Chapter Sixty Five

A bustling inn with cultivators and mortals alike all merged together like a giant tidal wave below the balcony. The two stories above them all carried lounging, but perhaps because it was the first time they had seen so much foot traffic. For once, the two young men who were more used to less crowded areas actually took a table and watched the bustle with mild interest. Their eyes catching both clean and underhanded dealings without any intent on interfering. With one sitting upright wearing a solemn expression, and the other though hosting the same elite aura he carried an easy-going smile on his lips. He played with a snake bracelet around his wrist, sometimes twirling it, and sometimes just poking its snout playfully without fear of retaliation.

 His white robes and simple silk hair tie were eye catching and stood out among the inn full of colorful hanfus. Even his companion wore light purple robes with a dark hair crown. Jiang Tengyi tilts his head as another rich patron fell victim to the pickpocketing of another. "Having someone grope your chest, wouldn't you be able to catch them easily?" Voicing this question out loud was meant to cue his friend's own thoughts or knowledge. Ling Da Chuanli's lip curled up further, and he also stated his opinion honestly with a hint of amusement.

"Perhaps for people like us it's easy. Mortals have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves, even without needing cultivation as a fallback. If you do it enough times it becomes easier with time, no matter the opponent." Jiang Tengyi thoughtfully ponders to himself for a while before asking curiously. "If we sat down below, would anyone try those things on us?" Knowing his thoughts, Ling Da Chuanli directly chuckled and leans into his palm, making fun of his friend directly exposing his thoughts. "Before they could even lay a finger on your person, your shadow guards would have sliced their fingers clean from their sockets."

Basic translation, 'Don't try to brew trouble where trouble doesn't lie.' Also knowing this, Jiang Tengyi's brief moment of curiosity died down right away. As he wasn't the type to be restless for trouble in the first place and only asked out of impulse. Untroubled by his rigid persona being easily seen through by his friend. Jiang Tengyi took a bite of the pastry Ling Da Chuanli had ordered earlier for fun. But before even managing to chew once, his tongue was hit with dry, flaky, coarse sugar, nearly choking. Regret tinged on his features for a moment before he mechanically swallowed the pastry with lots of water.

Clearing his throat, he waved over the server and ordered a pot of ginger tea, hoping to cleanse his memory of the dessert. His refined palate was easily disturbed by this cheap snack, having spent most of his days in mild luxury as the Zenith Star's young master. Even if he wasn't spoiled, Feng Shuchang was still very good to his disciple and never lacked high quality ingredients. Why would he let his disciple be at a loss to anyone else in his own home? So, even after so much time outside, Jiang Tengyi couldn't get used to these things so easily. It was a rare hurdle in his life. Eyes filled with laughter at his expense; Da Chuanli didn't save his face at all and whispered to the snake bracelet as if it could understand him.

 "See that? Don't eat things at random anymore, aren't the things I give you enough to have your fill? Outside food is all questionable." The young man in question hid his grimace and no longer reached for the snacks, nor daring to even finish the one he bit into just now. Not a temperamental person, he didn't fight with Da Chuanli for his comment about his lack of tolerance, and instead changed the subject to other things they could see from their perch. As they converse, the conversation of a patron below slowly ebbed their way into the two cultivators ears. Whether they wished for it or not. The voice neither loud nor quiet, it was filled with both complaint and weariness.

"-Why would I lie about this? Now, the east border is filled with holes, making the original trading route especially dangerous to traverse without adequate protection. How many merchants nearly lost their lives if not for the quick reaction of good-hearted cultivators coming to their aid? You don't even know what it was like being chased down by unknown assailants with swords drawn, aiming for your life!" He cringed fearfully and warned his companion with good intentions, nearly pale recalling the terrifying experience. "If you want to risk your life, go ahead, but don't drag me into it! Right now a conflict is brewing and spreading further inland, who knows if it will reach here soon enough! My wife and daughter are still awaiting my return, once I get home I plan to pack my belongings and go overseas where it's still peaceful."

