Chapter 149: Departure of the Banished (Patreon)

Liu Wei silently flew across the sect’s forest, followed by Elder Zheng Rong. They were headed towards the Training Hall. Liu Wei, despite the stoicism he had outwardly displayed, was in a dark mood. Thinking about leaving the sect behind, not for any mission or other pursuit, but because he was no longer allowed to be there, weighed heavy on him.

He wondered whether he should have been more resistive. If he truly refused it, there would have been little they could have done to impose the sentence on him. Then again, the only reason they had spoken such a sentence was that he was well aware that he would accept it. He couldn’t openly disregard the rules, no matter how rigged, if he was relying on molding them to change the sect.

To distract himself, Liu Wei mentally went over the things he needed to get done before leaving the sect tomorrow morning. His allies, his possessions, his responsibilities – they all needed addressing.

They touched down before the Training Hall’s headquarters and Liu Wei wordlessly bid Zheng Rong inside. He only broke the silence once they had entered his office.

“I’ve already had most of the paperwork ordered beforehand. I’m sure your scribes will have no problems making sense of it.”

“How farsighted of you to do so before the sentence was even spoken.”

“I’m inclined say it comes with age, but looking at my peers, it’s probably more of a natural predisposition.”

Zheng Rong chuckled.

“Yes, that seems more likely.”

Liu Wei didn’t continue the banter, instead going over the central responsibilities of the Training Hall’s leader. He didn’t expect Zheng Rong to personally fulfill any of them, but maybe he would at least relay them to whomever he’d have actually take over the day-to-day management.

“If you have questions about the hall’s structure, you can ask Chao, my personal assistant. He’s had a big hand in managing it over the past years.”

“I’ll make sure to occupy some of his time. After all, he’ll surely have plenty of it now that you won’t be around to be assisted.”

Ignoring his fellow elder’s sly grin, Liu Wei continued.

“The hall’s employees and disciples will all be at the assembly tomorrow, so there won’t be any need to separately announce your takeover. If you have no more questions, that’s it from me. You can take over as the Training Hall’s replacement leader.”

“Thank you, Elder Wei. I’ll make sure to… do the position justice.”

The satisfaction in his tone was palpable. For centuries, he’d been the only pillar family leader without a hall to call his own.

“On that note, Elder Rong, there is still something I’d like to say. In a more private capacity.”

“Do go ahead.”

“The position you’re taking is a temporary one. As such, I’d like to advise you that it would be prudent of you not to try and make any sweeping or fundamental changes to the Training Hall while I’m absent.”

“Elder Wei, I understand your worry. But remember that, right now, this is no longer your hall. For as long as you are banished, it is mine. So, naturally, I’m going to do what I wish with it.”

Liu Wei sighed.

“That is within your right. Still, you’d do well to remember that anything you do could fall back on you eventually.”

“If that is supposed to be a threat, I would remind you that you are currently feeling the consequences of such an act.”

Liu Wei remained calm, but let a cold sharpness bleed into his tone.

“I maintain, as I have stated, that I am not the one who killed Yifei Xia. Nor would it ever occur to me to strike out at one of your family members…”

Suddenly, for just a brief moment, he let the full force of his presence crash down on Zheng Rong. The smaller man staggered under the sudden pressure, almost losing his footing.

“…for one of your deeds.”

He let the threat hang in the air silently for a long time before continuing.

“Good luck with the Training Hall.”

He turned and left the room without a gesture of farewell.

This threat, just like the one he had issued at the trial, wasn’t an empty one. He wasn’t keen on escalating the situation with the pillar families beyond what was necessary to follow his goals for the sect, but if they believed they could push him around however they wished, they were sorely mistaken.

Liu Wei took off towards his next stop, the Enforcement Hall.

Personal offenses and sleights, he could let go, but if whatever they had planned involved serious harm to his allies or the outer disciples, he would retaliate.

He hoped, of course, that making that clear would prevent it from coming that far. Zheng Rong, for instance, was a jealous and bitter man, but he wasn’t mad. He’d know what was going too far and hopefully stop himself short of it.

