Bao Si naturally chose the emotional support sloth, so Chen Haoran was forced to go searching for Xie Jin, bereft of his furry backpack. He was being dramatic in truth. He was going to leave Phelps in the room anyway. Walking around Reservoir Town with the sloth on his back was just tempting fate. His search for Xie Jin was exaggerated as well because when Chen Haoran walked down to the dining floor of the inn, Xie Jin was standing by the door waiting for him.
They said nothing and left the inn. The light was fading into purple dusk, and lamplighters moved from light pole to light pole, screwing on glass jars filled with fireflies that glowed like lightbulbs. Unlike in Stonebridge, the streets of Reservoir Town bustled at all hours of the day. A curfew was apparently too hindering for rchants that arrived and left, whether day or night. With Reservoir Town being the center of the Pacification Committee and the Garrison, the Empire could afford to lapse on this bit of control. It ant that Reservoir Town was the first city in Zumulu that Chen Haoran had found to have a proper nightlife.
He and Xie Jin wandered the hustle, watching workers go to worker bars, soldiers go to soldier bars, and the rchants, depending on their ans, split between rchant bars for the poor and finer dining pavilions for the well-off. It was one of these finer establishnts that they went to. Chen Haoran dropped a wad of gold banknotes for a private room with a view of the streets and a bottle of Mortal-Rank Rose Wine that was apparently popular in the Central Region.
Xie Jin drank heavily from his cup without so much as a toast and grimaced. I feel like Im drinking perfu. How the hell can those Central Region farts stomach this?
Chen Haoran took a sip and had to agree. It tasted like his rose baths slled. Altogether hed probably appreciate the bottle more if he dumped it over his head. Chen Haoran glanced over the nu and passed it to Xie Jin. You see anything better?
Xie Jin scanned the nu, and his eyes lit up. After spending a decidedly less amount of money compared to the Rose Wine, the server brought up a new rice wine in a clay jar. Xie Jin filled Chen Haorans cup, then his own, and they toasted each other. It was normal as far as alcohol went. For a regular person, it would be considered strong. To Chen Haoran, he could drink it like water he so chose. It was far behind the Ranked wines hed partaken in every way. Yet it was pleasant. Bitter but in a way that enhanced rather than detracted. Chen Haoran enjoyed the taste and the mont he shared with Xie Jin drinking it.
Chen Haoran paused as he savored the wine. The flavor struck a chord of familiarity within him. Weve had this before, didnt we? When we first entered Zumulu with that cattle driver.
Xie Jin humd a note of agreent. The sa. That guy had good taste. This is a wine straight out of the South. The bitter flavor cos from the poisonous plants used to brew it. Xie Jin wistfully looked to the ceiling while nursing his drink. Not that its actually poisonous. Its only made with the weakest plants, and the toxins are neutralized during the fernting. Its so common here that its usually the first drink we offer to visitors. Youd think we were giving them actual poison, though, from the way they act about it. Youre the first I t who didnt hesitate to take a drink from a Southerner.
Well, that was born out of his complete ignorance, but he wasnt going to spoil Xie Jins mood by saying that out loud. On the other hand, it seed he didnt need to say anything. The mocking smile Xie Jin wore faded into a thin line as he stared into his cup. As if the drink had sohow personally insulted him. They sat there in silence, nursing their drinks, watching tired new arrivals tug their carts to depots so that they might finally rest while teams that would depart in the morning had one last celebration before the hard journey ahead.
A group of excited Liquid ridians in the middle and late stages brushed through the crowd without care and loudly entered an expensive-looking restaurant. A team of soldiers patrolled the street, breaking up fights should cultivators decide to escalate into more than sothing physical. They did not lack work. The friction created by power and alcohol ant tempers flared up more often than not. However, even those in the Liquid ridians stopped short of actually releasing their qi or techniques. The one man bold enough saw himself taken down with furious force by the soldiers.
Xie Jin watched it all with such focus that he didnt realize hed finished his wine till hed tried to drink twice and ca back empty. When he tried reaching for the bottle, Chen Haoran took it first and refilled his cup.
Bao Si tried to tell about your history, Chen Haoran said. He ignored the way Xie Jin involuntarily tensed and refilled his own cup. I told her I would hear about you from you directly. Will you tell ?
Xie Jin stared at his cup with a faraway look. Chen Haoran folded his hands and patiently waited. Whatever wanted to be said would co on its own ti in due ti, even if that ti wasnt now.
