Chapter 27: Rock Hidden Aside

Cursing herself for getting swept up in her own emotions, Valentine couldn't help but feel wounded. It had been one thing that she and senior had a relationship, but her and Iris? Her own time and effort in this realm had let her know exactly how outclassed she was. Duchess she was, but what did that mean in compared to being a saint? Meaningless when faced with the monstrous peak one had to climb to become a deity ascendant.

"What was so special about me?" She muttered to herself, as she hid in a small rock formation. Four years of having her butt kicked by various elders and children younger than her had destroyed what fragile ego she had. Her noble status was meaningless as well, why on earth would someone like that take the time to cultivate with her?

In a manner that makes even the lewdest acts seem mild and tame.

There wasn't too much for her to do about it now, there was a good chance that she would never see the maid again.

Moping quietly in the corner the noble didn't move until the next day. Her master eventually popped up when she didn't show up for practice.

"What has my poor soft disciple so wrapped up?" It was good to process and feel one's emotions. To much ignorance or depravity without the base or acceptance, could cause one to lose cultivation. In extreme cases heart demons could form within one's soul scape, scaring one and causing great loss.

"Spill or we go for extended training." Master sing songed as she knew that if left alone the girl would never speak.

"I just…found something strange out."

"Spill or were going bar hoping."

Valentine couldn't spit out what happened fast enough. It was why the loli fox elder was so feared. After a short version of her previous history there was utter silence.

"Were going bar hopping now." Before she could protest the master snatched her up and began bounding down the mountain, once in a better position, she tossed her sword out and leapt on it. The disparity between elder and disciple was quickly felt, as noble fought tooth and nail to escape.

"Its seven in the morning!"

"I know of seven bars that will serve drinks at this hour!" Why was master so proud when she exclaimed that? While her grappling and fighting technique was leagues better than when she started. Her master didn't even leave her sword as she calmly guided the girls blows and strength aside.

Li Ming Song for her part was a known booze hound and spent a considerable portion of her peak's resources ensure economic development in the mountain towns infrastructure. When she dropped Infront of an inn, no one was surprised that the women had shown up before the people who got wasted last night had left.

"No one drinks this early!" It was a last desperate effort to escape her doom.

"Can't get hammered if one does not start early."

That was how Valentine after an entire night of fretting and worrying started knocking back drinks in a seedy inn. There was some salty breakfast fare and a resignation of her fate. As usual after a few drinks it was harder to care about much of anything.

It would surprise one that a valuated elder would end up in the largest brothel in town. That was to say only if one didn't know the elder of the South Wind Northern Strike Peak, could such surprise be garnered. In the day light it was a nice establishment. Quality food and pleasant company that was more about quality interaction than pandering to fantasy.

When the elder dragged her disciple into the place, lady Shashi one the prettiest concubines in the speakeasy latched on to the group. In no time they planed an evening celebration and sent out invitations to the various peek elders and local leaders about a very important announcement.

Valentine should have cared, but after the planning she relaxed woefully on a few of the service staff and moped quietly in one of the large couches' cushions set ups.

Quietly proud was the general descriptions when someone saw Lady Valentine. Her long fiery hair was unfound anywhere else in the world, curled gently, with strong sharp features. Noble bearing and quiet strength had melded to form an untouchable woman who was beyond such pesky mortal manners.

That was of course before she started drinking. After which, she became a petulant child who would cling to others. Staff at the brothel had long since adored the gap that came between the two and spoiled the girl rotten. It did help that she was the disciple of the biggest customer spender in the sect.

"All right, I will take care of her from here. Gents go round up the girls who want to dress up our guest of honor." It took a moment to pry themselves from the nobles clutch who increased her pouting.

"Come on now let's go get you cleaned up okay." Lady Shashi was a traditional beauty. Long dark black hair, charming soft structures and big eyes that were easy to lose oneself in. Wrapped up in an elegant clean robe, tied with a nice bow on the back, she charmed a lot of men and women alike. Coaxing gently the noble seemed reluctant to get up and stop sulking.

