Chapter 119: A Family Solution 

Paike and Taka turned to face their foes, shoulder to shoulder as they had done so many times before. Only it felt different.

It wasn't just that Taka didn't hold the same trust, but also that there wasn't the assurance that they would win no matter what. Part of that was that Paike couldn't even picture what winning would be.

Leaving Sheng Yue to die out here in the mountains felt bad. Their sect would probably find a better place, but they wouldn't be trying to give their young and promising members a future if things were good. But at the same time, he wasn't going to just marry the first beauty who seemed interested in him when it wasn't even in his family's interests. Sure, Father had said... but that wasn't the same thing.

The four stopped in front of the twins. Sheng Yue's countenance was firm, but the others seemed to have trouble meeting their eyes. Sheng Bai kept flicking glances at Taka, but couldn't seem to hold his gaze.

"We clearly approached this wrong," Sheng Yue spoke for all of them with a slight bow. It was odd to hear anyone admit fault like that, but Paike thought he could understand it. Their position was bad. As Taka had said, there was no trap, as the two of them had feared. The girls were clumsy in seduction, and when the young men hadn't folded, they didn't have the practice to sway them with pure guile. So they were changing tactics.

"How so?" Taka didn't seem to agree with Paike's evaluation as he asked a challenging question. This was why Paike listened to his brother in situations like this. He was far better at seeing through people's motivations.

It wasn't unreasonable to ask someone to explain a vague statement they made. Especially if it was an apology. Some might become offended or think they were being mocked. But those were the ones who didn't really mean it. They were just trying to smooth things over. Father's philosophy was that if you wanted to keep the business relationship going, just ignore them and pretend they apologized, but know they never meant it.

If the apology is important to the future of the relationship, you need to know what they are actually apologizing for. The tone of voice you use when asking for clarification is extremely important for that, too. Taka was more confrontational than Paike would have been, but that had benefits too.

Sheng Yue took a deep breath, gathering herself for a hard truth. "First, we didn't know enough about you or your family. Despite our sect holding the Kongs in such high regard, we were apparently still ignorant. That alone was enough of a problem. But we also underestimated your..." She seemed to search for a word and couldn't find it, so she tried to explain it differently. "I think the courts of the empire might have a different standard for social maneuvering. I'm afraid we might be becoming more barbarians than we would like to admit."

The last sentence seemed hard for her to get out. But at the same time, Paike felt he had never received such a thorough and heartfelt apology before, and it was for something that was honestly very small and didn't even require one for them to be on neutral or even good terms for him to move on and not seek satisfaction. Even if he was looking for a duel. Heavens, he really wanted to test out his new cultivation, and this was getting in the way. Didn't any of them have jealous suitors that he could fight? That would be worth a story.

Brushing off the incident would have been fine with Paike. He didn't think it was a big deal to just go their own ways, but they didn't want to be on neutral terms. They needed the Kongs' help, and that meant further cooperation. If the twins distanced themselves, they were in trouble.

The degree of imbalance here made Paike's discomfort return. While they weren't desperate to the point of begging, they also had no cards to make him or his twin do anything.

Paike felt his brother shift slightly, and he got the message. It was his turn to ask a question. From the way Taka moved forward slightly, he could get the gist of what he wanted to know.

"So what can we do for you?"

It was direct, but not impolite. The way he phrased it, and the understanding smile he had, wasn't mocking in the slightest. Luckily, they took it for the honest question that it was.

"Let me lay out what our situation is. I understand that we won't be able to get what we initially wanted from you, but perhaps we can find some common ground," Sheng Yue said. Paike thought that was eminently reasonable; he was more than willing to help if he could, and it wasn't a lifelong commitment based on an afternoon and a pretty face.

"We are not trying to run from our family here in some chance to save ourselves." She started.

"More like getting pushed." Muttered Sheng Gui. She then looked up when she realized she had spoken loud enough to be heard and said something that wasn't loud enough.

"Yes, the elders asked us to get to the empire so that some of their line could continue. We have held on for a long time out here. Most people outside the empire can't keep a group alive and cohesive, let alone keep a culture intact. We have managed for a long time, but grandfather is getting older, and he failed in his last attempt at a breakthrough.

