~~~
The negotiations end in failure.
After Duke Lai shows off his connection to the Five Blessings Group, he dismisses Liu Jin and Yi Jiao. Before the meeting, Liu Jin would have called him thoughtless for it. Now, it is easy to understand why the duke is so confident.
The Five Blessings Group is a famous merchant guild with connections all throughout this side of the Dead Plains. In the Crimson Cloud Empire, they have an auction house in nearly every major city, and those are often frequented by the rich and powerful. With their support, Duke Lai no longer needs to depend exclusively on the Eternal Flame Clan or even on General Dan. One could argue that, just by allying himself with the Five Blessings Group, Duke Lai has secured the economic future of his region.
“What are we going to do now, Brother Qing?” Yi Jiao is worried but wisely keeps her voice low. “That was a member of the Five Blessings Group! The Five Blessings Group! They have more money than some small countries!”
Unsurprisingly, Yi Jiao has heard of them. Few people have not, and Yi Jiao, in particular, comes from a privileged background.
“You heard what that woman said, right?” Yi Jiao continues as they walk away from Duke Lai’s castle, drawing looks from the people around them. Cultivators as strong as them always call attention to themselves. “She said her name is Song Daiyu! She could be a daughter of the Song family! That’s one of the most influential clans within the Five Blessings Group!”
They are, and she is.
“If they are supporting Duke Lai, he might just get away with everything. What are we to do? Brother Qing! Are you even listening?”
Liu Jin holds up his hand to stop her.
“Not here,” he says. “We are being followed.”
Three people are watching them from the rooftops, likely on Duke Lai’s orders. They are not terrible at hiding their Qi, but they are nowhere near good enough to fool Liu Jin’s senses.
“What do you…” Yi Jiao trails off. Her eyes narrow as she finally senses them. “Ah, I see.”
“I am going to take us elsewhere. Please, do not scream. This might feel a little uncomfortable.”
Yi Jiao doesn’t get the chance to do anything other than let out a startled yelp as Liu Jin wraps his hand around her wrist and moves.
The art of hiding his Qi is one Liu Jin has learned from a young age. He would go as far as to say he is quite proficient at it even when compared to those older than him. He can perfectly blend his Qi with his surroundings in the blink of an eye. Continuously maintaining that state is not easy, but one just needs an instant in the middle of a battle.
This time Liu Jin tries something a little more complex.
His Qi wraps around Yi Jiao’s Qi. Not just blending in with their surroundings but also with Yi Jiao’s Qi, effectively creating a protective blanket around her aura that perfectly hides her Qi.
[Art of the Roaming Thief - Second Step]
Four times, Liu Jin uses the technique. With the first step, he and Yi Jiao vanish from the streets, escaping their pursuers’ sight. With the second and third steps, Liu Jin takes them from one end of the city to another, making sure that, even if, by some miracle, the people spying on them manage to pick up their trail, it will not be easy to follow them.
The fourth step takes them to where they need to go.
“What was that?” asks a dazed Yi Jiao after Liu Jin shoves her through a door. She holds herself and shivers. “Never do that again!”
“I apologize,” Liu Jin says, his tone regretful. “I should have explained, but I did not wish to risk anyone overhearing.”
In hindsight, he could have told her the whole plan through his Qi. Liu Jin hadn’t done it because he felt speed was of the essence, but realistically, it would have added only a second or two to their getaway.
Perhaps he simply didn’t trust Yi Jiao not to give it away?
“It felt gross,” Yi Jiao says, glaring at him. She puts a hand to her mouth. “I think I want to throw up.”
Liu Jin supposes that makes sense. He had abruptly mingled his Qi with hers to mask it. A sudden intrusion like that couldn’t possibly feel good. One’s Qi is one’s self. For it to be touched and manipulated like he had done should be instinctively repugnant.
All the same…
“Please don’t,” Liu Jin says. “We are guests here. It would not look good if we dirtied the floor as soon as we came in.”
“Funny,” Yi Jiao grumbles. She grabs the wall to steady herself and looks around. They are in a small entrance that leads into a long wooden corridor with several doors at either side of it. Or rather, it should have several wooden doors on either side. Some of them are missing. The floor is uncarpeted, and there is even sawdust lying around.
“Where did you bring us to, Brother Qing? This place looks like it isn’t even finished.”
“That would be because it is not yet finished, Young Miss,” says a handsome man dressed in gray as he exits into the corridor from one of the few properly installed doors. “Greetings, visitors. I am Branch Manager Xiong. I am afraid that the Five Blessings Auction House of Stone River City is not yet open for business. As you can see, the building is still under construction.”
“And yet, it already has spatial enchantments and protective barriers in place,” Liu Jin says, placing his hand on the wooden walls. “The Five Blessings Group is as impressive as always.”
