Beware Of Chicken

High atop the lonely Cloudy Mountain, Senior Disciple Lu Ri stood at attention with the rest of the Senior Disciples. They were lined up in two rows, facing the peak of the mountain. Beside them, the rest of the Sect was assembled in blocks. The closest to the Dias were the Core Disciples, followed by the Inner Disciples, and lastly the Outer Disciples.

It was the time of twilight at the peak of the Cloudy Mountain. The mountain was so tall that looking to the west allowed one to see the setting sun, while looking to the east one could see only darkness and stars, the sky split between the two.

They were all waiting to be addressed.

They did not have to wait long. Instead of appearing in a burst of Qi as was usual, today, Elder Ran, the ranking Elder of the Cloudy Sword Sect, simply walked. He carried a torch in his hand, burning with blue fire. He walked between the rows of disciples standing at attention, his back straight and his eyes straight ahead.

He reached the head of the rows of disciples, set the torch in its place, just before the summit, and bowed.

All of the disciples bowed with him.

The torch represented the fallen Brothers and Sisters of the Sect, and all of their ancestors. It was placed slightly higher than all of the disciples, but not directly upon the point where the mountain truly met the heavens. That place belonged only to the ascended. By Lu Ri’s research it was the first time this particular ceremony had been performed in eighty years. Normally, when they celebrated the new year, nothing really changed. The disciples were occasionally allowed into crimson Crucible City, but otherwise? Aside from a brief ceremony conducted by a Senior Disciple, it had been just another day of cultivation.

Elder Ran turned from the torch and to the disciples. His eyes roved over them and Lu Ri could feel his intent wash over them all. Some of the Outer Sect Disciples, who had been shivering and looking mildly ill from the height and the cold, abruptly stopped and stood taller.

Nodding his head, Elder Ran smoothed his well-trimmed beard.

“Disciples of the Cloudy Sword Sect. This has been a trying year… for all of us.” Elder Ran began, his eyes roving over the assembled disciples of the Cloudy Sword Sect. “I will speak the truth to all of you. There was a rot in our Sect, as you well know. A rot that attacked the core of our very ideals. It was a slow and insidious killer; one that even us Elders must admit blindness to.”

Elder Ran kept his eyes on the disciples. None moved, staring straight ahead and hanging onto the Elder’s words.

“But I can say now that this rot has been dealt a mortal blow. The crumbling of our sect’s foundations was caused by negligence and complacency, and it can only be fixed by diligence and duty.” His voice became firmer.

“And in this regard, I can only praise you all, disciples of the Cloudy Sword Sect. Those who have erred have been corrected. Those who knew not the proper path have been set upon it. You have taken the lessons of the Honoured Founders to heart, and in seeing your dedication This old man can only feel pride.”

Elder Ran lifted his hands in the formal gesture of respect: That of a court functionary, with his hands open, rather than the martial salute of a closed fist.

There was an undercurrent of shock as the Elder paid his respects to his juniors. “You have all risen to the tasks placed upon you. When our Ancestors look down from the heavens, know that they smile upon us.”

“As such, your diligence shall be rewarded. Disciples, This is my last command to you for the year: Go and be merry. Any and all rowdiness will be forgiven tonight.”

There was stunned silence as the Elder gave his order.

Then one of the Outer Disciples let out a tentative cheer.

Elder Ran chuckled and smoothed his beard.

==============================

Lu Ri was not one for parties. He much preferred the silence and solitude, but even he could not help but enjoy the atmosphere.

There had been a banquet waiting for them when they descended the mountain, with dumplings and fine wine. Other sects would have certainly had more lavish looking faire… But the Cloudy Sword Sect had unparalleled quality. Lu Ri knew because he had helped organize it. The Master Spiritual Chef Chao Chen had been contacted. Such chefs were exceedingly rare, and generally only worked when they pleased, but the man had been intrigued by the chance to work with rare ingredients from the southlands. The Qi laden foods were likely better than any the Disciples had ever tasted, and the brewers that supplied the Emperor's household had parted with several barrels of the finest wine.

It was an indulgence… But in the grand scheme of things it was a small one. Lu Ri agreed that the Sect needed some kind of release after the pressure they had been placed under.

The Core Disciples, once surly at being forced from their compounds and their complete focus upon themselves, had more considering airs about them as they gazed upon their juniors. He knew several Core Disciples had been surprised at the insight of their Juniors on the topic of cultivation. Others had led their Juniors out of the Sect and into battle against rampaging Spirit Beasts and cultivator bandits. Still others had ventured to tournaments, crushing all the opposition they encountered.

Such simple interactions had caused the Outer Disciple’s abilities to grow in leaps and bounds, and the Sect was feeling more united than it had in years.

Lu Ri could not help but smile. He closed his eyes as one of the Core Disciples played her Guzheng, her sublime skill echoing across the mountains along with her voice. Another Outer Disciple joined her. His skill was lesser, but his instrument and voice supported hers as they sung an old song about capturing the moon in their cup.

