It was obvious to everyone at the table what sort of game she was playing.

  It was also, unfortunately, reasonable. In a certain, stretched sort of way, but Mingtian could see the logic that led to it— to take a small blow in the moment for the chance at great treasure in the future. She managed to make it sound so logical… as though she wasn’t speaking of screwing over Lily and Avyr both in the same breath.

  “This is a mistake.” He doubted Lexi cared overmuch about Avyr, but given how upset she looked— the way she ground out her sentence, furiously— she clearly disliked something about the plan. “You don’t hold this sort of power as councillor. The precincts haven’t worked like sects for over a hundred years and two great wars, and you’re not going to manage to reverse that.”

  “Of course, of course— I’m not going to unilaterally decide this. I’m simply laying out the course of action here. It’s up to Yuxan to decide how to run his school, of course.” She turned to him, expectantly, followed by Lexi and him.

  The poor man pulled back a little under the sheer pressure of all their gazes, paling even more than he already had. Then, he breathed in deeply, and folded his hands together, and composed himself. “I think,” slowly, speaking— “we can come to a compromise.” Nobody looked pleased at that, except for Yuxan, who was obviously fighting to tamp down a grin.

  Well, that was what she got for giving the man all the cards. Guxi gave him an annoyed glare, her spiritual pressure redoubling— only to be pushed off by an effort of will on the part of Yuxan. Obviously he wouldn’t be able to do that forever, not against a higher-realm cultivator if she was trying to crush him, but that wasn’t the point— they weren’t fighting, and she wasn’t trying to crush him. Sure, it was the sort of incredibly tired political move that could only really happen between young cultivators drunk off power they didn’t understand, but it was a political move. Yuxan defied his overlord, and in this small case— Councillor Guxi was forced to back down.

  It was pretty satisfying actually, if only he didn’t have an idea of what was coming next. “I want what’s best for the academy, and I’m not convinced that either of these two options constitute that.”

  Guxi all but growled. “What do you want? More funding?”

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Really?” Yuxan laughed. “That was a joke. All of us know that you’ve earmarked your discretionary funding for the ‘Young Master.’ No, I want something that money can’t buy. Or— at least not easily.” He turned to Mingtian. “Teach formations at the academy, and I’ll let the cat attend.”

  His expression instantly soured. “Absolutely not.”

  “Well, then.” He shrugged. “I guess there’s nothing to it. I’ll have to follow our esteemed councillor’s recommendation.”

  “Wait—” they turned back to him, and he bit down the roiling anger within him. Mortal. He was supposed to be mortal. “I can teach something else. I’m a mathematical expert, and have some knowledge in qi theory.”

  “I don’t need mathematics— we already have teachers for math. No, I need something the school wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else— and that’s formations.”

  “Are you trying to poach him from the library? You know that I won’t allow that.” Was Lexi trying to defend him? It was almost admirable, for how pointless Mingtian knew it was going to be.

  Yuxan waved a hand. “Of course, I’m not going to just take him from a job he clearly enjoys— two days a week should suffice.”

  “One,” he instantly shot back—

  Only for Yuxan to smile smugly. “If you’re willing to teach, I’ll take one day a week. But only if you’re willing. Of course, I could always follow the councillor’s plan…” and, Mingtian pushed down the boiling hint of rage, the touch of his domain that cast the sunlight around them extra-lurid, that bid him to strike them down— and breathed in. Mortal. He reminded himself again— he was mortal. His self-as-the Immortal Sovereign of Boundless Radiance was above all this. As far removed from the situation as the Celestial Realm itself.

  And— if the question was to teach a class on introductory formations, or to let Guxi win… no. That wasn’t what was important. The true crux of the matter is— to teach or not a class on basic formations, for Avyr’s sake? For Lily’s?

  The answer was obvious.

  He nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  Lexi slumped, just a little. Yuxan looked smug. And Guxi… the Councillor Qin Guxi, sole second step cultivator in the entire precinct, looked furious. “You’ll regret this.” Then, with one last shove of spiritual pressure that smashed him against the floor, she stormed out of the room— but the decision was done. The matter was settled.

  It was what it was, and Mingtian didn’t know if he’d made the right choice.

  If you enjoyed this story, consider supporting me on! Patreons get access to 3 chapters for every 2 published on royal road.

  Discord.