Chapter 196: Awkward Conversation


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    Liu Jin flies high above the ground.


    He is still a long way from reaching the Heaven Realm, and he cannot use a flying carpet like Lu Mei. Nevertheless, Soaring Feather proves to be an able substitute. The ck-Winged Imperial Eagle has grown big and strong. Riding on his back is not asfortable as using a flying carpet--such artifacts have several protective talismans woven into their fabric to protect their passengers--but that makes the ride more enjoyable in some ways.


    The fierce rush of wind. The coldness of the skies. Soaring Feathers heartbeat.


    Liu Jin takes all of it in and smiles.


    Unfortunately, a nce down is all it takes for his smile to wither. Perhaps thesends were beautiful once upon a time. No, they definitely were. However, constant war has left them ravaged. Looking down is like looking at a man disfigured by countless scars. There is no ce here that hasnt been a battlefield and no ce that wont be one.


    Perhaps sooner than theyd like.


    The word of two traveling puppeteers is not iron-d evidence, but it would be extremely foolish to dismiss Firm Shadows warning without first looking into it. Because of that, Liu Jin and his men will stay at Ox Storm Fortress for a little more time. That is the conclusion Liu Jin and themander of Ox Storm Fortress came to after discussing the matter for more hours than Liu Jin cared for. Doubtless, the man is still angry at him for letting the two suspicious men go.


    Colonel Peng will hear of this, the Thousand-Man Commander told him. The man obviously expected him to be afraid, so he hadnt looked pleased when Liu Jin just agreed with him.


    Colonel Peng needed to know of the puppeteers. More importantly, he needed to know about Liu Jins suspicions regarding their origins. Of that, there can be no doubt. The only question is whether Colonel Peng and, by extension, General Dan will learn of it before or after Liu Jin tells Mud and Feng Zhi. He is still not quite sure which is the best course of action there.


    To somewhat mollify the annoyedmander and give himself time to think, Liu Jin volunteered to scout the surrounding area with Soaring Feather. As well-meaning as Firm Shadows warning was, phrases such as sometime soon or this area are not precisely brimming with detail. Knowing Murong Bangs raiders might attack meant little when they didnt know the time or the ce. It could happen in a week. It could happen today. It might be an attack on Ox Storm Fortress or perhaps on any of the other fortresses. There is no way to know for sure.


    So far, Liu Jins search has turned up nothing. He cannot sense any human Qi in miles, something he is rtively happy about. If possible, hed prefer for Firm Shadow to be wrong. The more uneventful their stay at the border ends up being, the better.


    Lets cover a few dozen miles more before returning, Liu Jin tells Soaring Feather, patting the birds back.


    Soaring Feather lets out a sharp cry. Hes been flying for hours, and its the first time he does so with someone on his back.


    Dont whine, Liu Jin tells him. Do this properly, and Ill get you some good meat.


    Soaring Feathers next cry is full of energy.


    ~~~


    Night has fallen by the time Liu Jin returns to Ox Storm Fortress. The guards salute him as he enters and delivers his report to themander. The man looks smug throughout it, clearly happy at what he perceives to be Liu Jins failure. Liu Jin does not care. If nothinges from this, then all the better.


    When Liu Jin goes to his quarters to rest for the night, he finds a person waiting in front of his door. She is a slender girl with long, ck hair who looks as if she is about to nod off at any moment. She is sitting on the floor with her head resting against the wall.


    She is Huang Shings former fiance, Yi Jiao.


    Brother Qing! Yi Jiao says, standing as straight soon as she sees him. I request a moment of your time!


    She finishes with a bow so deep her body forms a perfect right angle and makes no attempt to rise from it. Liu Jin looks at her in silence for several moments. As the silence drags on, nervousness starts to emanate from Yi Jiaos body. She has her gaze fixed on the ground, but Liu Jin can sense she badly wants to look up to see what sort of look he has on his face.


    I know this might be a little sudden, but-


    We are in the middle of a mission, Liu Jin says, effectively cutting her off. Not just any mission but one of great importance to the Eternal me n.


    I understand, but-


    We sawbat not even two days ago, and we will continue to see that sort of violence for as long as we are here, Liu Jin continues. He raises a finger and waves it in a circle to gesture at their surroundings. Do not let the walls around us fool you. We are still in the middle of hostile territory. Five hundred of us came to this country, and two hundred of us have been sent to help protect this border. I am in charge of all those two hundred lives, including yours. I have had a very long meeting with themander of this fortress and still need to write a report and decide on several sensitive matters.


    He pauses. Yi Jiao does not speak this time. The girl remains silent, her body frozen stiff. Despite the content of his words, Liu Jins tone is neither angry nor using. Rather, he is so matter-of-fact he might as well be reading a list of numbers.


    I am not saying this to belittle you or to take out my frustrations on you, Liu Jin adds. I am saying this because what you came here to talk about has little relevance to such things, so I want you to understand exactly where your priorities lie in rtion to mine.


    I understand, Brother Qing, Yi Jiao says.


    Good. Liu Jin opens his door. Come in then.


    Huh? Yi Jiao finally raises her head. You are not going to throw me out?


    I said I wanted you to understand your priorities. I do not recall saying I wasnt going to hear you, Liu Jin exins. He walks in and sits on his bed before looking at the dumbfounded Yi Jiao. Leave the door open after youe in. I have enough rumors circting about me already.


    What? Oh.Oh! She grimaces. Right. That''d be bad.


    As she enters his room, she takes a look around and whistles.


    This is nice, she says. Better than what they gave us. Theyre making us share their barracks


    I am the equivalent of your superior officer to these people. This is to be expected.


