Chapter 33 - Reaching an Accord (2)

"Disgusting," Mei shivered.

"There are other concubines, and only beautiful maids would be accepted into the palace," Yang agreed. "Cultivation-wise, the younger brother is the problem—or half-brother. However, the empress does not have the emperor's favor. It seems the ties of power are balanced. This can only mean we must deal with those influenced by them. Either that, or we use a borrowed knife to take them down for us. Is there a prince who has the next highest influence in the empire?"

"That would be the fourth brother. He has the most influence over the army and is a well-known practitioner from when he roamed the lands," Sima Qing answered. "He is the last with the Yin Yang Divine Tattoo, as the fifth might have been assassinated."

"We could make use of him as a puppet and take him down when he no longer has any worth," Yang pondered aloud. "What are your current plans?"

"I aim to have Gold Lotus City place first among the nine competing city schools. This will get me noticed and awarded by my father. After that, I aim to have the Minister of Rites and Commerce on my side," Shen Dong answered.

"One to spread your name and the other to partake in important matters. This is good. However, you need to shine. To shine, you need disaster. For disaster, the people must suffer. Can you bear the suffering of some to rise in power?" Yang asked. "How determined are you to prevent those two incompetents from being the next emperor?"

"I cannot let them ruin this empire," Shen Dong answered.

"Would you move as directed? Would you say as instructed? Would you lower yourself to obey me?" Yang asked, looking him in the eye.

"If it means becoming the emperor, I would even make a blood contract with the most vile of demons to save my people," Shen Dong answered.

"So the resolve is there. What about the price?" Yang asked. "Sister, any demands?"

"I want to know where a Fragment of Darkness is sealed," Mei answered.

"You would bring disaster upon us all," Shen Hua gasped.

"She would not. If my suspicions are correct, she has the Yin Yang Divine Tattoo because of a pact with the Eye of Darkness. She might even be the one who subdued the Fragment of Darkness," Guan Hai interrupted.

"As expected: you realized her secret," Yang narrowed his eyes. "Still, the offer has been made for her cooperation. Do you accept her terms?"

"Have you truly subdued and destroyed the consciousness of the Eye of Darkness?" Shen Dong asked first.

"It is how I got my affinity for light," Mei answered, a ball of light flickering in her hand before it vanished.

"Then I accept your term. However, there are practitioners from all over the world that have come to the Pangu continent. We must wait for such a time that they are gone and won't come back," Shen Dong said.

"That's fair," Mei shrugged; the need for power was not immediate. She would have more time to collect more souls.

"And your terms?" Shen Hua asked Yang.

"I do not know as of this moment. Still, you must agree to give me what I ask in the future," Yang said.

"I have no other choice. There is no one with such a manipulative mind capable of blending into the palace without suspicion. I assume you know how to act appropriately?" Shen Dong asked.

"I bow to no one," Yang said. "If I cannot accomplish my mission with my cunning, my poison will finish the job without question. There is no more terrifying expert in poison than me."

"I do not disagree with that," Shen Dong said as they both rose to shake hands.

"So we have an accord. The next few years are going to be so much fun," Yang smiled. "I trust you'll look the other way if some people go missing? My sister and I require souls."

"Souls?" Qing gasped. "How could you bear messing with the dead?"

"They're only human. Who cares?" Yang thought but said, "Souls are the purest form of mortal spirit energy. Harnessing their power is infinitely more effective than that of spirit pills and magical beast cores."

"We're just letting you know in advance. Good luck in your training," Mei concluded, and the duo left the royals and retired imperial guards in shocked silence.

-------Present Day--------------

"The two-and-a-half months of training is over. There is only half a month until the tournament, and we have much ground to cover. We could take a teleportation array in the city, but it is best to hone your skills in the real world. We will be traveling incognito. Say your farewells to your loved ones. We leave the city tomorrow at dawn," Guan Hai said, narrowing his eyes at the celebrating Lu Jing.

"Finally, I get to leave the city," Sun Yi sighed. "I must prepare my books and alert my father."

"I got to have enough money," Lu Jing said, and the two boys rushed out of the training grounds.

"I'll go shopping for some convenient clothes," Sima Qing said.

"I'll join you. I'll also need such clothes," Lin grinned, and the two left as well.

"Are you going to take your snakes?" Shen Dong asked.

"Only Red Death. It would be too... inconvenient to bring my hydras, seeing as I agreed to cooperate. I'll need to think of the long term from the first visit to the capital. I am young and need to be underestimated and overlooked. Red Death can shrink and hide in my robes. He will suffice," Yang said.

"He doesn't really get along with others," Mei apologized in his stead.

"You seem to have improved your relations with him," Shen Hua noted.

"Like you, I am also being used. I know it. He knows it. And we all know the same is true for you. I changed after being freed from that horrible Eye of Darkness. I can predict his goal. He will help you, bringing you to a better status than you are right now. Of that, you do not have to doubt," Mei said.

"What about you? What is your goal in all this, besides another Fragment of Darkness?" Shen Dong asked.

"I also have my own secrets from my brothers. I will just let you know this: make my brother cry, and he is the least of your worries. I wield the power of a Fragment of Darkness. There might be side effects, but I will punish you," Mei said and left after her declaration.

"Does she mean Guo Lin or Guo Yang?" Shen Dong frowned.

"Guo Lin, as he is seduced by Shen Qing as Sima Qing. I just can't see Guo Yang crying. He seems to have the whole world in the palm of his hand," Shen Hua answered.

"I agree. We must center our attention on the first and third triplet. Our mission to draw in Guo Lin is already a success. We just have to reveal the truth of Qing's identity without ruining the romantic interest," Guan Hai nodded as Mei disappeared from view.