A small celebration was held by the Breaking Dawn mercenaries. The festivities were already in full swing. Several large tables had been brought out, and the meat of the Azure Sovereign Serpent was being cooked over numerous spits. Because the Azure Sovereign Serpent was so big, they had to slice it into manageable pieces, and each piece was cooked on a spit. There were over a hundred in all.

Mei Ling already acquired what she wanted from the magical beast and saw no issue with Breaking Dawn using the rest as food.

Wu Jian inhaled the scent of sizzling meat through his mask; he didn’t know what spices were being used to cook, but they were much heavier than what he was used to. It was different from the medicinal spices of the Ming Province or the Qing Province’s heady blend of hot spices. This was more fragrant. It smelled like they used flowers as seasoning.

He was seated at one of several tables. Mei Ling was not present. It seemed she wasn’t interested in taking part in the festivities, but he had decided to join everyone because Yu Qian had requested him. A plate of snake meat had been set before him and they had filled his cup with mead.

Several people sitting nearby exclaimed in shock as the snake meat disappeared from his plate. Yu Qian shook his head as Wu Jian chewed the food that had appeared in his mouth. This was his first time having snake as a meal. It was slightly sweet, tender, and flaky, similar in some ways to poultry. He didn’t like gamey meat, so this appealed to him.

“Could you at least pretend to eat normally?” asked Yu Qian.

Wu Jian swallowed his food. “I don’t see why I should… but since you asked.”

He grabbed some of the snake with his chopsticks, brought to his mask… and then the snake disappeared just before reaching the polished surface. Yu Qian furrowed his brow, then shook his head again before eating. It seemed he had given up.

Wu Jian tried to mead next. Of course, he at least pretended he was drinking normally, but no one was fooled since he refused to take off his mask.

He had heard a while back that the Yuan Peninsula was renowned for its mead. He now understood why. The mead had a sweet and aromatic profile, boasting a rich, golden hue. It released quite the enchanting aroma after it had been poured into his cup, like a bouquet of floral notes that transported him into the heart of the Yuan Peninsula’s jungle. The aroma was a delicate infusion of blooming blossoms with an undertone of tropical fruits and gentle spices.

Much like its scent, a symphony of flavors hit Wu Jian’s tongue as he took his first sip, from the honeyed sweetness of the blossom nectar to the subtle hints of tropical fruit. It was a complex blend that somehow remained perfectly balanced and left a floral aftertaste that lingered on the tongue.

“You like it?” asked Yu Qian with a grin.

Wu Jian nodded. “It’s delicious.”

“It’s called Yuan Blossom Nectar. This mead used to be a major export of the Yuan Peninsula. You can only make it with the ingredients found in the Yuan Jungle. These days, the mead is made in much smaller quantities. It’s not exported as much anymore since so few people can brew it now, nevermind gathering the ingredients. It really is a shame.”

Many people died during the magical beast invasion that destroyed much of the Yuan Peninsula. Wu Jian had heard that more than half the population had been wiped out before the Heavenly Sword Sect had been able to beat the magical beasts back. Of course, many of the people who died were normal citizens who had no means of defending themselves. This included the brewmasters responsible for the creation of this mead.

“You’ve grown quite fond of this country,” Wu Jian said.

Yu Qian nodded seriously. “I have. I came here shortly before the magical beasts invaded the city, so I got to see how vibrant and lively its people were before all that. Breaking Dawn also took good care of me even though I was inexperienced. Most of them are people like me; cultivators who came here in search of fame and fortune but fell in love with the culture.”

“So you plan on remaining here?”

“Yeah. I think I might set my roots down here.”

“No plans on returning to the Shang Kingdom then?”

Yu Qian pursed his lips, then lifted his mug and took a long swig of mead. Wu Jian idly watched as the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed while he drank. He waited patiently. Finally, his friend set the mug back down with a heavy sigh, staring at the table with a complex expression.

“I don’t think so. I mean, I won’t say it’s impossible, but I don’t have any real desire to return. I love my home country, and I love my family there, but I feel much more at home here. I feel like I can really make a difference here, you know?”

Wu Jian nodded. “I do understand. I’m not loyal to the Shang Kingdom so much as I am to a few of the people in charge of the nation.”

“You mean like a certain princess?” Yu Qian asked with a smug smirk.

“Yes. My loyalty is to Hou Jingshu, not the country or the crown. If she ever decided to leave the Shang Kingdom for good, I would follow her without question.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Yu Qian coughed into his hand and gave him a small pout. “It’s really no fun to tease you. I don’t get the reactions I’m looking for.”

“Sorry I’m not a blushing virgin,” Wu Jian said with a shrug.

The night wore on, and Wu Jian continued speaking with Yu Qian as the celebration slowly abated and people went into their tents. He returned to his room at the inn they were staying to discover Mei Ling already sound asleep.

As he sat down on his futon and began meditating, Wu Jian thought about Yu Qian and his desire to stay in the Yuan Peninsula. His friend was unlikely to grow much as a cultivator if he remained here. The Yuan Peninsula lacked the resources for higher levels of cultivation. However, if it was what made his friend happy, then he saw no problem with it.

Strength was not everything.

