Book 2: Chapter 53: New Business (1)

Book 2: Chapter 53: New Business (1)

In the end, Sen took Lifen’s advice and brought in Lo Meifeng to help him sort through the various invitations he’d received. Together with Lifen’s practical insights into the local state of affairs, Sen wound up declining about half of the invitations. He was surprised when Lo Meifeng suggested he accept the invitations from the other sects.

“Why? How are those not traps?” Sen asked.

“I suppose it’s possible that they might be, but it’s far more likely that it’s just the other sects doing a little bit of one-upmanship. After all, you aren’t going to visit the Soaring Skies sect, are you?”

“Heavens no. Even I know that’s like asking to be murdered.”

“There you go. If you visit the other sects, it’s a way for them to claim some extra face. You don’t trust the Soaring Skies sect enough to even step inside their compound, but you trust the other sects enough to let them fete you. It’s petty, but everyone will understand what’s happening.”

“Won’t that offend the Soaring Skies sect?”

“Do you care?” asked Lo Meifeng, genuine curiosity on her face.

Sen thought it over. Did he care? “No, I don’t suppose that I do. Plus, I can always cite concerns about other demonic cultivators looking for vengeance. It might even be true. Still, I see what the other sects get out of it. I’m not sure what I’m getting out of it.”

“Mostly, you’re cultivating some goodwill on their part. You’re bound to come back here someday. It’s helpful to have a local power base that is well-disposed toward you. Since you’ve well and truly burned your bridges with the Soaring Skies sect for at least a generation or two, the other sects are the next best thing. Besides, they’ll be sure to lavish gifts on you.”

“Gifts? Like what?”

“The usual, I expect. Fine clothes, weapons, and possibly cultivation resources of some kind. They’ll be looking to recruit you, so they’ll want to make it clear what kind of advantages they bring to the table.”

“I’m not interested in being recruited,” said Sen, suddenly feeling a lot less certain about accepting those invitations.

“They almost certainly know that, but it doesn’t mean they won’t make the attempt. After all, there’s no harm in trying to recruit you. If they succeed, it’s a huge coup for them, at least in terms of inter-sect politics. So, it’s worth the attempt, even knowing it probably won’t succeed. As long as they’re polite about it, and as long as you decline politely, it hurts no one.”

Sen sighed. “This sounds complicated.”

“It is, and it isn’t. As long as you make no promises or agreements, it’s very simple for you. You go, make small talk, eat their expensive food, and graciously accept whatever gifts they offer you.”

“I don’t actually know,” said Sen, only then realizing that he’d taken Lifen’s dislike for the woman for granted. “I never asked her about it.”

“Maybe I’ll have a chat with the girl. See if we can’t clear the air between us.”

“Yes! That’s an excellent idea. You should do that immediately,” agreed Sen.

Lo Meifeng favored Sen with an unimpressed expression. “You could be a little less enthusiastic about sending me away. I’m not your enemy. For that matter, the person you dislike only exists in your head.”

Sen frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“Aside from the fact that I’m a cultivator, my appearance, and that Feng Ming sent me, can you name a single thing you know about me?”

After searching his memory, Sen came up blank. “No.”

“Exactly,” said Lo Meifeng before she left Sen to his own devices.

Sen went back to work on his replies, but he couldn’t quite make himself ignore Lo Meifeng’s words. He didn’t know her. He hated what she was there to do, but he’d let that hate bleed over into his treatment of the woman herself. Someone who was, in the end, just doing what his master had told her to do. I guess it wouldn’t kill me to be a little nicer to her, thought Sen. He started to work on the invitation responses, but a soft knock at the door interrupted him. Beating down an impulse to tell whoever it was to go away, Sen called out.

“Yes?”

The door opened and one of the servants ducked partway through the door. “There is a visitor here to see you.”

“I’m not seeing any visitors,” said Sen, repeating an instruction he’d given a few days earlier.

“I know, young master, but it’s an elder from the Soaring Skies sect. He said he’s here about sect treasures.”

Sen sat up a little straighter. He’d all but forgotten about those treasures he’d stuck into his storage ring. Lo Meifeng had suggested to Elder Deng that Sen might barter them back for the right incentives. He wasn’t especially eager to deal with anyone from the Soaring Skies sect again, but adding insult to injury at this point wasn’t just unnecessary, it was stupid. The tentative peace between him and the sect had held, as far as he could tell, and he wanted to keep it that way.

“Very well,” said Sen. “I’ll be right down.”