Jin stared at Kraft for a moment to see if he was joking about it, but there were no signs of him letting it off as just another one of his pranks or illusions.
“Well, don’t get me wrong, he will be loyal to you. His oath guarantees it. There is no way that he will break that oath unless he wants to suffer the Heavenly Five Elements Tribulation.” Kraft said as he backed up Hou Fei’s credibility to Jin.
“What? Heavenly Five Elements Tribulation? That thing is also real? … well, that should probably not surprise me anymore.” Jin scoffed at it when he was younger, thinking it was just some made up stuff in the past to promote honour and loyalty in the folklore. When someone betrayed their clan, the person breaking the oath would immediately be subjected to the Heavenly Five Elements Tribulation on the spot judged by the Heavens themselves.
If their ‘betrayal’ was just, all they had to do was to bear with the pain of Earthly veins seeping into their body, Fire burning their lungs, Water filling their stomach, Lightning electrocuting their brains and Metal rotting their skin. If the person could bear with the pain, which the majority obviously was unable to, they would not be chased after by their clan members because they had passed the trials by the Heavens.
Should other clan members still feel dissatisfied and decide to attack the member who betrayed the clan, they’d have to undergo the same tribulation trial by the heavens in order to be allowed to chase after them. If one thought carefully, this was an apparent loophole to be exploited, but that was how the law of natures was made by the forefathers of cultivations. Some even believed that the forefathers placed such a loophole on purpose, so unusual cases like people seeking justice could still be reprised by it. However, the tribulation itself was sufficient to cause enough deterrent against most people from switching their clans like changing sweaters.
“Sorry, I still don’t get it. If what Kraft said is true and you are Royal Zodiac Snake…then how can you be a Panda Clan Remnant?” Jin was slightly confused. Maybe the fatigue and a full stomach was setting in so that he could not think well enough.
“The clan had been decimated and scattered all around the place. I am honestly not surprised if the Remnants mixed in with other clans to increase their numbers. After all, there was no way to differentiate someone as a Panda, unless they were one of the prominent direct descendants and you can guess that nobody would admit to being from a family which was to be executed. Even I gotta admit it must have been painful to hide right under the noses of our enemies, and executioners. Hoping one day the clan will rise up again.” Kraft was the one to provide the answer and Hou Fei nodded his head.
“I could technically be counted as being one of the direct descendants of the Snakes. At least my mother was one of the children of the Snake Lord at the time. However she was the 6th daughter, therefore her value to the family was not too big. When my father got engaged with her she got assigned some attendants to create another sub family. That was how I was born. All this while, I thought that I was a true Royal Zodiac Snake member until Ming and Kraf-“
“Let’s not use such a flowery language. I was frustrated, that I got caged in, and got a perfect chance to let some steam off. At the same time, I found out the secret, which even he was unaware off. Ming became like the mediator once he found out his true lineage leading to the Panda Clan. Hahaha!” Kraft laughed heartily as he interrupted Hou Fei’s explanation and remembered the days he tortured Hou Fei.
“Sigh, if not for Kraft’s…deliberate bullying, I may not have found out about my proper lineage and that I partially came from the Pandas and not just the Snakes.” Hou Fei replied with a bitter smile.
“Then why do you still choose to be part of the Panda Clan? As compared to a member of the Royal Zodiac Snakes? I mean, you even if you are ‘only’ considered part of the sub families. That is more or less the best position to be… Ooooh. No wonder you wanted me to go for the peaceful solution.” Jin was really curious about Hou Fei’s decision to be a Panda Clan Remnant until he seemingly figured out Hou Fei’s goal since the beginning of the conversation.
“Yea. Me being part of the Royal Zodiac Snake Clan was one of the reasons why I proposed you grow in the Dungeon City Fortress instead. But don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the main reason at all. Sure, I am not exactly abandoning my identity of being a Royal Zodiac Snake yet my lineage allows me to serve two clans at once. However, with my standing, I am not allowed to hold any true position of power for the Snakes. The rest of my Royal Zodiac Snake Clan family obviously does not know about my half lineage. Even my wife has no clue about it. However, fortunately, the clan has no rule which makes its members admit to their allegiance unless they have been granted an official seat of power of course.” Hou Fei explained.
