Chapter 728

Long ass chapter. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19BkIlTj7IUdy6D6OT5LGCQnz0Qys5TKgKEDH6B8uUcA/edit?usp=sharing

When in doubt, always ask Dad.

It’s really the most effective solution for any given problem, because even though he rarely ever will solve my problems outright, he always knows what direction to point me in so that I can solve my problems myself. There was a time when I thought Dad was kinda a terrible Mentor, what with leaving me to my own devices andletting me stumble along by myself, but having come so far along the Martial Path, I now realize he’s done a phenomenal job of guiding me towards the right answers. While I have my grievances regarding the Martial Path and the way the Empire in general approaches it, Dad has always been there to give me the answers I needed and support me whenever I stumbled or faltered.  Those answers were rarely ever directed towards questions I’dasked, and it always took me awhile to figure out how they applied to any given situation, but that’s really more of a me problem and my lacking comprehension. In the end, we all must walk our own Path, and Dad did more than just tell me this truth; he gave me all the tools I would ever need to not only make my way forward, but also to find my way back should I ever make a misstep of twelve. Akanai did more to teachme how to fight, while Grandpa Du, the Abbot, and the monkshave done wonders withhelping me understand Chi in general, but Dad showed me how to learn, live, love, and generally helped me become the man I am today, not just through words and lessons, but by exemplifying the type of man I aspire to be.

My Dad is more than my father and Mentor. He’s my hero, and I rely on him all too much, but he never complains and in fact is all too happy to help, so after a simple meal of cold noodles and beef soaked in chili oil, I carry my belovedMila back out onto deck to ask Dad about her condition. As per usual, he doesn’t answer right away and instead takes a long moment to think things through, which is one skill I’ve never really picked up for my own use. I’m great at planning and scheming when there’s plenty of room to breathe, but once the pressure is on, I feel compelled to act first and think later, probably because I’m not great at thinking on my feet. I always getbogged down in my thoughts, which is not ideal when staring down the pointy end of a Defiled spear, so I have a tendency to overcompensate with go balls to the walls aggression. It’s worked out for me so far, but only because I put so much effort into learning how to Heal and was blessed enough to have Taddy and other talented Healers waiting around to patch me up after the fact.

As well as a plethora of Peak Experts watching over me most of the time, as I recently learned, though they weren’t always paying attention. I’m still a little miffed at Jochi and Argat for losing track of me during the whole Sanshu kerfuffle, but then again, if they had been paying attention, I would’ve never found Blobby, learned how to Devour, or come across Banjo and Baloo, so there’s that. On the other hand, Qing Qing wouldstill be alive, Gen would’ve never turned Defiled, and BoLao might’ve eventuallybeen saved from the Confessor’s clutches or kept him from spiralling out of control to eventually become the three-headed, six-armed, eye-laser blasting Demon he is today, so it’s difficult to call ita net positive. On another note, I should head back to Qing Qing’s village to fix up the ruins andmaybe put up a grave marker for her and her village. I told Nian Zu that funerals are for the living, so perhaps it’s high time I listened to my own advice.

Sensing my melancholy, Mila overcomes her embarrassment long enough to remove her face from my chest to check on me, which is where she was hiding from her Mama and Father-in-Law. Even though we’ve been married for so long, she’s still ashamed to show more than a scrap of physical affection in public, which means being carried around in my arms or sat on my laps is almost as bad as canoodling in plain view. Even though we have a perfectly acceptable excuse for doing so and we’re all Concealed from the soldiers and sailors bustling around us, her cheeks are still fiery red to match her ruby redringlets, a new style she’s been trying out which works fabulously with her naturally curly hair.

Just knowing I have this wonderful woman looking out for me is enough to lift my spirits, not to mention two more who are currently running about the rigging and masts above. Then there’s Luo-Luo who all but declared her love for me in the days before Lin-Lin’s wedding, as well as Li-Li who is like mycelibatefloof wife, working hard to look after our floofy children back home. Add in my wonderful family and supportive friends and it’s clear that I have been blessed in love, but the heart is not so easily convinced. Qing Qing’s death might well haunt me until the end of my days, for there is no cure for regret, and I failed her in so many ways I can barely even keep track. A kind, clever girl took in a wounded boy and nursed him back to good health, only to be rewarded with death and suffering before ever realizing her dreams, to see more of the world beyond her isolated home village.

Gazing into Mila’s beautifully concerned eyes, I pray she does not meet a similarfate, and the same goes for everyone else in my life. Were it up to me, we’d all live long and happy lives only for me to die at a ripe old age before everyone else. Hardly realistic considering Mom and Grandpa Du are both much older than I am, but if I’m going to wish for something, I might as well wish big. A large part of my trepidation is due to the upcoming offensive, a move I am convinced is the best option available for a plethora of sound reasons, but it’s still war after all. No one is safe, not out on the field or hiding behind the Citadel walls, which means that no matter how carefully I prepare or weapons of massed destruction I pull out, there’s no way everyone will make it back home alive.

I only hope I have the strength to remain strong in the face of adversity, but I fear losing even one of my beloved family members would leave me gutted and worthless to the cause.