 Though regretful at the loss of profit, the seasoned merchant still sighed with seriousness as he warned his fellow associates who dabbled in trade like himself for a living. "Don't be greedy and know when to be satisfied, nowadays, who knows when a full out war will break out and harm more innocents? There won't be enough cultivators or soldiers to save you when you most need it at that time." A heavy silence followed his table afterward. Da Chuanli still carried his light smile, no one was able to probe his thoughts as he stroked the snake curled around his wrist slowly over and over. Jiang Tengyi frowned honestly, his heart considerably uncomfortable because of those merchants' gossip. He was ill at ease, in his heart, he knew that most likely those 'good-hearted' cultivators who took part in protecting civilians most likely included his own sect's people.

 What about his Master? Senior Aunt? Brother Yilin? Senior Brother Shou-yi? Senior Sister Bao Mei? Were they also taking part in the fight right now? He felt somewhat ill at the thought of his people facing endless dangers, the helplessness seeping from him unconsciously. That is, till Da Chuanli knocked the table, drawing his attention back to the present. Meeting his gaze with a finger to his lips, gesturing with his aurous eyes at the table which continued their conversation below at some point or another during his brooding. "If there is bad there's always good, like you said aren't there powerful cultivators who are confident enough to help us mortals too? Maybe they can push back the rebels before it gets too bad and affects the central plains."

 Spoken with hints of hopefulness, his words of comfort were echoed around the table, lightening the mood. The man who had personally experienced the battlefield also hesitated to speak up, but he was resolute about leaving anyway. Wanting to be safer than sorry, "The immortal in charge of the group of cultivators who saved us vaguely said it would only grow more chaotic with time. They told us to avoid both Golden City like the plague and the capital. She stated if we treasured our lives, we would avoid meddling with nobles from now on too." The last part was spoken in a whisper, as if afraid said nobles would hear his words and seek him out.

 Their faces soured and the reality of the situation seemed to grow, however they were still insistent. Not willing to give up their decent life and start anew elsewhere with no connections. "What if she was tricking you? Weren't many people also harassed by cultivators these days for the most minor of things? Perhaps she was just trying to scare you." The man nearly rolled his eyes at the stubborn fool and spat out bitterly.

 "Don't you think I know that? But one saved my life and another tried to take it, why wouldn't I trust my savior? This immortal was a real one. She was so powerful, with merely a sweep of her sleeves she threw all our pursuers into the ground spitting blood. If she wanted to take our lives, she could, but she had her subordinates warn us instead before moving on deeper towards the east fortress territory." With only an entourage of near a hundred darkly dressed cultivators, she alone wore a deep satin red under a veil of blood, appearing ominous.

 Anyone with a brain could see she was the rebel here, but it was also for the sake of mortals like them she was fighting. So although fearful, he also admired the immortal deeply. Having dealt with some nobles and rather questionable cultivators from the Golden City. He had more or less heard some not so good things happening lately and already held much suspicion himself. That near-death experience was a wake-up call he could no longer dabble in this line of work unless he also wanted to bloody his own hands one day. Plus, her words of caution seemed to purposely allude him specifically, as he felt eyes beneath the veil eyeing him once or twice. Forget it, he already made more than enough to put food on the table for a generation or two.

At least, he could leave with a good conscience, unlike others. And he dared not speak his more dangerous doubts out loud, because he feared for both his life and his colleagues. Like, if that immortal was the rebel, then who was it who tried to silence him before? His heart nearly leapt into his throat when he realized this terrifying fact. Perhaps it could be considered a separate incident compared to those conflicts further out from the Golden City, but he wasn't dumb enough to stay and find out. More and more refugees were said to be flooding behind those so called 'small time rebels' rather than into the nearby towns still in control of local sects.

That was more than enough evidence of the truth of the matter. But not everyone shared his sixth sense for danger, still having thoughts of trying their luck now that they heard many merchants would be backing out of heading east. Being a businessman himself, he could see at a glance that more than half of them didn't take his caution to heart and could only sigh in his heart. Don't say he didn't warn them. If it weren't for their years of camaraderie, he would rather keep his mouth shut than bring potential disaster trying to warn them of brewing dangers like the others who experienced that dreadful day with him. 

Not to mention tensions between immortals, even the capital wasn't peaceful. The crown prince and Ninth prince are currently at eachother's throats while the emperor grew older by the day. There were even rumors that the deaths of both the Sixth and Eleventh prince had been related to the mysterious crown prince but purposefully overlooked by the muddle headed emperor who favoured this son immensely. Anyone with half a brain after listening closely to his words would be able to piece a few things together if they had the heart to ask around a bit more too. Unfortunately, his good intentions fell on deaf ears.

