Chapter Twenty One - Negotiations

Lao Xiaojun

image [https://i.imgur.com/xzisjky.png]

As with any politically charged situation, this took forever to resolve. As Sect Heir, Lao Xiaojun was forced to take over the internal running of the sect while his sister handled her duties of negotiating and entertaining their ‘guests’. It was all peacocking and a parade of holier-than-thou political jockeying. He’d always hated that sort of thing, so he was better off making sure the disciples' salaries are paid on time, and that internal complaints are handled properly.

The day-to-day logistics of running sects like this was a nightmare, and he understood why his sister had so many secretaries, each with specific duties. It made it easier if he could tell what it was he was going to be discussing just by looking at the person’s face.

The arrival of Liang Lanlan and Liang Zilin sent shockwaves through the sect, as disciples crowded around to see the landing of Furtive Jade’s Sect Leader. Liang Shuren, the Maogong Sword, was indeed a personage to be revered. The man was broad and his dark hair streaked through with silver only because he allowed it. A Nascent Soul cultivator, like Lao Xiaojun’s sister, the man aged only because he willed it, and he seemed content with the face of a particularly handsome fourty year old.

He stepped off his sword with the kind of grace and elegance that Lao Xiaojun still tried to emulate to this day. He and Lao Minghui exchanged respectful bows, as Lao Minghui welcomed the man to their sect.

“Come now, formalities are so tiring, are they not? This old master would like to sit down, if Sect Leader Lao would be so kind?” He asked, and Lao Xiaojun was not so overcome with hero worship that he did not see the tilt of the man’s chin, as if he were humoring cute grandchildren.

It was always admirable when his sister kept her temper in the face of such derision. He’d have punched the man for it and probably caused an inter-sect war. As part of his sister’s entourage, he followed the two sect leaders, who chit chatted as they walked.

Once everyone was settled in their chairs at the meeting table, Lao Minghui stepped into the political arena with her normal aplomb. “It is for sad tidings that we come together like this, Liang-Zhangmen. This Sect Leader is sorry to say that we cannot continue idly as if this were a normal visit. Surely Liang-Zhongzhu has filled you in?” She gestured to the old clan-leader next to the Furtive Jade sect leader. Lao Xiaojun was fuzzy on family trees in other sects, but he thought perhaps the clan leader was Liang Shuren’s great-great-grandson? It looked the other way around, of course, but cultivator faces rarely matched their ages.

“He has. Surely I misheard however, to call for war in the face of a childish prank?” Liang Shuren asked, doubling down on his clan-leader’s incredulity.

Lao Xiaojun didn’t see his sister’s spine straighten, but he knew her well enough to know it did. “If that is your opinion on the matter, perhaps we should disband this meeting now. We will, of course, allow you a week to remove every Furtive Jade member from our territories. After which, Severing Firefly will act as though any intruding member is equivalent to a Demonic Cultivator to be exterminated.”

Liang Shuren’s face didn’t change, but the air around him did. If Lao Xiaojun didn’t know better, he’d say the man was exerting some spiritual pressure, but soon the feeling was pushed back. Ah, his sister must have pressed her own aura to protect them.

“Now, this is truly an overreaction. What is it that Lao-Zhangmen hopes to achieve with this threat of war?” Laing Shuren asked, picking up his steaming teacup and taking a sip. Behind him one of his attendants shuffled a little.

“Liang-Zhangmen must understand that this act was carried out upon one of the most vulnerable members of our sect. It was akin to a murder attempt, no matter what the intention was. If this Sect Leader were to allow this sort of attack on our most vulnerable, what family would trust their tender and young children to our care in the future? What recruits would our Severing Firefly sect be able to attain? You know as well as I how little face this leaves the Severing Firefly sect with.”

The other sect leader nodded his head, acknowledging that the optics on this were not particularly great.

“So, this can be easily resolved with three things. First, the Furtive Jade sect will pay our sect reparations equal to ten thousand spirit stones. Second, Sect Heir Liang will provide restitution and an apology to our disciple, Nie Ruyi, in person. And Third, the Furtive Jade Sect will agree to a solidifying of sect territory lines to include the Green Dragon’s forest on the side of the Severing Firefly sect and give up any and all rights to spoils from the Dragon Extermination that occurred at the edge of their property.” Lao Minghui offered with a gentle smile, picking up her own tea with lotus-pink-nailed fingers. He watched her inkwell-black eyes sharpen upon the other sect-leader’s tightening fingers.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

He set the teacup down, his placid smile still in place. “Well, I can’t imagine paying reparations to the sect and to the disciple. Liang Lanlan will pay five thousand spirit stones from her own personal funds. That is a lifetime’s riches for that mortal disciple of yours, and should be plenty of reparations. And to have a Sect Heir apologize to a mortal would be preposterous, so we can throw that right out. As for the dragon body, we cannot return empty handed in that matter, as the dragon caused quite a bit of damage on it’s way to your forest, Sect Leader Lao.”

