For all my nerves making the ride feel longer, it barely took a few minutes before we’d arrived. The poison had already started working the mont we’d left Taizhou and I’d promptly taken the pill granny Lang had given , taking it within the carriage. I could feel the working, the poison now swirling in my Dantian, slowed down to a crawl for its effects.
Without much fanfare or word, I stepped outside alongside Zhang and Yan Yun. The carriage moved past us, as the three of us walked into the Lord’s chamber. The Lord was waiting for us, which made concerned. Almost every ti I had walked into his chamber, he had been working on sothing or other, but now he simply stood at the window, looking outside.
“Greeting, Lord Zhou,” I said, bowing my head. Yan Yun and Zhang followed.
“Raise your head,” Lord Zhou replied, regarding . “We have been hearing reports from Qiao Ying. It seems your work has been showing results.”
“Yes, the initial steps at least. Although we definitely can’t do a lot before the Qi crystals have started selling, which as you know…” I trailed off.
The Lord gave a nod. “Indeed. The situation is unpleasant, and the interception has happened a lot quicker than anticipated, but it is nothing we had not expected to handle. What concerns us more is what Elder Yan may have whispered in the Alchemy Hall’s ears.”
“It won’t matter what they’ve said. As long as we win,” I replied.
“Confidence is good, but you should not underestimate your opponent. Elder Yan will surely bring the strongest disciples from within the sect, with every resource given to them that they can gather.”
“If I may, Lord,” Yan Yun said, getting the Lord’s attention. “My grandfather will be forced to pick from the inner sect, and having seen Lu Jie… There are very few who can match up to him. Him or Zhang.”
“For their age, I agree that the strength all three of you children possess is unprecedented for the Seventh Peak. In just a decade we can see all of you surpassing us. But right now, as things stand, you are still young children. My concerns extend beyond this duel here, and into what challenges you may have in the future,” the Lord said.
“In my ho, ages ago, we used to fight wars with blades and bows, when the strength of the n fighting in the war could shift tides. Then we learned that weapons could do what a single man could never even hope to,” I said, looking at the Lord smiling.
Claps echoed from sowhere, and I turned feeling a presence standing behind as my heart jumped in my chest.
A man was standing behind , a smile set on his face as he slowly clapped his hands. “That was quite the story! Your holand sounds like one fascinating place!”
I stared dumbly at the man, heart pounding in my chest at his sudden presence. How had I not sensed him at all? Or the Lord? He had light brown hair and wore simple robes. He couldn’t have been older than thirty at best, but my senses failed to pick up at his cultivation whatsoever. Even with the Lord I could feel sothing. A giant mountain the top of which I couldn’t see, but I could still tell it was here. But with this man… It felt like trying to look at the sky to see the size of the universe.
Zhang moved in front of imdiately, standing between the man and .
“Ah, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself, I am Sheng Yuan, the elder from the Alchemy Halls, here to judge so naughty children for doing things they shouldn’t be doing,” the man said, glancing my way with an amused grin.
“Elder Sheng, have you arrived alone?” Lord Zhou asked.
I looked at the Lord, and noted even he had felt unsettled at the man’s sudden arrival, almost as if he had teleported straight in.
“Oh I have not, Elder Yan should be on the way, but you see, they move so slowly. So I figured I’d skip ahead a little, and now I’m glad! I get to have a chat with all of you before they arrive.”
Zhang’s grip tightened in his spear, though obviously he knew better than to point it at the man. But I understood the desire. The elder was… strange. A perpetual smile was present on his face. It unnerved more than I wanted to admit.
“I believe it will be best that we wait ‘til they have arrived before discussing things further,” the Lord said, walking closer until he was between us and the Elder as well.
I put my hand on Zhang’s shoulder, and after a glance back, he stepped aside.
“Oh please, I’m not here to talk about the duel, no not at all. I’m just curious to et these children, I’ve heard so fascinating things about them,” he said, glancing at us, but the Lord didn’t move away.
The gate burst open behind the chamber, and I saw Elder Yan walk in and I let out a sigh of relief.
