บท 78: Touch the Sky
"Damn lot of foolishness," grumbled the Head Healer as he looked at the results of the medical diagnostic formation embedded into the mattress of the bed Dàilán had been deposited in once Chénli had basically carried her to the Healer's Pavilion.
She had been placed in a small, plain but private room slightly apart from the main wards of the pavilion - but through the pain, discomfort and exhaustion Dàilán could hear distant complaints, moans of pain and the urgent chatter of the Sects Healers as they attended to other patients.
She grunted and flinched as the Healer stabbed acupuncture needles in a sensitive spot, "Lie still, please, you have nearly completely exhausted your Dantian of Essence, to say nothing of the physical injuries," admonished the Healing Pavilion Head Elder.
The young lady frowned in irritation that rose past her exhaustion, "I did not hear you objecting when this 'foolishness' was brought up in council, Elder" she bit out.
"A sparring tournament is one thing; you nearly killing yourself to win it is quite another," responded the Healer acerbically, "part of being a good leader is knowing when withdrawing is the better course of action."
Dàilán felt her eyes narrow, even as the healer began washing her wounds with some sort of liquid that stung like fire, "The last lot of opponents were actively trying to kill me, Elder, you heard the Blood - I mean, the Invigilator - disqualify that last idiot for deliberately using lethal force. He made modifications formations on his 'sparring weapon' to emit enough lightning to melt sand and rock."
She felt her lip curl, "On top of that, my Guard did specifically request the tournament be declared complete once I downed all remaining competitors or hit them with what should have been counted as lethal hits - before the last fight went deadly - and we were ignored. So save your critiques for those who deserve them."
The Healer paused in his washing for a moment, then resumed washing her wounds. "My apologies Heir - I was out of line." His voice was much more even, "I can only say that I headed to the Healer Pavilion the moment you took that big lug Meng Fan down hard; I knew I had to get the Pavilion ready for injuries, worse we had expected for a 'mock tournament'."
Dàilán bit back cries of pain as he started rubbing some sort of salve into one of her larger wound, focusing on the plain wooden joists of the ceiling, then sighed in relief as the wound started healing, pain disappearing under a cooling sensation and the odd prickle of the open skin sealing itself back up.
Instead she let out a strained laugh as the Healer moved to the next wound, "I could not afford to go easy Healer, I had to take them down as quickly as possible."
"Fortunately, other than the Essence Exhaustion and some burns which now make a lot more sense after your explanation, you have not sustained any serious injury," responded the Healer as he finished the treatment, "I will activate the room's Essence Collecting Formation to accelerate your healing and Cultivation - I suggest you stay here to Cultivate and recover, since I know you will not sleep."
"I have to travel back to Hujian by crow-set or Father is going to raise nine hells of commotion," protested the young Heiress, struggling into a sitting position and looking around the plain white stone room for her things, but the Healer pushed her back down flat on the bed.
"It is only a shi past highest flight, you can afford a shi of recuperation," ordered the Healer, "I will be back in awhile - I need to check your Guard and the other combatants."
"Chénli was hurt?" protested Dàilán, but found she lacked the strength to leaver herself back up again.
The Elder shook his head, "not as far as I am aware, but as the Heir's Guard I am checking her anyway." He started for the door then paused and half turned back to the young lady in the bed, "for what it is worth, none of the people eliminated from the battle have life threatening injuries caused by you - so it was not your actions I was frustrated about. Now rest - I will be back to run additional scans to make sure you are recovering - as well as those others that were discussed in Council."
Dàilán sighed and nodded as the Healer left the room. He must have activated a formation of some sort as he went through, because the door frame lit up in a soft blue and the sounds from the rest of the pavilion, leaving her in peaceful silence.
Aware that she had limited time, she let herself drop into deep Meditation, visualising herself playing her bāwū, allowing the soothing flow of abundant, peaceful, healing Essence to flow into her meridians and ease the bone-deep ache.
Time flowed away...
---
A few times during her Cultivation, Dàilán sensed the Healer checking on her. The Elder's Essence signature was easily identified in this state; once he came in and removed the acupuncture needles; another time he performed an Essence scan and seemed intrigued by whatever he found, but not agitated, so Dàilán ignored him.
