The assassination attempt changed everything.
Three days after the attack, Wang Ben sat in the formal negotiation chamber at the City Lord's manor, watching the Bastion delegation's carefully controlled expressions fracture under the weight of political catastrophe.
Senior Investigator Qin Hualing presided over the session with the same mortal shedding composure she had maintained throughout, but her eyes held something new. Frustration, perhaps. Or the cold calculation of someone revising plans that had been disrupted by variables she hadn't anticipated.
"The investigation has concluded," she announced to the assembled parties. "The attackers were traced to the household of Lord Cai Hongwen, a minor noble with investments in the Xue Clan's former operations. He acted independently, without authorization from the Domain Lord's court or the official delegation."
Wang Ben absorbed the information without visible reaction. Lord Cai Hongwen. A name he had never encountered, attached to a grudge he had never known existed. Someone who had decided that the political resolution being negotiated wasn't sufficient punishment for the Wang Clan's role in the Xue situation.
"Lord Cai has been stripped of his position and summoned to face judgment in the domain capital," Qin Hualing continued. "His household will pay reparations for the assault on a protected individual under investigation protocols."
"Reparations," Patriarch Wang Tiexin said, his voice neutral but his ancient eyes sharp. "While the Wang Clan appreciates that justice is being pursued, reparations do not address the breach of trust this incident represents. We came to these negotiations in good faith, under the assumption that domain protocols would protect all parties from violence. That assumption proved incorrect."
The words landed with calculated precision. Wang Tiexin wasn't merely accepting an apology. He was using the assassination attempt as leverage, shifting the balance of the negotiation in ways that the Bastion had not intended.
Qin Hualing's expression flickered. "The actions of one rogue noble do not represent the position of the Crimson Bastion or the Domain Lord's court."
"Perhaps not. But they do represent the risks that the Wang Clan faces in entering any formal arrangement with domain interests." The patriarch's voice remained measured. "How can we commit to decades of formation services when elements connected to those same interests attempted to murder my grandson three days ago?"
The silence that followed was profound.
Prince Huo Zhanlong chose that moment to intervene.
"If I may offer a perspective," the prince said, rising from his position among the observers. His core formation cultivation announced itself with casual authority, and even Qin Hualing's mortal shedding presence seemed to acknowledge the weight of his royal status. "The incident reveals divisions within the Bastion's political structure that the Wang Clan would be wise to consider when choosing their allies."
"Your Highness speaks out of turn," Qin Hualing said carefully. "This is a domain matter."
"This is a kingdom matter when royal interests are affected." The prince moved to a position where both the delegation and the Wang Clan could see him clearly. "The Azure Dragon Fortress needs formation support for the western front. That need doesn't disappear because of internal Bastion politics. If anything, this incident demonstrates why the Wang Clan might prefer to work with parties whose interests are more... unified."
Wang Ben understood the maneuver. The prince was offering the Wang Clan an alternative to exclusive Bastion service, using the assassination attempt as justification for a split arrangement that would serve his own military priorities.
"The royal family's needs are noted," Qin Hualing said, her voice cooling several degrees. "But the Domain Lord's requirements remain unchanged."
"Then perhaps the requirements should be restructured." The prince's smile didn't reach his eyes. "A formation services arrangement that serves both domain and kingdom interests. Annual consultation split between Bastion administration and war front support. The Wang Clan protected by obligations to multiple parties rather than dependent on a single patron whose internal divisions nearly resulted in murder."
[ANALYSIS: Negotiation dynamics]
[Prince Huo Zhanlong leveraging assassination incident to advance war front agenda]
[Bastion delegation position weakened by rogue faction's actions]
[Potential outcome: Split arrangement favoring both domain and kingdom interests]
[Note: This result aligns with optimal balance for Wang Clan independence]
The System's analysis confirmed what Wang Ben's own instincts had suggested. The assassination attempt, while nearly killing him, had paradoxically strengthened the Wang Clan's position. They were no longer defendants negotiating from weakness. They were victims of domain political failure, able to demand concessions.
