Watching over the sleeping camp

Chún stepped away from the camp briskly, wincing as its Defensive Formations flared up behind him to full power. The harsh scrape of the imposed patterns against his Essence Senses made him frown in discomfort.

"That feels really unpleasant," he muttered softly, "Not at all like a Dao Pattern that has grown into its natural potential. I see what you mean about Consumer Formations being destructive."

"And these formations are designed for stealth and maintained and being improved on by experts," added his locus in their link, "most Formations used by average consumers are not set up by experts or are set up using mass produced formation elements - those Formations are a great deal worse than these."

Rubbing his glabella, Chún picked up his pace away from the camp and directed the focus of his Essence Sense away from the camp to avoid the headache that was threatening at his temples, "It looks like… Dàilán… ordered for everyone in the camp to rest."

"They must be on their very last legs for all of the Consumers to agree to go without guards in the wilderness - even with their Formations on highest power," remarked Tai, "the Lady evidently accepted your pledge of protection."

"The Healer probably rammed it down everyone's throats - and they do not really have any functional Consumers able to guard regardless," pointed out Chún, "they have very little choice."

He kept looking around the lightly wooded area as he walked. This area had been heavily damaged by the collapse of the Sect's secret land as it was much closer to one of the entry points. The shadow of the hill had diverted the immediate damage, saving the camp, but everything further out showed splintered trees, fallen trunks with giant roots sticking out into the air with clumps of dirt sticking to them, dead animals and leaves strewn as far as he could see. The smell of smoke, dust and turned dirt hung heavy in the air.

The irritation of the camp formations faded as he made distance from its location and he sighed in relief, "is the camp within your boundaries?" he asked his locus as he swept his senses around.

"A hundred lǐ or so in from the outer edge," confirmed Tai and Chún nodded in satisfaction, "please send your patrols in this direction then and around the outer boundary between here and the camp," he requested, "just keep them out of sight of the Consumers or there might be some misunderstandings."

There was a distinct air of sarcastic shock radiating down the link and Chún chuckled, "yes, I know, it is obvious," he tapped the disguised World Tree Staff as he walked briskly, his head turning as he started pushing his Essence Sense out for more detail, "I think I should smooth out the Essence flows around here."

"Find the Essence Springs," suggested Tai, "We should grow healthy Dao Patterns out and try to drain away the damaging Essence. Link them to the camp's Formations - we need to remove the stagnating Essence and blockages those artificial patterns are causing."

"Will they be there long enough? For that to become necessary, I mean," asked Chún.

There was a flash of someone shrugging shoulders that flitted across his memories and an impression of, 'is there a reason not to?'

"I suppose not," replied Chún, "I do not trust those Formations anyway. We should grow Dao Patterns to keep an eye on the areas around the camp ourselves."

"You mean you do not trust having a camp of Consumers sitting within my boundaries - even if it is only the original mountain site on Golden Crow," elaborated Tai dryly, "you worry too much." Chún snorted in response, "This whole thing with letting this group in was your idea."

There was a tentative silence then his locus pointed out quietly, "If you do not agree, why are you offering so many concessions to them? Or perhaps, I should say, to her?"

"Is that not what you want?" Chún answered defensively as he grounded his staff and smoothed out a patch of twisted Essence, ignoring the faint ripple outward of purified Essence that followed.

"You are in the superior bargaining position," stated the Hidden Mountain straightforwardly, "why are you acting like you are the one that has to convince them to stay?"

"Gang politics again," replied Chún after a moment, "After mother died... the village is just big enough to have a small gang of younger kids and teens who do not have jobs or parents - mostly because of the travellers or failed expeditions - adults who did not come back, runaways trying to get as far away as possible, or caravans that abandoned kids. But sometimes… outsider gangs came in."

"Like Grass," contributed his locus and Chún nodded in agreement as he crouched down to examine a spot where a large tree had been toppled from the blast, then absently started pulling out a flow of Essence from the pooling energy where the tree had been, redirecting it into the start of a defensive pattern as he moved away from it, "right," he agreed, "although we did not know that at the time."

