20 A Tool

Wuyi walked slowly toward Patriarch Congming. When he reached him, the old lord got down on one knee to be eye-to-eye with the boy. Wangzhe glared down at them. Wuyi had a feeling that he really messed up; he had sworn that he would first find a way to not get noticed when using his cheat before he ever used it again.

He looked serious as Elder Congming took the red bean dessert from his grasp and casually set it aside. Lord Congming pulled out a pin adorned with a jade centerpiece from the silk fabric near his collar and deliberately fastened it to the plain silk of Wuyi's shirt.

"Now you're under my employ," Elder Congming announced. "You don't have to settle for anyone's leftovers. I will provide for you, and do so generously. Your family hasn't allowed us for your Qi training yet, but that doesn't mean you can't be educated. I'll ensure you receive training that makes you self-sufficient anywhere you go. If anyone tries to sway you against me by offering you more than I can, come to me with their proposal, and I will match it. Should you rise to a position of power and have any grievances, remember that I took you under my wing and you owe me for my kindness. Yuanjing never gave us guidelines on how to treat you, so I'll treat you well until instructed otherwise."

Wuyi nodded, in the mute way that was still his habit, but the Patriarch's steady brown eyes demanded more. "Yes, My Lord," Wuyi finally said. Wuyi fully understood what Lord Congming wanted. Worlds might have changed, but people and their desires never change. In the past, his bosses wanted to own him as their lackey for his talents in accountancy. Here, the Lord wants to own him for his bloodline.

"Good. I will be issuing some commands regarding you. See that you go along with them. If any seem strange to you, speak to Boluo. Or to myself. Simply come to the door of my chamber, and show that pin. You'll be admitted."

Wuyi glanced down at the jade stone that winked in a nest of silver. "Yes, sir," he managed again.

"Ah," Patriarch Congming said softly, and Wuyi sensed a trace of regret in his voice and wondered what it was for. The Patriarch stopped swirling the energy around his body, and suddenly Wuyi was once more aware of his surroundings—of the food, the Grand Pavilion, Wangzhe watching him with fresh distaste on his face.

Then Congming rose to his feet. As he turned his back on Wuyi, a cold sensation swept over him, as though he'd just lost a delicious meal. Wuyi was aware that using statues caused shifts in energy; the Patriarch must have sensed that—there was no other way to explain it. But what he was not able to understand is why was he feeling so hungry? He guessed the energy the Patriarch used must be very potent and his statues wanted that energy.

While Wuyi was lost in thought, Patriarch spoke, "You don't approve, do you, Wangzhe?" his tone was conversational.

"You are the Patriarch; you may do whatever you wish," Wangzhe responded sulkily.

Patriarch Congming sighed. "That is not what I asked you."

"You are educating him when Yuanjing has not given any instructions to us. Favoring the boy will only make it appear you recognize him as Yuanjing bloodline when Yuanjing clan itself has not said anything. It will give him ideas, and others. Besides, many in our clan will disapprove; it's like entering into Yuanjing politics," Wangzhe argued.

"Faugh!" The Patriarch chuckled as if amused.

Wangzhe was instantly incensed. "Many in our clan will not agree, that I am certain. Giving any power to a Yuanjing bastard—"

"Many have not agreed with me, nor been pleased with me for some years. I scarcely notice it anymore, Wangzhe. They will flap and squawk, and they will complain, but that's what they do. I am not letting him train in the martial path; I am just giving him basic education and means to survive. I will make him work for me. He has a Yuanjing bloodline, a potent one; without realizing it, he can manipulate the power of the bloodline. I felt it. It's barely noticeable; it's not awakened, but this proves he has a potent bloodline. Even if he doesn't work for me, I'm making him indebted to me so that in the future, if his clan decides to help him cultivate and he becomes powerful, he will not harbor any hate against our clan. You don't need to be a diviner

 to read a few things. If Yuanjing never comes to claim him, in our hands we might have the strongest warrior the desert has ever seen," Lord Congming interrupted.

Hearing this, Wuyi thought, 'So when I used the Statue of Harmony, the Patriarch felt as if I manipulated the power of the bloodline similar to Boluo. This is a good excuse as long as I can use it.'

"You want to make him the strongest warrior, and what if he decides to take over rule over us and many clan members are unhappy about you controlling the treasury so strictly? You make them work for every single gold liang while the treasury is filled with gold. Now you will be wasting money and resources on someone else's bastard. They might not take it sitting down," Wangzhe added defiantly.

When Wuyi heard about the treasury that was filled with gold, his ears perked up.

Congming nodded to himself, his eyes narrowing as if contemplating a complex puzzle. "Yes, I thought there might be festering worry in your mind. Listen, boy. They may scold, complain, and fling crockery at the servants, but they will never do more than that. Because they know it is better to have a peaceful life in the clan than be part of chaotic clan wars. Their empty minds invent trouble to fill their boredom. Their ambitions have always exceeded their abilities." He paused, locking eyes with Wangzhe. "In the clan or martial path, that is a most lamentable failing."

Wuyi could feel the waves of suppressed anger emanating from Wangzhe as the latter looked at the floor.

"Come along," Lord Congming commanded, and Wangzhe followed him obediently, like a well-trained hound. However, the parting glance Wangzhe cast at Wuyi was venomous.

Wuyi stood and watched as the old Lord departed the hall. Strange man. Despite being a bastard of a nobler clan, he realized if the Lord had just told him to become his lackey, Wuyi would have happily done so; he needed to survive in this world. But the Lord was going one step ahead, making Wuyi think he was doing him a favor so Wuyi owes him and stays loyal to him. Wuyi liked that; this is the difference between being a boss and a leader. If his bosses in his past life had used this technique, he wouldn't have been disloyal.