Chapter 453

Chapter 453

A good slave is like a good dog: loyal and without shame.

When Dastan was still a member of the Golden Highlands Coalition, he would often hear the nobles of Sanshu uttering this quote, which they attributed to the First Chief Councilman of the Coalition. No one could ever remember what his name was off-hand, but many nobles took his words of wisdom to heart when training their slaves, as did Dastan during the first few hours after hed taken his restrictive Oaths. The Imperial Clan took things one step further with the Death Corps, instilling their slave soldiers with fanatical devotion for their masters and utter disdain for death, qualities which both awed and appalled him. At times, he envied their dedication to their master and wished he could do the same, but he knew his failings well. So too did the boss, for in recent times, whenever Dastan caught his gaze, it would always be filled with melancholy and disappointment. And why shouldnt it? Dastan had done nothing worthy of praise during their two month foray on the front lines, his performance so poor the boss was forced to remove him from command. He had no one to blame but himself, for hed taken a drunken slip of the tongue for Divine Inspiration and run headlong down a false fork in the Martial Path, creating a Natal Soul which was ultimately responsible for his downfall as a leader of men and valuable asset to the boss.

Still too ashamed to meet Falling Rains eyes, Dastan scurried away from their meeting with unseemly haste and followed along behind BoShuis guards while working up the courage to speak. Why hed even been asked to join the meeting on how to deal with the threat of the Society, he couldnt say, for the boss had everything well under control with no need for Dastan to speak up. This was a matter for politicians and commanders rather than front line grunts like himself, so he put the Society out of mind and instead focused on improving his own strength to better handle whatever the bosss enemies threw at them.

Warned by his guards, BoShui glanced over his shoulder at Dastan trailing behind and said, No need to worry MuYang, hes a friend. You should know this by now. Let him through. The guard in question shot a dark look at Dastan before grudgingly moving aside, but he cared nothing for the scorn of a man named Shepherd. What were his parents thinking? Even if it were his occupation, a shepherd named Shepherd was far too on the nose and utterly lacking in good taste. At least he had the good fortune to go against his parents desires and rise to the forefront of humanity as a Martial Warrior, an Expert at that considering he was bodyguard to the Young Patriarch of the Han Clan, so perhaps the name wasnt wasted after all.

Clapping Dastan on the shoulder, BoShui pulled him close for a one-armed hug and flashed his boyish grin. If youre looking for a sparring partner, then youll have to wait. Ive letters to write to prospective wives if Im to sell myself to the highest bidder in return for protection. How cruel of Falling Rain to treat his friends like goods to be auctioned off, truly a dark day for an eligible young bachelor like myself.

Unable to repress his smile, Dastan rolled his eyes at BoShuis jest. Ha. As if any father in their right mind would want a scoundrel like you as his son-in-law, much less take you into his family. If anything, Rain expects theyll promise anything so long as you stay away from their daughters.

Bah. Youre just jealous of my majestic facial hair, BoShui retorted, stroking his (admittedly magnificent) goatee. So, if its not for a spar, why were you skulking behind long enough to irritate my guards?

I was hoping to talk in private. Eyeing said guards who seemed to be far too interested in their conversation, Dastan Sent, Ive stumbled across an issue regarding Rains... advice on forming Natal Palaces, and I dont know who else I can speak to. Its a personal matter and I wanted to wait and ask Vichear about it first, since hes an established Martial Warrior and I need not worry about affecting his progress, but I dont think I can afford to wait any longer and I have no one else to turn to.

Though taken aback by the request, BoShui signalled there was no need to explain and brought Dastan into the privacy of his command tent without further question. Dispensing with formalities, BoShui dismissed his guards and Sent, So whats the problem?

