Fates Parallel Chapter 71 - Confrontation

They had barely even set out before crossing paths with Zheng Long and the others. Lee Jia sighed in frustration as soon as she saw them approaching. She had really been hoping to go the rest of the trip without having to see them again, but it seemed that fate had other plans. If she was being paranoid, she might have even thought that they had been specifically waiting for her.

Zheng Long smiled brightly and opened his arms as he greeted them.

“Why, if it isn’t Miss Lee and friends. Is it just me, or have you managed to pick up a straggler?”

Yuuko frowned and crossed her arms as Zheng gestured towards her.

“Last I checked, we all had the freedom to associate with whoever we choose.”

Zheng Long chuckled and inclined his head toward Yuuko.

“Naturally, yes. I was just remarking on Miss Lee’s incredible propensity for making friends. One has to wonder how she does it.”

He glanced at Eunae as he spoke, and Lee Jia wasn’t entirely certain what he was trying to imply.

“Well, as a start, I don’t insult half the people I meet with every second breath. Is that just a normal behavior in Qin? I’d hate to be culturally insensitive.”

Zheng Long laughed loudly.

“Hahaha! Xin wasn’t exaggerating about your sharp tongue! I don’t believe I’ve been overly rude, but as you say, perhaps it’s a difference of culture. When we first met, you said that you’d become accustomed to the ways of Qin. If you’re still raising objections to my behavior, then perhaps I just need more time to integrate.”

Lee Jia shook her head at Zheng Long’s audacity—claiming not to be rude while reminiscing about kidnapping her in the same breath. She heaved a sigh and shook her head.

“I suppose so. I didn’t think that it was that difficult, not calling people savages and animals. Anyway, did you actually have business with us, or can we move on in peace?”

Zheng Long’s smile widened.

“Why not explore the mountain together? There’s safety in numbers, and you could aid our search. I think you have ample reason to align yourself with our cause.”

Lee Jia noticed Xin Wei raising an eyebrow and eyeing Zheng Long curiously. He was speaking obliquely, but she understood that he meant that she should want to prove her story to exonerate herself from responsibility for Zhihao’s death.

“That’s a familiar offer, but the last person who said that to me nearly got us all killed before succumbing to his own recklessness. I don’t really feel like repeating that experience.”

“Now now, let’s not speak ill of the dead. Young Master Zhihao did you all a favor by offering his protection. It’s unfortunate that his bond was his life—perhaps he would still live if you hadn’t needed his protection so dearly.”

“Is that the story you heard?”

She narrowed her eyes at Xin as she spoke, and he averted his eyes to play innocent.

“Well, in any case, I’m not interested in your protection, and I doubt that your pride would even let you pretend you were asking for mine, so I think we’re done here.”

Rather than try to pass the Qin disciples by, Jia turned to begin leading her group down a different path, but Zheng Long spoke up again before she could leave.

“Perhaps it’s best that I drop the pretense, then. Yue’s told me all about the ring, Miss Lee. This is your last chance to prove yourself.”

Lee Jia whirled around, but managed to school her expression at the last moment. She had learned from her previous experience with Yan Yue, after all, and she wasn’t going to let herself fall for the same thing again. Still, she channelled some of her very real indignation as she reacted.

“What the hell, Yue!? I know that we’ve had a disagreement, and you’re upset with me, but isn’t a joke like that just a bit too far?”

It wasn’t the most convincing performance, but Jia only had a split second to come up with a response that worked whether Yue had actually betrayed them—again—or not. Yue narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Zheng Long and spoke slowly.

“It certainly is. Darling, what’s the meaning of this? I don’t appreciate being used for one of your little tricks—my relationship with my roommates is strained enough without your interference, thank you.”

Zheng Long shook his head ruefully and sighed.

“I had hoped to catch two birds with a single stone, but should know better than to underestimate you, Yue. In truth, I learned about the ring from Xin Wei, but I suspected you might be conspiring against us, so I tried to test the theory, forgive me.”

All eyes fell on Xin Wei, except for Yuuko who was looking around with a confused expression.

“Um, Mi—Jia, what’s going on? What are they talking about? A ring?”

Jia cursed herself for forgetting that this might happen when she agreed to let Yuuko join them, but she didn’t have time to explain. She crossed her arms and glared at Xin Wei.

“Really!?”

Xin’s usual, easygoing smile froze on his face as he held up his hands and shook his head.

“I have no idea what’s going on! I’ve never heard of any ring!”

Jia returned her gaze to Zheng Long and was met by his smug, arrogant smirk.

...

Fuck! She realized she’d let her guard down after dodging the first trap that she’d walked headlong into the second. Han Yu sneered at her with crossed arms.

“How strange that you thought he might, Miss Lee. Yan Yue is one thing, but unless you told him about our purpose here, Xin Wei should have no reason to even be aware of our sect’s artifact. Or perhaps he was there when you obtained it.”

Xin Wei’s face went pale, and he looked frantically between Lee Jia, Han Yu, and Zheng Long.

