Chapter 96: Bright Phantasm Sect

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    Night Forest Nation did not earn its name lightly.

    Mountains, grassy plains, and hills. All those have long since faded away, replaced by acres of forest that extend across the entire country. It is not like the Summer Forest, which awes people with its trees of all shapes, colors, and sizes. No, the Night Forest is completely submerged in mist instead, its color gradually changing from blue to purple depending on the time of the day. The sight is eerie, yet at the same time

    Beautiful, is it not?

    Liu Jin turns to Lu Mei. Like him, she is admiring the forest below them, a task made easier now that the flame-wheeled wagons have slowed down, and their altitude has started to drop, a sign they are not far from their destination.

    It is. Although it is not quite what I expected. I thought this would be a much colder land.

    Because of the Yin Qi? Lu Mei guesses. He nods. People usually make that mistake. Yin Qi may be associated with cold, but that doesnt mean Yin Qi can only manifest in that form. An excess of Yin Qi can lead to many geographical curiosities beyond low temperatures.

    It is not something Liu Jin had been unaware of. Still, his experiences with Xiao Shuang and Meng Yue had caused Liu Jin to strongly associate Yin with ice and cold. In reality, the properties of Yin Qi, much like the properties of Yang Qi, are far broader than that.

    And here, it manifests through illusions, Liu Jin sums up.

    Indeed. Like the Young Master said, this land naturally generates illusions. These act as a natural barrier, but they also make the land difficult to control. Even those who live here find it hard to navigate the forests surrounding the city.

    You are pretty knowledgeable.

    That should be pretty and knowledgeable, but I will forgive you this once.

    Despite himself, Liu Jin smiles. Then he checks to see if he hasnt been hit by a Charm Technique just to be on the safe side.

    How magnanimous of you. What I meant is that the preparation given to you by the Red Sky Pavilion must have been quite thorough to include so much information about a minor country.

    To his surprise, Lu Mei holds a hand over her mouth to hide a giggle. You think this is something I learned from the Red Sky Pavilion? Cute, but no. It is nothing of the sort.

    Liu Jin is left blinking. Then how?

    I used an ancient method. Lu Mei leans closer to him as if about to divulge a secret. Perhaps you might have heard of it? It is called the art of asking other people. Upon seeing the look on his face, she giggles some more. Did it really not occur to you to just ask? No, wait, let me guess. You are the type that goes about gathering information in needlessly roundabout ways.

    Liu Jin refuses to answer on principle. Besides, doing so with any degree of honesty would reveal he hadnt even done that much. It had been Khong Hus sudden intrusion that had taught him most of what he knew about the Bright Phantasm Sect.

    Your poor dear, Lu Mei pats his cheek with mock sympathy and moves to sit next to him. People are resources. If you dont use them, theyll waste away and spoil themselves.

    You just said something horrible with a completely straight face.

    Horrible things tend to be true. You should be glad to have heard it from someone like me. Imagine if it were an ugly old man saying it. The effect of those words would have been completely revolting. However, because they come from me, it is now a piece of advice youll be able to call upon in the future. Thank the Heavens that allowed you to meet me.

    Her shoulder lightly bumps against his for emphasis. Liu Jin sighs.

    If this is the Heavens kindness, Ill have to tell them to be crueler.

    I dont get it.

    Lu Mei and Liu Jin turn towards Huang Shing. He, along with Bei Hong, has stopped looking out the window in favor of staring at them.

    Is that how courtships are supposed to work? Huang Shing asks Bei Hong. Yi Jiao and I were never like that.

    Courtship? Bei Hong chuckles. No, thats nothing of the sort. That, my friend, is trouble. Nothing but trouble.

    Oh? Lu Mei takes on a haughty expression. You speak of women with such authority, yet I do not recall a single time in which you have indulged in such things.

    That you call it indulging says everything there is to know, Bei Hong counters. I do not need to visit the Dead Plains to know I have no desire to ever be there. Women are the same. I have seen the folly of others. My mind is made up. I shall have standards, or I shall have nothing.

    Lu Mei rolls her eyes. If youre still sticking to that list of nonsense, you shall have nothing.

    Huang Shing blinks. A list? What list?

    It is the most important list

    Dont. Lu Mei interrupts, actually glaring at Bei Hong. It is bad enough you believe that. Dont pollute the heads of others.

    Oh, I dont know, Liu Jin says, seeing a rare chance to annoy Lu Mei. This time it is his shoulder that bumps against hers. I thought he had some good points. Troublesome women are no good.