"So?" prompted his locus curiously, "Well, I was not part of the village street kids - I was still considered half an outsider because my mom and I came from elsewhere, so I mainly scraped by on odd chores and errands and hunting and bartering for myself, but... when outside gangs came in everyone banded together - we could not fight the outside groups, they were almost always stronger - adults," the young teen answered, "or rather we could have, but we would have wound up all killed, eventually. At the same time, we were local, knew the area and had the trust of the villagers - more than outsiders would anyway - so anyone coming in from outside would have to pay a cost to get rid of us. Usually, it would have eaten up any profits those gangs might make from skimming the harvests."

The Tai's presence in the link emoted understanding, "As it is said: the distant dragon cannot repress the local snake."

Chún closed off the defensive Dao pattern and nodded in satisfaction as the Essence started to flow cleanly, grass and plants beginning to show signs of life as the pattern began to flourish, and began walking back to the fallen tree, "So both groups would cooperate - eventually the outsiders would move on and we would be better off for it; some of the local gang might get offers to leave with an outside group if they were interested…." he paused frowning, "not even when the gang of bandits - that we know now as Grass - came and suppressed everyone else did they bother to try and remove us; mostly we got co-opted…"

"So…" mused Tai, "here the Consumer refugees are... the local snake on Golden Crow and… we are in our separate world - hence the strong yet distant dragon. But are we not the local power here locally?"

"Sure - but whether we are strong locally or not - If they leave, I do not want them holding a grudge. If they feel I withheld treatment or treasure, tried to kill them or drive them off they could do exactly what we do not want and lead more avaricious Consumers to us in retaliation or revenge," answered Chún firmly as he reached the uprooted tree and with a grunt of effort wedged a hand under the trunk, lifted then slammed the tree back into the hole it had been pushed over and out of, "we may be strong locally, but we cannot currently project much force and we are easily sieged - which is why I say we are in the dragon's position."

He laid his hand on the trunk and let Wood Essence flow outward from his Wood Essence Fire Seed and into the tree causing it to tremble and re-root itself strongly into the soil - the wood and leaves taking on a healthy luster again - as the disturbed ground flowed back into place.

Walking away from that restored tree and over to another nearby that was in clear distress Chún frowned and tapped his staff in concern as he crouched down and examined the damage, then placed his hand on the splintered trunk and let Wood Essence flow into it, following the lines of its damaged Dao pattern with his Essence Sense and repairing it as he spoke, "especially if they are a Noble Cultivation Clan - those sort take honour debts, grudges and stuff like that seriously. Especially looking at the ones in charge - they seem to be the type that would die in order to hurt us if they felt endangered or tricked - but will hold their word if they promise not to speak."

"That is a gamble…" pointed out his locus, "you could be wrong about their character."

"Hence, watching them closely and having your Essence Beasts nearby, part," agreed Chún, patting the healed tree trunk and looking up at the revitalised leaves and then back down at the grass around the base of the tree in satisfaction.

"Hmmm… okay, but if they stay - are we not doing them a favour?" asked the Mountain and Chún shrugged as he walked away from the now healthy tree, trailing the butt end of his staff through the ground, pulling out another flow of Essence behind him as he responded, "outside groups that treated us badly never got overt resistance, but things always got difficult for them. Stuff would go missing, usually at the worst possible time, or things that would happen to make their position untenable - they would get pushed out by some other group…"

Drawing in more twisted Essence he purified it as he walked, pushing it into the Essence flow he was pulling behind him into a new Defensive Dao pattern and spoke earnestly into the link, "if this group of Consumers stays, we want them as allies and inclined to protect us, not nursing a grudge to cause us trouble or turn hostile after they are in our lands - or worse - after a couple of generations… just because they felt they were coerced into staying."

"Besides," continued the young teen as he slowly started circling back around to the other side of the camp, absently clearing out physical obstacles, healing damaged trees and Essence damage with equal alacrity, "I have actually provided very little. That woman knows only a few things - my true appearance - and that I have an unknown level of strength - which when dealing with Consumers is always a good thing. She thinks I am a hānshén, so she probably talked to the villagers at some point; it looks like our little play about the Spirit of the Mountain to the village elders worked, but she knows nothing about you, me or True Cultivators."

