24 A Chat with the Goddess

Seeing as it was the beginning of the month, Hong Wu and Yan decided to head to the Ascending Clouds Pavilion. After picking up their monthly resources, Yan wanted to visit Hu Huan to see if she could get some resources to help develop her Flying Sword Technique while Hong Wu headed back to the campsite in the forest. Wanting to show her lack of fear, Hong Wu resolved to go through the Drifting Clouds Quarters to get to camp this time.

As she walked towards the rows of houses, the few girls that noticed Hong Wu's arrival while outside engaging in conversation immediately ceased talking. The atmosphere was tense as the girls gave off a sense of hostility, but masked behind that was an even greater sense of fear. Satisfied with the effect she gave off, Hong Wu proudly strutted her way past the housing structures and into the trees.

About twenty minutes later, Hong Wu was almost at the camp when she felt the hair raise on the back of her neck. Her time spent taking down the wild animals in the forest had honed her senses to the point where she knew when she was being watched. There was something hidden in the morning mist. Hong Wu stopped moving. She slowly pulled out Cang Rong's dagger preparing to take down whatever was sneaking up behind her.

Hong Wu spun around in a quick one-eighty, simultaneously casting Frozen Blade upon the dagger in her hand and summoning two more on either side. "Who's there?" she called out.

A melodious voice quavered as it pleaded, "Please do not attack! I will come out."

Out from behind a tree about ten meters from where Hong Wu was standing, the shadow of a figure stepped out from the mist. When the person fully materialized, Hong Wu was shocked at who she saw, "Lady Lan!"

Hong Wu was initially stunned but quickly recovered vigilance. Hong Wu felt conflicted about Lan Cixi. On the one hand Lan Cixi was like a supportive older sister to everyone she met, and had even tried to help Hong Wu during the farce of a trial over the incident with Cang Rong. On the other, Yan showed a deep distrust for this seemingly angelic figure. Seeing her now Hong Wu did not know what to think. 'She followed me all the way here. Why?'

Lan Cixi was the goddess of the Drifting Clouds Quarters. The other girls saw her as more than just a leader; Lan Cixi was perfect to them in every way. Her beauty was unmatched, and her cultivation speed was higher than everyone else. From the pure, cooling aura that radiated off of her, Hong Wu could tell that Lan Cixi had also broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation long ago. Hong Wu would not be surprised if she was close to reaching the fifth layer. The fact that someone like this was approaching Hong Wu personally made her nervous.

Lan Cixi's expression showed that she was trying to maintain some semblance of elegance, but it was obvious that the three blades pointed in her direction shook her usually calm and collected composure. "My goodness, Sister Hong's Frozen Blade Technique is quite fearsome. Even with the unjust imprisonment you faced, your skill continues to improve."

Seeing the fear in Lan Cixi, Hong Wu deemed that she was not a threat and disengaged the Frozen Blade spell. Lan Cixi relaxed visibly. "Thank you Sister Hong, I am shamefully unsuited for battle. I fear the further I cultivate, the more that will hold me back."

"It is I who should be thanking you. I never got to show my gratitude for defending me against Cang Rong's slanderous accusations."

Lan Cixi smiled bitterly and shook her head. "Please do not thank me for such a thing. You were still beaten and imprisoned. I was unable to offer any substantial assistance."

"Don't diminish what you did," Hong Wu quickly reassured. "If you had not spoken when you did I would have still been locked away in that cave. I would not have been able to survive like that for long. You have done me a great favor."

Lan Cixi's smile became much warmer hearing these words. "Why were you out here in the woods?" Hong Wu inquired, returning to the matter at hand.

Showing a rare trace of seriousness in her expression this time, Lan Cixi said, "I will not lie to you Sister Hong. I followed you here to speak with you directly."

"Me? What do you want with me?"

"I was hoping that I could turn to you for help."

Hong Wu was bewildered. "What could you possibly need my help for?"

Lan Cixi bit her lip before saying, "I know this might be awkward, but I would like for you to pass a message to Ren Yu. Can you please tell her that I am sorry about what happened back in city hall?"

