Chapter 576

Chapter 576

Thrilling as all this combat might be, I cant let it distract me from my goal for tonight, which is to show I still have enough support to stand on my own.

Which doesnt really make sense, because by definition, Im not standing alone if there are people supporting me, but whatever. So far, my team is killing it in the sparring ring, with Song knocking it out of the park with eight consecutive victories, followed by Fung and Wu Gams resounding exhibition match, and topped off with Huus remarkable debut into the public eye. Thrilled as I am with how things are going, after taking a moment to think things through, Im worried we might still be in hot water after all.

For starters, Song will be seen as merely a slave and her accomplishments written off, not because it wasnt impressive, but because the public doesnt want to admit that a slave might be worthy of admiration. Thatd be too much like treating a slave as a person, and we cant have that. Its a slippery slope, I tell you. First you admire them, then you see them as human beings, and next thing you know, people will be clamouring about things like human rights, freedom, and all that other nonsense. No, better to treat all slaves like tools to be used and discarded, because then slave owners dont have to worry about silly things like shame and morals.

As for Fung and Wu Gam, neither one is politically powerful or popular, so even if I have their support, it doesnt affect the political landscape insofar as the powers that be are concerned. Youd think the doting Mama Gam would count for something, but then again, I had Guan Suo literally standing behind me since passing Ping Yao, and that did nothing for me. Or maybe it did, and the grumpy Divinity is why I got mixed up in the Legates plans in the first place. Who knows?

Then theres Huu, but hes one of the People, so aside from showing that theres another thriving young Talent in our ranks, his presence changes nothing, which means even though my team has dominated the sparring matches thus far, overall Im still sitting at zero points for the night on the political scoreboard. Hell, Gulong scored more points for the opposition by not being a complete wastrel, because even though hes got a temper problem, there are plenty of hot-headed young warriors who grow up into hot-headed adults, and most of them never go full Defiled, so yea.

Which begs the question: why didnt anyone bring this up while we were planning all these sparring matches? BoShui and Zian have yet to go up, but I dont think either of them could do anything to shift the balance of power in my favour, because theyre too young and inconsequential. Whats the point of all this sparring? Everyone else seems to think it matters, but I dont get it. Sure, it shows that Im surrounded by young Talents, but with how things stand, it almost feels like no one short of a Peak Expert really matters, which means...

...

.......

It means Gerel is my only hope? Tch.

...I kinda regret antagonizing him so much, but in my defence, its really funny to see his entire head turn red in a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

The banquet spars continue as I stew in anxiety and dejection, but the participants are mostly second-rate younger talents or of minimal consequence. Well, second-rate might be a bit uncharitable, as theyre still well above your average Martial Warrior, but its like watching regional amateur boxing matches after multiple thrilling world-title bouts. The participants are scions of wealthy and/or influential families, but largely of no political consequence since theyve either already taken a side or have remained staunchly neutral. Seoyoon and Geom Chi both make an appearance, as do two or three more Society adherents, and a good number of unknown Southerners also show up, but again, this doesnt really affect me on a personal level, so Im not all that invested. Still, I make an effort to appear interested while trying to puzzle out which one of them might be an Imperial lackey, but my efforts prove fruitless on both accounts.

I wish I could talk to Luo-Luo without our discussion being noted and listened to. Its poor form to erect a Sound Barrier in front of so many people, and half of them can probably read lips regardless. I should ask her to put extra effort into Sending practice, so she can hold my hand and pass along any pertinent information which comes to mind.

Whilst debating if it would be okay to ask for twenty-two servings of every dessert so my guards can have a taste, a new challenger arrives in the sparring ring whose name finally draws my attention. Striding down from the back of the banquet hall is none other than Tam Taewoong, which more than anything proves that the banquet organizer is an utter twat. Not only was Taewoong front and centre for both titular battles of Sinuji, he is currently the junior officer with most time served on the front lines. There stands a dedicated soldier who fought and bled for months on end in an effort to keep the Empire safe, yet somehow the powers that be deemed him not important enough to be seated towards the front. Hell, rumour has it Taewoong only received an invitation at Chen Hongjis adamant request, as the two of them have an amicable relationship after working together for so long.

