Why’s this annoying bastard looking at Cixi like that? She is the least weird of everyone on the cloud.
No one else paid the old man any mind. Cixi hadn't noticed and seemed barely awake.
[Orange Voice] Old men have desires too. Sometimes uncomfortable ones.
Oh, gross! He has to be what? 80 years. No, that would be if he is a mortal. God damn cradle snatcher. Should I say something?
“Felix, get on the cloud,” said Elder Zhenzhen. “You are making a scene.”
I'm making a scene? You descended from the heavens on a cloud. Hypocritical harasser!
Felix glanced around at the crowd and found he was right. Much of the crowd focused on the newcomers. Everglade and Xue's reunion in particular had garnered a great deal of interest. Even he was part of the spectacle and earned several dirty looks. One Hidden Badger disciple in particular gave him a nasty glare. The boy's clenched teeth made his acne blotches stand out.
Didn't know cultivators could get acne. Well, so much for staying lowkey. Though why are they so hostile? Do they think Elder Harold was just lying in my defense? They almost look jealous. Oh damnit, and the poker night group is watching too. Shit.
Mammoth boy and badger boy’s faces were set in stunned stupefaction. Hui Yin’s look contained an intensity he couldn't place and even Jetchi was there, staring at him.
There goes my social oasis. Jetchi did stand up for me so that bridge might not be burned. Maybe I can act like nothing happened?
The old Dragon Spear Sect elder snorted and turned with a twirl of his robe. The disciples parted before him as he strode away.
“What's with that old fart?” said Elder Zhenzhen. “He should act his age.”
“A complication. That’s all that ever happens now days. And please, try not to antagonize him, junior sister,” said elder Harold. He stepped forward and Felix felt a weight on his shoulder. “Now let’s go.”
Felix was deposited on the cloud with his former traveling companions. Xue leaped to join them, leaving behind a disgruntled Everglade. The cloud accelerated into the sky and the crowd faded from view.
The atmosphere was subdued. Yang Mei shared a tired smile and Felix tried to match it. He turned to Xue in question on his right, but her face was back to inscrutable coldness.
God, they all look tired. Even Daiyu… well, she has a mask on but her shoulders are slumped. That, or her injured arm is hard to hold up.
“Hey, Cixi? I’ve got a question for you,” said Felix. The girl looked up from her lap. The bags under her eyes had developed their own bags. “Um, haven’t you guys been sleeping?”
“Now, now Felix. There will be plenty of chances to recount what happened at the Hall of Meeting,” said Elder Zhenzhen. “Though make sure only to explain what is asked of you. We wouldn’t want anything secret getting out.”
Guess I can wait a few more minutes. Creepy Dragon Spear Elders aren’t that urgent.
A bit of frustration must have been evident on his face, as Cixi gave him a shrug.
And maybe it would be best to bring him up in private. Seems like a social minefield. Maybe a private corner somewhere after things settle down? Far away from nascent soul super senses.
He dropped that line of thought as they landed in front of the Hall of Meeting. Their cloud disappeared as it brought them to the earth. Felix had no time to marvel at the smooth transition before Elder Zhenzhen ushered them inside.
Why are their guest alliance elders here? Shouldn't we have a private debrief first?
They sat around a massive circular table that now dominated the center of the room.
Only three of the twenty-nine seated elders were from the Thousand Season Sect. Yet, Elder Harold and Elder Zhenzhen didn’t explain. The two joined those seated as if nothing was amiss.
Great Mammoth sect’s elder Shan? And that is the Clear Sky elder that bothered me after I left Everglade’s house. Fuck, all these bastards are nascent souls, aren’t they? What are you doing to me elders? Isn’t this the kind of attention you wanted me to avoid? Everything is spiraling out of control.
“Come now. Sit. Have a bit to eat,” came the deep bass of Elder Shan. As always, each of his words was punctuated by a chomp of food. “Your elders seem to believe informality is warranted. Who are we to not follow the local customs?”
Felix finally noticed that there were still five free seats on their side of the table. They weren’t of the same quality as the ones that the elders were using. Barely more than stools.
