Capítulo 132: Chapter 132 - A Skyfolk feast.
"Aaagh!" The old woman jolted upright with a cry. "Erdeni!" She gasped, her eyes wide as she struggled for air.
Xin had already recomposed and activated Resonance Palms, and was ready to lunge at whoever the woman was. Wait, she called for Erdeni? Moments later, the tent's flap flew open, and the young shamaness rushed inside. As soon as she saw the scene, she leapt towards Xin and wrapped her arms around his chest.
"Xin, she's a friend, don't! Calm down!"
"Ugh?" Xin grunted. confused. In Erdeni's warm touch, his adrenaline rush died down as quickly as it arose. What he was left with was sharp pain all over his body exploding like a thousand knife stabs and the room spinning, his eyes losing focus.
Are you forgetting something, boy?
Fuck.
"Aaaagh!" Xin fell to the ground and closed his ears with his hands, but they were still deafened by a rumbling roar within his soul. I broke the vow of silence!
"Xin! Xin! Focus. The tiger is weak, you are its master."
Through his blocked ears, Xin couldn't hear her words, but moments later, he felt a soothing caress of Erdeni's soul reaching out to his, which calmed him down and gave him a momentary respite from pain.
Time to put my totemic cultivation practice to test.
Visualisation technique, Ying river flow! The tiger spirit was assaulted and pushed back, its roaring ceasing immediately.
Black shadow seal. Xin focused and enveloped the tiger in dark soul matter, disrupting its presence.
Mind-body-soul trifecta expunge. Xin kicked the air in real life, visualised the tiger getting kicked, but also assaulted the tiger by focusing his will to push it back. Outmatched, the totem hissed and retreated into the dark corner of his soul, defeated.
Xin braced for a long battle, but to his surprise, that was it. It seems that despite the vow breaking, the totem is still much more tamed, perhaps because fighting the Moss Bush Demoness was a very impressive exploit. And the totem's resistance seems much weaker, it seems that just like me, it was strained severely in that fight.
"Sorry, mastar! I don't meant bad, I was help! Bye-bye." The old woman spoke up in a funny accent as Erdeni clearly waved for her to leave, stood up, put a coat over her linen shirt and hastily left the tent. Erdeni helped Xin stand up and led him towards the bedroll, thick enough for two people to sleep in.
Xin was devastated. I can't believe I poked an old woman's thigh with my morning wood! I thought it was Erdeni! What am I supposed to do now? Am I tainted forever? I even squeezed her butt! What's more important is, what happened here?
"Xin, I know you have many questions. Please calm down. I'll explain everything when you're ready. Deal?"
"Ugh." Xin groaned. I am ready, his face said, as he sunk into Erdeni's eyes again. She's so close, and smells like spring herbs… Xin didn't manage to restrain himself, grabbed her face and stole a kiss of her sweet lips. Now I'm alive, he thought.
"Aw! That's hot, but your breath stinks." She turned away from him, smirking. "You've been asleep for six days, I'd rather eat a rotten egg than kiss you again. Don't you worry, we'll catch up on kissing, and more. How about you let me speak?"
Sure, Xin nodded, embarrassed. That "and more" comment felt like being poured with hot wax, and he wanted to leap at Erdeni and claim her right then and there, but with great effort, he resisted the urge and listened.
Wait, six days?!
"So, we've injured the demoness gravely, she was all burnt up and had many stabs on her, but you suddenly fainted. One of our riders raced up to you on his horse and pulled you away. The demoness tried to chase, but couldn't, with her broken leg, so she commanded her plant men to pull her away. After a night of treating you, we put you on the cart and moved our camp away. The woman you just saw is my mentor, we took turns sleeping near you and soothing your soul. Was quite an effort…
It's a shame that the demoness escaped, but she was still awake as they pulled her away, and we had too many injured, and no means to harm her. Nothing we could do. We lost five men and a woman that night, but thanks to you, the tribe lives on."
She lived? Curses. Well, if you people pussied out and missed out on finishing her, that's on you. Where did you move me? Xin raised his arms and spread them in a questioning manner.
"We are… At the edge of your forest. We didn't go inside as to not trigger your totem. Hope you don't mind. If you do, we can discuss tribute. We owe you, Xin, and we owe you a lot." Erdeni was quite anxious. How is Xin going to react? Is he a selfless hero, or will he extort us now? She hoped for the best. He loves me, right?