Several years or perhaps breaths later - they both felt the same - she saw Chénli's signature enter the room beside the Healer's. Both signature's exhibited surprise, Chénli more than the Elder's, then the Healer moved closer and performed another scan.
Dàilán rolled her eyes. She was in the best health she had ever been - there was no need for another scan. She did not need to meditate anymore, so she put away her flute and opened her eyes.
Looking at Chénli's expression which mixed concern and excitement in equal measure, she frowned, "Is there a flower growing out of my face?"
Chénli blinked in surprise and the Healer replied from the end of the bed where he was controlling the formation doing the scan, his tone dry, "Not exactly Heir, please hold still. Guard, if you could step back from the bed for a moment, I can deal with the… flower."
Chénli giggled and stepped back. Figuring that whatever was going on must be OK given her friend's reaction, Dàilán remained still, wrinkling her nose at a strangely familiar, putrid stench she did not recall smelling before she had started to meditate.
A bright, solid circle of pure Essence rose from the bed and rose slowly up towards the ceiling, passing over every inch of her body. There was an odd feeling of prickling as it passed quickly over her skin and the sensation of something sloughing off. Slightly alarmed, she looked down, catching a glimpse of a familiar-tar like substance covering her body where the circle hadn't reached yet, falling off as the circle passed over, to leave pristine skin behind.
"Oh..." she said softly. That explained the smell - as well as why she felt so good after only a short meditation.
"We could use one of those at home," said Chénli in admiration as the impurities were cleaned away.
"If you have five Formation Experts and about a million Essence Stones, you can have one," answered the Head Healer as he dipped his head respectfully to Dàilán his eyes showing amazement and admiration, "Congratulations to the Heir on touching the Sky - I presume you will wish to keep it confidential?"
Chénli made a choking sound as Dàilán froze, then closed her eyes, letting the much calmer tempo of traffic and conversations from Healers and other people outside the room wash over as she took deep breaths in an endeavour not to overreact. She could smell the dry, bitter sharpness of Essence being used to sterilise and clean as well as a melange of astringent, bitter and sweet scents from various medicines, herbs and salves. "Are you certain, Master Healer?"
"Yes, Heir. There are some… unusual, aspects to your advancement, but it is definitely Lower Sky." Dàilán sighed and opened her eyes, watching as the Healer manipulated something in the formation and glowing characters sprang into life in front of him at eye level, "I suspect you may have been a step away from progressing for quite some time - comparing the earlier scans to this one suggest that completely exhausting your reserves along with the extended heavy Essence use was likely the trigger - once you were Cultivating in an Essence rich environment, the advancement was more or less assured - especially since our formations filter the Essence to keep it pure."
"Unusual? In what way?" Chénli's query was sharp with concern and she moved to the end of the bed to peer at the shapes, diagrams and characters that the Healer was examining.
"Nothing negative," assured the Elder in a distracted tone of voice as he manipulated the formation to produce more glowing diagrams, "which is precisely what is unusual - most advancements seem to come with have some unpleasant or marked differences to one's body or abilities - but you seem to have had a remarkably balanced Advancement…"
The Healer clicked his tongue thoughtfully as his hands shifted positions in the Formation, eyes still on the glowing characters and shapes, "in fact, it appears to have corrected a number of earlier issues caused by the Guan Cultivation Techniques, birth defects and sequelae from old injuries without adding additional flaws - which is… unusual, as I said."
"So…" Chénli's voice was markedly frustrated, "you are saying her Cultivation has improved... too perfectly?"
"It depends on how you look at it…" answered the Healer, still focused on whatever information he was pulling from the Formation's scans, "for example I am seeing improved Essence levels, distribution and capacity; the strength of a dragon," the Healer clicked his tongue in a disapproving manner, "such a subjective measurement really is purely a convenient label - it is based on Ancient Sage Nain's widely accepted 'Scale of Cultivation' - it is quite imprecise; skin is impervious and elastic, vision is…"
"Yes, yes Elder, I understand that," said Dàilán impatiently, "those sort of things are expected at Sky Level Cultivation, what is the issue?"
