After Grandmother Ava said that she couldn’t approve of my marriage to Willow, I took a moment to think about my response. I knew what I wanted to say, and what I needed to say. Willow and I already worked it out. However, I needed to think of the right way to say it.

  Telling Grandmother Ava outright to break the agreement so I could marry Willow wasn’t a good idea. Not only would I be insulting her integrity, but breaking the agreement would also damage Clan Stone Pillar’s reputation. It would take a while to repair that damage.

  Offering the spirit well and Flame Fiend Hall’s backing would help. However, I needed to do it in such a way that didn’t make it seem as if I was bribing Grandmother Ava. Besides, I also needed to consider the Thousand Blade Sect. They had ties with Clan Wind Dance, so the agreement between the two clans would affect them as well.

  “But Grandmother,” Willow protested, “Darian is Cultivator Connor’s son and Senior Asher’s grandson. Our marriage isn’t in violation of the agreement.”

  Grandmother Ava snorted.

  “Can you prove it?” She asked. “Either of you?”

  Willow and I glanced at each other, before shaking our heads. I didn’t have any token or physical proof that I was my father’s son. If one existed, my uncle must have kept it from me. My appearance worked against me as well, since I didn’t look like a Wind Dance except for my eyes.

  “Exactly.” Grandmother Ava said. “Cultivator Dominic has every reason to deny your claim. It would be your word against his, and most people would side with him.” She frowned. “We also have to think about The Thousand Blade Sect. Even if they believed that Darian was Cultivator Connor’s son, which I doubt they would, they would still side with Cultivator Dominic. They despise demons and they have ties with Clan Wind Dance. Appeasing Cultivator Dominic is in their best interests.”

  “Aren’t there ways to prove that Darian is a Wind Dance?” Willow asked. “I’m sure there are techniques that can test whether or not he has blood ties with Clan Wind Dance.”

  Grandmother Ava nodded.

  “There are,” she said, “However, whether or not Clan Wind Dance accepted the results of those tests is a different matter altogether.” She shook her head. “That said, even if we prove that Grandson Darian is Cultivator Connor’s son, Cultivator Dominic is the acting head of Clan Wind Dance. If he doesn’t accept the marriage between you two, I can’t either. Not without breaking the agreement between Clan Stone Pillar and Clan Wind Dance.”

  I hadn’t considered that before, but she had a point. Proving that I was my father’s son didn’t change anything. My uncle was the acting head of Clan Wind Dance, which meant his word was law. If the clan elders rallied to oppose him, they could force his hand. However, they wouldn’t do that for my sake.

  “What would be the consequences of breaking the agreement?” I asked.

  Grandmother Ava regarded me with a cold glint in her eyes.

  “War.” She said. “Or at least an escalation of tension between Clan Stone Pillar and Clan Wind Dance. There have been some scuffles and skirmishes ever since I signed the agreement with your grandfather, but there haven’t been any major conflicts. If we broke the agreement, then Clan Wind Dance would retaliate. They would have no choice, if only to save face.” She shrugged. “If we just had to worry about Clan Wind Dance, that wouldn’t be such a problem. Cultivator Dominic is much weaker than I am. However, they have the Thousand Blade Sect’s backing.”

  Willow frowned.

  “We have Grandfather Riordan’s backing.” She said. “He’s an elder of Five Divine Pillars Hall. Our clan split off from his a long time ago, but we are still kin.”

  “Asking for Ancestor Riordan’s aid would escalate the situation into a conflict between two of the Seven Great Northern Sects.” Grandmother Ava said. “If that happened, many of our kin would die. I want to avoid that if possible.”

  I sighed.

  “Then there is the reputation of Clan Stone Pillar to consider.” I said.

  Grandmother Ava nodded.

  “That is a lesser concern in comparison, but it is a concern.” She said. “I don’t want it said that we are oath breakers.” She made a dismissive gesture. “There is also the bride price, I suppose. However, that is nothing compared to my granddaughter’s happiness.”

