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Some of the tension broke. There were a few chuckles, and Rou even groaned at what the short woman had said.

Shen Yu raised an eyebrow at the woman’s audacity. She didn’t appear particularly angry that the beautiful cultivator had been mistaken for Rou’s wife. Instead, she looked up at him and held up four fingers, a little smirk on her face, as she rolled her eyes.

“Fourth time.” She mused. “If I get to ten, do I get a prize?”

She was keeping a tally of how many times this particular misunderstanding had happened.

A laugh bubbled up out of Shen Yu’s own throat.

She was an amusing girl. Rou looked mildly exasperated, as he stepped up to stand beside her. In that moment Shen Yu could never doubt the love his grandson held for the maid. His smile… it was the same smile he had when he spoke of his departed parents. The love and affection in his gaze was clear, and the woman returned his smile with a matching one of her own.

For Shen Yu though, when she turned back to meet his eyes, the expression was notably less charitable. A cool-yet-respectful courtly nod was his reception. If this had been a noble house, he was sure a fan would have hidden her face and shown him just what she thought of him. It was impressive. Raising an eyebrow at Rou, he responded to the young woman.

“Ha! My apologies, girl.”

She was… intriguing.

Intriguing, because Shen Yu had never seen a woman whose entire cultivation was composed of medicinal Qi. Like Little Rou, just beneath the surface there was something about her.

She was a cultivator and yet she was afflicted with mortal sneezing? There was nothing that could really cause her to sneeze in the air, and there was nothing at first glance that said she was sick— yet whenever she looked at Shen Yu her nose wrinkled minutely.

Some sort of Qi sensory ability? Not uncommon, but he was suppressing his power. Curious, he let out a bit of his Qi… and the woman’s expression was unchanged.

Very, very interesting.

“Yeah. This is Meimei. I talked about her in the letter,” Rou casually said. She\'s my wife, and the mother of our son.”

Shen Yu’s thought stuttered to a stop as abruptly as Brother Ge had that one time he’d face-planted into the Five Elements Barrier formation instead of punching through it.

Married and a child, in two years. He had forgotten how fast the young could move. He swallowed thickly.

“You didn’t mention that in your letter,” he said.

Rou shrugged. “Still didn\'t know if I was gonna see you again.”

“And the child?”

“He’s inside, asleep,” the woman said softly.

Shen Yu sucked in a breath. This… this was all going very, very differently than he had imagined it.

Finally, he nodded. “Then, let\'s finish up here! My boy, let me see your legacy! Are these all the people of your… household?”

“Yes.” The short woman nodded to the others, so that they would begin their introductions. “You’ve already met Bi De, so!”

First up was the beautiful one.

“This one is Cai Xiulan, Honoured Grandfather,” the fairy said, forging ahead despite her embarrassment. “It is a pleasure to meet the grandfather of my Sworn Brother.”

Shen Yu raised an eyebrow at the statement. Sworn Sister? He would have to get the story about that—

And just like that, it seemed that it was rather orderly. There was a set procedure to this.

“This one is Rou Tigu, Old Man! You taught my Master? You have to be super strong!” The tanned girl marched forwards, her eyes sparking. He could see the similarity to Jin in the frame of her face.

“Indeed, I did, little one,” he said, as the girl’s eyes sparkled. She was in the Profound realm already, her power radiating from her body, and her Qi was as excited as she was.

She was stronger than Rou had been when Shen Yu had left him to the Cloudy Sword Sect. Her form was utterly impeccable despite her childish demeanor, and beneath the surface he sensed a predator lying in wait. He half expected her to attempt to strike him then and there to test Shen Yu’s strength, but the girl refrained. Calmly bowing to him, she raised her palm. Swift as the breeze, a form leaped onto the waiting hand—a rat wearing robes with the same symbol as the humans, one who bowed formally upon her appearance.

He eyed it warily, remembering one particularly aggravating time in the sewers of Fire Lotus City when he was young, with their plague of rat-men. But this was no twisted monstrosity; she smelled of medicinal herbs, and her Qi spoke of one in the fifth stage of the Initiate’s realm. This was a small, well-groomed creature with the air of a Spiritual Doctor, who spoke in the Qi-Speech of Spirit Beasts.

