Old Friend Of The Family.

  Word had not spread to the tri-city of Emerald Lantern of the woes of Seldara.

  Life…went on.

  Laborers labored, Merchants found value and sold it.

  Beggars begged, government officials officiated.

  The only newsworthy event was that a Minister from Seldara, nearing retirement, was finalizing a property purchase.

  A handsome estate, with rolling hills and a dwelling that would likely host envoys and family alike, as it was rumored to be the Empress's aunt.

  Cyreth Vey Elaren

  Chamberline Tang Shan moved like a man ten years his junior.

  His skin was clear and smooth, his eyes bright with energy and will.

  On his arm was a woman of heavy stature, but whose presence turned heads, not just from her golden hair but from her striking beauty and warm yellow robes.

  In her wake, half a dozen matrons followed, chatting, all dressed as splendidly, all glowing with life.

  Between them, a young woman, not even twenty, walked with the pride and power of a matriarch.

  Her eyes sparkled as she chatted with her family.

  As a grandmother, she had to make sure no one sullied Ironwood's name.

  All around them, hard men in laminated armor with straight, flat swords or javelins made of a strange metal moved as their escorts.

  Every single one of them was Core Formation.

  In the wake of such an entourage, four people moved in the same circles but on a much smaller scale.

  Alia Hyun Soo Bloodforge sat before the property manager.

  “My family is looking to buy a modest property in the city proper, something near the main market but far enough away to be peaceful when the gate shuts,” Alia stated.

  Qin Yao nodded, then glanced at the young man standing off in the corner, watching.

  A Foundation Establishment guard, and behind her, two ladies, both deferring to the young miss.

  One likely a mother, closing in on being a grandmother.

  The other was so beautiful it stole his breath.

  Both wore conservative clothing and covered their heads.

  Qin noted that Alia also wore an ornate head cover, but not to the same extent as her staff.

  Alia smiled and touched her head.

  “The winds of change are moving in Tianrelion. Word is the Empress will be stepping away for health reasons; her uncle will be taking over. He is… more conservative and has been vocal about feminine modesty.” She explained.

  Qin Yao blinked, then nodded. “For your request, it will be difficult.” He admitted.

  Alia’s brows rose.

  Yao put his hands up. “Money is and isn’t the driving factor here.” He said, then smiled at the confusion all three gave him.

  “Apologies, what I meant was. Most properties in those areas are leased long term; the value of the land is so great that no one wishes to part with them.”

  Jianrong’s mouth opened, and Lin Su covered her mouth to giggle.

  Alia turned and sighed.

  “Little Xin, how long have you been out of your village, and still you're always shocked.” Alia teased.

  Jianrong still had her identity, the token given to her by her uncle.

  The uncle who thought she might make a fine prize and a good mother to his children.

  Qin Yao smiled then spoke softly, “You will need to register your property at the ministry, it's not far from here. I see you have a Seldara token, which is adequate, but both of them have clan tokens, which are fine for entering, but if staying, they will need to turn them over.

  Alia nodded. “These two and Jason will be remaining here full-time, so I will do that after we find a residence. What do you have for lease? My husband can deal with this problem when he arrives.” Alia stated.

  Yao smiled. “We have two locations, but I recommend the one closer to the river; the cool air in summer is a true blessing.

  Both attendants murmured excitedly, forcing Alia to wave her hand to silence them.

  “We will take it, I don’t want to waste time and find out another has reserved it while we consider it,” Alia stated firmly.

  Yao blinked and nodded. Paperwork was generated, names written, notaries stamped, and finally, Alia turned her hand, and a Sycee of silver appeared.

  When it was all done, Qin Yao handed over the details to Lin Su, who bowed.

  “Miss, if you wish it, our man can guide you to the best person at the ministry to finalize your people's token and test. For a small fee, they are invaluable.” Yao stated.

  “That would be excellent.” She turned her hand, and silver coins traded hands.

  Yao turned and called for a young man, then wrote a letter of recommendation and explained who to contact about Alia.

  Two incense sticks later, Lin Sul infused her Aura into a treasure, watching a young man press her token into existence, bearing her address and details.

  When Xin took her turn, the man stumbled with his words, making Xin blush, and Lin Su tease her.

  When the women fell back, and Jason came forward, the man asked straight away.

  “Is that woman available for purchase?”

  Jason glanced back, then leaned forward. “She is the master's concubine. He came across her in a small village while travelling, paid two gold Sycee for her.” He whispered.

  Jason smiled. “Trust me, you're not the first to ask.” Then he leaned closer.