Shaking his head he waves the wait staff over intending to pay his tab "Anyway, I've rested enough for today, my family is still waiting for me. I wish you all goodluck in your future endeavors." However, after paying for his drink as he was about to exit the inn a silk ribbon accurately found itself falling infront of him startling him. Maybe it was his imagination but the ribbon even seemed to deliberately slow it's decent so he could catch it reflexively looking up in confusion for the owner. The moment he touched the fabric he knew it wasn't cheap and wariness entered his heart even if the person he saw above was a young man wearing a harmless looking smile. Eyes like honey and dazzeling features. The handsome man didn't do much else but laugh with his purple dressed comrade carrying a black jade crown upon his head. 

The other young man wore a indifferent expression, also gazing down at him cooly as if seeing straight through his soul. Both carried noble bearing and chilled him to his very bones, as if fate was playing a joke with him leading him to encounter grim reapers after just recently escaping his death. The body laguage of a noble was hard to imitate, but at a glance immediately the honest merchant knew he had caught the eye of those very noble people he wanted to avoid. Fearing he had been overheard earlier he froze in place, not daring to leave but also not daring to go up. Dread filled his very soul. Could he still take back his words from before? 

Running wasn't an option nor was it a smart one. Going up to meet them would also be considered close to a death sentence should he say the wrong thing. Perhaps knowing of his inner dilemma the white robed noble's eyes seemed to curve and he turned to say something to his friend while laughing softly. He couldn't read lips well but before he could even try, the fingers holding the ribbon stiffly began to heat up forcing him to release his hold as if shocked. Trying not to exclaim as a voice enters his ears from a unscene ghost at the same time. Sending shivers down his spine and sweat sprouting across his brows. "My young master invites you to join their table. Don't make things difficult, he just wishes to ask a few questions." 

The young man with the black crown still stared at him rigidly, calmly watching his every move as if pressuring the other. Somewhat accepting his fate, the middle aged merchant who was being threatened by gentlemen younger than him had no choice but to unenthusiastically make his way to the second floor. From the corner of his vision, whether by chance or intention, he actually caught a smudge of ink before a foreign entity abruptly spoke from his other side. His voice commanding and calm, "Be honest, but do not mention the maiden in red, they will not harm you." With years of experience under his belt, his expression somehow managed to remain the same all thorughout the seperate exchanges. 

However, with the second voice who knows why but he actually felt relief as if finding a boat to climb aboard and managed to regain his calm when he reached the table of the two young masters. He wasn't stupid, it was clear these two were young cultivators and there was someone protecting them in the background. Plus, that smudge of black ink somewhat similiar to what he had seen when his saviors acended from the sky. "Young masters' called this lowly one up, may this humble one know the reason as to why?" Da Chuanli's eyes filled with mild appreciation for his calm state of mind after the initial scare and his eyes almost crinkled out of amusement. 

Lowering his head to play with his braclete he seemed to forget the man was there because of them and let Jiang Tengyi take the lead. Jiang Tenyi remained as composed as ever asking casually as if it were a minor matter. "That story of being chased by assailants, how did you live long enough for those cultivators to save you?" Right to the source of the issue the merchant would have been choked if not for the calm remnder of the voice. He kept his head low, "Before leaving the capital I invested quite a bit in aqquiring a life saving artifact from a Lady Yin, she said it would secure my safety for at least half an incense." 

"Did she state specifically why it was half an incense? How did you meet this Lady Yin?" The merchant was more careful in how he responded this time, articulating very consciously. "Although I cannot say specifically how I made acquaintances with Lady Yin as she was the one who came to me. After hearing more than one rumor about how the roads between the eastern fortress and the capital have been more dangerious of late. Lady Yin recommended a talisman to me, saying if I was lucky I may meet a 'good person' and live long enough for them to help me out of any life threatening prediciment along the way." Da Chuanli had finally raised his head out of pure interest for this Lady Yin's accurate predictions and intentions on saving a mere mortal. 

