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Questionable Questing

Gusfes, Snusmumriken replied to a thread you are watching at Questionable Questing.

[NSFW] - Wisher Beware [Original]

 

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Spoiler

I put the guitar aside and faced Aikerim fully.

"I will be honest with you, my Domina. While I am not surprised that he had come to talk, I was not expecting him to come exactly now, nor have I told him, or someone connected to him, about the current development," I shrugged, "In fact, his 'timely' appearance is rather startling to me as well and I would be wary to meet him right now without your presence."

She walked fully into my house. A stray glance at the large rune carving on the floor turned into a meticulous scan of the room, studying the carvings around the openings. A slight twitch of her fingers and runes lit up brightly. Three distinct runic arrows pointed at the wermage as if accusing her of illegal use of magic.

Aikerim shook her head and muttered something derogatory under her breath.

"You said you expected his response. Why?" She decided to continue the conversation.

"My family. I have met him in the city after the disastrous meeting with his sister. Something that he almost expected to happen by the way, and tried to fix the situation in advance," My fingers reached out and slid across the strings of the guitar, reminding her of the gift I had received from Albin, "I had informed him then that his attempts were nowhere as sufficient."

"I see," Domina hummed, then looked at my silent sadaq, "Leave us."

"Your son had said the same last time," Irje challenged her back before I could even utter anything.

"And I am not him. If I was planning on punishing him, I could do it in your presence. Now go and let me talk to my alchemist in private." Aikerim cut her off without skipping a beat.

I patted Yeva as I shook my head to Irje, quietly telling them to leave the room. Politics, politics and displays of power were everywhere.

"So tell me," She spoke once we were alone, the blazing runes warning me of the silence spell active around us, "Since when have you started to rely on the other Manors' help in solving your problems?"

"Since I have acknowledged your prowess in letting others do the work for you. You started it by putting other Manors against Shebet. I continued in your manner by making her brother potentially act against Sophia."

"And you don't think he would be the cause of yesterday's attack?" She raised her eyebrow, "Using the envoy as the obvious aggressor to further his own plans?"

Aikerim stance barely changed but her tail, ears, and eyebrows were easy to read.

When she wanted them to be read that is.

When Domina arrived at my place her stance was neutral, appropriate, and without any obvious emotions visible in her body language. Schooled. And only now I could start to see hints of curiosity within. I was no longer a potentially insubordinate slave that was undermining her authority in her eyes. Compared to our previous 'conversation' about a similar issue she had improved leaps and bounds in her ability to trust me. Or, at least, give me the benefit of a doubt to either explain my reasons or give her enough rope to hang myself.

I shook my head, "Unlikely. Sophia Chasya wants to have me, and Albin is equally curious. Albeit much more capable of controlling his urges. They want to pick my brain, not stab my heart. Unless she is vengeful enough to deny you of me since she couldn't get me. Whoever had done this was either trying to silence me forever or diminish your rising power."

"Yet he is awfully great with his timing," She mused.

"That is rather usual for him, although I wonder."

Her ears twitched as the eyebrow rose up again.

I continued, "What if he doesn't know, but is trying to find out for sure. Him coming over and requesting to speak with me would force you either to confirm whether I am alive or keep stalling."

"You think a Speaker of Shebet would drop everything and run to check on you?" She couldn't hold a hint of a smile while saying that.

"Why not? He did manage to intercept us in the middle of a city, trying to bribe us in advance."

"What have you told him to be that interested in you? Have you told him about your abilities?"

"Nothing much, apart from very sparse tidbits of my knowledge. Not that he needed much to make correct assumptions before," I scratched my chin in contemplation, "He did call my knowledge demonic, but he wasn't-"

A loud hiss interrupted my musings as Aikerim pulled on her ears in an act of extreme frustration. Something that I've only witnessed Virnan and Anaise do so far.

"Do you think he wanted to kill me because he thought I was a demon?" I carefully probed.

"No," She groaned, "But that would explain why he is so interested in you. If only he could keep his mouth shut, however."