As Mila hugs me tight and soothes away my dour mood beneath Akanai’s disapproving grimace, Dad scratches the stubble that’s grown since this morning and finally weighs in on my beloved wife’s disappearing and reappear nausea. “Your... Mother-in-Law and I,” he begins, clearly intending to say grandmother until said grandmother elbowed him in the ribs, “Both agree that there are two possible explanations for little Mila’s fluctuating condition. The first is that you have somehow discovered a means to Heal seasickness, which is... possible, but unlikely as far as we understand it. Your Grandfather suffers from a similar condition, and your Gr– Mother-in-Law searched high and low for a cure, but even your Teacher was unable to help.”

“Yea, I don’t think I stumbled across a cure exactly,” I reply, having already thought this through with Lin-Lin. As she so rightly pointed out, motion sickness in general is caused by the brain, as it is unable to properlyprocess the information being delivered by the body. Even though you yourself might know that you are on a boat that is moving beneath you, your brain cannot understand the conflicting information, such as your body remaining stationary while the scenery moves about. Humans were not designed with vehicular movement in mind, so some brains interpret the conflicting information to mean that their host has been poisoned. Thus, there shouldn’t really be a way to Heal seasickness since it is a self-inflicted symptom, as I can’t Heal the brain into understanding that Mila is standing on a moving boat.

There’s no need to explain all of this to Dad or Grandma, as they both understand it well enough. “Which brings us to the other explanation,” Dad says, smiling wryly at the need to tell me answers I should already know. “That rather than treating the symptoms, you have instead treated the root cause.”

“...The moving boat?”

“In a way, yes.” Leaning into the sway of the ship to better emphasize his point, Dad asks, “You likely know the answer better than we do, but how does the human body retain balance?”

“Umm... it has a lot to do with the ears? We have these err... sacs of fluid deep in our ear canals that are sensitive to gravity, and our brain uses them to help determine which way is up and down. That’s why people tend to have trouble standing upright after an injury to the inner ear. Grandpa Du uses is pretty often, driving compressed Air deep into his opponent’s ears to set himself up for an easy kill.” Which honestly, is one of the most efficient uses of Chi I’ve ever seen, though it’s fairly easy to defend against so long as you have a Domain. All you need to do is cover your ears with Domain, though Grandpa Du can still force his way through with enough effort, and anyone lacking a Domain would die to his blade even with their eardrums intact.

“Yes, something like that.” Shooting a sidelong glance towards our destination, Dad bristles with equal parts respect and jealousy, no doubt wishing he himself had a Blessing to work with too. They don’t necessarily make a Martial Warrior stronger, but it’s always nice to have more options to work with, and I wholeheartedly believe that ‘Awakenings’ are not what we believe them to be. As the name implies, the world at large sees them as a ‘Blessing’ bestowed upon a Martial Warrior by some higher being, similar to how Domain is a metaphysical expression of limited authority over Chi and the Energy of the Heavens, but I see things different. Since I was able to ‘seize’ authority and even grant said authority to Rustram, there must be a similar method to induce an Awakening on a Martial Warrior. Then again, why is an Awakening even needed? Much like how Talents are simply complex Chi techniques that are difficult to teach and master, I believe controlling the Elements should be similarly difficult to understand, but ultimately something anyone can pick up so long as it is taught in the right manner. If the Primal Blessings simply represent the unique forces of the universe broken down into four fundamental units, and we manipulate said forces through the use of Chi, why is there an extra step needed to utilize elemental Chi, as opposed to neutral Chi?

The fact that the Tyrant can make Runic items which make use Elemental Chi supports my theory, though she still needs a source of said Elemental Chi, namely Lei Gong. A shame none of Stormguards I raised from commoners to Martial Warriors ended up receiving a Blessing, though there’s still plenty of time for that yet. Who knows? Since my Natal Souls played a part in their Core Formation, maybe the Stormguard will eventually all Awakening to the Blessing of Water as well, or maybe it doesn’t work like that. Either way, I’m almost certain there’s a way to ‘induce’ or work towards an Awakening in a logical and methodical manner. I just don’t know what that method might be.

Alas, Dad’s unexpressed desire to possess a Blessing will have to wait, as I stumble along my Path with both eyes closed and somehow fail my way to success. “You touched upon the physical mechanisms behind mechanical balance,” Dad continues, bringing us back on topic, “But for Martial Warriors, there is more at work than just that.”

Under his expectant gaze, it takes longer than I care to admit to catch on to his gist, and the answer only arrives when Mila so helpfully supplies it through Sending. “Stability?” I ask, the word failing to click until I remember that most mysterious of Chi skills which I never use. “Oh, Stability. With Chi.”

Though Akanai purses her lips at her daughter for helping me cheat, Dad merely chuckles and shakes his head at our antics. “Yes, Stability, one of the most widely used Chi skills, yet least understood.”

“Widely used?”

“Indeed. Think on it son, and I believe you will soon understand.” Grinning at my doubtful expression, Dad leans on the ship’s banister and crosses his arms to wait while Akanai continues to loom over us, not out of any desire to intimidate, but because that’s her natural state.

Putting my gorgeous yet intimidating Mother-in-Law slash Grandmother out of mind, I hug Mila close and ponder Dad’s statement. Stability being the least understood Chi skill makes sense considering I barely know anything about it, but most used? I can count on my fingers the number of times I’ve used Stability, mostly while running obstacle courses. Even then, I soon discovered that I didn’t really need Stability to walk across a balance beam or hop from column to column, as my natural grace, agility, and reflexes were good enough to get by. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw a Martial Warrior fall off of a balance beam, or even really slow down all that much while crossing, and even Tali and Tate don’t have too much trouble with them now. The animals took some training to get it right, but eventually, even my derpiest of bearsfigured out how to walk across a balance beam, though to be fair, it was more a matter of building confidence than lacking grace when it came to Baloo.

