Chương 360: Chapter 306: Let’s Talk About the Future

~~~"What did you even do?" Liu Jin asks while healing Huang Shing's bruised eye. His friend's regeneration should have already mended such a minor injury, but the actions of cultivators in higher realms have the added benefit of permanence. They cannot be easily undone.

"I didn't do anything!" Huang Shing says, flinching as Liu Jin's Qi works on his injury. Liu Jin gives him a look.

"What?!" Huang Shing squirms in place.

"Anyway, she started it! She was mean!"

"She's an old woman," Liu Jin points out.

"Exactly!" Huang Shing says, nodding seriously and crossing his arms.

"I told you this once. Old people are scary because they lived to be old."

"That is unfortunately inarguable," Liu Jin admits. The bruise on Huang Shing's face is fighting him a lot more than he expected. Huang Shing must have really annoyed Lady Zhao.

"All the more reason why you shouldn't open yourself for retribution."

"You're not wrong, but it feels weird that you are the one telling me that, Brother Jin," Huang Shing says. Liu Jin blinks.

"Whatever do you mean?" Huang Shing sighs.

"Never mind," he says.

"I guess I am just a little nervous. You know what happened in the second stage." Liu Jin nods. All ten members of the Eternal Flame Clan's delegation have passed to the third stage. Bei Hong is meditating. Feng Zhi is fuming, and many of the others have gone out to enjoy Imperial Cloud City. Most had a relatively easy time during the second stage, but Huang Shing and Pan Qiu are exceptions.

"You fought Chen Guo. I heard you did well." Huang Shing laughs.

"It was two-on-one, and it still felt too close for comfort. Even if I hadn't kept my cultivation secret, I am not sure we could have won. Chen Guo… he's very strong. Don't tell Feng Zhi I said this because he'll get mad as usual, but I'm certain Chen Guo is stronger than him. That rate of progress is just too unfair."

"You already knew him," Liu Jin notes. Huang Shing nods.

"Before I joined the Eternal Flame Clan," he says.

"After what happened with Feng Zhi, I traveled to seek strength. I met lots of people and did lots of things. Saving a village from a wild beast. Stopping some pirates. That sort of stuff. It felt good, you know? Wandering around doing heroic deeds."

"But with Chen Guo, it was different?"

"It didn't feel that way at first. I was protecting a butcher's daughter from some thugs," Huang Shing says, shrugging his shoulders.

"Things escalated. As usual. By the time Chen Guo became involved, I don't think he quite realized what had happened. Problem is, neither did I. I thought he was some big jerk like Feng Zhi, so I treated him like I wish I had treated Feng Zhi." Huang Shing manages to smile and wince at the same time.

"I was lucky to make it out alive." Liu Jin frowns.

"Do you need our help?" A surprised look appears on Huang Shing's face. He laughs shortly after.

"No, it's not like that. I don't think he wants to kill me. Just beat me up. I don't plan on letting him, obviously. It's just…Thinking back on it, I really was one of those people who couldn't see Mount Tai." It is rare to see Huang Shing in such a contemplative mood. This time, it is not because of depression like how it was when he found out the truth about Yi Jiao. His friend is truly meditating on himself.

"It's easy to have an erroneous image of oneself," Liu Jin says, picking his words carefully.

"Some people think too kindly of themselves, others too harshly, and some manage to do both. If you can look back and recognize your mistakes, I think that's a step in the right direction."

"Is that even something that applies to you, Brother Jin?" Huang Shing asks.

"Of course," Liu Jin says with complete seriousness.

"The person I am now is not the same person that left Eastern Port City many years ago. I have become comfortable doing things the old me would not have approved of. Does that mean I have adapted? Or am I merely decaying? I have to think a lot about that. If I don't do that, I think it will be easy to become someone I do not wish to become." Huang Shing shakes his head.

"You're too much, Brother Jin," he says, smiling.

"If it is all the same to you, I'll stick to doing most of my contemplation in a more physical way."

"That's well and good," Liu Jin replies.

"To be honest, I am envious that you and Bei Hong can operate that way." Huang Shing chuckles.

"We're just profound thinkers that way." Liu Jin laughs. ~~~ Su Daji wakes up staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. The red tells her everything she needs to know about where she is. The impossibly ornate crystal chandelier made with gold only reinforces it. It must have taken a craftsman several months to make, yet it is being used to decorate a bedroom instead of a common area. A part of her wants to close her eyes and go back to sleep.

Alas, even though the bed is soft like a cloud, no amount of comfort can truly satisfy her right now. Besides, she has a guest.

"You are not the Boss," she says, raising her body to a sitting position and folding her hands over her lap. Instincts with wildly different ideas as to how she should conduct herself war within her.

"No, I am not," says the woman in the room with her, a beautiful redhead with golden eyes. Lu Mei, if she remembers correctly.

"He had important matters to attend to. I thought we could use this opportunity to get to know each other." Su Daji studies her carefully. There is an abundance of cleverness in the girl's golden eyes. Part of her finds her lacking. Part of her distrusts her immediately.

