74 Unravel 3 - Jiang Shi Clan and Turmoil (1/2)
As Stigma continued his meeting with Emily, a great number of incidents had happened due to the earth quake disturbance.
For the majority, the cause of alarm was unnecessary as the earthquakes were natural events and had occurred a few days prior.
However, due to the recent rumors of disappearance after the storm along with the supposed discovery of dead bodies. Tension and anxiety have started to build upon the residence and was reaching the breaking point, believing that such signs are that of omens.
While the new residence took opportunity to cause trouble, ignoring the signs of danger around them.
With limited personal and guards in mind, everyone had started to feel a great unease.
And from outside the market, a man with gray hair was overlooking from a cliff with a face of indifference.
Other than the wooden casket leaning against a tree beside him and a tea pot boiling from a running fire, the gray haired man sat down on a tree trunk and gave a blank expression from the disorder before him as he poured tea when the screams continued.
Even as time passed with the riots and dangers receding, the man's expression did not change and merely watched as he drank his tea.
'Everything is proceeding smoothly.....'
It wasn't long when he heard something was approaching from behind him, but made no attempt to turn his head as the gray haired man sensed the individual was familiar.
”Was there a matter that pressured a return ahead of schedule? I believe our agreed meeting should be when the market is attempting the auction where 'the serpent' shall surface.”
”Apologies, we were...side tracked along the way, but nothing to worry about.”
The one he spoke too was the one who fought Stigma and wore the golden mask, the uncle.
Despite wearing his Golden mask, the uncle showed no signs of removing it for customary reasons and indicating his rank.
Although the gray haired man sounded rude, he knew from past interaction that the uncle was never the type to care of minor squabbles.
Their relation is equivalent to acquaintances from the same line of work, so the sign of familiarity was due to their past interactions and not based on Seniority.
”Is that so...did the 'detour' become that much of a hindrance to your level of strength, fellow Elder? Was there was someone that could rival a Jiang Shi Clan's main branch subordinate?”
The gray haired individual turned and showed signs of concern rather than mockery to his fellow Elder retreat.
Although the clan they belong too had a number of divisions, when it came to the matter of their missions, they all follow the doctrine they vowed - what thy make of one's life, shall be deemed in the after life[2].
In other words, the success of their mission will decide their fate once they all return, regardless of the remaining lives or how much they sacrificed.
”Ha ha ha!! No, not at all, just met an interesting junior with a promising future and was caught of guard. Which led to my nephew to be injured, after tying up loose ends we had to pull back for recovery. As we speak, my nephew is reattaching himself a new leg. Ha ha ha!”
”I see.....”
Despite his position as the leader, there was a vast different of experience between them along with status, the gray haired man did not want to draw ire from the man before yet he still wanted to draw wisdom from the golden masked individual.
”....should we change our plans and move it on a later date to begin.”
”Hmm, I believe we don't need to do anything as the plan shall continue on schedule, the men you brought in are capable and will act out without orders. Though the market is in turmoil, it will settle and continue without notice. I could tell only one person is trying to calm the masses, while the rest are pushing for profit, so everything will run smoothly if everyone keeps their head down until then and let the merchants handle the masses.”
”How could you tell....what is your proof?”
”The evidence was the time it took for the guards to react. Only one person is managing the market it whole, hence we were able to enter without difficulty. If they continue as is, then remaining hidden among the chaos was the better option than replacing the guards and increasing the risk of our 'cover' and 'infiltration' being discovered.”
”I see....On that note, have you seen my son, he was the one who wore the blue fox mask....he came to prove himself, but I am still worried about his safety.”
The uncle gave a thinking gesture with his right hand and told him with a blank expression.
”...I haven't seen him until now....maybe he has already hidden in the market by now so don't worry... I must be going know, I have to prepare for my nephew's recovery....”
”....Of course.....”
As the gray haired man saw the retreating figure, he turned his head at the market with a hint of worry and gave a silent prayer for his son's safety.
