Chapter 229: Crossing

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    Eastern Port City, you say?

    Lady Pan frowns as she turns to her bookshelf. She is one of the four leaders of the Brotherhood of Thunder. Her job is to coordinate the efforts of the Brotherhoods various informants across City Lord Leis territory.

    She is also in charge of much of the Brotherhoods records and bookkeeping.

    The name sounds familiar, she says, as her fingers brush over the spines of the books one by one. The dates curious too. Considering when the attack happened, any record should be here.

    Lady Pan takes out a large, leather-bound volume and places it over her desk.

    Do not get your hopes up, she warns Liu Jin as she turns the pages. Not all prisoners that pass through City Lord Leis territory are saved by us. That is true now and even more so back then. The Brotherhood was much smaller during those days.

    She pauses before adding, Besides, some people simply werent worth rescuing. No one was crying when the blood-thirsty murderers were being taken off the streets. In some cases, we even helped the City Lords men locate the more dangerous bandit groups.

    Interesting, Liu Jin says, stroking his chin. And because you did such a good job helping the City Lord eliminate the other bandit groups, he turned his eyes to the people. Is that it?

    The irony is not lost on any of us, Lady Pan says darkly. She jabs her finger at a page. Here.

    Liu Jin is instantly at her side, his eyes devouring the words written there.

    It seems we rescued some people who claimed to be from Eastern Port City, Lady Pan says. Not many. Just one group. We helped them sneak back to the Crimson Cloud Empire, and we have not heard from them since. Their names are

    I dont know them, Liu Jin says, having already finished reading. He sighs and goes back to his seat. However, it is nice to know other people from Eastern Port City survived.

    Lady Pan gives him a sympathetic look.

    I am sorry, she says, closing the book. I know it is not what you hoped to hear, Doctor Qing. Considering how much Elder Lius health has improved thanks to you, I wish I had better news to tell you.

    Liu Jin smiles sadly.

    Lady Pan, I used to think everyone from Eastern Port City died that night. Now, I know that night was not an utter tragedy, and I have the Brotherhood of Thunder to thank for it. Believe me when I say that is enough.

    And yet, despite knowing how unlikely it would have been, a small part of him had been hoping to find a name he recognized. A friend.

    Su Ans face flashes through his mind. It has been such a long time since he last thought of her.

    How horrible of him.

    Even so, I wish I could have done more for you, Doctor Qing. Lady Pan purses her lips. Considering the timeline, I had also been hoping for more. It was a very eventful time for the Brotherhood.

    Eventful? Liu Jin blinks. How so?

    It was only a few weeks later that we found this city, Lady Pan says. It all began when Brother Sou, thats the oaf with the ax, found a woman with violet hair lost outside the Whispering Depths. He assumed she was an escaped prisoner and tried to help her, but she took his money and food when he let his guard down.

    Lady Pan snorts in an unladylike way, showing her opinion of her fellow leader.

    Whether there really was a woman or not, it is a fact he spent a long time looking for her. First, he tried the nearby villages. Then he turned his eyes to the Whispering Deaths. Thats how he found this city. Considering the dates involved, it just occurred to me... Perhaps the woman was also from Eastern Port City?

    A woman with violet hair? Liu Jin frowns. I am sorry, but I do not recall anyone like that, though I cannot claim to have known everyone in the city.

    Lady Pan smiles sadly, showing the wrinkles on her face.

    No, you do not have to pretend, Doctor Qing. I know what I speak of is incredibly unlikely. Please, forgive an old woman for her flights of fancy.

    ~~~

    City Lord Lei Jihai will never forgive Commander Qing!

    The City Lord marches down to his study, a single letter clenched tightly in his hand. Everything about him-from his clenched jaw to his flaring Qi-screams anger.

    Out! he yells as he throws the door open, startling the two servants there. You can clean later! out!

    The servants run out of the room so fast one can be forgiven for thinking they used a movement technique. The City Lord slams the door shut and throws the letter over his desk. Then he thinks about it some more and throws it at the wall.