Wang Tiexin inclined his head thoughtfully. "The prince's suggestion has merit. A divided arrangement would provide the stability that the Wang Clan requires while still meeting the Domain Lord's stated requirements."
"The Domain Lord's requirements were for exclusive access..."
"The Domain Lord's requirements," the patriarch interrupted gently, "were drafted before one of his subjects attempted to assassinate my heir. Circumstances have changed. We must adapt."
The presence arrived without announcement.
One moment the negotiation chamber held only the expected parties. The next, Shen Wuyan was seated in a corner chair that had been empty heartbeats before, his dark robes absorbing the light and his ancient face wearing an expression of mild interest.
The effect on the room was immediate.
Senior Investigator Qin Hualing's mortal shedding cultivation flared in alarm before she controlled herself. But Wang Ben saw something else flicker across her face in that unguarded moment. Horror. Not just surprise, but the terrible recognition of someone who had just realized the Domain Lord's warnings hadn't been exaggeration. They had been understatement.
The nascent soul presence that filled the room wasn't the abstract threat she had dismissed in her reports. It was real, ancient, and powerful beyond anything her mortal shedding cultivation could challenge. She had led her delegation into a confrontation with powers that could destroy the entire Bastion if properly provoked, and she had done so with the confidence of someone who hadn't believed those powers existed.
They had hit a steel plate. And the plate was amused.
Military Attaché Wei Zhennan's hand moved toward his weapon before freezing. Even Prince Huo Zhanlong's confident composure wavered as he registered the presence of someone who could reduce everyone in the room to ash without significant effort.
"Please, continue," Shen Wuyan said, his voice carrying the amused patience of someone who had watched empires rise and fall. "I'm simply here as an interested observer. The Wang Clan's welfare is, after all, a matter of some personal investment to me."
The reminder was not subtle. Everyone present knew who Shen Wuyan was, what organization he represented, and what his appearance at this moment implied. The nascent soul cultivator was making a statement without saying anything at all.
The Wang Clan was under his protection. Anyone who threatened them threatened his interests.
Wang Ben caught Qin Hualing's expression settling into professional composure, but her eyes had changed. She was already composing her report to the Domain Lord in her mind, he suspected. Already explaining how the frontier rumors had been accurate, more than accurate, and how the delegation's aggressive posture had nearly provoked an incident with Phantom Gate interests that the domain couldn't afford.
"Master Shen." City Lord Huo Zhenyang found his voice first, though it carried a tremor. "We were not informed of your intention to attend these proceedings."
"Proceedings that concern parties connected to Phantom Gate require no invitation." Shen Wuyan's smile showed too many teeth. "But I have no desire to interfere with official business. I merely wished to ensure that all parties understand the... context... within which these negotiations occur."
The context was clear. The Bastion could make demands. The prince could pursue his agenda. But Shen Wuyan's shadow lay over the entire proceeding, a reminder that there were powers beyond domain or kingdom politics who had their own reasons for wanting the Wang Clan to thrive.
[OBSERVATION: Shen Wuyan intervention]
[Effect: Bastion negotiating position further weakened by implied Phantom Gate oversight]
[Probable motivation: Protecting investment. Demonstrating capability without violence]
[Debt status: Unchanged. Two favors remain owed]
[Note: Wuyan has not provided assistance that would constitute a new favor. His presence is strategic positioning, not active intervention]
Wang Ben felt the observation register with relief. The two favors he owed remained exactly two favors. Shen Wuyan's appearance was calculated intimidation, not aid that would increase his debt.
The ancient cultivator was protecting his investment by ensuring that others knew the cost of damaging it.
"Perhaps," Qin Hualing said, her voice admirably steady, "we should proceed to specific terms. The Domain Lord is prepared to accept a modified arrangement in light of recent circumstances."
The negotiation resumed, but the dynamics had shifted permanently.
The final terms took the better part of the afternoon to hammer out.
Wang Ben listened as his grandfather and Senior Investigator Qin traded proposals and counter-proposals, each concession and demand weighed against the new political reality that the assassination attempt and Shen Wuyan's appearance had created.
The result was a compromise that no party fully wanted but all could accept.
