Chapter 302


    After he knew Birita was aware of his efforts, Anton took some more precautions to protect people. It was already known that he was teaching people to cultivate, but she hadnt taken action about that just yet. Showing too much favoritism for one individual might be a problem, though. They could be singled out and made an example. While such information might already be known, Anton avoided approaching people when there were watchers. He was bing increasingly unsure of his policy to let things continue as they were, but the budding cultivations of his students and the information he now possessed brought a little confidence.


    Biritas thugs had better things to do than stand around all day watching for Anton- and they would soon learn that when they realized he never got within eyesight of them. But while they were wasting a week or two assuming they would notice him getting close, he was continuing to go about his business.


    This tree thistle, Anton discussed with Idalia, It shares the same properties as the milk thistle? Except increased in magnitude significantly.


    I think so, Idalia nodded. Among other things, its supposed to be good for the liver.


    Perhaps good for heavy drinkers?


    She shook her head. Good for them? Probably not. Used by them sometimes. But its better for them to stop. The side effects arent great. After Anton exined Biritas actions, Idalia shook her head. Thats stupid. While it should theoretically help recover the damage to her liver to some extent, thats only in moderation. Taking that much of anything is just going to act more like a poison. And taking it <em>while</em> drinking is just asking to magnify the stomach issues it can cause. She has to constantly be feeling sick.


    She appears to be quite irritable, Anton concurred.


    Its not <em>normally</em> the sort of thing that Id say is potentially fatal, but huge swigs of the stuff I made? Idalia grimaced. Just how good are the bodies of cultivators?


    Not <em>that</em> good, Anton offered. I didnt feel her taking steps to filter it, either.


    So maybe she drinks herself to death, or bloats herself to death. Either might take a while. Then someone else takes over and continues everything.


    Probably, Anton agreed. But in the course of those months you and the others grow stronger, a step or two at a time. I didnt observe any sort of proper training going on in their camp, and thats reflected in their lower ranking members. Theyre not even trying to teach the ground-level thugs how to cultivate. You and the others already can deal with them.


    Sort of, yeah. But even if we take them out, all it would take is her flipping out to kill us all.


    So? Anton asked. What do you want me to do? It was a sincere question, not some sort of deflection.


    I dont know. Killing her now actually invites retaliation. If we can wait until she offs herself somehow, it might lead to a violent transfer of power that would weaken their position. If you could take out the right people or we could sway some to be reasonable it might work out. Idalia sighed, Because I do believe youre right that someone else would probably just move in afterwards. And despite the expenses, at least people arent getting killed. Mostly. The Gray Rock Sect wouldnt be a good recement for her, though they might end up about the same.


    Anton nodded. That all sounds about right.


    If youre right and we could have Spirit Building people within a year if we can just hang on that long, we could control our own destinies. If she dies. Either we can have you do it or wait for the inevitable. Her doing it to herself, or pissing off some other cultivators. Idalia frowned, But if shes going through that medicine so quickly, if it doesnt bring her down shell run out. And then Ill have to find more. Once was hard enough, and I think I got lucky. If theres more, I could really use your help locating it.


    Absolutely, Anton nodded. Im quite happy to provide information. And protection where its necessary. If there isnt more


    I kept some seeds, Idalia replied. I could grow some, but I have no idea how long it takes and it would either seem suspicious or be too expensive or both.


    That also sounds right. If it really needs to grow on deep forests around corpses, I could <em>also</em> set that up.


    I wish you could just stay here forever.


    It would be nice, but theres more to the world than here. Id prefer if every part of it was improved as much as I could. And of course, I dont have forever. Anton rified, Ill be returning to my home with the others soon enough. We never nned to be here any longer than two years at most, and were past six months.


    I understand, Idalia nodded. Just make sure to let us know before you go. So we can be ready.


    If I can, I will. At the very least, I can get a message to you.


    -----


    I cant believe they didnt let us participate in the tournament, Alvained.


    It was for the purpose of empowering local juniors, Annelie exined. Prizes going to outsiders would defeat the purpose.


    But why wouldnt they let us participate just to fight?


    It wouldplicate things, Anish surmised. And while you might be reasonable enough to actually mean you dont care about the rewards, they have no assurance of that.


    And why wouldnt they fight us outside of the tournament? Alvained. Its not like Im Chikere. I dont cut people in half! Or kill them at all, when I dont mean to.


    Annelie shrugged, Technically neither does she. Its just more often her intent. And her presence has stirred up some of the sects here in the east. Something about their swords going missing. And of course there was the whole thing with Vianne.


    But she was <em>evil</em>! Alva grumbled.


    Her sect refused to believe that. They imed the corpse was tampered with.


    I bet theyre in on it, Alva dered.


