Chapter 573: Elders Present or Past, they still suck…
After several minutes of walking through the Blessed Willow Manor, passing by all manner of clansmen engaged in all sorts of activities, the Zhen branch clan had finally arrived to the front door of a particularly important chamber.
Well, they assumed it was important since Zhen Wang instructed them to stop here as opposed to keep going deeper into the damn place.
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As soon as Zhen Wang was out of earshot, the branch clan began to gossip and discuss.
Some talked about the door, other talked about the manor as a whole, while the rest spoke of what they expected to see on the other side.
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“You know…I know we got a big door at home to act as an intimidation factor and a means for us to showcase our wealth to people, but this is ridiculous!,” Zhen Jin whisper-hissed to his wife, Zhen-Ying Hua.
“I think that’s because we don’t make use of three dimensional carvings to get that effect back home. How can they even move a door this big and heavy though without using an Aether Master?”
” I don’t know…”
“You know, I was going to make a quip about y’all being impressed by a door despite everything we’ve seen so far,” Zhen Hou commented, “but I can feel the aether leaking out of this thing…and its at least a Silver grade aether treasure. Talk about luxurious…”
“Wait, wouldn’t it make more sense for this gate to be used on the outermost wall?”
“Probably not…”
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“So in the span of…ten minutes? Let’s go with ten, we have seen a massive dining hall, several refined cultivation chambers with dedicated aether affinities and an insanely huge aether arts archive that is its own three story building, and weren’t entirely sure if they have a secret vault or not…yeesh! Is this the privilege of being an old clan or are our distant family members just really lucky?,” Zhen Xing asked to his cousins.
“Huge would be an understatement,” Zhen Feng replied. “Even after we absorbed the Wolfe Family’s assets all those weeks ago, I think we’re only at a fifth of this place’s archived knowledge. At best.”
“Shit…think after grandfather make amends they’ll let us have access to the archive?,” Zhen Tai asked.
“I have…very mixed feelings on that question.”
“Because it feels fucked up to make use of the resources of distant relatives that has wanted us dead for the better of a several decades after burying some ancient hatchet?”
“Yeah, that.”
“Meh. I’m sure they’d be cool with it.”
“Would they?”
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“So father, you said that back when you were a rising star in the eyes of the clan, you ended up befriending several of the elders…you think any of them might be willing to help you make amends?”
“That…was a long, long time ago, Xiao Long,” Zhen Shi answered while directing a sharp gaze and a grimace towards a door he had very mixed feelings about.
“Back in those days, I got along with the Beast Taming Elder, the Alchemist Elder and the Sword Elder… and I just now realize that they might’ve been the reason why we took up aether beast handling as our clan’s profession…”
“Not just because it was a hobby of yours that mother was convinced could make money?,” Zhen Yan asked his father.
“That too, but regardless, the elders back when I was younger were already up there in age. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had already passed on or were replaced given how much time its been…of course, they were also members of the inner circle at the time so maybe they’re still alive…”
“Wait, I just noticed you didn’t mention anything about the clan chief. If you think the elders have changed since your time, shouldn’t the chief have changed as well?”
“Oh! No,” Patriarch Zhen Shi answered while vigorously shaking his head. “I am actually convinced that old fossil will outlive all of us before that ever happens.”
“Do…do you mean that literally or…?”
“Let’s just say…y’all know how its shared knowledge that when an Aether warrior breaks through to a certain rank early enough that their appearance becomes locked at that age? They’re one of the few that managed to breakthrough in their early twenties.”
“Oh…oh fuck.”
“Yeah…monster talent…”
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But of course, while the Zhen branch clan made small talk to pass the time, a certain member of the clan was busy hiding off to the side whilst making it look like he was admiring the stonework of the giant door in front of them.
The reason being?
His left hand felt like it was about to explode.
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‘Ooooh, I can already tell I’m not going to like whoever these old ass motherfuckers,’ Zhen Liu griped to the kaijin as soon as he heard Pathos make their announcement and began feeling the cores condensing in his hands.
[Huh? That’s a bit out of character for you, maestro. You tend to give people the benefit of the doubt,] Hurricroak commented.
[Hell, you gave your cousins a pass for bullying you for all those years, well…past you, anyways.]
‘Okay, that I let slide because that was just the viciousness of youth,’ Zhen Liu justified, ‘not everyone who is a bully in their younger years stay one as they grow older…despite some well-known exceptions…but…Zhen Xing has been showing some change in character…probably because I kicked his teeth in. Besides, I also let it go because I’m fairly certain if he did try to do something uncouth, you’d guys would probably tell me far in advance.’
=Mortals and immortals alike tend to learn more from suffering than from being comfortable,= Logos pointed out. =But yes, milord, how can you be so sure?=
‘Because the moment that Zhen Wang went in there, Pathos said cores were condensing,’ Zhen Liu reminded them of something that had just happened literal seconds ago, ‘that means whatever he is telling them has enflamed desires in them that are so potently old that it’s strong enough for me to start doing this without being able to see them! That is worrying to me.’
[Fair…point…]
[Really? Why?,] Spring Brawler asked.
‘I don’t know if there’s a term for it…longing might work…but if there’s one thing I understand about mortals, humans specifically, is that when we are denied something for a very, very long time, we start to develop weirdly potent obsessions over that one thing.’
[Really? Like what?]
‘Could be anything as a simple as a genre of music that was deemed ‘inappropriate’, food you were denied because it was ‘unhealthy’, or speaking from a more…personal history…private school graduate suddenly learning the meaning of the words, “free love” and “lube”.’
=I…don’t think that’s how that works…=
[Wait…I think I get it,] Spring Brawler stated, [but are you sure that applies to something like an old crime of passion?]
‘Spring Brawler, old boy. I have some recommended reading and watching after this excursion.’
[Really? What?]
‘For books: ‘Count of Monte Cristo, Sweeny Todd and Phantom of the Opera.’
[Okay!]
‘For movies: Three thousand years of longing, Five-Year Engagement and Your name.’
[Huh?]
‘They have a theme that is relevant to this moment. Consider it a learning exercise.’
‘What? Nothing in the library or back home is valuable enough?’
‘Of course…’
‘Say what?’
…
[Core of ~Opportunistic~ Greed.]
[Core of ~Unforgotten~ Kindness.]
[Core of Retribution.]
[Core of ~Raging~ Pride~]
[-Mysterious- Core of Amusement.]
|Notice: Kaijin Lord has created multiple cores that can be considered synonymous to one another. The ability to combine cores of similar [Desires] has been unlocked. Please report to the Library at your earliest convenience.|
|Notice: Kaijin Lord has managed to create cores of opposing values on the “VV” scale. Please report to the Library at your earliest convenience.|
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Zhen Liu and his family only had to amuse themselves for a few minutes before the doors to the Golden Reef Chamber opened once more, only this time, it was both sides of the door opening up.
When Zhen Wang entered earlier, he only opened one door and just slightly at that so as to not presumably disturb the elders within the chamber.
The fact that both doors were opening up in such a showy manner was…worrying.
<
As soon as Zhen Liu heard this voice, something about it made his skin crawl but he wasn’t sure why…until Pathos made a comment about it.
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‘Because…I think it was that.’