I frowned, "That doesn't sound like it was just a passing remark. Is there something I should know about demons?"

A few more choice words were muttered about Albin and Aikerim plopped down on my bed. Frustrated tail slapping the bedding left and right. She stared at me for a few seconds only to sigh deeply.

"I guess I should tell you. Especially since I can't trust Albin Chasya to keep things quiet. Who knows how many know by now. I am actually surprised that you don't know already, but that might be because you are the first murk to be one.

"Daimonas are either children of the Gods or the heroes of the old given flesh again. Some even say that they contain the spirit of the Flow itself." She noticed my raised eyebrow and chuckled tiredly, "I know it sounds implausible, that one would be a murk, and it had never happened before either. All daimonas were wermages until you came about. They all had Sparks brighter than the most, but their defining characteristic was their knowledge. The knowledge that they shouldn't have, but did possess. Including the maturity and wisdom beyond their early years."

I stood still in front of her. Shocked to the core. There were others like me simply running around? What were they doing? And, more importantly, why did they keep Emanai and the rest in such an archaic state? Did the nanite imprinting fail or did they choose to keep the civilization at this level for some reason?

I glanced at the window, seeing glimpses of the sky through the wooden screen. Precise memories were fuzzy, but I was sure that my ship had only me on board. And it was alone. I had no idea if there were other crashes before or after me, however.

"And what happened to them?" I asked, turning my head back to Aikerim.

"They aren't that common as you think. Even by our standards. Their lives are nothing more but legends now," She glanced up at the window too, "Perhaps they even joined the other Gods and still keep watch over us."

My hands clenched. Keeping watch, my ass. I could understand not interfering with truly alien civilizations, at least not without extensive study and immense scrutiny. Acting rashly could cause irreparable damage to their culture. But these were humans! They were descendants of these that once called Earth home! To simply let them struggle while reaping the benefits for themselves wasn't just immoral — it was outright cruel.

Unthinkable.

It was like finding a group of castaways on an island and letting them live there since they managed to make primitive spears and axes and were actively chopping each other to pieces. Or worse, position themselves as god-like beings and enjoy being worshipped as one. And leave, once the entertainment grew stale.

Unless I was missing something again.

"I see why I was given so much freedom despite my status now. Not just a slave, but a potential daimon…" I muttered deep in my own thoughts.

Aikerim nodded, "Early on I had a faint suspicion that you were one, but your way of carrying yourself as well as the knowledge you possess made it obvious since then. Know that while you stand beside me and my Manor, my wealth and power will aid you in your journeys. You might end up seeing your name and deeds engraved in Kiymetl histories."

I bowed, "You have my gratitude, but please tell me: what other feats these daimonas were known for?"

The obvious unspoken words were clear to me, but there was no need to speak them out loud. Aikerim feared that I could try to seek better pastures. Especially after the last few days, with constant attacks and the looming threat over my family. All of which made the limits of her power and influence obvious to both of us.

Yet, apparently, she didn't dare to lock me up and flog the knowledge out of me. Something, what I initially attributed only to her opportunistic mind of a trader, that was also bolstered by the mythical status I apparently possessed. No wonder she didn't bother to grill me on the origins of my knowledge — she already had the answers. Or why she stopped Sophia from doing the same later. Which apparently was a moot point since Albin was already aware.

Perhaps from our first meeting too, he could be uncomfortably insightful.

Aikerim couldn't beg me to stay either. Domina couldn't show herself being weak, her position wouldn't let her. So all she could do is continue to do what had worked so far as hope that I was indeed grateful enough to close my eyes on previous transgressions. And that was exactly what I wanted her to do.

She sighed with relief, "Many Manors claim to have a Daimon as their first ancestor, or as one who brought them to prosperity. Their strength and swift rise to power made them into fearsome warriors on a field of battle. While their sharp mind and wit allowed them to win the battles of words."

I stared at her.

Aikerim coughed, "There are tales of some that conquered vast swathes of land from the Forests, expanding Emanai borders. While others brought forth new spells, unseen before. Or brought plentiful loot from other nations."

