74 Unravel 3 - Jiang Shi Clan and Turmoil (2/2)
”.....If you can provide me with information as well, then that is all I need for my cooperation.”
Emily stared at Stigma for a moment and tried to understand what the white haired boy meant, while weighing the odds.
”.....That depends on what do you want to know specifically, just to be clear, I have to risk sheltering you while preventing any means of those three assholes from finding you. Depending on what you want know, I may not provide the information as it may compromise our safety, understand.”
Emily may not accept it, but she acknowledges the white haired boy is more important than he appears, yet Stigma had to prove his worth and earn his keep by her own eyes than hearing it from another person.
Emily was a firm believer that everything had to be earned by effort and perseverance, be it nobility or from the peasant, everyone had to push themselves no matter what goal they strive for despite being supported.
She was no exception, as Emily had her grandfather provide everything needed for her growth to follow his expectations and her future.
Anyone who believed they were blessed due to birthright, lineage and talent earn no respect from her, the remaining Top were clear examples of the type of people she hated the most.
Spoiled, ignorant and above all lazy.
'Stigma may have proven his intelligence, but that does no indicate he is the type who works for his meals.'
But even Emily was not above rewarding anyone if they worked for it, and she intended for Stigma to work for his request.
Yet it was at that moment, everyone who heard Stigma's request began their own inner turmoil.
”First...I want you to find out about someone named.....Jaculas Fel [3].”
?!?!!?
...
After the meeting came into adjourned, Felix separated to meet with his men but had a grave expression, but he did not leave without giving his regards to Stigma where he had something to speak to him about.
Emily stayed behind with Lara and Roger but later parted way to meet with their subordinates, leaving Stigma to be escorted to his designated tent.
But each one of them, including Stigma himself, realized the white haired boy was not from a simple background.
Even when Stigma entered his wide spaced tent and laid down on his new bed, he could not forget the conversation they had with his request nor their expressions.
'I wonder....who is this Jaculas Fel....who are you Stigma.....what had caused you to die in a hole like that.'
As Stigma closed his eyes, he slowly recalled his reason for wanting to find out his origins.
During his long naps, Stigma started wondering who Jaculas was and started to see faded memories of a man wearing a gauntlet staring at him from a distance.
The location was in a long corridor and the one he spoke to was another man with long green hair and ended with Stigma looking away.
As Stigma continued to naps, he started seeing random memories of the same man walking around a hallway with different sceneries, he still continued to completely ignored Stigma as he walked passed him.
What was strange was that in each images, Stigma was observing the man from different angle, being tall at one time and short in another. But it did not matter to him, although they may have never spoken to one another, it indicated that he was no stranger and was someone Stigma had met.
Giving him a lead.
With that in mind, Stigma remembered his earlier conversation and made up his mind with resolve to find out about his origins.
Everyone at the time had different looks in their eyes: Emily had a face mixed with worry and alarm, while Felix showed a face of dismay, but only Roger and Lara showed fear in their eyes when they heard the name.
Fortunate or not, Emily took it upon herself and asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
”...Why do want to know about that man?”
Eventually Felix spoke and told them about Stigma's loss of memories regarding his pass, but even he was confused as to why Jaculas Fel name was brought out when their earlier conversation pointed out he never knew anyone.
Stigma could only lie from his reply that he started remembering a few names when Felix asked him and passed out, but whether they were aware of who he was or not, Stigma had to find out.
When Emily told him with a straight face that the information was difficult and he had stay hidden to for the remainder of the market, Stigma agreed without hesitation.
After being told to be part on the future investigations, Stigma could only agree in silent and was escorted.
'....I suppose its human nature to be curious, despite my new life here, I still owe it to the original Stigma for the new beginning. No matter what happens, I have to repay the favor by finding out why you had such a fate.'
With all was said, Stigma could only lie down and think of his future plans.
Emily agreed with Stigma's theory that there was a third party, so looking through the records would be a waste of time as they may have used other names and would end in dead ends.
Stigma turned his head to find Kirin chewing on a piece of bone and slept to his side when it was tired, Dusk stood guard over him and Hilda took responsibility to watch over him.
But even when Stigma was about to relax, he stayed alert and found that someone was sneaking in his tent, again.
Out of reflex, and taking no chances, Stigma grabbed one of the knife on his leg and threw it at the entrance.
Like a similar scene was happening, someone grabbed the thrown knife and entered with a smile.
”Whoa there! Is our special greeting from now on suppose to be a knife to the face.” - ???
”Only someone like you will earn a knife to the face.” - ??????
”Now, now, you two.” - ????
When Stigma adjusted his vision, he found out who entered his tent and relaxed. Han, Veil and the leader walked in then gave a greeting before removing their hoods and sat on the nearest furniture.
”Sorry! With the recent attack I became a little tense. By the way, where were you three, I almost got killed!” -Stigma
”Apologies, safety is a priority and you are technically not an official member so we could not attempt a rescue, we still needed to evaluate other things about you in secret. But don't worry Stigma, you scored with flying colors. Later on, we began our own investigation of the perpetrators while you had your conversation.” - Han
”...Please, tell me what you found out.” When the three assassins had a clue on who attacked him, Stigma listened to all the details and sat down on his bed.
”We had Han listen in to your entire conversation through lip reading while we investigated, don't worry we won't take to long as we have our mission at hand and won't be around all the time but we will look for you at the auction. Anyway, what you heard from Felix is true, you actually fought against someone from the Jiang Shi Clan. The mummified leg was the evidence that it belonged to them, so take Felix's advice and don't provoke the clan.”
