Late third month. Liang Residence pavilion.
[Drowning Karma dissipating] [Drowning Karma accumulation: 39] “One point dispersed every three days.”
Liang Qu connected with the Marsh Cauldron, keeping a silent mental note. Bai Xingwen had taken the bait. It was like a neatly woven wool garment now showing a loose thread.
The situation in Hantai Prefecture had been cracked open. There was naturally no need to keep accumulating Drowning Karma… Splash. The sound of water pulled his thoughts back.
Tattakai draped a damp towel over the bronze kettle’s handle, pouring tea for everyone one by one. Long Binglin, Long E'ying, Long Yanrui, and even the whole host of water beasts had all gathered in the courtyard. The golden-furred tiger shifted his rump, his sharp claws delicately pinching a tiny teacup.
The Little Mirage Dragon saw this and spat mist, forming a three-chi-wide mug. Tattakai thought for a moment, grabbed a huge handful of tea leaves, and dumped the entire kettle of water into it. Liang Qu sat facing south, seeking counsel from his gathered experts.
“Given how things have developed, that brat’s come knocking right into our hands. What sort of pretext should we look for?”
Long Yanrui pondered briefly, then straightened up.
“As the elder said, the old tribe leader’s grandson. We do need a pretext and evidence to leave behind. We might as well…”