Chapter 733
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Chapter 733
Ive said it before and Ill say it again.
Just because Im paranoid doesnt mean people arent out to get me.
In the days following my meeting with Shuai Jiao, I spent many a waking moment reviewing my memories and breaking down every possible nuance of every word, action, and expression. You know, normal stuff I usually do with every other social interaction I take part in, just more in-depth because it was a really important meeting. After the initial relief of having avoided murder and bloodshed passed, I discovered that no matter how I looked at it, the math just never added up. Im not talking about means and motives or words and actions, but plain, simple numbers. Jeong Hyo-Lynn, Dain, and Seoyoon makes three participants, four if Geom-Chi had come along to the meeting. Even though he didnt, Im still going to count him just because, while Shuai Jiao and Yong-Jin make six. Six people to sit in on the meeting, under the protective cover of a newly-built pagoda, one so new it didnt even have a coat of varnish, though the table and chairs were finished and likely brought out from somewhere else. Now, Im no expert on construction, but varnish seems like a pretty vital step for an outdoor structure made of wood, so its safe to assume the whole thing was really a last minute addition to the courtyard, likely to avoid getting shot by MuYang from afar.
So, my question is, if the pagoda was built for this one meeting, why bring out such a huge table and so many extra chairs?
The moment this thought crossed my mind, I almost immediately dismissed it, because theres nothing stopping Shuai Jiao from using the pagoda for other meetings in the future, so why cant he have a big table to throw dinner parties for... however many guests he can fit?
Then it hit me. I could not for the life of me remember how many chairs were at the table. Definitely more than seven, as I wasnt sitting directly beside anyone, but the exact number escaped me. That was the first clue that something was wrong, my inability to remember this single, minor detail. The total number of chairs seems like such a small thing to forget, but once my attention was drawn to this discrepancy, I realized I couldnt even remember how many chairs were between me and Seoyoon, or between Shuai Jiao and Jeong Hyo Lynn. I know there were definitely empty seats, as in more than one, but beyond that, my memory is a blank. I even remember finding it odd that the two parties sat so far apart, as it seemed like a strange way to discuss a marriage, but thats as far as my thought process went. Maybe the pressure had gotten to me and I didnt bother counting seats, or maybe I derped and dismissed it as an unimportant detail, except I was there for a decent amount of time telling my story and I spent the entire time on high alert.nove(l)bi(n.)com
Which means I spent all that time worrying about a fight breaking out without measuring the distance between me and my closest threats. No. Nuh uh. Thats not me.
Of course, once I found this loose thread, I was compelled to pick away at it until things made sense again. I obsessed over the details and questioned everything that happened, like why was Monk Happy there, ready and waiting to answer my question at the drop of a hat? At the time, I assumed it was because he was following me around like the busybody he is. I mean, he did it during the boat ride over while I was asking Dad about Milas disappearing and reappearing nausea, but what I didnt notice until I looked at the facts with chairs in mind is that Monk Happy appeared behind yet another empty section of seats. Not too close to me but not too close to Shuai Jiao either, which was something I noted, and this resulted in dividing us into four, neat little groups, with myself, the Ryos, Shuai Jiao, and Monk Happy each occupying one fourth of the table.
Except I didnt know Monk Happy was there until he dropped Concealment, yet I positioned myself as if he were already there, standing and Concealed at one quadrant of the table. If hed accompanied me into Shuai Jiaos manor, then it would stand to reason that his Concealment wouldnt affect where I chose to stand or sit from the get go, and thus Id have picked somewhere equidistant from both visible parties and divided the table into thirds. Except I didnt, which leads me to believe that Monk Happy must have already been present and Concealed at the table before I arrived, a possibility which gave me an entirely new thread to tug at.
The why doesnt matter. In for a penny, in for a pound, so either I cant trust all monks, or they had a valid reason to be there. No, whats important is that if Monk Happy was already sitting in on the meeting, then who else was there? I dont mean other monks, because it makes no real difference if Monk Bones or the other Wisdoms were there too, but after reviewing everything in agonizing scrutiny, I now believe there was a fifth party present at the meeting. Ive no real proof, but plenty of suspicions. While I got a big laugh out of seeing Shuai Jiao jump out of his chair when he noticed Siyar standing behind him, I didnt notice how strange his reaction was until early next morning, when I was poring over my memories of the event and discovered yet another discrepancy in the facts.
Im not talking about the jump scare, but rather his movements after Siyars big reveal, as Shuai Jiaos initial reaction was not to attack or escape from his assailant, nor was it to cover his Disciple sitting to my right of him. Instead, he moved left to stand between Siyar and the empty seats and took a defensive stance, a move which makes no rational sense whatsoever. Why waste the effort to sidestep before turning to face his assailant? It wasnt to dodge, because Siyar positioned himself between Jeong Hyo-Lynn and Shuai Jiao as an unspoken threat to both, meaning the Commander General wouldve been moving towards an unseen attack from a right handed assailant. Nor was it panic, because a man like Grasping Vine Shuai Jiao does not panic when faced with assassins, even after accounting for the fact that he is not accustomed to being surprised by Concealed enemies. No, he is a man who keeps cool under pressure, which means that as soon as he registered the threat, he made what he believed were the appropriate moves to guard against it. Or, more accurately, he moved to guard a bunch of empty chairs, which tells me there definitely had to be someone Concealed there sitting in between Shuai Jiao and Jeong Hyo-Lynn, someone important enough to make the Commander General risk his life and the life of his Disciple to save them.
Logic dictates that this means there was an Imperial Scion sitting in on the meeting, and I would bet my left nut that said Scion was Shen ZhenWu. If it was an Imperial Divinity, Shuai Jiao probably wouldnt have been so worried, though I suppose even a Divinity can die to a surprise stabbing. It also couldve been the Grand Marshal or Prime Minister or something, which would explain why Shuai Jiao wasnt concerned about me going to the Disciplinary Corps, because he had real Imperial Scions sitting right there, ready to denounce all my lies and turn the tables around on me. In fact, Shuai Jiao even revealed his entire plan, though inadvertently through his questions. He expected me to burst into the meeting raring for a fight, a hotheaded young man reliant on my high ranking supporters, deadly assassins, and powerful Ancestral Beasts to get my way, but I never had any intention of butting heads in the open. Thats why I expressly asked Old Wolf to keep the Peoples Ancestral Beasts at the Northern Citadel, save for Hua Lie who never leaves Lin-Lins side, and barged into his manor with only Jorani in tow, where I introduced him as a distraction while MuYang played a similar role up on the rooftops without his Spiritual Weapon. I did all this because I wanted to give Shuai Jiao something to contend with so hed be too distracted to find my real hidden dagger, Siyar and Pong Pong. Those were my reasons on paper, but I also wanted so desperately to make things work between me and the Commander General, because I did not want to order the assassination of a good man, which I showed through my actions.
A generous gesture which might well have saved my life, because Shuai Jiaos plan was both simple and frighteningly effective.
See, for the last two months, Ive been throwing my weight around due to Lin-Lins advice and relying more on the stick than the carrot to get my way. She thought I was too nice, and she was right, but I mightve overcompensated a bit. Still, this new approach was working up until a point, and Shuai Jiao sought to take advantage. Assuming it was Shen ZhenWu seated between Jeong Hyo-Lynn and the Commander General, then barging into the manor with swords drawn and bows bent wouldve sealed my fate. Even though I hold the rank of Legate, if my former superior were to fortuitously return to find me fostering dissent with the Commander General at the risk of civil war, then hed have all the public justification hed need to strip me of my rank, which would be the least of my worries. Had I shown up at the manor spoiling for a fight, Shen ZhenWu couldve conceivably had me and all my supporters drawn up on charges for conspiracy to commit murder against an Imperial Scion, even though none of us knew an Imperial Scion would be present at the manor. The punishment for which, I might add, is Nine Familial Extermination, meaning they couldve removed me and the most dangerous elements of the North in one fell swoop.
A thought which is both terrifying and rage-inducing at the same time. Come at me all you want, but why you gotta involve my family too?
