Chapter 11 part 1 of 2 (Patreon)

Hiao Xen ate the delicious pork and rice, letting out a sigh. Chonglu sat opposite, he took some vegetables, putting them in his rice bowl, he added some tangy sauce and dug in.

The dishes between the duo had been rapidly reduced in the last few minutes.

Hiao Xen looked out of the tower over the city below, he couldn’t help but feel pride seeing it all. Though the work is equal to the speed that Vuzgal has grown.

The twin doors to the room opened. A man walked in, the doors closing behind him as he took his hood down.

Hiao Xen and Chonglu made too stand.

“Please, enjoy the lunch,” Erik smiled and sat down.

“You sure know how to make an entrance. Does anyone even know that you’re in Vuzgal?”  Hiao Xen asked.

“Hopefully not, if everyone has done their job correctly,” Erik said as a side door opened.

The serving lady bowed to the people in the room, her eyes constricting in surprise before widening in excitement.

“Your tea,” she said.

“Please,” Erik waved for her to serve the others first.

She moved close to the trio, she placed the tea table down and settled on her knees.

“How is the family?” Erik asked.

“Qiang has done well, he qualified to join a guard unit in the Fifth Realm. Though the little troublemaker took a promotion in the Fourth Realm,” Hiao Xen shook his head.

“The Fourth Realm is more dangerous won’t his promotion speed be faster?” Chonglu asked.

“Yes it should be rather quick and there are more resources for people that are willing to stay in the Fourth Realm. I feel that he craves for more,” Hiao Xen sighed.

“He has the training and the ability, he wants to put them to use,” Erik said.

“I know. At his age I was the same way. Though I wanted to be part of massive deals not join in combat.”

“He has the best gear and training. The Blue Lotus is not a group to get into meaningless conflicts,” Erik said as the server finished checking the tea and began pouring it into the three cups with reverent care. Each move was exact and careful, while also flowing from one movement and action into another.

It calmed Hiao Xen, seeing it. The smell of summer berries offset with citrus grasses made him take a deeper breath.

“Nuo Xen is worried, so I get to carry twice the worries.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Chonglu smiled.

“Mira and the kiddos doing well?” Erik asked.

“Mira has to fulfill a certain amount of missions per month to keep her ranking and get her resources. She takes on larger harder missions to increase her ranking and personal power. It sounds tiring just hearing about it!”

“You wouldn’t want to go back to being an adventurer at all?” Hiao Xen asked as the server finished pouring the tea and placed it down in front of Hiao Xen. He tilted his head in thanks.

“I might have a few years ago. I might in a few years. Right now as the children are growing up and I have no desire to. I’ve nearly lost them twice. I just want to be there, watching them grow up.” Chonglu nodded to the server as she served him and then moved to Erik.

“Don’t get me wrong I loved adventuring, living on the edge, relying on the people around you. The thrill of seeing new sights, of making it through terrifying ordeals. Then getting a beer after it all. Though, I guess I kind of grew up? That was a stage of my life then, right now is a different one. With the Battle Arena there are thousands of people coming through our doors looking to get stronger. Training them, running the arena, helping you with running Vuzgal. It is a different kind of thrill, a safer one for sure, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. Just different.”

“Well, here is to family, to the different paths that have brought us here and chasing that thrill,” Erik held up his tea cup to the other two, they raised their cups as well.

Hiao Xen took a deep breath of his tea before taking a sip.

His body seemed to relax as the flavors mixed on his tongue, the inviting sweet and the palette clearing sour.

“Good tea,” Erik said and smiled at the server bowing his head. “And I wasn’t here.” Erik winked.

The server grinned. “Yes Lord West.” She bowed down to remove the tea table.

Hiao Xen looked out of the large windows as if looking away would keep the secret hidden.

The Adventure's Association, the Trader’s Guild, the Alva Healing House, the teachers of the Vuzgal Academy, Wandering Inn, Sky Reaching Restaurant, the Vuzgal Defense Force. All of these groups must have known Erik and Rugrat before. Though, in what capacity, I don’t know nor have I tried to look into any of them to figure it out.

The server left the room as the trio enjoyed their tea.

Erik cleared his throat and put the tea down on the table.

Hiao Xen looked over to find Erik looking at him.

“Hiao Xen, thank you,” Erik bowed.

“Lord,” Hiao Xen was surprised, shocked even, as he made to place his cup down and return the bow.

Erik rose, halting Hiao Xen with a gesture.

“What you have done for me, for the people of Vuzgal, honestly we are all in your debt. If it was not for you then Vuzgal would not be where it is.”

“Thank you,” Hiao Xen said.

“I will not lie to you, some things have changed recently. You might have noticed some of it. It is also part of why Rugrat and I have had to make the decision to move up when Chonlgu will ascend to your position. I want to be clear, we are not doing this because we do not appreciate, or don’t wish we could work with you for longer. We want to do this because certain things are shifting and we do not want the blowback to fall on you or the Blue Lotus. It is fine if my name is stepped on, but I will not let them step on the Blue Lotus and your honor because we haven’t told you everything.”

Hiao Xen felt heavy in his heart, but he knew that it was coming from a good place.

“I understand, this is an opportunity that I was not expecting to get in my lifetime. You have honored me, placing so much trust in me.”

“You earned it and more. Honestly, I wish that we didn’t have to rush all this.”

“How long do we have?” Chonglu asked.

“Two weeks, tops. To the outside world I want it to appear like this was our plan the entire time. That way it secures Chonglu in his position, makes sure that the Blue Lotus isn’t slighted and then you return with a large recommendation.” Erik looked at Hiao Xen.

Hiao Xen nodded.

“Okay. I will need to contact the Blue Lotus and check with them. Would there be a ceremony?”

“A small one if possible.”

“Okay. I can get everything ready on the Blue Lotus side.”

“Thank you Hiao Xen,” Erik said.

“Well I’m still your acting City Lord until you release me,” Hiao Xen smiled.

***

After lunch Chonglu’s day had turned into a whirlwind. Hiao Xen had walked him through everything and in two weeks he would be handing control off to Chonglu completely. Chonglu had taken on responsibilities of the acting City Lord previously but he had not been doing all of them. Now it would be a trial to see how he handled it all while Hiao Xen was there to correct and support him if needed.

It was dark as he returned home, to find three men waiting for him and his guards.

Chonglu recognized Deputy Director Detrick.

Chonglu dismissed his guards, roving defensive patrols, sensing formations and a secret entrance down into the secret city meant that inside the Vuzgal Castle complex if someone could threaten Chonglu they had to be incredibly powerful.

“Detrick,” Chonglu nodded to the man and opened the door to his home, waving the other man inside.

“Chonglu,” Detrick nodded and walked inside, his eyes scanning the house. “Do you mind if one of my associates comes in?”

“Fine by me,” Chonglu took off his shoes and put on slippers.

He waved to other slippers for his two guests, the second intelligence officer closed the door, leaving the third man outside, scanning the area.

“Could we talk in your office?” Detrick asked.

“This way,” Chonglu led the slippered men to his office.

“Chong-lu?” Mira who had been reading looked up from where she was curled up on the couch.

“We just need to have a talk. Some things changed at work. I’ll talk to you later,” Chonglu said.

She nodded slowly, looking at Detrick and his man who gave half smiles.

“This way.”

Chonglu opened the sliding doors to his office.

“Do you mind if we check?” Detrick asked.

“Please,” Chonglu said.

Detrick and the other man pulled out metal wands that were carved with formations. They waved them around the room, quickly checking everything.

“All clear,” Detrick said, looking at his helper. “Wait outside.”