Truly nepotism at its finest. One only needs to look at Tam Taewoongs closest rival to see it in effect. For years, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Ryo Geom-Chi and eventually tied for the Number one Talent of Central, but while the former works his ass off and gets shunted off to the nosebleed section, the latter spends exactly zero hours on the front lines and gets seated in the front row, all because of a difference in family name.

Tam Taewoong, he begins, after saluting the Legate. Second Grade Warrant Officer.

That said, he turns to the crowd and locks eyes with BoShui before clapping his armoured gauntlets together. You won our last match, and have progressed by leaps and bounds ever since, but I would appreciate a chance to regain my honour.

There was no honour lost, BoShui replies, striding out in full battle gear despite the festivities. Tam Taewoong is a Warrior worthy of the highest respects, far worthier than many of my peers sitting around me. Its not fair. When BoShui insults people directly, no one says a thing, but I do it and its like an echo chamber of you dares?. I suppose thats the benefit of looking the part, not to mention having curb-stomped no small number of older warriors looking to put BoShui in his place. While I was busy upping my step count, BoShui was kicking ass and taking names, both on the front lines and in the Citadel as a means of garnering support, not just for me but for his Clan as well. In the end, hes had about as much success as I have, which is to say none, but part of that is because he commissioned a quarter-million copies of The Storm over Sinuji; a saga of Falling Rain and handed out his fanciful journal entry like it was an excerpt from the bible. No one came out and called him a liar, but Im the protagonist of the tale and even I can barely believe his version of events.

Seriously, he makes it out like my clash with Gen was a battle between the Gods themselves, with Mother and Father duking it out over the fields of Sinuji. BoShui is many things, but a literary artist, he is not.

Still, hes a good man and a good friend, so I cheer loudly after his formal introduction and settle in to enjoy the show. Taewoong wastes no time in taking the offensive by unleashing a lightning-fast combination of jabs and hooks while dancing around his larger opponent. In response, BoShui stands his ground while parrying each attack with frightening ease, his hands in place to stop Taewoong short long before he comes close to connecting with his intended target. Its like watching a boxer hitting mitts at maximum speed except Taewoong isnt aiming so much as BoShui is intercepting the attacks, using a combination of proper positioning, rapid reflexes, and what I think is some form of reverse Deflection to draw Taewoongs punches into his waiting palms.

Then Taewoong kicks things up a notch and my mundane eyes fail me once more, with both warriors fading into a barely perceptible blur darting back and forth in front of the stage. While I cant make out the specifics, its clear as day that BoShui is holding the upper hand. Taewoong is faster by far, darting about while throwing ten punches for every one of BoShuis, but the effect is minimal. BoShui either blocks or parries the attack with minimal movement, while Taewoong is forced to stall his offensive and skirt aside every time his burly opponent throws a punch, slowing the tempo for a fraction of a second which is enough for me to perceive things. Its the difference between an assault ship and a battle carrier, which means that even if the carrier never hits, it can still sit around and shrug off all the hits until the ship either finds an exposed weakness or, more likely, runs out of ammo.

A year ago, these two were so closely matched, BoShui only eked out a victory due to sheer, dumb luck. Today, he stands head and shoulders above Taewoong, so much so that the match doesnt even seem fair. Its all thanks to Domain somehow, because it augments everything that came before it, not only making it easier to use External Chi, but also enabling the use of so many tools which were previously unavailable. The reverse Deflection is one of them, because while standard Deflection is considered an Internal application of Chi, whatever BoShuis doing is undeniably External. There might also be some form of External Lightening going on, because thats been one of BoShuis weakest areas, yet hes still able to move around fast enough to keep up with Taewoong. Then theres the sheer reaction speed, which seems borderline inhuman, but maybe all Martial Warriors are this fast and Im only noticing it now because Im crippled.

I wish I could see whats going on.

And just like that, I can.

