize it brother. I’ve only seen it from cultivators of that island.” Said the first man. He reached out a hand and casually grabbed Grunk by the face, turning his face one way and the other. “An ugly blighter, aren’t you?”

“Xian,” Said the second man. “What should we do with him? If we can’t confirm he is a spy, then we have to fill out potential civilian witness paperwork. You know how High Justiciar Zactus is like. He’ll want us to do it all in triplicate.”

Xian let go of Grunk, wiping his hand off on his rob.

“You are right. Of course, as true justiciars, it is our duty to obey the law. However, we find ourselves in extraordinary times. Wasting time could potentially endanger the campaign and what time is more valuable than a justiciar’s?”

I see there are more people who mistreat others on a whim. Truly this world is rotten.

“Halt!” Said a voice that filled the sky.

Why do these people love that word? Can’t they pick a more interesting one like collywobbles or snickersnee?

He looked up to see another figure descending. This man was dressed in a robe that was like the first two but with gold filigree.

Grunk glanced toward Xian to see the man holding a fist to his chest as he stared at the man. There was a lot of sweat on his forehead.

Interesting.

“High Justicar Zactus,” Said Justicar Xian. “I thought you had gone to check on our forward base?”

“I have found that being where I am not expected is often where I am needed.” Said Zactus, slowly looking the scene over. His eyes narrowed. “It has also allowed me to surprise those who would break the law in my absences. Now, I asked you Justicar Xian, what is happening here?”

“They were considering whether to dispose of me as I was ‘wasting the valuable time of a servant of the empire’.” Said Grunk.

Xian gave him a look of rage while the other man sighed.

“Is. That. So?” Said Zactus.

“High Justiciar, please.” Said Justiciar Xian. “This is part of the campaign. According to article 557, sect 34, we have the right enact extreme measures in cases of-

“Justiciar Xian. I gave you my trust and this is how you repay me?” Said Zactus quietly. Xian appeared to shrink. “I want you two to report to tent 75584-8 to await punishment. As it stands, you will both be punished according to article 98, section 1-b. Furthermore, you will write a thousand-page report on the purpose of a Justiciar in wartime and the appropriate handling of noncombatant prisoners. I expect references to the appropriate legal code. Serve well and you can be redeemed as article 5 dictates. However-”

Xian suddenly appeared inches from Xian and Grunk’s eyes shifted to the man’s now glowing index finger.

“-if I find you flaunting the order of the empire because you ‘can’t be bothered with it’, I will deal with you personally.”

Fear and shame covered the two men's faces and they both bowed low. Then they blurred and disappeared in the direction of the column. Grunk watched them go until he heard a tired sigh from Zactus.

“So boy, what are you doing here? You are certainly not a spy, at least not a non-disposable one. State your business before I decide you are refusing an investigation.”

Grunk didn’t respond at first, still staring towards the column in the distance.

“Sir, why do men like that exist?” Said Grunk.

Zactus blinked and then stared at the boy.

“Because boy,” Said Zactus. “They have not truly embraced those virtues that make us humans. That elevates us to something greater. Through which we make the world something better. Law, order, and justice.

“Law, order, and justice. I like that” Said Grunk. He turned to look Zactus in the eye. “Can I learn these things?”