Chương 25: Chapter 24: AND SHE BITES

CHAPTER 24 AND SHE BITES —∞— Jieyuan stared at the open door; Meiyao was striding down the corridor without stopping, murder in her step. A pair of protectors—the ones who'd stayed next to Protector Yuyan—set off after her wordlessly. Without really thinking he also moved toward the door, making to follow, but he'd barely taken a step when he felt a presence reach out to him in his mind. Yongyi's presence. A mind-link. They'd exchanged ciphers a couple of days ago.

Jieyuan had plenty of space left over in his mind-linker, so he hadn't hesitated to take Yongyi up on his offer to exchange ciphers. He stopped his steps, accepting the link. Immediately, Yongyi's voice sounded in his mind. Wait. Wait. Jieyuan glanced at the core disciple, who gave him a brief nod. Nodding back, Jieyuan settled back against the wall. His mind-link with Yongyi faded, the core disciple cutting off the connection.

He looked around and noticed that nobody besides Yongyi seemed to have been paying any attention to him. Almost everyone had their eyes on the chief elder. It was then that it occurred to Jieyuan that he didn't really know what he'd been going after Meiyao for. What he'd do after he found her. His feet hadn't really thought that far—they'd just set off after her. She hadn't been sad. She'd been mad. Maybe they could go for some sparring? Let her blow off some steam?

Jieyuan would have been a bit more concerned—concerned for her safety—if those two protectors hadn't taken off after her. Given no one (not even Protector Yuyan or Yongyi, who clearly cared for Meiyao) seemed particularly worried, there shouldn't be any problems. He doubted there'd be another assassination attempt soon, and Meiyao, even while mad, would probably have enough sense to stay in the palace's vastly more secure underground level. Yongyi had told him to wait, so Jieyuan forced himself to stay still.

In the stillness of his body, his mind only became more agitated, though. One particular issue seized his attention immediately. Meiyao's engagement. That particular revelation ballooned inside his mind, occupying all his thoughts. With it came a wave of jealousy, its green tide washing over him—but it lasted for only a few moments before his frenzied mind started making connections. Jealousy gave way to confusion and suspicion.

To begin with, this whole engagement business didn't make any sense unless he'd really misunderstood this whole situation and Meiyao's plans for the Summit. Something's not right. Jieyuan scanned the room, taking note of everyone's reactions. His suspicions deepened. Chief Junjie's was staring, stone-faced, at the door. Nothing off about that. Sovereign Zhaoyong's expression was curious, though: he was glaring at Chief Junjie, face dark. He wasn't the only one glaring at the chief elder, either.

Protectors Yuyan and Wanxin, as well as Elder Yiming, were also glaring at him. Yongyi's expression was the most interesting, though: he was also staring at his father, but he wore a conflicted look, brow furrowed, lips pressed. There was clearly a lot more to Meiyao's engagement than than met the eye. Jieyuan felt Yongyi's presence in his mind again. Just as he accepted the link, Protector Yuyan spoke out, breaking the silence that had settled after Meiyao's abrupt departure.

"I'm going." With Meiyao gone, the woman was now standing immediately to Jieyuan's right. She was still glaring at her husband. It was an odd look on her. Frosty, cold. Jieyuan hadn't had much opportunity to interact with Yuyan, but from what he'd seen so far of her, and the bits and pieces Meiyao sometimes let slip, this sort of cool, wintry anger was a few steps removed from the norm for the woman. Come, Yongyi told him right afterward through their mind-link.

Jieyuan didn't hesitate, falling into step behind Protector Yuyan. He was probably breaching protocol here, but he doubted he'd be getting in any trouble for not waiting to be excused, not when he was following Protector Yuyan, not when everything indicated he wouldn't be remaining in the sect much longer. He wasn't so sure what was going on, but Protector Yuyan didn't seem all that surprised by his joining her. All she did was glance back and give him a little nod.

As they made for the door, Yongyi, Protector Wanxin, and Yunzhu joined their growing little group. Nobody stopped them, and they walked out into the corridor. The entire underground level was much like the conference room—metal floor, metal ceiling, and metal walls, gemstone lights above, and not much else to it. He imagined this level served as something similar to bunkers back on Earth.