As for other uses... I know roosequins use Stability to help them run up the steepest of cliffs, and I’ve seen BoShui improve by leaps and bounds through proper use of Stability, as it enabled him to use better footwork while closing the distance to get himself into punching range, but otherwise, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone really using the Chi skill in any real, meaningful manner. I mean, how would you? Stability mostly just helps you with your balance, but the regular human body is perfectly capable of standing upright without any need for magical assistance. Then again... how true is that? I mean, I seem to recall most people in my past life having issues running through tires laid flat, and whole game shows where idiots tried and failed at running obstacle courses to comedic effect. Can martial training really account for a Martial Warrior’s improved sense of Balance, or are we all using Stability without meaning to? It makes sense right? Especially when you take into account how so many Martial Warriors were able to stand on floating logs with relative ease for the water lacrosse gameduring my wedding.

“So you’re saying,” I begin, trying to make sense of this whole situation, “That I might have used Stability to treat Mila’s motion sickness? External Stability? Is that a thing?”

“Why would it not be?” Shrugging, Dad explains, “You understand the difficultythough? I have seen commoners struggle to find their footing on a slightly bumpy path or slip and slide across the ice, but when have you seen a Martial Warrior falter under such simple circumstances? However, I’ve also seen commoners navigate up the steepest of cliffs while carrying heavy loads upon their backs and cross tightropes as easily as any Martial Warrior, so who is to saywhere our natural perceptions end and an innate use of Stability begins? Take yourefforts with aerial combat for example. You leap and spin about in the midst of combat, and somehow are still able to retain awareness of your surroundings at all times, tracking up from down, left from right, forward from back, all without much effort or thought involved. Is this due to practised familiarity or supernatural Stability? Six of one and half dozen of the other, with no discernible method to tell between the two, hence why Stability is both widely used and poorly understood.”

“Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo.” Rudely eavesdropping on what was clearly a private conversation, Monk Happy makes his presence known with a bow, as if that makes up for all his snooping. Shooting a glare at the smiling monk, I focus on the big chicken hiding behind him and cannot help but grin at Kukky’s adorable delight at having hidden away from my senses for so long. The cowardly rooster has been keeping his distance of late, too scared of Rakky’s presence to come out and play, but the murderoustiger has really chilled out since our first meeting, so I’m sure I can keep him from eating Rakky for lunch. Thankfully, Tai-Tai doesn’t care too much about Rakky hanging about, so they get along just fine, but I would really love it if Kukky would come out to play more often.

Especially before the Abbot comes back and tries to reclaim his floofs. I refuse to let them go without a fight. He was neglecting them anyways, not of food or shelter, but of love and scritches. I mean, poor Rakky just melts with you scritch his chinjust right, especially if he’s soaking in a hot tub while we’re at it. I hope he’s doing okay with Li-Li. He still hasn’t made too many friends, though stupid George is absolutely in love withthe big cat and always wants to be with him,so there’s that.

“The process through which Stability works,” Monk Happy begins, interjecting himself into the conversation without so much as a how you do, “Is difficult to describe, but the effects are easily seen. On your wedding day, for example, you utilized Internal and External Stability against young Yong-Jin multiple times. During your first exchange, youthrew him over your shoulder then moved with the momentum to leap over his airborne torso, a move which no commoner could replicate through sheer effort alone. Then, you oriented yourself perfectly to stand over him in mid-air so that you could stomp him into the water below, again not a feat which can be accomplished without Chi.”

“And I used it again in my second exchange,” I continue, catching on to what Monk Happy is getting at. “When he almost threw me into the water. I Stabilized and recovered to turn things around on him. Momentum and flexibility played a large part in things, but I was bent over backwards on one foot, and should not have been able to stand up against in such a position.”

“Indeed.” Bowing his head with a smile, Monk Happy continues, “If Junior Brother cares to listen, this monk can attempt to explain the mechanics behind Stability to helpbroaden his perspective, and perhaps even help you understand your current efforts. Fascinating how you are able to negate not only lady Mila’s perception of the swaying boat beneath her, but also her perception of forward movement and the passing horizon in the distance.”

Glancing at my beloved Mila, whose rosy pink cheeks signify far more than mere embarrassment, but good health and comfort as well, I shake my head and say, “Thank you, but another time perhaps. Much as I’d love to explore the possibilities of Stability, I’d hate to get so mixed up that I forget how to do what I’m doing, and I can’t bear to see my beloved wife in such distress again.”

“As you wish, Junior Brother.” Oddly enough, not a single monk of the Brotherhood has said anything about my wives or marriages, other than to congratulate and offer well wishes to the both of us. They even came bearing gifts and partook in the festivities, though they refrained from eating or drinking anything provided. No idea what I’ll do with so many hand-made fish drums, tea pots, or quilted blankets, but it’s the thought that counts, and I could tell the monks were genuinely happy for me. I honestly thought they’d be all disapproving and judgmental, but quite the opposite, especially the castration fanaticMonk Bones.

