A Chat Between Childhood Friends

Later that night, Shui, Kate, Cassandra, Reinhart, Luke, Fatty, and Serina all gathered at Shui's courtyard. Originally they were supposed to meet at Luke's courtyard, but Kate mentioned wanting to see where Shui lived, so they changed the venue. Shui didn't really mind, but he was a little nervous since this would be his first time as the host. Although it wasn't required, he made some quick snacks using evolved beast meat and mutated flora. 

Except for Fatty and Serina, everyone came separately and engaged in small talk until the entire cast was present. 

"Thanks for coming, everyone. I'm sorry for interrupting the fun, but there's something I should tell you first."

"Is it about those meetings you had today?"

Cassandra easily identified the source of his concern. 

"Meetings?"

Fatty, Serina, and Kate looked unaware, but it appeared Reinhart and Luke knew what Cassandra was talking about. 

"Yes, I'll start from there. After I messaged everyone, I got invited by the former eldest disciple, Pon of the Xin clan. He wants to make an alliance with Kate."

"Does he want her help in restoring his status?" Reinhart asked.

"No. He intends to make her the next manor lord."

"What?!"

Not to mention Kate, even Cassandra showed some surprise at this news. Neither Shui nor Pon had made much of a big deal out of it, but there had not been a single case since the founding of Storm Sky Manor that the manor lord was not a member of the three founding clans. Though it wasn't explicitly banned, most assumed it to be impossible, but surely Pon would already know this.

"Luke, what do you think about this?" Cassandra asked.

They rarely touched on it, but Luke was a member of the Rai clan, and though he wasn't its successor, he was still part of the main branch.

"Our clan isn't planning on getting involved with the succession of the manor lord seat this time, but I have heard some rumours that we have a faction wishing to stop Mater from becoming the next manor lord. As for why or if they would be alright with letting Kate take the seat, your guess is as good as mine."

"Do you think Pon could convince them?"

"Hmm, if he can make his clan support her, then it might be possible."

"In that case, we can move forward with the assumption that it's possible. Before we decide anything else, Kate, what do you want?"

Shui's question returned to the heart of the matter. They already knew that Kate wanted to defeat Mater, but she had never mentioned a desire to take his position as young lord of the manor. Even when she was at the Heaven clan, Shui didn't hear her speak of becoming the clan's successor. The Heaven clan followed a similar system of choosing the successor from the main branch, but with Kate's talent, an exception could have easily been made.

When this question was posed to her, Kate thought about it carefully. She was mainly concerned with growing stronger and protecting those she cared about, so she hadn't put much importance on status. However, as she grew older, she understood that her two hands could only protect what was within her reach. If she wanted to protect those far from her, then a different type of strength would be needed. However, she was still unsure if becoming the manor lord would give her the strength she desired.

"For now, I want to focus on beating Mater. Can we discuss this again afterwards?"

Shui nodded in approval, "That's fine. Now that that's done, let's celebrate."

"Oh!"

Cultivators at their level could subsist on pills, but eating delicious food was still enjoyable. Though he didn't make anything complicated, Shui was able to bring out the natural flavour of the ingredients, and since the food contained enough energy to provide small boosts to their cultivation, even the abstemious Cassandra took a couple bites.

Shui watched them enjoying the food with a smile, but he also appeared somewhat absentminded. Noticing this, Kate sat next to him.

"So, what else is bothering you?"

"Was it that obvious?"

"Of course. I've known you since you were born; I would be stupid not to notice that your head's in the clouds."

"That does make sense. There certainly aren't many people who know me as well as you do. Especially not among the living."

"..."

Kate didn't say anything, but she could tell that this comment touched on the core of his worry.

"Kate, how much do you know about what happened to the Heaven and Glaize clan disciples?"

"You mean about how they were killed by that bastard Rune and his filthy Clite clan? When I left seclusion, I heard it at the same time that I learnt about what happened to our clan, so honestly, I just know what was announced. I, wasn't exactly in the mood to investigate. Why? Did you learn something new?"

"I haven't verified it yet, but Mater might have something to do with it."

"...Did you hear that from Pon?"

"That's right. I'll check it myself, but his explanation was pretty convincing."

Shui looked at her side profile as she made a pensive expression. Even without this, Kate had more than enough reasons to fight Mater, but he thought that she deserved to know.

"If he's really connected to that matter, does that mean he's working with the Clite clan?"

"I don't think so, but it's a possibility."

Kate tightly clenched her fists to restrain her rising anger and disgust, but it still overflowed to the extent of causing a brief gust that blew through the room. 

"If he really was involved in that matter, then he must pay the price for their deaths."

Kate was well aware that killing among disciples was taboo, but even if Mater was blamed for the incident, he would likely get away with banishment due to his background. Furthermore, although she couldn't be bothered to manage them, some of those murdered disciples were her clansmen, so she was certainly willing to seek justice for them.

"Okay. If that time comes, I'll set up the stage for you."

"Thank you. Now, what's really troubling you?"

As upset as she was, Kate didn't forget the reason for their conversation. While he shared an important detail, it didn't seem like that was all he was worried about.

"You do know me well. There's something I have to tell you. I met Nathan's master today, and I feel that I should make a confession to you."

Kate often came off as a muscle-brain, but her wits were well above average. Given Nathan's disappearance, his relationship with Shui, and Shui's recent meeting with his master, it wasn't hard for her to figure out what Shui wanted to say.

"Wait. Let me speak first. Since we joined the manor, I noticed that Nathan was different from before; he seemed strange. I wasn't sure if I was just imagining it, but once I became better at sensing nature energy, I was certain. Nathan was possessed, wasn't he?"

Shui was surprised at first, but once he thought about Kate's special ability, it wasn't odd that she noticed the evil spirit. She could sense the flow of nature energy, which meant that unless the evil spirit lost its energy cultivation and became a pure spiritual being, it couldn't escape her notice.

"That's right. It was an evil spirit hiding inside the Ancestral Lands. I thought I had defeated it, but it managed to escape into his body."

"I see. Could you have saved him?"

"..."

"Then, it's fine. How was he in his last moments?"

"He, fought me with everything he had, even though he knew there was no future after our battle."

"So he died a warrior's death. Maybe I should have talked to him more."

"Yeah. I feel that way too."