Staring down at the bowl of rice gruel that passed for food, Zhou Cheng could only think one thing. It was a familiar thought, and a faintly depressing one, but it was all too appropriate for the situation no matter how often he was reminded in the past three years.

I miss Hei Lian.

Still, he can't exactly allow himself to go hungry, Cultivator or not - energy is energy, and he needs every scrap of it he can, so he eats it all, however unappetising and unseasoned. As a Cultivator well into Foundation Establishment, he can easily go without eating for days, or weeks even - but every bit of energy helps him build strength for what is to come.

"Still as ravenous as ever, eh, Brother Zhou?"

When he lowers the bowl, he sees Tian Mingfei grinning at him - she smells more like cut grass and tree sap today, and it's a balm to his senses. "Sister Tian," he greets back, offering her a faint smile, "Any man would be ravenous in my position. There is so much work to do and so little time to do it."

"Mh. Another man might've cut their losses." She takes a seat across from him - still the only person to do so. The sting that thought brings is much lessened… but still present. "Many would argue there is no future for you here in the Heavenly Misty Peaks now."

"Perhaps there isn't," he agrees quietly. He had aspirations of Heaven - he knew one day he would likely outgrow the Sect. It's not that the Heavenly Misty Peak was not powerful by any means. The Elders were all in the Nascent Soul, and the Sect Master was a true Immortal.

But Ao Long's words of wisdom still rang in his mind, and their truth was a bitter tang in his senses.

Every fledgling must leave the nest it was born in. One day, you will find the Sect too stifling to stretch your wings - or worse, they may try to clip them.

He hadn't really entertained the idea that the Heavenly Misty Peak would one day become a prison - the Sect was Righteous and Good and Honourable. But now he had seen what that Honour and Righteousness was worth, and it was distressingly little.

There was one simple thing tying him here, and it was one thing he would never let go. "I can't leave alone though."

"I'll go with you, if you ask," Tian Mingfei says without hesitation, although to be fair, he's not sure she's ever hesitated to do anything. He kind of envies her for that. "But I'm not who you're waiting for, am I?"

Her words aren't teasing, just matter of fact, but he still feels the urge to raise his hackles and get defensive. "He's my Junior. I can't just leave him."

Tian Mingfei just makes a noise of acknowledgement. "I did not say you should - but I will say many would. His… rescue is unrealistic. What is it about him that draws such loyalty from you? Are you two glue and lacquer?"

There are a hundred things he could say to that. He could say that Hei Lian always reminds him of safety and home, that he's repaying his Junior's kindness, that he just really likes his cooking - all of which are things that are true. It's not even that he knows Hei Lian all that well - in terms of years spent together, he arguably knows Tian Mingfei better now.

When he asks himself this question, he's not sure what the answer is and a part of him feels that the lack of answer should be reason to abandon him. But he still cannot do that. So instead, he deflects.

"Is it not enough that we are sworn brothers?" he declares, lifting his head with all the arrogant confidence he doesn't feel.

She makes a small noise. "It can be," she says simply, and then changes the topic with her usual level of subtlety and care. "How will you free him, then? Lei Ming has the resources of a Core Disciple now - the more time passes, the further he grows from you."

Not to mention his… effective demotion left him with little resources of his own. He was forced to spend most of his time toiling in the fields, a task normally reserved for Outer Disciples. So he was paid at an Outer Disciple's rate.

It wasn't a demotion officially, but it was as good as one. A little part of him questioned why hold off that final bit - was Lei Ming's influence not great enough? Or did he just not see the point?

It hardly mattered. "It doesn't matter how far he grows - I will always be the better in a fight." Not to mention he had a special, secret technique hidden up his sleeve - one more gift from Ao Long. A Heavens Defying Technique capable of defeating someone in Core Formation even in his hands, and one he had been honing since he realised he would need it.

Tian Mingfei gives him a dubious look, but he keeps his chin up. "Well. Even accepting that, you can hardly go up to him and challenge him to a duel."

"I know that," he grumbles - and he knows it because he's already tried. He can't get to Lei Ming anymore - the only times he can, Lei Ming comes to him, usually to mock him or taunt him. There are no witnesses then, outside of his loyal lackey, so even if Zhou Cheng challenges him then and there, Lei Ming just denies it all and nothing happens.

He could just attack, but even if he does defeat both Lei Ming and his guard, it won't change anything unless he does it right. As gratifying as it would be to thrash that arrogant bastard and bury him in the mud where he belongs, it would just be Lei Ming's word against his - and one doesn't need to be a genius to see how that will end.

"If you know it, then what are you hoping for, exactly? It may be decades until you get an opening."

"Then I'll wait decades," he declares, arms folded over his chest. "As long as it takes." He's already had to wait three years after all. "But I do have a plan."

"Oh? Will you not share it with your beloved Sister then?"

He… hesitates. He wants to, because he trusts Tian Mingfei - but he trusted his other friends to, and they are all suspiciously absent. They have reasons and excuses, but he cannot deny the sting regardless - he cannot deny that he is reconsidering those bonds. That Tian Mingfei persisted despite knowing him less is a mark in her favour.

