Chapter 210 – Probing
The foreign cultivator had stopped well away from the walls, clearly acting as a messenger, standing alone on the road leading to the city's main gate. He didn't need to wait for long because three figures left the city, who were, of course, Siu, bringing along Vael and Arya.
“Do I get to bite him if he annoys you, Master?” She asked, giggling to herself.
“No, just keep to what I told you to do,” Siu answered through their bond.
“But Master, what if he attacks us?”
“Then go rabid on him.”
"Nyahahaha! That's why I love you, Master!" Her tail wagged happily while Vael looked down at her, noticing her excitement.
“You shouldn't have said whatever you said. Now I'm worried.”
“She's obedient," Siu said with a smile, even if he had doubts about his own words. “Are you ready?” He asked as they began nearing the man standing in the snow.
"No," Vael's expression had gone completely flat while answering, inhaling deeply, "I just hope we will get the answer you predicted."
A few minutes later, they stopped close to the man, but far enough to give each group time to back off if someone started a fight. From where they stood, Siu noticed the man waiting for them was well dressed compared to the mercenaries behind him. He was wearing a clean set of robes, very much like what most cultivators preferred. It was midnight blue with golden accents here and there, in random lightning shapes going across his sleeves, and when Siu glanced at Vael, the man's face was deadly cold. Ah... so he is wearing a Stormglass Pavilion robe, huh? But it was also evident to Siu that Vael didn't recognize the man at all, not even in person. What was even more interesting was that when their opponent's eyes passed over Vael, there was no recognition there either... Huh. That's weird.
“Fellow cultivators.” The man cupped his hands. "Good Morning."
"Good morning," Siu returned the gesture politely, trying to discern if the man recognized him as a Hollow Song member or not.
“I am Kostac.” He continued after they came out of the bow, “I serve as a representative of Stormglass Pavilion within this region.”
"..." Siu almost smiled as he listened, while Vael became stiff as a board, doing his best to hold back, while Arya just put her hands behind her head, grinning and watching in excitement. Looking at them, Kostac either didn't notice or mistook their silence for respect, so he continued.
“This land falls beneath the administration of the Stormglass Pavilion, by your Sect's decree, Honored Disciple Brother,” he continued, nodding toward Siu to show he at least knew of the Song and recognized him as an Inner Disciple. “Ordinarily, we would welcome you passing through our territory. However, unfortunately, you have arrived during an internal matter involving one of our tributary kingdoms. I understand that your people are here investigating, but I can assure you, everything is under control.”
"I can see that," Siu added, but his voice was flat and devoid of actual sarcasm.
“Let me explain," Kostac continued, "The ruler of Hilltop Reach has broken his obligations to the Pavilion, so we are here to resolve the issue between its people. To maintain the kingdom's sovereignty, we are only aiding their people, so they know we are their protectors and not their new rulers.”
"What did he do?" Siu asked, "I'm ready to hear both sides since we landed in this quagmire."
“Naturally," The man said with a smile, "He ignored our instructions; then, when we insisted, he resisted the correction and has since endangered the stability of the region. You probably saw it yourself while traveling here. Of course, our Stormglass has therefore been forced to intervene, and we are doing our utmost to preserve stability through this transitioning period.”
"..." Vael slowly looked toward Siu, barely able to hold back what he wanted to say, but Siu didn't return the glance, his eyes remaining locked solely on the man before them.
“The situation may appear severe to outsiders," Kostac continued in the meantime, "but I assure you that everything occurring here falls under the Pavilion's jurisdiction. We are doing our duty towards your sect." He added, cupping his hands again, facing Siu with a smile. “Your assistance is therefore no longer required, as this is beneath your capabilities.”
"..."
“We bear you no hostility.” Kostac added when only silence answered, “In fact, considering this appears to be a simple misunderstanding, the Pavilion is prepared to send envoys over in due time, with proper explanation and an increased tithe.” Still nothing... By then, Kostac's eyes shifted between them as he tried to figure out whether they were even listening to him. “Is something... unclear?” He finally asked, betraying some of his nervousness.
“No,” Siu answered calmly, shaking his head. “You explained it very well.”
“Then—”
“I was just waiting," He added, "So... Are you finished with the bullshit?”
"..." Kostac stopped and swallowed his sentence back while Arya giggled, her tail swishing loudly behind her. “I...”
“Perfect.” Siu nodded, then looked down at his own clothes as he brushed some snow from his silver sash. “Interesting tale you prepared.” Kostac's eyes narrowed the moment he heard him say that. “Problem is, you don't recognize him.” Siu added, pointing his thumb toward Vael, "The ones who hired you didn't provide enough information?" For the first time, Kostac trembled and hurriedly looked at Vael, trying to catch up with the discourse. Dirty-blonde hair, blue eyes... but no. There was no reaction. “I suppose introductions are overdue.” Siu said, deciding not to wait for more, "You can call me Siu, an Inner Disciple of the Hollow Song Sect.”
“Arya!" She yelled happily, throwing up a pose for some reason, "Bestest foxy all around!"
With great effort, Siu ignored her and pointed toward Vael instead.
“And this is Vael Renwick, former Head Disciple of Stormglass Pavilion.”
Kostac's face went white when he heard that, and for perhaps two breaths, the entire field felt silent for him... but Siu had to give him some props, because he recovered quickly.
“Vael Renwick... So that is what this is. You dare show yourself here?!”
"Huh?" Even Arya flinched, because she didn't expect something like this. Now... That was interesting.
"This... this man!" Kostac pointed at Vael. “This man is no Head Disciple! He is a murderer.”
"..." Vael said nothing, just as surprised by what the man was doing as Arya.
