The Onooka Patriarch was ruthless. The elders resisted, in word and veiled threat. They talked for hours but the balance of power was no longer the same.
Elder Zetsu rose to his feet.
“If my sect receives access to the child’s assistance first, then I can agree to this arrangement,” said Zetsu.
“Zetsu!” said Elder Lok, standing as well. “You can’t seriously agree to this deal. The boy will get to look at everything we have.”
I’m engaged? This can’t be binding.
“This is a better deal than if they delayed until Akeno’s return. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of wisdom,” said elder Zetsu. He looked from the Onooka Patriarch to Elder Harold. “I expect to see him at my sect within the week. You may guard him for the duration but anything he works on there is to be returned to us. Any future improvements to those specific manuals will be returned to us, in exchange for our cooperation. No contracts. I’ll be watching.”
“Then I’ll have to be watching you in turn,” said the Patriarch.
“Patriarch, please,” said Harold. “Yes, we find this acceptable.”
“I best return to my sect then. We must prepare if we are to share our manuals,” said Elder Zetus, heading to the door.
“How boring. Stuck in a scribe sect like Clear Sky,” said the Onooka Patriarch. “All those necks on the front without me. I am really sacrificing too much for my niece’s happiness.”
Zetsu snorted and exited.
This man is insane. Damnit Daiyu, what did you tell your uncle? I need to figure out how to get out of this.
The other representatives, seeing an out, stood and followed. They thanked Felix’s Elders for their time and all but fled out the door. The two nascent souls of the Bloody Buddha Monastery comported themselves better but left quickly. Elder Lok didn’t go so easy.
“Why are you siding with them?” said Elder Lok, glaring at the Onooka Patriarch. “It doesn’t make any sense. Your sect has always remained insular, even from those you had good relations with.”
“The world changes yet the Dao is eternal,” quipped the patriarch.
“So, the Onooka are deciding to take a new tack because of the war,” pushed Elder Lok.
“I am siding with family. That isn’t a new policy,” said Onooka.
“Be careful Patriarch,” said Elder Lok, turning to leave. “You are only one man supporting a whole clan. If the ship sinks, the mortals on board die.”
“Metaphor! Oh, wonderful! How about I share some as well? Let me walk you out.”
Elder Lok stumbled as the Patriarch appeared next to him.
“I am quite alright,” said Elder Lok hurrying to the door. “You don’t have to bother.”
“No, I insist!” said the Patriarch, mouth running a million kilometers a minute. “Did you hear the one that compared the dagger to the bow? It is quite a funny joke and has a historical origin in your neck of the woods. I can break it down for you.”
“I am fine!” said Lok.
“It really is no trouble,” said the Patriarch, hot on the man’s heels. “You haven’t even heard the first verse.”
The door slammed closed behind the two men. Elder Zhenzhen let out a peal of laughter.
“I didn’t realize how fun the Patriarch could be,” said Zhenzhen, clutching her stomach. “I need to talk with him more.”
Elder LongWei, the last non-Thousand Season sect member present, rose to his feet with a sigh. He bowed to the Thousand Season Elders.
“I am glad that we could come to a compromise,” said LongWei. “I hope our Alliance remains strong, despite what happened here today.”
“Yes, we can ill afford to squabble. Though some seem to forget that,” said Harold, returning the sign of respect. “Will you remain here?”
“No, I think not,” said Elder LongWei “It is for the best that I return to my sect as well. This thing of children appearing with unusual powers, your disciple’s strange ability, this deal…it is unprecedented. I will need to explain it to my sect master personally.”
He turned to Felix and bowed. A bow too low from a Nascent Soul to an Essence Condenser.
“And to you as well Felix. I never properly thanked you for discovering the Empire’s plot.”
“Load of good that did me? Whose side were you on until the Onooka Patriarch came?” said Felix. Elder Zhenzhen began giggling. “Where was your gratitude then?”
Whoa, Felix! I’m the impulsive one. [Orange Voice]
Yeah well, you're not the one who was suddenly married.