But there is only one person he truly trusts right now… although there is something she can do to assuage him. "Will you become my Sworn Sister then?"

Her eyebrows rise up into her scalp. "Sworn Sister…?" she echoes dumbly, "Are we not already?"

"What? No we-we haven't sworn an oath or performed the bows- how can we be-"

"Oh, then I swear to be your sister in all things then."

… She says it so breezily. So easily. He can scarcely believe she's done it, so lacking in gravitas and importance were her words, but… she did. It doesn't feel official and formal but it is so utterly Tian Mingfei that he cannot be surprised.

"My mother always told me that the bonds we choose are far more important than any other, and I like you, Zhou Cheng. And Hei Lian as well."

Ao Long had said something similar to him, he thinks - and Hei Lian had said something about a 'family of choice' once or twice. He wouldn't know much of the difference, personally. "Well, Lei Ming can do what he does because his grandfather is an Elder, yes?"

Stolen story; please report.

"I believe it's his Great-Grandfather, but yes."

He politely resists the urge to roll his eyes. Grandfather, Great-Grandfather - is there really a difference? "Then we just need the backing of an Elder of our own - with that, Lei Ming cannot hide, and he will be forced to face me."

Tian Mingfei nods, which is only appropriate because it's a good plan. Then she stares at him in expectant silence, which wasn't really part of the plan. "... And…?"

"... And nothing else? That's the plan."

She stares a little longer. "That… is not really a plan. That is the start of a plan. Do you even know which Elder you will try to sway?"

"Does it matter?"

She shakes her head at him with an air of patience he can't help feel she hasn't earned. "Of course it matters. There are only a few Elders still at the Peak, you know - Elder Chu of the Logistics Pavilion, Elder Huang of the Library, Elder Po of the Forges, and Elder Lei as well, who governs the Law Pavilion."

"Well… who is easiest to speak with?" Zhou Cheng is not unfamiliar with the Elder's, but his position since most of them have embarked on the expedition with the Sect Master has left him out of the loop in most areas, even if it has given him plenty of time to brood.

"Elder Lei, but for obvious reasons, he is hardly an option." As the Elder in charge of the Law Pavilion, Elder Lei is the most accessible, provided a grave sin has been committed - arguably what Lei Ming has done qualifies, but neither of them are seriously entertaining the idea he will do anything about it. "Elder Chu and Elder Po are both very busy - although they haven't left with everyone else, they are hard at work ensuring that everyone else still has what they need."

"Which leaves Elder Huang."

"Which leaves Elder Huang, who doesn't speak with anyone who isn't a Core Disciple or a member of the Library Pavilion already. And we are neither."

Zhou Cheng lets out a rumble of annoyance, glaring weakly at her. "So what, I'm supposed to just give up?"

Tian Mingfei gives him a completely unfazed stare. "I'm just advising you of the situation."

It sounds more like she's trying to encourage him to give up - and for all the 'advising', Zhou Cheng really doesn't feel like he has any more information than he started with. "I have years of points - it should be enough either way. In order to counter Elder Lei…"

All Elder's are equal - just as all Inner Disciples are, all Core Disciples, all outer Disciples. Which is to say, that equality is only on the surface. It is the natural way of things that the Elders will be on different levels of power, however greatly beyond someone like Zhou Cheng, and their differing responsibilities will naturally reflect differing levels of trust and status.

But that is as far as any insight into their politics that Zhou Cheng has. He cannot say he knows who is superior to Elder Lei, if any - he cannot say who would be best positioned to oppose him. He cannot say if any of them would oppose him.

But he still has to choose one - he only has enough points to afford one meeting, so…

----------------------------------------

Elder Chu is nothing like Zhou Cheng expected her to look like. She's visibly aged, an impressive state for someone so powerful, but rather than seeming dignified and powerful, she comes off to him as more… overworked. Her dark brown hair is braided loosely, and her fingers are stained with ink - a scent he can clearly detect on her, alongside paper and bamboo.

Rather than an austere and powerful Elder, she seems more like a scribe buried under paperwork. But there was an undeniable air of power around her, and when she turns her gaze on him, Zhou Cheng can feel her assessing his every inch.

The meeting is less focused than he was hoping as well - all those points to buy him ten minutes of her time, and he just got to stand in front of her desk whilst she did paperwork and plead his case.

"Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng," she begins, not even looking up from the scroll she's skimming, "You're here about that business with Core Disciple Lei Ming, then?" She has a brusque, direct way of speaking, and she stamps her seal on the scroll, rolling it back up and adding it to a pile.

He stiffens a little. "Y-Honoured Elder is already aware…?" He manages to catch himself before he says something discourteous that will surely end badly for him.

"Of course I'm aware," she declares simply, reaching for another scroll, "The question is 'why should I assist you?'"

He can scarcely believe what he's hearing. Why? If she is already aware, is it not obvious why she should take his side?! "It-it's the righteous thing to do!"

