--Cultivate--

[eyesofaproxy]

[When Wise was very young, or at least younger than he is now, he'd gotten lost in the forest outside Helios. He was only saved by a passing wandering cultivator, and to this day he's wanted to meet the man again to thank him. It doesn't matter that Helios fell and he and Belle moved to Yunkui Summit, he wants to find that man and thank him for what he did that day. He changed the trajectory of Wise's life, he's pretty sure, and he deserves to know that.

Granted, a wandering cultivator isn't why Wise (and Belle) is now the heir to Yunkui Summit, that is entirely because of Yixuan-shifu and their own unique abilities, but all the same. That man inspired Wise to get with Belle to create Phatheon, a nameless somebody who is able to hire people to handle things the larger temples and sects can't or won't.

Right now, though, Wise is not acting in the guise of Phaetheon. Wise is acting in the guise of a very annoyed older brother being strongarmed into going down the mountain for an annual check up, since apparently the doctors are all afraid of coming up the mountain after last year's run-in with Eous the spiritual monster rabbit. Cowards.]

I don't need to go right now, Belle, really.

Yes you do! And because there's bandits on the road, I even hired you a bodyguard!

Belle...

Comments

[fuegor]

Oh, sorry about that. It's just the way I move.

[Sure he leaned ostentatious but otherwise he was as quiet as most other cultivators when need be.

The yelp was a little funny, but he did feel a little bad.]

I heard something about adding honey to it to make it sweeter. Or are you on doctor's orders to have it as is or something?

[eyesofaproxy]

Has to be as-is. "Weakens the effects," or something.

[The face he's making makes it clear that Wise does not buy that.]

I still have some shopping to do. Do you want to wait here or come with me?

[fuegor]

Well, doctor's orders are doctor's orders...

[His tone said "that's bullshit but whatever".]

I'll come along with you. I've got a bit of my own shopping I need to do anyway.

[eyesofaproxy]

Thanks. This way.

[They head for the markets...and Wise is instantly distracted by a pretty black cat perched on a pile of boxes. He makes a slow beeline for the cat, cooing.]

Hey, Inky.

[fuegor]

[It's kitty!! Anyone would be distracted by kitty. It is the way of cat law. Lighter will stand as a slight distance but smile.]

Is this one of your friends?

[eyesofaproxy]

You could say that. I've been trying to coax him up the mountain with me, but it's taking some time. That, or he thinks if he goes he won't get any more treats.

[Wise digs a pouch out of his sleeve and pulls out a bit of meat for Inky.]

But I'd give him all the treats if he came with me, obviously. Eous likes cats, too.

[fuegor]

He'll warm up to you eventually. I don't know much about cats but I know when they choose a person they tend to stick around.

[They're loyal like dogs just in a different way.]

Eous?

[eyesofaproxy]

[Hm, how to describe Eous? Wise stands, scritching Inky behind the ears before he heads off.]

I guess you could call them our little sibling. We're not entirely sure what they are, but they're basically human?

[fuegor]

[So, not quite human. No need to do anything about it if it's not a threat, and less so if they're a friend of Wise. Some spiritual things can be left be.]

Maybe I'll have a chance to run into them if your Shifu hires me again. Pay's good so I don't mind.

[It's boring work but someone's gotta do it. Phaethon was the one to give the really good pay and jobs.]

[eyesofaproxy]

I'll let her know.

[They get what they needed in the markets, and then Wise is escorted home.

Whenever Lighter gets to where he's staying, be it inn or a camp, there is a message waiting for him from Phaethon. The calligraphy is messy as always. This is what they get for letting Eous write their messages.]

A job for you, red scarf. Details located at the Wolfblood Inn

[Lycaon's place. It works well enough for information drop offs.]

[fuegor]

[As long as it's legible and the Phaethon pay remains good, it can be as messy as it fucking wants. Lighter was camping on his own when the message came, ready to move onto the next town. But it seems him staying a day longer would be lucrative.

It took some time but he arrived at the drop off point, securing the specially made gloves on his hands with a tug.