‘Hong Ri Zu greets Honoured Grandfather.’

She rose from her bow and seemed to tremble slightly at his gaze before scurrying back into Tigu’s hair.

This was Rou’s wife’s apprentice? Introduced as… as an equal. The same way that Jin had introduced the magnificent rooster. She even had the same surname as Rou’s wife.

Shen Yu stroked his beard as he glanced from the rat to the chicken. Rou was not the kind of boy to feed, clothe, and form true attachments with anything he meant to betray. But what other purpose would he have for Spirit Beasts? Their actions were so human. Completely human. Most Awakened Spirit Beasts were incomplete—driven by rage and spite, twisted mockeries of men. The vast majority simply acted, exhibiting no true understanding.

Yet these were tame, docile, intelligent beings who were given respect and gave it in turn. They spoke words of wisdom, and thus, they were… servants? Something to study? Outer Sect Disciples? For all that little Rou had said he’d given up cultivation in his letter… it certainly looked like he had made a sect of his own.

The next pair to be introduced left him even more confused.

He glanced down as a boar came forward to greet him, a sow trotting beside him much like a dutiful wife.

Shen Yu had travelled far and wide. In his travels he had once met a group of tribal monks; powerful cultivators in their own right, they strived for the heavens in their own way. They sought something they called nirvana. A state of utter peace and contentment. A concept that Shen Yu had thought was of dubious use at the time. He had been told men strived for lifetimes to achieve it.

If those strange monks could witness the creature before him, they surely would have spat blood.

Never before had Shen Yu seen a being at such peace with the world and with itself. All he could do was stare as the boar approached him—a towering titan and a speck of dust at the same time.

The boar bowed, then moved forward and sniffed him, nosing at Shen Yu’s hand; and then the creature deposited a satchel full of nuts in Shen Yu’s grasp.

‘Friend,’ the boar decided.

Shen Yu stared at the gift, and then turned his eyes back to the boar.

“Thank you,” he ventured to the creature.

The boar nodded, inclining his head slightly. He withdrew and his companion came forward.

‘It is an honour to meet such a distinguished gentleman,’ the sow said after it bowed to Shen Yu. ‘Should you need anything, I shall endeavor to make it so. Please do not hesitate to call upon me!’

Shen Yu nodded, bemused by the imperious tone, but his attention was on the boar’s small gift. After a second of hesitation, he opened the small satchel and then popped a nut in his mouth.

There was nothing special about it. It wasn’t poisoned, and it wasn’t filled with Qi.

It went well with the lingering taste of wine.

It was a simple kindness.

After the boar, there came two boys: Xong Yun Ren and Gou Ren, brothers. The first had the appearance of a fox, with an Artifact Blade of not inconsiderable power on his hip.The other was simply solid looking, with a bandanna of tribal colours on his brow.

A fox and a monkey, and both were nearly as powerful as Rou had been when he left.

A bombastic voice cut in—the tone, an anchor of normality in this sea of strangeness. The arrogance and pitch was a familiar refrain he had heard a hundred thousand times. “Welcome, Old Master! Liu Xianghua, Young Mistress of the Misty Lake Sect, pays her respects!”

After her picture perfect martial salute, one hand transferred to her hip and the other flung out her hair in a move that looked practised.

After her, Bowu was introduced… a mortal, apparently, and yet the Young Master of that same sect.

Meihua, a girl who had her own babe on her back, a friend to Meiling. A snake, a rabbit, and a monkey, spirit beasts all. An ox who simply bowed his head, the aura of sword cultivator about him.

Finally, the dragon sidled up to him. It looked like a sleazy salesman even as it bowed politely, which only piqued Shen Yu’s curiosity further.

“Why do you stay around here, noble Dragon?” Shen Yu asked the creature. A Dragon could barely be called a Spirit Beast, being something nobler and mightier than a base creature. It was even said that a dragon was what taught man to cultivate. Occasionally, one would be found as the guardian of a village, or living in a beautiful lake.