“Love is one of the most precious things life has to offer,” the spindly old Divinity monk had said, clasping my hand and Lin-Lin’s both with a goofy smile. “And this monk can see that you two are deeply in love like few others. Though all life is fleeting and impermanent, that is not to say all life is meaningless, for only one who has seen the dark will understand how to properly cherish the light. This love you both share is your light, so cherish it well, and let it illuminate upon all who see you together and become a beacon of the good we should all be so lucky to strive for.”

A strange sentiment coming from a celibate monk, which leads me to understand thatthere is more to the Brotherhood’s views than the evils of sex, drugs, and fame. They’re not exactly against it, but they see it as a distraction from the ultimate goal, and thus abstain so as to better focus on their Right Effort. Lust is the poison they reject, not love, which I will accept as more proof that sex and making love two separate things.

Before we part ways so Mila won’t die of embarrassment, Akanai pulls us both aside after shooing Dad and Monk Happy away. “If you are ever able to explain what you are doing.” she Sends, looking this way and that to make sure no one is listening even though there’s nothing to overhear, “Be sure to tell myself and your Father-in-Law. He too suffers from this same condition, and it would be much appreciated if you found some way to counteract it, preferably before we set sail for the Western Province.”

Fighting the urge to smile at the mental image of Akanai cradling her girthy husband atop her lap, I promise to go right to her if I should make sense of what I’m doing here. This is the first I’m hearing of Husolt coming along for the crusade, but considering his wife and two daughters will be riding to war at my side, I’d probably be more surprised if he stayed back. Though most only know him as the foremost Divine Blacksmith of the People, Papa Bear Husolt is a Warrior to be reckoned with, one with a short temper and fiercely protective nature, so I pity the fool who crosses him on the battlefield.

But he’s not invulnerable, which means yet another life for me to worry about, not to mention the millions of soldiers, Irregulars, and supporting workers I should be concerned for as well. Heavy lies the head indeed, so I suppose I should cherish what little free time I have left.

It doesn’t take much to convince Mila that we should head back down to the privacy of our spacious cabin, which I picked not only because it’s separated from where Dad and my in-laws are resting, but also because it’s private and easily guarded. There’s only one entrance in and out, but I could easily smash my way through the walls to escape either to the adjoining cabin or out to the water, where the safety of the Western Walls lies within spitting distance. That being said, my beloved wife is more than eager to reward me for my efforts, and we spend the rest of the trip enjoying one another’s company, alongside Yan and Lin-Lin once they grow bored of playing on deck.

So maybe I’ve succumbedto lust just a bit and become obsessed with sex. Making love is amazing, but it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. The mood, location, and mindset all gotta be right to make love, but sex is so much more simple and plenty fun with the right partner. Or partners, as it were. Honestly, married life has been smooth sailing this past month, with none of the growing pains I’d expected from having to appease three wonderful women and ensure they are all loved and cared for as they should be, and I have no one to thank for it besides Lin-Lin. While Mila and Yan are great friends who get along swimmingly, there was always an underlying sense of competition between them. Mila goes without saying, as she is accustomed to standing high above her peers in both status and strength, which means she’s not used to being on equal grounds with anyone. She feels the need to be number one no matter what, which is a great drive for a Martial Warrior, but not so advantageous as one of two wives. While Yanis the more easygoing of the two, she’s still a fiercely competitive woman who fought tooth and nail to get where she is today, so she wasn’t ever going to just roll over and play second fiddle to Mila’s first.

My extended coma helped iron out the bumps in their relationship as they learned to work together to care for me, but their friendly rivalry never really went away, not until Lin-Lin entered the equation. My sweet wifey is the social lubricant that keeps this whole multi-partner relationshiprunning smoothly, in ways I could never emulate. Not only are Mila and Yan no longer competing with one another, they haven’t banded together against Lin-Lin either, and instead we’ve all turned our focus to one another as we strive to find happiness together. It’s not perfect by any means, as there’s only one of me and three of them, but it’s working better than I expected. Considering I’ve yet to collapse with exhaustion, and not for lack of effort, I’d say things couldn’t be better, except that my in-laws refuse to move into their new houses so I can carry out my plan to have sex in every room and on every surface of our marital home.

I refuse to let my dreams be dreams...

That being said, we all make sure not to get too carried away, which means we all stand ready and presentable on deck as our ship pulls into the Central Citadel docks. Mila’s hair is a little mussed and Lin-Lin’s dress could use a bit of ironing, but Yan looks as neat and tidy as ever thanks to her love of tight shirts and trousers. Standing with us are Ping Ping, Pong Pong, Blackjack, and Mama Bun, as well as Dad, Akanai, Nian Zu, and all the other important folk, but two people stick out like a sore thumb. Jorani, the recently promoted commander of my retinue, looking nervous and awkward as hell, as well as Siyar, leaning casually against the mast and just out of sight of the workers down on the docks. He’d almost look at ease if he wasn’t in full armour complete with a fearsome metal mask depicting and angry expression, one to hide his features and strike fear in the hearts of friend and foe alike.Gesturing for Jorani to come stand closer, I give him a reassuring smile before looking away so he doesn’t catch the glint of guilt in my eyes or Aura. Focusing on the plan, I Send a burst of vigilant Aura towards Pong Pong to ensure he’s Concealed and ready, before directing him to where I need him for the next few hours. The little guy is crazy smart, but it wasn’t until Lin-Lin started working to teach him tricks that I understood just how smart he really is. The little guy can differentiate between colours, shapes, and even familiar people, to the point where I can say, “Go find Mom,” and he’ll amble right over to perch in her hands, even if she’s halfway across the Citadel. Not sure if he knows how to find her here in Central though, as she stayed behind to keep an eye on Luo-Luo again, but I’m sure Pong Pong is just as eager to see her as she is to see us.

