Two weeks had gone by and Jiang Tao finally got an audience with Lord Bai, he didn't think the chief of a village as small as black vale should have taken so long.

He chalked it up to be some sort of power play, the local elites clearly didn't appreciate his and Yixing's presence in their village merely tolerating them.

Honestly, he didn't mind it too much, while he wasn't trying to get drawn into Yixing's mindset, these were people who would never get to experience a fraction of what was on the horizon for him.

So he tried not to fault them too much. He had expected Zhou Yixing to be wroth at the treatment but his friend was surprisingly placid about it all. It looked like he had misjudged him, Yixing was as arrogant as most cultivators but it manifested as pity and condescension;

To him, mortals were ignorant of the nature of the world and deserved to be pitied for it. It was strange that's all he could say, but it made sense if you looked at it sideways.

The creak of a door opening broke him out of his contemplation, The finely dressed lady who stepped in looked nervous as she bowed before him and Yixing. Tao gave her a slight nod, indicating for her to speak.

The woman’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes fixed on the floor as though afraid to meet their gaze.

“My Lords, Lord Bai has sent me to escort you to the council chamber. He is ready to see you now.”

He exchanged a glance with Yixing before following her down a narrow corridor out of the antechamber. The corridor was dimly lit, the flickering of oil lamps casting long shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of incense, mingling with the musty smell of old wood.

Finally, they reached a pair of large ornate wooden double doors. The attendant reached out to push open the heavy doors, which creaked in protest as they swung inward.

The Interior was fine a tad grander than the other residences he’d got to see but it didn't feel as impressive to him anymore, the charm had worn off.

Lord Bai Yuxi or the man he assumed was Lord Bai was seated on a tacky throne that was on a dais. The man himself looked to be about fifty or somewhere there, with a greying beard and a massive frame.

Jiang Tao wasn't sure what he expected the man to look like but it wasn't that. All cultivators he’d met had looked like they were cut from the same cloth,

As they approached, Lord Bai Yuxi looked up from his seat, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the two visitors. His gaze lingered on Yixing for a moment longer than on Tao, and Tao could feel the subtle undercurrent of disapproval or perhaps unease from the man.

“Welcome, esteemed guests,” Lord Bai’s voice rumbled, deep and resonant. He gestured with a wave of his hand for them to approach. “Fellow cultivators”

They stepped forward toward the dais as the attendant closed the doors behind them. He could see the man's eyes were still focused on Yixing, he could guess what that was about.

“Please, be seated,” Lord Bai gestured to a pair of woven straw seating cushions situated in the center of the room. Jiang Tao and Zhou Yixing took their offered seats and lord bai leaned back into his throne.

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Silence descended as the man stared at them and they just stared back neither side attempting to breach it first. After what felt like an age Lord Bai spoke.

“I trust your stay in our humble village has been satisfactory,” He said pointedly. Tao could tell the remark was aimed towards Yixing who had made himself extra comfortable in the village.

“May I have your names Junior Brothers?” he continued.

Tao ignored Yixing’s snort as he proceeded to introduce them, “I am known as Jiang Tao and my companion is Liu Jun,”

“Of course, of course.” The man nodded. “And the purpose of your audience?”

“We seek, passage to the Twilight Flame Sect”

Lord Bai’s eyes narrowed at the mention of the Twilight Flame Sect. He wasn't sure if it was wariness or surprise.

“The Twilight Flame Sect… I was a disciple of the Twilight Flame Sect for twenty years before my father passed and I had to return here to manage the village," Lord Bai said, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.

“What business do wandering cultivators have with the sect?”

Jiang Tao was about to answer when Yixing interjected. “Our objectives are our own,” he said with calm indifference. “What we need from you is a way to get there,”

Tao shot a surprised look at his friend, was he trying to sabotage them. What the hell Yixing! He thought in irritation.

The tension in the room thickened at Yixing's abrupt response. Lord Bai's gaze hardened, a flicker of irritation crossing his face before he regained his composure.

“I see. Why should I assist you? You have shown me nothing but disrespect Junior Liu Jun. First, you snub all my requests for an audience then you break my son's engagement to Lady Wu. Why should this lord accommodate your demands," Lord Bai accused.

Yixing, however, seemed unfazed, his expression one of mild amusement as if Lord Bai's words were merely an inconvenient noise in the background.

Tao cleared his throat, trying to diffuse the situation. “I apologize for my friend's behavior, he sustained a head injury falling from a tree as a child you see, as a result, he can be quite direct and ignorant” he lied smoothly, shooting Yixing a pointed stare.

You better shut up, let me handle this. He tried to transmit.

Yixing’s smirk grew slightly at Tao’s blatant fabrication, but he remained silent, letting his friend take the lead.

Lord Bai Yuxi’s eyes shifted from Tao to Yixing, and a glimmer of skepticism flickered across his face.

“I see,” Lord Bai said, his tone still wary but slightly less confrontational. “So you seek assistance despite the controversies that have preceded you. It is clear you have the audacity of youth, but what you lack is respect for the local customs and the people who live here.”

Tao took a deep breath, it was going to take some palm greasing to get the guy to help them. “What can we do to earn your assistance?” he asked.

Jiang Tao's attempt to placate Lord Bai seemed to have an effect as his expression softened slightly.

After a moment of silence, he leaned forward, his expression thoughtful but stern.

“There is a matter that requires attention,” Lord Bai began. “Our village has been plagued by a series of disturbances— Spirit beasts are straying closer and closer to our settlements. I would go and investigate but I find myself occupied by other matters, our martial artist would be too overwhelmed. If you are willing to assist with this issue, I might be inclined to help you in return.”

He couldn't help but sigh at that. Spirit Beasts, of course, spirit beasts…

He was tired of dealing with the monsters after spending more than half a year in the forest fighting spirit beasts the novelty had worn off. It was tedious but honestly, he was sort of glad it was something so straight forward.

He and Yixing would make quick work of whatever it was. He shot a glance at his friend who only stared back, leaving the decisionmaking to him.

“Consider it done,” he replied.

“Excellent”

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They stood at the gates of the village, and a contingent of Crimson Fish School martial artists accompanied them. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow across the landscape.

The air was filled with the low murmurs of the martial artists, their armor clinking softly as they adjusted their gear.

He wasn't thrilled with taking the martial artists with them for the incursion, but Lord Bai had insisted on their presence, and he didn’t want to push his luck.

Tao glanced over at Yixing, who seemed indifferent to the preparations. The younger man was more focused on the evening sky.