Chapter 729

Chapter 729

Silence ensues in the wake of my admittedly disdainful inquiry, and I refuse to be the one to break it.

Power games 101. Ive made my demand in the form of a question, which means I should wait for an answer. If I speak now, thats tacitly accepting silence as my answer, blunting any and all further demands I might make, so the ball is in Shuai Jiaos court now. The bald, bearded Commander General shows no sign of anger or vexation as he calmly sips his tea, his sharp gaze studying me like the hawk studies its prey. There a hint of mild curiosity in his expression as his eyes flick over to take in Jorani, no doubt wondering why I would introduce him as a distraction. Am I being honest? Or is it a double bluff? Hes not sure, and this bothers him, because now he doesnt know how to proceed. In his eyes, Jorani is the favoured son of GangShu, a neutral Territory Lord who has already taken injury in the War against the Enemy, so it would not do to upset so powerful an ally by having his son killed. Whats more, according to the Old Wolf, who refuses to actually give me a name, GangShu has been hanging around Jorani for a few weeks now, still recovering from his wounds and making it look like hes thrown his lot in with the People, without actually committing to our cause in any way shape or form. Of course, Shuai Jiao doesnt know that last part, so he must think Joranis presence here is an unspoken threat, one that says, Ive got another Ancestral Beast on my side who is also nearby, so tread lightly, bitch.

Totally sounds like something Id say. I guess Grandpa Du really has my number, as I do have a tendency to antagonize my enemies, but what can I say? Its a terrible habit, but the insolence just slips out before I can contain it. I cant help it, Ive got this thing against authority figures. Its that whole holier-than-thou attitude that irks me so, reminding me of all the time I spent under Gortans boot, both figuratively and literally.

Even the supposedly humble Shuai Jiao has that same arrogance baked into his bones, sitting upright and sipping tea from his cup with both hands, all while emanating a sense of general antipathy at having been so rudely interrupted. Theres nothing to hint at personal disdain in his gaze or demeanour, but the implication will be there to everyone watching, whether it be in person or through Scrying, showing them all how he is firmly in control of his emotions while I am a brash and headstrong savage who barged in uninvited. I dont mind playing my role, because I am brash and headstrong, which means no one will think twice if I stomp my feet and throw a tantrum, the political equivalent of what Im doing now. Truth is, I dont need an answer, or at least not an honest one. It doesnt matter what Shuai Jiao says next, because unless he agrees to stop withholding troops for the upcoming offensive, then there will be a new Commander General come tomorrow morning.

The time to strike back at the Enemy was last month, but we wont be ready until next week, which means we cannot afford to delay any longer. So far, the Defiled armies are still gathering along the border between West and Central, which means I need to put my plan into action before they are fully prepared. I can hardly launch an attack the same time the Defiled attack a Citadel, and according to reports, the Enemy is likely preparing to target the North and Southern Citadels next, striking at both fortifications in tandem in hopes that my Runic Cannons cannot reinforce both. While it sounds silly to attack on two fronts instead of using overwhelming numbers to ensure the downfall of a single target, Ive run the numbers and come to the conclusion that the Enemy would take less casualties by splitting up. Even if the Defiled hordes outnumber the Empire ten-to-one, theres only so much room on the battlefield for Warriors to fight. Add in the Defiled tendency to devolve into infighting, the slower pace of the armoured Chosen infantry, and the Enemys complete and utter lack of logistical support units, and it becomes much easier to simply split your massive army into two than try and corral everyone towards the same target.

All this and more means that our window of opportunity is closing, but Shuai Jiao wants to twiddle his thumbs and play politics instead. Infuriating as this is, itd be so much more palatable if I knew what he wanted. Its not glory, because I already offered him command of the offensive and he graciously declined, essentially saying that he was willing to step back and let me command as this was my project from the start. His actions arent directed by anger either, because even though hes been vocal with his protests, he still sat in on the brainstorming process and helped shape our plan of action, with much helpful insight offered. Nor is it wealth hes after, because despite the sizable tract of land his manor sits upon, it was clearly built as cheaply and efficiently as possible, with little to no thought going into the decor. The steel reinforced walls are bare of any art or hangings, with only square, cast-iron candle holders and rectangular door handles to break up the monotony. The windows are little more than square holes cut into the walls, with ugly hanging shutters on the outside that open up to let light in. The courtyard is devoid of flowers or plants aside from the grass floor and boring hedges lining the walls, with irregularly shaped pave stones laid out in an almost haphazard manner to line the walkways, which make up the only non-right angle lines in the entire manor aside from the pagoda. Though newly constructed, the hexagonal outdoor pavilion is so plain and austere it hasnt even been coated in varnish, much less paint. The unfinished wooden construction looks like it was made by a couple of friends who were paid in beers, just a raised platform and a slanted roof to shelter them from the rain, lacking any sort of artistic elements or even a plain old railing.

