Fees from the Chief

"Haven't you heard that the wine from Huayuan is comparable to piss?" The man laughed out, causing the Lin disciplines to grit and ball their fists. The same man spotted Sun Yin in the crowd. "Oh, such a beautiful maiden! Big Sister, are you a guest cultivator? Why don't you just come to our sect?!"

Sun Yin walked to Lin Kun's side and brought her sleeve to her face as if hiding it like a princess. "Oh, that's a nice invitation. However, I may not bother coming… seeing how inappropriate the Heici Xu sect is for a delicate lady." She shamelessly trailed her hand along Lin Kun's sleeve. "The Lin sect is the most accommodating when it comes to the ambiance, don't you think?"

The leader of the Xu sect's entourage twitched in anger. He slammed the table with his fist. "How dare you disrespect the Xu sect?!"

"How dare you give disgrace to Xu Daopian?" Her gaze grew harder against the disciples of the other sect.

"X-Xu Daopian?" The man wrote confusion all over his face.

"Xu Daopian died three years after the Fall. The Xu sect is now under her uncle, Xu Niu," Lu Bang spoke from his spot, making Sun Yin turn to him.

The maiden hummed in a sad tone. "I see, how unfortunate. Now I know why the Heici Xu sect had stooped so low."

The man pulled out his flying sword and aimed at Sun Yin. "You! How dare you badmouth our master in front of us?! Prepare for the punishment!"

"I'll do you a better one." Sun Yin lowered her hand, just enough for her mouth to be seen. She had given the raging men a menacing smile. "How about I be brought to your master? It would be more satisfying for him to kill me himself rather than having lowlifes like you deliver his supposed divine punishment.

"Also, you have not told us why the Heici Xu sect had come." Sun Yin covered her mouth again. "Perhaps you have heard about the attack of the Cinder Army?"

"No, we came to pick up a treasure that was supposed to be surrendered to the Chief Cultivator." The man ground his teeth, not bothering to contain his rage towards the woman. He shifted his glare at the master of the Lin sect, the blade of his sword following his eyes. "Your three months are over. Surrender the heirlooms!"

Sun Yin's eyes widened. She knew which heirlooms were being collected… or at least she had an idea.

Lin Kun held onto Fenqi. "You have taken a lot from my father. I will not surrender our family treasures without proof of its necessity."

"How about we show you how we make it a necessity?" The leader grinned.

"A magical treasure must not be transported without care." Sun Yin interfered again. "You must have a palanquin at least, am I mistaken?"

"Why do you care? Are you really serving your head to the Chief?"

Sun Yin could not help but smile again. However, it was under her sleeve. "Yes, I am. In fact, I will also carry these heirlooms being collected from Master Lin." She gazed at Lin Kun, winking with her eye hidden from their view.

The master stared at her, remembering her threats. However, whether he gave it to her or not, the Heici Xu sect would still come and collect it. Perhaps it was best to get rid of the two threats at the same time. He could feign his knowledge of the woman's identity after anyway. Though being cunning was not part of Lin Kun's personality, he lowered his head a little.

"Lu Bang, please fetch the Gold Orb. Accompany Lady Sun to the Heici Xu sect's temple. Do not go inside; you are not invited by the Chief," Lin Kun spoke clearly, bringing a shock to his disciples.

The Xu sect entourage leader huffed as if he had gained superiority among the highest of the Lin sect. They had agreed to meet in front of the temple. In fact, they were planning to transport the treasures like normal packages, hand-held while they traveled by sword.

Lin Kun looked at Sun Yin as she had changed into a light purple hanfu that was owned by his mother when she was still alive. It was not his mother's favorite, but it was the hanfu she wore when Lin Guwei had a photo of them taken.

Gao Meiling died after giving birth to Lin Kun. She was not a cultivator like them, and so the surge of spiritual power that accompanied Lin Kun killed her. However, it did not happen before she had taken a glimpse of her precious boy in the arms of his father.

Like Sun Yin, Gao Meiling was one of the most beautiful women that graced the Huayuan Lin sect. She was a water carrier from town that was a child Lu Qin once rescued. Though her father opposed her marriage with Lin Guwei, she still left for her love.

