Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 35

“Brother Tao. Sister Fen,” Core Disciple Shoi-ming greeted from where he sat.

“Senior Brother,” Chao replied, saluting him. Shoi-ming was the current number one disciple of the Fire Phoenix Sect and nearing the peak of the Sky Realm.

Li Qiang hopped up from his seat and ran over to him. “Brother,” he said, then leaned close and whispered. “I’ve let everyone know what to expect. We’re ready.”

“And the Night Pearl Sect?”

Li Qiang glanced back at the women with their purple veils covering their faces and shook his head.

“Then take a seat.”

Huifen had already found a place to sit with a female Fire Phoenix Sect disciple he didn’t know.

He grinned through his nervous energy and approached the Night Pearl Sect disciples. As he expected, their elder confronted him immediately.

“The quota for this room is already full,” she insisted.

“Senior, I’m not here to cultivate, but to play for the Fire Phoenix Sect. My music can help focus the mind, so they’ve requested I play for them daily. I can shield you from my song if you’d prefer not to hear it, but you’re certainly welcome to listen as well. I’ll be playing for approximately a quarter of an hour.”

He could just make out her eyes narrow as she considered it. Ultimately, she nodded then sat down without another word.

He saluted than returned to his seat.

This performance went much like that last. His brother disciples were less vocal, but they all stood in response.

At the end of his performance, Core Disciple Shoi-ming approached him. The man said something under his breath where only Chao could hear. “Can I speak with you?”

“Yes…”

The man then stepped back and gave Huifen a martial salute. “Alone if Sister Tong Fen wouldn’t mind.”

Seeing that his wife was about to object, Chao leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be alright.” He’d sensed Shoi-ming’s animosity as well. It wasn’t at the level of hostility, but the man had a bone to pick with him so he might as well find out why.

Huifen let her discontent show but motioned that she’d wait here.

He then followed the man past the Night Pearl Sect and to the next room. It was filled with lightning qi and conveniently empty of cultivators.

***

Dvora felt her entire body tense up as the mountainous sky realm fire cultivator led the sound cultivator she’d mistake as a common rogue out of the room. As her elder leaned over, she already knew what she’d be called to do.

“Go,” her elder commanded.

Casting her technique, Concealment of the Darkest Moon, she bowed her head humbly and rose to her feet. The technique hid one’s cultivation and intent. Seeing that her target’s wife had returned to her seat, she hurriedly followed behind the two men with the speed of a messenger. It made sense that her sect would want to inform the remaining elders about the discovery of a talented sound cultivator that could help focus one’s cultivation. That was her excuse. But delivering a message was the furthest thing from her true intention.

***

The number one disciple of the Fire Phoenix Sect started to pace back and forth. His face was contorted as he let his emotions bubble to the surface.

He stopped in his tracks as a disciple of the Night Pearl Sect hurried past them then out the other entrance to the room.

When the man looked at Chao, he started to say something but then stopped. He looked around the room in question.

“Speak freely Brother Shoi-ming. It’s safe,” Chao confirmed.

The man bowed slightly in thanks. “You’re a once in a millennia cultivator, Sage. You’re combat ability, the song you just played… So why? The Fire Phoenix Sect has already lost so much. I stood with you at the battle against that traitorous Tengfei and the elders that followed him, but why rob the sect of its rightful Sect Master for the sake of some woman? Why did you banish Sage Fang? What gave you the right?”

Chao felt his heart drop into his gut. He was convinced he’d done what was right, but it still hurt hearing Shoi-ming’s objection. “He hasn’t been banished, and I didn’t do it for her, but for the sake of my friend.”

“Is that what you think? And what of the Fire Phoenix Sect?” The giant man stepped forward, looking down his nose at Chao. “That friend was a disciple of the Fire Phoenix Sect long before he met that two-faced woman. I’ve known him my entire life. He never would’ve abandoned the sect unless he was forced. I’ve heard the reports. I’m not officially an elder, but—”

He cut him off. “Everyone considers you an elder in everything but name, Shoi-ming. It was the same for my Huifen. Say what you want to say.”

“You made him leave. And now that thug Yongrui is leading the sect.”

Chao felt that much of what was being said was warranted. Not the misconceptions, but Shoi-ming was obviously close to Fang and wanted an explanation. Hearing him refer to Yongrui as a thug was a different story, however. He responded through gritted teeth. “Thug? He helped me whent no one in the sect would. I don’t know what he did. I’ve never asked him, but it doesn’t matter. Quinyuan forgave him, so why haven’t you?”

Like the paws of a bear, Shoi-ming waved them around in exasperation. “He was caught betting on his opponent in the arena and losing on purpose. He has no honor.”

