Chapter 127 The Frontier Calls

Their next stop was the inner sect. It took a bit longer to get there than it had taken on their way out. Paike couldn't confirm it, but he thought it was because of the extra few passengers.

He had never really learned their names. Even among the inner sect members, he hadn't learned who was who. Part of that was intentional. He could have made an effort, but he hadn't.

The other part was that they had kept their distance. Taka knew that they were in an awkward position. Being from the outer sect meant that he should have been their inferior or subordinate. Beyond that, they were also all a realm above him. Social etiquette demanded that he defer to them.

But as a Kong with Father around, they couldn't dare treat him that way. And with the dual breakthroughs he had on the way out, it was even more understandable that they would have to respect him.

However, the Kongs were not lords, and they were famously derisive of the fawning the typical noble would expect. So, not knowing how to interact with him without angering the walking apocalypse or his two sons was understandable. Especially while they were out of the empire and at his mercy on a dangerous mission that no one would question if someone didn't return.

It was best to just not interact. Paike largely agreed.

One side effect, though, was that he also didn't get to meet the apparent partners they were bringing back with them. He was slightly curious how they would be recognized as no longer part of a banished family when they didn't have Father to claim them as wards. Paike supposed there would be some weddings soon, and their families were powerful and willing to protect them. Otherwise things might get messy.

That was none of his business. If they got into real trouble and wanted his help, they should just talk to Taka. He would likely help them out of a mess of their own making for a price.

When they landed, all those without the name Kong bowed and made their escape. Paike wondered whether they felt the trip had been worth it. He supposed getting a worthy spouse was worth it for some of them if they were actually qualified. But had it helped their cultivation?

There had been some combat, and they had killed demonic cultivators in the name of the sect and empire, so they had likely gotten sect points as well.

"None of you will be allowed in the outer sect," Father told Shengbi, Yue, and Taka. "So get whatever you need to be done here. You two will stay with Taka for now; I should be back for dinner with you all before moving on."

"Um, excuse me, sir?" Shengbai asked nervously, raising her hand.

"Father," Father corrected gently. "You are family. Even if your parents may still be alive, they are not in the empire. You need to be in the habit of recognizing the situation, as it is the only thing keeping you safe here. If you forget and slip up in front of anyone else, it would cause me headaches and be very dangerous for you."

Shengbai nodded quickly. "Of course, Father, I called my birth father sir anyways so it doesn't..."

She seemed to lose whatever she was about to say. Paike couldn't tell if she thought she was oversharing or if it was the cloudy look that crossed Father's face. He had never been a fan of the distance parents kept from their children in the empire's culture. Long rants about child abuse were common in their household after they had to host other families for events.

Strangely, it wasn't the violence or brutal training that bothered him, but the emotional distance and stunting that many families practiced. Father thought the right amount of support with exposure to emotional stimuli created the most stable and resilient people.

After having interacted with people like Han Saiyan, Paike thought he might have a point.

"But your question?" Father prompted with a kind smile.

"Oh, yes. What is your plan for us? Is there anything we should be doing to prepare?" She asked.

That was a good question. Paike had kind of just assumed that they would stay with him and Taka. But Yue wouldn't be allowed in the outer sect. It was a strict rule to keep the environment competitive to forge the youngest into hardened steel.

And even then, the only way into the inner sect was through the trial, which they couldn't take. Father might be able to force an exception. Or he might not.

He generally didn't like breaking the rules he had helped put in place. Unless he thought it was funny, or for the good of his children. Or if it was inconvenient.

In hindsight, Paike realized that Father obviously didn't care much for rules at all. However, he did like to talk about how he thought breaking rules was to be avoided if possible.

Father said it set a bad precedent, not that it stopped him. Honestly, it wasn't the most consistent example. Mother said to listen to what he said, not what he did, in that regard. She actually said that about several things Father did.

"You'll be coming with me. Every imperial cultivator needs to serve three years either in the sect, growing and doing missions, or in the military, defending our borders. It is how you will be registered if you are caught breaking the laws or something and you don't have records of service. Well, we take a dim view of cultivators not willing to serve the community." He explained. "So we will see about getting you a commission."

A commission was not what Paike had expected. It wasn't something that Father did for any of his children. However, it did make some sense in this situation.

Commissions as officers at higher stages of Emeralds made sense. And the Kongs went through the sect system for the most part. If they failed that and ended up in the military for their service, they deserved that lesson in Father's eyes.

The commission would also keep the cousins somewhat safer. They would have less of a chance of a bad leader getting them killed. As long as they weren't a bad leader themselves. It would also get them better pay and accommodations.

There was no denying the still very real danger, though. They would be off fighting at the border for some time. But it was also an opportunity.

They needed to add to the family name and gain a reputation for themselves. That was their whole point in coming to the empire. If they weren't in court, the best place was at the frontier.

He wasn't sure how much of this they knew. The empire had changed since their family was exiled, and they were born centuries after that. Already it felt like much of their knowledge was outdated from when he was speaking with them.

Paike met his twin's eyes and communicated that. Taka agreed and responded that he would fill them in while they waited and help them get equipped.

Which was a relief, as he saw worry on both of their faces.

Father clapped his hands. "Alright, say goodbye, Paike; time to drop you off. I think I made a few commitments yesterday, and I need to get on the way."

"Don't you need to see how Guan Li did in two weeks?" Paike asked. He remembered Father had made a challenge to his roommate to make Middle Topaz in the next two weeks. Which was insane, as Guan Li was in Ruby when he had made the challenge.

If anyone Paike knew could do it, though, it was Guan Li.

“I suppose I’ll need to make a quick stop back then, I might be day or two late, but it should be doable.” Father said. “Now, we have to get a move on.”

He gave a respectful bow to Shengbai and Yue, "It was a pleasure meeting you. Please take care on your assignments. It might not be the wilds, but there is still danger out there."

Shengbai responded first and returned his bow. "It has likewise been a pleasure, Paike. I look forward to our next meeting when we are both done with our service."

"Oh, don't think you have gotten rid of me entirely," Yue said with a smile. "I'm going to write you, and I expect return letters. I've heard my whole life how the elders missed the empire's mail system, and I'm going to use it. But I only know so many people here."

Paike laughed as she started to justify her excitement over something that most people didn't care about. It was fine; he didn't mind having friends with weird obsessions. After all, his focus on training or learning qi properties was probably considered unusual. He just hadn't thought that Yue would get excited and flustered about mail systems.