~~~

Despite the interruption from the City Lord’s daughter, the banquet continues for several hours. There is more food, more entertainment, and much laughter. When the guests return home, the sun is just a few hours away from rising.

That is when the negotiations begin.

General Dan sits at the head of the table. At his side are city officials like City Lord Chu and an equal number of officials from his army. Mud, Feng Zhi, Yuan Tao, and a few other Core Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan sit on the other end of the table. Somehow, Liu Jin has been chosen to be part of this meeting.

He suspects Mud is to blame.

The room has no windows and only one door. A single servant is allowed in to serve everyone tea. Once his task is done, the servant leaves, and several barriers go up to prevent anyone from spying on them.

For a moment, neither side says anything.

“I do not like this.”

General Dan’s voice is low and gruff. While it could be attributed to the circumstances, something tells Liu Jin he always sounds like that. The General’s Qi growls as he speaks, like a giant beast waking from its slumber. The city officials tense up, looking like they’d rather be anywhere but here. Even the army officials cannot hide their discomfort.

Feng Zhi, Mud, and Yuan Tao do not even blink.

“The City Lord’s daughter was reckless and thoughtless,” General Dan says, making City Lord Chu flinch. “However, her concerns were well-placed.”

His gaze dips down to the table where a large map of the empire is unfolded. The areas governed by the three generals are well-marked, and so are the major cities, important towns, and the position of their armies.

“For almost two decades, my men and I have fought to bring peace to this land,” he says. “It was not easy. The Rumbling Thunder City you see before you today is the result of much bloodshed. We brought order to a savage era and have kept the madman Murong Bang and the dog of the cowardly emperor at bay. The aid of the Eternal Flame Clan has been valuable. I’ll admit that much. You have been reliable allies to us all these years.”

His eyes narrow.

“However, now you seek to dictate our policy.” His fist slams against the table, making the figurines on top of the map and the tea cups tremble. “You dare tell us to end the war as though that were simple! Not only that, but you bring a mere five hundred men to me and call it aid! And worse, you send children to negotiate!”

One of the figurines falls and rolls to the floor. No one picks it up.

“We understand how inconvenient this is, General Nie,” Yuan Tao says, inclining his head in acknowledgment. “However, just as you command your soldiers and they follow your orders, we are but instruments of the Eternal Flame Clan’s will.”

“General Dan also seems to have misunderstood our message,” Mud adds, making the general glare at him.

“Misunderstood,” the general echoes with disdain. “What exactly am I misunderstanding, child?”

“To begin with, this one is more than three hundred years old. I believe that makes us not dissimilar in age,” Mud replies.

And yet, Mud looks like a youth in his twenties while General Dan looks like a man nearing his fifties, Liu Jin notes. The aging process of a cultivator depends on many variables. Perhaps it took General Dan longer to reach the realms that would have halted his aging, but he advanced with greater ease once he was there. Perhaps the aged visage before them is simply General Dan’s preference. The body is malleable in the upper realms, and vanity of all types is ever close to cultivators.

“It was not just your age I was referring to when I called you children,” General Dan says with narrowing eyes. “A negotiation of this magnitude must take place between equals.”

His meaning is clear. One side of the table has an Emperor, and the other one doesn’t.

“That is the misunderstanding this one is referring to,” Mud says, voice as calm as always. “It is impossible for a negotiation between equals to occur at this table because we are not equals.”

The General snorts. “Flattery will not move me.”

“Ah, it seems that was not clear enough.” Mud cocks his head to the side. “I did not mean to say we were inferior, but rather the opposite. You, General Nie Dan, are our inferior.”

The whole room flinches. The city officials. The soldiers. The Core Disciples. Even Yuan Tao and Feng Zhi are left utterly shocked by Mud’s irreverence. No one says anything. No dares to. It is a moment in between seconds that stretches into eternity. As if the entire room has been left frozen in time.

General Dan erupts.

“You dare!”

He does not stand up, but it feels as if he had. His Qi crackles and rages around him. City Lord Chu falls off his chair and backs away. The other city officials do not fare any better. Even Feng Zhi, who has much experience being in the presence of Emperors, looks uncomfortable.

Mud’s face does not change.

“You are one Emperor,” Mud points out. “A brilliant flower, yes. One to be commended for being able to bloom in a country such as this. However, that is all. The Black Dragon’s rampage left the Storm Dragon Empire weak, and you have not had much luck raising Emperors since then. We are also not unaware of the Storm Dragon Empire’s poor record with Renegades.”

Uncomfortable looks appear on the faces of the army officials as Mud says that.

“The Eternal Flame Clan has more than ten Emperors in its service,” Mud states.

“More than ten!” The shock causes the words to escape City Lord Chu’s mouth. He immediately covers it with his hands.

“Indeed,” Mud says. “You seem outraged we did not bring Emperors with us to negotiate, yet you do not understand we did that for your benefit.”

“My benefit?” General Dan echoes with a harsh laugh. There is something almost dog-like about it. “You didn’t bring an Emperor to negotiate for my benefit?!”

