Tao Cai was escorted down a long corridor with high ceilings, and no doors except for a set of large ornate doors at the end. Standing quietly and placed at even intervals down the corridor were elite looking soldiers. Each man was covered in heavy armor, a spear in one hand and a shield in another with a Jian sheathed at their hip. Each man stood completely still, staring straight ahead. It would be easy to even mistake them for statues.
The doors at the end of the corridor were exquisitely designed and appeared to be heavily armored. As he approached the end, two of the soldiers stepped forward, pulling the doors open, holding them as Tao Cai stepped into the room. The room itself was rather small and possessed only a single large window located behind the chair that agent Piao was sitting. Only a single other chair populated the room, placed directly across from agent Piao several feet back, closer to the doors.
"Welcome, young lord, Li Tao Cai." agent Piao greeted Tao Cai in a gentle, welcoming voice.
"This one humbly greets his majesty's agent." Tao Cai spoke in a confident but respectful voice as he saluted agent Piao.
"Thank you for greetings. Please sit, young lord." agent Piao gestured toward the other chair across from him before turning his attention to the guards standing at the door. "You may close the doors." he ordered in a cold voice. The guards quickly saluted before closing the doors. As the doors closed, Tao Cai felt a strange sense of Qi suddenly cloak the room.
"I can tell by your reaction, that you noticed something." agent Piao raised an eyebrow while cocking his head slightly upward.
"Yes, my lord." Tao Cai sat down as he spoke. "It... feels like the room just became cloaked in Qi."
"You would be correct. I'm impressed by your perception." agent Piao responded. "An array has been established around this room to prevent any... interruptions. Almost anyone below the Pseudo-Transcendent Realm that attempts to enter it without my permission will be instantly killed." he quickly explained. "But enough of that, I must say that I'm extremely grateful to have met such a rare talent as you."
"If I might inquire, my lord, why have orchestrated such a closed, private conversation with me?" Tao Cai seemed rather confused with the level of protection and privacy.
"The initial reason was merely to extend to you an offer, but I orchestrated this more... private meeting, as I believe that you might have some... questions for me." agent Piao smiled a half smile as he replied. "But first, if it pleases you, I would like to get down to my initial reasoning for inviting here."
"Please do, my lord." Tao Cai bowed his head. Though he was quiet, he was quietly pondering all of the questions he sought.
"Good." agent Piao quickly continued. "You have been officially invited to attend to the Royal Xuě Gōng Academy in the Imperial Capital of Zhaodong." agent Piao explained. "Should you attend, I guarantee that your future opportunities will be greatly broadened. You will have access to more complex martial arts, advanced pills, and the best teachers in a multitude of arts." he continued his explanation. "And should you exceed certain... milestones, you may even be elevated in status to the head of your own Martial Clan, a most powerful and prestigious position."
"If I might inquire, Earl Shi himself is the head of the Shi martial clan, correct? I would be elevated to a similar status?" Tao Cai questioned.
"Indeed, he is. The Shi martial clan was formed approximately 176 years ago by his grandfather Shi Huang Shu, and elevated to the status of Earl by his father Shi Zhao He due to his contributions in the war against the Wu Kingdom." he briefly explained the recent history of the Shi Clan in his response. "However, if you are elevated in status, you will be granted the rank of Baron, offered dominion over a fief of your own, and an appropriate city to watch over it from."
"So exactly does it take? To be elevated to such a status, I mean." Tao Cai inquired with genuine curiosity.
"There are many ways but allow me to put it in these simple terms for now." agent Piao responded with a smile. "Those of noble blood, such as yourself, must first sufficiently distinguish themselves. After they do so, they must than pass a test from the headmaster, and should they, they will be put through a number of unique tests to determine... several things. Should you pass, you will be elevated in status by the emperor himself after you graduate."
"You specified children of noble blood, does that mean even commoner children can be granted such a status?" Tao Cai sounded a bit confused as he spoke.
"Indeed, it is possible, but far more difficult." agent Piao replied immediately. "Should a commoner child distinguish themself, pass the headmasters test, and the tests thereafter, they will be put through several additional years specialized training to ensure they're ready to take on their new status properly." agent Piao shrugged as he continued. "Regardless of status, however, only 4 to 5 students meet these requirements every several years. Many fail still. But those that do pass have either great luck, or immense talent. You appear to be lacking in neither."
"I thank you, my lord, for your generous words." Tao Cai deeply bowed his head while he spoke. "But do you really think I possess such ability?"
"I do," agent Piao responded almost immediately, speaking with a straight face, "if you're prepared to accept the responsibilities encompassed therein. You would become a sword of the empire, living and dying to protect the people and the Imperial Clan. You would become a general in his majesty's armies, and a lord in his court. Are these responsibilities you are capable of accepting as part of not just your life, but also your death?"
"I... I do!" Tao Cai felt conflicted, but proudly spoke aloud his truest thoughts. "I will train my hardest to become a sword of this empire, and of his majesty." he deeply bowed his head as he spoke.
"I complement your resolve, young lord." agent Piao smiled gently. "With such a strong response, I can't help but offer you the courtesies of his majesty and his court." he slowly pulled a carefully closed letter from the sleeve of his robes, sending it across the room and into Tao Cai's lap with a simple flick of his wrist. "This is a formal invitation to the Royal Xuě Gōng Academy," agent Piao pondered for a moment before continuing, "and should you desire it, you may depart alongside myself once I've acquired my query in Kinman. Or if you feel more comfortable travelling alongside more familiar fellows, than I invite you to depart for the Imperial Capital at your leisure."
Before Tao Cai could speak, agent Piao began to stand. "You could very well become one of the most powerful cultivators in the Xian Empire should you be diligent during your tenure at the Xuě Gōng Academy." he nodded at Tao Cai as he began to step away from his chair and walk toward the doors.
