14 ”You Gave Your Word”

The Clan Leader, a man appearing to be in his 40s despite being over 100 years old, had a considerable presence as he approached the area torn by Oji's fight with Elder Naoki. As he moved through the crowd they opened up around him, giving way out of respect and fear. Aoi was not a beloved Clan Leader, nor was he hated. Instead, Aoi was simply the Clan Leader because there was literally nobody else capable of the handling the job right now. His sheer strength, both martial and of personality, were what held them together after the crisis 14 years ago.

Momo moved quickly to try to help deescalate things. The last thing she wanted was for her father to kill Oji, simply because there had already been too much death. She hadn't even wanted to see Akemi Sensei or Elder Naoki die if Momo had her own wishes, but in both cases Oji had at least some right to kill them. Especially Elder Naoki, who initiated attacks on Oji with the intent to kill.

It wasn't something she'd had to worry about. "Are you quite finished making a ruckus in my Clan, Oji Emor of the Crimson Sect? This much can be tolerated, as the father and daughter were both in the wrong, but more than this will not go without a blow in return." Clan Leader Aoi reprimanded Oji in a lazy tone while making the whole of the matter seem more insignificant by treating it like Oji was a troublesome child. His aura had retracted after putting out the fire Oji'd been about to use on Elder Naoki's corpse.

Momo watched the mad man cautiously. Her father had done his part already, showing tolerance to the previous actions. The question was what would Oji do next. Cifer spoke up from beside her. "Oji Sensei, I think I might have an answer to your question from before. Sensei was serious about his proposal?" Momo initially thought the remark was extremely selfish under the circumstances. Then saw the fight go out of Oji.

What? Why would that of all things calm the crazy guy down? Momo was completely mystified as Oji turned to her father. "Of course Clan Leader Aoi. How could this Junior dare to remain unruly when even you have come out? Junior will give face to the Clan Leader and merely continue the task that Junior was given." Then the handsome man bowed to her father. He started walking towards herself and Cifer. Unconsciously she felt her heart speeding up, until he stood in front of Cifer and she thought her heart would burst from her chest.

"Come with me boy. I'll see what you know and estimate how far you can go for my Sect." Oji said, utterly ignoring her existence. She realized he hadn't even looked her way a single time since she told him her identity. No, since before then. After she'd first pleaded for mercy and Akemi had distracted him, Oji had only verbally responded to her voice and strictly avoided looking her way. For some reason she found that pissing her off!

"Is that little display really what you consider not blowing this out of proportion Oji?" The words slipped out before she thought to stop them. Icy cold and sharp as a dagger. "I think you could have ended it all without a single death if you hadn't been so interested in fighting Elder Naoki." Her voice was low, but cultivators had sharp senses. Many in the crowd heard her.

Oji paused with Cifer. "Who said I was interested in fighting a man three stages above me? If I wanted a fight that badly I could have easily used my status to force him to spar with me at your training grounds." His words were cool and collected, carefully measured.

The Clan Leader's eyes were narrowed though. His daughter had a point. Oji's actions were his natural personality and approach to discipline, as befitting a man who cultivated Evil Essence. That was what they all thought. But he was more than merely ready when Elder Naoki initiated his attack. Oji had been eagerly waiting.

"Really daughter, there is no call to make such accusations against Nephew Oji. Though his methods were rough, his decisiveness and judgement were not wrong. We knew of Elder Naoki's personality and likely reaction, however, Nephew Oji was a stranger here. How could he be crazy enough to risk taking one of our Elders deliberately? It makes more sense to blame the unfortunate incident on his inexperience."

Oji nodded slowly to the Clan Leader. He knew why Aoi was speaking in his defense. The Clan Leader knew Momo was correct, and that if the others realized the same than someone would make another attempt on Oji's life. Someone doubtlessly better prepared and more capable that Elder Naoki.

Others were willing to believe the Clan Leader, especially since they did not believe Oji was crazy enough to aim for their Elder when he was still only High Origination and his Sect was far way. Momo didn't believe it for a second. She spoke once more, contempt in her voice.

"No matter what your reasons or excuses, one thing is still true. You gave your word Oji Emor. Than broke it without a thought."

Momo turned and stalked away in fury like she'd never felt before. She didn't see Oji's eyes return to her, or the many emotions boiling in them after her plain and simple statement.

She didn't see Cifer start to run after her, only for Oji to stop him, telling the younger man that now wasn't the time. She didn't see the sadness on her father's face or the thoughtfulness on the other high ranking members of the Clan who had witnessed everything.

She didn't see how her childish stubbornness would cause resentment toward the Crimson Sect to start to fester as uncertainty became deeply rooted in several hearts.

But in a few short years she would eventually see the tragic result.