Chương 41: Storm Princess

"Then I expect to see a Foundation tomorrow morning." Leaving these words, Yin Baozhai stepped firmly on the ground, faint sparks cracking at her feet. With a whoosh, she landed at the end of the stairs, kicking up a cloud of dust. A few passing disciples frowned, but upon seeing her, their frowns gave way to fake smiles, their steps quickening. Their thunder hummed in a mix of fear and respect. Hollow tones. Some wavered sharply, others dulled flat. Ordinary. Brittle.

She ignored them, her steps brisk, her mind lingering elsewhere. Truth to be told, her 'talent' as Stormblooded was more of a curse rather than a blessing. Since the day she was born, she had an unexpected companion in the form of a small storm cloud, letting her hear others' thunder, or at least the equivalent of it. And as she grew, she began to hate almost every single melody, for after a certain age, they all turned ugly. Raw.

Gone were the pure, soothing hums of innocence, leaving their place to a foreign coldness. Some growled like beasts chained in cages, others cracked sharp with cruelty, and some droned dull, their sparks long since smothered. With time, she had learned to read them well. That alien feeling? It was their true face beneath their polished facades. And the more she listened, the more she realized how foul people were. The greed, hunger, desperation, destruction, lust, envy… they were evil.

No matter how they tried to mask, to her bloodline, to her gift, thunder was truth itself. It could not lie. Of course, not all were rotten inside. She knew that. Rare a few still carried a soothing, gentle melody even past youth, like her mother. But that was all, people were either one way or the other— all thundered in black or white. Until she met Ren. His had always been different.

It had a jagged, cracked, and sometimes even static rumble, yet the melody it wove in the end left her with a sense of justice— stubborn and bright, as though it belonged to a clueless child dreaming of being a hero. However, beneath it ran a deeper growl, something dark. Something… unfamiliar. She had never encountered a 'sound' like his. At times, that growl would swell until it overlapped the rest entirely, as if two storms resided within him. It was unsettling, yet at the same time— Fascinating…

Her lips curved faintly. Especially today. His melody had jerked the gloominess he'd carried since that day, turning it warm, the jagged jerkiness steadying into a calm beat. Baozhai could see the genuine care in his gaze toward the kids, and while feasting together, all their melodies sang a refreshing song, like eating ice cream on a hot day.

"Core disciple Yin Baozhai, welcome." Just then, a relaxed voice woke her up from her thoughts. She nodded as a greeting to the blue-robed disciple, pressing her lips into a flat line"Your table is already prepared. Do you want me to show the way?" said the disciple, his smile faint.

"No need," Baozhai said, stepping past the grand doors as she ignored the quavering growl of Little Cloud, her head held high. Heavenly Master Peak loomed in front of her— though calling it a 'peak' was a little incorrect. Instead, it was a flat expanse upon which the first Peak Master began building. Generation after generation continued after him, and brick by brick they raised a monument of black stone; a beast of a tower climbing more than thirty floors until it rivaled the surrounding peaks in height.

A mountain made by arrogance. The atmosphere instantly changed as Baozhai felt the familiar oppression of everlasting storm clouds covering the top floors. Little Cloud chirped as if greeting her big sisters, and the thunder rumbled faintly as though answering it. Sighing, Baozhai pushed open the doors. A flurry of hurried movements greeted her, disciples in dark gray robes running around with absurd amounts of papers in hand.

Almost all of them had glaring dark circles under their eyes, their thunders droning the same tune— dull obedience, worry and fear. She had heard it so many times that it no longer registered as a sound, only static. Poor guys. Her pace never faltered. She crossed the length of the tower, passing through its luxurious but soulless corridors into the rear courtyard. Warmth struck her first, torches blazing high in bronze braziers, their flames mirrored by crystal lamps that floated lazily above the banquet grounds.

Chairs and tables sprawled everywhere were already filled to the brim, the air was alive with voices and laughter that rang too loud and shallow. Beyond the tower's oppressive shadow, the sky stretched wide and bare, orange with the last glimmers of sun disappearing at the horizon. Little Cloud stirred immediately, a cacophony of growls and hums reflecting into her mind. Most blue-robbed inner disciples had the same quavering melodies, their thunder wavering like strings plucked too tight.

The elders hissed low and sharp, catching an almost static, steady tune. But the core disciples— ah, theirs rolled deep and guttural, rumbling whenever their gaze shifted. Wolves wearing human skin, disgusting bastards. Gritting her teeth at their irritating buzzing, Baozhai drew a steadying breath and stepped forward. All the clamor was cut off by her presence as she walked under their stares like an exotic animal in a zoo exhibition. Even after thirteen years, their gaze had not changed in the slightest.

