~~~

Things are as ready as they can be. The army is in possession of several flying items thanks to Liu Jin’s dealings with the Red Sky Pavilion, allowing it to project its might to any part of the border with ease. His Uncle’s Brotherhood of Thunder is ready to act at any moment, and the reinforcements from the Eternal Flame Clan have been integrated without issues.

The reinforcements from the Divine Frozen Palace did bring about some complications, but they were able to resolve those without much trouble.

In the absence of an attack, the next few weeks go by in relative peace. Liu Jin is free to focus on his training, cultivating when he can and trying to gain greater insight into his master’s teachings. He also makes sure to set aside time for Lu Mei and Xiao Shuang. After how hectic everything has been lately, it is nice to enjoy some time with them.

It's an almost idyllic state of affairs. A part of Liu Jin wishes it could continue for a little longer, but the looming threat of war makes that impossible. When the enemy strikes, no one is surprised that it happens. They are, however, surprised that it is not an attack on the Storm Dragon Empire that breaks the uneasy peace.

It is an incident in the Crimson Cloud Empire instead.

More specifically…

“My Sect!” Xiao Fang shouts, his face red. “An entire branch wiped out in the blink of an eye. This cannot stand!”

“Patience,” Liu Jin says as the heir of the Xiao Sect paces angrily in his room.

“Don’t tell me to be patient!” Xiao Fang says, pointing a finger at him. “This makes me look like an incompetent fool!”

“And if you’re not patient, you’ll become an impatient fool,” Liu Jin counters, earning himself a glare from Xiao Fang. “We still do not have all the details. We do not know if it was them.”

“An entire branch was wiped out in a single night,” Xiao Fang repeats. “Who else could it be?!”

“Any Emperor Realm cultivator. Even a Renegade would do, I’d wager,” Liu Jin says, making Xiao Fang grimace at being reminded of the relative weakness of the Xiao Sect. “After all, it wasn’t the Imperial Cloud City Branch, was it?”

“No, it was the…Yellow Grass Branch from Yellow Grass City,” Xiao Fang says reluctantly.

It says a lot about the importance of Yellow Grass City that it takes Liu Jin several seconds to connect the name to any geographical location.

“Then it really could have been everyone,” Liu Jin says, all too aware of the dangerously throbbing vein on Xiao Fang’s forehead.

“It wasn’t, and you know it!” his friend shouts, making Liu Jin sigh.

It all began about a week ago. In a letter to Liu Jin, Emperor Xiang complained about a group of bandits that had been roaming the countryside lately. Such was not unusual. Emperor Xiang was always complaining about one thing or another, but days later, the Yellow Grass Branch of the Xiao Sect was wiped out overnight, seemingly by those bandits.

The news spread like wildfire across the countryside and reached the Xiao Sect’s Elder Gang, who had been negotiating with the many branches of the Xiao Sect on Xiao Fang’s behalf. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Elder rushed to the Storm Dragon Palace to inform them.

Xiao Fang has not taken the news well.

“I have to go!” Xiao Fang says.

“You can’t, and you know it!” Liu Jin says, echoing Xiao Fang’s earlier words.

While they are still not sure if this bandit group is connected to those on the other side of the Dead Plains—though that is the most likely possibility—the issue remains the same. If Xiao Fang leaves the safety of Grand Storm City, he will be exposing himself to danger.

That’s the last thing they need right now.

“You’re my brother-in-law,” Liu Jin reminds him. “Everyone knows that. If something happens to you, Xiao Shuang will want to look for you. Then she’ll be the one in danger. Do you really want that to happen?”

Bringing up Xiao Shuang causes Xiao Fang to visibly falter, but it does not last nearly as long as Liu Jin would like it to. Doubt and hesitation are quickly burned away by stubborn resolve.

How annoying.

“I’m the master of the Xiao Sect,” Xiao Fang declares, fist over his heart. “I have spent years trying to get all the Elders and Branch Masters on my side, and that vision is finally being realized. What do you think will happen if I just hide here after such a clear act of aggression? It could undo all the progress I have made.”

“Your Elders and Branch Masters spent years being too scared to side with you,” Liu Jin points out. “Do you really owe them much? Even now, they only listen to you because Xiao Yifan has gone missing and because they know that you have the backing of two of the four Great Sects through Xiao Shuang and me.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, Liu Jin realizes he worded that poorly.

“Are you saying it has nothing to do with me?!” Xiao Fang shouts angrily at him.

“I’m saying you’re showing too much loyalty to people who do not deserve it!” Liu Jin shouts back, wishing he could take back his words. He knows better than anyone how sensitive Xiao Fang can be. “If you leave, you’ll be playing right into the hands of the people who did this!”

“Even if that’s the case, the Xiao Sect is my birthright!” Xiao Fang says. “I will not ever abandon it!”

“At least wait until Xiao Nan is ready,” Liu Jin suggests, his mind desperately trying to come up with a way to make Xiao Fang stay.

Xiao Fang shakes his head.

“If he was anywhere near ready to finish his training, it would have been the first thing you suggested,” Xiao Fang points out. “We cannot interrupt him. You know this.”

“I cannot let you go,” Liu Jin says.

“Are you ordering me?” Xiao Fang says. “Am I to be your prisoner now?”

Liu Jin does not answer right away.

No matter how much he does not want to think about it, that might be the only way. Xiao Fang is unreasonably stubborn and unreasonably devoted to his Sect. It is not that he doesn’t understand how this is probably a trap. He just cannot bring himself to ignore it. To give up on the Xiao Sect would be to give up on the thing he has dedicated his life to.

The only way to stop him… is through force.

In the Storm Dragon Palace, there are none who can defy Liu Jin. If he wills it, Xiao Fang won’t be able to leave until things have settled. It would be for the best.

…

“No,” Liu Jin says. “You are not my prisoner.”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

He can’t do that to his friend.

“Then, there’s nothing more to talk about,” Xiao Fang says, briskly walking past him and slamming the door on his way out.

“...You idiotic butthead.”

