"You don't understand Brother Xiong's circumstances," Fan Chaoyang said smoothly while Wu Ling struggled to keep his face impassive. "Three years ago, a demon savaged the Sanguine Saber Sect's Eastern division killing half the Elders, two-thirds of the Wardens, most of the Deacons, and any disciple unlucky enough to get in her way," the young lord explained to his less well-informed friends.
"I don't have the details about why, but I've heard that the Sect Master of the Sanguine Saber Sect won't allow anyone to transfer from other branches to the Eastern division," Fan Chaoyang continued. "They have to replace the lost talent with their own efforts or accomplish some other mission to be allowed to receive greater support from the rest of the sect," he said, his eyes carefully evaluating Xiong Dahuo.
"I'm guessing that there are rich rewards available to help talented disciples like Brother Xiong rise as long as he proves himself capable," the white-robed swordsman concluded.
"I see," Fang Lin said with a smile. "Brother Xiong has a window of opportunity to fill a void if he's bold enough and strong enough to grasp it before the window closes," he concluded. "A toast then, to brother Xiong's success!"
As the group of young lords raised their cups, Wu Ling finally managed to paint over the storm of emotions roiling within his heart, in part because Fan Chaoyang had reminded him of just how much damage his mother had done to the Sanguine Saber Sect. He'd have his own opportunity to strike out against the people who had hurt his family, but for now, he just needed to play along as though he were just another young master enjoying a party.
After a round of cheers and drinks, Zhang Buyan gave Xiong Dahuo an appraising look. "Brother Xiong, have you ever considered an expedition deeper into the mountains? We could take Brother Yu Jinqi along with us to hunt for rare ingredients in the mountains. He could probably even concoct for us on the journey. We could all three advance our cultivation."
"You should take Young Lord Fang Lin with you too," Wu Ling said casually from his seat next to Die Jiang, rejoining the conversation now that he'd calmed his heart. "You're a Formation Initiate, aren't you? I'm sure they'll find your skills to be invaluable in protecting your camp or cultivation cave while you're up in the mountains."
"I don't have such vaunted ambitions," Fang Lin said, trying to retreat from the dangerous offer diplomatically. He was studying defensive formations to protect the family vaults and businesses! What reason could he possibly have for traipsing out into the dangerous wilderness when his life was following a steady path in the Outer City already? "I'm sure I'd only slow Brothers Xiong and Zhang down."
"You're wrong," Wu Ling said with a shake of his head, surprising the other young lords with his confident declaration. "You'd speed them up. Don't underestimate the value of a safe camp in the wilderness. Especially if they're bringing Young Lord Yu with them as well. Do you think an alchemist will concoct well if disruptive creatures can wander into camp whenever they want? Just providing a ward against low-level pests and an alarm for greater threats will do much to add value to an expedition. You're selling yourself short," he advised the young lord.
"Brother Wu," Fan Chaoyang said, his eyes narrowing as he turned greater focus on the young artist. "You sound as though you speak from experience. I wouldn't expect an Aesthete such as yourself to possess first-hand insights into dangerous expeditions."
"I won't profess to have great knowledge," Wu Ling said casually. "But if I'm being truthful, I'm only just now walking without a cane after the Independent Alchemist leading the expedition I was traveling with finished treating my injuries. Not that I think a Formation Initiate like Brother Fang could have kept out the beasts who attacked our camp, at least, not entirely. Still, it might have prevented enough of the Red Mist Wolves from getting through that we wouldn't have needed to divide our forces against threats from both directions."
"Now, see, this is why I don't go out where it's dangerous," Yu Jinqi said, pointing a finger at Wu Liong and thumping the table for emphasis. "What happened? Did one of the Red Mist Wolves catch you before you could run away after it got past your guards? I hear they never let go once they sink their jaws into their victim," he said with a shudder.
"No, my sister blocked the Red Mist Wolves on her side," Wu Ling explained. "I was the unlucky one who had to wrestle a Burning Yang Sun Bear that woke up grumpy from hibernation. Brother Zhang, if I ever need to kill such a beast again, do you think I could invite you along to hold it down for me?"
"Hahahahahaha!" Zhang Buyan roared with laughter, slapping his knee and spilling his wine. "Brother Wu, just for that joke, I'll take you along so you can paint me fighting a beast! Nothing so exaggerated as a Burning Yang Sun Bear though, I'm not a Soldier yet! But I promise you, I won't let a flea come near you while you paint my glory on the battlefield!"
"I don't think Brother Wu is joking," Fan Chaoyang said, his sharp eyes never leaving Wu Ling's eyes. "The fur on your robes, it's taken from your kill?"
"It is," Wu Ling said with a hint of pride in his voice. He didn't entirely like this group of men, in fact, several of them actively made him uncomfortable, especially Liu Mingtao who never missed an opportunity to fondle one of the young women serving refreshments. Still, it felt good to have an accomplishment most of them would acknowledge.
"The bear was driven mad by the Lunar Eclipse and it hadn't absorbed much light to power its techniques. At best I can be said to have fought it at its weakest," he added humbly. "But I did manage to defeat it before it could threaten the alchemist or any of her researchers who were gathering medicinal herbs during the eclipse. Truthfully, if I'd had someone like Brother Fan, Brother Xiong, or Brother Zhang along to stand between me and it, I'd have felt much better, but a man can only fight with what he has when he's called to defend the women behind him. Isn't that right Elder Sister Die?"
"As always, Brother Wu is full of surprises," the older woman said with a considering gleam in her eyes. "It's almost time for the main event tonight, you know. I'm considering attending with you to see what other surprises you might have in store for us."
"Brother Wu truly does seem to bring surprises," Fang Lin said with a mysterious smile of his own. "Perhaps he'll have even more in store for us after the formalities are concluded. I'm looking forward to a good show tonight!"