I blinked, "That's it?"

She sputtered, "What do you mean, 'that's it'? Emanai would be a shadow of its current self without their might! Our neighbours fear us and pay tribute, and not the other way around."

I groaned and leaned on the wall, "So much waste! They could have done so much more, yet all they did was take for themselves and for their family. Choosing to indulge in warfare and pillage. Taking instead of creating!"

"That is how the world works. You can't eat two portions of bread without taking it from someone else."

"Aikerim, as a merchant you should know it doesn't have to work that way. Or do you believe that you steal from the sellers and overcharge the buyers?"

I could see I hit a sore point with that. The ears went down and the tail bristled. Elusive fangs, similar to her daughter's, emerged. It had been a while since I'd seen her this angry.

"I can see that you do not," I kept talking, not allowing her to speak, "Nor do I, for that matter. For things do not have a set value. And value scales with demand. Gold might be precious, but it is worthless if you are alone without food on an empty island.

"By buying where there is plenty and selling where there is none you turn a profit. While satisfying both the seller and the buyer. All three would walk out with better rewards than they could otherwise achieve. The seller could sell for more than she could ever get locally, and the buyer could buy for less, or buy at all. And you get richer in the process."

Tail flopped on the bed as her ears rose up again. A vindicated look quickly replaced the scowl of anger.

"If only everyone could understand it as well." Aikerim huffed.

"If they did, you would have a lot more competition.," I quipped, "But in that example, all three would benefit. And the value was created during the exchange. Just as you create value when you buy wool and turn it into clothes. And how much value I added with the loom alone. And for years to come too.

"And that was just a simple loom!" I threw my hands in the air, "That is nothing in the grand scale of things. I can do much more, they could have done as much if not even more than me since they had magic too. So why didn't they?! It is inexcusable that they chose to spend their time with trifle matters!"

"Or, maybe they aren't as generous as you are?" She mused.

I walked over and leaned closer toward her face, "Tell me. Would you like to have any food that you desire, anytime? Fresh juicy grapes in the middle of the winter? Spices and sweets? What about the fanciest clothes made from thinnest threads and any colour you desire? Enough to fill multiple rooms with clothes alone. Have the ability to dress the entire Emanai with your Manor alone? In Arksite? Just imagine entire armies…arms of warriors walking side by side, all in blue. The glory of Emanai."

Aikerim listened in rapt attention, eyes wide. Tiny quiet breaths escaping from her slightly open mouth. Eyes on me, tail deathly still.

I sharply pulled back, "Or would you prefer to have others scrape under your feet, washing splatters of shit from your legs? Hanging fragrant flowers on your windows to mask the unwelcome smells. Slavish in their behaviour lest you end them with your might."

She recoiled too as if slapped, eyes blinking in confusion.

I waited in silence, waiting for her to recover. Daring for her to answer back.

"You…Can you make all of that happen?" Aikerim finally murmured.

"Most inventions aren't just a single discovery but a set of small improvements that allow something previously unfeasible to become possible. This is why I was so keen on precision, or why I wanted glass. Each of these is but a stepping stone that let us rise higher. So yes, I could. In time," I allowed, and then changed my tone back, "Something the other Daimonas had plenty of, yet didn't."

And if this was some sort of space attraction like "Plunge into a fantasy world and experience the authentic life of an ancient nobleman!" Then I would enjoy aiming a Kugelblitz drive at someone once I find my way to space.

"You know, with every day passing you make me regret more and more giving you your own sadaq."

"And I am thankful that you did. Now that we are together they are my responsibility and I have no intention of letting them go," I firmly stopped that conversation, "I wasn't trying to be useful to get into someone's sadaq, to begin with."

"You have done a splendid job of trying to get into Anaise's." She accused me.

I cringed, "I admit, I did not expect such a drastic response. But didn't you yourself agree that I should teach her? Were you aware that she would react this way?"

