The world has a tendency to keep moving and changing despite the involvement or lack thereof of others.
While Zhen Liu and Bellona were out on their date, the powers that be in Stone Claw we’re making moves or dealing with a personal crisis or two...
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In the Wolfe Family Manor.
Patriarch Jacob Wolfe was in the middle of practicing his blade and cane forms, the shadowy aura of wolves seeming to coat both, when a subordinate came in.
"Patriarch Jacob, apologies for the intrusion," the subordinate said before kneeling and bowing his head.
"No need to apologize," Jacob replied as he resheathed his sword, "I was just about done with my forms. I assume you have news for me?"
"Yes patriarch, a piece of good news, one piece of bad news and one very good piece of news," the subordinate answered, "which would you like to hear first."
"In order of relevance, but keep that very good piece for last. I am curious to what you think counts as that."
"Very well then. Of the thirty eight people we sent to the Jade Lake, only a third has returned unscathed from the trip. The rest are either incredibly injured or are currently in the throngs of some weird madness curse. Unfortunately, Elder Gio is among the ones who have gone mad."
Jacob looked perturbed and angered at the news, but held himself back as it would have been inappropriate for a man of his status to rage at something out of his control. It didn’t stop him from gripping his cane tighter though.
"A wandering Aether Master has come to offer their services to us."
"Really?," Jacob perked up, "do we know who they are exactly?"
"Not much patriarch. Only that it’s a bloodliner who goes by the name of...Leech."
"Leech? Not a very flattering name...what of his progenitor?"
"We’re not entirely sure, from what we can tell he’s of the insect familia, cockroach clan."
"Cockroach clan? Not many progenitors originate from them...," Jacob said in deep thought, "figure out his demands and see if we can negotiate. It’s always good to have more Masters in our fold, especially now."
"At once, patriarch," the subordinate nodded.
"Now what of the final piece of news?"
"It’s about the Grand Elder, your father, patriarch."
"He has finished his retreat and is on his way back now. He has succeeded."
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An open secret about the big four powers that ruled Stone Claw was that each of them had complete control over specific caverns that just so happened to provide the environment and aether crystals necessary to aid with cultivation. The only issue was that finding the entrance to them was so well guarded that it was borderline impossible to find them, so they served as excellent training grounds for their respective leaders to do so in relative peace.
Deep beneath the Zhen Clan compound, in a cavern containing an underground lake and Aquarri aether crystals lining the walls, Patriarch Zhen Shi was in the middle of reciting the mantra associated with his formula, [Abyssal King’s Grace].
[It matters not what nations claim, the sea will hide its fangs...]
The patriarch was floating midair, sitting cross legged as he was chanting. The shadowy image of sea serpent slithered around him, as the Aquarii aether in the atmosphere slowly churned like waves. It felt as if something big was going to break through the waves and cause a cataclysmic upheaval...and yet... something was missing.
[The deep is where all life came from...it is here where the most tenacious rule...,] Zhen Shi chanted for the thousandth time today, "...bah! I can’t focus on this right now."
With a heavy sigh, Zhen Shi stopped his meditation and got back onto his feet, floating back down to the ground. As he did, the image of the sea serpent disappeared, the aether in the air becoming still.
For the past few days, a myriad of things kept piling up on the old patriarch’s shoulders.
First was the matter of his family’s relation with the Ecaredies household. So far, none of his grandsons had managed to impress the prince’s daughter and the prince’s son was going to be arriving the day after tomorrow. He could only hope that Zhen Yue and the prince’s son hit it off.
"I’m not too worried about him having any shady ideas, seeing how his father vouches for him, but if he does...well, the younger generation can handle it. Speaking of..."
The second thing that had been bothering him was the enigma that was his fourth grandson, Zhen Liu.
From potent cripple to assassination target to sudden aether puppet genius, Zhen Shi didn’t know what to make of it.
He had long since marked Zhen Liu as being someone with a very bleak future, because despite having a surprisingly high aether pool, the boy had no aether channels. In essence, this meant it was physically and spiritually impossible for him to establish a formula or use arts, because he didn’t have the means to channel aether in the first place, but lo and behold, he could use puppets to do the arts for him!
Was it his fault for not realizing his grandson’d talents sooner?
Did this mysterious master of Zhen Liu’s gave him sort of miracle medicine?
Was it possible to make up for loss time and neglect?
On top of all of that, there was also the matter of Moka’s betrayal, the subsequent confession and information provided by Gregory, and the insidious implications that suggested that many of the Zhen Clan’s troubles over the years were part of a massive conspiracy.
These questions and all of this espionage shit haunted the old sea serpent and it caused him to sigh once more...and reminiscence.
"Ai...everyday I wish you were still with us, Lilypad. You’d be better handling all of these internal affairs much better than me," Zhen Shi mumbled while staring off into empty space.
While his mind didn’t wander to younger days, he at least remembered the times they had when they first arrived to Stone Claw...
"Her favorite flower should be in bloom now...perhaps I should get her a bouquet..."
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"Man, he has been out for a really long time now. You think he’s dead?"
"Doubtful. I think he’s crying somewhere in solitude. A completely understandable reaction."
"They could have just hit it off and lost track of time?"
Back at the Zhen Clan compound, Zhen Yue, Zhen Hai and, surprisingly, Zhen Guo we’re waiting in a particular courtyard for the return of Zhen Liu.
If the past two days were anything to go off of, the three had expected Zhen Liu to come back and lay face down on the ground in front of them, out of emotional exhaustion moreso than physical.
"You okay with just hanging around, Zhen Guo?," Zhen Yue asked her peacockesque cousin, "we’re just waiting to see if Zhen Liu comes back..."
"An emotional wreck," Zhen Hai interjected.
"Inappropriate but accurate."
"Of course I don’t mind," Zhen Guo replied, "since Zhen Liu helped me get over my emotional damage, it’s only right that I provide my support in return."
The three young members of the Zhen Clan sat around and continued to wait for the cousin to come back a sad sack...only to be shocked when he didn’t.