“We’re just going to leave the bodies?” Ishin asked Master Guoqiang after dragging Yan’s body over to her friends’ corpses.

  “Naturally,” the School Master replied. “The local fauna will enjoy the snack, and there is no reason for us to carry them back to the city. It’s what Iron Mantis bugs deserve.”

  It sounded harsh, but Ishin wasn’t going to object further. He recognized that had Yan succeeded in killing him, he would’ve been left for the same fate.

  Once he dropped the body, Ishin performed another search of her robes. There was nothing of value, as he suspected, but he wanted to be thorough. He touched his much fuller coin purse. It now contained three gold, one silver, and five copper taels in value, spread amongst various denominations.

  Spoils of battle.

  Ishin considered the bodies again. They have chakras inside them, don’t they?

  It was a morbid thought, and he felt some shame at it. Ishin shook his head and dismissed the idea. Surely if it had been worthwhile, Master Guoqiang or Zhu Rhee would have suggested it.

  “Are you going to escort us back?” Zhu Rhee asked Master Guoqiang.

  He nodded. “I see no reason for you to remain here. You’re both too injured to hunt any further, and it’s the third day of your expedition.”

  Zhu Rhee’s eyes narrowed at the injury comment, and Ishin understood her frustration. Cause aside, they did need to return to the city so their burns could be treated. But perhaps they had a little time left.

  “Master,” Ishin said, leaving the pile of corpses behind.

  “Yes?”

  “Can you spare half an hour before our return? I wish to retrieve something.”

  Master Guoqiang’s tone was neutral. “What do you wish to retrieve?”

  Zhu Rhee’s eyes went wide. “The thunder horned wolf corpse!”

  “Exactly, Senior Sister.” If the corpse was still there, he wanted to harvest the beast’s chakra. It would be his best opportunity to obtain a true source of lightning qi.

  Master Guoqiang considered the request, gazing westward as if studying something unseen. “Very well. We can see what remains.”

  “Thank you, Master,” Ishin said graciously. Perhaps the man isn’t so bad after all.

  The three moved through the forest, following the trail Ishin and Zhu Rhee had used to escape. To Ishin, their encounter with the spirit beasts felt like it had occurred much longer ago. Ultimately, they found the cub’s corpse beside the creek. Blood crusted its right side, and gnats buzzed around the fresh wound. A green tongue hung from its mouth, and its glassy eyes stared at the flowing water.

  Ishin looked down at the creature, conflicted. Strangely, he felt more guilt over killing the thunder horned wolf cub than he had over killing Yan.

  “I’m surprised it’s still largely unmarred,” Zhu Rhee remarked as she circled the beast.

  “Most spirit beasts won’t eat their own kind,” Master Guoqiang explained. “The thunder horned wolf is the dominant predator of this region. It’s not surprising the body’s still here.”

  Ishin bent down, spear still in hand. “Senior Sister, you said you had a method to collect the coat and chakra. Do you have carving tools I can use? I’ll retrieve the chakra and skin it.” He’d never skinned a beast before, but he was willing to try.

  “No need,” Master Guoqiang said before Zhu Rhee could respond.

  Ishin looked up at the man in surprise. Master Guoqiang stepped forward and placed a hand on the wolf’s body. A metallic ring on his finger glowed faintly with an azure hue—then, the wolf vanished, leaving behind red-stained earth.

  “Where’d it go?” Ishin asked, shocked.

  “In my storage ring,” Master Guoqiang answered, shaking his hand as if ridding it of dust.

  “Storage ring?” Ishin repeated, staring at the faintly glowing band.

  “Yes,” Guoqiang said, clearly surprised. “You do know what a storage ring is, right?”

  Ishin’s blank expression was all the answer he needed.

  “You really don’t?”

  A wave of embarrassment swept through Ishin. He turned to Zhu Rhee, who was also watching him with surprise. Does everyone know what storage rings are?

  “Master Guoqiang,” Zhu Rhee said slowly, “please understand that Disciple Ro Ishin hails from the Nine Striped Hills.” Then to Ishin: “I’m guessing they don’t have storage rings there?”

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  “No,” he admitted, staring at the ground. “Probably not. I don’t know. What is it?”

  “A ring that stores objects and material,” Zhu Rhee explained without judgment. She held up her right hand—she wore one too.

  “When you put it that way, it sounds obvious,” Ishin muttered. He looked back to where the body had been. “Is that how you planned to carry the pelts and chakras back?”

  “It was,” Zhu Rhee confirmed. “Though mine isn’t large enough to hold full spirit beasts.”

  “Mine is,” Guoqiang said. “And since returning to the school is our priority, I don’t mind carrying it.”

  “Does everyone have one?” Ishin pressed.

  “No,” Zhu Rhee replied. “They’re expensive. Only the more affluent city dwellers can afford them. Even in our school, they’re rare.”

  I see.