Chún tapped his nose as he closed the defensive Dao Pattern and started drawing out a new Dao pattern - a monitoring sequence that fit the local landscape, "I have given them a few medicines and I am guarding their camp. Both things benefit me, because I am able to observe their situation and now I am closely monitoring them - but the medicine and even what I consider low level Essence herbs and plants are valuable to them, matter little to me - while they feel more indebted to me and more inclined to trust me."

He shook his head sadly at the carcass of a dead creature that lay on its side in his path with no obvious wounds other than a trickle of blood coming from its mouth and bulging eyes. Sweeping the body with his Essence Sense, Chún could tell that half its internal organs had been crushed, "must have been caught by the blast," he muttered as the earth sank beneath the creature and then shifted to cover it. "Feed the forest, my friend," he whispered as he continued to walk forward, pulling the flow of Essence behind him.

"So if we offer them refuge after this, they would feel bound to defend us - even more so as they get established and switch to defending the area for their own interests, like I suggested in the first place," concluded his locus in satisfaction, then its tone turned sly, "I would wager that is not your only motivation though - the Land remembers what happens between Heroes and country destroying beauties…"

"That - is - the point," replied Chún stoutly, despite flushed ears, walking hurriedly, "we want the beauty on our side - not against us."

"And that is the - only - reason you are being so nice to her?" chuckled the Hidden Mountain.

"What would you know," retorted the young man, "what do Mountains find attractive? A good, solid set of cliff-faces? It was your idea to… pursue... her in the first place."

His locus rumbled with laughter, "I am just telling you to be honest with yourself, friend."

"Fair enough," replied Chún shaking his head, "just stop channeling Prince Bái."

The locus fell silent and after a few more strides the young man sighed, "You were right about being lonely, Tai. And... I think she would understand how I feel - she cares for her people and her duty as a leader - like I care about you and my duty as a True Cultivator."

The Mountain rumbled in his mind comfortingly, "Just be careful. I know you still want adventure and glory."

"They are coming here to me instead," laughed Chún as his flush faded, "I take your point though," he replied soberly, "Consumers are dangerous. No matter how much of a Heaven favoured Fairy out of StoryTeller's stories she seems."

"More beautiful is almost always more dangerous," agreed the Mountain, "trust me, most of the best examples of that live on me - flowers, birds, insects, reptiles…"

"And the rest," Chún rolled his eyes, "I will count on you to watch my back. I better get on with these patterns or I will still be growing them when the camp wakes up." He focused his attention on tracing out the outlines of defensive and monitoring Dao patterns.

"Even if rocks fall, I will guard you, friend," agreed Tai, "my Essence Beast patrols are moving in."

---

Approximately a shi later, Chún looked into the late afternoon crow-light, shading his eyes out of habit, although he no longer really needed to with his Cultivation at Sky level.

"That did not take as long as I thought it would," he mused to his locus, idly running his hand up and down the disguised surface of the World Tree staff, "anything to be concerned about, Tai?"

"Nothing is being picked up by any of the Dao Patterns you have grown or my own attention; my Essence Beast patrols are calm - they have not noticed anything either," reported his locus with satisfaction, "the diversion patterns are re- dispersing the Essence from the clogged flows caused by their formations gently into the local area; changing a negative into a positive."

"Someone should teach Consumers to build their Formations so that they work in harmony with the land rather than diverting existing Dao patterns into damaging messes - it was not that hard to make the adjustments," Chún mused as he idly scratched circles in the ground at his feet with his staff as he sat on a boulder and sighed, "I cannot believe this; I am actually bored."

"You have gotten used to a busier pace of life in the last two months," pointed out his locus, "since you feel like doing something, why not make some more local improvements - it will do Golden Crow some good to have you replenishing its Essence."

"Heng, that was what I was originally intended for, right?" recalled the young teen True Cultivator, "both you and the old man mentioned it - we just got side tracked with everything that happened after we defeated that incursion of World Devourers."

"En, en... Since you have to stick around outside for a while you should get back to the original purpose. With all the commotion, no high level Consumer elsewhere on Golden Crow is going to notice a few extra ripples or increases in local levels of Essence. It is a good opportunity," advised the Hidden Mountain.