“And yet, you managed to sneak past the guards we placed outside.” The man smiles. “It seems our first visitors are not lacking, yet I must still ask you to leave. As I said, we are not yet open for business.”
Liu Jin reaches into his pocket and takes out a single black card.
The manager’s eyebrows rise all the way into his hairline.
“I see.” He performs a flawless bow. “Apologies for my impertinence, honored customers. Please, do come in. How might this Xiong help you today?”
Yi Jiao stares.
“We are here to meet Song Daiyu,” Liu Jin says. Yi Jiao’s head immediately turns to him.
“Naturally,” Branch Manager Xiong says, nodding as though the request was perfectly reasonable. “Regretfully, Miss Song is not here at the moment. If you would like, I can prepare a room while you wait for her arrival.”
Liu Jin thinks it over and nods. “That would be acceptable.”
“Wonderful.” He smiles. “Please, follow me, and do forgive the state of our accommodations. As I said, this branch is still under construction and not up to our usual standards.”
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Though he says that, the room he leads them to is spacious and well-furnished. There is no sawdust anywhere to be seen. The floor is dressed in soft, elegant carpets, and the walls are decorated with emeralds. There is a table with a silver bowl full of ice and fresh fruit.
As expected of the Five Blessings Group.
“I will have the servants bring you food and drinks. Please, let this Xiong know if there is anything I can do for you. Do not hesitate. Name it, and this Xiong shall have it brought here.”
Manager Xiong bows and closes the door, leaving the two alone. Liu Jin smiles, relaxes on one of the large, soft couches, and even picks a fruit.
Yi Jiao does not.
She merely trembles in place. She has been doing so for a while, knowing better than to speak but having a hard time fighting the urge to do so.
Liu Jin is honestly surprised she has been able to hold on this long.
“What is the meaning of this, Brother Qing?!”
Ah, there it is. Liu Jin smiles, then frowns and wonders if maybe he has a bit of a grudge against Yi Jiao despite what he had said earlier. If so, he should endeavor not to toy with her so much.
Acting out of pettiness is beneath him.
“I had the opportunity to meet a member of the Five Blessings Group in the past,” Liu Jin explains, taking out the black card he showed to Manager Xiong. “I was given this card, though I did not fully understand its significance back then.”
“A Black Card,” Yi Jiao says, her eyebrow twitching. “You’re a Black Card holder of the Five Blessings Group. How?!” Her voice rises. “The Five Blessings Group is one of the biggest merchant guilds in the continent! The people who receive black cards from them are rich and powerful beyond belief! My father has tried to get a black card for years, and he’s never gotten one! So how do you have one? What exactly did you do to receive that honor?”
“There is no grand story, I am afraid,” Liu Jin says, shrugging. “Like I said, I met a member of the Five Blessings Group as a child, and she deemed me worthy of the honor. Personally, I think she esteemed me far too much.”
“She? No! Never mind that!” Yi Jiao shakes her head. “Why didn’t you show that card during the meeting with Duke Lai! It’d have completely flipped things around! As important as Duke Lai is in this country, I am willing to bet that even he’s not a Black Card member.”
“It is possible,” Liu Jin says, biting on an apple. “You are right. Showing the Black Card most likely would have swung things in our favor.”
“Then why didn’t you?!”
“I did not wish to force Song Daiyu to choose between us in that setting,” Liu Jin replies. “I thought it best if I first talked to her privately about what the Five Blessings Group seeks to accomplish here.”
“What would you…” Yi Jiao trails off. Understanding dawns on her face before her expression goes completely flat. “Song Daiyu. A member of the Song Clan…She is the member of the Five Blessings Group who gave you that card, isn’t she?”
Liu Jin nods.
Yi Jiao says nothing. She just stares at him in silence for more than a minute.
“How do you exist?” she asks at last.
This time, it is Liu Jin’s eyebrow that twitches.
“We are disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan,” Liu Jin says. “Not a single one of us is remotely normal. You are not an exception to this. Or shall I remind you of how the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan happened to pass by your city, detected your unusual gift, and recruited you into one of the strongest sects in the empire?”
To that, Yi Jiao has nothing to say.
A good thing since she is absolutely right.
~~~
After the servants bring them food and drinks, Liu Jin and Yi Jiao spend the next few hours discussing various things. At first, they talk about Duke Lai and the problem he represents, but eventually, their conversation drifts into more comfortable topics.
That is when Song Daiyu arrives
“I must admit this is a surprise,” Song Daiyu says, looking at him with eyes shining with mischief. A servant fills her cup with tea before leaving them alone.
Song Daiyu and Liu Jin sit down face to face.
They had been children when they first met. It happened during the Eastern Port City Tournament. Song Daiyu had entered under the name Fu so she could observe the heirs of the Yun and Xiao Sects and decide which one would make the better business partner.
