Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 7 - Part a

“This one thanks Senior Fang for his instruction,” Chao said, bowing deeply.

“Little Brother, I have gained greatly over the last week as well. Please call me Big Brother,” Fang said, grabbing him by the shoulder and giving him a little shake.

“Big Brother, then.”

They shared a fiery smile.

“One last piece of advice that should be of help to you as you go out adventuring. No more bowing or addressing yourself as ‘this one’. You are a sage now, after all. And more importantly, once you leave the Monolith continent, no one speaks that way. Those that understand you’re trying to be polite will take advantage of you. Even decent people, if they are shrewd, can spot a traveler with coin to spend.”

Chao reached back and scratched the back of his head. “I understand. Thank you, Big Brother.”

“Good. Now for a parting gift.”

He was already shaking his head and holding his hand out as if to reject it. “It’s not appropriate for this one—for me—to take it.”

“Nonsense. Am I just your Big Brother in title?”

A box appeared in Fang’s hand that was just larger than a person’s fist. “Take a look.”

Chao gave in after a moment’s hesitation and opened the box. Inside was a long black belt made of unknown fabric.

“It’s called a Humility Sash, at least among high realm cultivators in jest. The original name is drawn out and I don’t remember it, so it will have to do. What it does when worn is obscure your cultivation. Everyone will see your core with their perceptions in its simplest form and think you’re an earth realm cultivator. Ping Ping is giving one to your wife that will do the same for her. Appearing to the world as a sage has its perks, but it can also be tedious. It should make your travels less bothersome. And a warning. Other sages will see right through this treasure, so don’t bother trying to fool them.”

“Big Brother, it’s a remarkable gift.”

“They aren’t cheap, but they’re not exactly rare or expensive either. This one is tough enough to survive a battle or two as long as it doesn’t receive a direct hit.” He grinned widely. “Now, out with it. Where’s my gift?”

Chao’s jaw went slack as he looked down in shame.

“Nice try. Not only did I overhear you discuss our gifts with your wife, Little Sister asked my Ping Ping directly.”

His face squinted up as he laughed and pulled a small jade box from his spatial ring. “I’ve been found out.”

As Fang took it and opened it up, his expression changed. “This is… Little Brother this is far too much. You could purchase tens of the sashes for the cost of this one pill.”

“Between us, it’s just a pill. One of which I have many of after beating up those Aureate Empire sages. The cost isn’t what matters. You knew that we had need of the humility sashes. You have need of a heavy yang overlord pill. It should help you get closer to the peak of your realm. Just don’t be too slow about it. You don’t want to be embarrassed when Huifen and I reach the divine realm first.”

“Challenge accepted.” Fang crushed him in an embrace. “Brothers indeed.”

***

“Little Sister, this is far too much,” Sage Ping said sternly.

“Husband and I have been blessed with much after our recent battle. There is more than we can use. We want to see Big Brother and Big Sister in the divine realm when the time comes, so please take it. Besides, the blue of this sash goes well with both ice phoenix blue and my orange martial outfit.”

“You are such a strange little ice fairy,” Ping said with a grin, but contemplated it for a moment longer before finally taking the gift. “Thank you.”

“Big Sister is being too reserved.”

Ping nodded that it was true, then reached up and kissed her on the forehead. She laughed when Huifen stiffened. “Your people’s way of doing things is just as odd to me as my ways are to you. And forgive me. You’re right. It should not be that way between sisters. There’s one last thing.”

A pale green card jade appeared in Ping’s hand. “We’ve spent most of our time on the nature laws and bestowing nature’s vitality to another. You’ve mentioned your experience with ice poison, however, and that you’ve studied it. This jade is a catalogue of different poisons and venoms common to our world and how to counter them.”

There was the slightest hesitation as Ping moved to hand it to Huifen. She placed it in her palm.

“Before you leave the city, I’d recommend spending some time examining it and maybe purchase some of the more common antidotes.”

“Thank you, Big Sister.”

With a full-body sigh, Ping nodded. “Now get going. You must explore the capital city before you leave. There are things here that you won’t find in Phoenix City, nor the rest of the world.”

***

“Senior Brother Chao. Senior Brother Chao,” Sun Koshing called as he ran toward Chao as left the training hall he and Brother Fang had been using.

“Prince Koshing,” Chao said with a bow of his head.

“You’re leaving? For good?”

He gave the young prince a big grin. “We’re going to see the sights of the capital city first, but yes, we’re leaving the palace. That doesn’t mean you won’t see me again. I’ll visit you when we return to the joint sect campus.”