    Right. Sheughs awkwardly. Right.


    Herughter dies down. Silence falls over the room, but Liu Jin is in no hurry to break it. She is the one who sought him out, so she should be the one to speak.


    I came here to talk about Shing, she says atst. Listen, I know you do not like me.


    Thats not true, Liu Jin says, interrupting Yi Jiao yet again.


    But what? She blinks at him in a manner reminiscent of Huang Shing. It seems the childhood friends do have some things inmon. What are you talking about? Why wouldnt you dislike me?


    I do not know enough about you as a person to have any strong opinion of you. Be it positive or negative, Liu Jin says, shrugging his shoulders. Those sorts of judgments will have to wait until we know each other better.


    What do you mean you dont know enough? She asks him, raising her voice a little. You were there that night! You know what I did!


    You handled things very foolishly, Liu Jin says, making her flinch. That is not enough for me to dislike you. Certainly, your actions hurt Huang Shing. She winces this time. However, if I were to dislike every person who has handled a delicate situation poorly, I would have to dislike many people. Myself included. That does not sound pleasant.


    Yi Jiao stares at him dumbly for several seconds.


    No wonder he doesnt like you, Yi Jiao mutters under her breath. But wait! You have been avoiding me all this time. What was that about if you dont dislike me?


    I believe I have listed my many concerns, Liu Jin tells her while raising an eyebrow. You will notice how all of them are a great deal more urgent than this conversation.


    Oh. Yi Jiao blushes. Right.


    Also, I believe this will be an awkward conversation, which is why I have been putting it off. I had hoped it would take you longer to work up the courage to approach me.


    ... I am not sure if Im being insulted or not.


    Insulting you would aplish nothing.


    Whatever! Yi Jiao shakes her head and takes a deep breath before looking him squarely in the eyes. How is Shing doing?


    The question is expected, but Liu Jin still takes a moment to think about his answer.


    He is as well as can be expected, Liu Jin says. He is not happy, but how can you expect him to be? I do not think his cultivation is in any real danger, which is the best we can hope for now. Whether hell ovee this on his own or whether hell need help is something we will find out in due time.


    I was hoping Id be ced in the same group as him so we could talk, Yi Jiao says, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. Maybe exin things better.


    I assumed so. That is why I made sure not to ce you two together.


    But why?!


    Liu Jin crosses his arms. Do you really believe your presence will help Huang Shing right now?


    You dont know that it wont!


    You have been content to not approach Huang Shing all this time, Liu Jin points out. Immediately, Yi Jiaos indignation crashes into guilt. It would be courteous to allow him the same time you have given yourself. Or else, what you seek is not Huang Shings benefit but your own absolution.


    She grits her teeth and looks away. ... Thats too harsh. I thought you said you didnt dislike me.


    Truth cares not about like or dislike, Liu Jin says. I had to caution Huang Shing several times in the past about approaching you recklessly. Now, I will do the same with you. Give him time. He needs it. The blow dealt to him was quite harsh.


    It wasnt supposed to be that way. Nothing was. She looks down. Its justI just...


    You saw an opportunity to escape a situation you were dissatisfied with and took it, Liu Jin finishes for her. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. You were young. What else could you have done? One could even argue Huang Shings bullheadedness is what brought about his own pain.


    Thats not true! Yi Jiao snaps at him. I should have trusted him more back then! I should have tried talking to him! I should have just


    She trails off and looks at him suspiciously.


    Did you just test me?


    Did I? Liu Jin rubs his chin in thought. A little bit, perhaps. Should I not have?


    Yi Jiaos hands curl into fists. ... I am really starting to understand why he doesnt like you.


    I am ttered that Young Master Feng Zhi speaks of me to you.


    He is less happy that Feng Zhi and Yi Jiao are close enough that he would open up about that sort of thing. He might be reading too much into it, but its also possible that Huang Shing will receive another blow to his pride in the near future.


    Come to think of it, the Young Master is the one who recruited you due to your bodys unique condition.


    Scarlet Miraculous Body. That is what she said that night. He learned about the trait during his studies under Old Jiang. It is not as rare as a Body of Extreme Yin, but in a ce like Eternal me n, it might be even more valuable. It gives her great affinity with Yang-based techniques despite being a woman.


    Are you satisfied with the arrangement so far?


    What? Of course, I am! I have regrets about how I left, but I dont have oneint about my life in the Eternal me n! Im happier now, and my cultivation has grown by leaps and bounds.


    Is that so? Liu Jin tilts his head. The Young Master has not made any demands of you? Him or anyone else? Females with special conditions tend to be in high demand and not often for the best reasons.


    Thement draws a fierce re from her.


    Feng Zhi is nothing like that!


    I see, Liu Jin says.


    Why would you even ask that? Yi Jiao asks him. You have known each other for several months. Almost a year! You should know Feng Zhi is not that sort of person!


    She says it withplete confidence. Liu Jin closes his eyes and sighs.


    We have known each other for a long time now, but I dont really feel I know the Young Master all that well. Getting to know him is hard when he holds so many things against me.


    She hmphs and crosses her arms. Thats not surprising. Putting aside the fact that youre sort of ominous and that hes jealous of you-


    What?


    Hes jealous of you, she says. He blinks at her nkly. You know? Because of how close you are to his brother while he cannot even look in his direction without Lady Ling wanting to kill him? Also, because he has issues with what happened to his mother and... I really shouldnt have said thatst part, but did you really not know? About the jealous part?


    No,


    No, he hadnt.


    ~~~