The sky was a rich tapestry of stars. The pale moon hung like a thin silver gauze in the void-like expanse. A sense of tranquility descended upon the courtyard, a calmness that particularly explored the bone marrows of a youth in the lotus position. Plum blossom petals brandished in the gentle wind, flexibly floating leisurely. They seemed to dovetail the elegance exuded by the meditating youth.
The youth sat there under the plum blossom in thorough concentration, emitting gentle waves of white spiritual qi. He wasn't just anybody, but Chang Haoran; a dignified official of an empire in Xia Continent.
Xia Continent was made up of three clans; the Dragon Clan, the Merfolk Clan and the Human Clan. The three distinct clans have been coexisting for several years. However, there was a palpable disunity plaguing their coexistence. Centuries of vendetta fueled by the Human Clan had put the other clans under total submission and marginalization.
300 years ago, the tension between the clans escalated when the emperor of the Human Clan backed by the Lord Immortal declared war on the dragon and merfolk clans, claiming they were monsters who did not deserve a place in the continent. The Sea Emperor was outrightly provoked. He bravely exercised his authority by opposing The Lord Immortal. Meanwhile, the Dragon Emperor did not want to offend the imperious Human Clan. He surrendered entirely to the Lord Immortal leaving the Sea Emperor to wage the war alone. He supported his decision with the reason of prioritizing the protection of the Dragon Clan.
The Sea Emperor was disappointed, and felt abandoned. The Merfolk Clan held similar beliefs with the Dragon Clan because they both paid allegiance to the same deity; the Dragon God. So, an enemity sprouted between the two clans because the Dragon Emperor yielded, playing the dumb impression of a bigger picture looker. After the Sea Emperor had been conquered, the Dragon Emperor later found the domineering Human Clan unbearable, and attempted to redeem his mistake. Roughly 100 years ago, he was accused of lese-majesty when he tried to use the Dragon Soul Sutra to awaken the Dragon God who was sealed thousands of years ago. He was subsequently eliminated as per the canons of the law.
Thus, the Human Clan became the suzerain of the other clans, presiding over their affairs and decisions. Most of the folks from the subjugated clans were taken in as slaves and treated scornfully. They all lowered their heads in inferiority, as long as the most feared and powerful cultivator; the Lord Immortal was still alive.
The ethereal glow of moonlight bathed the platinum-white robed youth in harmony with the moonlit petals that appeared like tiny fairies around him. It was impossible for one to deny the splendid scene, along with the otherworldly beauty of the youth. He sat stock still, totally submerged in a world of his own.
But then, his perfectly slender brows arced at a sense of distraction. With reflexes as sharp as a spear's head, his eyes sped open as he swirled to his feet. His long obsidian hair fell in soft waves across his shoulder. He instantaneously took out a slim sword from his spatial ring, its blade gleaming with a fierce promise while shrouded in moonlight. With a practiced move and lightning speed, he stretched it adjacently to the throat of the distractor.
Acuity fled from his eyes and was superseded by surprise when he realized the familiar figure frozing on the spot. A grey robed girl overwhelmed by shock stared with wide eyes at him. Her hair was a rich brown, cascading in soft waves towards the earth. She had large grey eyes, framed by long lashes. Her pitch pink lips was slightly parted in agitation.
"Azelea?" The youth called in sheer surprise. He retracted his sword into his spatial ring, and locked a hand behind his back. He spoke after straightening his composure.
"I have told you before that I do not need distractions when I'm practicing. Say it. What's your purpose of visiting me in the middle of the night?"
As the aide of Chang Haoran, Azelea knew him as a diligent and dogged cultivator. His position as the Chief Protector of Sun Blade Empire was not just a mere coincidence. He was otherwise known as the wind impaler for his prowess in swordsmanship. The path of cultivation were arduous. Each realm required persistence and diligence to perfect. The five realms in ascending order consist of Spirit Realm, Warrior Realm, Divine Oasis Realm, Sage Realm and Supreme Sage realm. Chang Haoran was currently in Divine Oasis Realm which was a rare achievement for a cultivator of his age. But his desire to advance to the next realm was peerless, as if he was an underdog longing to rise from a shameful cultivation base.
Azelea frowned, then pointed out with a petulant voice. "Your Honor, you should slow down a bit. You're already too powerful for your age. With time, you will naturally make a breakthrough."
Chang Haoran wasn't contented with his aide's words. He breathed a sigh, a sense of duty coursed through him. "The Lord Immortal is still in seclusion in Mount Heng. As the Chief Protector of the empire, I have to merit what is expected of me. If I don't grow in invincibility, how can I proficiently perform my duty?"
Azelea's frown only deepened. If only Chang Haoran would know how boring he sounded each time he emphasized on that official responsibility of his. He was too rigid for the inclination of a full-blooded youth.
"I don't think you're shirking your responsibility in any way. You're too strong with a promising future ahead of you. Our adversaries will not dare challenge us as long as we have the wind impaler." She whined, then folded her arms. Now it was Chang Haoran's turn to frown. He turned a blind eye to her compliment and gave her a look of rebuke.