The whole meeting was an elaborate trap set for me, my family, and my strongest supporters, one Shuai Jiao expected me to charge headlong into because Id just spent so many weeks playing the part of a hot-headed, power-crazed fool. He even invited the Brotherhood to witness my crimes, or at least I assume thats why they were there, or maybe he just wanted them close to keep them from warning me of the danger, though he couldnt stop Monk Happy from revealing himself to offer me a clue. Either way, I cant wholly trust the monks anymore, nor can I even trust myself, because I came to a realization recently, one that has chilling implications. Ever since I took up Lin-Lins advice, Luo-Luo has constantly bemoaned my aggressive actions and been advising me to ease back, but I was having fun going full throttle with my newfangled power and reputation. Was this a natural progression of events, or were my thoughts subtly guided towards conflict and aggression through some skill akin to Zhen Shis whispers? All of my actions and decisions these past few weeks seemed justified in the moment, but after stumbling across these disturbing revelations, I had to question every thought and decision I ever made.
Again. Because one master of mind manipulation wasnt enough, so now I have to worry about an Imperial Puppeteer too. Seriously.
Have I been indulging in lust because I have three beautiful wives, or because someone wanted me to lose myself in pleasure?
Have I been swinging my big metaphorical dick around because it makes things easier, or was it all an effort to alienate me from possible supporters?
Is my ambition to retake the west driven by empathy for the captured prisoners, or a devious ploy to convince me to commit significant Imperial forces to a lost cause and create a weakness where there was none?
I spent days asking questions and searching my memories for signs of manipulation, but try as I might, I was unable to identify even a single intrusive thought or out of character decision, so if someone is influencing me, theyre a lot more subtle about it than Zhen Shi. Sure, Ive been hornier, angrier, and more bloodthirsty of late, but I had good reasons to explain it all. Of course, being unable to find proof of an insidious plot against me wasnt enough to lay my concerns to rest, as Ive never needed proof to indulge in paranoia. Instead, I stayed alert and continued to push the envelope to make my enemies think that I escaped their trap through sheer luck and happenstance. All the while, I tasked MuYang with tracking every important Officer of Central and various luxury goods sold in an attempt to uncover solid proof of Imperial Scions being present in Central while continuing monitoring my foes for signs of deception, but alas, nothing came of our efforts. Well, Luo-Luo eventually was forced to take a stand and made me back down from having a merchant executed for failing to fulfill a much needed contract for rations, but she made a good argument and I went with it. Otherwise, the days passed without incident as my hyper-vigilance went unrewarded, leaving me to wonder if I was actually wrong and no Imperial Scions were out to get me.
Right up until I walked into Fungs rented room at the Goose and the Gander, which is a mid-tier establishment at best. It wasnt the demand that my drunk friend pay his tab before racking up more debt which clued me in, a dumb business decision considering everyone pays eventually to avoid the shame of having the world learn about how they skipped out on a brothel bill and all the unsavoury rumours which would undoubtedly follow. Nor was it the six thugs looming over my friend in undisguised threat, something no lowly brothel guard would dare do to a young master of Fungs wealth, status, and strength. Those were oddities which stood out, but what tipped me off to something fishy going on was the flawless Miss Ruo sitting on Fungs bed, a gorgeous, country-destroying beauty who would never be caught dead cat-calling from a bordello window. All the cheap clothing and gaudy make-up in the world couldnt hide her breath-taking allure, for even if she had been sold into slavery against her will, theres no way a place like the Goose and the Gander couldve afforded her. Miss Ruo is a classical beauty who, in terms of price, was likely worth more than the entire establishment which supposedly employed her, so how could the brothel afford her contract in the first place, much less put her up for sale?
Like cmon, this girl is almost as gorgeous as Luo-Luo, and while no one would mistake them for twins or even sisters or cousins, theyre similar in so many ways. Poise and bearing for example, with the way they sit in the prettiest manner possible to emphasize their best features, or the fake demur act they put on to appear both shy and intrigued. They even have the same wide eyes, delicate nose, rounded cheeks, and pointed jaw, facial features which set the standard for beauty in the Empire. The major difference is my Imperial Consort has a lovely little beauty mark under her eye which really brings everything together into what can only be described as perfection. Also, Luo-Luo definitely has bigger boobs, so Miss Ruo just cannot compare, and personally, I find Mila, Yan, Lin-Lin, and Li-Li all more attractive than this basic jade beauty. I think Ruo is even supposed to be a homonym for Jade, though Fungs drunken slur made it sound like he was calling her Miss Meat, which is rude and sexist, but still too funny not to laugh at.
Even though her speed and swordsmanship is superior to Ryo Dain, and her defences formidable to boot, its clear from our initial exchange that not only is she inexperienced in actual combat, she also lacks staying power. Overwhelming force has a quality all to itself, which I demonstrate by smashing Unity against her sword in a head on collision, the hefty mass of my transforming weapon easily able to blow away her lighter, more agile jian. This one move is all it takes to break through her defences, and she now stands before me with arms raised in an effort to regain control of her sword. Right idea, but wrong execution as she didnt think to retreat first, and I show her the errors of her ways by smashing my elbow into her beautiful and delicate nose.
As the pain lances up my arm and Miss Ruos feather-light body crashes through the wall behind her, I curse my chivalrous restraint which kept me from punching her in the face with Tranquilitys twin blades. On the bright side, its a good thing I also went against my second instinct and didnt headbutt her in the face, because if I had, I might well have given myself a concussion. Instead, I just fractured my left elbow a tiny little bit, not the worst injury Ive ever taken, but more than what one would expect from hitting flesh and bone. To call Miss Ruo a jade beauty is fitting indeed, for there is no armour hidden underneath her sheer robes. Instead, it appears she possesses a body harder than solid rock, the result of Domain Plating if I had to guess. Though reeling from the pain, the implications frighten me even more, because her familiarity with the skill is several levels beyond mine. Ive yet to reach a point where my Domain Plated body can even withstand a plain old regular knife, but judging by the swelling in my left elbow, a steel blade would probably snap before it pierced through her defences.
Its almost like shes shrouded in Chi harder than steel, because my Deployed Domain does not sense any movement from hers. Her Domain is also Deployed, but it is rigid and unmoving, covering her from head to toe like a suit of armour and doing nothing else.
All of which only makes me more eager to capture her, because now I really want to interrogate her, and not in any naughty sexy fun way either. I want to know all her secrets and learn the limits of her defences, and I can already see her strapped to a table while I poke and prod her with blades. My darker thoughts catch me by surprise even as I cut down another two thugs with a backhanded swing of Unity, their blades unable to stop my heavy pseudo-sword from cutting through them from shoulder to hip. Three down, four to go, but just as quickly as the battle began, our clash comes to an end as I realize the two dead thugs bought enough time for the others to escape out the hole Miss Ruos body made in the wall. By the time I make it over under a cloak of Concealment, theyve disappeared out the window or into another room, and all my efforts to find any Concealed individuals come up with nothing. All I find is a quivering working girl laid out across the bed while her buck naked patron runs for the door, a sight I wish I could forget even as I gaze upon it.
Ogling the scared little lady a bit to ease my troubled mind, I grab a handful of gold bars from my hip pouch and place them on the table with a mumbled apology for the damages, thoroughly confusing and frightening the lovely working girl as I retreat to guard Fung and Yan. First to arrive is none other than my friends manservant and undercover bodyguard Fu Zhu Li, his features twisted in fury as he checks the health of his ward. A paralytic agent in the wine, he growls, his inner-predator showing through his normally mild-mannered demeanour as Kuang Biao and the other Death Corps appear just in time to miss everything. This was a trap.
I know it was, but the million dollar question Id like answered is if he was in on it, as hes the one who directed me to come get Fung. This isnt the first time Ive paid my heartbroken friends bills in recent days, and every time its been at the multi-talented half-weasels request, so I cant help but suspect him of foul play. Unable to contain my suspicion, Fu Zhu Li catches wind of my Aura and snorts at me with sheer disdain. Stow away your suspicions, whelp. If I wanted your life, not even your little wifeys guard could stop me from claiming it.