Sending a command to the tiny Divine Turtle, I fight the urge to look back and check if he got it right, but being the clever turtle he is, Pong Pong pulses an Aura of confidence and assurance my way to let me know everything is going great. That being said, he’s still a turtle, so I’m not entirely sure his judgment can be trusted, as he could’ve easily messed up and just not noticed.No, I should trust the little guy, because we all worked very hard to teach him how to do this on command, and double checking could give the game away. Best to face forward and proceed as planned, so as soon as the ship is anchored and the ramp lowered, I disembark with my wives at my side and Jorani hot on my heels.

Mom and Luo-Luo are waiting down below to receive us, and we get the traditional welcome out of the way so as to dispense with formalities. As Mom and Dad reunite with a chaste touch of their fingers, I warmly clasp Luo-Luo’s hand and offer her my free arm, since Mila and Yan are both sticklers for formalityand therefore are standing on either side of me, but a full step back. Lin-Lin doesn’t care much, so she’s clinging gamely to my arm, even though it took some convincing to keep her from riding in piggyback behind me. I love carrying her around, but it would not do for the Legate’s image, which is just stupid.

Cutting through my inner protests, Luo-Luo quietly Sends, “Mind your expression, Lord Husband, but there is bad news afoot. Not two hours ago, the Ryo Family announced a marriage between Ryo Seoyoon and Yong-Jin, citing that the once rivals fellin love after facing one another upon the sparring fields so often.”

Well shit. Fighting the urge to scowl and storm off, I smile for the crowd while considering all the terrible implications of this news. First off, poor Fung. He’s probably devastated and drinking himself into a stupor right now, so I Send word to Dastan to go and console our friend. Secondly, this means I can no longer count on the Ryo’s as my closest allies in Central, as they’ve clearly thrown in with Shuai Jiao. Why? What did he offer them to agree to this marriage? Or maybe it’s not Shuai Jiao pulling the strings. Maybe it’s his backer, who is probably the same person backing the Ryo’s, namely one Shen ZhenWu. Why even bother at this point? The Ryo’s aren’t exactly in free-fall, but they’re also not in the best place as they fight to hold onto face, reputation, wealth, and other holdings. The other families of Central sense weakness and have been circling the wagons, but surely matters could not have gotten so bad as to require an alliance with Shuai Jiao? I could helped them secure their holdings myself, and in fact lent them considerable amount of aid in the form of contracts and loans, a clear sign of my support which should have been enough to send most of those vultures packing. So why this marriage?

Since neither I nor Luo-Luo are able to come up with a definitiveanswer, there’s nothing left for it than to ask the Ryo Family Matriarch herself. Luckily, Grandpa Du thought ahead and stayed at the Ryo Manor, giving me the perfect excuse to pay them a visit before going on about my business. Had he greeted us on the docks alongside Mom and Luo-Luo, it could have been perceived as an insult to visit the Ryo’s before the Commander General, though their absence here could similarly be perceived as the same. Both sides sent representatives to convey their apologiesof course, and they even had believable excuses prepared, namely that they’re in the midst of discussions regarding the upcoming nuptials.

Which means I can’t speak with the Ryo’s outside of Shuai Jiao’s presence and try to convince them to think twice about this alliance. Well, fuck it. I wasn’t coming here to play nice to begin with, so there’s no point caring too much about appearances any longer. I’ll talk shit about man-bun in front of his face then, and if he has issues with it, I have two boots just begging to stomp all over his stupid face. Still, I don’t want things to devolve into bloodshed just yet, so after a brief discussion with Luo-Luo via Sending, I decide it’s best to send most of my party home to freshen up, while I bring Yan and Kishi to see Grandpa Du, alongside the smallest complement of guards possible, all to show goodwill.Making sure Jorani is still with me, I signal for him to stay close and apologize for using him as a distraction, because so long as everyone is focused on him, the monks, and his Divinity of a father lurking somewhere nearby, my ace in the hole will hopefully go entirely unnoticed. The journey over to the Ryo family manor is uneventful, and the servants receive us with polite apologies informing us that the Lady of the manor is away visiting Shuai Jiao, which is different from what Luo-Luo expected. It seems the Ryo’s are actively avoiding me, so after liaising with Luo-Luo once more, we decide that it’s best to go visit Shuai Jiao myself, rather than call him over to me on some pretext or the other.

I don’t love being given the runaround. It makes me feel like they have something to hide, or worse, want me rushing about without time to think, keeping meon the back foot and constantly reacting so that I don’t spot their daggers hidden in the dark. If things have gone this far, then I will show no mercy. Icame here hoping to leavewithout bloodshed after arriving at terms with Shuai Jiao that we could both agree to, but if the man refuses to even sit down for a civil discussion, then my conscience will be clear when the blood starts flowing.

“You seem agitated.” Indicating towards his empty cup, Grandpa Du politely asks me to refill it, and I do so without reservation. Some might see it as a power play, but I know Grandpa Du just wants me to get out of my head, even if only for a bit. “This is not like you.” Sipping his tea, he holds my gaze before continuing, “You are one of the most level-headed young men I have met, so I find it concerning that this bare modicum of manoeuvring has had such an effect.”