Having arrived at the Enforcement Hall, Liu Wei was greeted by his allied elders, who had already gathered. Their meeting was short and matter-of-factly. They had already planned for the possibility of his banishment beforehand; they just needed to discuss the specifics adjusted for his sentence.

In his absence, Lan Shi would take over leadership of the Reform Faction, their main goal for the time being to resist any motions the pillar families would push as well as they could. The idea of calling Ma Rong from his isolation was floated – it was certainly what the old man would have wanted them to do –, but dropped, as that would almost certainly remove any chances for him to break through before his age caught up to him.

The investigation of the murder would continue on both sides, both within and outside the sect. His allies would primarily try to find out who could have been behind the attack, while Liu Wei would focus on the identity of the fire cultivator responsible, since they had to have come from outside the sect.

“Elder Lai, what’s the likelihood of the candleholder artifact still being at the sect treasury?”

“I’ve been through most of the parts of the treasury where it could be kept. I’m almost certain it’s not there anymore.”

“Then that is another lead to follow, isn’t it?”

“Not really, Elder Shi. Think about it: if you were in possession of an artifact linked to a murder you committed, how difficult would you find it to hide it away?”

“Hmm… not that difficult, I suppose. Just putting it into a personal spatial artifact would be enough.”

“Exactly. The candleholder isn’t so much a lead, as it is a piece of evidence that we can try to secure after we already know who the culprit was. Right now, it’s disappearance is simply confirmation of our theory. I’ll look for any flame cultivator who would have been capable of using it.”

After the discussion had finished, the four shared a jug of wine before Liu Wei said his goodbyes and returned to his personal residence.

He spent much of the night planning his luggage. He wasn’t going to war this time, so it wasn’t as critical to his survival, but there were still many things he needed to keep in mind, since he wouldn’t be able to access his personal treasury for up to three years.

Besides his weapons and armor, the lute, a supply of healing pills and generally useful things like spare clothes, several maps and, of course, food, Liu Wei mainly decided to take a big amount of currency with him, both in spirit stones and in silver. He didn’t know exactly where his travels would take him, but he could imagine having to hire quite a bit of help for the search.

The black of the sky was beginning to show tones of grey by the time he was finished. He activated all the guarding formations of his residence and took to the air once more. There was just one place he still needed to visit.

The wider sect hadn’t awoke yet, but he didn’t need to knock before the door of Qingge’s house swung open.

“This disciple greets her master!”

Liu Wei stroked his beard as he somberly looked upon his disciple.

“This master greets his disciple. I assume you have already heard off the trial’s outcome?”

“… Yes. I have.”

“Then you know I am here to bid you farewell.”

“I know.”

She paused for a moment, then continued.

“Master… the murder…”

Liu Wei sighed.

“I won’t tell you not to involve yourself with the investigation, but I implore you to tread carefully. Remember that, as my disciple, you are a potential target if you attract attention, and while my allies will certainly try to shield you, I won’t be there to guarantee your protection.”

“I fully understand that.”

“Then I have faith that you will not get yourself in danger. If you ever run into serious trouble, remember what I’ve told you: the safest places in the sect are the patriarch’s palace and the library. The latter is open for anyone.”

Qingge nodded.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Liu Wei looked at the horizon, which was gradually beginning to shine with the light of a new day, and took a deep breath.

“The time has come for me to leave. I understand that my situation occupies your mind, but do not neglect your cultivation over it. I do not know for sure when I will return, but I look forward to seeing your progress once I do.”

“Master… this disciple wishes you the best of luck on your travels!”

“Goodbye, Qingge.”

The morning arrived at the Lunar Peaks Sect, carried by the warm winds of late spring. As the sun began to encroach on the horizon, Sect Elder Liu Wei passed the outside boundaries of the sect’s formations. He felt a twinge in his heart – for the first time in the four and a half centuries since his entry into the sect, these formations now marked a border for him.

One that he was not allowed to cross before the end of his sentence.