"These records were found during the investigation into the so-called demon attack. As it would happen, the outside clans suddenly had an influx of monetary gain, did they not?" The Agent said calmly, "It would also appear that the Lord Sea Spring had stashed away a great amount of wealth, but where could it have come from as your wages as a Lord do not cut it?"
"You dared to look into the activities of a lord appointed by the Exiled Court?!" Young Sea drew her bow back and released it!
The Agent ever so slightly turned her head, the arrow stopping just before the wall, it had been caught by a seemingly invisible hand.
Countless shadows around the room came to life.
"It was precisely the Exiled Court who ordered a thorough search." She continued evenly, "Lord Sea Spring has been found to be colluding with outside clans to harm mortals in order to further his own wealth even going as far as to stage a demon attack."
"W-, What?!" Lord Sea Spring's eyes turned red with rage!
"Did you believe you could simply get a cozy position in the backlines and that no one would notice, or care?" The shadows wreaked of pitiless bloodthirst completely overshadowing theirs, "The Exiled Court wishes for the people to keep faith in them, and so, I once again ask, step down."
It was only now, that Lord Sea Spring-, ah, Former Lord Sea Spring, Zhu Qin, realized everything.
The reason the Shou Clan had been brought up, the reason why the destruction of the clans he had been refusing to attack had come up, the reason why he was investigated to begin with.
"Those primitive little wildling groups are so stupid." Zhu Qin said coldly, "They cannot hide a damned rock within a mountain. I assume the Shou Clan's descendant will be appointed the position, and that is why he was promoted into a quasi-noble in my absence. How long have I been under investigation?"
"Since the start," She didn't hesitate to find a seat, "We simply needed to wait for a good time to smoothly transition you, as well as find another candidate for Lord."
"You will regret this decision. My Zhu Clan will not remain silent." Zhu Qin who had yet to put away his things, never got the chance to.
As he turned to leave, Young Sea's head exploded!
Zhu Qin's face turned blood red!
"How dare you!?" Attacking her, he screamed.
"Attempting to kill an officer of the Exiled Court. No matter the situation is death." She sat perfectly still as her gaze hovered above the tea she had taken out, "This includes you."
Little Sea exploded!
Zhu Qin, who was about to restrain himself, could not and attacked! His saber pierced the air at a single point, immense power suffocating the area and threatening to collapse everything!
Yet.
His face turned pale, the flow in his sword reversed, causing severe backlash!
"Y-, you…!" Zhu Qin had a look of realization.
"Me?" She smiled coyly, "It seems our Lord Zhu Qin-, the resigned lord Zhu Qin, has left on a journey with his companions, abandoning nobility to pursue strength for the people and to strengthen himself for the coming opening! How admirable! Truly a paragon of fortitude for the Zhu Clan!"
Those were the last words he heard, before his head separated from his body, and everything that was not alive within the room turned into a blood mist.
"Don't disappoint me now, Little Shou~" Her lips parted as she giggled, her eyes turning into crescents as she finished her tea.
—
The Baikan Woods.
An ancient forest-, not, the youth scoffed, as he stood in the midst of a clearing, where a fire had raged through.
Bending down, he picked up some of the ashes, setting it aside into a small vial.
Quietly patting the dirt and ash off his robe, he turned his back, and a sharp sensation spread out in all directions like a flood.
The instant a signal rebounded, he moved and a life was snuffed out.
His movements, to the untrained eye appeared smooth and well executed, yet in his eyes they were sloppy and full of openings and useless motions.
As he battled, he did not use his Qi, only making use of the sharpness of his blade and the Sword Aura which flowed through his veins.
"Sloppy!" A familiar tone appeared, "Since the time I trained you, your technique has regressed!"
"Go away." The youth said coldly.
"So mean, aren't I your sworn Master?" The figure appeared on a tree top in the form of a young man with hair as dark as a starless night.
"...I once honored you as such." The youth said slowly as his sword cut down another beast, "But that time is long gone, Vienna."