    Watching it noiselessly fall to the carpeted floor brings him no satisfaction.

    City Lord Lei doubts there is anyone who can decipher Murong Bangs thoughts.

    Regardless of why, General Murong decided to take Qing Jin into his army by force, knowing that General Dan is not likely to risk the truce for a cultivator in the True Realm. General Murong told Qing Jin that he would not be able to return to General Dans side until the issue with the bandits is dealt with. I am sure Murong Bang thought this was a decent enough insult for General Dan, but

    Lady Lu shrugs her shoulders.

    When you think about it, this arrangement suits us just fine, doesnt it? We will not be sent to fight the monsters from beyond the Dead Plains as long as your bandits are around. It is a very convenient position. I am sure my Jin has started to think like that. Who wouldnt?

    City Lord Lei does not reply immediately. If there was a glass in his hand, hed have shattered as all his muscles coil at once and his blood pressure rises.

    Suddenly, everything makes sense.

    I see, he says at last, his jaw barely moving because of how tightly he has it clenched. You have given me much to think about, Lady Lu.

    ~~~

    A glass hits the wall and shatters. It is the twenty-seventh one this afternoon.

    Another one! City Lord Lei roars at the servant standing by the door.

    But my lord, I the servant looks haplessly at her empty tray.

    Well, what are you waiting for? Bring more! He yells at her. Glass, plates, vases! Anything that can break!

    The servant is already running away before he finishes speaking. City Lord Lei is left alone in his office, his body heaving with rage! It is all clear to him now. It was never incompetence that hindered Commander Qing.

    That bastard never had any intention of helping him!

    The man is simply trying to avoid being sent to the front lines. The coward. No wonder he failed to capture anyone during the ambush. His promises of offering his cousin to him after he was done with the bandits now ring false.

    And yet, what can he do?

    The City Lord frowns. There is a reason why the Lei Clan has yet to take direct action against Lei Kong. It is the same reason why he tried to negotiate with Commander Qing for his cousin, and why, even though Commander Qing essentially handed him a hostage by leaving Lady Lu in his city, he still hesitates to act.

    That reason is General Murong.

    Han, a man greatly favored by General Murong, attempted to attack Commander Qing, and the general sided not with his loyal subject but with the messenger of General Nie Dan.

    That is dangerous. Far too dangerous.

    The Lei Clan have been stalwart allies of General Murong for many years. It should be unthinkable for the general to side with a stranger over them. However, the years have taught them how unwise it is to get between General Murong and that which interests him. As long as Commander Qing holds General Murongs interest, they cannot act rashly when dealing with him.

    City Lord! A soldier hurries into his office. There is someone at the gates! He says you need to meet him there!

    You imbecile! the City Lord yells with so much force the soldier falls on his back. Do you think you can just barge into my office and tell me somebody demands my presence in my city? If someone wants an audience, they should come here and wait for my attention!

    B-but he said it would be better if hes not seen entering the city, the soldier says, scrambling away from the City Lord. He said-

    But City Lord Lei is no longer listening. He has finally started to pay attention to the world around him. He can feel the strong Qi just outside the city. More importantly, he recognizes it. In the blink of an eye, the City Lord disappears from his office and moves all the way to the city gates.

    As soon as the City Lord lays eyes on the man waiting for him there, he knows his senses did not lie. It really is him.

    The man who tried to kill Commander Qing.

    Commander Han, the City Lord says. I must admit this is a surprise. I thought youd still be at Cloudburst City.

    Greetings, City Lord Lei, Han says, offering him a small bow. An opportunity presented itself to me.

    Han takes out a golden emblem from his robe and holds it for him to see.

    It is the emblem of the Lei Clan.

    City Lord Lei smiles. There is only one way Han could have gotten it. To think his uncle in Thunder Blade Fortress had already foreseen his need. Truly he is a man worthy of leading the Lei Clan.

    As I understand it, you have been having a bit of trouble with a wayward member of your clan. I happen to have a problem with that mans master. I believe we are in a position to help ourselves.

    ~~~