~~~
“All is Cultivation. We are currently living in the greatest era in human history. The very Heavens themselves have fallen before our feet, allowing us to feast upon their flesh and secrets. Now is the time to hunger with every ounce of your soul. Gorge upon any morsel of flesh that you can lay your hands upon, be they belonging to your Gods, kins, or foes. Consume all. Devour all. To deny yourself this is to reject the very purpose of your existence.”
— Words from Elder Jun to the newly-inducted Outer Disciples of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect
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Chen Lianshi. Young Miss of the Chen Clan, and by extension the Young Miss of the Split-headed Carnivores Sect.
Despite being of different Sects, they had known each other since childhood and often seen each other growing up. The Beheaded Phoenix Sect and the Split-headed Carnivore Sect did not necessarily share a better relationship than what they had with the other Sects of the province. In general, the members of the Four Mountain Sects Group did not cooperate or share friendly relations. ‘Competitive’ would be a kind word to describe the group’s internal dynamics. ‘Hostile’ would be a closer description, though perhaps a tad overstated.
The root of this animosity lies in their close proximity to each other and the scarcity of resources in the lands around them — not just in cultivation provisions and territory, but also in the scant number of promising Disciples that could be found in nearby mortal villages and towns. With the Outer Provinces being as poor as they were, and local talents few and far between, the Sects were thus forced to compete with each other for survival.
Disputes between Disciples and Clans had more than once led to full-scale conflict between two Sects, but the presence of the other two meant that such altercations were never drawn out, lest both sides waste valuable resources and lose out against their remaining rivals.
Likewise, mutually beneficial arrangements were rarely forged between two Sects. Their Clan histories could be dated back centuries, and the countless feuds and grudges collected over years of disputes still hold dark places within the hearts of Elders and Patriarchs. Alliances were usually short-lived, and more often than not ended in betrayal or sour compromises.
But recent events within the Four Mountain Sects Group have forced the Clans to act. A decade ago, Patriarch Ru, the Head of the Decaying Greyroots Sect, had finally emerged from his century-long isolation training. The man had, in defiance of all odds, ascended to the Sixth Realm — the Jade Realm. Patriarch Ru’s power now surpassed that of the other three Sect leaders, who all existed in varying Steps of the Fifth Realm — the Spirit Realm. Left unchecked, his Sect’s influence would soon grow to encompass the entirety of the 103rd Outer Province State.
As such, the Hei Clan of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect and the Chen Clan of the Split-headed Carnivores Sect have decided to bind their families together to face this unexpected development, with marriage arrangements being made between their Clan Heirs almost a decade ago.
Thus, in many ways, the two young scions’ engagement was one born out of the Clans’ aligned interests, rather than any true romantic attraction on their part.
It was awkward at first, but the heirs have long grown used to the arrangement and accepted it in their ways. They had already been engaged since childhood, after all, and the Clans had taken great steps to ensure the both of them had frequent opportunities to meet over the years. It would be stranger if their relationship were not at least cordial by now.
To Hei Feng, it was a more than acceptable arrangement. He was the Young Master of the Hei Clan, the reigning Clan of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect. Growing up, he had already been taught that any marriage of his was going to be political first, rather than based on any genuine attraction.
Chen Lianshi was an old and cherished friend, one that he was close to and could trust with his life. They had already known each other for almost a decade. As far as marriage alliances went, he was content with the arrangement as long as she was.
“We are already spending time together regularly enough,” Feng replied, flaring his qi to burn away the dirt that lingered on his robes. “It would help if you devoted more effort to familiarising yourself with the other members of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect. This place is soon to be your home, after all.”
As was agreed years ago, the bride would move into her groom’s family Clan once they had properly affirmed their ties with each other. It was hardly a major complication. Having frequently visited his Sect ever since they were promised to each other at ten, the Hei compound was practically her second home already.
Returning to visit her home Sect and family would likewise not be difficult, given the two monasteries' proximity to each other. In fact, it was expected of her to make regular trips back to the Split-headed Carnivores Sect, to help smooth over any political complication arising from this new bond between the two Clans, as well as to continue her responsibilities as their Young Miss.
There had also been talks that perhaps it would be more proper for the Young Master to move into her Sect instead, regardless of whatever nuptial stipulations were agreed upon years ago. It was usually the custom for the weaker consort to join the stronger spouse’s Clan, after all. Given how Lady Lianshi clearly holds cultivation superiority in their marriage, surely it would not be wrong for the Young Master to capitulate instead?
In truth, neither Feng nor Lianshi minded either way. But that was a problem for their Sect’s Elders to argue over. From what Feng understood, it was more of a matter of pride than practicality at this point.
“After we are married, you mean,” the Young Miss said nonchalantly as she stretched her arms. The sleeves of her robe fell away, revealing fair skin and powerful limbs. “It’s hardly a thing to get concerned about. The wedding is still three months away, and I’ll have plenty of time to get to know your Sect once we are bonded.”
Three months. Where had the time gone?
“It’s less than three months away,” Feng chided her lightly. “You have been rather lax in your familial duties as the Chen Clan’s Young Miss, Lianshi. The entire point of this wedding is to bind our families together. You can’t afford to alienate or ignore the people here. A lot of our Sects’ interests are at stake.”
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“Hmm? Anxious about our Sects’ interest, are you?” Lianshi mumbled, a complicated expression on her face. A teasing grin soon took over, her dark eyes glancing over at him. “Or perhaps you are just looking forward to our wedding night, Young Master?”
