Okay, we're back up to date. Now to get ahead again.
Chapter 124
The Republic
The Hidden Blossom Sect was Tobias's home away from home. Hun Fen offered him pointers to expand his sword dao as he guided her on the path to immortality, Ming Dia Lu forced him to expand his understanding of crafting, and Lung Mei grew into the intelligent woman that he had always hoped she would become, gaining a perspective of life that was utterly unique because of her extended childhood. However, it wasn't his disciples or the Blossoms that made Tobias consider the sect home. Tobias had found his home in Hun Jia.
A woman who disregarded the rules of society and was willing to walk beside him without fear or restraint. She was confident in herself and her decision to be with him, and Tobias was confident in his choice to be with her. She would reach for his hand in public or kiss him on the cheek in front of others, simply to show her affection, not caring how anyone else felt about her actions, except him.
These small moments showed that she chose him over society's rules. Tobias showed her that he chose her over his clan and the society they shared by not pressuring her for more commitment than she was willing to give.
Tobias's life was a life of peace and love. One filled with the constant exploration of dao and an ever-deepening understanding of cultivation. He had learned more in the forty-three years that he had spent at the Hidden Blossom Sect than in the two centuries before, unravelling secrets he would never have dreamed possible.
Tobias studied.
Tobias learned.
And Tobias taught, sharing what he discovered with all those who needed his insights.
But mostly, he cared for the girls the Hidden Blossom Sect found, teaching them how to perform tea ceremonies, expressing the dao of hidden beauty to temporarily ease their minds, so the Blossoms could restore what had been broken. He didn't because he wanted to, or needed to, but because doing so allowed Hun Jia to teach poetry, something she had always wanted to do.
The Hidden Blossom Sect was not blind to their dao like they had been in the past, but they held on to their traditions, guiding those they found the way they had been guided. Tobias didn't agree with holding to tradition, but he didn't see any harm in their doing so, so he accepted their ways.
However, he did refuse to teach tea ceremonies the way Hun Jia had, so he took her lessons and made them his own, not just instructing the girls in the dao of hidden beauty but also in the proper way to prepare tea to bring out its full potential. Watching their brewing skills develop brought him no small amount of satisfaction, and many of the girls the sect had found over the years had retired to open teashops and live happy lives.
Tobias was guiding a class through the welcoming tea ceremony, expressing the dao of hidden beauty far more clearly than any Blossom could have before he arrived, when Hun Jia whispered in his ear through her aura.
Her tone was full of concern. "My love, I sense ten nascent soul realm cultivators heading for our city. They have hundreds of core realm cultivators with them."
Despite decades of effort, Tobias had not managed to bring the Hidden Blossom Sect into the world. Their hidden nature wasn't a flaw of their dao, but a feature. It was the path they walked, and they could not deviate from that path once they were on it. He didn't know why and had stopped searching for the answer, accepting that it would come to him in time.
There was no longer any rush for answers.
Understanding that the hidden nature of the Blossoms was not a flaw but a feature of the dao they pursued had allowed Tobias to understand how to remove the ongoing influence of the dao of hidden beauty from the girls and Flowers who entered the sect. The Blossoms had led them to the path of hidden beauty, but they did not step onto it unless they became a Blossom. To wake them from the dream, all the Blossoms had to do was lead them away.
The Blossoms had celebrated his discovery, smiling with joy that they could finally restore their girls to who they were meant to be, not who they were forced to be. The fact that they themselves could not return to the world was of little consequence. The thought of being able to help more girls like them without the negative lasting effects was a far greater boon than being seen for who they really were.
This meant the six girls who sat before Tobias were no longer destined to become Flowers. They were no longer destined to chase a dao they could not comprehend. They would live within these walls until they had recovered from what had been done to them, and then they would be returned to the world, free to walk their paths.
Tobias was slightly surprised by Hun Jia's announcement, so he took a moment to gather his thoughts before projecting his voice to Hun Jia. "Do they wear the crest of The Three Kingdoms?"
"Give me a moment to focus."
Tobias continued his tea ceremony, not projecting his aura, because it would interfere with how he conveyed the dao of hidden beauty.
"They don't, but I recognise their cultivation method as one of yours. It's heavily influenced by the dao of metal."
Tobias accepted that something must have changed during his absence, but wasn't concerned. If the change was consequential, he and his clan would have stepped in to prevent it, so the lack of a crest was likely a minor matter.