The metal walls were all artifacts in their own right, inscribed at least with durability-augmenting inscripts based on what Jieyuan could sense from their tenth-shade red spirits, not to mention the numerous overlapping inscribed fields that seemed to span the entire level. Protectors Yuyan and Wanxin were at the front, Yunzhu just behind them, with Yongyi trailing just a bit further behind. Jieyuan matched pace with him. So, what exactly is going on? he asked through their mind-link.

Neither he nor Yongyi had cut off the connection. The engagement, or what we're doing now? Both would be nice. I can't tell you much more about the former, Yongyi replied. But right now, we're going after Meiyao. Well, I gathered that much, Jieyuan sent back, dryly. What for? And why have me tag along? Not that I'm complaining, but this seems like family business. Yongyi looked over to him, Meiyao's half-brother's bright yellow eyes finding his own. Jieyuan held the gaze. This is a family matter, Yongyi sent.

But I reckon family is the last thing Meiyao wants to see right now. You, on the other hand, should get a better reaction out of her. Jieyuan raised his eyebrows. I think you might be overestimating how close Meiyao and I are. Granted, Jieyuan himself wasn't quite sure how close they were, either.

His old man had taught him plenty about women, how to seduce them and whatnot—all tools of the trade—but the lessons had always been from the perspective of someone in a position of power and always centered around getting something out of the relationship. Neither of which applied to his current circumstances with Meiyao. And what do you expect me to do? Jieyuan continued. Where is she, anyway? Yongyi frowned. Just … Get her mind off things. Or maybe get her to talk.

Whatever works, as long as you don't leave her stewing by herself. Meiyao is… Yongyi turned away, but the frown remained on his face. I know my sister. She's feeling betrayed. And when she's in a mood like this, she's likely to do something… rash. She takes after Aunt Lianhua in that. As for where we're going, you'll see. We're almost there. They kept on walking through metallic corridors, passing several rooms. The palace's underground level was even bigger than he'd thought.

They'd been brought straight away to the conference room, descending through an entrance that was already quite near it. Yuyan and Wanxin set a quick pace, but they clearly weren't in much of a hurry; otherwise, they'd have space-hasted and long since left them behind. Both women walked in silence but likely in a mind-link much like he and Yongyi. Meiyao's supposed engagement found its way back into his thoughts, and Jieyuan found himself frowning again. He was no stranger to the idea of arranged marriages.

They were especially common in the circles he belonged to before becoming a cultivator. But he'd thought cultivators took it more seriously. Jieyuan didn't know if this applied to the Chromajie as a whole or even all of Incadescent Serenity Island, but at least here in the Radiant Gold Province, marriage was supposed to be a pledge between two people before the Heavens, a promise of absolute dedication to each other.

That was why marriage was symbolized by bond bands, worn on the neck and made of silver, to represent the Heavens' role in their bond. A spouse wasn't someone you'd just bare your neck to—which, here, was considered the ultimate show of trust—but someone you'd give your neck to. In practice, marriage wasn't taken quite so seriously by mundanes, but a cultivator's life revolved around the Heavens; you'd think they would have more respect for the sanctity of the heavenly pledge marriage was supposed to be.

But from the look of things, he'd been mistaken. They made another turn, footsteps echoing. Still no Meiyao in sight, or the elders who'd followed her. Wujinyao Dayang. That was whom Chief Junjie supposedly intended to marry Meiyao to. Jieyuan recognized the name. How could he not? His family had served the Radiant Gold Sect, and the Wujinyao were the royal clan of the sect. Dayang, specifically, was a core disciple and the nephew and apprentice of the sect's sovereign protector.

Rumor had it that Dayang was being groomed as the sovereign protector's successor, as the woman didn't have children of her own. Jieyuan had only met Dayang once, briefly, on a trip to the Radiant Gold Palace. It hadn't been enough to form a proper impression of the man, but he knew Dayang was well-regarded by the palace's mundane servants, whom Jieyuan had had much more contact with.