"I expected you to teach her many things, including the impermanence of murks. Your apparent longevity had smashed my plans at the worst time possible," She sighed, "No matter. Unfortunately, we have more pressing matters than your relationship with my daughter. Specifically the Speaker at my doorstep. What can I expect from the upcoming meeting?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. What I do hope is that he had found a solution to the 'issue' his sister caused. And he is here to tell about it. As we spoke during the private bath, I've shared some ideas about history with him that made him rather interested to hear the conclusion of. Especially my beliefs about Emanai potential collapse."

"What?!"

I waved her off, "I am not talking about tomorrow nor a century from now. Rather millennia, based on your lifespans, so at this point, this is just a theory. But a theory that a historian like him would find impossible to ignore. He might not be desperate but he won't be apathetic either."

"I wish to know about these theories as well. As soon as possible too." Domina demanded.

I pointed at the scrolls of parchment on my table, "They are already there, and most of the glass technology as well. I just have to add my theories on how Esca had possibly discovered it."

Aikerim snagged the scroll but didn't bother to read it. Instead, she rose up, "Good. Go, tell your sadaq that you are to attend the meeting and meet me at the inner courtyard. Anaise had stalled him enough. And change your clothes, my Manor is safe, but I don't want anyone to recognize you as an alchemist."

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

I was instantly intercepted as soon as I left the house. Irje tensed up immediately, seeing the residual frown on my face, spooking Yeva in the process.

They barely even noticed a wermage walking past them, her nose buried inside the scroll.

I quickly assuaged their fears by telling them my anger was not about something imminent, but the righteous fury of my likely predecessors. Neither of my girls had heard about them but both agreed with me that it did explain the unusual degree of treatment. Irje even joked that, if I was a wer, Aikerim would have given me her daughter on my second day inside the manor. Only to be smacked upside the head by a huffing Yeva.

Domina's revelation had drastically changed the dynamic between us once again. Yes, I was still a murk. But I wasn't just her slave anymore. Not in her eyes, and definitely not in mine. While she would still issue demands, she also started to pick her battles, recognizing where my opinions mattered more.

I smiled. For better or for worse, this had become a real partnership between us.

Yet another step on my path. Yet one more assurance that my sadaq would stay safe even without me around. Her final words confirmed it.

A walk to the inner courtyard had proven uneventful with the entire manor being unusually still. A hint of worry disappeared with emerging Sulla, who silently waved for me to come inside. He took me to the contemplative Domina still reading my scrolls and was dismissed with but a single wave of a hand.

"How much of this is true?" She quietly asked as we kept walking through the corridor alone.

"I would need more knowledge on Emanai than I currently have. Census, maps, possibly some historical records but it is likely."

"Later, then," She acknowledged.

And I knew why. Or I could guess, based on the loud laughter behind the door in front of us. I knew that devilish laughter. Or, should I say daimonic, for some of his mannerisms and word choices made me rather suspicious… Or he could be a recent descendant of one.

That would be better, for I wouldn't need to punch his face in.

Incensed Anaise rushed past us as soon as we opened the door, leaving chuckling Albin alone with us. Surprisingly enough he was wearing quite an unusual set of clothes. Gone were his flashy khalats and sashes, leaving behind a dark grey coat of sorts that actually covered his tail and pants. Extreme rarity within the city walls.

"So, you weren't killed after all," he murmured, throwing a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Well, he looked to be in a rather great mood. That bode well.

Aikerim scrunched her eyebrows, and hissed, "You expected him to survive? Should I assume that you were aware he could be Collected soon?"

"Eh, about a coin toss," He shrugged, completely ignoring her other question.

"So, did you come here to confirm? Or are you here with your answer?" I asked quickly, forcibly pulling the conversation back on track. He already managed to annoy the Lady of the House, and I had no intention that he would do the same with the Domina herself.

He stood and stretched, using his own horns to pull on his neck. An unusual action that only the horned ones could really enjoy, "You should call your sadaq here, they might be interested to hear about it too."

"Well, as long as Domina permits, Albin. I could just tell them after this is all over too."

He smiled and reached into his coat, "Ah but there is a problem with that."