Wait, is this a trap? Sitting with them seems contrary to the lesson on etiquette I’ve taken so far.
Felix searched for a social cue from the elders. They gave him none, deep in their own conversations. Though he caught an ambiguous smirk from Elder Zhenzhen. She ignored the begging in his eyes and began chatting with the only other Mammoth Sect Elder present, to the man’s obvious discomfort.
Great. No help from them for some reason. Don’t tell me we are in a bad political situation. What changed?
“Elder Shan,” said Felix. “Surely, it would be too forward for us to sit with such esteemed cultivators. I do not want to cause disrespect to our venerable allies.”
The large man blinked and then let out a belch followed by a laugh.
“Are you not disrespecting me little essence cultivator?” said the big man. “By refusing my invitation?”
…What kind of catch twenty-two bullshit is this?
“I- “said Felix, glancing toward his companions. He gave Xue in particular a meaningful look. I could really use your help here! “I suppose we could sit then.”
Felix took a step towards one of the stools.
“What!?” said an alliance elder in a robe Felix couldn’t place. “You have the balls to sit with us?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Said Felix, retracting his foot back a step. “I meant no offense esteemed elder. We can stand.”
“Did I not tell you to sit with us?” said Elder Shan, wiping off a trail of grease from his lips that was soon replenished. “Does my word mean so little to you?”
“But? He just said we shouldn’t sit” said Felix and looked to his companions for help. They seemed as confused as he. Xue’s expression had even cracked into the tiniest of frowns.
“Seniors.” Said Xue, stepping forward. “I ask that you forgive my junior if he has offended you in someway. We have all contributed greatly to the alliance and I am sure ones as fair as you can take that into account.”
“He hasn’t offended me at all!” said Elder Shan. “I simply ask if he is refusing my offer of taking a seat. That would be very brave of him.”
Xue just stared back and finally sent her own imploring expression to Elder Harold. He remained indifferent but it was Elder Akeno who finally looked their way.
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About time! Wait, he is looking behind us. What are they up to?
Daiyu stepped forward and took a seat. The alliance elder who objected to Felix sitting frowned. She propped up her chalkboard and wrote. Felix couldn't see what she was writing but the elder's frown worsened.
“Well, well. Aren’t you arrogant?” said the elder, a little venom leaking into his words. “It seems the little heiress of the Onooka clan is more arrogant than even the Thousand Season sect! Bold!”
“Bold!? Says the one who has the balls to harass my niece!” Boomed a voice from behind them. The speaker strode through the open doorway and unlike his voice, his heavy strides made not a sound. “Though I shouldn’t be surprised that one of those not on the front is barking the loudest.”
The man wore tight black clothes and a cloak. His clean-shaven face split by a large smile, the shine of his teeth only outclassed by his large soulful eyes. As he neared, he let his cultivation wash out.
“I wasn’t, I mean I didn’t, uh.” said the guest elder. “I just thought it was bold of a younger generation to sit so casually with her seniors.”
“We are all members of the Alliance,” said the guest elder through gritted teeth as he unwilted. “I was trying to educate the younger generation.”
“Pfft, a bunch of old fossils throwing their weight around as they sit and get fat like pigs.”
“Oh, was that aimed at me, little backstabber? Surprisingly arrogant when in the same room as I, aren’t you?” said Elder Shan setting his fork down for the second time. It was now bent at a right angle. “How about talking to me, someone who has practiced both qi and body cultivation.”
“I can still poison your food fatty,” said the man, not even sparing Elder Shan a glance. “Now how is my favorite niece?!”
The newcomer vanished and reappeared to hoist a squirming Daiyu from her chair. Despite a broken arm, her form blurred like a wild cat as she tried to dislodge herself. Her uninjured arm furiously signed at the man.
I’m not fluent yet but I am fairly sure most of those mean stop.
“Haha, oh niece. You’ll never be too old for me to pick up,” boomed the man. “No cursing now. You’re making a scene. Don't you remember how you would beg me to toss you when you were little?”