And Dayang's character aside, a marriage between him and Meiyao could very well cement a powerful alliance between the Radiant Gold Sect and the Gleaming Stone Sect, facilitating all sorts of trade agreements and exchanges. It'd thoroughly upset the current power structure, further increasing the two sects' influence and pushing further down the Viridian Death Cult and the Xiyunfeng Clan. Jieyuan's frown deepened. The more he thought of it, the more the marriage made sense, at least from a business perspective.

It'd have been better if Meiyao had been a Liangshibai—now that'd have really tied the two sects together—but he'd never heard of a Liangshibai marrying out, so this was just about the next best thing, with how close Meiyao was to the Liangshibai. Problem was, the arranged marriage would only work from that very specific perspective, in that scope. When you considered everything else—the whole context—it stopped making any sense.

Because Meiyao clearly had every intention of accepting the scouting offer she'd no doubt receive from the Howling Lightning Sect in the Radiant Gold Summit, if for no reason other than her heavenly affinity. And as far as Jieyuan was aware, there was absolutely nothing the Gleaming Stone Sect could do to force her to refuse. As they made another turn, Jieyuan noticed two core elders, two men, standing guard next to a closed door. The same pair that had followed Meiyao out of the room. Both Liangshibai.

It was a small corridor, the door at the end of it being the only one in sight. The pair nodded to Protectors Yuyan and Wanxin as they approached, Yunzhu trailing just behind. Yongyi hung back, motioning for Jieyuan to do the same. Protectors Yuyan and Wanxin had a brief talk with the two men, too low for Jieyuan to hear. The men sent some glances Jieyuan's way, frowning, but eventually they nodded and set off down the corridor, walking past him and Yongyi silently. Protector Wanxin beckoned him over.

"Yongyi says you're the best one to talk to Meiyao right now," Protector Wanxin said. Both she and Protector Yuyan were giving him considering looks. Yunzhu, standing beside her mother, had a far-away look on her face.

"I'm inclined to trust him. Now, and this is important. If she says anything about contacting the Viridian Death Cult, do your best to talk her out of it. And if you can't, tell us right afterward." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Jieyuan was already confused. This only made it worse.

"The Viridian Death Cult?" What did they have to do with anything? Protector Wanxin furrowed her brow.

"Meiyao didn't tell you?" She looked over to Yongyi.

"Are you sure they are close?"

"I'm sure," Yongyi said. Protector Wanxin turned back to him, still frowning.

"All right. Meiyao has some… pull with them, you could say. Actually, chip that, she has a lot of pull with them. They're the ones I threatened that high protector with bringing into this mess earlier—but trust me, that was just to throw the chipped bint off. Nobody wants the cult involved in our matters." Jieyuan still wasn't sure what this was about, but he could definitely agree with her on that last point. Nobody with any semblance of sense would want anything to do with that merry bunch of utter lunatics.

"Got it." Protector Wanxin looked over at Protector Yuyan, who'd had her eyes on him the entire time, studying him. Protector Yuyan met her sister's gaze, and after a brief pause, nodded. Then they stepped aside. Jieyuan focused on the door, stepping forward, opening it. On the other side was gleamstone. For a moment, Jieyuan thought he was back in Protector Yuanzhi's cave in the Gleamstone Valley. Where everything in the corridor had been metal, it was all crystal now—floors, ceiling, and walls.

Except it was much larger than Protector Yuanzhi's cave, as large as the conference room he'd been in earlier. No gemstone light on the ceiling necessary, because the entire room was alight with a soft, purplish glow. At the center of the room was a small pool of water, the gleamstone ceiling above reflected on it like a mirror, and sitting on the edge of it was Meiyao, her back to him. He'd mused, before, how this level of the palace was oddly lacking in the Liangshibai's flair for gemstone.

Now he saw that they'd concentrated all of it in this very room. As the door closed behind him, she glanced back—and then blinked, frowning.

"What are— They let you in here?" Jieyuan recalled the argument Protectors Wanxin and Yuyan had had before with the pair of Liangshibai elders guarding the door, and the looks they'd sent him. Was this some kind of restricted area? Knowing the Liangshibai and their thing for gemstones—for gleamstone, in particular—that didn't seem all that unlikely.

"Protectors Yuyan and Wanxin are outside."

"Oh." Meiyao looked past him, toward the door.