“Wait wait wait! I think there’s been a significant misunderstanding here! What exactly are you accusing Miss Lee of?”

Zheng Long turned to Xin Wei and smiled.

“I’m sure I’ll never get the truth from Miss Lee, so I will extend you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps you really weren’t aware, and Miss Lee simply suspected that you knew. Either way, the fact is that Lee Jia robbed Young Master Yan Zhihao of an artifact that rightfully belongs to the Great Awakening Dragon Sect. I don’t know if she killed him herself, or simply took advantage of his demise, but either way she’ll be apprehended and brought before Ancestral Grandmaster Yan for judgement.”

Lee Jia frowned deeply. Apparently the mask was completely off, and all pretense dropped. He had been content to leave her alone before, so what had changed now? Yue stepped forward and gripped Zheng Long’s sleeve.

“Darling, please! You’re taking this too far! You have no proof of your accusations, and Jia’s association with Hayakawa Kaede means that you risk war by apprehending her without due cause!”

Zheng yanked his sleeve away from Yue and sneered at her.

“Enough! I neither fear the wrath of the savages, nor do I need to. I have it on good authority that Lee’s relationship to Hayakawa is extremely new. They wouldn’t move for some nameless beast that they haven’t even taken official ownership of. As for you, the only reason I put up with this farce for so long was to expose your treachery.”

Yue’s face went white and she took a step back, her face frozen in shock.

“What!? But I thought that—”

“Oh, I know what you thought. You thought that Han Yu was incompetent, and that you had me wrapped around your finger. Unlike you, however, I do know when to put my trust in the right people. I took Han’s suspicions seriously, and simply gave you enough rope to hang yourself with. You needn’t worry, I doubt there will be any real consequences.”

Yan Yue clenched her teeth angrily as her face darkened. As she spoke, Jia sensed the qi empowering her voice and signalled to her friends. She knew that Yuuko wouldn’t understand, but there was nothing she could do about that right now.

“No real consequences!? Do you have any idea what waits for me back home? I’d sooner live a hundred years in squalor than a single moment in the gilded cage they’ll make for me. I once thought that you would be the one to help me escape that fate, but you’re no different than the rest.”

Zheng Long scoffed and shook his head.

“I don’t even know what you’re complaining about—you’ll never want for anything in your life. It’s true that I once thought to marry you as a way to gain influence within the sect, but once Ancestral Grandmaster awoke, that option no longer became viable—or did you think I would go against his wishes for you?”

Yan Yue trembled with rage, and her normally attractive features twisted into an ugly snarl.

“You never had any intention of marrying me, you coward! You would have stepped back to protect yourself the moment another suitor appeared! I’ve been prepared for this moment since before we even met, Long. If you won’t stand with me, then I have no need for you—die!”

As Yue shouted the last word, Xin Wei, Guan Yi, and Minami Yuuko all collapsed. Yan Yue’s face fell, and she took a fearful step back from Zheng Long before glancing back towards Lee Jia with a shocked expression.

“W-what?”

Zheng Long threw his head back and laughed, though Lee Jia couldn’t hear it.

“Did you think I would suspect you of treachery without safeguarding myself against your technique? Han Yu concocted an elixir to shield our minds against you—and against Seong, for that matter. Or did you think I had forgotten about the power of their ultimate trump card?”

Lee Jia flicked an ear uncomfortably—that sounded like a much better method than hers. As soon as she had given the signal, she and her friends had blown out their own eardrums with a concentrated burst of ki. She had expected deafness to be a complete silence, but it turned out to be a constant, loud ringing in her ears—it was distracting enough to make reading lips difficult to concentrate on.

She was a little bit worried about what Zheng Long had said about defending themselves against Eunae—not that she expected Eunae to use her ancestral technique on other people, but if it came down to life or death, she would have liked to have the trump card.

She was also worried about Xin, Guan, and Yuuko. Yue didn’t actually have the power to kill people outright with that technique, did she? Jia would feel enormously guilty about not warning them if that turned out to be the case, but she was fairly certain that Yue was just being dramatic.

Yue was backing away from Zheng Long, looking around in a panic. The narrow pathways and mountainous terrain didn’t give her many routes to escape, and her back was soon literally up against a wall. Zheng Long shook his head and sighed.

“There’s nowhere for you to flee, Yue—no, Junior Yan. Truly, I don’t even know why you’re panicking so much. Your status keeps you quite safe from repercussions, even from your attempt to attack us, just now. Just accept your place and help us subdue Miss Lee.”

Yue slumped back against the wall with a pained expression, and Zheng Long turned to face Lee Jia again.

“As for you lot, you did rather well to defend yourselves against Yan Yue. I knew she would attempt to knock everyone out—she’s so preciously predictable, like that—but I honestly hadn’t planned on any of you remaining awake afterwards. I am genuinely impressed!

“Let me give you an offer—surrender Miss Lee and Miss An to us, and we will let the rest of you go free. This was meant to be a secret operation, but that’s been completely ruined thanks to Junior Yan. So rather than killing you all in a vain attempt to protect the secret, I’m willing to compromise, as long as you all agree not to interfere any further—what do you say?”

