Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

“You are not allowed any help,” the patriarch said. “You will take this trial with other White Tigers, but you will go through it alone, all by yourself.”

Pearl nodded slowly. “What if I were to gain help from someone not a White Tiger?” he asked. “Is that then allowed?”

“A human?” the patriarch roared. “Why would a human ever help a White Tiger in a trial?”

“Because he’s my brother,” Pearl said. “He will help me.”

“Brother?” The patriarch looked down with a confused expression.

Bai Jingshen sighed. “Patriarch, this might be as good a time as any to tell you something that we’ve been keeping from you,” he said. “You’ll find out about it soon enough anyway, so it’s better if you learn it from us.”

The patriarch was even more confused now. “What is this, Jingshen? What are you talking about?”

Bai Jingshen had wanted to find the right time to reveal this fact, but he realized there would perhaps never be a more opportune moment. So, he came outright and said it.

“Pearl has bonded to a human since he was a newborn kitten.”

“Bonded?” the patriarch asked in an inquisitive voice, before his eyes slowly widened, his nostrils flaring as understanding dawned on him.

“BONDED?!”

His words spread through the room like countless explosions, the walls of the room shaking from the voice.

Pearl felt his own eardrum ready to tear from the sound, the words enough to reveal the gap between him and the White Tiger before him.

“What is this, Jingshen? Why have you not told me of this before?” the patriarch asked in a furious tone.

Bai Jingshen wanted to say that it was exactly because he feared the present situation from happening, but he wisely chose not to say that.

“I didn’t say it because in the end I do not believe that fact had any bearing on anything else we’ve discussed today, patriarch. Him having a bond with a human does not detract from the fact that my great-grandson does in fact have the bloodline of the King, and thus has an absolute right to the seat of the patriarch, just the same as me.”

Pearl’s fear faded slightly when he realized what Bai Jingshen was saying.

He had the right to become the patriarch?

“You know that much, and you do not understand why I’m angry?” the patriarch asked. “Do you want the future patriarch of the White Tiger to be bonded to a mere human? Imagine the face we will lose among the other clans.”

“I understand your fears, patriarch. I—”

“You understand nothing,” the patriarch roared. “Where is this human? Bring him to me right now. I will close this bond right away.”

“No!” Pearl said quickly. “He is my brother, patriarch. I will not end my bond with my brother. He is my family.”

“We are your family,” the patriarch said before turning to Bai Jingshen. “Jingshen, bring this human to me right now!”

“Patriarch, please calm down,” Bai Jingshen said, attempting to calm the old tiger. “Things are not as dire as they seem. Yes, Pearl is bonded to a human, but it is not just any human. He is away at the moment, so I cannot fulfill your wishes even if you wish me to. But once he is back, you will see why I have let him keep the bond.”

“If you trust nothing, trust in my judgment. If you do not, then you should no longer consider me as your successor either. For if I cannot make a proper judgment on a matter as simple as this, I do not deserve to be the next patriarch of the White Tigers.”

The old tiger’s breathing had grown ragged over the past few seconds, but with Bai Jingshen’s words, it slowly came back to normal. His flared nostrils narrowed again and his eyes stopped looking so threatening.

He took a few more breaths.

“What makes this human so good that he is allowed to remain bonded after all these years?” the patriarch asked. “I will need to hear something convincing if you do not wish me to pursue this matter even more.”

Bai Jingshen quietly sighed in relief. “I will be happy to answer that question, patriarch, but you’ll have to wait for the young human to return. He is currently away with his master, the Sword God, who finished her tribulations no more than a day ago.”

The patriarch’s eyes narrowed further. “His master is the Sword God?” he asked.

“Yes,” Bai Jingshen said. “But that has nothing to do with my decision to let Pearl stay bonded to him. There are more, but I cannot tell you those reasons until I present the boy to you. It will be much easier that way, so you will have to wait a week or two.”

The patriarch looked away for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

“Your bloodline strength gives you leeways that I do not give many of my own children, Jingshen. I value you too much, so I will give you this chance. Prepare your arguments for why this bond deserves to stay. When this young human returns, I will have you present them to me.”

“I will do as you ask, patriarch,” Bai Jingshen said. “The moment he returns, I will bring him to you.”

The patriarch nodded. “I will remain outside of cultivation for a few decades more. Young Shouchuang, prepare yourself to take part in the trial during these years. I would rather be awake when you go through these trials, so do not waste your precious time.”

“What about the Azure Dragon clan, patriarch?” Bai Jingshen asked. “When do we visit there?”

“That depends on what message I get when Fulin returns,” the patriarch said. “I will let you know once I am told more information.”

Bai Jingshen nodded. “Thank you, patriarch.”

“You may leave now,” the patriarch said. “I have nothing more to talk about with the two of you. Go make your preparations, for you will be busy in the future.”