    Or just trying to save face, Anish shrugged. When Alva red at him, he sighed. Well, its true. Some sects are quite adamant that none of them were traitorous members of the Twin Soul Sect, despite proof to the contrary.


    I thought a bunch of the old fogeys here were supposed to have learned stuff from Everheart, but everyones so stubborn, Alva shook her head. It just gets worse with age!


    Agreed, Annelie said. Our grandfather is still nting seeds of cultivation in themoners here, even though he wont be around to guide them for long. I doubt the world will be as good to them without him around.


    Anish frowned, Thats up to them, isnt it? At least theyll have a chance to fight for a real position in the world.


    Yeah! Alva said. It sucks to be weak and unable to fight back.


    I know but Annelie shook her head. Not everyones as lucky as us. To have the talent and proper teachers. Halfway cultivating might just feel worse.


    Anish took his chance to speak. The elders of my sect would disagree. Even if they werent all able to reach the heights they imagined, merely having the capability to act with confidence to work towards their desires was enough. And I suppose the rest of us are part of making the world a better ce for such people to live. But enough of all that. What was the mission again?


    Marauders. Reported by the Blue River Gardens, Annelie replied.


    Isnt this close to where your grandfather is? Anish asked. Do you think theyre the same ones?


    No, were still significantly north of that. Its just that the Blue River Gardens lost a few of their members in mysterious circumstances. They recovered the bodies of one group, but the others


    Thats a bit concerning, Alva admitted.


    Yes. One among them was an Essence Collection elder. The two of us should be weaker, and Anish not much stronger. This is primarily a scouting mission.


    Do you think we should go ask for his help? Anish asked. Its only a few days out of our way.


    And then a few days back, and weve spent a week not looking for some people who <em>could</em> be alive. And letting the trail get colder, Annelie pointed out.


    No, youre right. Its just Im not great at stealth.


    Itll be fine, Alva assured him. Ill sense people way ahead.


    Youve also gotten bettertely, Anneliemented. Much more than most of the members of Glorious me Pce.


    What can I say? he shrugged. Nobody likes dimming their fires. Were trained to be extremely open about things. Though its not always as easy as it seems.


    -----


    One dayter, Alva stopped them. I found something. Or someone. She looked around, her energy mimicking the movement of her eyes to some extent. Or what used to be someone. I dont sense anyone nearby, but we should circle around just in case. If theyre hiding on the far side, I wouldnt necessarily pick them out before we were visible. Alva bent down towards a broken branch, looking closely. Then she sniffed. But I dont think anyones been through here in a while.


    The three of them kept their energy restrained as they circled around, Alva in the lead with Anish one step behind to support her if something came up. He was the strongest of them, after all. A guardian of sorts, for the sake of improving the rtionships between sects.


    Eventually they found their way through the hills, until they came upon what Alva had sensed. A desated corpse.


    Disgusting, Alva said, sniffing. But it doesnt smell bad. It hasnt started properly decaying. It just looks like this.


    Is there any chance this is the work of a beast? Anish asked.


    No way. Beasts dont rob people of their equipment.


    Why not bury it? Annelie asked.


    No respect for the dead, Anishmented.


    Sure, but they had to know people would be looking for them, and it would be harder if they were buried, I think.


    Because they werent nning to stay in the area, Alva decreed. The first group was further north. This is more recent. Alva turned her head, surveying thend around them. They were just passing through, and any dy in their presence being reported was enough.


    What does that mean? Anish asked.


    It means we need to hurry, Alva grimaced. Because this should be someone from the Whispering Watchers. Heading almost directly towards grandpa. She started sprinting down the hill to the south.


    How many? Anish asked as he caught up to her.


    Just one. But one might be enough. The lingering energy doesnt make it clear but based on that elder


    Life Transformation, Anishmented. We <em>know</em> one of them had it out for him.


    I cant believe theyd just- ugh. Annelie shook her head as she ran along with the others. Maybe they <em>want</em> a war. Sending an elder to kill him, and all.


    Anish deliberately slowed his pace to subconsciously draw Alva back to a pace they could all sustain for what would likely be a <em>very</em> long day of running. They might have assumed that <em>he</em> is also an elder, given some of his characteristics. It wouldnt be such a political issue that way. If this is Elder Naheed, avenging a student would seem quite reasonable. Or perhaps they didnt care if it was reasonable.


    What about killing the people who saw them? Annelie asked. That seems like they didnt want to be known to be present.


    A good point, Anish agreed. We can take a short break to recharge when we get close to a significantly sized city and send out some messages including to the Blue River Gardens, for what little good it will do them.


    Alva almost seemed as if she would insist that they run without stopping, but she knew that they could actually get there just as fast with the right breaks and they would arrive more while more effective. The messages also might be critical just in case things took the worst possible turn.