novelraw Chapter 389 - 388 - Limits of Sects
Chapter 389 - 388 - Limits of Sects
The camp with the natives was not uncomfortable. The formations kept them dry if any rain came and there were wooden paths in case of the same weather. Children were subdued but that was more due to the lack of anything to do.
Lind moved among them with some difficulty.
He was a new face, technically as bland as the formation plate allowed him, but still, some sharp eyed adults were confused about him. His clothes were just as dirty as theirs but after being cooped up for months, a few were suspicious about him.
Lind actually did little to deny he was new. He spoke of some of the close villages he had passed through and how he had taken longer to come back than he planned. Once he mentioned a few issues with the roads, namely the local snakes and hawks, more than most dismissed him as someone just gone a long time.
The life of World Realms was still centuries, so it was not odd for a journey to take years.
Lind then became part of everyday life. He slept between some tents, or rather he went off to sleep before flying up and observing the rest of the camp during the night.
He was glad to see food was delivered on a regular basis but there was little information to be gained from his interactions. He did ask who had brought them all here as the 3 people in hoods refused to identify themselves, but all of them clammed up when he asked.
Some simply shook their heads, but others seemed to know but refused to answer. Lind did not press it and after a few days he just acted like the rest.
Still, his sharp eyes noticed a few disgruntled groups. Some were more about the lack of proper baths or variety of food, but there was one group that was growing. They wanted to go back to the city.
Lind slowly floated over as he observed several of the men and women gathering in one of the larger tents. It was the tent of the only Gold Tier in the entire place.
He was older but Lind estimated he was only 200 to 300 years old at most. His vitality seemed very strong and his use of Qi was fluid to his Eyes.
No torches or artifacts were lit, but all quietly entered the tent. Lind found it a bit amusing they did not erect that powerful of an isolation barrier. Likely, they could not without better materials.
"Sir, we can't keep letting them walk all over us. You were appointed by the King to govern Bridgeway. Their sect is powerful but the other sects won't let them keep doing this!" One of the younger men with too much fire in his eyes started the meeting.
It was the second meeting Lind had eavesdropped on but he learned little aside from their desire to go home.
Apparently the force of men arrived and informed the city they would be temporarily displaced while a criminal was sought out. It seemed if the city was small enough, the higher powers took no chances.
It was a blunt and rather effective strategy so long as your target was not already gone. Lind now understood his Touch must have warned him. The city was a trap! Still, why not populate it with their own people instead?
Would that not have been a more effective trap?
"Their time is almost up. They already had to send back a lot of their subordinates per the orders of the treaties. You all saw how displeased that Heavenly Maiden was to deal with the issue." The leader was gray haired and his voice was mesmerizing. He made an effective leader with just that maturity and charm.
He did have a scar down his neck but Lind was unsure if it was a beast or blade that gave it to him.
His pale brown eyes were firm as he calmed down the gathering.
"I am sure the other cultivators backed by the powers that sent them have reported the issue. The Sword Breakers Sect will have to let us all go back to our normal lives soon" Lind's eyes narrowed. It was not just the familiar name but the older man had lied.
Lind reviewed his words and it was the last part. He knew something and was holding it back but the rest seemed to release their inner tension and nodded.
More words were spoken but it was mostly just an empty circle venting frustrations and reassurances.
Very late into the night, the people dispersed back into their tents in 1s and 2s. Lind made no move and waited. He could move faster than the eye could follow if the sun came up but he was rewarded once more.
A slim shadow that was familiar separated from the moon cast shadows of the other tents. Not a sound was heard before the shade moved into the larger tent.
A much better isolation ward was erected, but it extended beyond the tent cloth and Lind was inside it! He held his breath just in case but there was no reaction from within as a new conversation started.
"You do well. As a former brother of ours, you have settled nicely into your role as governor." Lind felt his blood run cold. Even if the natives went back, he had to get permission from the highest authority to use the tunnel connection.
He had no pass nor did he have any record of his arrival. He may as well have announced that he was avoiding people if he did that! While it was not the Sword Breakers initially, they were now included!
"I was not lying though, the pressure is building and the Sect Master can't keep you all here after the others saw you." Lind was surprised. A year was hardly a long time and given the name of the area, he did not know why other sects would even care.
"That is their problem, ours remains to do our job. We have not impeded anyone, but the Maidens are our greatest concern. If that lazy fool incurred their ire, this was all a waste of time, but if someone else killed the grandson of the White Tiger, then they will pay dearly!" Lind knew it was a human they were talking about.
