Chapter 129: In the dirt
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Chapter 129: In the dirt
Rilu wasted no time in tossing Chance a healing pill. Chance put it between his lips numbly, unable to take his eyes from Vexs remains. It didnt feel real. He could dimly hear the sound of fighting in the background as Lin and Shae battled, but that felt so far away that it didnt even matter.
The wound on Chances palm stitched itself together and sealed shut. He walked up to Bella, standing silently beside her and holding a hand out. Bella looked up at him, then down to his hand. Slowly, she took it and Chance pulled her to her feet.
Its done? Bella asked, speaking softly as if her words would somehow cause the world to remember that Vex wasnt meant to be dead.
Its done, Rilu confirmed. He is dead, and dead he will remain. Vex is gone.
Bellas hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. She took a trembling breath and let it out, her lips pressing thin. I I dont get it. Why dont I feel anything?
There is only so much that the human mind can handle. I suspect all the emotions you would have felt now have already been felt. Rilu put his hands on their shoulders. And you will feel more than you care to soon enough. It will come with time.
A loud crash spit the still air. Chance glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Shae and Lins fight. It was still going strong. The two powerful cultivators were so fast that all Chance could pick up were the after-effects of their attacks.
We really got ourselves in a bit over our head, didnt we? Chance asked.
Bella wiped her face with the back of a sleeve and coughed into the crook of her elbow. Thats one way to put it.
Another crash roared through the sky and the ground trembled. A wave of Essence passed over Chance, buffeting his hair and forcing him to squint.
There was no more fighting after it.
And so it ends, Rilu said, not looking particularly pleased. The Shikari is dead.
Lin won? Chance asked.
I Im not actually sure if I should be happy about that or not.
And departed with haste. He wisely chose not to remain in my presence for long. His very Essence disgusts me. Lin is in direct opposition to us, Chance. You should be wary around him.
Hes definitely a bit out there, Chance agreed. I well, he was nice to us, though.
Kindness does not make a man good. The evil can do great acts, but that does not change who they are. Rilus eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. If it would not interfere too greatly in my cultivation, I would purge Lin as well. Alas, I have already done far more than I should have.
A flash of shame washed over Chance as he realized that they hadnt even thanked Rilu for his help properly yet. He inclined his head respectfully.
Thank you so much for everything you did. Bella and I would be dead if you hadnt given us that scroll, Chance said. I have to admit that, for a moment, I thought you screwed us over. Im sorry about that too. I should have trusted you.
Rilu laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. You saved yourself, Chance. The universe gives us tools. Today, I was the tool. Tomorrow, I will not be. Nothing will have changed, though. So long as you remember that everything you could ever need will be provided for you, then you will make it very far along your Path.
Chance is right, Bella said. Thank you, Rilu. Not just for the scroll, but for the help with my own Path. After meeting with Yamish, I was a little worried that all Karma cultivators were insane.
Hey! Chance glared at Bella. Whats that supposed to mean?
Bella threw her head back, laughing. Chance opened his mouth, then paused to listen. Her laughter unburdened and free was beautiful, and he didnt want to interrupt it. Bella continued laughing, her mirth turning to a trickle of tears that ran down her face.
Why why am I crying? Bella asked through her uncontrollable laughter, trying to wipe her face with the back of a sleeve and completely failing at the task.
Emotion is an odd thing one that evades me just as much as it evades you. Rilu gave them both a wry smile. This time, it is truly time for me to go. And for you it is time for a decision.
Rilu tossed two wooden tokens to Chance, who barely managed to snag them out of the air without dropping them.
Only one way to find out, Chance replied. He activated his third eye, revealing the strands of Karma crisscrossing throughout the world around them. Drawing a deep breath, Chance reached out.
Yamish answered.
The air before them twisted, a mass of gray twisting into being as Yamish quite literally unfolded himself as if emerging from a tiny box the size of a watermelon. He floated in typical upside-down, legs crossed above his head.