"Shou Xin," Vienna smiled eerily, "once a master is sworn, it cannot be undone. I am your Master, and I will make you into a Master."
"When have you treated me as a disciple?" Shou Xin coldly replied as he stopped in the midst of the forest the beast he was hunting running away, "Was it when you tried to kill me?"
"It was to motivate you!"
"I am weak," Shou Xin slowly turned his gaze meeting Vienna's, "But I am no fool."
"Che, maybe but what do you know? Your talent is so disgustingly low that it's almost absurd. You should be at least, a fifth chain right now. Anyone with even twice, no, one fold more talent!" Vienna complained, "Yet, despite that I took up the challenge and bowed to becoming your master!"
"Freeloading and still acting like you are the one suffering." Shou Xin shook his head, "Vienna, we will never see eye to eye. I am a commodity which produces you what you want, and you do the same for me."
"Then, fight me. If I win, you will call me Master again." Vienna circled calmly.
"Never."
Shou Xin did not respond at all to Vienna's taunts, rather leaving again to hunt more.
"Are you not curious?" Vienna said into his ear, "...What I can do for your clansmen?"
He froze, his head half turned.
"Do not joke."
"I'm not!" Vienna raised his hands smilingly, "If you will fight me, and call me master upon my win, I will act as a true Grandmaster and impart the rest of the Talentless Sword Art's Basics. Not only that but, I will also tell you how to complete your Primeval Body Art."
"Is that it?" He calmly turned back facing forward, "The Primeval Body Art is a teaching I was forced to accept, and used because there was no choice for me, but the Talentless Sword Art is a choice I will not force on my clansmen."
"Must you be so stubborn?!" Vienna's smile suddenly faded as his gaze was filled with flames, "Your strength increases the safety of your clan, are you so certain this is an offer you can turn down? Trashcan!"
"My name is Shou Xin!"
In an instant, killing intents clashed like lightning!
Sanguine Sword Steps!
Swiftly closing the gap, the starry glow of Fukkatsu drew a long brush stroke through space, the almost mute sound of a dragon crying out rang through the area!
"Fukkatsu Kiru!"
Shou Xin's eyes were revealed!
Countless stars shone at once, turning into countless swords! His field rose and the killing blades shot forward ruthlessly!
Sword Aura coalesced alongside his Sanguine Sword Qi, killing intent and body strength!
"Hassan." Vienna smiled as Fukkatsu which was set to cut him from temple to toes, was veered just less than a hair's breath away from his body.
Hassan.
The Diverging Path Sword.
A blade which had slain its way through the chaos alongside it's master, Vienna.
A small cut traced itself across Shou Xin's cheek, blood trailing down slow as though time was slowed.
Yet, Shou Xin simply looked at Fukkatsu, which was still ringing ferociously from the small, almost unnoticeable impact Hassan had caused to diverge the Kiru away.
"Disciple." Vienna said laughingly, "Are you happy now?"
"Master is a bastard." Shou Xin turned his back, "I will not accept teachings."
"Even better." Vienna smiled casually, "Improve on your own, if when I next check on you, your still not made significant progress, I will force another lesson. So do your best, disciple."
"Pray I never grow strong." Shou Xin sheathed Fukkatsu, it's cries quieting.
His eyes turnt to crescents, only Vienna's chuckles rang out as he vanished in the seemingly endless Baikan.
—
Primeval Qi.
That which all beings are born with, and without special forbidden techniques is impossible to increase, and even if one does, death is likely.
Sitting along in a clearing amid ashes, a youth covered in their own blood sat quietly, a white robe laid out a ways away in front.
His muscles squirmed as though worms were moving through just beneath the skin, attempting to crawl out.
He bit his lip, blood being drawn.
Calmly, he moved his arm and held onto the sword dug into the earth before him, the worms paused for a split second, and then began to rampage!
Crack!
His arm broke!
The internal pressure too strong!
Lifting his other arm, he set the bone himself amid a sonorous corus of blood curdling screms which seemed to carry the shadows of countless beastly cries within.
Days passed as the youth sat alone, suffering in as much silence as he could muster.