She had chosen Liu Jin instead.
Since then, Song Daiyu has blossomed into a lovely young woman. She is dressed in green silk and adorned with jewels. Her eyes shine like emeralds, and her hair is like spun gold.
Liu Jin is glad to see her again.
“Qing Jin, was it? What an interesting name,” she says. “Shall I keep using it?”
“Qing Jin is fine,” Liu Jin replies. “I have long since gotten used to it.”
“Qing Jin it is then,” Song Daiyu says with a small nod.
“Qing Jin isn’t even your real name?!” a surprised Yi Jiao asks, inching away from him. “Just who are you?”
“What a wonderful question,” Song Daiyu says with a smile. Liu Jin gives her a light glare. “One for another time, I am afraid. But do not worry, Young Miss. Rest assured, Qing Jin is a hopelessly honest man.”
“Honest men don’t use fake names,” Yi Jiao grumbles, crossing her arms.
“On the contrary. It is the only bit of fakeness they allow themselves. Else, they’d use fake smiles and fake words like the rest of us.”
Yi Jiao glares at her. “How do you two even know each other anyway?”
“That is quite the story,” Song Daiyu says, tapping her chin in thought. “Very bloody and violent.”
“It is nothing of the sort,” Liu Jin interjects.
“To say that after you handled me so roughly. How uncouth of you,” Song Daiyu says, clearly enjoying Yi Jiao’s reactions. Huang Shing’s childhood friend watches them warily over her tea. “I could say we are childhood friends, but that wouldn’t be true. Childhood acquaintances would be closer to the truth, and childhood business partners closer still. Right now, it should be enough to say I am his wife’s best friend.”
Song Daiyu times her words perfectly. Yi Jiao’s tea ends up over her lap.
“He’s married!” Her head whips towards him. “You’re married! But you’re in a relationship!”
“Is he now?” Song Daiyu asks, her smile widening. “I must admit we had wondered whether you would be. It seems I have lost a bet. Truly, no one knows a husband as well as his wife.”
“Shameless,” Yi Jiao mutters under her breath. “Absolutely shameless. My mother warned me about things like this…”
As Yi Jiao keeps muttering to herself, Liu Jin and Song Daiyu look into each other’s eyes. Song Daiyu with obvious joy and amusement. Liu Jin with careful consideration.
“You are still in contact with her,” He says after a while. A smile tugs at his lips. “You are friends? Is she doing well? Is she healthy? Is she happy?”
Song Daiyu’s smile grows.
“Oh my, what a concerned husband you are.” Liu Jin blushes. Song giggles. “Well, healthy, and happy. She’s all those things and more. In fact, this little enterprise is partly her idea.”
Liu Jin blinks.
Song Daiyu laughs.
“What a rare sight it is to see you so surprised. Did you really think she would do nothing after what happened? Did you think the Divine Frozen Palace would let an insult go unpunished? They have been pushing for action against the Storm Dragon Empire for years.”
“What?”
“It has been hard, however,” Song Daiyu continues as though Yi Jiao had not spoken. “The Eternal Flame Clan continuously pushes against their influence in court. They are not the only ones, but they are certainly the loudest about it. That is how this idea came to be. If we could destabilize the Eternal Flame Clan’s hold in the Storm Dragon Empire, thus removing the reason why they care about it…”
She trails off and gives him a meaningful look.
“The Eternal Flame Clan would no longer have interests to protect in this country, and they would allow the Crimson Cloud Empire to enter a war,” Liu Jin finishes for her.
Instead of strengthening the Eternal Flame Clan’s hold on the Storm Dragon Empire for stability, Xiao Shuang and the Divine Frozen Palace’s strategy relies on removing their influence entirely so they can freely enter the Storm Dragon Empire.
In other words, the complete opposite of his plan.
“Impressive, is it not?” Song Daiyu asks, taking a sip of her tea. “Stealing away Duke Lai from the Eternal Flame Clan’s sphere of influence was far too easy. The Five Blessings Group has the resources to offer him much better trade deals. Once the other lords see the benefits, more will join. Not just from General Dan’s side but from General He’s as well. Obviously, we will not make a profit right away.”
“But eventually, the Five Blessings Group will have an economic grip over the Dragon Storm Empire,” Liu Jin sums up. “Or rather, the Song Clan will.”
Song Daiyu smiles.
“It is quite the business endeavor,” she says. “However, it seems you have other ideas.” She glances at the robes that mark him as a disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan rather pointedly. “Let me warn you right now. Though we are friends, I have no intention of turning back on my plans unless your story happens to be positively fascinating.”
Liu Jin takes a deep breath and sets down his cup.
“As it just so happens, I have a very long story to tell you.”
“Is that so?”
“It begins in the Dead Plains.”
“Fascinating.”
~~~