  Willow wore a complicated expression on her face when she heard that. I reached over and grabbed her hand, holding it in mine. Her expression cleared and she smiled at me. Grandmother Ava watched us with a sad smile on her face.

  “So, unless my uncle somehow approves of my marriage to Willow,” I said, “Breaking the agreement is inevitable, unless the two of us decide to separate.”

  Willow’s grip on my hand tightened.

  “I refuse to let that happen.” She said.

  “You could sever ties with Clan Stone Pillar.” Grandmother Ava said in a quiet voice. “That is one solution.”

  “No!” Willow said, almost shouting, a horrified expression on her face. “I don’t want to leave Clan Stone Pillar either. You and the rest of our kin are my family! I don’t know who I would be if I wasn’t a Stone Pillar.”

  A part of me envied Willow for having such strong ties with her clan. However, I remembered how much my maternal family loved me and my envy disappeared.

  “In that case, what do you propose?” Grandmother Ava asked, placing an elbow on the jade table and leaning forward. “You’re a smart girl, Willow, and you don’t seem like an idiot, Grandson. I assume you already considered all the points we mentioned earlier and came here with a solution in mind. Now that we’ve outlined all the obstacles in our way, why don’t you tell me about your plan to deal with them?”

  Willow and I shared a look. We hadn’t expected Grandmother Ava to catch onto us so soon.

  “Well?” Grandmother Ava asked.

  I sighed, before giving her a wry smile.

  “You’re right,” I said, “We do have a solution, or at least the beginnings of one. However, we planned on working up to it first.” I paused. “We weren’t sure whether or not you would approve of me, so we decided to play it safe.”

  Grandmother Ava chuckled.

  “Well, you have my approval,” she said, “So there’s no need to keep playing around. Out with it.”

  Willow chuckled and shook her head.

  “In simple terms,” she said, “Breaking the agreement with Clan Wind Dance comes with severe consequences.”

  “However,” I said, picking up the thread, “What if Clan Wind Dance breaks the agreement first, or at least gives you the justification you need to break it yourself? If it’s their fault, that changes everything.”

  Grandmother Ava regarded us with an intrigued expression on her face.

  “Oh?” she asked. “How do you plan to make that happen? Cultivator Dominic would never break the agreement, not of his own free will. He wants Willow’s dowry too much for that. A mine of wind elemental stones would elevate Clan Wind Dance to new heights.” She paused. “On the other hand, fabricating the justification we need to break the agreement is far more feasible.”

  I nodded.

  “Exactly.” I said. “The Thousand Blade Sect wouldn’t support Clan Wind Dance if the latter were the ones at fault, especially if it means opposing Elder Riordan and Flame Fiend Hall.”

  Grandmother Ava paused at that.

  “Are you speaking the truth?” She asked, staring at me with wide eyes. “This isn’t a joke?”

  I nodded.

  “Yes,” I said. “Willow must have told you about my maternal family. If you approve of my marriage to Willow as the head of Clan Stone Pillar, Flame Fiend Hall will back Clan Stone Pillar. The Myriad Rivers province is far from the Dawn and Dusk Sect, but I’m sure you’ve heard of my mother’s reputation.”

  It took Grandmother Ava a moment to recover from her shock.

  “You’re right,” she said, “I have.” She paused. “Well now. That changes everything. In fact, that alone might be enough to convince the clan elders to break that agreement.”

  “My mother’s backing, while significant, comes with its own downsides.” I pointed out. “Other powers within the Thousand Blade Sect might involve themselves in this matter.”

  The first person who came to mind was Sky Splitter, the peak master of Tyrannical Blade Peak and my mother’s rival. He might interfere in this situation, if only to oppose my mother.

  “True,” Grandmother Ava said, a thoughtful expression on her face, “Fabricating the justification we need is still our best option.”

