Chapter 501: Nirvana And Luo Xianni
“Chi Bupang! Get out here right now!” Just then, a woman’s voice full of
anger and alluring promise echoed through the forests.
The characters sound like ‘eat and not get fat’, I wonder if it’s the
author’s play on Jue Di’s insatiable need for new experiences. OR I’m
reading too much in to it.
In that instant, the colors of this whole world seemed to change. The
vibrant expanse felt like it came grinding to a halt, or perhaps more
fitting was to say it was a picture. Everywhere he looked, it was like a
hundred thousand detailed paintings layered on top of one another. Even he
looked like a painted reflection of himself.
“Rip!” The sound was followed by a hand that appeared to tear open reality
and pull itself out. Cracks spider webbed out from the hand and crackled in
all directions. They shook and quivered for a moment then, as though they
were glued together, things returned quickly back to normal.
Jue Di thrust himself between Lan Jue and the strange hand, and in that
moment Lan Jue felt like he was a towering
mountain standing in his defense. And yet, there was a sense of instability
in his master’s power. No… that wasn’t right. Not his power, his emotions.
A figure appeared in the air above them. It dissolves in to a beam of light
that shot to earth, and coalesced once again a few feet away.
From behind Jue Di’s wide shoulder, Lan Jue could see a very attractive,
middle-aged woman. She wore tight-fitting jeans that made her legs look long
and shapely, a white jacket that accentuated her other features. Her hair
was pulled back in to a simple pony tail. If it weren’t for that strange
light in her eye, Lan Jue would have assumed she was around twenty years
old.
Right now those eyes were blazing with fury, and they were fixed dead on Jue
Di. The whole place was suffocating under the weight of her rage.
Lan Jue knew it without having to ask – she was a Paragon. The brief moment
he experienced the flare of her power, he could sense that it was stronger
than the God of Wine he’d encountered before, Bize. However, in his memory
Lan Jue couldn’t remember a Paragon with these abilities.
Long ago the Clairvoyant had said that there were a number of hidden
Paragons out in the universe. This woman must be one of them, and what’s
more, she seemed to know his dad.
In a situation like this there was nothing Lan Jue could do to help. He
stayed put behind Jue Di, and didn’t dare try to join in with his
Discipline.
Jue Di looked embarrassed. “Ho-… how did you find this place?”
The woman glared at him with eyes like frozen daggers. “Hiding! You’re
hiding from me! Chi Bupang, I swear, you could run all the way up to heaven
and dig all the way down to hell and I’ll still find you! But this time I’m
not letting you go anywhere!”
“Heh, eh… Xianni… you see we have a young man here. Help me save a little
face.” Jue Di’s voice was placative and apologetic.
Lan Jue could only watch, with his mouth hanging open in shock. What the
hell is going on?! He thought to himself. I this the same Jue Di? He’s
scaring my melons off.
In every instance he could remember, Jue Di was always in a position of
power. His strength, wisdom and character assured that he was never seen as
lesser than anyone else. Forget never seeing or hearing anything like this,
Lan Jue downright couldn’t believe what was going on.
“Face? Do you even know what that means? Face. What about my youth?! Ten
years wasted, and where are we now?” The angrier she got, the fiercer her
aura became.
“You head back first,” Jue Di said, speaking over his shoulder to Lan Jue.
He curtly waved the younger man away in attempts to hide his humiliation.
“Oh.” Lan Jue didn’t protest or ask questions. He knew when it was
appropriate to ask question, and in this case it would be safer to watch
from a distance.
“Wait right there!” The woman roared.
Lan Jue froze in place. His wide eyes slowly turned to Jue Di.
At last the newcomer turned her eyes to Lan Jue and looked
him up and down. She narrowed her eyes to angry little slits. “What’s your
relationship with him?”
Jue Di hurriedly piped in. “Disciple! He’s my disciple.”
Her eyes hardened further. “Just a disciple? Young man, what do you call
him?”
Lan Jue just stared at her.
She took a step forward, and in a blink she was mere inches from Lan Jue’s
face – like she just appeared there. He was familiar with interdimensional
powers from the Wine Master, otherwise he would have assumed that was what
she was using. This was different, though it seemed to have something to do
with interdimensional space.
“I asked you a question. Did you not hear?” She hissed the words mere
centimeters from his face.
A smothering pressure bore down on Lan Jue. He found himself speaking in
spite of himself. “Father, this…”
“FATHER?!” She screeched. Her voice was so pregnant with indignant rage that
Lan Jue stumbled backward to get away from her. By then she had railed on
Jue Di, and the little thirty- something woman looked ready to tear him
apart. Reality swirled and warped frantically around them.
An orb of black appeared suddenly, as deep and dense as a black hole. It
swelled until the two were swallowed up, and then disappeared just as
quickly. Lan Jue stood alone now in an empty field, too stunned to react.
It wasn’t that he was confused, he knew had happened. When a Paragon reached
the third level – Nirvana – they were able to flee to interdimensional
space.
Jue Di was the undisputed master of such skills, but he knew his father’s
energy signature and that wasn’t it. It was hers! She wasn’t just a Paragon…
she was a third-level Paragon!
Lan Jue remembered a talk he had with the Pharmacist, where he vaguely
recalled her mentioning that Jue Di was the only one that may be a
fourth-level. Her own master, Celestial Master Qian – was third level, or
possibly fourth if he was alive. The Eye of Tomorrow had just entered in to
third level when he sequestered himself. Other than those three, the
remaining
known Paragons were level two or below.
This woman was an unknown factor, at least not a Paragon he’d ever heard of,
and actually at Nirvana level. Since when where there so many Paragons
running around? Was she really that strong?
He suspected there was more to this. Who knew the true identity of this
woman his father didn’t seem able to handle?
After thinking for a moment, Lan Jue pulled up his communicator. He had a
sneaking suspicion that this new Paragons Domain was similar to the Wine
Master’s. He could sense the dimensional ripples she created, but they
weren’t as pure as the one’s he’d sensed from his old friend. It felt more…
solid. Perhaps the Wine Master would know something.
“Uh.” The Wine Master’s voice crackled on the other end. He sounded as
somber as the day they got back from Luo.
Grunting is the preferred way to answer summons in China, though ‘wei’ is
usually used when speaking on the phone.
“Do you have a minute to talk?” Lan Jue asked.
“I’m having some wine.” It was code, meaning if it isn’t important, don’t
bother me with it now.
“Yeah? What are you enjoying?”
“Rieussec.”
Lan Jue chuckled. “They say Rieussec is good when you’re in a good mood or
when you’re lovesick. So which are you?”
“If you’ve called to waste my time with nonsense then I’m not interested.”
The Paragon growled.
“I’ve found another Paragon, a new one,” Lan Jue said. “I’ve never heard of
her. A new player certainly changes things, don’t you think?”
“Who does she work for?” He asked.
Lan Jue explained. “I’m not sure. She’s a woman in her thirties or forties,
and very pretty. Her Discipline had vestiges of strong dimensional ripples,
and her protogenia seems to somehow segment reality. It was like everything
existed in a cracked mirror. What I can tell you is that she can summon the
Protogenic Singularity. That must mean she’s entered Nirvana.”
On the other end, the Wine Master was quiet. Lan Jue didn’t trouble him, he
knew the old man was thinking.
A little while later the Wine Master spoke up again, but there was a strange
note in his voice. “Is her last name Luo?”
“I dunno,” Lan Jue admitted. “But I heard someone call her Xianni.”
He heard the old man yelp. “Her? Where is she? I’ll be there right away.”
Lan Jue chuckled sheepishly. “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you where we are. It
concerns an elder family member.”
The Wine Master was a Paragon, and had a wealth of
experience in controlling his emotions. His momentary shock was replaced
quickly with calm once more. He was also aware of this enigmatic ‘elder’ Lan
Jue spoke of. “Him?”
“Yeah.” Lan Jue didn’t need to hide everything from the Wine Master.
“So you know this lady, Xianni?” Lan Jue inquired.
He heard the Wine Master chuckle dryly. “I don’t just know her, she’s my
aunt.”
Lan Jue’s face twisted in confusion. “But, she’s so much younger than you.”
“Bullshit!” The Wine Master’s tone was irritated. “A Paragon’s appearance
remains the same as the day they broke through, until they die. My aunt had
incredible talent, and broke through when she was only thirty-seven. Of
course she’d look younger than me.”
“Why haven’t I heard about this Luo family ancestor until just now? At her
level of power, she should be widely known! She’s
not on the Paragon list…”
The Wine Master’s tone eased again. “That involves Avenue secrets. All you
need to know is that she was one of the founders. The Clairvoyant was the
Council’s chairman at the time, and she was his right hand. She was also
part of the reason the Clockmaker left. Later, for reasons I don’t know, she
had a falling out with the Clairvoyant and left. She’s isolated herself ever
since. She used to be the Avenue’s secret weapon, if she were still here
then we wouldn’t get so much trouble from the other groups. It’s been so
long… it’s incredible you’ve run in to her. Tell her I’d like her to come
back.”
Lan Jue scratched his head. “Well, eh… I’ll try. Your aunt has quite the
temper, heh.”
Chapter 502: Dad’s Getting Old
“Yeah, not the greatest,” the Wine Master confirmed. “Before she reached
Paragon we used to call her Little Pepper. She’s still famous for her
temper, apparently.”
“So, I can only promise I’ll try. I don’t think I have much leeway,
especially since I intend to live for a few more years,” Lan Jue quipped.
The Wine Master chuckled. “Do what you can. If you learn anything else, tell
me right away. Tell her also that the Clairvoyant isn’t doing well, and will
likely pass. Whatever you have to do to convince her.”
“Alright.” That was something he could do.
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden wave of energy that swept
through the house. The mysterious singularity appeared again, and two
figures emerged above the fields. But this black hole was high overhead, and
the figures came tumbling through in freefall. The first was Jue Di, somehow
missing the top half of his overalls. The pants were a ragged mess.
Luo Xianni’s descend was purposeful, and direct. She slammed in to Lan Jue’s
father at full bore. Jue Di reacted by crushing her against him with his
burly arms. She struggled, but couldn’t wrench herself free of his bear hug.
“Let me go!” Luo Xianni shouted.
Jue Di cackled. “Then stop pitching a fit. Finish your tantrum and I’ll let
you go.”
“Fine.” She answered flippantly.
He let her go, but the second she had wriggle room she spun around, and dug
her teeth in to his shoulder.