Theres ascetic decor, and then theres Shuai Jiaos manor, which is about as bright and cheery as a graveyard. Less cheery, in fact, as graveyards tend to have statues, trees, flowers, or at the very least, ornate tombstones to brighten the place up.

While I respect Shuai Jiaos minimalist lifestyle, it means theres no way to bribe or tempt him into seeing reason. Marshal Yo will go wherever the profit is, but the Commander General is a man of principle who will not be swayed by earthly desires. So no sending someone to seduce him, not that I have anyone I could send if I wanted to, which leaves me at an impasse when dealing with Shuai Jiao. Hence my readiness to go straight to extreme measures, though Im torn on what to do next.

Moving my gaze a few empty seats over to the mature and dignified Jeong Hyo-Lynn, I take in her stoic demeanour and unperturbed posture, seemingly completely at ease despite having been utterly dismissed out of hand during these so-called wedding discussions. Truth be told, I was considering having the formidable woman take up Shuai Jiaos mantle of Commander General, but now that shes allied with him, that doesnt seem like the best move. Then again, she wasnt my first choice for the job anyways, but I doubt even Shuai Jiaos enemies would stay quiet if I promoted Akanai or Liu Xuande to Commander General. I like the former not just because shes my Mother-in-Law, Grandmother, and Grand Mentor all wrapped up in one person, shes also one of the foremost military minds in the entire Empire, and the latter because he is the best strategist alive bar none, but neither one would be easily accepted by the soldiers of Central, much less the other two provinces. Aunty Jeong was a compromise, and a poor one at that, but the best of all the bad choices I had, except now she isnt even an option anymore because I simply cant trust her.

Odd how calm she appears considering its clear Ive come here to demand action and have likely brought the means to force it. A facade? Or did she anticipate this would happen? If so, then Shuai Jiao expected it too, and likely has measures in place to respond with.

With this in mind, I take quick stock of everyone else present in the courtyard. Seoyoon and Dain are difficult to read, but not impossible. They both put up an icy, emotionless front, but the eyes give it away as Seoyoon refuses to meet mine while Dain straightens up with self-righteous hubris. The former feels guilty while the latter is reassuring herself that she is in the right, which does not bode well for me, but its Yong-Jins conflicted expression that really throws me off. His clenched fists hint at restrained anger over my insolent manners, but his clenched jaw and wavering torso tells me hes fighting the urge to turn towards his Mentor and speak up, rather than direct any of his ire towards me. Odd that, but after thinking it through, I decide its perfectly reasonable. Perhaps Yong-Jin actually agrees with my plan to go on the offensive, being the young, glory hungry Warrior that he is, and is unhappy that his Mentor would rather hide behind his walls now that its all but guaranteed the Defiled wont target the Central Citadel.

As for the guards and military aides posing as servants, theres little to be said about them. Theyre all outraged and chomping at the bit to come teach me a lesson, even though none of them are Peak Experts and would be fodder before my blade. Then again, even though theyre really only here to open doors and pour tea, I would assume that most are Junior Officers hand-picked by Shuai Jiao to teach them the ins and outs of not just military command, but political dealings as well, because what better way to learn from him than to serve at his side twenty-four hours a day? It wouldnt surprise me to discover that theres a few spies sprinkled into the mix too, reporting Shuai Jiaos every move back to their masters, reports the Commander General is undoubtedly aware of and uses to his advantage. Like right now, as he would want word of this marriage alliance to spread as quickly as possible, and hell even have the added bonus of third-party testimony to this showdown between Legate and Commander General.

