v6c48: Questions and Answers

“The Grand Marshal now opens the floor to questions,” Bai Huizhong declared in an admirably firm voice.

Bai Huizhong, supported by Bao Wen, looked utterly exhausted in his new robes. None of the cultivators blamed the man for his… incident. Mortals had fragile constitutions. That he hadn’t keeled over from a heart attack and was instead back at his post was a mark in his favour. Xi Kong caught several concerned glances for the man from the other Elders, and while nobody wanted the chaos that came with the appointment of a new Director of Spiritual Ascension Affairs, there was some concern for the man himself as well.

To be frank, he was not the only one still affected by the news of the demonic attack. The hour’s break had felt to Xi Kong as though it had passed in a heartbeat. He was himself not yet fully calm, but the time had come to gather again. He knew that the others were still unsettled. On Gang of the Rumbling Earth’s eyes were still unfocused, and Sheng of the Azure Horizon was unconsciously bouncing his knee. Even Ulagan Baatar was still deep in thought, solid though his bearing might be on the surface. Still, the arena filled swiftly. Even those with their cultivation shattering under the pressure of the revelation, not a soul of those assembled would dare miss the rest of this.

“The Grand Marshal recognises Xong Yun Ren, disciple of Master Jin, to assist by showing his recorded images, should they be relevant,” Xiulan began.

Yun Ren was recognisable, and at the same time not. Xi Kong remembered the fox-faced young man, for he had hosted him in their Sect’s manor in the town. Another of Master Jin’s disciples, and like all of them he was a credit to his master. He had changed greatly since last he had seen him. The young man he had once hosted was now even more striking, with the addition of streaks of blonde in his hair, furred ears, and a tail. The Second Stage of the Profound Realm, brushing against the Third. His Qi felt formless, like ethereal dancing lights, there one moment and gone the next. He walked with an easy, predatory grace. His body was clearly built by diligent study of the blade; a sword which radiated its own Qi, an obvious artifact treasure, sheathed at his hip.

Like his daughter, Yun Ren had grown ferociously. The last time they had met, a mere Initiate. Now, he could challenge over half the Elders here, and Xi Kong didn’t like their odds against the man. Yun Ren bowed to Xiulan and pulled out his recording crystal pane, but otherwise offered no other comment.

For a moment, there was silence. There were so many questions, so many things that they wanted answers too… but not all of them could be asked. The associate of the Cloudy Sword Sect was not named for a reason, of course, and each of the Elders had to navigate and hope they wouldn’t be the one foolish enough to ask a question that would not be answered.

As ever though, Ulagan Baatar, Patriarch of the Grand Ravine Sect, proved his boldness. His Qi rose, and he was acknowledged.

“This question concerns not the invasion of the north, but our guests. I have noted the other disciples of Master Rou who now watch over us. May I inquire with the Grand Marshal as to their intentions and purpose?”

He looked up towards the audience. A short, freckled woman with a streak of green in her hair, who seemed amused by the attention, and a red-haired man sat beside Gou Ren, whom Xi Kong recognised. The boy had also grown, his form more solid and his own cultivation having swelled into the Profound Realm, his Qi solid as stone. He too had blonde, or rather, golden streaks in his hair. All gazes directed his way washed off him like a wave breaking against a rock. He was still as a statue, utterly unmoved, by the intent of the Elders, and turned his head to the red-haired man beside him. The red-haired man in the audience looked down at Xiulan, and raised one eyebrow.

“The Grand Marshal calls upon Fa Bi De, First Disciple of Master Jin,” Xiulan said. Xi Kong, his composure renewed, almost felt it break again.

That man, Fa Bi De. He was a chicken the last time he had seen the Spirit Beast. He had been powerful, a witty conversationalist, and a truly composed Spirit Beast… and now he had a human form. He was stunningly handsome, and within the Spiritual Realm.

Higher still than his daughter.

Xi Kong looked around, and realised he was the first and only one to notice that the chicken was now a man… but he supposed the majority of the people looking at Bi De were preoccupied with other things, if they had even caught the chicken’s name two years ago. Xi Kong saw the blushes on several faces as they fully saw the man who was sitting in the audience. Elder Xinling had outright frozen. Two of her three daughters present, sitting in the audience as well, visibly oriented on Bi De like hunting hounds.

“We were invited by the Grand Marshal to witness the revival of the Dueling Peaks, as we expressed interest,” began Bi De, the man’s voice deep and smooth. All eyes were upon him and he smiled disarmingly back. “It was fortune that allowed us to come, for we might not be able to attend when our Master comes south.”

“Master Rou is coming south?” Baatar asked, his voice eager. Xi Kong perked up. It would be wonderful to talk to the man again, after everything.

“Indeed. My apologies, however, as I have preempted the Grand Marshal.”

“Yes, Master Jin will be coming south. He gave me leave to inform the Sects of the Azure Hills of this,” the Grand Marshal stated. At once, Xi Kong could see the plots churning within many Elders’ heads. They all desired to host and curry favour with him.

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“Our Master has much work to do, in the sowing of his crops and in repairing the damage caused by the Demonic Cultivators,” Bi De said, “But he plans to visit in late spring or early summer.”

Of course, a Spiritual Herb Master would have to first tend to his fields and gardens, Xi Kong accepted instantly. It was only natural.

“Will you not share with us your own account of the attack on your Master’s holding?” Sheng, Elder of the Azure Horizon Sect, asked boldly. To not have the First Disciple address them was a bit of an insult, showing Master Jin’s disfavour, but Xi Kong was rather sure the man did not mean for it to come across like that.

Bi De raised an eyebrow. “I cannot give an accounting of a battle I was not present for. This Disciple, Sister Ri Zu,” he said, gesturing to his female companion, “and Brother Yun Ren were part of the assault group that struck the Demonic base in the Sea of Snow.”

That shut Sheng up instantly. The man’s jaw dropped and he bowed his head. Xi Kong, however, only had eyes for the pair still sitting in the audience.

Of course, the rooster had been part of the group that fought the Imperial Realm cultivator. And the rat, Ri Zu, had gained human form as well. A rat and a rooster, Heavens-blessed to ascend past the most talented of the Azure Hills. The Heavens truly had a strange sense of humour.

Xiulan cleared her throat. “It appears we are getting distracted. Yun Ren?” Xiulan asked. The man nodded, and he projected an image that sharpened the air in the room.

Xi Kong had seen depictions of demons before, but that… what the Hells was that?

It had the signature black chitin of the Great Enemy, but instead of being completely encased, it was rough. Patchy. Half the body looked like a corpse, a human face leering out from a partial mask of bone.

“This was the primary combatant encountered,” Lu Ri narrated calmly. “They are considered low demons, the strongest of these Artificial Demons reaching only the Spiritual Realm.”