Demonic Tribulations - Chapter 50 preview (Patreon)

**Author note - Captain Mao is a female, I do need to fix these typos since I put he instead of she. These chapters are rough drafts and in the final version this will fixed. - Tao

Chapter 50 - Captain Mao Ya Wen

Vice Minister Yu found him glowering over the pair of ascendents that had recently arrived, arms crossed as he stared at them from the upstairs balcony. Both of the newcomers were martial specialists, both sword wielders though one specialized in the jian and the other, the dao. Still, they found much in common with one another, such that they spent the majority of their free time in the training grounds rather than their studies.

“They’ll be clear candidates to join the Department of War,” Vice Minister Yu murmured. “That would make Vice Minister Fu happy. He is quick to praise the ascendants.”

“He’s the only one,” Ya Wen said, grumpily. “They are chaos bringers and malcontents.”

“Over a millennia of service, hundreds of immortals that you have met and a single ascendant is enough for you to change your mind so significantly.”

“Once the mold grows in the rice, it infects it all. That is what the ascendants are.”

“Or perhaps they are just individuals, each with their own desire.” She sighed, looking to the side. “Do you not sometimes feel that all the rules and regulations that we have place us farther from the Dao? That in splitting what is right and wrong, we trap those who would do better?”

“Do you think then that the laws of the Jade Emperor are wrong? That the rules that we live by day and night are broken? If so, what is the point of our service?”

“I do not know. I but wonder if it would be better to drag my tail through the mud[1].”

Ya Wen stared at the Vice Minister, before he shook his head, barking a laugh. “You? You are like me. Unable to let go of the bindings of duty, knowing that it is only through service to a higher order may all benefit.”

“And how would our rules have benefited Ascendant Long, I wonder.” When he moved to argue, she smiled. “It is a rhetorical question. I understand that sometimes, the individual must be sacrificed for the good of the group. But I question our insistence that the sacrificed should not rebel against their fate.”

Ya Wen’s lips tightened, but he nodded in acknowledgement. Perhaps it was a little selfish, to demand that the Ascendant just bow to their rulings, when it was against his best interest. It was not as though he had ever objected to the punishment meted out to him.

Not even when the Jade Empress had made her intentions known.

“You did not come all the way here to just speak to me about Ascendant Long, or to watch those two fight.”

Below, the men were going through forms rather than doing battle. In this case, they were studying a booklet that they had borrowed from the library, an immortal sword form left behind by the department of war, meant to begin early training of their recruits. It suited more the dao wielder, but his partner was game to adapt the movements to his own.

Heads bowed together, they would pass through a series of movements before breaking off to argue about interpretations heatedly, placing heads together as they pored over the text. It was charming and what Ascendants should be doing, and yet, Ya Wen found himself irritated at the sight.

“I did not.” A small movement brought his focus to the minister fully. “I wanted your thoughts and opinions on what the Jade Empress desires of the pair as you were there.”

“Why? You are not one to meddle in matters above your station.”

“It normally does not impact my responsibilities so directly.” Crossing her arms, the long sleeves of her robes overlapping one another, she sighed. “I care not about Ascendant Long. He is not my charge, not any longer. Though my time with him was short, he did graduate from the palace. However, my time with Ascendant Yang has been even shorter, and she has not graduated.”

“Ah…” Understanding and enlightenment struck Ya Wen at the same time. Her own objection to recent events was his own, it was what was creating his feelings of unease. He had enjoyed the solitary nature of their assignments, the compartmentalized nature of their work. And now, the greater politics of the kingdom were impacting them, even more so that it seemed some of the seeds of rebellion were being planted in these very halls.

“The Empress may do as she wishes. Her wisdom is second only to the Emperor and the Great Sages themselves.”

“That is a statement, not an opinion. I wish your perspective, Ya Wen.” She reached out, prodded his chest with a long fingernail. “You know better than to play word games with me.”

“I know better than to speak ill thoughts of the empire, either.”

“It’s like that, is it?” Lips pursed, then she nodded. “Tell me what you saw, at least. All I have are rumors and tertiary accounts. At least you were there.”

“What is there to say? We knew that they both were companions to the mortal inheritor of the Purifying Flame. That he has twisted the intent of the flame itself and continues to have the support of the Sages is known to all.” It was why an immortal had not been sent to remove the flame from the other, to chastise the ex-monk for his temerity. “That he has found himself in great danger, being located in one of the great demon realms is of great concern. Both Ascendants showcased great concern over the flame bearer’s status, and when the Empress offered to send them to save him – or, more specifically, the flame itself – they agreed without hesitating.”

“That easy? The two rebels, following orders that easily?”

“That easy. They had questions afterwards, about the demonic realm, about the presence of their friend there and what, exactly, the dangers were. That the Jade Empress had little to offer directly was not surprising, though she did indicate that she would have our local experts speak with them,” Ya Wen said.

“Experts? Of the demonic realms?” Vice Minister Yu said, surprised. “We have such individuals?”

“Apparently.” His voice was dry. “That’s where the pair are, right now. In another portion of the palace, speaking with these so-called experts before charting their way through.”

“That is a puzzle, is it not?” Vice Minister Yu closed her eyes, and he felt her aura pulse. It was so subtle that he might not even have noticed her utilizing it if he had not been standing right beside her. “Ah, that makes sense.”

“Not to me.”

“The experts are Ascendants who undertook the demonic path that we scooped up, before they entered the heavenly realms themselves or managed to hide in the Middle Kingdom or entered the demonic realms themselves.”

Ya Wen grunted, angrily. “Heretics and demons. We should have disposed of them already.” Eyes narrowed, he added. “Are they in chains? Are they restricted in any way?”

“They are dressed well and seem to be honored guests.”

He jerked his chin, a tic as he tried to suppress the bubbling rage. He knew it was not his place to question their actions. After all, thy were being proven right, here and now by having these individuals on-hand to answer the pair’s questions. He could even see the need for them, for planning the upcoming wars.

Yet, their presence rankled him.

It was a blot on the orderly heavens, a scar on the pristine realms. It was not right, not proper, and a further discordance in the universe.

“What should we do?” Ya Wen asked her.

“What do you want to do?” She pointed down at the ascendants doing battle below. “Will you leave to join them? Or stay here, doing your duty? You ask me, but what can I do?” She grimaced. “I am bureaucrat, an administrator. I have no place in an exploration in the demonic realms, not when conflict is expected. At least you have a choice.”

“You have served with great virtue-” the guard captain’s objection trailed off as Vice Minister Yu raised her hand. She knew she had done her job well, and did not need his own opinions. In fact, searching his own feelings, he found it jumbled. He disliked both the ascendants being sent off to the demonic realms, on what was most likely a fatal mission. On the other hand, having them undertake a mission that was important enough to draw the Jade Empress’s attention and to do so, with little aid beyond those of demonic cultivators was wrong.

The entire thing was wrong, and it left him deeply unhappy.

“Is there naught that we can do from here?”

“For Ascendant Long? Certainly not.”

A slow nod, then his eyes drifted down, to the martial battle below. He inhaled, exhaled and glared at the Vice Minister, finally understanding her presence. What she wanted from him.

The only question was, if he was willing to do it.

[1] From a famous story by Zhuangzi who, in declining a job offer from the king of Chu by pointing out that he would prefer to be like the tortoise in the mud by the pond, dragging its tail in the mud rather than be feted and made ‘useful’ to serve others.