~~~

One week.

That is how long it should have taken for new supplies to arrive.

“Again!” Colonel Peng roars as he slams his hand against his table. “They deny me supplies again!”

It has been three weeks already.

Liu Jin wisely stays silent as the colonel stands up and begins pacing around his office. The ashes of the letter he had just finished reading lie scattered over the floor. The old man’s body is taut with tension. Anger rolls from his Qi in waves, and gold sparks crack around him. The intensity of his Qi is such that the entirety of Tiger Storm Fortress trembles under its weight. For a cultivator in the Heaven Realm, this much is only natural. If anything, Colonel Peng is showing a remarkable degree of restraint.

Two weeks ago, a letter arrived denying their request for more supplies. Colonel Peng immediately sent another longer and, presumably, angrier letter to Rumbling Thunder City and told the messenger not to return until he had an answer from General Dan.

Unfortunately, though the messenger did precisely as ordered, their situation has not changed.

General Dan’s actions, though displeasing, are not without reason. It is not just the southern front that is experiencing troubles.

The eastern front is also under assault due to a sudden surge in activity from General He.

Faced with a two-pronged assault, General Dan chose to prioritize the eastern front. It is not an unreasonable course of action. Far from it, really. Though numerous, Murong Bang’s men are primarily a pack of undisciplined savages. It is natural to consider General He the greater threat.

Furthermore, Colonel Peng is a powerful cultivator and a skilled commander. This situation is not beyond his ability to deal with. Even if he is dealing with a shortage of supplies, he just needs to rely more on the reinforcements from the Eternal Flame Clan, who are far more resistant to hunger and injury than his soldiers.

Indeed, Colonel Peng has already reorganized his forces to compensate for the losses suffered at the hands of the raiders. Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan who proved themselves during the attack have been given larger responsibilities. Command of the nine fortresses is now split between the Eternal Flame Clan disciples and the high-ranking soldiers of Colonel Peng’s army.

However, that is only a temporary solution.

For all their power, the disciples are still not quite ready for this level of responsibility. To make matters worse, while they have yet to face the raiders again, attacks from Murong Bang’s regular soldiers have become an almost daily annoyance. They have successfully fought them off so far, but Liu Jin and Colonel Peng know those men are not being sent to win.

They are being sent to tire them.

Murong Bang does not mind piling up the corpses of his men so long as they succeed in weakening them. Every fight threatens to eat more and more of their supplies. While they have more than enough food and water, medicine will soon become a luxury if things continue.

Should that happen, the complete collapse of their lines is not out of the realm of possibility.

“Utter lunacy! Sheer utter lunacy is what this is!”

Colonel Peng stops pacing and glares at Liu Jin.

“When you and your men were sent to me, I suspected General Dan would use your presence here to deny me supplies so he could better prepare his forces. I knew and understood this because the situation was different back then. I did not mind ordering my men to fall back and cede a few miles of wasteland so long as our counteroffensive was guaranteed.”

A brilliant gold spark erupts near his hand with a sharp, snapping sound. It flashes with such intensity that Liu Jin has to turn his gaze away. Colonel Peng looks at the burnt mark left on the floor and takes a deep breath. The sparks around him fade away, but his Qi remains frazzled.

“That is no longer the case,” Colonel Peng continues. His voice is an odd facsimile of calm. “The situation has changed. All our supplies and efforts are being redirected to the eastern border. There is nothing waiting if we allow Murong Bang to completely overrun us, yet the general is acting as though he can afford to deny me supplies. He might as well have told me to wait for the White Fairy to appear!”

Liu Jin blinks.

“Who?”

He immediately regrets asking the question as it brings Colonel Peng’s attention back to him. Thankfully, the cultivator seems to have his temper mostly under control now. Colonel Peng just gives him a look long before putting his hands over the backrest of his empty chair.

“She is a mysterious cultivator that travels across the border territories doing whatever she pleases. Some people in the border territories have taken to praying to her for rain or other such things. Foolishness, of course. It doesn’t matter right now,” Colonel Peng says. He looks at the map over his table and frowns while rubbing his chin. “The timing of the attacks on our two fronts is far too perfect to have come about through pure coincidence. The general must have noticed this, yet he has made no mention of it.”

Colonel Peng’s fingers tighten around the back of his chair. The wood creaks.

“Someone is playing games,” he says with unnerving calm. “With me. With my men. With everything we have built.”

The intensity behind Colonel Peng’s seemingly calm face is so strong that Liu Jin feels the urge to run for the door. The only thing that stops him is knowing that he would never even get to take two steps before Colonel Peng stops him.

“Previously, you implied you had some idea of what was going on but preferred to say nothing due to a lack of evidence,” Colonel Peng says. “Back then, I deemed that prudent. Words without evidence are rumors, and rumors have no place here. Things have changed. You will speak your thoughts, and you will do it now.”

“That is… agreeable,” Liu Jin says, fully aware that he has no choice on this matter. He has been expecting this conversation for a while. The only reason it has taken so long is how busy they have all been defending the border.

“Before I begin, I wish to let you know that I have been making some inquiries over the past few weeks.”

Liu Jin takes a small stack of letters from his robes and puts them on Colonel Peng’s desk. They are the result of Lei Kong repeatedly running to Rumbling Thunder City and back. Liu Jin always makes sure to meet him away from Colonel Peng’s presence. The last thing he needs is anyone identifying Lei Kong’s movement technique as belonging to the Lei Clan.

“These are letters from people I trust in Rumbling Thunder City. Among them is the daughter of City Lord Chu,” Liu Jin says, drawing a lightly surprised look from Colonel Peng. “They have all been gracious enough to offer me their insights into our predicament.”

