Soul bonds

The Second of Jade Manor

"Congratulations to his Excellency! The Sun shines in the Northern Lands... Congratulations to his Excellency!" a messenger announced.

Wen RuoHan listened quietly as he sat in the main hall of the Nightless city. There was a large gaping hole in front of him and the three yin shards danced over the opening. The air was heavy as the doors had not been opened for days. The thick stench of decaying corpses and blood filled the room. A horde of puppets stood still, locked in the magic of the yin shards.

The Northern lands had fallen into the hands of the Wens who had extended their hold on these territories by controlling the leaders or simply by killing them off. They even dared to venture beyond the borders under the supervision of the Excellency and pushed further north.

It was a cold region, sparsely populated with a race of proud humans and cultivators who had long learnt that it was better to help each other than fight. They had a tall and square built, with sharp features, liquid silver eyes and almost translucent pale skin. The common enemy of these people was the cold and harsh environment. They led a simple life; one filled with gratitude and contentment. Until the Wens came.

The people were enslaved, the leaders and protectors who resisted were killed. It has been a long time since the Wens wished to extend the reign of His Excellency up to the frozen northern seas. These ice capped territories were rich in natural resources which they coveted.

This conquest was achieved by the sheer ruthlessness and brilliance of Wen Xu, the eldest son of Wen RuoHan. Proud of his victory he had sent a message to his father, with details of his feat and all the new supervisory offices that were set up. He also requested for reinforcement and additional supplies for his armies.

Wen Chao listened to the decree and smirked.

"Congratulations to His Excellency!" He bowed. "We should spread the news of our victory! Whatever rebellion the dim-witted cultivators from the so-called major Sects are planning will be quashed!"

"A-Chao, what nonsense are you spurting?" Wen RuoHan questioned softly.

"Father, they are plotting something!"

"Why would they plot? We have not openly challenged any of the four main Sects... The Jins and the Qins have been steady alliances for years... "

Wen Chao stomped his foot and shouted, "Why did you allow the marriage of Wen Qing to that Jiang spawn?"

"Wen Chao! Jiang Cheng is A-Qing's husband and the Jiangs are family now... Besides, the wedding of A-Qing brought a moment of peace and gave us the time we needed to complete the conquest of the North and extend our boundaries... We also secured an alliance with the Jiangs! You need to be thankful to your sister..."

"Sister! That slut is not my sister... She disgraced our name by marrying that good-for-nothing Jiang and associating herself with that bastard Wei... How many times have I begged you to let me have her as a concubine..."

"Enough! Wen Qing is your blood sibling... How dare you disrespect her? Don't forget – she is an heir of the Qishan Wen Sect, and she would have ranked above you had she not relinquished her rights as Second Heir!"

Wen Chao clenched his fist in anger. He never understood why Wen RuoHan favoured Wen Qing. He had made her the Second Heir of Qishan Wen sect, after Wen Xu and Wen Chao was designated as Third Heir. Wen Qing was not interested in the political affairs and she politely declined. Her only interest was her art of healing. Although he was happy to get back what he believed was rightfully his, the act of Wen Qing had only fuelled his resentment for her.