What can I say, I'm happy that I'm not one of them, she thought, holding back the urge to shake her head. She found her table in a quiet corner, close to the stage at the back end, yet deliberately apart from everyone else. Though it would be a lie if she said she wasn't satisfied with it. She didn't have any intention to 'mingle' with others at all. Not while Little Cloud whining like a broken clock. Fortunately, no one was foolish enough to invade her space.

As soon as she sat, the hollow laughter returned, grating against her ears. High-pitched whispers— which were deliberate, of course— flew toward her.

"Heh, our Storm Princess finally remembered which peak she belongs to, huh?"

"Look at who's talking. Be real, man, who wouldn't want to clinch at the Eldest's thick thighs? You'd do the same if you were in her position."

"Thick thighs, tch! You meant crippled thighs, right? That troublemaker got what he deserved." Baozhai clenched her fists under the table, feeling the quavering, uneven melody of theirs.

"Watch your tone, fucker. Even if he is a troublemaker— which he most definitely is— Brother Wang is the Eldest," intervened a core disciple whose name she didn't know. His tone was solemn and respectful, yet his thunder told another story. The sultry hum of it twisted Little Cloud, soft and rolling, clinging to her skin like damp heat before rain. He stole a glance at Baozhai, thinking she wouldn't notice the slight curl at his lips. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road.

If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Baozhai snorted softly, though she remained silent as another disciple chimed in.

"I don't know man. The Eldest was great until… you knew, that fated event. Now I'm not sure if he is still fit for the position. We are a Supreme sect, for heaven's sake. The Eldest needs to be strong. Even if I didn't care, other sects wouldn't leave it."

"You're right. It's a dangerous job. Maybe he should retire for his own sake." A blond, muscular disciple agreed.

"Hmph, you forgot who he is just because something bad happened once, huh?" a female disciple with black hair cut in, glaring at the other core disciples.

"Eldest brother Wang entered the Trial of Thorns alone and returned alive. With. Freaking. Victory." Baozhai arched a brow, feeling her jagged thunder creaking without rhythm, snarling like a wild beast.

"Yeah, yeah, we know that already, Senior Sister Meifeng, but the past is the past— old glories won't save today, don't you agree?" the same blond answered with a crooked smile. Then he leaned forward, his eyes provocatively on Baozhai.

"Or do you think that the ducklings he accepted can change this fact? Especially that walking dead?" Baozhai stared at her fists, an image of planting it on that smile playing in her mind. His mouth was big, but nothing a few more punches couldn't fix the 'mistake' his parents made… Not worth it, Baozhai reminded herself, shaking her head aside. There will always be idiots. You can't educate every single one of them. Still, she glared at them, her golden eyes piercing.

Even though the core disciples just shrugged under her gaze, they still shut up, feeling her Core Formation aura slipping slightly. That's better. Someone needs to remind them who they are talking about. Hmph. The feast's chatter swelled again when she picked up and sipped her wine. Their talk shifted back to more ordinary, day-to-day topics like how their cultivation is going along, new missions, that sort of things.

Baozhai paid them little heed; instead, her gaze was on the stage, wondering the real reason behind today's feast. Xue Tian wasn't a vain one, no matter how arrogant and showy he looked. Instead, he was a man of focus, the type who weighed even the measure of his own steps. Just like her brother— A heavy gong struck three times, cutting her thoughts. She lifted her head to see the torches bending without a wind, and even the floating lamps dimming.

Little Cloud hissed violently, its growl splitting into sharp cracks that stabbed behind her eyes. Baozhai's fingers twitched over her cup, already knowing why. From the top of the tower, storm clouds rumbled— not in the natural kind, but arcs of golden lightning rolling lazily over a black coat. A man floated down until he stood right above the stage. The main character of tonight had arrived.

Master Xue Tian wore the same foreign-style attire, garments pressed and ironed to perfection, not a trace of a crease showing. His beard, his hair, everything about his being seemed carved with surgical precision. Yet Baozhai did not care about them. She heard thunder. His thunder carried not melody, nor growl, nor hiss. It felt like silence at first, vast and crushing, but then came a howl. Long, hoarse, and thick. The more she strained to ignore, the more her ears filled with nothing but its echo.

Little Cloud cowered, shrieking its dissonant protest. Baozhai took deep breaths, one hand on her heart, but her pulse only hammered faster. She had known thunder that was cruel, thunder that was petty, thunder that was broken. But this… this man carried none of them. What he had was something she couldn't name, yet still found terrifying. And it had grown louder.

"Children of Heavenly Master Peak," Master Xue said, his voice firm but low, yet carrying itself as if even the air respected it. Every chuckle, every shallow conversation blended into silence.

"And our respected Elders. I'm honored to host you after the long years I was away, so I prepared something special." He paused, a faint smile settling on his lips. Waving a hand, a blue head the size of a one-floored house appeared on the stage. A fierce wave with draconic might soared, even the strongest core disciples flinching. The same was true for Baozhai. Her hands, clasping around the glass, trembled wildly. A shriveled, almost disappearing roar lingered in her ears.