“That is why I can still do whatever I like until now and they assume I am doing it all for the sake of the Royal Zodiac Snake.” Hou Fei felt a little proud saying it out loud.
“Wait…so you want to be part of the Panda Clan Remnant… because you can be a double agent?” Jin sounded confused with Hou Fei’s rationale.
“That is the wish, if not the unsaid goal of every Royal Zodiac Snake Clan member. We learn the art of deception and assassination since we are young, yet most of us do not get a chance to practice it truly in real life. Many still use it for office politics to backstab some people and rise through the ranks. But that could only be considered as child’s play.” Hou Fei laughed as he said that.
“Well, I suppose some people might really be double agents for our country overseas, though generally sub families do not get such privileges. Besides, they all think that my father was just some minor cultivator that was adamant about practicing a Panda cultivation. No one seemed to suspect that the cultivation he practised was the long lost one and that included me.” Hou Fei added, but he could see Kraft’s eyes gleaming at him with excitement as if he was ready to pounce to claim the credit for allowing him to see the ‘light’.
“Okay, I guess I can trust you for now.” Jin told him, though he felt that there was a more significant underlying reason why he decided to side with the Panda Clan as a Remnant until Kraft pricked his bubble of curiosity.
“His father was domestically abused by the Royal Zodiac Snake Clan. His childhood memories showed that he himself was also bullied. However, most of that was the usual stuff between the younger generation. His treatment overall had been better since his mother was of pure blood. Nevertheless from what I learned Hou Feng could never forgive them for ultimately treating him as a toy to play with. From what Ming told me after Hou Fei found out that he was part of the lost Royal Panda Clan he started to have doubts that maybe the Snakes had suspected his father’s true lineage after all this time. Unless he succeeded even today, he should be trying to collect evidence and proof to avenge the injustice towards his father. But judging from how he is now with the lack of activity in the Panda Clan since Ming was excommunicated PLUS the time reversal… I am not entirely sure how he is coping with the whole situation.” Kraft explained in Jin’s head.
“Don’t you always intervene and casually look into other people’s heads? Why not do it for Hou Fei? Isn’t that your expertise?” Jin asked quietly as he made small talk with Hou Fei at the side.
“Have you forgotten what the Snakes execl at? My prefered working methods are not exactly used on the sly. No matter what, he is ultimately a Royal Zodiac Snake Clan member. If I ever try to casually break into him, he would definitely know about it and that would only serve to create mistrust between you and him. Why lose a potential ally right at the beginning? There is currently no reason to do so at the moment. Besides it’s way more fun to see if he ever betrays you or serves you with utmost loyalty just as how he did for Ming.” Kraft stated while giving Jin a look as if that much should have been obvious.
“I see, then I shall take your words into consideration and put my trust into him.” Jin pondered for a moment even though he was not showing it which earned him some rather rare praise from Kraft himself.
“You are improving at the use of separating the thoughts of your subconscious and the actions of your consciousness. Keep it up. The Astral Phantom might be within reach of a year if you continue to do this.” Kraft patted Jin’s back as he disappeared once again.
“Oh my god. How did Kraft survive from the encounter with Ming?” Hou Fei released a breath of relief.
“You knew about what happened that caused the System to create the time reversal?” Jin asked with anticipation.
“The System did not tell you about it? Ming when he was alive never said anything to you?” Hou Fei asked with some disbelief. Jin shook his head casually and pretended not to care too much, but his heart desired for that information.
“Then…I will not tell you, too. Perhaps, it’s not the time for you to know. Besides, it is not as important as the future.” Hou Fei discussed a few more things with Jin before they both returned to their respective homes to prepare for the next day.