I mean, I think I technically am. [Orange Voice]
“I needed to think of the future of my sect,” said Elder LongWei, unbothered by Felix’s attitude. “And you are right to be angry. It was truly not personal. I hope we can move past this.”
“Fine. Since I can trust you to follow your interests,” spat Felix, “It’s good to see what motivates you.”
“Perhaps I deserve that. To repay kindness with this…” said Elder LongWei. He searched Felix’s face before shaking his head. “Just know you will have my guarantee of protection when you come to my sect.”
The man gave one more nod to Elder Harold and then left.
Elder Harold slumped back into his chair.
“Well, disaster averted,” said Elder Harold.
“Disaster averted? Disaster averted!” said Felix, rising to his Feet. Xue put a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged it off. “I am engaged! That is a disaster.”
“Oh, be quiet boy, your engagement just saved us from a political nightmare. One where you might have ended up the one truly suffering,” said Elder Harold. “By the Dao, I should have stayed a rogue cultivator.”
“Felix, I know you are upset but now isn’t the time. You need access to more books,” said Xue, laying her hand back on his shoulder. “This is a good thing. It is just an engagement. To a pretty girl no less.”
That is not what I want to hear from you.
She’s not wrong. [Orange Voice]
Whose side are you on?
Our side Brown. Our side. And it is just an engagement. I’ve gotten out of those before. [Orange Voice]
“Elder Harold, I just can’t believe you would agree without asking me,” said Felix, looking away from his protector to the Elder in question. “Do the other Elders even know about this?”
“I didn’t agree to anything,” said Harold, tugging on his beard. “It must have been Elder Shen. I don’t know how long he was angling for this considering he has been gone for weeks. He didn’t mention a single thing to me, the bastard. No, that doesn’t line up. Did the Onooka Patriarch make it up to help us? But he wouldn’t do that.”
“The engagement might not be real?” said Felix.
“Of course it is Felix,” said Elder Zhenzhen, her cloud morphed into the shape of a lounge chair and a bundle of grape-like fruits appeared in her hand. “I brokered it after all.”
Wow, my past life kisses could never inspire this in the past. [Orange Voice]
“I should have known,” said Harold. “Why?”
“Why did I make a deal that saved all of us, Elder Brother?” said Zhenzhen, “Or why are you finding out about it now?”
“Both!” said Harold, “I don’t believe you foresaw this.”
“You always underestimate me, Elder Brother. You aren’t the only one who can make plans for the future. I knew something needed to be done to protect our little disciple,” said Zhenzhen, rolling one of the fruits around in her mouth. “He has had a dangerous inclination to get involved in things that put his well-being in peril. It was clear to me that he needed something to reign him in. Now both problems are solved.”
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This girl needs her head looked at. [Orange Voice]
“Elder Zhenzhen.” Said Felix. “I would have preferred to be asked about this.”
“I don’t know what you are complaining about,” said Elder Harold. “You’ve just got the personal protection of the third strongest cultivator in the alliance.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say third strongest,” said the Onooka Patriarch, fading into existence next to Elder Harold. “You know how misleading those Clear Sky rankings can be. They always think they have everything figured out until they get a knife in their eye. Good times.”
“Patriarch Onooka, I would like to talk about the engagement.” Said Felix. “I am not sure what my elder said but she-
“Call me Uncle!” said the Patriarch, getting much too close and laying an arm around Felix’s shoulders “It will be nice to hear someone verbally say it. My poor nieces and nephews are mute once they start cultivating and I do so miss their cute little calls of ‘uncle’. Do you know how hard that is for me? Heartbreaking is what it is.”
“Patriarch, I’m not sure that’s appropriate.” Said Felix.
“You mean ‘Uncle, I’m not sure that’s appropriate,’” said the Patriarch, frowning down at Felix. “Really nephew, and my niece said you were smart.”
Felix, resist punching the strongest person in the room. Even if he deserves it. [Orange Voice]
I know that!
