Chapter [B3] 41 — The Shie Clan

Chapter [B3] 41 — The Shie Clan

I stood in front of the Lord, watching him look at the invitation with a frown on his face. Apparently getting an invitation from a Divinity directly was an even bigger deal than Id anticipated, despite being told as much by Zhi Zhu.

We knew the day would come soon with how you have been progressing, but it is still hard to believe it when seeing it in front of our eyes, the Lord said, looking up at me. Just to explain, we ourselves have never been invited by any of the Divinities, and getting an invitation like that would be a great honor even for us, the Lord said.

I bowed my head. I understand my lord. And Ill appreciate all the help I can get regarding etiquette. Im afraid I do not know the customs of the court.

I doubt any of that matters, especially with the Shie. Divinities are not the Jade court. Customs such things depend on who you are meeting entirely, and the Shie have never been known for being too worried about such things, or the customs of the jade court and capital, the Lord replied to me, pushing the invitation back towards me. I picked up the scroll, putting it away carefully, before stepping back once more.

So what should I be doing? I asked.

Be respectful, do not give any offense, or else no one will be able to help you, but were afraid we cant help much beyond that. The divinities, including the emperor himself, are rather reclusive. We have heard stories of them vanishing for decades on end with no trace. Even now, the Huo Patriarch has been missing for decades. And the Yue patriarch said he would go fishing seventeen years ago and hasnt yet returned. But even among these, the Shie Matriarch is the most reclusive of all. She hasnt appeared in public for over a century until very recently when she broke out of her secluded meditation, the Lord replied.

Is... is that normal? I asked, surprised that any of these clans could run with their heads missing for decades on end.

There is no normal when it comes to Divinities. But I suppose going missing for years on end is a trend to an extent. It depends on the divinity in question. The Tu Patriarch is the oldest alive man beside the emperor at what is it now. Four hundred and seventy six? The man achieved immortality at the end of his life, and is a monk who prefers to not appear often. But he does not leave, and is the foundation of his clan, guiding his descendants, the Lord replied.

I listened to his words in fascination. There wasnt a lot known about the Divinities, even in the upper echelons of the sect library and confiscated materials.

What about the Shie matriarch? How is she? I asked, curious.

Well, we do not know too much besides what our father told us of her, which was told to him by his father, the Lord said, leaning back in his chair. She is the youngest Divinity in the empire, having reached transcendence in her fifties. Unsatisfied with just that, she had spent a long time studying under her grandmother before the old Patriarch fell ill. To prepare to inherit the position and achieve Divinity she went into secluded cultivation and has only now reappeared, the Lord said, before his face darkened. Well, she used to be the youngest. Before a talent not seen in the empire in centuries appeared amongst us.

I looked at the mans dark and almost lamentful expression. Was it Shen Yuan? I asked.

The Lord looked at me, and then gave me a nod.

I know that he is the Old Mans grandson, and that the Old Man himself was quite important back in the day but I dont know much more. Just that he turned into a demon somehow, becoming Yang Shen and is now the greatest threat the empire faces. But I havent managed to learn anything else no matter where I looked, I replied.

He is a taboo subject. We thought him dead, and the five families worked hard to make people forget about his existence and their shame. But despite their efforts, the name of Yang Shen persisted, whispered from all corners of the empire as a name of fear. Though wed thought hed been reduced to nothing more than a myth. Clearly wed been naive.

How did that happen? Everything I have heard about him tells me that he was extremely talented, well loved and hard working. Then why? I asked.

We are not the one you should be asking this. It is not our story to tell, the Lord said, looking at me.

I stayed silent at that. Id left a lot of things unsaid with the Old Man. And I knew why. It was because, in many ways, I had been hiding my own past from him. It somehow felt like our relationship was established on a lie, and if we broke that lie, the relationship would end up collapsing.

You seem conflicted, Lu Jie, The Lord said, looking at me.

Well there are things I need to talk to the Old Man about. Both our pasts are complicated, and now theyre colliding with recent events and I am not sure how to do that.

The lord nodded to me at my words. We understand your hesitation Lu Jie. But he is your master, is he not? We have not seen him treat anyone like another grandson besides you, he is clearly attached as well. If you ask him honestly, and speak to him honestly, he will talk. Our advice? Take him with you to the Shie. He will know what to do, and how to guide you.

I bowed my head to the Lord. Thank you, my Lord.

Thinking over the task, I took my leave from the lords chamber.