  “The master's brother bought the mother,” Jason leered. “Same face but.” He motioned the size around his chest.

  By the time they left the ministry, the rumor about the mother and daughter concubines was already circulating—two women, lovely enough to be bought for 200 silver coins each.

  The residence was clean, close to the river, and precisely what they wanted.

  The privacy wall was high and had standard privacy arrays in place.

  Jang, Gaila, Mireya, and Daelyn appeared.

  Jianrong ran to the two sisters, who curled around her, and Lin Su as they explored the house with Alia.

  Jang moved with Gaila, who was beginning to show her pregnancy.

  “We have escaped one fire, why are we leaping into another husband?” Gaila asked.

  Jang clenched his teeth, then kissed his wife, whom he loved more now than ever. Stepping away from the capital to enjoy time with his family, he realized he was not truly happy.

  He had been doing what was necessary to survive and thrive, not to live, not feel whole.

  “He stole our son; he harmed you. He betrayed both of our trust. But even if we let it go, there is still the Karmic debt that will burden us.” Jang paused, as Jianrong ran out and took hold of Gaila’s hands and kissed them with devotion.

  “Mom, come inside your room, it's perfect. We are already moving your furniture in, it has a little courtyard!” she gushed, then ran off.

  Jang leaned into Gaila’s ear. “Those four will never, ever let this go, and I am grateful,” Jang said, his voice strained with emotion.

  By late afternoon, the furniture that had been in their Seldara residence was now here in Emerald Lantern. The old servants moved around and settled their belongings.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  No one would be leaving the property until the mission was complete.

  All five women sat around Gaila’s room, a gentle tea aroma with incense calmed their minds.

  Mireya teased Rong as she slowly kissed Lin Su, who looked at her spouse with dazed eyes.

  Around her neck was a necklace with a ring. She was part of a small collective that had secured Jianrong as their spouse.

  While she may have other duties as Nadia's daughter, she was beholden to them first.

  Elaren, Sulara, Rosha, Na, Lin Su, and Mira all wore the same necklace.

  Unlike them, Rong wore hers proudly on her hand.

  She could crush and kill.

  They could not.

  Alia finished her letter and waved the parchment to let the ink dry.

  Then she read it aloud.

  "Honored Grand Investigator Ren,

  Greetings. I am Alia Hyun-Soo, daughter of Royal Investigator Jang Hyun-Soo. My father has spoken highly of you as a valued colleague throughout the years.

  I write because my husband and I are considering relocating our household to Emerald Lantern. His business interests in the region make it advantageous, and I am currently visiting to assess suitable arrangements.

  Unfortunately, my husband has been delayed on matters in Seldara. However, I have arrived with my attendant and would be deeply grateful for any counsel you might offer - suitable districts for a family of standing, local customs, security considerations.

  My father always said you were the most knowledgeable regarding the southern territories. If you could spare even a brief meeting, I would be most appreciative.

  With respect,

  Alia Hyun-Soo Bloodforge"

  Jason hired a courier.

  The letter was sealed, but not before Rong slid her moist fingers across it.

  The scent that drove sane men mad with desire was waiting for him to open it.

  Ren Shidao, Grand Investigator of the Southern Region, was enjoying a cup of wine when the attendant brought the letter.

  He saw the name and paused.

  How long had it been, twelve…no, nearly twenty years since he had made that woman his.

  Shidao’s chest was bare, his hair damp from exertion.

  On his bed lay a woman; her husband owed him money.

  Shidao had learned something early on, before leaving Seldara. When he held power over others, the power of shame, pleasure, hierarchy…his cultivation moved at a steady pace.

  At first, he had felt shame; his parents had been pillars of righteousness.

  That was what led him to serve first as a scribe, then as an investigator.

  But then he stalled.

  It was not that he wasn’t good at his job; it was that he was too good, not reading the room, adept at alienating the people who could help him.

  So, he sought guidance from a friend who had risen despite his shameless acts.

  At first, he was shocked.

  Then he got a taste of what they were gaining.

  The worse it was, the more power it provided.

  Shidao had stood by as his master coupled with a woman.

  The most powerful shame came from her family being forced to watch.

  Her husband had raged, her parents wept, and her children wailed

  But the woman just laughed, her body never stopping as if it drove her into a fervor.

  By the time the ceremony was done, she was being passed from member to member while the woman renounced her spouse, disparaged her parents, and degraded her own children, while men defiled her.

  The Dao of Stolen Bonds pulled power from all of them.

  When Shidao took his turn, he looked into the husband's eyes as he was forced to watch and felt power flow directly from the woman into him.