"Did you just try to imply I was not an important matter?" Su Daji asks.

"Nothing of the sort," Lu Mei replies.

"No," Su Daji says, rolling her shoulders a little. The more she talks, the easier it is to think.

"You definitely did. I know because a part of me used to do the same. Minor slights are a great way to test someone." She frowns.

"I don't like it." Lu Mei's expression barely falters. Most would not have caught the slight irritation coming from her, but having two lifetimes somewhere in her soul, one significantly longer than the other, helps Su Daji notice the little things.

"I suppose we could be frank. It will be a relatively novel experience for me," Lu Mei says.

"You were precious to Qing Jin once upon a time. At least, a part of you was. Getting you back, even in this changed state, has given him a measure of peace." Ah. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Su Daji suddenly understands. She has no idea why it has taken her this long when it should have been obvious to both her former selves. Perhaps she's still too sleepy.

"However, if you aren't who you say you are, if this is some sort of ploy by you or the Wandering Wind, it will hurt him," Lu Mei says. The temperature rises, yet the girl's golden eyes are cold.

"If that happens, I will make you regret it." She is being threatened.

"I take it back," Su Daji says after letting several seconds pass.

"I like you." Lu Mei raises an eyebrow.

"I don't recall you saying you disliked me."

"It was implied," Su Daji says.

"Anyway, it was a good threat. Boss is lucky to have someone like you with him. He's too kind. Always was. If he doesn't have someone looking out for him, he'll never think to look out for himself. He's annoying that way." Lu Mei frowns and crosses her arms.

"You're making this complicated."

"Considering my origin, I don't think there is any way I can make things simple," Su Daji replies, shrugging her shoulders.

"Which part of it all annoys you most?"

"The part where I am starting to think you're telling the truth," Lu Mei says.

"I had hoped to come here to meet a clever liar."

"I was that. A part of me, at least, but I don't care much for it now. An honest life is more satisfying. You should try it." Su Daji suddenly grimaces.

"Sorry, that wasn't meant to be an insult. It's the fox side of me. She enjoyed making women angry." It made them sloppy and easier to execute, but mentioning that is probably not a good idea.

"If you're being honest," Lu Mei says, heavily stressing the if, "it means Qing Jin has reunited with a dear friend, albeit one who has undergone several changes."

"But?" Su Daji prompts.

"But you're a creation of the Wandering Wind," Lu Mei points out, making Su Daji's face darken.

"There is no telling what that woman has done to your soul. You could pose a danger to us without knowing about it."

"I see," Su Daji says, looking down at her bedsheets. They are made of silk.

"That is…" Entirely possible. The Wandering Wind is not cruel. In some ways, she can even be called kind. However, the gap between her and everyone around her is so vast that she can be unbelievably callous without realizing it.

"A long time ago, Liu Jin helped me with my cultivation," Su Daji says, seemingly changing the subject.

"Unlike you or even that stupid Big Nose, I was never that talented. His help was necessary to improve my standing within the Xiao Sect. However, it's also why Su An was compatible enough to become a vessel of Su Daji. He feels guilty about it, but there is no reason to. When Eastern Port City fell, I was going to be sold off with other women. I planned my escape carefully and almost immediately decided there was no way for me to save those other women. They'd have slowed me down, you see.

I was more concerned with saving myself, so I left them all to their fates."

"Is there a point to this?" Lu Mei finally asks. Su Daji smiles.

"The point is that Boss might have helped my cultivation, but what truly made Su An endure the process is that, just like Su Daji, she was someone who desperately desired to continue existing. Not for the same reasons, obviously, but it created enough of an affinity. That is what ultimately gave birth to me," Su Daji says, smiling while pointing at herself.

"I am tired of thinking of survival. If I ever become a threat to Liu Jin… please kill me. Don't let me hurt him, and don't let him be the one to do it." Lu Mei glares at her.

"You're not making this easy at all." Su Daji smiles sadly.

"Like I said before, I am someone who cannot be anything but complicated." ~~~ The meeting between Su Daji and Lu Mei is far from the only important event happening in Imperial Cloud City. As the tournament's final stage draws near and even more important people arrive, many critical conversations happen behind closed doors. The Golden Bowl, one of the city's best restaurants, is hosting one such meeting.

"Brother! It has been so long." Xiao Fang does not say anything. He merely hugs Xiao Shuang in silence, squeezing her with such strength that he would be hurting her if her level of cultivation wasn't exemplary. After many years, the siblings have reunited. Liu Jin watches it all happen with a smile while standing to the side. Xiao Shuang notices this and immediately pulls him into the hug. It speaks volumes that Xiao Fang neither complains nor pulls away from Liu Jin.

The three children from Eastern Port City, now young adults, are together at last. Several minutes later, the waiters have brought appetizers and drinks for them. They are seated at a private table on the second level of the Golden Bowl, and more food will be arriving soon.

"You should have visited me," Xiao Shuangs says.

"Both of you."

"I apologize once more for my hesitation," Liu Jin says.

"I can only be grateful we have been able to use the mirrors to keep in touch."