~~~ 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Usually, it takes Xiao Fang about three minutes to reach his room. That’s how large the Storm Dragon Palace is. Today, his sister intercepts him in the halls, and the ensuing argument lasts over half an hour. Xiao Fang is not sure how she found out about everything so quickly, but blaming Liu Jin seems like a safe bet.

Damn him!

Still, who knew his little sister could shout so loudly and say such mean words to him? As much as it hurt his feelings, he cannot possibly hold it against her, not with her Dao being what it is. In a way, what he is doing to her is no different than what Liu Jin did to her during the Crimson Cloud Tournament.

It is almost enough to sway his mind. Almost. He loves his sister very much, but Xiao Sect is his responsibility. It does not matter that he is weaker than his sibling. Protecting their family’s legacy is his duty, and he shall not ever abandon it.

His resolve made, Xiao Fang marches into his room and finds Big Nose Li waiting for him there.

“Are you going to argue with me as well?” Xiao Fang asks brusquely. “Will you call me a pig-headed idiot like my sister did?”

Big Nose Li kneels with his hands clasped in front of him.

“Young Master, you know I would never do that,” Big Nose Li says. “I have been with you since we were children. I go where you go, Young Master.”

As much as Xiao Fang tries not to, he cannot help but sigh in relief. It is good to know that at least one person is going to be on his side unconditionally. If not for Big Nose's steadfast presence, he does not know if he could have come this far.

“I…I think I finally figured out why you sent me to the Dead Plains,” Big Nose Li continues. “At first, I thought I had done something to offend you. When I couldn’t think of anything, I assumed you were being your usual unreasonable self, Young Master.”

“Big Nose,” Xiao Fang says warningly.

“However, I understand now,” Big Nose Li says. “You wanted me to know what I had gotten myself into by following you to this place. I thought I understood before. I saw your fight against Liu Jin in the tournament. I felt the fight between him and your sister. I didn’t need to be told that I was far weaker than any of you. However, that was wrong.”

Xiao Fang frowns as Big Nose Li looks down and clenches his fist. Frustration is visible on his face.

“I was useless, Young Master,” Big Nose Li admits sadly. “Compared to the woman of the Divine Frozen Palace, I was nothing. Compared to your cousin and that old man, I was less than nothing. When they fought, I couldn’t even be called a bystander. Not even a pebble on the side of the road. That’s how insignificant I was compared to everything that was happening.”

Guilt flashes in Xiao Fang’s face.

“I put you through something unpleasant.”

“It was necessary,” Big Nose Li says. “I understand the stage we are standing on now. That’s why I’m now in a position to tell you this. In this battle, this one is worth nothing. The same is true for you, Young Master.”

“You’re telling me the same thing as the rest, then!” Xiao Fang immediately shouts at him. “Is this just a roundabout way to tell me to hide?”

“What? No!” Big Nose Li says, raising his hands. “That’s not what I meant to say…It’s just…It was the same thing before! When your aunt wanted to kill us, we didn’t understand it, but there was no way we could compare to her. That’s what I mean! We have always been against these types of odds, Young Master! Why bother hesitating now?”

Try as he might, Xiao Fang cannot find any trace of deceit on Big Nose’s eyes, no hint of some clever play on words or stratagem to discourage him.

“Li Ren…” Xiao Fang says, putting a hand on his forehead. “You are an idiot…But you’re an idiot that I’m glad to call a friend.”

“I heartedly echo those words, Young Master!” Big Nose Li says, making Xiao Fang’s eyebrows twitch.

“I’ll let that one pass,” Xiao Fang says. “Get up already! The Xiao Sect needs us.”

“How annoying it is to hear that.”

