MatHaz
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Interlude: The Wandering Young Master II
🕑 Added 2024-10-11 11:00:08 +0000 UTC~~~
Elder Gang is a firm believer in constants.
In a world full of countless ephemeral things, that which endures, that which never falters and is never in doubt, surely has more value. Elder Gang has always believed that. Thus, his life was one defined by several constants. His position as an Elder. The superiority of the Xiao Sect over the Yun Sect. The supremacy of Patriarch Xiao Zheng over all he governed.
In a matter of years, he lost all those things.
Perhaps that said much about how truly important those things were.
The great Xiao Zheng was killed in battle. The generational conflict with the Yun Sect was made irrelevant by the destruction of Eastern Port City. His position as Elder was stripped from him when he refused to bow to Xiao Yifan after she took over the Xiao Sect. For daring to side with Young Master Xiao Fang, he has been branded as a traitor to the Xiao Sect.
How laughable.
How frail.
How pathetic.
It is not that he cannot understand those who turned their backs on Young Master Xiao Fang. An Emperor Realm cultivator like Xiao Yifan is obviously a superior choice to lead the Sect. If her rule did not have to equal Young Master Xiao Fang’s death, he would have already tried to counsel him against rising up against her.
However, it does, so he can never accept her. There are days when Elder Gang wishes he was stronger. If he could step into the Emperor Realm, he could strike down the Young Master’s treacherous aunt and restore everything to its rightful place, but doing so would require braving the perils of the Renegade Realm. Even if he could somehow make it through, he’d have to leave the Young Master’s side for far too long. That cannot be.
Even if nothing else remains constant, at the very least, he must strive to be so.
“Elder Gang, it has been two weeks. Surely, there is no need for you to keep waiting here?”
“My duty is to watch over Young Master Xiao Fang, Young Shen Mi,” Elder Gang replies to the girl who walks up to him. “Why would I be in any other place?”
Shen Mi is a disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. The young girl found them a few weeks after they learned of the destruction of Eastern Port City. She carried with her two letters. One was a letter of introduction from Lady Dai Jie of the Divine Frozen Palace. The other was from Young Mistress Xiao Shuang. Shen Mi has traveled with them ever since, much to Young Master Xiao Fang’s vexation. As someone who is more used to dealing with subordinates than peers, Young Master Xiao Fang cannot help but find the haughty, highly prideful, and superbly talented girl’s presence to be quite... trying.
“Elder, your dedication is worthy of respect, but…” Shen Mi shrugs and haplessly gestures at the landscape before them. “There is not much one can watch over right now.”
A massive sandstorm blocks the way forward. It is so dense that any attempt to see further than one’s own nose is an impossibility. It has been raging for the past three weeks, and if the locals are to be believed, it will continue raging for many more moons. The phenomenon is common in the Forest of Dunes.
Two weeks ago, Young Master Xiao Fang ventured into the sandstorm.
He has yet to come out.
“Hmph!” The young girl crosses her arms. “The fool just went off chasing a rumor! If he gets lost in the dunes forever, it will be his own fault. He does not deserve your consideration, Elder.”
“Young Shen Mi, you come here every day,” Elder Gang points out. “If Young Master Xiao Fang does not deserve consideration, then he is certainly fortunate to have yours.”
The young girl’s Qi bristles.
“My concern is as a representative of the Divine Frozen Palace,” Shen Mi says. “It would be inconvenient for us if he dies.”
She almost sounds like she believes it. Alas, her argument has no convincing power. Just by standing here, the girl’s blue and white robes are being dirtied by the sand. Considering she rarely bothers stepping out of her palanquin to avoid being dirtied by the outside world, her constant visits here say more than words ever will.
Ah, youth.
“Besides,” Shen Mi adds, “Xiao Heng is too dull, his wife too servile, and the big-nosed one too boorish. Xiao Fang’s company is preferable to that of his companions.”
“Naturally,” Elder Gang says, nodding and smiling.
“Who even is this Liu Jin?!” Shen Mi asks with growing irritation. “Everything was fine until Sister Xiao Shuang’s letter arrived! He suddenly decided to be stupid and march into that sandstorm!”
“Who is Liu Jin?” Elder Gang echoes and laughs. “A constant in the Young Master’s life, I suppose. A friend, perhaps. A brother, if the Young Master allowed himself to be a little more honest. Above all, he is someone the Young Master absolutely does not want to lose to.”
“Ah.” Comprehension seems to dawn on Shen Mi. “This is a stupid thing, isn’t it?”
Elder Gang laughs harder.
How can he disagree? After learning his childhood friend had become Emperor of a nation and rescued Young Master Xiao Nan, Young Master Xiao Fang saw no other alternative but to walk into the sandstorm! The Young Master, who has grown in wisdom, overcome several trials, and convinced several Branch Masters to side with him, reacted as if he had never left Eastern Port City!
How could it be any other way?