Chance, Yamish said, his smile looking like a frown because of his position. I was wondering when you would decide to reach out. I had thought you may have done it earlier. During the fight with the Rank 6 fools or when Lin appeared. How fascinating. You completely ignored me until the entire test was complete.
Calling out to you was an option?
No, Yamish replied. He righted himself. It was not. But I expected you to try it nonetheless. Fascinating.
He passed, right? Bella asked. We can go back to Gleam?
Yamish glanced at Bella, then back at Vex. Yes. He passed.
If Chance didnt know better, he would have thought that Yamish might have been making a joke. For that matter, maybe the strange cultivator was. Chance still had absolutely no idea what made Yamish tick, and he got the feeling that he never wanted to find out.
We can return, then? Chance pressed.
You may. As in all things in life, balance has been achieved. I have already made the arrangements for your return, Yamish said. His legs unfurled and he lowered to the ground to stand before them normally. For several seconds, Yamish was silent. Then he inclined his head in the faintest show of respect. You have both impressed me. For a pair of mortals, you show great resolve. My true self made the right decision with you, Chance. I look forward to our next meeting, but you will be permitted to enjoy the rewards of your work for the time being.
With that, Yamish vanished as if hed never been there. Bella and Chance exchanged a glance.
That wasnt ominous, Bella drawled.
Lets not worry about it too much. You heard him. Ive got some time off, and Im not planning to sit around wasting it.
Bella nodded. Not going to argue with that. What about Vex? You think we should check if he had anything important?
Chance chewed his lower lip. Vex had been a powerful cultivator, but the idea of rifling through the dead mans pockets wasnt ideal. The less they had to remind them of Vex, the better. But, at the same time, he couldnt help but feel like Vex owed Bella something for everything hed taken from her.
He called on his Essence, sending a snake of golden energy twisting across the ground and into Vexs body. There was a soft thump as one of his pockets pitched open and a tiny bell rolled out, dropping to the grass and rolling until it came to a stop at Chances feet.
Chance picked the bell up and wiped it off before handing it to Bella. Here. Courtesy of Vex, as an apology for what he did.
I dont suppose you know what it is?
No idea, but my Essence thinks its important.
Bella studied the bell for a moment, then shook her head. She took Chances hands in her own and pushed the bell back into his palm. Then you hold onto this for me. Your Essence found it, which means its probably a pretty strong artifact.
But
Chance, youd give away literally every artifact you had if you could. Just take the gift.
Fine, fine. Thank you. Ill let you know if I figure out what its for. Chance cleared his throat and tucked the bell into his pocket. He then held out one of the tokens. Shall we?
Bella took the token from him with a smile. Yeah. Lets go.
The two of them snapped the tokens between their fingers. Essence roared and they both vanished, leaving Vexs body in the dirt behind them.
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Chapter 129: In the dirt
Rilu wasted no time in tossing Chance a healing pill. Chance put it between his lips numbly, unable to take his eyes from Vexs remains. It didnt feel real. He could dimly hear the sound of fighting in the background as Lin and Shae battled, but that felt so far away that it didnt even matter.
The wound on Chances palm stitched itself together and sealed shut. He walked up to Bella, standing silently beside her and holding a hand out. Bella looked up at him, then down to his hand. Slowly, she took it and Chance pulled her to her feet.
Its done? Bella asked, speaking softly as if her words would somehow cause the world to remember that Vex wasnt meant to be dead.
Its done, Rilu confirmed. He is dead, and dead he will remain. Vex is gone.
Bellas hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. She took a trembling breath and let it out, her lips pressing thin. I I dont get it. Why dont I feel anything?
There is only so much that the human mind can handle. I suspect all the emotions you would have felt now have already been felt. Rilu put his hands on their shoulders. And you will feel more than you care to soon enough. It will come with time.
A loud crash spit the still air. Chance glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Shae and Lins fight. It was still going strong. The two powerful cultivators were so fast that all Chance could pick up were the after-effects of their attacks.
We really got ourselves in a bit over our head, didnt we? Chance asked.
