Like I said yesterday, I'm at the point where I'm doing heavy rewrites and adding chapters, so I won't be as on time as I've been over the past few months. I'm also about to head out and explore Ireland next week, so I'm not sure how much time I will have to write. I'll try to get ahead over the weekend, but I'm not sure I will be able to, so sorry in advance if that happens. Also, sorry this chapter is 12 hours late. Chapter 126
The Forgotten Valley
Life in the Forgotten Valley was peaceful, but it was a false peace, one brought about by the dao of sage realm cultivators. The strength of their cultivation offered no alternative to the peace forced upon you, and yet that did not matter to the Blossoms. The peaceful paradise Peace Master So created was exactly what they needed to open their hidden hearts and search for the beauty they had hidden from themselves.
A few days after their arrival, Tobias sipped tea with his old friend Senator Lee. Senator Lee was the longest-standing member of the Senate, but also a sage realm cultivator, so he operated in the outside world through a nascent soul realm clone. Tobias was not meeting with his friend's actual body, which was tucked away in a corner of the valley, deep in seclusion, where it was cultivating the spiritual energy needed to form the last layer of his core and achieve immortality. Instead, he was speaking with his clone, which had stopped by to visit his son.
Senator Lee looked out across the valley, watching the confrontation between Hun Fen and First Disciple Chi. Hun Fen had made quick progress, developing methods to counter the dao of peace. She could strike her opponent with a light tap of her blade, something Peace Master So found both terrifying and fascinating.
If Hun Jia didn't have him so distracted with her lesson, Tobias knew he'd already be trying to find a way to end his disciple's training. Much had changed over the years, but Peace Master So was still an eleven-year-old boy terrified of the world around him. Walking the dao path of peace through strength had nothing to alleviate these fears.
Peace Master So's dao was as twisted as the Blossoms, and no amount of sword dao enlightenment or peace enlightenment would change that. However, the dao of beauty might allow him to remake himself into a more beautiful version of himself, one that was not quite so afraid of the childhood he had lived through.
Despite Peace Master So's reservations about Hun Fen, his disciples were making progress in their sword dao, gathering insights and forming comprehensions. They were excited to see their understand of the sword and sword dao increase after stagnating for so long. Despite walking the path of peace through strength, they had no teachers to guide them. No geniuses to correct their mistakes. Their understanding of dao may have grown over the centuries, but their understanding of the sword had not.
Senator Lee placed down his cup, turned his body, and bowed at the waist to Hun Fen. "This one pays his respects to the mortal goddess, may her journey to immortality be calm and swift." Then he turned back to Tobias. "Who is she?"
Tobias placed down his cup. "She is my disciple."
Senator Lee raised an eyebrow at the lacklustre answer.
"You told me a long time ago that when I am speaking with your clone, I am speaking with Senator Lee first and my friend second. Has that changed?"
"No, which is why I'm so concerned."
"Her father was a prodigy sword saint who could trace his lineage to the 1st Emperor, and her mother is Sage Clarity, my cultivation partner, and your son's favourite teacher."
Senator Lee chuckled. "If my son were a few years older, I'm sure he'd be trying to compete for her affection."
Tobias chuckled. "And I'm sure he'd be shamelessly giving her even more presents than he already is."
Senator Lee continued to chuckle. "I'm glad you're back, old friend. I've missed sharing tea with you."
"I've missed this, too."
Senator Lee turned and looked across the Forgotten Valley to where Lung Mei was sparing with Ming Dia Lu. The two were gathering insights into the dao of peace, using the tricks Hun Fen had taught them. The comprehensions they had formed were smoothing out their rough edges, giving them a greater understanding of violence for the purposes of peace.
Tobias refilled their cups. "I'm told the Senate is upset with me."
Senator Lee nodded but continued to watch Tobias's disciples. "We had our concerns. They appear to be unfounded. The younger generation has studied your life, so for you to disappear for a couple of centuries to help one of your disciples won't come as a surprise to anyone. I'll smooth things over with the rest."
"People still talk about me?"
Senator Lee snorted. "Tobias, people will never stop talking about you. You are the magistrate who founded The Republic. The man who turned down a chance to be emperor for the betterment of the people. The man who opened our eyes to cultivation and did not hoard his discoveries, changing the cultivation world forever. Our generation may not have acknowledged your contributions, but the younger generation has."
"How much did they get right?"