“Aaahhh! Did you just bite me!?” Jue Di yelped. The fiercest beasts could
tear at the Paragon and he would feel nothing, the strength of his
Discipline was indomitable. It looked, however, like he was not engaging his
defense here, perhaps for fear of hurting Luo Xianni.
Lan Jue clapped a hand over his eyes and felt his way back in to the cabin.
Some things were better left unknown, he thought,
to spare oneself the trouble.
A little while later he heard the door open.
“Brat! Get out here, now.” Jue Di’s thoroughly irritated voice called to
him.
Lan Jue was instantly transported to the days when he and his brother
suffered this man’s abuse regularly. He remembered them fondly. He sprang up
to his feet and went outside.
“What is it, father?
Jue Di and Luo Xianni were in the main room, both looking a little beat up.
Xianni was in better shape – at least her clothes were in one piece – while
Jue Di looked like he’d been mugged.
Jue Di’s angry voice called to him. “Still calling me Father. Do you see how
much trouble you’ve caused? Xianni, you go check
– there is absolutely zero blood connection between me and this punk. I’ve
looked after him and his brother since they were small. They’re my
disciples, my foster children.”
Lan Jue was smart enough to recognize the cues, and started to piece
together the relationship between his master and this Luo family ancestor.
He sputtered to interject. “Yes, that’s right! I’m not related to father at
all.”
Luo Xianni sniffed derisively. “If not, then fine. But if there is, I’ll
castrate him.”
Jue Di felt himself tense up. “Can’t you show at least a little sympathy in
front of the boy?”
“I ask again, what about my youth? I have been looking for you for
thirty-six years! And you dare talk to me about saving face?” She spun on
her heels and tore in to the older man again. Tears had begun to accumulate
at the base of her eyes.
Thirty-six years? What’s that about, dad? Lan Jue quietly criticized his
adopted father. But then he sighed, for wasn’t this his doing? He’d come
home to visit his father, but ended up causing trouble.
“Dad, how about you and the Lady Luo talk first? I’ll take a walk around, I
haven’t been here for a while so it’ll be godo to see what’s new.” He didn’t
even stop talking before he started to
trudge away.
“Stop!” Luo Xianni shouted again
Lan Jue was starting to get very tired of this conversation.
“What are the lady’s instructions?” Lan Jue said with an impossibly sweet
smile.
This only made her glary even sharper. “How do you know my family name? Did
he tell you? Did you guess?”
Lan Jue looked over to his master, trying to gauge the expression in his
face.
Lan Jue answered with a knowing air. “Yes! Father told me. He used to talk
about you all the time, his very close lady friend
– the most beautiful girl in the universe, he’d say. He said her name was
Luo Xianni. That’s how I recognized you.”
She grunted, thoroughly unimpressed. “Stop the bullshit. A three year old
wouldn’t believe that nonsense. If he thought
about me so much, why didn’t he ever come find me, huh? It’s not like he
couldn’t. Now tell the truth!”
Lan Jue looked over at Jue Di again, but his father was too busy holding his
head in his hands.
“The Wine Master told me. I just asked him.” Lan Jue muttered dutifully.
“Wine Master?” When she heard the name, she straightened her back and got a
far-away look in her eyes. Her full-on sprint down the warpath eased.
“You’re also part of the Avenue? What’s your designation?”
“Jewelry Master,” he answered.
Luo Xianni turned back to Jue Di. “At least you’re the slightest bit
conscientious. You sent him to the Avenue to look over things.”
Jue Di heaved a sigh. “It was my apology. Things change as time inevitably
marches on. I’d rather not hash up the past again.”
Lan Jue hardly contained his look of surprise. But Dad… you didn’t ask me to
go to the Avenue! All that head-holding was an act, too. On more levels than
one, he and his dad weren’t anywhere near the same level.
She sniffed again. “Don’t bring it up? You’re dreaming. You will never have
a moment of peace ever again, not until you kill me!”
What could have spawned so much hatred? Lan Jue swallowed hard, then
scurried away toward the nearby door. It was best to not get involved in old
wounds. Dodge the bullets when you can.
Jue Di separated a few steps and fell in to a nearby chair. “Xianni, if you
want to hit me, then hit me. If you want to curse my name then do it. But
first sit and have a cup of tea.”
Her well-practiced sniff made a return appearance, but she did walk over to
him and sat nearby. She sat on the same side as the clear indentation of her
teeth set in his shoulder.
Lan Jue desperately wished to take a picture of the scene and share it with
Lan Qing. He wanted his brother to see what had
become of their harsh taskmaster.
“Get the hell out of here!” Jue Di snapped. Lan Jue spun around fast enough
to give himself whip lash, and ran inside. Anyway, the whole thing was too
weird for him to handle.
Once he was out from under that angry cloud, he felt much more relaxed. He
just kept running until he reached the edge of that expansive forest. He was
convinced that he didn’t want to know what was going on between his father
and this woman. Whatever it was, it had to mean they used to be very close.
It was almost unthinkable that his dad – who had never shown interest in
women before – had this fiery woman on the side. An unhappy couple, but
still.
Lan Jue heaved great breaths of familiar air as he came to a stop before an
enormous tree. This particular tree was beautiful, laden with blooms and
healthy. He lifted his eyes skyward, where he looked through dappled
sunlight at the expansive canopy. It provided him with cool and shade. It
would take over a dozen people to surround the base of this old denizen.
Lan Jue sat down beneath the shade and pressed his back against the tree. He
remembered when father would tie him and
Lan Qing up to this tree and beat them. The intent was to teach them to
dodge. They would writhe and wriggle like fish on a line as Jue Di whipped
them.
That time they were beaten black and blue. They were suspended then for ten
days, and every sunrise brought a new round of beatings and an herbal soak.
Beat, soak, beat, soak. Only when he and his brother were barely breathing
did he let them down.
Phantom pains still caused his muscles to spasm at the mere memory. At least
it served its purpose, though, for their reaction time improved by at least
one hundred and twenty percent.
Memories danced all through this forest, filled with long gone days of him
and his brother among the trees. Things change as time inevitably marches
on. Now that he was back, everything seemed different.
Father did seem a little older, not least because of his more easy-going
attitude. He could tell it was something he had been working with. It made
Lan Jue’s heart feel heavy.
No one knew Jue Di’s true age, but Lan Jue knew that even Paragons passed
away eventually. Was his father nearing that inevitable end to the road?
He refused to face it! Those memories were painful, but without his father
he and Lan Qing would not be the men they are today. Anyway, love and
appreciation for all the work he did to raise them trumped everything. They
didn’t have a mother to learn on, just this strict father.
Lan Jue lifted his communicator to his face, and quietly dialed in his
brother’s number. He knew his brother was busy, but the action just came
naturally.
“Di di… di di!” The ringing continued. Lan Jue was about to hang up when
suddenly there was an answer.
“You went back?” Lan Qing asked.
“Yeah, I’m here.” Lan Jue said, nodding his head.
“Father, he…” Lan Jue could hear the hesitation on his brother’s voice as he
tried to explain. But he cut him off.
“Dad’s changed. He hugged me.” The words felt strange in Lan Jue’s mouth,
almost distasteful. He went on to tell his brother everything he’d seen.
“Dad’s getting old.” Lan Jue finished.
“….” Lan Qing was quiet for a long time.
After a while, it was Lan Jue who had to break the silence. “How are things
over there?”
Lan Qing finally answered. “For the moment, dead calm. Our investigations
have concluded that these planets are real, they are a threat, and their
first target will likely be the North. The agreement is that once the aliens
make their move, every Alliance will hit them with everything we’ve got.
We’ll provide aid and combat assistance. We’ve put everyone on high alert
and have them drilling constantly.”
“When I’m done here I intend to go over and help,” Lan Jue said.
Lan Qing’s tepid voice replied. “Don’t. You’re not a soldier.”
Lan Jue face set in to a stubborn expression. “What, is it too late to
join?”
Once more, Lan Qing lapsed in to silence. “I don’t want you to come.”
Chapter 503: A Greeting Gift
Lan Jue glowered at the communicator. “You aren’t telling the truth. Things
must be worse than you’re saying. When I was coming here I ran in to one of
those things. It was strong, and could fight in space. I used Thor to take
advantage of its carelessness and bore through its body, killing it. There’s
no way there isn’t some record of this thing coming this far in to human
territory. Bro, you don’t need to hide anything from me. I don’t want to go
and help just because you’re my brother. I’m doing it because humanity needs
it.”
Lan Qing’s low voice replied. “If you really want to help, then don’t
enlist. There’s a lot more you can do in this fight. I’m sure the Avenue has
plans for how they’re going to act. All of our research shows that all Adept
Disciplines work well against them – much better than all our guns and
ships. I suspect it has something to do with biology. They evolved different
from us, on a completely separate path. We’ve evolved our brains to build
protections for our bodies. These creatures, through millions of years of
tribulations and consumption, have perfected their bodies. The radiation out
in space is lethal to us, by they were molded by it. All of our laser
weapons, all of missiles, they are built to withstand that. The North’s
sacrifice showed that Adept-driven mecha – that union of Discipline and
Technology – was what did the most damage.”
Lan Jue’s heart started racing. “Was this one of the reasons for the Great
Adept’s Tournament?”
“Yes, it was. It was a great excuse to get the best Adepts together and
judge their abilities. From there, all you had to do was get them to enlist.
Not just the North, but all of the Alliances were watching closely.” Lan
Qing affirmed.
Lan Jue was beginning to understand. The Avenue delegation back on Luo had
back-up, but the Terminator and Epochrion didn’t even really try to
discourage them from leaving. Everything had been the threat of force, but
no punches were thrown. Now he knew why – because the future depended on
Adepts.
All of this information started what became a change of heart.
His brother was right, there was more he could do.
“I know what I need to do. After a few days, I’ll go back to Skyfire Avenue.
“Lan Jue said.
“Right.” His brother answered. “I have to get to a meeting.
Keep in touch.”
“Yup!” Lan Jue nodded.
Lan Jue cut the connected and lapsed in to quiet thought. The fate of
humanity now lay squarely on the shoulders of all Adepts. He would need to
improve, and be at his best.
As his mind pondered, he allowed his eyes to slip shut. Soon he was deep in
meditation. He wanted to firm up his foundation, then he could continue the
trek to the peak of ninth rank.
He couldn’t tell how long he’d been there before an ineffable feeling caused
him to open his eyes. He saw the familiar, towering silhouette across from
him together with another smaller one.
Jue Di had changed his clothes. When he saw that Lan Jue was back in the
present, he nodded. “You’ve improved a little. Re-cultivated?”
