Chapter Fifty Two

To follow one of the Heavenly Daos, one must prove they have not only the talent, but the tenacity to endure hardships thrown their way by the Heavens. Of the hundreds of paths cultivators follow, only those of the purest roots would dare to choose one of the most ruthless Heavenly Daos. Casting aside love, mortal attachments, greed, vanity, and desire. It is a path which strips ones sense of self and replaces it with true enlightenment. Companionship, fondness, hunger, thirst, curiosity, you shed the mortal heart for an immortal one which moves for nothing. And in exchange it grants you with immense authority over others in regards to the boundary between a mortal and a god. Such is the fate of a child favored by the Heavens. 

"-do you understand? Xiao Biyu?" Wang Lan Biyu doesn't avoid her Master's gentle look, replying in a milky voice which could sweetens the heart. "Yes, Father." Her eyes the color of the misty mountains peering up at him seriously creating a larger gap-moe deepening the adoration Minglan already had for his daughter. He didn't resist his urge and pinches her cheek lightly which his precious daughter didn't mind or avoid rising his lips into a wider smile. "Good girl." Letting him get his fill of pinching her, Wang Lan Biyu finally opens her mouth to ask inquisitively. "Master," "Father." She corrects herself slowly "Father, why do the children of heaven choose hardship over normalcy?" 

"Hmm." When asked this Minglan ponders how to explain to the little girl in a way she would understand starting patiently. "Xiao Biyu say that you give a beggar a gold coin every single day when you pass by without fail, wind shine and rain you never fail to give this beggar a gold coin. However, you ignore the other beggars pleading by his side and just continue paying mind to this single person. What do you think those other beggars would feel towards the single person being favored by you?" Wang Lan Biyu being given such a example answers without blinking "Jealousy." "And what do you think those beggars would do to that single beggar?" Her eyes flicker intelligently understanding his meaning without needing to think too much.

"Father is saying that the children favored by the heavens will shine and be special without reason and thus naturally garter jealousy and hatred no matter where they go? Facing hardship is not a choice but the only option so as not to be bullied and suppressed by those who covet their fortune." "My Xiao Biyu is the smartest!" Minglan reaches over to hug the startled and embarrassed girl who was praised exaggeratedly by the doting man. "But father, why do humans covet useless things?" When he finished hugging Wang Lan Biyu asks him this still bewildered by the greed of humans for the unordinary. The hand rubbing her head of black hair pauses and Minglan's voice lowers as he taught the ignorant spiritual beast gently. 

"Just as spiritual beast seek power and blood purity, humans seek to satisfy beauty, money, and glory. To your people where the one who holds the most spiritual power and venom is attractive. To most humans, beauty and benefits are the most attractive thing. By force or seduction many dirty humans will do all they can to obtain what they themselves do not have." Fixing Wang Lan Biyu's hair he had messed up to soothe her subtle annoyance he sighed over his daughter's beautiful face a tad troubled as he recalls his other too eye catching disciple still in seclusion. Sensing his turbulent thoughts Lan Biyu's eyes dim and she squirms out of his arms to pour her master another cup of tea under his delighted and fond gaze. She hesitates, then peeks up at Minglan before suggesting as a way to hopefully distract him from his worries if even for a moment. 

"...Biyu has recently finished revising a piece of music two days ago. Would father like to listen to it?" Minglan delightedly laughed and pats his considerate daughters head with the warmth of the sun in his eyes. "It would be father's pleasure to listen to Xiao Biyu play." He stayed silent for a moment before adding as an after thought "-should there be a day you cannot find me to vent. Do not hold it in and suffer by yourself, it is enough to have a companion to share your hearts burden whether human or beast." "It is taboo." He rubs hear head of black hair with a teasing look "Love which brings no harm to others could never be taboo. I simply wish to see you flourish in life and experience only the best of things this world has to offer." 

Avoiding his hand subtly Wang Lan Biyu peeks at her master asking him half out of curiously and half expectantly "Then, does master expect the same of the one in seclusion?" She scrutinizes the smiling face which froze up after she had asked and a string of complication which she had never seen before appears on her master's face making her stagnant heart stutter strangely in a negative way. Touching her chest and wearing a bewildered expression which went unnoticed by Minglan. Wang Lan Biyu heard her master finally say "Your senior brother, he's different from you." Her heart which she had only recently returned to her started hurting, but Wang Lan Biyu unable to recognize these feelings of bitterness was dazed. Letting Minglan misinterpret it as pity for Ling Da Chuanli so feeling touched by her kindness he comforts her as sincerely a possible to ease her mind. 

