“It went all right,” Hong Xin said. “It was a good start.”
“But?” Wang Jun asked.
She took in a deep breath before continuing and let it all out. Wang Jun was usually the reasonable type, and he could probably see her through this logically. “We just have so many differences,” Hong Xin said. “They’re cautious, and with good reason. They know I have the Frozen Heart Oath Stone, so they’re being extra careful. But none of them have done anything overtly wrong, as far as I can tell, so it’s not like I’d try to enslave them like I did Mistress Shan and the others.”
“I see,” Wang Jun said, nodding his head and looking down at his fingers as he pressed them together. “It sounds like you need a good excuse to do what needs to be done.”
“Wait, what?” Hong Xin asked, concerned by the sudden turn in the conversation.
“You know what you want to do—you want to control them with the Frozen Heart Oath Stone in case they cause trouble, just like you did the other mistresses,” Wang Jun continued. “But you would feel guilty if you did so without them deserving such a fate. I can empathize—I’d feel guilty too.”
“It’s the other way around, Wang Jun,” Hong Xin said, a hint of worry in her voice. “I have the Oath Stone, and I won’t use it unless I have to.”
“A convenient play on words,” Wang Jun said. “One I’m used to. Still, they both mean the same. You haven’t considered using the Oath Stone because you don’t have a reason, right?”
“I suppose,” Hong Xin said, her frown relaxing.
“And you aren’t going to use it if you don’t get that reason, right?” Wang Jun continued. She nodded. “And if you find that reason, you will use it. It’s all the same.”
“What are you getting at?” Hong Xin asked. Her initial good mood at seeing him had vanished.
“I’m just trying to get you to confirm what means you’re willing to use in which situations,” Wang Jun said. “If you don’t do that, you’ll give yourself a lot of grief when you do have to use them. It’s best to straighten it out up front.” Though he looked calm on the surface, she could see his agitation. His posture was tight, almost competitive, and his breathing slightly quick.
Sighing, Hong Xin sat down beside him and hugged him tightly. She put her head on his chest, and the tension that had crept back into his body melted. She used her dousing abilities to soothe his worries and her kindling abilities to strengthen his resolve. His breathing slowed, and he put his hand on her back and hugged her tighter.
“I’ve just got a lot of pressure to deal with,” Wang Jun said. “Just ignore what I said. Don’t mind me. I’ll be all right.”
“You need to take care of yourself,” Hong Xin said, pulling away slightly and looking him in the eyes. “I know things might seem difficult, but you’re stronger than this. You’ll get past it.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“Don’t thank me, silly,” Hong Xin said. “Come see me more often. You’re not doing anyone any good if you’re exhausted.”
Wang Jun hesitated but nodded. He glanced at the clock before wincing. “I really need to go. I have a lot to do tonight.”
“Are other businesses even open?” Hong Xin asked.
“Most are closed, but not all of them,” Wang Jun said. “But what does that have to do with my work?” He opened a portal into the darkness and stepped into it. “I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
The portal shut, leaving Hong Xin alone in her room.
“Men,” Hong Xin muttered. She’d originally been looking to vent her emotions, only to get flooded by his worries. Couldn’t he just shut up and listen like he usually did? Sighing, she prepared herself a cup of tea and drank it, allowing the smooth drink to warm her exhausted body. Minutes trickled by.
“Do I really just want to trap them with the Oath Stone?” Hong Xin muttered to herself. She thought she had it figured out—no more oath-binding unless it was absolutely necessary. And from what she could tell so far, it wouldn’t be. But was that just because they weren’t looking hard enough? “I’ll have to bug Bai Ling to investigate even further.”
She continued drinking and thinking, and soon, the clock struck eight. Seeing the time reminded her that other businesses might be closed at night, but the Red Dust Pavilion certainly wasn’t. The night was young, and she had a lot of work to do.
Chapter 9: Between Light and Darkness
Huxian felt like an emperor looking over a tiny village as he flew above the Silverwing Mountain Range. He floated above it, his keen eyes easily piercing the light cloud cover above its forested peaks. Natural impediments aside, not even the Pure Jade Defensive Formation covering the mountain range could obscure his demonic sight, which was amplified by both the Devil-Sealing and Demon-Subduing scriptures.
Everything looks much different than I remember, Huxian thought as he inspected the nine mountains and their nine jade plates. Each one was connected to the valley in the center, where a circular jade plate regulated their function. Now that he’d reached the peak of core formation, he could finally see the tender energy lines that crisscrossed each mountain. They seemed incomplete, like an unfinished puzzle. There was a mystery here, just like he’d hoped.
Huxian flew down to the nearest mountain, where the Geomantic Sovereign resided. He could pinpoint the large snake that lay nestled in the very center of the large rock formation. Her lair was protected by layer upon layer of geomantic formations. He pondered trampling on her dignity for a moment before shaking his head and landing in front of the Pure Jade Defensive Formation.
Geomantic Boa, come out and meet me, Huxian said lazily. His voice penetrated