But the uncle had his own plans and walked away with no worry.
'It looks everything is going smoothly, but I still need the white haired boy's cooperation.....'
***
While a hidden scheme was being planned behind the scenes. A meeting was still taking place for the market's future.
Four adults were thinking of the possibility of danger, while a white haired boy was having his own train of thought.
'When they say, Jiang Shi...are they referring to the living dead that hops and acts like a vampire, like the ones from the legend?'
From how Stigma remembered, Jiang Shi are considered reanimated corpses that turned into vampire like creature with white skin, stiff bodies and had to travel by hopping to one place to another.
Unlike the Western Vampire, in where Jiang Shi are actual corpse and the former had numerous theories about its origins and life cycle, the Eastern Vampire are not known to consume blood but qi[1] from the living as sustenance.
From what Stigma remembered, the cause of a Jiang Shi's reanimation can be classified under two categories: a recently deceased person returning back to life, or a corpse that has been buried for a long time but did not decompose and was brought back to life by the trapped soul.
'....Wait a minute, aren't I considered a Jiang Shi.....'
Although the theory was alarming and made Stigma's mind suddenly fill with concern, his worry diminished over the number of times he thought through the notion.
No matter how he interpreted it, Stigma never fell in either of the two categories.
From how Bell and the Demon Imp explained; Even with the diminishing life force, the Original Stigma was still alive. But due the latter's weakening life force, Cheng Xuan overwhelmed and absorbed the Original Stigma's soul without difficulty.
With both souls life force and memories integrated into one; He was living as both Cheng Xuan and Stigma, through the latter's body in the present, as difficult as that may sound.
While the latter theory was probable, it only meant that such creatures had long existed before him through similar circumstances, yet there was no memory triggered from hearing the name which may imply none have been heard.
Stigma clearly recalled that none of the corpses he found were all rotting, possibly due to the passage of time, which ruled out that one was ever born.
Stigma's own body never showed signs of decay but was malnourished, let alone waking up with great exhaustion, he still found it questionable as to how he still had the strength to even stand up much less try to lift a pebble.
Yet when his wounds started healing, followed by his height and weight increasing made him realize that all those changes provided facts that Stigma's body was alive and no different than a ten year old boy going through development and puberty.
Even the sensation of fear, exhaustion and pain were present, along with emotion were still present on his body.
There were other theories on how Jiang Shi are born, but Stigma could not remember them all, yet the Demon Imp's existence could be proof that such beings existed even if they were never found.
....
'....my bad habit is showing up again.....I really need to fix my tendency to over think everything.....but why can't I get the feeling of unease to disappear...”
Though Stigma found the entire speculation incredible and wanted to find out, he pushed it aside as it does not concern him right now and had other pressing matters to attend too.
Such as whether the identity of the assailant were from Jiang Shi Clan, and what their current goal is in the market.
'Even though I used my skill: 'Essence Reader' and found out they were Cultivators with the puppeteer skill, I merely speculated that they had used corpses as their limbs, but everyone seem to have grim expressions from the assumption alone.... In any case, if they could use a human sized puppet, then using a lifeless tool like a corpse would be possible....wait a minute...that would mean.....'
With lingering clues floating in his mind, Stigma slowly made a contention that some of the incident were correlating to one another, an outrageous assumption was made that may not be far from the truth.
Stigma wanted to speak up but could not as the lack of verification would cause a rise to panic and mass hysteria.
Before he realized it, Stigma felt a hand was placed on his shoulder and turned to find Felix giving him a meaningful look when Stigma showed a troubled expression.
”Stigma....I may not know you for a very long time but heed this warning to heart as a sign of friendship, until you get stronger, do not offend that clan and make any attempt in antagonizing them. Okay.”
”? Is the clan you mentioned...dangerous...”
”Can't say for sure....” Emily spoke up, but instead of looking embarrassed, she looked more like she was trying to find the right words to say to Stigma with a downcast expression.
