Chapter 212: Before Tribulation

Chapter 212: Before Tribulation

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You need not feel obligated to do this, Mud tells Liu Jin later that day. General Dan does not command the Eternal Flame Clan. He can growl and howl all he wants, but by no means are we obligated to obey.

Despite the words of encouragement, Liu Jin does not bother looking at Mud. He just stays by the window, looking at the city beyond it. That is exceedingly kind of you to say, Brother Mud.

It is the truth, Mud says. You are a Core Disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan, one favored by Elder Xue, liked by Young Master Feng Hao, and appreciated by Lady Ling. Your life is not something we would throw away just to satisfy the unreasonable demand of an Emperor.

That makes Liu Jin smile. Even if doubts about my loyalty have been raised and are sure to have reached the Eternal Flame Clan by now?

Mud nods. Even if.

Liu Jin takes a deep breath and taps his finger against the window frame. If I succeed, it would go a long way towards proving my loyalty, would it not?

Mud looks at him with something that approaches concern. You do not need to go on a suicide mission to prove your loyalty.

A fair point. A valid point.

However

General Dan explained his reasoning to me. Liu Jin says. He tilts his head so he is staring at his reflection in the glass. Red eyes gaze back at him. Try as I might, my mind cannot deny that his reasoning is not entirely unsound.

Oh? Mud raises an eyebrow. I dont suppose you would be willing to share that reasoning?

Liu Jin frowns. Id rather not.

You have the face of the one person he respected above all.

How exactly is he supposed to feel about that?

Everything he has seen and heard of Murong Bang paints him as a terrible monster. The worst of the worst. A man who lives for violence only. Not a single person has said otherwise. Lei Kong, whenever he can bring himself to speak of him, reveals how terrified he is of that man. Even General Dan, who once called Murong Bang his comrade, did not try to tell him any different.

How could a man like that have respected his father?

Crueler than anyone, Kinder than anyone....

His father left the Storm Dragon Empire in chaos, allowing men like Murong Bang to rule. That is undeniable and something he has always known.

His father died by the monster he raised.

Murong Bang unknowingly caused the death of the person he respected the most.

To be honest, Id rather not think about it all, Liu Jin says, rubbing his forehead. I wish things wouldnt be so complicated.

We all tend to wish that, Mud says. However, the Heavens rarely oblige us. We are always faced with tribulations. Either we overcome them and grow, or we succumb to them and become dust.

Brother Mud, I am about to undergo a tribulation.