His hand gently placed an orb on the table. Almost identical to that of Aikerim's but the pattern was different, even denser too. Was that the Orb of Truth that belonged to Shebet? And why was it here?

"Since after this is all over, you will be coming with me." The Mephistopheles spoke.

What?

I turned to find deathly pale Aikerim staring at the Orb.

What?

AN: Thank you Pez once again for the shout out in your story.View This ThreadUnread Watched Threads

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Questionable Questing

Gusfes, Casualfarmer replied to a thread you are watching at Questionable Questing.

[NSFW] - Beware Of Chicken (xianxia)

 

Rou stared up at the night sky, filled in with a thousand cracks of gold, and the glimmering points of stars. It was warm here, like a late summer evening. The deck he was sitting on felt comfortable and worn, as if it had seen a thousand nights just like this. Area they were in seemed both endless, and tiny at the same time. The grass stopped not far off the deck, fading into darkness, yet Little golden trails continued onwards, far, far away until Rou couldn't see them anymore.

Rou contemplated his surroundings, absent-mindedly tapping his leg. After all this time, a letter.

Gramps…

So the old bastard was fine. That was good! Better than good. Rou was glad he was okay. Glad it wasn't something Rou had done that caused the old man to leave. Gramps had been angry at somebody else; that's why he had been so short. It had been about some other guy calling in a favour. He'd even apologized in the letter.

That meant something. It had to. Gramps hadn't just abandoned him.

Rou was still angry. Really, he just said it was a mission, then didn't explain, the bastard. He dumped him off at the sect, Rou had worked like a dog—

And then he died. Or would have died.

Rou sighed, and glanced at the leg he was tapping. It terminated at the ankle, turning hazy and indistinct, before transitioning to the other guy's leg.

There was silence. For once, at least, the other guy was quiet. He wasn't saying something stupid or inane, shoving memories down their shared….whatever, like an annoying asshole. He quietly sipped the tea from home, as he sat beside Rou. The flavour and smell dredged up bittersweet memories.

The asshole had let Rou in for a while. It might not have been intentional, but the other guy hadn't fought it. Something had happened. When he was reading that letter, it had been Rou alone.

For a brief moment, he'd felt a flash of exhilaration. It was his chance. Perhaps he could be the one to take command permanently! But as quickly as it came it faded.

The only reason he was alive in the first place was because of the shattered remains of the other man propping him up. A hand that reached out, and kept him around, when he was fading away into the darkness. Picking up the pieces and putting them back together, even when he barely had enough will for it himself. Now, he felt more and more alive. More like he was living again, despite the walls between them. Able to see and taste and experience outside of this waking dream, rather than simply watching from afar and longing.

Jin had a thousand chances to snuff him out. A thousand chances to destroy what was left of the man once called Rou.

Yet he hadn't. He hadn't even once considered it.

Rou sighed, and looked to his side at the other guy.

"Hey." He whispered. Jin perked up, his good eye opened, glancing at him, while the other was a ruined mess, covered completely in gold.

"Thanks."

There were no real words needed, other than that. Jin nodded to him, not bringing any more attention to it. He understood. They were kind of similar, like that.

There was silence, as they sat together.

"So. What do we do about the Cloudy Sword Sect?" Jin asked. Rou rolled his eyes.

"See how sorry they really are, take them for whatever reparations they're gonna give, then tell them to screw off." Rou declared instantly.

The other guy looked surprised.

"...huh. I thought you would have wanted to go back. Go and get that heavenly ascension power." He muttered.

Rou stared at the idiot.

"Our Qi don't work right using traditional techniques. We might have to destroy our current cultivation to start practising normally again."

A farm. Something he had never even seen before, being from a city. He had scoffed at the other man's memories, thinking them worthless and idealized. But the more he worked on it, the more he loved it. Something that was his. No corpses in the streets. No gangs to sully it. Lazy days by the river. Seeing it grow and change. Knowing that it was his work that made wonders.

The people who wandered in and stayed. Some left, but if they counted, really counted, they always came back.