  Unfortunately…by the time they were done with her, she did not live long. It stole the host's potential and their life force first by inverting their true feelings, then by feeding those she joined with.

  His current pleasure was ruining partners.

  It was actually easier than one would think.

  First, he would let them feel as if their lover or husband had been the one to toss them into the fire; in reality, he moved to prevent any other option from presenting itself.

  The second step was more delicate; he needed to seem empathetic, understanding, and willing to listen to their non-stop drivel.

  Then with some minor narcotics he would bed them.

  But this was not the end of the destruction.

  There was a time after where shame festered in their hearts.

  He would have to provide support, place money or something of need in their hands at the right moment.

  It was all theatre he created, which also gave him pleasure and a means to pass the time.

  Then the real fun started.

  More narcotics, sinister in that they did not attack the mind but the body.

  Intimacy turned into days of carnal bliss.

  When the spouse finally disparaged the husband, condemning him on his prowess in bed and in life…that was when power became claimable.

  Then he watched as those same men tried to return to normalcy, only to find their loved ones sought Shidao out to fill a need they could not replace without his drugs and dark arts.

  Then his cultivation surged.

  What he preferred was an audience, as all those who viewed the act fed him, but it wasn't easy to arrange.

  Once he had set up an event in a small village, he gained much; the village elder killed his shamed wife and himself, and the entire place had to be purged.

  He read the letter twice and rang for his aid.

  Then, without shame or regret, he remounted his companion and continued his session while she held onto him, her mind in another place filled with pleasure.

  “Verify, she is who she says she is. Her mother was delightful; having her daughter would complete the set.” Shidao said, between mechanical motions that seemed to bring him no joy, but the woman clung to him all the same.

  “Excellency, we have already heard about this person. Apparently, she has an attendant whom her husband paid two hundred taels of silver for.” The man said, unsurprised and uncaring about the situation.

  Shidao thought about it as his pace quickened, then, with eyes closed and a grunt, he got up and cleaned himself. “Interesting, check all of them. It seems too perfect, but sometimes you get lucky.”

  The aid nodded and left.

  Meanwhile, Shidao moved to his desk and began drafting a letter.

  To my friend's dearest daughter,

  What pleasant news to receive word from Investigator Jang's household. Your father and I served together in our younger days, and I remember your mother well—a woman of remarkable grace and strength. Time has been kind to my memories of your family.

  It would be my genuine pleasure to offer any assistance I can. Emerald Lantern can be pretty overwhelming for newcomers, and there are many considerations for a family of your standing.

  If you are available tomorrow evening, we could discuss these matters in comfort at my estate. I am afraid my duties keep me bound to my residence during the day, but my staff prepares excellent meals, and we can speak freely without the distractions of public venues.

  Please, bring your attendant as well—I understand she is new to city life and may benefit from understanding local customs. My household will ensure she is properly attended to while we discuss your family's needs.

  I will arrange for my personal guard to escort you from your residence at the hour of the Rooster. This will ensure your safe passage and spare you the trouble of navigation. My men are discreet and well-trained.

  I look forward to renewing my connection to your family and providing whatever counsel may ease your transition to our fair city.

  With warm regards,

  Grand Investigator Ren Shidao Southern Administrative District

  When the courier arrived wearing the Grand Investigators' colors, the beautiful woman who answered the gate stood and gawked.

  The young man noted everything: the absence of people, the innocence of the two attendants, and the beauty of the young woman approaching.

  Alia read the letter and smiled. Turning to the young man, she nodded. “Please let your master know we agree. I will only bring little Xin with me; Lin Su has work to do.” She said confidently.

  The young man bowed low and raced back to relay the message.

  By nightfall, Shidao knew everything that had taken place, from where they lived to what they bought and what they were looking for.

  He even knew about them searching for personal items, and Alia buying talismans that prevented pregnancy.

  He knew it all.

  He felt fire in his veins as he worked out how he wanted to play it.

  In one sense, he could go the tried-and-true method.

  Months to a year of her coming to his residence and feeding him the energy from her fraying Karmic bonds, until finally she sought separation, releasing a wave of power into him.

  But then he considered the situation.

  What would the mother feel, knowing her daughter was pregnant with his child? He could almost taste the shame… what if it were revealed to Alia by a third party that Shidao had tasted her own mother?

  He needed to consider many things that evening, like how to proceed and decide on the end goal.

  It always started with food and drink laced with narcotics that loosened morality and brought warmth that helped initiate the process.

  In the predawn darkness, Jianrong slowly recovered.

  In the silence, four people cared for her.