They said that Lin Guwei and Gao Meiling shared a rather romantic story—in contrast to Lin Guwei and Lu Qin's sudden union. Also, Lin Guwei married the water girl. There were rumors about the concubine's anger, but Lu Bang had always told his little brother that his mother, Lu Qin, was happy about the marriage.

Unbeknownst to Lin Kun, Sun Yin was able to read certain attached energies in objects. Though her visions were nothing like they were, she could feel happiness enveloping her as soon as she got the hanfu on her skin. She then turned to Lin Kun who had been zoning out on her.

"Master Lin, it's wise of you to let them go." She smiled at him.

"Ah," Lin Kun gasped as her words ripped him out of his trance. He then shook his head. "I will never forgive you if you hurt the Lin sect once again. The Bride's revenge had been exacted on the men who did wrong against the world and their principles. There's no need for me to harbor hate towards you"—his glare sharpened—"but if you hurt Lu Bang, I swear to the gods, I will deliver the divine punishment made for your tainted soul, Sun Yin."

"No need to let me hear about your confessions." She giggled behind a sleeve. "It must feel so nice to feel such intense feeling towards another person!"

Lin Kun was once again stupefied by her words.

Lu Bang called out from behind the door. "Sun Yin!" He slid the door open and walked in to cover his brother with his smoldering image. "Stop. It."

"My, my." Sun Yin only laughed as she restrained herself from teasing Lin Kun any further. She then twirled in front of Lu Bang. "What can you say, Lu Bang? Do I look beautiful?"

"Your face didn't change even though you're wearing Lady Gao's garments. We should get going." Lu Bang only brushed her off. He turned to Lin Kun. "I don't like this plan. Be wary of anything. They might attack knowing that Fenqi is not with you anymore."

"In fact, even Huaban." Lin Kun also brushed off Sun Yin's existence as he untied Huaban's sheath from his waist. "Huaban's the fastest among all the flying swords in the sect. I don't know how, but you must use her to join the Xu sect in their travel."

Lu Bang twitched and frowned as he received his brother's sword. "Are you sure? There's a chance that Huaban may never be the same after this night. And she's your sword…"

The master lowered his face as if hiding it from his brother. "Please, Lu Bang. Huaban shall understand the need for her to be used instead of Xiangwei."

Sun Yin pranced to their side, sick of being ignored, despite being a jewel back in her prime. She pulled out a talisman stored in her sleeves. "Lin Kun, I need your blood. Could you cut your hand for me?"

"What for?"

"I need your blood to control Huaban without staining her. It would be quite a bad image if your sword gets a soul and learns of jealousy." She smiled at the man.

Without further ado, Lin Kun did bleed on the talisman which was wrapped around Huaban's handle. The three then walked out of the room and into the view of the Xu sect disciples. Sun Yin and Lu Bang gave their goodbyes to their brothers and sisters who saw them off that night.

Even with Lin Kun's discreet visual protest, Lu Bang carried Sun Yin like a bride. She controlled Huaban and made it look like it was Lu Bang driving. Buyue had always wanted to be the one driving on his own, and so Sun Yin was used to this kind of rides. The two joined the Xu sect disciples during their journey back to Heici that night.

Lin Dong, who was among the ones who saw them off, walked to Lin Kun who was left staring at them disappear into the night. He clicked his tongue. "Your father died to keep those within the sect's hands, and you just threw them away. That woman"—he glanced at the direction the Xu sect disciples took—"what is she to you that you let her take those away? Are you being captivated by prostitute like your father once was?"

"I wouldn't insult Lady Sun as carelessly as you would, Lin Dong." The master did not bother looking at his subordinate. "Lady Sun might be only a remnant of her past self, but it didn't mean she was to be underestimated. Fenqi was already powerful enough to fend off other sects from trying to oppress us; what more if it was to be held by its real master?"

"She's… the owner of Fenqi?" He gasped, soon looking at the same direction Lin Kun was. "She's a really strong cultivator?"

"No," Lin Kun sighed. "She's a goddess. A beautiful goddess that breathes death…"