“I see their household…”
One of the Song Elders finally spotted the unique building from afar. The mansion is a huge lightly color structure with the oddity of having everything case in a roof and wall. Unlike their structures, the Tians enjoy walking the hallways without walls. Simply put it, they enjoy the fresh air and scenery.
“Heh, looks like a prison. Look at those fence, it’s like spears planted upright!”
“While it certainly looks like one from our perspective, let’s remember that this household is from another culture. The Royal Family has a good impression on them, we should not offend them.”
“What Elder Ming said is correct. The Jia Ke Family did provide the Royal Family high quality weapons, including several experimental weapons that were thought to be impossible to create.”
“Indeed… And those weapons work well.”
Sitting in the center of the huge carriage is the Song Clan’s young master, Song Mingzhi. A teen who is 18 years this year, Song Mingzhi is a kind, handsome, and lovable boy who has never look down on anyone.
Being taught by a scholar who is open minded had led Song Mingzhi to develop a tolerant and patient personality.
Unfortunately, this kind and gentle stance is often mistaken for softness causing assassins hired by their enemies to constantly try kidnapping or even kill Song Mingzhi. As such, the Song Clan’s patriarch requested that Song Mingzhi pick a personal weapon in order to defend himself more effectively.
From a young age, Song Mingzhi practice in martial arts, eventually reaching the low realm of the Regal Meridian Stage. While his cultivation speed is consider above average, his kind behavior and hardworking personality has allow him to enter the Tian Wind Sect. A large and famous sect well known for their Wind Arts and flying techniques.
“The Jia Ke Family… Um, Elder Yaoxi. Didn’t the Jia Ke Family go by another name?”
Song Mingzhi was curious about the Nightshade Family. He had never encounter any foreigners who are from another continent. The Tians are somewhat xenophobic.
“Yes. The Jia Ke Family is called by another name. However, that name is hard to pronounce and the direct translation from their family name is Jia Ke. Their name is from a plant.”
“I see…”
“Elder Ming, I am nearing the Jia Ke Family’s front gate. There is someone armed standing there.”
The coachman is a guard who is in mid realms of the Earthly Meridian Stage, upon spotting the mysteriously dressed figure near the gate, the guard alerted the elders when he notice that the figure is armed.
“Hmm? Perhaps it’s their envoy.”
“Only one? Is this a sham?”
“Elder Yuan, please refrain yourself. This is the Taiyang’s Honor Guards Greeting!”
“Huh? How do you know that?”
“The wife of the Jia Ke Family head is from the Taiyang Isles. I had seen their greetings before, a decorated guard is station outside to greet their guest. It’s a sign that they trust and believe in our strength.”
Elder Yuan only scoffed.
“You mean they can’t hire any guards and that they are saying that we should fend for ourselves.”
“The Honor Guard is often the most powerful individual within the family.”
“Bah.”
Song Mingzhi was given a position near the window to view the mysterious guard who is said to be the envoy.
“Interesting uniform that guard have.”
Getting out of the carriage, Elder Ming and the coachman greeted the Honor Guard. The masked guard return the greeting with his right fist over his heart and bowing.
“Greetings to Elder Ming and Captain Yiyun, I am the Honorary Guard. Temporarily… Please provide your clan’s seal.”
“Of course.”
Elder Ming took out his emblem of the Song Clan from his robe. The emblem contains basic, but unique Qi energy that allows other clans to determine if it’s genuine or not.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“… Confirmed. Pardon my rudeness. I am Niiya Nightshade, but I believe my family name is Jia Ke in the Tianese tongue. I am task with receiving the Song Clan’s envoy. Welcome to the Jia Ke Household.”
“Many thanks. How do we settle our luggage and horses?”
“My parents has already arrange a field and many guestrooms for the Song Clan. They will direct you. We also have medicine to treat the venom from an Arctic Widow Spider.”
“…? What makes you think-“
“One of our guest is concealing the fact that she is poisoned. Let us provide the antidote for it.”
When Niiya ran his third vision over the young master’s entourage, he noticed that one of the female was poisoned from an Arctic Widow Spider. The arachnid is a tiny, white spider that lives in areas snowy areas.
The Arctic Widow Spider prefers to hide in tree branches with snow, when a creature passes underneath. The spider would scurry a few snowflakes down and then jump down, masking its presence.
Once it’s on a victim or prey, the Arctic Widow Spider would administer a painkiller like chemical along with its poison to paralysis and eventually kill the unaware target. The poison itself is enough to kill a Zealous Beast in the prime of the Earthly Meridian Stage within a minute!
Because of its potency, scholars are debating how to classify its meridian stage of the miniature menace. The Arctic Widow Spider thrives off the blood of other creatures and relies on its size and stealth to survive. Not to mention it is extremely fragile in direct confrontation.