"The formal terms are as follows," Qin Hualing announced when the negotiations concluded. "First: The Wang Clan will provide formation consultation services totaling forty days annually, divided equally between Crimson Bastion administration and kingdom military support as designated by the royal court."
Twenty days for the Bastion. Twenty days for Prince Huo Zhanlong's war front. A split arrangement that gave neither side exclusive access.
"Second: Priority development rights for new defensive array designs will be shared between domain and kingdom interests, with exclusive licensing prohibited. The Wang Clan retains the right to offer designs to multiple parties simultaneously."
No monopoly. Wang Ben's work would serve whoever paid for it, not belong to a single patron.
"Third: Compensation will be set at four hundred mid-grade spirit stones annually, plus materials costs for any commissioned work. Payment to be divided between domain and kingdom budgets according to consultation allocation."
Less than the Wang Clan had initially proposed, but more than the Bastion had wanted to pay. A middle ground.
"Fourth: The deaths of the five Bastion delegates during the previous year's conflict will be formally attributed to the demonic incursion and the actions of Xue Feng, acknowledging that no surviving party bears direct responsibility."
Face saved. The delegates were victims of circumstance, not casualties of a conflict that the Wang Clan had prosecuted. The truth was more complicated, but the political fiction served everyone's interests.
"Fifth: The Wang Clan will receive formal recognition as a protected household under domain protocols, with automatic right of appeal to the Domain Lord's court in any future disputes involving Bastion interests."
Protection. Legal standing. Insurance against future Lord Cai Hongwens who might decide that political resolution wasn't sufficient.
Wang Tiexin rose to acknowledge the terms. "The Wang Clan accepts these conditions. We commit to faithful service within the boundaries established, and we trust that all parties will honor their obligations as we honor ours."
"The Crimson Bastion acknowledges this agreement." Qin Hualing's voice was professional, but Wang Ben could see the frustration behind her composure. She had come to claim a formation master for exclusive domain service. She was leaving with a shared arrangement that diluted Bastion authority.
"The royal court is satisfied," Prince Huo Zhanlong added, his smile genuine for the first time since the negotiations began. "The Azure Dragon Fortress looks forward to Young Master Wang Ben's contributions to the war effort."
And in his corner, Shen Wuyan simply watched, his ancient eyes holding calculations that no one else could read.
After the formal session dissolved, Wang Ben found a moment alone with Dao Zhen.
The Dao Clan heir had been present throughout the negotiations as part of the Wang Clan's contingent, his combat support during the assassination attempt having earned him a place at the table. Now he stood in the manor's garden, his expression thoughtful as he watched the departing delegates.
"It's done," Wang Ben said, approaching.
"For now." Dao Zhen's voice carried the wariness of someone who had learned that political resolutions rarely meant permanent peace. "They'll be back with new demands when circumstances change."
"Probably. But we'll be ready."
"Will we?" Dao Zhen turned to face him directly. "Wang Ben. I haven't forgotten what I saw that night. You moved like something I've never encountered. Not qi condensation. Not formation technique. Something else entirely."
Wang Ben had been expecting this conversation. He had hoped to delay it longer, but Dao Zhen's directness made that impossible.
"I have resources that others don't," Wang Ben said carefully. "Advantages that come from my studies. I can't explain everything, but I can tell you that I'm still the same person I was before. Still trying to protect my family and my allies."
"And am I an ally?" The question was direct, challenging. "My clan serves yours through vassalage obligation. But obligation isn't the same as trust."
"No. It isn't." Wang Ben met Dao Zhen's eyes. "Your family helped save my life three nights ago. You came running when you could have stayed safe, protected by the distance between our compounds. That's not obligation. That's choice."
"It was the right thing to do."
"It was. And I won't forget it." Wang Ben extended his hand, the gesture formal but genuine. "The Dao Clan fights with honor. Whatever our arrangement says on paper, that's what I'll remember."
Dao Zhen studied him for a long moment, then clasped his hand firmly. "Then we understand each other. Whatever secrets you carry, Young Master Wang, I'll trust that they serve our shared interests until you prove otherwise."
"Fair enough."
