Chapter 330 - Catch up

In the small, artificial cave deep in the Fuha swamps, Yuzu finally relaxed. The black orb flecked with gold lay cradled in her crossed legs as she lay backward on the bare stone floor with a sigh.

Her long black hair splayed outward around her, glittering gold strands reflected within her pupils as she stared up at the candle-lit ceiling.

The tapestry of Fate that had been twisted and warped by the Clockwork God’s ritual had relaxed and calmed. The white threads of the Knowledge domain retreated into the aether.

It was over.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, feeling the strain in her soul from the night’s exertion. Her eyelids felt heavy, the tips of her fingers ached. She wanted nothing more at that moment but to sleep and rest.

However…

“A journey once taken, two ships once united. By storm and tempest, two ships thus divided,” A familiar scholarly voice floated up from the lodestone through a black string, “Though seas and skies cleared and calmed, my heart remained in turmoil.”

“I have been searching for you ever since that storm. By chance or design we meet again, White Maiden.”

The gaunt scholar with sunken cheeks, now fleshy and whole, knelt in prayer before the small stone shrine in the depths of the Reza mausoleum. He held in his possession Cheen’s lodestone, a link that Yuzu had made to ensure that her connection to the Walled City remained alive.

His appearance was serendipitous, and somewhat unexpected. The last time Yuzu had seen him was in the Verdant Wild, the divine kingdom of the God of Life. Yuzu and Li Ru had worked together to prevent the Prince Deka’s resurrection, but then had been separated as Yuzu fell into the bottom of the white world.

The Walled City was far away from the solitary peak in the Yonge Mountains where Li Ru resided. Yuzu had been initially surprised to see his string appear in the tapestry as she manipulated the events, but quickly understood the connection that led him to come.

At length, Yuzu responded to Li Ru.

“It is good to see you again, Uncle.” She replied politely, addressing Li Ru with an appropriate honorific.

“Hearing your voice, my anxious heart is at peace. Are you well?”

“I am.” Yuzu replied, “I apologize for my disappearance. Things have been… complicated.”

She paused, wondering if she should elaborate. She wondered if she should let Li Ru know she would be returning to Kumin. Though she wasn’t sure how she would return to the province, the conditions had been fulfilled. Char Char had the Sun God’s amulet and was currently safely away from Noga’s military and other forces. As such, Yuzu had fulfilled her side of the deal that she had made with the God of Pre-Eminent Wisdom.

Before long, Renshu would certainly reach out to her and arrange the exchange. She’d get Char Char to deliver to amulet to him, and he would secretly whisk her back to Noga City.

I’ll be able to leave the Exalted world. Her heart fluttered a bit as she realized how close she was to her goal. No more stress, no more danger. No more ancient gods or blood rituals.

No more conversations with immortal Angels of Death.

“I imagine so. Well, it is good that you have laid low, after your actions.” Li Ru chuckled, “Though you lied to me, you said the God of Life wouldn’t die, but He perished that day.”

Yuzu paused, thinking back to their time in the Verdant Wild, when she had stopped Deka’s resurrection and infused Medusa with His sarira. Yuzu had confidently stated that Deka wouldn’t die that day, but her interpretation of the strings had been wrong. His soul was too corrupt to save, but his power— and the Fate of his kingdom— was able to be preserved.

“It wasn’t my intention, but also I didn’t completely go back on my words.” Yuzu replied, “His power lives on.”

Yuzu clutched the small pouch which held the sarira which had not yet been bestowed to the God of Life’s new heir. If Yuzu left the Exalted world, how would she give them back to Lyssa?

At the time, Yuzu had secretly conceived of a grand plan of helping Lyssa re-establish the Domain of Life and bring back life to the Fuha Wasteland. The question of Lyssa’s fate after the events in Noga City had gnawed quietly at the back of Yuzu’s mind throughout her experiences in Fuha for the past few months.

I’ll figure it out later… She muttered inwardly.

“Yes, you infused His power into that Fuha woman.” Li Ru said, “I was limited in my ability to help, but she escaped the province, though just barely.”

“Where is she now?” Yuzu asked.

“She disappeared once she crossed the border.” Li Ru said, “No sight nor sound of her has been heard since.

“On this topic, I have been meaning to ask you.” Li Ru stroked his chin, thoughtfully, “On that day, was it you who was responsible for the sabotage in Lord Noga’s cathedral?”

Yuzu chose her words carefully, “What sabotage are you referring to?”

“I seem to recall that you were boasting about taking a middle path, one which supported the God of Life, while saving the lives of the innocents.” The scholar held back a grin, his eyes twinkling with curiousity, “On that day, an Exalted infiltrated into the depths of the Cathedral. Despite the heavy security measures set up, that Exalted managed to skillfully avoid every alarm and guard on his way to the core of the building and destroyed it.

“That core was the source of power for the ancient spire. Losing it was a huge blow to Nico. To add insult to injury, the saboteur then went directly to the dungeons within a separate part of the cathedral and freed a captive monk who facilitated their escape.”

Li Ru paused, waiting for Yuzu’s response.

