"Whoa..." I breathed, swaying slightly. "Okay... that was... intense."
The Blackthorn Sect Leader grinned. "See? I told you. Now, you can call on this knowledge whenever you like. All you have to do is take another bite."
I looked at the goat, who was eyeing the box suspiciously. I was starting to feel like maybe the goat had eaten too many artifacts when I wasn't looking.
"Well, I guess this is what they meant by 'cultural exchange,'" I said, stuffing the box of snacks into my bag with as much dignity as I could muster. "So, can I go now? My goat's probably about to start an international incident."
As if on cue, the goat gave a loud, triumphant bleat. It then kicked over another vase—one of those ancient, ceremonial ones that probably cost as much as a small kingdom—and began gnawing on it.
I sighed. "Right. So, to wrap this up, what do I need to do to avoid any more mysterious negotiations?"
The Blackthorn Sect Leader gave me a long look, the glint in his eyes betraying a certain fondness for my absurdity. "You've already proven yourself in ways I never imagined, Long Fei Jian. Your reputation will precede you for years to come. You don't need to do anything, except perhaps... keep the goat away from important objects."
"Noted," I said dryly, watching as the goat—now chewing on some extremely expensive-looking scrolls—seemed to be marking its territory.
The Blackthorn Sect Leader's expression softened a little. "But before you leave, there is one more thing." He stepped forward, holding out a small, intricate scroll. "I believe this belongs to you."
I took the scroll with some trepidation. "What is it?"
He smiled mysteriously. "It's a letter of introduction to the Celestial Butterfly Sect. They're holding a gathering soon. Your... unconventional methods might be of great interest to them."
I blinked. "The Celestial Butterfly Sect? I thought they only cared about—"
"Demonology, yes. But they've recently become fascinated by cultural chaos," he interrupted. "Your goat, in particular, seems to have captured their attention."
I stared at the scroll in disbelief. "Wait, you're sending me to another sect with... this thing?" I gestured at the goat, who was now playing with a ceremonial sword like it was some kind of chew toy.
The Blackthorn Sect Leader chuckled. "You'll fit in perfectly. Don't worry, Long Fei Jian. The world is big enough for your... special talents."
I glanced down at the goat, who bleated again, clearly enjoying the attention. I had a feeling the Celestial Butterfly Sect would definitely be in for a surprise. And as for me?
Well, I was about to embark on another diplomatic disaster. Only this time, at least the goat would be there to back me up.
"You know," I said to the goat, "I think you might be the true mastermind behind all of this."
The goat blinked up at me, chewing on a fragment of scroll.
"Yep," I sighed. "Definitely the mastermind."
And with that, I left the Blackthorn Sect, the sacred scroll in hand and the goat at my side. The world, it seemed, had no idea what was about to hit it.
I stood at the gates of the Celestial Butterfly Sect, feeling a mix of nervous anticipation and existential dread. The massive, ornate doors swung open as I approached, revealing the sprawling courtyard beyond, filled with people in robes as delicate and ethereal as butterfly wings. I glanced down at the goat beside me, who was currently munching on a bouquet of flowers that, I swear, glowed.
"We're definitely going to make an impression here, aren't we?" I muttered, adjusting the scroll the Blackthorn Sect Leader had given me. The letters on the scroll shimmered slightly, as if it had a life of its own. I wasn't sure what was more dangerous—the letter or the goat.
As we stepped inside, the air felt lighter. Spiritual energy danced in the breeze like the flutter of wings, and everywhere I looked, there were people practicing graceful movements, their qi flowing as fluidly as water. It was as if the entire sect had been designed to embody the beauty and serenity of nature. I could already tell that this place was the polar opposite of the chaos I'd grown used to.
"Long Fei Jian, I presume?" a soft voice called, pulling me from my thoughts.
I turned to see a young woman standing before me, her robes rippling like gossamer, her hair adorned with delicate silver pins that glinted in the sunlight. She was smiling, but there was a calculating glint in her eyes. Behind her, several other sect members, all dressed in similar flowing garments, watched curiously.
"Yes," I said, giving a half-smile. "And this is... my companion."
I gestured to the goat, who had decided that it was the perfect time to try and headbutt a nearby stone statue. The statue, as you might imagine, was not as forgiving as the Champion had been.
The young woman's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the goat. It wasn't the most majestic of creatures. Not by a long shot. Its coat was scruffy, its horns a little uneven, and—most importantly—it had a look in its eyes that screamed I'm here to ruin your day.
"Your companion..." she began, her voice trailing off as the goat gave a snort, as if to emphasize just how much it did not care about the presence of the elegant sect members.
"Yep, that's him," I said cheerfully. "I call him 'Master Chaos.' He's great at disrupting the atmosphere."
The young woman blinked but then, to my surprise, smiled. "I see. I'm Liu Xin, and welcome to our sect. I must admit, you have... a unique reputation. Not many come here with such an impressive companion."
I opened my mouth to offer some kind of snarky reply, but at that exact moment, the goat took a running leap at one of the flower arrangements and sent it flying through the air, narrowly missing Liu Xin's head.
Liu Xin remained completely unfazed. "Fascinating," she said with an almost unnervingly calm smile, as though she'd just witnessed a demonstration of the highest form of artistry.
I immediately regretted the thought of bringing this goat anywhere.
"Well," I began, trying to steer the conversation in a more diplomatic direction, "I was given this letter by the Blackthorn Sect Leader. Apparently, you all are interested in some... cultural exchange?"
Liu Xin nodded. "Yes, we are. Our Sect has become quite intrigued with the chaotic, unpredictable methods you employ. Some say it has... potential." Her eyes flickered toward the goat, who was now chewing on one of the silk banners hanging from the courtyard.
"Potential?" I repeated, blinking. "You do realize that you've invited a goat, right? He's the true mastermind behind any 'potential' here."
Before Liu Xin could respond, the ground suddenly trembled slightly—a deep, rumbling sound echoing through the courtyard. I could feel the energy in the air shift.
"Ah, the demonstration is beginning," Liu Xin said, glancing over her shoulder at the large circular arena at the far end of the courtyard. "You'll want to see this."
I followed her gaze, and then—naturally—the goat bolted toward the arena, as if sensing the shift in energy. I sprinted after him, but no amount of shouting or gesturing could slow him down. The goat had a one-track mind. And that track was straight into a cultivation demonstration....