Chapter 24 Bonds That Cannot Hold

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This chapter was a little too big, so this is about the fourth edit.  I'm sorry about the English in places! :)

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In many Chinese tribal cultures, a younger, unmarried brother must be helped by his older siblings if possible or by his sworn/shield brothers. Anyone outside of family, discounting the healer,  would be considered scandalous.

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Guards flanked Shen Wei as he made his way through the lush garden, planted with a wealth of medicinal herbs and cultivated wild meadow flowers, that Wang Zhang had once gathered as a child. The fragrance lingered even as the hands of winter caressed the air, leaves falling like rain from the many trees around the walkway.

Having faced war and constant heartache for so many years, Shen Wei in these far more prosperous times, had promoted such cultivation in every city in Dixing, giving rise to local styles and a new garden competition, that had turned devastated land into something for the people of Dixing to enjoy. It had been simple but highly popular, a way for remembrance without forcing his people to remain locked in the past.

Kunlun always celebrated living things and was a proud owner of several plants Shen Wei had kept lovingly for a decade now. With such strong dark energy gifts, particularly that of the cold elements, he never interfered with them personally, but everyone in Dixing knew they were prized.

Kunlun would be proud of them. With constant care his small purple potted shrub was nearly a tree and his blue willow brushed the ceiling of Shen Wei's private study. The Imperial Household had been trying subtly, delicately even, to suggest that the pot might be too small to house it now, but it was Kunlun's chipped yellow pot and Shen Wei was not parting with it.

Soon, Kunlun would be able to decide, he thought with an eager smile.

As the afternoon light turned the leaves of the remembrance trees to bronze, the Emperor found his way to the central courtyard of the Meng stronghold.

He simply could not wait any longer.

There was a knot behind his breastbone and hope quickened his stride much to the barely concealed consternation of his Battle Commander. It would be undignified to run and excessive to open a portal directly into the rooms, which were the only reasons he had waited this long.

Finally the stone walkway led him to the building heavily protected on five sides by the Meng Clan. There were steps leading up to the door, the wide circular courtyard where he had met Jie Ming watched by soldiers and clansmen alike.

Shen Wei swept up the steps and barely waited for the guards to pull open the ornate doors. Darkness met him as he marched inside, following the hallway to the circular doorway that waited for him. There were sigils painted onto the bamboo floor and paper talismans pinned to the walls, shimmering with power.

The air shuddered and Shen Wei felt the caress of Jie Ming's unique energy, that hinted at violence as he moved inside. Jie Ming's wards, he thought approvingly, were strong but always fair. Candles burned in every corner, glowing with a slight purple hue, the thrum of power tracing along the walls to greet him.

The ceiling arched down with intricately carved woodwork offset by the vivid blue curtains tightly drawn against the light. In the very center lay Kunlun, the array built from colored sand formed lines intersecting in odd but deliberate patterns, that spread out across the highly polished grey stone floor.

As always his eyes fell upon Kunlun first.

Like the clash of swords, it hit him each time he entered a room to see Kunlun there, a half-second of disbelief followed closely by a rush of love and desperate worry. He was here and soon he would be free.

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