The process of creating Gu is called the Poison Jar Ritual, Xie Jin finally said. The most venomous Hell Bugs in Zumulu are gathered and sealed into a closed space where they devour each other until only one is left. All the toxins concentrate in that survivor, whos then fed to silkworm larvae until again only one is left. That larva is typically raised into a Gu on its own or then fed to another desired host to beco a Gu. Theres more to the ritual than that, chants and spells and other traditions to fully complete the transformation. But thats the gist of it. At least in the rest of Zumulu.
But the Black Bones are better, Chen Haoran said.
A small smile graced Xie Jins dour face. Yeah. The Black Bones are better. Once you have the last silkworm larva, the process is basically done. Feed it or raise it. The choice varies depending on the tribe. Thats not enough for us Black Bones, though. Once we have the last larva, we eat it.
Chen Haoran blinked. You what?
We eat it.
The super venomous larva. You just eat it?
Yes. Xie Jin saw the look on Chen Haorans face and laughed. It sounds insane, and it is. But by eating the larva and then feeding our infected blood to our chosen avatar, we create a much closer connection to our Gu. It allows a Black Bone Shaman to share in the cultivation of their Gu and vice versa. More vice than versa, though. Of course, its an incredibly dangerous and painful process. The Gu poison imdiately starts rotting the blood. Thats what gives our Gu their black color.
Chen Haoran let out a low whistle. Thats pretty tal.
Ive never heard that expression before, Xie Jin said.
It ans sothing like intense or hardcore.
tal, huh? Xie Jin sounded out the word. Yeah. I like that. It is pretty tal. Without the support of an experienced shaman and the tribe, the process is a death sentence. Everyone cos together to help save the newborn shaman.
And the shaman returns the favor by helping the tribe.
Xie Jin nodded. Precisely. You wont find shamans as loyal to their people as a Black Bone is, nor Gu. A Black Bone Gu doesnt return to the Tenth Green Hell after the death of its shaman. Instead, it sacrifices itself to cast a curse strong enough to lay low a cultivator an entire realm above you. We call it the Death Curse. If a Black Bone Shaman has resolved themselves to die, then its almost inevitable that they will not be dying alone.
Xie Jin trailed off into silence after speaking. He hunched over the table. Peering into so past mory within his cup. Chen Haoran left him to it. He had the feeling Xie Jins Gu lesson was more for than just pride.
Brother Chen, Xie Jin said, not looking up. Do you ever feel like you were born in the wrong place?
Chen Haoran breathed in heavily. He calmly took the wine bottle, refilled his cup, and downed it in one go. He gently slamd the cup against the table, startling Xie Jin. All the ti, brother. He refilled Xie Jins cup. Tell about it.
Im not my grandfathers actual grandson, Xie Jin slowly said.
Chen Haoran frowned. He still raised you, though, didnt he? And from what Ive seen, it seems he cares for you. What difference does it make if youre not his actual grandson?
Xie Jin looked at him gratefully. Thank you, Brother Chen, but not being of his blood mattered to . Compared to Ren, whos his actual grandson and has a High-Grade Spirit Root, and Bao Si, whos well. herself. I was just so orphan my grandfather adopted after whoever my parents were sent back to the Basin before dying.
Chen Haoran held up his hand. Wait, Im sorry, Ren is Xie Lings grandson?
Xie Jin huffed a laugh. Ren is. a bit strange. Hed rather walk around the periter of the Basin all day on patrol than do anything else. Its why Grandfather raised Si as his heir. Of course, I was there too. Always learning less and being taught less than what she was. Xie Jins grip on his cup tightened. She was everything I expected a cultivator to be. Talented, valued, respected, and free to go wherever she pleased whenever she wanted. She was on track to be the youngest shaman in the Basins history. anwhile, I was never ant to be a shaman. Ever since I was young, everyone knew I wasnt fit for it. Everyone except , that is.
Xie Jin took a long draw from his cup. Uncaring of the way the wine spilled and stained his shirt. Its the typical story. A young and ignorant boy wants to earn respect and make his dreams co true, so he goes and does sothing completely reckless without caring about the consequences.
The Poison Jar Ritual, Chen Haoran said.
Xie Jin smirked. Si is the second youngest shaman now. I dont think she ever forgave for that.
You did it on your own? Chen Haoran asked.
Unless you dont count stealing the collected knowledge of my tribe, then yes, I did it on my own. Xie Jin said. I gathered all the Hell Bugs and distilled the best poison I could on the slopes of Stake Mountain, then ate that larva whole. Its a miracle I survived.
