Day 148-165 Meeting and Facing a Loss Part 1

The moment he made it back home couldn't happen fast enough. The fall back with the Imperial Army was brutal. But the Commandant was very clear after fighting against a few that he knew to be under the north Lord's Mansion.

The few sleeper agents in the Commandant's army were given strict orders to allow those who committed heinous crimes such as pillaging and the like were left for dead during the fighting.

It was the keep the Commandant alive but Hong Duan fared well in making sure it happened. Quite a few times he almost lost his life as well. The Imperial Commendation that Liang Yu received was not small at all.

The Imperial family did a lot to recognize his talents. And with him having dealt with rebels everytime he came across him, it made him even better in their eyes.

Some did want to put a leash on him, however. Wanting to invite him to the capital for talks. These were denied of course. The excuse that his area needed guidance against tall the trouble that plagued the land.

The territory that The Dark Moon Family managed grew a little more with a few that went to the palace having died. The turnover was well received by most of the citizens that lived in the area. The ones who did not like it however were Rebel sympathizers.

They were very nicely... forced to leave. Most heading into the territory of the Azure Feather Clan. Who were not doing ok after word spread about what happened at the palace.

Ye Xinghe Afterall worked with his "sworn" brother during an event that lead to several people losing their lives and destroying several families. By the rumors spread by Ling Yu, the two were closer than people thought.

Liang Yu chuckled at the bit of information. He did not however like that Ye Xinghe wanted to meet him for a talk. If this was a ploy to get him to do something for him, it would not happen.

Liang Jian would handle things some more until he returned. Which was fine by him. He promised he had a surprise for Liang Yu when things settled down. Despite just getting home, Liang Yu turned to leave.

Not by himself since that would be stupid with the increase in activity everywhere.

.

Meeting-

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Ye Xinghe was currently with a few members of the Azure Feather Clan. The meet point was Blue Carp Lake. Waiting for Liang Yu to arrive. He was not expecting those who came with him, however.

Gu Yunlan, Lei Hong, Ye Yue, and a few guards. A few of the former members of the Azure Feather Clan that left before with Liang Yu were the guards actually. They even wore the Dark Moon Family's Guards color.

"What did you request this meeting for?" Liang Yu's tone was slightly neutral. Did his best not to sound hostile. "Had fun playing in that old tomb I bet. Meeting with your rebel allies." The accusation did not go over well with some that gathered. "If I knew things would have gone that way, I would not have helped as I did back then. But that is the past and this is the present."

"We did not come here to make accusations. Here I thought we could at least come to an accord." Ye Xinghe felt sweat drip down his back. The Azure Feather Clan was still developing and the incident in Divine Tianling Palace caused him to realize how grave matters were. The pressure from the Imperial Family was only tempered by those loyal to the Vice-Principal old Xu and Xia Yuning helping matters. But she herself was starting to feel pressure as well. Coming from her wannabe fiancee. "A few matters I would like clarification on."

"And what do you have to bargain with?" Liang Yu arched a brow amused. "Luckily there is no Imperial Order to arrest you. I bet I could gain alot from that. Well from your family surroundings anyway." He stroke his chin even more amused. "Not yet anyway. It is like you are protected by "Destiny" itself. But soon... I think things will change."

"Have you turned into a lapdog of the Imperial Family so quickly?" Ye Xinghe gazed was stern as he spoke. The look Liang Yu gave him in response made him wish he hadn't said that. 'I am not good with politics, Xia Yuning was better at this than I. I really wish she was here.'

"Speak quickly before I lose my temper, brat." Liang Yu could feel the Flame Vortex Core spinning on its own. It was already willing to help push him along to fight against someone who carried the biggest "Destiny" in the Dimension. 'That protagonist aura will be a pain to deal with considering it is so early. I need to peel away more of his support and have people see him differently. But killing him and refining him along with the "Carp" inside of him will give such a greater understanding of Star Martial Arts.'

"Blue Carp Town, the laws have changed so much because of you, but public security, as well as revenue, has increased despite the change. Besides the brutal method for dealing with criminals and those deemed to be Rebels, the people are enjoying your governance." Ye Xinghe spoke the words evenly and carried himself well enough supringsly. "I am seeking an Alliance to help keep the town that way."

"Denied, is there anything else?" Liang Yu was not going to agree to that.

"Let me finish." Ye Xinghe insisted. "Everyone knows the Dark Moon Family has amassed a power that know one thought possible so quickly. The clans are going to want to interfere with that soon. Let alone with the Great Houses. If Blue Carp Town is united as one we can defintely hold our own if the Imperial Army causes an issue later."

"You are incorrect." Liang Yu had know idea where the boy got this information from but it would not help him. "Your rebel friends are not a concern for me at this time or those with me. If they try their nonsense, we will kill them. Like those before them have done, they will fail. My concern is elevating the laws and lives of the commoners they say they wish to protect from corrupt nobles. Yet, they really are not doing much but trying to take over. The same as those in the North Lord's Guardian Mansion are trying to do."

