“We Should attack!”

“What? We need actual solutions. If we go deep, we will only invite the same response. It is why we went on the defensive in the first place. What will be left to claim after tens of thousands are slaughtered? Ruined resources? Broken sacred grounds?”

“Ha, a coward you are LongWei, through and through. What have we been doing all this time but being defensive? And what has that gotten us? An invitation to be attacked!”

“I won’t rise to the bait, ass; you’ve accused me of being a coward at every meeting since these council meetings began. Are you still sniveling from when I called you a coward at the Martial Alliance’s founding? Exercising caution is not cowardice! Don’t just oppose me to oppose me and use your mind for once,” said LongWei.

The Hidden Badger Nascent Soul Elder, Lok, gnashed his teeth as his face went red. Then he popped the cork of an ancient looking bottle, whose fumes alone sent Felix’s mind to wool. A few of the other nascent souls gave appreciative murmurs and nods. Elder Lok ignored them as he tipped it back and drank deep. As the alcohol turned his face even redder, he slammed the bottle down and spat out his response.

Is drinking when you are angry a custom here? Staying focused is hard enough without the fumes. Can’t they just give it a rest? At least I rested before coming here.

Yang Mei had fallen asleep not too long ago. The thunk of her head against the wooden table had made quite a bit of noise. Cixi had propped her up when Elder Lok had glared their way.

Well, she did drool on the table but still, they could have sent us away if we were that much of a problem. We are not needed for this, this theater! And aren’t we a security risk or something?

“You are all forgetting the point,” said Elder Lok, as Felix minded his words once more. “This new effort shows that the empire is more committed to a decisive victory than we thought. There will be no sustained war.”

“There is some truth to what you say, yet the cost of escalation is too high. We cannot lose our heads,” said LongWei.

“Yet we didn’t even consider pursuing such a victory. Nor did we seriously consider the empire acting upon such an endeavor themselves. It is as you said LongWei, the risk is too great, and the Empire would of course come to the same conclusion. Just like they would never consider sending an army through the fucking wilderness,” said Elder Lok, rolling his eyes. “Yet may I remind you this is the second time they have tried to deal us a crippling blow. This shows they’re not reasonable, not sane cultivators. These men of the Empire are mad. Can we afford to continue the way we have?”

“What would you suggest?”

“We take the fight to them,” said Lok. “We bring our strongest and strike at the heart of the empire. Cut the head of the snake that bit us!”

“We’ve been over that. If we break the illusion of holding back, where does that leave us.”

“Bah, the time for hesitancy has passed.”

“Yet should we tear that veil from both sides? Will you take responsibility for the consequences?”

“Can we afford not to?”

“Elders. We are getting no were,” said Elder Akeno.

About damn time.

Lok and LongWei shared a look. The air was still as neither spoke for a moment. Finally, LongWei opened his mouth.

“Then what would you suggest?”

“When two options do not work, it is time to pursue a third. My fellow Elder, Harold, has had a few interesting ideas while all of you have been talking.” Said Elder Akeno, sweeping those gathered with his eyes. They stopped on Felix. “But we can take a small break before we continue. After heads have cooled, and when younger ears are no longer listening.”

Felix felt the air grow heavy once more as the assembled experts’ eyes fell upon him.

Find a happy place. Find a happy place.

Then it was gone, the elders had looked away.

“I can agree to that,” said LongWei.

“I can as well,” said Lok.

They rose, one by one, and were gone moments later. A few lingered to give Elder Akeno a questioning look but the old man just shook his head. With mutter coughs, those few left as well. All except the Onooka Patriarch. Elder Akeno shook his head at the patriarch before he rose to his feet. He disappeared moments later through a door in the back.

“Little Daiyu,” said the patriarch and stepped closer toward Daiyu. She tensed and raised her uninjured arm to ward him off. He laughed. “I won’t embarrass you anymore. I am proud of you, little one.”

Daiyu didn’t resist as he gave her one head pat. He turned toward the rest of him, his jovial face fading slightly to something more serious.

“You all have my thanks for watching over my niece.” said the Patriarch, inclining his head just the slightest. “It is hard for people of my clan to make friends outside of the sect. Our ways lead to a natural alienation. I assume I have you to thank for her wellbeing, Fairy Xue?”

“No,” said Xue, with a small shake of her head. “I only played a small part at the end of their journey. You should thank Elder Zhenzhen or Felix.”