Warmed by his friends willingness to help, Dastan placed his hand on BoShui's forearm and Sent, I first noticed a problem after arriving on the front lines... BoShui was a good man who never put on airs or let Dastans slave status affect their friendship, but he still found it difficult to talk about something so personal and worried it would be seen as an excuse for his poor leadership and control. Regardless, he shared his findings about Natal Souls and how his differed from Sahbs, alongside worrying his Natal Palace had been built upon a misunderstanding and thus, was fatally flawed. ... so what do you think? Were we wrong to craft a Natal Soul? Should I start over and try to form a Natal Palace the normal way? We fought together for weeks on the front line, and while the boss sometimes goes into a battle frenzy, the effect is nowhere near as pronounced as what happens to me.

Hmm... Chin resting on his free hand, BoShui studied Dastan in pensive thought, his neutral expression giving no indication of his innermost thoughts. I think, he Sent, his tone measured and cautious, You may be correct in saying youve stumbled down an incorrect path, but not in the way you believe. Furrowing his brow, BoShui asked, Why do you consider your Natal Soul a separate entity?

...Because it is one?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Is it? Seeing Dastan struggle to explain himself, BoShui shrugged and Sent, Let me tell you about my Natal Soul, though I beseech you to keep it to yourself. Without waiting for Dastan to agree, he continued, We were both there when Rain slipped up and mentioned splitting focus using two minds, and we both benefited in a similar fashion, but as you recall, it took me a week longer to form my Natal Soul and Palace. Do you know why? Dastan shook his head, and BoShui sighed. Because, at the time, I saw myself as an abject failure.

Dont be ridiculous, youre -

Holding a hand up to forestall Dastans arguments, BoShui gave a self-deprecating smile and Sent, No need to coddle me. Ive gotten over my self-esteem issues, but you still cling tightly to yours. Dont deny it, because we both know it to be true.

Dastan wanted to argue the fact, but instead he capitulated and Sent, How did you know?

Finally intercepting one of Wang Baos attacks, Juniors joy was short-lived because his arms were too weak to block it and he was sent flying away. Laid out in the dirt, he closed his eyes to rest and lamented how these miserable days might very well be his last. It didnt matter though, because even if his chances to emerge unscathed were slim to none, he would struggle right up until his dying breath. Sure, he wasnt allowed to live out his last days in peace and his sleep was plagued by horrific nightmares, but even as terrible as life was right now, at least he still drew breath, which meant there was still hope.

Precious little hope, but still better than nothing...

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Seated within his Natal Palace, Rang Min repeated replayed his memory of Falling Rains meeting with Zian, BoShui, and Yuhuan, watching a new face every time so as not to miss a single detail. With barriers against Listening, he only had visual clues to go by, but no matter if it was Lei Gongs guarded vigilance or the slave girls apparent disinterest, Rang Min analyzed every action and reaction which took place over the short meeting. He hoped to learn something of their plans, but thus far, he had nothing to show for it. They sat and talked in an unremarkable fashion, though in all likelihood, anything they said out loud was merely a cover meant to throw off anyone trying to read their lips. An inexact skill at best, lip-reading was unable to convey tone which meant the reader would be guessing more often than not.

Thus, it was not a skill Rang Min had mastered, so most of his attention was devoted to Falling Rain. Even after all this time, the sight of the piss-eyed runt filled his chest with ire, doubly so after the Tyrant ruined their chances of killing such a promising youngster with no one the wiser. If only Rain had the decency to die after the Contests, or had fallen to any one of his four opponents in the duels at the Wall, then the Situ Clan would have long since been rid of this pest. How dare he trick Gulong into removing his own tongue? If he had his way, Rang Min would make the little bastard pay dearly for his crimes...

It was disturbing how far Falling Rain had come in so little time, his meteoric growth nothing short of miraculous. Though still weak enough to crush underfoot, Rang Min would have to tread lightly in order to deal with him, for only a fool would openly strike while knowing the runt had not one, but two Ancestral Beasts lurking in his camp, with a third hiding nearby in Wu Gams camp. Perhaps the Defiled sensed as much too, else why would they sacrifice so many Wraiths and Demons to kill two young boys? A shame theyd failed, because if Rang Min wanted to kill the publicly acclaimed Number One Talent, then he would have to take great care not bring disaster down upon Clan or Society. The Emperor put tremendous value in young talents, and while he turned a blind eye to burgeoning youngsters dying in duels with their peers, woe betide the old cow caught eating young grass.