Since I came here on the pretext of visiting Grandpa Du, I could hardly just leave right away, and truth be told, I missed the old man’s company. “I’m... stressed is all,” I reply, though I’m not sure that’s the whole truth. “There’s a lot on my plate right now, and the last thing I need is to coddle another man’s ego.”

“Is that why you think Shuai Jiao refuses to heed your orders?” Raising a bushy white eyebrow, Grandpa Du gestures at my cup of tea and encourages me to take a sip. “If so, then you are gravely mistaken. Say what you will about his methods and ambitions, but Shuai Jiao is an honourableman who always moves with what he believes are the best interests of theEmpire in mind.”

Taking a deep drink from my cup, I barely taste what is probably an expensive tea before putting the cup back down. “And I suppose I’m the rabble-rouser making a stink of his beloved Empire, which works perfectly as is and couldn’t possibly be improved in any way, shape, or form.”

“Do not put words in my mouth, boy.” Flashing a smile which is both friendly and challenging, he adds, “You are not so strong or dignified yet that I cannot put you over my knee. What I am sayis that Shuai Jiao has his own reasons for opposing you, and they are not entirely wrong. Your plan to retake the Western Province is an ambitious one, full of risks and with little reward as seen from his point of view. Keep this in mind when you meet with him, and do try not to incite him to violence in order to appease your conscience. I have long since come to terms with Jin Kai’s death and accepted that you are not to blame, but it would be a lie to claim the grievances between you were wholly unjustified, even if he was the one to instigate the conflict to begin with.”

“...Fair enough.” I suppose I did go a little far in publicly demanding my kow-tows and calling him a bitch, which I now realize could only have ended in violence. I am a mean drunk sometimes, so I’ve been sticking to tea more and more lately, especially now that I don’t have to pack it chock full of butter. “However,” I continue, holding Grandpa Du’s gaze to show him the depths of my conviction, “I will brook no further delays in the campaign to retake the West. The people there have suffered long enough, and it’s high time the Enemy paid for what they’ve done.”

Stifling a sigh as I refill his cup, Grandpa Du nods along in reluctant agreement. “Such is the fire of youth,” he murmurs, adding, “Though I cannot say I disagree. Just tread lightly, child. You won’t save any Westerners at all if matters devolve into civil war.”

“Don’t worry.” Reaching out to pat Grandpa Du’s hand and assure him nothing will go wrong, I say, “I won’t let things get that far.” Because there won’t be a civil war without a rebel leader.

Leaving Yan and Kishi to bring Kyung and Grandpa Du back to my manor, I leave with an even smaller contingent of Death Corps guards and Jorani still at my heels. The man looks positively parched despite sucking back an entire pot of tea by himself during my brief exchange with Grandpa Du, his brow glistening with sweat from uncontrolled anxiety. Poor guy, but to be fair, I’m not feeling all that much better. The only reason I’m not even more nervous than he is is because I’ve had five days to consider my options and come to terms with what needs to be done. If we can’t work together, then I must seize power for myself, which means getting rid of Shuai Jiao and his most influential allies in one, fell swoop. Marshal Yo and Marshal Quyen both made the short list, as did eight General Officers from Central and South both, but I pray Jeong Hyo Lynn is willing to listen to reason, because I’d hate to have to kill her as well.

No, no, don’t think about bloodshed. Not now, not later, not until it comes time to draw blades. Your Aura gives it away too easily, so rein your emotions in and get a handle on yourself.

Shuai Jiao’s manor is large, but unembellished, a massive estate that is frankly an eyesore to look at. There’s humility, and then there’s just plain ugly, and the manor clearly falls into the latter category. While the gate guards have the gall to ask that I wait outside while they seek orders from within, I’ve no desire to be left standing outside like a lowly messenger waiting for my tip. With little more than a nod of my head, Kuang Biao leads my strongest Death Corps Guards to open the gates, without causing too much harm to the manor guards. Alas, a few bruises are needed to subdue the loyal soldiers watching Shuai Jiao’s gates, as they would need to be considering they’re willing to ignore the orders of their Legate, but I’ve no beef with them, and make an effort not to look at any of them and remember their faces.

Because I am petty, so I would probably be none too pleased if I ever recognized one of Shuai Jiao’s former supporters. No, stop talking like he’s already dead and gone. There’s still a chance we can come to an agreement. A snowflake’s chance in hell, but still a chance.

Finding Shuai Jiao inside the manor is easy enough, as he’s holding his discussion in the courtyard gazebo. Looming in his seat on the raised structure and looking down on me from above, Shuai Jiao’s displeasure is clear to all, which means its a carefully crafted facade meant for our watching audience. Aside from the Commander General, there’s Yong Jin sitting beside him, as well as Aunty Jeong, Da’in, and Seoyoon sitting across from them. Geom-Chi is conspicuously absent, probably because he’s a sis-con who would’ve objected to this political marriage, but otherwise, there are less than thirty guards and servants present, including my Death Corps escort. The audience I was talking about however is not present in the flesh, but rather enjoying the show from a careful distance through Scrying or other mundane means.

That being said, I would like to note that the gazebo looks pretty new, and it conveniently blocks directly line of sight from elevated positions outside the wall. Smart man, this Commander General, and adaptable too, but unfortunately for him, I’m two steps ahead.

