Those of the Zenith Star held deep trust with the Tiazheng sect for one reason and one reason only. Tiazheng's ancestor was once a inner disciple cultivator who originated from the Zenith Star. The ties between them could be said to be too deep to divulge in yet surface level shallow like the artificial ponds nobles dig out to keep small koi. And today, it was almost strained due to two spiritual beasts, who, after seemingly fighting, both claimed nothing happened no matter how much they were pressed. Hulian, who was coldly interrogated sent them irritable glances before running off wordlessly with Matriarch Wu chasing after him. And Chao Bai, who sat in silence playing deaf to their questions and only told them after she could not endure it anymore herself. "Don't mettle in heavenly affairs."
Caught between them, the humans who adored them could merely purse their lips in displeasure before dropping the subject to the wishes of the people in question. But who knows what they all concluded in their own thoughts? Chao Bai listens closely for the other person to fully settle in the chair across from her before she opens her mouth. "I've troubled you." Feng Shuchang settles for a mere furrow of the brows and only exhales softly. "Don't worry too much, it is only what I owe you." Hearing him say so Chao Bai didn't insist otherwise and accepted this response. Feng Shuchang peers closely at Chao Bai. Looking her over with faint distress. "Did you and him settle your differences?"
Chao Bai was genuinely surprised by this inquiry, as Feng Shuchang wasn't one who pried into her matters as much as his sister. Since taking her in as half his benefactor and half his student, their relationship was much more peaceful and balanced than one would think. He would teach her without holding back much, and she, gave her all to protect Jiang Tengyi. A mutual transaction they were both satisfied with. It couldn't be considered friendship, nor servitude, not even superiority, just plan and simple give and take. The amount of words traded between them didn't even exceed a short story, however, their consideration for each other also can't be called low.
Oddly enough, her and Feng Shuchang shared similarities in both tastes and love of the arts, which cultivators didn't praise as much as sword techniques. Each time he ran into things on his patrol or travels he thought she would enjoy. He was generous in sharing with her, quite unlike any of the people on her mountain or her previous clan members. Those in Azure treated her as both a guardian and innocent girl in need of protection from negative influences. Pulling her here and there to play, never daring to tread a certain line but willing to try and bring her to their circle. In the clan, she was treated with respect and fear, the distance between her and others were as far as the sun and the ocean floor.
Feng Mei Xing treated her as a delicate flower in need of protection, not much different from those girls in Azure. Jiang Tengyi too was somewhat the same. It was only Feng Shuchang who strangely, on the same spiritual level never pushed, distanced, asked, nor pressured, her into giving more than what she had on herself. If she were not protecting the young master as well when taking advantage of his physique to hide, she would have refused his gifts all these years. But now, him giving was only natural, and their relationship became like so. Feng Shuchang endlessly giving, and Chao Bai, comfortable taking. However, unaware of the paper wall between them slowly being pried by the other party, the young woman sat still undisturbed.
As odd as this question was Chao Bai only mulled over it for a moment before answering honestly to the man who could look at her without any sense of filth. "The weak obey the strong." "...I see." Who knows whether he truly understood or not, however, Chao Bai had a feeling he knew what she was trying to say. And smartly the man did as she wished, dropping the subject and speaking of other topics casually. "The matter of your cracked core was hard to keep hidden, however this rumor also benefitted us. With it, they will not doubt your absence from the sect the day Tengyi and young master Ling set out. Typically, Yilin would be commanding the escort group, but with your added person, he insisted you to take command instead. Stating it made no sense for him to lead if you were to take part."
Chao Bai took his words seriously into contemplation, usually she would avoid such positions. Yilin was well known for his talent, so much so that even Chao Bai had to acknowledge the person's diligence and ability. She wasn't ashamed to admit that if that Yilin wanted, even she, who should have been the most sensitive to spiritual energy, couldn't catch a whiff of his existence without expelling all her energy. Feng Mei Xing's shadows were no joke either. Feng Shuchang though he didn't explicitly state it, held the same extreme standards of capability towards those in proximity to himself as Yilin did. So, to say it lightly, those who were sent to protect the young master were only the most trusted and the most elite of the Zenith Star.
And Chao Bai was now part of that group which would have been a perfect cinque assembled for the sole purpose of protecting the patriarch. As the odd one out, though not as skilled as them in cloaking herself, her status was troublesome for the five middle nascent soul cultivators. For experts of this level to gather all in one place was rare, but the call was also one which made them uneasy enough to do so. Chao Bai even heard rumors that an ancestor of the Zenith Star was staying in the palace without announcing themselves, however, he was currently in seclusion and maintaining the barrier around the sect. "Yilin is trustworthy and knows Jiang Tengyi more than I, you can let him know that I have no objections with following his command. The priority will be Jiang Tengyi, no matter the individuals following along."