...And here I thought I was aggressive and arrogant. What the fuck man?
How are you? I ask, looking away from the scary half-weasel to check on my wife instead, who stands ready with battle-fan and shield and looks frustrated she didnt get a chance to use either one.
How am I? Moving to stand between me and the hole in the wall just in case they come back around, Yan thinks better of it and instead herds me over to the corner where she can watch the door and wall both at the same time. They tried to kill you!
Good thing they were terrible assassins then. Shifting Yan gently aside because my pride and love will not allow me to place her in harms way just to keep me safe, I reach out and recall Peace back to hand, which is what I probably shouldve done instead of bringing out Unity. Too many options, not enough brain power to go through them all during combat, probably because I get distracted too easily. Case in point, while I should be on guard for another attack, Ive let my vigilance slip and only now notice Yan and Fu Zhu Lis incredulous stares. What?
Terrible? Snorting in disbelief, Fu Zhu Li Sends, Im surprised you survived, much less did so without taking injury. How did you see through their deception so quickly? While the courtesan Miss Ruo is a new addition, the street toughs have been working here since the young master arrived. I was even Scrying on the situation before you arrived, and they gave no sign of being anything besides what they appeared to be.
Too pretty, I Send back with a smirk, before giving him the real answer, one he seems to have trouble believing. Also, theres no reason for the brothel to stop Fung from playing on credit, nor should street toughs possess enough courage to threaten a Martial Warrior, especially a young, rich, drunk one who could kill them without consequence.
All this suspicion merely because they refused to let the young master continue buying on credit? He already owes upwards of six-hundred gold, which might well be more than the owner earns in a month after expenses. Of course they cut him off and got angry when he said he wasnt carrying any coin.
Oh. Well, the too pretty thing still stands, and besides, its not like I made a snap decision just because of one mistake. There were several minor discrepancies, so I kept my guard up.
Fair enough, young Legate. How did you stagger them all at once?
Trade secret.
Having calmed down now that his young master is safe and sound, Fu Zhu Li reverts to his regular persona and simply offers me a placid nod of respect, while Yan has yet to let her guard down. Tugging at her sleeve, I Send, We need to leave before someone sees us. Last thing I need is eyewitnesses telling tales of the Legate being attacked in a brothel, and I doubt itll help your career if they hear you accompanied me in.
Unconcerned by the hit to her reputation, Yan argues that we should stay to collect evidence, but theres no real need, because I already have a suspect in mind. Since his arrival, Ive been ignoring Kuang Biaos inquiries about what happened, because I get the feeling he already knows. The fight was fast, but not so fast that he couldnt have rushed in right away from his post outside the door. Even if my would-be assassins threw up a Sound Barrier to cover up the disturbance, my four Peak Expert Death Corps guards shouldve immediately noticed something was off and come in to check, because I always inform them when I put one up to exclude them. Instead, they stood around outside and twiddled their thumbs until the fight came to an end, meaning they were probably ordered not to interfere.
Because if these killers werent trained in the Eastern Province, Ill eat my fucking boots raw.
Miss Ruo and her thugs could be from the Tian family, who serve as Imperial spies and assassins, but I doubt it. Their approach was too amateurish and full of mistakes, even if Fu Zhu Li says the thugs have been working here all week. Then theres the fact that Miss Ruos sword skills were superb, but not exactly in the style of an assassin, more like a duellist with minimal experience in actual combat, which combined with her last minute addition to the plan and breathtaking beauty leads me to believe she might actually be an Imperial Noble, a young woman with clout who wanted to get her hands dirty for once. Maybe shes a Yang and related to Jixing, or a Liang whos related to Shen ZhenWu, or maybe Im reading things wrong entirely and shes just a pawn, but I doubt it. Either way, theres something off about this assassination attempt, something that makes me think the former Legate isnt behind it, not directly at least. The plan was just so... basic, like someone came up with what they thought was a brilliant idea, and then laid in wait for a week or two without really thinking things through. Why have the six thugs stand in plain view instead of keeping one or two hidden in reserve? Because they were worried Id see through any Concealment? Or because they knew Fu Zhu Li was watching and would notice someone hiding nearby? What about Miss Ruo? Why did she personally take a hand in these matters when its clear shes a talented amateur at best? And what was their plan if Fung visited a different brothel? Did they have workers stationed at every one? I mean, its not like he has a favourite place or girl anymore, not since he started wooing Seoyoon, though it does seem like hes doing his damnedest to make up for lost time.
Ah man, the poor guy is down bad. I wish I could drink the nights away alongside him and be more supportive, but Ive been busy planning a war and whatnot, which is a valid excuse but still makes me a shitty friend.
Either way, there are just too many loose ends for this to be the work of the clever and crafty Shen ZhenWu, which is both comforting and disturbing at the same time. On the one hand, my former boss isnt dead set on having me whacked just yet, and if hes working with Shuai Jiao, that means hes also willing to work with me again. However, if hes not responsible for this clumsy assassination attempt, then that means theres another player involved, namely whoever Miss Ruo answers to. If its the Yangs, then fine, I was going to have to deal with them eventually, but if the Xing, Di, or Tian family are getting involved, then stakes have gotten a whole lot higher.
Why do things have to be so complicated? I just want to wage war against the time-honoured Enemy of humanity and defeat the eight-hundred year old monster leading them. Is that really too much to ask for?
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 733
Ive said it before and Ill say it again.
Just because Im paranoid doesnt mean people arent out to get me.
In the days following my meeting with Shuai Jiao, I spent many a waking moment reviewing my memories and breaking down every possible nuance of every word, action, and expression. You know, normal stuff I usually do with every other social interaction I take part in, just more in-depth because it was a really important meeting. After the initial relief of having avoided murder and bloodshed passed, I discovered that no matter how I looked at it, the math just never added up. Im not talking about means and motives or words and actions, but plain, simple numbers. Jeong Hyo-Lynn, Dain, and Seoyoon makes three participants, four if Geom-Chi had come along to the meeting. Even though he didnt, Im still going to count him just because, while Shuai Jiao and Yong-Jin make six. Six people to sit in on the meeting, under the protective cover of a newly-built pagoda, one so new it didnt even have a coat of varnish, though the table and chairs were finished and likely brought out from somewhere else. Now, Im no expert on construction, but varnish seems like a pretty vital step for an outdoor structure made of wood, so its safe to assume the whole thing was really a last minute addition to the courtyard, likely to avoid getting shot by MuYang from afar.
So, my question is, if the pagoda was built for this one meeting, why bring out such a huge table and so many extra chairs?
The moment this thought crossed my mind, I almost immediately dismissed it, because theres nothing stopping Shuai Jiao from using the pagoda for other meetings in the future, so why cant he have a big table to throw dinner parties for... however many guests he can fit?
Then it hit me. I could not for the life of me remember how many chairs were at the table. Definitely more than seven, as I wasnt sitting directly beside anyone, but the exact number escaped me. That was the first clue that something was wrong, my inability to remember this single, minor detail. The total number of chairs seems like such a small thing to forget, but once my attention was drawn to this discrepancy, I realized I couldnt even remember how many chairs were between me and Seoyoon, or between Shuai Jiao and Jeong Hyo Lynn. I know there were definitely empty seats, as in more than one, but beyond that, my memory is a blank. I even remember finding it odd that the two parties sat so far apart, as it seemed like a strange way to discuss a marriage, but thats as far as my thought process went. Maybe the pressure had gotten to me and I didnt bother counting seats, or maybe I derped and dismissed it as an unimportant detail, except I was there for a decent amount of time telling my story and I spent the entire time on high alert.nove(l)bi(n.)com
Which means I spent all that time worrying about a fight breaking out without measuring the distance between me and my closest threats. No. Nuh uh. Thats not me.