Dad would be dad. He was the kind to critique his cultivation methods and
progress. But he didn’t go in to the whole story, about all the things that
had happened in the last year.
“Let’s head back. We’ll talk there.” Jue Di nodded curtly at him. There was
a chill in his expression, a shadow of his old father.
Luo Xianni walked by his side. The pissed off face Lan Jue knew her by was
gone, replaced by all things with a gentle smile. That was one hell of a
one-eighty! What did you do, dad?
Although Lan Jue was critical of his father, he didn’t dare let any hint of
that escape. He didn’t particarly fancy a beating, and dad wasn’t in a great
mood.
As they made their way back in to the log cabin, Lan Jue took a minute to
look over this mysterious woman.
“Hey kid, what do you think you’re looking at?” Luo Xianni snapped. “You’re
gunna be calling me mom before long, you hear me?”
Jue Di visibly winced, but he didn’t dare contradict her. Lan Jue thought
he’d try again. “Em… Lady Luo? You’re so young, calling you mother might
make you seem older…”
She sniffed at him. “It’s fine, mother doesn’t mind. So that’s what you’ll
call me!”
“Sure!” Lan Jue beamed at her. If his dad was going to be stuck with her,
what could he do about it? Honesty was always the best policy.
He addressed her with a gentlemanly air of respect. “Mother.”
“Good boy!” The overbearing dragon lady was immediately supplanted with a
woman all smiles and sunshine. She thrust out her hand, and pressed
something in to his palm.
“Take it. It's mother’s greeting gift.”
It’s customary in China to bring a gift, but usually only when you visit a
friend’s place for the first time.
Lan Jue turned his hand over and opened his fingers to look at it. It was a
lump of snow-white metal, about the size of a chicken egg. Its spotless
white exterior looked thick, and he could tell it had been neither forged
nor polished.
This is…
His eyes went wide. “Mother, is this power ore?” This time, Luo Xianni’s new
title sounded a lot more genuine.
What was power ore? It was similar to power gems, in that they both were
minerals that contained energy. But power ore had an advantage power gems
didn’t have. Malleability.
A power gem could never change its size or shape without being destroyed.
However, power ore could be shaped in to whatever form the use desired.
They were much rarer than power gems. Normal metal could have special
properties, but they couldn’t contain any intrinsic energy within
themselves.
Lan Jue dealt with these materials all the time, but really only ever with
power gems. He’d never had the opportunity to see power ore, due to its
rarity. The uses of it were numerous, and only a few planets produced the
stuff. Manufacture and distribution were very carefully controlled by the
Alliances, because it was an integral component in making power gem
lattices. That was to say, that any time someone wanted to
connect a series of gems together and really employ their full potential,
this stuff was the way to do it. Only power ore could handle the strain.
Another way to highlight its importance, was as a requirement for new
generation core reactors in ships. Using it for the engine already makes
that battleship a flagship. Using it in any other systems would be
extravagant.
Bastion and Mother ships had power ore as a necessary part of their
construction as well. This little nugget looked small, but it was packed
with pure energy. It wasn’t enough for a battleship, but it was more than
enough to make a lattice for a mech suit. Lan Jue had been searching for a
way to get his hands on some, but it was ludicrously expensive. A chunk this
size of power ore was equivalent to the cost of an S-ranked power gem. He’d
never had an opportunity, until here of all places.
“Seems like you know about it.” Luo Xianni made no effort to hide her pride.
“Hey, are you gunna talk or what!” Lan Jue reminded him.
“Oh.” Lan Jue then began to tell Jue Di and Luo Xianni all
about what had happened in to him. Thankfully, news of Qianlin’s forced
marriage and the events proceeding had already been told to Jue Di. He would
at least be spared that embarrassment. He started his tale from when he
joined the National Eastern University.
Jue Di and Luo Xianni quietly listened as he talked them through it. Neither
of their faces showed any expression. That was, until Lan Jue got to the
part where Bize fused he and Qianlin’s powers together.
The old Paragon’s brows furrowed. “That old shyster. Daring reading my
people.”
Lan Jue stopped and looked at him in curiosity. “What do you mean?”
Jue Di huffed. “That fraud the Clairvoyant, always boasting he knows it all.
Well he must have been in his visions, then. Qianlin suddenly appearing
couldn’t have been an accident. What a coincidence that you should run in to
someone on Skyfire, who looks exactly like Hera. She has the power of the
Queen of Heaven – practically tailor-made to prop you up. Do you really
think all of this just happens out of the blue? He’s got to be involved in
this in some way. When you get back, you need
to get to the bottom of this and make sure his motives are good. I won’t
have him turning my son in to a weapon.”
Lan Jue felt his heart skip a beat. Ever since Qianlin appeared, his life
had turned upside down – the definition of chaotic. Her similarity to Hera
clouded his judgement, but when Jue Di said it it all seemed clear.
Yes! Everything did look like one big coincidence. Qianlin always appeared
whenever he needed her most. He only got pulled out of his self-loathing
when she arrived. Did that mean, she…
He felt himself shiver right down to his core.
Jue Di’s soft voice intruded. “Continue.”
Lan Jue obliged, telling them next about the Gods of Wine and their
experience in the vineyard. When he got to the Arrow of Compassion, he noted
that Jue Di’s pupils narrowed again, but this time his father didn’t
interrupt.
Luo Xianni was entirely calm, almost detached. She sat quietly
as he went about describing the last year of his life.
All of the minutia in between, the conflict with the Pontiff’s Citadel, the
tournament, and even his interactions with the Pharmacist were shared. He
told them everything he learned about the Banishing Blades, exactly as she
had told it to him.
When he got to the legendary weapons, both Paragons revealed surprise in
their faces. Evidently, they knew about the swords as well.
Chapter 504: Imparting Knowledge
“This Pharmacist sounds like something,” Jue Di said appreciably.
“That’s everything. I went back to the Avenue for a few days, then came
here. You must be right about Qianlin, there’s something going on. When she
rejected me on Luo her expression was strange, but I was too hurt to
understand. That must mean, this really is…”
Jue Di looked at Lan Jue, saw his downtrodden expression.
Then he slapped him forcefully upside the head.
“Hey! Why are you hitting people?!” Luo Xianni glared at Jue Di, her voice
sharp and threatening. She was taking her new role as mother seriously.
Jue Di dragged his eyes to her and gave her a flat stare. In a domineering
voice, he said, “when I’m teaching my child, try not to interrupt.”
Much to Lan Jue’s surprise, Luo Xianni obliged and remained silent.
Jue Di turned his callous gaze back to Lan Jue. “What, you’ll die without a
woman? We’re facing a powerful enemy, you need to stop putting so much focus
on things that aren’t important. We can at least assume he has no intent to
cause you harm. That gypsy bastard – always so self-righteous, bemoaning the
state of the universe – his little games aren’t to hurt you, either. Right
now, your first priority must be to become stronger. I’m certainly not
pleased he’s put his fingers in your destiny, but it’s better than you
laying about on the Avenue.”
Lan Jue didn’t utter a word. Right! This last year he’d been active, even
lively. Father was right again, improvement had to be first.
Jue Di rose to his feet and turned to leave. “Come with me.”
Lan Jue knew who he meant, and quickly followed. Luo Xianni also stood, but
she didn’t go far. She just walked to the door and watched them go from the
threshold.
Jue Di raised his hands, and dropped in to a stance. Lan Jue got the hint,
and moved in front of his teacher to copy the pose.
The Paragon’s hands began to move. The motions were slow
and fluid, but each wave and twist sent crests of energy rippling around
them.
Push Hands. A common training method in Taiji. Lan Jue could still remember
back in the day, he could never last more than ten seconds against his
father. Now, after so many years, it was time to test himself again. He
focused his concentration, accumulating and swirling the energies within
himself as he followed Jue Di’s movements, hand to hand.
Visible vortices of energy whorled between them. To Lan Jue, he felt like
his father was an infinitely deep chasm that could swallow everything up. He
didn’t fight it, instead going along with that sensation and simultaneously
released his own stored power. He followed to the limits of where he could
maintain stability.
The familiar haze of black and white sprang up around Lan Jue. He felt
himself slip in to that state, the same one he felt during the tournament.
Natureally, he was much stronger now than he was the last time they did
this. However, his strength only highlighted how unfathomably vast his
master’s skill was. His father wasn’t applying any force, simply keeping to
the repetitive movement
of the dance like the whole world was in that singular motion.
Jue Di’s feet began to move, slowly but as fluid was a gentle river. The two
of them played off of one another, moving through the field as mirrors of
one another. Their dance created arcs pleasing to the eye.
Lan Jue stumbled, and the haze of Taiji power around him thickened and the
image of yin and yang shimmered in to existence behind him. He settled in to
a rooted position immediately, retracting his injection of force and keeping
himself in sync with the Paragon.
As Luo Xianni watched, a flicker of surprise flit across her face. She
nodded, ever so slightly. This was a sign of real comprehension of Taiji
essence. For a man this young to have reached this level of mystical
understanding was no easy feat.
After a minute, Jue Di suddenly stopped and planted his feet. His arms
jerked at the perfect moment, and the sudden change caused Lan Jue to spin
like a top. He made ten circles before regaining his footing. All
throughout, his arms where reacting, keeping him from going out of control.
When he stopped, his face was as placid as a spring sky. The halo of Taiji
power around him receded back inside of himself.
Jue Di dropped his hands and nodded. “Not bad. You’ve got your foot in the
door. Your foundation is much stronger. Keep training, and you’ll get far.”
“Yes, sir.” Lan Jue said with deep respect. He didn’t give voice to it, but
there was some surprise in his eyes.
In that short period Jue Di had used the practice of Push Hands to excite
and galvanize his Taiji abilities, and the inherent energies of his body.
The whole process looked passive on the outside, but in fact Lan Jue fought
to maintain stability. His comprehension deepened, feeling the truth of the
opposition of yin and yang. When yin was an excess, Yang strengthened. When
Yang was overbearing, Yin undermined. They supplemented and restrained one
another, and that experience improved his awareness.
“Pay close attention to this business with the Banishing Blades. They have
the power to destroy everything we know. If you do find the Banishing
Diagram, understand that there is no one today who can contend with that
power. This means that you cannot come at this half-cocked. At the very
least, you must have perfect mastery of the weapon you inherit. At the very
least the weapon won’t become your enemy. Now that you have chosen the
sword, I will teach you the Taiji style for it. The Harmonious Swords is
passable for attack, but there is no better
defense than Taiji.”
“Yes, sir!”
For the next several days, Lan Jue remain at the log cabin, training with
his Father.