"That'd do it." She focused on him again.

"And why are you here?" She looked much more relaxed now than she had before she'd stormed off the conference room, but there was no mistaking the bitterness in her voice. The bite in it. Jieyuan got his feet moving again, making for the small, artificial pond.

"You have Yongyi to thank for that, I think." He plopped down beside Meiyao, casting his eyes over the water. Meiyao sent him a wary look but didn't move away or make to stop him. She had her legs into the pond, submerged in the waters, robes and all. He chose not to follow her example, crossing his legs under him instead. She was silent for a while, staring at him.

"Yongyi. You two have been close as of late, haven't you? Friends?" It was the first time she'd acknowledged his contact with Yongyi. It was obvious that she'd already been aware of it, but she'd pretended to know nothing about it. He'd even mentioned Yongyi before, and his spars with him, but Meiyao had taken a page out of Daojue's book and ignored any such statements. He considered the question, briefly.

"I think we're friendly, at least." Meiyao looked away from him, focusing on the little pond. Silence fell over them. It was odd, being surrounded by gleamstone like this again. A mite unsettling, even, but not to the point of outright comfort. Here the gleamstone was contained. Probably the Liangshibai had extracted it from the Valley and refined it against the walls here, molding it to the room.

It shouldn't be able to corrupt him, convert him to gleamstone, or whatever it was that happened to Protector Yuanzhi and Yikongwei Beidao. Or at least so I hope. Jieyuan was the one to break the silence.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you were planning on leaving for the Howling Lightning Sect?" The answer came immediately.

"Oh, I am." There was a dark set to Meiyao's face. Dark and sharp. Just short of murderous.

"If I were the slightest bit unsure before, now there's no doubt about it. Not anymore." That was about what he'd expected. Jieyuan gave a slow nod.

"Then… I'm not sure what the point of the engagement is?" Meiyao huffed.

"Trust me, I'm as lost as you are." She shook her head, her waterfall of brown hair twisting and shifting.

"Even if I weren't leaving, I'd still have other ways of stopping it. I'm sure there's something else, some piece of the puzzle I'm missing, but, honestly?" Meiyao's voice got lower, her lips pulling back slightly." Rot them. Whatever it is, it can't be anything good—not when my father's part of it." It was with no little care that Jieyuan weighed his next words.

"Your… issues with your father go beyond this, then?" What he got in response was a side-eyed look. One that was both consideration and warning. I know you're fishing, it said. Then Meiyao was looking away, and for a long while, she didn't say anything. Jieyuan likewise remained silent. He was fishing for information. And though he didn't have much experience with fishing proper, he did know that patience played a large role in it. He'd thrown the bait. Now he'd just need to wait for her to bite. And bite she did.

Meiyao sighed. A deep, long exhale of air, as profound as any Jieyuan had ever heard.

"Ten years ago… Ten years ago, my mother mysteriously disappeared in a mission outside the sect." Meiyao had her brow furrowed. She wasn't looking at him. Rather she seemed fully concentrated on a particular spot in the middle of the pond.

"That's, at least, the official story. In reality…" She trailed off. Just as Jieyuan was thinking she'd changed her mind, she resumed speaking.

"I'd been on a trip outside the sect, visiting Uncle Yiming with Aunt Wanxin and Yunzhu. When we returned…" She swallowed. Her voice came out thick, charged. Though he'd been looking forward, like her, he had all of his attention on his peripheral vision, on her.

"When we returned… I found out she'd been abducted." There was another long pause. Meiyao licked her lips.

"It… It took me a while to get all the details. Yongyi, Aunt Yuyan, Grandfather—they'd all been there. They'd been having a meeting. Apparently, some high-realm cultivator was overflying the sect, noticed my mother somehow, and then barged in. Tore the ceiling apart and descended there. The man demanded they hand my mother over, lest it comes to a fight, and my father… he told everyone else to stand down." Meiyao pursed her lips.

"Now, I'm not stupid. I know that fighting wasn't an option. They couldn't have stopped the man, not by force. It didn't matter what his step was—if it was above Redrealm, then they had no chance. But— But my father could've at least tried something. Tried to argue, tried to convince the cultivator it wasn't a good idea, called upon the envoy… But no." Her expression turned dark, thunderous.