How many times has it happened before, usually in the thick of battle? Time slows and the world moves forward at a snails pace, giving me ample time to observe and react to everything and anything in my path. I always attributed it to adrenaline surging through my veins, but this time my heart-rate is sluggish and lethargic after a hearty, eight-course meal. Thump-thump goes my heart, and a dozen punches are exchanged in the process, but on the next thump time slows to a crawl and the blurred warriors focus into crystalline clarity. Taewoong throws a jab, then another, drawing BoShuis guard high, then feints with a right hook before delivering a left blow to the abdomen. Not the first attack to slip through, judging by the state of BoShuis robes, but he weathers the blow with ease. Undaunted by the attack, he calmly steps in to close the distance and unleashes a fearsome right straight, but Taewoong is two steps ahead and cleanly dodges the attack while simultaneously responding with a clean cross-counter to the chin.

Which BoShui neatly blocks with his left, but not without feeling the sting, his cheeks rippling from the Reverberating impact which passes cleanly through his guard. A lesser man wouldve fallen flat on his face once the pulsating wave of Chi-delivered force reached his brain and rattled it about like a maraca, but BoShui is no slouch when it comes to Reverberation himself and negates the aftershocks with an internal Reverberation of his own. Of course, I only know this because hes still standing and able to defend himself, but its a textbook example of the benefits of a Natal Soul, since I doubt BoShui could have saved himself if not for having partitioned his mind into two separate but equal working units.

And still the match continues, with Taewoong hesitating ever so slightly before pressing the advantage and unleashing yet another devastating combination attack, aiming low now that BoShui is guarding high to land another three clean hits. No, not entirely clean, as BoShuis Domain is blunting their force, but if not for that, this match would have long since ended. A scything hook sails well over Taewoongs head and affords him the opportunity for two more hits, but then his luck runs out as BoShui corners him against the stage and leaves him with nowhere left to run.

A one-two combination to the chest brings Taewoong to his knees, and only then does my heart complete the earlier paired beat before time resumes its normal flow. Thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

The State of Enlightenment. Id honestly forgotten all about it. At one point, I think I even started confusing it with Insight, but theyre two separate things. Insight is downloading info into your brain, while the State of Enlightenment is more like bullet time, allowing Martial Warriors to react against opponents moving at inhuman speeds, but only now do I realize it is a Chi skill like any other. This is how BoShui was blocking all those attacks, because hes trained his State of Enlightenment to a higher level than anything Ive ever experienced. It makes sense that it would improve with use, because otherwise battles between Martial Warriors would eventually just be decided by who strikes first.

...I hope it doesnt take Chi or Heavenly Energy to use. Same with my anti-Concealment spotting efforts, because if I keep burning through my reserves, Ill probably go full cripple again, and Id really rather not. Recharging involves getting way closer to Demons than I would really like, dead or otherwise, so itd be nice if I could avoid that for as long as possible.

The thought of so many nobles getting their chairs and tables taken away is actually pretty funny, but I cant afford to laugh. The last thing I need is for the Legate to fixate his rage on me. For long, uncomfortable minutes, the massive banquet hall is filled with the sounds of frantic servants moving furniture as quickly as they can while doing their best to avoid looking at any noble in particular. I know this because I peeked, and after thinking it through, decided its probably because they dont want to be seen by any Scrying Martial Warriors and accused of taking delight in their hardships. Poor guys, theyll probably still be accused of moving furniture too slowly and get whipped or something. Its a hard life being a pleb, but hopefully thatll change sooner rather than later.

Disgraceful. Dripping with scorn and disapproval, the Legates rebuke echos through the banquet with startling clarity as the din of workers dies off. Tonight was to be a celebration of the Empires staggering victory in Sinuji, a victory made possible by the united efforts of the outer provinces, yet you lot have turned it into a vipers nest of discord and dissension.

Psh. Hes one to talk. As if all this isnt happening because the Supreme Families are pitting us against each other.

Mitsue Watanabe.

Yes, Imperial Legate.

Where are the heroes of Sinuji?

...Sir?