Tobias relaxed, content with what was about to unfold. "It would appear, my love, that Ming City is about to become a part of The Three Kingdoms. Don't worry, it will be a peaceful transition."
"You call this peaceful? Outside of the khans, I've never heard of an army this powerful."
There were laws against sharing The Three Kingdoms' military strength, and Tobias had not broken those laws, so Hun Jia did not understand what she was saying.
"My love, this is merely a standard military unit, not an army. The Three Kingdoms does not need an army to conquer Ming City."
"Well, they don't need this many either."
Tobias wanted to chuckle, but couldn't without ruining his lesson. "They may be intending to suppress the city with their auras to establish their presence. If I'm right, Hun Fen, Lung Mei, and I will require them to pay extra attention to the sect. You should move the girls to the Blossoms' homes for their safety while the three of us go into the garden to greet them."
"You could continue to shield yourself from their notice."
"They are just the pacifying force. Core realm magistrates, ministers, and members of the Civil Sect will arrive by the end of the day to begin transforming the city and perform a census. If you shield my presence and I suddenly appear, they will investigate. It's better they see me from the start."
"Fine. I'll inform the Blossoms and move the girls. You just try not to let Hun Fen cause too much trouble."
"I'm not promising that."
Hun Jia's laughter was her only response.
Tobias reached out with his aura and informed his direct disciples where they needed to go before giving his full attention to his classroom. For the first time since becoming a Blossom, Tobias stopped his tea ceremony lesson midway through. It felt like he was breaking something sacred.
The girls all frowned as he let go of the dao of hidden beauty and set his teapot down mid-pour. Stopping a lesson midway was not something that was done at the Silver Blossom Pavilion. They knew that as well as he did. Tobias lifted their tea sets with his aura and moved them to the side as he smiled at them.
They smiled back, sensing that he hadn't stopped because of anything they had done.
"Blossom Genji needs you all to go to her house right away. Powerful cultivators are coming to Ming City, and I need to make sure they don't cause any trouble."
Tobias opened his arms, and the girls rushed towards him, sharing a beautiful hug that kept them calm as they rushed out the door. Teaching the girls had grounded him in the mortal world more than anything else. The urge to leave it all behind and disappear to become one with the world around him no longer bothered him. He was content with his place.
Tobias rose to his feet as the last one of girls left and strapped the sword and wrist guard Ming Dia Lu had made him around his waist and left forearm. They were beautiful core realm artifact and would show his connection to the Ming Clan and make it easier for him to hide his origins.
Tobias had created the plan for the expansion of The Three Kingdoms centuries ago, using his friend Senator Lee to get it before the senate. A peaceful transition was easier with overwhelming force, and the soldiers Field Marshal Kang had brought to his clan's hidden realm were all destined for immortality. Their slow progress to the nascent soul realm was because of the limited space in their army's cultivation realms, not because they lacked the skill or knowledge. It was also something Tobias intentionally arranged so they did not become a threat to his clan.
Lung Mei met Tobias as he exited the home he shared with Hun Jia, giving him a relaxed nod, filled with the confidence of someone who could weather any storm. In a few more decades, she would be ready to continue leave here and continue cultivating, but she was not ready yet.
She threaded his arm through his, making it look like they were going for a stroll, before dragging him to the gate, hardening her aura so no one would overhear them. "They're expanding much sooner than you thought, Master."
"They're only fifty years ahead of my earliest estimate, but those estimates were based on what they had when I left. That could easily be explained away with the births of prodigies or additional discoveries."
Lung Mei glanced in the direction of the approaching force. They were flying high, dispersing the clouds around them, so everyone could see them coming.
"Did you have to make them so strong, Master? Some of those generals would make me break a sweat."
Tobias chuckled.
Lung Mei smirked. "I'm beginning to believe you weren't embellishing my bedtime stories about your homeland."
Tobias continued to chuckle as they left the family compound and entered the garden. Hun Fen was standing on the roof of her pavilion, glaring at the sky and the incoming soldiers, openly defying their superiority.
Lung Mei groaned. "She's going to fight them."
Tobias had dedicated decades to watching Hun Fen dance with her dao and studying the cultivation manuals and manuscripts her mother translated, only to realise that his cultivation and the resources of the Hidden Blossom Sect were too limited to create a cultivation method for Hun Fen. He needed to return to his clan to guide her into the core realm. When Tobias offered to take her, she declined, preferring to wait until Lung Mei finished growing up.