Bella wiped her face with the back of a sleeve and coughed into the crook of her elbow. Thats one way to put it.
Another crash roared through the sky and the ground trembled. A wave of Essence passed over Chance, buffeting his hair and forcing him to squint.
There was no more fighting after it.
And so it ends, Rilu said, not looking particularly pleased. The Shikari is dead.
Lin won? Chance asked.
I Im not actually sure if I should be happy about that or not.
And departed with haste. He wisely chose not to remain in my presence for long. His very Essence disgusts me. Lin is in direct opposition to us, Chance. You should be wary around him.
Hes definitely a bit out there, Chance agreed. I well, he was nice to us, though.
Kindness does not make a man good. The evil can do great acts, but that does not change who they are. Rilus eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. If it would not interfere too greatly in my cultivation, I would purge Lin as well. Alas, I have already done far more than I should have.
A flash of shame washed over Chance as he realized that they hadnt even thanked Rilu for his help properly yet. He inclined his head respectfully.
Thank you so much for everything you did. Bella and I would be dead if you hadnt given us that scroll, Chance said. I have to admit that, for a moment, I thought you screwed us over. Im sorry about that too. I should have trusted you.
Rilu laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. You saved yourself, Chance. The universe gives us tools. Today, I was the tool. Tomorrow, I will not be. Nothing will have changed, though. So long as you remember that everything you could ever need will be provided for you, then you will make it very far along your Path.
Chance is right, Bella said. Thank you, Rilu. Not just for the scroll, but for the help with my own Path. After meeting with Yamish, I was a little worried that all Karma cultivators were insane.
Hey! Chance glared at Bella. Whats that supposed to mean?
Bella threw her head back, laughing. Chance opened his mouth, then paused to listen. Her laughter unburdened and free was beautiful, and he didnt want to interrupt it. Bella continued laughing, her mirth turning to a trickle of tears that ran down her face.
Why why am I crying? Bella asked through her uncontrollable laughter, trying to wipe her face with the back of a sleeve and completely failing at the task.
Emotion is an odd thing one that evades me just as much as it evades you. Rilu gave them both a wry smile. This time, it is truly time for me to go. And for you it is time for a decision.
Rilu tossed two wooden tokens to Chance, who barely managed to snag them out of the air without dropping them.
Only one way to find out, Chance replied. He activated his third eye, revealing the strands of Karma crisscrossing throughout the world around them. Drawing a deep breath, Chance reached out.
Yamish answered.
The air before them twisted, a mass of gray twisting into being as Yamish quite literally unfolded himself as if emerging from a tiny box the size of a watermelon. He floated in typical upside-down, legs crossed above his head.
Chance, Yamish said, his smile looking like a frown because of his position. I was wondering when you would decide to reach out. I had thought you may have done it earlier. During the fight with the Rank 6 fools or when Lin appeared. How fascinating. You completely ignored me until the entire test was complete.
Calling out to you was an option?
No, Yamish replied. He righted himself. It was not. But I expected you to try it nonetheless. Fascinating.
He passed, right? Bella asked. We can go back to Gleam?
Yamish glanced at Bella, then back at Vex. Yes. He passed.
If Chance didnt know better, he would have thought that Yamish might have been making a joke. For that matter, maybe the strange cultivator was. Chance still had absolutely no idea what made Yamish tick, and he got the feeling that he never wanted to find out.
We can return, then? Chance pressed.
You may. As in all things in life, balance has been achieved. I have already made the arrangements for your return, Yamish said. His legs unfurled and he lowered to the ground to stand before them normally. For several seconds, Yamish was silent. Then he inclined his head in the faintest show of respect. You have both impressed me. For a pair of mortals, you show great resolve. My true self made the right decision with you, Chance. I look forward to our next meeting, but you will be permitted to enjoy the rewards of your work for the time being.
With that, Yamish vanished as if hed never been there. Bella and Chance exchanged a glance.
That wasnt ominous, Bella drawled.
Lets not worry about it too much. You heard him. Ive got some time off, and Im not planning to sit around wasting it.
