Chapter 44a - Interlude I - Zuri

Zuri Blackpetals didn’t like how familiar the hallways and corridors felt. She had been here for too long, too often. And her spirit still swirls in its presence.

Few would dare tell a cultivator of a fairly sizable sect to wait about for a few weeks. She was asked to wait two months, and yet, she had no choice but to obey. She could sense it. The city of Luharlia was not one without its minders. The not-so-secret eyes of the ancient spirit beasts that were turned into guardian protectors. 

Shadows. 

She could not leave the inner palace, and wondered what kind of mess her core disciple made for her to clean up. Was the minister the only one working against the Empire? Who funded these cults?

Demons?

She closed her eyes, and tried her best to make use of the facilities available to her. Workshops. The Imperial cultivation chambers. But her heart was bothered, and it is best not to work on her cultivation with a shaky heart. Each piece of her cultivation is built like a finely tuned network of channels and gates, and she had to be precise. 

So, she waited. She did the next best thing, and worked on more pills. There was plenty of supply, and she made easy pills. Pills that helped her calm her nerves. The Imperial Palace of the Princess Luharlia may not be the grandest, most powerful palace, but every imperial palace is-

“Lady Blackpetals.” The same princess’s attendant was suddenly outside her door. When did she get there? The Imperial Palace had some kind of formations that suppressed their ability to sense movement and people, but even so, did it impair her senses so badly? “The Princess is ready to see you.”

She sat up from her chair, activated a stasis formation that temporarily slowed the interacting components within the cauldron, and picked up her outer layer. The wind was fairly strong today, and even if she was unbothered, she didn’t want to expend her energies unnecessarily. 

***

The alchemist found herself ushered to the same room where she met the princess. She didn’t see any tribulation or sense any unusual energy flows for the past two months, and yet, the princess clearly was going through her breakthrough. Her conclusion could only be that there must be some secret chamber within the princess’s palace that hid the normal effects of breakthrough. 

“Sit, Zuri Blackpetals.” The voice was immediate. She was already ready when the servant called her. The princess was behind the curtain, and the only thing she could faintly see was the shadows of the princess from a set of oil lamps on the other side.

Zuri immediately knelt. “Greetings, your majesty. Your humble servant is at your service.” 

“Then sit.” 

Zuri looked around, and then sat on one of the cushioned seats. 

“Good. Now. How did you think my breakthrough went?”

Zuri felt herself sweat. What’s the point of such a question? There was no use using her senses, the screen prevented any such intrusions. So, she could only answer with her gut. “It is successful, your majesty.”

There was silence. 

The alchemist steeled herself. It must be successful. Even if it wasn’t, she must have faith in her product. 

The silence went on more. 

“You seem sure.” 

“It would not dare doubt your talent and competence, your majesty. It must be successful.” Zuri answered.  

“Good.”

The fine silverlight bamboo screen began to rise, and curl up, and Zuri was then assaulted with the tremendous strength of someone in the seventh realm. It wasn’t just the seventh realm, it was as if it was a heavier, more powerful form. She tried to make sense of her power. Unwitting, she raised her head and Zuri saw a woman wearing a shawl with a sheer that covered her face, and a robe made with enough divine materials to bankrupt most sects. 

“Your suggestion was well founded, Zuri Blackpetals, and so I must commend your performance. You will be rewarded with a prized sword from my treasury, use it well.”

Zuri realized it was probably inappropriate to stare at the princess, and so immediately knelt, and her head touched the ground. “This servant thanks your majesty’s generosity.”

The screen lowered once more. An awkward silence returned. 

“You may sit, Zuri. Tell me, do you think there are traitors in your sect?”

The alchemist wasn’t sure. “I am uncertain, your majesty. But I will investigate once I return.” 

“Good. But don’t flush them out.” The princess said. “I had long suspected there were agents of my half-brothers, and those of the more unsavory kind in my midst. But my mind was clouded by the challenges of my sixth realm. But no more.” 

Zuri gulped, as she realized she was now being pulled into the political games of the palace. Lord Gurdra Black was right on one thing. There really was no choice to sit on the sidelines, the players of the game would force them to choose. 

The Princess continued, “Return to your sect, and give me a list of five names of your trusted subordinates that you can spare in a year. With my new strength, my access to the imperial coffers grows, and I wish to grow my retinue. You will be needed when I attempt my breakthrough to the eighth realm.”

It was as good as a command. She could send people lower on the pole if she didn’t want to be seen like she was supporting the Princess. But at this point, the only thing to do was to accept. “Yes, your majesty.”

“Now, that other pill you had me consume was also spectacular. Who was it again? The Verdant Snow Sect?”

The alchemist nodded. “Yes, your majesty.”

“Such talent should be brought closer into my sphere of influence. I will have their young masters and ladies added to my service.”

Zuri Blackpetals didn’t say a word, she only hoped that Tundra Fox was prepared for what was coming his way.

***

Chapter 44b - Interlude II - Yavin and Lakeshore

Yavin arrived at Lakeshore accompanied by the two young mistresses of the Blackshore family, and found a fairly bustling town. The Amberblade family got the message, and cleverly withdrew their claim to lick their wounds. It was likely they would now look out for a larger, more powerful sect to back them up. 

“Welcome back, my daughters! Where’s your brother?” The Blackshore Patriarch seemed surprised to find both Clara and Clarissa both back on a trip.

“He’s still back in Verdant Leaf, father.” Clara answered. 

“Then why are you back?” 