The revelation left Chao more gaping. “That’s it? I mean, dishonorable yes, but how is that unforgiveable?”

The fire cultivator licked his teeth. “He did so as an elder. He must be held to the highest standard.”

He couldn’t help but to chuckle. After the Yongrui’s advice to try to get as much out of Prince Jin as possible before he’d assaulted Huifen, he could see him doing it. “Enough talk about your current Sect Master,” Chao demanded. “You want to know why I pushed Fang to leave?”

Shoi-ming swallowed what he was about to say and only nodded.

“Because if I didn’t, he would’ve done exactly what you say. He wouldn’t have given Ping a chance at redemption for the sake of the sect. He felt obligated, and so he would’ve chosen his sect over his own wife. I gave him the excuse to do what he really wanted to do. What he should do. So instead of having your rightful Sect Master who would’ve come to despise the sect, or because he’s an honorable man, more likely himself, I decided to gamble.

“In exchange for a time without Fang’s presence, I hope to win two sages to our side. If Ping recovers from this—really recovers—how will she feel toward the Fire Phoenix Sect? The very sect that didn’t execute her and instead allowed her husband to pursue her.”

The lead disciple was still fuming. His jaw muscles twitched, but he didn’t respond.

“Are we done?” Chao asked. “Or do you wish to challenge me?”

The man hardened his gaze and remained unmoving.

They faced off for what seemed like a long time. Chao was ready to defend. The man’s cultivation was higher than his. Even if he could defeat the man in battle, at such a close range it would be difficult to remain unscathed if he was caught off guard.

Core Disciple Shoi-ming took a large step back and bowed at the waist. “This one doesn’t dare to challenge Sage Long Chao. I don’t like what has happened, but I’ve also overstepped. Forgive me.”

He felt some weight fall from his shoulder, but he wasn’t willing to leave things at that. “Nonsense. Stand up, brother.”

The man did as he asked.

“Are you upset because the sect lost a Sect Master, or because Sage Fang was that Sect Master and if feels like you’ve lost family? Because I feel the same. But I can’t accept that he’s gone for good. I refuse to.”

With a nod of acceptance, Shoi-ming’s eyes shot to the floor. “I still don’t like it, but… I think I understand.”

“Good.”

After a few long moments, it became clear neither of them knew what to do next. Chao didn’t really know the man well. Only that he liked to throw his weight around in the arena, but never pursued conflicts outside of it. If the man knew Fang well and admired him as much as it seemed, he probably shared the sage’s sense of fairness, and certainly his passion.

“So when will the Fire Phoenix Sect gain a new sage?” Chao asked.

The man hesitated after what had just passed between them, but ultimately smirked. “Soon,” he replied.

“Then you better get busy.”

Shoi-ming cocked a brow. “I’ll leave first.”

And with that the big man was gone.

With him gone, Chao’s countenance turned complex. He was feeling his age. Zan had brought up that very thing more than once. He was younger then every elder, and even Shoi-ming by at least a decade. Yet, he was a sage. He was also a husband. If he let himself, he could so easily fall into a boy’s mindset—it was all too much. He was a frog in a well. But it wasn’t age primarily that made one a man. Nor was it experience. It was taking responsibility even for something that might not be in your obligation, simply because you saw something needed to be done.

He'd been so convinced before this last conversation that he’d done what was right, but even if he had sounded convincing, now he was having his doubts. His Huifen questioned him, and so did a future sage. Was there something he was missing?

***

Dvora cursed the barrier between cultivation chambers not for the first time. Her concealment technique usually made things like eavesdropping child’s play because it hid her intent, but the barrier made piercing it with her perceptions annoying. She didn’t hear a word of their conversation. At least she could track their movements, so she knew the sky realm fire cultivator had left the room. She waited a moment longer to be sure the sound cultivator’s wife didn’t rush in. When it seemed like she wouldn’t, Dvora stepped into the doorway and smoothed her gown.

Appearing in the room, she saw the young man immediately notice her.

He was agitated but didn’t seem to be frightened.

She pulled up her veil, revealing her face.

“Dvora of the Night Pearl Sect,” he said politely, saluting her. “I prefer not to be in a room alone with any woman besides my wife. If you have something to say to me, do so when we’re both present. I’ll leave first.” He started to leave.

She inwardly cringed. What she had to do was bad enough. Did he have to make it so difficult.

“Brother Tao,” She stepped forward, bowing low. “Please wait.”

He did stop, giving her a sideways glance, but didn’t turn back to face her directly.

“I must beg your pardon for the way we met. There is no excuse. I was frustrated with losing time to cultivate in the Divine Spire and took it out on you and your wife. Can you forgive me?”

“From what I’ve seen, your Night Pearl Sect makes it a habit to take out their frustration on those they deem weaker than they are.”

