Ave Xia Rem Y Chapter 177: Until You Are Ready

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Only a few of the disciples who went to the Dead Plains remain unaccounted for. While it is possible they might return in the coming weeks, it is far more likely those who havent done so yet wont ever co back to the Eternal Fla Clan. Either because they have chosen to abandon it, like Xun Huwen, or because they are dead.

Like Bu Jing.

Bu Jing was a follower of the now-disgraced Elder Cheung. The disciple once competed against Liu Jin in a pill-making contest and lost. Bu Jing then joined the Punishnt Force and started the fight in the Sparring Hall that dood several disciples to dying in the Dead Plains. According to the casualty report, one of the disciples who returned saw him die to a powerful Spirit Beast shortly after the transport.

Liu Jin is not sure how to feel about that.

The question of just how much Bu Jing knew is one that still eludes him. Logically, Bu Jing should have known about Elder Cheungs experints. His skills were too sharp for him to miss them. On the other hand, Liu Jin had felt Bu Jings deep-rooted admiration for Elder Cheung when they clashed. He had felt the hurt and resentnt in his soul.

Perhaps, Bu Jing was simply soone who admired the wrong person and beca blind to his faults. From Bu Jings point of view, Liu Jin might have been the villain who frad Elder Cheung and took the dical Pavilion from him.

Just like how, from Qu Rous perspective, Liu Jin was nothing more than the man who killed his brother by denying them dical supplies during the tournant.

It doesnt matter now, Liu Jin supposes. None of it does. Bu Jing. Qu Rou. Yuan Yi. Their circumstances and those of many others like them will remain lost. Just like their lives have been lost to the Dead Plains.

Dead without knowing anything.

Dead without understanding anything.

And isnt that just the height of unfairness? Liu Jin whispers.

Soaring Feather croons and rubs his head against him. Liu Jin smiles and pats the eagles soft feathers as he turns the page.

A short mont later, the door opens.

Do you know I can feel your depressing thoughts from all the way down the corridor? Lu i asks as she walks into his room. Liu Jin blinks a few tis. He must still be out of sorts if he forgot to place talismans on his door to lock it.

It is not depression. It is ditation and deep thought, Liu Jin says as Soaring Feather abandons his side to go over Lu i.

It is depressing is what it is, Lu i says, patting Soaring Feather. Oh, dear. You grew a lot. How about it? You agree with , dont you? Jin should not be reading depressing novels, right?

Soaring Feather croons and nods his head.

It is not a novel, Liu Jin says, glaring at the traitorous bird as he places the report on his desk. It is a report on all the disciples who went to the Dead Plains. Those who have returned and those who wont.

Lu i stops petting Soaring Feather.

Why would you have that?

I asked Elder Xue for it, and she gave it to .

Lu i stares at him in incomprehension.

Why?

Because people died for stupid reasons, Liu Jin answers.

Thats how most people die! Lu i says, throwing her hands up.

They just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong ti, Liu Jin continues as though he hadnt heard her. That was all it took for them to be thrown into the Dead Plains. It is pitiful. Not a single one of them wanted their stories to end that way. The least I can do is rember their nas.

That is not the least you could do! It is not your responsibility! Not even remotely. Dont tell you feel a misguided sense of guilt for winning!

Not guilt, Liu Jin says, his voice much quieter than Lu is. I just dont want to forget they lived. In the future, there will be other situations like this one where many people will die. When that happens, I might not have a convenient list of nas ready. I might be so busy with other things, I wont even have ti to spare a single thought for the dead.

Liu Jin frowns and looks down.

I might start thinking less of the value of each life lost in my path. I think that would be the first step toward a road I dont care for.

Sothing so convenient will never happen, Lu i tells him. Soone like you is hopelessly dood to live a righteous life. Youre more likely to die by that annoying conscience of yours than to ever abandon it.

Liu Jin cocks his head. Are you encouraging or insulting ?

Yes, Lu i answers with long-suffering certainty. Liu Jin chuckles.

How did things go with the Patriarch? He asks after a mont of silence.

It is not a question he has had the chance to ask yet. They were not particularly keen on bringing up heavy subjects during the party. After that, Liu Jin was asleep, and he doubts Lu i fared any better. Today marks his first chance to freely talk to Lu i since returning.

Ugh! Lu is face imdiately sours. She sits down on his bed. Dont remind of that.

That bad?

I have permission to call him grandfather, she tells him. Liu Jin winces.

Thats bad.

The affection of soone like Patriarch Feng is preferable to his anger, but if possible, one should strive to be ignored by him.

He knew because, of course, he knew. ddleso old n always love to gossip with each other, Lu i grumbles. Her knuckles are white as she clutches her robes. The only upside is that he reassured his sons would be too stupid to put the truth of my parentage together anyti soon.

Liu Jin raises an eyebrow.

I can understand Lord Feng Gui not realizing the truth, Liu Jin says. Elder Xue could reveal it, but he doesnt think she will. High-level cultivators seem to like hoarding secrets like they are treasures. He shouldnt know Lord Feng Shang was present at the ti of your conception.

Besides, the image Lord Feng Shang has cultivated is that of a serious and responsible man. The idea of him having a bastard daughter clashes too much with it.

However, wouldnt Lord Feng Shang be able to put the pieces together? He is the one I an

He had sex with my mother, you an.