Colonel Peng does not say anything. Liu Jin decides to take that as a good sign and keeps going.

“As Colonel Peng knows, Duke Lai’s territories are located up north, far closer to the eastern border than to the southern one, and-”

“Stop.”

Liu Jin stops.

“Duke Lai’s territories are among the wealthiest in our lands,” Colonel Peng says. “His mines produce much of the metal we use for our armors, and his forests have many medicinal herbs. Since he fears for his territories, it is natural for him to prioritize the eastern border. That is why all the supplies are being sent to the eastern front. I did not ask you to speak so you can tell me something self-evident.”

“I apologize,” Liu Jin says. “I wanted to slowly work up to my point, but it seems there is no need for it.”

“You want to accuse Duke Lai of something. A dangerous thing, considering his position. I understand. Speak without fear. If I do not believe you, I will simply take your words as the result of stress.”

Liu Jin closes his eyes. “Thank you, colonel. I will speak freely then. A faction in the Eternal Flame Clan does not wish for Lord Feng Gui to become the next Patriarch and seeks to sabotage our efforts in the Storm Dragon Empire. I have strong reason to believe Duke Lai is working with this faction.”

Colonel Peng crosses his arms. “And why would Duke Lai care about your internal politics?”

“Because the Eternal Flame Clan is General Dan’s chief trading partner,” Liu Jin replies. “Should we succeed in our purpose here, the rest of the country will open up to the Eternal Flame Clan, and Duke Lai will face a drastic increase in competition. Why buy from him when we can force a weaker lord who served under General Bang or General He to offer us a better deal? His profits will inevitably decrease.”

“Personal profit. As good a motive as any,” Colonel Peng muses. “However, do you have any evidence to support your words?”

“During his stay in Rumbling Thunder City, Duke Lai was visited by a member of the faction against Lord Feng Gui,” Liu Jin says, his mind flashing back to Yuan Tao’s meetings with Duke Lai. “It is likely that is when they planned this. There is also this.”

Liu Jin takes out a scroll and hands it to Colonel Peng.

“A sealed scroll,” Colonel Peng mutters. Liu Jin nods.

“My servant intercepted it during the night we arrived at Rumbling Thunder City. I believe it to be a message for Duke Lai, but its contents remain a secret. It requires a specific Qi to open it.”

“And if you can prove Duke Lai’s Qi opens this, it will prove his complicity,” Colonel Peng sums up, holding up the scroll. A pity. Liu Jin had been hoping the colonel would have some way of opening it. “Assuming the content in the scroll is as damaging as you believe it to be, that is. Such a thing is far from guaranteed.”

Liu Jin nods. He is well aware of it and wishes he had far more evidence to back up his claims.

“If we can prove Duke Lai is conspiring against us, that would go a long way towards solving our problem,” Colonel Peng admits. “Duke Lai is undoubtedly using the protection of his lands as an excuse to force most of the supplies to the western border. General Dan cannot force him to do otherwise without being seen as a tyrant. However, proof of Duke Lai’s betrayal will change that.”

Colonel Peng hands the scroll back to Liu Jin.

“I can see why you hesitated to bring this up. Not only are you bringing accusations of betrayal against a well-known member of General Dan’s court. You are revealing duplicity within your own sect.”

“Indeed,” Liu Jin says. He pauses, then adds, “If I am right, that would also mean that…”

“That Duke Lai is not just cooperating with rogue elements of your Eternal Flame Clan. He and those elements are cooperating with at least one of the other generals,” Colonel Peng finishes for him, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair. “That’s the only way this could be happening.”

It is one thing for this to be an internal power grab. However, the simultaneous attacks by the two generals imply a degree of cooperation.

However, that is still not the worst of it.

The puppeteers Liu Jin and Ni Cai met in Black Stone Village almost certainly came from beyond the Dead Plains. It is highly probable they are in the Storm Dragon Empire to look for people from the Death Fashioning Scripture, the same sect that Liu Jin and others encountered in the Dead Plains.

The same sect that has spies in the Eternal Flame Clan.

Just how deep does the connection go?

“Assuming you are telling the truth, we need a way to prove Duke Lai’s guilt, and we need to do it before we run out of supplies.” Colonel Peng finally sits down. “It would be heartening if the Eternal Flame Clan could spare some supplies, so we might fulfill the duties they have decided to impose on us.”

Liu Jin winces.

Liu Jin has already requested supplies from the Eternal Flame Clan. Unfortunately, the answer he received from Mud was not particularly heartening.

“The Eternal Flame Clan does not believe that…overspending on this issue would be wise,” Liu Jin admits, awkwardly shuffling in his seat and refusing to meet Colonel Peng’s gaze.

It is as General Dan said the day they met. This mission is a chance for Lord Feng Gui to solidify his position as the next Patriarch of the Eternal Flame Clan. To do that, he must present a complete victory. Suppose they start expending too much on the Storm Dragon Empire. In that case, it no longer seems profitable, even if it would be in the long term.

There is also the matter of using the resources of the Eternal Flame Clan on soldiers that are, on average, not even as good as Outer Disciples. To many, it would seem like wasting pearls before swine.

It does not help that Liu Jin used many of his common personal supplies to help the people of Black Stone Village. He does not regret his actions, but… he is all too aware of their potential cost now.

“We have received some supplies from the Apothecary, but once split between two fronts, then further split between the nine fortresses, it no longer seems as much,” Liu Jin admits rather uncomfortably.

“In short, our enemies are external and internal, and my men and I are being toyed with by foreign interests,” Colonel Peng says. “Our only resource right now is the ground we have to give. Is that about it?”

Liu Jin looks down.

“I apologize.”

“Your regret is worth nothing to me. You can apologize by helping me think. We need to obtain resources and prove Duke Lai’s corruption.” He snorts. “That should be enough to fill an afternoon, I wager.”

“Actually…” Liu Jin looks up as an idea occurs to him. “I think there is a way to do both.”