  I nodded. There was a way to coerce my uncle into breaking the agreement, but I hesitated to use it. My uncle, and most of my kin in Clan Wind Dance, viewed me as a disgrace. They went to great lengths to hide my existence from outsiders. At the time, I thought it was just to protect Clan Wind Dance’s reputation. While that was true, I believed it was also because of their ties with the Thousand Blade Sect. We could use this against my uncle.

  However, there were two major flaws with this idea. The first was that Vivian Sky Splitter, the daughter of Peak Master Sky Splitter, already knew about me. Secrets only held power as long as they remained secret. Once they became public knowledge, they no longer held the same value. I didn’t know if Vivian or her father planned on using this knowledge themselves. If they did, and told others, then trying to coerce my uncle wouldn’t be feasible.

  The second was that if my uncle refused to bend and I revealed my heritage, it would affect Lucius. Even if the Thousand Blade Sect didn’t believe me, they would still look into the matter. Once they realized the truth, it would become a major scandal. I feared for Lucius’ future if that happened.

  Despite my fears about his feelings towards me, I still loved him. Out of all my kin in Clan Wind Dance, excepting Clarissa, he was the one I was the closest too. It was safer to fabricate the justification Clan Stone Pillar needed to break the agreement instead.

  “This is a good idea,” Grandmother Ava said, pulling me back to the present. “However, how do you plan to pull it off?”

  “That oaf, Zayne Wind Dance.” Willow said, sneering. “We need a lever to help us break free from Clan Wind Dance and he’s perfect for the role.”

  “My uncle already claimed that Zayne was my father’s son,” I said, “Making him the young master of Clan Wind Dance. His actions reflect the clan as a whole, for good and for ill. If we push him to cause a large enough incident, that should give you the justification you need to break the agreement.”

  A part of me, the part that wanted revenge on Clan Wind Dance, found the idea of using Zayne as the instrument of my vengeance delicious. While I despised most of my kin, my uncle in particular, I hated Zayne. He tormented and abused me the most when I lived on Mt. Wind Dance. While my uncle suppressed me and kept me out of clan affairs, it didn’t feel as personal as the hell that Zayne put me through.

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  “I see.” Grandmother Ava said, pinching her chin. “That could work. In fact, I believe it has a good chance at succeeding. You just need to work out the details.” She grinned. “Alright, you have my support. What do you need me to do?”

  Willow and I looked at each other and smiled. We accomplished the first part of our plan. While there was still a lot of work to do, gaining Grandmother Ava’s support had been the most crucial step. Without it, our chances of success would have been much lower.

  With that, Willow and I spent the rest of the night explaining our ideas to Grandmother Ava. Together, the three of us managed to put together a workable plan. Now all we needed to do was put it into action.

  After the dinner with Grandmother Ava, I tasked Ellen and Elliot with finding out if Clan Wind Dance was in North King City. In particular, I wanted to know if Zayne was in the city. If so, we could put our plan into action right away. If not, we would have to wait until after the Rising Heroes Tournament.

  We were in luck. It took the snake twins a little less than a day to find out that Clan Wind Dance was, in fact, in North King City. They came with the Thousand Blade Sect. While not every member of the clan was a disciple, enough of them were that Clan Wind Dance was essentially an extension of the Thousand Blade Sect. This included Zayne, who was also in North King City. He couldn’t participate in the Rising Heroes Tournament, because of his mediocre aptitude, so I assume he came to watch instead.

  Ellen and Elliot also informed me that Lucius was in North King City as well, and that he would participate in the Rising Heroes Tournament. This didn’t surprise me. Lucius reached Foundation Establishment in half the time it took the average cultivator. When it came to cultivation and swordsmanship, he was a true genius. Given what I knew about him, he had a good chance at reaching the top ten. In fact, he might even reach first place.

  When I learned of this, I debated with myself on whether or not to send him a message and arrange a meeting. What if he ignored my message? Or worse, what if we met and he confirmed my fears? It would break my heart. However, I couldn’t avoid him forever and I didn’t know when I would get another chance like this.

