Chương 84: Book 2, Chapter 6: Questionss

["Y'know, you were all kinda cruel to those people,"] the Canadian complained, more animated than Song had really ever heard him. ["It's making me see y'all in a different light. I know in warrior cultures they kinda looked down on people who didn't fight, but that was a bit much, eh?"] ["I don't know,"] Song replied honestly. ["That's the way it's always been."] Or at least, that's what the Tales said.

But then, the Tales warned of inner demons and demonic beasts too, and look at where Song was now, with a Canadian in his mindscape and a crane as his Master. He trotted alongside his brothers. He knew both of them were righteous and respectful cultivators. They didn't look down on their opponents and fought honorably whether in the ring or on the kokbar field. So why were the peasant farmers different? Slowly, he fell behind to where Yu Jii, Dami, and Jinu were holding up the back of the party.

He needed some space to think. While his mind whirled, conversation continued apace, seemingly unconcerned with the upcoming battle with the bandits. Most of that was Cyrus, who complained and expounded upon the importance of what he called, "Equity and Inclusivity."

"Elder Yu, why did you decide to help?" Jinu asked quietly, trying to pitch his voice so that the silently stewing Eunji in the front couldn't overhear. She probably still did, but it was the courtesy that counted.

"Hmmm," Yu Jii stroked his salt-and-pepper goatee thoughtfully.

"Because it costs us nothing. We're already going there, and this gives us an opportunity to be hailed as heroes. The Imperial perception of those from the Nakjo plains can use some rehabilitation every once in a while."

"No, I understand that." Jinu shook his head.

"I mean why did you go over to the village in the first place? They weren't really worth our time." Song leaned in close, interested in the answer. Evidently, Cyrus was too, because he stopped complaining. Jii took a moment, clearly choosing his words wisely.

"You must understand that I'm a doctor first, and a cultivator second." Dami let out a cough, and Jii hastily amended, "A Patriarch first, a doctor second, and a cultivator third."

"That's why your clan never grows, Jii!" Eunji broke in.

"Yes, well," Jii adjusted his nose spectacles, "that's not entirely incorrect. But as a doctor, I often have no choice on who I must administer to. If a peasant somehow finds his way into my tent, they are just another patient. And when your guts are open on my table, or being emptied uncontrollably all over the floor, there's little difference between a cultivator and a farmer. Even you must agree with that, Eunji, with all the bodies you've seen on the battlefield."

Eunji snorted, and kicked her horse to move further ahead. Jii watched her go with a look of amusement. sa"So… you don't see any difference between a farmer and a noble cultivator?" Jinu said with something akin to horror. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I wouldn't say that. There's a difference in hygiene for one, and thinking for two, but that's more a matter of education than birth. And some cultivators can be quite monstrous in their physiques; our bodies are changed by the Great One's qi after all. That's likely where some of this prejudice comes from. We are different. But if we wish to remain human in spirit oif not in body, we must not forget where we came from." He gestured to where Eunji was trotting ahead.

"Eunji may act like that, but she's served with the peasant militia. They always like to put us 'Nakjin' in charge of 'dishoborable' units like that. You may've noticed that most of the farmers we saw were older, or infirm. That's because the Empire conscripts their youngest and fittest into the army. There's a good chance that Eunji served with that old man's sons, they may have even had her back or saved her life in battle."

"Then why –" Jinu said, his eyes tracking Eunji as his voice trailed off.

"Because it's human to want to believe that we're better than someone else," Jii shook his head.

"Competitiveness is a Virtue, and one that drives cultivators to the heights that we must reach, or risk deviation. And just as Eunji has served with the best, she's also probably seen the worst. The basest desires and depravities can fester in the hearts of mankind, even without the Great One's influences."

"I just wish that you didn't have to see it," Jii patted his daughter on the shoulder.

"That's one of our jobs as parents, both to shield and prepare." With that, he fell silent once more, leaning back into his saddle with a look of relaxation. Jinu's mouth closed as he too leaned back in his saddle and considered. Song did much the same. Truly, this trip was turning into an eye-opening experience. — They smelled it far before the roofs of the old Sima estate came into view. A cloying, smokey scent mixed with an acrid burning tang.

They couldn't see it through the dribbling rain and mist, but it was clear that something was on fire.

"Do you think they're just burning stuff to keep warm?" Jinu asked nervously.

"Unlikely. The Emperor decreed that the Sima residences were to remain untouched, to serve as a warning to those who thought to rebel in the future. Even bandits wouldn't be so foolish as to break that decree," Eunji frowned.

"Unless we're dealing with some idiot cultists."

"Kongtong Sect? Or just some mortals making sacrifices in hopes that the Crimson Hunger blesses them?" Jii asked, spurring his horse to come alongside her.

"Maybe…" Eunji sniffed the air.

"I recognize that smell. It's burning flesh. It's either a sacrifice or a funeral pyre." She held her hand up to stop everyone.

"You all stay. I'm moving ahead to scout." She hopped off her horse and slowly slunk off into the mist. ["I don't like the sound of that,"] Cyrus groaned.

"Do you really think they're cultists?" Tae asked, a note of excitement in his voice.

"That would be a far more interesting Tale than just fighting some bandits."

"I wouldn't get too excited. Cultists can have demonic cultivators amongst them. That makes it a completely different situation to bring youngsters into. Eunji will need to make the call."

"Will she be okay?" Song asked nervously.

"She'll be fine. And we're right nearby on horseback, so we can come charging in if she calls for us. Just listen well." They waited for what felt like hours, but couldn't have been more than minutes. The only sound was the pitter patter of rain, and they couldn't see more than a few dozen meters. But all around them was the acrid scent of smoke. Suddenly, a shape loomed out of the mist. Song flared his dantian, and Wook's horns blazed with green fire. But it was only Eunji.

She was shaking her head from side to side.

"It's all clear," she said, her tone sardonic.

"The bandits?" Jii asked.

"Taken care of, come see for yourself," so saying, she hopped back onto her horse, and trotted off into the rain. A moment later, the rest of the party followed, swallowed up by mist and smoke as they rode into the eerie quiet.