The Driver gave a bitter laugh. âThose politicians will never compromise. I guarantee theyâre thinking just because the aliens have shown up in the Starfields, they may not show up in the East. Theyâre probably hoping theyâll show up in one of the other two Alliances and make it their problem. Why should we put our necks on the line if we arenât really in danger? How much would it cost? I can almost hear it from here. Iâm telling you, those are going to be their excuses. They wonât pay any attention to your proposal.â
The Gourmet nodded in agreement. âItâs the way of the world. Similar conversations are being had in the West and North, as well. Even if they all know itâs the right call, they wonât be the ones to make it.â
Lan Jue answered. âWe just have to continue to do everything we can. At the very least, Skyfire and An Lun appear to be safe. Most soldiers will be stationed on these planets. Itâs more important than ever that we make Star Division a powerful fighting force. You saw everything that happened, even railguns counted for nothing against those planets. While fighting her, I did notice that her species seem to be antithetical to Adepts. Put another way, our abilities seem particularly suited to harming them.â
âAnd yet to them weâre practically ants,â the Driver said with a fatalistic chuckle. âI
t looked like she could swallow up our whole division with that giant mouth of hers.â
âYou shouldnât underestimate your capabilities,â the Gourmet assured. âWe simply need to improve ourselves. I, for one, intent to shut myself away in meditation for a while.â
The Wine Master nodded. âWe live in troubled times. Star Division has ever mounting pressure to grow, but I believe theyâll rise to the occasion when they know whatâs on the line. Now you all must be tired. Go back and rest, if you have anything to discuss it can wait until tomorrow. Iâll keep an eye on parliament and let you know if thereâs any news.â
âAlright,â Lan Jue replied with a nod. He returned to his store with a heavy heart.
The Wine Master watched him go with an expression of gratitude. He muttered to himself, âClairvoyant, I canât deny youâre good judge of character. You chose well, heâs already set upon his path. Maybe you played with destiny, or maybe it was always supposed to be this way, but with him around I have hope.â
ζ
Zeusâ Jewelry Shop almost appeared deserted. When Lan Jue arrived, his four Amazons were busy tidying things up. Dust had managed to creep in during their extended absence.
That was inaccurate. There were now five Amazons. Su Xiaosu was there as well. For Star Division business, she kept the wheels turning as general commander of the force, but here she was the fifth Amazon. When she got to work she looked just like the other women.
âBoss!â
When he got back the ladies straightened up and greeted him with a smile.
He managed a smile after a moment. âYou all have worked so hard lately, take a break. Weâll deal with the cleaning later.â
Mika chuckled. âNo problem, this is our home. You canât rest well in a dirty home. Isnât that right, Xiaosu.â
âYeah,â she replied with a nod.
Lan Jue was pleased to see them all getting along. Their experiences in the Starfields had brought Su Xiaosu into the fold. The former Moonfiend Empress had shown herself to be more than skilled in the midst of battle, but she seemed just as comfortable here in the store. Lan Jue was the same, Zeusâ Jewelry Shop was safe harbor. Just coming back helped settle some of the turmoil in his heart, but it also brought to the fore how bone tired he was.
Suddenly, for no immediately apparent reason, Lan Jue felt a pulse of energy. As he watched, stunned, his body emitted an unfamiliar blue aura. The Amazons gaped at him and shied from the sharp waves of power radiating from him.
Lan Jue paused, then his face lit up with joy. He turned away from the women and raced toward his apartments in the back. âDonât let anyone disturb me!â He said before disappearing into his room.
Zeusâ five Amazons looked at one another, confused. They had no idea what was going on.
âIs boss about to break through again? Iâve sensed him getting more and more powerful. We have to work hard, too.â Keâer pumped her tiny fists.
Lin Guoguo nodded firmly. âI need to meditate myself. IF we arenât strong, we wonât be able to protect the boss. Keâer, you havenât broken through to ninth level yet? Keep it up!â
âSoon, soon,â she assured, 'should be any day. Ah, Iâm the last one.â
Xiuxiu had also recently broken through, leaving the Baleful Tempest alone at the peak of eighth level. However, strictly in terms of Discipline the Morning Star beat them all. After her was Mika, and with her bloodline and battle experience, she wasnât any less of a nightmare on the battlefield than Xiaosu.