They released the handshake, and something unspoken passed between them. Not friendship, exactly. Not yet. But the foundation of something that might become friendship, built on mutual respect and tested loyalty.
"The negotiation terms include kingdom military support," Dao Zhen observed. "Prince Huo Zhanlong will want formation work at the western front. That's dangerous territory."
"My grandfather will handle the war front obligations," Wang Ben said. "He's a grade seven formation master with centuries of experience. I'll assist with his work where I can, but the formations are his."
Dao Zhen nodded slowly. "That makes sense. Your grandfather has the cultivation to survive what the front demands, and the experience to handle it."
"I'm just an assistant," Wang Ben said. "I can review his work, offer suggestions. But a grade seven formation master doesn't need a qi condensation student telling him how to do his job."
"A good division of labor." Dao Zhen inclined his head respectfully. "The Dao Clan stands ready to assist however needed. Until then, Young Master Wang."
He departed, leaving Wang Ben alone in the garden with the weight of new obligations and new alliances settling onto his shoulders.
The evening found Wang Ben on the rooftop of the Wang Clan compound, looking out over the city that had been his home since birth.
Redstone City spread beneath him, its streets and buildings transformed by the purple-gold light of sunset. The Blackwood Forest rose dark on the horizon, and beyond it, unseen but ever present, the wider world waited with its wars and powers and endless complications.
[STATUS UPDATE: Political resolution summary]
[Bastion investigation: Concluded. Formation services arrangement accepted]
[Annual obligations: 40 consultation days (20 Bastion, 20 kingdom)]
[Compensation: 400 mid-grade spirit stones annually plus materials]
[Legal status: Protected household under domain protocols]
[Outstanding debts: 2 favors owed to Shen Wuyan (unchanged)]
The System's summary was accurate, but it couldn't capture the emotional weight of what had transpired. Wang Ben had survived an assassination attempt, witnessed his own body moving with borrowed memories, and emerged from political crisis with his family's position strengthened rather than destroyed.
He should have felt triumphant. Instead, he felt tired.
"You're thinking too hard."
Wang Ben turned. Zhao Yu had climbed to the roof behind him, the young warrior's Battle Soul cultivation providing balance that his qi condensation level shouldn't have allowed.
"Maybe."
Zhao Yu settled beside him, his gaze joining Wang Ben's in contemplation of the sunset city. "The resolution is good. Better than we expected."
"It is."
"But?"
"But it's not an ending. It's just the beginning of a different set of problems." Wang Ben sighed. "Forty days of obligations annually. New powers watching. New expectations to meet."
"Your family has survived worse." Zhao Yu's voice was steady. "This is just politics."
"Maybe." Wang Ben thought about the Memory Bleed, about Zhao Yu's brief glimpse of something impossible during the assassination fight. "What did you see, exactly?"
"I saw you fighting to survive against odds that should have killed you. I saw techniques I didn't recognize, executed with precision that didn't match your cultivation level." Zhao Yu paused. "I saw something that reminded me of my own... bloodline."
The Battle Soul. The combat instincts that ran through Zhao Yu's bloodline, from ancestors he couldn't name.
"We're both carrying things we didn't choose to carry," Wang Ben said quietly.
"Yes." Zhao Yu's expression was thoughtful rather than troubled. "But we're still ourselves despite what we carry. That's what matters."
It was a simple observation, but it touched something that Wang Ben needed to hear. He wasn't becoming someone else. He was becoming more of who he had always been, with additional resources and additional burdens.
The borrowed memories had saved his life. They hadn't overwritten who he was.
"Thank you, Zhao Yu."
"For what?"
"For being here. For fighting beside me. For not asking questions I can't answer."
Zhao Yu's smile was brief but genuine. "That's what I'm for. Whatever else changes, that won't."
They sat together on the rooftop as the sun descended, watching the city transform from day to night. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new obligations, new complications in a web of politics and power that grew more tangled with each passing month.
But tonight, Wang Ben allowed himself a moment of peace.
The first storm had been survival. The second had been political. The third was coming, but not yet.
For now, this was enough.
END OF CHAPTER 94