~~~

A day later, Liu Jin flies away from Tiger Storm Fortress on Soaring Feather’s back. His face is set on a deep frown as he stares at the horizon and contemplates the challenges ahead.

“Brother Qing?”

Leaving the others behind is not something he enjoys. While he trusts them to handle Murong Bang’s regular soldiers, it is a different story if the raiders attack during his absence. Han had presented a serious challenge to him, one that he doubts anyone other than Lu Mei or Huang Shing could have overcome.

“Brother Qing?”

Han should still be recovering, but Murong Bang’s army has other people on his level and even stronger. If Murong Bang decides to send them out, there is no telling what will happen.

“Brother Qing!!!”

“Huh?” Liu Jin blinks and looks back at Yi Jiao. The girl is scowling at him. “Were you saying something? Sorry, I was not paying attention.”

“I noticed,” she grumbles, crossing her arms. “I was asking if this is really the right thing to do. Is it really alright to leave the others behind for this?”

“No,” Liu Jin says. “It is not.”

Yi Jiao blinks. “Then why are we?”

“Because staying will only keep things as they are, and the way things are right now is unacceptable,” Liu Jin replies. “The absence of medical supplies will only become more urgent with time.”

“So this is like the time Brother Qing denied medical supplies to those in the Crimson Cloud Tournament?” At Liu Jin’s look, she adds, “Brother Zhi told me about it.”

Liu Jin takes a deep breath.

He could say it hadn’t been his idea to deny them supplies, but what would be the point? He still took part in the plan. He might not have realized the full implications of it back then, but he had done it all the same. At the time, it seemed like the only choice to advance his goals.

Choices. What curious things they are. When he had been small and weak, it seemed like he had none. Now that he has gained power and authority, he feels more paths are open to him, yet that does not make anything easier.

The opposite, in fact.

“The similarities are not lost on me,” Liu Jin admits. “That is why we must go to Stone River City and seek an audience with Duke Lai. We cannot afford for that situation to repeat itself.”

Yi Jiao gives him a dubious look. “I don’t think Duke Lai is planning to hear us out.”

“I have ways to get around that,” Liu Jin says. To be more precise, he has a spatial pouch full of rare treasures he could use to get Duke Lai’s attention.

If Duke Lai does not give them supplies, they will simply buy them from him. At least, that is the outward purpose of their visit. Their real goal is to use Duke Lai’s Qi to open the scroll Liu Jin has.

“Suspicious,” Yi Jiao says, glaring at him. If they both weren’t on Soaring Feather’s back, she’d probably be inching away from him. “If Brother Qing is going to be so vague, why bring me along?”

“Because Feng Zhi would kill me if anything happened to you. That means I can’t leave you behind,” Liu Jin pauses, then adds, “And because, should Duke Lai attempt something, Feng Zhi will be more inclined to act if you are involved with this.”

The latter had occurred to him after the former and had only reinforced his decision. It is why he is risking all the rumors that are sure to be caused by this. Thankfully, he has already explained things to Lu Mei and Huang Shing via letter.

It is a pity he cannot have them by his side, but their presence is needed on the front lines.

“Being able to think like that is exactly why people don’t like you,” Yi Jiao says while giving him a completely flat stare. “You know that, right?”

“People do like me,” Liu Jin says, perhaps a little defensively. “It is only people like Feng Zhi who don’t.”

“If by people like Feng Zhi, you mean people with good sense, then yes!”

Sighing, Liu Jin prepares himself for a long trip.

~~~