Around her, thunder shifted in a dozen directions. Fear hissed as sharp as knives, heavy caution droned, but it got crushed by the low rumbles, hungry and full of desire.

"Fear not, of the remaining glory of a beast, children," Master Xue continued without a change in expression, "For it's only our food now." His words helped to erase the fearful hisses.

"You might wonder why, of course. Why did I choose such extravagance for nothing more than a meal?" A slight glimmer flickered through his gaze, but what it meant was impossible to ascertain.

"The reason is, my children, we stand on the edge of a new era," he uttered as he stepped on the stage at last.

"The heavens stirred, and the Celestial Court answered. Weapons of sacred might delivered to the ones deserving… yesterday." Baozhai felt as if his gray eyes flicked her way, so brief that she thought she must've imagined it. Still, she arched a brow as Master Xue motioned toward the backstage. Celestial Court broke their silence, huh? But why? And what— The curtains parted, interrupting her thoughts. A woman strode forward, tall and slender, her black hair bound into a high tail that swayed like a whip behind her.

Every step rang sharp, armored boots clanging against the stone. She wore no flowing robes, only scaled armor that shimmered faintly blue under the torchlight, glimmering under the floating lamps. And her thunder… Baozhai heaved out another huge sigh. It snarled, raw and unashamed, like claws raking through everything in their way. Harsh. Wild. Untamed. Unlike the veiled tones of others, this one hid behind nothing. It bared its fangs, daring the world to resist.

Master Xue's faint smile widened as the woman came to stand beside him.

"Let's give a warm welcome and show thanks to our guest, Yue Yanling," he said smoothly, "Eldest of Azure Sky Sect…" The crowd shifted uneasily as he let the pause hang, eyes glinting.

"For her gift of this adult Hollowsky Dragon and for today's feast!" Baozhai tightened her grip on her cup, frowning with confusion. Her gift, huh? Since when do we have a good relationship with Azure Sky? But not knowing or ignoring her worries, the crowd erupted. Applause thundered everywhere, and most disciples stood up. Yue Yanling's lips curled slightly, her gaze sweeping across with indifference, hands resting on two slender hammers hung on her belt.

"I know that some… unsightly things happened in the past between our two sects," she started, her voice soft but with a magnetic quality.

"And as a long-time admirer of the righteous Judgment Sect, the rift between us always pained my heart. But thankfully, my feelings were not one-sided…" Baozhai tuned out the fake flattery, turning her thoughts instead to the words of Master Xue once again. What was the connection between the Eldest of Azure and the Celestial Court that made the man start his speech like that? Weapons of sacred might… her gaze inevitably pulled to the hammers, her heart skipping a beat.

Could it be they were only bestowed upon the bearers? But Ren—"… so I, as the representative of Azure Sky Sect, will stand with Judgment Sect in this new era. We don't know what danger lies ahead in our fates, but as long as we stand together, there's nothing we can't face!" Yue Yanling's sudden shout and the ensuing clapping and cheers forced Baozhai out of her thoughts. She raised her head, glaring at everyone around her.

But unlike what she expected, she found most disciples frowning even if they clapped, their thunders rippling with unease. However, Master Xue's smile remained. He didn't say anything; instead, he raised a glass that a disciple offered and drank it in one gulp. Everyone took the signal and raised their glasses. Afterward, the plates were served in seconds.

Master Xue, Yue Yanling, and another unfamiliar woman with a low, cautious growl— most probably the guardian of the Eldest— proceed to seat themselves at the main table right under the stage. Baozhai reluctantly tore her gaze away from them. Looking at her plate, she let out a sigh. Although the meat gave off a strong, savory aroma and glistened with a faint bluish light, she just had no appetite for it. I don't want Old Void breathing on my nape.

Slipping the meat quickly into her storage ring, Baozhai continued to study others. Contrary to what was expected at a feast involving dragon meat, save for the clinking of knives and forks, the silence was almost tangible. Perhaps they were drawn in by the dragon meat's appeal. Or maybe they were just stunned by what had happened. Either way, the time passed amidst the tense atmosphere, and desserts were served.

The darkness of night had already covered the sky by that time, and a huge fire lit in the middle ground, with some talented juniors volunteering to sing and dance. Thanks to their talents, a tiny bit of joy, fitting for such a grand feast, finally sparked. Eh, no matter how shallow, it is better than silence, she thought, propping her chin upon her hand. She stole glances at those slender hammers from time to time, noting the golden carvings on their handles.

They looked noble, she had to admit, and surprisingly a good fit for the girl's image with their slender form. The carvings weren't only ornamental, she was sure of that as they pulsed faintly. Her gaze lingered longer than she intended, trying to understand their rhythm—"If you want, I can let you have a closer look, Storm Princess." Yue Yanling's calm but cutting voice suddenly pierced through the din of music and chatter.