Meng Maris stopped in front of them, looking rather weary, and sat down at their table. She wasn't wearing anything particularly fancy: Just a long pink dress with a cardigan over the top. A katana sheath hung at her waist. It was an unusual combination for a young girl. Unsurprisingly, her outfit was designed not to restrict her abilities. Rumours claimed that she was extraordinarily lazy.
"So the Meng family sent you as the new representative of the Yellow City."
"Only until the State Elections. Apparently, I've been annoying my grandfather a bit too much lately. I was actually looking forward to seeing my distant cousin Ulam. After all, there isn't much information about him in the clan."
Kasuur was now thoroughly confused. Was this woman a famous member of the Meng family? She was beautiful, but didn't resemble Ulam at all. How could they be related? Still, he knew Mais recognised or had at least heard of her.
"Who did you say you were?"
"I'm not going to introduce myself again."
Kasuur grumbled unhappily. While Mais asked the waiter for fried potatoes, Kasuur made gestures to Mais. He forgot that Mais was blind.
"Mais?"
Finally, he remembered and called out to Mais. Mais just sighed. He hadn't expected this young girl to just sit down at their table. Or for her to come to the city at all.
"Meng Maris could be considered an anomaly in the Meng family. There are many rumours about her. It's not that strange to hear those rumours in the Yellow City. Valeria really likes her story."
Maris's fried potatoes arrived astonishingly quickly. The young girl began eating them with a remarkably nonchalant attitude. It was as if Mais weren't even talking about her.
Kasuur was disturbed by this. It was unsettling enough that this young girl had suddenly come to their table and introduced herself, but her acting as if nothing had happened was even worse. Sitting across from her were the Young Sage of the Yellow City — or rather, the Sages themselves. How could she be so indifferent?
Maris herself undeniably looked quite young. She was probably not even twenty, and reaching the realm of the Sages at that age demonstrated just how high her status was.
'Still. The Meng family sent her here.'
Kasuur was well aware that these lands were considered quite barren. This had been whispered into his ears countless times.
"What kind of story could make her so arrogant?"
Meng Maris turned her head, lifted her chin, and shot Kasuur a contemptuous look. Though Kasuur clenched his teeth at the sight, he didn't want to cause trouble in front of Mais. Besides, conflicts among the Sages were causing too much harm to the city, and Kasuur understood this better than anyone. He was far more devoted to the city than the other Sages.
To this city and its people. Kasuur valued them. The Jade Pavilion was a pleasant place to dine. He didn't want to destroy it.
Besides, he knew that harming someone from the Meng family would cause him trouble. How much time had passed since Pima's arrival?
"A rare talent and the granddaughter of Meng Liao. Rumours speak of her possessing a special physique, but who can confirm that? She was a bastard who was personally named 'Meng' by the King. Even though she is now recognised as a legitimate child, she is still being sent to this remote, isolated region."
At that moment, a rare look of unease flashed across Meng Maris's face. She turned her head and glared coldly at Mais. Mais didn't even bat an eyelid, but Kasuur found this young girl's attitude amusing. He suddenly laughed.
"Does hearing you're a bastard bother you that much? Then you shouldn't have been born at all."
This time, Kasuur lifted his chin and looked at Maris with the same contemptuous gaze. Maris did not take it well. An unsettling aura began to emanate from her, and it was as if the light around her was reflecting. Kasuur could still see everything clearly, which made him think it was a technique. At the same time, his own sharp aura began to rise. He might respect people and care about their lives, but that didn't mean he was willing to be bullied.
"Kasuur, stop this."
Kasuur growled at the sound of Mais's voice. However, he didn't unleash any more of his aura. Maris scowled slightly, too, but when she noticed the air beginning to grow cold, she turned back to the child beside her. Mais was still sitting in his chair, but a dangerous aura was emanating from him. He was threatening Maris.
"You should sit down too, Ms Meng."
