Zarthos
patreon
047 - A Light to Pierce the Clouds
🕑 Added 2024-07-28 00:21:02 +0000 UTCLian Qian could scarcely believe what he saw, yet he couldn't deny reality. This was indeed one of the few black tokens that he and his daughter were the only ones allowed to issue. As for which one it was, that was easy to determine. Each black token had a special mark engraved on it that could only be viewed through a special technique, and each mark was different.
Still, if anything, Lian Qian had expected this black token to be Sun Yu's father's token. While sharing black tokens wasn't something the Lian Clan explicitly discouraged, this wasn't the intent behind it. Yet, this wasn't it; far from it, in fact.
No, through the secret technique, Lian Qian recognized a cloud. This cloud represented only a single person: Qin Yun. Indeed, this was the token Qin Yun had given back to the clan, only to be snatched away by Ma Zhiqiang. As for how it was now in Sun Yu's possession, any guesses were as good as any. Also, this was beside the point. All that mattered was that the token was real and that Sun Yu could make use of it.
While some may frown that someone may use the token without its owner's express permission, the Lian Clan also stressed that they weren't responsible for securing it. If one wished to exercise that power, they also needed the strength to safeguard it. In the other three cases, this was a non-issue, as nobody would dare cross those three individuals.
Still, Qin Yun was an outlier. Besides, they hadn't expected him to give it back so readily. As such, this token had no owner. While the proper response would have been to simply retire it from circulation... well, you all know how it ended. While Sun Yu using it was unorthodox, it wasn’t something the Lian Clan could deny her.
While Lian Qian was less than pleased, and his expression showed as much, he had no choice but to relent to her demand, as doing otherwise would have questioned the token's power. Still, he had one recourse in such a case. After all, the Lian Clan wouldn't dig themselves into a hole without any way out.
“Does the young lady truly wish to use this token to interfere in the Lian Clan’s affairs?" Lian Qian asked, trying his best to remain as neutral as possible. "In this case, you should be aware of our policy concerning such situations."
"Policy?" Sun Yu parroted. This was the first time a crack had appeared in her armour of confidence. It was wholly unexpected, as her father had never told her of such a policy.
“You may not be aware, as you gained possession of this token through unorthodox means, but while the token grants you power similar to one of our core elders, even allowing you to weigh in on our internal policies, it can only be used once for such a purpose. Then, it will have to be returned to the clan," Lian Qian explained slowly, savouring Sun Yu's change in expression.
He couldn't help but want to hug the one elder who had petitioned for this clause to be included in the contract when they first began issuing this token. After all, granting unlimited power to an outsider was beyond foolish, no matter how valuable this relationship might seem initially. After all, people and situations were bound to change. How many could claim to have always remained the same in the long flow of history?
Sun Yu remained silent, slowly weighing her options. Still, Lian Qian had no intention of pressing her for her answer. After all, this decision would have a much more significant impact than on just the Lian Clan. Her stance would say much about her own clan's stance in this conflict. If they sided with the Ma Clan, Lian Qian would have to take the appropriate measures.
Yet, when the tension was at its highest and everyone nervously held their breaths, a man chose to speak up, defusing the situation.
"Honey," he said gently, looking into Sun Yu's deep golden eyes. "There's no need to think so much. It isn't worth exchanging this black token against a Ma Clan elder. There's no need to feel down as you tried your best to prevent a conflict between two of the four great clans. If, after all, they are still determined to go to war, there isn't much you can do to stop them. We can only hope they won't involve the common populace even further in their conflict. After all, the Sun Clan exists for the well-being of all its citizens, not just the four great clans."
While his words seemed to be for Sun Yu to hear, in fact, he was addressing the whole audience witnessing this scene. Qin Yun, deep in his hole, couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at how gullible the common man was as he heard the audience cheer for that man.
After all, conflicts between cultivators often involved the mortal world, yet they were always ignored by those who possessed power. But now, this young man had implied that the Sun Clan would protect them against the destruction the Lian and Ma clan would bring to Jin City. Indeed, they would be overjoyed to know that someone had their backs.
Of course, Qin Yun knew better. Since when had people in this world been so altruistic? Why go out of his way to say all this if not for good publicity? There wasn't anything like having the moral high ground to grind your opponent into dust through societal pressures. Still, to use the masses this way, in a world governed by strength alone, took someone of great intellect. Qin Yun grew curious as to whom it might be.
While Qin Yun liked being at the bottom of that hole, away from prying eyes, he felt an urge to see who that man was. With a single leap, he emerged from the hole to the stares of the surrounding populace. He was momentarily bewildered until he remembered that the residual winds that had collided with him had slightly cut his clothes. He also had mud caked all over him.