I would give anything to see the look on Watanabes face right now, but the Legate hasnt given us permission to look up yet. When I instructed you to organize this banquet, he says, his voice radiating with cold, restrained fury, I told you this was a celebration of our victory in Sinuji, yet I see only a handful of Warriors who served there in attendance tonight. Fifteen-thousand soldiers survived the battle of Sinuji. You mean to tell me none of them deserve recognition for their efforts? That not a single soldier accomplished anything of note in battle? That there were no surviving officers besides yourself, the Colonel General, and a single Warrant Officer alone?

Uh... no Imperial Legate, but... but fighting is but a small part of our victory in Sinuji. Training, supplies, construction, administration, all this and more is vital to the ongoing defence of the Empire.

Do you think me a fool? If this is what you believe, then why are the Southern delegates seated so far away? Why are your closest cronies all crowded together at the front?

...A thousand apologies, Imperial Legate. Mercy Imperial Legate. This one was wrong. A slap rings out. This one was wrong.

Imperial Legate, this humble one requests permission to speak. Mitsue Juichi, sounding real heartbroken over his son. I wonder if the Legate used some Aura-voice thing to scare Watanabe, or if hes just that spineless to begin with.

Permission denied, Colonel General. Speak again and I will have your tongue. Well, I suppose thats proof that Juichi isnt working for the Legate, which means hes got a different Imperial backer. Something wooden clatters against the stone floor, and I peek under my arm to see a scroll unfurling itself across the stage. That, the Legate snaps, Is a list of commendations, promotions, and prizes I intended to hand out at the end of tonights festivities, but seeing how there are only five intended recipients present, I see no point in doing so. Do you, Colonel?

...No? Imperial Legate.

Hmph. Flicking his sleeves, the Legate falls silent while his Death Corps march about the stage. When their boots fall silent, he says, See to it that the heroes of Sinuji receive their due, and dock yourself five years salary to help with the expense. Overlook a single person on that list and I will have your head. Colonel General Nian Zu.

Yes Imperial Legate.

A man of your years should have long since learned restraint. You will forfeit your prize and pay the Healers fees to mend what your younger clansman has wrought.

By your will, Imperial Legate.

Raise your heads. Already seated in his palanquin, the Legate looks none too pleased by the nights events, though I have no idea why he thought things would go differently. Situ Jia Zian?

Yes, Imperial Legate. Despite his dishevelled robes and unkempt hair, Zian still looks the part of a heroic young noble, albeit a tired, bloodstained one.

Well fought. With Warriors like yourself holding the line, the Defiled will find no ingress into Imperial lands.

Yanno, besides the one province they already have. Weird though. The Legate barely paid attention to any other fights, so this is a pretty big statement. Is Zian gonna get a job offer too? God dammit, do I have to worry about a ZianXLegate ship now? No, hes my reformed friend, and you cant have him!

Glowing with pride, Zian offers yet another salute and basks in his moment of glory. This one thanks Imperial Legate for his high praise.

Snapping his fan open once again, the Legate addresses the crowd. Hear me. Situ Jia Zian, Han BoShui, and Tam Taewoong are to be provisionally raised to the rank of First Grade Warrant Officer. Ishin Ken-Shibu is to receive the rank of Third Grade Warrant Officer. Ryo Geom-Chi, Huushal of the...

The litany continues for a good while, and even ends with Song getting a gift of gold, though the Legate only refers to her as Akanais daughter, for plausible deniability, I guess. Who pays it out, I have no idea, but Song seems pretty pleased and everyone Ive marked as an enemy is definitely not, so overall, Id call this banquet a win.

Which I should know better than to do, because thats just tempting fate. As the Legates palanquin makes its way out of the banquet hall, the Seneschal Sends instructions demanding I meet with the Legate at my earliest convenience, with only my Death Corps guards to escort me.

This is my fault, really. I called it too early, and now Im paying the price.

Still, all in all, it was a pretty fun banquet, and I didnt even have to get drunk to enjoy it. Not too shabby, Id say, not too shabby at all.

Chapter Meme