"I'll get you away from Master Song."

"Hold." Placing her arms out, the noble was obviously acting brattish, but all's it did was cause the consort to melt a little. Pulling the girl up, she led her into a room on the upper floors. Once there she helped her into bed. In short order the girl was sprawled out without care snoring lightly.

Little was known about what happened to the noble but her childness came from a mother who disliked her own child. Lady Shashi hadn't gotten the full story, but there were deep issues between the two. It made her heart hurt, her parents simply didn't live, a common story in the world. Deliberate harm by someone who was supposed to love unconditionally, was something the orphan could not abide. It was amazing to the consort that the girl could wake up every morning.

So, the consort simply tucked the girl in and gave her a quick kiss to let her know that she had those who cared. She had something more important to take care of.

After leaving the girl to sleep, she made her way to a small break room in the back of the building, there a small hoard of women waited for her to arrive.

"All right ladies, as I'm sure you know we are now playing host to a large celebration in honor of Lady Valentine Lockheed. Opportunities don't come often for something like this, so I need four people. One is going to escort our guest with me, the other three are going to get to pick her clothes outfit and do her makeup. I going to step out and when I come back in I'll get the names of the four people."

There was a silent undercurrent, all the ones present wanted this opportunity and at this point no one was willing to be friends.

"In order to make sure there are no hard feelings, I will let all of you come up with who will do what. After this we leave our anger here and walk out as friends and family like we are, all right everyone?

Nods and general agreements filled the room.

"Get to it than." For a moment no one moved, from behind the closed do the sound of chairs and tables moving followed by shrinks and other sounds the consort didn't want to consider. Waiting the prerequisite time, she returned to the room to see it mostly intact, just like the girls present. Several had bruises and scratch wounds forming. Clothes had tears and holes that were not there, one girl's top was missing in its entirety.

"Seems you all held back enough that no one's seriously hurt. Now tell me what happened and whose doing what."

So, the group of ladies began to tell the story of the brawl that just took place to be at Lady Lockheed's side.

!@# !@# !@#

Iris squirmed in her sleep, as Valentine found out. It made sense, she was a highly active person. Most endearing is how she kept snuggling closer to the warmth of her body. She didn't know if this is how everyone slept, but she certainly felt better having her so close.

Dozing off with her warm companion for the second time, she threw her nightstand into the door. Wooden feet silenced the knocking noise, caused by the maid on the other side. It took extra time for the two to finally drag themselves out of bed. Unaffected, the two spared destroying another grass field and asked for a new door made.

Breakfast proceeded as the new normal, Iris and Valentine acting lovey-dovey while the duke pretended nothing was happening. After breakfast rather than some inane activity or other nuisance, one of the serving staff nervously approached.

"My Lady…I was…" Bowing slightly and reeking of nervousness Iris left ahead after the noble signaled her.

"Come now." Simply walking away with those words, the maid hurried to follow behind. Once they were a bit off the way, the girl turned to face her servant.

"Well?" It might have come off as curt, but preparations from a ball took hours and she wanted to spend more time with Iris.

"It's, just, I…" Nervous as she was, Valentine softened for a moment; Having always had difficulty saying what she felt.

"Breath than tell me what you want to say." It was still firm but having gotten over herself first, she could listen honestly.

"How did you confess to Lady Xin?" There was a pause as the twelfth elder of the formless blade sect considered the question. Holding back from pressuring the maid, she quickly decide this wasn't something to talk about in the hallway, and quickly dragged the girl off to her study.

Nostalgia hit as she looked at the four walls, which were once the only place noble Valentine could hold any semblance of control. Mary and Iris desk had been removed at some point, and whatever mess Iris had made was still present. There were still two couches and a low table for guest or others with official business in the middle of the room. Throwing the maid down onto the leather surface, the noble towered over her.

Excluding violence, the girl asked one simple question.

"Why?"