The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 77 - Luxia City

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They made it to Luxia City after ten days. They had to stop for two days during that time so Wuxian could have his healing session and recover. The good news is: his gums stopped bleeding and he got his appetite back. The bad news is: he's back to feeling fatigue and experiencing dizzy spells. If he had to choose; he'd take fainting over vomiting blood every time. It's a 'lesser of two evils' situation. Mianmian became the 'unofficial' healer assistant. Her efficiency and ability to act without prompting made her an ideal helper to Fu Shi. Unfortunately, it lit a fire under Wangji's insecurities which was starting to annoy Wuxian a bit. He was just too tired to deal with it for now.

Nie Huaisang greeted them at the gate and ushered them to the nearest inn to rest. Wuxian was covering his head with the hood of the white coat his father had made for him and it helped hide his identity. Nie was instructed by Grandmaster Qiren to empty out the inn they were staying in to help Wuxian feel more comfortable and keep him safe. All the occupants were Lan Clan or Nie Clan members.

Nie sat with them that evening for dinner and said: "Brother Wei, I've asked about the man from your vision and sent disciples to look stealthily around the city. We came up with nothing."

Wuxian: "We're early. We still have time to figure out how he's planning to destroy this city before he actually arrives."

Nie: "I've arranged a meeting with the town council tomorrow to discuss how we're planning to prevent this event from happening. Grandmaster Qiren was adamant about keeping your presence hidden, how are you planning to investigate and move around the city?"

Wuxian scratched his head and looked at the people around him: "I haven't thought about that."

Zewu Jun: "I will meet with the city council tomorrow on your behalf. Unfortunately, we cannot control the townspeople here like Lan Ran did in Gusu City."

Wuxian: "I cannot possibly stay hidden for a month. We have to come up with a more convenient way for me to move around if we're planning to figure this mess out."

Wangji: "Covering your hair with the hood should work for now. Wen Ning and I will handle any threat should you be discovered."

Nie unfurled his fan and moved it around: "I've stationed my men around the city in plain clothes. Should any unnecessary trouble crops up, they will be on standby to assist."

Wuxian: "Tell me about the well."

Nie: "The well has a fable that's connected to its origin. No one knows if the story is true or not. According to historians, this well was a blessing from a western God that came across a weeping old man. He asked about his sorrow and the old man told him that he has lived his life without any accomplishments or children to leave as a legacy. The God promised him a good, unforgettable ending if he would find an offering that's worth the gift. The man has nothing to offer but the clothes on his back. He ventured into the woods looking for something worthy to offer the God and stumbled upon a fairy. The fairy couldn't speak to the human but saw he was tired and offered him food and water. After he ate her food and drank her water, he thanked her by building her a house from fallen branches and twigs. The fairy was grateful for her new home and pointed towards a cave. The man didn't understand what she wanted but went into the cave anyways. Inside the cave he found a boy swimming in an underground spring. The man asked the boy if he was lost and needed help. The boy told him that the fairy built this home for him because he helped her a long time ago. The water he swam in gave him youth and he's been swimming in it for hundreds of years. The man was tempted to join the boy and live a longer life but the boy warned him: if he touched the water he can never leave. The man felt sorry for the boy; a long life in solitude is not a life worth living. He understood that the fairy wanted him to live longer as a thank you for building her a home. But this was more of a curse than a blessing. The man went back to the God and asked if he could change his wish: he wanted to save the boy and give him a family instead. The God accepted his sacrifice as a worthy offering and chose to fulfill both his wishes. He created a well that the boy can live in between other people who will cherish him and the man will forever be known as the person who built the blessed well that gives life to many who survive on its abundance."