The City Lord’s complex was amongst the city’s highest roots and overlooked such a vast distance that the world curved away as though to say “to see further than this would be to challenge the knowledge of the heavens”. The buildings were tall and the interior was as grand as the view, with gold inlaid marble forming the floors and statues of equisate jade along the walls.

  Chen Ai and the cultivator formerly known as the Flawless Blade stood uncomfortably in a waiting area outside the tall doors. Servants passed by on errands, their eyes assessing the two cultivators with clear judgment. Chen Ai held her head high, her horns increasing her height and — she hoped — making her figure appear all the more intimidating.

  They’d come here straight from the inn, but they were being made to wait. The room was grand, but as she paced, she felt an increasing pressure on her shoulders, as though the marble and jade and gold were being piled upon her back.

  This place was too similar to the halls she’d served in as a child.

  Had her senior brother sent her here as a punishment? She’d been joking when she said that fighting in the park erased one of her life debts, but he hadn’t refuted her. Now, she felt terrible, and he’d given her the Garnet Meridian Expansion Pill as well!

  They hadn’t even known each other for a week, but he was acting like they’d known each other for most of their life!

  She really couldn’t handle it.

  “What about the Flawed Blade?” she asked the cultivator formerly known as the Flawless Blade.

  “What weapon will you use now?” he asked at the same time.

  “I’m sorry…”

  “Excuse me.”

  After speaking over each other, they fell into a silence made all the deeper by the large, opulent room encasing them. It appeared he felt as awkward here as she did, which was strangely comforting.

  “As a name… the Flawed Blade?”

  “I don’t think I like that.”

  “No, it’s unflattering. My apologies. Maybe the Learning Blade?”

  He studied the sword at his side. The black sheath gleamed in the light.

  “Perhaps Blade shouldn’t be a part of my name anymore?” he asked hesitantly. “Master seems to place far less importance on it than I do.”

  “You’re not him, though.”

  “No,” he said with a sigh. “I’m not.”

  “You’ve only known him for a day.”

  “A day, a lifetime, there is no difference in the face of eternity.”

  She met his clear, unwavering gaze and found it as incomprehensible as staring into the eyes of a fish. This man had clearly gone crazy from interacting with her senior brother… and she must have as well. Why else would she be standing in the halls of a noble about to talk about an expedition to a forbidden place like the Valley of Howling Blossoms?

  “To answer your question, I think I will adopt the club as my weapon.”

  “That suits you,” he said with a nod.

  Chen Ai blushed.

  “Because I’m an ox-horned brute?”

  “Because you’re strong.”

  He wasn’t even looking at her, instead inspecting battles recorded in the murals on the walls, and so fortunately couldn’t see her surprise. Momentarily lost for words, she was saved by the opening of the study doors and the appearance of a servant.

  “The City Lord will see you now.”

  They followed the servant through into a study that was even grander than the waiting room. The floor was covered in furs, and the walls were bedecked with the heads of animals. Chen Ai let herself smile at the sight of a vermillion ibex.

  The City Lord sat behind a long desk of malachite wood. He was a younger man than Chen Ai expected, about middle-aged. His pure white robes did a poor job of covering his large stomach. A fussy mustache bristled above his upper lip as he steepled his fingers.

  Behind him, the wall was entirely glass, revealing the city slopes draped in the setting sun.

  “You are not who I was expecting,” the City Lord said in an accusatory tone.

  Not a great way to start this meeting, Chen Ai thought.

  “My master didn’t believe this important enough to attend personally.”

  Chen Ai’s jaw dropped.

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  No.

  He didn’t just say that.

  “Please ignore my companion,” she said. “A recent duel left his mind addled. Head injury, you understand?”

  The City Lord snorted, but whether in amusement or anger, she couldn’t tell. He directed his gaze to her.

  “Do you know why I summoned your… master… here?”

  “He’s not my master… I mean, no, my lord, we don’t know.”

  “Of course you don’t, my letter was merely an invitation. A simple, singular instruction that was ignored! Your master may be friends with the Matriarch of the Stone Forest Trading House, but do not presume that makes any of you immune to my authority.”

  “Of course not, we would never —”

  “My master recognizes no authority,” the cultivator formerly known as the Flawless Blade interjected. “It is my honest belief that not even the gods of death could compel him to act against his nature.”

  Chen Ai and the City Lord stared at him. He wasn’t even looking their way, simply pacing along and inspecting the heads of the animals. A bronze-hued bear with an open maw had captivated his gaze.

  She couldn’t be sure if he was doing this on purpose, but once glance at the jian on his hip reminded her that he was a deadly swordsman who achieved Blessed Core Formation before his deviation. If he were at full power, the people who could match him in a duel could be counted on one hand.

  Silence reigned.

  “What animal is this?” he asked.

  The City Lord blinked at the question.

  “That is a Dusk Bear,” said the City Lord. “I killed it nine years ago on the lower slopes of the mountain.”

  “Difficult?”

  “The hunt took sixteen days.”

  “Impressive.”

  The City Lord glanced back at Chen Ai, and she saw the question in his eyes.

  “I meant what I said earlier,” she explained quietly. “In all honesty, if I knew he would act like this, I wouldn’t have brought him.”