"Hmmm… well," Chún thought out loud, "that stream really ought to have a lot more water running through it - the recent upheavals have obviously diverted water away from the normal course."

"Rainfall has been low in this area lately," demurred his locus, "if you look at the stream bed, you will see the banks and outer edges of the streambed are mostly dry, which would not be the case if the decrease in water volume was recent."

"Will all this extra Essence pouring into the area make a difference to the weather?" asked Chún, thinking of what happened the last time the Hidden Mountain had a sudden jump in Essence levels - when his locus Advanced from a plane to a full sized planet.

"It may," agreed his locus, "but anything extra you provide can only help."

"In the meantime, let us see if I can increase the waterflow of the stream or divert the water to a closer location near the camp so they do not have to struggle so far to bring in water for drinking and bathing," declared Chún with enthusiasm, "if I am going to add Essence, I may as well make it worthwhile."

"Now who is setting up unnecessary extras for the camp," remarked Tai with amusement, "it is not like they are mortals, after all."

"If I am making changes, they may as well be constructive ones," responded the young teen with an air of responsibility, but an air of disdain came from the link, "you could clean up the mess - bury the dead animals, replant all the toppled trees and continue to heal the damaged ones," Tai pointed out, "at least in the area around the camp."

"Good idea," agreed Chún as he wandered away from the boulder, "I will do that while looking for the best spot to adjust the stream…"

---

Several Kè later Chún looked down at the small tributary of the stream that he had created out in a wide oxbow out from the main riverbed. The 'creek' ran outward in a wide arc almost right up to the edge of the boundary of the camp's defensive formations, before it curved back to rejoin the parent river. Chún had checked with Tai if it was ok for him to make additions to the river like that and his locus had assured him that any change made no difference on this scale as long as the water flowed back into the main body within a lǐ or two.

He had also gone up and down the length of the river in both directions for several lǐ for a quick check and located several blockages caused by landslides, boulders and fallen trees that were affecting the water flow. The land slips and boulders were moved out with some minor Earth Essence manipulation - thanks to all the practice with making pottery - and he picked up and replanted the fallen trees appropriately to support his earthwork and the general health of the local area.

This had improved the flow of the prior low stream-like flow of the river by a considerable amount which Chún was quite satisfied about, although he still hoped the recent increases in Essence levels would cause an increase in rainfall and other growth elements to heal the land.

"I wonder," he muttered to himself looking at the late afternoon that was growing closer to early evening - or 'high setting' as the storyteller insisted on calling it when he was being particularly flowery, "there is still no movement from the camp?"

"All appear to be sleeping," assured his locus and Chún nodded, "in that case - I think I want a bath - and…" he stretched and dropped his 'Lin' disguise, groaning and shuddering as his body resumed its normal proportions and features, "I think that has been the longest I have held that disguise - it was starting to feel very confining."

Looking down the bed of the restored river at a thicker corpse of trees approximately a lǐ from the camp, he nodded to himself and started walking casually towards it, slinging the staff across his shoulders and draping his forearms from it, "there is a small deeper pool there, where the river widens out a bit… there is a natural spring feeding into the river there. I am sure I felt some Earth Fire running just a few lǐ or so below the surface near there - if I spun a little of it upward to cross that spring… Wā! Natural hot spring - and if I make a few adjustments…."

Moments later he was beside the pool, squatting down to poke the staff at the small ground spring, "I have not done anything like this since the 'shrine' - I really need to remember it is one of my primary purposes as a True Cultivator," he chided himself as he let himself sink deeper into his Essence Sense, tracing the flows of Water Element under the earth that represented the spring and then a little way below it a slow pulse of a vein of Earth Fire, "Yes - there… now, if I push the water source downward a little… and nudge the Earth Fire upward…"

"Remember to check that there is not anything relying on the current flows as they are first," interrupted his locus, "you would not want to kill something or destroy its home for your own comfort. What you are considering is a luxury - not necessity."

Chún blinked and concentrated, "You are not here to check directly yourself - thank you for reminding me," he agreed with his friend, "no… I do not sense anything, this area is actually disturbingly barren for a supposed wilderness area."

"I have told you Golden Crow has not been doing well for a while," Tai reminded him, "the decline of life is just a reflection of that - fortunately our development and recent changes should help halt and reverse that slide."