Feng kept his expression controlled, although a familiar feeling of uneasiness surfaced. The thought of their upcoming wedding night was one that had plagued his mind for some time now.
Any other man would have thought it to be natural. No one within the Four Mountain Sects Group would deny Lianshi’s exceptional beauty. The young woman had taken to the Path of the Split-headed Carnivores extraordinarily well. She was tall, and her body was sculpted to be well-muscled while still retaining a clear feminine attractiveness. Her reptile-like orange eyes, mischievous smile, and wild black hair — tied into a loose ponytail that cascaded like waves of shimmering onyx — made her features feral and exotic. A little excitement and anticipation was to be expected from any young man.
And yet…
“Worried, more like,” Hei Feng said as he smiled back carefully. “With how often the Young Miss has brought it up, this Young Master is concerned that he would not live up to her lofty expectations.”
When the Young Master looked at her and thought of their future together, he could not focus on any of her attractiveness. He could not see the alluring young woman he was soon to marry, nor did he see the spirited friend he grew up with, who was not only playful and adventurous, but also the perfect foil to his calm and cautious nature.
He only saw her power. Fourth Realm, Ninth Step. More than an entire Realm above him. Her existence was arguably closer to that of an Immortal than it was to someone like him.
The thought of being intimate with someone like that, someone so overwhelmingly stronger than him…
It made him uncomfortable.
It was stupid. He knew it was stupid. The few people he confided in told him it was stupid, too. Lianshi was not someone who would hurt him, not outside a spar anyway. Even the thought of her doing it unintentionally was ridiculous, as her control over her powers and strength was beyond question. Hei Feng was no wallflower to be tenderly cared for, either. As someone within the Body Tempering Realm, his durability was already far beyond that of a normal man.
The mere idea of hurting him in the throes of passion likely horrified her. Though she had hidden it well when they had candidly discussed the matter before, he had no doubt he had wounded her feelings. That he had so little trust in her was both insult and stupidity.
Even so…
Something flashed from the corner of his eyes. His gaze wandered behind Lianshi, in a shadowy corner where nothing notable resides, he thought he saw—
~~~
Chains. Knives. Nails. Blood. Flesh. And a dead smile amidst a moonlit grove.
The air reeked. It reeked of sweetness, of rot, of the most putrid and unholy of decay.
His mouth watered.
He saw her singular remaining eye, hidden beneath tresses of sanguine red; a violent green amidst a sea of silver and blood.
Green eyes, of a shade that was wretchedly painful to witness.
The colour of Jade. The colour of the shimmering aurora that blanket the world.
Her name… What was her name?
This Dream… this Worm in his Heart… does she have a name?
~~~
He blinked, and the vision was gone. His eyes returned to Lianshi, his bride-to-be. Her hand in union was a blessing priceless beyond belief, one that any cultivator of the Four Mountain Sects Group would kill to obtain.
And he did not want it.
He did not know why. He could only feel as he did. The Young Master had long acknowledged that he was not someone strong enough to deny himself this incomprehensible truth.
Nor was he strong enough to tell her, his future wife, the full reason behind his apprehension. Doing so was simply not an option, no matter how much he wanted to or felt that she deserved to know.
No outcome to such an act would be without repercussion.
“I will be sure to set my expectations accordingly,” Lianshi teasingly mocked, unaware of his internal turmoil. “But worried not. I shall extract my satisfaction from you by taking charge myself if I must. The thought of you writhing beneath me like a maiden holds some merit, I must admit.”
Hei Feng was not fast enough to hide the wince of discomfort that passed through him at her words, and Lianshi’s playful expression immediately fell from her face.
“Wait, no, Feng, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine, Lianshi.” Feng sighed, more irritated at himself than anything. “Rather, I apologise. That was insulting to you, and I was being stupid. I trust you. Wholeheartedly.”
He didn’t know whether he said the words to affirm her belief or his. The Young Miss guiltily bit her lip and looked away with a complicated and forlorn expression. Feng’s emotion fell at the sight, and he cursed himself for his irrational weakness.
She was his best friend. They have known each other since childhood. She was beautiful, strong, and talented. He trusted her with his life. He trusted her with his life. In terms of an arranged marriage, there was no better pick and no one else he would rather choose. He was blessed beyond words, the envy of all others within the Four Mountain Sects group. He would do his duty as Heir, and be happy for it.
“And yet.”
And yet, all the same, he would have preferred it if they had simply stayed friends the rest of their lives.
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Cultivator
The term ‘Cultivator’ commonly refers to a human who has achieved spiritual enlightenment and now pursues the Path to Immortality. Given that the process of cultivation requires an abundant amount of spiritual energy, during the days of the Jade King's reign and the tyranny of His Celestial Court, every cultivator was dependent on the charity of their Divine masters to provide them with the resources and means necessary to advance.
With the Age of Deities past and the fallen corpses of the Divine saturating the lands with qi, came a swathe of new cultivation methods that did not require a living Celestial Patreon, which include but are not limited to: mediation, sparring, alchemy pills, the consumption of Divine flesh and Spirit Beasts, and the cannibalism of fellow Cultivators — also sometimes known as Dual Cultivation.
The popularity of each method varies between cultivation levels and cultural region taboos, but the latter options are always universally the most commonly practised throughout the Imperial Empire, in large part due to His Perverse Majesty’s Domain — the Eternal Banquet — which significantly enhances the cultivation benefits of fleshborne divinity.
– Excerpt from To Those Worthy of the Eternal Banquet