The Serpent and the Lotus Blooms

Court is in Session

Bai Yusheng woke alone in their bed the next morning. The previous evening was mostly uneventful. Lada had found very little about Yi Tengfei aside from the information revolving around his time in JingShui Temple. She had moved on to simply researching his family name and any connection it might have to Bai Yusheng, but for an Immortal who had lived for centuries and had dealt in many affairs of humans and Immortals alike, it was difficult to narrow down their options.

"Master Bai, are you sure you don't know any Yi ancestors of note that may wish to cause you harm?"

"Not that I am aware." Bai Yusheng answered, sipping their after dinner tea as they pondered this question. "I have had all kinds of dealings with many families, the Yi family being among them. But I do not remember any stand out unsavory encounters."

"Could this perhaps have to do with Master Bai's family, then? An old grudge perhaps?"

Bai Yusheng couldn't help but chuckle, covering their face politely. "Mine was a family of simple farmers. The only feud they may have been a part of would be friendly competition with the neighbors. No, this has to be about me."

Lada sighed and rubbed at her temple, looking back at the stack of books she had been sifting through all day. "That does nothing to narrow down this expansive list..."

Bai Yusheng looked apologetic, "Thank you for all the hard work, Lada-Jiejie. It is appreciated."

"May I make a suggestion?" Serinity glanced to the two over her glass. She was lounging now, leaning heavily into Lada's space and looking to the neat pile of books. "Perhaps we can narrow it down to the time of Zhou Qiqiang's murder first? That seems like the most likely time for someone to have formed a grudge."

Bai Yusheng's face paled a bit, their eyes shooting down to linger on the tea leaves in their cup.

"Do you think that perhaps a relative or someone close to the five Yangseong disciples is the culprit?" Lada prodded, glancing sympathetically to Bai Yusheng as they fiddled with their cup.

"Perhaps. If my memory serves me right, there was a Yi ancestor in the five. I believe his name was Yi Xiaobo?"

"The one that got away." Bai Yusheng's voice was cold and solemn, seeming to draw all the warmth from the room. There was a silence that followed, lingering and hollow. Saalah's hand settled on their knee, and Bai Yusheng seemed to snap from their daze. Their head shot up, glancing around to the gathered company. "My apologies. It has been a long time since I thought about Yi Xiaobo."

"Wouldn't Yusheng have noticed it was Yi Xiaobo even with a change of name? Surely it can't be that simple to slip by this long just by changing his given name?" Saalah's voice was curious, and he moved a bit closer, his large frame giving Bai Yusheng some comfort. It felt safe.

"Not necessarily," They mused, taking their final sip of tea and setting it back on the table. "My memories from that time are...foggy at best. I had never officially met any of the five disciples of Yangseong before that encounter, so their faces are a blur. It is very plausible that, after making his escape, Yi Xiaobo doubled back centuries later to get what he considers his revenge."

"It would be a very risky move on his part. He would have had to have counted on you not recognizing him at all." Lada sat back, her arms crossing over her chest. Serinity reached out lazily to play with a strand of blond hair.

"Not so risky," Serinity countered, tugging the strand she held between her fingers. "Any likeness to Yi Xiaobo could have been put off to being a close ancestor. He waited a couple centuries to put this plan in motion and longer still to finally act on it." Bai Yusheng nodded and finally stood, straightening out their clothes. "I will look in my personal files for anything that can confirm this theory. DaJie, if you find anything, please let me know." They glanced at Saalah as he stood beside them, dusting himself casually.