The righteous normally left the great beasts be, and the docile ones rarely attacked unless provoked; but the reagents one could harvest from the creatures were often too powerful for the unscrupulous to ignore.

This one was the weakest Dragon Shen Yu had ever encountered, its power nothing compared to the mighty beasts that he had met who could shatter the very heavens. But it was still a dragon. Here, in this Qi Desert, active and friendly.

‘I wash the dishes,’ was the great beast’s boastful answer, chest puffed up with pride.

“...You wash Rou’s dishes.”

‘And water the plants. You can thank me after dinner.’

Shen Yu stared back blankly at the beast before he cracked, roaring with laughter at the sheer absurdity.

The old man had been around for a very, very long time—and that was the most absurd thing he had ever been told.

No wonder they were not reagents if they were this amusing!

“Rou! Quite a motley collection you have here! I can\'t say I know what you’re doing here,” he declared, a smile on his face, “but… not bad, boy.” There was a slight tenseness in the boy’s shoulders that dissipated. Worry or fear, perhaps?

“Does that mean we can spar?” Tigu interjected eagerly, already getting into a stance. Shen Yu chucked at the eagerness.

“Not yet,” Meiling said in a stern tone to the girl, and turned to Shen Yu. She had a complicated expression on her face. “There\'s one more.”

Shen Yu was invited into the house, and to a little bundle of blankets.

Amethyst eyes; cheeks flushed with freckles.

And already, a tiny, burgeoning spark of Qi.

The babe smiled at him.

Rou certainly had crafted something wonderful for himself.

His heart had been hurt; his resolve, in some ways damaged.

But here, he was healing from the events that had transpired. In spite of his words about quitting cultivation… this was perfect.

Little Rou would heal. His babe would grow, and so would the power of his home.

Shen Yu would take the long view. He would limit himself to a few words here and there, so that Rou would start to spread his wings and range far and wide from the nest he had crafted for himself.

But for now, Little Rou could rest on his laurels. Shen Yu would even aid him, because he too needed a rest. And what better way to relax, than in this strange new place that healed his grandson?

He smiled back at Rou’s flesh and blood.

Content, for the moment.

“Here I come, Old Man!” Rou Tigu shouted. She was a whirring ball of Qi constructs and death. If she had fought Rou two years ago, she would have rended him into a hundred pieces.

Already she had a movement technique, the beginnings of a refined body, and sword intent that was in the beginning stages of being refined.

She was utterly magnificent, for a Profound Level cultivator—and she was enthusiastic and eager to please. She had no care how much Qi she expended, her focus only on learning as much as she could.

Shen Yu appreciated it, as he tilted his head slightly or stepped out of the way. The girl had no hope of striking him. He could see the calculation in her eyes, as each minute dodge Shen Yu performed maderher to focus her intent further, increasing the pace and precision of her strikes.

For any teacher—for any sect, she would have been a valued disciple on her combat learning alone.

With a flick of his fingers, he shattered every Qi blade, and with that same finger pinned Rou Tigu to the ground. The tanned and muscled girl went limp immediately at the defeat… before grinning bright, so much like Rou.

“Not bad, little one,” Shen Yu complimented her, as he allowed her up.

“Thanks, Old Man! You’re good! As expected of the man who taught my Master!”

She sprang up instantly, unconcerned by her defeat, and began some cool down stretches.

Shen Yu smiled at her and turned his gaze to the surroundings. He took a breath of the fantastically pure air.

He couldn’t help but grin again. Rou had taken him around the farm showing him all he had crafted. Some of it, like the barn, was so mundane and mortal; but it was interspersed with wonders. The fields were full to bursting with Qi. There was a house made of glass and a still that distilled that divine nectar, alcohol.

He had tried some. It had been mortal, but the mead and vodka had been absolutely delicious.

But everything, everything looked like it had the capability to grow. The still especially. Today, mortal spirits; tomorrow, a mash of the finest spiritual herbs.