”Young Master Stigma... you may not be informed as the knowledge is only circulated to important cities and top figures, but the Jiang Shi clan has been around for a very long time and has a deep history in parts of the South as well as being a large clan of Cultivators stationed in the Middle East surrounded by a vast dessert. The entire clan follow a religious lifestyle with the main branch being the representative and overall decision maker. As you may have guessed, not all clans are like Sir Felix's, so offending them will not end well.” -Roger
”From what my grandfather knows, they take great interest in collecting Heavenly Beast corpse in various sizes, going so far as sending bounties with astronomical payment for an undamaged body in whole or by limbs and organs. My grandfather had been sent multiple notices from followers to make business deals if interested so I know about them. But.....” - Emily
”As they hail from the south, we are not fully aware how strong they are or their social status, but it was speculated that they are a large clan due to their long lineage and may possess a different level of strength. Rumor has it, their interest for corpses correlates to their Cultivation, as tools for combat or a means to practice their religion in where embalming is used for burying the dead. I investigated rumors from the south, but it all led to an existence of a mythical army composed of Heavenly Beast with strange appearance controlled by the Jiang Shi Clan. If what you said was true then.....” - Felix
*Clap!* *Clap!* *Clap!*
Everyone's train of thought stopped when they suddenly heard someone clapping, when Stigma turned his head, the rest followed and found that Lara was calling for their attention.
Judging from her twitching eyebrow and repeated attempts to take deep breaths before exhaling, it was clear that Lara was trying to hold back her anger, yet those present were unaware for her hidden anger.
”For everyone present here, I beg your pardon, but we are straying off topic. Although I also find importance for the suspects identify, we are forgetting the current situation in whole. The turmoil may have calmed down, but the market including the public is still at risk of safety.” - Lara
”.....I suppose your right, an the investigation will begin at a later date.....Sir Felix, in the name of the House of Four Lotus, I Emily Album Aurum wish for you cooperation. Aside from investigation, I ask that you support in the protection as it is beyond our means of strength, I will provide any form of assistance in anyway possible followed by proper compensation. However, as you may know from my position, there is a limit and I may not provide access to all facilities belonging to the other Tops. Even so, please accept my request as I bow my head.”
While bowing her head, Lara and Roger followed suit to show how dire their situation.
Despite having some thought on his mind, with three people bowing their head for help, Felix did not mince his words and gave a reply following his condition.
”I will provide any possible help, but as long as you do not restrict our freedom while sharing any information you have and from the beginning, you will find that my group will cooperate when we finish preparing for tomorrow.” - Felix
”Anything else?”
”Ahem!”
”I mean, is there anything else?”
With Lara glaring at her, Emily had to correct her sentence with a beet red expression, which Stigma found amusing. Earning him another reason for the blue haired girl to antagonize him when Roger pointed it out.
”I want you to provide the same treatments to my younger brother Stigma, either have him stay with my group or provide him a private tent next to ours, but you must listen and respect his wishes.”
”....Fi-Of course, we shall acknowledge your request in return for your aid. On that note, our meeting should end here for today, we shall meet at the same time tomorrow but send a message ahead of time for confirmation...Stigma, you are the youngest present so you must sleep early and let us 'adults' handle it.”
Even with Lara's reprimanding gaze, for speaking without etiquettes to Felix, Emily made no attempt in hiding her smile along with the mocking tone of her voice when she spoke to Stigma.
”Wait just a moment Lady Emily, we have not yet heard of Young Master Stigma's request....”
Once Lara pointed out the issue, all eyes were on Stigma.
Stigma was younger and had no official background, yet had intelligence and skills rivaling a genius, hence held no danger or alternative motives.
With that thought in mind, Lara, Roger including Felix wanted both children to avoid antagonizing each other as their interactions is believed beneficial for both sides.
Emily would have a friend around her age, while Stigma can have his character profiled without suspicion then Felix can vouch for him when he gets into trouble.
'...Though I don't have much interest in the market in either the events or services, I can't leave this place until my goals are finished...'