Wandering Cultivator 5 by Robyn Wideman

Author:Robyn Wideman [Wideman, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

27

SONG

No sooner did he leave than the entire teahouse became a thunderous storm of whispers.

“I think we should go,” Malli murmured in her ear.

Song was already inclined to agree—she’d endured enough stares already—but it was Malli’s hand on her shoulder, squeezing as if she wished she had talons instead of fingernails to dig into Song’s flesh, which had her rising to her feet.

“You’ll send the bill to the Swordsworn, won’t you, Mistress Cha?” she asked as she stood and gathered her things. Fan, hebao purse, shawl—curse these accessories to the Eight Hells and back! —and jian. It’d been secure in her belt, but touching it reassured her. Though, not as much as Fang would have. But she doubted Mistress Cha would’ve let her bring that monstrous double recurve bow into her fine establishment, betrothed to the Swordmaster or not.

“I most certainly will not,” the teahouse owner replied cheerily. “Thank you for blessing this establishment with your presence, Lady Elodie. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

She’d certainly try, a feat that would be made easier if Malli wasn’t trying to kill her with her eyes.

Outside the Celestial Leaf, the closed carriage manned by eight others of her personal guard waited. Malli opened the door for her rather impatiently. Song snatched the captain’s sleeve. “You’re coming in here with me.”

“Tie,” the captain barked.

The Metal cultivator obeyed the implied order, springing up beside the driver and issuing the order to return to the sect.

As the carriage lumbered away, Malli prompted icily, “Yes, Lady Elodie.”

“Cut the horseshit,” Song replied, fighting against the compulsion of the butterfly talisman. “Want to explain what rammed your undergarments so far up your ass?”

Malli’s eyes had flown open for only a second before they narrowed into slits. “You, Lady Elodie. You were flirting with the enemy! Now the whole city will know of your indiscretion and Swordmaster Daoren will be made a laughingstock!”

“Yes, because sharing some tea and a piece of fruit is so flirtatious. Get a grip.”

“We’re not in the backwaters anymore,” Malli seethed. “Reputation is everything here. And you’re ruining not only your own but my master’s as well.”

“I’m here to uncover the traitors, the saboteurs of this city, not live up to the pedestal you put Elodie on. Stop comparing us.”

“What is there to compare? You’re nothing like her.”

“Why? Because I can take care of myself? Because I don’t need you to protect me? Oh wait, fail to p—”

Song caught the fist aimed at her face and squeezed it until the bones creaked. Malli was a level four Emerald, powerful, but nothing compared to a level one Jade. “Careful,” Song whispered, “you’ll ruin the makeup you put on me.”

Malli snatched her fist away, rubbing the ache out of her knuckles.

“That’s what this is really about, isn’t it?” Song asked. She kept her tone soft, but her body was prepared to fend off another strike. Fire cultivators ran hot, after all, something she was beginning to notice in herself. Her Air affinity had always made her strong-willed, but her new and potent Fire affinity could turn that into a conflagration.

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