Of course, once I found this loose thread, I was compelled to pick away at it until things made sense again. I obsessed over the details and questioned everything that happened, like why was Monk Happy there, ready and waiting to answer my question at the drop of a hat? At the time, I assumed it was because he was following me around like the busybody he is. I mean, he did it during the boat ride over while I was asking Dad about Milas disappearing and reappearing nausea, but what I didnt notice until I looked at the facts with chairs in mind is that Monk Happy appeared behind yet another empty section of seats. Not too close to me but not too close to Shuai Jiao either, which was something I noted, and this resulted in dividing us into four, neat little groups, with myself, the Ryos, Shuai Jiao, and Monk Happy each occupying one fourth of the table.
Except I didnt know Monk Happy was there until he dropped Concealment, yet I positioned myself as if he were already there, standing and Concealed at one quadrant of the table. If hed accompanied me into Shuai Jiaos manor, then it would stand to reason that his Concealment wouldnt affect where I chose to stand or sit from the get go, and thus Id have picked somewhere equidistant from both visible parties and divided the table into thirds. Except I didnt, which leads me to believe that Monk Happy must have already been present and Concealed at the table before I arrived, a possibility which gave me an entirely new thread to tug at.
The why doesnt matter. In for a penny, in for a pound, so either I cant trust all monks, or they had a valid reason to be there. No, whats important is that if Monk Happy was already sitting in on the meeting, then who else was there? I dont mean other monks, because it makes no real difference if Monk Bones or the other Wisdoms were there too, but after reviewing everything in agonizing scrutiny, I now believe there was a fifth party present at the meeting. Ive no real proof, but plenty of suspicions. While I got a big laugh out of seeing Shuai Jiao jump out of his chair when he noticed Siyar standing behind him, I didnt notice how strange his reaction was until early next morning, when I was poring over my memories of the event and discovered yet another discrepancy in the facts.
Im not talking about the jump scare, but rather his movements after Siyars big reveal, as Shuai Jiaos initial reaction was not to attack or escape from his assailant, nor was it to cover his Disciple sitting to my right of him. Instead, he moved left to stand between Siyar and the empty seats and took a defensive stance, a move which makes no rational sense whatsoever. Why waste the effort to sidestep before turning to face his assailant? It wasnt to dodge, because Siyar positioned himself between Jeong Hyo-Lynn and Shuai Jiao as an unspoken threat to both, meaning the Commander General wouldve been moving towards an unseen attack from a right handed assailant. Nor was it panic, because a man like Grasping Vine Shuai Jiao does not panic when faced with assassins, even after accounting for the fact that he is not accustomed to being surprised by Concealed enemies. No, he is a man who keeps cool under pressure, which means that as soon as he registered the threat, he made what he believed were the appropriate moves to guard against it. Or, more accurately, he moved to guard a bunch of empty chairs, which tells me there definitely had to be someone Concealed there sitting in between Shuai Jiao and Jeong Hyo-Lynn, someone important enough to make the Commander General risk his life and the life of his Disciple to save them.
Logic dictates that this means there was an Imperial Scion sitting in on the meeting, and I would bet my left nut that said Scion was Shen ZhenWu. If it was an Imperial Divinity, Shuai Jiao probably wouldnt have been so worried, though I suppose even a Divinity can die to a surprise stabbing. It also couldve been the Grand Marshal or Prime Minister or something, which would explain why Shuai Jiao wasnt concerned about me going to the Disciplinary Corps, because he had real Imperial Scions sitting right there, ready to denounce all my lies and turn the tables around on me. In fact, Shuai Jiao even revealed his entire plan, though inadvertently through his questions. He expected me to burst into the meeting raring for a fight, a hotheaded young man reliant on my high ranking supporters, deadly assassins, and powerful Ancestral Beasts to get my way, but I never had any intention of butting heads in the open. Thats why I expressly asked Old Wolf to keep the Peoples Ancestral Beasts at the Northern Citadel, save for Hua Lie who never leaves Lin-Lins side, and barged into his manor with only Jorani in tow, where I introduced him as a distraction while MuYang played a similar role up on the rooftops without his Spiritual Weapon. I did all this because I wanted to give Shuai Jiao something to contend with so hed be too distracted to find my real hidden dagger, Siyar and Pong Pong. Those were my reasons on paper, but I also wanted so desperately to make things work between me and the Commander General, because I did not want to order the assassination of a good man, which I showed through my actions.
A generous gesture which might well have saved my life, because Shuai Jiaos plan was both simple and frighteningly effective.
See, for the last two months, Ive been throwing my weight around due to Lin-Lins advice and relying more on the stick than the carrot to get my way. She thought I was too nice, and she was right, but I mightve overcompensated a bit. Still, this new approach was working up until a point, and Shuai Jiao sought to take advantage. Assuming it was Shen ZhenWu seated between Jeong Hyo-Lynn and the Commander General, then barging into the manor with swords drawn and bows bent wouldve sealed my fate. Even though I hold the rank of Legate, if my former superior were to fortuitously return to find me fostering dissent with the Commander General at the risk of civil war, then hed have all the public justification hed need to strip me of my rank, which would be the least of my worries. Had I shown up at the manor spoiling for a fight, Shen ZhenWu couldve conceivably had me and all my supporters drawn up on charges for conspiracy to commit murder against an Imperial Scion, even though none of us knew an Imperial Scion would be present at the manor. The punishment for which, I might add, is Nine Familial Extermination, meaning they couldve removed me and the most dangerous elements of the North in one fell swoop.
A thought which is both terrifying and rage-inducing at the same time. Come at me all you want, but why you gotta involve my family too?
The whole meeting was an elaborate trap set for me, my family, and my strongest supporters, one Shuai Jiao expected me to charge headlong into because Id just spent so many weeks playing the part of a hot-headed, power-crazed fool. He even invited the Brotherhood to witness my crimes, or at least I assume thats why they were there, or maybe he just wanted them close to keep them from warning me of the danger, though he couldnt stop Monk Happy from revealing himself to offer me a clue. Either way, I cant wholly trust the monks anymore, nor can I even trust myself, because I came to a realization recently, one that has chilling implications. Ever since I took up Lin-Lins advice, Luo-Luo has constantly bemoaned my aggressive actions and been advising me to ease back, but I was having fun going full throttle with my newfangled power and reputation. Was this a natural progression of events, or were my thoughts subtly guided towards conflict and aggression through some skill akin to Zhen Shis whispers? All of my actions and decisions these past few weeks seemed justified in the moment, but after stumbling across these disturbing revelations, I had to question every thought and decision I ever made.
Again. Because one master of mind manipulation wasnt enough, so now I have to worry about an Imperial Puppeteer too. Seriously.
Have I been indulging in lust because I have three beautiful wives, or because someone wanted me to lose myself in pleasure?
Have I been swinging my big metaphorical dick around because it makes things easier, or was it all an effort to alienate me from possible supporters?
Is my ambition to retake the west driven by empathy for the captured prisoners, or a devious ploy to convince me to commit significant Imperial forces to a lost cause and create a weakness where there was none?
I spent days asking questions and searching my memories for signs of manipulation, but try as I might, I was unable to identify even a single intrusive thought or out of character decision, so if someone is influencing me, theyre a lot more subtle about it than Zhen Shi. Sure, Ive been hornier, angrier, and more bloodthirsty of late, but I had good reasons to explain it all. Of course, being unable to find proof of an insidious plot against me wasnt enough to lay my concerns to rest, as Ive never needed proof to indulge in paranoia. Instead, I stayed alert and continued to push the envelope to make my enemies think that I escaped their trap through sheer luck and happenstance. All the while, I tasked MuYang with tracking every important Officer of Central and various luxury goods sold in an attempt to uncover solid proof of Imperial Scions being present in Central while continuing monitoring my foes for signs of deception, but alas, nothing came of our efforts. Well, Luo-Luo eventually was forced to take a stand and made me back down from having a merchant executed for failing to fulfill a much needed contract for rations, but she made a good argument and I went with it. Otherwise, the days passed without incident as my hyper-vigilance went unrewarded, leaving me to wonder if I was actually wrong and no Imperial Scions were out to get me.