She made a show of glancing up meekly before casting her eyes downward in submission. “I can’t speak for the actions of my sect, but many sects share this resentment. For my part, I’m trying to swallow my pride. Please.”

When he let out a sigh, she knew she had him. She straightened, keeping her head low.

“I am not one to hold a grudge except in extreme circumstances. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no problem between us, but my Fen’er’s opinion is highly valuable to me. I can promise you that we will discuss it.”

She brought her hand to her mouth as if concerned at his response. When he turned to address her directly, she let her eyes meet his, but held back a little longer. Patience was a prime virtue to those who practiced her cultivation.

“If it’s that important to you, I’ll do my best to convince her.” He grinned.

Men were so predictable. Their innate desire to help a woman in need was almost too easy to manipulate.

She tilted her head up to allow him to see how much she appreciated it. As she did, she breathed out through her mouth, slowly directing the aphrodisiac powder toward his face.

The instant he breathed it in, his expression softened.

She drew near to him, grabbing ahold of his arm. Running her fingers up his arm, she drew his eyes with her own. “Thank you, Brother Tao, for your kindness. If you would allow, I’ll show you how much I appreciate it.”

She moved slowly as she undid the button on her shoulder. As it came undone, she pulled the fabric back to reveal her cleavage.

“I’m married,” he insisted, but sounded confused.

Dvora felt a twinge of guilt when seeing he was still resisting. So often the powder wasn’t even necessary. With it, how often did they resist?

She began to lead him toward the exit opposite the one from which he had come, when he closed his eyes and jerked away from her.

She quickly redid the button. A moment later, she sensed a second presence, and bowed deeply. “This once again apologizes.” Turning, she found the man’s wife giving them both an icy glare.

Bowing to the woman, she repeated. “Sister Tong Fen. I must apologize to you as well. I let my dissatisfaction get the better of me and took it out on you when we first met. Please forgive me.”

She cursed to herself. She’d been just moments away from success. Many of the rooms were interconnected and she already had her escape mapped out in her head for after she’d got him moving. But now she had no choice but to retreat.

“I will leave first,” Dvora said, spinning to go. “I’ve lingered too long. There’s a message I must deliver.”

Turning her back to a possible enemy wasn’t ever a comfortable experience, but her deception required it. As soon as she was out of the room, she quickened her pace until soon she was running. Unless the woman was a fool, it wouldn’t take her long before she realized something had happened to her husband and she was the culprit.

She hurried to the second floor and into the maze of elemental meditation chambers. She saw the Morning Midst Village’s Disciple Baros and ignored him as she continued on. Her veil was lowered so should be enough.

She made it halfway through the next room when she felt him grab her by the hand.

He pulled her toward a side chamber in a direction she didn’t want to go.

She meant to resist, but this wasn’t the first time she’d found it difficult.

He pushed her up against the wall and held her there. It wasn’t forceful, but his face was so close to hers that if she moved then they’d likely touch.

“I’ve missed you, Midnight Fairy,” he said sincerely. “Are you ready to be my bride?”

She rolled her eyes. “We’ve discussed this. You’re becoming annoying.”

“You say that, but I don’t believe it,” he teased, tilting his head sideways.

When her eyes followed his, she rebuked herself for allowing his boyish charms to entice her. “I don’t? The only reason I’ve entertained your advances is because I thought you might be useful to me and my sect.”

He smiled, brushing his nose against her veil, causing it to bush against her chin. “You think me naïve? I’ve observed you, Dvora, for half a year. First as my opposition. I was surprised by what I learned. We’re both skilled in the art of deception, but you don’t enjoy it. Neither do I. You’re frustrated that you have to resort to such methods, but you’re willing to do what it takes. It’s exactly the kind of determination I want in the mother of my children.”

“Oh? You think you know so much of me? Me? A wife? A mother? And what if this future wife of yours practices a technique to make it seem like her virgin yin is still intact when it was taken from her long ago? What if everything you think you know about me is the deception that I’ve planted in your mind from the beginning?”

She watched him with a smirk as he took in what she said. To her surprise, the softness in his expression didn’t change.

His decent to press his mouth against hers was slow. She could have stopped him. Why didn’t she?

He pulled back a moment later saying, “That doesn’t count because your veil is still covering your face.”

She was speechless.

“Dvora, I know the women of your sect often marry respectable men, depending upon their opinion of you and status to cloak the true practices of your sect. You’re on the same path even though I know you’ll despise it. I offer you something better.”

She began laughing spitefully, pushing him off of her. “Something better? You wish to save me? Provide, protect, and make me into a respectable wife? That’s what you think I want?”

He shook his head. “No, I offer you freedom. To live for yourself and not some old hag hiding behind silk sheets.”