"Who?"

"Oh, I guess she goes by Yan now doesn't she?"

Hong Wu stared dumbly at Lan Cixi; her words rocked Hong Wu's mind. Recovering from the initial shock, Hong Wu recomposed herself and tried to analyze what she just heard. 'Yan's real name!? So they really do have a history! This is my chance to finally learn about Yan's past!'

"Sorry? For what?" Hong Wu said with genuine curiosity.

A trace of confusion shone in Lan Cixi's eyes, "You mean she has not told you?"

Hong Wu dumbly shook her head. Lan Cixi went quiet as if deliberating on how to explain herself. "I suppose I should tell you or my message won't get across properly. The truth is Ren Yu was my handmaiden long before Hao Ru. Yan and I grew up together. She was always following me wherever I went when we were kids. For a long time we were very close inseparable even. Our feelings for each other were…"

Lan Cixi trailed off as the color red crept up her neck and filled her cheeks. Hong Wu's jaw dropped. 'Is she … blushing!? Wait, what!? No!'

Hong Wu's mind was now in complete chaos. Brushing past what she initially tried to voice, Lan Cixi continued with her story, this time with sadder tone. "Eventually word found its way to my father. He was livid. It was the only time he ever struck me."

Lan Cixi's eyes began to moisten as her voice started to waver. "'How could you!?' he said. 'You are the mayor's daughter! I have an image to uphold!' Cheap words from a cheap man. Why is it my brothers can ruin maidens all throughout the city, but I am denied any companionship!?"

Hong Wu's brain grinded to a halt as she tried to process everything that Lan Cixi was saying. She still could not believe what she was hearing. 'Yan and Lady Lan? Together!?'

Tears were now falling from Lan Cixi's eyes as she sniffed through the rest of her story. "The next day Ren Yu was replaced by Hao Ru. I tried to go to my father and protest, but that hateful Hao Ru stood in my way. She may pretend to be my handmaiden, but she is a trained soldier of my father's more than anything. Under the orders of my father Hao Ru imprisoned me within the confines of city hall, acting as my constant shadow.

"The next two years passed lifelessly. I became the puppet my father wanted. When the Thousand Shadows Guild came for tribute, my father knew exactly who he wanted to dispose of. I was actually glad to be chosen. It may have been trading one jailer for another, but at least I was free from my father. At least, I thought as much at first. When I learned that Hao Ru was to accompany me I realized that I would always be under his thumb, ever expecting me to be the perfect princess. Even now Hao Ru constantly keeps an eye on me."

The powerfully bitter emotions disfigured Lan Cixi's normally immaculate visage. "Hao Ru and I were the first two brought to the holding room. The next person was Ren Yu. When I saw her, I nearly jumped right into her arms. Before I could even react though, Hao Ru quickly made a move to attack Yan. The man in black that brought Ren Yu in quickly stepped between the two and stopped the fight before it could even start, but the damage was already done."

The pain in Lan Cixi's voice amplified, "The way she looked at me hurt me more than anything I have ever felt in my life. Pure hatred. I knew I could never properly explain to her what happened. I knew she would never accept me again."

Hong Wu could not reconcile the image she had of Lan Cixi immaculate, perfect figure with the sad, pitiful creature before her. "Please Hong Wu, you must speak with Ren Yu. Convince her to meet with me. Even I she still hates me I just want to have the chance to speak with her one last time to let her know how sorry I am. Please!"

Lan Cixi's begging made Hong Wu feel uncomfortable. "I will tell her, but I cannot promise she will meet with you."

Lan Cixi beamed when Hong Wu agreed. "Thank you Sister Hong, thank you! I am in you debt."

"Please don't say that Lady Lan. You have done so much for me before. The least I can do is pass along a message."

Lan Cixi smiled once again, "Okay Sister Hong, we will call it even. And please, call me Sister Lan. Lady Lan is what those vapid girls who follow a bully like Cang Rong call me."

With that, the two said their goodbyes and parted ways. Lan Cixi faded back into the mist, and Hong Wu meandered back to camp in a daze, still reeling from recent revelations.