  One was her spouse, Lin Su, who had chosen Rong when she met her, but never knew that their love could be allowed to blossom in a world where loving another of the same gender was a sin.

  The other was Alia, the wife of all Dar’s.

  A situation the four could not untangle but could not say no to because each loved her with the same passion, and she passionately loved all four in return.

  Finally, her siblings: Daelyn, her next-oldest sibling, and a person Jianrong felt was her closest friend.

  Her grounded nature and subtle humor complemented Rong's nature, making the house a joy when they were together.

  Last was Mireya, the oldest sister of Alia, and to her own surprise, the Dar’s who listened to her as their own sibling.

  Her words held great weight with the family.

  Rong did not look at them, but her lips found each as they took turns pulling away the Divine Essence that coated and infused her.

  She had stopped being embarrassed about it.

  In the wake of Ling and Rou’s passing, their presence grounded her while their Qi sustained her healing.

  Rong had gone from the two taking turns with her, to a more frantic dalliances that included both gods clutching at her as she was pressed between them, delirious from their attention.

  Something was happening in their world, and they would not tell her what it was.

  Rou explained it simply.

  “Knowing means others will know of you, child.” Rou had said into her ear, barely a whisper.

  Ling's arms had been around them both as they both poured their energy into her.

  Rong had wept first with a feeling of completeness, then in fear that they were leaving her.

  Then they had carved runes into her flesh.

  She did not know how long it took, only that it felt like an eternity as the symbols took form as the two held her so tightly it scared her.

  Their refusal to withdraw themselves as her heart synchronized with theirs.

  She heard them whisper to one another in a language she did not understand.

  The pressure was nearly unbearable as Ling held her hips wide.

  Rou was offering her words of comfort as she felt something taking hold in her soul, with all the pressure rushing to it, as if to feed it, to nurture it in their absence.

  In the delirium, twelve eyes were looking at her with adoration.

  “I will always love you, child.” Ling’s voice curled around her.

  When she had awoken, her loved ones took away the divinities passing.

  The goddess's strength was being passed on to them.

  Already, their forms were changing: the three oldest saw time loosening its hold, and Alia saw her beauty only grow stronger.

  Then it was over.

  The scents that plagued her were sealed.

  Only in intimacy, when the body chose to accept another, did it reveal itself.

  But this intimacy had complications.

  Rong shared with them emotions and sensations that were hard to manage, and they had their own struggles, for intimacy with her meant touching divinity.

  The day started fresh and beautiful.

  When the escort arrived, they looked sharp and intimidating.

  The men treated both women like royalty, making both smile, Alia behind her fan, and Xin openly amazed.

  When they arrived at the estate, the staff showed them around.

  Tea was served, and the day passed slowly.

  The two women enjoyed the music and were given a room to rest in.

  The women attendants were sweet and helpful as they helped her freshen up.

  Before the sun had set, the two people had dinner together.

  Shidao sat at the head of the table while Alia sat to his side. Their conversation was unhurried and organic. If Alia did not know why she was here, she would have considered it a grand time.

  The Grand Investigator drank from the same bottle as her; their food was served in front of them there was nothing to show that Alia had been dosed all day long.

  The dinner did not have the drug; she had consumed it hours earlier when they were brought sweets with tea.

  What dinner had was the activator, which was in the wine.

  By the time they had retreated to the study to speak, Alia was laughing freely and unafraid to touch the man's hand, who was amazingly sharp and witty.

  Then Xin arrived with the same smile and laughter, and clutched Alia like a big sister, her eyes adoring her.

  Shidao had decided to go scorched earth.

  Alia's violation would shatter multiple bonds at once: her marriage to Dar Bloodforge, her filial connection to both Gaila and Jang.

  Her pregnancy with his own child would create permanent shame across all three households—Bloodforge, Hyun-Soo, and his own legacy etched into their bloodline.

  But Alia was only the beginning.

  The concubine Xin represented an even more devastating cascade.

  Violating her would:

  Humiliate Dar, whose expensive property was defiled.

  Shame, Alia, as her attendant was violated while she watched.

  Degrade Xin’s Mother, and any child she birthed by a Bloodforge...

  Two women, two generations, one household—all destroyed simultaneously.

  The Dao of Stolen Bonds would feed on every severed connection: wife to husband, mother to daughter, servant to master, mother to daughter.

  Each broken bond would release energy.

  Each layer of shame would multiply the harvest.

  Then, when he revealed that he'd tasted Gaila first—that Alia was merely completing her mother's humiliation—the cascade would be complete.

  Three generations of women. One predator.

  Maximum power.

  This was the perfect harvest.