“Nico…?” Yuzu frowned, wondering about the name. She was fairly sure Li Ru was referring to Lord Noga, though thinking about it she had never heard of Lord Noga’s first name before. “I wasn’t aware you were on a first name basis with Lord Noga,”

“Ah. Yes, feel free to use it if you meet him, he prefers it.” Li Ru said casually.

“So then, that ancient spire is broken? Is that the same ancient spire that you said was leeching the energy from the land?” Yuzu brought the conversation back on track, “That sounds quite serious.”

“Hmm. It appears so. The long term effects have yet to be seen, but it appears that it is no longer functioning.” Li Ru said, “Nico came to me shortly after, asking if I had any knowledge of the event. To which I assured him I had none.”

“From what I understand, he has suspicions of the White Maiden’s involvement, but no proof.” Li Ru said, “I would say he is very, very keen to meet you.”

So, I was actually caught? Yuzu thought, amused. Indeed, her final action in Noga was an act of sabotage against her “own” lord.

The saboteur was a large man named Goro, the leader of the Red Lion Security Company. The opportunity had come through Firuzeh, who had prayed to the White Maiden for support. In the chaos of the God of Life’s resurrection Yuzu had assisted Goro in infiltrating into the depths of the Cathedral. As for his escape, Yuzu had led Goro to Ming Ru, the Heaven’s Gate monk who could travel through the spirit plane.

Yuzu frowned, “So Lord Noga sent you today.”

“He sent for me. We are old acquaintances, but I do not call him Master.” Li Ru clarified, “Nico knew that I was searching for you, though he only knows that I have conversed with the White Maiden. I came the moment he informed me of your involvement here.”

So my interference with Lord Noga’s forces resulted in the information reaching him… The epiphany comforted Yuzu, who had trusted her gut around involving herself with the military’s operation. Though she had aspired to save as many people as possible from the cultists, Yuzu had been on the fence on whether it was worth revealing her presence to Noga.

Now she had confirmed that Noga suspected her involvement in the sabotage of his cathedral, despite how careful she had been.

Well, that’s an issue for later… Or perhaps not at all, if I can ‘disappear’ from the Exalted world. She frowned, deciding not to dwell on the thought.

“Upon arriving, I found the situation dire and in need of my intervention.” Li Ru said, “So here I am.”

It was strange, her sitting in a cave, Li Ru standing before ‘her’ shrine, the two of them conversing with a thousand kilometres between them. They were speaking so casually as they caught up on past events, even though the situation had been so violent and dire but a few moments ago.

He didn’t tell Noga of my involvement. He really seems like he’s being sincerely honest with me, that he’s been worried about my well-being. Yuzu realized. It was strange, talking to this man who didn’t seem to have any ulterior motive in helping her.

Even back then in the forest, he didn’t press me to support either Noga or Deka. He seemed to only care that I made the decision for myself.

“I should thank you then, for helping with the Clockwork God.“ She said gratefully, “You wrapped things up so quickly and effortlessly.”

“In the Exalted world, it’s a necessity.” Li Ru said, “Were I to take my time, that god may have countered me. If we were to meet again my means may not be so effective. You should also remember that, if you ever are unlucky enough to cross that god again.”

“I will, and I understand.” Yuzu said. She hesitated a moment, weighing a question that was on her mind. “Forgive me for asking this, then… But did you have to kill the guru-chi and their disciples?”

Though she had saved many lives, she had been unable to save them. The best she could do was save the fox oji and Firuzeh, and even that had barely been managed with Char Char’s help.

It was an unfair question to Li Ru. After all, Yuzu herself couldn’t find a way to free their Fate from the Clockwork God.

But still, she wanted to know.

Li Ru’s lips tensed as he didn’t respond immediately.

She saw regret and sadness in his eyes, a deep emotion with meaning beyond the current actions and circumstances. Almost immediately she regretted asking the question.

After some time he nodded, saying softly, “The scythe that I wield can reap but not gather. Were it Skell in place of me, perhaps they could have been saved. But their souls had already been severed by that god’s touch, I could only send them to the aether.”

A rueful smile curved his lips as he shook his head, lowering his gaze.

“White Maiden, you are cruel.” He chuckled softly, “Not even giving me the illusion that my hand was forced.”

“I didn’t mean to be.” Yuzu said.

“From your question, I can gather that you intended the guru-chi saved by my hand.” He replied lowly, opening his palms to the sky, “But instead these hands ended them.”

“You did what you could.” Yuzu replied, trying to console him. “I also couldn’t find a way to save them. I didn’t mean to sound like I was accusing you.”

An Angel of Death, guilty about killing? Yuzu thought quietly to herself, genuinely surprised by the reaction.

“Let us not talk of it… White Maiden, I am glad to see that you are in good health.” Li Ru said, “I have one last thing I must say before we part today. As I was your steward in the Verdant Wild, it was also my duty to see to your safe return.”

“It’s not your fault.” Yuzu said. She had fallen into the white world due to exerting herself too hard, it didn’t have anything to do with Li Ru.

“Still, I would make it up to you, if I can.” Li Ru cupped his right fist in his left palm in a respectful bow. “If you find yourself near my temple in the future, I should like to serve you tea again.”

With that, the old scholar turned and left.