There was precious little to learn from Scrying the runts meeting, and it only fanned the flames of Rang Mins rage. Though he had Scryed the proceedings from almost a kilometre away, at times it seemed like the runt would turn about and stare directly into Rang Mins eyes, a most infuriating coincidence which angered him to no end. During the meeting, he even went as far as changing the angle from when he Scryed from, but somehow, the runts eyes would always find his own. Even though he knew it had to be a coincidence, as the tiny turtle also met his gaze at times, Rains defiant eyes and calm demeanour seemed like a calculated move designed to provoke Rang Mins rage, much like Zians casual disregard and wanton reputation.

Damned little bastard, immediately running to Falling Rain to warn him like a good little dog. Zian was a disgrace to the Society, one Rang Min should have strangled in his infancy, but his hands were tied. Hed sworn an Oath to make no moves against Zian so long as he and his family remained loyal to the Society, an Oath Jia Ying made certain Rang Mins enemies knew about, thus forestalling all his efforts to see Zian excommunicated from Clan and Society. A crafty and devious woman, Situ Jia Ying had masterfully kept Rang Min at bay and spent the last quarter century building her strength, but all shed done was delay the inevitable. A Magistrates posting meant nothing in the face of the Societys strength, and now her son was treading dangerously close to acting against Clan interests, an act which would free Rang Min from his Oath and allow him to legitimately order Zians death.

Hmph. The boy thought himself so clever and talented, but he was nothing compared to his father, and all the talent in the world still wasnt enough to save Lu An Jings life when Rang Min wanted him dead.

Glaring at the Bekhai runt one last time, Rang Min gave up trying to glean information from the memory and returned to the waking world. After contacting his hidden guards to make certain things were safe, he Sent messages to BoDing and YuSheng indicating he was ready to meet in person. After the meeting came to an abrupt end when the Tyrant stormed out with Zian and BoShui, theyd all gone their separate ways to Scry and plot. Though working together with a common goal, Rang Min would be a fool to lower his defences in BoDings presence, for their rivalry had been decades in the making and this alliance not even a month old. YuSheng also presented something of a threat now that he was an accomplished Runic Craftsman, undoubtedly hoping to elevate his OuYang Clan to supplant the Harmonious Unity Sect and take his place as one of three most influential leaders in the Society.

No matter. YuSheng would be much easier to deal with than those three ancient half-beasts in control of the Harmonious Unity Sect. Heaven was truly blind for giving such worthless creatures long lives. Those three decrepit half-beasts were over four hundred years old, yet not a single one was Rang Mins match. Worthless creatures, strong of body but weak of mind, of course a Divinity would reject them.

As he set off for the meeting, one of Rang Mins spies contacted him with new information regarding Zians actions. Clever to contact the abstaining factions with the interest of forging an alliance through marriage, but all this had been accounted for. For now, Rang Min had assurances from his Imperial backer and the majority of the Society on his side, so even if Zian married Jin ZhiLan and became the future sect leader of the Harmonious Unity Sect, he would still be a fish upon the chopping block alongside the rest of the dissenters who supported the Bekhai. Once Falling Rain was dead, Rang Min would claim his reward and announce Gulongs marriage to an Imperial Scion, a woman distantly related to the Emperor himself. Once the world knew of this connection, then everything would change in an instant. So what if Falling Rain was an Imperial Consort? An Imperial Scion was about to marry into Rang Mins family which meant his grandchildren would have Imperial Blood, and thus, the entire Situ Clan would leap through the dragon gate to soar into the Heavens.

Situ Gulong, written Ancient Dragon, would soon rise and become a dragon in truth. What more could a loving father ask for?

Chapter Meme 1

Chapter Meme 2

Chapter Meme 3