NOVPUB=Putting the matter of installing a hot springs in the library to the side for now though, how much are you going to tell Zhen Xun Tian?=
’Depends.’
=On?=
’How much she knows, or rather, how much she is willing to explain what she knows.’
_____________________________________________
An awkwardly tense silence floated above the hot springs, adding on to the stuffy discomfort that comes with the existence of hot water, as Zhen Liu tried his best to come up with an answer that was satisfactory for the old gangster woman that was his ancestor. Unfortunately, he was coming up short.
"..."
<<...>>
"..."
<<Well? Are you going to start explaining or...>>
<<Gimme a second, there’s a...lot to explain...>>
<<You don’t say?>>
Unlike previous times when Zhen Liu was forced into these enclosed one-on-one conversations, Zhen Liu could not rely on using flash, misdirection and an elaborate costume to spin a tale of bullshit and dumb. Instead, he was quite naked and had to bear the naked truth...more or less. It was strangely poetic in a way.
Eventually though, he figured out a way to start this conversation.
<<Alright, so before I can explain what [Chaos] is exactly...how much do you know about it?>>
<<Wait, [Chaos]?>>
<<That’s the name of that weird energy your kraken tattoo is made of. [Chaos].>>
<<[Chaos]...I quite like the sound of that name. Has a nice ring to it, weight too,>> Zhen Xun Tian praised the term as she drank more rice wine. As she did, an inky tentacle manifested from her back and slithered towards the pile of aether medicines.
<<And that right there is your answer. I know my inky appendages here are made of [Chaos] and I can control them as easy as my own arms most days, but doing the things you’re doing is completely foreign to me. I mean, forcibly creating aether channels in an instant? You either have to be crazy, gifted, stupid or all three in order to pull something like that off.>>
As Zhen Xun Tian talked on, her inky tentacles began to rummage through the pile of aether medicines, until finally settling on what appeared to be an earthenware jar full of pickles. Granted, they weren’t just any ordinary pickles, as evident by the snowy mist emanating from the jar like the magical entrance to a winter wonderland.
<<Wait...my bad, I just remembered there was one other thing. When I get into a battle, both ally and enemy seem to act a touch more reckless in the same ways I do, if not more so. That another consequence of [Chaos]?>>
_____________________________________________
<Oh shit. Those are [Pure Snow Jade Radishes].>
’Aside from being a mouthful, the fact that you’re making an observation suggests I should also be reacting...why?’
=The price of even one of those radishes is enough to fulfill the requirement of making at least three kaijin.=
’Holy...’
<And she’s just casually eating pickled versions of this valuable vegetable...as a drinking snack. The hell else she got in that pile of medicines over there?>
=I’m going to guess...a Basilisk’s Liver.=
’That’s...very specific. Why?’
<It tastes great with pickles, duh.>
’...’
_____________________________________________
The tentacle then began to retract, placing the jar of pickles close to Zhen Xun Tian’s normal hands before turning back into a two dimensional tattoo once more.
Once the jar of pickles was in reach, Zhen Xun Tian proceeded to manipulate a bit of aether to grab herself some thick slices of pickles straight from the jar. Instead of producing a plate to rest them in though, she continued to use her aether to keep the slices floating midair.
Maintaining her image as a gracious host though, she at least floated a pickle slice towards Zhen Liu.
<<Here. Try one of these. They taste better with Basilisk Liver, but that needs to marinate for another week at least. Gotta get the taste of bile and gravel out somehow.>>
<<Oh. Thanks-wait, gravel?>>
=Called it.=
<Nice.>
<<Yes, gravel. But back to the subject at hand, my descendant,>> Zhen Xun Tian continued after munching on a piece of pickled radish, <<would you mind explaining what [Chaos] is exactly?>>
<<I think I can...its just going to be a bit...esoteric,>> Zhen Liu answered with a hesitant voice and after eating the offered pickle slice. He couldn’t exactly enjoy the refreshing flavor of the pickled [Pure Snow Jade Raddish] though, as his mind was focused on trying to find the words to explain [Chaos].
