For Rixiong, the journey south had seemed to pass in the flash. The strange death priest, the 'Agent of Integrity' he carefully reminded himself, as it was disrespectful to the spirits to misname their priests, was a funny little man. He was always squinting and hunching his shoulders, and scribbling in his little book. Rixiong wished he could read the scrawled text! He had many questions for Rixiong about his cultivation, which Rixiong had proudly answered. Like Mother, like her court he cultivated after the ways of the Great Zenith, the Noontide Sun, He Who Bears the Enemies of the World Upon His Back. Though he of course revered also the great Bountiful Earth, whose plenty provides for all.
He'd asked the funny masked man about his own god, and though he'd seemed surprised, he was happy to explain. Inexorable Justice sounded like a good god indeed, ensuring that villains could never slink away from their rightful punishments. The priest had ceased to frown and mutter so much after the first few days of heavy questioning.
And Rixiong didn't mind, because to him the world blurring outside of the carriage was fascinating. He had spent his entire life under the heavy canopy of the forest, at most finding time to sneak to its edge and peer at the little villages which bit into its edges and lived from the scraps of its bounty.
But he saw now things which dwarfed the little collections of human life, things which showed him how men could have built the fallen temples of stone and ancient bone and petrified wood which stood in the forest depths.
The carriage drove along a high ridge, and when the sun set, the bends of the river below glowed like a reflection of the starry sky above. This did not even speak to the sheer distance he could see, on clear days he saw land stretching out, hills and vales the canopies of forests like his own stretching out until his eyes could render them only as misty shapes.
And in the south the mountains rose and rose, higher than any tree save the great pillar itself. And it was to those mountains he went. It grew colder as they went along, and he was glad for the many heavy pelts he had brought with him. The funny priest had asked him if he wished to stop and receive some clothing. He was thankful but what need was there?
Soon though they drove at the base of the mountains and he understood why these were called 'The Wall' because the cloud piercing peaks were like unto a rampart of the gods, like he'd imagined the walls of the Zenith Fortress in mother's tales of the war with the Stars.
He felt his heart pound as they approached the outer mountain, the entrance to the Argent Peak Sect, which would be his home for years to come, if he understood everything correctly.
He'd been very excited, bounding from the carriage into the admittedly unsettling plaza -it was so strange to see trees arranged so artificially!- Taking the last bit of instruction on where to go, he'd greeted everyone he met proudly with his back straight and his head held high.
And he'd found himself surrounded by cold eyes and condescension. He was not very good at reading the faces of other humans, but even he could understand when he was being looked down upon. Perhaps he should have taken the offer of clothes? He hadn't thought it would matter, but he was the only one dressed so warmly? He had even thrown on his best cut wolf fur vest for the silver color though, so he still matched!
But that first day he'd been left confused and a little hurt, taking a seat alone as they waited for the honored Elder to arrive. The explanation that man had given had gone a bit over his head, but he understood that they were not to fight for three turns of the moon. The gift of spirit stones though, those were rich indeed! He had only ever had a few, to be rationed out over months. Hujian never said where he got them and Rixiong had never asked.
But for all that his cultivation soared in those few months, he found his attempts to speak with others rebuffed again and again. Even help and aid was looked upon with scorn!
Just as it was now
"And today, all of your insults will be repaid, you barking savage!" The other boy exclaimed, pointing the tip of a thin sword toward Rixong's nose. Behind him, two other young men, disciples in the final stage of the first realm, loomed and scowled.
Rixiong furrowed his brow. Standing on the edge of the training field for physical cultivation. He always arrived early, but today this was waiting for him. The announcement of the truce's end had not bothered him, but this.
"When have I insulted you Cao Yun?" Rixiong asked, befuddled. He bounced his spear of his shoulder, doing his best to contain his temper. It was a hard thing after these months, this confusion, all of these people refusing to explain themselves.
"Do not play the fool. Every day you have criticized my swordplay, my footwork, my stance. You speak as if you were my instructor and not the elder, and I am not alone in this," the tall, thin boy growled, his cheeks reddened with temper. "Just because the others fear your raw cultivation, do not think you can get away with it."
"...But your stances are poor. Look even now, your feet are placed wrong for a high stance," Rixiong said blankly."It is not my fault you refuse to correct."
Hujian had drilled into him again and again that an error, even a small one, was death in a hunt, that the body must be practiced until it moves without conscious thought. He did not want any of his Brother and Sister Disciples to die, just as Hujian did not want him to die. So of course he would point out where they were in error.
"What do you know of proper styles and stances, you bound around and swing your spear like a stick, it's only that ridiculous strength that gives you victory in spars," Cao Yun said. "But enough talk! I am challenging you to a duel! When I have victory, you will cease your insults forever after."
