There was more than enough evidence to convict Apurva of working for the Glorious Veil, and that she was responsible for poisoning John- and trying to do the same to Astrid. However, that still didn't solve the actual question John had which was why. Whether she was a pawn of this other sect, a willing sacrifice from the Great Eye Sect to make John want to move against them, or an unwilling sacrifice that had simply given up… John still didn't understand.

The thing was, if she actually was responsible and not just taking the fall, Apurva's reasoning would doubtless be extremely mundane. Humans were only motivated by so many things. Cultivators especially were motivated by power- pretty much everything led back to that. That was even true of the continent, despite their cooperative nature. John had simply convinced people that their combined power was valuable, and that individual power was still achievable.

In two of the scenarios, Apurva had nothing to gain for herself. Letting herself be accused unfairly couldn't get her a higher rank in the sect, because John was absolutely going to make certain she was dead. If she was responsible, but she wouldn't know that for the unwilling scenario and should thus be motivated to defend herself. Obviously in the traitor scenario she hadn't expected to be caught, whether that was realistic or not.

John found a few moments to be alone with Astrid. Whispering a few words in the ear of his wife was quite reasonable. "You look lovely today. I also appreciate your investigation. I do need you to look into one more thing. Apurva herself."

Astrid smiled. "Friends, family, loved ones? I get it." She certainly did. She also nibbled on his earlobe before she pulled away which made him want to choose a different afternoon activity. But they'd have time for that later.

"I'll see you later," John said. "For now, I have an interrogation to get to."

-----

Cultivators were at least vaguely aware of something about torture that John heard about on Earth. Torture rarely actually got valuable answers. That didn't mean cultivators wouldn't do it. Hell, even 'nice' governments on Earth engaged in torture knowing it wasn't useful. People would say whatever was wanted, and sometimes that was the result those in power desired.

John had asked for Apurva to be untouched, both because he knew those details and more importantly because he wasn't yet certain she was guilty. If she was, there also wasn't any point in torture. A swift execution was more appropriate.

Over the past couple of days, John had built up a significant quantity of anger. It was quite easy to display that in his demeanor when Apurva was brought before him once more- this time in an interrogation room. There were a number of completely unnecessary devices strewn about, but John just had her set on a chair.

"Remove her bindings," he ordered the guards. They just looked between her and John, then shrugged. He was more than a whole phase ahead of her. The chances of her hurting him were pretty much nonexistent. Nor would it be much trouble for them to restrain her again themselves.

Once Apurva's spiritual energy flow was restored, John loomed over her, emphasizing his darkness element. The Great Eye Sect cultivated light and fire, so darkness was an antithesis to their cultivation. Apurva herself had two light totems of her three total.

"What made you think you could harm me?" John demanded. He intentionally avoided mentioning that she might have actually succeeded on someone else. The poison was exquisitely hidden, and most people didn't engage in advanced body tempering. Any Ascending Soul Phase cultivator could remove the poison, but only if they detected it. And only before it started affecting their mind.

"I-I-" Apurva stammered. John increased the pressure briefly, bringing his darkness so close that a few motes brushed against her light element, crackling and popping as the energies mutually annihilated. Then he drew back, slightly. "P-please don't kill me!"

"Tell me why I shouldn't. Lochan said you planned to poison me." John held up the syringe. Having him hold it was such a huge breach in forensic protocol, but it really didn't matter. Justice here was no doubt administered by the sect… or perhaps whatever they wanted to be called justice. The chain of custody of evidence wasn't important. "You were carrying this, were you not?"

Her reaction told him enough. "T-that was for my medicine!"

She wasn't very good at this. Honestly, John could have been done at that point. But perhaps she was afraid enough that she was just saying stupid things. "Which medicine? This one?" John pulled out the vial. "We found this beneath your floorboards."

"I-I've never seen that before! I have nothing to do with… whatever that is."

"Is that so?" John tilted his head. He opened the vial and dipped in the syringe. "We fed a few drops of this to a pig. Its muscles seized up and its heart stopped. I wonder if it works the same on humans…"

Apurva's eyes widened. "But that's not-" She barely caught herself, but it was too late.

She was foolish, but not this foolish. John's darkness element was influencing her to reveal more than she intended. It wasn't a proper technique so if she had actually been well trained in deception it wouldn't have worked. However, the fear and uncertainty added together.

"There's no way I could have done something like that," Apurva steeled herself. "Not without the sect finding out." But they did. Mostly. They still didn't know that the poison had actually reached John. John just stared at her, seeing if she would say more. "The food comes directly from the kitchens. I don't work there."

John didn't have very much light element, but it was actually better at prompting Apurva than his darkness was. That little bit of light was hidden within her own, making her more eager to speak. She could have resisted if she realized he was trying to suppress her thoughts and prompt her speech. He would have worn her down eventually, but she could have just chosen to do nothing.

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None of what John was doing would have worked against someone of similar power, proper training, or good sense. That was probably how she was turned against the sect to begin with.

"I never mentioned food," John commented. "How does the Glorious Veil contact you?"

"W-who?"

She wasn't so uninformed she wouldn't know about one of the nearby factions. Apurva was just a bad liar. And yet, a pretty good active sneak. Or the kitchens needed to get some better workers.

