Interlude: Divine Frozen Palace IV

~~~

Bai Lianshi looks at her disciple calmly. 

“When I sent you to the Storm Dragon Empire, it was so you could learn about its factions, alliances, and feuds. In other words, I sent you there so that you might learn everything we might need to know to strike swiftly and decisively.”

“You did, master,” Bai Wen says. She is kneeling before Bai Lianshi with her head bowed. “My report contains all that information and more.”

“Oh, I have read your report,” Bai Lianshi says sharply, one hand tapping the written document on her desk. “It also says you turned yourself into a folk hero known as the White Fairy, an indiscretion I could have overlooked if that had been all you did. However, assaulting a city on your own? Revealing yourself to General Nie Dan? Exposing yourself to Murong Bang? Involving yourself–alone–in a civil war where those from the other side of the Dead Plains were involved?! Little Wen, what were you thinking?!”

Bai Wen’s head dips by exactly three millimeters. There is red on her cheeks. 

“When I sent you to the Storm Dragon Empire, I did so knowing that your Dao would compel you to act in ways that ran contrary to your mission. I hoped that being forced into such situations would teach you to deal with the burdens our chosen paths impose on us. A cultivator who is fully controlled by her Dao is no good.”

“I surmised that was the case, master,” Bai Wen replies. 

“I knew you would.” Bai Lianshi favors her disciple with a proud smile. It only lasts a few seconds. “So why did you do what you did? You exposed yourself to far too much danger! You could have died! Do you realize that? Of course you do! The disciple I raised is not an idiot!”

“Master, this disciple realizes she has disappointed you,” Bai Wen says. “However, this disciple must still disappoint you further. If I were given the opportunity to repeat my actions, I would act in the same manner without hesitation. You did not raise the sort of weak disciple who would try to only do what is convenient to her, master. I will not shame you by pretending otherwise. A convenient Justice that avoids risk at every turn is no Justice at all.”

Bai Lianshi takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

“By all means, shame me a little, you foolish girl,” Bai Lianshi mutters under her breath. “This boy… Xiao Shuang’s husband… Was he worth doing so much?”

“He is a young man of great character and great talent. Lending him my aid was completely necessary,” Bai Wen says. “He has become the emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire, so my actions were undeniably beneficial to the Divine Frozen Palace, master.”

Being in the Emperor Realm means Bai Lianshi can simply will away the headache before it happens.

It does nothing to stop the annoying vexation that causes it.

“He is of royal blood. Are you certain of this?”

Bai Wen nods. “I am. So is General Nie Dan and most of the Storm Dragon Empire. The Shadow of the Storm Dragon responded to him, master. The evidence is irrefutable.”

“That is… troublesome,” Bai Lianshi says. Her disciple frowns and lifts her head.

“Shouldn’t it be a good thing, master? Certainly, it did not happen in the way we wished it to, but Murong Bang is dead. The Divine Frozen Palace now has a link to the Storm Dragon Empire and the blood of one of the 108. Those are all things we wanted.”

“True enough,” Bai Lianshi replies, “however-”

The doors to Bai Lianshi’s office burst open.

“Sister!” Meng Yue shouts as she strides in. Dai Jie, another member of the Five Fairies, rushes in after her with a worried look on her face. “I demand an apology!”

“Elder Sister, I apologize,” Dai Jie says. “I was not able to stop her.”

“No apologies are needed, sister,” Bai Lianshi says with a patient smile. When she turns to Meng Yue, it is nowhere to be found. “Meng Yue, you inconsiderate oaf of a woman, I am talking to my disciple!”

“Bah! What is there to say? Congratulate her, and be done with it! You know there are more important matters at hand!” Meng Yue says. “Xiao Shuang’s husband has become emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire. This is a boon for us! We need to capitalize.”

“Of course, you’d believe this is a net positive,” Bai Lianshi says, glaring at the far too smug Meng Yue. “Don’t you realize it? Though we were involved in the conquest of the Storm Dragon Empire, our participation is barely nominal. Moreover, the child is a disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan! Who knows how much they have influenced him already!”

For a moment, Bai Lianshi also considers bringing up the Xiao Sect. However, there’d be no point. The current Matriarch of the Xiao Sect usurped power after Xiao Zheng’s death. She has no love for those who support his son. Meanwhile, Xiao Shuang’s brother and those in his faction are already dependent on their help. Being more or less involved with Murong Bang’s death will not change either of those things. The important thing is that they can now say they have helped avenge Eastern Port City. 