    That just shows how young you are. Men can only be truly satisfied when they feel they have overcome great odds. The greater the challenge, the greater the satisfaction. That is why troublesome women like me are the best.

    ~~~

    The five of them are given seats of honor. The food is rich and plentiful. The music is festive. The people are happy. Yes, the welcoming feast the Bright Phantasm Sect has prepared for them is not lacking in the slightest.

    Lu Mei handles the attention as if she were born for it. Many are those who stare longingly at her, and a brave few try to interact with her. She handles them with ease. Even Huang Shing, the one who looks more awed by the party, manages to entertain the people around him with stories of his adventures. Hes apparently had quite the life before joining the Eternal Flame Clan.

    Feng Zhi and Patriarch Wong talk merrily at first. Then, as everyone becomes distracted by the festive mood, their voices lower as they drift into more serious matters.

    Yes, there is nothing wrong with the feast.

    Liu Jin is just no good with people. That is all there is to it.

    The moment he finds an opportunity, he sneaks out of the banquet hall. It isnt particularly hard. Bei Hong and Huang Shing are loud, and Lu Mei is Lu Mei. The three are all good for drawing attention away from himself.

    It is not proper. He knows that much. Liu Jin is not ignorant of what is expected of him on social occasions like this. He had been instructed on such things by Old Jiang and also by the Xiao Sect during the days leading up to his wedding. The proper thing to do would have been to stay and allow himself to be admired.

    However, the sheer reverence with which he was stared at back there was enough to make him uncomfortable.

    Was the banquet not to your liking?

    Panic surges in him but only for a moment. Liu Jin quickly smoothes over his face as he turns around to address the person whose presence he did not sense, a young man with the same blue hair as Patriarch Wong and many people in the Bright Phantasm Sect, likely a side effect of all the Yin Qi in the area.

    Liu Jin instantly recognizes him.

    They were introduced upon taking their seat at the table. He is Wong Shou, the son of Patriarch Wong and as such, the Young Master of the Bright Phantasm Sect. Unlike Feng Zhi, who is still a teenager, Wong Shou is already in his early twenties.

    Young Master Wong, Liu Jin says, nodding in greeting. The banquet is marvelous. Rather, it is me who is apparently lacking.

    Nonsense, Wong Shou says. Forgive me if I implied anything untoward. Doubtlessly, asking you to sit in a crowded room when you probably wished to relax after the trip was insensitive of us.

    Not at all. It is a formality, and not obliging it reflects poorly on me. You have my apologies for any offense.

    No offense was given, so no apology is necessary. Wong Shou chuckles and shakes his head. Oh, dear, look at me. When my father was talking to Lord Feng Zhi, I could not help but think they were both overdoing it, but look at us now.

    Formality does make odd demands of us.

    Let us not oblige it then and speak plainly, Wong Shou declares, causing Liu Jin to blink in surprise before smiling.

    I would very much like that.

    Great! Wong Shou smiles. Allow me to start. I am also not fond of overly crowded places. They wreak havoc on my concentration. That someone from the Eternal Flame Clan shares this characteristic makes me feel validated.

    I am glad my presence is enough to put the young lord at ease.

    Of course your presence puts me at ease, Wong Shou replies. Putting aside my personal preferences, you are of the Eternal Flame Clan. It is your reputation that ensures we can keep our hold on this area. As you can imagine, we are all very happy to have you here. Happy and nervous. Since were being frank, Ill apologize in advance for any future trouble my Sect members may cause you in their eagerness to please. Please, do be patient with them.

    He sounds so sincere that Liu Jin is left blinking.

    I am sure Ill find some way to bear it, he says in reply. It may even make for a nice distraction. As I understand it, my duty here will be to be seen by others and little else.

    To his surprise, Wong Shou grimaces.

    Ah I am afraid I must disappoint you in that regard. Lord Feng Zhi is most likely hearing this from my father, so there is no need to hide it. As of late, we have been dealing with a troublesome band of marauders.

    Liu Jin frowns. Someone is stealing from your lands?

    Wong Shou shakes his head. It would be good if it were that simple. I am afraid the situation is a bit more curious. These people do not steal. They destroy. Due to the mist, it is hard to notice and hard to prevent. I am fairly sure that, as we speak, my father is asking for Lord Feng Zhis aid in this matter. You will probably find yourself patrolling the forests quite often as a show of cooperation.

    Liu Jin thinks about it for a moment. Being in the forest would mean being away from all those worshipful gazes.

    I find the proposition is not a distasteful one.

    Truly? Wong Shou asks, surprised.

    Quite.

    In that case, Lord Qing, I feel this is the beginning of a very fruitful relationship.

    ~~~