"As the Deputy Protector, how can you be so complacent? I'm disappointed. We have to be up and doing till we are called upon. There should be no room for complacency. Even if we have the upper hand in the whole of Xia, our attention should not deviate from minor ripples." Chang Haoran's voice wasn't significantly stern owing to the fact that his relationship with Azelea as officials was up to par.
Azelea had to resign herself to the rigidity of her superior. She agreed whimsically with a smile of resignation. "Okay sir. Thanks for the reminder."
"So, what brings you here? Considering how late it is, I'm quite sure you didn't come here to chit-chat." Chang Haoran stared curiously at his aide. Azelea's large grey eyes perked up. Her main purpose of visiting reoccurred to her. Her demeanor turned solemn.
"We have a situation at hand. The dregs of the Merfolk Clan attacked the civilians at Windcliff City. The Emperor is enraged. We are expected to placate the unrest as soon as possible."
Chang Haoran pondered on the upsetting information. As a dutiful official and nationalist, any attempt to put the Human Clan in dire straits would be frowned on.
"Their sudden actions must be related to the search for the portals of Biluo Sea. After the Sea Emperor was defeated 300 years ago, the Lord Immortal invisibilised the sea and scattered the portals at elusive places. From the outset, the Merfolk Clan have been clamoring to return home. They have resorted to cruel means by killing the innocent. This matter requires our urgent intervention."
"The dregs of the Merfolk Clan are impatient at the moment. They want to press their demands home before the Lord Immortal comes out of seclusion. According to reports, the Sea Lords are the ones anchoring this unrest. If the Merfolk Clan successfully finds any of the portals, they'll reorganize themselves and then come back in full scale." Azelea deduced solemnly.
"The Sea Lords." Chang Haoran mused. "It's indeed a plan to reestablish their empire. The dregs of the Dragon Clan have been docile. Why are the merfolks proving to be stubborn?" Though Chang Haoran was irked, his composure remained collected. Azelea answered with concern.
"The two clans are not one. The merfolks are only keen on resonating themselves." A thought squirmed in her mind, and she blurted it out without thinking. "Your Honor, what if we employ the Dragon Lords to help us lessen the tension?"
Chang Haoran shook his head. It was a productive but cruel means of handling the situation. He was one with a pristine nature who wouldn't condescend to use such method. The Lords of the two Clans were prominent elders who were once part of the council of the fallen emperors. They did not deserve to be used like that.
"The Dragon Lords may have surrendered but they are still part of Xia. Using them as pawns for our own purpose is uncalled for. What's more, the Lords of the clans already have an ongoing feud which might lead to severe consequences if it is fostered."
Azelea found the logical relevance of Chang Haoran's statement. She realized how careless she was with her thoughts. A shred of remorse stemmed within her. "Oh, that's true." She cupped a fist. "I'm sorry for conceptualizing such rude method."
Chang Haoran nodded with an expression of understanding. After all, it was conceived out of her concern for the urgent situation, not to mention she became quickly aware of her blunder. Azelea's voice sounded again half a beat later.
"Your Honor, there's another crucial information." Her tone was alluring. Chang Haoran's interest was piqued. He asked hungrily.
"What is it?"
"There's a merfolk alchemist apparently aiming to invent a Water Jade detector. It's said that the artifact will be able to detect the portals of Biluo Sea. It's a cause of great concern. Our spies in Windcliff City reported it."
The Chief Protector's face became grave. "The merfolks are not to be underestimated. If given a free rein, they will invent the artifact with time. Consequently, they will reorganize themselves and plunge the world into chaos. It's a call of duty."
As per the established knowledge of the history of Xia Continent, the legend said that the calamities befalling the Human Clan were caused by the other clans. The overwhelming floods and outbreaks of fire were believed to emanate from the non-human clans. This superstition gave birth to a long-standing feud among the clans until one human emperor took the initiative to provoke the clans.
The merfolks could do nothing with their water magic to impact the Lord Immortal. Already at the supreme sage realm, he could easily handle the Sea Emperor and his kind without ado. Their homeland was eradicated. The survivors were taken to the Sun Blade Empire as slaves. The same fate befell the Dragon Emperor who faced an almost-obliteration. The Lords and few others who succumbed were spared by tender mercy.
"I agree with you. I can also understand how you feel about this. What the Lord Immortal have being preparing you for is finally bare before your eyes." Azelea empathetically affirmed.
Chang Haoran was the disciple of the Lord Immortal. Before the latter left for Mount Heng to attain the peak of supreme sage realm otherwise called Dao Nirvana, he entrusted the huge responsibility to his disciple after discerning his promising future. By virtue of his influence and respect in the eyes of the emperor, he requested a title for Chang Haoran to protect Sun Blade Empire in his place.
"The merfolks have taken things to the extreme. We can't dally any longer." Chang Haoran gazed sharply at his aide. "Azelea, go back and rest. First thing come tomorrow morning, we will leave for Windcliff City."