"Aunt Yuyan and Grandfather told me that Father had argued against it, but Yongyi told me the truth. My father did nothing." At her sides, Meiyao's hands were clenched tightly into fists.

"And then, after the man was gone, taking my mother with him, my father ordered the matter forgotten. Nobody was to look into the man or where he was from. He'd been very specific, even, that I wasn't to be told any of it. It was Aunt Wanxin who found out and told me, after which I pressed the others for answers." There was another long exhale. Meiyao seemed to be trying to calm herself, and it didn't look as if she was having much success.

"We were never close, my father and I. To begin with, my parents were never close. They must've at least shared a bed at some point; wouldn't be here, otherwise. But I don't think I ever saw the two of them alone together. There'd always be someone else, usually Aunt Yuyan. I can probably count on one hand the times the two talked to each other without it turning into a fight. Why they even married is beyond me. It…" Here, Meiyao glanced back at the door, then lowered her voice to little more than a whisper.

"It was Aunt Yuyan Father was after, for her status as the sovereign protector's daughter. That much is obvious. How my mother came into the picture, why he married her, is something nobody has been able to explain to me. Not Mother, not Aunt Yuyan, not Grandfather." Meiyao's voice grew even quieter.

"Mother avoided the question, Aunt Yuyan would say that they loved each other—which couldn't be any more of a lie—and Grandfather would just give me this sad look and remain quiet. Sometimes… Sometimes I even wonder whether I'm really his child. I certainly wish I weren't." Meiyao shifted her gaze to him, and he turned to face her. Her green eyes were bright, vivid, narrowed, and there was no little bitterness in her expression.

"So? Have I satisfied your curiosity?" The words came as a challenge. Jieyuan met her gaze evenly. Even incensed like this, she was a vision.

"I'm not a particularly curious person," he finally said.

"But you're right in this case—I do want to know more about you. Earlier, you asked me whether I was friends with your brother. And I don't think we're quite there. With you, however, I'd like to think I am. Am I wrong?" The reason he'd gotten closer to Meiyao was indeed because he thought he might get something out of it. That he was attracted to her hadn't been a factor—if anything, that'd have been a reason to stay away, because that was the kind of distraction he was better off avoiding.

But he had grown to care for her. It wasn't just because of whatever mysteries she might hold that he was interested in her history, in her background. He was genuinely interested in Meiyao, in a way he couldn't remember ever being interested in someone before. He wanted to get involved in her life, to be a part of it, even if it weren't for his ambitions. Jieyuan wasn't a good person, a virtuous person. He'd never held any illusions otherwise. He'd always been selfish.

Everything he did had always been for the sake of his own goals, to satisfy his insatiable, intangible need for power. Being raised by a cutthroat merchant hadn't helped any. Right now, though? Right now he'd have stuck around Meiyao, helped her, even if there was nothing for him in it. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he didn't see a point in lying to himself, either. It was what it was.

"I…" Meiyao blinked. Her mouth opened, then closed.

"I… rot." She abruptly looked away, staring fixedly at nowhere. Jieyuan didn't take his eyes off her. Then she slumped forward, kicking lamely with her legs, disturbing the waters. The reflection of the gleamstone ceiling rippled, shimmering.

"No. You're not. You're not wrong. We… I do consider you a friend." Jieyuan smiled, and he noticed that though she still didn't look at him, the corners of her lips had likewise curled up. She didn't say anything else, and neither did he. The ensuing silence was a pleasant, tranquil thing, as they just sat there, eyeing the waters. Meiyao kept on kicking softly at the water. Eventually, though, Jieyuan felt the need to fill it.

"What is this room, anyway?" he eventually asked. Meiyao shot him a glance.

"They didn't tell you?"

"They just told me you were in here and ushered me inside."

"Hmmm. This place is a shrine of sorts, where the Liangshibai stationed here in the palace can get in touch with the Gleamstone Valley. Usually, only Liangshibai are allowed inside. Exceptionally, they'll sometimes let in non-Liangshibai in here to pursue the Concept of Crystal, but that's seen as a fairly significant privilege."

