Chapter 96 - Gifting the People

The Ao Wen standing before the elite of Turning Leaf town presented herself very differently than any of the versions of Ao Wen other townsfolk might be familiar with. Like Jun Biyu, she still wore her hair in a high ponytail more common among male warriors than women, however, unlike Jun Biyu she'd replaced the simple leather band supporting the base of her ponytail with a silver-flame-shaped cuff and several decorative hair pins that ended in polished emeralds, sapphires, and garnets more reminiscent of jewelry Cong Daiyu had owned. 

Similarly, she still wore a cut of clothing that Jun Biyu would have found comfortable and easy to move in, however, even the flamboyant Jun Ben would approve of the rich black and midnight blue silks and brocade of her current outfit that had taken the place of the more humble and coarse black fabric she'd worn to hunt in the mountains. At her waist, a dark green folded silk fan took the place of her saber adding a touch of refined elegance to her otherwise martial look. 

"Alchemy Novice Ao Wen, Guest Alchemist of the Zhang family, thanks the assembled guests for coming so far in this weather simply to attend her welcoming banquet," she said smoothly with a slight bow and cupped hand, "Father, Mother," she continued, turning to parents behind her who had each dressed in new silk robes for the occasion. "Patriarch Zhang has prepared two seats for you at the high table. I'll join you shortly."

Once her parents had taken their place with Feng Xi and Tang Jin at the high table, Ao Wen strode forward to the center of the great hall, easily commanding the room with a presence honed by years of study under Cong Houzi and the Sacred Flame Celestial Temple. To the people of Turning Leaf, the woman who stood at the center of the hall felt less like the stonecutter's daughter they'd met or heard about and more like a visiting Celestial Fairy from some far-off great sect! 

"In the place where I studied Alchemy," Ao Wen began in a clear voice that carried to the furthest corners of the great hall. "It was common practice for visiting alchemists to bestow gifts of medicine and elixirs on communities they visited who may have lesser access to the services of alchemists. While our Turning Leaf is not without its own talented alchemists, there are truly too few here to see to all the needs of the common folk. Thankfully, Patriarch Zhang has been generous enough to supply me with many herbs to prepare a gift for the common folk of Turning Leaf," she said, lifting one hand in signal to the servants present in the great hall. 

Doors opened on both sides of the hall and servants began to enter, each carrying a tray with twenty-four bottles of mortal medicine. First two, then four, then more servants entered the hall until over twenty servants lined the center of the great hall with over five hundred bottles of mortal medicine, salves, and healing ointments. "Fevers, wet coughs, swamp foot, and many other maladies affect the common folk each year during the rainy season," Ao Wen explained. "We of Turning Leaf are accustomed to hardship in the fall and through the winter while storms rage and thunder energy spills from the Thundercloud forest. No one who lives here fears or complains of minor ailments but many suffer more than they should, even if they never complain about the hardship. This year, any who suffer a malady for which we have medicine need only present themselves to the City Lord's manor to receive medicine, gifted freely that they might continue to live well and productively through the season," Ao Wen explained with a smile. 

At the back of the hall, one mortal after another stood, staring at the collection of medicines as though the trays were stacked with taels of gold and silver. For some, memories of bitter years suffering through fevers and chills came quickly to mind. Others, perhaps more practically minded, considered how many of their workers would be able to work through the season and how much more productive their businesses would be as a result. Whether selfish or altruistic, each of these leaders of the mortal community of Turning Leaf felt greatly moved by the gift offered by Alchemy Novice Ao. 

"Truly Alchemy Novice Ao has not forgotten the common people of Turning Leaf after awakening," one man said loudly, beginning to clap his hands in approval. 

"Fairy Ao has eased the minds of countless mothers this rainy season," a matronly woman wearing many jeweled necklaces added. "The children suffer the most from wet cough and fever and now they have a guardian fairy!" 

"City Lord Zhang is most magnanimous to supply herbs and the services of the Zhang family's Guest Alchemist to create remedies for the common folk," another man stood, directing his praise towards the City Lord rather than the young alchemist who had done the concocting. After all, Fairy Ao had said the herbs came from the Zhang family, to snub them at this moment would be a grave mistake. 

"Cheers to City Lord Zang and Alchemist Ao," a fourth person cried out, bringing with them a wave of applause, cheers, and kind words. 

Amidst all of it, Ao Wen stood calmly. She hadn't done this for the praise though it never felt bad to be acknowledged for her efforts. As the woman earlier had said, she'd done it for the children. For the ones she could help as repayment to Little Fen and all the ones she couldn't help back then. She'd promised them, and even if she was no longer Cong Daiyu, she intended to carry on as she had then. 

"This is preposterous," a sharp discordant voice cried out from one of the tables closest to the high table. "Anyone who consumes these so-called medicines deserves the painful deaths that will find them in their sleep," the gruff voice continued as Independent Alchemist Wai Dan strode forward from his seat. "I will not tolerate this wicked and deceitful woman's manipulation of the common folk for her own petty gains! On behalf of the Alchemy Consortium, I demand that these toxic concoctions mislabeled as medicine be destroyed for the good of the people of Turning Leaf town!" 

Throughout the hall, hands stilled from clapping and voices quieted. Ominous and oppressive waves of energy could be felt from a multitude of cultivators present, each working to restrain their reaction to the explosive accusation lest their energies harm the mortals present. 

"That is a bold thing for Alchemist Wai to say without so much as examining a single bottle of medicine," City Lord Zhang said in a voice sharper than a thousand quills. "Particularly when your own disciple has served as Alchemist Ao's herb boy these past several days while she's been concocting. Perhaps you're attempting to confess that your disciple has sabotaged this medicine on your orders?" City Lord Zhang accused, dark eyes flashing in murderous intent. 

"What need have I to examine medicines in order to cast an accusation of poisoning," the elder alchemist groused. "My disciple Mao Ailum currently languishes in the City Lord's dungeon on the basis of this pretender's baseless accusation and fantastical storytelling," he continued, his face dark and voice pitched to reach every ear in the hall. "No other alchemist has verified the results of this girl's so-called investigation. No member of the Alchemy Consortium has examined the 'poisoned' medicine she claims my disciple gave to Soldier Feng. Instead, the City Lord conducted a sham of a trial, accepting this fraud's accusation in exchange for a stolen elixir that cured his ailing concubine. Well, this Alchemist won't have it!" Alchemist Wai Dan roared, drawing himself up to his full hundred and fifty centimeters of height and glaring at the City Lord, Ao Wen, and anyone else in the room who dared meet his furious gaze. "I demand justice for Alchemy Novice Mao Ailum who has been falsely accused. I demand these 'medicines' be destroyed. I demand this woman cease the unlicensed practice of alchemy without the supervision of a properly ranked member of the Alchemy Consortium in accordance with local custom and Consortium rules! I demand arbitration by a Master Alchemist or greater and I demand that the City Lord and this fraud submit themselves to the justice of the Consortium if found guilty of crimes!" 

Each demand cracked out like thunder, stunning the audience and inflaming the tempers of many of the cultivators gathered here. Ao Wen's face grew more and more grave as he continued, particularly after Wai Dan mentioned the unlicensed practice of alchemy because, out of every bit of nonsense the old goat had spewed, that one could almost be considered true! Meanwhile, at the table Alchemist Wai had left, Long Ma began to smile. The opening move had just been made but there was still much to come before this night ended!