Vera stared at Aspartese with sharpened eyes.
Aspartese stared back listlessly, chewing on a piece of jerky. He slid a cup of Baiju across the table.
"Don't stare at me like that. These orders come from Vice Master Tong Xuan himself."
Vera's fingers tightened over a sheet of paper, containing orders from the main branch.
"Why do we have to comply with the phantom sword? Will we have to give up entire camps if he asks for it?"
Aspartese pointed at the cup of Baiju. "Drink or leave. You're ruining my day drinking."
A groan sounded in the room; Vera set down the sheet of paper and picked up the cup. Followed by a deep swig, the cup slammed into the table.
"Tell me now."
Tired of the badgering, Aspartese rolled his eyes; he picked up his flask and took a sip.
"Although it isn't public, the phantom sword is most likely a member of the fallen Zhuge clan. All of humanity owes the late Zhuge Immortal for his contributions during the war against the divine beasts. Hence, as their remnants are in need today, we will oblige."
A shrill whistle sounded as the flask of Baiju was thrown to Vera. Without much effort, Vera caught it mid-air.
"Why did the clan fall?"
He threw the flask back to Aspartese.
Followed by a mouthful of jerky, Aspartese started narrating the tale of the Zhuge.
"As you know, most prominent sects have a few Laws that they discovered. However, the Zhuge... They only came up with the one, and that alone was enough. Last I remember, it was called the Law of Sacrifice."
Vera leaned in and reached for the flask only to have his hand swatted away.
"Get your own!"
Vera frowned at Aspartese's reprimand. Though, considering how much he bummed off Aspartese during the competition...
He called for one of the waiters and ordered two flasks of heated Dukuang.
"Don't be so cranky, old man; I got you a flask as well. Go on with the story."
Aspartese, a branch leader of the most renowned sect in the domain, grinned at the prospect of a free drink. After clearing out his throat, he continued with the story.
"As far as I know, in his dying moments, the Zhuge Immortal made a sacrifice. For all the qi within his body, he asked that the Law of Sacrifice be engrained in the blood of his descendants."
Vera's eyes widened at what he'd just heard: a Law that existed prenatally; it was truly fitting of an immortal's capability.
Contrary to Vera's marvelling at the Zhuge Immortal's actions, Aspartese bore a dull expression.
"Don't think too well of it, considering that one sacrifice cost the Zhuge clan their entire lineage."
At these words, Vera's brows furrowed. While the immortal's goal was well-intentioned, it failed due to a single adage.
Treasure unguarded by strength is a curse veiled as a boon.
A moment of silence passed; soon the waiter Vera called on earlier rushed back with two flasks of warmed Dukuang, handing one to both of them.
The flask in his hand, Vera stared at Aspartese in confusion.
"What happened?" He asked, only to be met with Aspartese's palm as he drained his flask.
Having wiped the excess from his beard, Aspartese picked up the Dukuang.
"Shortly after the sacrifice the clan members erased all written records of the Law to protect themselves from certain factions. However, a few short years later, some drunkard revealed what the sacrifice was. From then on those 'factions' whittled down the clan's strength over a few centuries."
Vera raised his hand, interupting Aspartese. Still happy about the free liquor, he nodded, letting Vera ask away.
"Which faction was this? Are they ones we would know of?"
Aspartese shook his head; his grip tightened over the flask's mouth. "The whittling was done mostly through merchant groups. We have no clue as to who was behind it. They structurally oppressed the clan to a level where only a third party could change the situation."
Aspartese's expression grew dark; his nostrils flared up.
"The third party that stepped in to help demanded the Law of Sacrifice as payment. And when they were rejected..."
He took a swig of the Dukuang and slammed the flask into the table. Thin strings of qi seeped through his skin.
Those seated nearby hurried away. The sheer pressure from Aspartese made their bodies convulse.
Noticing the racket, he reigned in his qi immediately. The scowl on his face softened.
"The third-party merchant group had integrated completely with the sect. When the time came, they destroyed the clan in a single day. At the peak of battle, the clan leader sacrificed his own life to transport the non-combatants away. As for the Phantom Sword, he killed his way out and became the last living combatant of the Zhuge Clan."
Blood pulsed through Vera's veins. The tips of his fingers bit into the wooden table; splinters pressed against his palm.
