Murim Recurve

The lift moved slow, but its motion was stable. Re'Kha saw the ground floor slowly move lower in her perception before her sides were blocked by a wall. Soon after, another floor appeared in her view. All it had was a short corridor leading into four rooms. The other end was made into a sit-out, an open corridor outlining the rectangular courtyard.

It was meant for people to sit and watch nature from a higher point of view. The mechanical lift slowly moved up. Re'Kha was surprised at how smooth its motion was, for there wasn't even a single jerk throughout the journey.

'How did they achieve it?' She thought, curious. There were mechanical lifts in her clan too, but her experience in them hadn't been as smooth as the current one. 'I guess they know about metal better since they work with it all the time.'

In the room the six men had entered to move the mechanical lift existed a massive wheel, with its circumference parallel to the floor. The wheel's radius spanned the entirety of the room, covering a length of two men's height combined.

The six men stood at equal intervals of the wheel, using their right hand to grab the section of the wheel on their left before pulling towards them. When the position of their right hand aligned to their front, they grabbed the section of the wheel on their left using their left hand, pulling it towards them once again.

And when the left hand aligned with their front, they placed their right hand on the section of the wheel to their left, re-enacting the previous set of actions once again. This was something they had trained to do for years, so their coordination was impeccable.

"10…11…12!" The leader shouted, "We've crossed the first floor. Four more floors to go."

They continued to rotate it, stopping once the count hit 60, for the lift had reached the fifth floor. They paused as the leader pulled a lever nearby, blocking the gear mechanism to prevent the lift from falling due to its weight.

The moment they stopped, the sound of a bell echoed. Once he heard it, the leader motioned for them to rest.

Re'Kha finally saw the lift arrive on the fifth floor. The servant immediately rang the bell once and opened the gate, motioning at Re'Kha with a bow, "Please watch your step as you exit, my lady."

Re'Kha stepped foot on the floor, noticing that there didn't exist any noticeable difference from it to the floor of the lift. 'They made it so one cannot even differentiate it. This would comfort the travellers further, and erase their fear of the lift falling to the ground.'

"Who designed this lift?" Re'Kha spoke, expressing her curiosity, "It's many times better than the one in my Clan."

"Servants like me aren't told of such information, my lady. All we know is the rumours that one of the heirs to the Ju Clan had created it." The servant bowed in apology. Re'Kha waved her hand, "it's fine. I was just asking in passing."

She was then led to her room; the servant inserted the key and opened the door, revealing the room to her. The size was ample enough for her stay. It was enough for a family of four to live comfortably. 'It is luxurious indeed.'

Once Re'Kha entered the room, the servant brought her bag inside, placing it in one corner upon instruction. She then bowed, "I'll bring a change of clothes immediately, ma'am. If you wish to order anything else, please ring this bell twice. The servant stationed at this floor will immediately head to your service."

The servant motioned at the bell placed on the table nearby, placed the key next to it, bowed once again, and disappeared. Re'Kha closed the door, heaving a sigh, "I can relax a little now."

She gazed around, noticing the furniture provided within consist of everything one needed. She entered the bedroom, one that spanned thrice her height in length and twice her height in breadth. The bathroom attached to it spanned a breadth equivalent to her height and ran parallel to the length of the bedroom.

She then entered the balcony, one that occupied as much space as the entire room. In their culture, people loved open areas more than enclosed buildings. But, during the changing seasons, it wasn't a pleasant experience staying out in the open. So, the best solution for them was the balconies. So, each house had a balcony which sometimes exceeded their living area.

There were two easy chairs on one side, made from straw that was tough but had a smooth finish. It felt similar to wood but lighter. The open end of the balcony was fully grilled, preventing anyone from entering from the outside. It was made from metal.

Placed next to the grill was a small granite table meant for two, serving as a tea table. To the other end was a dining table, meant for four, also made from granite. The chairs too were made from the same while the seats were layered with a fur cushion.

Re'Kha was surprised to find an Aeki placed at the corner, surprised at the fact they were able to maintain one high up from the ground. She inched closer and opened it, finding an array of food items stored within.

They ranged from meals to even snacks and tea. They were neatly compartmented within the Aeki to prevent any damage. Re'Kha closed the lid, glancing at the water jug placed on the dining table. It contained enough drinking water to last her a day.

Re'Kha walked towards the grill, peering out. She didn't have to do that, for she relied on her Wind Qi perception to sense, and not her sight. But, she still moved out of habit, gazing at the road situated far below. The road was wide, only inferior to the city's main roads. She watched the cycle rickshaws ply the roads, hearing the conversations of the passengers within when she focused, "This location is pretty good for collecting information."