Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1107 - 1106 - Half Truth

Lind walked back with Chu to the palace. Piercer of the Veil Immortal followed behind them at a respectful distance.

"Just what did you do to her, Husband?" He looked harshly at Chu and she had the decency to flinch.

"Nothing compared to you! We will be having a very LONG discussion once this is over." She began to fluster a bit but they marched on as soldiers came running up in a panic.

"My Lady! Are you all right?!" A captain came running up but was halted by her aura.

"I am quite all right, Captain. Inform his Highness that–" Lind held up his hand and pointed up the stone path.

"He already knows." Dark red hair flew in the air as the prince came running at them using his Qi to assist. Marquis Song was also not far behind!

Lind pulled Chu aside as the prince barreled by and hugged Piercer of the Veil Immortal.

She was totally caught off guard but Lind could only smirk at even the Marquis coughed before all the soldiers and he did an about face.

"Thank the spirits you are ok! Are you hurt in any way?! What happened to you?!" The 5th Prince did not let her speak but she was crimson which made her look far younger than normal to his eyes.

"High–Highness! Calm yourself! We are in public!" Her words snapped him out of his fenzy and now he was the one to blush deeply.

It was only then the Prince seemed to notice Lind and Chu. The former he ignored but he drew a sword from his storage ring on Chu.

All froze as Lind slammed her into the ground.

"Don't you dare! You came to apologize!" No one else noticed but her tail had begun to shimmer with scales. His display of strength took all of them off guard but the prince paused at least.

"I would demand an explanation of your wife's actions, Emerald Immortal!" Lind looked tired as he looked around and waved his hand. His intention made the prince nod in understanding. "Follow me."

Chu stood up and was totally unharmed but pouting.

"You brought it on yourself. You have had far better control before now but you should not obsess over a single mistake. We will face it together." He took her hand and now she was the one blushing!

They were taken to far less kind quarters but it was not a prison at least. Lind did note a troubling formation but would pity the 5th Prince if he tried to use it against him or Chu.

The greatest power in Song City could not stop him because fundamentally they were flawed applications he could rip apart with ease.

Still, it would take time where he would be vulnerable so Chu being there made it a snap to accomplish it.

"Lord Emerald Immortal. I believed we were friends, or at least not enemies, so why was your wife spying on us and further, why did she kidnap my most important person?" His wording made the subject blush but Lind sighed as he held up a hand to his wife.

"Due to experience on the way here, we have learned to not assume we are safe. My wife was only supposed to observe for any allies of the Minister of Finances and the orphanage while I trained Junior Mills, but she can be a bit proactive. Further, you were the ones to mention my ultimate goal of the inverted mountain." The tension became thick at that last part but a glance at Piercer of the Veil Immortal saw she had no reaction.

Confusion was on the prince and marquis but Lind understood it.

"I have some information and something to reveal. The seers of your kingdom saw in large part the coming of the Corruption and by extension the inverted mountain. Anything related to it, however, led to the end of all. That was the cause of her reaction previously." Both the 5th Prince and Marquis Song whipped their heads to her at that.

Her nod made both men pale but then Lind coughed to bring them back to him.

"The one you know as Maester Taren Cord and I have the same master. We also have the same enemy. The Fiends. I have confirmed with the Piercer of the Veil Immortal that she cannot see either of us with her skills and thus, we have a chance." The 2 men suddenly looked at him in a new light until the 5th Prince shot to his feet.

"The bestial aura! It was Maester Cord?!" Lind nodded as it was his normal aura.

"He and I planned to meet up elsewhere but my selfish change of plans led to an unexpected clue. We had no idea the inverted mountain was where we were looking for. When your king offered information, it was a pleasant surprise." A half truth hidden in the rest slipped by them.

Piercer of the Veil Immortal swore to keep his secret as she admitted agents of Fiends could avoid her sight as well. Their effect could be seen but not until they chose to act.

"I have revealed that Emerald Immortal is opaque to me but Maester Taren Cord…he is like a storm." She shivered as she recalled a glimpse of his harmony flame. She had asked how he blocked her sight as a human but he truly did not know.

His only theory was his unique origin. A dragon soul was rare enough that he doubted records were preserved or even known about whether peering into their Fate was impossible or not.

The group became calmer but Lind knew the budding trust between them was gone. Marquis Song seemed amicable still but the 5th Prince was now cold.

Chu's eyes revealed her shame that she realized she had gone about things incorrectly. She should have noted the bizarre reaction of the Piercer of the Veil Immortal and reported to him before acting.

She could not blame her instincts that time either. It was pure emotion driving her. The fact someone tried to defy her beloved had made her incensed.

[So long as you know, then you can learn from it. We are all fallible but must accept the consequences.] Her actions had forced his hand a bit to reveal a connection to 'Taren Cord' he was trying to avoid but it let them diffuse the current situation.

"While I can accept the report, your actions, Lady Chu, remain inexcusable." The 5th Prince was calmer but not even Piercer of the Veil Immortal could dissuade him at the moment. Despite her higher cultivation, she was a servant of the royal family.

Chu fidgeted guiltily which belied her usual grace.

"May I state something pertinent." Lind raised his hand and the 5th Prince frowned at him but since he had brought back his beloved intact and with apologies, he nodded for him to continue.

"I received permission to explain some things that do not excuse Chu's actions but may give some context. Do you know of the Jade Dream Sect?" A dark look flashed over all their faces but none missed the flinch of Chu.

Lind relayed how he came across both Chu and her daughter. He made it seem like he had been trying to find Taren Cord who was known to have been lost in the Divine Ruin for close to a decade.

Again, truth and half truth danced in his words but no lie passed his lips.

As he explained the deplorable condition and treatment from their tribe and how humans in general had used their village for slavery or resources, the 5th Prince softened a bit.

"So no wonder you acted to save the orphans. You also, knowing our government and nobles were enemies, lost faith in us. When we had someone declare to deny you the very thing you came for, you reacted harshly." He stood up and paced with his arms behind his back.

The calmer face and aura made it clear he was contemplative. The silence was not comfortable as Chu was crying as she leaned into Lind. They were not pleasant memories but the feeling of his arms assured her the darkness was behind her.

"Your Highness, all he said is true. I have seen it. The Jade Dream Sect suffered heavy losses but I cannot see who did that, only that they were nearly wiped out in a single day." Lind had not given that detail and it made his narrowing eyes give away his surprise.

"So, we are at a bit of an impasse. No one has been harmed but trust has been broken. Lord Emerald Immortal, can you have Maester Taren Cord come to us?" Lind had anticipated that very question and shook his head.

"In terms you would understand, I am the scholar and he is the warrior. Though we are both skilled, he far surpasses me. I was just a struggling human until our Master taught me how to advance properly. If not for a fortuitous encounter, I would not be here at all." Lind danced a fine line but he did it.

The actions of 'Taren Cord' also matched his description. The man was credited with fighting against several armies, claiming the Divine Ruin, reclaiming Crescent City, and finally removing the bloodline array.

Taken all together, it was a lot of fighting and near miraculous things. In contrast, no one had heard of the Emerald Immortal although having a supporter made perfect sense and explained how so many elixirs were made in such a short time.

Even his Dao title made more sense if he was the subordinate to such a powerful Triple Maester.

"In other words, he moves as he wills and you follow behind?" Lind nodded at Marquis Song's interpretation of events.

The 5th Prince was frustrated but not as much as before. They decided to end the meeting and to let heads cool off. Chu would not be punished, at least not by them, but Lind stared hard at her on the way home. He was not going to be so lenient!