Technically speaking, Zhen Liu wasn’t lying about [Chaos] being an incredibly esoteric concept, but he was lying about being able to explain it to Zhen Xun Tian. Hell, most days, he even barely understood how it worked despite cultivating the stuff.
Thankfully though, he had a direct line to the subject matter experts themselves.
<Do we give her the short version or the long version?>
=I think its dependent on how she responds to our lord’s statement.=
<<Oh please,>> Zhen Xun Tian dismissed with a wave of her hand and a roll of her eyes. <<I spent three months straight listening to an old sage ramble on and on about some profound cultivation formula he discovered in the stomach of a Hellfire Crocodile, and spent a whole three years listening to the Buddha preach about the meaning of Samsara, the Narakas and the way of the Devas. I think I can handle my flesh and blood discussing about the strange esoterism behind [Chaos].>>
=Long version it is.=
<Milord, get ready to ramble and repeat what were about to tell you.>
’Wait a minute, I just want to check something real fast.’
Zhen Liu directed his focus and gaze at his tattoo covered ancestor, so that he could finally ask her a question that had been bugging him for the better of two days now.
<<What...exactly is our familial relation to each other? I get that your distant ancestor or something like that, but are we talking...great grandparent or great grandaunt?>>
"PFFFT!"
Evidently, Zhen Liu’s question came so out of nowhere, that Zhen Xun Tian couldn’t help but do a small spit take of rice wine before answering. Once she had swallowed the drink though, she began to laugh.
<<Oh man, that’s a riot! The fact that you’re asking me this question, must mean that Xiao Shi really, really didn’t want you guys to know about the main clan, huh? I knew our relationship went to pot after the bounty was put up, but sheesh!>>
Out of either amusement, frustration, or both, Zhen Xun Tian let out a puff of air before answering Zhen Liu.
<<The long and short of it is that I’m actually your grandfather’s great, great grandaunt. My brother, dragons bless his rest, would be your actual honored ancestor. I think he’d be your...great, great, great, great grandfather, give or take a couple of greats. Aish. Seems like only yesterday I remember changing Zhen Shi’s diaper...granted, that was before I became leader of the Zhen Clan...>>
<<Wait, what? How old are you, you barely look pass my age.>>
<<First, rude. Never ask a woman other than me their age. Second, I celebrated my two hundred and fourty...eighth birthday, last month. It was a fun time, but once you get to my age, birthdays mean less and less, ya dig?>>
<<Two...two hundred and forty-eight?!,>> Zhen Liu exclaimed in surprise. He recalled that when a cultivator reaches a certain level of power, they’re able to essentially "lock" their looks at whatever age they reached that level. It was actually based on this fact that there was a ludicrous market in regards to cosmetics and medicines that could restore one’s youthful vigor.
Not only that, but it was common sense to associate genius and talent to youthful looking, high tiered warriors.
Zhen Liu had no idea if Zhen Xun Tian was talented or lucky, but he did know that it would be wise to be respectful of her as much as possible.
<<But enough about me ranting of my olden days, get to explaining you young whippersnapper. I may look like this, but even I know that time is inevitable...for now...>>
Correction, Zhen Liu could be respectful after seeing if her head spins from him trying to convey the meaning of [Chaos] to her.
<=Alright, milord. Repeat after us.=>
’Right.’
<=’The thing about [Chaos] is...’=>
_____________________________________________
*Bing-Bong*
The following scene has been removed by the author because he deemed that a long winded explanation of what [Chaos] was, would be incredibly boring and sound like something straight out of a philosophy textbook and not in a fantasy, comedy adventure thing.
But for those who are curious a truncated summary will be provided at the beginning of the next chapter.
Apologies.
...
Really? Just...really?
|Yes, I am. You really think anybody would find an essay of what [Chaos] is both philosophically and literally, interesting? World building may be fun, but even I know there should be limits.|
Says the guy with side chapters for that exact purpose...
|That’s...a good point...hmmm....|
*Bing-Bong*