“Legate Rain,” Shuai Jiao begins, all too familiar and without offering a salute or even getting out of his chair. “This one was not expecting you to grace us with your presence.” Eyeing my Death Corps Guards standing over his subdued soldiers, he adds, “If you had sent word ahead, I would have gladly left instructions for my gate guards.”

“Sure.” Not even caring to play along, I wave Kuang Biao aside and approach the gazebo, stopping mid-way to turn back and gesture for Jorani to come along. “Hello Aunty Jeong,” I begin, stepping up to the table to stand between the two parties but refusing to take a seat. A power move, to loom over the seated guests, or it would be if I wasn’t still shorter than most of them. At least Da’in and Seoyoon aren’t freakishly tall, but stupid Yong-Jin is still eye to eye with me, and it only gets worse from there. “You don’t mind if I keep calling you Aunty, do you? Da’in, you’re looking well as always, and Seoyoon, I suppose congratulations are in order?” Tilting my head to study her icy expression, I ask, “They are right? If not, then you only need to say the word and...”

“You –”

Angered by the implication, Yong-Jin surges to his feet only for his Mentor to push him back down into his chair. Unperturbed, Seoyoon clenches her fists and meets my eyes with what can only be described as apologetic resignation. “Thank you, Rain,” she says, using my name rather than title for the first time. “I am... regretful for the circumstances, but wholly in agreement with this marriage moving forward.”

Hardly the most enthusiastic of brides, but a willing one it seems. Turning to Aunty Jeong, the formidable woman shows no shame or contrition, only the determination to do what is best for her family. “As a young girl, I ran away from home to marry the man of my dreams, and I have never regretted a moment since.” Softening as she turns her gaze upon her youngest daughter, Aunty Jeong adds, “I would not force my daughters to do something even I would not. She had the final say, and only then did we move forward with this marriage.”

“I see.” Disappointed though I might be, the Ryo family owes me nothing, so I take things in stride and turn to Shuai Jiao instead. “Well congratulations.” Gesturing at Jorani, I continue, “This is the commander of my retinue, Jorani. He’s here as a distraction. Anyways, sorry to interrupt the planning process, but I’ve come on urgent business to ask about my armies, the ones which have yet to arrive in SuiHua. Where are my soldiers, Commander General?”

Eyes widening ever so slightly at my direct approach and wondering just why I would reveal Jorani as a distraction, Shuai Jiao takes a second to consider his answer before responding in kind. “They are not your soldiers, but soldiers of the Empire, and they will remain where they are until I order them otherwise. You have contributed greatly to the Empire’s defence and are worthy of respect, but I cannot in good conscience go along with your foolhardy plan.”

“I recall going through a lengthy planning process to which you were privy to, Colonel General, one which took place over a matter of weeks.” Raising an eyebrow, I keep my sarcasm to a bare minimum while adding, “Seems like that would’ve been a great time to bring up your concerns.”

As Shuai Jiao slam his fist on the table and sets all the various cups and tea pots a clanging, it occurs to me that my attempts to limit my sarcasm were lacking in effectiveness. “I’ve said it time and time again, boy. Your intentions are good, but your efforts to retake the West can only end in misery and death. You have set your eye one an impossible goal with no benefit to be had, all for the sake of your ego. We will take the fight to the Enemy and win, and then what? We will have sacrificed thousands of good soldiers all so we can slaughter of untold millions of tortured captives.” Visible shaking from agitation, Shuai Jiao looks older and more defeated than I ever thought possible, a man who knows what needs to be done, but cannot stomach the thought of doing so.

A good thing too. If he wasn’t affected by the prospect of slaughtering millions of innocents, he’d be just as bad as most other Nobles of the Empire. Maybe there’s some truth to his reputation after all.

Stifling the urge to sigh, I keep my cool and reply, “And I told you, that is not your concern.”

“Just because you say it, does not make it so.” Fixing me with a glare brimming with righteous fury, Shuai Jiao flattens his palms against his table as if fighting the urge to break it. “I have overlooked the grave risks you took in accepting Major Gao Changgong’s refugees, becausea I could not bring myself to consign those good men and women to death after they fought so hard to escape the horrors of the west, but a few thousand soldiers is nothing compared to the millions still living in the West. What is your grand plan then, hmm? Smuggle everyone North where they will be ‘safe’? And what of the Defiled malcontents who slip through your webs? You do not need me to tell you how insidious the Enemy can be, but even if you have the Spider MuYang under your employ, it matters no how many precautions you take. Some Defiled will escape detection and live to spread their foul taint, and what then, boy? Will you oversee a purge of your home province? Of course not, because you lack the stones to see things through. You will enact half measures and watch in horror at the destruction you have wrought, and I cannot understand why no one else cares enough to stand against you.” Deploying his Domain as he stands from his chair, Shuai Jiao moves his Disciple behind him and takes his stance, both palms forward with right arm extended and left held back, ready to fight me head on if I should make a move now. “You are either a child playing at being the hero, or the Falling Rain we knew is dead and gone while a monster stands here in his place, but regardless of the truth, I will not stand idly by as you lead us towards destruction. So come now. Make your move and show us your truth. Are you foolish child, traitorous scion, or something in between? Whatever it is, this one stands ready to oppose you.”

...

He thinks I’ve been taken over by Zhen Shi?