  So, I shored my resolve and hired a courier service to send a message to Lucius for me. While I could have sent one of the snake twins, I didn’t want to risk them getting hurt. The Thousand Blade Sect was enemy territory after all.

  Instead, I tasked Ellen and Elliot with tracking Zayne’s movements and gathering as much knowledge about him as possible. The more we knew, the better our chances of success when we moved against him.

  As a testament to their skills, it only took the snake twins two days to gather everything we needed to put our plan into action. By some miracle, Zayne had reached Foundation Establishment. With his mediocre aptitude, it should have been impossible. When I last saw him, he had barely been halfway through Qi Condensation. He either had a fortuitous encounter, or he consumed an absurd amount of pills.

  Like Lucius, Zayne was also an inner disciple of Flowing Sword Peak. He had already been cocky, strutting around like a dragon among men. However, joining the Thousand Blade Sect and becoming an inner disciple pushed his arrogance to new heights. He roamed about, always surrounded by a crowd of cronies and sycophants. They flattered and fawned over him, hoping to benefit from their connection with an inner disciple of the Thousand Blade Sect.

  According to the snake twins, Zayne spent most of his time in taverns, gambling dens, and pleasure houses. The first two made sense. When I lived on Mt. Wind Dance, Zayne spent more of his time drinking and gambling than cultivating or practicing his swordsmanship. However, that last one was new. He hadn’t been a lecher as far as I knew. Of course, I wasn’t in a position to judge, considering my own tendencies.

  Regardless, this was perfect. My uncle wanted Zayne to marry Willow, in accordance with the agreement between Clan Wind Dance and Clan Stone Pillar. However, no one would want their daughter, or granddaughter in Grandmother Ava’s case, to marry a man of poor character like Zayne. That was just a recipe for a miserable marriage. We just needed to push him into causing an incident, which would give Grandmother Ava all the justification she needed to break the agreement with Clan Wind Dance.

  So, on the night before the Rising Heroes Tournament began, we put our plan into action.

  The House of Heavenly Pleasure, despite its grandiose name, was a seedy brothel located in one of North King City’s red light districts. The city was large enough to have more than one. I didn’t know about the others, but this one in particular seemed crass and vulgar. Every vice imaginable was available, from blood sports to drugs and alcohol to pleasure houses.

  It was late at night, almost midnight. Despite that, a multitude of lamps and lanterns kept this place well lit. I wished they hadn’t. Many of the buildings here were run down and dirty, as if their owners had given up on maintaining appearances. Trash and detritus littered the cobblestone streets.

  Even though it was winter, it was warm and damp in this area. The stench of alcohol, human waste, and lovemaking was so thick that it seemed to sink into my skin. I could almost taste it. My face twisted with disgust. I wanted to go home and take a bath right away.

  The people here went about their business, almost in a daze. Most of them were unkempt. Raucous laughter, yelling, and moans of pleasure mingled together to create a disquieting cacophony. An air of despair and hopelessness hung in the air. The cultivators here had given up on the path of immortality and indulged themselves in pleasures instead.

  I enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh. It was a part of my being, as a demon of hunger and desire. However, the people here seemed to drown in it, as if to forget their pain and misery. I couldn’t help but pity them, despite my disgust at their actions.

  Even the Black Iron Guard had all but given up on this place. We didn’t see a single one patrolling the area.

  To avoid standing out, I remained in my human form. Ellen and Harlow flanked me on both sides, my arms around their waists, while Elliot kept watch from behind. We kept an eye out for any potential threats as we made our way towards the House of Heavenly Pleasure. While we were in Foundation Establishment, and most of the people here were in Qi Condensation, it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

  Many of the men, and plenty of the women, eyed Ellen and Harlow with undisguised lust in their eyes. I even saw a few people glance at Elliot. Unsurprising, since he was quite good looking himself. However, when they noticed our cultivation bases, they turned away.