“That is so,” Mud replies. “Suppose an Emperor came to negotiate and help with the war. In that event, the victory would no longer be General Dan’s. It would be two Emperors against two Emperors. Our role would be too obvious. Even if the Emperor left as soon as the negotiations were done, it would seem that you had submitted to a foreign authority. Your victory would be tarnished. The people would not see a hero who defeated two vile generals and an unjust ruler but simply a puppet of foreign interests. I don’t believe that would be in General Dan’s best interests, would it?”

There is more to the actions of the Eternal Flame Clan than simply letting General Dan save face. While sending a stronger force would end the war quickly and with limited casualties, it would also invite their rivals to try to take advantage of the opportunity.

“Am I supposed to thank you?” General Dan asks. “You come here with substandard forces, tell me to win a war, and I am supposed to understand this is for my benefit? Do you expect me to smile and accept? Like an idiot child?”

“Of course not,” Mud says, shaking his head.

“You are supposed to comply.”

If Mud’s earlier words caused the room to freeze, these ones cause an implosion. General Dan’s Qi goes absolutely still. Like a beast about to pounce.

“Choose your next words very carefully,” General Dan says, his voice deathly quiet. It feels as if the fangs of a beast are about to tear into their throats.

“General Dan,” Mud says without fear. “Again and again, you have misunderstood the situation. We do not need you. Not truly. If we wanted to destroy the other two Heavenly Generals, it’d be a simple matter. There is not a single general who can stand up to even two Emperors at once. Your war would have been long over if you had managed to put aside your differences with even one of the other generals.”

“Empty threats,” General Dan spats. “Certainly, you could bring your own Emperors here to fight. You could even strike me down while at it. But if you did that, the entire country would revolt against you. As you said earlier, you’d be seen as foreign devils. It’d take you years to solidify your power.”

Mud shrugs. “What is a decade or three for people like us?”

“And yet, you wish for the war to be won now instead of later,” General Dan points out. “Despite what you might believe, we are not ignorant of what happens beyond our lands. Your leadership has seen a change, and now the man chosen to be your new Patriarch seeks to consolidate his position. This conquest is a way to accomplish that. If it takes too long or if it is done in a fashion in which the downsides outweigh the benefits, you will have failed.”

Liu Jin does his best to keep the surprise from his face. It is not particularly hard as General Dan’s Qi keeps everyone in a state of perpetual tension.

Liu Jin had thought about the logistical benefits that ending the war in the Storm Dragon Empire would bring the Eternal Flame Clan. Things such as better trade and access to the areas currently controlled by the other two generals. However, the matter of face is not one he had considered in great detail until General Dan pointed it out just now, even though, in some ways, it might be the most important one.

Failing here would not cause Patriarch Feng to change his mind. General Dan does not know the depths of Lord Feng Shang’s failure. However, it would be seen badly by everyone else.

“That assumes we only have two options,” Feng Zhi says, apparently having had enough of being silent while Mud handled the negotiation. The Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan glares defiantly at General Dan in much the same way the City Lord’s daughter glared at him hours ago. “To take over the Empire ourselves or have you do it. You believe those are the only things we can do.”

“Am I wrong, child?”

“We can leave,” Feng Zhi says with finality. “We take our men, servants, beasts, and everything else and leave. You will not hear from the Eternal Flame Clan again. Ever.”

Feng Zhi pauses for a moment, allowing for the full weight of that statement to sink in.

“How long will the peace of Rumbling Thunder City last under those circumstances?”

“I am dreadfully sorry,” Yuan Tao says, bowing his head. “We were given our orders before leaving. This is not an idle threat but rather a command from the future Patriarch.”

Yet again, Yuan Tao tries to distance himself from them. This time, Liu Jin wishes he could do the same. The aid from the Eternal Flame Clan is a big part of why General Dan has been so successful. Without it, there would be no more medicine or supplies of any kind being sent here. General Dan would need to seek new trade agreements and hope he is not backstabbed.

Should the other two generals find out the Eternal Flame Clan has withdrawn their aid (and they would find out), they would not fail to capitalize on it. Rumbling Thunder City and all of General Dan’s territories would be submerged in chaos. In other words, they are using the lives of every single person in this city as a threat.

City Lord Chu’s daughter was right to be angry at them.

“I see,” General Dan says.

Mud, Feng Zhi, and Yuan Tao are blown back.

The three are sent flying against the wall in the blink of an eye. People cry in surprise, but no one dares to move.

Because General Dan has yet to stand.

“I accept your terms,” the general says. His knuckles are completely white. “However, I will need to amass my forces, gather information, and develop a strategy. That will take time.”

“Naturally,” Mud says, rubbing his bloody nose as he stands up.

It is the first time Liu Jin sees him wounded, yet it is no surprise that the one who does it is an Emperor. General Dan held back greatly. If he wanted to, he could have killed them.

The attack just now was simply a way to work out some of his stress.

“Am I to assume I have command over you, or will you and your men operate independently?”

“We…” Feng Zhi coughs as he tries to stand. “We are to follow your orders, though we retain the right to reject them under extreme circumstances.”

“Very well then,” General Dan says with eyes that promised pain. At last, he stands up to look down on them. “I will make sure to work you hard.”

