Chapter 12: Further Planning

Chapter 12: Further Planning

12

Further Planning

I

I think, Hao Zhen said, starting the conversation, that it would be better if we first properly understood whats going on between you and Du Qing.

Tian Jin gave him a nod. His feud with Du Qing wasnt common knowledge, and itd indeed be a good idea if Hao Zhen and Duo Lan better understood what was going on before they started trying to come up with solutions.

All right, Tian Jin said, taking a moment to consider where to start. Hao Zhen and Duo Lan leaned forward. Im sure you two are aware of this, but Du Qings master, Elder Bao, wants to make me his apprentice.

It was common knowledge that immediately after the entrance examinations, Elder Bao, in front of everyone, had offered to make him his third full apprentice, and even though he had politely refused the offer, Elder Bao had claimed that if Tian Jin ever changed his mind, hed accept him as his disciple any time.

A couple of days after the entrance examinations, some outer disciples started going out of their way to find trouble with me, Tian Jin continued. At the time, I didnt know what was going on, but later I found out that Du Qing was behind it, though I didnt really believe it at first. Apparently, Du Qing had ordered them to do their best to drive me off the sect.

At that, Duo Lan scowled, whereas Hao Zhen simply nodded again as if what he had said was perfectly acceptable. Tian Jin had already given up on understanding the other boys thoughts and reactions and simply carried on with his recounting.

A while after that, a month after we joined the sect, there was a competition for outer court disciples. Duo Lan had participated in it, but Hao Zhen, as far as he could remember, hadnt. In fact, Tian Jin reckoned that out of all the new outer disciples, only he and Duo Lan had entered it. Anyway, one of the outer disciples there tried to maim me, but I managed to defeat him. Later, I confronted him, and I found out that Du Qing had paid him to cripple me and make it look like an accident.

Again, Duo Lan scowled, though this time he reckoned that it was for a different reason, as he had won that competition, with Duo Lan taking second place, just like in the entrance examinations. At the time, she had refused to accept her defeat and had spent the next few days challenging him to a duel. Knowing her, she hadnt given up that grudge yet. Hao Zhen, just like before, only nodded his head, not a hint of surprise on his face, as if he had already been expecting something like this.

A week after that, the outer disciple who tried to cripple me during the competition was killed, and I was considered the prime suspect at first. Im fairly certain Du Qing was behind that, too. I didnt have a way to prove I hadnt done it, so I was in a bit of trouble. Thankfully, Bao Yun, Elder Baos daughter, vouched for me.

Bao Yun was Elder Baos daughter and his other full apprentice. Right as he had been about to be judged guilty by the Outer Justice Hall elders, she had barged into the Justice Hall and revealed that she happened to have seen him in his residence during the time the murder had supposedly taken place, so he couldnt possibly be the murderer. As Bao Yun was not only a prime disciple, but also Elder Baos full apprentice and daughter, the charges were dropped on the spot, and only two days after that, another outer disciple was found guilty of the murder.

And then there was the mission? Hao Zhen asked, and Tian Jin nodded.

After trying to frame me, Du Qing didnt do anything for about two weeks. I thought that he was still trying to come up with some way to deal with me, and while it did occur to me he might try something during the mission, I changed my mind when I saw that the inner disciple leading us was Ke Li. I had already met Ke Li a few times before, and we were on pretty good terms, or at least I had thought we were, so I didnt think hed be willing to kill me.

At that, Hao Zhen shrugged. Given what Ive seen of Ke Li, I believe he was a fairly opportunistic person, he said. He thought you had potential and that youd become someone important in the future, so he tried to befriend you. But then Du Qing approached him, and Ke Li decided that ingratiating himself to a prime disciple was even better. They probably even had other dealings in the past.

That makes sense, Tian Jin said, thinking back to all of his interactions with Ke Li so far.

Theres still one thing I dont get, Duo Lan suddenly said, speaking for the first time since the start of the conversation. They turned to look at her. Why exactly does Du Qing want to kill you?

That was something he really wanted to know too. I have no idea, to be honest, he said. The few times we met in person, Elder Bao was nearby, and Du Qing always acted perfectly cordial, and I didnt have any proof of what he had done, so I had no choice but to play along.

I think I know why, Hao Zhen said, drawing their attention.

What is it, then? Duo Lan prompted.

He feels threatened by you, Hao Zhen said, turning to look at him. His master favors you. Hes a full apprentice, right? Well, he probably wants to become Elder Baos legacy apprentice, and he thinks theres a chance that Elder Bao might make you his legacy apprentice instead if you decide to accept his offer of apprenticeship. Most likely, Elder Bao has been constantly talking about you ever since the entrance examinations, praising you.