  “Please send him out.”

  “Flawed Blade?”

  “That’s not my name.”

  “I know, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what else to call you. Can you please wait outside?”

  He bowed, and though his expression remained frozen, she thought she saw some relief in his posture as he marched out the tall study doors.

  A moment later, the servant arrived with a tray of tea and three cups. They seemed momentarily put out that one cup would remain empty, but poured the tea regardless.

  The City Lord massaged his temple and gestured for Chen Ai to sit down. They sipped tea for a moment and gazed out the tall window.

  “Please, forgive my rudeness,” the City Lord said with a sigh. “These auctions are an economic boon, but they have caused unimaginable chaos. My guards are stretched thin, the Shen and Ran are at each other's throats, and more people arrive every day.”

  “I can only imagine.”

  “Yes, well, to make matters worse, your master has come into my city and announced that he is going to the Valley of Howling Blossoms.”

  “He’s actually my senior brother, not my master.”

  The City Lord gulped his tea down and set the empty cup on the table.

  “I really don’t care,” he said as the servant poured him some more tea. “You’ve come in his stead, so you will relay this message to him: abandon the expedition and leave the city.”

  Chen Ai paused with her tea halfway to her lips.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know how I could be clearer. This expedition is doomed to tragedy, and all it will do is inspire young people to attempt it themselves. The Valley of Howling Blossoms is an Imperial Forbidden Zone for a reason. No good can come of entering.”

  She set her tea down, dread building in her heart. She wanted nothing more than to agree with the City Lord and go find her senior brother and beg him to set aside all this needless risk. Surely there must be some other way to make this up to the woman he wronged?

  And what kind of woman would send someone into the living hell of a Forbidden Zone?

  But…

  After everything her senior brother had done for her, she couldn't turn her back on him.

  “My companion didn’t mispeak earlier. I think my senior brother would continue with this expedition even if threatened with death.”

  “Then I’ll kill him,” the City Lord said as he sipped his tea. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. I’ve been dealing with you cultivators for over twenty years. I know you have your pride and your honor. So let me offer something in return for your cooperation. If your master backs out of this expedition, the Ran and Shen will also withdraw. If he publicly announces that it was all a misunderstanding and leaves my city, then I will pay him fifty thousand silver.”

  Chen Ai almost choked on her tea.

  “Fifty thousand!”

  She was suddenly very invested in convincing her senior brother. Even split amongst them, fifty thousand silver was a life-changing amount of money. She could hardly believe she’d hear correctly.

  “You may take it in silver or gold or jade, I really don’t care; however, if I find out that he does go to the Valley of Howling Blossoms…”

  Chen Ai froze.

  There was a blade pressed against her neck. She smelled perfume, but couldn’t detect the qi of the woman standing behind her. The City Lord’s mustache bristled as he smiled.

  “I believe you understand.”

  As suddenly as she came, the woman was gone. Chen Ai stood and did everything she could to not tremble.

  “I’ll relay your message,” she said.

  “See that you do.”

  Chen Ai turned and left, her footsteps quiet on the furs as she walked through the fading scent of perfume.

  ###

  I strolled along through the wealthy neighborhood toward Doctor Wu’s house. Instead of a sack, I held Cabbagy inside the red and gold robe I’d stolen from the Celebration Flame Sect cultivator. If anyone wanted to steal him again, they would have to steal me.

  And I wouldn’t make it easy for them.

  I still wasn't sure how I felt about not killing them. Part of me felt it was the appropriate response, but when Dai Heng ran away, it all seemed so ridiculous. I didn't want to be the kind of person who would eat someone for the crimes someone else forced them to commit

  “Kid, you’re going to crush me if you don’t let go.”

  “Then you’re going to get crushed.”

  “Kid…”

  “They stole you, Cabbagy. The bastards kidnapped you. Cabbagenapped.”

  We walked in silence.

  “Thank you, kid, for coming for me.”

  “Of course. I had to protect my master.”

  “Heh, I suppose you did.”

  “Just like I need to see you healed.”

  “Kid…”

  I walked up the steps to Doctor Wu’s house.

  “Hello, again!” said the door.

  “Hello,” I said as I knocked loudly.

  “Oof, that hurt! Only joking, ha ha!”

  “Ha ha,” I chuckled along.

  “Heh,” Cabbagy said quietly. “Kid, you know I’m going to rot away eventually, right? This doctor won’t change that.”

  “I don’t know that.”

  “Everyone dies.”

  “I don’t.”

  “I also don’t know if I die,” added the door. “I suppose I could be burned down or chopped into kindling and then burned down, but die? Probably not.”

  “See? The door agrees with me.”

  “Doors are idiots. Time takes us all, kid, especially vegetables.”

  “I don’t want any more of that talk out of you, Cabbagy. I don’t even know what point you’re trying to make.”

  “The point I’m trying to make is that if you put all your hopes on this doctor, then you’ll only end up disappointed! Can’t you see that the only way to get what you want is to —”

  The door swung open and revealed the servant. This time, he bowed low and respectfully.

  “Welcome back,” he said with a servile smile. “The doctor will see you now.”

  Can the doctor cure Cabbagy? Find out early on Patreon.