Chapter 385: The House Without Corners (Patreon)

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From the outside, the Divine Frozen Palace’s carriage looks transparent and empty. Inside, it is completely different. The vehicle is almost like a small house with multiple rooms and furniture. The white walls and floors are padded and decorated with embroidered blue flowers. Bai Wen and Fu Lihua wave at Liu Jin and Xiao Shuang from their seats as they enter, but neither gets up to greet them.

This is not due to any lack of respect. Rather, they do not dare stand because of who the third person in the carriage is.

“I believe this is the first time we meet,” Great Mother of the Divine Frozen Palace says. “I must say. I have been looking forward to this.”

In many ways, the woman is the complete opposite of Granny Zhao. Whereas Granny Zhao is wrinkled and shriveled, Great Mother is someone who has aged gracefully, still retaining traces of past beauty. There is a timeless elegance to her. When she smiles at them, the wrinkles around her eyes become more noticeable, yet this somehow does not make her look any older.

Her presence is enormous.

Liu Jin could barely detect the Qi of those inside the carriage from the outside, but now that he is inside, it is impossible to miss Great Mother’s presence. It fills the entirety of the vehicle, but somehow, it does not make it hard to breathe or threaten to bring him to his knees like the presence of an Emperor would. It is simply there. Undeniable, yet ever-present. As natural as gravity.

Liu Jin kneels in front of her. Beside him, Xiao Shuang does the same.

“I am not worthy of those words,” Liu Jin says. “It is my pleasure to be able to greet you, Great Mother of the Divine Frozen Palace.”

“Oh, pishposh! There is no need for that sort of formality,” Great Mother tells him. “You are Little Shuang’s husband. That makes you family. Call me grandmother. Please, sit. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“You are too kind, grandmother,” Liu Jin says as he and Xiao Shuang take a seat in one of the couches. “I am very grateful to you and the Divine Frozen Palace for sheltering my wife all this time.”

“That does not need to be mentioned,” Great Mother says. “It is the least we could do after our failure to hold up our alliance with the Xiao Sect. We repaid them poorly.”

Liu Jin blinks, not having expected her to take responsibility for the fall of Eastern Port City. In the silence left by his surprise, Xiao Shuang is the one who speaks up.

“There is no need for you to apologize, grandmother,” Xiao Shuang says. “What happened there was a senseless tragedy. Many like it happen all the time. It is impossible to stop them all.”

Great Mother smiles sadly. In an instant, she is in front of them. Her hand reaches out to pat Xiao Shuang’s head.

“You speak wisely, Little Shuang,” she says softly, “but it pains me to hear that you have already learned such things. Do this old lady a favor and try to retain your youthful optimism for a little bit longer.”

“I’ll do my best,” Xiao Shuang promises.

“That’s all this old lady asks,” Great Mother says. Her hands rest on her cane before she turns her gaze to Liu Jin. “I caught a glimpse of your master once. It was right after Yue came back from Eastern Port City with Little Shuang. People leave marks on those they encounter, whether they want to or not. It was just a small reflection on the ice, but I must say he was a very distinguished gentleman. You are lucky to have learned under someone like that.”

Liu Jin smiles.

“I truly was,” he says.

“Indeed,” Great Mother says. “However, it is because you learned under that man that you are in this situation. It would be remiss of me not to warn you of the dangers ahead of you.”

“I await your instruction, grandmother,” Liu Jin says.

“Good.” Great Mother nods in approval. Suddenly, she is back in her seat. Liu Jin never saw her move. “As I am sure you know by now, the barriers in the House Without Corners prevent violence. You do not have to worry about any attacks on your person or subtler methods like poison. Only a Divinity such as myself could force her way through those restrictions, which is part of the reason why our presence is discouraged. They have to put up with it since I have no descendants they can find.”

She sounds entirely too pleased with herself, and Liu Jin is reminded that this is the woman who raised Meng Yue.

“Grandmother,” Bai Wen begins. With Xiao Nan in the Emperor Realm and the matter of Xiao Yifan dealt with, she was free to leave Xiao Fang’s side. “Does that not mean we are in danger if there are other Divinities there?”

Great Mother shakes her head.

“Even if a Divinity tried to force their way through the restrictions, it would be too noticeable. That would give me more than enough time to protect you,” she says. “There is only one circumstance in which you might be in danger. Pay attention.”

At once, everyone immediately straightens, except Fu Lihua. The girl has just been looking forlornly at the window all this time.