Senator Lee smiled. "Your friends have made sure that history has been represented correctly."
"So, you embellished everything and sprinkled in the truth."
"The Republic needed a hero. You were the only one without a tainted past."
Tobias sighed.
"I need you to do something for me."
"What do you need?"
"I need your disciple to sit on the 1st Emperor's throne."
Tobias frowned. "Why?"
"The Republic still can't access the archives that the 2nd Emperor sealed without destroying them, but there is an override built into the 1st Emperor's throne which will activate if someone worthy sits upon it."
Tobias shook his head. "Hun Fen was born out of wedlock. His throne won't recognise her. The Han Clan were very strict about these things."
"That's a shame. Much of our history would be cleared if we could access those records."
Tobias smiled. "Her half-sister Ming Dia Lu was born through marriage, and she's a living sword of the fifth blade, which should satisfy the throne requirements."
Senator Lee raised an eyebrow. "You've taken two of your enemy's clan as disciples?"
"The dao of hidden beauty alleviated my prejudice, and by the time I realised what had happened, I cared for them too deeply for it to matter. Now, why should it matter who I take as my disciples? I thought The Republic left those notions behind. Children are no longer supposed to inherit their parents' guilt."
"Under the eyes of the law, perhaps, but this is personal for you."
Tobias sipped his tea. "And who do you think proposed those laws?"
Senator Lee scowled. "Exactly how many members of the Senate have you bought?"
Tobias lowered his tea. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I merely tell my spymaster what laws I need implemented, and he uses whatever legal means he needs to achieve my request."
"You're certain they're legal?"
"I'll know when I see him again."
Senator Lee sighed. "Why do I feel like I'm drinking tea with an old monster?"
"That's because your instincts are as sharp as ever. My understanding of dao and cultivation has grown dramatically since we parted ways."
"Your manner of speech has also changed. You talk more like the younger generation, no longer hiding your words or offering face."
"Does that upset you?"
Senator Lee chuckled. "I spend my days arguing with children. If I grew upset every time their speech changed, I would not enjoy my role as much as I do."
Tobias could see into his friend's hidden heart, so he knew exactly what he meant. "You take pride in allowing the wise to lead and the fools to show for the waste of space that they are."
Senator Lee nodded. "It can be frustrating at times, but the reward is more than worth it. The Three Kingdoms of our youth could never have achieved what we've achieved. You should go for a walk to see the changes before you go home."
"Why before?"
"You've been in seclusion for two centuries. You haven't lived among our people, seen the changes that have taken place, and I imagine whatever you have planned will occupy much of your time when you get back. The world you grew up in is no more, and I want to see the peace and stability you have brought about."
Tobias nodded. "I'll do as you say."
"Is there anything you need me to take care of?"
Tobias shook his head. "I have my affairs in order."
"Anything you need to know?"
"I heard you disbanded your clan."
"You heard wrong. It's only those who cannot achieve immortality."
"Why did you do it?"
"Because I finally understood what you were building. The Republic has proven that personal strength is no longer necessary for survival, and you have taught us who can and cannot reach immortality. Staying together allowed those of us chasing immortality to thrive, but it came at the cost of those who could not join us, labouring away to see to our needs. I decided it was time to cut ties, so they can live a more fulfilling life, but I've left the door open for any of the younger generation who have what it takes to achieve immortality."
"I'm glad you understand my intentions. I hope others will follow your example when they come to the same conclusion."
Senator Lee nodded. "Each day, the usefulness of a clan diminishes. The chi saturation continues to grow, so more land becomes available for spirit gardens. Our hidden realms are our only real advantage anymore, and even that advantage now only helps those destined for immortality. There is nothing loyalty to a clan can offer that the outside world cannot. The only reason the other clans haven't disbanded already is because they are still holding onto tradition."
"Give them a few centuries."
Senator Lee chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"You are. You're telling me to give them a few centuries to change their mind. If I remember correctly, you were the one changing the world so quickly that none of us old monsters could keep up. Before we could understand one discovery you made, you threw another in our faces. Now you're sitting here saying, give them a few centuries like some old cultivator."
Tobias chuckled. "In case you haven't been paying attention, I am an old cultivator."
"Really? From where I'm sitting, you look like a spring chick."
Tobias grinned. "Perhaps you should get your eyesight checked."
"I'm going to. But I'm sure you look younger than you used to."
"I am."