Lin Guoguo, Xiuxiu, and Keâer finished out the list.
Keâer hadnât reached ninth level yet, but her destructive capabilities were still overwhelming. She could release a punishing barrage in an instant. Once she broke through, her powers would make a dramatic leap in strength.
Lan Jue burst into his apartments and slipped into a meditative posture. He focused on the flows of energy pulsing in his body. There was a pale white light, when suddenly a figure appeared. Zhou Qianlin.
When he felt that ubiquitous aura of sharpness, he knew that Qianlin and Demortus had joined completely. Impatiently to see the results, heâd rushed back.
He hadnât seen Qianlin in two months, and he missed her dearly. He tenderly covered her naked figure with a blanket before seeing if there was any change in her situation. She stood across from him, her big eyes staring blankly just as before. However, he could sense a change in her aura. A pale, almost translucent blue light hung over her skin and flickered. Her previously gentle waves of energy had become more robust.
âIs the joining successful?â Lan Jue couldnât help but wonder aloud.
A pair of blue lights glinted in Qianlinâs eyes. A moment later, Xuanyuan Shishiâs voice filled his ears. âIt is complete. She was as accepting and resilient as a rough diamond. There was no resistance in accepting my power. You had to use the thunder essence to assist you in accepting Yongye, but no such help was needed for her. There is no one better suited to join with me. You must protect her. I have already seared my knowledge of the Ten Thousand Swords as One 1, but she will need your guidance. I have no power over her body, but I can tell you that she does appear to have recovered somewhat.â
âThank you.â Lan Jue looked dejected. Heâd hoped that joining with Demortus would return Qianlin to consciousness. Now it appeared that was just wishful thinking.
âQianlin.â Lan Jue softly called.
The blue light faded away from them, revealing big clear eyes. No hint of emotion came from them, though her pupils contracted slightly at the mention of her name.
Lan Jue sat beside her, and leaned her against his chest so he could take her into his arms. He didnât want to ever let go. In these last few months if he wasnât fighting, he was cultivating. But no matter how he kept himself busy, the pang of missing Qianlin never went away.
To see her again after so long, Lan Jue was filled with delight. But where there was joy, there was also sadness. All he could do was hold her this way, and listen quietly to her heartbeat. It was enough for now.
âYou know Qianlin, I miss you. You need to wake up, I donât care about whatâs happened before. I will always love Hera â she taught me what love is. I love you the same. Iâll admit at first I took you as a replacement. Her shadow. But I learned how wrong that was. I love you. Please wake up. Letâs avenge Hera together, and hunt down the people that hurt her. Itâs too much for me alone. I need you beside me.â
He laid them both down on the bed. He didnât dare kiss her for fear that she would disappear and he wouldnât get to see her anymore. They laid like that, separated by a blanket, with his head resting against hers. He closed his eyes. At last a sense of quiet came over his troubled soul, and he knew that she would come to him when he needed her the most.
His fingers gently ran through her hair. His eyes dimmed. Months in combat had drained Lan Jue to the point of exhaustion. At some point, despite his vigilance, Lan Jue fell asleep. Qianlinâs eyes twitched, and then shut as well. The room was plunged into silence.
ζ
When Lan Jue awoke, his first sensation was the warmth against his chest. Warm, soft, and with a faint fragrance. It was then he noticed his bodyâs natural response to the comfortable sensations.
When he looked down to get a grasp on the situation, his eyes were met with a waterfall of black hair. Somehow, heâd gotten wrapped in the blanket with Qianlin. Their bodies were pressed close together.
Lan Jue shuffled to try and extricate himself, but in his excited state maneuvering was difficult. He briefly pressed against her, but that was enough. The warm body dissolved into light and merged into his chest.
âGoddamn do I hate Bize!â Lan Jue whined. Itâd been difficult just to get the chance to see her, but even the specter of affection was forbidden. What could be more tortuous than this?
Lan Jue lay atop the best, feeling his body surge to the peak of ninth rank. He didnât find it pleasing, this time. He still didnât know how strong their Disciplines were separately.
1. His title, but also the name of the sword style