Up on the wall, a figure suddenly appeared. He didn’t use the lift like most people did. Instead, he flew straight down to where Cha Ming and the others were standing. To Cha Ming’s surprise, it wasn’t Tian Zhi or Director Yong as he’d expected. It was Prince Shen. His distinctive yellow robes stood out beside the miners, who wore drab colors and didn’t bother to clean themselves off. Bear One and the others got down on one knee. Given their prior meeting, Cha Ming didn’t feel the need to be overly courteous, so he gave a simple bow.
“Brother Pai Xiao, I was relieved to hear that you were still alive, but seeing is believing,” Prince Shen said, his excitement clear from his toothy smile. “We were concerned when we received the news that you’d been trapped underground, as your teammates can no doubt attest.”
“The guards questioned us thoroughly,” Bear One said, “to eliminate foul play as a cause of death.” We did not divulge anything we shouldn’t, he sent to Cha Ming separately. As per our contract.
“I’m happy to hear of your concern,” Cha Ming said. “Judging by your presence here, I take it I’m free to return to Bastion?”
“That’s exactly what I’ve come to tell you,” Prince Shen said. “In fact, I’ve been instructed by my royal father to escort you to the Blackthorn Conglomerate personally.”
“Then I’ll be happy to accompany you,” Cha Ming said.
The prince flew up, and Cha Ming moved to follow him but hesitated. For a brief moment, he felt he should return those items he’d borrowed, so he flew toward the guardhouse instead.
“No need to bother yourself with formalities here,” Prince Shen said. “As the crown prince of the Ji Kingdom, I have full authority over its assets.”
Cha Ming hesitated once again. For some reason, he couldn’t help but feel that it would be a bad decision to do as the prince said.
As he stood there, frozen in indecision, the old gray-haired Mrs. Ge walked out the front door. She looked at the prince and sniffed. “You would dare break protocol with me, young man?”
“Na-Nanny Ge?” Prince Shen said, his face paling. He flew back down and clasped his hands, bowing in apology. “I-I wasn’t aware that you were stationed here. It’s simply been ages, Nanny Ge. How goes your ailing husband?”
“Dead,” Mrs. Ge said with her impassive nasal voice. “As you will be if you dare leave without following my rules.” Her sharp eyes, hidden behind her half-moon spectacles, bespoke of a strength that Cha Ming hadn’t noticed before. He considered testing her and thought better of it.
Let it remain an eternal mystery.
“Of course,” Prince Shen said, sweating profusely. “Go on, Brother Pai Xiao, please return her things.”
Cha Ming wasn’t sure whether to be impressed by the old lady’s grasp on the heir to the kingdom or by the hilarity of the situation. Still, he threw up ten storage rings, one of which contained the pick and shovel he’d been loaned as well as some of the heavier, more expensive ores. The other nine had been disposable replacements he’d purchased from them at a usurious price. They were all chock full of ore as well.
Mrs. Ge gave them a quick scan. “Personal storage?” she asked. Cha Ming tossed her the storage ring he’d brought with him the first day. “Still five hundred jin, I see. No need to show me the contents. Whatever ores you could smuggle would be less valuable.”
Then she peered at him with a gaze so intense he felt like his body’s secrets were bared before her. She could see through his flesh and bone, his marrow, and his qi pathways. Fortunately for him, he’d completely changed his physique and not just the outer shell. The qi in his pathways was of fire and gold, and so was his body-refining technique.
“Congratulations on your breakthrough,” she said, noticing he’d advanced the qi cultivation in his disguise to late core formation and late marrow refining.
“Many thanks, Miss Ge,” Cha Ming said. He wanted to follow Prince Shen and escape her prying eyes, but he remained standing. Leaving without payment would be out of character. Her eyes continued to search him, even going so far as to probing his soul aura. Then, after finding nothing, amiss, she looked away.
“I take it spirit stones are your preferred payment?” she asked. Cha Ming nodded. She threw a cheap disposable ring over to him. To his surprise, it contained the exact payment he’d expected. It seemed that all the scales, the procedures, and the like, were unnecessary under her inquisitive gaze. The agonizing rules were there for her entertainment and enjoyment.
“Mrs. Ge,” Bear One said, “this one accepts his loss.”
“Same here,” Bear Three said. Bear Four followed closely, and soldiers clamored over, sending their wagers to her. She caught them deftly.
“Let that be a lesson to all of you,” Mrs. Ge said. “Be sure to pay attention at all times. Always be watching. Always.”
“Madam!” the guards yelled, bowing.
Cha Ming was surprised to see that Prince Shen had joined them.
A short while later, they were trudging up the wall using the lift instead of flying directly. It seemed Prince Shen would rather waste his precious time than further offend the scary lady. They soon arrived atop the wall, which overlooked the Shattered Lands to the north and Bastion to the south.
I’m back, Cha Ming thought, gazing over the pristine and orderly city. Though he’d only been gone for two months, it seemed like ages to him. The city had grown into more than just a place; he had friendly coworkers here, people whom he’d spent substantial amounts of time with. There was also Mo Ling, the industrious girl he’d rescued from Liaoning. Unknowingly, much like Haijing and Quicksilver, Bastion had grown into another home.
A
