Severing Time & Space

Hou Jun

Wu Yōushì sat in his office, going over the clan’s finances and setting next year’s budget. It was a thankless job. He’d have much rather been training, but sacrifices were sometimes necessary for the betterment of the clan.

Thanks to Wu Meiying and her strange ability to predict the future, the Wu Clan had been able to secure themselves the top position of Zahn City’s three clans. They had discovered several mining deposits that contained mithril. While the mithril was impure, even tainted mithril fetched a high price, especially this far out in the countryside. A deal had been made with the Zhou Family, who had transported the materials to the auction house in Dahua City. That deal alone had netted them enough money to last the clan for ten years.

It was greedy of him to want for more, but he hoped Wu Meiying’s ability would help them find other deposits. If they could obtain a mineral deposit of black gold or sky dragon iron, both of which were exceedingly rare crafting materials, they could become one of the wealthiest clans in the Shang Kingdom.

Of course, he didn’t have much hope for that. The Shang Kingdom lacked such resources. Their nation was well-known for its fertile lands. They produced enough produce to export it to other nations. By that same token, they did not possess much in the way of crafting materials or cultivation resources. And all the mines where their ores were harvested belonged to either the crown or one of the Three Great Sects.

As he read over several documents detailing their next business venture (also a result of Wu Meiying’s ability to predict the future), Elder Wu Jinsu burst into the room. His face was red as if he had run all this way, and he was out of breath.

“Huff… huff… Lord Yōushì… huff… carriage… here…”

It was rare to see one of his elders look so out of sorts. Wu Jinsu was the youngest among the clan elders, but he had a good head on his shoulders. To see this man look so flustered set him on edge.

“Calm down, Elder Jinsu,” Wu Yōushì said in a calm voice, though he did frown. “Take several deep breaths, calm yourself, and tell me what has happened.”

Elder Wu Jinsu placed a hand against his chest and took several calming breaths. Then he began again. “A carriage just arrived. It is unmarked. We thought it might be a trap or maybe someone coming to ask for Wu Meiying’s hand in marriage again… but it actually contains Emperor Hou Jun! He’s in the reception hall right now and—”

That was about as far as Elder Wu Jinsu got. Wu Yōushì leaped to his feet and marched out of the room as swiftly as he could without running. His heart was thumping against his chest as he hurried into the reception room.

Did Wu Meiying predict that this would happen? Did she know the emperor would arrive today?

He burst through the doors and looked around, easily spotting the emperor. He was pacing the reception hall. Wu Àiliàn and Wu Taohua were also present, staring at the older man in concern.

“Your Imperial Majesty!”

Emperor Hou Jun stopped pacing and turned his head. His eyes lit up when he saw Wu Yōushì.

“Brother Yōushì,” he said in a hurried manner.

Wu Yōushì walked over and began to kneel, but Emperor Hou Jun stopped him by placing his hands on Wu Yōushì’s shoulders.

“There’s no need to bow, my friend, especially right now,” the emperor said. “I apologize for arriving unannounced and even more for what I’m about to say, but I need your help. My daughter snuck out of the carriage we were in while on our way here. You have to help me find her.”

“Ah?”

Hearing that Emperor Hou Jun’s daughter was missing made Wu Yōushì realize why he was so distraught. It had been over a decade since he had seen the emperor, but that did not mean much. He remembered how often this man would talk about what he would do if he had a daughter back when they served in the military together. Wu Yōushì was sure Emperor Hou Jun doted on his daughter, which made it all the more concerning that she had gone missing on their way here.

“Emp—no, Brother Jun, do not worry. We will mobilize the entire Wu Clan and find… find… huh…”

“Brother Yōushì?” Emperor Hou Jun said, tone questioning when Wu Yōushì trailed off.

He had suddenly remembered something from this morning.

“Also, you will be receiving an important visitor today. I recommend getting ready to receive them beforehand. Oh! And he’s going to be rather worried, so please do your best to calm him down and assure him that his daughter is fine.”

Was this what Wu Meiying had been referring to when she said those words? That was the only possibility that he could think of. She knew this was going to happen and warned him in advance so he would be prepared.

Once again, he couldn’t help but marvel at that girl’s mysterious powers. Yet he was also fearful of them. How could a girl who hadn’t even stepped into the realm of cultivation possess such a power? Just who were her parents?

Her background must be unfathomable indeed, but there’s little to be done about it now. I have no manner of finding out what kind of background she has.

Wu Meiying had been found by his wife, floating in a basket on the river. He would have suspected someone from Zhan City had abandoned her, but she had come from up north. Zahn City was to the south. There was nothing up north beyond Twin Fang Mountains save Ice Phoenix Mountain Range and the sea beyond it.

Wu Yōushì shook his head, sighed, and placed his hands over the emperor’s. “Brother Jun, it is fine. Your daughter is safe.”

“What? Huh? What? How do you know this?”

The befuddled look on the emperor’s face was almost priceless. It was the first time Wu Yōushì had ever seen the man look like this. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to explain how he knew the emperor’s daughter was safe, so the emperor continued to panic despite his reassurances.