“Haha, I am wise enough to know not to get entangled with Fairy Zhenzhen,” said the Patriarch, his brilliant smile escaping its curtain. “Perhaps I will just send her a small gift. As for you little cultivator… Felix, was it?”

“Yes, honored elder?” said Felix.

“We will see,” said the Patriarch. “Now come, Daiyu. We need to get you healed.”

His cloak seemed to consume them both before turning into a shadow. With a puff of smoke, Daiyu and her uncle were gone.

Why the smoke?

“Well, I better go back as well,” said Yang Mei, stifling a yawn. “Master Jackie will want to review my progress.”

“Oh, I think he might be gone,” said Felix. “He said something about being deployed.”

“Really?” said Yang Mei, her sleepy eyes cracking open a bit. “That’s great. I can go right to sleep.” She walked toward the door, swaying side to side. Then she stopped and turned. “It is really good to see you safe, Felix.”

“I suppose I better make sure she gets home,” said Cixi, stifling a yawn as she hurried after the swaying figure.

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“Well, I suppose it’s just you and me again Xue!” said Felix.

No response came and he looked around the now empty room.

Or not. I guess I’m alone again. Kind of a letdown. I kind of wanted to flirt a little bit. Should I go find her or does she need space… Wait, I still need drugs!

Felix turned and headed toward the back of the Hall of Meeting. There was the door Elder Akeno had disappeared into. He gave it a knock, but it produced no sound.

Well, this is shit. Should I knock harder?

He looked around for a moment, then smashed the door with a hammer fist to a similar effect. Then waited. No response came.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Getting drugs was the entire reason I went searching for Everglade in the first place and look at me now. I hung with all the elders in the sect and low and behold, no drugs.

The door swung open with such force that Felix retreated several steps. Elder Akeno strode out.

“What do you want, disciple?” said Elder Akeno. “I assume you didn’t just risk your life banging on my door for fun.”

“Oh god, you could hear all that? Um, well, you see, elder, I need help,” said Felix, trying not to retreat further. “I mean, I need assistance. Yes. I didn’t want to bother any of you at first and asked senior sister Everglade but then I got interrupted and brought up here. The elders promised me aid when I came back. Well, Elder Shen did but he did say he was speaking for all of you. There was a mention of a reward for us at the beginning of the meeting, and I think with my contribution to the sect, this isn’t too much to ask for-”

“Spit, it, out.” Said Elder Akeno. “My patience grows thin. State what you need or leave.”

“I need drugs, medical supplies,” said Felix and winced. “For my body cultivation manual.”

“…Give me the manual you made.” Said Elder Akeno.

“Here,” said Felix.

The old man accepted the book and flipped through it.

Did he really mean it when he said my life was at risk there? That is just an old cultivator talk, right?

“That will be fine,” said elder Akeno and he snapped the book close. “Go to the hall of medicine. By the time you get there, they will have all you need ready.”

“That’s it,” said Felix. “You are just giving it to me? No tests or tasks I have to complete?”

“What? Did you doubt my brothers’ words?” said elder Akeno, eyes thinning to slits. “Do you doubt MY word?”

How does he loom so much? -orange voice-

“I know, he’s terrifying,” said Felix.

“What?” said Elder Akeno.

“Nothing elder!” said Felix and bowed. “I am so sorry if I offended you.”

Fuck you, voice. Fuck me. Oh god, why did I respond out loud? He just casually threatened my life and I say that?

Felix felt sweat begin to bead on his brow as the elder remained silent.

Just remain bowed. This is clearly the stereotypical unhinged elder. Well after Zhenzhen. These types like respect, don’t they? Just remain subservient.

Felix stared at the Elder's shadow until it disappeared. He heard a click. A minute later he rose to a shut door.

Oh, thank god.

The sweat had long since dried by the time Felix arrived at the Hall of Medicine. The crowds were light, and he went right up to an unoccupied attendant. The disciple gave him a bored look but then his eyes went wide. Before Felix could ask a thing, a bag of holding was shoved into his arms.

“Senior, Elder Akeno said I should give this to you directly,” said the boy, shuddering a little. “Elder Akeno said it was a priority, so we had to rush but I promise that we didn’t make any mistakes. That bag should have everything you need. You just need to return the bag when you are done or else it will go on your record. You can of course also buy the bag. But even with Elder Akeno’s blessing, you will need to use spirit stones.”

“No, that is quite alright,” said Felix. Nice not to be the one squirming. “Is handing supplies out in bags common.”