Daiyu froze for a moment. Then her blade was drawn and swung toward the man's unprotected face. The man laughed, casually leaning his head out of the way as he tossed his niece skyward.
Daiyu flailed wildly for a moment as she flew up. The panic didn't last long. She flipped at the apex of her ascent and came back down with her sword pointed earthward, at her uncle's face. She picked up even more speed than gravity should allow, her robes silently flapping.
“Ah, they grow up so fast!” said her uncle.
A sheath appeared in the man’s left hand and rose to cap the descending sword. A moment later, the sword was ripped from Daiyu’s grasp. Before she could respond, the man’s other arm swooped open to enclose her in a crushing hug. Her injured arm was left out of the powerful embrace. Daiyu tensed but then gave up, relaxing like a ragdoll.
“Patriarch Onooka Liwei, for the Dao of Love, stop making a fool of my sect's meeting room," said Elder Akeno. “And please don’t make grudges with other alliance members right under my nose.”
Felix finally looked away from the Daiyu’s eccentric uncle to the seated nascent souls’ cultivators. Their expressions ranged from annoyed to pissed off.
“Well, what can I say old Akeno? I come back from the front with the kingdom, where I just killed a Kingdom nascent soul I might add, to find my so-called allies pressuring my niece. And you, elder Akeno, and all you thousand sect elders did nothing.” Said the man, his smile disappearing as his face turned emotionless. “I’ve killed for less.”
“It was a test you loudmouth idiot!” said the Hidden Badger sect's nascent soul, slamming his fist down on the table. He also used the moment to finally break away from Elder Zhenzhen’s who had not stopped pestering him even after the Onooka patriarch entered. “The Thousand Sect elders asked to. Everyone knows of their weird strategies for teaching. They wanted us to pressure them to see if they could remember what they learned. What, did you think we would cripple your niece in broad daylight man?”
“Oh, you never know, sometimes old fogies do things for the strangest of reasons. How did I know this wasn’t one of those times?” said the Onooka Patriarch, a full teeth grin spreading back across his face. “Just think of it as a test. A lesson from me. Alright, old dirt digger?”
“Why you little arrogant piece of shit!” said the man, rising from his chair. “Do you think I fear a cowardly assassin?”
“I don’t know?” said the Onooka Patriarch, his outline starting to become indistinct. Somehow the room seemed to get even quieter as conversations were muffled. Dampened. “Do you?”
“Stop acting like essence gatherers and more like the nascent soul elders you are!” Said elder Harold, frowning through his beard. “And really Onooka Patriarch. This wasn’t that big of a deal. Just a little pressure on the kids when they expected a debriefing and rewards. We even planned to reward them after, your niece included.”
“That’s what I don’t get,” said the Onooka patriarch. “A little birdy has told me some of what these juniors have contributed. Is a ‘test’ the way to repay them? Is that how the Martial alliance operates?”
The guest elders went silent and most seemed to agree. Even Harold paused.
“Of course not, but some surprise tests require them to be a surprise. Besides the reality is, that merit earned and rewards given are not always equal., said Elder Akeno. “Sometimes one is punished for doing right. Learning that now could be more important than simple rewards.”
“That is the lesson you want to teach them.” said the Onooka Patriarch. “That the sect won’t reward them for your efforts. ”
“No, I literally just explained to you that it was a lesson and test. They need to THINK. Else the ‘earning’ on their journeys may end up being poison in their gut, a bag filled with spirits stones and their lover’s bones., said Elder Akeno.
…That is suspiciously specific.
“Well, why didn’t you say so!” said the patriarch. He grabbed a chair from the side of the room and pulled it to the table near the five laid out for the disciples. “I would love to see how you teach my niece. Just pretend I’m not here.”
The Onooka Patriarch’s teeth went back on full display, and he reached to rub his niece's head. Daiyu scooted her chair away and her hand flashed once more in angry words. The Patriarch only rolled his eyes and took his hand back.