"What I am not seeing," the Healer explained with slight concern, "are any of the expected indications of… abilities, blood talent, Essence powers… that usually become apparent at this level. You just seem to be more concentrated, more perfected? It is most unusual."
"I noticed that with your last increase in Cultivation, actually," agreed Chénli, perking up, looking over at her friend and nodding, "there did not seem to be any major changes, you just seemed more substantial - more real? More there? More beautiful…"
Chénli ground her teeth and turned to the Healer, "I had assumed that was due to it only being a minor advancement, last time, but if she has improved by an entire level and done it again…?"
Turning back to Dàilán, Chénli assumed a high falsetto, batting her eyes and curving her fingers and thumbs in the classic 'orchid' gesture, "Oh, The Orchid and her poet sung fortunes - with her more perfect than perfect, skin and beauty."
Chénli dropped the overly effeminate mannerisms and put her hands on her hips, mock glaring at her best friend. "They will never stop calling you the Mist Orchid now! Bitch." The last word was spat playfully, but there was concern in Chénli's eyes.
Dàilán frowned, "Master Healer? I thought the whole point of Cultivation was to achieve a perfected form?"
The Healer shrugged, his eyes still on the data, "The definition of perfection varies - certainly many Cultivators seem to strive for steel skin or the ability to swing enormous weapons or breathe poison - I do think I have ever read of anyone actually achieving an 'idealised' body - outside of, as your Guard has said, fiction and old legends. Certainly most Cultivators in general improve in appearance as they increase in Cultivation - but there are just as many that grow less human and more monstrous - especially among those using unorthodox methods."
The Elder looked up at the young Heiress, "I will be sealing these records, Heir - if anyone besides yourself or I attempts to access them, they will be destroyed. As for Cultivation methods and techniques, I would recommend that you continue whatever it is you are currently using - and keep it to yourself - unless you trust that person with your soul as well as your life."
The young teen blinked, "So you will not be recommending any Cultivation Methods?"
The Elder shrugged, "Based on these scans you are inclined towards water and air Essence, with a minor shading of earth - the water and air are definitely from your mother, but her minor was lightning - the earth is probably from the Guan side."
The Healer walked away from the foot of the bed. The data floating in mid air vanished as moved to the right side of the bed and took the young teen's wrist, still explaining, "You will find Essence techniques incorporating those easier than others. As for Cultivation - I was going to suggest a couple your mother used -but now I would recommend you stay with your current Cultivation method. I will still pass your Mother's methods to you as a legacy, but unless you hit a bottleneck with your current method, I would not recommend switching."
The Healer tapped her wrist a couple of times, "Show me your tongue, please." As Dàilán complied, he frowned slightly and offered a caveat, "That said - I am a Healer, not a Cultivation Sage - a Sage might be able to suggest a better path."
Chénli shook her head in disbelief, "Air, Water and Earth - you really are literally a 'Mountain Mist' Orchid."
Dàilán rolled her eyes and made a rude gesture towards her friend with her left hand, "this Orchid has thorns - stop poking it before you get stabbed."
The Healer clicked his tongue disapprovingly at both teen's antics, "Your four pulses are balanced and strong; tongue is clear - the scans say your Essence levels are normal. You are most fortunate. I have had a few strong words to the other Elders over this whole mess; I suspect you might be able to wring quite a number of concessions out of the Council after this if you were so inclined. I suggest you use the power wisely."
The Elder bowed respectfully, "You can leave, Heir - but your Grandfather has requested you attend him at his residence before you return to your Clan - he has been understandably upset. Only the fact that he was fully supportive of the tournament has stopped him from challenging all of the Council Elders to single combat, I suspect."
"There is a new set of Sect robes and your weapons behind the modesty screen," the Elder gestured at a silk screen with an ink painting of orchids that had been set up in one corner of the room.
The young teen looked down at the shapeless gown she was wearing and nodded gratefully, "Thank you for your care and discretion Head Healer."
The Elder bowed, "A privilege to serve, Heir. Well done." He turned and left the plain white stone room, the door frame glowing blue again as he passed it, cutting off the sounds from outside.
"Come on, it is nearly Shēn Shi," urged Chénli, "If we are to see the Sect leader for your ceremony and get back to Hujian before the Golden Crow nests, we have to move quickly."