  ‘I hate this place.’ Harlow said, speaking to me through telepathy.

  A sentiment we both shared.

  ‘You didn’t have to come, you know.’ I replied.

  Harlow snorted.

  ‘Of course I did.’ She said. ‘You asked me to concoct an elixir to lower inhibitions and heighten emotions. I needed to come along to ensure that you didn’t misuse it.’

  Ellen leaned forward to peek at her.

  ‘Don’t lie, Little Sis Harlow,’ she said, ‘You just didn’t want to be left out.’

  I chuckled. Harlow puffed up her cheeks and turned away with a pout.

  ‘Do we really have to go through all this effort?’ She asked. ‘You could always give up on the brute.’

  I pinched Harlow’s waist. She let out a yelp, before turning to glare at me.

  ‘I won’t give up on her,’ I said, ‘The same way I wouldn’t give up on you, were you in her position.’

  Harlow’s expression turned uncertain, and I saw a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

  ‘You promise?’ She asked.

  I nodded.

  ‘Yes, I promise.’

  She let out a satisfied sigh, before pressing herself against me. Ellen let out a low laugh and shook her head.

  ‘At this rate, it won’t be long before Little Sister Harlow joins our family.’ She told me.

  ‘I think we’re well past that point.’ I said.

  Harlow and I hadn’t discussed the matter in detail, nor had we slept together, but it already felt natural for her to be with us. Before all this, she had held a special place in my heart. However, over the past few weeks, my feelings for her had grown stronger, almost without me noticing it.

  The four of us arrived at the House of Heavenly Pleasure. It stood two stories tall, with a red and yellow color scheme. Like the rest of the buildings in this red light district, it was dirty and rundown. A balcony jutted out from the second floor. I couldn’t help but compare this place to Flowering Blossom Palace, back in Evenfall City, and let out a sigh.

  Over a dozen women, all of whom wore loose clothing and too much make up, lounged about on the balcony. They called out to everyone who passed by, including us, trying to lure them inside the House of Heavenly Pleasure. Under normal circumstances, I would have ignored them. However, for the sake of our plan, I gritted my teeth and entered.

  During the course of their investigation into Zayne, the snake twins discovered that he favored this place for some reason. He came here every day, after he spent hours drinking and gambling. They hadn’t figured out why. Perhaps Zayne liked a particular woman from this place, though I doubted it. Or maybe the House of Heavenly Pleasure satisfied his particular needs. Regardless, it was the perfect avenue to execute our plan.

  The interior of the House of Heavenly Pleasure was much cleaner than the exterior. So much so that the juxtaposition felt jarring. The colors here were richer and more vibrant. It smelled nicer too. The scent of floral incense replaced the disgusting stench from outside. Hmm, I started to see why Zayne favored this place.

  The first floor was a large open space littered with comfortable looking furniture. Dozens of patrons occupied this area, drinking copious amounts of alcohol. They were accompanied by women who… Entertained them. While a few danced or played music, the rest focused on their patrons’ more carnal needs. I didn’t see anything too blatant, but it was a near thing.

  A stairway led up to the second floor, which consisted of a wide balcony that hugged the wall. There were more patrons up there, also being entertained. I also noticed several doors on the second floor, which I assumed led to private rooms. Privacy arrays kept out my spirit sense, for which I was grateful.

  Zayne wasn’t here yet. Good. We had timed it so that we would arrive before him. If he saw me, he might recognize me, which would ruin the whole plan.

  When we entered, a young woman started to approach us. However, a middle-aged woman intercepted her and took her place. The middle-aged woman’s clothing and makeup, while still vulgar, was a touch more tasteful when compared to the women here. It enhanced her beauty, which she maintained despite her apparent age. Like us, she was at Foundation Establishment.