Then I sincerely hope you do not become dust.

~~~

Liu Jin doesnt leave the city right away. There is an order to things. General Dan cannot just make Liu Jin walk into Murong Bangs territory and hope things work out. Letters must be sent. Preparations must be made.

I really must thank you for receiving me on such short notice.

Entertaining Song Daiyu is not part of those preparations, but it does help Liu Jin take his mind off more serious matters.

The daughter of the Song Clan sits on a comfortable red sofa in his room. Her green dress, which matches her eyes, is perfectly immaculate, as though she hadnt just arrived after traveling by land all the way from Stone River City.

Think nothing of it, Liu Jin says, pouring her some tea.

The room given to him by General Dan has more square area than some houses. A four-poster bed large enough to fit several people is in the corner, hidden by delicately crafted room dividers. The rest of the room is more akin to a large living room with many couches and chairs.

However, I am a little curious. Why did you decline Lady Bais invitation to bring you here if you were going to come anyway? Liu Jin asks as he sits in front of her. There is only a small ornate tea table between them.

That is simple, Song Daiyu replies. She takes a sip from her tea and hums pleasingly. I did not wish to be associated with you.

Liu Jin raises an eyebrow.

Please, do not look at me like that, she says with a teasing smile. I do not even want to imagine how much commotion you caused by arriving with Duke Lai caged in ice like that. Can you imagine how negatively predisposed General Dan would be towards me if that was his first impression of me?

She mock-shivers.

That would be dreadful.

And yet, you have no issue asking me to help you get an audience with him, Liu Jin points out. Despite his words, he is not really offended. More amused than anything, really.

Should I have one? She asks him, shrugging her shoulders lightly. I did abandon a potentially lucrative deal to help you. Now, I need to talk to General Dan to make sure all the agreements I made with Duke Lai dont vanish into thin air now that he has been disgraced.

Some would say that since Duke Lai was a traitor, abandoning your plan worked to your advantage, Liu Jin points out.

Some would say that, yes.

Liu Jin chuckles. On this particular occasion, such shamelessness is refreshing.

General Dan has little time for non-military affairs right now. If you were to try to see him, youd just risk earning his ire. The man you need to talk to is City Lord Chu, he tells her. I will talk to him. We get along well enough, and I occasionally correspond with his daughter.

Oh? Song Daiyu leans in. There is a gleam in her eyes Liu Jin does not like. Is this daughter-

No.

His tone is so dull and lifeless that it takes the wind out of her sails.

She pouts. The least you could do is let a lady have some fun.

Well, Liu Jin is sitting. Lei Kong has his head bowed so low his forehead touches the roof tiles.

I was not there while you faced several threats to your life, my lord, Lei Kong says. Even though I stopped myself from entering the Earth Realm so I could still be useful to you, I was still not there when you needed it the most.

Liu Jin sighs.

When Liu Jin met Lei Kong, the latter was already at the high levels of the True Realm. The only thing that held his cultivation back was his injury. However, that problem has been taken care of. Nothing is stopping Lei Kong from taking the next step.

Nothing except himself.

When one enters the Earth Realm, one is struck with the curse of the earth, increased gravity that slows down ones movements at every moment of the day. For Lei Kong, who prides himself in his movement technique, Thousand Steps of the Thunder God, that price is too high.

Lei Kong knows that his mobility has allowed him to be useful to Liu Jin thus far. Even if he were to take the experimental treatment the Apothecary has developed to significantly lessen the effects of the Earth Realm, there is no guarantee he would fully keep the full might of his movement technique. Thus, he has stopped himself from taking the final step that would take him to the next realm.

However, though he did all that, he still wasnt there when Liu Jin was being hunted by the Core Disciples.

You were where I asked you to be. That is all, Liu Jin says. If you feel you made the wrong choices regarding your cultivation, feel free to change them. It is not up to me to tell you how to manage such things.

Perhaps, it is a bit harsh, but it is the truth. More importantly

I will be going to Murong Bangs territory, Liu Jin says.

Lei Kongs body goes very still. I had heard about that, my lord.

Liu Jin raises an eyebrow. You wont try to convince me not to go?

If I believed it would accomplish anything, I would have found a way to put my head even lower, my lord, Lei Kong says with his forehead still resting on the tiles.

You do not have to come with me.

Lei Kong immediately raises his head. No. I most definitely must.

Are you sure? Liu Jin asks. I know Murong Bang was not kind to you.

An understatement, and they both know it. Lei Kongs experiences in Murong Bangs army have left a deep scar on him.

However, though Lei Kong trembles, his eyes shine with determination.

That is all the more reason why I should go with you, my lord.

I see.

Try as he might, Liu Jin does not have the courage to tell him not to.

~~~

Song Daiyu is not there when he returns to his room, but he does not worry much about it. Had the conversation gone poorly, he believes he would not have found his room untouched. In fact, the smile on Lu Meis face tells him the conversation went a bit too well.

I have heard so many things about you, she says. With a smile, she adds, Liu Jin.

Liu Jin lets out a defeated sigh and sits next to her. I am sure you have, but please, have mercy on me.

Lu Mei leans her head against his shoulder. Have you ever known me to be merciful?

Fair enough, Liu Jin says. I suppose I will do my best to bear it until my departure.

Oh no, I will be going with you.

The smile immediately falls off Liu Jins face. He moves away from Lu Mei and looks at her seriously.

Absolutely not.

Lu Mei raises an eyebrow. I do not recall asking your permission.

And I cannot imagine why you would want to go where I am going. It is, by all accounts, a completely horrible place that is likely to kill me, Liu Jin pauses. If it is because of anything Song said

Lu Mei laughs.

Oh, no. That went quite well, and since you are concerned, I will forgive you for thinking I am the type that can be easily swayed by the words of others. I had already decided this the moment I heard about it.

Liu Jin stares at her. Why?

Because you will not die. Lu Mei answers simply. If you believe this task is somehow beyond you, then you have not been paying attention. You will succeed as you have always done, and I will be there to watch it. Of course, if by any chance you are about to do something innately stupid, then it is better for you to have someone like me around.

She speaks with unshakable confidence, confidence Liu Jin wishes he could share. His first instinct is to somehow arrange for her not to accompany him.

But can he really afford to do that?

Lu Mei is a strong cultivator capable of using the Eternal Flame. She is smart and resourceful, someone whose aid he knows he can depend on. His feelings for her tell him to keep her safe at all costs, but is that really the right choice? How many times did he wish she was at his side throughout the past few weeks?

Does he trust Lu Mei or not?

If you truly mean to do this

I do.

Then, there is one thing about me you should know. I once told you Qing might not be my real name.

I remember.

There is a reason for that.

At the very least, he cannot allow her to make a choice like this uninformed.

~~~