Bella nodded. Not going to argue with that. What about Vex? You think we should check if he had anything important?
Chance chewed his lower lip. Vex had been a powerful cultivator, but the idea of rifling through the dead mans pockets wasnt ideal. The less they had to remind them of Vex, the better. But, at the same time, he couldnt help but feel like Vex owed Bella something for everything hed taken from her.
He called on his Essence, sending a snake of golden energy twisting across the ground and into Vexs body. There was a soft thump as one of his pockets pitched open and a tiny bell rolled out, dropping to the grass and rolling until it came to a stop at Chances feet.
Chance picked the bell up and wiped it off before handing it to Bella. Here. Courtesy of Vex, as an apology for what he did.
I dont suppose you know what it is?
No idea, but my Essence thinks its important.
Bella studied the bell for a moment, then shook her head. She took Chances hands in her own and pushed the bell back into his palm. Then you hold onto this for me. Your Essence found it, which means its probably a pretty strong artifact.
But
Chance, youd give away literally every artifact you had if you could. Just take the gift.
Fine, fine. Thank you. Ill let you know if I figure out what its for. Chance cleared his throat and tucked the bell into his pocket. He then held out one of the tokens. Shall we?
Bella took the token from him with a smile. Yeah. Lets go.
The two of them snapped the tokens between their fingers. Essence roared and they both vanished, leaving Vexs body in the dirt behind them.
Chapter 129: In the dirtRilu wasted no time in tossing Chance a healing pill. Chance put it between his lips numbly, unable to take his eyes from Vexs remains. It didnt feel real. He could dimly hear the sound of fighting in the background as Lin and Shae battled, but that felt so far away that it didnt even matter.The wound on Chances palm stitched itself together and sealed shut. He walked up to Bella, standing silently beside her and holding a hand out. Bella looked up at him, then down to his hand. Slowly, she took it and Chance pulled her to her feet.Its done? Bella asked, speaking softly as if her words would somehow cause the world to remember that Vex wasnt meant to be dead.Its done, Rilu confirmed. He is dead, and dead he will remain. Vex is gone.Bellas hands clenched and unclenched at her sides. She took a trembling breath and let it out, her lips pressing thin. I I dont get it. Why dont I feel anything?There is only so much that the human mind can handle. I suspect all the emotions you would have felt now have already been felt. Rilu put his hands on their shoulders. And you will feel more than you care to soon enough. It will come with time.A loud crash spit the still air. Chance glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Shae and Lins fight. It was still going strong. The two powerful cultivators were so fast that all Chance could pick up were the after-effects of their attacks.We really got ourselves in a bit over our head, didnt we? Chance asked.Bella wiped her face with the back of a sleeve and coughed into the crook of her elbow. Thats one way to put it.Another crash roared through the sky and the ground trembled. A wave of Essence passed over Chance, buffeting his hair and forcing him to squint.There was no more fighting after it.And so it ends, Rilu said, not looking particularly pleased. The Shikari is dead.Lin won? Chance asked.I Im not actually sure if I should be happy about that or not. And departed with haste. He wisely chose not to remain in my presence for long. His very Essence disgusts me. Lin is in direct opposition to us, Chance. You should be wary around him.Hes definitely a bit out there, Chance agreed. I well, he was nice to us, though.Kindness does not make a man good. The evil can do great acts, but that does not change who they are. Rilus eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. If it would not interfere too greatly in my cultivation, I would purge Lin as well. Alas, I have already done far more than I should have.A flash of shame washed over Chance as he realized that they hadnt even thanked Rilu for his help properly yet. He inclined his head respectfully.Thank you so much for everything you did. Bella and I would be dead if you hadnt given us that scroll, Chance said. I have to admit that, for a moment, I thought you screwed us over. Im sorry about that too. I should have trusted you.Rilu laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. You saved yourself, Chance. The universe gives us tools. Today, I was the tool. Tomorrow, I will not be. Nothing will have changed, though. So long as you remember that