“A beautiful night, is it not, Senior Disciple Lu Ri?” Elder Ran’s voice was quiet, letting Lu Ri know that there was no mission for him. He opened his eyes in time to see his Elder take a seat at the table with him.

“It is indeed beautiful, Elder. The stars smile on us this night.”

Elder Ran nodded at Lu Ri’s words.

“Indeed. The solstice, the Phoenix of the Empire, and the New Year. All are tidings of hope and renewal, and this old man must confess he is feeling quite optimistic. We have you to thank for your efforts in finding Jin Rou… and waking us up from our daze.”

Lu Ri simply bowed in respect. “Thank you for your kind words, Honoured Elder.

The Elder nodded his head and turned away from the mountain, towards the open air, to where, far below them, Crimson Crucible City lay hidden beneath the clouds.

Elder Ran waved his hand like a child brushing away some sand. The clouds that shielded the sect from view were wiped away in a single stroke. And not just the Qi-dense clouds below the sect; every cloud in the sky, as far as the eye could see, simply moved out of the way, leaving the view unobstructed.

The city glittered below them, looking for all the world like a beautiful jewel.

“I remember loving the fireworks. I used to sneak off down the mountain to watch them during the new years celebrations. Will you have a drink with me and watch the show, Senior Disciple?”

“It would be my honour, Elder Ran.” Lu Ri said, lifting the bottle of alcohol so he could pour his Elder a cup.

Elder Ran smiled, and with another wave of his hand the air in front of them distorted as he used the [Thousand Li View], bringing them right down into Crimson Crucible City.

The New Year festivities were in full swing. The city was painted red with all of the lanterns that had been erected, glowing crystals within them shining brightly. Enormous dragon puppets with floatstone in them soared through the air and could even breathe gold and red sparks. Drink flowed like water. Bao, potstickers, and noodles poured out of restaurants in a never-ending tide. The sweets that were made would form mountains. The city heaved with the force of its celebrations, loud, chaotic, and boisterous.

But as a massive gong rang, the pounding of the drums ceased. The people shouting and singing paused.

Each and every man and woman would turn to the sky, ready for the fireworks show.

They did not have to wait long.

The first firework was launched out of a massive tube. It was the size of an ox; spewing green fire from its rear as it roared into the sky, climbing higher and higher and higher, until it erupted in a detonation that, if it was on the ground, could have leveled a city block. Green and blue sparks shattered the sky as secondary detonations of green and gold sparked around it.

The people of Crimson Crucible City packed as much gunpowder as they could into their fireworks; to send them as high as they could, trailing fire as they tried to reach the heavens.

None had ever succeeded, but a lucky few, every year, managed to pierce the clouds around the Sect.

Those lone few were what the disciples normally saw. But tonight… one could see over almost the entirety of Raging Waterfall Gorge.

Each little town and village was another spot of light. And above each one, there was another detonation.

They watched for nearly an hour as the colours burst and thunder echoed.

Until finally the Elder turned back to Lu Ri.

“I must confess some curiosity with what you’re working on, Senior Disciple. You’ve been quite busy, and this old man was wondering what one of our rising stars is so consumed with.”

Li Ri’s eyes widened at the compliment. Him, a rising star of the Sect? The very thought was almost absurd! “This disciple is in the preliminary testing phases of implementing a more cohesive system for mail.”

Elder Ran looked at Lu Ri in surprise. “Oh? Elaborate, please, Disciple.”

“Yes, Elder. In This Disciple’s studies of the Founder’s Works, and that of the Scholar Generals who created the Empire’s bureaucracy, much emphasis was placed on the use of independent couriers. However, during This Disciple’s time in the mortal world, he found the system exceedingly inefficient for moving large volumes of messages. Mortals complain often of delayed mail… if mail arrives at all. Yet this is not solely about the mail of mortals.”

Elder Ran made no move to interrupt Lu Ri and simply gestured at him to continue.

“The Empire itself is almost like a creature. The people are its blood. The roads, its veins and arteries, its cities and farms are its organs… and the mail could be said to be nerves. What would happen to the Empire… to this civilization, if one were to effectively cultivate the speed at which information travels?”

Lu Ri held his breath, watching the Elder stroke his beard. Then, Elder Ran smiled. “That is indeed interesting, Senior Disciple Lu Ri. That is the conclusion many have come to in their contemplations upon the world. That civilization itself is alive in some sense. Indeed, there are even some treatises by the Honoured Founders that discuss this very topic. I shall have them delivered to your room.” Li Ri paused. He had come across the same conclusion as one of the Honoured Founders… independently? Pride swelled in his breast. “Continue this line of reasoning and your tests. I approve of them.”

“It shall be so, Elder Ran.” Lu Ri replied, looking over the city. Perhaps… perhaps the entire Journey to find Jin Rou had been more fruitful than it had first appeared.