If any cultivator did not add the word 'Divine' when referring to a white tiger, then it was a human.
He listened some more but it was mostly like 2 old friends catching up after that. Still, Lind did not dare to breathe or move until the formation was dispelled and the slim shadow was gone.
He and the slim man were both tier 2, but Lind's experiences were very limited and anyone that was part of a sect could be rated as very experienced. He might have more raw power, but if Lind did not apply it correctly, he was just as dead as being too weak.
The members here gave him a much more confident battle prowess compared to the group he faced in Mara's village.
Lind's eyes narrowed at that. Surely, the Maidens had not left those villagers behind. The wounds would take years to heal, if at all.
A decision now had to be made.
He could head back out into the plains and lay low until enough time passed to safely exit the Elysium Plains, or he could see if there was another way. Lind was patient but he doubted waiting was wise.
If no one showed up and the Maidens did not press the issue, the Sword Breakers would know their prey was somewhere in the plains. Lind could see many innocent villagers getting mixed up in that.
He would not allow it!
Before he could change his mind or consider something else, he slipped into the tent to find the older man looking tired. His eyes were now dull and clearly he wanted to sleep, but Lind gave him no chance.
A powerful isolation formation enclosed the room they stood in. Before the man could wonder what happened, Lind appeared before his eyes as if from mid-air!
Lind also unleashed his full cultivation which made the man blanch.
"I have questions and you will answer. Do not lie or I will know." Lind's voice was cold and sunrise was not far away. The man swiftly nodded.
"How long can they keep your people here?" The question caught the man off guard but he easily answered it.
"Assuming no intervention, only another year. If they try to claim a connection city, there will be war. The Treaty of Passage assures that while local kingdoms or sects can appoint a governor or overlord, they cannot interfere for long unless some exception was made." Lind's eyes narrowed at that wording.
Hunting the killer of your family might make such an exception but possibly not. It all depended on alliances and a bit of understanding.
"What does it take to use the tunnel, artifacts, formations, a medallion?" The question confused the older man but again, it was easily answered.
"Once I took office, I am empowered to activate the formation or allow a designated member of my office to do so. If you have a pass, that will also allow you to go as it was pre-approved on the other side." Lind nodded as it made sense.
"If I have no pass, what must I do? Understand, I am not going to the head of the camp." The old man swallowed as it was clear that the senior in front of him was not on good relations with the Sword Breaker Sect.
"May I ask if senior is–" Lind's eyes became extremely cold and his aura flared which silenced the question. The old man felt like he was not in front of a human, but an aether beast!
"P-please forgive me! I simply ask because if you are from a non-allied power, they can't stop you from using the tunnel. It would violate the treaty!" Lind's aura retracted but he made no comment. For once, the old man felt cornered and his dark robes were feeling oppressive.
"Answer me, what do I need?" Lind was running out of time. The sun would rise and while he could slip away, the man in front of him would run to the disciples running the camp to turn him in.
"It is impossible to circumvent the process. If you have no pass or other method to show you arrived here from other islands, you need the person in charge to activate the arrays to let you into the tunnel." Lind narrowed his eyes.
It was a security restriction but unlike the formations around a sect, this one could be assigned? That was not possible. Formations could do complex and powerful things but once set, they were inflexible.
Offensive formations burnt out after enough usage passed and the same was true of defensive formations. The could be manipulated by a controller, but that was it. What this man was describing was a security door that was operated remotely or by a designated representative.
Formations could not do that. Once a controller was assigned, it had to be rebuilt from the ground up if the person was dead or replaced. It was why ancestors or sect masters were usually the true controller of a formation.
His doubt was clear but then the man produced a silver tag that hung around his neck. The moment Lind saw it, his doubts vanished.
"A weaving. The tunnels are regulated by weaving?" The old man nodded in relief as he assumed it would be the end but then darkness closed in.
Lind carefully set the man down on his bed. He had only knocked him out as he took the tiny plate. He had never seen a weaving inscribed on a material. He had always carved them into the air, but the silver plate felt odd in his hands.
"Later, I need to go!" Lind carefully dispersed his ward and vanished into the pre-dawn. He flew carefully outward and then came to the final barrier. Here, he had to wait before the change of the guard happened.
A new trio was sent out and he slipped out with them. It was safer but he then swiftly flew directly into the air. As he ascended, his body changed until emerald scales covered his body and his draconic nature was asserted.
Lind flew far faster until he was far above the city and his vertical slit eyes pierced all the depths of the city as his Heaven Eyes examined all it saw. A plan slowly came into shape as the sun crested on the horizon.