Any mortal noble would have killed for this land; quite a few sects would have as well. Hells, the Cloudy Sword Sect would take one look at the Seven Fragrance Jewel Herbs and ask if Rou wished to be a supplier for them— and all Rou had said was that they were ‘good seasoning.’

It was utterly absurd, and twice as amusing. He even had what Shen Yu was quite confident were Divine Peach saplings— that were growing. Apparently the dragon had brought them back from one of his adventures.

The people here were quite refreshing, too. He turned back to Tigu, who had finished her stretches. Several of the other Spirit Beasts were looking on, as were the more human elements.

There was but one ‘Young Mistress’—and the more Shjen Yu watched her the more sure he was that the girl was acting. There were simply too many little tells. Particularly the fact that the mortal boy laughed at her whenever she made a bombastic claim… and her lips had twitched every time she heard it.

Most astonishingly? There were no egos to burst. They understood their own strengths very well, and like the Cloudy Sword Sect, traded pointers often to grow.

It was like a mortal’s imagination of some idealized martial group.

Shen Yu shook his head. There was one thing he was curious about, however, and had yet to ask about.

“How long have you been cultivating, Tigu?”

“Two years!” She glanced up from where she had been talking to the little rat, replying cheerfully.

Shen Yu paused at the statement. “And yourself, Bi De?”

“I am approaching my second year of cultivation as well,” the rooster replied. “I first awakened under my Master’s care in the summer before last; and the wisdom of our Great Master’s Teachings ever propels us to new heights.”

Rou had raised multiple students right up to, and in some cases past, the edge of the Initiate’s realm. For many powerful families, that would be nothing noteworthy. For Rou? Either these were all transcendent talents… or little Rou had simply grown that much in two years.

Either way, it was something fascinating, a feat to take pride in. He was in the midst of pondering it when the ox then came before Shen Yu, a plow hitched to his back.

Amused, he answered the unspoken question. “Oh? Show me.”

The ox nodded. He set down his plow, and made one cut—long, and… almost perfect. His sword intent was clear.

Shen Yu, the Unconquered blade… could not even be surprised. An entire menagerie of Spirit Beasts, cultivators that a thousand masters might wish to be their disciples. Diligent, humble talents.

How absurd was it, that these base beasts were more respectable than most humans Shen Yu had met?

“Rou!” he demanded, and the boy poked his head out of the house where he was aiding his woman in preparing Shen Yu a meal. It already smelled quite good.

“Yeah, Gramps?”

“Your little beasts are magnificent! I approve!”

Rou’s surprise was clear… and his bright smile genuine.

Soon enough, dinner was served at the long, communal table. They had upon their plates the bounty of spring and the last preserves of the fall. And indeed, they were seasoned with Seven Fragrance Jewel Herbs.

Shen Yu took a bite of dinner, and his eyes widened. He took a sip of the strong spirit Rou had poured for him, refined from countless potatoes.

The dragon looked at Shen Yu with a smug smile. Shen Yu nodded back to the noble beast.

“Thank you for your bounty, Dragon,” he replied with good humor.

The noble beast nodded, the very picture of regality.

Less than an hour later, he ruined the image by turning into a fat carp and licking the leftover sauce off the plates. No pride whatsoever, that one, but… oddly respectable in the strangest way.

They spoke long into the night; small talk, as Shen Yu regaled them with stories of Rou’s youth.

Tonight, there would be no heavy conversations. Simply a day of reconnecting and getting to act as the grandfather to Rou’s friends and servants.

Shen Yu went into the room provided for him. Content. He was growing to like this odd place.

Meiling took deep, calming breaths as she ascended the stairs to the upper hallway. A bucket full of water was in one hand, and she carried with her medicine made from a dragon’s breath, a copper wire, and chalk.

Dinner had gone surprisingly well. Xiulan had still been a bit upset with Meiling for what she had blurted out, but in her defense, she hadn’t exactly been thinking straight when she had said it.

She had been much too distracted by the thing that had arrived at their home.

Shen Yu. A monster wearing the guise of an old man.