When Stigma remembered the mummified leg, he felt somewhat amazed of the preparation they took in preparing it. But at the same time, recalled his theory and did not go after the subject.
”....What is the Jiang Shi Clan? Are they really that dangerous.....”
”............Nothing but a clan full of necrophiliacs[4].”
From how the leader answered with a monotone voice and the siblings disgusted expressions, it was clear to Stigma that they have met them before and could only reply from his first thoughts.
”....Yikes.” No wonder the people around him gave different expression, if they found out a family was full of necrophiliacs existed, Stigma would have goosebumps all over his body everyday.
”I know right, we classified them as necrophiliacs due to their obsession for gaining any corpses with a gleeful expression, any corpse without damage gives them an ecstasy like expression as they use it for their...Cultivation.” - Han
”.....Are they famous in the underworld?”
”Very.... But don't be fooled as from what we can gathered before, they are rumored to be one of the oldest and largest clans to ever have been recorded. Including the Jiang Shi Clan, they are over ten clan's in total with a similar status, each following a religious practice and have no form of outside government supporting them. Independent and Ancient, because of those label, large kingdoms and Empires of that era stood powerful to this day from their support alone and many are trying to win their favor.”
”...Wow....”
”Exactly....in the black market, where all items are illegal, the Jiang Shi clan are known to buy bodies of either rare Heavenly Beast or powerful Cultivators that had been hunted down.”
'Rare Heavenly Beast....' Out of reflex, Stigma turned his head and brushed his hand over Kirin's fur. When its small head pushed against his hand for the comfort, Stigma stared to fear the little blue wolf's fate.
”.....Any reason why they want the corpses so badly?”
The leader shrugged her shoulder and told Stigma her opinion from the information she knew.
”There some theories, but I still find them unbelievable.”
”What are they?”
”....The reason why they want the bodies was to make them as 'corpse dolls'. Corpse dolls like the name states, are a type of tool made by using corpses as a base and are rarely used by Cultivators as their methods of preparation is a closely guarded secret relating to the embalming arts, hence there aren't many users.” - the leader
”But the real danger behind it was that the corpses dolls will retain its level of strength and abilities when it was alive, even with a lower Tier Cultivators using them. The Jiang Shi clan had been monopolizing them from other Kingdoms and Empires as an offering, but it's a baseless rumor.” - Han
”From what we can gather, the Jiang Shi Clan was the founder of the embalming arts and spread the knowledge as a religious practice to the desert regions during plagues. In return, they gathered a large mass of followers who gathered powerful corpses for them as a means of protection to foreign invaders for their individual territory. As time passed, the Jiang Shi Clan eventually formed a Cult like order with supporters from multiple kingdoms in the south, earning them an impregnable position in the political field. ” - Veil
”But in the Cultivators circle, they are considered dangerous for their obsession of corpses, all the Cultivators started fearing them as they may be hunted down for their Cultivation. Even with the support of multiple sects, clans, Kingdoms and Empires combined into one, none could topple their position without proper basis but would not attack unless provoked. But some even believe that was total bull.” - Han
”And as time passed, that clan has continued to grow to this day, gathering resources, amassing followers, spreading their religion and remained a living legend. They entered a war once, but their main families ability to use powerful Corpse dolls in masses, earned them the official title 'Corpse Puppet Clan'.” - the leader
”And like all large organization, there is always inner turmoil even among the family members. So steer clear from their 'family matters', take it from us, our lives almost ended just from their family game.” - Han
”We still don't know what their goal in the market is, but it had something to do with the corpses in the woods.....Stigma what do you think, do have any idea on what they are up to? You found the corpses and examined them, so we want your take on this.” - Veil
”....I need Senior Felix to be present for this, I need his opinion.” - Stigma
”We know, Felix informed us that he was with you,” The leader stood up and walked towards the exit after doing some stretched,” I'll look for him then.”
”That won't be necessary....” When everyone turned their head towards the exit, they saw the person in question with a poker face.
”Sup Felix, where's your crew?” - The leader wasn't surprised and went back to take a seat.
”Collecting everything from our camp, it would take while as we bought products from the market.”
”Good timing, we need your take on something...”
”Before that, I have brought someone with me to verify something...”
When Felix made way. a familiar figure stepped out and bowed to everyone present, before turning towards Stigma and smiled.
”Its been awhile Young Stigma, how are you feeling.”
”I'm fine doctor, thank's to you.” Stigma stood up and bowed towards the doctor out of respect, as he was the one who nursed him back to health.
”Is there a reason why you brought an herbalist with you?” - the leader
”There is.....I want him to perform a check up on Stigma, I want to know whether he is from the Naga Clan or not.”
!??!!??!?!
[1] qi -life force
[2]what thy make of one's life, shall be deemed in the after life - it basically means, they will be judged from how they acted. Same concept on how Christians believe that you go to heaven for being pure and going to hell if one become's sinful. But the clan they are from will be the judge. In case no one understood.
[3] Fel - latin for cobra. Never knew there was a snake called the false cobra when I made the name Stigma Falsus Fel. Ironically by translating the entire name false cobra, it gave a different word. I tried giving serpent in Latin but gave a different word when together. False serpent. False Cobra. False snake. Does not sound good to hear.