Right when I was racking my brain over who to ask for interpretation services, I heard, “Long live my lord. Love live my lord.” They were a young group of girls who behaved familiar with me - without all the mad fanfare. “You are…”
“How can you memory be so poor, My Lord? They were your attendants mere months ago.”
“Iron Guardian? Why are you here?”
Behind Iron Guardian was an earnest face I recognised. “Yangyang!”
Yangyang leapt into my arms. “Your Majesty!”
“You sure have grown a lot.”
Only two months ago, she was a midget intimidating people with me, yet she had grown noticeably taller.
“Not at all. Yangyang is still young.”
I scrubbed Yangyang’s head and looked over my shoulder. “Why is everyone here?”
“Speaking on your feet must be uncomfortable. Please come this way.”
I followed Iron Guardian into a shrine that forced me to make turn after turn in order to reach the spacious house in the back. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why everyone was respectful to him, yet they were almost ready to kneel upon espying me. Upon having us seated, Iron Guardian ordered food be served up while Yangyang poured me tea.
Basing my suspicion off his interactions with everyone, I asked, “Are you, by any chance, the supreme elder of Shaman Faith?”
“That is someone else. For now, this one is handling everything, though.”
“How are things at Shaman Monarch Palace?”
“Owing to the flimsiness of our faith, we were forced to accomplish some inconceivable things to earn support. Building the palace on Mount Wanyu was also a means to the same goal. Mount Wanyu is Shaman Faith’s erstwhile sacred grounds, making it a prime location for us to convert people. Nevertheless, Mount Wanyu cannot compare to the place Shaman Monarch was first crowned, which is why we have migrated into Nieyao. This one spoke to Supreme Elder not long ago, and we decided this one shall take care of the shrine.”
I was focused on finding proof of Six Evils dwelling in Nieyao when I read Shaman Monarch was enthroned in Nieyao, so I glossed over that part. The first Shaman Monarch built a palace that eclipsed all the palaces in Nanjiang - in addition to establishing himself as someone superior to the state sovereigns.
Speaking of which, I still believed the first Shaman Monarch tamed Pangu because I just couldn’t imagine there being any legitimacy to him rising above all the sovereigns on his own, otherwise. Sky Palace was aware of the story, or they wouldn’t have dragged me into their plan. I damn sure as hell couldn’t wake Pangu from his slumber. That being the case, I doubted Sky Palace could. The problem was… the Shaman Monarch of yesteryear might’ve been able to.
I shook my head; I needed more time to unwind it all. One of the main reasons I accepted the role as Nieyao’s lord was to prevent Pangu falling into the wrong hands. Rather than monitor Pangu in someone else’s cage, why not monitor him from a cage I set for him? Whatever the case, I needed to create a system for monitoring the underground palace. There was a priority to things, however, and building Liu Shan Men came first.
“Since you’re here, I can save myself the chore of running around. I need your help with something.”
Iron Guardian smiled. “Just say the word. We still consider you Mount Wanyu’s Shaman Monarch His Majesty!”
Yeah, yeah, don’t crowd my plate with any more nonsense than is on there already.
***
I reported in to Boss Shen the next day. Yes, she already refused to rest after waking up for only a day. Nieyao was in no shape for Liu Shan Men to start operating out of, so she took over the room beside His Majesty’s office, set up a table, the four treasures of study and weapon racks.
Liu Shan Men in Nieyao was unemployed. Howbeit, with time, the establishment of the branch would bring in business.
Once we were done talking about our smooth-sailing plan, Boss Shen pulled me in to whisper, “By the way, be wary of Tianhu.”
“Tianhu? I haven’t seen him since I woke up. Why do I have to beware of him?”
Boss Shen glared first, then grabbed my chin. “What’s this?”
“Ch-chin?”
Boss Shen turned my face side to side via my chin. “What’s above your chin?”
“H-head?”
“You still want yours?”
“Uh, yes.”
“Then do as I say!” Boss Shen whacked my head
“Why’d you hit me?!”
“What do you know? Tianhu never lets go once he bites. The slightest suspicion will lead to him digging up even your ancestors’ bones to find out the truth. How many secrets do you have? Think about it.”
“Tianhu is Heavenly Fox, isn’t it? What fox? He’s clearly a dog!”
“Oh? What dog?”
“The one th-, hmm?” I turned my head to see a smiling face right by my shoulder - the type you’d see on a slimeball, a big slimeball.
Tianhu questioned, “Who are you talking about?”
What’s it to you? Which kennel did you come from?!
Glossary
Weapon racks - Imagine one of these on either side of the room (the most common setup):