There was a moment's hesitation. Faced with this unexpected level of power, Maris was clearly affected. Still, she didn't let it show. So, grumbling, she sat down in her place. If her mother hadn't insisted that this was an opportunity, she wouldn't have paid these people any attention at all.
However, considering the age and power of this pair, her mother was right.
Actually, she hadn't been sent here because she had upset her grandfather. Meng Yiren had pleaded with her grandfather to send Meng Maris here temporarily until the State Elections, to fill the vacancy left by Sufkro Meng. This meant that, when the State Elections came around, Meng Maris wouldn't have to compete in the capital, and she would also gain influence and experience outside the capital. A year had passed since she had become a legal heir, yet she was still regarded as a bastard by many.
Yet now, Meng Maris had taken her place in the line of succession. Even if not at the forefront.
"It was an honor to meet you… Let's meet another time, if you'll excuse me.
And so, under Kasuur's piercing gaze, Meng Maris walked away. Even though Kasuur hadn't been the least bit gentle with the girl, he still felt angry.
"Why did you take her so seriously?! Even if she's a sage, I doubt she could stand up to us," he shared his frustration.
Yet Mais didn't share those thoughts. He leaned back thoughtfully in his chair and rested his hand on his chin.
"An uncommon Physique. Patriarch Meng's decision isn't all that surprising."
At that moment, Kasuur continued to look at Mais with a frown. He wasn't sure he understood what Mais meant.
"What do you mean?"
"The King made her a legitimate child—do you think that was just a random decision tied solely to the King? No, I don't think something like that could happen without the Patriarch of the Meng Clan's permission. Even the King can't interfere in the internal affairs of these clans arbitrarily, and besides, the Meng Clan and the Virgo Dynasty have a very close bond."
After all, Meng Lifen is the Noble Prince's mother.
Which makes her Meng Maris's aunt.
Kasuur continued to frown, but adjusted his posture to listen to Mais. Since the Meng Family held a significant position in the Yellow City, and thanks to an old acquaintance he'd met while in Jadeweb, he was quite knowledgeable about the current branch of the Meng Family. The legitimate child, Meng Maris, the exiled son, Sufkro Meng, and Meng Lifen, who had married the king.
"Meng Zhuo, the Patriarch of the Meng Clan, is one of the high-ranking patriarchs among the nine clans. He has lived for a thousand years and has been the patriarch of the Meng Clan for a long time. As his heir, he originally had four sons, but none of them — except for one — showed the potential to enter the Meridian Realm. This has led to succession issues within the family."
"Although the eldest son is 800 years old and has long since ascended, if he does not become a Transcendent within the next 200 years, he will never become Patriarch. After all, in order for him to become patriarch, either his father must die or he must ascend to the position of Ancestor. To be honest, I don't think Meng Zhuo will become an Ancestor. He lacks the capacity to reach beyond the Meridian Realm, and, at this rate, he will spend the remaining 500 years of his life as patriarch. If the first son, Meng Bao, can reach the Meridian Realm, he could serve as patriarch for 200 years after his father's death. Still, no one thinks there's much hope for him."
At this point, Kasuur became suspicious of the turmoil within the Meng family.
"In that case, wouldn't Meng Liao become the clan leader? Isn't he the second son?"
Mais sighed bitterly. Kasuur was overlooking a crucial point.
"Meng Liao is already 700 years old and has only reached the Origin Heart Realm. For him to ascend and survive within 50 years would be a miracle. Besides, it's not his turn anyway. Meng Bao has children who aren't that old yet. Therefore, when Meng Zhuo dies, they should still be alive. One of them has already reached the Ascension Realm, so the likelihood of the patriarchal succession falling to Meng Liao's lineage is quite low with his presence. However, given that Meng Maris's situation is unique and she is very talented, Meng Zhuo is preparing her for the future. Perhaps a marriage between distant cousins could be an option for her. The fact that Meng Zhuo is thinking about her makes her valuable."
"How do you know all this?" Kasuur asked. Mais laughed but didn't answer. How could he tell him?
How could he tell him that it was Meng Bao's youngest son who had explained all this to him?