Cannon fodder in a classic cultivation story

9. Sword flying

Su Jing's answer hung in the air, and a slight surprise flickered in Qingwu's eyes.

"Oh? Are you going too, Cultivator Su?" Qingwu asked, raising his eyebrows. "Before you came, I was actually discussing with Cultivator Wen about his trip to the Heavenly Clouds Sect. I happened to find an old core yesterday, so I bought it for him to check."

Su Jing frowned at his words, "A core?". She looked towards Yawen, but he hesitated briefly. He seemed like he wanted to say something else before.

"Yes," he replied. "Young Master gave me the core of a talisman, to be precise. After the main array was broken, I'd hoped to use something like this to travel to the mortal realm, but I... hadn't seen a suitable one until now. Its location is right before the mortal gate."

Perhaps sensing her confusion, Qingwu gestured towards the centre of the table. "You may not see it now, because of the sealing, but this core is a tool made for immortal cultivators to create teleportation talismans. I acquired it from a retired master yesterday at the marketplace, who was selling off old relics. When I saw the core, I couldn't resist buying it and bringing it to Cultivator Wen. Lucky for him, I caught him in time before he left with you, Cultivator Su, for the sect. "

He smiled but his words only made Su Jing frown deeper.

"If Cultivator Su worries about our journey to the Heavenly Clouds Sect, rest assured. I stand by my promises." Yawen interjected, turning his gaze to her. "Even if I'm able to form a talisman for the mortal realm, you can be sure that I'll send you safely to the sect."

Though Yawen's reassurance was comforting, Su Jing hadn't expected things to turn out like this! She thought her presence might shift his storyline a little, but it seemed nothing had really changed.

She bit her inner check unconsciously, "Cultivator Wen is a cultivator of his word, after all. I would never doubt your intentions, especially since your primary purpose for your travels was to reach the mortal realm. " she paused, searching with her eyes for the "supposed core". "Had Cultivator Wen made any progress with it? I imagine it is a difficult task to make another master core work."

Yawen shook his head. "Unfortunately, although it is in fairly good condition, the energy is too feeble in Yang City for me to do anything. I can only recharge it with Qi."

Yawen leaned towards the centre of the table, his fingers having a slight luminescence.

"Is it because of the messy array energy?" Qingwu asked, also assessing it with a frown. "This core has been quite old, so it's no surprise it is vulnerable to space malfunctions."

He then turned towards Su Jing. "Is Cultivator Su curious about what a core looks like? Since I purchased it, I am its new master so I can permit you to see through the seal."

Su Jimg had no reason to refuse so she nodded to Qingwu.

He quickly brushed his fingers against the centre of the table, a round object materializing. The core was no larger than a peach, yet it gleamed with intricate runes floating around its surface, like faintly glowing symbols suspended in mid-air.

Su Jing tilted in, her curiosity piqued. "It's smaller than I expected."

She certainly expected a ball, not a fruit-looking device.

"The seal serves to bind its spatial energy," Yawen explained, "But it's delicate, as you can see. Too much interference from unstable Qi, and it may lose its potency."

Now that Yawen mentioned it, Su Jing was able to see too how the light was slowly dimming in some parts.

"Perhaps we could explore some other locations? There are places where the Qi is more concentrated."