Chapter 185: Closed Doors

Chapter 185: Closed Doors

~~~

Despite the interruption from the City Lords daughter, the banquet continues for several hours. There is more food, more entertainment, and much laughter. When the guests return home, the sun is just a few hours away from rising.

That is when the negotiations begin.

General Dan sits at the head of the table. At his side are city officials like City Lord Chu and an equal number of officials from his army. Mud, Feng Zhi, Yuan Tao, and a few other Core Disciples of the Eternal Clan sit on the other end of the table. Somehow, Liu Jin has been chosen to be part of this meeting.

He suspects Mud is to blame.

The room has no windows and only one door. A single servant is allowed in to serve everyone tea. Once his task is done, the servant leaves, and several barriers go up to prevent anyone from spying on them.

For a moment, neither side says anything.

I do not like this.

General Dans voice is low and gruff. While it could be attributed to the circumstances, something tells Liu Jin he always sounds like that. The Generals Qi growls as he speaks, like a giant beast waking from its slumber. The city officials tense up, looking like theyd rather be anywhere but here. Even the army officials cannot hide their discomfort.

Feng Zhi, Mud, and Yuan Tao do not even blink.

The City Lords daughter was reckless and thoughtless, General Dan says, making City Lord Chu flinch. However, her concerns were well-placed.

His gaze dips down to the table where a large map of the empire is unfolded. The areas governed by the three generals are well-marked, and so are the major cities, important towns, and the position of their armies.

For almost two decades, my men and I have fought to bring peace to this land, he says. It was not easy. The Rumbling Thunder City you see before you today is the result of much bloodshed. We brought order to a savage era and have kept the madman Murong Bang and the dog of the cowardly emperor at bay. The aid of the Eternal Flame Clan has been valuable. Ill admit that much. You have been reliable allies to us all these years.

His eyes narrow.

However, now you seek to dictate our policy. His fist slams against the table, making the figurines on top of the map and the tea cups tremble. You dare tell us to end the war as though that were simple! Not only that, but you bring a mere five hundred men to me and call it aid! And worse, you send children to negotiate!

One of the figurines falls and rolls to the floor. No one picks it up.

We understand how inconvenient this is, General Nie, Yuan Tao says, inclining his head in acknowledgment. However, just as you command your soldiers and they follow your orders, we are but instruments of the Eternal Flame Clans will.

General Dan also seems to have misunderstood our message, Mud adds, making the general glare at him.

Misunderstood, the general echoes with disdain. What exactly am I misunderstanding, child?

To begin with, this one is more than three hundred years old. I believe that makes us not dissimilar in age, Mud replies.

And yet, Mud looks like a youth in his twenties while General Dan looks like a man nearing his fifties, Liu Jin notes. The aging process of a cultivator depends on many variables. Perhaps it took General Dan longer to reach the realms that would have halted his aging, but he advanced with greater ease once he was there. Perhaps the aged visage before them is simply General Dans preference. The body is malleable in the upper realms, and vanity of all types is ever close to cultivators.

It was not just your age I was referring to when I called you children, General Dan says with narrowing eyes. A negotiation of this magnitude must take place between equals.

His meaning is clear. One side of the table has an Emperor, and the other one doesnt.

That is the misunderstanding this one is referring to, Mud says, voice as calm as always. It is impossible for a negotiation between equals to occur at this table because we are not equals.

The General snorts. Flattery will not move me.

Ah, it seems that was not clear enough. Mud cocks his head to the side. I did not mean to say we were inferior, but rather the opposite. You, General Nie Dan, are our inferior.

The whole room flinches. The city officials. The soldiers. The Core Disciples. Even Yuan Tao and Feng Zhi are left utterly shocked by Muds irreverence. No one says anything. No dares to. It is a moment in between seconds that stretches into eternity. As if the entire room has been left frozen in time.

General Dan erupts.

You dare!

He does not stand up, but it feels as if he had. His Qi crackles and rages around him. City Lord Chu falls off his chair and backs away. The other city officials do not fare any better. Even Feng Zhi, who has much experience being in the presence of Emperors, looks uncomfortable.

Muds face does not change.

You are one Emperor, Mud points out. A brilliant flower, yes. One to be commended for being able to bloom in a country such as this. However, that is all. The Black Dragons rampage left the Storm Dragon Empire weak, and you have not had much luck raising Emperors since then. We are also not unaware of the Storm Dragon Empires poor record with Renegades.

Uncomfortable looks appear on the faces of the army officials as Mud says that.

The Eternal Flame Clan has more than ten Emperors in its service, Mud states.

Am I to assume I have command over you, or will you and your men operate independently?

We Feng Zhi coughs as he tries to stand. We are to follow your orders, though we retain the right to reject them under extreme circumstances.

Very well then, General Dan says with eyes that promised pain. At last, he stands up to look down on them. I will make sure to work you hard.