"Ah." Jieyuan nodded. He'd guessed it might be something along those lines.

"You came straight here, though, didn't you? You've been here before?"

"The last time I was in the palace," Meiyao said.

"In… that visit. I like it here. I'd often go to the Gleamstone Valley with my mother and Aunt Yuyan. This reminds me of it. Of those times." Meiyao's posture shifted. She sat up straighter, and her legs stilled.

"My mother…" She soundlessly worked her jaw, like she was chewing on her words.

"I don't know what that cultivator wanted with her. She's probably dead. It's been over a decade since she was taken. But… I'll climb up the sect ladder, high as I can go, then I'm going looking for her." Meiyao's eyes narrowed, jaw clenching.

"And… And if she's indeed dead, I'll avenge her."

"Well." Jieyuan got to his feet, and then extended a hand down to her.

"I'm sure you won't need any help, but I'd like to think I'm good at both search and murder. And I have a sneaking suspicion we're in it for the long haul." Meiyao looked up at him, frown fading, replaced by an expression he couldn't quite decipher. Not nearly as mysterious, though, was the little smile that came afterward—or how Meiyao grasped his hand, and let herself be pulled up. With a pulse from her all-cleanser, she was dry again.

"Good to go?" he asked her. He considered, briefly, whether to raise the matter of the Viridian Death Cult, but he reckoned he was better off not pressing his luck. Based on the progress he'd made today, it was just a matter of time before he found out more. And it didn't seem like Meiyao was likely to do anything rash, so regardless, it was mission accomplished. She looked over to the door.

"I am." They set off walking together. Midway, though, she started slowing her pace, though still gazing straight ahead. Then he felt her presence in his mind. Matching her slower pace, he accepted the mind-link. Meiyao's voice rang in his mind. Earlier this morning, Yuyan told me something curious. Oh? While overflying the Fatebloom Woods, one of the elders happened to notice a location that wasn't on any of the maps—a large clearing in the center of it.

If it hadn't been for all the training he'd undergone, Jieyuan would've frozen. They also found the corpse of a core disciple and a protector, as well as signs someone had used a Radiant Light Haven talisman against them. Both Fusongshi. You … You already know I went there. And that I killed those two. I do, Meiyao replied. I assume you have questions about the statue? And the cabin? It was only then that Meiyao turned to face him, coming to a sudden stop.

Her mouth opened, then closed, and her words rang in his mind. What statue? What cabin? Jieyuan stopped beside her. What? You don't— What is it that the elder found in the clearing? Nothing, Meiyao replied. It was empty. Empty? Jieyuan's thoughts raced. Focusing on Huaxin's presence rather than Meiyao's, he asked, Did you have something to do about that? The Heart had shown it had some degree of control over the Fatebloom Woods. NEGATION, Huaxin answered, with significant undertone of confusion. Jieyuan?

Meiyao called through their mind-link. He focused back on her. I'll tell you later. It wouldn't do him much harm to mention the statue and the cabin. He'd been counting on others finding out about them, anyway. All right, Meiyao sent back. Just … And she glanced at his chest. I'm assuming you got something from there. And if whatever you did there gave you the power I think it did, then avoid getting wounded in front of others. Trust me, people will notice. Right, Jieyuan sent back to her distractedly.

He was still preoccupied with the matter of the statue and the cabin. Maybe the elder who'd found the place first took the statue for themselves, got rid of the cabin and the stump the Fatebloom Heart had been on, and kept it a secret from the sect? It was a possibility, Jieyuan decided. It was also possible that the elder who found the Heartseat had reported all those things, but the sect was keeping it a secret and Meiyao wasn't in on it.

Or maybe someone had gotten to the Fatebloom Woods even earlier than that elder. Thinking this far, Jieyuan found that it didn't matter what had happened—the only person who could connect him to it was Meiyao, anyway. There was no reason to worry. It was then, though, that the Fatebloom Heart beat ominously in his chest, much like it'd done when he'd looked at the Viridian Forest from afar. Jieyuan could've groaned. Well, great. That sounded suspiciously like a reason to worry.

Apparently, when the Heart wasn't pulling him from the verge of death, he could count on it to work like some kind of mysterious doom alarm.