~~~

“That sounds like it went as badly as it could have,” Lu Mei says.

“And yet, it went as well as it could have,” Liu Jin replies.

Accommodations have been prepared for them in the city, but the two are relaxing in one of the wagons outside the walls. Its insides have been fashioned to resemble a decently sized room. Lu Mei is lying on the bed while Liu Jin sits on the sofa.

“He did not kill you. He just wishes he could. How wonderful,” Lu Mei drawls. “There is a high chance he’ll try to make cannon fodder out of us.”

Liu Jin thinks about it and shakes his head.

“The general understands the support of the Eternal Flame Clan is at stake. There is only so much he can try to do to sabotage us,” Liu Jin says. “Regardless, he is not the most important concern right now.”

“Ah, yes. How could I forget all our other problems? I will start with the least of them and tell you Huang Shing has not yet done anything stupid. A lovely fruit that will surely be spoiled soon. However, I am sure that is not what is on your mind right now. Let me guess. The daughter of the City Lord?”

Liu Jin frowns and nods. “She could have acted on her own, but…”

“You believe she may have been used by External Relations,” Lu Mei finishes for him. “For the sake of the argument, I’ll remind you her outburst could have been completely natural.”

“I am not sure which would be worse.”

“The former. Always the former. Stupidity and short-sightedness are eternal. People have been learning to work around them for ages. Subterfuge is ever-changing. I can look into it if you want.”

“That would be appreciated.” Liu Jin smiles, but it does not last long. A new presence enters the room. “Lei Kong.”

“My lord,” Lei Kong says as he appears kneeling in the corner. Thanks to Elder Xue, Liu Jin managed to have Lei Kong travel with the servants. It is far more convenient than having him follow them in secret.

“Impressive,” Lu Mei says, blinking at the display of speed.

“I bring ill news, my lord.”

“Yuan Tao tried to send a message?” Liu Jin guesses. Lei Kong nods.

“As you commanded, this one kept watch outside the city. A single messenger left shortly after your meeting with General Nie.”

Lei Kong takes out a scroll and presents it to Liu Jin, who rises from the couch to take it. It looks to be a simple scroll, but…

“That’s a very complex seal,” Lu Mei says as she glances over Liu Jin’s shoulder. “I have seen it used for important documents before. It will not open unless it detects the right Qi signature. And any other attempts will result in the scroll burning or other unpleasant things.”

Liu Jin looks at her. “Do you know how to break it?”

“Of course not,” Lu Mei replies. She looks at Lei Kong. “What of the messenger?”

Lei Kong shakes his head.

“I subdued him easily enough and prepared to bring him back for questioning as my lord ordered. However, he killed himself by activating some sort of suicide technique.”

Liu Jin’s hand clenches into a fist.

“And the corpse?” Liu Jin asks, his voice tight.

“Burnt. However, I have secured it in case you wish to examine it, my lord.”

Liu Jin thinks about it for a second and nods.

“Good. Bring it here. I will see what I can find out.”

Lu Mei sighs and pinches her nose. “A pity. This room had such a pleasant scent.”

~~~