"As long as we get enough time," muttered the young teen as he guided the two elements closer together, watching as the proximity to the thread of lava heated the water flowing up to emerge from the spring. E watched the new Dao patterns forming form the interaction as the combined Essence at the closest proximity began to establish a fragile balance.

"Add an Essence node to make that permanent," advised the mountain and Chún felt an odd pressure at his temples - evidently his locus was borrowing his Essence senses to 'see' what was happening as this area was not a direct part of the mountain.

"How do I…?" Chún stopped his question as he felt his Essence shift under his locus' control and drew a breath in, focusing on not resisting as Tai created an intricate Dao pattern out of Chún's Essence - centered around a large portion of Neutral Essence - almost like a jewel set in a filigree setting.

After a moment, the Essence 'gem', floated free of his own Essence and sank down into the ground beneath him, to the precise center between the two flows of Elements that ran under the land. Chún could see hair-thin like patterns spreading out like frost into the threadbare spider web of natural Essence flows that lay in the immediate area - all which began brightening with the new source of Essence and started to thicken, looking stronger - even as minute amounts flowed inward into the 'gem' and back out again.

"That is a useful technique," observed the young teen, concentrating on remaining steadily upright while dealing with the slight weakness of having such a large chuck of Essence leave him all at once, "but I would appreciate it if you can warn me next time you are going to do that."

There was an impression of startlement then contrition in the link, "Apologies, sometimes I forget that as much as we are one being now, you are also separate - normally I would just do that directly - I forgot that because you are off the mountain that it would be purely your Essence that would be manipulated."

"I understand," answered the young teen mildly, "I am not upset - just ask first next time. Even if we are one being now I still ask you when I make changes to your body, do I not?"

"Yes…" came a slow reply and Chún felt a rolling pulse of some sort of understanding, resonate in the link, "I never quite understood why before…"

The young teen waved it off, "It comes with having a sense of self I think - and that is new for you - and I am not entirely why I even understand that. Being your True Cultivator has changed me as much as it has changed you, I think." Chún shook his head, watching as the water element flow feeding the spring became saturated with the Essence pulsing out from the gem, "that will definitely have an effect around here."

"Yes…" agreed Tai, "it will raise the local Essence levels but it will be very localised and gradual as all the Essence patterns are gradually strengthened and it grows stronger in turn - a beneficial cycle, you would say, but that is not why I did it. The main reason I created it is to charge the spring's water with neutral Essence."

Chún blinked, "aside from creating a treasure that Consumers will covet, because I am guessing such a thing would help with Cultivation, I trust you had another reason?"

"It is because you said you wanted to use the spring to bathe in," explained his locus, "impurities from Cultivation - especially the sort that Consumers tend to expel from their bodies as they experience 'breakthroughs', from forcibly destroying their own Dao patterns to create the artificial, flawed patterns set out in their 'Cultivation Methods' - are not cleaned off with just water and cleansing agents."

The young teen frowned in confusion as Tai continued to explain, "a strong source of Essence - Neutral is best - is required to break it down. Either someone else provides Essence to burn it off, a formation is used to provide enough Neutral Essence to cleanse it off - or there are some expensive Essence Cleansing soaps, potions or oils that can be used."

Tai broke off what had become a lengthy monologue and sent an impression of shrugging as it summarised, "the main point is that the impurities have to be broken down with pure enough Essence that does - not - come from the same person who expelled the impurities - as the Essence and impurities come from the same person, they will have no effect."

"I have never had that problem when I wash in the…" Chún trailed off as he realised what he was saying, "...oh, I am guessing the Essence levels on the Hidden Mountain mean that everything is charged with enough Essence to break down any impurities on my body..."

"...so you have never experienced the problem before," finished his locus, "correct. The Essence from that pattern will charge the water of the hot spring you have created with enough Neutral Essence to cleanse effectively."

"The benefits from literally soaking in Essence rich water are irrelevant, hmm?" joked the young teen, "Well, if we are going to such efforts, I see no reason to not make it a place pleasant to use."