  “Welcome to the House of Heavenly Pleasure, esteemed guests.” She said in a fawning manner. “I am Janessa, the madame of this establishment.” She loaded this next part with innuendo. “How may I… Serve you?”

  “My companions and I were feeling bored, so we decided to walk around and find ways to entertain ourselves.” I said, trying to act like a spoiled young master. I made a point of looking around. “This place seems suitable enough.”

  Madame Janessa’s smile widened.

  “Of course, esteemed guest.” She said. “We will do everything in our power to satisfy your needs. Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”

  I pretended to mull it over for a moment.

  “We’ll take a spot on the second floor,” I said, “Send us your best dancer and your best musician.”

  Madame Janessa gave me an obsequious smile.

  “Of course, esteemed guest.” She said. “However, since this is your first time here, there is a certain matter that we need to get out of the way first.”

  I returned her smile with one of my own.

  “Of course.” I said, before glancing back. “Elliot.”

  He pulled a storage bag out of his storage ring and tossed it to Madame Janessa. My heart ached at the sight. That storage bag contained two hundred of my hard earned spirit stones. However, it was for a good cause. At least, that was how I consoled myself.

  “That should be enough for an hour.” I said. “If I’m satisfied, I might stay for even longer.”

  Madame Janessa checked the storage bag, before a bright smile spread across her face.

  “Of course, esteemed guest,” she said with far more warmth than before, “Please follow me.”

  Madame Janessa led us to an occupied spot on the second floor. The furniture here consisted of a large couch flanked by a pair of chairs. A small round table stood in front of the couch. Folding screens with floral designs on them enclosed the space, giving us some semblance of privacy. Best of all, this spot overlooked the first floor, which was perfect for our needs.

  When I sat down on the couch, I almost sank into it. Ellen and Harlow joined me, while Elliot stood guard.

  “Your entertainer for the evening will be with you soon.” Madame Janessa said. “While you wait, is there anything else you would like?”

  I shook my head.

  “No,” I said, “You may go.”

  “Of course, esteemed guest.” Madame Janessa said. “Don’t hesitate to call for me if you change your mind.”

  With that, she left.

  ‘Are you sure Zayne will be here?’ I asked the snake twins through telepathy. ‘It’s late and the Rising Heroes Tournament starts tomorrow.’

  It weren’t for Willow’s sake, I wouldn’t even be in a place like this. Why would I? My wives were more than enough for me.

  ‘Yes, Darian.’ Elliot said, conveying amusement through our telepathic link. ‘We know what we’re doing. My sister and I have plenty of experience with this sort of thing.’

  Ellen draped herself against me and caressed my chest. I felt a little awkward since Elliot, her brother, was right there. However, if this display bothered him, he didn’t let it show.

  ‘He should be here in about half an hour.’ She said. ‘Until then, let us relax and enjoy ourselves.’

  I frowned at her.

  ‘We came here for a reason,’ I said, ‘We can’t let ourselves get distracted from that.’

  Ellen regarded me with a serious expression on her face.

  ‘I know how important this plan is to you,’ Ellen said, ‘However, we have nothing better to do until Zayne Wind Dance arrives. Besides, we need to fit in. Otherwise we will stand out.’

  She had a point. If we didn’t engage in some form of debauchery, people would get suspicious of us. I debated with myself for a moment, before I gave in.

  ‘Fine,’ I said, ‘You win.’ I snorted. ‘Sometimes I feel like you’re corrupting me.’

  Ellen gave me a wicked smile.

  ‘Of course I am,’ she said without an ounce of shame, ‘And you like it.’ She looked at Harlow. ‘Would you like to join us, Little Sis Harlow?’

  Harlow shook her head, though she looked tempted.

  ‘Darian and I aren’t married yet.’ She said. ‘It would be inappropriate for us to… Fool around.’

  Ellen studied her for a moment, before shrugging.

  ‘Suit yourself.’ She said, before climbing onto my lap.

  And so, I lost myself to Ellen’s ministrations.

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