  That explained their absence in the Nine Striped Hills. Once again, Yellow Dome City’s wealth stunned him.

  I wonder how much one costs… more than the Rupturous Wailing Storm Pills?

  “You’re truly blessed, Senior Sister.”

  Zhu Rhee blushed faintly. “Well… yes, I am.”

  “If you’re done with questions,” Guoqiang said, “let’s return to the city.”

  It took six hours of travel to reach Yellow Dome’s Northern Gate. The sun hung low behind the great Dome, painting the sky a warm orange. Thanks to Master Guoqiang’s presence, they passed through the gate without issue.

  I wonder how the guards would’ve reacted if we’d carried the wolf in plain view.

  By the time they reached the Eight Oaths Resolve School, night had fallen. Master Guoqiang led them to the infirmary at the back of the eastern wing.

  An elderly man with deep wrinkles and the school’s blue and orange robes was organizing vials of medicine. Ishin, by now accustomed to using his third eye, studied the man’s cultivation—Adept Realm, like Master Guoqiang.

  But… weaker. His chakras aren’t as intense.

  It was the first time Ishin had sensed differences among Adept Realm cultivators.

  “Physician Hui,” Guoqiang greeted. The old man turned, sniffed, and grimaced.

  “You look—and smell—like you just survived a forest fire,” Hui said.

  “Somewhat close to the truth,” Zhu Rhee said with a wry smile, spinning around to show her burned back. “I’m hoping you can help with this.”

  “Heavens above!” Hui gasped. “What happened to you, Little Rhee?”

  Little Rhee?

  “We had a run-in with Iron Mantises. One of them was a fire cultivator.”

  Hui leaned in, stopping just shy of touching the burn. “Second-degree burns.” He turned to Ishin. “You have them too.” Then, to Guoqiang: “How could you let this happen? The Grand Master will be furious!”

  “I’ll speak with him,” Guoqiang said simply.

  Hui scowled. “See that you do. I’ll speak with him myself too.”

  “What about those responsible?”

  “They’re dead,” Zhu Rhee said. “Disciple Ro Ishin killed her.”

  “Him?” Hui looked Ishin over.

  “Him,” Zhu Rhee confirmed.

  The old man huffed. “Good. I hope she suffered.”

  “She did,” Ishin replied. The man’s malice surprised him. So different from Elder Lee…

  “Arrogant Western Quarter bugs… Ten years ago this never would have happened. The Righteous Mantle Sect needs to teach them a lesson.”

  “I’m sure the Grand Master will act appropriately,” Guoqiang said.

  “He’d better.”

  “I’ll leave you to tend to them,” Guoqiang said, clearly eager to escape.

  “Report their injuries!” Hui shouted after him.

  Once the door closed, Hui’s tone softened. “Let’s take a look. Boy, sit here.” He pointed to a stool, and Ishin obeyed.

  “Is it bad?” Zhu Rhee asked.

  “It’s manageable. Not third-degree. With salve, your back will recover fine. No scarring, but it’ll be sensitive for two weeks.”

  He returned with a dark green container. A bamboo aroma filled the room as he opened it.

  “This is Dried Rain Bamboo Paste. Stings, but it’s the best I have for burns.”

  “Ah,” Zhu Rhee gasped as he applied it.

  “Try not to sleep on your back, and avoid stressful training.”

  “I’ll try,” she winced. “But my grandfather may have other plans.”

  “I’ll speak with him.”

  Once finished, Hui picked up bandages. “Turn around, boy. You don’t need to see this.”

  Ishin obeyed, cheeks flushing. The implication wasn’t lost on him.

  Several minutes later, the physician said, “You’re all done. Come back in three days. If anything worsens, return immediately.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  The infirmary door opened and closed.

  “You can turn around now, boy.”

  Ishin did so. Hui examined his burns with professional ease.

  “Remove your robe.”

  Soon, the cold sting of the bamboo paste bit into his skin.

  “At least you can sleep on your back,” Hui muttered, wrapping the wounds. “Return every three days.”

  “Thank you, Physician.” Ishin paused. “How long until I’m fully recovered?”

  “Two weeks minimum. Three at most.”

  Heaven’s curse.

  “The tournament selection is in two weeks.”

  “You’re joining?” Hui asked, raising a brow.

  “I am.”

  Hui studied him. “Bold for a new disciple.”

  “How do you know I’m new?”

  “I’ve never seen you. Eventually, all our disciples end up here.”

  Ishin hesitated. “Earlier today.”

  The physician’s brows shot up. “One day and already trying to join the tournament?”

  “It was Senior Sister Zhu’s idea. Hers and Disciple Hou Lei’s.”

  “Really?” Hui squinted. “You’re not lying.”

  “I’m not.”

  “I know,” Hui said calmly. “Curious.”

  He finished wrapping the final bandage. “You’ll have your work cut out for you.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Hui sat down in a cushioned chair. “What do you know about the selection process?”