Compared to the old days, Jue Di was much calmer. He was a guide now,
leading Lan Jue through the problems he encountered in his own cultivation.
He consulted on methods and concerns after his student’s re-cultivation,
solving them as they came. It was only a few days, but Lan Jue felt renewed
and changed by it. He came away with the fundamentals of Taiji sword, and a
deeper knowledge of Taiji in general.
Three days solidified that knowledge.
“Alright, you’ve got it – more or less. Let’s go.” Jue Di, today clad in his
work uniform, waved for Lan Jue to follow.
“Where are we going, dad?” Lan Jue asked, following dutifully.
“We’re going to the lab. You’re trying to upgrade Thor, yes?
We have the materials ready to go,” he answered.
Lan Jue blinked. “But I didn’t bring enough power gems. It’s mostly just an
idea, but I need gems to finish it off.”
Jue Di nodded. “I have some here. If they aren’t enough, you can construct
the lattice and complete the installations when you get back.”
“Alright!” Lan Jue said without any further questions.
The common man knew Jue Di the Paragon, but there were more than a few that
knew him by another name – his true name – and another job. In the East,
they knew him as Chi Bupang, the famed researcher and engineer. He was no
less knowledgeable than the Bookworm or Keeper, only unknown because he
wanted it that way.
Luo Xianni lived there with them in the last few days. Aside from her very
emotive arrival, she remained perfectly gentle since. The only indication of
her temper was her presence, in that Jue Di never got a moment to himself.
During that time, Lan Jue never spoke to Xianni about the Avenue. Jue Di
also didn’t bother with it, so they spent those days immersed in training.
Luo Xianni followed along. However, as they reached the capsule, Jue Di
looked regrettably to her. “Xianni, you stay. This isn’t suitable for you.
You like action and this you’ll probably find boring.”
She started her response by giving him a sharp look. “You’re still trying to
get rid of me? I’m telling you, don’t even dream about it. No matter what
you say, I’m going – you’re going to have to kill me. Aren’t you that same
cruel man? Just kill me and rid yourself of all this trouble.”
Jue Di sighed helplessly. “Didn’t you hear A-Jue? The Clairvoyant is dying,
the Avenue will need a leader. And this disciple has been bullied. Don’t you
want to head back? Relax, I’m not going to run anywhere. I’m used to life
here, and if you’re willing then we’ll get used to living here together.”
“I’m not going!” She flatly rejected.
He sighed. “I have no interest in women!”
“Well I’m interested in you, and that’s all I need,” she shot back.
“I’m old!”
“I’m not young!”
“… …”
Luo Xianni’s voice suddenly became sweet as honey. “Isn’t it really so bad
to have company in your old age? Come, I’ve been looking or you for so long.
I’ll do whatever needs to be done for you. I know you don’t like my temper
and that’s why you left. I can be gentle! If this doesn’t please you, then
tell me what you want me to be. I will do it. But no matter what, I’m not
leaving. I’ll be right with you.”
Another sigh from the Paragon preceded his reply. “I was clear with you back
then. We just aren’t suitable together. We’re pursuing different goals. I am
not a man who will remain smooth, or live steady. I want to experience all
of the wonderful things this universe possesses. I will not settle, not for
the rest of my life.”
Luo Xianni would not be deterred. “Then I’ll accompany you!
Where you go, I’ll go.”
Jue Di’s anger flared. “How do you not understand?! I want freedom, I refuse
to tie myself to anyone! You’re a good woman, it’s me who isn’t up to snuff.
I am not a good man, period. Why do you insist on staying? I cannot stand
having someone attached to me at the hip, can’t you understand that?”
Luo Xianni was quiet.
Lan Jue was unfortunately stuck in the middle, trying to make himself as
small as possible. Dad was right, he sure wasn’t a good man!
Chapter 505: I’m Leaving!
Jue Di’s face was infinitely calm.
The capsule shook, then arrived at its destination. Jue Di was the first to
rise and exit the vehicle.
Lan Jue nervously swung his eyes to Luo Xianni. “Mother, you…”
She laughed. “Relax, I’m not so easily defeated. The more he wants me to go,
the more I’m going to dig in. One day he’ll come around. Come, let’s go.”
Lan Jue followed after Luo Xianni and clambered out of the capsule. He had
no right to speak to their relationship dispute, nor did he dare to incite
her anger. But, he was starting to like this lady.
Father was being honest. He was not one to stick around. Even when he and
Lan Qing were small, he’d often go missing. The longest he was away at one
time was six months.
“Chi Bupang!” Luo Xianni called out to him.
The man stopped and turned back to look at them. “Change your mind?”
She chuckled indifferently. “Yeah. You don’t want me, right?”
Jue Di’s hard expression softened, and he offered a bitter grin. “It’s not
that I don’t want you. It’s that I can’t dare to. I know what kind of man I
am, and I can’t settle down. I know that although I like you…”
“Fine! Enough said. I’m leaving!” Luo Xianni spun on her heels and stomped
away with big strides.
This was a quick and unexpected change of events. Didn’t she just swear
she’d never leave? And then… she leaves?
Lan Jue was thoroughly confused, as was the great Paragon. Jue Di thought he
knew this brilliant woman – the two had been tied up with one another for
more than a hundred years, on again and off again. And she was going
to just walk away? That
can’t be right. This was completely out of character!
As he sat there pondering, Jue Di couldn’t help the pang of uncertainty that
ate at him. It just couldn’t be that easy.
But he watched her sashay away, head held high, and completely ignorant of
what was going on in there. Both men felt something ominous about the whole
thing.
“Come on!” Jue Di barked with curt wave of his hand. Lan Jue skittered after
him.
Soon, they arrived in a large open warehouse, a typical mecha construction
assembly. The machines needed to perform this were arrayed around them.
“Let me see your designs.” Jue Di seemed to relax for that Luo Xianni wasn’t
peering over his shoulder. He could sense that she had meant it, she was no
longer nearby.
Lan Jue walked to a nearby computer and uploaded his plans.
**
Ziluo Public Air Hangar
Luo Xianni had changed clothes and freshened up, and a pretty
fragrance followed her as she boarded a ship. As she took her seat within a
first-class cabin, a smile spread across her face.
“Chi Bupang, you old bastard. You’ll be looking for me soon enough. Your old
lady won’t have to go looking for you anymore. Hehehehehe…”
A pleasing, artificial female voice cooed through the announcement system.
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for joining us on today’s flight. Our
destination is Planet Skyfire. Skyfire City.”
**
Planet Anlun.
Lan Qing stood tall, peering out of the expansive window on
the bridge of a ship. He watched the traffic pass quietly by, a sharp glint
in his eye.
The date they’d set with the Clairvoyant was rapidly approaching. He would
need to set out soon.
These days, Anlun was like a ravenous war machine, always in motion. This
was one of the foremost military outposts in the East, so there were always
resource ships coming and going. Soldiers were drilling constantly in all
corners of the bases.
“Beep! Beep!”
“A-Cheng!” Lan Qing connected the call.
“Hey big brother, when are you going to Skyfire Avenue?” Chu Cheng’s
trademark lazy voice answered.
“The day after tomorrow.” He kept to simple answers.
“Ah, then I’ll start getting ready as well. Ah, right. I haven’t seen A-Jue
for a while, where’d he disappear to? He doesn’t
answer my calls, it’s been almost half a month.”
“He’s fine,” Lan Qing said. “He’ll be there on time.”
Chu Cheng switched topics. “Things have been pretty crazy up here. Planets
on the boundaries are already under martial law and they’ve got fleets going
back and forth all the time. You got any news on your side?”
“Military secrets.”
Chu Cheng chortled. “As uninteresting as ever. So what do you think, huh?
Lan Jue’s gotten pretty good, I’m not sure you could take him anymore.”
“He said you’ve gotten better, too.”
“Eh… you know, forget I said anything.”
When they hung up, Lan Qing allowed the faintest ghost of a smile to turn
his lips.
“Sir!”
“Enter.”
“Admiral, the Bloodiron Khans have completed their training.
We await inspection.” The major snapped to attention.
“Nhm.” Lan Qing’s answer was quit and simple. “Let’s go.”
The Bloodiron Khans, a new collection of soldiers borne from the
reorganization of their forces. Every pilot was outfitted with the latest
generation of war machines, the Anaxigen class mecha suit. The Bloodiron
Khans consisted of three thousand warriors, every one of them Adepts. None
were below fourth rank.
Struggled with this one. The name of the suits are 炎黄机甲, Yan and Huang
referring to the first two emperors of China. I chose to go with a clipped
version of the suffix for ancestor, and what google tells me is the prefix
for king.
The formation of this group had been at Lan Qing’s direction. His brother’s
A.R.C. class had been the inspiration. Usually, a single mecha fighting unit
wouldn’t make that much of a
difference in a deep space battle, but the Bloodiron Khans had only the best
mecha pilots in the East. Their commander, none other than Lan Qing himself,
the Supersoldier of Anlun!
Beyond all doubt, when the fighting began these men and women would be the
tip of the spear.
ζ
Jupiter-1 slipped through the emptiness of space, somehow simultaneously
moving fast and slow. That was just the sense, though. The ship was cruising
along at twice the speed of light, and it wasn’t even at top speed. In the
whole ship there was only one person, making the ship designed for mecha
platoon transport seem awfully empty.
Lan Jue sat in the captain’s chair, a smile plastered on his face.
It was one incredible ship, he thought. It didn’t have the benefit of the
Blinding Stone, but everything else was head and shoulder above Zeus-1. It
was also larger, and better equipped for combat. Its speed was its defining
attribute, though.
It had been a gift from father before he left, while he took Zeus-2 and set
out as well. He suspected that Luo Xianni, so quick to vanish, must have
been up to no good. Although he didn’t know what she did, it was better to
go take care of it.
In front of Lan Jue, was that purple crystal swinging back and forth. With
Jue Di’s stabilizing efforts, the crystal’s impressive stores of energy
acted much like an Adept’s Core. But it wasn’t, it was an Alien Core.
A Core with enough inherent energy to rival an S-ranked gem.
The first Core they’d carved free, he’d given to the Bookworm and Keeper.
They’d used it to extend their lives. The Bookworm’s ultimate breakthrough
to Paragon was due in part to the use of that strange crystal Core. They
showed up for the rescue on Luo because they owed Lan Jue.
This crystal was muddled, it would need the power of the Tear of Neptune to
filter it. It would improve and supplement its vital force.
