When the guard arrived at the Master of the Valley's office with Lily on his shoulder, he was quite surprised to find the office crowded with some of the very important people of the Valley.
"Lord, please settle the dispute fairly." The one that just spoke was the head of the Mu family, he was in charge of all the forests and gardens of the Valley.
"Lord, I am being slandered." The head of the Huo family speedily defend himself.
"Lord, if it isn't for the Huo family, can the damage done to some of my most prized fruit trees be explained? When I arrived home, all the peach trees had withered inexplicably and this "nobleman" was watering something down...The Mu leader already angered by the event did not put the Huo leader in his eyes and decided to just be straightforward.
"Is it because I refused the engagement between your grandson and my granddaughter? She is our precious treasure, how could accept to leave her between your ruffian of a grandson?"
"We never wanted her, if it wasn't for the promise between our two family bestowed from the Grand Advisor do you think I would even allow for this talk to occur? I was just giving you face. Your granddaughter is precious, don't you think our grandson is? Where will you find more accomplished person in the valley? Ruffian? You are just jealous because you have no male heir anymore."
The Master of the Valley, though showing a very indifferent and cold expression was actually quite exasperated. Normally, those 2 buddhas should have been able to settle it between them but they had to disturb him for such a petty matter. The danger lurking in the valley had not been averted but he still had to arbitrate a dispute about peach trees.
As he was about to send both off to the Grand Advisor to resolve, the Master of the Valley noticed the guard with the disciple on his shoulder. His disciple's clothes was dyed in blood and the smell was getting stronger.
"Mu elder and Huo elder, we will investigate the matter and return a fair verdict. Please return to your estate to wait for it. "
Both elders were not born yesterday, when they saw the Master of the Valley's gaze stopping on the guard and became aware of the blood smell spreading, they immediately this was a big issue.
Both elders just nodded and bowed in respect, said their goodbyes and left. Both would return and share what they just saw back to their family.
The Valley had been peaceful for decades and blood had never been shed during those years. Now, a bloody corpse appeared in front of the Master of the Valley, it only meant that peaceful times were about to end. They needed to warn their family to prepare.
Now the guard was quite embarrassed for exposing such affair. He had been careless in wanting to save Lily's life, he had disregarded one of the core rule of his squad : absolute discretion.
Even though the Master was slightly irritated by the guard actions, the Master calculated it would eventually benefit him. After all, if all the Valley was aware of the danger, it would be more difficult for the assassins to act as everyone would be on their guards and wary. Still, since the rule has been violated, the guard would need to be punished.
"What happened?"
The guard proceeded to explain with a lot of details what Lily had gone through. Once he was done the Master ordered to put Lily on the side couch and to proceed to the punishment hall to receive his retribution.
"I have gotten myself a good disciple" The Master was thinking. Such a tremendous power! Such an inexpected outcome.
The Master was clearly aware of the destructive force behind that technique but never thought his disciple would have the good (bad) luck to use it. At least not that intensely. However, the technique had side effects which would affect one's body thus in all his years of experience he had never seen one reckless enough to use the full force of it. Should a mistake be made in the technique, it could claim their life. No human should have had the potential and the ability to use it to that extent. He included it so she would be made aware that such technique existed and could defend against it but she went gunho and now the life he had painfully (easily) saved was about to be extinguished again.
*sighs* " Why are humans so feeble and weak?"