everything you could ever need will be provided for you, then you will make it very far along your Path.Chance is right, Bella said. Thank you, Rilu. Not just for the scroll, but for the help with my own Path. After meeting with Yamish, I was a little worried that all Karma cultivators were insane.Hey! Chance glared at Bella. Whats that supposed to mean?Bella threw her head back, laughing. Chance opened his mouth, then paused to listen. Her laughter unburdened and free was beautiful, and he didnt want to interrupt it. Bella continued laughing, her mirth turning to a trickle of tears that ran down her face.Why why am I crying? Bella asked through her uncontrollable laughter, trying to wipe her face with the back of a sleeve and completely failing at the task.Emotion is an odd thing one that evades me just as much as it evades you. Rilu gave them both a wry smile. This time, it is truly time for me to go. And for you it is time for a decision.Rilu tossed two wooden tokens to Chance, who barely managed to snag them out of the air without dropping them.Only one way to find out, Chance replied. He activated his third eye, revealing the strands of Karma crisscrossing throughout the world around them. Drawing a deep breath, Chance reached out.Yamish answered.The air before them twisted, a mass of gray twisting into being as Yamish quite literally unfolded himself as if emerging from a tiny box the size of a watermelon. He floated in typical upside-down, legs crossed above his head.Chance, Yamish said, his smile looking like a frown because of his position. I was wondering when you would decide to reach out. I had thought you may have done it earlier. During the fight with the Rank 6 fools or when Lin appeared. How fascinating. You completely ignored me until the entire test was complete.Calling out to you was an option?No, Yamish replied. He righted himself. It was not. But I expected you to try it nonetheless. Fascinating.He passed, right? Bella asked. We can go back to Gleam?Yamish glanced at Bella, then back at Vex. Yes. He passed.If Chance didnt know better, he would have thought that Yamish might have been making a joke. For that matter, maybe the strange cultivator was. Chance still had absolutely no idea what made Yamish tick, and he got the feeling that he never wanted to find out.We can return, then? Chance pressed.You may. As in all things in life, balance has been achieved. I have already made the arrangements for your return, Yamish said. His legs unfurled and he lowered to the ground to stand before them normally. For several seconds, Yamish was silent. Then he inclined his head in the faintest show of respect. You have both impressed me. For a pair of mortals, you show great resolve. My true self made the right decision with you, Chance. I look forward to our next meeting, but you will be permitted to enjoy the rewards of your work for the time being.With that, Yamish vanished as if hed never been there. Bella and Chance exchanged a glance.That wasnt ominous, Bella drawled.Lets not worry about it too much. You heard him. Ive got some time off, and Im not planning to sit around wasting it.Bella nodded. Not going to argue with that. What about Vex? You think we should check if he had anything important?Chance chewed his lower lip. Vex had been a powerful cultivator, but the idea of rifling through the dead mans pockets wasnt ideal. The less they had to remind them of Vex, the better. But, at the same time, he couldnt help but feel like Vex owed Bella something for everything hed taken from her.He called on his Essence, sending a snake of golden energy twisting across the ground and into Vexs body. There was a soft thump as one of his pockets pitched open and a tiny bell rolled out, dropping to the grass and rolling until it came to a stop at Chances feet.Chance picked the bell up and wiped it off before handing it to Bella. Here. Courtesy of Vex, as an apology for what he did.I dont suppose you know what it is?No idea, but my Essence thinks its important.Bella studied the bell for a moment, then shook her head. She took Chances hands in her own and pushed the bell back into his palm. Then you hold onto this for me. Your Essence found it, which means its probably a pretty strong artifact.ButChance, youd give away literally every artifact you had if you could. Just take the gift.Fine, fine. Thank you. Ill let you know if I figure out what its for. Chance cleared his throat and tucked the bell into his pocket. He then held out one of the tokens. Shall we?Bella took the token from him with a smile. Yeah. Lets go.The two of them snapped the tokens between their fingers. Essence roared and they both vanished, leaving Vexs body in the dirt behind them.