All of which I expected beforehand, and if push comes to shove, my twelve Death Corps Guards can make short work of Shuai Jiaos entourage, though I doubt Kuang Biao can stand up to Shuai Jiao in single combat. My fate would be all but sealed if Aunty Jeong joins in, but from the looks of things, shes here as a witness rather than eager participant, though I cant take that for granted.

I dont expect this meeting to devolve into bloodshed, but its always best to be prepared. Putting together a plan to deal with everyone in the courtyard is simple enough, as my only option is to run and hope someone strong is close enough to pull my ass out of the fire. Discretion is the better part of valour, because even though I beat Gerel a single time in a spar, Ive no grand delusions about where I stand on the scale of strength. Im more than a Peak Expert in some ways, but less in most that count, meaning I rate somewhere close to Dain in terms of threat. I have fifty-fifty odds of beating her in a fair match, but if blades are drawn here, the fight will be anything but fair.

Having slowly drained his cup dry, Shuai Jiao utters a small gasp of satisfaction before placing his cup back down on the table, and only then does he break eye contact with me to refill his cup himself. The Commander General favours Brittle Needle tea, which is a rarely seen white tea with a flavour palette so light and subtle the water used has more of an effect on the taste of the final product than the leaves do. This is the only luxury he allows himself, and not much of a luxury at all, as the only reason its difficult to procure is because the tea leaves are minimally processed on account of the fact that theyre dried nettles which only the poorest of the poor would care to turn into tea. This makes it difficult to transport and store the tea for long, so the only way for Shuai Jiao to keep himself supplied with enough tea to drink each and every day is to pay someone local to grow them, which is not at all worth the expense, but he insists on it anyways. Every morning, his household receives a full brick of freshly processed tea which the Commander General uses up over the course of the day, with enough to last him until breakfast to allow time for the next brick to be processed and delivered.

I spent way too much time studying Shuai Jiaos habits in preparation for this clash, but I pray we come to an arrangement and all my hard work goes to waste. The alternative is that all my efforts pay off in the end, which contrary to what one might think, is not an outcome I look forward to.

Having refilled his cup, Shuai Jiao sets the empty tea pot aside for one of his aides to bring away, as each tiny pot only holds enough for three cups. Its to keep the tea from steeping too long and becoming bitter and unpalatable, yet another detail I picked up on and hope to never use. Outwardly however, I let none of my reservations show and focus on emitting an Aura of steely determination, declaring that I am ready to do whatever it takes to see my plans through. Tapping the sturdy hardwood table, which is as plain and boring as the rest of his decor, Shuai Jiao takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before fixing me with a pompous glare. Your soldiers? The Warriors of the North have thrown aside their pride to bend knee to a child, but the Warriors of South and Central still stand tall. They are not your soldiers, but steadfast defenders of the Empire, and they will remain where they are until I order them otherwise.

Well, were off to a great start. The soldiers of the North heed their appointed Legates order, the highest ranking Official of the Outer Provinces. Quibble about my age and capabilities all you like, but the Warriors of the North make ready to march on the Enemy. Why are South and Central not joining us as planned?

Because I have not given the order to.

Infuriating bastard. Hes doing this on purpose, stirring the pot to get a rise out of me. The worst thing to do is to lose my temper, but I tire of these political games. But I have given the order, and the last I checked, a Legate outranks even a Commander General. Unable to help myself, I straighten up and rest one hand on Peaces hilt and say, So its treason then.

Now is not the time to laugh or scream nonsensically dude. This is serious business.

Eyes widening ever so slightly at my direct approach, Shuai Jiaos arm shoots out to bar Yong-Jin from standing, his other hand pressed flat against the table in a show of visible restraint. Careful who you accuse of treason, child, the Commander General replies, doing away with all pretense of cordiality. Lest you find your accusations turned back upon yourself.

What? How am I the treasonous one? Struggling not to let my confusion show, I purse my lips and ask, One last chance Commander General. I have given my command. Will you obey? Let me hear your answer, plain and simple.

Taking a deep breath before releasing it slowly, Shuai Jiao appears both resigned and committed to his decision. I reject your command, because I cannot in good conscience order so many soldiers to their deaths for a fools cause.

A fool, am I? Not the part to focus on, but it irks me too much to ignore.

