The group of Qi practitioners were back in the inn. The atmosphere was stiff and there was conversation brewing in tiny groups. Old Bao stood in the middle of a small party. Zero was closeby so he could hear their discussion.
The Han sect boy who was called Qinshan stood erect, addressing the innkeeper. His face was stern and his voice was resolute.
"Surely, you know the basis on which the Han sect has sent us as representatives, mister?"
Old Bao said nothing, chosing to nod slightly instead. The Han sect boy took out a scroll and read from it. "Your crimes against the imperial nation of Chu in the battles of Divyah, Hill and Heaven have been pardoned. Therefore from the reading of this letter, Bao Khan Sukho, is free from exile. "
Stone grunted, drawing the burning gaze of Qinshan. The brute looked away.
A slight pause. Zero observed the light in Qinshan's eyes flicker as he read the last words.
"Signed, The Crown."
Old Bao let a a slight sigh. This decree would have been a cause for relief had it been there was no trouble waiting ahead. He searched Qinshan's face but was surprised when he could find no trace of foul play. For some absurd reason, the crown had pardoned him. Finally, he asked.
"And the incident...the monk? How does this affect my standing as a free man now?"
Qinshan did not answer immediately. He rolled the scroll back and tucked it between the folds of his fine black and red attire. The gold dragon embroidered across his chest, moved as he took a breath.
"As to that, I and my travelling group, play no part. We will of course report the incident to his royal highness, the crown prince."
The air was tense. Old Bao's lips twitched.
"You shall speak no lies, I hope? You witnessed the incident first hand. Surely your account would be genuine, boy."
"Old master, my report is between the Crown and I. You best spend your time...patching up a few messes."
Stone grunted again but a sharp look from the old innkeeper had him silent once more. Zero stood off to one side. He watched the conversation back and forth, not knowing much about the dreadful politics involved. He knew, however, that Old Bao had been cornered.
"Why was I freed of my crimes?" He asked. The younger man took a step back and bowed. His companions did the same.
"The outer courts believed you might prove useful in light of some... unexpected occurrence." With a smirk that emphasized the fierce light in his eyes, Qinshan said, "but clearly, you shall have much bigger fish to fry. Old wounds reopening are not exactly pleas—"
Stone was past his limit. "That's enough you pissy twat! You speak to an elder!"
Qinshan was not fazed. His lips twisted into a grander smile. "Oh pardon me. This elder of yours indirectly disrespected our Han sect when he did nothing to shut that bastard Zhou's mouth! I bet he enjoyed someone else badmouthing the imperials as his frail guts couldn't possibly muster the courage. Ha!"
The young man took a slight breath and then feigned politeness. "In any case, it is not in the best interest of the Crown to take in a man who has offended the Sukho House...twice."
"Whether you killed the monk or not, does not matter. If the Buddhist cult belives you guilty, not even the imperial palace can save you. And why should we sully our hands in dirty business for a man already halfway into the grave?"
Old Bao hissed out air and Zero wondered if he would shatter Qinshan's shoulder as well. Or worse.
However, he did none of that.
"I respect you, as you are the Third Prince's beloved son. But your attitude is unbecoming, son." Old Bao was trying to be gentle with the lad.
Zero watched all this carefully. He now understood where Qinshan got his attitude from then. A prince. One of the many grandchildren of the emperor.
The young man bowed once more; just as shallow as before and turned to leave. Some of the Qi practitioners in the hall had heard the words of the boy and they threw dirty looks his way. His noble companions held their heads high, shunning these vagabond Qi practitioners.
They left the inn loudly. The last man had even shut the doors with a bang. Murmurs ensued among Old Bao's party.
"Enough! He's just a lad. He can be swayed with a few gestures."
Zero, up until now had been staying as unseen as he could. He had not chosen to speak to anyone and none had approached the off-putting, quiet boy. So it was to his surprise that Old Bao's dark eyes met his.
"Boy. I will need you to do something important for me. Come with me to my chambers."
Zero did not like the sound of that. Wasn't it worded a bit crudely?
Or perhaps his thinking was just off the rails. He nodded to the old man and made his way through the staring crowd. He had not taken off his hat so he wasn't overwhelmed by the looks.
Stone and the portly man, Zhou followed behind.
Lady Su was in the innkeeper's chambers doing some form of calligraphy on a yellowed parchment paper. As they all entered, she rose to leave. "I have the talismans almost ready, old master. I'll come to complete them once you have done your part."
Old Bao waved carelessly. "Forget that. You can stay. That little brat of a boy is planning to mingle in a business that is far too big for him. Did he even consider the consequence for this?"
"There would be no consequences to the Crown or to the House of Sukho. Only you will bare the brunt of it. It's pretty simple." Zhou caressed his long, thin moustache as he spoke. Now that he was not cursing imperials, he sounded much more refined.
Lady Su with her soft but sharp voice nodded in agreement.
"That is true. But whoever killed the monk probably knew a way to tip the balance so it did not just threaten the old master. What do they stand to get by setting him up? There's no political strategy. No actual strategy of any sort."
Old man Bao nodded gently. "The imperial palace needed my help with something I believe is a guarded secret. Something that must border on the spiritual." He looked meaningfully to Stone, then to Lady Su and then the incomplete talismans on the floor table.
"This is a strategy. We just have to look for an opening that can simultaneously free our small faction from blame and secure my freedom from exile. The young man, however crass, was right. "
"No matter how needed I am in the capital, they won't care enough if I'm already a target of the Sukho cult. "
So the three of them, Old Bao, Zhou and lady Su contemplated more possibilities while Zero and Stone stood aside.
Stone was a military officer. Politics and its nitty gritty, did not interest him one bit. He did grunt once or twice though. Zero however, was a blank piece of paper absorbing the little details he could.
The discussion continued till he was needed again.
"I plan to send this young man to deliver a deal to the prince on his journey. He will be offered a hidden cultivation method of the Sukho cult in exchange that at the time of report, he spoke the truth. "
Stone grunted. "Why must we send the boy? We can send anyone. Why him?"
Old Bao looked to where Zero stood calmly. "He has the bearing of a good messenger. Besides, I need some one who wouldn't attract attention. We do not want to send someone as mighty as you after the convoy. I'd be made a felon again!"
Stone laughed then. It was a mighty sound.
After this, the group came to an agreement. Zero would go with the message, blend into the convoy disguised as a servant. He had to find a way to deliver the terms to the prince before they neared Jin City.
All the while, he grew more confused. These people were just planning without his consent. In truth, he was only supposed to be a guest of the inn. Not their messenger!
He wanted to protest but old Bao, as if sensing his burning reluctance, said to him.
"You do realize you did not enter an ordinary inn, no? This is an inn only visible to those with martial sight, high Qi and dark mana amounts. I do not know which group you belong to. However, you are under us until you explain yourself and where you came from. "
"Do not even think of running away. Do you see Stone over here? He's a great tracker for someone his size!"
Zero looked to see Stone fixated on him.
"I am your guest, old master. Who I am or where I come from is not your establishment's concern. I will be on my way. Forget about me being alone on my travels, I can do well enough for myself."
He bowed deeply and turned to leave.
"You will go and deliver this message to the prince or we'll send out crows into nearby cities alerting them of the presence of a wandering ghoul." This was lady Su's voice.
Zero's eye twitched. Of course.