“Elder Gang, this is serious!” Shen Mi insists, “Cultivation is the result of diligent effort. It cannot be left up to the result of outrageous flights of fancy.”
“Do not misunderstand, Young Miss,” Elder Gang says. “This Elder does not seek to mock you. Your words are undoubtedly correct. However, if we seek to be outrageous, we have no choice but to occasionally indulge in outrageous acts. Be bold! Be daring! Young people have the right to be that way.”
“Boldness and daring must not be mistaken for foolishness,” Shen Mi replies, “He’s probably lost-”
She does not get to finish her sentence.
A deafening boom resounds across the area. Shen Mi raises her Qi to protect herself from the shockwave that expands across the desert. Elder Gang does not. He smiles as he senses what lies at the center of it all.
A most familiar Qi.
A most welcome breakthrough.
He appears an hour later, covered in wounds and dried blood. The sand is almost up to his waist. Only his Qi prevents him from being buried further by the pull of the Earth Realm.
“I…” Xiao Fang says, his voice sounding hoarse from lack of use. “Have triumphed.”
Shen Mi does not say anything. She stares in stunned silence, and it is not just because of the Young Master’s improved cultivation. There is something else at work. A heaviness to his presence that was not there before.
“A most excellent breakthrough, Young Master,” Elder Gang says, bowing in greeting. “Congratulations.”
“I… will take back the Xiao Sect,” Xiao Fang declares with renewed resolve, his power rolling from him in waves. “I won’t just take it back. I will make it better than it ever was before. I will turn the Xiao Sect into the greatest Sect of the Crimson Cloud Empire! I… I… refuse to lose!”
He raises his fist high as he declares his resolution, but the effect is somewhat ruined by him fainting three seconds later. Elder Gang shakes his head and picks him up.
“...stupid...butthead…” the Young Master mutters in his sleep.
Elder Gang smiles.
~~~
Mini-Character List
Elder Gang: Elder of the Xiao Sect. Constant.
Shen Mi: Disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. Absolutely not worried.
Xiao Fang: Heir of the Xiao Sect. Refuses to lose.
AN:
Next update is on Monday. We're not done with the Interludes yet.
Shen Mi does know who Liu Jin is in the sense that she knows he's Xiao Shuang's husband. Her outburst is more, "What is he to Xiao Fang to make him react like that?"
Comments
Barrett
Effort/reward, as well - he has vanished into the empire, and blends in with the rest of the populace. Having at least one Heaven Realm cultivator with him may be noticed, but may not be recognized by most - and means that anyone sent to kill him has to be able to get past a Heaven Realm cultivator. But a major defense is that the Divine Frozen Palace will likely take it poorly - and I don't know that the Xiao Clan has a Major Sect backer anymore.
Barrett
Pretty sure Su Daji is the student (and victory prize - how that will work is concerning). Still, probably the final match of the tournament.
Barrett
I don't think this is an Inheritance - I think he just went into a sandstorm (probably a magic one), and used that to push himself to Earth Realm.
Barrett
I recall thinking she was an Emperor - and wondering where I got the idea from (since it did seem odd they'd be only barely in the Top 100 when Xiao Nan competed in the Crimson Cloud Tournament, when there are only ~100 Emperors in the Crimson Cloud Empire).
Noah
It seems like Xiao Fang and Xiao Shuang are gonna be two of his competitors in the competition. His “final” opponent is probably gonna be the Wandering Wind’s student though, after he defeats one of Liu Jin’s Wives.
Noah
I’m curious how his lack of weight, relative to other Earth Realms, is gonna affect him in the competition. It seems like that’d be one of Liu Jin’s most powerful weapons.
Noah
Yeah, there’s no way that Liu Jin isn’t considered a “spectacular” talent. Lady Dai Jie literally called him the most talented in a century, and she knows more about him than most. He also defeated a rival from across the plains in a pretty spectacular fashion, and they are supposed to be way ahead in cultivation knowledge/power. I think that Jin just appeared behind at first because his focus wasn’t on advancing as quickly as possible, and because his motivations are a bit different from most cultivators his age.
Noah
I don’t think it’s just about the “quantity” of Emperors. The Storm Dragon Empire had 3 Emperors, but was still considered less powerful than the great Sects, even when Liu Jin’s Dad ran things. The Great Sect’s have both a lot of Emperor’s and very powerful Emperors. For instance, the Feng brothers aren’t just Emperor’s, they’re Emperor’s that are powerful enough to command other Emperors. I’m also not sure that the Xiao Sect was necessarily “common.” Liu Jin’s father could have chosen anywhere to raise his son, after destroying his own cultivation. He specifically chose the Xiao Sect to raise his son, which suggests to me that he considered them both powerful enough to weather most turmoil. The Xiao family also produced 3 prodigies (Xiao Nan, Fang, and Xiang Shuang). I don’t think it’s likely that those three were the only talented members of their extended family.