Slamming a fist down on the table and overturning his cup of tea, Shuai Jiao snarls as the last vestiges of calm slip away as I inwardly applaud myself for not jumping out of my skin. A fool or a traitor, which I cannot say for certain, but it can only be one or the other. Having contributed greatly to the defence of the Empire and saved countless lives with your efforts, you once had my respect and admiration, but no more. I have made my objections clear time and time again with regards to your intention to retake the West, and every time you wave them aside without care or concern. Your intentions are good, but your foolish ambitions can only end in misery and death. You have set your eye on an impossible goal with no benefit to be had, aside from appeasing your ego or wasting our efforts. We will take the fight to the Enemy and win, and then what? We will have sacrificed thousands of good soldiers all so we can slaughter untold millions of tortured captives. Visibly shaking from agitation, Shuai Jiao looks older and more conflicted than I ever thought possible, a man who knows what needs to be done, but cannot stomach the thought of doing so.

A good thing too. If he wasnt affected by the prospect of slaughtering millions of innocents, hed be just as bad as most other Nobles of the Empire. Maybe theres some truth to his reputation after all.

Err, bossman? he begins, tugging on my sleeve to hold me in place before I step off the pagoda. Mebbe it aint my place to say and all, but uh... Scratching his head, he leans in close and whispers, Well... is there any reason ye cant just... ye know... tell him the truth? Seeing my confusion, he adds, Ye know, about what ye did fer me and Awdar and the others? Seems like thatd solve yer problems, ye? Bet on the man, not the dice, and I reckon if anyone can be trusted, its the Commander General. Though I dunno what hes talkin about ye bein a monster and whatnot, so mebbe thats the problem. If so, then pretend I just didnt say a thing and we can just...

As Jorani yammers on, I stop to consider his suggestion. Tell Shuai Jiao about my ability to Devour Spectres? Rejecting the thought even as it comes to me, I stop and reconsider it once again. Why cant I tell him? I mean, Im preparing to Cleanse millions of Westerners as we free them, so Im sure someone will notice something... right? Then again, sharing this secret wont prove I am who I am, nor can I even really prove I can do what I claim, though I suppose Monk Happy could support these claims, if not the others. Will telling Shuai Jiao change anything? Maybe? I dont need his complete and absolute trust, I just need him to trust me enough to believe that Im not leading him into a death trap. Looking at things from his point of view, I suppose I am awfully suspicious, having gone from crippled man to where I am today in the span of a few months. How can he not suspect Zhen Shis influence in circumstances so implausible, especially when the alternative is to simply accept that I am talented beyond all belief? I mean, shit, I know Im me and even I cant believe Im so talented, which is not a humble brag.

But if I explain everything to Shuai Jiao and tell him about my ability to Devour Spectres with impunity thanks to Blobbys presence, then maybe thatll be enough to convince him Im not the meat puppet of an eight-hundred year old monster. Whats the worst that could happen? News of my ability to Cleanse the Defiled will undoubtedly make it back to Shen ZhenWus ears, but Ive moved beyond caring about the Imperial Clan. If they want a fight, then let them come, because Runic Cannons do not differentiate between Defiled or Imperial, and Ive a few more aces hidden up my sleeve. Me and the Emperor were always going to come to blows, so this is just pushing up the timeline a little.

Hopefully theyll have the good graces to wait until after Ive dealt with Zhen Shi, but I suppose I could always just abandon the war and run home if things get too rough, just like I threatened to earlier. Why work so hard to defend an Empire that wants me dead?

...

Because even if the Emperor doesnt give a shit about his people, I doubt I could just stand idly by and watch as the Defiled run rampant through the outer provinces. I doubt Dad, Grandma, or even my wives would either, and I dont have it in me to convince them. Life would be so much easier if I didnt have a conscience.

Heaving a sigh as I seat myself again, I take a minute to gather my thoughts and discuss matters with Dad and the rest through Sending. Ignoring the curious stares from everyone present, I keep my attention focused on Shuai Jiao in an attempt to gauge if he is truly the honourable man that everyone seems to think he is. Why am I so damn suspicious of him? Is it intuition? Or am I just paranoid and jaded? Since Dad and the others have left the decision to me, I face Shuai Jiao and say, You know, I was about a bees dick away from ordering you killed. Still can, since my hidden dagger is waiting in the wings, but Shuai Jiaos arrogant huff shows how little he cares for my threat. Instead, Im considering taking my seconds advice and trusting you with my secret, but first, I need to get something off my chest. Leaning forward as I look the Commander General in the eye, I utter, I dont believe I can trust you.

