Molting the Mortal Coil

Explaining the circumstances of their visit, Xiezi wasted no time in ushering Uncle Zhuo forward, “Take us to the Zhu Clan Manor.”

Sage was about to suggest they stop at an inn to rest after their trip, but then he realized what he was about to say and stopped himself. What reason did he have to not immediately go to the Zhu Clan? Was he nervous to see Zhu Jiao? The last time he was here, they denied him aid. Zhu Jiao went against them and snuck out to meet him, giving him an extremely valuable escape talisman and a map to the Shou Empire. While it had just led to him being captured again, at least he kept his life. Sage was indebted to her, while also being quite displeased with the rest of the Zhu Clan. They weren’t known as a powerful fighting force, but with their depth of connections they should have been able to shield him if they really wanted to.

Being betrothed to someone in their Clan should have given him a little bit of standing with them, but from how easily they cast him off it became apparent how little they cared. Zhu Jiao’s standing among her Clan really was far lower than he’d thought. He’d been led to believe that she was a highly talented member that had just fallen out of favor. Only now did Sage realize that she was far more disliked and marrying her off to him was a way to get rid of two problems at once. That, or there was the chance that Zhu Jiao had done something in the intervening time that destroyed her reputation, enough that they had zero care for her betrothed. Well, and I suppose there’s always the chance that whoever was after me is way out of the Zhu Clan’s league.

The giant scorpion descended from the hill they’d used as a vantage point and circled around Plum Lantern City to move towards the Zhu Clan’s dedicated entrance. Uncle Zhuo was far too eye-catching, he couldn’t just be walking into town. Demonic Beast mounts were not all that unusual, but something the size of Uncle Zhuo wouldn’t fit down most of the city streets and would likely cause a panic among the mortals. As the giant scorpion moved, Sage started running through scenarios in his head. Just like a nervous teenager who was going on a date he was internally practicing lines and trying to sort out how he should be acting. He was far too used to simply being submissive to the strong while hiding his true thoughts.

In a world where strength was all that mattered, he’d always taken the route of caution. Meet everyone with kind politeness, because there was no telling if that poor street beggar was actually a peak expert. You might yell and curse at a waiter for spilling your drink, only to find out that person is related to a City Lord or the friend of a Great Clan. People didn’t wear any badges or special uniforms showing their strength. After experiencing the cruelty of this world and having his whole Clan wiped out, Sage always chose to keep his head down.

Yet, that was before. Now, he was at the top of the food chain! Even if he wasn’t at the peak, he was still in the same realm as the movers and the shakers. While he still had people and things he cared about, the people who could threaten him were now only the top characters in the world. He was no longer a little ant that could be wiped away by a Clan or Sect with a sneeze. While he still had no desire to treat everyone around him like mud, he no longer had to accept injustice. He’d gained the rights of the strong. Hah, let’s see how the Zhu Clan explains their past actions. We’ll make these little spiders sweat.

Sorting out his thoughts, he was suddenly reminded of the Kang Clan. That Elder figure had first shown him some respect and then looked down upon him immediately after. Sage had slithered his way through social interactions in the past and that Kang Clansman had seen through him. Only now did Sage realize that the Kang Clan nurtured a demeanor of the strong. Even if you weren’t strong, they appreciated such character. It was definitely a mindset for the powerful, and as a first rate power that controlled a province they had the capital to act as such. They didn’t appreciate the struggle of the weak, or the lengths that a person would go to in order to survive. Such an arrogant and overbearing demeanor was a luxury of the rich and powerful, it was also an attitude that he felt coming from the Zhu Clan.

They had already left Uncle Zhuo’s back and the party of three approached the Zhu Clan Manor’s outer gate. They had control of their own city gate, though there were city guards manning the wall above. The gate led directly into their compound and they had full control over who to let inside, the city guards were merely there to respond to emergencies and had the power to bar the gates at any time. It was truly a posting that others would envy and from the looks of the city guards on the wall, Sage saw quite a few young dandys. The Zhu Clan really is overflowing with influence. Even if their physical wealth and strength are lacking, the stories of their connections are likely true.

Xiezi announced them, “Representatives from the Chong Xie here to speak with the Zhu Clan.”

Her voice was fierce and authoritative, just like the other times Sage had seen her speak when it wasn’t just the two of them in a private conversation. She had a confident smile on her face and a vicious gaze that could send a chill up one’s spine. A gaze which she was currently using on the guards, daring them to talk back to her. One of the guards was about to respond, but then another grabbed his shoulder. As he did, a brilliant red scorpion climbed out the front of Xiezi’s open robes and up onto her shoulder. The second guard had a more elaborate emblem on his chest than the first and he carefully saluted Xiezi.

“A delegation from the Chong Clan has already arrived. Are you here to join them, Miss?”

The faces of Xiezi, Sage, and Tujiu immediately dropped. It seems they’d been beat to the punch. Yet after only a short moment, Xiezi recollected herself, “That is correct. Take us to them.”

She took out an emblem to prove their identity, which the guards looked over and then nodded, sending a messenger back. A few minutes later, a small party of guards and attendants arrived to escort them inside. They were finally let through the gates and brought through the elaborately maintained flower gardens to a whimsical looking pavilion. The courtyard house had a huge water garden in the middle of it. They were led over arched wooden bridges between small islands and into a pristine white gazebo that looked carved from ivory. Inside the huge gazebo was a party of a dozen people, drinking tea and eating snacks.

At one side of the table four beautiful women were sitting while across from them were four young men. At another table to the side, two old men and two old women were speaking, while glancing over at the gathering of youngsters from time to time. Almost immediately, they recognized the uniform of the Chong Clan on the four young men and the two old men, and from the coloring, it was easy to make out that they came from the Jinxi and Xiyi factions.

Are they… matchmaking?