Jiang Tengyi expresses vivid conflict as unexpectately Da Chuanli spoke up then out of curiosity. "You say Lady Yin came to you? How did she know you would be heading east? Is it common knowledge you take this specific route each year? What do you trade in?" Holding his breath after being questioned so specifically like this. The merchant who experienced storms and tribulations under the knives of sharp worded nobles; couldn't help but feel this intelligent tiger hiding behind a smile was more frightening than the serious looking man in purple. 

"...Lady Yin sought me out for a specific herb which is hard to aqquire from the north quite a few years ago and I've been transporting this medical herb to her for quite awhile now. Although it isn't considered common knowledge, if one asked around it would be easy to find out that this cowardly one hires quite a few mercenaries before aiming for the eastern border towns. Typically my caravan carries dry medicinal herbs or highly sought after fruits and fabric for any large sect willing to deal with me." After finishing this long exlpanation his throat felt dry. The young man in white, who knows if it was because he was satisfied with his response.

Actually waved for a cup of water to be brought for him making the man embarassingly accept the gesture of goodwill. Jiang Tengyi, having figured something out hands him a silver tael before standing and leaving without a word of goodbye startling the merchant. Standing still out of both shock and fear they would deal with him out of dissatisfaction. To his surprise the handsome gentleman sent him another smile before dismissing him with a simple "Thanking sir for his patience in dealing with these junior's curiosity." "No! No! It was this humble one's honor to be interesting enough to converse with the gentlemen!" 

Leaving with a vague glance behind him, Da Chuanli followed Jiang Tengyi back up to their lounging leasurely. Yilin who had returned at some point stood on the rafters for a few more minutes waiting for the dazed merchant to leave the second floor without drawing anyone's suspicion. Then quietly joined the two who had been watching closely on the rooftops across the street. "Commander." The inky shadows whose wisp like sillouttes similar to Yilin knelt on spot in greeting. Bao Mei, Ming Tao, didn't raise their heads as Yilin lowers his mask questioning without any signs of blame. His face carefully blank despite the familiarity he had with these faces before him. "Who was it?" 

Bao Mei knelt with her head to the roof tiles confessing without any intentions of hiding it, while Ming Tao's carried hints of unease in his heart. "Commander it was my own fault, Wei San asked when the ladys medicine would need retrieval from Lady Yin's contact and this foolish subordinate did not suspect her intentions." It was quite awhile before Yilin shut his eyes and took in a very large lungful of air as the tension in the air slams the two's foreheads deeper into the tiles scratching their faces painfully. However, even as his fists clench and unclench. Yilin subdued the broiling deep in his gut, his gaze expecially deadly when peering at the lowered heads of his comrades. 

"...If a single hair of the Lady's was harmed, you would not be able to keep your life no matter if I had plead the Sect Master or not." Chao Bai was still recoorperating in the eyes of those elders in the sect. But they still raise their hands and tried to deal with her after hearing that they could use her abilities without her life intact and dared to act. Loose ends? Outsider? Bewitching demoness? It took all of his self control to not lay a hand on this person he had grown up in the sect with out of the outrage of her foolish deadly mistake. "Lady Chao Bai despite her illness and duties of watching over the young master still enters the front lines, dilligently saving both mortal and cultivators alike without a word of complaint. She is a benefactor who gives her life for humans despite her dangerious identity." 

Yilin's voice continued to dip further and further into blood drawing daggers beneath their chins raising the hairs on their backs. "-And yet, her safety was compromised just like so, because of your complacency!! Can this be covered up as a mere mistake?! Do you take the master's words lightly?! What to do if the young master's life were put into jeopordy for your carelessness instead?!" His roar so unlike his composed character terrified the two turning them as pale as ghost, his pressure was suffocating. Yilin was infuriated. Words could not describe the fury, dissapointment, and shame he felt due to the people under him having loose lips. 

How could he face Lady Chao Bai with his head held up high now? How could he kneel before King Feng and the Madam with a mere apology? Would that be enough? It wouldn't. Yilin took another deep breath, covering his face with gritted teeth, fatigued by the matter. Bao Mei bit her lip till it bled, but she did not plead her case knowing she was wrong. She had trusted the wrong person... Tears unwittingly smear onto the tiles silently. 

