Chapter 199: Shattered hopes.

Chapter 199: Shattered hopes.The moment Lee was finally safe, his mind calmed down in an instant, and all of the sudden, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

Ignoring their conversation, Han Jin’s behavior during the meals and even her own father never addressing his child as his son, but calling her name – everything indicated there was something wrong with the situation. The weird request for the talk was the most glaring sign, but now Lee understood where it came from.

The fact that Han Jin was a girl was probably a secret known only to a handful of people. She was born after Han Zeming left and apparently the patriarch decided to appoint her to become his heir, while raising as a boy. Lee had no clue when or if it was planned to reveal her real identity, but old Finnie, before getting killed, was probably the only mother-figure the poor girl had.

The father, being a mighty elemental lord and the ruler of the famous alchemist city, was powerless against the nature and couldn’t handle the delicate situation himself. He ordered Lee to do it, coincidentally saving his daughter’s life.

"Right! Sect master!" After making the introductions, Lee said, "It’ll probably be the best to inform Patriarch Han that his eldest son, Han Zeming, was trying to assassinate his daughter. The Han can’s manor is probably in complete chaos right now, but you could score some bonus points if everything is done properly. They’re super cool alchemists, you know?"

"I know." Wang Zhen slowly said, "What did you get yourself into? What about the mission?"

Lee glanced around, and, seeing there were several people besides Shen Rouya present, nonchalantly said, "It’s all connected. I’ll give you a full report when we’re alone."

His answer caused displeasure among the most present, but he couldn’t care less. Once again he had to properly formulate his story for his work to sound impressive enough so that the sect master would send him to the Celestial Abyss sect.

More importantly, the longer he spoke, the more his feet hurt and with every passing moment it became harder to concentrate.



***

Three days later Lee stepped through the rift and arrived at the outskirts of the Celestial Abyss sect.

He recovered overnight, the next day gave the report to the sect master, and was ready to leave. He didn’t intend to take part in the political schemes that would follow the events – he only made sure everyone understood that while Han Zeming was leading the invasion and had plans to overtake his own clan, there was someone behind him.

Lee had no clue who, but it was not his job to figure out. More importantly – it turned out that he was given an impossible task. There was no place to put the beacons for the sect master to spy on someone, because the guy was constantly on the move. Even if he wasn’t, it might take years until the true mastermind contacted him and the sect master couldn’t spend his days constantly monitoring random people.

By finding out Han Zeming’s identity and saving Han Jin, Lee already did more than he was tasked to do. At least he was sure of it. Most likely the sect master agreed and as the result sent Lee to the Celestial Abyss sect.

Actually, the main reason Lee left in such hurry was his embarrassing entrance in front of thousands of disciples. He stepped through the rift dressed in a maid’s outfit and landed face-first in the grass.

While only few people recognized his true identity, some of them were apparently still upset about how he won the Hall of Ascension’s competition. The news that the clumsy maid was Lee quickly spread through the sect, and he became the object of ridicule in the eyes of thousands even faster than his wounds healed.

It wasn’t that he truly cared. But no matter how you look at the situation, even for someone with skin as thick as Lee’s, it was hard to ignore the constant finger-pointing no matter where he went.

Nevertheless, the change of scenery was pleasant. The vast fields, sown with crops and lined with irrigation ditches reminded Lee of the outskirts of Sunwell, where Freeda lived. All of the sudden he felt like home, almost, that is.

The unending procession of wagons, carriages and travelers on foot was out of place. Most of them were moving in the same direction – towards the distant city. It was hard to judge how far it was, but Lee could discern the city wall as well as the spires, seemingly towering into the clouds.

"What’s the occasion?" After stepping onto the wide road, with a nonchalant expression Lee asked a simple looking merchant pushing a small cart.

The man looked back at him as if he was a retard, and realizing his mistake, Lee explained, "I’ve been hunting for months, sorry. I’ve no clue what’s going on."

"Oh, buddy, you have missed out on things!" The merchant shook his head in regret.

"We have a long road ahead of us, tell me!" Lee said.

"I don’t even know where to start ..." The man said, gathering his thoughts, "It’s probably best to say that you’re lucky you decided to come. The Celestial Abyss sect has announced a whole month of a tax-free period – that’s why everyone is rushing there. There’s no trader or even a peasant that wants to be left out. Even my family sent me to ... well ... what are you going to sell?"

"This time I’m buying." Lee said, patting his pocket.

Actually in his backpack he had a pouch full of gold coins gifted to him by Patriarch Han. He personally arrived to express his thanks for saving his daughter and offered Lee to choose the gift himself.

Lee, without batting an eye, asked for the most potent poison the Han clan possessed, but unfortunately got only gold instead. Maybe it was the patriarch’s displeasure for Lee disclosing Han Jin’s identity being a girl, or maybe it was the sect master’s faint shake of the head that informed the patriarch that gifting poison to Lee was a bad idea.

Either way, he only got gold. But the amount was enough for him to last till the end of his life if he was frugal enough and lived in the countryside.

"You aren’t coincidentally looking to purchase candles?" The merchant asked, pulling up a rug and revealing boxes full of candles.

"Sorry, no." Lee said, "But why such generosity? What happened? Did the sect master have another son?"

"Hahaha!" The man laughed in return, "You’re kidding, right? If there was a tax-free month every time the sect master has a child, we wouldn’t need to pay taxes at all!"

Seeing Lee’s expectant look, the merchant took a deep breath, probably going for more dramatic effect, and said, "The junior sect master is getting married! It’s the wedding of the millennia!"



"Don’t they have many wives?" Lee was confused. If the sect master was having children faster than chickens laid eggs, there was no way it was happening with only one spouse.

"You’re not from around here, are you?" The merchant asked, and seeing Lee nod, explained, "It’s a long standing tradition that the sect master has only one wife. They have hundreds or even thousands of concubines, but only one mother of the next successor."

"So the junior sect master is marrying ..." Lee said, having a really bad premonition.

"Mhm. You’re right." The merchant nodded, "After he becomes the next sect master, his wife will be the most influential woman in the world!"

"Is there more information about her? Does she come from a famous clan?" Lee asked, refusing to let go the last bits of hope.

"That’s the thing!" The man said victoriously, almost as if he was the groom, "No one expected that Junior Sect Master Mo would bring home a beauty from foreign lands. And they say she’s incredibly beautiful!"

"Really?" Was the only thing Lee could ask.

"Indeed! Her skin is white as snow and eyes bright as two burning flames ... and her crimson hair ..."

"Stop gossiping, you two!" Another merchant interrupted his colleague, "I don’t want to be implicated after you say something stupid!"

While his companion clumsily apologized, Lee could swear he heard his hopes shatter like glass. The description of the bride vividly fit Victoria and if she really was about to become the next sect master’s wife, his chances of revenge were completely fucked.