Muddy Waters (2)

The Fu clan was tense for the past month. Many had heard word that the elders were preparing to go to war. They were bringing together quite a few powers in the light realm. One could see elders move in and out of the clan in hurry. The clansmen were not sure of what was happening. One thing was for sure though; they enlisted the De branch section chief, making other branch chiefs quite jealous as they were left in the dark. Things got serious when the clan guardians stepped down from the mountain into the clan. The clan was abuzz at their passing figures. The person leading them to the clan chief was the De branch section chief.

"I say something is really brewing this past month," someone in the crowd said

"They won't let us know. Is it so serious that they need to keep secret?"

"I am sure the clan head is doing this for our own good,"

"Look, even the clan guardians have been called out. We should be told by now," Many wondered what could be it that could not be told to them while the other three section chiefs came together in a room and discussed their plan of action.

"They let Fu Ifu into the fold?" the third section chief asked.

"Are we being cast out and ignored?" the second section chief asked.

"I don't think this is us being ignored. It is Ifu using this chance to rise," the first section chief deuced.

"What do you mean? It is obvious the only one the elders work with is Ifu. They chose him,"

"No. All this started a month ago. Around that time, Ifu was seen rushing into the clan in panic straight for the council halls. That is when this started. He is probably the one who brought the problem to the clan, knows the entire situation quite well, and so, they use him," the first section chief said and got up in haste. To this, the others followed.

"What is it? Tell us," the others insisted.

"Whatever it is, the clan head not involving other section chief is causing destabilization. Even if he brought problems back, no matter how great, he should have told discussed it with his supervising elder and then worked his way up to the clan head," the first section head said as he started to walk out.

"That is the rule," the rest nodded.

"By ignoring us section chiefs, the clan head is saying we are not necessary and one can just do as they want. The clan head may have ignored this because of the gravity of the situation, but it does not change the fact that because of this, we can just walk in and ask what is happening too out of worry," he said and kept walking.

"Unless the gravity of the situation is greater than you can imagine and you are going in there to annoy the already angry clan head," they heard a voice say and the three of them paused in the dark corridor to see a stranger standing there.

"Who are you?" the section chiefs were sure that this person was not from their clan. There was no way he would talk to them in such a tone even though he was from the elders' factions. Looking at their posture they were prepared to fight.

"The gravity of what is going on is bigger than you think. If you barge in there, you will probably lose your hard-earned section chief position," the person said staying hidden in the shadows.

"How dare you walk into our clan unannounced!" the first section chief said.

"If you raise your voice much louder, maybe those outside will also come and learn what I know. Why your clan is in panic," the person said and they all paused.

"And you will tell us this, why?" the second section chief asked.

"After all, isn't it still someone who told the other section chief being used by the clan?" he said and they glanced at each other.

"Your clan has come to the point where you are being used to fight other people's battles," he said and they frowned deeply.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh? Do you want to know now?" he asked.

"Tell us," the first section chief said.

"Well, someone has popped up in the outside world with the ability to enter the tomb," the person said.

"What?" the three exclaimed.

"Word is, he not only entered the tomb, he took it with him, that was before he stopped by the tower and took your Fu clan young master," he said and the section chiefs were shell shocked.

"Our young master went to the tower with a,"

"Soul realization master, yes. That person killed him too, destroyed your young master's daitan and took him away claiming he wanted to extract the eternal fire from his being," he answered

"If we really rushed in, the clan head would have sliced us into bits," the third section chief said.

"But you see, that boy is so dangerous, other people dare not pursue him dare not fight him. What your clan does not know, is how much. They know that he can use the energy from the tomb, but they seem to have forgotten what that energy can do. When others dared not go, they threw this problem to your clan," he said and the three section chiefs gritted their teeth in anger.

"Are you saying that section chief Ifu is working or outer forces?"

"Why not? No one survived the battle of the tower I hear. Word is an angry witch killed everyone. How did your section chief know of this, when he never got to the top with your master? Your clan is so angry, they are rallying the light realm to fight this boy," he said and the section chiefs paused. The clan guardians were called down today. Foreign powers entered the clan today from the main gate. That means the meeting to fight this boy was happening today. This person standing here should be from those who entered the clan today.

"Does that mean that you object to fighting the boy?" the first clan chief asked.

"Don't try so hard to guess my motives. What is worrisome is, that your clan is not full of stupid people. If this boy could use the powers from the tomb as rumoured, why did your clan dare to try to fight him?" he asked.

"Unless my clan has found a way," the second clan chief said.

"But how did this way just drop in your lap?" he asked.

"Section chief Ifu!" the third section chief guessed.

"What a great service he has provided for the clan, a promotion is the only way to appreciate such talents," he said and the section chiefs' faces turned black.

"But, I wonder, if this solution was there? Why hand it over to your clan to rip the soils? Why give it to you to test if it works, what price will your clan pay for this?" he said.

"We should tell the clan chief!"

"Yes, we cannot let section chief Ifu lead the clan towards doom,"

"True,"

"Noble intentions, really touching, but one wonders if throwing that section chief out will benefit you. Sure he will fall, such a great righteous smile you will have then, but will you rise?" he asked and they paused.

"What do you want?" the first section chief asked.

"What does what I want matter? You should do what you want, and rise while at it," the person said and his form in the shadows suddenly vanished. He appeared over the meeting room and stared down at those discussing before leaving. The next moment, he appeared in the forest not too far from the clan and walked into a cave. He stared at Ed's closed eyes as he contemplated and laid down on the floor. Ed's eyes opened and stared down at him lying on the cave floor.

"You have been gone long," Ed said.