"We'd have to leave the farm, we'd have to give up every single thing we have now to go back—"

Meiling pulling up her shirt and exposing her stomach, grinning at him as she turned, showing him the small bump. A child. His child.

Bi De bowing to him, and following him like he was something worth respecting. Staring at him and defiantly choosing to stand with him until the end.

Tigu jumping onto his back, like that little girl next door used to, before her skin turned pale and grey from the Demon's Black Hate.

A happy boar. A proper pig. A clever little rat. A stoic ox. A gluttonous carp, a kind old snake, and a naively powerful rabbit.

Gou Ren helped him build the drop hammer. Yun Ren laughed as he pranked somebody. Xiulan's soft smile, Pops nodding to him like his own father used to.

To Rou, it was like the heavens on earth. But that's what the other guy wanted to create, wasn't it?

Rou grit his teeth."— and if you think I'm leaving my family alone, you got another thing comin'." He snarled.

Jin's eyes widened.

They may not have liked Rou. They may not have liked a street rat full of piss and vinegar. But the life was his, just as much as Jin's. The affection he felt for them wasn't imagined.

"The Cloudy Sword Sect fucked me up once; I'm not gonna let them fuck us up again, and I'm sure as hell not letting them fuck up what we have now."

Jin smiled. Rou turned away, glaring at the darkness around them.

"Like you would have gone anyway." He muttered, before shaking his head. "The bigger question is. What do we do now? The Cloudy Sword Sect knows about us. We're dumping Gold Grade Rice onto the market. We even asked that Chyou woman to put together an expedition to the south. We can't stay a secret anymore. Somebody has already come knocking. This time it was just mail, next time?"

Jin sighed, looking down into his tea.

"Yeah. I know. The world ain't sunshine and daisies, and I've gotten a bit complacent. It's the Azure Hills. I thought we were strong enough to handle anything that came towards us. Who would look at this weak place? But now, we got the Cloudy Sword Sect interested in us. Gramps is apparently strong enough that the Cloudy Sword mobilized a Senior Disciple to deliver mail."

Jin lapsed into silence.

Rou frowned. He never had known how strong Gramps was. Never really tried to see. But weren't strong guys supposed to have all sorts of special cultivation resources? Rou hadn't got any from Gramps, not as far as he remembered.

"We protect what's ours." Rou finally said. "If the Cloudy Sword Sect really is looking to make amends, well, they can help us out when we need it."

Jin rolled his eyes. Then smiled and asked. "Can we ask people if they dare oppose the Cloudy Sword Sect?"

Rou barked out a laugh.

The two half-men stared at each other. At the web of gold, and the points of connection between them.

"We protect what's ours." Jin said, holding out his arm in a fist.

Rou tentatively reached his arm out, and punched Jin's fist with his own.

The two ruined, mirrored halves pulled together.

"Remember to write a letter to gramps, would ya?" Rou asked.

Jin nodded. "I'll let him know we're okay. If he wants to see us again, he can come and visit."

Rou felt his eyes start to close. But he did have one more question.

"Hey… do you think Yin would be willing to crap in an envelope for us?"

"She might actually do it." his other half mused. "But come on. Asking a lady to do that is just rude. We can go and fill the letter with horse shit, like normal people."

Rou's eyes closed, a little smirk on both sides of their face.

===================================

My eyes opened. I stared at the ceiling of the inn. My hand absently came down to stroke the rabbit sleeping on my chest. A rooster was sitting beside my head, and a snake was coiled tight around my arm.

It wasn't quite like waking up to Meimei, but it was the next best thing.

I gently scooped Yin off my chest. The rabbit grumbled, and curled tighter into Big D as I laid her down. Noodle woke up from the movement, staring at me a moment, before nodding his head, and slithering off to coil up near the others.

I stood up and padded over to the desk, where there was already a brush and paper prepared.

A letter huh?

What to write?

I pondered the message, and reached out, grabbing Gramp's letter, and looking at the seal on the bottom.

I pressed my Qi into it.

The seal shuddered, and disintegrated. With a muffled pop, a sword and a scroll appeared in thin air.