Moving swiftly around the edges of the pool that was quickly warming up from the boiling water now welling up from beneath the earth from the spring, with wisps of steam starting to rise off the surface, Chún started retrieving various seeds and small cuttings of Essence plants from his Cloak.

"Let us see… hmmm, this glowing moss here on this boulder - a little Essence to allow it to establish, these firefly flowers over here…." he nodded in satisfaction as the flowers started glowing and unfolded new shoots as he placed essence into the newly replanted flora. The stamens and pistils uncurled and started releasing little seeds that glowed with various colors and floated in the air like glowing sparks of Essence. A refreshing scent rolled outward and he smiled, "the moisture and warmth will be perfect for those, what else… oh," he pulled out a Dao pot with a small bush inside, "the leaves on this plant are good for cleaning with…" quickly he transferred the bush which emitted a soft, pleasantly astringent scent on the opposite side of the pool and quickly transplanted it with a revitalising burst of Essence.

For the next Kè, the young True Cultivator moved around the pool, transforming it into a mystical looking grotto, ringed in a rainbow of Essence by planting and revitalising Essence herbs and plants all around its edges with accompanying pulses of Essence. Most of the herbs and plants glowed softly with the various colors of a range of Essence types - although a few had brilliant glows that did not fit any easily identifiable Essence type.

Other plants, herbs and flowers emitted pleasing scents or compounds that repelled insects or predators. He even added a few dwarf fruit trees - apples and peach, that by right, would not normally do well in such an environment, but the steadily increasing Essence levels had them blooming beautiful flowers that released fragrant scents of their own.

A couple of the slightly higher level Essence plants he planted - like the firefly flowers - released Essence lights or glowing motes of various shades to fill the air around and above the pool with an otherworldly air; they floated serenely in the steadily increasing mists both of steam and Essence that were now rising from the pool.

A couple extra pulses of Essence into the ground around the now Essence lit hot spring ensured that the plants would live in harmony with the local ordinary plants - with ordinary bushes and plants growing thicker and more luxuriant around it to screen it from casual observation from a distance.

On the inside of the naturally formed boundary, Chún planted shoots of Essence Bamboo from the Mountain that glowed softly in soft tones of gold and green with veins of purple in the growing dusk as they grew rapidly - to ensure someone could not just peer over the top of the ordinary bushes.

A discreetly hidden trail was soon the only access and after a brief moment of consideration, Chún slightly adjusted the placement of a few of the stronger Essence plants and the bamboo to naturally form a defensive Dao pattern that turned the excess essence inward to make sure that the Essence levels would remain high enough to support the flora he had planted. The Essence from the spring and the other plants would serve to reinforce it, meaning any Cultivator with less than a, "World level," supplied his locus as Chún hesitated and he smiled, "will not be able to look in - that is better than what I was hoping for, thanks Tai."

"Excellent work," responded Tai, "it qualifies as a mid-level treasure - or a minor fortunate encounter for a low leveled Consumer - I believe this is the first resource treasure you have crafted entirely on your own, with barely input from me."

Chún shrugged sheepishly, "I just want a nice place to take a bath - if it helps the balance of Essence of Golden Crow and replaces some of what has been plundered - so much the better."

"On that topic," suggested his locus, "make sure your pattern is not completely closed off - you still need it to breathe naturally with Essence Flows in and out - you do not want it to stagnate and become septic - as long as it does not overwhelm the local patterns and allows for a natural strengthening."

"Ah, dé… I may have gotten a little too enthusiastic with trying to keep everything contained," admitted the teen as he hurriedly checked his Essence Sense and made appropriate adjustments.

"Good - the local area will be able to naturally adjust to the new source now," agreed Tai and Chún grinned, "bath time!" he cheered and jumped into the spring, letting the Cloak and Staff retreat into his skin and tattoo respectively.

A pained grunt sounded a moment later and Chún complained, "I should have smoothed out the inner surface of the spring first. Sharp rocks may no longer be able to hurt me, but it still feels unpleasant when they wedge somewhere they should not..."

Ignoring his locus' chuckling in the link with dignity, the young teen stood in the steaming water up to his waist and started splashing his way around the inside of the hotspring, shaping the rocks into smooth surfaces and reworking them to show any interesting patterns or veins of metal.