"Was it a pill or a cream?"
"Dao."
"Is that why your sect sisters and brothers are all so attractive and youthful?"
Tobias nodded. "If you were willing to wake yourself up, I'm sure they would be happy to assist you."
Senator Lee shook his head. "I'm already dragging back my son's ascension. I don't want to be more of a burden."
Tobias gave a small nod of understanding, though he didn't agree with it. "Perhaps, you would allow my sect sister Blossom Genji to perform for you before you leave. I've told her of your deep love for fan artistry, and she has asked me if she could be allowed to impress you."
Senator Lee raised an eyebrow again. "If you think you can dazzle me with a pretty face, you're a millennium too late."
Tobias shook his head. "I just want you to leave with an understanding that I have not wasted my time."
Senator Lee turned and looked across the Forgotten Valley and smiled. "You have the love of an intelligent and beautiful woman. The devotion of three wonderful disciples. And a depth to your joy, I have never seen in you in all my days. You have not wasted your time, old friend. However, I will allow you to tempt me from seclusion."
"Thank you."
"You haven't won yet."
"I have. You just don't know it."
***
Senator Lee had studied fan artistry more deeply than anyone Tobias knew until he met Blossom Genji. He had done so because he used his fans as a dao focus for his fire-based spells and techniques, literally fanning the flames with his dao. They were his weapon of choice. Not because they were powerful, but because the oddity of using folding fans lulled his enemies in false sense of security. Blossom Genji's display enchanted Tobias's old friend even more than he thought it would. By the end of the evening, Senator Lee was waking himself from seclusion.
Tobias sat at the edge of the Forgotten Valley with Lung Mei, watching Peace Master So and Senator Lee argue over their lessons. Each one thought their teacher was the best, and neither was backing down.
Lung Mei leaned over and rested her head on Tobias's shoulder. "Thank you, Master."
Tobias frowned. "For what?"
"For never giving up on me. For doing everything you could, so I didn't turn out like Peace Master So."
"You don't have to thank me for that."
"I do, because while you were obligated to undo the harm you caused me, you were not obligated to love me. You were not obligated to read bedtime stories to me. You were not obligated to hold me when I cried at night, calling for my mother. You went beyond fixing your mistake and gave me a childhood that I can look back on fondly."
Tobias smiled and rested his head on his little girl's. "What brought this on?"
"Seeing them together. They are father and son, without ties of blood."
"You've seen that before."
"Never between cultivators, and you can't say it's not different. The dao which connects them is so much clearer than it is with mortals."
Tobias found her response surprising because he had not expected it. She was speaking of very complex dao interactions. Interactions that still eluded him. "I can't see what you see."
"You can't?"
"No. The bonds between people have always been just out of reach. Perhaps when I enter the sage realm, that will change, but I'm rather blind to it all right now."
"Hun Fen and Ming Dia Lu couldn't see it either."
"That doesn't surprise me. We all walk our own path. We find our strengths and how to use them and make the best of the situation we have been dealt. This might be your path."
"I want to be a warrior."
"Then become a warrior who understands their enemy."
"That will make me more likely to hesitate."
"Only if you are unsure if you should raise your hand. However, if you are certain your enemy is beyond redemption, then you will act without hesitation and with convictions deeper than any others. A warrior with such convictions will fight longer and harder than any other."
Lung Mei looked across the Forgotten Valley not with her aura, but with her eyes, sensing where Peace Master So's disciples cultivate. "Is that why you brought us here with the Blossoms? You wanted to show us what it looked like to walk opposing paths."
"Opposing paths rarely exist under the heaven's dao. What we see as opposites are just a part of a greater whole. Hun Fen sees her sword as her way to understand other dao, when she should see other dao as a way for her to better understand her sword. Ming Dia Lu believes that the arrays and artefacts she creates are a separate path to the sword she wields, though together they could form a greater path. And you, you see yourself as a warrior, forsaking all else, not realising a warrior with nothing to love or cherish, and no thoughts beyond violence, cannot hope to compete with one who has more reasons to live and more avenues for response available."
Tobias sat motionless as Lung Mei began to glow, undergoing enlightenment. The Forgotten Valley had gone still, and every set of eyes turned in their direction. Lung Mei was not a prodigy. She was not a savant. She was merely a cultivator who had a chance of reaching immortality.
And Tobias had finally found the right words to let her see how she could make her way there without regret.