Ah, and so the negotiations began. Lao Xiaojun hated it, but this is where his sister excelled. No doubt she’d started with an unreasonable request so that she’d have something to negotiate down to. Lao Xiaojun tried to pay attention to the lobbying back and forth negotiations, but his heart wasn’t in it, and as with so many things that slipped by him simply because he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention, he missed when things began to close up.

“Alright then. Seven thousand spirit stones to the sect, one thousand to Nie Ruyi as well as a personal apology. The Severing Firefly sect will provide one sixth of it’s Green Dragon related materials to the Furtive Jade sect for studying, and a copy of the bestiary entry made once it is complete. The Green Dragon’s Forest will be split between the two sects, with the Dragon’s Lair firmly on the side of the Severing Firefly sect.” Lao Minghui gestured to her secretaries to pass a written document towards Liang-Zhangmen, who pulled a stamp from his sleeve, and, after empowering it with some qi, stamped the contract. The contract shimmered for a moment, and then was passed to Lao Minghui who did the same.

“Better to take care of the small parts now, before they can fester.” Liang-Zhangmen acknowledged, flicking a hand towards where Liang Lanlan sat with a thunderous face. It seemed she did not like the fact that she would have to give up what amounted to an entire year's worth of savings for an inner-sect disciple in most rich sects to a mortal. Or perhaps she was humiliated that she would have to offer a personal apology.

…Lao Xiaojun wanted to see that. He stood, and gestured. “I will guide her.” And guard against some other cruelty she might inflict. The Sect Heiress stood and flicked her sleeves in annoyance. Her brother cast a glance to his sect leader, and whatever he saw there had him scrambling up to follow his sister. The walk to Nie Ruyi’s chambers was heavy and awkward with silence, Lao Xiaojun unwilling to break his silence.

“It really was just a stupid prank!” Liang Lanlan whinged, her voice grating. “It isn’t as if she died, after all, why all this fuss? Hmph. What little face this sect leaves the Sect Heir of Furtive Jade Sect. Am I meant to die with eyes wide open like this?!”

“Meimei, the walls have ears.” Liang Zilin reminded her, frowning.

“And let them listen! This is outrageous!” Liang Lanlan huffed, haughty and full of fermented beans for all the hot air she keeps spewing.

Lao Xiaojun restrained himself from turning and throwing a punch, but only barely. He stopped at the door to Nie Ruyi’s roomset, and called out, “Sun Xirong, your mistress has visitors.”

At the sound of his voice, the little maid came out and paused, “Nie-Xiaojie has been attending lessons each morning, and so she has not returned yet. Sect Heir Lao and his guests may wait in the sitting room. This servant will fetch refreshments.” She bowed low and respectful, before gesturing for them to follow her. The young maid carefully arranged them so that Lao Xiaojun was seated between the others and her mistress’ bedroom, and then set off to boil tea and plate snacks.

“What a tiresome little maid, speaking like that to us.” Liang Lanlan mumbled, finger toying with the vase of flowers on the table, keeping it off balance and only her finger keeping it from falling over and spilling water all over the table.

“Is she not a Mui Jai?” Liang Zilin’s curiosity bubbled over and he stared after the young maid. “She didn’t use…”

“She didn’t call herself a slave because she is not a slave.” Lao Xiaojun answered, although he honestly had no reason to. “Nie Ruyi made it very clear she does not believe in slavery, and so pays a fair wage and hired the girl as a servant.” It had been interesting to find out, as Lao Xiaojun’s clan has always had Mui Jai slaves, young children who are bought by the family, taught how to be servants, and then married out to better lives than they would receive if they hadn’t worked. It was an accepted way of life.

The only real difference between a servant and a slave, honestly, was the wage. Slaves did not have to be paid, as they were given room and board by their masters. Servants were paid, and might receive room and board on top of that, but they were free to resign or seek work elsewhere. That and the legal punishment for killing or maiming a slave was non-existent, whereas for a servant, one might have to pay reparations to the family if it was unjustified.

image [https://i.imgur.com/xzisjky.png]