Right up until I walked into Fungs rented room at the Goose and the Gander, which is a mid-tier establishment at best. It wasnt the demand that my drunk friend pay his tab before racking up more debt which clued me in, a dumb business decision considering everyone pays eventually to avoid the shame of having the world learn about how they skipped out on a brothel bill and all the unsavoury rumours which would undoubtedly follow. Nor was it the six thugs looming over my friend in undisguised threat, something no lowly brothel guard would dare do to a young master of Fungs wealth, status, and strength. Those were oddities which stood out, but what tipped me off to something fishy going on was the flawless Miss Ruo sitting on Fungs bed, a gorgeous, country-destroying beauty who would never be caught dead cat-calling from a bordello window. All the cheap clothing and gaudy make-up in the world couldnt hide her breath-taking allure, for even if she had been sold into slavery against her will, theres no way a place like the Goose and the Gander couldve afforded her. Miss Ruo is a classical beauty who, in terms of price, was likely worth more than the entire establishment which supposedly employed her, so how could the brothel afford her contract in the first place, much less put her up for sale?
Like cmon, this girl is almost as gorgeous as Luo-Luo, and while no one would mistake them for twins or even sisters or cousins, theyre similar in so many ways. Poise and bearing for example, with the way they sit in the prettiest manner possible to emphasize their best features, or the fake demur act they put on to appear both shy and intrigued. They even have the same wide eyes, delicate nose, rounded cheeks, and pointed jaw, facial features which set the standard for beauty in the Empire. The major difference is my Imperial Consort has a lovely little beauty mark under her eye which really brings everything together into what can only be described as perfection. Also, Luo-Luo definitely has bigger boobs, so Miss Ruo just cannot compare, and personally, I find Mila, Yan, Lin-Lin, and Li-Li all more attractive than this basic jade beauty. I think Ruo is even supposed to be a homonym for Jade, though Fungs drunken slur made it sound like he was calling her Miss Meat, which is rude and sexist, but still too funny not to laugh at.
Even though her speed and swordsmanship is superior to Ryo Dain, and her defences formidable to boot, its clear from our initial exchange that not only is she inexperienced in actual combat, she also lacks staying power. Overwhelming force has a quality all to itself, which I demonstrate by smashing Unity against her sword in a head on collision, the hefty mass of my transforming weapon easily able to blow away her lighter, more agile jian. This one move is all it takes to break through her defences, and she now stands before me with arms raised in an effort to regain control of her sword. Right idea, but wrong execution as she didnt think to retreat first, and I show her the errors of her ways by smashing my elbow into her beautiful and delicate nose.
As the pain lances up my arm and Miss Ruos feather-light body crashes through the wall behind her, I curse my chivalrous restraint which kept me from punching her in the face with Tranquilitys twin blades. On the bright side, its a good thing I also went against my second instinct and didnt headbutt her in the face, because if I had, I might well have given myself a concussion. Instead, I just fractured my left elbow a tiny little bit, not the worst injury Ive ever taken, but more than what one would expect from hitting flesh and bone. To call Miss Ruo a jade beauty is fitting indeed, for there is no armour hidden underneath her sheer robes. Instead, it appears she possesses a body harder than solid rock, the result of Domain Plating if I had to guess. Though reeling from the pain, the implications frighten me even more, because her familiarity with the skill is several levels beyond mine. Ive yet to reach a point where my Domain Plated body can even withstand a plain old regular knife, but judging by the swelling in my left elbow, a steel blade would probably snap before it pierced through her defences.
Its almost like shes shrouded in Chi harder than steel, because my Deployed Domain does not sense any movement from hers. Her Domain is also Deployed, but it is rigid and unmoving, covering her from head to toe like a suit of armour and doing nothing else.
All of which only makes me more eager to capture her, because now I really want to interrogate her, and not in any naughty sexy fun way either. I want to know all her secrets and learn the limits of her defences, and I can already see her strapped to a table while I poke and prod her with blades. My darker thoughts catch me by surprise even as I cut down another two thugs with a backhanded swing of Unity, their blades unable to stop my heavy pseudo-sword from cutting through them from shoulder to hip. Three down, four to go, but just as quickly as the battle began, our clash comes to an end as I realize the two dead thugs bought enough time for the others to escape out the hole Miss Ruos body made in the wall. By the time I make it over under a cloak of Concealment, theyve disappeared out the window or into another room, and all my efforts to find any Concealed individuals come up with nothing. All I find is a quivering working girl laid out across the bed while her buck naked patron runs for the door, a sight I wish I could forget even as I gaze upon it.
Ogling the scared little lady a bit to ease my troubled mind, I grab a handful of gold bars from my hip pouch and place them on the table with a mumbled apology for the damages, thoroughly confusing and frightening the lovely working girl as I retreat to guard Fung and Yan. First to arrive is none other than my friends manservant and undercover bodyguard Fu Zhu Li, his features twisted in fury as he checks the health of his ward. A paralytic agent in the wine, he growls, his inner-predator showing through his normally mild-mannered demeanour as Kuang Biao and the other Death Corps appear just in time to miss everything. This was a trap.
I know it was, but the million dollar question Id like answered is if he was in on it, as hes the one who directed me to come get Fung. This isnt the first time Ive paid my heartbroken friends bills in recent days, and every time its been at the multi-talented half-weasels request, so I cant help but suspect him of foul play. Unable to contain my suspicion, Fu Zhu Li catches wind of my Aura and snorts at me with sheer disdain. Stow away your suspicions, whelp. If I wanted your life, not even your little wifeys guard could stop me from claiming it.
...And here I thought I was aggressive and arrogant. What the fuck man?
How are you? I ask, looking away from the scary half-weasel to check on my wife instead, who stands ready with battle-fan and shield and looks frustrated she didnt get a chance to use either one.
How am I? Moving to stand between me and the hole in the wall just in case they come back around, Yan thinks better of it and instead herds me over to the corner where she can watch the door and wall both at the same time. They tried to kill you!
Good thing they were terrible assassins then. Shifting Yan gently aside because my pride and love will not allow me to place her in harms way just to keep me safe, I reach out and recall Peace back to hand, which is what I probably shouldve done instead of bringing out Unity. Too many options, not enough brain power to go through them all during combat, probably because I get distracted too easily. Case in point, while I should be on guard for another attack, Ive let my vigilance slip and only now notice Yan and Fu Zhu Lis incredulous stares. What?
Terrible? Snorting in disbelief, Fu Zhu Li Sends, Im surprised you survived, much less did so without taking injury. How did you see through their deception so quickly? While the courtesan Miss Ruo is a new addition, the street toughs have been working here since the young master arrived. I was even Scrying on the situation before you arrived, and they gave no sign of being anything besides what they appeared to be.
Too pretty, I Send back with a smirk, before giving him the real answer, one he seems to have trouble believing. Also, theres no reason for the brothel to stop Fung from playing on credit, nor should street toughs possess enough courage to threaten a Martial Warrior, especially a young, rich, drunk one who could kill them without consequence.
All this suspicion merely because they refused to let the young master continue buying on credit? He already owes upwards of six-hundred gold, which might well be more than the owner earns in a month after expenses. Of course they cut him off and got angry when he said he wasnt carrying any coin.
Oh. Well, the too pretty thing still stands, and besides, its not like I made a snap decision just because of one mistake. There were several minor discrepancies, so I kept my guard up.
Fair enough, young Legate. How did you stagger them all at once?
Trade secret.
Having calmed down now that his young master is safe and sound, Fu Zhu Li reverts to his regular persona and simply offers me a placid nod of respect, while Yan has yet to let her guard down. Tugging at her sleeve, I Send, We need to leave before someone sees us. Last thing I need is eyewitnesses telling tales of the Legate being attacked in a brothel, and I doubt itll help your career if they hear you accompanied me in.