From what he learned from father, the importance of these Cores in the
struggle between Alien and man was already
beginning to make itself known. Every beast that died left one behind, and
the smarter ones were already on Lyr looking for the Tears they needed. The
formerly cheap s-ranked gems were suddenly in high demand, and the first
ones there were representatives from Skyfire Avenue.
Su He was acting as the representative for the Avenue in the area for all
their purchasing needs. How many Tears he’d purchased for them he couldn’t
say, it was being kept a closely guarded secret.
Lan Jue had already promised his father, that when he got back he would send
the Tear he had over. His father’s aged state of mind still troubled him.
Perhaps he would use the alien Core to help extend his life like the Keeper
and Bookworm. He wasn’t sure the Clairvoyant would need it.
The three months since his last meeting with the Clairvoyant was nearly up.
It’s was time to go back to the Avenue as he’d promised.
The ship’s incredible speed traversed the trip from Ziluo in half the time.
He descend in to the air hangar, and then discovered that his own space
wasn’t big enough to accommodate the much larger Juppiter-1. He had no
choice but
to lease a new one temporarily.
A car was already waiting when he disembarked. Xiuxiu had come to pick him
up.
“Boss.” She greeted him with a sweet smile, then drove them back to the
Avenue.
“You’re always so considerate,” Lan Jue praised with a smile.
Xiuxiu laughed, but behind her eyes there was a bitter light.
She focused on driving.
The car lifted off, and Lan Jue leaned the chair back to make himself more
comfortable. “Things have been good these days?”
Xiuxiu nodded. “Everything’s good. As per your instructions, we’ve suspended
business. Our suits are all fully upgraded and ready.”
“Good. And Xiuxiu, this last time when I went back, dad taught me a new
style. I’ll show it to you when we have some
time.” Lan Jue said with a smile.
“Ok.” Her eyes lit up.
He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Xiuxiu. These last few years I’ve
wronged you.”
Xiuxiu laughed dismissively. “Boss, what’s
this nonsense?
Serving at your side has always been Xiuxiu’s mission!”
Lan Jue glanced at her. “You know I’ve never looked at you like an
attendant. You’re like my little sister. So stop acting like a servant,
we’re partners, friends. We’re family, alright?”
Xiuxiu’s face blanched somewhat, and her pretty lips puckered. “Boss, what
are you trying to say?”
Chapter 506: Misunderstanding
Lan Jue responded with a sardonic chuckle. “I don’t want to steal the spring
of your youth.”
Xiuxiu turned her head and gave him a look. “I’ve never wanted anything from
you. I’ve only ever wanted to be by your side. If you want to deprive me of
that, then I have nothing to live for.”
Lan Jue was stunned by the strength of her words. “You can’t be serious?”
Lan Jue knew Xiuxiu. She looked soft, but she was made of iron. When she
made up her mind that was it.
She proved that with her rigid answer. “Absolutely!”
He gave a soft laugh and shook his head. “Alright then.
Pretend I never said anything.”
Her mousy voice came again after a moment. “Don’t bring this up again, ok? I
just want to see you often, and be by your side when you need me. That’s
enough for me. I’m different from the other girls. I didn’t stay with you
out of affection. My reason is simple.”
Lan Jue felt his heart sink from her tone. He knew Xiuxiu was the one who
felt most deeply of all the Amazons. That’s why he spoke with her first.
These were young women in their twenties, it wasn’t fair for him to keep
them so close. It was a waste of their precious youth, and he couldn’t give
them what they wanted.”
It was impossible that Xiuxiu didn’t have any interest at all. However, he’d
always seen Xiuxiu as a little sister. After so long, that feeling was
deep-rooted. When later he met Hera, Xiuxiu was even more the confidante and
friend than a love interest.
Through all the years Xiuxiu was unfailingly at his side. She never asked
for anything, and she never brought him trouble. This truth, though, only
made him feel worse.
The verticar quickly made the trip to the Avenue’s periphery, then settled
just outside. Lan Jue stepped out and began walking back when he was
suddenly grabbed from behind.
Xiuxiu’s soft body gently shook against his, her arms wrapped around his
waist. “Please don’t make me go, ok? Please, I beg you.”
Even if Lan Jue was a hard man, he couldn’t help but crumble before Xiuxiu’s
sad display. He heaved a sigh, saying, “alright. I promise I won’t say
anything like this again. Xiuxiu, I’m afraid you’re in too deep.”
“I’m not afraid.” She answered resolutely.
They separated and Lan Jue turned around. He gently stroked her hair, and
Xiuxiu fell in to his embrace. Great tears tumbled from her eyes.
Soemthing tickled at the back of Lan Jue’s mind as he held her, and he
lifted his head. He saw another figure nearby, her face also wet. Zhou
Qianlin stood in silence, with a black box clutched in her hands. She
wavered slightly from side to side as though she might fall over, and her
lip was caught between her teeth.
Her delicate hand slowly rose to her chest where the precious Soulcaller
gemstone sat. Deflty, she plucked it off her neck, followed by the twinkling
pearl on her wrist.
Lan Jue heard her voice in his head.
“Have these back.”
She crouched and placed the box, necklace and bracelet upon the floor. Full
of grace and composure, she rose to her feet and left.
Lan Jue wanted to follow, but Xiuxiu held on to him tightly. She was still
shaking from her sobs. Without the Soulcaller, he had no way to explain.
He couldn’t see Xiuxiu’s red eyes, staring in the direction Qianlin had
left.
She cried for ten minutes before being able to reign herself in. “Boss,” she
finally managed to say, “Let’s go home.” She wrapped her arm in his and
started back.
“Yeah,” he answered, his heart heavy. His right hand rested at the small of
his back. Out of Xiuxiu’s view, he indicated with a finger and the jewelry
Qianlin had left flew over to his palm.
When they got back, Lan Jue went straight to his chambers. The Jewelry Store
on the upper Avenue was still open as he
walked through. It was just a normal Jewelry Store, after all.
The other girls were ill at ease when they saw Xiuxiu’s red and puffy eyes.
Yet they didn’t trouble Lan Jue, who walked by them as though they weren’t
there. His face was dark and sad.
ζ
“Didi – didi – didi!” Lan Jue looked at his communicator as it rang. No one
picked up on the other end. He let it go on as he stared at the heart-shaped
Soulcaller and the pelagic pearl cradled in his palm. There was a dull ache
in his chest that wouldn’t go away.
He could have guessed she would come quickly. Their shared
connection meant she could feel when he was nearby. She was waiting for me,
to tell me something. But she got there just in time to see Xiuxiu hugging
me. Of course she’d misunderstand.
The communicator rang and continued to be ignored. Lan Jue couldn’t keep the
frustration from his face, and he heaved a deep sigh. He focused on her,
thinking of them together. He reached out to summon her to his side.
But, much to Lan Jue’s shock, Qianlin had somehow cut their link. Her energy
was still there intermingled with his, but without her cooperation he
couldn’t call her close.
What in the world is all this?
When it came to matters of love, sometimes it was best to step away from a
misunderstanding and let cooler heads prevail. The fear, though, was how
deeply entrenched that misunderstanding became.
This wasn’t something he was prepared to allow. A glint of determination
flashed in his eyes. Although he’d worked hard at his cultivation these last
few days, the specter of Zhou Qianlin had lingered in his mind. It was clear
she occupied a special and eternal place in his heart.
Now he knew this to be true, and he understood what his heart wanted. There
was no further reason to hesitate. He was on the other side of his pain from
Hera, and he had grown tremendously as a person in the interim. It was
maturity that came from time and experience, an important factor in being a
man.
He needed to find her so they could talk through their pain. When he saw her
he knew that she was not heartless, and that she had real feelings for him.
Otherwise, what was everything they’d been through?
After he calmed dwon, Lan Jue could see things much clearer. Sometimes
matters of love needed logic too. A lot of intractable misunderstandings
happened because the chance to resolve them slipped by.
He took a shower and changed his clothes once his mind had been made up.
When he left, he saw the girls gathered in the shop. They called to him all
together when he stepped out.
“Boss.”
They’d been with Lan Jue for a long time. Of course they would pick out his
poor mood. Though, now he seemed better.
The communicator on Lan Jue’s wrist chose that moment to start ringing.
He connected right away when he saw who it was. “Wine
Master.”
“Are you back?” The Paragon’s deep voice answered.
“Yeah.”
“Come pay me a visit.”
Lan Jue’s brows furrowed. “Now?” He’s only just made the decision to go
after Qianlin and explain things. He wanted to avoid future heartache, but
the Wine Master seemed determined to change his plans.
The Paragon affirmed. “Unless you have something very important to handle,
then yes.”
“Alright.” Lan Jue replied helplessly. The Wine Master was insistent. The
only thing he could think of that would need immediate attention, would be
the Clairvoyant.
Chapter 507: Meeting Mother Again
Lan Jue stepped out of the Jewelry shop out on to the Avenue. The Gothic
Winery was only a few feet down the lane. The walk was short, but the
familiarity and comfort of home helped put his mind at ease.
Lan Jue was a little surprised to find the Wine Master waiting for him in
the foyer. He welcome him in with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Eh?” Lan Jue blinked. “Why so cordial?”
“Come with me and you’ll find out,” the Wine Master cryptically replied.
Lan Jue chuckled. “Well whatever the reason you can keep your thanks. I’ll
take a bottle of wine.”
This made the Wine Master chortle, too. “Fine, then we’ll share a bottle
later. Whenever you have time.”
Lan Jue was well and truly shocked, but he kept it to himself.
He followed the Paragon deeper in to the Winery.
They made their way back to the familiar long table they often drank at.
This time, there was already someone waiting for them, seated at the place
of honor. When Lan Jue saw who it was, he stared with wide yes and an open
mouth. It’d been no time at all!
“M-… what are you doing here?”
Seated on the other end of the table was none other the bane of Jue Di, the
same woman who vanished at his request. Luo Xianni, Lan Jue’s new adopted
mother.
Evidently this had been her destination after leaving Ziluo.
She shot him a sidelong glance. “Call me what you’re supposed to call me.
We’re away from Ziluo and suddenly I’m not your mother anymore?”
The Wine Master, hearing this for the first time, slowly turned to Lan Jue
and lifted a curious brow.
Lan Jue met his gaze with a sheepish expression. “So, what are you doing
here, mom?”
The Wine Master continued to look from one to other, so stupefied he
couldn’t think of anything to say.
“This used to be my home,” she answered. “The shyster and I founded it. Why
wouldn’t I come back? You came back just in time. Take a seat.”
Lan Jue shot another look at the Wine Master, who was still trying to
process what was going on. The Jewelry Master made his way over to the chair
beside his mother, and took a seat.