“Not usually.” Said the disciple. “Only when there are a lot of supplies. Even then, we only entrust people of a certain strength with something so valuable. Though I would recommend you remove the contents from the bag. I am not sure if it applies to what you ordered, but most medical supplies start degrading at a faster rate the longer you have them in a bag of holding.”

“Then I better not wait too long. Are you knowledgeable about medicine then? An alchemist perhaps?” said Felix.

Oh, he is blushing. Well, I suppose service people are underappreciated everywhere.

“Oh Dao no. I suppose I know a little bit on the subject,” said the clerk. “But I would die of shame if people called me one.”

“I am sure you are worth more than you think,” said Felix, letting out a light laugh. “So, do you know any news about the sect I should know? I have been in seclusion for a bit.”

“Oh, you didn’t go get a missive afterwards? Or ask some of your friends?” said the clerk looking around at the empty room. “Since no one is waiting, I suppose I can talk a little. Let us see… Oh, did you hear about the elders' favorite?”

“Elders favorite,” said Felix. “Do you mean Senior Sister Xue?”

“Hardly,” said the disciple with a snort. Then paused before he looked around. “Not that I am demeaning her of course. To reach core cultivation in her twenties, she is truly the crystal snow lily of the sect.”

“…Why did you yell that last bit,” said Felix.

The disciple gave another furtive look around the room and signaled Felix to come closer. Weirdo. No one is even looking over her. Thought Felix, leaning in.

“People have become a bit more confrontational about Senior Xue. When the elders tamped down on a fight between a few of the lower disciples and two of the guest sects, someone began to spread rumors about the more reclusive thousand season disciples. The response among those who admire senior Xue was… swift.”

“So you just want to avoid being hit,” said Felix.

“Not just that,” said the disciple, scratching a cheek. “I would be horrified if senior Xue ever heard I was bad mouthing her. I kind of understand those disciples who admire her. Oh. what would it be like to be so loved by the heavens? I’m not sure if I’ll ever reach her level even with the improved manuals that are popping up in the sect.”

So fear and a crush huh. Pretty normal.

“Wait, improved manuals?” said Felix.

“Yeah.” Said the disciple. “Oh, you haven’t heard? Of course not, you said you had been in seclusion this whole time. Silly me. Apparently, one of the elders is making improvements to many of the sect’s manuals. Or maybe it is all of them working together. I honestly don’t know, the rumor mill is running wild lately.”

Ahh, indirect praise is nice. Thought Felix, a smile tugging at his lips, God I want to tell him how I am the one who did all that. But no, Felix you need to keep a low profile. Even if you have lately had a few… defining moments in the sect, you need to take it easy and sink back into the background. Control the narrative.

“Well, I am sure the disciple who improved the books cares deeply for the sect.

“Disciple?” said the clerk with a blink, frowning at Felix. “I had assumed one of the elders had done it.”

Fuck, fuck, foot in your mouth Felix.

Sigh. -Orange voice-

“Well, you did say elder, but I assumed it was Senior Sister Xue in my mind for some reason.” Said Felix. “She is a once in a lifetime genius after all.”

Wait, I don’t want him thinking it is Xue either.

“Though you are probably right it is an elder,” said Felix.

“That’s… of course! That makes so much sense. No wonder they are keeping things under wraps. Though if the elders are keeping it hush, we better not talk about it. This is so exciting.” Whispered the disciple, eyes turning bright. “But then what about the elder’s favorite? Is he a distraction?”

“Elders favorite?” said Felix. “Oh sorry, I sidetracked you earlier. Whose is the sect’s favorite? Senior Everglade?”

“I’m not sure but apparently there was an incident this morning. The rumors all agree that one of our male disciples was causing a ruckus with a guest elder. Something about insulting his family. But who would be stupid enough to do that?”

“Haha, that does sound stupid,” said Felix

“I know, right? Apparently, he was whisked away by our elders for some super important meeting. People are even saying the disciple had something to do with the invasion.”

“They are, are they?” said Felix, eyeing the door. “And people aren’t sure which disciple it was?”

“Oh, there is one name that keeps coming up. Oh, what was the name? Ah, it is annoying the hell out of me, and I feel like I’ve heard it recently too.”

“Well, it is better to not listen to rumors. I am sure they are exaggerated,” said Felix. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for all your help.”

Felix turned and tried not to run as the disciple began to mutter different names under his breath.

I should just go right back into seclusion. Let things die down again… wait, isn’t it poker night?