Unconcerned by the hit to her reputation, Yan argues that we should stay to collect evidence, but theres no real need, because I already have a suspect in mind. Since his arrival, Ive been ignoring Kuang Biaos inquiries about what happened, because I get the feeling he already knows. The fight was fast, but not so fast that he couldnt have rushed in right away from his post outside the door. Even if my would-be assassins threw up a Sound Barrier to cover up the disturbance, my four Peak Expert Death Corps guards shouldve immediately noticed something was off and come in to check, because I always inform them when I put one up to exclude them. Instead, they stood around outside and twiddled their thumbs until the fight came to an end, meaning they were probably ordered not to interfere.
Because if these killers werent trained in the Eastern Province, Ill eat my fucking boots raw.
Miss Ruo and her thugs could be from the Tian family, who serve as Imperial spies and assassins, but I doubt it. Their approach was too amateurish and full of mistakes, even if Fu Zhu Li says the thugs have been working here all week. Then theres the fact that Miss Ruos sword skills were superb, but not exactly in the style of an assassin, more like a duellist with minimal experience in actual combat, which combined with her last minute addition to the plan and breathtaking beauty leads me to believe she might actually be an Imperial Noble, a young woman with clout who wanted to get her hands dirty for once. Maybe shes a Yang and related to Jixing, or a Liang whos related to Shen ZhenWu, or maybe Im reading things wrong entirely and shes just a pawn, but I doubt it. Either way, theres something off about this assassination attempt, something that makes me think the former Legate isnt behind it, not directly at least. The plan was just so... basic, like someone came up with what they thought was a brilliant idea, and then laid in wait for a week or two without really thinking things through. Why have the six thugs stand in plain view instead of keeping one or two hidden in reserve? Because they were worried Id see through any Concealment? Or because they knew Fu Zhu Li was watching and would notice someone hiding nearby? What about Miss Ruo? Why did she personally take a hand in these matters when its clear shes a talented amateur at best? And what was their plan if Fung visited a different brothel? Did they have workers stationed at every one? I mean, its not like he has a favourite place or girl anymore, not since he started wooing Seoyoon, though it does seem like hes doing his damnedest to make up for lost time.
Ah man, the poor guy is down bad. I wish I could drink the nights away alongside him and be more supportive, but Ive been busy planning a war and whatnot, which is a valid excuse but still makes me a shitty friend.
Either way, there are just too many loose ends for this to be the work of the clever and crafty Shen ZhenWu, which is both comforting and disturbing at the same time. On the one hand, my former boss isnt dead set on having me whacked just yet, and if hes working with Shuai Jiao, that means hes also willing to work with me again. However, if hes not responsible for this clumsy assassination attempt, then that means theres another player involved, namely whoever Miss Ruo answers to. If its the Yangs, then fine, I was going to have to deal with them eventually, but if the Xing, Di, or Tian family are getting involved, then stakes have gotten a whole lot higher.
Why do things have to be so complicated? I just want to wage war against the time-honoured Enemy of humanity and defeat the eight-hundred year old monster leading them. Is that really too much to ask for?
Chapter Meme
Chapter 733Ive said it before and Ill say it again.Just because Im paranoid doesnt mean people arent out to get me.In the days following my meeting with Shuai Jiao, I spent many a waking moment reviewing my memories and breaking down every possible nuance of every word, action, and expression. You know, normal stuff I usually do with every other social interaction I take part in, just more in-depth because it was a really important meeting. After the initial relief of having avoided murder and bloodshed passed, I discovered that no matter how I looked at it, the math just never added up. Im not talking about means and motives or words and actions, but plain, simple numbers. Jeong Hyo-Lynn, Dain, and Seoyoon makes three participants, four if Geom-Chi had come along to the meeting. Even though he didnt, Im still going to count him just because, while Shuai Jiao and Yong-Jin make six. Six people to sit in on the meeting, under the protective cover of a newly-built pagoda, one so new it didnt even have a coat of varnish, though the table and chairs were finished and likely brought out from somewhere else. Now, Im no expert on construction, but varnish seems like a pretty vital step for an outdoor structure made of wood, so its safe to assume the whole thing was really a last minute addition to the courtyard, likely to avoid getting shot by MuYang from afar.So, my question is, if the pagoda was built for this one meeting, why bring out such a huge table and so many extra chairs?The moment this thought crossed my mind, I almost immediately dismissed it, because theres nothing stopping Shuai Jiao from using the pagoda for other meetings in the future, so why cant he have a big table to throw dinner parties for... however many guests he can fit?Then it hit me. I could not for the life of me remember how many chairs were at the table. Definitely more than seven, as I wasnt sitting directly beside anyone, but the exact number escaped me. That was the first clue that something was wrong, my inability to remember this single, minor detail. The total number of chairs seems like such a small thing to forget, but once my attention was drawn to this discrepancy, I realized I couldnt even remember how many chairs were between me and Seoyoon, or between Shuai Jiao and Jeong Hyo Lynn. I know there were definitely empty seats, as in more than one, but beyond that, my memory is a blank. I even remember finding it odd that the two parties sat so far apart, as it seemed like a strange way to discuss a marriage, but thats as far as my thought process went. Maybe the pressure had gotten to me and I didnt bother counting seats, or maybe I derped and dismissed it as an unimportant detail, except I was there for a decent amount of time telling my story and I spent the entire time on high alert.novelbin.comWhich means I spent all that time worrying about a fight breaking out without measuring the distance between me and my closest threats. No. Nuh uh. Thats not me.Of course, once I found this loose thread, I was compelled to pick away at it until things made sense again. I obsessed over the details and questioned everything that happened, like why was Monk Happy there, ready and waiting to answer my question at the drop of a hat? At the time, I assumed it was because he was following me around like the busybody he is. I mean, he did it during the boat ride over while I was asking Dad about Milas disappearing and reappearing nausea, but what I didnt notice until I looked at the facts with chairs in mind is that Monk Happy appeared behind yet another empty section of seats. Not too close to me but not too close to Shuai Jiao either, which was something I noted, and this resulted in dividing us into four, neat little groups, with myself, the Ryos, Shuai Jiao, and Monk Happy each occupying one fourth of the table.Except I didnt know Monk Happy was there until he dropped Concealment, yet I positioned myself as if he were already there, standing and Concealed at one quadrant of the table. If hed accompanied me into Shuai Jiaos manor, then it would stand to reason that his Concealment wouldnt affect where I chose to stand or sit from the get go, and thus Id have picked somewhere equidistant from both visible parties and divided the table into thirds. Except I didnt, which leads me to believe that Monk Happy must have already been present and Concealed at the table before I arrived, a possibility which gave me an entirely new thread to tug at.The why doesnt matter. In for a penny, in for a pound, so either I cant trust all monks, or they had a valid reason to be there. No, whats important is that if Monk Happy was already sitting in on the meeting, then who else was there? I dont mean other monks, because it makes no real difference if Monk Bones or the other Wisdoms were there too, but after reviewing everything in agonizing scrutiny, I now believe there was a fifth party present at the meeting. Ive no real proof, but plenty of suspicions. While I got a big laugh out of seeing Shuai Jiao jump out of his chair when he noticed Siyar standing behind him, I didnt notice how strange his reaction was until early next morning, when I was poring over my memories of the event and discovered yet another discrepancy in the facts.Im not talking about the jump scare, but rather his movements after Siyars big reveal, as Shuai Jiaos initial reaction was not to attack or escape from his assailant, nor was it to cover his Disciple sitting to my right of him. Instead, he moved left to stand between Siyar and the empty seats and took a defensive stance, a move which makes no rational sense whatsoever. Why waste the effort to sidestep before turning to face his assailant? It wasnt to dodge, because Siyar positioned himself between Jeong Hyo-Lynn and Shuai Jiao as an unspoken threat to both, meaning the Commander General wouldve been moving towards an unseen attack from a right handed assailant. Nor was it panic, because a man like Grasping Vine Shuai Jiao does not panic when faced with assassins, even after accounting for the fact that he is not accustomed to being surprised by Concealed enemies. No, he is a man who keeps cool under pressure, which means that as soon as he registered