Both were simple and unadorned. But the sword was high quality steel, and the scroll had another seal upon it.

I stared at the gifts.

Gramp's gifts.

I pondered them. A sword on my mantelpiece, perhaps. Or I would train with it. I didn't know quite yet. Carefully, I packed both away for the journey ahead, and turned back to the desk.

I grabbed the brush, dabbed it in some ink, and started.

"Hey, you drunken old bastard…."

======================

The next day, Lu Ri beheld Jin Rou once more. He no longer seemed to be unsettled. His back was straight, and his stride was self assured.

There was no trace of any confusion or worry that Lu Ri could detect.

Their meeting took place once more in the pavilion. The streams bubbled pleasantly, and the last flowers of summer filled the air with a heady scent.

Lu Ri greeted him, standing to receive his guest, and his Spirit Beast Disciples.

"Senior Brother." Jin Rou said, after the pleasantries had been dealt with. "I will not be returning as a disciple to the Sect. Too much here requires my attention."

Jin Rou's voice was calm. His voice had a firm strength behind it, as he met Lu Ri's gaze.

Lu Ri frowned internally. For a brief moment, he desired nothing more than to take Jin Rou back to the sect by force, and finally put this chapter behind him. Elder Ge had said not to push the issue, however, so he pushed aside the impulse.

"Your decision is unfortunate." Lu Ri admitted. "But understandable at this time."

"However, if the Cloudy Sword Sect wishes to make amends… I can think of a few ways." He smirked, a sly note entering his voice. "I do not wish us to be enemies. And I have this, If you need us to speak again."

He held up the transmission stone Lu Ri had given him yesterday.

Lu Ri nodded. "I shall convey your wishes back to the sect." He said. He did need to report his success in person, after all.

"But... uh, I do have a request. Could you ensure this reaches the right place at the Imperial Army Headquarters in Crimson Crucible city for me? It's my reply to Gramps." Jin Rou brought out a scroll case, one that was firmly sealed.

Lu Ri stared at the letter, his entire journey flashing before his eyes. Every moment of frustration and searching. There was the brief urge to smack it out of Jin Rou's hand.

"We are to make amends." Elder Ge said.

Lu Ri plastered a stiff smile onto his face. "I shall convey your letter Jin Rou. Though I must ask…" He glanced at the spirit beasts, and considered the man's well hidden power. "Are you certain of this course of action? The Cloudy Sword Sect's protection and backing is no small thing."

Jin Rou considered the question for a moment, before smiling.

Something arrived. Or rather, it was revealed to him.

It blanketed the entire pavilion with a gentle touch. It slowly expanded over the entire city. It grew until it went past what Lu Ri's senses could detect. Feather light and hard to distinguish. It was all round Lu Ri.

It was vast in its size, yet quiet in its intent. It was the land under his feet, it was the air in his lungs, it was the sky above his head.

Yet it did not seek to crush him. It did not shout its power, or intent. It was simply there, silent and unmovable. Diffuse, and hard to grasp. For a moment, Jin Rou was the land, and the land was Jin Rou.

Lu Ri's eyes widened. He still could not feel what Jin Rou's level was. It was shrouded to him. Yet this was utterly beyond anything he could have expected.

"I think I'll be okay." Jin Rou said, and smiled. The roses were straighter. The stream's water seemed to clear. The grass deepened in its colour, and stood taller.

Lu Ri had lived for longer than most mortals. He had seen many tournaments, with wondrous techniques.

Yet it was his first time witnessing a power so subtle, yet so vast. He longed to ask. To question. To know just what exactly Jin Rou was doing.

Yet he could not. Jin Rou's intent was clear, and he had a mission to fulfill.

"I shall go then for now, Jin Rou. May the heavens favour you." He intoned.

Jin Rou Stood, along with the Spirit Beasts. All bowed their heads.

"May the heavens favour you, Senior Brother. And here." He brought out another package.

A large jar of Maple Syrup.

"Something for the road." Jin Rou said with a boyish smile.

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