The Hidden Badger Nascent Soul and Elder Shan gave Daiyu’s uncle dirty looks. They stopped at that though. Neither did they object when Felix and the others took their seats.
“Well, after that farce of a lesson, let us move on to why we are here,” said Elder Akeno. “Disciples Xue, Felix, Cixi, Yang Mei, and Onooka Clanswoman Daiyu, please tell us what happened on your recent mission.”
“Where do you want us to start.” Said Xue.
“From the beginning.” Said Elder Akeno.
Xue began the retelling. The elders were not shy about interrupting when they wished for elaboration. She remained calm and answered each question in turn. The rest of them only added their experiences when Xue was unable to answer.
Wow, she observed so much and we never noticed. Still, better that she talk than me.
A few of the elders, such as Elder Shan, were relentlessly aggressive in their questions. Most were laid back however.
The Yang Family conflict changed that. A few, including Elder Shan, appeared impressed with the Yang Family's young miss attempt. They were less happy to hear she sided with the empire. The attempted assassination by imperial operatives was only of mild interest.
When the story reached their separation at the edge of the woods, Daiyu stepped up. They were even more overbearing in questioning. Then her uncle made his presence known and they backed off again. Finally, they got to the point of Felix and Edwards's separation from the rest of the group.
“And that’s it?” said the Nascent soul elder of the Hidden Badger, slamming his fist on the table. “You just stumbled upon the enemy.”
“Well, yes. I mean, it was kind of inevitable with our mission to check out the woods,” said Felix after Daiyu turned to him. “Honestly, we had suspicions that the empire was doing something there before the Yang family traitors tried to corner us.”
“And you did all this and yet you lived?” said another elder. “If only I had your luck when going to explore for treasures. I wouldn’t still be stuck in early nascent soul. Pity.”
“Ignore him,” said the Onooka patriarch. “You said you fled deeper into the woods and split as the pursuit got worse. I understand that you girls met up with cultivator Xue who saved you all from the Yang Family ambush. What about you Felix?”
“Edward and I went our own way. Until we stumbled upon the tip of the Empire army. A line of soldiers that stretched as far as I could see.”
“How are you with us now then?” said the Hidden Badger elder.
“Elder Zhenzhen saved me.” Said Felix.
You know, I never thanked her for that. Even if she was supposed to be watching us.
They all looked at Elder Zhenzhen then, who had checked out from the conversation long ago. She was idly spinning a group of tiny clouds around one finger.
“And why pray tell,” said Elder Shan, “was one of your sect’s elders there to save you in the nick of time? Seems a little strange.”
“I was going to test a new version of one of my pills on him,” said Elder Zhenzhen. “He is simply lucky.”
“Okay…,” said Elder Shan, and gave Felix a look of pity. “We’ve already heard about the battle. Damn Wolf actually broke through... Disgusting. Regardless of the injustices of Heaven, I suppose we must decide what we are going to do about the new front. Our elders down there are only a stop-gap method.”
“Wait.” Said the Onooka Patriarch, zeroing in on Felix. “We’ve heard of the fight and how the others were near the forest entrance to escape, but what about you? How did you get out of their alive? In fact, didn’t you all say there was one more of you?”
“I fled into the Beast’s Claw.” Said Felix. “It was the only way with fewer wolves and soldiers at that moment. So did my companion, Edward.”
“Did he die?” said Elder Shan. “To the wolves?”
“No. A disciple of the High Inquisitor pursued us. Edward sacrificed himself to save me.”
“So, I ask again, how did you live?” said Elder Shan.
“I gave him an escape talisman from an inheritance site. A truly high leveled one,” said Elder Zhenzhen, dispelling the clouds that had begun dancing around her head with a wave of her hand.
“What! How high quality?” said Elder Long Wei of the Dragon Spear sect. “To use a strategic resource to save an essence condensing cultivator? What is wrong with you.”
“I do what I want,” said Elder Zhenzhen.
"…"
“So now you have all heard what has happened.” Said Elder Akeno, bringing the attention back to him. “It is time we decide how we, the Martial Alliance, are going to respond.