And waited in silence for those who protected this place to confirm his arrival and presence. In a silent agreement between those people and himself, he removed the cloth that half-covered his eyes.

To show the unique red color in their center.]

There's a message waiting for me.

[eyesofaproxy]

[The head server, a tall woman who doesn't tend to actually walk, smiles and gestures for one of the younger girls to lead Lighter back to the room where the message is waiting. It's just another letter, but privacy is key with this work.]

We have reason to believe there will be an Exaltist meeting in your location in three days time. We would ask that you work with those listed here to help bring this meeting down. If you agree, leave your agreement with the owner of the inn and be at the following location in three days. Your payment will come a day later.

[fuegor]

...

[Fucking Exaltists. Zealots, more like. Three days to take whatever they want to do down. He'll need to start planning, maybe calling a favor or two in.

But nonetheless, an agreement is written on the back of the letter. No one but Phaethon and their associates know what "Champion's word" means. It's nonsense to everyone else.

It was just their signature when agreeing to a task.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Three days later, the Exaltists meet as predicted. And as planned, all hell breaks loose as the people Phaethon hired descend on them. Most of them will fall quickly, but one will get away.

And make a break for the path up to Yunkui.]

[fuegor]

[And they won't be getting up there. Not if Lighter had anything to say about it.]

Stay on the crowd!

[Shouted to Phaethon's other people as he gave chase to stop the straggler from getting up the mountain. It's not to be disturbed. And Wise and Belle were up there.

The second Lighter gets a hold of this runner he'll slam their face into the dirt.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[It doesn't take Lighter long catch up to the runner, given that this guy is a fairly normal person without much in the way of arts. The runner goes down, grunting as his face hits the dirt.]

Bastard!

[fuegor]

[And the only reason his face didn't hit dirt a second time is because Lighter is grabbing him by the head to look him dead in the eyes.]

We can do this the easy way or the hard way. You're not getting anywhere near that summit. Tell me what you people were doing here and why you tried to go up the mountain. If you do I'll spare you the shame of having to be carried back down.

[eyesofaproxy]

[The man tries to spit at Lighter but doesn't actually manage it.]

We're here because the Creator demands we be here. There are precious things on the summit we need.

[fuegor]

[If that's the case, Wise and Belle might be in danger. He'll need to warn then somehow while keeping how he learned about this to himself.

He'll also need to include this in what he sends back to Phaethon.

Lighter's grip on the guy's head tightened and he leaned in real, real close. As if daring him to try to spit again.]

Well, today's not your lucky day is it? Because you won't be getting what you need.

[And he knocked the guy out cold with a hard left hook.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[The guy goes limp, leaving Lighter to carry him back down to the others.

The remains of the gathering are...not pretty. There's a lot of dead people, though all of them killed either by qi deviation, spiritual corruption, or self defense. The few remaining living Exaltists are bound and gagged, waiting for the shifu of Yunkui to come down and handle them.

Lighter's runner is added to the pile, and the wolfman Lycaon bows.]

We can take it from here if you've other places to be.

[fuegor]

[He's so fancy, that one. But he'll return the bow nonetheless. As for other places to be.]

I've got my own results to put in, but I'll stick around until Yixuan-shifu comes down.

[Maybe it went without saying, but he wanted to let her know that her disciples may be in danger.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Of course.

[It takes Yixuan a bit to come down, but when she does she has a few of the other disciples with her to haul everyone away. She bows to the cultivators.]

Thank you for your work.

[fuegor]

[Respect where it was due, he bowed to Yixuan.]

Don't mention it. You know I always bring peak quality.

[A little bit of levity knowing he's a repeat client. But on raising his head it faded pretty quick.]

One of the Exaltists tried to make his way up the mountain. Said Yunkui summit holds something precious that they need.

Naturally, I wasn't gonna let him slip past me. But you should know Wise and Belle might be in danger if they're targeting this place.

[eyesofaproxy]

[Yixuan frowns.]

Did they mention them by name?

[fuegor]

No, it's just a hunch. He's still alive and among the group being taken away.

[Lighter will describe the runner briefly, in case Yixuan had questions for him specifically. Or if she wanted to look into him more.]