"The North Lord's Mansion is loyal!" A cultivator yelled by the side of Ye Xinghe. "No way would he rebel!"

"That is what he wants you to think." Liang Yu reached into his sleeve pulling out the decree that was supposed to exile Xia Yuning from the North Lord's Mansion a few weeks ago. He tossed it over to Ye Xinghe. "Read that and then decide if he is really so loyal. I mean, if you do that to your blood in such a way, imagine what would happen to regular people."

Ye Xinghe read it over quickly and visibly shook in place. He checked it over to see if it was altered in any way before keeping it. Liang Yue chuckled a little at this.

"How did you obtain this?" He received no answer. "Without this announcement things would have been worse for us. The feud between our families is not really over. Is it?"

"The Dark Moon Family thinks nothing of the Azure Feather Family. This is the truth." Ye Yue said strongly as she stepped forward. Her eyes contained a little malice behind as she looked at Ye Xinghe. "I cannot believe I looked up to you like so many of the others in the clan, but the attack by the previous Dark Moon Family... where were you? I want an answer!"

The Azure Feather Clan members looked at him quickly as they to still wanted to know. Not much was discussed during that event besides Xia Yuning and Liang Yu's people helping stop the attack.

"I was recovering." Ye Xinghe answered. "A few assassins attacked me and Xia Yuning while training."

"But they were taken out by Liang Yu before you two were injured." Ye Yue had received a detailed report while she waited on Liang Yu to return from the Imperial Army ordeal.

"The first time yes. But the second time not so lucky." Ye Xinghe looked at Liang Yu in suspicion. "Why did the Dark Moon Family send those assassins?"

"Most likely to kill you, I was not in charge back then." Liang Yu shrugged at him. "One would think you would have returned home and informed your family about what happened. At least have a few more people with you in case it happened again."

"How do you know it was the Dark Moon Family?" Ye Yue was not letting things change up. "It could have been the Imperial Family to take out a rebel sympathizer! How could you implicate the family by becoming sworn brothers with one of its members!"

"Lin Hong.. he is just confused. We were sworn brothers before I found out his involvement." Ye Xinghe took a step back somewhat ashamed. Not wanting to admit that he was possibly manipulated into the situation or the truth of the matter that he suspected much that night when things unfolded. He was grateful that Xia Yuning was not here after the conversation carried on. If she confirmed anything about what happened at the Smelting Grounds, the situation would have been even worse. "There is still time to talk to him. Get him off this path."

"We did not ask to be involved in this! You brought all of this to our doorstep! Are you not ashamed at all?! Where is your remorse?!" Ye Yue started to cry a little bit. Her body shaking as she knew not all of it could be blamed on him. But she was still so angry about it all.

The young teen ranted for a while. Getting everything off her chest that she needed. A few of the Azure Feather Clan felt regret in not being stronger then once more. But they already had enough choices to live with.

Liang Yu spoke once enough time passed. it was good she got it off her chest and her Ye Xinghe's response. Seeing a little "gold" light leave from the boy was enough for now. Ye Xinghe felt less important to the place overall.

"What you do now brat will determine if that clan of yours' falls with you." Liang Yu crossed his arms slightly bored now. "If you honestly think that "woman" will help you, you are sadly mistaken. With secrets that she carries death is all she will bring at this rate." He let that sink in regarding Shangguan. "After all, if she was supposed to protect your clan, she is doing a really shitty job at it."

"You even know of Lady Shang'Guan!" Suprised was all he could show. "How?"

"That is for me to know, not you. You should tell that useless woman the next time she comes around you, that several people know she is here. She is not that safe." Liang Yu was mostly bluffing. If he could get her further from the area it would make things easier. Not to mention the people she messes with not paying attention to the area. "The Divine Sea Pavilion or the filthy Rebels or whatever b.s. they feel like going by, have gone about this the wrong way. Although the Imperial Family have dipped to much in the cookie jar, it is still their cookie jar."

"Meaning.."

"Meaning those that support them and that have allowed them to remain in power are large in number." Liang Yu looked over his shoulder at the shaken forces. "Don't you realize that if they decided to be really cruel, they could have "Purged" the area and solved several issues at once. The "Front Lines" are not that big of a deal if they decided to use a few defense arrays to cause massive destruction."

"So why don't they?"

"That I have no idea." Liang Yu shrugged once more. "I have no idea what goes in that place nor do I really care. I leave that to the overambitious like yourself and the Rebels. My strength is used to change what needs to be changed before this place "Collapses" into oblivion."

"Once the Divine Sea Pavilion uprising continues in earnest, the various Feudal Lords will have to act. Many of them taking the chance to rise as well." Lei Hong added in. He like Ye Xinghe well enough but thought he needed to understand matters more. "The Political situation will not matter with everyone fighting for their own benefit."