Xiao Fang and Big Nose Li freeze. Standing in the doorway and making the temperature drop drastically is Bai Wen of the Divine Frozen Palace.

A cultivator at the top of the Heaven Realm.

“Did Liu Jin send you to stop me?” Xiao Fang asks before thinking of it a little better. “Did my sister send you to stop me?”

The woman smiles behind her veil. Xiao Fang does not find it funny in the slightest.

“Regretably, I am not here to put a stop to your folly, even if that would be the quickest way to settle this issue. A fool like you playing into our enemies’ hands is not what we need,” the woman says. Her eyes look at him with far more coldness than she has ever shown to Liu Jin or his sister. “However, both of them believe you are a person capable of making your own choices. I suppose that means Little Shuang’s Dao has become further refined. I should be grateful.”

She does not sound grateful. Big Nose whimpers behind him. The coward is using his body as a shield!

“To prevent you from becoming a corpse, I have been asked to accompany you.”

Because he is clearly not strong enough to take care of himself. That part goes unsaid, yet Xiao Fang hears it all the same. While he is not stupid enough not to see the benefits of having the personal disciple of one of the Five Fairies of the Divine Frozen Palace with him, it might not give the best impression to the rest of the Xiao Sect if he shows up with her. Besides, he has Elder Gang with him. The man is also in the Heaven Realm.

“It was told to me that, if you hesitated for too long, I was to remind you that Little Shen Mi is currently training under Lady Dai Jie. It would be very easy for Little Shuang to send a letter to her.”

Xiao Fang bows his body a full ninety degrees.

“I am most thankful for your aid, Lady Bai Wen.”

“I thought so.”

~~~

Pan Qiu dearly wishes he was back in the depths of the Apothecary. It does not matter to him that he lacks any sort of talent in the art of alchemy. The Apothecary is safe and quiet, isolated from the many dangers of this cold and unfeeling world. There is no better place for a man such as himself. He has already done his duty for the Eternal Flame Clan by participating in the Crimson Cloud Tournament. Surely, no one can find fault in him?

No one but Elder Xue.

The unreasonable woman dragged him out of the depths and volunteered him to be sent to the Storm Dragon Empire. He does not see why it had to be him. Hundreds of idiots eagerly volunteered themselves for the task once they learned the legendary Qing Jin had called for aid. Lately, it’s all Senior Brother Qing this or Emperor Qing that. They cannot stop talking about him for even one miserable hour.

It’s all very exhausting.

A yawn escapes his mouth. He has found he likes yawning quite a bit, and the evening is a suitable time for it. He volunteered to take the evening watch in the frontier base he was assigned to. The others think he is doing it out of a sense of duty, but really, it’s just nice to be away from everyone. Participating in the Crimson Cloud Tournament made him too famous among the disciples, and there are far too many who want to hear stories about that damnable Qing Jin.

He yawns again. The evening horizon remains unchanged, large and empty. Really, this is not a bad country to be in. It's a pity it belongs to such a dangerous person. The vast plains swarming with animals seem like an excellent place to build a home.

Wait..

Pan Qiu leans forward as his senses expand. What seemed to him like a pack of animals running in the distance is growing larger by the second. Their shapes are becoming distinct, as is their energy.

Puppets.

Dozens…Hundreds…Thousands…

“Enemies!” Pan Qiu shouts. His Qi carries his voice across the whole base. “Everyone! To battle stations! They’re coming! They're coming!”

Should they all survive the evening, people will remember he was the one who gave the first warning. That’s good, but unfortunately, it is not quite enough to satisfy expectations placed on someone like him. Pan Qiu takes a deep breath and raises his fist.

[Empyrean Feathers]

Thousands of azure flames shaped like the feathers of a peacock shoot out from Pan Qiu’s fist and soar into the sky before raining down on the army of puppets. Attacking from a distance without worrying about counterattacks is the proper cowardly way to do battle. His technique won’t do much from this range, but it looks impressive, and that’s what matters most.

The first blow of the war is his.

~~~

“Your Majesty! A message has arrived from Colonel Liu!”

“Your Majesty! There’s been an attack at Deadwood Fortress!”

“General Peng says he has subdued an infiltration attempt!”

“The northern front is currently engaging the enemy, Young Mastery!"

“We have lost contact with one of the scouting parties!”

The reports come one after another with barely any pause between them. Dawn is still far away, yet the war room is full of activity. Liu Jin frowns as he looks at the map in front of him. Over a dozen military advisors surround him. The pieces on the map are moved around as more reports arrive. Liu Jin badly wishes he could be out there fighting, but that’s not his role right now.

“How many men were in the scouting party?” Liu Jin asks.

“I…Twenty, Your Majesty. B-but it is still not certain that-”

“I see,” Liu Jin says, interrupting the man. There is no time for more. No time to feel sad. No time to hesitate.

Only time for war.

~~~