Interlude: The Wandering Young Master II

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Elder Gang is a firm believer in constants.

In a world full of countless ephemeral things, that which endures, that which never falters and is never in doubt, surely has more value. Elder Gang has always believed that. Thus, his life was one defined by several constants. His position as an Elder. The superiority of the Xiao Sect over the Yun Sect. The supremacy of Patriarch Xiao Zheng over all he governed. 

In a matter of years, he lost all those things.

Perhaps that said much about how truly important those things were.

The great Xiao Zheng was killed in battle. The generational conflict with the Yun Sect was made irrelevant by the destruction of Eastern Port City. His position as Elder was stripped from him when he refused to bow to Xiao Yifan after she took over the Xiao Sect. For daring to side with Young Master Xiao Fang, he has been branded as a traitor to the Xiao Sect.

How laughable.

How frail.

How pathetic.

It is not that he cannot understand those who turned their backs on Young Master Xiao Fang. An Emperor Realm cultivator like Xiao Yifan is obviously a superior choice to lead the Sect. If her rule did not have to equal Young Master Xiao Fang’s death, he would have already tried to counsel him against rising up against her. 

However, it does, so he can never accept her. There are days when Elder Gang wishes he was stronger. If he could step into the Emperor Realm, he could strike down the Young Master’s treacherous aunt and restore everything to its rightful place, but doing so would require braving the perils of the Renegade Realm. Even if he could somehow make it through, he’d have to leave the Young Master’s side for far too long. That cannot be. 

Even if nothing else remains constant, at the very least, he must strive to be so. 

“Elder Gang, it has been two weeks. Surely, there is no need for you to keep waiting here?”

“My duty is to watch over Young Master Xiao Fang, Young Shen Mi,” Elder Gang replies to the girl who walks up to him. “Why would I be in any other place?”

Shen Mi is a disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. The young girl found them a few weeks after they learned of the destruction of Eastern Port City. She carried with her two letters. One was a letter of introduction from Lady Dai Jie of the Divine Frozen Palace. The other was from Young Mistress Xiao Shuang. Shen Mi has traveled with them ever since, much to Young Master Xiao Fang’s vexation. As someone who is more used to dealing with subordinates than peers, Young Master Xiao Fang cannot help but find the haughty, highly prideful, and superbly talented girl’s presence to be quite... trying.

“Elder, your dedication is worthy of respect, but…” Shen Mi shrugs and haplessly gestures at the landscape before them. “There is not much one can watch over right now.”

A massive sandstorm blocks the way forward. It is so dense that any attempt to see further than one’s own nose is an impossibility. It has been raging for the past three weeks, and if the locals are to be believed, it will continue raging for many more moons. The phenomenon is common in the Forest of Dunes.

Two weeks ago, Young Master Xiao Fang ventured into the sandstorm.

He has yet to come out.

“Hmph!” The young girl crosses her arms. “The fool just went off chasing a rumor! If he gets lost in the dunes forever, it will be his own fault. He does not deserve your consideration, Elder.”

“Young Shen Mi, you come here every day,” Elder Gang points out. “If Young Master Xiao Fang does not deserve consideration, then he is certainly fortunate to have yours.”

The young girl’s Qi bristles.

“My concern is as a representative of the Divine Frozen Palace,” Shen Mi says. “It would be inconvenient for us if he dies.”

She almost sounds like she believes it. Alas, her argument has no convincing power. Just by standing here, the girl’s blue and white robes are being dirtied by the sand. Considering she rarely bothers stepping out of her palanquin to avoid being dirtied by the outside world, her constant visits here say more than words ever will.

Ah, youth.

“Besides,” Shen Mi adds, “Xiao Heng is too dull, his wife too servile, and the big-nosed one too boorish. Xiao Fang’s company is preferable to that of his companions.”

“Naturally,” Elder Gang says, nodding and smiling.

“Who even is this Liu Jin?!” Shen Mi asks with growing irritation. “Everything was fine until Sister Xiao Shuang’s letter arrived! He suddenly decided to be stupid and march into that sandstorm!”

“Who is Liu Jin?” Elder Gang echoes and laughs. “A constant in the Young Master’s life, I suppose. A friend, perhaps. A brother, if the Young Master allowed himself to be a little more honest. Above all, he is someone the Young Master absolutely does not want to lose to.”

“Ah.” Comprehension seems to dawn on Shen Mi. “This is a stupid thing, isn’t it?”

Elder Gang laughs harder. 

How can he disagree? After learning his childhood friend had become Emperor of a nation and rescued Young Master Xiao Nan, Young Master Xiao Fang saw no other alternative but to walk into the sandstorm! The Young Master, who has grown in wisdom, overcome several trials, and convinced several Branch Masters to side with him, reacted as if he had never left Eastern Port City! 

How could it be any other way?

“Elder Gang, this is serious!” Shen Mi insists, “Cultivation is the result of diligent effort. It cannot be left up to the result of outrageous flights of fancy.”

“Do not misunderstand, Young Miss,” Elder Gang says. “This Elder does not seek to mock you. Your words are undoubtedly correct. However, if we seek to be outrageous, we have no choice but to occasionally indulge in outrageous acts. Be bold! Be daring! Young people have the right to be that way.”

“Boldness and daring must not be mistaken for foolishness,” Shen Mi replies, “He’s probably lost-”

She does not get to finish her sentence.

A deafening boom resounds across the area. Shen Mi raises her Qi to protect herself from the shockwave that expands across the desert. Elder Gang does not. He smiles as he senses what lies at the center of it all.

A most familiar Qi.

A most welcome breakthrough.

He appears an hour later, covered in wounds and dried blood. The sand is almost up to his waist. Only his Qi prevents him from being buried further by the pull of the Earth Realm.

“I…” Xiao Fang says, his voice sounding hoarse from lack of use. “Have triumphed.”

Shen Mi does not say anything. She stares in stunned silence, and it is not just because of the Young Master’s improved cultivation. There is something else at work. A heaviness to his presence that was not there before.

“A most excellent breakthrough, Young Master,” Elder Gang says, bowing in greeting. “Congratulations.”

“I… will take back the Xiao Sect,” Xiao Fang declares with renewed resolve, his power rolling from him in waves. “I won’t just take it back. I will make it better than it ever was before. I will turn the Xiao Sect into the greatest Sect of the Crimson Cloud Empire! I… I… refuse to lose!”

He raises his fist high as he declares his resolution, but the effect is somewhat ruined by him fainting three seconds later. Elder Gang shakes his head and picks him up.

“...stupid...butthead…” the Young Master mutters in his sleep.

Elder Gang smiles.

~~~

Mini-Character List 

Elder Gang: Elder of the Xiao Sect. Constant.

Shen Mi: Disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. Absolutely not worried.

Xiao Fang: Heir of the Xiao Sect. Refuses to lose.

AN: 

Next update is on Monday. We're not done with the Interludes yet.

Shen Mi does know who Liu Jin is in the sense that she knows he's Xiao Shuang's husband. Her outburst is more, "What is he to Xiao Fang to make him react like that?"