There were four kinds of apprentices: servant apprentices, partial apprentices, full apprentices, and legacy apprentices. While full apprentices were dutifully taught by their master and provided with ample help, a cultivator would only pass down their entire legacy to their legacy apprentice, holding nothing back.

The other boy was looking down, frowning. As far as Tian Jin could tell, Hao Zhens talent was averageif not below averageand he didnt appear to have any aptitude for combat. He did seem particularly intelligent, but Tian Jin didnt believe that would be enough.

Well, Hao Zhen said, after a moment of hesitation, that seems to be about it, then. We keep an eye out for Du Qings next move, and in the meanwhile, we do our best to grow strong enough to handle whatever he throws at us.

It was clear that Hao Zhen had wanted to come up with something betterthis plan was almost identical to the supposedly provisional plan they had thought of back in the valleybut the truth of the matter was that there wasnt really anything they could do besides biding their time and trying to get stronger as soon as possible. The problem with the plan was that it wasnt one Hao Zhen was capable of following.

Unfortunately, Tian Jin didnt know how he could help him with that.

Sounds about right to me, Duo Lan said, shrugging.

Wait, Tian Jin said, remembering something. Since we dont know what Du Qings next move will be or when hell do it, I think we should have a way of quickly contacting each other if something happens. I think we should exchange sound-transmission imprints. At least this way, if Du Qing targeted Hao Zhen, hed hopefully be able to make it in time.

Duo Lan furrowed her brow, considering the suggestion. Hao Zhen, on the other hand, gave him a blank look. Whats that?

Tian Jin looked at him in surprise. You dont Right. Mundane-raised. All right, he backtracked. I think itll be better if I show you. He then sent some spiritual power into his spatial ring and brought out his sound-transmission token, which was in the form of a small red medallion, and held it up for Hao Zhen to see. This is a magical artifact called a sound-transmission token. Each sound-transmission token has an imprint that is unique to it. You can then use your token to send sound transmissions to another token whose imprint youve recorded in yours, and the owner of the other token will receive the sound transmission directly into their ear.

Hao Zhen glanced at the sound-transmission token, his eyes widening. Wait. If something like that existed this whole time, then why in the world didnt we use it during the mission?

Tian Jin shook his head. Because this is only a red-grade sound-transmission token, he said, and a token of this grade can only record ten sound-transmission imprints. And once you record an imprint, you cant erase it. So you really only record the sound-transmission imprint of someone youll be planning on contacting often, and since your team is different every mission Well, what youre thinking of wouldnt be viable.

As Tian Jin explained, Hao Zhens expression turned thoughtful. Once he was done with the explanation, Hao Zhen said, I take it you cant have multiple sound-transmission tokens?

Tian Jin shook his head. You can, but theres a bonding ritual you need to perform if you want to receive sound transmissions from a token, and you can only be bonded to one token at a time. Theyre also pretty expensive, so theyre not something you can just use once and throw away.

I see, Hao Zhen said. He then frowned again. Well, as you probably guessed, I dont have one.

That had been clear the moment Hao Zhen asked what it was. Still, that shouldnt be much of a problem. Tian Jin had plenty of contribution points, so he could easily buy another token and give it to Hao Zhen. They could even go to the Exchange Pavilion today.

Dont worry, he started explaining. We can

Here, Duo Lan cut in, tossing Hao Zhen something. Tian Jin caught a flash of something red and circular. Could that be?

Hao Zhen caught it instinctively, then looked down at his hand, before looking up at her in surprise.

I happened to have a spare one, Duo Lan said, completely nonchalant.

Tian Jin wondered if he looked as surprised as Hao Zhen did. He hadnt been lying when he said that sound-transmission tokens were expensive. He could afford one, but that was only because he had accumulated quite a lot of contribution points over the last two months, and even to him, a sound-transmission token wasnt something he could just buy and then give away on a whim. The same probably went for Duo Lan. The fact that she not only had another one but had also so easily given it away to someone she didnt even appear to like was nothing short of baffling.

Once again, instead of pointing out Duo Lans odd behavior, Hao Zhen simply nodded his head, seemingly taking it in stride. Thank you. Something else hed have to ask Hao Zhen about later, Tian Jin decided.

Duo Lan shrugged it off. Its just a sound-transmission token.

With that, Tian Jin showed Hao Zhen how to bond to the token. They then exchanged sound-transmission imprints, making Hao Zhens and Duo Lans the fourth and fifth imprints recorded in his token.

Shortly afterward, since there was nothing left to discuss, Duo Lan promptly shooed them off the house, claiming that she needed to get her beauty sleep.