CHAPTER

44

SO HE BAITS

JIEYUAN

—∞—

Jieyuan’s feet were moving, making the decision to go after Meiyao even before he got around to thinking whether to stay or follow. He was still caught up with this latest little revelation. The revelation of Meiyao’s engagement. The way that little tidbit weighed on him, occupying his thoughts, wasn’t the result of jealousy, though, or any of the usual reasons, the usual emotions, you’d expected to come from finding out the woman you were interested in was engaged—or to be engaged, the details weren’t clear.

No. What Jieyuan felt was mostly confusion. While the sect leader had been speaking earlier, Jieyuan had had his eyes on the head of the table, and he’d noticed the chief protector’s eyes briefly widen in surprise when the sect leader had mentioned the matter of Meiyao’s engagement, only to narrow, his expression darkening as he glared at the sect leader. Junjie, though, had just ignored it all, stone-faced as he stared at the door.

Then Meiyao had spoken, and Jieyuan turned to her—and seen, just past her, Yuyan’s expression as she also glared at the sect leader even while Meiyao got on with her near-stuttering rant. Then, as he’d followed her with his eyes as she stormed off the room, he’d seen Yongyi, standing near the door, and how conflicted he’d looked, brows furrowed, lips pressed.

And then there was the fact that this whole engagement business didn’t really make any sense unless he’d really misunderstood this whole situation and Meiyao’s plans for the Summit.

He’d barely taken a couple of steps when he felt a presence reach out to him in his mind. Yongyi’s presence. A mind-link. They’d exchanged ciphers a couple of days ago. Jieyuan had plenty of space left over his mind-link ring, so he hadn’t hesitated to take Yongyi up on his offer to exchange ciphers. He stopped his steps, accepting the link.

Immediately, Yongyi’s voice sounded in his mind. Wait.

Jieyuan glanced at the core disciple, who gave him a brief nod. He settled back against the wall. His mind-link with Yongyi faded, the core disciple cutting off the connection. He looked around and noticed that nobody besides Yongyi seemed to have been paying any attention to him. Almost everyone had their eyes on the sect leader.

It was then that it occurred to Jieyuan that he didn’t really know what he’d been going after Meiyao for. What he’d do after he found her. His feet hadn’t really thought that far—they’d just set off after her. She hadn’t been sad. She’d been mad. Maybe they could go for some sparing? Let her blow off some steam?

Jieyuan would have been a bit more concerned, concerned for her safety, if a pair of elders hadn’t silently left the room pretty much just instants after her. Given no one—not even Yuyan or Yongyi, who clearly cared for Meiyao—seemed particularly worried, they had it all in hand. He doubted there’d be another assassination attempt soon, and Meiyao, even while mad, would probably have enough sense to stay in the palace’s vastly more secure underground level.

Jieyuan felt Yongyi’s presence in his mind again. Just as he accepted the link, Yuyan spoke out, breaking the silence that had settled after Meiyao’s abrupt departure.

“I’m going.”

With Meiyao gone, the core elder was now standing immediately to Jieyuan’s right. As far as he could tell, she’d been glaring at her husband this entire time, from the moment he’d mentioned the engagement. The glare looked odd on her face. It was frosty, cold. Jieyuan hadn’t had much opportunity to interact with Yuyan, but from what he’d seen so far of her, and the bits and pieces Meiyao sometimes let slip, this sort of cool, wintry anger wasn’t a few steps removed from the norm for the woman.

Come, Yongyi told him right afterward through their mind-link.

Jieyuan didn’t hesitate, falling into step behind Yuyan. He was probably breaching protocol here, but he doubted he’d be getting in any trouble for not waiting to be excused, not when he was following Yuyan, not when everything indicated he wouldn’t be remaining in the sect much longer.

He wasn’t so sure what was going on, but Yuyan didn’t seem all that surprised by his joining her. All she did was glance back and give him a little nod. As they made for the door, Yongyi, Wanxin, and Yunzhu joined their growing little group.

Nobody stopped them, and they walked out into the corridor. The entire underground level was much like the conference room—meta floor, metal ceiling, and metal walls, gemstone lights above, and not much else to it. He imagined this level served as something similar to bunkers back on Earth. The metal walls were all artifacts in their own right, inscribed at least with durability-augmenting inscripts based on what Jieyuan could sense from their tenth-shade red spirit-shadows, not to mention the numerous overlapping inscribed fields that seemed to span the entire level.

Yuyan and Wanxin were at the front, Yunzhu just behind them, with Yongyi trailing just a bit further behind. Jieyuan matched pace with him. So, what exactly is going on? he asked through their mind-link. Neither he nor Yongyi had cut off the connection.

The engagement, or what we’re doing now?

Both would be nice.

I can’t tell you much more about the former. But right now, we’re going after Meiyao.

Well, I gathered that much. What for? And why have me tag along? Not that I’m complaining, but this seems like family business.

Yongyi looked over to him, the core disciple’s bright yellow eyes finding his own. Jieyuan held the gaze.