"Your senior brother is destined for the Heartless Dao, naturally his path will be different from yours. Don't worry too much about his future, he won't worry about these small matters so why should our Xiao Biyu?" Small matters? "...I understand." Seeing her somewhat worrying expression clear up Minglan felt soothed and coaxed her "Wasn't Xiao Biyu going to play for father? Why don't I have one of the little ones fetch your guqin and bring it here." "Master doesn't need to bother, have them bring it to the pavilion instead. Today is a rare sunny day, wouldn't it a waste staying inside?" Already more than half convinced Minglan stood up and carried Wang Lan Biyu in the crook of his arm decidedly marching to the courtyard. 'Then lets do as Xiao Biyu says!" 

Lashes fluttering, habitually Wang Lan Biyu quietly reaches over to her night stand and pulls out a silk ribbon. Imbued with soothing agent only she knew the recipe for, the cloth was wrapped steadily over her closed eyes till not even a stray lash could be seen before her raging spiritual sea eased it's cries. From her pink lips a dense palm sized cloud of smoke spills out the only indication of the hidden things she was concealing just now. Rubbing her smooth cold fingers, Chao Bai was deep in her thoughts when a knock outside distracts her. "Lady?" Recovering from her brief tirade she naturally spoke up in a the same voice she always used when conversing with the people of this sect. "Speak." 

Perhaps noticing the sharpness in her word the person was more careful "The item lady has been waiting for, senior aunt has come to deliver it." *Thump! "Lady?!" Alarmed by the painful sounding knocking into wood she was about to enter but was stopped by Chao Bai's colder order. "Stand by!" It was the first time the frail lady had ever raised her voice besides when she yelled at the young master Ling a few days ago frightening the woman but she didn't dare to defy that order. It was a few seconds before Chao Bai spoke again, this time radiating the same calm as before. "I will personally meet with Senior Aunt and thank her myself." 

A prestigious woman with a warm appearance sat in a noble styled room appearing all the parts a madam from a influential family. In front of her was a plate of light snacks she was eating from and beside it, a tiny box. Within this tiny box held an incredible treasure, at least, an incredible treasure in the eyes of the person who wanted it. To the woman who searched high and low to find it, she was just baffled why a delicate flower like Chao Bai would be so interested in a unremarkable plant. Not to mention, it was a rather ominous plant. Obtaining the flower wasn't hard, it was what guarded such places which made it difficult to traverse for. 

Soft footsteps soon sound through the hall making Sun Shan who reached for another pastry stop midway "Senior Aunt." "Xiao Bai? Come in." Calling her affectionately, Sun Shan was satisfied after seeing Chao Bai was able to walk around without help but she still felt somewhat distressed for her. The blindfolded young lady was pale in all aspect, a winter fae with hardly a harsh breath or word capable of passing her lips. It was hard to hate such a humble and delicate girl. "Next time don't rush out and let someone escort you over, you're still recovering." Chao Bai nods superficially saying she knew before Sun Shan stood up to lead her to sit down beside her. Taking the girl's cold hand, she led her to settle her finger tips on the cool box noticing the tremor passing thorough her skin.

Sitting so close to her, she easily noticed the composure the girl had naturally crumple as if it were dust before a sandstorm. Her heart ached, without needing to be asked, she tempers her tone when describing the flower within. "Dipping Iris. They were where you said they would be, a hidden grove crawling with demonic beasts. If it were someone else they would have been eventually spotted and devoured on spot even if they carried a tiny amount of spiritual energy. I had no idea what kind of stimulation those monsters received to be so vicious." Sun Shan shook her head recalling the unnatural and unsettling aura those demonic beasts carried to reek of death so heavily. 

