Chapter 215: Yourself

~~~

Murong Bang’s grand hall is unlike any Liu Jin has seen before.

There are no priceless jewels, gold ornaments, or polished surfaces anywhere to be seen. Weapons, it seems, are the only decorations allowed on these walls. Swords, maces, spears, knives, and more. There is not a single spot on the walls free of them. The ceiling is even worse. It is full of blades hanging down, looking like they could fall on them at any moment. There are so many weapons all around them that the room feels much smaller than it actually is. Only the floor is spared from this odd fashion style.

It is covered in bones instead.

Fractured skulls, broken tibia, cracked ribs. Another person might not notice it in so much detail, but Liu Jin’s eyes can recognize what they are. There are bits and fragments of human bones scattered over the floor as if they were seeds thrown to the wind. It is nearly impossible to walk without stepping on them.

Surprisingly, Murong Bang’s throne is the least remarkable thing in the room. It does not rest on an elevated platform, nor is it big or imposing. It is just a chair where Murong Bang sits.

That is enough.

It is in that simple chair that Murong Bang listens to Liu Jin’s story. The chair needs no adornment because as long as Murong Bang sits there, the rest of the room does not matter. How can anyone fear the blades hanging over their head or the bones under their feet when the most threatening thing in the room is right in front of them?

“It’s been a long time since anyone tells me of those beyond the Dead Plains. A very long time,” Murong Bang says once Liu Jin is done. He leans forward, his large body slouching as he rests his elbows on the armrests. His voice sounds more thoughtful than Liu Jin believed him capable of. “And you’re saying that bastard He is working with them? Ha! Didn’t think he had the stones for it.”

“It is not certain General He is working with them,” Liu Jin says. He is kneeling in front of Murong Bang with the rest of the delegation behind him. He can feel bone fragments pressing against his knee. “However, it is undeniable that those beyond the Dead Plains seem to be operating in his lands, and they are preparing to launch an attack from there.”

Murong Bang chuckles. The sound is not unlike the growling of a dog. “And you want me to help you.”

“Not an alliance. General Dan merely requests a temporary ceasefire,” Liu Jin says.

“Of course he does.” Murong Bang rolls his eyes. “If it were anyone but Dan asking, I’d think this was some sort of scheme to get me to lower my guard before those two combined their forces against me.”

“General Dan has no such intentions.”

“Of course not, that’d be halfway interesting,” Murong Bang says, and it sounds like he means it. “But no, Dan and He could never agree on anything. That he sent you all to me before saying a single word to He says it all.”

Though Liu Jin has mentioned nothing of the sort, Murong Bang’s suspicions are correct. Before even thinking of talking to General He, General Dan assured everyone Murong Bang could not possibly be working with the Death Fashioning Scripture and decided to negotiate a temporary truce with him.

That says a lot about how deeply General Dan distrusts General He.

“The possibility of fighting those Beyond the Dead Plains does sound interesting,” Murong Bang admits. “However, I find myself lacking a Hundred-Man Commander thanks to a certain someone.”

Liu Jin narrows his eyes.

“Begging your pardon, General Murong was the one who said I could do as I pleased with his trash.”

And Liu Jin took him at his word. Before leaving the arena, he healed the two survivors of Murong Bang’s game. Great as their injuries were, they were not too far gone for him to save. Unfortunately, it does not seem the men realized his intentions. Already physically and mentally exhausted, the two fainted the moment he started healing them.

Liu Jin left Lei Kong taking care of them outside. Considering his past, it is for the best that Lei Kong is not put too close to Murong Bang.

“Aye, I said that then. Now, I am saying this,” Murong Bang says shamelessly. “Since my army is missing such a crucial piece, I cannot possibly make up my mind right now, can I?”

He is taunting them. The absence of a Hundred-Man Commander means nothing in the grand scheme of things, certainly not for a man like Murong Bang. Still, this is not unexpected. In fact, it is far better than an outright denial.

However, it presents another problem.

“This decision will require…. What is the word? Deliberation, yes. That’s the one,” Murong Bang’s smile is an ugly thing. “You will have to wait, I am afraid. But do not fear. Until I finish deliberating, you will be enjoying my hospitality.”

Until Murong Bang has an answer, they cannot leave this place.

~~~

Despite the look of his grand hall, the accommodations Murong Bang gives them are fairly normal. Perhaps that should not be surprising. Murong Bang’s estate once belonged to one of Cloudburst City’s rich and powerful. It cannot be all blades and bones. Murong Bang cannot possibly care enough to decorate every room to his liking. Really, the only downside of the rest of the building is that it houses Murong Bang.

Some would say that is enough.

“Lady Bai, I did not realize you would be here.”

Lu Mei comes to speak to Liu Jin right after he has settled into his new room. To her surprise, she finds Lady Bai already with him and Liu Jin looking just as confused by Lady Bai’s presence as her.

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“I deemed it prudent to be here,” Lady Bai simply says.

Despite that, Lady Bai makes no attempt to say or do anything else. The disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace stands by the window, motionless and pensive. It does not take long for an awkward silence to take over the room.

“Please, do not mind me,” Lady Bai Wen says when she notices their stares. “I am still ordering my thoughts. Do speak of whatever you wish to. Pretend I am not here.”

“I… see,” Lu Mei says, looking conflicted. Very slowly, she turns to Liu Jin. “Is the room secure?”

“As secure as I could make it,” Liu Jin replies, pointing to one of the talismans he stuck on the walls.

“Good.” Lu Mei takes a deep breath. “What was that?!”

Liu Jin winces at the anger in her voice. He could swear the temperature of the room increased just now.

He expected this.

After what happened in the arena, Lu Mei congratulated him on correctly reading the situation and anticipating Murong Bang’s reaction to advance their mission. She had done that in front of the rest of the delegation.

However, they are behind closed doors now.