Zheng Long’s words made her a little nervous, but she trusted her friends. She’d let them speak for themselves. It was Eunae who stepped forward first.

“I might have considered your offer, had you not been operating under false pretenses, Sir Zheng. However, I was present for Yan Zhihao’s death, and I can say for certain that not only did Jia neither kill nor rob him, but she and Eui also saved us all from the one who did. I owe them my life, and I fully intend to repay that debt.”

Rika stepped up next to Eunae and nodded in agreement.

“I’m not about to bow down to some cocky know-it-all cultivator from Qin. Did you know that the last thing Yan Zhihao ever did was try to murder us all? That’s the person you’re trying to avenge right now, and I doubt you’re going to convince anyone here to take your side.”

Dae removed his glasses and tucked them away within the sleeves of his robe. He only still wore them out of habit—his ki had long since corrected his vision.

“As the others have pointed out, Miss Lee is not guilty of the crimes you accuse her of, nor does the Awakening Dragon Sect have the jurisdiction to mete out justice unilaterally within the special extranational territory of Geumji. If you have a complaint, you should bring it up to your national representative on the territorial council—Elder Qin Zhao.”

Lee Jia stared slack-jawed at Dae. What? How come this was the first time she’d heard any of that? Also, he managed to get all of that out without any stammering or nervous chuckling—it was like he was a different person! Zheng Long laughed, seemingly unconcerned by Dae’s legal challenge.

“If you know all that, then you should also know that I am not acting under the authority of the Awakening Dragon Sect. I am simply an independent citizen of Qin, acting according to the principles instilled in me by the teachings of my sect and country. If you take objection, feel free to bring it up with your Magus Hwang Sung, if you get the chance.”

The threat was implicit—he wouldn’t get the chance. At least, not until it was far too late.

“Besides, if she didn’t rob him, then how did she get his ring? And I know she has it, so there’s no sense in continuing to pretend. You’re obviously all just lying to protect your friend—or perhaps minion.”

He glanced at Eunae again as he spoke. Was that what he thought? That they were all just Eunae’s thralls and that she was using Lee Jia as a scapegoat of some kind? Just how paranoid were they about Eunae’s ability? She sighed and shook her head.

“I didn’t steal Yan Zhihao’s ring. I won it from him in our duel, you moron!”

That appeared to give Zheng Long pause, and even Yan Yue looked up at Jia in surprise—she’d never actually been given the whole story. Zheng Long scoffed and shook his head after a moment.

“You expect me to believe that!? Even Young Master Yan wasn’t that stupid! He wouldn’t reveal that he had something so valuable, much less wager it.”

Lee Jia stared at Zheng Long with a blank expression. So even he knew that Yan Zhihao was a fool—he’d been so deferential when referring to him before that she had begun to wonder.

“He said that it was common practice for a duel to involve a wager of some kind, and that the one challenged had the right to demand whatever they wanted of the challenger after winning. Since he had challenged me for the only thing I had of any value, I demanded everything he had in exchange.”

“That’s absurd! Just because you’re a worthless peasant doesn’t mean you have the right to make such a disproportionate demand! Young Master Yan would never have accepted it.”

Lee Jia chuckled mirthlessly.

“He didn’t. Elder Qin stepped in to arbitrate and told Yan Zhihao explicitly to give me the ring. Honestly, if I’d known how much trouble it would bring down on me, I would never have accepted it in the first place.”

Zheng Long’s face hardened.

“Miss Lee, to be honest, I had very nearly believed you. However, Elder Qin Zhao was Yan Zhihao’s master—that he would arbitrate such a harsh penalty against his own personal disciple strains all belief. Well, you’ve all declared your intentions, so I believe this discussion is over.”

He turned to Yue, who stared at the ground, looking utterly defeated.

“Have you made up your mind, Miss Yan? This will be much easier if you cooperate, you know.”

With her head still hanging, it was difficult to make out her words, but Lee Jia was able to catch just enough to put it all together.

“Fine. You win, Zheng Long. You always win.”

Zheng Long threw his head back and let out a single sharp laugh.

“Hah! You’re getting better at that, Yue. I almost believed you. Han, subdue Yue while I keep the others occupied, then join me when you’re finished.”

Han Yu’s face twisted into a wicked grin.

“With pleasure! Oh, I have been waiting a long time for this...”

Yan Yue cursed and adopted a fighting posture as the battle lines were drawn. Behind Zheng Long, Han Yu and Yan Yue faced each other, with Xin and Guan still unconscious on the ground. On her side, Lee Jia adopted her own fighting stance along with her friends as Zheng Long erupted into flames and approached slowly.

Was he really planning to take all five of them at once? She knew he was strong, but there’s no way he could be that strong was there? Wasn’t he briefed to never get into a fight with Eunae and only to fight Dae with more than one person? She felt a nervous sweat running down the back of her neck. Something was horribly wrong about all of this, but she couldn’t quite place her finger on it.

Before she had a chance to ponder it any further, Zheng Long charged forward.