Chapter 362: As Ready as Can Be

~~~

Things are as ready as they can be. The army is in possession of several flying items thanks to Liu Jin’s dealings with the Red Sky Pavilion, allowing it to project its might to any part of the border with ease. His Uncle’s Brotherhood of Thunder is ready to act at any moment, and the reinforcements from the Eternal Flame Clan have been integrated without issues.

The reinforcements from the Divine Frozen Palace did bring about some complications, but they were able to resolve those without much trouble.

In the absence of an attack, the next few weeks go by in relative peace. Liu Jin is free to focus on his training, cultivating when he can and trying to gain greater insight into his master’s teachings. He also makes sure to set aside time for Lu Mei and Xiao Shuang. After how hectic everything has been lately, it is nice to enjoy some time with them.

It’s an almost idyllic state of affairs. A part of Liu Jin wishes it could continue for a little longer, but the looming threat of war makes that impossible. When the enemy strikes, no one is surprised that it happens. They are, however, surprised that it is not an attack on the Storm Dragon Empire that breaks the uneasy peace.

It is an incident in the Crimson Cloud Empire instead.

More specifically…

“My Sect!” Xiao Fang shouts, his face red. “An entire branch wiped out in the blink of an eye. This cannot stand!”

“Patience,” Liu Jin says as the heir of the Xiao Sect paces angrily in his room.

“Don’t tell me to be patient!” Xiao Fang says, pointing a finger at him. “This makes me look like an incompetent fool!”

“And if you’re not patient, you’ll become an impatient fool,” Liu Jin counters, earning himself a glare from Xiao Fang. “We still do not have all the details. We do not know if it was them.”

“An entire branch was wiped out in a single night,” Xiao Fang repeats. “Who else could it be?!”

“Any Emperor Realm cultivator. Even a Renegade would do, I’d wager,” Liu Jin says, making Xiao Fang grimace at being reminded of the relative weakness of the Xiao Sect. “After all, it wasn’t the Imperial Cloud City Branch, was it?”

“No, it was the…Yellow Grass Branch from Yellow Grass City,” Xiao Fang says reluctantly.

It says a lot about the importance of Yellow Grass City that it takes Liu Jin several seconds to connect the name to any geographical location.

“Then it really could have been everyone,” Liu Jin says, all too aware of the dangerously throbbing vein on Xiao Fang’s forehead.

“It wasn’t, and you know it!” his friend shouts, making Liu Jin sigh.

It all began about a week ago. In a letter to Liu Jin, Emperor Xiang complained about a group of bandits that had been roaming the countryside lately. Such was not unusual. Emperor Xiang was always complaining about one thing or another, but days later, the Yellow Grass Branch of the Xiao Sect was wiped out overnight, seemingly by those bandits.

The news spread like wildfire across the countryside and reached the Xiao Sect’s Elder Gang, who had been negotiating with the many branches of the Xiao Sect on Xiao Fang’s behalf. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Elder rushed to the Storm Dragon Palace to inform them.

Xiao Fang has not taken the news well.

“I have to go!” Xiao Fang says.

“You can’t, and you know it!” Liu Jin says, echoing Xiao Fang’s earlier words.

While they are still not sure if this bandit group is connected to those on the other side of the Dead Plains—though that is the most likely possibility—the issue remains the same. If Xiao Fang leaves the safety of Grand Storm City, he will be exposing himself to danger.

That’s the last thing they need right now.

“You’re my brother-in-law,” Liu Jin reminds him. “Everyone knows that. If something happens to you, Xiao Shuang will want to look for you. Then she’ll be the one in danger. Do you really want that to happen?”

Bringing up Xiao Shuang causes Xiao Fang to visibly falter, but it does not last nearly as long as Liu Jin would like it to. Doubt and hesitation are quickly burned away by stubborn resolve.

How annoying.

“I’m the master of the Xiao Sect,” Xiao Fang declares, fist over his heart. “I have spent years trying to get all the Elders and Branch Masters on my side, and that vision is finally being realized. What do you think will happen if I just hide here after such a clear act of aggression? It could undo all the progress I have made.”

“Your Elders and Branch Masters spent years being too scared to side with you,” Liu Jin points out. “Do you really owe them much? Even now, they only listen to you because Xiao Yifan has gone missing and because they know that you have the backing of two of the four Great Sects through Xiao Shuang and me.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, Liu Jin realizes he worded that poorly.

“Are you saying it has nothing to do with me?!” Xiao Fang shouts angrily at him.

“I’m saying you’re showing too much loyalty to people who do not deserve it!” Liu Jin shouts back, wishing he could take back his words. He knows better than anyone how sensitive Xiao Fang can be. “If you leave, you’ll be playing right into the hands of the people who did this!”

“Even if that’s the case, the Xiao Sect is my birthright!” Xiao Fang says. “I will not ever abandon it!”

“At least wait until Xiao Nan is ready,” Liu Jin suggests, his mind desperately trying to come up with a way to make Xiao Fang stay.

Xiao Fang shakes his head.

“If he was anywhere near ready to finish his training, it would have been the first thing you suggested,” Xiao Fang points out. “We cannot interrupt him. You know this.”

“I cannot let you go,” Liu Jin says.

“Are you ordering me?” Xiao Fang says. “Am I to be your prisoner now?”

Liu Jin does not answer right away.

No matter how much he does not want to think about it, that might be the only way. Xiao Fang is unreasonably stubborn and unreasonably devoted to his Sect. It is not that he doesn’t understand how this is probably a trap. He just cannot bring himself to ignore it. To give up on the Xiao Sect would be to give up on the thing he has dedicated his life to.

The only way to stop him… is through force.

In the Storm Dragon Palace, there are none who can defy Liu Jin. If he wills it, Xiao Fang won’t be able to leave until things have settled. It would be for the best.

…

“No,” Liu Jin says. “You are not my prisoner.”

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He can’t do that to his friend.

“Then, there’s nothing more to talk about,” Xiao Fang says, briskly walking past him and slamming the door on his way out.

“…You idiotic butthead.”

~~~

Usually, it takes Xiao Fang about three minutes to reach his room. That’s how large the Storm Dragon Palace is. Today, his sister intercepts him in the halls, and the ensuing argument lasts over half an hour. Xiao Fang is not sure how she found out about everything so quickly, but blaming Liu Jin seems like a safe bet.

Damn him!

Still, who knew his little sister could shout so loudly and say such mean words to him? As much as it hurt his feelings, he cannot possibly hold it against her, not with her Dao being what it is. In a way, what he is doing to her is no different than what Liu Jin did to her during the Crimson Cloud Tournament.

It is almost enough to sway his mind. Almost. He loves his sister very much, but Xiao Sect is his responsibility. It does not matter that he is weaker than his sibling. Protecting their family’s legacy is his duty, and he shall not ever abandon it.

His resolve made, Xiao Fang marches into his room and finds Big Nose Li waiting for him there.

“Are you going to argue with me as well?” Xiao Fang asks brusquely. “Will you call me a pig-headed idiot like my sister did?”

Big Nose Li kneels with his hands clasped in front of him.

“Young Master, you know I would never do that,” Big Nose Li says. “I have been with you since we were children. I go where you go, Young Master.”