"Yes," agreed Dàilán, jumping off the bed and heading behind the screen.
---
The walk back from the Healing Pavilion to the Leader's residence was an odd experience for the young Heiress. Sect Members would walk towards them on the path, intent on their errands and tasks, realise who they were and stop to step back to clear their way with respectful gestures. Dàilán noted that the younger members seemed a lot more excited and impressed, but even the older members would murmur a respectful calling out of her title, or words of congratulations.
"You have managed to impress the Sect Members," explained Chénli at one point as a small group of three younger scouts bowed respectfully, then rushed off chattering excitedly, "Not an easy thing to do with a first impression - especially considering… well, everything."
Dàilán flushed, not really used to so much directed genuine admiration - her previous experiences with public attention had either been negative - what with 'The Suitors and the Mist Orchid' fiasco, or being ignored, given the oddness of her position within Clan Guan and her being mostly at odds with much of the rest of the household.
Thankfully, the walk itself was without incident, giving her time to enjoy the almost otherworldly scenery full of graceful pavilions adorned with beautiful and elegant paint and stonework, ponds, lakes, streams, bamboo stands, elegantly trained trees and so on - with handsome and beautiful Cultivators walking, floating, dashing or using various conveyances to get around - seemingly oblivious to the beauty around them.
"I wonder if this is how people in the outer city feel when they look at the Clans," the young Heiress mused as she tried to see everything at once without being obvious about it, "all this fantastic beauty and wealth, being considered as ordinary by those fortunate enough to live in it."
Chénli shrugged as she led the way in front of her Mistress, "Humans can get used to anything. I have carried out Orders in absolutely awful places and other than being unhappy with their lot, people did not behave any differently than they do back in Hujian or here."
The two of them walked the rest of the way in silence. Drawing closer to the Leader's residence, traffic became non existent as the path became a narrow, winding, though beautifully paved trail, meandering up a mountain under ancient trees, over elegantly sculpted bridges and flowing streams, through ornamental moon gates and around elaborate rock gardens.
Their passage was punctuated only by serene sounds; the sound of cicadas and the calls of birds, the rush of flowing water, a distant tapping of bamboo water clocks against rocks and the soft music of wind chimes swaying from the breeze from the branches of expertly trained trees growing over the path.
Wafts of pleasant scents came from various flowering plants and Essence flowers planted in the areas around the path, mingling with the occasional stronger spice of incense sticks left burning - at small shrines or rock cairns that indicated the homes of small spirits - sending curls of pale smoke drifting upward to mingle with the swaying patterns of crow-light and tree shadow.
Arriving at the entrance of a relatively modest house, Chénli hesitated, but a moment later a recently familiar figure appeared in the doorway.
"Granddaughter," greeted the sect leader warmly, relief clear in his voice, "be welcome in our house."
Dàilán bowed respectfully, "Grandfather… I thank you for your welcome. But the day grows long. I must begin the trip back to my father soon, if I am to return by the promised time."
"We shall skip the traditional pots of tea and long stories then," returned her Grandfather with a smile, "but I must delay you a little longer - you need to imbue a Soul Tablet before you leave today."
"Yes," agreed Chénli, "we can spare the time, Mistress - it does not take long. I will stand guard here and make sure you are not interrupted. Then we can complete the ceremony and place half of your tablet in the Heart on our way home."
"That was my thought as well," agreed Dàilán's Grandfather, "thank you for offering to stand watch, Enforcer."
Chénli smiled proudly and bowed with dignity, "None shall escape my watch, Leader." The Heir Guard took up a ready stance and faced outward as if she was back in the arena and not in one of the core and safest areas of the Sect.
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
WheeledWriter
WheeledWriter If the ending seems a little abrupt, that's because this was actually the first part of a chapter that got too long and I've chopped it into two parts.
This whole knife sect arc has taken many more chapters than I originally planned for - it's frustrating when it takes this many chapters to describe the important events of a single day.
---
Currently the novel has a one chapter a week release schedule until I can build a buffer and slowly crank it back up again.
I will be releasing on Sundays until I have enough stockpiled to increase the pace. I will try to achieve this as soon as possible.
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