Tobias recognised the look in her eye too and knew he could not change her mind. He unbuckled his belt and stored his sword and wrist guard, pulling out his folding fan. This was her city. This was her sister's city. She was incapable of allowing others to take it from her. Nothing he could say would change that. The moment they tried to establish their presence and take charge of the city, she would attack.
Usually, a foundation realm cultivator attacking nascent soul realm cultivators would be suicide. Hun Fen would slaughter them if they didn't yield.
It was the sort of incident that The Three Kingdoms would not ignore.
Tobias and Lung Mei leapt onto the roof beside Hun Fen, staring off in the same direction, before flaring their auras.
The soldiers were clearly announcing their approach, so every cultivator in the city would likely feel them coming. Tobias could see Patriarch Ming and Ming Dia Lu rising into the air above their clan's palace to greet the new arrivals. Patriarch Ming was holding the letter Tobias had given him centuries ago. It would inform the field marshal in charge that they were a servant clan of his clan. It granted the Ming Clan full rights and protection under The Three Kingdoms' laws, so their palace would operate under different laws from the rest of the city. They would lose the city but gain so much more.
Tobias flicked open his fan and spread his aura across the vast distance, engulfing the approaching force. "Gentlemen, I do not know why you have come here, but I kindly request that you respect the mortals of this city."
The field marshals did not look concerned to be facing another nascent soul realm cultivator, even one with such an impressive aura. They outnumbered Tobias ten to one and believed they had superior training on their side. However, out of respect, they stopped just beyond the city wall.
Their leader floated forward. "I am Guardian Wei of The Republic, formerly known as The Three Kingdoms. The Republic's Senate has voted to bring peace and stability to the continent. For this reason, the Ming City State must come under our laws and protection."
Tobias flared his fan, respectfully rejecting their claim to the city. "This is a free and peaceful city that has offered no challenge to The Republic. Kindly continue on your way."
"That is to be commended, but it does not change our orders."
"It is also protected."
"This is not the first city that has been protected."
Hun Fen inched forward.
"If you wish to take Ming City peacefully, I propose a challenge by combat, so this situation does not deteriorate. The city's protector against your strongest warrior. The first to yield admits defeat. Should our defender win, you will have a civil discussion with Patriarch Ming, explaining what The Republic wishes to do here and whether he is amenable to the idea of his lands becoming part of The Republic. If he is amicable, that will be the end of the matter, and we will not trouble you any further. If he is not, then the situation will become problematic for you."
"Ritual combat for the city is allowed. I will see if Patriarch Ming is interested in your proposal." Thirty seconds went by. "He has agreed. Send your champion."
Hun Fen leapt into the air, flying across the city towards the army alone. The army changed direction, heading for the wilderness, so the battle would not harm the mortals beneath.
Tobias could see many of them frowning as they moved away from the city. It was unlikely that any of them had ever seen a foundation realm cultivator who was capable of flight. Let alone one who was capable of flight without a sword. The field marshals were the most concerned because they could sense that Hun Fen wasn't flying but cutting through the sky with her sword dao. They realised they may have bitten off more than they could chew.
Tobias smiled as he removed a sword from his storage ring and turned to Lung Mei. "Let's go watch the birth of the legend of the Sword Blossom?"
***
An hour later, the last of the three field marshals who had been fighting Hun Fen as a group fell from the sky unconscious, having fought past the point where he should have yielded. His own generals cheered his defeat as Hun Fen flicked open her fan and struck a beautiful, triumphant pose. She had defeated all of their field marshals one by one and then in pairs and now in threes, all while using a folding fan. No one had been seriously harmed in the battles because Hun Fen had restrained herself.
Tobias flicked his fan open as she prepared her next challenge, getting her attention. He couldn't let her take this any further. Not because she wouldn't win, but because she couldn't win without causing harm. Four was too many, even for her.
Hun Fen got the message and gave an elegant bow to the crowd of cheering core realm cultivators and flew to his side.
Tobias turned to Field Marshal Wei, with whom he was sharing Three Towns Tea, knowing the man did not recognise him from his time in his clan's hidden realm. "I hope that we have made it clear to The Republic that Ming City is protected. Anything your people do to harm our city will be met with swift justice."
Field Marshal Wei did not look happy as he nodded. "You do not need to be concerned. The Republic takes great pride in being a lawful and peaceful place. Your city is peaceful and prosperous, but it will be more so under our leadership. You cannot imagine the wonders that await you, but I understand your concern and your need to drive home such a powerful message."