the threat, he made what he believed were the appropriate moves to guard against it. Or, more accurately, he moved to guard a bunch of empty chairs, which tells me there definitely had to be someone Concealed there sitting in between Shuai Jiao and Jeong Hyo-Lynn, someone important enough to make the Commander General risk his life and the life of his Disciple to save them.Logic dictates that this means there was an Imperial Scion sitting in on the meeting, and I would bet my left nut that said Scion was Shen ZhenWu. If it was an Imperial Divinity, Shuai Jiao probably wouldnt have been so worried, though I suppose even a Divinity can die to a surprise stabbing. It also couldve been the Grand Marshal or Prime Minister or something, which would explain why Shuai Jiao wasnt concerned about me going to the Disciplinary Corps, because he had real Imperial Scions sitting right there, ready to denounce all my lies and turn the tables around on me. In fact, Shuai Jiao even revealed his entire plan, though inadvertently through his questions. He expected me to burst into the meeting raring for a fight, a hotheaded young man reliant on my high ranking supporters, deadly assassins, and powerful Ancestral Beasts to get my way, but I never had any intention of butting heads in the open. Thats why I expressly asked Old Wolf to keep the Peoples Ancestral Beasts at the Northern Citadel, save for Hua Lie who never leaves Lin-Lins side, and barged into his manor with only Jorani in tow, where I introduced him as a distraction while MuYang played a similar role up on the rooftops without his Spiritual Weapon. I did all this because I wanted to give Shuai Jiao something to contend with so hed be too distracted to find my real hidden dagger, Siyar and Pong Pong. Those were my reasons on paper, but I also wanted so desperately to make things work between me and the Commander General, because I did not want to order the assassination of a good man, which I showed through my actions.A generous gesture which might well have saved my life, because Shuai Jiaos plan was both simple and frighteningly effective.See, for the last two months, Ive been throwing my weight around due to Lin-Lins advice and relying more on the stick than the carrot to get my way. She thought I was too nice, and she was right, but I mightve overcompensated a bit. Still, this new approach was working up until a point, and Shuai Jiao sought to take advantage. Assuming it was Shen ZhenWu seated between Jeong Hyo-Lynn and the Commander General, then barging into the manor with swords drawn and bows bent wouldve sealed my fate. Even though I hold the rank of Legate, if my former superior were to fortuitously return to find me fostering dissent with the Commander General at the risk of civil war, then hed have all the public justification hed need to strip me of my rank, which would be the least of my worries. Had I shown up at the manor spoiling for a fight, Shen ZhenWu couldve conceivably had me and all my supporters drawn up on charges for conspiracy to commit murder against an Imperial Scion, even though none of us knew an Imperial Scion would be present at the manor. The punishment for which, I might add, is Nine Familial Extermination, meaning they couldve removed me and the most dangerous elements of the North in one fell swoop.A thought which is both terrifying and rage-inducing at the same time. Come at me all you want, but why you gotta involve my family too?The whole meeting was an elaborate trap set for me, my family, and my strongest supporters, one Shuai Jiao expected me to charge headlong into because Id just spent so many weeks playing the part of a hot-headed, power-crazed fool. He even invited the Brotherhood to witness my crimes, or at least I assume thats why they were there, or maybe he just wanted them close to keep them from warning me of the danger, though he couldnt stop Monk Happy from revealing himself to offer me a clue. Either way, I cant wholly trust the monks anymore, nor can I even trust myself, because I came to a realization recently, one that has chilling implications. Ever since I took up Lin-Lins advice, Luo-Luo has constantly bemoaned my aggressive actions and been advising me to ease back, but I was having fun going full throttle with my newfangled power and reputation. Was this a natural progression of events, or were my thoughts subtly guided towards conflict and aggression through some skill akin to Zhen Shis whispers? All of my actions and decisions these past few weeks seemed justified in the moment, but after stumbling across these disturbing revelations, I had to question every thought and decision I ever made.Again. Because one master of mind manipulation wasnt enough, so now I have to worry about an Imperial Puppeteer too. Seriously.Have I been indulging in lust because I have three beautiful wives, or because someone wanted me to lose myself in pleasure?Have I been swinging my big metaphorical dick around because it makes things easier, or was it all an effort to alienate me from possible supporters?Is my ambition to retake the west driven by empathy for the captured prisoners, or a devious ploy to convince me to commit significant Imperial forces to a lost cause and create a weakness where there was none?I spent days asking questions and searching my memories for signs of manipulation, but try as I might, I was unable to identify even a single intrusive thought or out of character decision, so if someone is influencing me, theyre a lot more subtle about it than Zhen Shi. Sure, Ive been hornier, angrier, and more bloodthirsty of late, but I had good reasons to explain it all. Of course, being unable to find proof of an insidious plot against me wasnt enough to lay my concerns to rest, as Ive never needed proof to indulge in paranoia. Instead, I stayed alert and continued to push the envelope to make my enemies think that I escaped their trap through sheer luck and happenstance. All the while, I tasked MuYang with tracking every important Officer of Central and various luxury goods sold in an attempt to uncover solid proof of Imperial Scions being present in Central while continuing monitoring my foes for signs of deception, but alas, nothing came of our efforts. Well, Luo-Luo eventually was forced to take a stand and made me back down from having a merchant executed for failing to fulfill a much needed contract for rations, but she made a good argument and I went with it. Otherwise, the days passed without incident as my hyper-vigilance went unrewarded, leaving me to wonder if I was actually wrong and no Imperial Scions were out to get me.Right up until I walked into Fungs rented room at the Goose and the Gander, which is a mid-tier establishment at best. It wasnt the demand that my drunk friend pay his tab before racking up more debt which clued me in, a dumb business decision considering everyone pays eventually to avoid the shame of having the world learn about how they skipped out on a brothel bill and all the unsavoury rumours which would undoubtedly follow. Nor was it the six thugs looming over my friend in undisguised threat, something no lowly brothel guard would dare do to a young master of Fungs wealth, status, and strength. Those were oddities which stood out, but what tipped me off to something fishy going on was the flawless Miss Ruo sitting on Fungs bed, a gorgeous, country-destroying beauty who would never be caught dead cat-calling from a bordello window. All the cheap clothing and gaudy make-up in the world couldnt hide her breath-taking allure, for even if she had been sold into slavery against her will, theres no way a place like the Goose and the Gander couldve afforded her. Miss Ruo is a classical beauty who, in terms of price, was likely worth more than the entire establishment which supposedly employed her, so how could the brothel afford her contract in the first place, much less put her up for sale?Like cmon, this girl is almost as gorgeous as Luo-Luo, and while no one would mistake them for twins or even sisters or cousins, theyre similar in so many ways. Poise and bearing for example, with the way they sit in the prettiest manner possible to emphasize their best features, or the fake demur act they put on to appear both shy and intrigued. They even have the same wide eyes, delicate nose, rounded cheeks, and pointed jaw, facial features which set the standard for beauty in the Empire. The major difference is my Imperial Consort has a lovely little beauty mark under her eye which really brings everything together into what can only be described as perfection. Also, Luo-Luo definitely has bigger boobs, so Miss Ruo just cannot compare, and personally, I find Mila, Yan, Lin-Lin, and Li-Li all more attractive than this basic jade beauty. I think Ruo is even supposed to be a homonym for Jade, though Fungs drunken slur made it sound like he was calling her Miss Meat, which is rude and sexist, but still too funny not to laugh at.Even though her speed and swordsmanship is superior to Ryo Dain, and her defences formidable to boot, its clear from our initial exchange that not only is she inexperienced in actual combat, she also lacks staying power. Overwhelming force has a quality all to itself, which I demonstrate by smashing Unity against her sword in a head on collision, the hefty mass of my transforming weapon easily able to blow away her lighter, more agile jian. This one move is all it takes to break through her defences, and she now stands before me with arms raised in an effort to regain control of her sword. Right idea, but wrong execution as she didnt think to retreat first, and I show her the errors of her ways by smashing my elbow into her beautiful and delicate nose.As the pain lances up my arm and Miss Ruos feather-light body crashes through the wall behind her, I curse my chivalrous restraint which kept me from punching her in the face with Tranquilitys twin blades. On