Rixiong's grip on his spear tightened, he looked around and saw the scattering of other disciples watching. He did not understand what they wanted of him, but he did have the feeling they all wanted to see him lose. It made a hot spark of fury jump in his chest. Why were his fellow humans so difficult.
"Fine. Cao Yun, I will duel you, and when I have victory, you will listen to my words!" He snapped back, baring his teeth. "Do you wish to do this now?"
"Of course, I have no need to cringe away, We duel to yield or third touch" Cao Yun said, raising his chin. He gestured to the two other boys who had been flanking him backed off, and Cao Yun himself paced away to the edge of the nearest ring.
"Accepted," Rixiong followed after him, with rolling stomping steps, cracking his neck. This was a duel, well and proper, finally he could vent this rage in his heart honorably! He planted his spear in the earth, and brought his fists together in front of his chest with a thump. "O great sun, O Zenith, I dedicate this battle to your glory, a pale reflection of the endless war."
Cao Yun regarded him with some surprise as he recited his prayer.
"Well? Make your dedication," Rixiong barked.
"...I dedicate this battle to the glory of the Empire, O Dragon of Order, may the Jade Archivist record even this small match to the litany of Imperial valor," Cao Yun said stiffly.
"...Archaic nonsense…"
"Why play along?..."
"Where does the savage get, acting so refined…"
Rixiong ignored the words whispered around them, but lowered his spear, hid expression half smile and half snarl. Whatever! He would figure that nonsense out later, his opponent was behaving properly at least!
One of the boys who had been with Cao Yun cleared his throat and raised his hand. "On my mark!"
Rixiong's foot slid back in the dirt. Cao Yun's stance shifted. It was still wrong but it was practiced.
"Begin!"
Rixiong rushed forward, with an ursine bellow a rough sound not meant for human lungs that rattled the gravel strewn across the bare dirt, his spear flying ahead like the claw of a diving raptor, a movement that had shattered the guard of many of his fellow disciples in spars.
Cao Yun's sword twisted, screeching as jade inlaid steel slapped against the haft of his spear and twisted, batting it aside, using his own momentum against him. Rixiong reacted on instinct, twisting his head and shoulder to the side to avoid the darting riposte.
He skidded, foot dragging up a plume of dust as he reoriented, and a few strands of his hair drifted to the earth. He felt a trickle of wetness on his cheek.
Cao Yun reset his stance. Glaring past the angled edge of his blade silently.
…Hujian would sear his ears. In his frustration, he had forgotten the first rule of combat.
Never fail to respect your opponent.
He would apologize later. He kicked off the earth with a muffled boom and blasted ahead, low slung, spear out to the side. The sword darted out again, like a fish twisting through the water to avoid the spear. Rixiong adjusted his grip, let the spear point be batted aside, and spun the weapon with the motion instead, setting his legs solidly and swinging the but up under the arc of the twisting blade to bash through the hasty guard raised with a heavy thump.
Cao Yun let out a sharp wheezing hiss as he stepped into the blow, swordpoint darting in like a hornet, forcing Rixiong back.
They both reset their stances, eyeing one another across the dirt. "One for each of us," Rixiong said.
His opponent nodded tersely.
Steel and wood met again with a crack.
In the end, it was Rixiong who scored the third blow, sending his opponent sprawling.
But it didn't feel like a victory. Because he'd been wrong. Cao Yun's stances and motions were not wrong, they were just not the ones Rixiong knew. He should have understood this, when the Elder did not make corrections. More than that the other boy was more skilled with his weapon than Rixiong was with his.
He was just stronger. How bitter.
Looking down at his defeated foe, red faced and fuming, he bowed. "This Rixiong apologizes. I have been rude."
"You…" Cao Yun fumed, pushing himself up from the. He was nearly grinding his teeth.
"Listen. You gave your oath," Rixiong growled. "My words in training were wrong. I apologize for my insult, it was not intended."
He thrust his hand out to the other boy, staring down.
Cao Yun met his gaze, and the glare wavered. Rixiong kept his hand extended. After a long minute, he took Rixiong's hand, wincing as he was pulled to his feet.
"...I will consider the matter dropped then," Cao Yun said.
"So will I!" Rixiong said brightly, clapping him on the shoulder. "If you wish to spar I will do it. You are very fast!"
"And you are… too strong," Cao Yun grunted, glancing at his hand with some disdain. But it was a wavering thing. Progress, maybe? "...But if you understand the truth of your words that is enough."
He brushed Rixiong off and turned away, leaving him frowning at the taller boys back. He supposed that was the best he could expect.
"You are an odd one, aren't you. Just when I thought I had you understood, you go and do a thing like that."
