That smile, that damn smile

I held my breath. Even if (if!) Lin Chu supported my decisions, he still could get into big trouble if he didn't placate Lin Deng's need for violence. And if I was in his place, throwing a disciple to the wolves would've been a simple choice to make. There were so many options…

Breaking my legs? Gouging my eyes? Just whipping me until my spine broke?

"Ru Yujin, you must bear the dishonor of being forced away from any battle until Fen Kuang recovers enough to supervise you again. The doctors said that his right eye can be saved, and he can return to the fray without needing a replacement. Which is good, since we have nowhere to get one in this city."

I opened my mouth, closed it, opened it again…

"I will never recover from his dishonor, Master."

He gave me a dry look.

"Don't, Disciple. Don't start saying things you will regret."

I covered my mouth with a palm. The sheer relief made me speak without thinking.

"Truly, you deserve a punishment, truly. However, I won't play into Lin Deng's hands and show that I fear his empty threats."

I nodded and smiled. Lin Chu deserved a lot of good things to happen to him just for these words.

"How long do you think he will be healing, Master?"

"It's hard to say. At least a week… But after this spectacle, until Lin Deng recovers, the army will obey me without question. Speaking of, I have a task for you, Yujin."

"A task, Master?" I knew this vacation was too good to be true.

"Yes. Meet me on the north wall at noon. Servants will bring you the clothes you will have to wear. Now go."

I bowed and left, not daring to ask—and honestly, too tired to do it.

***

By noon, I caught a few more hours of sleep and felt much better. Almost like my non-injured self.

"Master, a thousand blessings upon you. May I ask why did you order me to be dressed like that?"

I gestured at my clothing. It was something probably taken from the governor's stock: blue and embroidered from top to bottom with black and white swallows. I appreciated beautiful things in life, but it would be a shame to ruin this clothing in a fight or some bloody ritual Lin Chu needed me here for.

The wide-sleeved hat was welcomed, though. It hid the lack of my eyebrows and put my eyes in a comfortable shade.

Lin Chu himself was also in his best. Instead of the plainer robe, he wore one that had a purple and silver dragon embroidered over its chest and shoulder.

Next to him stood Lin Wu—an early Qi Condensation cultivator I knew in passing. Today, she was also dressed like for a banquet.

Lin Chu gestured to the other side of the wall. The corpses of men and horses from yesterday were still strewn there, slowly rotting. Hundreds of crows gathered near for the free meal, and both our and enemy's archers shot at the birds from time to time, scaring them off. They also scared off anyone who wanted to pick the corpses and maybe even search for the wounded.

"We are here for diplomacy, Disciple. We will negotiate an arrangement with Crystal Phoenix Sect to retrieve the bodies of our fallen. It's a common procedure, and they were the first ones to send a message suggesting it, so I don't expect any difficulties. However, we must still be at our best."

"I understand, Master—we are dressing to be impressive. And myself and Senior Sister Lin Wu are there to be your honor guard. Enough people to show that we have able cultivators, but not enough to look like a threat."

Lin Chu nodded. "Very perceptive, Disciple. You show astoundingly deep insight for someone lacking noble upbringing."

Honestly, this was just a wild guess. I shrugged, simply glad that he approved.

"It just makes sense to me, Master. Like things falling down or plum trees growing plums instead of peaches."

"Just makes sense, hm? I don't know a single person who says this as often as you, Disciple."

Before I could reply, Lin Chu turned away from me and gestured down.

The Crystal Phoenix Sect's delegation was already standing in front of their army's fortified positions (fortifications built in just a day and a half!). I saw their Elder, presumably—an old woman with the brightest Qi around—an unfamiliar cultivator, and Tao Song.

My heart sank, and my stomach churned in a way that I wasn't sure was pleasant or not.

"Let's go," Lin Chu said.

He stood on his flying sword and gestured for me to get behind him. The sword was long enough that I could do it, but it required me to stand uncomfortably close to my teacher.

I also had to keep balance while he flew, while not grabbing his clothes.

Thankfully, Lin Chu did none of the wild maneuvers Tao Song liked. His sword was lying straight like a board all the way down the wall, at which point Lin Chu told me to get down. Lin Wu followed us on her own flying sword.

The two of them kept flying to the middle ground between the wall and the Crystal Phoenix Sect's positions. I had to trudge through blood, mud and gore on foot, trying not to look at it too closely.

I could save my robe, but my shoes were doomed from the start.

Our parties stopped at a respectful, but convenient, distance from each other. Tao Elder looked at us like we were dog shit stuck to her shoe. Lin Chu stared back with the impassiveness of a mountain lake.

Tao Song smiled at me. The remaining hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

That smile… It was completely normal! Almost friendly!

Why was she smiling at me like that?