This is a family matter, Yongyi sent. But I reckon family is the last thing Meiyao wants to see right now. You, on the other hand, should get a better reaction out of her.

Jieyuan raised his brows. I think you might be overestimating how close Meiyao and I are. Granted, Jieyuan himself wasn’t quite sure how close they were, either. His old man had taught him plenty about women, how to seduce them and whatnot—all tools of the trade—but the lessons had always been from the perspective of someone in a position of power, and always centered around getting something out of the relationship. Neither of which applied to his current circumstances with Meiyao. And what do you expect me to do? Where is she, anyway?

Yongyi frowned. Just… Get her mind off things. Or maybe get her to talk. Whatever works, as long as you don’t leave her stewing by herself. Meiyao is… Yongyi turned away, but the frown remained on his face. I know my sister. She’s feeling betrayed. And when she’s in a mood like this, she’s likely to do something… rash. She takes after Aunt Lianhua in that. As for where we’re going, you’ll see. We’re almost there.

They kept on walking through metallic corridors, passing by several rooms. The palace’s underground level was even bigger than he’d thought. They’d been brought straight away to the conference room, descending through an entrance that was already quite near it. Yuyan and Wanxin set a quick pace, but they clearly weren’t in much of a hurry, otherwise they’d have soul-stilled and long since left them behind. Both women walked in silence but likely in a mind-link much like he and Yongyi.

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Meiyao’s supposed engagement found its way back into his thoughts, and now it was Jieyuan’s turn to frown. Arranged marriages were a rare thing in this world. Jieyuan wasn’t quite sure how it was for cultivators, but it was almost unheard of among mundanes. That was because marriage as a whole was already rare. It was something people here took very seriously—a pledge between two people before the Heavens, a promise of absolute dedication to each other.

That was why marriage was represented by bond bands, worn over the neck and made of silver, to represent the Heavens’ role in their bond. A spouse wasn’t someone you’d just bare your neck to—which, here, was considered the ultimate show of trust—but someone you’d give your neck to. It was to the point that most people didn’t marry. For most relationships, it was a step too far. Divorce was possible—all it took to divorce someone was to break your bond band—but Jieyuan had never heard of it happening. His own parents hadn’t been married.

People didn’t just marry for love, of course. Ambition marriages were also a thing—when people married to fulfill a specific ambition, to accomplish a specific purpose—but even then, the sanctity of the institution was still observed and respected. Arranged marriages would be considered ambition marriages, even if the ambitions they served weren’t those of the ones marrying. And while the weight marriage carried here made arranged marriages very rare, it also made them much more effective, much more binding.

They made another turn, footsteps echoing. Still no Meiyao in sight, or the elders who’d followed her.

Wujinyao Dayang. That was whom the sect leader intended to marry Meiyao to. Jieyuan recognized the name. How could he not? His family had served the Radiant Gold Sect, and the Wujinyao were the royal clan of the sect. Dayang, specifically, was a core disciple and the nephew and apprentice of the sect’s sovereign protector, a chief protector who also took upon themselves the position of sect leader. Rumor had it that Dayang was being groomed as the sovereign protector’s successor, as the woman didn’t have children of her own.

Jieyuan had only met Dayang once, briefly, on a trip to the Radiant Gold Palace. It hadn’t been enough to form a proper impression of the man, but he knew Dayang was well-regarded by the palace’s mundane servants, whom Jieyuan had had much more contact with. And Dayang’s character aside, a marriage between him and Meiyao could very well cement a powerful alliance between the Radiant Gold Sect and the Gleaming Stone Sect, facilitating all sorts of trade agreements and exchanges. It’d thoroughly upset the current power structure, further increasing the two cabals’ influence and pushing further down the Viridian Death Cult and the Xiyunfeng Clan.

Jieyuan’s frown deepened. The more he thought of it, the more the marriage made sense, at least from a business perspective. It’d have been better if Meiyao had been a Liangshibai—now that’d have really tied the two cabals together—but he’d never heard of a Liangshibai marrying out, so this was just about the next best thing, with how close Meiyao was to the Liangshibai. The problem was that it didn’t make sense in any other way.

As they made another turn, Jieyuan noticed two core elders, two men, standing guard beside a closed door. The same pair that had followed Meiyao out of the room. Both Liangshibai. It was a small corridor, the door at the end of it being the only one in sight. The pair nodded to Yuyan and Wanxin as they approached, Yunzhu trailing just behind. Yongyi hung back, motioning for Jieyuan to do the same.

Yuyan and Wanxin had a brief talk with the two men, too low for Jieyuan to hear. The men sent some glances Jieyuan’s way, frowning, but eventually they nodded and set off down the corridor, walking past him and Yongyi silently. Wanxin beckoned him over.

“Yongyi says you’re the best one to talk to Meiyao right now,” Wanxin said. Both she and Yuyan were giving him considering looks. Yunzhu, standing beside her mother, had a far-away look on her face. “I’m inclined to trust him. Now, and this is important. If she says anything about contacting the Viridian Death Cult, do your best to convince her out of it. And if you can’t, tell us right afterward.”

