Huh.

I stiffened in place, my face ashen, “What?” Shock washed over me, my thoughts racing. “Dead? But how?”

Jin Ruo swallowed hard. “That’s not all. They’re accusing us of his murder."

The fuck? Accusations of murder were grave, especially when made against a demonic sect, but this obviously couldn’t be true—no elder was stupid. “We had nothing to do with this,” I declared, my voice firm. It couldn’t be us.

“We believe the Holy Land’s sects are involved too, they’re backing them up, adding fire to the situation.”

I cursed again after hearing what he had to say. They just had to have a fucking hand in this. “Tell me everything.”

The situation had escalated beyond my worst fears. My sect was being branded as traitors, and the Obsidian Shadow Clan, without their leader, had become a feral beast, launching a reckless, all-out assault on the nearest stronghold to their territory. They were no longer concerned with subtlety.

“How the fuck did we betray again?” I asked sarcastically.

“Well… The Demonic Land needs cooperation to a degree and our customs passed on by the ancestors say this too. Because, well, we still need a functioning society. Now that we have “assassinated” their leader, they have the perfect excuse to launch an all-out attack on us without the other sects interfering because it would cause mass destruction and fuck up a lot of their stuff, too.”

“I know that,” I huffed, turning on my heel as I headed down and to where my Disciples were. Jin Ruo followed behind me and my mind raced. Thankfully, we hadn’t been attacked, and it would be so good if it remained the same because I did not wish to fend off this town. I did not care. But, if an army were to arrive, as the elder I would have to fight in the frontlines despite my crippled state. It was a stupid custom. My death was certain.

All that hung in the air like a guillotine blade poised to fall on my fucking neck.

“What are First’s thoughts?” I asked.

“He’s called an audience.” Jin Ruo said. “We must depart as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, yeah, and leave this place unattended.” I did not particularly care, given that I’d already had an escapade back to the capital, but I would prefer being here instead of going and possibly being assigned some position in the front lines.

I waved him off and told him to wait a moment as I got to where my Disciples were. “I need to go,” I said abruptly, making them come out of their concentration. I pulled out an elixir bottle and thumped it on the ground near Renji. “Use however much you two want,” I said, staring at him before giving Kai a glance. “There's a war coming. I need you to breakthrough as soon as possible. And, no matter whatever happens, ANYTHING, do NOT breakthrough until there is nothing left to purify, you hear that?”

“Yes, Master!” Renji said, his face going through multiple emotions as thoughts churned inside his head at my revelation of war.

“Yes, Master,” Kai said and then asked. “If I may ask… What happened?”

“Obsidian,” I groaned. “Their leader’s dead.” They gasped. “Motherfucker’s are blaming us, war has already started. They have a valid reason, and, some-fucking-how, proof that it was us that attacked their leader.” I cursed as much as I wished, not caring about etiquette in the slightest.

I knew I needed to be calmer, and I was to some degree, but I still needed some way of showing my frustration with this situation. However, I stopped myself and let the “Ryujin” part of me wash over my persona a little, which was quite easy. I calmed instantly and stared at them.

I had two choices, either I could take them with me and use them like the meatshields I’d wanted them to be, or, let them stay here and focus solely on cultivating so that I could finally have a cure.

However, It was a different matter if said cure would, well, cure me instantly or if I’d have to go around like a peasant hunting for some beasts or herbs or whatever.

There wasn’t even much need to think when my eyes flickered to Biscuit and Noodles—who was sitting as far away from Biscuit as possible. “You will stay.”

That decision had been made before I came here, thus why I’d instructed Renji and Kai to cultivate as if their lives depended on it, which, technically, did depend on it.

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“Meow…” Biscuit sounded as she coiled around my feet, looking up at me with such sadness that my heart shattered into pieces.

[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1137064193233793084/1159152296622575636/biscuit_2.png?ex=651ed833&is=651d86b3&hm=622d4b8621084812623a47ff00d4934433ac90826e7c998815b0dbb430e64c74&=&width=628&height=628]

“Biscuit… I…” I picked her up. “I need to go alone. You—yeah, you need to protect your junior brothers…” I mentioned Renji and Kai and then Noodles. “And junior sister.”

Biscuit bristled but nodded. She didn’t meow again. She’d gotten quieter ever since she scratched me. I half-smiled and put her back on the ground, squatting and as I scratched her belly and patted her head roughly.

She looked away with a… pout.

I couldn’t say, she was grumpy perhaps, but I had no time to cheer her up. I wanted to, but I had to go.