***

Mei Ling and Jian Wu left the next morning. Yu Qian had shown up to see them off. He said goodbye to Jian Wu with a firm handshake and nodded at Mei Ling, who merely nodded back. She wasn’t interested in becoming close with him. Yu Qian was weak, and he would likely never grow beyond the Human Limit Realm since he seemed to have no motivation to get stronger.

It was not long before they walked through the portal and exited the Earthbound Gateway. Mei Ling didn’t bother studying the Heavenly Sword Sect like Jian Wu, having seen it many times by now, and instead addressed her companion.

“I have some tasks I need to take care of. Can I count on you to deliver the report of our success to the mission’s administration?”

“Yeah, you can leave that to me,” Jian Wu said.

She nodded and didn’t bother saying goodbye as she left.

Taking off into the sky, Mei Ling headed for one of the taller peaks found within the Heavenly Sword Sect’s realm. The one she traveled to was sequestered amidst a cluster of similarly majestic peaks. However, this peak appeared far more extravagant, with architecture that seemed to encapsulate the concepts of grandeur and beauty.

None of the disciples working there bothered greeting Mei Ling as she set down within a lush garden. She took off, traveling down the carefully manicured landscape of exotic flowers, koi ponds, and bridges. She stopped before a beautiful building and pondered for a moment. Reaching out, she sensed that the person she had come to see was not located in the building itself. That meant there was only one other place they could be.

Mei Ling traveled around the building, following a path hidden by Whispering Bamboo. It was a type of bamboo plant that created a melody to confused the senses. They only affected people of a certain cultivation, however, and Mei Ling was well beyond the point where they could affect her.

She emerged from the path to discover a garden that appeared like a world unto itself, a piece of paradise frozen in time. A colorful array of rare flowers popular either side of a cobblestone walkway that led up to a small pond with an island at its center. Attaching the island to the rest of the garden was a single arched bridge composed of beautifully lacquered redwood inlaid with golden symbols. Beyond that, resting upon the island itself, was a pavilion.

No matter how many times she laid eyes on the pavilion, it never got old. The beautiful silver pillars held aloft a roof made of leafed gold, which sparkled in the sun. Underneath the gorgeous structure was an equally enchanting lounge chair. Its design was elegant, luxurious, and made with comfort in mind. A masterpiece of both form and function. Mei Ling heard that it had been crafted by some of the most skilled artisans of the Han Dynasty and was made from a magical beast. Inscribed upon its surface were runes that gathered chi and helped the user cultivate even while she relaxed.

Mei Ling walked up to the person resting upon the lounge chair and knelt down.

“Honored sister, I have returned.”

Mei Qi gave her an indulgent smile. “Welcome back. How did your mission go? Did you learn anything useful about Jian Wu?”

Still keeping her head bowed, Mei Ling answered honestly. “Only that he is much more powerful than his cultivation would suggest. Despite being at the Deva Realm, he defeated a magical beast at the Seeker Realm.”

“That is not something an ordinary cultivator can do.” The sound of rustling clothes echoed in Mei Ling’s ears as the other woman sat up. “I can see why Wu Meiying is so obsessed with this young man. A cultivator with the talent to defeat foes above their own cultivation is, while not rare, also not common. And it becomes much harder to accomplish such feats the further up the cultivation ladder you travel.”

Mei Ling nodded.

Mei Qi was Mei Ling’s aunt by blood. She had been born of Mei Ling’s younger sister, who died over a decade ago under mysterious circumstances. Mei Ling did not have the slightest inkling as to how her mother died. After it happened, Mei Qi took her in and raised her with love, care, and a cruel hand. She had trained Mei Ling to become excellent at both gathering intel and killing.

“Did you see what he looks like under his mask?” she asked.

Mei Ling shook her head. “I did not. He was too cautious, even in his sleep.”

“That is unfortunate. If he were handsome… well, I suppose it does not matter in the end. We were asked only to kidnap him.”

Mei Ling wanted to point out that kidnapping someone who appeared to become a rising star would make them enemies of the Heavenly Sword Sect, but she dared not open her mouth. Mei Qi obviously knew that. If she was suggesting they kidnap Jian Wu, then she must have already determined that the benefits outweighed the repercussions.

While she was part of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Mei Ling was not loyal to the sect. Her only loyalty was to her aunt. She was the one who had raised her after the death of her mother.

“Did he suspect you?”

“I do not believe so.”

“And yet he was cautious?”

“From the way he interacted with others, I have reason to believe he is cautious around everyone.”

Mei Ling spoke of Jian Wu’s interactions with Yu Qian. Mei Qi listened silently.

“I see. So he is just a cautious person in general. I guess birds of a feather do tend to form flocks.”

“How shall we proceed?” asked Mei Ling.

“For now, we will continue to watch him. I doubt he will give us an opening to kidnap him. And Wu Meiying will be cautious of us once she learns that you accompanied him on a mission. I will inform the other concerned parties about this and consult with them on how to proceed. For now, just watch him from a distance and learn what you can.”

Mei Ling bowed her head even lower. “I will do as you command.”

“Oh. Right.” Mei Qi suddenly focused on her. “Did you get what I asked of you?”

“Of course.”

Mei Ling held out her hand and summoned a small vial from her storage ring. It was crystal clear, allowing the contents to be seen. What sloshed inside the vial was a deep purple liquid from which a miasmatic steam wafted--it was the poison of the Azure Sovereign Serpent.

A poison strong enough to fell even Seeker Realm cultivators.