I slightly glance around to gauge the expressions of people around me. Elder Ye was already pale faced while tightly gripping his fingers in his palm. Elder Wu was staring at me as if waiting for my reply.
While some pretended to not have heard the words said by Crown Prince Fei hung, the Crown Prince Yue Yi of of Xi Feng country sitting next to him looked expectantly at me with an 'enjoying myself' expression. These bunch of people really fall below expectation.
I turned back to look at Fei hung first displaying a look of being pleasantly surprised then quickly adjusting myself to look disapproving and wronged. "Your highness sure jests, this one was thinking this younger sister should give greetings to everyone, but as the ceremony has commenced I was thinking it would be better to give the greetings along with the Left and Right Elders after the ceremony. According to etiquette it would not look good for the Grand Master to stand to give greeting to guests privately during the ceremony."
Typically one might think he was hitting on me, but I know that despite the fact that he is a color wolf he is not a simple person, otherwise he would not be able to retain his crown prince position for this long even with his mother's backing. Also a Grand Master who is popularly known to be timid, ignorant and simple would obviously not need to be coerced by him and his mother.
Well at the moment I can only continue to project the image of the ignorant and simple Grand Master. Plus it's not like I currently have anything to lose by playing along.
"How can younger sister Bai Ru say such things, considering the relationship between us there is no need to stand on ceremony or anything like that."
I must be really stupid in his eyes to the extent that he couldn't even wait to lower honorifics and on top of that use my name while calling me younger sister. In this one sentence he actually dared to put reputation of my master's Mount Fu Sect into jeopardy? As far as am concerned you haven't grown enough hairs and if I were to calculate properly, this old lady has eaten more rice than you.
"Since you have called me younger sister, then does Wang-ye think that your behavior right now is befitting of an older brother? Not only did you just not show regard to my position as the Grand Master of Mount Fu Sect as well as the place and time, you also just pulled the neutrality stance and prestige of our Mount Fu Sect down the drain. Does the fact that I am a young lady make our esteemed sect now look like a walkover to you? Our Sect has never created any ties to any country or tribe in the past and we have no plans to do so in the future or am I wrong Elder Ye?"
I turned to look at the father and daughter who are obviously being used by the Shui Yu country mother and son duo. I might tolerate crap while keeping up with my simple and ignorant girl attitude till i get what am aiming for, but I will not tolerate anyone putting down my master's legacy no matter who it is.
Anyone seeing the look on my face at the moment would obviously see a bright eyed young girl who is totally ignorant of having put down the Crown Prince of Shui Yu country which is the largest and most powerful country in the earth realm in front of important dignitaries of other countries and tribes. Elder Ye unconsciously grips the fingers of his right hand tightly in his palm which i noticed is a habit he has for when he is in a dilemma.
"Elder Ye, have we formed any ties to any country or tribe or are we planning to do so in the future?" I repeat looking at him with the face of an innocent child impatiently questioning its parent. Everyone also turns to him waiting for his response.
This question sure is very wicked of me as whichever answer he gives, would leave him in a merciless bind. If he agrees to having created ties with a country or tribe, this would put him in a bad position within the sect. If he denies having ties to any country now or in the future, it also puts him in an awkward position with future relations between him and Shui Yu country.
He stood up and bowed, "Grand Master Our Mount Fu Sect has always had a neutral stance and we have no plans to deviate from that in the future. Your highness please take back your words earlier or it can be said that you do not put the dignity of our esteemed sect in your eyes."
"You have all misunderstood, this one only meant to pacify the Grand Master as she seemed nervous since this is her first time conducting the Blood Dance ceremony. My words earlier did not have such intention." He stood up and bowed while looking to gauge my reaction.
I inwardly scoff. What first time. This should be your first time attending the ceremony as well.
I turned to him displaying bright eyes with a giddy expression. "Ah!!!!! So that is the case. If older brother says so then I must thank you for looking out for me. Please look out for me in the future as well."
The earlier tension died down as everyone sat back down and the music got to the highest point of the crescendo. It should be about 5 minutes before noon. Time for the main part of the ceremony.
I step towards the circular altar at the center of the hall. The sun rays from the holes are almost perfectly converged at the center. Beside the circular alter is a square shaped table with a moon-shaped Sabre resting on it. There are carvings of a dragon and phoenix on the blade.
I pick up the Sabre and flex my hands in a semicircular shape resembling a half-moon. I walk to the alter.
Immediately it clocked noon, the light rays converged at the center of the alter. I place the Sabre directly under the light which like a laser beam heated up the Sabre blade immediately.
Using the heated blade, I slit my wrist and allowed the blood to flow on the blade. The blood flowed into the depression made by the carvings on the blade and the blade color turned red as if it soaked up the blood.
Yes, the reason only the Mount Fu Sect's Grand Master can perform the blood dance ceremony is because this Sabre only accepts the blood of the sect's Grand Master.
I start having difficulty breathing as I walk towards the circular disc on the raised platform at the open southern part of the hall. My steps slow down as I internally struggle to finish the ceremony.
This isn't the poison requested by Elder Ye.
I raise the Sabre and insert spiritual energy into it.
Yes for the blood dance ceremony, spiritual energy is the second major ingredient not innate talent which this humble one could access in abundance. I come to wonder about how ironical it all seems that the trash who was abandoned for not possessing any innate talent would be the one to preside over such an important ceremony where innate talent was not needed.
As I place the hilt of the Sabre into circular depression on the equally circular disc on the platform with the same carvings on the Sabre blade on it, Rainbow colored light is emitted from the Sabre and disc as if a formation had been activated. It raised to form the shape of a phoenix and a dragon and flew up to the sky. After circling the Pagoda 3 times, they flew up at an angle and clashed against each other. Light then spread would like an aurora covering the entire sky for a long as the eyes can see.
My last thoughts as I fall; 'this scenery is really beautiful.'
As I am anticipating the ground, I fall into someone's arms. I turn to look at him.
"Look for Huang Di" I muttered.
His expression changes as he muttered "Ru Shi poison."
I close my eyes and fall into darkness.