"Let’s talk, High Elder."
Luo Ming said, massaging his throat, wincing and swallowing curses, doing his best not to show any obvious pain outwardly.
’Heavens, people here love violence far too much.’ He grumbled inwardly, staring at the veiled High Elder.
Only now did Luo Ming realize how annoying it was to speak with someone whose face he couldn’t see. It was unnerving, leaving him unable to read anything from her expression.
The High Elder, meanwhile, was still at a loss for words. She couldn’t comprehend how Luo Ming knew of her unique condition.
She had told absolutely no one about it. She knew better than to reveal that her Heart and Mind were out of harmony.
And given how many elders coveted her position, she’d made sure to keep every sign of it hidden.
And yet...
’...how does he know? Just how?’ She was completely at a loss.
But Luo Ming didn’t give her much time to dwell on it.
"I didn’t say it to threaten you in any way." He said, drawing her attention back to him, "I said it to show you I’m not as useless as you think. We can work together, High Elder."
"I don’t think you understand the weight of what you just said, Luo Ming."
"I might not." He admitted, "but that should be proof enough of my claim."
"How did you know?" She asked again.
"I can’t say." Luo Ming shook his head, "Not until I’m sure we’re allies. And if you’re worried about anyone else finding out, don’t be."
He smiled harmlessly.
"No one knows but me."
High Elder Qisi didn’t answer right away. She looked at Luo Ming, and once again, her eyes fell on his. And once again, she felt as though she stood before someone who knew more than he should.
It was strange. Even to someone of her power and standing.
’Was he always like this?’ She wondered, unable to reconcile the Luo Ming of the past — the spoiled second young master — with the man before her now, wielding knowledge fearlessly.
"Think about it for a moment," Luo Ming spoke again, "You’d gain an ally to help find the real culprit, and someone who can help with your situation."
"Help me? You?" She scoffed with open disdain, "You’re only at the Seedling Rank, haven’t even sprouted your Third Root. What could you possibly know about Cultivation to say something like that?"
’You’d be surprised, High Elder.’
"If we go by that logic, how could a mere Seedling like me possibly know about your rather delicate situation?"
That question made her snap her mouth shut, finding it uncomfortably reasonable. Yet she simply couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge it.
Her pride as a High Elder couldn’t bear to accept that she felt cornered by one of her own descendants.
It was unthinkable.
And it was something that would kill her with shame, should any of her peers ever learn of it.
So Qisi did the only thing left to preserve a shred of her dignity:
"You will swear an Oath to Heaven." She spat, her voice bitter and suddenly sharp, "You will swear that you’ll tell not a single soul what you know about me. Do you hear me?"
She stepped forward, dangerously close, stopping an inch from him. Leaning toward his face, she whispered coldly:
"Not. A. Single. Soul." High Elder Qisi ground out each word with heavy intent, "Or I won’t care about your mother, Luo Ming, I’ll kill you."
Luo Ming swallowed, his heart racing. Being threatened with death by someone so powerful was, understandably, not a pleasant feeling.
Especially not so soon after he’d already died once.
But he had a better future in mind. And for that future...
"...And in return?" He asked, trying to keep his voice steady. He failed, but his point came across clearly.
High Elder Qisi glared at him for a couple of breaths before relenting,
"You will help me." she said with obvious annoyance, "And only when I ask for it. Nothing more, Luo Ming. Nothing more!"
It wasn’t what he wanted, but Luo Ming knew it was better than nothing. At least this way, the High Elder could be considered something like a half-ally.
’Let’s be satisfied with this. Step by step, Luo Ming. Don’t overreach and get yourself killed.’
With that in mind, he nodded to the High Elder, flashing her his brightest smile.
"Of course, High Elder. You’re so reasonable. The best—!"
"Silence, and swear the Oath. I don’t have time to waste on you."
Luo Ming’s lips twitched. It seemed his little display had made the High Elder angrier than he’d expected.
"Alright." He nodded, then paused. He smiled awkwardly, scratching his cheek shyly...
"...well, how do we do that?"
Luo Ming couldn’t see the High Elder’s face, but in that moment he could vividly feel the disdain and scorn radiating off her.
’Tsk. As if it’s my fault. Blame my predecessor for never bothering with cultivation.’
"...Luo Ming, you can’t be serious?"
"Look at my face, High Elder. I don’t think I’m laughing."
"Speak to me like that again and see what happens." She hissed, dropping all pretense now, "I can’t kill you, but I can hurt you badly enough that no scars remain."
Luo Ming raised his hands in surrender, "It’s unhealthy to get angry so easily."
"What—!"
"How do we swear an Oath, High Elder?" He cut in gently, with a smile. A damn beautiful smile.
High Elder Qisi reined in her feelings, stopping herself from squashing Luo Ming like the bug he was, and slowly, breathing out...
"...Repeat what I say."
...she explained to Luo Ming how to swear an Oath.
And so, after a couple of seconds, unexpectedly, Luo Qisi found herself with Luo Ming as a partner in finding the culprit behind his framing.
"Perfect! We’ll make a great t—!"
"Shut up and go collect your compensation."
Luo Ming’s lips twitched heavily.
’How rude.’
—End of Chapter 13—