Yes, Xin nodded. You owe me. A lot. But now's not the time. We'll talk about it later, he gestured. I'll extort you, but not too harshly. He looked at Erdeni's deep brown eyes, and by her reaction he knew that she understood him. He appreciated this level of connection.
Xin then pointed at his arm. My bicep is restored, did you people heal me?
"Of course, Xin. We had some rare medicine left, least we could do for you."
A pill like this would cost around fifteen spirit stones, and that's if the wound is fresh. Xin nodded and smiled lightly, his expression that of gratitude.
"Xin, we should go and meet the others. Everyone wanted to thank you from the bottom of their hearts. Are you feeling well?"
Xin pointed at his belly, which rumbled with precise timing, then at his throat, which felt as dry as the desert.
"Oh, of course. We'll serve you a banquet, don't worry. I… Warned everyone about your clothing situation. This shouldn't be an issue."
Right. Now that I am not facing the demoness, I have no excuses to wear my armour. I should refine the totem, these vows are such a burden.
"So, should I go and tell the people to prepare a banquet?"
Xin smirked and made a snide face. One more thing.
"What?" Erdeni was anxious, did something happen?
Xin looked at the ceiling like a mischievous child, then pointed below his waist with both of his fingers. Hehehe, we've got a huge problem down there.
***
Xin found the nomads an endearing bunch. They bowed lowly as they thanked him, the tribe's children even threw flower petals at him, which was clearly a high honour. Xin was embarrassed to stand naked in front of all of these people, with mothers covering their childrens' eyes and men clearly sizing him up, so he insisted they sit down. He was led into a big dining circle, covered in carpets, with the food served on small dining tables, reaching one's knees if they sat in a lotus pose.
Xin gorged on rabbit stew, dipping the hard wild wheat bread into its spicy juices. An unusual and exotic meal, but still rather tasty, with its deep fragrances and light acidity. He drank the fermented horse milk and munched on nuts and berries from the snack plate, eating and eating without stopping. He had eaten three adult portions by now, but people were more astonished than upset. Such a stud, such a warrior, of course he eats a lot! What would be seen as rude among Clay Folk was just humorous among the nomads.
"Brother, would you kindly pass me the milk? Fresh milk. The meat is rather spicy, need something for my tongue. Thank you." Erdeni asked Horhu. They were sitting in a large circle of carpets, Xin to her left shoulder, Horhu to her right. Most of the tribe was here, celebrating Xin's awakening and good health, and the mood was quite uplifted.
"Sure. Here." He passed her the milk jar, then raised an eyebrow in suspicion. She ate the same meat as everyone else, how is it spicy? I don't get it. Tastes rather tame to me.
"Oi, Erdeni. Could you please translate for me? I have a toast for our guest!" A man in his fifties, Oygun, the acting chief of the tribe spoke up. He looked differently to everyone else here, his skin carrying a pale, light yellow tone, as opposed to most everyone else's bronzish. His eyes were also wider, his face sharper and thinner than that of most Skyfolk here. His head was almost fully shaved, except for one straight lock emerging from the top of his head, resting diagonally towards his temple.
He's clearly not related to them. A different sort of Skyfolk? Some other type of Mistborn? Xin had no idea.
"Of course, uncle Oygun. Please go on, I'll translate."
"Oi! Shut up everyone. Boss is speaking, hehe." He raised his cup, filled with Clay Folk wine. Everyone put their food down and listened attentively to his solemn speech, as Erdeni whispered the translation into Xin's ear.
"You know, it's not every day that a tragedy and a miracle occurs at the same time. If I know one thing, that night, that fight, it was a sign to all of us.
A sign that things will get better. A sign that our spirits are still unbroken, that we cling eagerly to every chance that we're given. That we deserve a future, and that we're clawing our way towards it. Everyone sitting here is special, possessing a spirit to match ten men. Yet not by choice. This life was forced on us, but we persevere and play the hand we were given, such is the way of our people.
Let's thank our fallen comrades, who I know are watching over us, and our ancestors, who guided Erdeni towards our mysterious benefactor. Master Xin, I raise the first cup to you, and after we drink it, you'll request your reward, as customary." Everyone else also raised their cups, waiting for Xin to drink his.
