Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Fighting Words

“Drink up, Yaihan,” Koya said as she tapped her wooden bowl against the cultivator’s. “You deserve it.” Their shallow dishes spilled small drips of water onto the ground. Yaihan stared at the small bit of mud formed from the droplet with disappointment. 

“Don’t feel too bad about spilling that bit of water. We’ve got plenty of it to go around.” The kunoichi tilted her head back and gulped down her drink. Yaihan tilted the bowl to his lips and took a small sip.

“That was refreshing,” Yaihan said with opened eyes. “And I’ve barely drank any.”

“Its special water generated from Lysa’s Mending Storm. Since she casts it all the time, we have plenty in storage. The healing properties have diminished a fair amount since when it was first cast, but there’s still some relaxing properties left behind.”

The cultivator finished the rest of his water in a single gulp. “I’m good for now.”

Koya pointed to the tent behind her with her thumb. The open flap to the entrance revealed a storage room filled with wooden barrels. “If you ever need a drink, you know where to go.”

“And what about food?” Yaihan asked as eyes darted around the area.

The kunoichi made a feint chuckle. “That’s a good one.”

“I know food is sparse. I’m not hungry now, but I would like to know for future reference.”

“We keep it by the armory. Well-guarded,” Koya said as she placed her bowl in a wooden bin. She looked past the water tent and into the camp. Everyone was moving towards the large firepit burning in the center. “We don’t want people stealing extra rations. But I’m sure Fei-Lu would let you have something to eat if you just asked her.”

Yaihan closed his eyes, shook his head and wagged a hand. “No. I won’t be needing anything to eat for a while. Save it for the soldiers.”

“Is that so?” Koya said with intrigue. “Are you telling me that your cultivation powers also makes it so that you don’t have to eat, either?”

“I still do. But not as much as you. That’s part of the reason why my time on Mount Kaminada was so effective.” Yaihan rubbed hist stomach with his hand. “Not like there was much to eat there but kelp. And a fish or two if I was lucky.”

The kunoichi shook her head. “I’m glad you were willing to put up with that for ten years. I know for a fact that I couldn’t live off nothing but sea grass.”

“That’s why someone such as myself only comes by once every thousand years.”

The kunoichi’s lips formed a small smile as she watched the others scramble to the center of camp. “I don’t know if we should consider ourselves lucky. Nice to know that we have our secret weapon. But at the same time, it would be even nicer to not be in this situation.”

Yaihan remained silent. He stared at the fire in the distance, a somber frown growing on his face as he stared at the flickering flame. A tap on his shoulder snapped him out of his trance. “Come on. Didn’t mean to get you feeling so down. Everyone seems a bit happier ever since that last battle,” Koya said as she followed the rest of the survivors. 

“Right. I apologize for getting distracted. I almost forgot how strict Fei-Lu is with punctuality.”

Koya gave Yaihan a wink followed a gentle nudge with her elbow. “Don’t feel bad. I know you cultivators are all about getting lost in thought. Maybe you could show me, Fei-Lu and Lysa how to get some of that strength of yours.”

“I would, but I don’t think the Oni-Zhen would be willing to wait a decade while the three of you hide on a lonesome island.”

The kunoichi shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe we can start simple then.” Koya merged with the moving crowd as they headed towards the assembly. Yaihan stayed close behind, but soldiers gathered around him to give the cultivator applause and compliments. 

“You saved me back there!”

“I didn’t know an Oni’s head could get crushed like that!”

“You’ve got to teach us how to get that strong!”

Yaihan got lost in the multitude of conversations. His attention jumped from each soldier at a rapid pace until Koya emerged through the pack to pull the cultivator away. 

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“Sorry folks, we’ve got a meeting to get started,” the kunoichi said over the musings of the crowd. “You’ll all find out more about Yaihan. Eventually. But as Fei-Lu will explain in a few minutes, we’ve got some important matters to attend to.”

Despite their disappointment, the soldiers listened to Koya’s command and left the cultivator alone. The kunoichi held Yaihan’s hand tight and navigated him through the throng of people before finally making it to the designated gathering space in the center of town. Fei-Lu stood in front of the blaze, casting a shadow on the audience as she stood with confidence. A small, round clearing between the roaring bales of dead grass and her anxious constituents served as her stage.

“Thank you all for attending our emergency meeting tonight.” 

Fei-Lu spoke clearly and confidently. As her eyes scanned the audience, the murmuring of the people came to a halt. 

“As you all know, we have won our first battle in what feels like an eternity. And it was all thanks to the assistance of one cultivator.” The tactician tilted her head up and continued to scan the crowd. She paused when her eyes met Yaihan’s. “Come here,” she said with a wave of her hand. “The Xiwaoans want to meet their savior.”