"Why didn't anyone help them? The merchant groups' motives were abundantly clear."
Aspartese nodded solemnly, his gaze reaching the lamplights at the ceiling.
"It's easy to say that in retrospect. Very few notice what happens to small clans. As for those who did, there was no chance of helping. Malicious intent or not, by law, the third parties didn't commit any wrongdoing. If anything, the Phantom Sword, who is hunting those groups now, is the criminal."
Vera tore off the table's edge. He reached into his pouch and threw a handful of gold at the table he broke.
"What nonsense!"
His steps turned to vigourous strides. His words turned to barks.
"I'll comply!"
Aspartese, who sat by the shattered table, looked at Vera's receding figure with a blank expression. He set down his flask and dusted off his robes.
"You ruined the mood, brat..."
After settling the bill with the money Vera left behind, Aspartese returned to his office.
***
Well into night, Vera rested at home. Exempt from training for recovery, the time had come for him to reap what he had sown.
It had been nearly a month since the inter-branch competition had come to an end. Finally, the long-awaited rewards had come to the sixth branch.
Sat upon his bed, Vera perused through a catalogue. Having placed at the highest rank in all events he participated in and being the most promising of the lot, he was given the liberty to choose from a set of rewards.
"I've been given the right to choose from a wider collection of Laws at any point in the future and some items that I can pick right now."
He slumped into his bed, exhausted from the day's training. The catalogue was flung over to his desk.
"I don't need any more weapons. I have more techniques than I can use at the moment. As for qi... It won't matter until I reach the One Law stage."
Followed by a loud yawn, Vera turned over to his side and pulled his blanket up.
"I need what matters today. I can't use all the qi I have at this point. The only real option is the meridian enhancement concoction."
The creases around his eyes grew deeper.
The conversation from earlier in the day stuck to his mind. "What fucking nonsense..."
His restless fingers dug into the mattress as he thought of the Zhuge clan's story. "A bunch of ungrateful dogs."
He took a deep breath. His grip over the mattress eased, and the creases over his eyes dulled.
No matter how much I hate it, what's gone is gone. Not that I could've done anything about it.
Just as he was about to shut his eyes, the door to his room opened, and from it Chang-yu walked in. A towel wrapped around her hair and a plain nightgown around her body. She sat at Vera's bedside.
"Did you make up your mind?"
Vera scooted in and made space for her.
"Mh... For now I'll just get the meridian concoction."
The sheets rustled as Chang-yu got under the blanket as well. Her back pressed against Vera's chest, and her head nuzzled over his arm.
"I'll stay over tonight."
Her cheeks flushed as Vera embraced her tightly.
"Should we tell Chun?"
The curtains fluttered as cold wind seeped into the room. The blanket tightened at its seams.
"Hm... let's figure that out later."
...
While most were going to sleep under the night sky, Aspartese sat wide awake. Beside him was an uninvited guest.
The Phantom Sword had entered the sixth branch's guest room. The windows trembled under the force of the breeze.
His glare bit into Aspartese's chest.
"Do you know of all the camps?"
To this, Aspartese slid a map across the table. "Our young ones are clearing out these camps as well. Play nice if you see one."
Zhuge Jin, the Phantom Sword, grabbed the paper from the table and got up. His voice was as coarse as sandpaper.
"As long as they don't get in my way, I won't do anything."
As he stormed off to the exit, Aspartese called out to him. His tone ran heavy, and his qi pressed on Zhuge Jin.
"I respect your mission and wish you well. But that is as far as it goes. Hurt one of mine and these lands will be your grave."
Cold sweats beaded over Zhuge Jin's forehead. His vision doubled over for a moment. Despite the overwhelming difference, his grip never left the hilt of his sword.
"Like I said... Keep them out of my way."
Without waiting for a response, he burst out of the room. Aspartese, on the other hand, lounged on his chair. His senses followed the man as he left the branch's perimeter.
"That kid... He's only at the Second Synergy."
Regardless of his apparent strength, his bloodshot eyes told his story.
"He could make me bleed if it came to it."
A body riddled with scars and a missing arm. Zhuge Jin fought every battle that came his way with his life on the line.
From the way he walked to his bloodshot eyes, it showed that he was always expecting battle.
The sheer brutality...
"Birthed a vessel of sacrifice... Just what did you give up to exceed your station by this much?"