the bright side, its a good thing I also went against my second instinct and didnt headbutt her in the face, because if I had, I might well have given myself a concussion. Instead, I just fractured my left elbow a tiny little bit, not the worst injury Ive ever taken, but more than what one would expect from hitting flesh and bone. To call Miss Ruo a jade beauty is fitting indeed, for there is no armour hidden underneath her sheer robes. Instead, it appears she possesses a body harder than solid rock, the result of Domain Plating if I had to guess. Though reeling from the pain, the implications frighten me even more, because her familiarity with the skill is several levels beyond mine. Ive yet to reach a point where my Domain Plated body can even withstand a plain old regular knife, but judging by the swelling in my left elbow, a steel blade would probably snap before it pierced through her defences.Its almost like shes shrouded in Chi harder than steel, because my Deployed Domain does not sense any movement from hers. Her Domain is also Deployed, but it is rigid and unmoving, covering her from head to toe like a suit of armour and doing nothing else.All of which only makes me more eager to capture her, because now I really want to interrogate her, and not in any naughty sexy fun way either. I want to know all her secrets and learn the limits of her defences, and I can already see her strapped to a table while I poke and prod her with blades. My darker thoughts catch me by surprise even as I cut down another two thugs with a backhanded swing of Unity, their blades unable to stop my heavy pseudo-sword from cutting through them from shoulder to hip. Three down, four to go, but just as quickly as the battle began, our clash comes to an end as I realize the two dead thugs bought enough time for the others to escape out the hole Miss Ruos body made in the wall. By the time I make it over under a cloak of Concealment, theyve disappeared out the window or into another room, and all my efforts to find any Concealed individuals come up with nothing. All I find is a quivering working girl laid out across the bed while her buck naked patron runs for the door, a sight I wish I could forget even as I gaze upon it.Ogling the scared little lady a bit to ease my troubled mind, I grab a handful of gold bars from my hip pouch and place them on the table with a mumbled apology for the damages, thoroughly confusing and frightening the lovely working girl as I retreat to guard Fung and Yan. First to arrive is none other than my friends manservant and undercover bodyguard Fu Zhu Li, his features twisted in fury as he checks the health of his ward. A paralytic agent in the wine, he growls, his inner-predator showing through his normally mild-mannered demeanour as Kuang Biao and the other Death Corps appear just in time to miss everything. This was a trap.I know it was, but the million dollar question Id like answered is if he was in on it, as hes the one who directed me to come get Fung. This isnt the first time Ive paid my heartbroken friends bills in recent days, and every time its been at the multi-talented half-weasels request, so I cant help but suspect him of foul play. Unable to contain my suspicion, Fu Zhu Li catches wind of my Aura and snorts at me with sheer disdain. Stow away your suspicions, whelp. If I wanted your life, not even your little wifeys guard could stop me from claiming it....And here I thought I was aggressive and arrogant. What the fuck man?How are you? I ask, looking away from the scary half-weasel to check on my wife instead, who stands ready with battle-fan and shield and looks frustrated she didnt get a chance to use either one.How am I? Moving to stand between me and the hole in the wall just in case they come back around, Yan thinks better of it and instead herds me over to the corner where she can watch the door and wall both at the same time. They tried to kill you!Good thing they were terrible assassins then. Shifting Yan gently aside because my pride and love will not allow me to place her in harms way just to keep me safe, I reach out and recall Peace back to hand, which is what I probably shouldve done instead of bringing out Unity. Too many options, not enough brain power to go through them all during combat, probably because I get distracted too easily. Case in point, while I should be on guard for another attack, Ive let my vigilance slip and only now notice Yan and Fu Zhu Lis incredulous stares. What?Terrible? Snorting in disbelief, Fu Zhu Li Sends, Im surprised you survived, much less did so without taking injury. How did you see through their deception so quickly? While the courtesan Miss Ruo is a new addition, the street toughs have been working here since the young master arrived. I was even Scrying on the situation before you arrived, and they gave no sign of being anything besides what they appeared to be.Too pretty, I Send back with a smirk, before giving him the real answer, one he seems to have trouble believing. Also, theres no reason for the brothel to stop Fung from playing on credit, nor should street toughs possess enough courage to threaten a Martial Warrior, especially a young, rich, drunk one who could kill them without consequence.All this suspicion merely because they refused to let the young master continue buying on credit? He already owes upwards of six-hundred gold, which might well be more than the owner earns in a month after expenses. Of course they cut him off and got angry when he said he wasnt carrying any coin.Oh. Well, the too pretty thing still stands, and besides, its not like I made a snap decision just because of one mistake. There were several minor discrepancies, so I kept my guard up.Fair enough, young Legate. How did you stagger them all at once?Trade secret.Having calmed down now that his young master is safe and sound, Fu Zhu Li reverts to his regular persona and simply offers me a placid nod of respect, while Yan has yet to let her guard down. Tugging at her sleeve, I Send, We need to leave before someone sees us. Last thing I need is eyewitnesses telling tales of the Legate being attacked in a brothel, and I doubt itll help your career if they hear you accompanied me in.Unconcerned by the hit to her reputation, Yan argues that we should stay to collect evidence, but theres no real need, because I already have a suspect in mind. Since his arrival, Ive been ignoring Kuang Biaos inquiries about what happened, because I get the feeling he already knows. The fight was fast, but not so fast that he couldnt have rushed in right away from his post outside the door. Even if my would-be assassins threw up a Sound Barrier to cover up the disturbance, my four Peak Expert Death Corps guards shouldve immediately noticed something was off and come in to check, because I always inform them when I put one up to exclude them. Instead, they stood around outside and twiddled their thumbs until the fight came to an end, meaning they were probably ordered not to interfere.Because if these killers werent trained in the Eastern Province, Ill eat my fucking boots raw.Miss Ruo and her thugs could be from the Tian family, who serve as Imperial spies and assassins, but I doubt it. Their approach was too amateurish and full of mistakes, even if Fu Zhu Li says the thugs have been working here all week. Then theres the fact that Miss Ruos sword skills were superb, but not exactly in the style of an assassin, more like a duellist with minimal experience in actual combat, which combined with her last minute addition to the plan and breathtaking beauty leads me to believe she might actually be an Imperial Noble, a young woman with clout who wanted to get her hands dirty for once. Maybe shes a Yang and related to Jixing, or a Liang whos related to Shen ZhenWu, or maybe Im reading things wrong entirely and shes just a pawn, but I doubt it. Either way, theres something off about this assassination attempt, something that makes me think the former Legate isnt behind it, not directly at least. The plan was just so... basic, like someone came up with what they thought was a brilliant idea, and then laid in wait for a week or two without really thinking things through. Why have the six thugs stand in plain view instead of keeping one or two hidden in reserve? Because they were worried Id see through any Concealment? Or because they knew Fu Zhu Li was watching and would notice someone hiding nearby? What about Miss Ruo? Why did she personally take a hand in these matters when its clear shes a talented amateur at best? And what was their plan if Fung visited a different brothel? Did they have workers stationed at every one? I mean, its not like he has a favourite place or girl anymore, not since he started wooing Seoyoon, though it does seem like hes doing his damnedest to make up for lost time.Ah man, the poor guy is down bad. I wish I could drink the nights away alongside him and be more supportive, but Ive been busy planning a war and whatnot, which is a valid excuse but still makes me a shitty friend.Either way, there are just too many loose ends for this to be the work of the clever and crafty Shen ZhenWu, which is both comforting and disturbing at the same time. On the one hand, my former boss isnt dead set on having me whacked just yet, and if hes working with Shuai Jiao, that means hes also willing to work with me again. However, if hes not responsible for this clumsy assassination attempt, then that means theres another player involved, namely whoever Miss Ruo answers to. If its the Yangs, then fine, I was going to have to deal with them eventually, but if the Xing, Di, or Tian family are getting involved, then stakes have gotten a whole lot higher.Why do things have to be so complicated? I just want to wage war against the time-honoured Enemy of humanity and defeat the eight-hundred year old monster leading them. Is that really too much to ask for?Chapter Meme
