Author note: I know I said 2 this week, but apparently leaving work for a week means twice as much work next week. Only one this week, but definitely two next week. Kind of sad we didn't get much of Fang Yuehai's reaction to Sun Qing, so I went back a ways and start things from her POV. I try to recap what is said while skipping the unimportant parts since it's been a while since last chapter.

~~~

Fang Yuehai hadn't noticed the change in Sun Jiao after Sun Qing appeared behind him and spoke up. When Sun Qing appeared how could anyone notice anything but her? Fang Yuehai compared herself to the young woman and found herself lacking.

'No wonder my name isn't known here with this monster running around!' she thought while focusing on Sun Qing's eyes that seemed vaguely familiar.

Lost in thought Fang Yuehai only snapped back to attention when Sun Qing focused on her.

"...Ro-ro you’re not wearing your collar! Bad girl!”

Fang Yuehai head went blank as she tried to figure out who or what ro-ro was and what they had been talking about.

“No. Xu...err Ro-ro died. This is Fang Yuehai. She’s staying with us for a while.”

Worried how to reply Sun Jiao's words were like a log in the middle of a river that Fang Yuehai clung to. From there she began to think of a reply to join into the conversation, but Sun Qing's words threw her back into the river.

“Brother you killed her?” Sun Qing said so naturally as if it was only expected.

This caused Fang Yuahai to forget what she was going to say. She had seen how Sun Jiao treated the girl in the grave and it didn't connect at all to his sister's impression of him. This caused an air of intrigue to surround Sun Jiao, but before she could turn her attention to him she was again snapped back to the situation.

Sun Qing released a pressure that not only caused her to step back, but also turned her pupils into tiny little dots from shock.

'Not just a monster beauty, but a monster talent!' she thought with a twinge of jealousy.

This time however she didn't lose track of the conversation and wasn't surprised when the head of Po came out. Instead she was actually curious about Sun Jiao's casual toss and it was only then that she noticed a subtle change Sun Jiao's attitude.

Before he was a frozen lake on a sunny day; cold and indifferent with just a hint of warmth. Now he it was as though the day had been replaced by a moonless night and all warmth was gone.

While thinking that she turned to see Sun Qing pulling Po's soul out.

Her brother, Fang Shi, had learned her Fang clan's Fist of the Emperor techniques and she herself had learned the softer Open Palm of the Emperor technique both of which emphasised attacking the soul rather than the body.

The skill at which Sun Qing manipulated Po's soul however was like heaven and earth compared to her Open Palm of the Emperor. If her Open Palm of the Emperor was like planting a flower then Sun Qing's skill could create a forest.

As Sun Qing clenched her fist to shatter Po's soul Fang Yuehai's skin went cold. While learning her clan's arts there would naturally be a backlash that would mildly damage the soul. Even this little bit of damage was inconceivably painful. It was such a shocking sight that Fang Yuehai had to forcibly hold back a cough that would have brought up blood.

Sun Jiao had not noticed any of Fang Yuehai's reactions as he was still focused on behaving in front of his sister. He could still remember the visions Xiaobo had shown him and having experienced Xiaobo's attack on his soul could easily imagine the pain Po was going through each cycle of breaking and reforming.

Forcing himself to look away he put on a forced smile which Sun Qing, having never seen her brother nervous, misinterpreted as amusement. Without that encouragement she may have quickly gotten bored of the torment and forgotten all about it, but instead it quickly became a delightful activity that would make her brother happy.

After a moment he remembered Sun Qing had asked him about killing the third prince. Xiaobo had been for killing him, but Sun Jiao didn't place that much of the blame on the child. After all he was only a 9 year old boy and had been running to his older brother for help.

Still he agreed with Xiaobo that Sun Jun was ultimately at fault and if let go would be like letting loose a baby tiger after giving it a taste of your blood. He was a bit nervous how his sister would react to showing mercy, but he still spoke with confidence.

"No. I've decided to bring them here as hostages."

Sun Qing's open and closing hand paused its motion and clenched tightly for a moment. Then counter to his expectations Sun Qing's lit up.

"Ah! Yes brother! Of course."

With a giggle she looked at her hand that started to open and close rapidly and then back to Sun Jiao as though she had understood something.

"Of course!"

Sun Jiao glad to have dodged a bullet failed to notice the implication, but it didn't pass by Fang Yuehai who silently thanked the heavens she wasn't the third prince. After this exchange, as though a bolt of lightning fell on her, Fang Yuehai suddenly understood a bit more about the rumours of Sun Jiao's cruelty and the two siblings relationship.

This sudden thought caused Fang Yuehai to burst into laughter which she tried to stifle by covering her mouth with her hands.

'This is too much! He's actually terrified of her and...hell I don't blame him I am too. Oh goddess I need to stop laughing, but...but... she thinks he enjoys it and he continues the act! Even if I die this is worth it! How long has this been going on? All their life? How did it start?' this flowed through Fang Yuehai's head causing her to laugh even more.

Sun Qing had forgotten all about Fang Yuehai so when the latter started to laugh her hair slowly turned red and her eyes narrowed.

Before she could cause a scene however Sun Jiao turned to leave and called out to her.

"Sister leave it and let's go."

Sun Qing had to pass Fang Yuehai to follow her brother and so she followed slowly. Unwilling to waste breath speaking to Fang Yuehai she instead viciously glared and released a thick killing intent.

This killing intent was enough to cause Fang Yuehai laughter to stifle.

Seeing that she had stopped laughing Sun Qing turned her head up and away with a "Hmph!" sound clearly showing her disdain.

The red hair turned back to it's natural deep blue, almost black color and she sped up in order to return to Sun Jiao's side.

"Coming brother!"

With Sun Qing leaving Fang Yuehai felt a large weight, which she hadn't noticed, leave her. Putting her arm to her forehead to wipe away the sweat she found that both her arm was just as sweaty. In fact, her whole body was covered in sweat. Having switched her travel leathers for a more comfortable gown this caused the gown to stick closely to her skin. Had the gown been white instead of a soft green it would have been seen through. Pulling the clothes from her body they peeled slowly away as if unwilling to leave her jade like skin.

She blushed slightly and then laughed at herself for the sudden change in mood, before quickly turning to make sure Sun Jiao hadn't returned after leaving.

Seeing that he wasn't there Fang Yuehai didn't know whether she was thankful or disappointed which caused her to think as she returned to her room to clean up.