The Wine Master had a plethora of questions, but this was not the time or
place. He took a seat on Luo Xianni’s opposite side.
When everyone was settled, she went on. “The fortune teller’s life has
neared its end. We used to be close, so I wanted to come and pay my
respects. I expect both of you to keep all of this secret.
Lan Jue couldn’t help but interject. “Will you be leaving after
this?”
She turned her wide eyes his ways, the threat of violence ever twinkling in
their depths. “Are you saying you want me to leave?”
Lan Jue couldn’t shake his head fast enough. “Of course not!
With you at the head of the Avenue, things are looking up!”
Her face lit up in a pretty smile. “Good, then I won’t be leaving.”
“Truly, aunt?” The Wine Master asked excitedly.
The sniffed. “My baby is here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Lan Jue was resigned. What could he do? She certainly didn’t look like she
could be his mother on the outside, by the age difference alone. She was old
enough to be his grandmother’s grandmother, but people only paid attention
to what they could see. For the Avenue, though, there could be no better
result. For a Nirvana-level Paragon of her strength, none of the other
Alliance groups had an answer. Beyond that, it was an excellent
boon for humanity in their preparation against the alien invaders.
The Wine Master fixed Lan Jue with a look. He knew it was completely
ludicrous that the two would have a blood connection. He couldn’t fathom
under what circumstances he would send Lan Jue out to bring back his aunt,
only for the kid to turn her in to his mother. It was something he would
have to ask in private.
Luo Xianni went on. “Again, my presence and the things I do here must be
kept a secret. Whatever you all were up to before, keep it that way. When
that palm reader wakes up, I’ll go say hello.”
“Of course.” The Wine Master was quick to answer. Although he himself was a
Paragon, he had been growing up with his aunt since he was very small. A lot
of what he knew had been imparted to him by her. He had a great deal of
affection and respect for this woman.
Luo Xianni turned her attention to her nephew. “You haven’t improved much
these last few years. You still haven’t been able to let it go?”
The Wine Master’s face changed, and a hard bitterness crept in to his
expression. “You still remember?”
“Enough. Time changes all things. You need to put aside everything that
isn’t important. There are always more opportunities, so long as you look
for them. She has run off to the North, and it’s been years. It’s clear
there’s no place for you in her heart. What’s the point of obsessing over it
so much? I’ll introduce another to you, don’t you worry. I hear A-Jue
mentioned this woman called the Pharmacist. She sounded nice, what do you
think?”
The Wine Master suddenly looked very uncomfortable. “Aunt, let’s not rush in
to making you a matchmaker!”
She sniffed dismissively. “What’s this nonsense, don’t you know I used to be
known as First Among Matchmakers?”
“Never,” the Wine Master begged. “A hundred thousand times, no. I’m
scared of you.”
She changed the subject. “You’ve been looking after my shop.
How are things? When can we start business again?”
“More or less ready,” he assured. “In a couple days you can head over and
take a look.”
Lan Jue looked over to his mother with a bit of surprise. “Mother, what
store will you be managing?” According to the rules of the Avenue, every
councilor had to have a shop under their direction. At least one was the
prerequisite, either on the Avenue or the Underground. The Clairvoyant and
the Wine Master, despite being Paragons, were no exception. The only ones
who saw a slightly different circumstance were the Keeper and Bookworm. They
worked together.
Luo Xianni tittered. “Your mother used to go by ‘the Photographer!’ When
you’re ready to get married, I’ll take the wedding photos for you. My shop
is called ‘Luo Xianni’s Wedding Photography Studio.’”
Pre-wedding photos are a required part of the wedding process. I have two
thousand. They involve several location changes including an enormous set
warehouse, wherein there were as many outfit switches as there were rooms to
take pictures in. There were a lot of rooms. The other half took place in a
pool. We spent so much time gazing longingly in to each others’ eyes that
the chlorine blinded us for a whole day. I’m not exaggerating.
Lan Jue stared blankly at her. His mind went back to when he’d first seen
her, and the power she commanded. Connecting that with her designation as
the Photographer, he was starting to understand. Her Discipline was some
variation on dimensional manipulation. “Alright, I’m leaving. I’ll be back
when the shop’s ready. By the way, this place stinks like booze. It makes me
sick. I prefer my man Bupang’s cigars.” With her opinion given, she rose to
her feet, and strut out the door.
My man Bupang…
Lan Jue didn’t know how Jue Di would have reacted if he’d heard, but he sure
as hell wasn’t going to take his place by contradicting her.
The return of Luo Xianni to the Avenue was a tremendous boon. Especially
now, as the Eye of Tomorrow was closing, there could be no better news. Her
return was also important for the Avenue’s strength, if nothing else. Not
only did it swell their Paragon numbers, she was also damn strong.
“Ahem… So, Jewelry Master. What in the name of the multiverse is going on?”
The Wine Master quietly waited until he was sure his aunt was gone before
whispering the question.
Chapter 508: The Avenue Will Raise An Army?
Lan Jue rolled his eyes. “If you don’t know, how should I?”
The Wine Master pressed. “She’s met your master?”
The Jewelry Master nodded. “She has, but I don’t know what’s going on there.
I only know what I’ve seen and heard.”
“Yeah, yeah, so it is.” The Wine Master didn’t push him any further. After
all, this involved one of the strongest Paragon that has ever lived, Jue Di!
Lan Jue went on. “I also don’t know why mother would want to come back to
the Avenue. At first she was dead-set against leaving father’s side. She’s
the only one who knows why she came back.”
The Wine Master smirked. “Whatever the reason, it’s good she’s back. All of
this, only you and me know. Even the Gourmet, Keeper and Bookworm aren’t
aware of everything. Their relationship is likely cooler, since she left
shortly after they came to join the Avenue. They aren’t aware of the plans
for
her Photography Studio either. I’ve been keeping that under wraps.”
The two of them exchange looks for a moment, sharing an unspoken
understanding. None of this could leave this room.
“How is the Clairvoyant?” Lan Jue asked.
The wine Master’s face stiffened, and a despondent look crossed his face.
“Three days, that’s how long he has left. On that day we’ll gather and send
him off. About a week ago he told me who he wanted to attend. Aunt was on
there, as well as you and your four companions and the other Paragons.”
Lan Jue offered a gentle nod. He felt sad as well. The Clairvoyant had done
miraculous things for humanity, for the Avenue. He spent countless years in
defense of this place, and his time was nearly done.
Lan Jue asked, “have my brother and the others come yet?”
“Not yet,” the Wine Master said, “but the air hangar has been alerted and
spots are being held. They should be here in a couple
of days. But to business. I called you here because of my aunt, but also to
discuss something else.”
“Alright,” Lan Jue said.
The wine Master nodded. “As we’re all painfully aware, the alien creatures
will soon come upon human space en masse. From all the information we’ve
been able to gather, we know this is going to be one mighty struggle.
The Clairvoyant’s visions have shown us all that needs to be prepared.
We’ve followed his wishes, and have started to expand the Star Alliance. At
present, all Avenue resident below the age of sixty have begun training with
mechas.”
Lan Jue looked at him in shock . “All adepts under sixty?”
He nodded. “Of course, this was voluntary. No one was forced or coerced to
get involved, and the loose structure of the Avenue has been maintained. The
Paragons are not part of this, since a mecha suit has little benefit in the
face of our natural power.”
Lan Jue was assured of that fact. It wasn’t that the suits weren’t useful,
but that in order to be of use to a Paragon, a great deal of top-shelf
materials were needed. That kind of
spending made Sovereign-class suit construction look like a cheap knock-off.
Most important, though, none of the modern crop of Paragons had an interest
in mecha piloting. As Paragons, they commanded power that would outclass a
battleship. The saying ‘A Paragon’s reach surpasses the sky,’ was no
exaggeration.
“So what’s you’re saying,” Lan Jue probed, “is that the Avenue is making its
own mecha combat division. With the aim of sending it in to battle against
the aliens.”
The Wine Master grunted. “That’s the basic idea. I also wanted your input.
We Paragons will also be on the field. From what we know, while our numbers
are few we can do tremendous damage to the enemy. We’re worth far more than
one mecha suit. However, when it comes to planning, that’s where we’re
deficient. We need you and your brother for that.”
Lan Jue’s brows furrowed tight as he thought. “This is a very serious
matter. It’ll need some time to think, so I can’t give you an answer just
yet. But that’s not a bad thing. All of our Adepts here are solid, too –
strong. However, a good, tailor-made suit will need time and materials!”
The Wine Master grinned. “Don’t worry over that. Our coffers
are not just theoretical. The mechs suits are all being paid for by us.
We’ve been in the process for some time already, with the Bookworm and
Keeper in charge. They’ll handle it.”
“So how many have joined the Star Alliance,” Lan Jue asked.
The Wine Master thought for a moment. “At first it was about one third of
those eligible. After the tournament, it rose to fifty percent and growing.”
This was and is a little confusing. As far as I understand, TJSS meant that
everyone under sixty is in the process of training with mechs. However, only
fifty percent of those have joined the Star Alliance. I guess.
Lan Jue looked at the Wine Master in open surprise. He didn’t think that so
many people would be interested in joining the mecha alliance. This was a
battle division being put together to face the alien menace. It was a
dangerous posting.
As far as he knew, Skyfire Avenue had forty thousand registered Adepts.
About half of those were in the age range they were looking for. Half of a
half still made for ten thousand new recruits.
“There aren’t as many as you think,” the Wine Master could see the shock
written on the Jewelry Master’s face.
Doubt started to creep in to Lan Jue’s face. “How many really?”
“We also have a power prerequisite,” the Wine Master explained. “Recruits
have to be a minimum of sixth rank. Under sixty, sixth rank – those are the
requirements.”
Lan Jue gave the older man a flat look. “Stop running me around in circles,
people are going to die, alright? With these restrictions we’ve got about
ten times fewer bodies.”
The Wine Master smirked. “The Avenue may be strong, but do you think we have
Sovereign-ranked pilots just waltzing around all over the place? What we’re
building is a strike force, the tip of the spear. Of course we’ll need to
make sure our people are strong enough to handle it.”
The minimum requirement for an Adept to register with the Avenue was fourth
rank. Demanding that an applicant be sixth rank was cutting their pool by a
huge margin.
“So tell me straight, how many people are there actually.” Lan Jue asked
once more.
“More than six hundred,” the wine Master finally revealed. “With more
joining every day.”
Lan Jue shrugged. “So why are you telling me all this?”