Is that why I’ve been abandoned by the Legate? I thought he’d already figured out I was clean, but then again, I suppose there’s no way to prove it. That’s the problem, isn’t it? How do I prove a negative? How do I show Shuai Jiao that not only am I Falling Rain, I am also wholly capable of achieving the goal I’ve set for us?

Why do I need to prove anything to him?

I’m Legate Falling Rain. Highest Ranking Official in the Outer Provinces. Shuai Jiao is Commander General, but all it would take is a single sentence to see that title stripped away. I might not hold the loyalty of all the soldiers of the Empire, I should hold more than enough to overcome the rebellious elements, except I know we will not survive civil war. He knows it too, but his overblown ego won’t let him accept any possibility besides victory and success. Fucking hell, he wholly believes we can conquer the West, and his only issue is what comes next. If that’s not ego, I don’t know what is.

Which means short of undeniable proof to put to rest all his worries, which I don’t have, he’ll fight me to the death rather than let me go through with my plans. So what now? Take a step back? No, I cannot afford to show weakness, because doing so would be all but handing him command of the outer provinces on a silver platter. Not the worst idea, but he’ll leave millions to suffer in the West because he sees no other option. Stupid, prideful bastard. I don’t see any way forward besides killing him and all of his loyal underlings, a grievous blow to the Empire’s strength, but one we can afford.

Closing my eyes, I Send, “Proceed as planned,” before turning around to leave Shuai Jiao’s manor. Shocked by my sudden departure, no one says a word as I make my way across the courtyard in a slow but steady manner.

Right up until Jorani, who I forgot was still with me, tugs on my sleeve and says, “Err, bossman?”

God, not now. Why couldn’t he wait until after my cool exit? The whole point was keep their attention on me and I want look good doing it, but now it’s all ruined. “Yea Jorani?”

“Err, mebbe it ain’t my place to say anything, but uh...” Glancing back at Shuai Jiao and the others, most of whom are pale with worry, Jorani leans in and whispers, “Well... is there any reason why ye can’t just... ye know. Tell ‘em?” Seeing my confusion, he adds, “Ye know, about what ye did fer me. Seems like that’d solve yer problems, ye? Bet on the man, not the dice, and I reckon’ if anyone can be trusted, it’s the Commander General. Though I dunno what he talkin’ about ye bein’ a monster and whatnot, so mebbe that’s the problem. If so, then pretend I just didn’t say a thing and we can just...”

As Jorani rambles on in nervous banter, I stop to consider why telling Shuai Jiao about my ability to Devour Spectres and Cleanse the tainted never entered my mind. Why did I get so angry too? And god damn, the ego on me. ‘Hurr, I’m the Legate, I don’t have to explain myself’. Where the fuck did that come from?

...

Zhen Shi?

...

......

No. Doesn’t feel like him. Unless... that’s the point... god, I don’t know anymore.

One thing’s for sure though. I can’t leave things like this. “Abort mission and come to the courtyard,” I Send, grateful I’d opted against using violence to deal with Shuai Jiao. Returning to the table, I take a seat and gather my thoughts while ignoring the curious stares from everyone present. Shuai Jiao has yet to retake his seat, but Aunty Jeong and her daughters have been seated this whole time, which really speaks volume about their nerves. Once I’ve figured out what I’m going to say, I look Shuai Jiao in the eye and open with, “You know, I was a bee’s dick away from having you killed, but I suppose I could do what my second suggests and explain my plans in depth.” The Commander General’s arrogant harrumph is all I need to know regarding where he stands on the matter, but following Jorani’s advice, I set out to explain my plan. “You may or may not know that I have come into possession of an Elemental Spirit, a Tear of the Mother which...”

Though news of my ability to Cleanse the Defiled will undoubtedly make it back to Shen ZhenWu’s ears, I’ve moved beyond caring about that anymore. I have the ability to help millions of people escape torment and Defilement, and I might well be the only living person who can do this, so it would be selfish of me not to do everything I could to save them. If my connection with Blobby is enough to turn the Imperial Clan against me, well, Runic Cannons don’t differentiate between Imperials and Defiled. The story is long in the telling, and Monk Happy emerges from Concealment to lend credence to my words, but even then, I can tell Shuai Jiao isn’t wholly convinced. When all is said and done, the afternoon has grown late and my belly empty, so I stand from my chair and say, “Do what you need to do, but I march West within the week. If South and Central will not march with me, then I will save who I can and retreat home to the North.” Without breaking eye contact with Shuai Jiao, I say, “Alright, time to head home.”

Which is Pong Pong’s key phrase to stand down. Dropping Concealment from around his ward but keeping it around himself, the Divine Turtle reveals Siyar to the crowd, who unbeknownst to me decided he’d rather stand physically behind Shuai Jiao than next to me. This of course has the unintentional effect of making it look like a threat, one which is well worth it for the look on Shuai Jiao’s face, but just as I open my mouth to explain myself and apologize, I instead lean into the power move and say, “You either stand with me, or against me, Commander General. I would much prefer we work together, and hope that the requisite soldiers arrive in SuiHua on schedule.” With that, I bid everyone except Yong-Jin farewell because I’m petty like that, and stride out of the manor with Jorani and Siyar at my sides while leaving Monk Happy behind to answer the Commander General’s questions.

I’ve laid my bets, so now all that’s left to do is see how the dice land.