“That’s all the more reason we need to act, sister!” Meng Yue says. “The time has come for us to show our support for Xiao Shuang’s husband. You denied me the opportunity to involve myself in diplomatic matters in the past, but look at what’s happened! This opportunity has been brought about by my efforts.”

Meng Yue puffs her chest proudly. Bai Lianshi resists the urge to hit her smug face.

“You will not be going to the Eternal Flame Clan.”

“What?! Why? I got us this opportunity.”

“Because Feng Gui is to be the next Patriarch, and your relationship with him is poor, to say the least,” Bai Lianshi replies, glad she has a legitimate reason beyond Meng Yue generally being terrible at negotiation, except for this one exception that Meng Yue is sure to hold over her head for centuries to come. 

Meng Yue crosses her arms. “If not I, then who? You?”

“No!” Bai Lianshi replies a little too loudly. She looks away to hide the red on her cheeks. “It is best if I do not go, and though she is in charge of handling matters of diplomacy, it is best if Shao Zhilan does not go.”

She shivers just thinking about it. There is no telling what would happen if someone like her and Feng Gui were in close proximity to each other.

“A pity. I’m certain she would appreciate the opportunity to leave the capital for a while,” Dai Jie muses. “I cannot imagine how she deals with… her.”

At once, all three of the Five Fairies shiver and do their best to suppress the unpleasant memories that threaten to arise. 

“Sister, if not you and not Shao Zhilan, then who will go?” Meng Yue asks.

“I will!”

All those in the room blink. The shout comes from outside. It is followed by a loud thud and screech, like something heavy is being dragged across the floor.

“Little Sister!” Bai Wen says with a bright smile. 

“Xiao Shuang,” Meng Yue says, her tone less warm and more surprised. “You broke free… That is to say, you finished your training early.”

“T-this disciple endeavors to s-surpass her master’s expectations.” Xiao Shuang’s voice is faint yet full of determination despite her stuttering. “This matter involves my husband. I will go.”

“Denied!” Meng Yue says at once. “Your training is far too delicate to be interrupted right now.”

“Master, by your own admission, I have finished this training before you expected it. It is not the first time that has happened. Surely, it would not be wrong to say that your estimations regarding whether my training can be interrupted or not can be wrong.”

“I… that is to say…”

“The Eternal Flame Clan is far too dangerous for you,” Bai Lianshi cuts in. “So far, we have hidden your existence and the extent of your talents from them. Putting you directly in their territory would expose you far too much.”

“... As expected, I cannot counter that sort of logical argument. My master would never be able to come up with something like that.”

Meng Yue pouts. “Xiao Shuang… your master will get hurt if you say stuff like that, you know?”

“I will go,” Dai Jie says, sighing. “It is better if one of the Five Fairies goes, and Yan Yunlu is still in seclusion. Little Xiao Shuang, I cannot bring you with me, but I will deliver any message you might have for your husband. It might even be possible to arrange a way for the two of you to communicate and even set up a future meeting.” She looks around the room. “Is that acceptable?”

“That seems the most correct course of action right now,” Bai Lianshi says. “I have no issue with it.”

“I find the compromise acceptable,” Xiao Shuang replies. “Lady Bai, Lady Dai, this disciple apologizes for interrupting your meeting. Elder Sister Bai, it is good to see you again. I shall retire for now. I believe I have taxed myself too much.”

The sounds of something being dragged across the floor ensue once more. Bai Wen immediately leaves the room to help Xiao Shuang.

“Little Shuang? You meant to apologize to me as well, right?” Meng Yue calls out after her. “You’re not angry with me for locking you in–I mean, training you in the Seven Colored Ice Prison Realm, right? Little Shuang? Little Shuang!”

It is another day in the Divine Frozen Palace.

~~~

Mini-Character List

Bai Lianshi: The Leader of the Five Faeries of the Divine Frozen Palace. Vexed. Has been avoiding the Eternal Flame Clan for a long time.

Bai Wen: Bai Lianshi’s disciple. Technically fulfilled her mission.

Meng Yue: Another one of the Five Fairies of the Divine Frozen Palace. Most certainly did not lock Xiao Shuang up to prevent her from trying to go to the Eternal Flame Clan once she learned of Liu Jin’s status. 

Dai Jie: One of the Five Fairies of the Divine Frozen Palace. Longsuffering. 

Xiao Shuang: Disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. Liu Jin’s wife. Xiao Fang’s sister. Has been training.