Sorry for the delays. I've currently caught up to a part of the book which requires me to heavily rewrite and add additional chapters. I had to write this chapter several times to work out how to take the story in the right direction, which took longer than I expected. There might also be a delay with the next chapter because I now need to write it.
Chapter 125
The Long Walk Home
Tobias held Hun Jia's hand, drawing simple pleasure from her touch, as they strolled through the spirit gardens of the Hidden Blossom Sect. Decades had passed since they had admitted their feelings to one another, and neither regretted their decision. They had found in each other a companion, a peer, and someone with whom they could explore life. Tobias had friends, loved ones, but no one who challenged his thoughts and theories, who could take what he discovered and discover more, until Hun Jia came along. Tobias knew he stood at the peak of cultivation and that the peak was a lonely place.
He also knew Hun Jia felt the same way.
The Blossoms had never been able to keep up with her. They had never been able to replicate what she could do. She had been alone and isolated, viewing the same world through a different lens. She saw the world with more clarity than others, and though that clarity was different to Tobias's knowledge, there were similarities in their solitude.
Hun Jia leaned against Tobias's side as they wandered alone, lifting his hand to kiss his knuckles. "When are you going to tell her that she's ready?"
Tobias smiled at the small display of affection, even though it would be considered scandalous. Yet, he knew Hun Jia did not care, because it had made him happy.
"I told them I have a task for them come autumn. There's no need to spoil their summer fun with worries about the future."
Tobias continued to smile as he remembered his disciples' unexpected visit earlier that day and the glances they had shared when they noticed that Lung Mei was finally ready to cultivate. Tobias had been waiting for this day for nearly two centuries, and now that it was here, he was in no rush for his little girl to cultivate. She had a life. She had friends. She had a string of questionable boyfriends, which kept him up at night, but mostly she was happy and healthy, and he did not want to see that interrupted by her rushing through the realms in pursuit of immortality.
Hun Jia looked around the spirit gardens while they continued their stroll. Everywhere you looked, Blossoms sat cultivating, gathering the spiritual energy they needed to form another layer of their core. The pavilions, which had once filled the gardens, were still there, but they no longer hosted suitors, becoming relics of the past.
The Republic was not perfect, but Tobias had ensured law and order were written into its foundation. Within a month of its expansion, there were no bandits or slavers on the continent, no slaves or serfs, no new children in need of the Hidden Blossom Sect's care. And without those children, there was no need for Flowers to find their way into the sect through the courtesan life.
The Hidden Blossom Sect had closed its doors and become a sect like any other, studying cultivation and dao in search of immortality. Tobias's sect sisters and the few brothers they had found were no longer lost, no longer without a path. They knew where they were going, and they were on their way there.
Tobias glanced to his left, where Hun Jia's real body sat cultivating.
Hun Jia smirked. "Afraid I won't come with you when you leave?"
Tobias chuckled. "I'm more concerned with you ruining my disciples' summer when I mention I've figured out how to let the world see the Blossoms for who they really are."
Hun Jia frowned. "It's impossible."
"No. We just thought it was, my love."
***
When Tobias was ready to go home, the Hidden Blossom Sect went with him. Accepting his promise to deliver them into a world that would see them for who they were. Without the children they taught, their isolation had grown more acute, and many of them were losing heart because the thought of an eternity without recognition was too much.
Tobias led a procession across the continent to the Forgotten Valley, bypassing his friend's layered defences in a way that he knew would annoy him. Peace Master So had done everything he could to shield himself from the outside world, upgrading his defences with each new discovery, but it still wasn't enough.
Not after everything Tobias had learnt during his travels.
Tobias exited the cave network holding hands with the woman he loved and manipulated reality before him, opening a doorway to the Forgotten Valley, his friend's hidden realm. He motioned to his disciples, sect sisters and brothers and stepped through the weakened spiritual barrier, maintaining his shroud.
Tobias was immediately engulfed by a familiar sense of peace that was far stronger than it had been just a few short centuries ago. Peace Master So had made a lot of progress while he was gone, expanding his understanding of dao and gaining further enlightenment. Tobias waited until everyone had entered, closed the door behind them, and dropped his shroud.
The moment he did, a sage realm cultivator took notice of their existence. Reality folded before Tobias, and First Disciple Chi stood there in a white robe, with his hands clasped behind his back, and a sword on his hip. He looked like any other newly initiated disciple. Yet, he radiated power to a degree that would cause any normal cultivator in Tobias's realm to drop to their knees in terror.
He was the incarnation of peace through superior power.
First Disciple Chi looked Tobias up and down, assessing his dao, and finding disparities. "You've changed, Sage Knowledge."
Tobias smiled back. "And you're holding back your cultivation, so your master won't release you from his service."
First Disciple Chi returned the smile and turned to Hun Jia, inclining his head. "First Disciple Chi greets Sage Clarity."
Hun Jia's eyes widened, and her grip tightened. "You can see me!"
First Disciple Chi glanced at Tobias questioningly.