“The contests,” Great Mother says with distaste. The smallest wrinkle appears on the tip of her nose. “Do understand that these competitions are not necessarily battles. They can be a simple knowledge quiz, an archery contest, or even a poetry competition. The subject matter varies. However, it is those on the other side that decide, and it is nearly always something they have an advantage in. They are not obligatory, and you can go through the entire ritual without once participating in them.”

Her blue eyes look intensely at them, as if peering into their souls.

“However, if you are challenged in the central arena and you accept, you will be forced to take part in it. The barrier is designed to recognize it. If the contest happens to require violence, then the barrier will allow it,” Great Mother says. “It is the one exception. However, that also means that no matter how much you are pressured, no harm can be done to you unless you accept.”

“Such an exception seems rather counterproductive, grandmother,” Xiao Shuang points out.

“On the contrary, the barrier is as strong as it is because such an exception is allowed,” Great Mother counters. “An absolute rule is hard to enforce. The existence of exceptions allows defined boundaries.”

She sounds sure of herself in a way that leaves no room for objections. Most likely, she is speaking of knowledge that goes beyond them.

“What about the ritual?” Liu Jin asks. “How long does that take?”

“Ah, yes. A most salient question,” Great Mother says, before waving a hand.

Ice appears in front of them and shapes itself into a round tower with many floors. It floats in the air in front of them.

“The House Without Corners,” Xiao Shuang guesses. Great Mother nods.

“Correct,” she says. “This is where we will be staying. Some floors contain only guest rooms, while others are common areas. There are also several meeting rooms. The ground floor is where the game arena is located. It is best to avoid it.”

As she speaks, the ice in different parts of the tower becomes illuminated.

“The ceremony takes place on the top floor,” Great Mother continues. “Only two to five people can go at a time. It depends on how many bloodlines are being represented. The tower will take your blood and essence to renew the barrier. It may sound concerning, but I assure you that it is quite boring. You merely have to stand there for a few hours. Anywhere between six to twelve, usually. At your current level, the drain will barely be noticeable. Once everyone has had a turn, the barrier will be fully replenished, and the ceremony will be over.”

Liu Jin frowns.

“I thought everyone had to be together for the ceremony,” Liu Jin says.

The picture in his mind was that of everyone standing in some arcane circle while performing the ritual and invoking energies that could crush them in an instant. Great Mother’s description makes it sound distinctively more mundane. Almost tedious.

“The significance of an event is not often reflected in the way it is carried out,” Great Mother says. “The ceremony is safe. It has to be because the alternative is bound to lead to failure.”

“Why only five to two people at a time?” Xiao Shuang asks.

“It makes it easier for the barrier to identify the bloodlines,” Great Mother replies. “In that sense, the existence of those who embody multiple bloodlines, such as the Feng Clan, is something of a problem. Of course, the same can be said for people with too much power who refuse to produce offspring, such as myself.”

Great Mother laughs, and Liu Jin wonders if maybe she does have children but keeps them hidden to spare them from having to deal with all of this. Perhaps sensing what he is thinking, Great Mother smiles and winks at him.

Suddenly, the carriage lurches downward as if hit by a huge force. Liu Jin feels his energy being pulled away from him. Dazed, he desperately tries to grab hold of it.

Then, the pull is gone.

“My apologies, dears,” Great Mother says, waving her hand. “The True Dead Plains are always hard to bear. I will do my best to protect you from its effects.”

Already? Liu Jin looks out the window and finds the pure white landscape outside. The vehicle of the Divine Frozen Palace cannot possibly be so much faster than that of the Eternal Flame Clan. Great Mother must have used her power to speed it up, just as she is using it to protect them from the Dead Plain’s influence. He should have noticed, but her mere presence made him unable to sense anything outside the carriage.  

“How will the others protect themselves from the True Dead Plains?” Xiao Shuang asks.

“Those from the Four Great Sects have Emperors strong enough to protect them from the influence. Those from subordinate Sects can request to be given transport by them,” Great Mother explains. “Those who lack such connections can request someone from the other side to transport them.”

She frowns.