The crowd in front of Yaihan parted, giving him a clear path to Fei-Lu. He marched forward with humility, keeping his head low despite the incessant cheers and pats on his back and arms. Once he reached the center of the camp, he turned around and looked at the audience. The famished Xiwaoans stared at him with awestruck eyes as they awaited Fei-Lu’s next words.

“This... is Yaihan,” she said as she pointed at the cultivator. Shrouded in the crowd, Koya clapped slowly. The applause then spread like a fire before turning a roaring blaze of cheering and acclamation. Despite the praise, Yaihan maintained his stoic demeanor as he bowed.

“Enough with the celebration!” Fei-Lu’s hand shot up, making the crowd quiet down. “Just because we managed to survive the last battle, there is still much work to be done.”

“But we have Yaihan on our side!” one soldier shouted. He stepped forward, placing himself several yards in front of Fei-Lu but well in front of the other Xiwaoans. “I was there when he first arrived on the battlefield!” The scrawny man stared at the cultivator with a glimmer in his eyes as he lifted an open hand above his head. “He... He fell like a star from the heavens!” The soldier punched his hand and then ground his knuckle into his palm all while baring a smile on his face. “And then he crushed those Onis like they were nothing! Tore them apart like they were made of sticks!”

“I know. I have seen his power firsthand,” Fei-Lu said. 

“Then we can win this war!” the soldier continued. “Just send him straight into the heart of the Oni-Zhen territory! He could take on the entire army with ease!”

“It’s far more complicated than just sending Yaihan into the center of enemy land! Even though Yaihan is powerful, just him alone isn’t enough to take on the countless Onis that plague the rest of the land. We need a strategy. If there’s one other advantage we have over our enemies, it’s that we have the element of surprise. They think we’ve lost. This is the last stronghold left for us humans, and the Oni still don’t know where we’re hiding out. To them, this war is over. If we plan right and take our time, we can slowly but surely shift the tide in our favor.”

“But we don’t want to wait any longer!” an elderly woman blurted out as she staggered forward out of the crowd. She hunched over and used a jagged stick to keep herself upright. “We’ve been running for our lives for what feels like an eternity. I’m tired of hiding. I say we send Yaihan out and have him win this war for us!”

The rest of the Xiwaoans chatted amongst themselves. Even through the numerous conversations, their agreement was unanimous. Fei-Lu put her hands on her hips and shook her head while tapping her foot as she waited for the crowd to quiet down. 

“We are not going to waste our greatest and most likely only chance to win this war!” Fei-Lu called out over the talking. “What good would Yaihan’s victory be if there are no other humans left standing? Not to mention that there are countless other demons whose strength we don’t even fully comprehend.” She walked next to the cultivator and placed a hand on his shoulder. Standing almost like a statue, Yaihan broke his still stance when the tactician touched him. He looked at her with approbation as she maintained her attention on the riled up crowd.

“Let Yaihan choose!” one voice in the back shouted. The rest of the audience nodded and expressed agreement. 

“He’s a cultivator! Not a strategist!” Fei-Lu replied. 

“What do you want to do, sir?” the same soldier said to the cultivator. “I’m sure you could take on the Oni all by yourself.”

Unamused, Fei-Lu looked at Yaihan. “Well? What do you think?” she asked the cultivator.

“You’re asking me?”

“Yes. You are the most powerful person here. Not like I have anyway of forcing you to listen to my commands. Whatever you decide, I shall respect,” Fei-Lu said quietly. “I think it’s only fair for you to decide what you want to do.” She extended one hand and pointed far into the expanse beyond the camp’s perimeter. “Would you like wander all along Xiwao, fighting an endless onslaught of Oni for years or even decades? Or would you rather put your energy into more precise strikes that will cripple the Oni-Zhen, slowly but surely?”

Yaihan nodded before stepping forward to face the audience. “I am no tactician,” he said with a loud and austere tone. “I trust Fei-Lu’s abilities as a commander. My strength combined with her strategies will be more effective than aimless slaughtering of Onis.” The Xiwaoans turned quiet as they focused on the cultivator. He glanced over his shoulder at Fei-Lu. She gave no cues, instead waiting for his next statement like the rest of the crowd. “I know you have been fighting for what feels like forever. But I ask that you hold on for a little while longer. Anything worth doing is worth taking your time to get it right. If there’s anyone here that understands that concepts, it’s me. I spent a decade honing my skills and mind in solitude. If I can do that, then you can continue to live defensively.”

A silent sigh travelled through the crowd. Their excited faces all turned somber. 

“But I promise you, the time of their reign is coming to an end.” Yaihan cracked his knuckle, the blunt sound startling those in the front. “Patience is key.”

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