And where was that common sense when talking to Elder LongWei? [Orange Voice]
“But I do see you like to turn quiet as she said,” said the Patriarch and poked Felix in the cheek. “Weird.”
…Never mind. Punch him. [Orange Voice]
“Please, be reasonable, Patriarch.” Said Felix.
“Uh, uh.” Said the patriarch, wagging a finger. “What did I just say?”
“…Uncle.”
“See!” said the Patriarch, white teeth flashing. “Ah, music to my ears. I’ve never had a teenager call me that. Feels right.”
Felix looked toward his elders. Elder Harold was pointedly looking away and reading a small book. Zhenzhen just grinned at him.
“I see,” said Felix. “Can I talk to Daiyu? I have some words for her.”
“Oh, aren’t you an eager one!” said the Onooka Patriarch, shaking Felix. “Well don’t worry, I know how it is to be young. Unfortunately, she is unavailable, nephew.”
Stop calling me that...
“Well,” said Felix. “When would be a good time to talk to her?”
“It is not a matter of when but where, nephew. I sent her home after the attack. Much too unsafe for my Daiyu. Way too many strangers here.”
“She didn’t want to talk to me about the engagement? That doesn’t sound like her.”
“Of course not.” said the Patriarch. “She has no idea about it yet.”
“She didn’t suggest it?”
“Oh no! My Little Daiyu is too shy and reserved to be so forward even with me. That would mortify her. She wanted to help you so badly though. Wouldn’t stop going on about how much potential you had. I couldn’t justify supporting you if our sects’ relationship wasn’t closer. Especially if it necessitates your access to our manuals.”
“And you thought an engagement would solve all this?”
“Exactly! I like to think of it as my little surprise for her. She’ll be so happy.”
That isn’t a good idea. That is a terrible idea.
Yeah, makes me feel bad for Daiyu. It does explain a bit of her personality. [Orange Voice]
We can’t go along with this though.
Felix. Think about it. It isn’t that bad for us, even if he is an overbearing asshole. [Orange Voice]
Yeah… for now at least.
Felix glanced at his elders again. Harold had pressed his nose into his book. He also looked in pain with every new word from the Patriarch’s mouth. Zhenzhen was barely holding back her laughter.
“So, you will be the one guarding me?” Said Felix.
“That was the deal,” said the Patriarch. “Don’t worry, it will be a bonding experience!”
“And the front doesn’t need you? There is a war going on.”
“Perhaps when others contribute something I’ll return out there.” said the Patriarch. “I’ve been carrying this whole alliance on my back for months. Bunch of lazy ingrates. The Onooka Clan doesn’t kill for free.”
“Elder Harold, should I be guarded by Patriarch- I mean by Uncle alone?” said Felix.
Harold finally looked up from his book and he met Felix’s eyes. He looked tired.
“We can’t afford to have any more Elders leave the sect. We barely have enough as it is and you saw what happened,” said Harold. “I will reach out and converse with the Elders. Maybe we can pull one from the front.”
Felix wiped his hands on his robes. He wasn’t sure when his hands had sweated so much.
“I guess that's it then. When do we leave Uncle?” said Felix.
“Today,” said the Patriarch, slapping Felix on the back before pulling away. “If we have to first go to Clear Sky sect on this little tour, then there is no time for wasting time.”
“Alright.” Said Felix. “Let me gather my things.”
-----------------------------
Felix tried to keep his agitation inside. Xue gave him space yet stayed visible on the way to the Hall of Knowledge.
I need time to think about this. Time when I can scream out my frustration. Time to be alone. Alas, I am never truly alone.
Look on the bright side. [Orange Voice]
And that is?
We are getting an arranged marriage to someone you get along with. Not everyone can say that. [Orange Voice]
Oh, I am so grateful. Let me sing the ways.
Felix barely paid attention to the always busy library halls. He was an unusual figure in these halls. Xue wasn’t, and many stopped to look at their passing.
