Path of the Berserker

Path of the Berserker 5 - Chapter 36

This had to be some kind of freaking joke.I glanced over at my companions and all of them had the same bemused expressions of shock and incomprehension as I did. The Fire Birds were a persistent bunch, I’d give them that, but this guy in particular had an axe to grind.

Five months’ worth of axe grinding to be exact.

“What did you do?” Ling Wei whispered to me nervously.

“It’s what he didn’t do,” Zin Tai said from behind. “I told you to pay your respects, Iron Bull. You should not be surprised by this result.”

I glared at Zin Tai and wondered if he didn’t have some hand in all of this.

“I’ve got bigger things to worry about than this dumb shit,” I said.

“You want us to take care of them boss?” Mal’Kira said, reaching for her glaive.

“?” Tu’lok balked. “What the hell are you talking about? That’s an army of cultivators out there.”

“And Max is strong enough to beat all of them. So what?”

“That may be true,” Ling Wei said. “But is it wise?”

I sighed in frustration. Just when I had a clear path to get shit done, these clowns decide to show up. “Like I said. I ain’t got time for this. I need to see the empress to punch my ticket for Dokumu or whatever that place is called.”

“Then I suggest you play your cards right here, Iron Bull,” Zin Tai said. “Although the martial sects hold no official political power, their roots touch every facit of Yee society. It is the clans which predate the dynasties, after all. Run afoul of them and you may find yourself cut off in any manner of ways.”

I glared at Zin Tai once again. “What the hell are you? The karma police?”

He furrowed his brow at the English words, but I wasn’t about to explain it to him.

“I’ll give you one more warning, Max Chun,” Pak Song shouted. “I’ll have no problem bringing the Patriarchs back a stubborn corpse if you so wish.”

via a skiff, Master Zin Tai?”

“That we would,” Zin Tai confirmed.

“So there is no rush,” Ling Wei say. “Just go pay your respects and get it over with.”

I sighed, frustrated. I wasn’t liking being pushed down a path like this, but it wasn’t looking hopeful to break free.

“I’ll promise you this,” Ling Wei said. “As soon as I arrange things, I’ll come rescue you from the clan. Okay?”

“And I will accompany you there,” Zin Tai said. “To ensure things don’t go awry.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you will,” I muttered. “Was this your game plan all along?”

He feigned innocence. “Why, I’m just as curious as everyone else to see the depths of your powers, is all. Most interested to see the full extent of that core of yours.”

A new kind of suddenly creeped me out.

But it didn’t look like I was getting out of this any other way now.

“Fine,” I said. “Just don’t take too long please, Ling Wei.”

She bowed to me. “You have my word.”

I walked back to Wing Lang and gave him a bow as well. “Alright, grand patriarch. I’ll come with you for a demonstration.”

“It’s ‘your eminence’,” he corrected. “But I imagine there are a great many things you do not know of clan protocol and decorum. But all can be fixed. Come now. I shall arrange a full assembly in your honor. It is not often one of us obtains a ranking such as Imperial Marshal.”

Inwardly, I cringed even more.

The last thing I needed was the attention of more Fire Birds.

“Come Pak Song,” he said. “Let us prepare the Iron Bull for his grand introduction to the Greater Fire Bird clan.”