"Erlang dealt with the traitor. But that does not cover up your blunder...Ehuang shall meet you at the sect gates to transfer you to the border under Madam's sector." Though choked, Bao Mei still knelt, knocking her head into the tile heavily towards Yilin so fiercely she nearly cracked the tile making the other shut his eyes out of reflex not wanting to see her disgrace. "...Understood. Senior Brother Yilin, Senior Brother MingTao, Junior sister will take her leave now." Ming Tao took shuttering breaths, but just like Yilin he shut his eyes refusing to meet her gaze or look at her any longer. 

They could not be confused by emotional attachments. They could not waver in making rational judgments for the sake of both their sect and the young master. In this circumstance, it was them wronging Chao Bai by letting Bao Mei go with only a mere memory wipe and transfer. However, it was the only mercy they could give the woman who stood by their side since day one as loyal to the Sect Master and Madam as the rest of them. Due to a moment of confusion she actually spoke about the Lady's private matters to others not aligned to King Feng's approval. Though it wasn't turning coat, it was nearly as bad as the trust King Feng held in them had been broken. 

Just because of one careless member. Yilin raises his mask covering up the pursed lips beneath only allowing one to see the chilling gaze above the cloth. "King Feng sent orders for the those following the young master on foot to carry arrays specifically crafted by Lady Chao Bai from now on to prevent any more mistakes. Monitoring will be more strict, from two shadow guards Lady Chao Bai and I will switch between triple schedules from this point going forwards. If any dangerious situations occur, priority of the young master will belong to Lady Chao Bai while I will protect young master Ling." "Understood!" Black shadows hiding within the overhang of the rooftop in sync spread like splashing of paint on his orders.

Ming Tao grit his teeth holding back his turmoiling emotions, however the red of his eyes could still be seen if one looked closely. As Yilin prepared to enter the inn, a white mist at his foot began taking shape making his pause instep before he knelt on one knee. Respectfully greeting the similarly dressed spiritual beast who arrived one step behind him. "Lady Chao Bai, I've let you see a joke." "Nothing not within expectations. Just don't let it happen again." Yilin bowed lower shamefully "Any other unexpected situations in my absence?" 

Chao Bai stood on the edge of the roof, silver hair and eyes glimmering in the dark the only indications of her presence. Her long silver hair held loosely by a single black ribbon swaying behind her like a rushing river. Accurately pinpointing two familiar spiritual bodies on the fourth floor cultivating in seperate chambers by themselves. One, murky like a smog she couldn't see through no matter how hard she tried. The other, like a supressed tsunami roaring beneath a thin seal hardly spreading now unlike that day on the An Xing stage. "Besides Merchant Han's incident nothing suspicious from those associated with the large sects as no one knows the young master's face."

Her glitter eyes skim the man kneeling behind her fleetingly before returning to the two people in the tower who seemed so far yet were only a few leaps away from her. Eyes lingering on Ling Da Chuanli a few moments longer. "...And the young master Ling's side?" "Azure Sect's young master has never mistakenly spoken a word of his origins nor revealed his identity even once no matter who asked. Going by the alias, Jìngyi and Nuan the two do not much else besides explore the territories and hunt a few loose demonic beasts." It wasn't hard to figure out who was named who, only Da Chuanli was be shameless enough to consider himself a warm person and claim the name Nuan. 

As for Jiang Tengyi going by Jìngyi, it was rather straightforward and not really subtle. But who would connect the name Jiang Tengyi and Jìngyi in the first place? So she didn't really have much objection. "If anyone approaches them intentionally don't act unless absolutely necessary, with you and I here even if they get tossed about they won't die." "As the lady commands." Since handling matters on the east front Chao Bai had expelled a bit more energy than she had expected. Though she suffered no injury, she was admittedly mentally fatigued. Shutting her eyes entirely Chao Bai turns on her heel, intending to get some rest before she would switch shifts with Yilin the next morning. 

"Lady Chao Bai," Yilin calls her back, and hesitated when she tilts her head his way patiently. "-..King Feng said that theres a large lakeside pavilion here run by a threatre group who are rather popular. Theres word that they're looking for musicians for friendly competitions between one another with a egg sized night pearl as a prize." Hearing this unexpected suggestion from Yilin, the exhaustion from constant movement actually loosened it's hold on her for a moment. "I see." Chao Bai chuckles softly as Yilin avoided her spiritual vision after giving his message reentering the inn with an equally tired sigh.