He drank the wine in one gulp as the nomads cheered him on, then smashed the cup on the table. That's some decent wine, he thought, but the toast was bullshit. Things might not get better for you people, the universe won't submit just because you suffered and put in effort. You've got no recipe for what you're trying to cook. Xin frowned lightly as he stared at the bottom of the cup. Erdeni whispering into my ear was quite hot, though. Gave me goosebumps.
"Master Xin, we are aware of your vow of silence, yet we've also noticed that you and Erdeni seem to understand each other without words. Would you like to give us your wishes now, or will we have to wait till you finish your ascesis? Please, ask for anything, within the realm of possibility, of course." The chieftain asked once more. His demeanour looked polite, and Erdeni seemed to translate in good faith, but Xin felt a sense of awkwardness as everyone stared at him.
Is it just me being naked around all these unfamiliar people, or is it the pressure of the political game at play? I need to choose a good reward, but without hindering their tribe too much. Xin raised his hand with his palm spread, as if to say "please let me think", then thought about it.
I could just ask for Erdeni's hand in marriage, but then she'd be the wife of a foreigner. Even if I am the tribe's hero, she'd be shunned, especially by other tribes, and I'd get pulled into a political game I have no wish to partake in. I can't leave my sect behind and live with them, just like Erdeni can't abandon her tribe to live with me, given that she's both a successor and her tribe's only potential shaman.
Xin looked into Erdeni's eyes, clearly filled with badly concealed anxiety. He noticed Horhu being rather gloom, too, and the nomads around were clearly distressed with the prolonged silence.
Here, Xin pointed at his palm. He manifested the tiger totem through his aperture, and showed it to the acting chieftain. With gestures, he explained that he needs to regain his ability to speak before he gives an answer, and Erdeni helped interpret, her voice shaking slightly.
She looked in his eyes, longing for him to understand what she was feeling. If he truly gets me, he'll understand. I want to be taken away, released from this self-inflicted hell. You're an only way to make it happen… This tribe is worthless, yet it's all I have. I loathe the endless steppe, the tents and the yellow grass. I want to be by your side, be it a sect, a city or a boundless forest, I'll walk with you. I don't have the strength to ask, so please break my resistance for me.
"Are you feeling well, Erdeni?" Oygun asked. After the girl finished translating, she frowned and stared into the horizon, her gaze wistful.
"I am fine, chief. We lost many people, and now that Xin is leaving, we're unsafe again. I'm anxious." She gave a plausible explanation.
"I see." It was hard to tell if Oygun was fooled. "If you could somehow relay to master how uncomfortable it is, being at his mercy regarding the reward, I'd appreciate it, dear. The tribemen are distressed, this whole predicament is like a sword hanging above our heads. People need clarity, Erdeni, please make the master understand."
"Ugh." Xin was confused and wanted Erdeni to translate again. She nodded politely, rubbed her chin and looked him in the eyes.
"Xin… The tribe leader is worried about our people being at your mercy. He implores you to make the decision as soon as possible. Is it possible that you could write it down on a piece of paper?"
Enough. Xin's face was rather calm, but he shook his hand in disagreement. I just broke a vow of silence, this pushed me back some time, I won't exploit any loopholes in my vow. I need to refine the totem as soon as possible.
"Master Xin apologises, he is already pushing the limits of his vow by communicating with us like that. He'll relay his wishes when he deems necessary. Uncle Oygun, I suggest we stop pushing him, the master needs time to recuperate. His body and soul assaulted, the least we can do for him is let him recover in peace."
"I see. So be it. Let's resume the feast." Oygun smiled and raised the cup to Xin, who nodded and stared at the bottom of his cup again.
I don't know what Erdeni just told Oygun, but it looked like she was protective of me. Her voice was rather caring. I never appreciated someone so much, was never drawn to someone that strongly, but why do I feel this won't last?
Sure, I'll refine the totem. I'll come and collect my reward, whatever it is, but then what? I'll have to leave for the tournament, won't the demoness just return and slaughter them? A hundred steps west, and you're in the imperial territories, they've got nowhere else to retreat to.
"Xin…" Erdeni poured some wine into the cup he was staring in. "Please stop being so gloom, let's cherish this moment of solace."
He smiled with a corner of his lips and took the bottle from her, finishing what remained of it in one big gulp. To everyone's delight.
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