Liu Jin averts his eyes. Yes.

How are you so comfortable with blood, guts, and other revolting things yet so awkward with the basics of life? Lu i ponders. But yes, that is exactly what I asked him. Do you want to know what my dear grandfather told ?

Liu Jin thinks about it for a mont.

The answer is going to be so sort of insult, isnt it?

According to him, Lord Feng Shang will be so busy lanting his recent failures that he wont even consider the notion that the girl with the Eternal Fla might be his bastard daughter. Lu i laughs bitterly. One failure at a ti is enough, it seems.

Liu Jin frowns. That does not sound right.

He has to realize it eventually, he says.

Even if Lu is mother took every possible precaution to ensure her pregnancy, there is no way she could have gotten pregnant if Lord Feng Shang hadnt allowed it. A cultivator in the Emperor Realm can easily control such things. Thus, for Lu is mother to have beco pregnant, Lord Feng Shang must have wanted it on so level.

There is no way soone can be that willfully blind to his own flaws.

Lu i stares at him pityingly.

Jin she says.

...I realized it as soon as I said it. Liu Jin buries his face in his hands. What does it say about the Eternal Fla Clan that we can so easily rely on the inadequacies of our leaders?

It says we are lucky they have things we can take advantage of, Lu i replies, grabbing hold of his pillow and holding it to her chest. Dont worry. I am sure in a few decades, there will be children like us figuring out how to best take advantage of our flaws. It is the circle of life.

Still, the truth is bound to co up eventually.

Even if that doesnt happen, strong Feng blood like Lu is is too valuable to be left alone. It wouldnt be odd if Lord Feng Gui tries to have her married once he consolidates his position as the next Patriarch. The discovery of her real father would only change whod have more authority over her.

Before that happens...

The most you need to fear is a girl of Feng blood being prepared for you in a few hundred years, but you have already taken care of that yourself.

Even before Mud told him, Liu Jin understood that was a possibility. It might even be one Patriarch Feng and Elder Xun favor, and it would save Lu i the trouble of having either of the Feng siblings trying to use her in that way.

It would be in my best interests to be on so form of long-term mission when that happens, Lu i replies. She says it casually, yet sothing tells Liu Jin that she understands as well. She knows as well as he does, and they both know the other knows.

However, they dont bring it up.

Not yet.

What is this? Lu i asks, grabbing a small bag resting on his nightstand. More dicine?

Sweets, replies Liu Jin.

I didnt think youd be the sort of person who has ti for sweets, Lu i says. She takes one and eats it. Her face sours imdiately. Too sweet! Far too sweet! How can you eat this?

Sweetness is a necessity, Liu Jin says, easily catching the bag when she tosses it to him. Life is too bitter.

Do not speak as though you were an old man defeated by life. Also, I do not detect a shred of cultivation value in those things. How did you even get them?

Not everything needs cultivation value. I had one of the disciples go to Ember City and buy them for .

A disciple or that servant of yours? Lu i asks him.

A disciple, Liu Jin replies. Lei Kong has orders to never try to infiltrate the compound. Hed fail horribly, and Id rather not have him get into trouble. He attracts it far too often already.

Not that he is any better in that regard.

It would have been nice to know you had a servant in the True Realm who was coming to protect you, Lu i says as she makes herself comfortable on his bed. Not many people can rely on such things.

I was not sure he would go that far. He is or rather, he was a soldier of Murong Bangs army.

Lu i raises an eyebrow. The man who destroyed your hotown?

The sa.

How did you gain the loyalty of one of his n?

He felt guilty for his actions and pledged himself to , Liu Jin explains, shrugging.

Lu i sighs. Of course, he did.

I never imagined hed leap into the Dead Plains, let alone that hed encounter the Duke. It was

Impossible.

An unlikely outco made possible only by overcoming Heavens Will and replacing it with his own.

That is probably what soone like Xun Huwen will say.

Fortunate, Liu Jin finishes. Hes back in Ember City now, though I wish he wasnt so close to us. So people might try to argue that his presence in the contest counts as cheating.

I dont think you have to worry about that, Lu i tells him. The Patriarch has made his judgnt. Anyone trying to object now would look like an idiot.

That doesnt an people wont do it. Especially the idiots.

They are a nurous race, but on this occasion, fear of going against Patriarch Feng outweighs natural stupidity and bluster. The reaction to Lord Feng Guis victory has been surprisingly ta because of it. Theres going to be a banquet to celebrate his eventual ascension.

Liu Jin looks horrified. Please, tell we dont have to go.

If you had to, Elder Xue would have already been preparing you for it, Lu i points out. I doubt either of us will have to go. We are being granted a rare mont of rest, it seems.

Thats good. Liu Jin sighs in relief and leans back into his chair. An idea crosses his mind. Do you wish to learn Ceaselessly Refining Breath now?

Now? Are you sure? Despite her words, theres no hiding Lu is eagerness.

There is no ti like the present. Besides, the first step is not particularly demanding. He tosses a small pouch full of pills at her. Eat one of those.

What are they? Lu i looks at them dubiously. More sweets?

Poison.

Funny. What are they?

Poison.

Lu i stares at him.

He stares right back at her.

If it makes you feel better, they are just the right amount of sweet. We wont move onto the odorless ones until you are ready.

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