Finally, she looks up from her scroll, and her eyes are pitiless and cold splotches of dark black that freeze him in his place. He's made a mistake. "Oh? Do you deign to lecture me on righteousness, Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng?" Without taking her eyes off of him, she stamps this scroll as well and something in it feels like a judge's gavel.

But Zhou Cheng cannot bring himself to back down, not now, even though he knows he really should. "I do not lecture, Honoured Elder - Honoured Elder asked a question. I only thought to answer."

She holds the stare a little longer, enough to make him truly begin to worry and sweat, before turning back to her paperwork. "Do you think we were unaware of Lei Ming's transgressions, Disciple? Do you think we need to be reminded to do our jobs?"

He did think that, actually - or worse, he thought that if they weren't unaware, they were at least complicit. "This Disciple does not understand then, and asks only for enlightenment."

Her answer is a dismissive scoff. "Very well. You purchased the time, so I suppose the least I can do is give you answers. Yes, we are aware of Lei Ming's transgressions. He will be punished in due time. Elder Lei is already aware of this, and has agreed to it. There is nothing more that needs to be said or done."

That's not-he bites his tongue lest he say something that will surely make the situation worse, nails digging into his own hands as he clenches his fists tightly. "May this Disciple know when this punishment is intended to take place?"

"In a few years, perhaps. He will certainly not be allowed to take any positions of power, and if he cannot prove truly worthy of his new position, it will be removed from him promptly, and that is without speaking of whatever punishment Elder Lei will conceive for disappointing him so greatly."

A few-a few years? That is entirely too long! It has been 'a few years' already!

"In the meantime, I will sign an order releasing you from your punishment duty. Does that satisfy you, Inner Disciple?" She's already taking a blank scroll and drawing out the release order - her brushwork is as impeccable and elegant as it is incredibly swift.

"And Hei Lian?" Truthfully, as much as he hates him and wishes to bury Lei Ming, he is willing to leave him be if it means Hei Lian being released. Revenge is secondary, however important.

Elder Chu blinks. He's managed to surprise her - in any other situation, that might've been a point of pride. As it is, he finds himself feeling entirely frustrated that she just didn't even think of Hei Lian. "The Outer Disciple…? Lei Ming is well within his rights to make Hei Lian a member of his household - there is no evidence of mistreatment, however, so there is no grounds there."

No evidence? He can't believe that for a second! Lei Ming is a traitorous, vile snake and he cannot believe for a moment that he isn't tormenting Hei Lian in some way at all times! "I do not care if Lei Ming is punished, I just want my brother back!"

Somehow, this manages to surprise Elder Chu as well - he's not sure why. If she is so knowledgeable and aware of his situation, then surely she should know one of the most basic things about him? Or perhaps she is just surprised at his temerity for speaking so forcefully. Heavens know Zhou Cheng is.

"... You would go this far for a simple Outer Disciple?" she asks, plainly bewildered and that surprise rankles at him.

"I would go further still for Hei Lian." Why does everyone ask him this? Why must he justify himself? Is it not enough that he desires it? Is it not enough that he chooses to?

He chooses Hei Lian to stand beside him (or well, maybe behind him), and he will accept no other. That's all it has to be.

Elder Chu shakes her head, apparently incapable of accepting so simple and plain a truth. "Well. As I said, Lei Ming is within his rights there."

"Then let me duel him - if I stake Hei Lian's freedom on it, then it should be fine that way, yes?"

She raises an eyebrow. "That is a different question entirely. You are confident you can win?"

"Absolutely." He is. The secret technique shown to him by Ao Long is something he has honed and practiced for years now. He has not unleashed it at full power but he is confident in its power - and his mastery of it.

"Fine then. I can arrange for the duel - but first, you must do something for the Sect."

Really, Zhou Cheng isn't sure what he expected but it should've been this. It's not enough that it is the right thing to do - no, they must append conditions to things. If they were willing to do the right thing from the beginning, then none of this would've been necessary. He supposes he should feel grateful they are willing to do it at all.

"Don't make that face, Disciple. It's nothing serious. I just need you to deliver a letter for me."

A… letter. He's being asked to deliver a letter? "It will be done, Honoured Elder. Give me a direction and I will be there as swift as the wind."

"The details aren't necessary for you to know, but for the sake of assuaging any concerns you have, this is merely some personal correspondence. The reason I am sending you and not any other courier, is that I have not heard from the recipient in some time - I am concerned something has happened."

"And if I am not… able to find them?"

She gives him a plain look. "Find out what happened to them, at the very least. It shouldn't take you too long. Round up whatever assistance you feel necessary, and take a Cloud Boat." She took two more scrolls - one blank, that she quickly renders into an official order for him to brandish. The other, she withdraws from her desk, sealed with jade wax.

Zhou Cheng forces his breathing to remain even. It burns at him, frustration and anger and a hundred other things besides - but the end is in sight.

Just a little longer, Hei Lian. Wait just a bit longer. I'm coming.

He takes the scroll.