"There was hope that he might make it long enough that someone could take his place. That is looking unlikely. The decline will be slow, but nearly inevitable. When your father came, they saw a chance for some of their descendants to reintegrate into the empire and live on. So they bade us to see if there was interest." She said in an even and controlled tone. "Descendants of the other elders and other promising youths are talking to your escorts now."

Paike scanned the crowd. He found all of the other Inner Sect disciples and even the core disciples dancing or in deep conversation with at least one of the Hidden Peak Sect. From their body language, either their counterparts were more skilled at seduction, or their escort didn't share the twins' reluctance. It would depend on their families and the like.

"It looks like some will be able to flee this sinkingship." Taka's statement was a bit callous, but Paike was sure he was pushing their buttons to help display their true intentions if he could make them lose control.

Sheng Bai sniffed a tear back, still not looking up enough for Paike to read her face.

"True, and I am glad for them and their families." Sheng Yue said.

"Some of us aren't so ready to give up so easily," Shen Xue said, speaking up for the first time. If that was her perspective, Paike could understand her actions much better. If she didn't want to go, finding out they wouldn't take her would make it easy not to follow her family's wishes.

"This is true," Sheng Yue said. "We all would fight for the chance to get strong enough to protect the sect. But as I told you, Kong Paike, we compromised. The Kong family saved the sect so long ago; if we went to them, it wouldn't be as if we were running from our duty, but rather paying a long-held debt. Our pride could survive that."

Paike nodded. He could understand where they were coming from, but Taka apparently didn't. Or at least pretended he didn't.

"Well, that's very noble of you. However, I don't think we'll be able to help you the way you want. Even if you say leave half of you behind, we aren't willing to make a decision with so little consideration for what it means for us."

Sheng Yue still did not take offense, and she inclined her head. "I understand. Thank you for hearing me out."

The disappointment was well hidden, but Paike thought he could read it in the set of her shoulders. He wasn't sure what she had been expecting to happen. Were they to suddenly confess their love and heartfelt desire? That didn't feel right. But it didn't seem like she had any alternative. Surely they should have thought about what they wanted. He couldn't believe they were just giving up, with no plan to start with.

Paike tilted his head as he studied Sheng Yue. His twin read his motion, but Taka didn't add anything.

If he started with the assumption that they wanted something, what could it be? They weren't going to be able to join the empire, so it had to be something that the twins could do for them here. What could they do? The only difference was... She had said it several times. They were Kongs. They were their father's children. If anyone could influence him, it would be them. It was a long shot, sure, but clever.

Actually, he wasn't sure what was more impressive: whether this had been their plan from the start or her trying to salvage the situation. It certainly meant that the clueless barbarian yokel was a bit of an act. It made the apology a bit hollow if it had been planned ahead of time. Could he ever know for certain?

Paike's eyes flicked to Father then back to Taka. His twin read his look and considered, before freezing. It appeared that Taka hadn't realized their plan. It felt strange to be the first to figure it out. But it felt more like strategy than pure social maneuvering. Still, it felt like an accomplishment.

Taka might have missed it to start, but that didn't mean that he was slow on the uptake. Paike had a question, and Taka had an answer. He indicated the others with a tilt of his head. Paike got the message. This was a scraped-together backup plan to salvage the situation. They were just waiting for the right time to ask. Probably after the twins took an interest in something they could trade for their input with Father.

It made the off taste of the fake apology fade a bit.

The four of them had also not moved yet, so they weren't done, or they might have made their goodbyes, especially after the twins had been thinking for so long.

Paike considered. He could benefit from something in this situation. Or rather, the family could. And they wouldn't even have to go out of their way for it. First, though, he'd have to check with Father.

The idea was out there enough that he wasn't sure how to warn Taka, so he just went ahead with it. It was only fair after how Taka had done the same thing so many times before. He could adapt this time.

Barely moving his lips, Paike subvocalized, but he knew Father would still be able to hear.

"Father." He said to get his attention. "How do you feel about adoption?"