Chao Bai strokes the box not daring to open it as if she were afraid, but her heart. Her heart KNEW, that it was correct. After all these years, she had actually managed to obtain it. Lowering her head so Sun Shan couldn't see the dampness spreading through her blindfold Chao Bai was voice was unnatural when she spoke next. "Senior Aunt, you worked hard. I do not know how I could ever repay you for this debt." Growing even more gentle Sun Shan smiled at the girl despite her being unable to see it and pats her hand fondly. "There's no need, it was just a matter of entering and leaving a grove. However, I can't stay for long this time so Xiao Bai will have to forgive me for being unable to protect you during these turbulent times as well." 

Hearing this Chao Bai's head tilts the slightest to her side "More trouble?" "I wish it were just mere trouble." Sun Shao tried not to bite her finger nails and crosses her arms to prevent impulsive actions wearing a disturbed expression. A sense of unease enters the tranquil room "After the few skirmishes along the borders we thought they would calm down for a bit and give our people time to breath. Unfortunately, this led to a revolt within the villages just beyond our reach as the damages weren't handled properly by the sects in charge of their region." Sun Shao grits her teeth remembering the scene those ruthless bastards created "Crops burned to dust, forestry cut down without care, homes destroyed. They held nothing back, it was almost as bad as the times' of the great war." 

Although she held no care for humans she still shed a frown for Sun Shao's descriptions "You say they destroyed their own lands? For what purpose would this solve?" The woman heaved a sigh filled with agitation as she too wondered those people's purpose in doing such dastardly things without an ounce of shame. "Some sensible lords and officials are doing their best to minimize the despair of the people, but those who benefit from the looting even take part in making the lives of the common people's lives worse. If we dare to lend a hand even from the shadows they somehow catch wind of the situation and make life worse for the victims. They are leaving no option for those people to live, even beasts have more conscience!" 

She spat hatefully not remembering that she had a spiritual beast sitting beside her who was patiently listening to her worries and rant without much offense to her curse. "The best we can do is smuggle a few people from the border over to our jurisdiction in the dead of night and try to help them settle down. But there are too many victims, already the border towns are complaining that they are overflowing with refugees and the lords even subtly reject our actions by hinting at building huts outside the town to house the outsiders." Although she held little knowledge of human society, Chao Bai knew that though Sun Shao's heart was in the right place the lords of the border towns had all the right to protect the local people.

But not voicing what the woman most likely already knew instead she sleeves the box and says "Senior Aunt, the best we as cultivators who are unrelated to the mortal realm can do is look on from afar least the heavens strike us down for meddling too much in things not to do with the immortal path. Help that which is within our capability and retreat, the implications we may face from lending more than we can afford is like paying with a limb and receiving nothing in return. There are many who also may not be grateful for the risk we cultivators take for their sake." Having a junior say so many words to her, Sun Shao's tense facial features relax into weariness. Rubbing her brows the woman lightly clicks her tongue knocking on the table before taking Chao Bai's hand and giving a squeeze. 

"This elder knows that too, but even gods cannot be so cruel as to grant us with the power to protect the weak and expect us to stand by and watch as innocent children are harmed due to the greed of those who walk the darker path. King Feng ordered for all cultivators in the sect above the Martial Late stage to gather in the west so I just wished to do what I could for those people before then." Chao Bai understood Sun Shao's impatience then, as the retreat of all sect members above Martial King would mean giving up on the border line and taking a defensive stance. Feng Shuchang was expecting a big upheaval, and he was giving up the mortal borders to protect their allies. Many people are going to die soon, maybe not within this year, but in the next four to five there will be much bloodshed and chaos. 

Sun Shao murmurs to her, something which was meant for the young woman's ears only "In the mortal capital it's said the emperor has chosen a crown prince without consulting the officials." Chao Bai's fingers curl and she held her breath as Sun Shao wasn't finished informing her of the the mortal realm quite yet speaking hurriedly. "This crown prince appeared out of no where, it's said he has the face of an immortal and the strength of an dragon. Born from a unknown concubine and hidden from the world till he came of age and was brought into the palace. Although Feng Shuchang has not ordered me to investigate this coincidence, I managed to catch a glimpse of his face by chance when I was delivering something to a colleague in the capital." Sun Shao lowers her head into a ghost of a whisper showing just how much caution she held towards others knowing of this knowledge. 

"I only tell you because I fear no one else will be able to understand or protect Jiang Tengyi as well as you if you by chance encounter this person in your travels. Xiao Bai, that crown prince is no 'human'. His eyes shone silver."