The sound of Joranis face sinking into his palms is almost deafening in the ensuing silence, but Shuai Jiao merely cocks his head in almost amused curiosity. I dont understand why you do what you do, I continue, gesturing at the manor around us. Like all this. Real estate in the Citadel is expensive, but even though you spent so much on the land itself, you built this manor with an over-emphasis on poverty. Those who deny the loudest are oftentimes the most guilty, but this alone is not enough to suspect you. You can drink your shitty tea and wear your plain robes all you want, but how am I supposed to believe that you are a man of honour and justice when you thrive in an environment that is sorely lacking in both?

Faced with my thinly veiled accusations, Shuai Jiao remains silent, still standing with hands ready to aggressively defend while maintaining the noble bearing of a man who is in the right. Hardly actions to inspire trust, but to be fair, my suspicions are largely groundless and based solely on his success. You know what bothers me the most? Turning my gaze to Happy, I purse my lips in annoyance. None of the monks will tell me anything about your time as an initiate, which makes me wonder about what drew you to them in the first place.

We say nothing because it is none of your concern, Junior Brother, Monk Happy replies, essentially telling me to mind my own business, but I only turned to look at the monk to make Shuai Jiao think I wasnt paying attention to him. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the Commander Generals surprise and discomfort, which leads me to believe theres a dark secret in his past, one I do not begrudge him. We all make mistakes, and if hes the fine, upstanding man he appears to be, then hes more than made up for his sins, but...

I need to be sure.

Before I share my secret, I ask that you answer one question of mine, Colonel General. Looking Shuai Jiao in the eye, I ask, Why did you choose to part ways with the Brotherhood, yet continue to uphold so many of their precepts?

My money is on the castration bit, but to my surprise, Shuai Jiaos eyes flash with a glint of emotions I know all too well, guilt and self-recrimination. After a long pause, the Commander General lowers his hands and looks to Monk Happy, who nods in encouragement. Because, Shuai Jiao whispers, lowering himself none too gently back into his chair, The Brotherhood believes that in order to take the first step along the Noble Eight Fold Path and accept the Right View, one must first come to terms with the sins of their past and seek forgiveness, both from the aggrieved parties and from within. Eyes tearing up with emotion, he heaves a sigh that paints a picture of sorrow that has haunted him for decades past, and will continue to haunt him for decades to come. Alas, I was unable to do this, because some sins should never be forgiven. Heaving heavily to control his emotions, he continues, Instead, I have devoted my life to making up for my mistakes, in hopes that one day, the Mother will weigh my Soul and find it in Her heart to forgive me, for I can never forgive myself.

...And here I thought he was an honourable man without flaw, but instead, hes just ridden with guilt and hell-bent on making up for past mistakes.

Somehow, I like him more already.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and Send, Abort mission. Return to the courtyard as discussed. Out loud, I say, Thank you for choosing to hear me out. Youve heard of my misadventures in Sanshu? Well, after I was swept away by the currents of Western Treasures Lake, I came into contact with what I now know to be an Elemental Spirit of Water...

My tale is long in the telling as I spare only a few details regarding my ability to Devour and Cleanse, laying bare so many of my secrets despite my instincts screaming at me to keep quiet. I am not someone who easily trusts, and I still dont trust Shuai Jiao, not entirely at least, which is why I keep quiet about losing Blobby to bind the Azure Sea and how Spectres get turned into usable Heavenly Energy, though more knowledgeable members of the Imperial Clan might be able to fill in the blanks. As I tell my unbelievable tale however, I get an inkling that the Commander General was not the Imperial Puppet I believed him to be, merely a pawn on the board rather than a player in their games. My story is long in the telling, but his reactions seem too genuine to be faked, from wholehearted disbelief to grudging admission that parts of my tale might be possible, especially with so many examples to draw from and Monk Happy vouching for my abilities. I even tell him about my ability to Devour Heavenly Energy and turn it into Chi, which I demonstrate by emptying my Core and drawing so much Heavenly Energy that every Martial Warrior in the Citadel can feel it. When all is said and done, the afternoon has come and gone as I fight the urge to sink back in my chair and sigh, because my work here is not yet done. So there you have it, I say, spreading my hands in a take it or leave it sort of gesture. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Which is technically a lie, but he got enough of the truth that it doesnt matter. I dont need any schemes to find the Defiled. I just need to be close enough to identify them. Anyone who is less than Defiled, I can Cleanse from afar, meaning I can guarantee that not a single Defiled will make it past my inspections. Shrugging, I feel the need to add, I mean, some might still turn Defiled later, on account of the trauma and whatnot, but we take the same risk every time a slave is whipped or a wife is beaten, so I dont see a big issue in taking these people in.