Done with everything, I walked out of the room. Jin Ruo stood outside, waiting patiently, I appreciated that.

“Are you ready, Elder?” He asked.

I nodded, “Let’s go.”

It took no longer than a few minutes to arrive in the capital. Jin Ruo had no intention of going slow; he made sure that I didn’t fall by coating my feet with a layer of Gu that was disgustingly obvious due to the Gu’s nature. He wasn’t particularly caring about making it less obvious, either—we were in a hurry.

The first thing I did upon landing was take a breath and calm my nerves. Flying was fun, no doubt about it. Back in the Before, I’d always wanted to fly as a kid—jumping from Gramps’ house window had been a stupid move, one that had earned me quite an earful. Well deserved. Gramps had been rather strict with me after that, though he had never treated me unfairly.

A smile made its way up my lips as I reminisced those fond memories. Then, with a flash, they vanished, a hollowness washing over me. I shook my head and followed behind Jin Ruo—most likely towards where everyone was.

I noticed cultivators—soldiers—roaming the place. There had always been people assigned as guards and to patrol the capital, but this was the first time in a long while that there were this many of them. Not to mention the blood on some of them. The war had already started, and from what I could gather, neither side was backing down. It wouldn’t make sense if they did, either.

The door with double pillars lining the side walls gave way to the Grand Hall where important sect decisions were made. There were seats there—thrones, even; from the way they were decorated. However, all five of them paled in comparison to the Sect Leader’s throne, which was empty at the moment and not even the First was sitting on it. Honestly, I’d thought he would. However, it was certain to me now that they were serious about holding traditions and customs of their sect even in times of war like these. This also made it clear that I’d be found—and killed—if I ever managed to escape. They wouldn’t stop without finding me, dead or alive did not matter.

Fear again settled inside me but I swallowed it inside and schooled my expression, letting Ryujin’s experience in these matters surface more than I’d usually let it. My thundering heart slowed down, and my vision grew clearer as I felt a sense of freedom. It went away as quickly as it had come, but I had no time to give that any attention.

“You’re finally here, Elder Wu,” The First, Wei Rui, said as he motioned for me to take my seat. I nodded at them all, noticing how Shen Yue still appeared as sleepy as ever, and how Zhang Jun seemed annoyed. Sitting in my place in silence, I wondered why he was annoyed. Wei Rui seemed calm as ever, and Li Mei just appeared to be sad. No one spoke for a minute.

“So,” Zhang Jun began, “Why did we have to wait for him again? What is going to do? My men are dying out there.”

Ah. Valid point, I’d say. They should’ve begun without me.

“Silence, Elder Zhang,” Wei Rui said, putting some authority in his voice as he glared at Zhang Jun. Whoa, I thought, refraining from letting out my shock. Wei Rui being like this was a shock, he never acted like this.

“Yes, Elder Wei,” Zhang Jun grew silent, Shen Yue staring at him like he was an idiot whereas Li Mei just seemed sad and concerned.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, silence reigned once more. I had no clue what to say, I’d actually prefer going back home and spending my time with my Disciples, Biscuit, and Noodles so I could make them grow faster—especially Renji and Kai given that my survival depended on their growth.

“The Obsidian Shadow Clan has been on the rise; now, they’ve accused us of killing—murdering—their Leader.” Wei Rui said, his voice devoid of any emotions.

“But we did not do it.” Li Mei stressed.

“I know, Elder Li, I know very well. This is but an excuse to incite an all-out war with us.”

“But why?” she asked. “Why would they do it? What could they possibly want? They’re a small sect, heck, not even a sect. They’re a clan of Lytharians. Well-versed in poison, sure, but it doesn’t stand a chance against me. Not to mention that’s their only unique weapon here. Of course, aside from their bodies and scales.”

“Does the reason even matter?” Zhang Jun said, strangely calm, jaws taut. “They declared war, annihilated an outer sect already. I’d say they’re capable enough. We need to crush them before this spark ignites into a raging fire! Who cares about their leader’s death?”

“Calm down, Elder Zhang,” I said. “They most likely have something up their sleeve, they wouldn’t be this confident otherwise. Their leader’s assassination is only an excuse—”

“The Holy Lands, and their fucking righteous sects!” Zhang Jun exclaimed in anger. “Is that it? Is this why the bugs are writhing?” his nostrils flared and fire puffed out of his mouth.

“Silence.” Wei Rui said, his voice reverberating. “Do not be rash, Elder Zhang.”

Zhang Jun grew silent.