I never thought I’d be happy to see Elder Yan, but here we are.
The man looked to be angry, but he schooled his expression imdiately upon entering. My eyes went behind him, as I noticed Li standing behind Elder Yan. A scar covered one side of his face from when he’d faced, as he walked into the chamber.
Any relief I may have felt before faded imdiately as the tension in the air beca thick enough that I felt like I could’ve cut it with a knife.
“Elder Sheng, please do not rush ahead like that,” Elder Yan said, a small admonishnt, as that was all he could really do against soone of this man’s rank.
“Where’s the fun in that, Elder Yan?” the young elder said with a smile that no one else in the room shared. I stood stiffly at one end of the chamber, as Elder Yan’s gaze passed by through the room briefly, before it turned towards the lord.
“I am a bit ashad to think that things have co to this with you, Lord Zhou. To harbor a corrupt and traitorous boy under your wing.”
“Or so you claim, Elder Yan, but so far the only traitorous words we hear are coming from you. What do you intend to do by dragging the Alchemy Halls into matters of children? It does not suit an Elder of such rank to go after young disciples.”
Elder Yan snorted. “Far from it. I have only done what I must to protect my sect, and the people of this sect.”
I saw the Lord frown at the man’s words, claiming he was doing the Lord’s job in his place.
“My my, let’s not squabble,” Elder Sheng said, raising his hand. An aura spread forth claiming an iron grip upon the room silencing any argunts. I couldn’t even gape at the complex usage of Qi, it was beyond my ability to grasp at.
Was this what the people at the capital were like? Or just this one guy?
“Now, let us present things in an orderly manner. Elder Yan has called here to point out so troubleso things happening on this peak,” the man said, extending his hand outwards as a Qi crystal appeared in his hand. “A pill supposedly made by mortals, more pure than what many alchemists in these parts can make. Were you aware of this Lord Zhou?”
I felt my heart sink, as things began to unravel.
The Lord stood silently for a mont, as I wondered just what he was going to do. He could very easily put everything on , and I would not be able to bla him either. All of it had been my plan, and the fact that the Alchemy halls had co this early had also been my own lack of preparation to deal with Elder Yan.
“We had been aware. It was under our permission that the work had been happening.”
“Did you not think such a task would create unrest and encroach upon the territory of the halls, dear Lord? You must be aware that the emperor does not appreciate untested pills being sold,” Elder Sheng asked.
“As the Lord, we are well aware of the harm that would happen if every alchemist could simply sell their pills with nothing to regulate them. But these pills had been checked by us, and would’ve been created under our authority,” the Lord replied, not budging an inch under the Alchemy Elder. “Are you saying we cannot exercise our authority as Lord?”
I almost broke out into a grin. Turning the tables from the Lord being the offending party to the Alchemy halls being the rude ones as they questioned his authority in his own ho and territory. If I could hug the man, I would’ve. Actually, probably not, but I did want to for a second.
“No such thing, but please do not take over our jobs, my Lord, us poor alchemists must eat as well after all,” the man said, chuckling as if he had told a very amusing joke.
“I got the chance to look at this pill for a while, Qi crystal, it is called, yes? Very interesting. Just a Qi gathering pill purified and made into crystal form. Interesting, but ultimately nothing complicated,” the man said, as he crushed the pill in his hand to powder.
“I believe there is not an issue with creating these pills,” he replied with a smile.
I saw Elder Yan huff up and almost blurt out sothing, and I almost found myself smiling. I quickly schooled my expression, but it was hard to not feel pleased.
“But. The fact these actions were taken without any notice to the halls is not appreciated,” the man said, looking at the Lord with an intense look. “You would not want the Emperor to grow mad, would you, Lord Zhou?”
The Lord did not reply, conceding that point to the man.
“But I do believe this matter is not settled, is it, Elder Yan? There is also the claim that Lu Jie is a demon. And that what you have been doing has not been so harmless alchemy, but treason. A very grave accusation.”
The Lord nodded. “We believe Elder Yan has reason to be mistaken. Given that his own protege had left from under him, and he found it necessary to send an assassin after children far weaker than him.”