“I do not recommend you ever do that.”

~~~

The House Without Corners looks exactly like the miniature Great Mother created. It is a round tower with gold-tiled roofs on every level. The body of the tower is pure white, but countless lines of gold rise along its length, creating various patterns. It is so tall that it would have pierced the clouds if there were any around it. Surrounded by the surreal white wasteland that is the Dead Plains, the thing almost looks like a mirage.

There is a small patch of true land surrounding the tower. It looks tiny from afar, but that is where their carriage lands. Many other vehicles are already there. Liu Jin recognizes one of the Eternal Flame Clan’s Flame-Wheeled Wagons. Great Mother smiles and bids them to leave the carriage before she does.

“No matter how many times I look at it, I cannot seem to get used to it,” Liu Jin says, looking at the white space around the tower.

“It is a dreadful thing,” Bai Wen says. “I know this does not need to be said, but we are only protected from the drain while we are in this patch of land. Leaving it would be unwise.”

Fu Lihua sighs morosely next to them.

“Who cares?” she says. “I want my Rong. I cannot function if I am separated from him for long.”

Liu Jin wants to call it an exaggeration, but the pink of her clothes does somehow look duller than usual.

“Sister, please contain yourself,” Xiao Shuang says. “We are representing the Divine Frozen Palace.”

“I do not want to hear that from the person who made a scene throughout the entire Crimson Cloud Tournament,” Fu Lihua grumbles, glaring at her.

Xiao Shuang frowns and looks at Liu Jin.

Then, she grabs him by the arm and leans into him.

“Don’t throw your happiness in my face!”

A laugh reaches them.

“Brother-in-law!” Feng Zhuo walks up to them with his arms wide open. “It’s been some time! Welcome!”

“Brother-in-law,” Liu Jin says, only grunting slightly as Feng Zhuo catches him in a hug. “It is good to see you. Is it just you here?”

“My father is already inside,” Feng Zhuo replies. For a moment, it almost looks like he is about to hug Bai Wen, but a single frozen look from her stops him. “However, I am the one who is going to take part in the ceremony.”

Liu Jin frowns as he detects another presence close by. It seems very familiar.

“Emperor Qing Jin. It has been a long time.”

Hair like obsidian and a presence like a judge about to deliver sentencing. It has been some time since Liu Jin last saw Elder Chang, Warden of the Punishment House. Last he’d heard of him, the Elder was still in Pyre’s End, the place where Renegades of the Eternal Flame Clan went to seclude themselves. There is no longer any need for him to be there.

Emperor Realm, First Level.

“Congratulations, Elder Chang,” Liu Jin says. “I see your efforts have borne fruit. I must admit that I was not expecting to see you here.”

To his surprise, Elder Chang frowns. He and Feng Zhuo immediately trade worried looks.

“You do not know?” Elder Chang asks. “Lord Feng Gui did not mention it in his letter?”

Liu Jin furrows his brow. He feels something nagging at him from the edge of his awareness- danger his subconscious mind has already identified, but his conscious mind still struggles to grasp.  

“Mention what?”

“It is not just the Feng Clan who possess the blood of the 108 in the Eternal Flame Clan,” Elder Chang says. “Obviously, there are some in our subordinate Sects, but usually, Elder Xun would be here as well. However, the representative of the Heavenly Sword sent to us said there would be no need for his presence this time. A suitable replacement on a lower level of cultivation had been found, and-”

Liu Jin is no longer listening. His mind is screaming the answer at him with such force that all his other thoughts are drowned out. The door to the tower opens—Liu Jin’s Qi spikes.

“I see more guests have arrived! I thank you for making your way here from your respective homelands! It is a long and perilous trip, but the survival of all depends on it!”

He is dressed in black and white robes, the same ones worn by Bright Sword and Somber Edge. His body is slender and has barely any noticeable muscles. His face is androgynous to an almost unsettling degree. Feline grace emanates from him as he steps out of the tower.

“Welcome to the House Without Corners!”

Xun Huwen greets them with a smile.

~~~

Mini-Character List

Liu Jin: Our Protagonist. If a Divinity tells you to call her grandmother, you roll with it. 

Xiao Shuang: Disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. Nuzzles aggressively. 

Great Mother: Great Mother of the Divine Frozen Palace. Does she have children? Maybe. Maybe not. 

Bai Wen: Disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. Would have preferred staying with Xiao Fang for the chance to punish traitors but understands that this is an important experience for her. 

Fu Lihua: Disciple of the Divine Frozen Palace. Suffering Xiang Rong deficiency.

Feng Zhuo: Disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan. On a father-son trip.

Elder Chang: Elder of the Eternal Flame Clan. Warden of the Punishment House. Spent part of his confinement burning pictures of Xun Huwen with his mind. He had to draw them first so he’s actually become rather good at it.

Xun Huwen: Disciple of the Peerless Heavenly Sword Peak. A villain arrives at precisely the right time.