The boy tried to put on an understanding smile, but he looked dejected. “I see. I’ll pray for you and Big Sister to have a safe trip. Can you tell her for me?”

“Come with me and you can tell her yourself.”

The prince shook his head. “I… I don’t think I can do that. I just want her to like me.”

“You don’t think Sage Huifen likes you?”

“Well. How could she after, everything…”

Chao bend down to be eye level with Koshing. “Let me tell you a secret. It’s not that she doesn’t like you. It’s just the opposite. She fears that you can’t like her after what she did to your father and brothers. Even if you say differently. If you want to change that, you need to show sincerity. It will take courage. To start, tell her yourself.”

The prince balled his hands into fists and gave Chao a sharp nod. “Okay.”

Slowing his pace to give the prince some time to calm himself down, Chao watched the boy out of the corner of his eye. For all of ex-Emperor Sun’s faults, the man had provided Huifen with the name of an heir with the right temperament to handle this transition as far as Chao could tell. Koshing had a good sense of justice even though he shed tears multiple times over the last week in Chao’s presence. He both missed his father and wanted to do what was right. There was obviously some coaching from the empress, but she was the boy’s mother. That was her duty.

It was decided that Koshing would return to the Fire Phoenix Sect with Brother Fang and become the sage’s personal disciple. The question of talent in this case wasn’t important. He was the son of an overlord and sky realm cultivator. What he was lacking could be taught.

Not only was Huifen there when he arrived, but so Father Zan and Empress Yan Ya. His Huifen walked over to stand at his side, and Koshing went to stand by his mother. After the conversation he and the boy had just had, the prince didn’t even wait for the adults to finish speaking before saying louder than necessary. “Sage Huifen, this one will pray for you to have a safe trip.”

The empress and father stopped their conversation short at the sudden outburst. It only embarrassed Koshing even further, so he bowed to hide his reaction.

Chao hadn’t lied to the prince about how Huifen felt. It was written all over her face. She wanted to treat him like a younger brother, and was even willing, but just couldn’t see how he could forgive her. Maybe it would be different if the boy had shown even the slightest bit of anger toward her as his last remaining and older brother had.

Nudging her with his arm, Huifen’s eyes met his and he motioned her on. She looked back at the boy with a complicated look. “Thank you, Prince Koshing. I hope you have a safe trip to the Fire Phoenix Sect as well.”

“Senior Brother promised that you’ll come see me when you return. I look forward to that day.”

She was completely lost with what to say and, “Yes,” is all that slipped out.

Father chose that moment to butt in with a chuckle. “I assure you Lady Fairy, Sage Fang and the Fire Phoenix Sect will keep him safer than if he were to stay here. When he returns, he’ll be strong enough to protect himself.”

The prince straightened only to be address by Zan. “And you. Listen to your knew master and learn well. There are few men of such caliber in this lower realm.”

“Yes, divine senior cultivator.”

A laugh escaped from Chao’s mouth. He was quick enough to get a layer of space over his forehead to fend against his father’s flick.

“Sage Brat,” Zan said through grit teeth. “You think that will stop me?”

The empress cleared her throat and for a moment there was a hint of amusement on her face, but it faded quickly. From what Chao could tell, the emperor’s death, among losing two sons, had hit her harder than anyone else in the entire Sun family. She simple had accepted the reality of the situation and was an extremely strong woman to be standing there with them.

“Sorry, Lady Fairy. How about we bring Prince Koshing with us to the royal treasure vault before we wish these young cultivators farewell.”

“Very well,” she replied.

At the mention of the treasure vault, Chao was startled. Looking to Huifen, he found that she was just as taken aback.

“You’ve already returned my husband and son’s ring with their personal effects intact,” the empress answered their unasked question. “Great Elder Zan has promised to retrieve Rong’s effects as well. If you’d so chosen, everything here would belong to you already. Opening vault is the least I can do after you’ve given the Sun family a path of survival.”

“I’m so sorry,” Huifen blurted out. She was on the brick of tears.

“I know, dear one. So am I. My husband lost his way and dragged my two oldest sons down with him. But he still left me with two sons and a daughter.” She gave Koshing a fond look. “Come. Let’s take a look.

---

Note: I'm carefully thinking through the magic item system for the Heaven's Laws universe before I finish this last part. One of the reasons isn't just because of this series. I plan on bringing multiple series/characters together later on kind of like an Avenger's mashup.

Cheers!