~~~

Je Ya and Bao Bu were sworn brothers. The two had grown up together, trained together, and finally received a job in the capital together.

Now, together, they stood in front of a gate that lead into a palace.

The gate was decorative with gold like most gates past the golden wall. The mid morning sun shone down brightly on the gate, but it wasn't an unpleasant brightness nor was the temperature unbarable. Guarding the gate was considered a respectable job and the two were thankful for the pay, but still managed to voice displeasure.

"Man. Fuck this gate and this job." Je Ya spoke to his closest friend and guard partner.

"Huh?" Bao Bu was clearly confused as he thought the job was their dream job.

"Think about it. We stand here all day for what? Who the hell is going to attack this place? Why are we even standing here?"

"Someone could attack."

Je Ya shook his head before replying; "No way. They'd have to be incredibly stupid."

"Or incredibly strong." Bao Bu replied.

"That's even worse! Anyone weaker than us would never have the balls to attack. And anyone stronger than us would just approach us and kill us before we sound an alarm. This job is pointless and no matter what we die!"

"Aren't all gate jobs like that?"

Je Ya shook his head again. "No way. People say palace gate jobs are the best, but think about it. City gates are where it's at. Collect taxes, skim off the top, and hit on all the good looking women. Sure it's busy, pays less, and considered less respectable, but anything has to be better than this boredom."

"hmmm. Maybe you're right."

"Ya maybe I am."

Some time past as the two remained silent and thought about their jobs.

"What if someone comes with a message?" Bao Bu put forward.

"So we spent all that training to get to the peak of the First Layer to become glorified messengers? Shit you could train a dog to do our job. Messenger shows up? Dog fucking barks. Someone dangerous shows up? Dog fucking barks. We're nothing but barking dogs."

"hmmm. Maybe you're right."

"Ya maybe I am."

Again time pasts with the two in thought.

The first to speak up this time was Je Ya.

"I'd do it differently."

"Oh how so?"

"Simple. What's the Captain doing right now?"

"Cultivating, unless he's on a mission, but he's almost always cultivating during the day."

"Right, so take him, build a cultivation room next to the gate, and put have him cultivate in there. Then pay some formation expert to come put a formation on the gate so that if it's pressed a messenger is notified. If someone attacks the captain will be notified right away. He's the strongest here so he'd be able to deal with it or if he can't then he dies. He'd die either way though!"

Silent for a moment Bao Bu finally thinks of a mistake and speaks out.

"What if some weak idiot comes along and attacks?"

Je Ya thinks for a while before coming up with a solution.

"Just put a formation on the gate as well. Sure they might be expensive in the short term, but long term? Five? Ten years of our salary at most? Not only is it more efficient it saves money!"

"You're definitely right. Don't speak it too loudly though or we'll be out of a job!" Bao Bu said and the two shared a laugh together.

After another stretch of silence the two see two dots approaching in the distance. As the dots come closer the two recognize the figures and don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Shit."

"Yeah. Shit."

As the figures approach the two guards silently sweat.

With them still a distance away Bao Bu gave a small chuckle.

"What's so funny? Like I said before; we fight, they kill us. We run, they kill us. We run and get away, they kill us for deserting. Hmph. I guess that is kind of funny."

"I have a plan."

"You do! Great what is it?"

Bao Bu whispers the plan.

Je Ya shakes his head with a smile before asking; "Think it will work?"

"What choice do we have."

"You know what those two are like. You really think they'll-"

"What choice do-"

"Ya. ya. Fine."

Author Note: While rereading chapter 5 Sun Qing says: "This is the third one you've killed though. You should behave more like third sister she never kills them when they run into her first; only cripples them so that I can..." and mentions 3rd sister a few times which is completely incorrect as we know 3rd sister is a bit of a clutz. I've decided to not change that. As Bob Ross says "there are no mistakes. Only happy little accidents."

I'll write a side story or two soon to cover up this happy little accident.