Tobias grinned, happy to confirm his theories about the nature of the dao of hidden beauty were correct. "First Disciple Chi, allow me to introduce the Hidden Blossom Sect. These are my sect sisters and brothers."
The Hidden Blossom Sect cupped their hands and bowed as one. "We greet the Exalted One.
Their numbers had slowly risen over the decades, and they now had 63 members, 4 of whom were male. Their standards had not dropped, so they remained the only immortal sect Tobias had ever seen.
First Disciple Chi was still showing his confusion as he inclined his head ever so slightly out of respect for their relationship with Tobias. "First Disciple Chi greets the Hidden Blossom Sect."
There were gasps from everyone, which Tobias found quite amusing. None of them had ever been recognised by someone outside their sect before.
Hun Jia turned to Tobias and gave him a frustrated glared. "My love, will you please explain how he can see us?"
Tobias shook his head. "I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because then an old friend won't have a chance to show you how impressive he is and loves showing off." Tobias turned to First Disciple Chi. "I take it your master is in seclusion?"
First Disciple Chi nodded.
Tobias gave a fake sigh, knowing Peace Master So was throwing a tantrum and giving him the silent treatment. He raised his hand, summoning the first manual Hun Jia translated. "Such a shame. I have so many interesting presents for him, but I guess I'll have to return in a few decades."
There was a rush of wind as space folded around Tobias's hand, snatching the book away. Space was folded in such a way to make it look like First Disciple Chi had taken the manuscript, but Peace Master So could not hide his involvement from Tobias.
First Disciple Chi played his part perfectly, holding out the manuscript his master had taken. "There is no need to return. I can keep your gift safe until my master exits seclusion."
Tobias smiled and nodded. "So, kind of you. Please inform your master that this is the least of Sage Clarity's work and that she has hundreds of other manuals and manuscripts that she would be willing to trade for his assistance."
First Disciple Chi looked far too serious as he inclined his head, knowing exactly what was going on. "I will inform my master when he leaves seclusion. I'm sure he will be most interested."
Tobias turned to leave, but then suddenly turned back, and a manual appeared in his hand. There was no name on the cover. No way to distinguish the contents, but it was more heavily saturated in the dao of knowledge than anything else he and Hun Jia had worked on.
It was their dual dao cultivation method.
Tobias stepped forward and offered it to First Disciple Chi. "Let me offer this to you as a parting gift. However, you must promise me that it will be for your eyes and your eyes alone."
Tobias could sense First Disciple Chi's amusement now as he graciously took the manual. "You have my word that no one but I will read this, Sage Knowledge."
"That is all I needed to hear. We will bother you no more."
Tobias turned and beckoned the others to follow him as he opened another doorway and left the Forgotten Valley. Before Peace Master So could fold space and summon them back, Tobias shrouded their group.
Hun Jia frowned at him. "What was that?"
"I was baiting the hook, my love. Now we just need to wait and pull in the fish."
"He's a sage."
"He is also crippled by his cultivation with the self-control of an eleven-year-old boy." Tobias turned to Lung Mei and smiled. "You are about to learn why I was so afraid you would never grow up."
Lung Mei glanced back the way they had come and nodded.
They passed through the cave network, and as they exited, Tobias turned to Hun Fen. "He's about to forcefully fold space around us. See if you can stop him with your dao."
Hun Fen grinned at the challenge.
Tobias dropped the shroud and immediately sensed Peace Master So folding space around him.
Tobias found himself standing before an eleven-year-old-looking boy sitting on a boulder under a towering sage realm spirit willow. It was the exact same way he had met his friend, which suggested he was trying to make a point.
Tobias noticed the spirit willow was holding off its ascension to stay with the cultivator beneath its branches, waiting patiently to ascend together. It seemed to believe Peace Master So needed its protection and guidance, and Tobias couldn't say its instincts were wrong.
Tobias knew Peace Master So would be heartbroken if it left without him. It had been with him since his birth, and Tobias knew that his friend's greatest wish was to ascend to immortality, standing side by side with his father, his tree, and his disciples, in that order.
Tobias looked around him with his aura spotting Hun Jia, Lung Mei, and Ming Dia Lu. Across the valley, the Blossoms were with Peace Master So's disciples around a table piled high with food and drink. Hun Fen was nowhere in sight.
And Peace Master So looked annoyed.
Tobias smiled. "Having a little trouble with my disciple, old friend?"
"No. I just don't want to bully my juniors, Senior."
A second later, Hun Fen appeared beside Ming Dia Lu. Her eyes widened with surprise, and she turned to Peace Master So, raising her blade. "How did you do that? I was cutting through whatever you were doing with my dao, and then I couldn't."
Peace Master So laughed in her face, unconcerned by the weapon. "I made you choose the path of peace. There can be no violence on the path of peace."
Tobias winced. "Old friend, please don't antagonise my disciple."
Peace Master So frowned. "You sound concerns, Senior. Don't worry. I promise no harm will come to her."
"It's not her that I'm worried about." Tobias turned and raised his hand. "Sage Peace, allow me to once again introduce, Sage Clarity."