Jieyuan was already confused before. This only made it worse. “The Viridian Death Cult?” What did they have to do with anything?

Wanxin furrowed her brows. “Meiyao didn’t tell you?” She looked over to Yongyi. “Are you sure they are close?”

“I’m sure,” Yongyi said.

Wanxin turned back to him, still frowning. “All right. Meiyao has some… pull with them, you could say. They’re the ones I threatened the high protector with bringing into this mess earlier—but trust me, that was just to throw the chipped bint off. Nobody wants the cult involved in our matters.”

Jieyuan still wasn’t sure what this was about, but he could definitely agree with her on that last point. Nobody with any semblance of sense would want anything to do with that particular merry bunch of utter lunatics. “Got it.”

Wanxin looked over at Yuyan, who’d had her eyes on him the entire time, studying him. Yuyan met her sister’s gaze, and after a brief pause, nodded. Then they stepped aside. Jieyuan focused on the door, stepping forward, opening it.

On the other side was gleamstone. For a moment, Jieyuan thought he was back in Protector Yuanzhi’s cave. Where everything in the corridor had been metal, it was all crystal now—floors, ceiling, and walls. Except it was much larger than Protector Yuanzhi’s cave, as large as the conference room he’d been in earlier. No gemstone light on the ceiling necessary, because the entire room was alight with a soft, purplish glow.

At the center of the room was a small pool of water, the gleamstone ceiling above reflected on it like a mirror, and sitting on the edge of it was Meiyao, her back to him. He’d mused, before, how this level of the palace was oddly lacking in the Liangshibai’s flair for gemstone. Now he saw that they’d concentrated all of it in this very room.

As the door closed behind him, she glanced back—and then blinked, frowning. “What are— They let you in here?”

Jieyuan recalled the argument Wanxin and Yuyan had had before with the pair of Liangshibai elders guarding the door, and the looks they’d sent him. Was this some kind of restricted area? Knowing the Liangshibai and their thing for gemstones—for gleamstone, in particular—that didn’t seem all that unlikely. “Protectors Yuyan and Wanxin are outside.”

“Oh.” Meiyao looked past him, toward the door. “That’d do it.”

She focused on him again. “And why are you here?” She looked much more relaxed now than she had before she’d stormed off the conference room, but there was no mistaking the bitterness in her voice. The bite in it.

Jieyuan got his feet moving again, making for the small, artificial pond. “You have Yongyi to thank for that, I think.”

He plopped down beside Meiyao, casting his eyes over the water. Meiyao sent him a wary look but didn’t move away or make to stop him. She had her legs into the pond, submerged in the waters, robes and all. He chose not to follow her example, crossing his legs under him instead.

She was silent for a while, staring at him. “Yongyi. You two have been close as of late, haven’t you? Friends?”

It was the first time she’d acknowledged his contact with Yongyi. It was obvious that she’d already been aware of it, but she’d pretended to know nothing about it. He’d even mentioned Yongyi before, and his spars with him, but Meiyao had taken a page out of Daojue’s book and ignored any such statements.

He considered the question, briefly. “I think we’re friendly, at least.”

Meiyao looked away from him, focusing on the little pond. Silence fell over them. It was odd, being surrounded by gleamstone like this again. A mite unsettling, even, but not to the point of outright comfort. Here the gleamstone was contained. Probably the Liangshibai had moved it from the Valley to her, refining it against the walls, molding it to the room. It shouldn’t be able to corrupt him, convert him to gleamstone, or whatever it was that happened to Protector Yuanzhi and Yikongwei Beidao.

He was the one to break it. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought you were planning on leaving for the Howling Lightning Sect?”

The answer came immediately. “Oh, I am.” There was a dark set to Meiyao’s face. Dark and sharp. Just short of murderous. “If I were the slightest bit unsure before, now there’s no doubt about it. Not anymore.”

That was about what he’d expected. Jieyuan gave a slow nod. “Then… I’m not sure what the point of the engagement is?”

Meiyao huffed. “Trust me, I’m as lost as you are.” She shook her head, her waterfall of brown hair twisting and shifting. “Even if I weren’t leaving, I’d still have other ways of stopping it. I’m sure there’s something else, some piece of the puzzle I’m missing, but, honestly?”

Meiyao’s voice got lower, her lips pulling back slightly. “Rot them. Whatever it is, it can’t be anything good—not when my father’s part of it.”

It was with no little care that Jieyuan weighed his next words. “Your… issues with your father go beyond this, then?”

What he got in response was a side-eyed look. One that was both consideration and warning. I know you’re fishing, it said. Then Meiyao was looking away, and for a long while, she didn’t say anything.

Jieyuan likewise remained silent. He was fishing for information. And though he didn’t have much experience with fishing proper, he did know that patience played a large role in it. He’d thrown the bait. Now he’d just need to wait for her to bite.

And bite she did.