Noah
Xiao Nan’s interlude makes sense. He’s desperate for advice on leaving the Renegade Realm because that would mean that he would have the power of an Emperor. His goal isn’t just to leave the wastes, it’s to leave the wastes with enough power to fight his aunt. If all Xiao Nan wanted was to leave, then he would have done so. Instead, he wants advice from the Duke that will help him advance.
Noah
He also has the support of the Storm Dragon Empire now. If she knows about Liu Jin’s current (political) power, then she likely knows that he was also raised in her city. It wouldn’t be good to rock the boat by using her advanced cultivation to kill his childhood “brother” after already capitalizing on the attack that killed his father. Liu Jin may not be an emperor, but his direct subordinate is
C
Way to Go Little Fang! I think he just rewrote his "fate"
Green0Photon
It's been so long since I first read this fic. The beginning arc specifically in Eastern Port City. I can't remember who this guy is at all
Lightseid
You know what I might be crazy after all because you are right. I don't see a cultivation level about her being mentioned, but then why hasn't she killed Xiao Fang and why did Xiao Nan think he could do anything against her ? This is weird. There was also the interlude "cousins", where Xiao Nan thinks about the future and says that the Xiao sect will have four emperors and I thought he meant himself, Xiao Fang, the Patriarch and Liu Jin, but he might have been thinking about Xiao Yifan there instead of Liu Jin.
Lightseid
You know what I might be crazy after all because you are right. I don't see a cultivation level about her being mentioned, but then why hasn't she killed Xiao Fang and why did Xiao Nan think he could do anything against her ? This is weird. There was also the interlude "cousins", where Xiao Nan thinks about the future and says that the Xiao sect will have four emperors and I thought he meant himself, Xiao Fang, the Patriarch and Liu Jin, but he might have been thinking about Xiao Yifan there instead of Liu Jin.
Yoav
In the capital branch. She was the head of that branch.
Yoav
Most likely yes.
Yoav
Tbf, that was before the training with Jiang, the inheritance and everything else. Before he met jisng jin was a talent lower than many of his current peers. Then he met jiang. And that flew out of the window.
Yoav
I checked both the previous xiao fang interlude and the first cousins interlude. There isn't any mention on the aunts cultivation level. So she could have been an emperor level 1 back then.
StarBat
New emperor? Weird. Aunt Xiao? Where was she while the city was being attacked and destroyed?
Haider Ali
Ive caught up. Guys please rec something quite similar to this. I like the tropes in this novel
kimchii
I don't think it was ever explicitly mentioned that the aunt was heaven. I believe it was just an assumption that people made. Though, I'm curious how she was content with being only 1 level lower than zheng and not the matriarch of her own sect.
MasterofNova
Glad we're all on the same page with his Aunt being an Emperor being weird and inconsistent. Besides that like to see the young Master is still growing and is informed on current events. Keeps things fresh.
Guy
If his aunt were an emperor realm cultivator what's preventing her from killing Xiao Fang outright and consolidating power within the Xiao Sect? the support of DFP?
Blahful
So an inheritance? Also wtf with the Emperor Aunt? Are them Emperors growing on the fucking trees? This just diluted everything. I know inflation's real, but please limit this emperor inflation.
Derek Walker
Not only is his aunt being an emperor seem inconsistent with the previous Xiao Fang interlude, it also doesn’t fit well with the Xiao Nan interlude this week. Why does he think he could help in this conflict (at least power wise) if his aunt is an emperor. He would be mostly useless even if were completely normal
RSGA's Patreon
The question is, did she ruin some bits of the Xiao sect in burning through Renegade, or did she get help.
Lightseid
There's something weird going on here, because before she was said to be Heaven realm. Maybe the author made a mistake or maybe he decided to change her cultivation level.
Lightseid
Yeah, I remember the same thing. So I'm not crazy ! Well, not for that reason anyway.
G K
It's been a while since we heard butthead :) Are Emperors so common that even the Xiao Sect had two? If so, then the dominance of the big four sects seems suspect given they only have < 10 Emperors each. Or is that most of the big four Emperor's are in the higher end of levels & with more realised Dao's? Or that they have Divinities as members?
Derek Walker
Maybe his aunt advanced, but I thought he she was only heaven realm 2 years ago?
Valerian
Ah the Tsunderes are into each other. Good job Xiao Fang, continue being a good wingman to Liu Jin by taking all the Tsundere girls for yourself so Jin doesn't have to feal with them
Tobias Hammeken Arboe
We've been told before that Jin isn't *that* spectacular a cultivator on his own compared to a lot of his peers, so I think he's fine More than that though, I think this forging that Fang is going through right now is gonna be great for not only his cultivation but also his Dao
Guy
Are we going to have another week of interludes?
Guy
Still a bit worried for him because Liu Jin has so many advantages going for him, but am very curious to see how Xiao Fang develops
AB
Glad that he is still keeping up. The childish rivalry just wouldn't be the same if he got left in the dust.
Robert Davidson
Good to see confirmation that Xiao Fang is in Liu Jin's class, talent-wise.