"The people who gave you this token," John pulled it out. "Remember? The ones who wanted you to kill me? The reason you're going to die?"

"W-wait! Please don't kill me! I'll do anything!"

"What can you offer?"

She looked around, desperate for answers. Then she threw herself to the ground in front of him. "I… I'll devote myself to you. I have the same elemental balance as-"

"My wonderful wife that you planned to kill along with me? I'll pass." John wasn't planning to have any more women to begin with, and it certainly wouldn't be someone he didn't fully trust. "Tell me why the Glorious Veil ordered it, and I'll ask for you to be spared."

Apurva raised her head. John's expression should make it quite obvious he wasn't interested. More than that. She shrunk back. "T-they, well… Y-you weren't really the target!"

"Poisoned food made it to my chambers. Or were you after the Sect Head?" It probably wouldn't have worked. She poisoned the meat.

"It could have been anyone!" Apurva shouted. "As long as it would bring trouble to the Great Eye Sect."

John sighed. This was the most truthful things had been. And it was stupid. "And what did they promise you? Darkness element treasures?"

"T-the remains of the Great Eye Sect."

This woman had gotten in so far over her head… and yet, it might have worked. Assuming that whoever came to annihilate the Sect didn't take everything before the Glorious Veil. Maybe they planned to make an assault together.

"What a fool," John said. With decision making skills like that, it was no wonder her cultivation had stagnated at the late Soul Expansion Phase. John had met plenty of people he would consider fools that had still had great success in cultivation, because they possessed surety. Apurva didn't seem to even understand the one possible vision of future success she had in mind. "But I will still keep my word."

John saved the guards the trouble of shackling her again. Apurva didn't even try to resist, not that she could have. John could dedicate literally any single element and overpower her. Even light.

John did say he would ask for her life to be spared. He meant it. It wasn't a guarantee, though. He'd end it at an honest attempt.

-----

"Why?" Jayendra asked. Lochan looked confused as well.

John shrugged. "Because I promised to ask. Now of course, a public execution would show that the Great Eye Sect will not abide traitors. It would also show that it is possible to bend the minds of your disciples. That would not look good in front of your remaining rivals."

Lochan nodded. "What do you suggest, then?"

"You expel her. I doubt she has any secret information. Dump her on some other sect." That was about as far as John was willing to go. "Now on to the more important matter. The Glorious Veil. How strong are they?"

"They rival us in power," Jayendra explained.

"Ascending Soul Phase cultivators?" John asked.

"At least two. Early and mid phase. They might have another in the early Phase. And of course, they have a solid foundation of Consolidated Soul Phase cultivators as well."

"I see. Anyone else around here that would want them destroyed?" John asked. "Perhaps some other darkness sect you'd prefer to have as a neighbor."

"The Graveshore Society," Jayendra commented. "However, they are… far weaker. Barely a single Ascending Soul Phase cultivator."

"Perfect," John said. "Then together with them we can send a message to not mess with us." John let his energy flare dramatically. "I don't appreciate people trying to kill me."

He was actually slightly madder about them catching Astrid up in things and how they'd made him hurt her. Even if it wasn't his intention, even if it was a small injury… it was something that shouldn't have happened, perpetrated by his own body. And of course those that supplied the poison to begin with.

John did realize he was committing to destroying a sect he'd never met… but he did believe Apurva was influenced by them. He wasn't a fan of any sect that would be happy with arbitrary people being killed to cause trouble. He had already consulted with the others in the fleet on this possibility, and they'd agreed to go along if he found it necessary.

At least the continent would be able to make a big impression for their first contact… and one solid ally. Even if it did mean more war, it was better to be on the offensive this time.

-----

"I didn't find anything of note," Astrid reported. "Or rather, she didn't seem to have any strong bonds. A few friends, but none that could be used as a hostage against her."

John nodded. "With the information my interrogation provided, that path did become moot. But I appreciate you looking into it for if it had been relevant."

John was pretty firmly convinced that Lochan had actually discovered Apurva's actions- a bit late, but that was sometimes how things worked. It wasn't unreasonable for him to have noticed something wrong. The man was a capable Ascending Soul Phase cultivator. Any small doubts that remained in John's head were met with the overwhelming inadvertent confession of Apurva.

"Help me keep eyes and ears open," John commented. Perhaps his promise to try to spare Apurva was part of the plot all along… though they shouldn't have had any idea about whether he would be merciful. But with that addition, the Great Eye Sect could have been responsible. "We won't be moving directly against the Glorious Veil. Not yet."

John needed other perspectives on them, to confirm whether it was worth going to war. Besides, this was a local problem. He also wanted to make certain that the Great Eye Sect devoted their proper share of risk to the matter. Wiping out rivals wasn't going to be free, even if he had a reason to want to do so.

But that was for later. John's face softened as he gently took Astrid's hand. Her good one. "How are you doing?"

She smiled. "A physical wound is easily recovered. And I trust you more than you trust yourself." She gripped his hand with both of her hands, including the one that was still healing. "Do not be afraid."

John was relieved that the mistake hadn't driven a rift between them… but he wasn't going to let it repeat. He was going to have to improve himself. Energy control, even in difficult circumstances. Perception. Pure Blood and advanced body tempering. A cultivator must always be improving, and now he had specific goals aside from a nebulous meandering stride towards the legendary Exalted Soul Phase.

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