Tobias had discovered while watching Hun Fen that The Republic had changed its name to reflect the nature of the empire it was building. The Senate no longer represented the interests of The Three Kingdoms, but everyone across the continent, so trying to expand under the banner of The Three Kingdoms would not reflect their honest intent to treat all those outside The Three Kingdoms equally.
The change of title from field marshals to guardian had come about because of how many nascent soul realm soldiers The Republic now had and the simple fact that they could not field large enough armies to make them all worthy of the title's former prestige. Instead, guardians were closer to sergeants, each one overseeing forty core realm soldiers, which still made them a force to be reckoned with.
A force that meant nothing before Hun Fen.
Hun Fen smirked at Field Marshal Wei. "If you would like help with your sword work, you know where to find me." With those words, she turned and flew off, heading back to the city. Lung Mei followed.
Field Marshal Wei's eyes widened. "She's a courtesan."
Tobias nodded. "She specialises in teaching the sword. Her suitors are all blade masters and sword saints, but if you're interested in stimulating conversation and have problems with your sword technique, I'm sure you could shower her with enough wealth for her to give you an afternoon of her time."
With those words, Tobias rose into the air and followed.
***
Three days later, Tobias sat on the veranda of his pavilion trying not to smirk. Ming Dia Lu lay next to him, resting her head on his lap while glaring up at him. As instructed, Patriarch Ming had never opened the letter he had given him and was absolutely shocked to discover to whom he had pledged his clan's loyalty. After Patriarch Ming handed over the city, Field Marshal Wei contacted Tobias's clan. The Finch Clan had sent sixty nascent soul realm servants to authenticate his seal and examine the letter for fraud, along with everything the Ming Clan would need to be established as a second-tier servant clan if the letter was authentic.
Nascent soul realm spirit garden now filled their palace, and state-of-the-art cultivation chambers were attached to every dwelling. A sage realm chi-gathering array and defensive arrays had been installed, and the best instructors his clan had to offer were now going over their clan's cultivation method to create one that was not painful for them to look at. Patriarch Ming was having the problem with his core fixed by their healers, and those who could not cultivate were being given pills so they could reach the peak core realm, so it wasn't unexpected that Ming Dia Lu was glaring at him.
Tobias waved a piece of melon above her lips as her exasperation finally boiled over. "You're Sage Knowledge, Patriarch of the Finch Clan, the head of the most powerful cultivator clan in the world, the founder of The Republic, and you didn't tell me!"
With so many members of his household in the city, it was no longer dangerous for anyone to use his name. Right now, his name was on half the lips of the mortals in the city, so no one would be able to find him with it.
Tobias ate the piece of melon he was trying to entice her with. "It didn't seem important."
His disciple glared back. "Didn't seem important. How is that not important?"
"Does it change anything?"
"We should be kowtowing the moment you enter the city."
Tobias ate another piece of melon. "That would make it very hard for everyone to live here."
"Your servants are going to turn everyone in our clan into core realm cultivators."
"Anyone who can't do it themselves."
"They're doing it to everyone in your network."
Tobias smirked. His clan's resources were as extensive as they had always been, despite his absence.
"The Wo Trading Company has already sent a nascent soul realm elder to our city to establish a trading hub. Your gardeners are supposed to arrive in ten days and establish hundreds of spirit gardens for us. Those cultivators from the Civil Sect are demolishing districts of our city and rebuilding them overnight while building massive roads that connect us to every city, town, and village in the region. They treat everything they are doing like it's a small matter.
"It is."
"What?"
"In The Three Kingdoms, cultivation resources are not scarce. They used to be, but centuries ago, I figured out how to restore the world to its state before the Great Plague. The result is a society of abundance, where the core realm is treated like a tool, rather than a destination. The changes you see are what happen when cultivation is understood by all, when progress is assured. The benefits of cultivation do not start and end with reaching immortality."
"Your servants told me that all citizens in The Three Kingdoms cultivate."
Tobias smiled again. "How far can they go now?"
When he had left, only 95% were cultivators, and most had to progress further through slow cultivation.
"Most enter the foundation realm."
"They're ahead of schedule. I wonder what they discovered to make the change."
"My clan doesn't need me anymore," Ming Dia Lu blurted out.
She was saying she was ready to become his disciple, not just in name but in actions, following him wherever he would lead her. "My invitation is still open if that's what you want."
She nodded and then smirked. "You still have to call me Princess when you teach me, though."
Tobias laughed. "Yes, Princess."