To this the older man gave him a flat stare. “Isn’t it obvious? You have
been given the Star Alliance, did you think that you wouldn’t be in charge
of it? We’ve been helping to get it started, but later things will depend on
you. Your first job should be to get them strong enough to make a
difference. A good Adept doesn’t instantly make a good mecha pilot. How you
make that happen is up to you. I hear your training courses at the NEU were
successful. You also have my approval to bring those young men and women in
to the Avenue as full members. We’ll create mecha suits for them as well,
free of charge. What do you think?”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait.” Lan Jue lifted his hands, entreating the Wine
Master to silence. He frowned at the Paragon. “It’s starting to sound like
you expect me to lead your army.”
The Wine Master nodded matter-of-factly. “That’s exactly right. You’ve
already promised the Clairvoyant, haven’t you? It’s a little late for
regrets.”
“I…” Lan Jue stared at him, for a moment too stunned to finish his thought.
“This was your plan the whole time, wasn’t it.”
The Wine Master nodded again. “Right! What would be the point of having the
Divine Monarchs and Star Alliance fight otherwise. Advertisement for the
Star Alliance, which you agreed to inherit from the Clairvoyant.”
Lan Jue’s face twitched. “You’re a pretty direct guy, huh.”
The Wine Master grinned at him. “Always have been.”
“So what am I supposed to do now,” Lan Jue asked.
The Wine Master was the picture of astonishment. “How do I know? Like I
said, we’re just here to set you up. If you need money, we’ll get you money.
If you need resources, you’ll have resources. What else could you possibly
trouble us old men for?
We’re too old to do any teaching. The future belongs to the young!”
Lan Jue could outright puke blood at this old man’s nonsense. What kind of
mafia did he get himself drafted in to? Lan Jue suddenly felt a lot less
pity for the Clairvoyant.
At first glance, training six hundred pilots didn’t seem like a very
daunting class. Lan Jue was a God-ranked pilot, and had the A.R.C.
experience to draw upon besides. But were things ever really as easy as they
seemed?
Of course not.
Adepts weren’t students. The NEU kids were young, willing, and without the
burdens of adult society. They were weaker, and Lan Jue could direct them as
easily as the arm directs the hand.
But Avenue Adepts were different. They were bound to be cunning,
experienced, and strong. He still remembered when the Citadels came. In the
height of conflict, a hundred Avenue Adepts came flying to their aid. Aside
from Adepts with a flight Discipline, only ninth rank Adepts could traverse
the skies. A
hundred people that strong would not be quick to follow instruction.
This didn’t even take in to account the loose nature of Skyfire Avenue.
These people were used to doing what they pleased. If he was expected to
turn them in to soldiers, they would need a soldier’s training. That meant
discipline. This division he fell in to was going to be a chore, be it in
training or in battle.
Seeing Lan Jue’s crestfallen expression, the Wine Master piped up. “What’s
wrong? Is there a problem? Whatever it is let us know, and the council will
do whatever it can to help you solve it.”
Chapter 509: Skyfire Avenue’s Star Division
Lan Jue heaved a sigh. “Is there any way I can get out of this?”
The Wine Master theatrically extended his hands toward the younger man.
“Look at you. After all the trouble you’ve caused the Avenue, not least of
which stealing the Eastern chairman’s daughter on her wedding day!”
“Alright! I get it.” Lan Jue pleaded. “I agreed, and even if I hadn’t you
would have found a way to make me do it anyway. But I’m telling you, if I’m
running this than my commands have to be your commands. Whatever I need
Skyfire Avenue will provide, agreed?”
The Wine Master nodded his head. “We pay the money and you pay out in
effort. The Avenue will do whatever it can to help.”
It was Lan Jue’s turn to nod. “To start, any commanding officer will need to
be a strong deterrent to breaking the rules. Otherwise controlling these
adepts will be impossible. Do you agree?”
“I wish there was something I could do there,” the Wine Master backpedaled.
“I’m just an old man… I’m sixty years old!”
Lan Jue responded with a little irritation. “I’m not talk about you. The
Keeper and Bookworm would be no help either, the three of you can help with
logistics. The Gourmet isn’t sixty. He can help me as assistant commander.
The Pharmacist as well, with those two I should be fine.”
The Wine Master agreed. “I’ll be responsible for getting the Gourmet on
board. The Pharmacist you’ll need to manage on your own. Her situation is
special, you know more about it than I do.”
Lan Jue nodded, indicating he understood. “Alright. I think it’d be best if
you called a council meeting and let everyone know.”
This seemed to amuse the Wine Master. “You haven’t been to an Avenue meeting
in days. We’ve discussed it already, several times. Relax, everyone knows
it’s your job to get the Avenue fighting ready.”
The Jewelry Master’s eyes popped wide. “You guys have been
whoring me out when I’m not even around?”
“Well, you don’t need to make it sound so crass,” the Wine Master
complained. “None of this was done on the sly, and we aren’t hiding anything
from you.”
Lan Jue shot to his feet. “I’m going!”
The Wine Master was nonplussed. “We’ll send all the relevant data to you,
everything is more or less ready for you to begin. We just need you’re
A.R.C. students. When you bring them over here, we can start training.”
Lan Jue almost tripped over his own feet. Suddenly he had the overwhelming
impression that he shouldn’t have come to visit. Hell, he shouldn’t have
come back from Ziluo at all! This old bastard was ruthless!
As he watched Lan Jue’s retreating back, the smile slipped from the Wine
Master’s face and he sighed. “Foolish kid. You are the Clairvoyant’s chosen.
It’s a heavy burden, but we’ll help where we can.”
ζ
Lan Jue stomped out of the Gothic Winery. A myriad of thoughts and emotions
rushed through him, so much that he forgot about Qianlin. This was a big
undertaking the Wine Master had laid at his feet. He suddenly felt heavy and
tired. This was not going to be easy!
He lost himself in thoughts and began to wander down the street. After a
while, he came upon a familiar storefront: Wendy Wang’s Haut Couture
Clothing
Almost unconsciously, he pushed at the doors and found them locked. Usually
visitors required an appointment. But, after knocking, the Barber pulled
aside the blinds. He was surprised for a moment, then opened the door. “When
did you get back?”
Lan Jue chuckle. “Is that reprobate the Driver hanging around here?”
The Barber answered with a nod. “Yeah. Come in.”
The room was filled with the smell of revelry, and Lan Jue
picked out the Driver right away. He was seated with a glass of whisky in
one hand and a cigar in the other, looking comfortable.
“Ah, you’re back.” The Driver never missed a beat. He pulled out a glass
from beneath the end table beside him, and place it beside a bottle of
whisky. He poured Lan Jue a generous helping.
Before anything else, Lan Jue plucked up the glass and took a sip of the
golden liquid within. His lips spry in to a bitter smirk. “I shouldn’t have!
You people – not a soul told me what I was walking in to!”
The Driver’s chuckle was deep and mirthful. “Of course. If we had told you,
would you have come back? You can’t lay the blame on us, we were under
orders from the Wine Master. And isn’t this a good thing? They’re grooming
you for command of the whole Avenue. That’s good, right?”
Lan Jue gaped at him. “Good? I joined the Avenue so I could mind my own
business. Now suddenly there’s all this responsibility sat square on my
shoulders. You think that’s a good thing?”
The Driver felt he clearly needed more whisky, and poured him some more.
“Alright, alright – calm down. Things aren’t as bad as you think, anyway.
You’ve been around for a while and have a reputation here. And speaking of
reputation, we weren’t the only ones who saw your performance at the
tournament. Everyone in the Avenue knows who you are and what you can do.
Ever since the tournament ended, volunteers for the Star Division have
increased by thirty percent. Who do you think they came for? You’re
underplaying your role on the Avenue.”
The Barber reappeared and placed a glass of ice water in front of Lan Jue
with a nod. “He’s right. There wasn’t a breath of opposition to the idea of
making you Colonel of the Avenue’s Forces. Your qualifications were clear to
anyone who watched that tournament. We saw the strength of your Discipline,
damn near Paragon, but we also saw your strength of character. Your actions
on Taihua were as telling as those on Luo. That’s what their faith is built
on, and why it won’t be the nightmare you expect. And, since the council
voted you in, we’re obligated to make sure it works. You’ve got a lot of
people at your back. You won’t be struggling alone.”
The Driver’s words were convincing, but it wasn’t until the Barber chimed in
that he started to feel more at ease.
He was a smart man, and he quickly analyzed the truth of
what they said. There were a number of strong Adepts, but all of the
strongest he knew personally. He’d at least have Paragon support, and help
from the original members of the Star Alliance. It was by no means going to
be an easy task, but it didn’t look as hopeless as it had before.
The Driver went on. “Well, it is what it is. Worry about what you need from
the council instead. And before everything, I think you need to consider how
to direct your new army. We may not be tight-knit, but there are advantages.
Nearly all of them have at least some experience with a mecha suit. A lot
are legitimate mecha pilots. They may not know how to work as a unit, but
they’ll learn that with time. I think they’re going to surprise you. But you
can’t treat them like soldiers. If you did I don’t think you’ll have much of
a division left.”
Lan Jue’s brows knit as he thought. “So you’re saying we’re going to need a
different training method.”
The Driver shot him a thumbs-up. “That’s the idea.”
Lan Jue’s eyes shuttled back and forth as his mind raced. Yes! A loose
structure had its own benefits. However, while the Adepts were strong
individually they couldn’t compare to a soldier’s cooperation. Battle groups
like on An Luo were not the
way to go.
All of these fighters would have already been customized through their own
training, used to a style. There would be power discrepancies and more
to contend with. But if they each fought together, but separate…
There weren’t any forces like this in any Alliance military.
The only equivalent he could think of was…
A tell-tale glint of excitement lit up Lan Jue’s eyes.
“Drink.” The Driver lifted his glass, and gently struck it against his
guest’s.
Lan Jue obliged. He could feel the whisky burn a path down in to his
stomach, before that comfortable heat spread all through him.
“I’ll think on it, and call the original Alliance members together when its
time.”
The Driver nodded. “Not a problem, everyone’s already here to send the
Clairvoyant off.” His voice trailed off at the end, and his face darkened.
It was clear to Lan Jue that the Eye of Tomorrow meant a lot to this man.
Lan Jue gave a small sigh. He knew he could ultimately turn all of this down
if he had to. Maybe if the Clairvoyant was in better health, he’d be more
insistent. But things as they were, he had a responsibility to carry the
task.
Although it was hard to know his path was chosen for him, his hatred for the
Eye of Tomorrow’s meddling eased when he realized it had all been for his
benefit. It smacked of servitude, but it was servitude to himself, and to
all the worlds’ people.