"They have made things easier," Xiao Shuang admits, beaming at him.

"Even if it has been from a distance, it has been a pleasure to talk to you, husband." Her gaze shifts to Xiao Fang.

"I was not in a position to contact you," Xiao Fang protests.

"That witch was hunting me at every turn!"

"One could argue that the Divine Frozen Palace would have been the safest place for you to hide from Xiao Yifan," Liu Jin notes, making Xiao Fang immediately glare at him.

"He's right," Xiao Shuang says.

"Brother, I do not wish to diminish your efforts, but the Divine Frozen Palace could have protected you from our Aunt far more effectively."

"I needed to talk to the Branch Masters," Xiao Fang says, still glaring at Liu Jin.

"The Divine Frozen Palace could have kept me safe, but they would have made me look useless. No one would have trusted me if I merely hid away while Xiao Yifan took what was mine." Xiao Shuang sighs.

"It pains me that I cannot deny that. Still, you could have visited me at least once."

"I sent letters," Xiao Fang says, looking guilty.

"I sent you gifts!" Xiao Shuang smiles.

"The egg was appreciated, but the joy she has given me pales compared to what your presence would have brought me." Liu Jin blinks.

"Egg?" He tilts his head as he looks at Xiao Shuang.

"An Imperial Eagle egg?" Once upon a time, the Xiao Sect gained three Black-Winged Imperial Eagle eggs. Xiao Fang was given custody of them. He hatched one and gave another to Liu Jin. That left only one.

"Indeed," Xiao Shuang says.

"A Black-Winged Eagle like your Soaring Feather or Brother's Talon. I call her Snow."

"I held on to that egg for a long time," Xiao Fang says.

"Black-Winged Imperial Eagles are valuable, so I always thought I might have to trade or sell it. However, I could never bring myself to do it. Giving it to you was something I should have done from the start. We are the three who survived Eastern Port City. It is only fitting that the eagles go to us."

"As much as I appreciate the sentiment, It is not just the three of us, brother," Xiao Shuang says.

"Cousin Nan is alive as well."

"I was never giving him an egg," Xiao Fang says darkly.

"That guy is already too talented. He does not need wings to fly."

"Are you praising him or insulting him?" Liu Jin wonders.

"Neither. Both." Xiao Fang grouses, crossing his arms.

"Who cares?"

"Brother, if you're going to be like that, I am going to feel sorry for Sister Shen Mi."

"Shen Mi?" Liu Jin blinks as he turns to Xiao Shuang.

"One of the members of the Divine Frozen Palace's delegation? What does she have to do with this?"

"We're not talking about that!" Xiao Fang cuts in.

"If you're going to have fun at my expense, we might as well get down to business." Liu Jin and Xiao Shuang's expressions grow serious. They are not just here for pleasure.

"Let's talk about the future of my Sect," Xiao Fang says. ~~~"How can it be that there is not a single one!" Ten Zichun walks through a busy marketplace wearing a despondent look. Though he is in a relatively wealthy area, people give him a wide berth as he walks. As a disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan, this much is only natural.

"I don't see why you're complaining," Gan Nanfeng says, looking at her nails.

"We knew his matches were not shown. There was no point coming here to look for memory jades."

"I had hopes."

"An obsession, perhaps," Gan Nanfeng counters.

"You even bought the jades of his first-stage matches! Those were all people surrendering to him!"

"I promised those to Senior Brother Lei," the disciple defends himself.

"I could not bear to disappoint him! It is completely natural."

"No, it is definitely unnatural," Yi Jiao says, her words spearing through Ten Zichun's heart.

"Paradoxically, it might also be completely natural," Fan Bingbing says.

"I believe it is the norm for us to all be a little unnatural."

"Sister Fan, do not encourage him," Gan Nanfeng says.

"Really, this is such a beautiful day, and it's such a beautiful city. There's so much we could be doing. Buying jades is pointless, anyway. We already have plenty of those of us." Information is a valuable asset. As such, every single fight shown in the second stage has already been recorded by the Eternal Flame Clan. Dozens of memory jades are waiting for them to study back at the estate. Tactics like that are the main reason why people do their best to keep their full abilities hidden until the final stage.

"We are being watched," Fan Bingbing says. Yi Jiao and Gan Nanfeng nod. Ten Zichun frowns. Pan Qiu groans.

"Why did I have to be here?" the disciple says, hanging his head. Gan Nanfeng jabs him with her elbow.

"Stand up straight. You know it is all about image," she says through her Qi.

"It is important for us to be seen walking outside without a care in the world. Ugh! This would be so much easier if the Young Master were here. No offense meant." Saying their Young Master is sulking because all he could find in the Crimson Cloud is a paper-knife would be rude. However, it would not be entirely wrong.

"None taken," Yi Jiao replies. She looks remarkably at ease.

"He just needs time. Don't worry. This will do him good." No one gets the chance to ask how exactly this will do Feng Zhi good. They are all distracted by the presence that suddenly appears on the horizon. Feng Shang of the Eternal Flame Clan draws near. ~~~