Peace Master So turned to Hun Jia and inclined his head. "Sage Peace greets Sage Clarity." A smile suddenly transformed his features, and he held out his hand, causing a large chest to appear. "Oh, you're together. That's fantastic. I've been waiting to give him this wedding present for centuries."
Hun Jia inclined her head more deeply. "Sage Clarity greets Sage Peace. Sage Knowledge and I have not officially married. We have merely taken one another as cultivation partners."
Peace Master So made the chest vanish. "Well, this is awkward."
Tobias chuckled. "Sage Peace allowed me to introduce my disciples."
Tobias introduced his disciples one by one, sharing their accomplishments and experience, along with the trajectory of their cultivation. Peace Master So had a much deeper understanding of dao than Tobias did, not as wide perhaps, but much deeper. If Tobias had missed anything, Peace Master So would find it.
When formal introductions were over, Tobias sent his disciples to join the Blossoms and offered his old friend a beautiful hug, expressing how much the sage meant to him. He used everything he had learned during his absence, leaving nothing out. Peace Master So melted into his arms, bursting into tears.
"Senior, you were gone so long."
Tobias patted his back. "I made a mistake I had to correct, old friend. And I couldn't let my cultivation fall behind to correct it."
"They're all upset with you. The Republic thinks you've gone off to form your own empire. Your mother thinks you've run away with a woman. Your father thinks you've run away with a man. Your clan is annoyed that they can't find you. And all you do is sit in your realm and cultivate your way to immortality without coming to visit me. I've been bored for over a century, and it's all your fault."
"I know."
"Why did you have to leave?"
Tobias untangled himself from his friend and walked over to the boulder, climbing onto one side. Peace Master So appeared beside him, not upset about having to share his favourite seat. Tobias could now see Peace Master So's hidden heart. He could see that all his friend wanted was for Tobias to treat him like a little brother.
So, Tobias treated him the way he wanted while recounting his adventures. He left nothing out. When Tobias got to his explanation of the dao of hidden beauty and its effects, Peace Master So frowned.
"Senior, is this hidden dao how you snuck into my home?"
Hun Jia leaned forward with interest but didn't disturb them.
Tobias nodded. "I only used the hidden aspect of the dao, none of the beauty aspects was involved. Can you sense the Blossom's dao path?"
Peace Master So shook his head. "You cannot sense what is not there."
Hun Jia took in a sharp breath.
Tobias watched her focus turn inwards as she began searching for the dao that had started her road to immortality. But there was nothing for her to find.
"You understand their dao, old friend?"
Peace master So sighed. "Senior, your understanding of cultivation is second to none, but you still don't understand dao half as well as you think you do."
Tobias smiled, not offended by the statement in the slightest. Peace Master So had always had an instinctive grasp of dao, which Tobias lacked, and no matter how much Tobias's cultivation improved, he could not grasp the nature of dao as well as the other sage could. That did not mean the other sage could gather dao insights and form comprehensions faster, only that the insights he gathered and comprehensions he formed were better understood. Tobias had been hoping Peace Master So could help the Blossoms where he couldn't.
"So, what have I misinterpreted?"
"You said the Blossoms all have traumatic pasts. Histories that were so dark it drove many of them insane."
Tobias nodded.
"The dao of hidden beauty is not a dao of recovery or repair, but of hiding for survival. It forces the mind to withdraw for its own protection, changing behaviours to ensure that the individual comes to as little harm as possible."
"That doesn't explain why you and your disciples can understand us when no one else can?"
"The dao of hidden beauty has no power here, Senior. You do not need to hide in a place of peace. Because of the nature of my dao, their dao cannot exist here without active effort."
Hun Jia gasped. "We never left our past behind."
Peace Master So turned to her and nodded. "Exactly. You merely adapted to survive what the world did to you. Hiding your hearts even from yourselves."
Tobias smiled. "Do you know how to fix this?"
Peace Master So shook his head. "I might be able to see the problem more clearly than you can, but you're much better at finding the solution, Senior." He held out his hand and rubbed his index finger along his thumb, indicating he was open to bribes. "But I'm sure I could come up with a few ideas to help you along your way."
Tobias chuckled. "Have you tried to read the manuscript yet?"
Peace Master So frowned. "No. Why?"
"We'll talk about your compensation after you try to read it."
Peace Master So held out his hand and summoned the manuscript from his storage right. He opened the first page, scanned it, and snapped it closed.
"What did you do, Senior?"
Tobias reached over and ruffled Peace Master So's hair. "I did nothing. You have never studied a hidden dao, so you cannot comprehend the hidden insights it reveals."
"Then you will have to teach me."
Tobias shook his head. "Why would I teach you when there is a much better teacher sitting before you?"
Peace Master So turned to Hun Jia, then glanced at Tobias. "Are you sure, Senior?"
Tobias laughed. "I'll let you borrow my cultivation partner if you let me borrow your first disciple?"
Peace Master So frowned. "Why do you need my first disciple?"
"Hun Fen needs a sparring partner who can teach her how to overcome the dao of peace."
"That could take centuries."
"More like years. And I'm in no rush to go home."