The Driver saw Lan Jue’s expression change. He said nothing further.
Lan Jue sat for another half an hour before leaving Haut Couture Clothing
behind. He hopped on his bicycle, and turned it toward Mt. Tianshan.
Peace within to resist dangers without. He knew he would be very busy in the
coming days, and now was the time to put his
personal problems to bed. He needed to speak with Qianlin and clear up the
misunderstanding. Otherwise, there could be no peace within.
Lan Jue didn’t steal up to the mountain top this time. He took the main
road, tall and dignified. None of the checkpoints challenged him. He’d
called the Wine Master on the way over, and had asked him to handle
authorization. After the scan authorized his passage, Lan Jue continued the
ascent.
He pushed his bike along the road, and with every step closer to the peak
his heart calmed. In his mind were two separate images, clear and distinct:
One was Hera, and the other was Zhou Qianlin.
Chapter 510: Halt! I’m Talking To You!
So who was it that held higher status in Lan Jue’s heart? It was difficult
to admit, but the image of Hera had begun to dim. Zhou Qianlin was sharper,
more impressed upon his mind. However, deep in his heart there would forever
be an overlap between them. He’d come to accept that this may always be the
case.
It doesn’t matter, I like her! Lan Jue firmly reminded himself.
There was no more time for looking back.
It wasn’t long before he arrived at the peak of the mountain. Lan Jue found
a place to lean his bicycle, then walked up to the front.
He pressed the doorbell.
After a moment, the door flung open. Lan Jue was met by none other than the
Chairman of the Eastern Alliance, Zhou Xueguan.
Lan Jue went stiff. Ever since taking Zhou Qianlin from her wedding, Lan Jue
had been left with an unhealed wound. He
didn’t know how he could explain, and apologize to her family.
The Chairman fixed him with steely eyes. “Who are you looking for?”
This wasn’t the kind of place solicitors frequented.
“Uncle, hello,” Lan Jue began. “I am looking for Zhou Qianlin.”
The most powerful politician in the East stood in the doorway, and sized up
the young visitor. Lan Jue had chosen an ash grey suit, with a deep blue
shirt and dark grey tie. His brown leather shoes were a stately addition,
and with the suit set off his slender, athletic physique. The edge of a
white handkerchief peaked from his vest pocket.
“You are?” the Chairman asked.
“I’m her friend. I’m sorry, is she home?” Lan Jue inquired.
Zhou Xueguan shook his head. “She is not. She left early this
morning and hasn’t returned. Why haven’t you called her communicator,
friend?”
Lan Jue smirked sheepishly. “We’ve had a bit of a misunderstanding. She’s
not answering my calls.”
“A misunderstanding?” The statesman looked at Lan Jue curiously. “Come in.”
He stepped aside and pulled open the door. He didn’t know how this young man
got all the way up here, but in his years of experience he’d learned to read
people well. This young man, in his estimation, had no ill intent.
This was the first time Lan Jue entered this complex by the front door. The
place was as spartan as Qianlin’s room. Only the simple essentials and
tasteful decoration could be seen.
Zhou Xueguan lead Lan Jue to a sofa and sat. “You still haven’t told me who
you are.”
“Ah, I’m sorry, how impolite. Uncle, I am Lan Jue.” He was still a little
out of sorts, otherwise he wouldn’t have forgotten such a simple courtesy.
“Lan Jue?” Zhou Xueguan searched his memory for the name, but shook his
head. “I’m sorry. I’ve never heard Qianlin talk about you. How do you know
each other?”
Lan Jue fumbled for words. “I’m one of her instructors at school. I’m an
etiquette teacher at the National Eastern University.”
It appeared those qualifications were enough for the chairman. His face
softened once Lan Jue explained who he was. “Etiquette teacher, eh? No
wonder I get a refined sense from you. Well, Qianlin isn’t here. I myself
have a meeting to get to. Won’t be long.”
Was this a hint for him to leave? Lan Jue looked reluctant, but he was not
slow in rising to his feet. “Uncle, if I could trouble you to give Qianlin a
message? I have to speak to her about something rather urgent.”
“Sure,” the chairman replied. “But I’m afraid, instructor, I must remind
you. You are Qianlin’s teacher, and thus should call me ‘sir’, not ‘uncle.’”
Sharp! No wonder he’s the Chairman.
Lan Jue couldn’t think of a way to answer. He only nodded, and muttered “Of
course, Mister Zhou. I’m sorry for troubling you.”
Zhou Xueguan put in his daughter’s number in to the communicator. After a
few rings Qianlin’s familiar voice answered. “Daddy, what is it?”
Inwardly Lan Jue couldn’t help but gloat. Hah! I knew she was just screening
my calls!
“We have a visitor here at the house,” her father began. “He says he’s your
teacher. Lan Jue. He says he needs to speak with you about something
urgent.”
“Oh. Hand him the communicator, please.” Her voice was calm.
Zhou Xueguan gave his communicator to Lan Jue, who thankfully took it from
him. “Qianlin, where are you?”
Qianlin’s sweet voice answered. “Professor Lan, I’m out walking around with
a few friends. What’s the matter?”
He couldn’t be direct with her father standing right in front of him. “Can
we meet somewhere and talk?”
Her response was soft. “I’m sorry. I’ve already left Skyfire City.”
“Left?” Lan Jue was surprised at the revelation. “When are you coming back?”
“I’m not sure.” Qianlin’s voice was halting and timid. “If that’s it,
Professor, I’ll talk to you later.”
Lan Jue rushed to fit in a last word. “Look, everything was a
misunderstanding –“ He could hear the dial tone on the other side. She’d
hung up. He was forced to hand the communicator back under the Chairman’s
fixed, curious stare. Lan Jue’s face was both bitter but resigned.
“I’ll be leaving uncle, sorry for troubling you.” The former Mercenary King
bowed respectfully before the Eastern leader and then left. He didn’t give
any thought to addressing the chairman wrong a second time. The Chairman
didn’t correct him. He simply watched the young man go, with a small smile
on his face.
ζ
As he trundled down the mountain, Lan Jue was a lot less confident and a lot
more depressed then he had been coming up. He hadn’t seen this coming, and
it was the worst outcome he could have dreamt up. But leaving without saying
anything, how could he fault her for that? He’d just done the same thing! He
could only blame himself.
Lan Jue pondered on the sour matters as he rolled homeward.
Oh well, he thought, I’ll deal with other matters first.
But wait – she’d said she was out with classmates. He would go to school
first, then, and at least find out who she was out with. Maybe he could
guess where they went. If time allowed, he’d go find her. It sounded like
she was out of the city, but not off planet, so it wouldn’t take too long
time get wherever she was.
It had been a long time since he had walked the campus. This was as good a
time as any to get in touch with the A.R.C. students and get them up to
speed on the plan. If they decided to join his division, he’d at least have
a group capable of following instruction. It was a great deal for them as
well. Aside from Avenue membership, they also got a damn god level mecha
suit for signing up.
However, he couldn’t just show up looking like he did. He was too
recognizable now. If what the Driver said was true, he was practically a
celebrity after the tournament. He had to be careful, otherwise he’d get
himself in trouble.
He pulled off the path at where he and Qianlin used to separate after
school. He put on his hat, mask and sunglasses, and then continued his trek
to the NEU.
To ensure he wouldn’t be seen, Lan Jue didn’t go through the main gates,
either. He pulled the bike around the side and scaled a wall. If he’d wanted
to come in the normal way, security would have had to ask him his identity.
That would’ve been less than ideal.
The NEU’s perimeter wall was tall, and was equipped with an electronic fence
to deter unwanted visitors. This, of course, was not a problem for an Adept
who specialized in lightning. He easily hopped the wall, and once inside
began to walk the narrow alleys like everyone else.
Lan Jue chose not to visit Wu Junyi in the administration building, and
instead head straight for the electives offices. Wang Hongyuan would be
there, and he could tell him about the future of the A.R.C. class as well.
His walk across campus was going well. No one he passed seem to recognize
him, and his destination was only a few feet away. At this time, most of the
students were in class, so the roads were mostly deserted.
He was congratulating himself on his luck, when suddenly a harsh shout
pulled his eyes away from the electives building.
“Halt! I’m talking to you, the guy in the hat!”
The shout almost made Lan Jue leap out of his skin. He unconsciously spun
toward the source.
Of course he knew who it was! In fact, he was starting to think the two of
them were forever cursed to be in each other’s orbit. He could always count
on it, and always at the worst times.
Tan Lingyun, known locally as the Savage Goddess, was in his face faster
than he could gasp. “Who the hell are you, skulking around the school like
this? Take off that ridiculous mask, and the hat and glasses while you’re at
it. If you refuse don’t blame me for the consequences!”
The sudden sense of déjà vu caused his hackles to raise. Rude as ever!
He heaved a deep, helpless sigh. “It’s clear that your temperament isn’t
ever going to improve. We were born with opposing
horoscopes. Why is it whenever I expressly don’t want trouble, you’re always
around the corner?”
The Chinese use a system of animals for their horoscopes that are different
from ours. Anyone who’s ever been to a Chinese restaurant knows this. I’m a
cow!
As he spoke, he lifted his head, pulled off his hat and glasses, and stared
coldly at her. He didn’t need to hide his identity from her anymore, not
after the tournament. Running in to her was probably a good thing. She must
have watched it, too.
When she saw his face, old habits kicked it. “Again I run in to you, piece
of tr –“
And then she remembered.
Her curse caught in her throat. “Yo- you… you… you are… !”
“I am what?” Lan Jue said in faux resignation. “Trash? That’s what you were
going to say. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to hear your opinion,
Professor Tan.”
The Savage Goddess stared at him with eyes so wide he thought they might
roll out of her head. She was still as a statue, and suddenly she found she
couldn’t utter a single sound.
Since the end of the tournament, she’d been waiting for him to come back.
She wasn’t sure he ever would, but she had been looking forward to the
chance to meet him face to face again. She figured that the chances would be
small, though, considering his sudden rise to stardom. After the
tournament he was a household name, and she figured coming back to the
school would have caused a splash he wasn’t interested in. Still she prayed
that was the case. And here he was – was he coming back?
Now, however, with the man right she wanted him, she couldn’t think of
anything to say. Here she was, and now everything was not what she imagined.
He was Lei Feng? Was that even possible? This was the Demon Drillmaster?
Zeus?
How could this be Zeus, though? How was he not a rough and rugged warrior?
A thousand questions flooded her mind all at once, so many that she couldn’t
even straighten her thoughts enough to pick one. She just looked at him,
hardly able to believe her eyes.