"If you would excuse me, my lord." Tao Cai immediately spoke up as he rose to his feet as well. "Would you indulge this one's selfish request to continue our conversation?" He requested while bowing deeply while saluting agent Piao. Agent Piao smiled for a moment before sitting back down.
"What would you like to know?" he asked with a wryer smile.
"Please allow me time to consider being your travel companion on your return to the capital," Tao Cai paused for a moment as agent Piao kept staring, waiting for him to continue, "And I would like to know more about this strange, dark Qi swirling about my body." Tao Cai seemed rather desperate as he spoke. "It helped me unblock and awaken one of my meridians, but... it... it felt wrong. Like a tide of corpses barreling through my body."
Agent Piao immediately leaned forward. 'What kind of strength and purity... to unblock a meridian almost instantly...' agent Piao thought in his head while listening to Tao Cai. "What do you know about this strange Qi?" he questioned aloud after Tao Cai finished speaking.
"I know that it helped me unblock and awaken one of my meridians, a feat that I don't think would have possible without it." he sounded conflicted as he spoke. "And I know it hurt as it coursed through my body before forcing its way into unblocking my meridian."
A quick flash of excitement seemed to cross agent Piao's face for a split second before it returned to being stoic once again. "I see..." agent Piao pondered for a moment. "That strange, dark Qi originates from your... unique physique. You possess a very rare, dual attribute one known as the Twins of Death and Undeath physique.
"Why did no one tell me? Why didn't Wu Yin say anything to me when he was teaching me?" Tao Cai seemed confused and lost.
"He didn't know, simple as that, young lord." agent Piao spoke sympathetically. "None one except for myself, your father, and now you, know."
"Why? Is it something so dangerous?" Tao Cai grew concerned.
"For now, I will say this; avoid demonic techniques and practitioners. Your physique makes you susceptible to such influences." agent Piao calmly spoke as he gave Tao Cai the warning. "I promise, however, that you will learn more once you enter the Xuě Gōng Academy."
"Is it normal for a physique to help you break through and unblock a meridian so easily, though?" Tao Cai seemed to be probing a bit. "Even if I don't avoid demonic techniques, will this... physique, this power, eventually just take over?"
"No, of that I can assure you." agent Piao responded delicately. "But let me ask you, have you ever walked a deserted battlefield, or places where great events of battle and death have occurred?"
"I suppose I did when I was little, with my father." Tao Cai had to ponder for a moment before responding. "He always said he wanted to strengthen me, make me feel... less sickened by the sight of the dead. He said it was necessary if I was to succeed him, but I still feel sick at their sight."
"Do you feel sad for them? Or perhaps even scarred?" agent Piao questioned in an inquiring voice as he sat back in his chair.
"No, never." Tao Cai seemed confused by agent Piao's line of questioning. "Why would I ever feel sad for my enemy? And corpses aren't really... scary, just... they just make feel sick."
Agent Piao nodded in response, gazing off to the side for a moment before returning his analyzing eyes back to Tao Cai. 'Interesting, very interesting. To be influenced even before his awakening...' agent Piao became lost in thought for a moment before returning to the conversation.
"You are certainly very strong, and very brave. Both are very desirable traits, my young lord." agent Piao complemented him with a praising voice. "Though you must eventually overcome a weakness as glaring as a sickness at the sight of the dead. You will find such things are common in this world..." agent Piao paused for a moment. "And you find it attracted to you..." agent Piao quietly mumbled to himself, ensuring Tao Cai could hear him before returning to a normal voice as he continued, "Though I'm sure you'll have no problem overcoming this obstacle."
Tao Cai seemed to quietly ponder to himself for a moment as he sat quietly in his chair. After several moments, he rose to his feet, bowing his head and saluting agent Piao. "I thank you for guidance, and... I desperately hope that we may speak again sometime soon."
Agent Piao happily nodded in return. "I, too, look forward to our next meeting. Now please, attend to whatever business you need to." agent Piao gestured toward the doors as he suddenly began to open. Tao Cai bowed and saluted once again before scampering away, the doors closing behind him as he left.
Agent Piao sat in silence for a moment before shifting shadows began to wriggle beneath his chair. In an instant they began to coalesce into the figure of cloaked man with hollow glowing white eyes that quietly blinked beneath the hood. "Will the boy be alright, I wonder?" the figure spoke in haunting, crackling voice. Agent Piao quietly stared ahead, seemingly ignoring its question.
"Parts of him have already been changed, and some yet have only just begun to shift." agent Piao spoke to himself. "In that cleaning in the woods..." agent Piao shook his head while chuckling a bit. "His face was filled with sickness, but his eyes were filled with an odd disgust. It was as if he was angry that those corpses dared to be dead in his presence, as if they dared to rot and fill his nose with their putrid stench." agent Piao quietly laughed. "He may not realize it, or recognize it, but he's different." he continued with an intrigued smile.
"Is he too far gone? Will this be, okay?" the figure questioned as it floated around agent Piao, shifting and reforming as it did so. Agent Piao merely waved his hand dismissively.
"I think I've taken a liking to the boy." agent Piao himself spoke unsurely. "If something happens, make sure you protect him. And when you get an opportunity, I would like you to hide a deathless-cursed corpse underneath the Li residence."
"Such a thing is dangerous, my lord." the figure spoke up questioningly. "I thought you took a liking him to him?"
"It's simple curiosity, nothing more and nothing less. And if he can make use of such dark Qi, he will surely benefit greatly." agent Piao spoke strictly. The figure silently watched for several moments, its hollow glowing white eyes blinking several times before tilting its head, seemingly confused. A moment later, however, it bowed its head before shifting into the shadows once again.
"I truly do look forward to our next meeting."