You know, if you just enjoyed the moment more and weren’t planning so much, you might have fun with this. [Orange Voice]
That’s not how I am.
Yeah, that’s how I am though. Join the sensual side. Give in. [Orange Voice]
Yeah, no.
His worktable was still covered in notes from Cixi’s Manual. Around the table were even more books: books he hadn’t read, books he wanted to return to, and books he wanted added to the restricted sections.
Even with his bag of holding, he could barely fit it all. Elder Harold had given him even more cultivation supplies before he left the Hall of Meeting. He needed to be able to keep progressing and the length of this trip was unspecifed.
He hesitated over some manuals he had been working on to turn into the sect for points. They weren’t improved as much as he wanted but he had no more time. He activated his system and turned in the repeating manual quest.
Forty points, leaving me with seventy… that is disappointing. I am kind of running out of ideas on what to improve here. Auxiliary professions aren’t my cup of tea, and the system doesn’t like to work on them. I am not sure why though. It’s like it is reluctant to help.
“Felix? Do you want to talk?” Said Xue
Felix looked up at his bodyguard. She had guarded him since his first day in this new life.
“Shouldn’t you go?” said Felix.
“Felix, where would I go?” Said Xue. “My job is to protect you.”
“Didn’t you hear the Elders?” said Felix, shoving a book on hand musculature into his bag. “I am going to be guarded by a nascent soul soon.”
“I know. But you are not being guarded by one right now. So here I am,” said Xue. “I ask again, do you want to talk about it?”
He opened his mouth and closed it.
Where do I even begin? With once again losing my agency?
How about with your crush on her? We’ve made moves on two other women and not said a word to this one. [Orange Voice]
“Do you think Cixi will be alright,” said Felix.
“That is what you were worried about?” said Xue. “She should be fine. I used a favor to make sure only our elders could see what mission she was on. She is free to make her own decisions.”
That makes one of us.
“Shouldn’t you have brought her to an elder?” said Felix.
“I asked her a similar question, but she insisted that this was the best way” Said Xue. She met Felix’s eyes pointedly. “We all must make our choices in life. Letting others make that choice is still a choice.”
Yeah, she is a smart one. [Orange Voice]
“Yes, we do… What do you think of the Onooka Proposal.” Said Felix.
“Benefit wise it isn’t a bad business proposal.” Said Xue. “You need something, and this is likely the best way to get it and remain safe.
“So, you think I should go through with it.”
“Do you believe you have much choice?” Said Xue.
“You said it, we all have choices in life.” Said Felix.
Felix put away the last few notes and looked around. The place felt empty when there were only tables and chairs left. The elders had long cleared the normal books to make room for him.
Felix looked at Xue, really looked at her. She had not changed at all physically in the past year. Time had not touched the contours of her face for good or ill, still with an icy expression with so much hidden beneath.
“Xue, can I have your manual?”
“You’ve already looked at it, what do you need it for?”
“I want to take one last crack at helping you.”
“Sure,” she spoke.
A book appeared in her hands and he took it.
[Diamond of the Blizzard Eye (Mortal 5)]
Power: Slightly Strong
Comprehension: (200/250)
Stage: Core
My comprehension has gone down.
He flipped through it and found it littered with modifications.
“Xue,” said Felix, looking up. “You clever women, you’ve improved on the manual.”
“Of course, I’ve never stopped working on it.”
“That… Is impressive.”
The harder to improve a manual the higher it becomes. Maybe I’m good at it but so much of my skill has come from the system’s help. Like watching a master at work for hours on end. Yet she does this herself while I would need to use KE points for something this strong. Monster.
He pulled up the system to check the improvement cost. It gave him an error message to fully comprehend the manual.
Really? Wasting points as soon as we earn them? How are we supposed to fix our problem with your flagrant spending? [Orange Voice]
Felix looked up to see Xue had a faint smile only for it to disappear.
It’s worth it.
Sigh. We do owe her. Let’s start then. We only have today. [Orange Voice]
He got to work.