~~~

That sounds like it went as badly as it could have, Lu Mei says.

And yet, it went as well as it could have, Liu Jin replies.

Accommodations have been prepared for them in the city, but the two are relaxing in one of the wagons outside the walls. Its insides have been fashioned to resemble a decently sized room. Lu Mei is lying on the bed while Liu Jin sits on the sofa.

He did not kill you. He just wishes he could. How wonderful, Lu Mei drawls. There is a high chance hell try to make cannon fodder out of us.

Liu Jin thinks about it and shakes his head.

The general understands the support of the Eternal Flame Clan is at stake. There is only so much he can try to do to sabotage us, Liu Jin says. Regardless, he is not the most important concern right now.

Ah, yes. How could I forget all our other problems? I will start with the least of them and tell you Huang Shing has not yet done anything stupid. A lovely fruit that will surely be spoiled soon. However, I am sure not that is not what is on your mind right now. Let me guess. The daughter of the City Lord?

Liu Jin frowns and nods. She could have acted on her own, but

You believe she may have been used by External Relations, Lu Mei finishes for him. For the sake of the argument, Ill remind you her outburst could have been completely natural.

I am not sure which would be worse.

The former. Always the former. Stupidity and short-sightedness are eternal. People have been learning to work around them for ages. Subterfuge is ever-changing. I can look into it if you want.

That would be appreciated. Liu Jin smiles, but it does not last long. A new presence enters the room. Lei Kong.

My lord, Lei Kong says as he appears kneeling in the corner. Thanks to Elder Xue, Liu Jin managed to have Lei Kong travel with the servants. It is far more convenient than having him follow them in secret.

Impressive, Lu Mei says, blinking at the display of speed.

I bring ill news, my lord.

Yuan Tao tried to send a message? Liu Jin guesses. Lei Kong nods.

As you commanded, this one kept watch outside the city. A single messenger left shortly after your meeting with General Nie.

Lei Kong takes out a scroll and presents it to Liu Jin, who rises from the couch to take it. It looks to be a simple scroll, but

Thats a very complex seal, Lu Mei says as she glances over Liu Jins shoulder. I have seen it used for important documents before. It will not open unless it detects the right Qi signature. And any other attempts will result in the scroll burning or other unpleasant things.

Liu Jin looks at her. Do you know how to break it?

Of course not, Lu Mei replies. She looks at Lei Kong. What of the messenger?

Lei Kong shakes his head.

I subdued him easily enough and prepared to bring him back for questioning as my lord ordered. However, he killed himself by activating some sort of suicide technique.

Liu Jins hand clenches into a fist.

And the corpse? Liu Jin asks, his voice tight.

Burnt. However, I have secured it in case you wish to examine it, my lord.

Liu Jin thinks about it for a second and nods.

Good. Bring it here. I will see what I can find out.

Lu Mei sighs and pinches her nose. A pity. This room had such a pleasant scent.

~~~