“He is a traitor to Stormglass Pavilion.” Kostac continued, speaking directly to Siu, “He murdered Elder Corvin Hale, then he stole restricted materials from his own, khm, our sect before he fled his punishment, and disappeared before he could answer for his crimes!”
"Hm." Siu watched him with interest because they did know things, just not the face attached to the events that happened. Maybe they got some drawing, but it was outdated? It reinforced that whoever supplied Kostac with information knew something about Stormglass, hence why they even got a uniform for him to wear.
“If you truly are a Hollow Song disciple, then you have been deceived.” Kostac continued in the meantime.
“Have I?”
“Yes! This explains everything.” He sighed, and Siu nearly laughed at his act, "Vael Renwick has returned to the territory he betrayed. He has clearly been manipulating events here to strike back at Stormglass!”
"..." Vael's eyebrow climbed higher, his mouth twitching... What the hell was he doing?! It was fast thinking, okay, but... With no information about his past, this was just digging his future grave even deeper.
“He must have convinced your people that the Pavilion itself is responsible for the unrest!”
“Did he?” Siu asked innocently.
“People still loyal to him inside and outside the Pavilion.” Kostac nodded, and even Vael looked genuinely interested now. “The unrest in Hilltop must be part of his rebellion.”
“Must be?” Vael asked now, actually letting out a small chuckle.
"What else?" Kostac hesitated, but then kept speaking to Siu, “Just look at him!”
Siu did, and Vael waved at him; it made even Siu let out a small laugh as he shook his head while Arya waved back with a giggle.
“You stand beside a wanted fugitive and accept his claims about the very Pavilion he betrayed. What else could this be?” Kostac kept going, so confident in his tale that he didn't even try to deviate from it. “If you are truly from Hollow Song, then I urge you to reconsider before his crimes become yours. Hand him over! Let Stormglass restore order to its territory and punish this scheming killer!”
“Interesting.” Siu scratched his cheek, deciding he heard enough. “There is only one, teeny tiny problem, Mister Kostac... Vael has been in Hollow Song custody for a long time by now. I don't think he is capable enough to escape our sacred land, no offense, my friend," he added, making Vael nod with a smile. "He couldn't come here and instigate a full-blown rebellion while he is under our care. Or... is our Song so weak that none of our elders notice he's gone?”
The man's expression froze, and he didn't even breathe for a few seconds, so Siu just continued pleasantly.
“Actually, his case is being investigated by the Disciplinary Wing of our sect, and he hasn't exactly had the freedom to organize his own days, not to mention such an elaborate plan.”
“He could have planned it beforehand.” Kostac tried, but Siu now raised a hand.
"Stop it. It is getting too desperate, and I'm losing patience."
“Master, his heart is going really fast now. I think he will pee his pants!”
“I figured.” He answered quickly, still gazing into the man's eyes, seeing the rising panic.
“I know every disciple in my Pavilion.” Vael finally spoke up, increasing the pressure.
“I could have joined after—”
“Shut it, or I am ripping your head off your neck.” Vael sneered, his aura rising and feeling overwhelming as lightning cackled like a demon, sneaking around his limbs. "I don't know where you got an Elder's robes... but I will take them off your corpse and find out whose they are."
Knowing things were up, more cultivators appeared, more than twenty, already coming forward from every direction of the army, rushing in their way, realizing their plan had failed.
“We aren't leaving.” Kostac's gaze hardened as support moved forward, filling him with confidence again. “You do not understand what you're interfering with. Stay if you want; you won't leave this city.”
“You're right.” Siu nodded. “We don't intend to leave the city. And we don't need to.”
That apparently wasn't the answer Kostac expected, but it was also the sign that Arya was waiting for. She snapped her fingers, and light burst toward the sky from the city's outermost walls, drawing every cultivator's attention. They saw about fifty robed figures release their auras for a moment, standing there, clearly visible as they did so, before melting back into the battlements.
“Tell us who hired the mercenaries.” Siu continued speaking, "Who runs this operation, especially considering the CC mine you guys are operating?" The moment he mentioned it, Kostac took several steps back, his breathing hitching. "Who provided the mining equipment? We already know enough, but if you tell the truth, we can guarantee your life. Fail to do so, you better hope you will die instead of being captured.”
“Tell them to put down their weapons.” Vael added, nodding towards the army, "Release the captured cultivators and round up everybody who was part of this charade. That is the only way you may come out unscathed from this.”
Sadly, the man's answer was simple: he activated his cultivation, summoned a snowstorm around them, and escaped in the sudden wind and cloud of fresh snow. Siu didn't want to follow him into the ranks of other cultivators and get overwhelmed, so they backed off too, heading back toward the city.
"Well, he didn't use lightning, so," Siu chuckled, making Vael groan.
"I told you he is not one of us... And you are taking this lightly!"
"What else can I do?" Siu asked again, looking over his back as the mortal army started moving. "We are in it now, up to our necks... I am not going to complain; that's too similar to Ruben or Joren."
"And it will be fun!" Arya interjected, although none of them thought about the coming battle as something that would be fun. "They aren't powerful. The man's spell was also weak-smelling."
"Let's not get over our heads," Siu muttered, patting her head and rubbing it as they got back to the city, where Arya's illusory cultivator forms had already disappeared. "Still, good job. They will think twice before sending their own men in here now... fearing we have the advantage of numbers. They may even summon all their cultivators to take us on."
"They may see through it," Vael warned, but Siu just shrugged.
"I guess, but still," he said, looking back towards the mortal army, "It gives us some time and a chance to deal with their soldiers without their coordinated interference."