174 Chapter 172 - The Cult of the Dark Weaver

"Ever since we came to Lantern City, you've been welcoming and helpful," Ao Wen said carefully. "If I can help you, I'd be happy to. Taking on a new cultivation manual, however, is no small ask," she added, making a considerable understatement. Depending on how far off the manual was from her current methods, it could be difficult to impossible to take on. For human cultivators, it was much easier to study other manuals since they didn't have to ensure that the new manual was compatible with their bloodlines. For Spirit Folk like Ao Wen and Ma Xiaohua, if the manual in question wasn't compatible with them, they'd either have to work to align their bloodlines with the manual or risk the kind of injuries that Chou Chai had suffered.

"We don't know each other well," Ao Wen said, wanting to learn more about this manual and its requirements. "I don't mind telling you though that my bloodlines are potent. Since awakening, my Earth Dragon bloodline has become increasingly dominant over my lesser Vermillion Bird bloodline. How compatible will this manual be with my bloodlines?"

Ma Xiaohua's eye opened wide in amazement. "A True Dragon bloodline? No wonder you're so exceptional. I feel every time I learn more about you that I'm less worthy to be in your company," she said, trying to process Ao Wen's casual revelation. "In terms of bloodline compatibility, there's no issue with this manual. You," she hesitated. "You already possess the qualifications to cultivate the manual."

"Manuals that can be cultivated by any bloodline are rare in this Mortal Realm," Ao Wen said, frowning. "What manner of qualification do I possess to cultivate this manual and how are you so certain that I have it?"

"Please, Lord Ao, please don't ask," Ma Xiaohua answered earnestly. These were the decisions she'd struggled with for several days. It wasn't about presenting the manual and making the request. She knew that she had no choice in that. What she feared more than anything was that the brightest flame she'd ever seen in this dark place would come to hate her for what she'd done, and that he would hate her more for dragging him into this darkness. "There are some things I should not speak of lest I provoke anger I cannot endure. The person who gave me this task, he believes that you have the aura of someone who could cultivate this manual. Please don't ask for more than that." 

"Xiaohua," Ao Wen said, shocking the older alchemist by using her given name. "Do you need protection from this person? Have they hurt you?"

"You cannot protect me from him," Ma Xiaohua said bitterly. "But, if you can succeed where I failed, he will return the sight he stole from my eye. He may even release me entirely once he has no more use for me."

"He did this to you?" Ao Wen said, reaching out gently and touching the older woman's eyepatch. "Why would he do something like this to you?"

"Because there is a price for failure," Ma Xiaohua said. "And because he wanted to ensure my… compliance. Please, I know you're strong and that your companions are all strong but you cannot stand against him. Even the Lord Mayor cannot stand against his strength. It's better to move as he wishes. While he may be cruel in his methods, he has always kept his promises. If you can cure his love, he will reward you and he will restore my sight."

"And if I fail, will he blind me too?" Ao Wen asked more sharply than she intended. "What happens if I cannot cultivate this manual?"

"I, I brought the manual with me," the older alchemist said quickly. "Here, you're safe. I wanted you to see it and decide. If you say no, I'll tell him that you can't cultivate the manual. That you weren't actually qualified to practice it. He won't punish you for that. You don't need to concern yourself about it any further after that." 

"Xiaohua," Ao Wen said gently, reaching out to cup the other woman's cheek. "You're not telling me enough to make good decisions. I need to know what the qualifications are to use the manual. I need to know why you think I could. What is this manual and what's affecting this man's lover? Please, you can trust me," she said, hoping the other woman would believe her. "I won't blame you for anything you say, just tell me. We can figure out what to do once I understand the complete picture." 

"Okay," Ma Xiaohua said after thinking about it for several moments. "I'll tell you everything I know. I hope, at the end, you still trust me. Believe me, I don't want to do anything that would bring you harm," she promised.

"I understand," Ao Wen reassured her. "Start where you think is best. I'll listen and then I'll ask questions."

"The person I, I serve, he's called Lord White the Ghost Hand," Ma Xiaohua began. "I've never heard his actual name and I have no desire to. His men are known as the Severed Shadows and there is little that happens in Lantern City that he doesn't know about or have some involvement in. The Arena is his most well known enterprise but he has many other interests across the city and beyond. His lover was known as the Dark Hound, he was one of Lord White's most trusted men for decades."

"The way you speak, these sound like the kind of folks that the Lord Mayor would put in cages for the Vulture King," Ao Wen observed. "Yet he still walks free?" 

"Lord White has his own arrangement with the Vulture King," the older alchemist said. "His arrangement is older than the Lord Mayor's. The Vulture King demanded a price of Lord White long ago. The eradication of the Cult of the Dark Weaver. They were twisted Mystics and Scholars who venerated the Dark Weaver Matriarch and since her death, worked to bring about the birth of a new matriarch."

"That sounds horrifying," Ao Wen said, trying to imagine anyone who could worship the sort of beast she and her companions had just fought against. On the other hand, given the beast's power and ability to attack the soul itself, perhaps it wasn't so estranged that some people would attempt to harness power from it. "I assume that Lord White succeeded?"

"For the most part, yes," Ma Xiaohua acknowledged. "That is, he thought so. A junior disciple escaped with the cult's manuals and relics. Years later, the disciple returned to claim revenge against Lord White for the eradication of their cult. He inflicted a wicked wound on the Dark Hound and claimed that only he could remove the toxic curse he'd inflicted on the man. He wanted to extract some price from Lord White in exchange for allowing his lover to awaken from the curse. Lord White killed him before realizing that the man was a remnant of the cult and that the only way to remove the curse was with one of the cult's own arts."

"And now he's looking for someone who can learn those arts to release his lover," Ao Wen said. "And he's willing to be ruthless to obtain such a person. How long have you suffered under his hand Xiaohua?"

"Two years now," Ma Xiaohua said. "Please, you mustn't go against Lord White. I'm already trapped, if you fight him over me, it will just land you in a cell next to mine. If you can do this thing then it's good, but if you can't, you should just take your companions and leave Lantern City. I'll tell him that you couldn't do it and that will be an end to it." 

"No," Ao Wen said, shaking her head. "It won't be an end to it because you'll still be trapped and suffering. That's no way for things to end. Let me see the manual," Ao Wen said, stretching out her hand. "I'll study it while you get some rest. Once I've seen what the manual holds and you've had a good rest and a warm meal, we can talk about what comes next." 

"Thank you," Ma Xiaohua said, slumping in relief. "This kindness, I'll never forget."