I had mixed feelings, and I decided to think over those at a later point. For now, I needed to focus on my meeting with the Shie Matriarch.

***

The preparations were rather simple. I sat in the Lords official carriage which he had very kindly lent to me for my visit. The old man sat with me, as I brought him along for the visit at the Lords suggestion and then without too much fanfare, we were off.

I sat next to the old man, feeling a little awkward given the conversation I had just had with the Lord. I contemplated if now was the time to ask some questions that had been on my mind for a long time now, but every time I thought of asking, something held me back.

Whats the matter, Lu Jie? The old man asked, taking note of my expression. If youre nervous then you need not be. It is not often one meets a Divinity, but they, too, are people. You have nothing to be worried about, the old man said.

I think only the old man couldve said something like the Divinity were also people and had me not snort at his words. I gave him a nod, not correcting his assumption. It was best to keep this talk for later.

Not to mention the old man continued, looking outside the carriage window as we passed by the castle to the western side of Azure city. There are certain things you can only understand and learn from a Divinity. So this will be a good opportunity for you as well.

I raised my eyebrow at his words. How exactly?

Oh- youre still conscious? The woman said, shocked as she turned back to me. And standing on both feet as well, she said, looking down at my feet. I noticed that my body was shivering a little bit before Id even realized it.

The womans expression darkened.

Are you trying to repeat history, Sheng Ming? The Matriarch asked, turning towards the old man.

Old Mans expression turned sour as he looked at me. Like we said, we are not doing anything. The boys achievements and Path are his own.

Dont tell me youve gone blind with age, you can still see what he has, the woman said.

We trust him, the old man said.

Just like you trusted your grandson, the matriarch replied.

Silence reigned between the two for a long moment, the tension in the air palpable. The matriarch walked back to her seat, sitting down once more.

Forget it. Were in a good mood, and we dont want to fight over the past. Our intention had been to test the boy, but if he can bear our presence and still be standing then there is little more to be checked, the matriarch said, crossing her legs. Tell us about that feisty woman Lang Xiaorong. Hows she doing?

Good. Though we parted our ways eventually on our Paths, the old man replied.

I paused for a moment. Lang Xiaorong? Granny Lang? Was that her first name? Little rose?

I looked at Liuxiang, noticing a similar realization on her face. She did a much better job of hiding it. I almost burst out in laughter and it was only the very keen awareness of a Divinity sitting next to me that held me back.

We always knew she would. She was too feisty, and youd started to lose your heat. To think how age has changed the Flame dragon, the matriarch said, almost with a look of pity.

We like to think it has provided us with wisdom. Time is not the only thing that teaches, there is a certain kind of wisdom that comes in ones later years of life, the old man replied, smiling at the woman.

The matriarch laughed. The old you wouldve never even dreamed of saying those words. You really have changed, havent you?

The old man put his hands together. Merely grown wiser.

As you say. But given that you are back here well, we did hear of his arrival. And some part of us had always suspected hed survived. Mother had always regretted not spotting things before they were too late, the matriarch said.

Im afraid it does. And the reason this old man has arrived here is related to that, the old man said, before glancing towards me. I would like you to train this boy.

The matriarch raised an eyebrow. Do you mean?

No, we intend to handle everything ourselves. But we would like the boy to be ready, and we would rather he learn from a divinity. Some things cannot be told, the old man said.

I began to feel a little nervous at the topic of their conversation. What kind of training?

The matriarch cupped her chin, thinking, before looking at me. Normally, we would not even consider something like this. But the boy has always grasped an entirely different truth on his own. This might be interesting to see, the matriarch said getting up. Dont blame us if he dies.

Please try not to, the old man said, bowing.

Wait what?!

Hold on, do I not get a say in this? I said, panicked as the matriarch walked closer to me.

Youll be fine Lu Jie. Trust yourself, and dont lose focus, the old man said, smiling at me, and I gulped.

This is a display, boy. The display of what separates Masters from the rest. We will go easy on you and not put the burden of Transcendence on your soul. Try not to lose yourself, the matriarch said, walking closer.

The entire world seemed to ground to a halt, as the womans eyes lit up once more, and yet, this time there was nothing bearable about the aura as it pierced my body.

Endless Domain: Serpents Grove.

The words were an order upon my soul.

I felt my Chi boiling in fury, and a moment later, her aura rushed out sweeping over me as a new world enveloped me all around.