“Nonsense,” Elder Yan huffed.
“We have the Shadow. She can and will speak,” I said, and a mont later regretted my words, as the weight of everyone’s attention ca down upon like a mountain. I realized, a mont later, that they had not rely been talking, but a very invisible battle had been going on with Auras.
I wanted to collapse onto the ground and heave, but I held my breath, gathering myself as I stood straight.
“As the boy says, we have proof. Perhaps it is Elder Yan who should have to answer for his actions here,” the Lord said, as the weight shifted away from and I let out the smallest of breaths.
“What do you wish to say, Elder Yan?” the alchemy elder asked.
“I have done what I believe is the right course of action. The boy possesses unexplained abilities that have ties to Gu, and has lured away my granddaughter with his words. Not to ntion he sohow managed to get his hands on a divine tree. If not stopped, we could very well be raising a demon amidst ourselves,” Elder Yan said.
I noticed Yan Yun clenching her fists, and I gently touched her hand. She looked at and I gave her a quick nod. If she wanted to speak, now was the ti.
“There have been no lies told to ,” Yan Yun said. “Only truths that break lies we have been told from the beginning.”
“Stay quiet, Yan Yun, and do not disgrace our na any further than you already have by standing with that boy,” Elder Yan said, his aura sweeping over to crush her, but the Lord protected her from the brunt of it.
“I have stayed quiet. For all my childhood I have done as you had wished, grandfather, catered to your whims, and my entire reason for existence revolved around you. And I refuse to live like that anymore,” Yan Yun said, lightning crackling around her body.
“Maybe, just maybe for once. Please listen, and try to understand. There is more to all of this—“
“I had not expected Sister Yan Yun to have grown a mouth. Speaking in a talk of elders, truly you have lost all manners,” Li said, his eyes glowering as he looked at her.
I wanted to rush in and slug the boy for his grin, but I simply clenched my fist.
“Does the girl speak on the Lord’s behalf now?” Elder Yan asked.
Yan Yun looked at her grandfather, and I saw a deep pain in her eyes. But I had expected this, and most likely, she had too.
Lord Zhou continued, not acknowledging the question.
“The boy has swore an oath in front of you upon the very heavens that he is not a demon,” the Lord replied.
“There are ways to fool the heavens too. It has been done before. Need I remind you of the Fire Demon Yang Shen?” Elder Yan said.
“Okay!” the alchemy elder said with a clap. “So, ultimately, the problem boils down to a conflict between the sect and the lord, or rather, the children the lord is harboring. Then, it seems the simplest matter is to proceed with what had been the plan from the beginning. Do both parties agree?”
Lord Zhou glanced at for the barest of seconds, as if asking whether this was the way I wanted to proceed. Maybe, maybe not. But it was too late to back down either way.
“We agree,” he said.
Elder Yan huffed, but gave an agreent as well.
“A duel. Of three participants from each side. The victor will be decided when all three participants have lost from either side. The duel will continue ‘til either side is knocked out,” Elder Sheng said, before glancing at Elder Yan. “Though Elder Yan only has two disciples here, has the sect co upon a lack of disciples, Elder?”
“We have disciples aplenty,” Elder Yan said, before glancing at Yan Yun. “ But since the boy has lured our granddaughter, we will be asking for the Lord’s son to take her place in this spar.”
I almost burst out at the man, calling out his crap excuse imdiately, but the Lord put a hand on my shoulder, holding back.
“Zhou Fang,” the lord called. A mont later, the boy ca into the chamber, greeting everyone with a bow. “You will duel for Elder Yan.”
The boy looked at his father for a long mont, before he gave a bow, accepting his position. A bitter taste filled my mouth. Zhou Fang was one of the strongest warriors on the seventh peak in the second circle. To have him as an opponent was going to hurt.
“Very well, the participants are all here,” Elder Sheng said, before clapping his hand once. The world around shifted and now I stood in a wide sparring arena within the Lord’s manor.
“Then, without further ado, let us begin the matches!”
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