Clara and Clarissa coughed together. “I- We’d like to introduce the new representative from the Verdant Snow Sect, the Sect Elder Jashen, and Core Disciple Yavin Redaxe. Since they were coming, we thought it was appropriate for us, as the locals, to show the guests around.” 

Both Elder Jashen and Yavin smiled, and respectfully greeted the patriarch. He clearly didn’t expect this development. The way they stood and conducted themselves around the Core Disciple rang all the alarm bells, but with an elder around, the Patriarch couldn’t do anything. 

Elder Jashen nodded. “Yavin will be responsible for Lakeshore in the coming days, Patriarch. It is only appropriate that we let him have a look at what he is dealing with.” 

Yavin’s greetings had not let up. “Indeed, we will work together often, Patriarch, and so, we brought a small gift.” It was just a fairly normal fourth realm pill, but it was still a small fortune, even for someone with the Blackshore family’s now growing wealth. But it is not the value. It is in the process. 

The patriarch could not fault the two girls this way. “I- I see. Then, it must’ve been a long journey. Would you like to use our guest rooms?”

Jashen and Yavin both clasped their hands together. “If you don’t mind, Patriarch?”

“Certainly, certainly! This way!” 

***

Yavin could not help but smile when he noticed the Patriarch’s confused and suspicious stares. The two guests were treated to a sumptuous feast, but somehow, it was Clara and Clarissa that did all the entertaining, without their father’s request. 

Clara and Clarissa were quite intelligent, and Yavin knew he was the fat buddha’s thigh that they were now holding onto tightly. Maybe it was to spite their father. Maybe it was their way of taking control of their own lives. It didn’t matter. 

Yavin was offered a prize, and a chance to establish holdings of his own. The Blackshore family pretty much served itself to him on a platter, since their older brother and the supposed heir was much weaker than him. 

“Well, this is a fine meal.” Yavin decided to praise their host. “Your hospitality is amazing, Patriarch. A toast?” 

Jashen played the part well, and raised his cup. “The three of them seem to get along with each other, don’t you think so?” 

The Patriarch had no choice but to act the part of the friendly, happy host. Jashen, Yavin and the Patriarch drank the cup of wine in his hand, and clearly for the older man, it didn’t taste good. Yavin thought it tasted quite nice.

Clara quickly refilled Yavin and Jashen’s cup, while Clarissa swiftly attended to her father’s cup. “Here, father, never let your cups be empty!”

Her father gave Clarissa a look. A look that clearly suggested they were both going to have a long, long talk after this meal. 

Yavin decided it was appropriate to keep it up, and so offered a second toast. “The hospitality provided by your daughters has been exceptional. Another toast, to Clara and Clarissa. The two have been fantastic company since they came to the Verdant Leaf.”

The two girls giggled playfully. “Brother Yavin, don’t say things like that, my father will misunderstand!” 

The Patriarch’s glare was even more intense. 

“Oh, don’t worry, there is nothing to misunderstand.” Yavin decided to drop the bombshell, and Jashen got to work.

Elder Jashen leaned a little on the table, and spoke a little bit loudly that none of them would miss it. “Which brings me to something else. As the Sect Elder, it is my duty to deliver a message  Sect Master Fox, in his infinite wisdom, thought it’ll be fit for an elder to be married. Patriarch Blackshore, I’m very thankful that you’ve decided to send your wonderful daughters to the Verdant Leaf. On reflection, we’ve noticed that Yavin and the two girls truly did enjoy having some companionship, and we thought that it would be fit for them to be together.”

The Patriarch turned to stare at the girls, and wondered which one. 

“Oh, but it seemed Yavin couldn’t quite decide on either Clara or Clarissa. So, rather than go through the trouble of choosing between both of your excellent daughters, it seems Yavin decided to take both of them as his companions.” 

Patriarch Blackshore was so stunned that his porcelain wine cup dropped on the floor. It shattered, and the entire dining room was immediately silent. Everyone turned to look at them.

The older man blinked. Yavin smiled. Jashen grinned. “Of course, it is contingent on Yavin’s ascension to elder. But it wouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Yavin nodded. “Yes. To prove the sincerity of my intention, Patriarch Blackshore, I will return with a proper betrothal gift fit for two weddings.” 

He blinked, and slowly turned to see both Clara and Clarissa blushing, as red as a tomato. They were each holding one of Yavin’s arms. They both flirted together. “Brother Yavin, we can’t wait~”

The Patriarch stared at Clara and Clarissa. Yavin wished he could read minds then. Would the patriarch say that an elder of the Verdant Snow Sect was unworthy of his two daughters? 

Or maybe, was this the moment he knew a tiger had gotten into the henhouse, and already two of his flocks were already eaten? 

Either way, it was fun. The patriarch was trapped, and despite his best efforts not to, he had to smile and clap, and say the words that he would have preferred not to say. His shaky pronunciation was all Yavin needed to guess at his opinions. He stammered. “Ah, I- I am sorry about that interruption. I was merely surprised. This is wonderful news, my daughters!”

Elder Jashen smiled, as a servant rushed over with a replacement cup. Jashen refilled it and personally served the patriarch wine. “Their union would truly bring the Verdant Snow Sect and the Blackshore family closer together.”

“Certainly!” The Patriarch lied. A hollow laughter and smile followed. 

There were no such things as a merger of equals. This was the first step to a future takeover. Yavin wondered how the patriarch would retaliate. Would he go as far as poisoning her own daughters?

But first, his ascension. Then, a wedding.