The Arctic Widow Spider is only .3 millimeters! Making it not only difficult to detect and capture, but it is the hardest venom to be harvest for its antidotes! Thus making them one of the most feared creatures in the frozen tundra!
Elder Ming was unaware that one of his relatives was poisoned and the Honor Guard didn’t appear to be lying.
This boy… He is not simple. I can see why they sent him to receive us.
“May I ask which of my relative is poisoned?”
“The lady wearing the gold and yellow glove.”
Song Ming Xia?!
Song Ming Xia was a middle aged women with short black hair and dressed in a yellow and black clothes. She was one of the Song Clan’s top alchemist and an expert in refining medicine for various treatments.
The entire Song Clan has already moved towards their designated area and is being welcomed inside, but few stayed out checking the reins and supplies from the carriage. Among them is Song Ming Xia.
“Song Ming Xia!”
Elder Ming voice boomed, but it was more of a friendly shout out then an angry shout.
Song Ming Xia turned her head and ran towards Elder Ming.
“Elder Ming called?”
“Yes, Xia’er… Did you by any chance get poisoned by an Arctic Widow Spider?”
Song Ming Xia revealed a shock expression, but it quickly became somber.
“So Elder notices… As expected. Yes, Junior Xia’er has been carelessly bitten by an Arctic Widow Spider, but Xia’er has been suppressing it with the best of my medical knowledge.”
“Xia’er! You should had told me earlier!”
“I am sorry Elder Ming. I did not want to burden you. You were already watching over young master Mingzhi from harm. I would only…”
“No, it would not be a burden. We are family! And I am ashamed to have not notice your condition earlier! I always thought you were being a bit reserved since we are far from the safety of the Song Clan’s territory…”
Song Ming Xia looked confused.
“Then… How did you know I was poisoned?”
Elder Ming nodded towards Niiya, the Honor Guard.
“He was able to detect your condition. Thank you Honorable junior!”
“It is my duty to see to the welfare of our esteemed guests. We have the antidote for the venom. Come quickly.”
Song Ming Xia frowned, the Arctic Widow Spider was infamous for being difficult to capture! Not to mention how much harder it is to keep the spider long enough to extract the venom to create an antidote!
And such antidote would be valued by doctors, scholars and alchemists!
“I will repay the favor!”
An antidote for the Arctic Widow Spider is extremely expensive! There is no way Song Ming Xia would be given such a favor without repaying it!
“No need, you already used countless of expense to purchase medicine for your condition. We are satisfy that our esteemed guest is well.”
“But-“
“I insist.”
…
Niiya looked out of place as he shelved through the common medicine cabin with his Honor Guard uniform on.
Meanwhile, Song Ming Xia jaw dropped just by knowing that important and rare medicine are treated like common medication. Elder Ming on the other hand looks amused.
“Here it is.”
Niiya took out a clear glass small bottle with a lid capping the top. Inside contains many small blue and white spherical pills.
Handing the glass bottle to Song Ming Xia, the women unscrewed the lid and scanned the contents.
“This really is the anti-venom for the Arctic Widow Spider… I never seen this many at once.”
“You can take the entire bottle with you. We have several more like those.”
This made both Elder Ming and Song Ming Xia nervous. Taking entire medicine bottle that contains extremely rare pills is uncanny. What does he want?
“Niiya! Stop scaring them!”
Elder Ming and Song Ming Xia turned and saw a beautiful maiden strolling towards them with an annoyed expression.
The Honor Guard bowed his head slightly to show that he is ashamed. The fairy maiden wore silk clothing that doesn’t resemble any of the traditional clothing that Elder Ming had seen before.
Best he could described her is a tomboy!
The fairy maiden forced the Honor Guard’s head down even lower and politely bowed to Elder Ming and Song Ming Xia.
“Forgive this incompetent Honor Guard. He takes kindness and cruelty to the next level.”
“No no, I should thank him and your family for providing us with the medicine to treat my niece’s poison. May I ask who you are?”
“This junior greets Elder Ming and the Song Clan. This junior is named Aising Nightshade, but I believe it is Jia Ke Aising in Tianese.”
“I see, you are A-luo-yi-si daughter. A pleasure to meet you.”
“It is an honor, Elder Ming. The procession has been done under Elder Yaoxi. Forgive us for proceeding without you, but Elder Yaoxi believes that the matter you had to attend with our Honor Guard was important and personal.”
Elder Ming nodded.
“Mn, I sent Elder Yaoxi a transmission earlier. It should be us who should be asking for forgiveness. We neglected to attend the welcoming procession in your own home. Please forgive us.”
“My parents welcomes you all and understands. There is a welcoming feast in the Reception room and as said, you may take the entire bottle with you. We have more reserved. As for you…”
Aising released Niiya’s head but clasped her hand on his shoulder.
“You’re coming with me.”