Qin Yun looked dreadful, yet he held his head high, unashamed. Besides, nobody dared say anything, as the corpse at the bottom of that hole was plain for all to see. While some refused to believe the facts in front of them, most knew better. Even if he used underhanded methods, how could a worthless mortal man truly defeat a Void Core realm cultivator?
Qin Yun ignored everyone around and only focused on the couple before him. While he had never been acquainted with Lady Sun, Qin Yun immediately recognized her. In fact, how could he not? Those golden locks and eyes were unmistakable.
He had long heard that she shone like the sun, yet even that couldn't do her justice. Still, Qin Yun found that almost unnatural; no one could glow that much. Yet, this wasn't anything for him to ponder—at least not now.
To her side was a man holding a large umbrella, shielding them both from the torrential deluge that fell without end. Qin Yun couldn't help but appreciate Lian Qian's skepticism. Removing his advantage at this juncture would have been genuinely foolish. Unfortunately, unlike other cultivators who could ward off the rain using their Qi, Qin Yun had no choice but to be drenched from head to toe.
Yet, the cold rain helped him to cool his head. While he didn't regret killing Ma Zhiqiang, he must admit that he may have been a little premature in his decision. Yet, what hurt the most was the loss of his Innate Qi.
What hurt him wasn't the setback in his cultivation but his promise to his wife. Without the use of his Qi, he couldn't fully heal her anymore. While he was almost done curing her meridians, some remained left to be done. He would have to find a way to remedy that. In fact, this was his most pressing matter. He couldn't wait for this whole debacle to be over and done with so he could get to work finding a solution.
Going back to the man, to Qin Yun's surprise, that man didn't evoke any particular feelings in him. Yet, it was this normalcy that couldn't help but alert him to how strange it all was. From what Qin Yun had uncovered from all the rumours that floated around Jin City, this should have been the famed City Lord's son-in-law. Yet, there was no trace of his supposed genius.
Either he was injured so severely that nothing seemed apparent, or he had learned to hide it all from the start. Yet, nobody seemed to question him, which Qin Yun couldn't help but find strange. Qin Yun had once tried to do the same, but it always seemed to blow up in his face. Maybe he didn't possess the talent to be seen as normal? Still, the conversation went on regardless of Qin Yun’s existence.
“Indeed," Lian Qian said, responding to the young man's earlier statement. "It pains me greatly that it had to come to this. Yet, my pain can hardly be compared to those unjustly affected by this sudden incident. You have my most heartfelt apologies."
He then proceeded to bow down to all those present. The scene was so silent that all you could hear was the sound of the rain hitting the ground. Yet, Qin Yun couldn't help but applaud in his heart. This, indeed, was a show worth seeing. The patriarch of one of the great clans bowing his head was unheard of—at least, no records of such a thing had ever been spread around.
Even Lady Sun seemed taken aback for a moment, yet her radiant smile never left her lips. Qin Yun could swear he saw the young man's eyes narrow slightly. He hypothesized that the young man was plotting how to eliminate Lian Qian. At least, if that man was anything like Qin Yun, as Lian Huiling had pointed out, this is what he would do.
As for the loss of face, Lian Qian didn't really care. What was his own face in front of his clan's face? If bowing his head could elevate his clan's reputation in the populace's hearts, he would do it in a heartbeat, just as he did.
“Sun Yu truly admires the Lian Clan Patriarch’s magnanimity. This is why I hope you will find it in your heart to let bygones be bygones and end this conflict right here.”
At this moment, Qin Yun wished for nothing more than a seat and a snack so he could sit back and watch this drama unfold. Still, since when did people here even care about swaying public opinions?
On the receiving end of that statement, Lian Qian shook his head, showing an expression laced with unwillingness.
"While I wish for nothing more than to acquiesce to your wishes, I am the clan's leader and must think of the clan above all else," Lian Qian replied. "How can I sleep at night knowing that my clan had been wronged and I did nothing to remedy this situation? What righteousness would there be in letting a criminal who has sinned against my clan go unpunished? No, even if I must become a sinner myself, I must do it for my clan."
Qin Yun could barely stop himself from laughing out loud. He hadn't expected Lian Qian to have such a mischievous side. While he knew Lian Qian was flexible in his means, this was so far removed from his usual personality that even his own daughter, Lian Huiling, could scarcely recognize him.
Still, the discussion was at an impasse as it just went full circle. Lian Qian wouldn’t relent unless the Sun Clan offered something of equal value. It wasn’t that Lady Sun was unwilling, but she simply couldn’t. Lian Qian asked for much more than what she could give.
Yet, at that moment, the world stood still. Light pierced through the heavy rain before swatting it all away, and all that remained was a sun hanging in the sky, two in fact.