Which is the harsh truth, but still the truth. People are tougher than the Empire gives them credit for, because the human spirit will not surrender so easily.

After rubbing his beard raw and digesting my words for some time, Shuai Jiao finally lifts his head and says, I require time to consider your words carefully, and ask that the reverend monk remain behind to help clear this sinners doubts.

Since Monk Happy agrees to it, I push myself to my feet with a tired grimace. Dont take too long. Weve a schedule to keep, and I intend to stick to it. If you still refuse to march with me within the week, then I will have no choice but to explore other options. Without breaking eye contact, I say, Alrighty then. Time to head home.

Which is Pong Pongs key phrase to stand down, one I taught him during fun times with floofs in the Natal Palace with help from animal trainer extraordinaire, Lin-Lin. Dropping Concealment from around his ward while keeping himself hidden, the Divine Turtle reveals the masked Siyar to everyone in the courtyard, sans his easily identifiable Spiritual Weapon of course. Blades are drawn and curses shouted, but no one attacks Siyar, not even the startled Shuai Jiao who bolts back out of his chair and stumbles a few steps towards the would be assassin, only to stop in place with hands raised and mouth open in slack-jawed disbelief while standing between the former bandit and the empty seats. My plan was to have Siyar show up unexpectedly at my side and give everyone a bit of a scare, but the cheeky smuggler decided itd be funnier to appear from behind the Commander General, and to be fair, he was right. Purposely making his way around the table without paying heed to Aunty Jeongs drawn swords or those of her daughters, Siyar marches over to my side cool as a cucumber while lacking all his usual swagger, the perfect picture of a bold Sentinel assassin rather than the scoundrel he truly is. Thats the image I was going for, and truth be told, the fear and shock on Shuai Jiaos face makes this totally worth the possible headaches it might cause later. Leaning into the big dick energy, I make my way out of the courtyard while speaking over my shoulder. I spared your life today, Commander General. Do not make me regret it.

First show him the carrot, then bring out the stick. Were not friends, but rather allies of convenience united by a common Enemy. Let Shuai Jiao believe Siyar was there to kill him with cold steel, but the truth is, even with Pong Pong keeping him Concealed, I doubt the smuggler couldve killed the Commander General in a single strike. No, Siyars job here today was to poison the Commander Generals brick of shitty tea, using the same medicinal agent that almost killed me back in Nan Ping, during Luo-Luos wedding banquet. A tasteless, colourless powder, that when ingested in enough quantities, creates impediments in the intestines which throw out blood clots that even my Medical Saint of an Ancestral Beast teacher couldnt resolve with Chi alone, not without spending weeks or even months by my side breaking down blood clots as they form until the impediment resolved itself naturally.

Hell, with luck, Shuai Jiao wouldve gone to sleep and died from a blood clot to the brain, a clean and natural death which wouldve absolved me of all blame, or at least cast enough doubts as to whether or not I was responsible for killing him. That mightve been enough to avoid civil war, but Im grateful we didnt have to find out the hard way.

Yet.

Because who knows? Shuai Jiao might well still refuse to help me, at which point, Id have no choice but to send Siyar and Pong Pong back for another visit. I pray it doesnt come to this, because honourable man or not, Shuai Jiaos life is a price I am more than willing to pay if it means driving the Defiled out of the Western Province. As for what comes after... Ill cross that bridge when I get there. For now, all I can do is wait and see if Shuai Jiaos reputation is well deserved. If not, then maybe Ill feel a little less terrible bad about ordering his death, though I doubt it.

Because I am nothing if not irrational.

Chapter Meme (Volume Warning!!! ITS LOUD!!!!!)