She placed her hand on her chest and mockingly replied, “My savior. So I should give up one slave master to be indebted to another? You want me to marry you to become a rogue cultivator with no support.”

“Fancy way of wording it, but yes.”

“You’re a fool. Why do I even listen to you?” She headed for the doorway when he cut off her retreat.

“Because instead of being married to a respectable man in whom you must deceive, I will know exactly who you are and love you anyway. My only ask is that you give me all of you. I will not share.”

She took a step back. She almost felt like he’d laugh at her the moment she agreed to anything, but she’d done her due diligence. As insane as his offer was, she believed it was genuine. “You’re asking me to give up everything.”

“And I’ll give up everything in exchange to receive far more.”

She diverted her eyes, unwilling to let him see what she knew was written all over her face. She’d already failed to deceive him so why was she still trying to hide it?

He pulled her to him by waist. When he lifted her veil, and she didn’t stop him. “If it’s the lack of support that gives you pause, fear not. I intend to provide enough for the both of us. I just need time.”

She tried to pull away, but he held her firm. “What are you planning?” She asked.

“I need you to trust me.”

“If you get yourself killed it’s a definite no.”

He chuckled. “And if I succeed? Swear that you’ll marry me.”

“If…”

“Swear to me, Dvora.”

When their eyes met, she knew her answer but hardly believed it. Opening her mouth, she heard herself speak. “I swear it.”

This time when he kissed her, she rose up on her toes and kissed him back. She knew better than to think he would directly steal from his sect. Instead, his sect must be planning something from which he could greatly profit.

Much to her surprise, she had no intention of betraying him. He was right. Seduction, deception, and subterfuge were not how she wanted to live. Love was something she’d one day have, but the husband her sect would allow her to marry would only see the illusion, never who she really was. And she’d lied to Baros while trying to dissuade him. Her virgin yin was still intact. It was only after marriage that her sect’s most potent seduction techniques would come into play. Their marriages to respectable men, as he had called it, were too important to leave to chance.

***

“Something’s wrong with me,” Chao said for the tenth time since she they’d left the third floor.

At first, he’d just seemed confused. Huifen thought it was because of his conversation with Shoi-ming. She’d seen the man’s complex expression when he’d reentered the fire cultivation chamber. As for Fairy Dvora, she’d only been alone in the room with her husband for a minute at most.

By the fifth floor, Chao was getting handsy even after she’d requested he stop. By the sixth, he was trying to pick her up and kiss her right there on the spot. Thankfully, there weren’t many cultivators present. When they reached the seventh, she dragged him with her qi across the floor until they made it to their base of operations, quickly installed the flags and activated all three arrays including the defensive barrier.

When she turned, he was starting to undress.

She struck him with a cold blast of ice qi.

There wasn’t enough force to do any harm, but he fell to his rear and pouted. “Come on. Don’t be that way.”

“Be quiet for a moment while I contact Pangfua.”

Big Sister responded immediately through her transmission jade.

“Sister. What’s wrong?”

“I think Chao has somehow been drugged with an aphrodisiac,” she replied, trying to stay calm.

“What? Do you know the method used?”

“I don’t. There are no injection points so it had to be through the skin transdermally or breathed in. I think it was administered by Dvora of the Night Pearl Sect, who’s only in the earth realm. It’s getting worse.”

“Do you sense any abnormality with his cultivation?”

“No.”

“Okay, that is good.”

“Are you on your way?”

Pangfua didn’t respond right away, but soon said, “My being there will only complicate things. Treat it like it’s an undeadly poison. As soon as it’s out of his system, the symptoms will clear. If that doesn’t work, then…”

“Okay. I got it. Thank you, Big Sister.”

“Contact me as soon as he’s back to normal.”

“I will.”

With the conversation over, she found Chao sitting on the floor breathing heavily, starting at his hands.

“Dvora, that whore,” he hissed.

At least he was aware enough that he’d understood their conversation, but that didn’t clear her concerns. Huifen had never heard him curse anyone. Not even Great Elder Jilpa who’d arranged Huifen’s sexual assault. It had to be bad if he was losing such control of himself.

“Husband,” she said softly.

The way he looked up at her was would’ve been disgusting if he was anyone else. Even now it was disturbing since his desire was artificial at best.

“Should we…” He said, turning his head as he struggled not to leer at her.

“No,” she commanded. “Do you want to make it a habit that every time some harlot drugs you that you give in to your lusts? Cultivate your mother’s technique. If you succeed in getting through this, I will thoroughly reward you.”

The hungry look he gave her was held in check by his clenched jaw. He closed his eyes and began to circulate his qi, but the tension remained.

She stayed at a distance, sending a constant, gentle breeze of qi to help cool him down. And she waited.