Chen Haoran thought back to how Xie Jin began this conversation. It wasnt purposeless. You werent saved.
No, Xie Jin sadly said. He touched his sleeve. I woke up alone with my Gu. To this day, I cant tell you what happened on that mountain or how I didnt die. No one else knew what I had done until I walked back into the village, Gu in hand. Thats when I learned why no one wanted to be a shaman. Even back then, I wanted to go out into the wider world. See all the sights that were to be seen and experience everything there was to be experienced. I only realized too late what kind of chains I wrapped around myself. A shaman whos not there for his tribe is no shaman at all.
Even if you used your tribes knowledge, you still did all the other steps by yourself, Chen Haoran pointed out. That had to count for sothing.
Xie Jin bitterly laughed. Toward my execution, yes. Im not well-liked by the other shamans, you see. They didnt want our ancestral teachings to be used to create a potential rogue shaman. Itd be an insult to our tribes millennia of inheritancea sha on the na of the Black Bone Shamans. Grandfather and Si had to fight like hell to save my life, and even after I was officially inducted, the tribe didnt like the thought of supporting a shaman who might abandon them at any ti. Of course, they were right to be wary. I was, in fact, planning to abandon them.
And thats what led to you taking the Palace Exam? Chen Haoran asked.
Xie Jin shook his head, his face a ss of helplessness and self-mockery. I dont know why I even bothered doing that. Si was completely right to call out on it. I guess I wanted to see if more power could give more answers. Do I betray my people and everything I was raised to believe in, or do I follow my heart? In a way, it was a good thing for that peacock prince to cancel the exams. He stopped that reckless boy within from another terrible decision. Xie Jin raised his cup to Chen Haoran. Well, not completely terrible. I got to et you, after all, Brother Chen.
Chen Haoran didnt raise his cup. He drumd his fingers on the table in thought. Hed been thinking a lot lately about many things: the world, Zumulu, the Chen Family, his Gifting Power, Bao Si, Xie Jin. Perhaps he was thinking too much, though. Maybe he, too, needed to let the reckless boy in him out.
I was told before that when you advance in strength, a world of advantages opens up to you, Chen Haoran said. Speaking as soone lucky enough to have grown in power, I dont believe it really gives you answers at all. In fact, I think the sa questions that were beyond as a Qi Realm are beyond as a Liquid ridian. Maybe even as a Crystal Transformation. Well have to see, though. Chen Haoran reached into his storage bag and summoned a glossy green scroll to his hand. He placed the scroll on a table in front of a suddenly wary Xie Jin. All that is just my experience with power. Maybe yours will be different.
Brother Chen, Xie Jin cautiously said. What is this?
Youre a Wood Spirit Root, right? This is the Depths of the Cloud Jungle Sutra, a Heaven-Rank cultivation thod.
A Heaven-Rank. Xie Jins voice was scratchy. He looked from the scroll to Chen Haoran with wet eyes. Brother Chen, I cant. He covered his eyes with his hand. Brother Chen, take it from my sight. I cant. I cant. Please. Dont do this to . Xie Jin did an admirable job of hiding it, but his hand could not catch all his tears, and his words could help but hitch. Brother Chen, I have nothing to give you. Please, take it back.
Chen Haoran left the scroll on the table and instead emptied the last of the wine into their cups. Youre a liar if you say you have nothing to give because youve given sothing I could exchange all my wealth for and still never receivea good friend. Chen Haoran raised his cup. Xie Jin, I consider you to be the first real friend Ive made in this world. If theres anything you could give , it would be the honor to keep being friends with you. Maybe even sworn brothers?
Xie Jins hand fell from his face and while his eyes were red and his cheeks still wet, it did nothing to stop him from giving Chen Haoran an incredulous stare. Chen Haoran awkwardly coughed into his hand. Yes, well, um. Im not really familiar with this, so I dont know the etiquette involved. I dont mind, though. Being sworn brothers with you. Unless you mind, of course. Which is totally okay if you do.
Brother Chen, Xie Jin interrupted. He was laughing hard enough that fresh tears stread down his face. What the hell are you doing?
Trying my best, Chen Haoran said. He shook his cup. What do you say, Brother Jin?
What else could I say when you ask like that? Xie Jin lifted his own cup.
Chen Haoran went in for the toast.
.and hit nothing but air.
No.
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