Feng Shuchang didn't protest or show much surprise from her rejection, as, logically speaking, those who join the squad have to be willing to give their lives at any time for their charge. He still raised the question out of obligation and worry for his student. "Given the state of the outside, do you believe it will be necessary for you to act openly at any point?" Chai Bao was naturally aware and had to be willing to do the same as the rest. That is, lay her life down in the worst case possible to ensure Jiang Tengyi's safety. No matter her importance nor status. "Should such circumstances occur and lead me to a demise earlier than planned, I, Chao Bai, shamelessly ask for King Feng to fetch my corpse before the day of the siege upon the Golden City ensures." From her ring, the pale maiden gently raises an opal scale, quite similar to the one gifted to Feng Mei Xing. Yet this scale, was the completely opposite of the charming first. Feng Shuchang narrows his eyes at the scale which emitted such ominous energy he could feel a cold wind gathering below their waists.
His entire body told him to be cautious of the dangerously, even somewhat crackling scale of pure spiritual energy she held so carelessly in the middle of a sect which could be consumed by a storm the minute she shatters the vessel. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He never moved his eyes from the scale till she slips it back into her spacial ring indifferently. "-Since the moment I had chosen this path, I already prepared a substitute for my own part of the deal in case of unforeseen events. Before then, even if this noble one's eyes are closed and the blood does not flow in my veins, so long as my spirit remains intact I will be watching for you to keep your promise." Both me, and Hui, will still be present like this. Though Feng Shuchang revealed nothing on the surface, after she said this, even he could not deny he felt strange.
Nonetheless, they were words which should make him relieved, so he didn't try to refute her declaration nor solemn promise. Instead, he lowers his head, leading to the observation of the other's thin fingers and snowy hands resting in her lap. Pausing, Feng Shuchang follows those hands for once to the owner's indifferent facial features, which held both tenuity and mystery. The silk blindfold which never let them talk eye to eye, her long white hair, extremely soft looking, untouched by dust nor dirt. The tranquility and elegance flowing from her very bones alone could have made her seem inhuman, from the way she spoke to the way she moved. Everything, was pure balanced perfection and eluded the confidence of someone who knew herself well enough to never allow outsiders to demean her spirit. Something akin to lamentation, rippling below the surface of his gaze, though it was still skillfully hidden to the point of nonexistence.
"Is there a flaw in this method?" Naturally, there was, otherwise she would have thrown them this tool long ago instead of treating her own body like a vessel. She tilts her head, and he saw the faintest shimmer of a smile grace her lips. Quite similar to the expression she would occasionally show him when he handed her outside trinkets and high quality memory jade. He removed his eyes from her face before it could fully form and casually leans further back in his chair as if trying to get more comfortable in his seat. "The one who shatters the scale will also be caught in the explosion and most likely won't be able to control the backlash, leading to a high chance of injuring both friend and foe." Seemingly in a rare patient mood, Chao Bai raises her hand over the table conjuring a miniature translucent ball of ice in front of them.
Feng Shuchang remained calm, as a snowflake from her fingertip looking like a speckle of glowing fairy dust drifts harmlessly in the air towards the see-through ball. Then, just as it makes contact, there was the smallest and quickest flash of light. *SNAP-! *CRACKLE-!! He only heard the sounds of something shattering. And though not daring to blink, in less than a second the entire tabletop was violently covered in spikes of bone chilling ice and snow. What used to be a esquitesite tabletop, now, had cracks originating from where there used to be a clear ball of ice. He released the breath he was holding, as he didn't need her to describe the predicted aftermath if such a event occured. The woman who would be the cause of such destruction didn't even flinch, and instead went on in a bland tone.
"If your elders still wish to oppress me despite all the patience I have exhibited on account of the friendship between you King Feng, and Lady Xie. Then they can continue to play tricks when their young master leaves the nest under this one's protection." "I have choosen all those who will participate in the escort group myself." Knowing what she was insuinuating, Feng Shuchang still reminds her under his breath sternly that it was he himself who choose the people who would be accompanying them. He knew every single one of them, they would never risk Jiang Tengyi's safety nor his fury just to try and harm her once isolated. Most importantly, they were loyal to himself. In spite of that Chao Bai herself didn't seem convinced, ending the conversation with a simple. "Hm."