She could smell his potent power. A burning, raging star, it was so strong she could taste it. It defied her senses to nail down what exactly it was. Untamable. Unconquerable. Unknowable. Her sinuses throbbed from simply being near him, a hairsbreadth away from splitting open and bleeding.

He was stronger than Jin. Stronger than Jin and Tianlan combined? Judging by the way the Qi beneath the earth was pulling like a pump, drawing energy, the answer was most likely. She could even feel a slight nervousness from Tianlan. Jin felt it too, but he remained confident that the old man wouldn’t try anything. Shouldn’t try anything.

After everything… he still trusted the old man. The others seemed to be warming to him too. Tigu, of course, had challenged him. He pinned her effortlessly, amusement dancing over his features as Shen Yu praised her skill.

The Xiong Brothers howled with laughter, as Shen Yu had regaled a story of Jin from his childhood, replacing Shen Yu’s wine with piss.Even stoic Bei Be had looked on with approval as the man absently made a cut that eclipsed everything the ox had done.

But Meiling felt a cold fear settle in her stomach when she watched him. The monster was playing house but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was going to take Jin away from them.

More, she sensed something deeper within him that called to her power. Shen Yu hid much of his nature, none of the others seemed to notice it. None of the others sensed it. His Qi was deep below the surface. Hidden from the rest of them. Despite that she could smell the smoke and acrid scent of a demon\'s poison. He was hurt, badly enough that despite his power she could smell it.

Shen Yu’s body was fighting it without aid. Winning against the potent killing strength of the demonic taint. Even if she did nothing, he would be fine.

But she stood in front of the door to his gifted room regardless, her usual tools at the ready anyway. Fear would never stop her from doing her duty.

Meiling took a calming breath then knocked on the door.

“You may enter,” the old man called after a moment, and she opened the door.

Shen Yu was seated upon his new bed, staring at a piece of glass crafted by Miantiao. It glittered in the light shed by the candles.

“Hello Grandfather,” she started, even as her nose wrinkled at the smell. “If it pleases you, I would aid you with your wounds.”

Shen Yu looked up from his study of Miantiao’s glass. For a moment she felt his whole attention on her. She gazed into his summer sky eyes. A glimpse behind the veil at the monster within. It shook her deeply but he withstood it. “Who am I to deny my boy’s wife?” he asked, tone slightly condescending.

“Jin told me you were more likely to refuse,” she sighed theatrically even as she laid down her tools. “A stubborn old man, he said.”

“I certainly don\'t deny that, little miss.”

“How did demonic essence get into your wounds, anyway?” She began to draw the formation. The old beast glanced at her movements, giving a moment’s consideration before dismissing her utterly as a threat.

“By fighting them, of course. There was quite a large battle.” Jin’s grandfather’s voice was as conversational as hers, and then his eyes locked on to her. “You can sense it? I’m impressed. If the bloodline of the Celestial Constellation Soul Art was not extinct, I would guess that it ran within your veins.”

Meiling shifted uncomfortably at the statement, stilling momentarily before returning to her work.

“But let me ask you a question, what do I feel like to you, Hong Meiling?”

Meiling stopped her work and looked him in the eye, facing him. “A monster,” was her honest reply.

The old cultivator barked out a laugh. “More accurate than most, I would say… I have done some monstrous things…. And even more heroic ones. There are stories about me, you know? Legends… though I don’t know if they have reached these hills.”

“There are no tales of a man with your name that I have heard.” Meiling said, and the old man shrugged.

“Alas! I am unknown to my granddaughter!” He chuckled again. “You don’t like me, do you, girl?”

Meiling paused at the question of the cultivator…. And then with a feeling of a small hand placed on her back, spoke her mind.

“You insulted him. You belittled him. You hurt him. Your choices nearly got him killed. Tell me a woman who could forgive someone who did that to her husband.” Her voice was calm, though she was filled with a quiet fury. Jin had once had a damn complex about his strength and skills. One that he had seemingly moved past, but… Meiling worried that it would return with the advent of this old man. “And I\'m not sure your visit is a good thing for him, either.”

The old Monster considered her words, and then smiled indulgently. “Your words are good, Hong Meiling. Know that this Shen Yu approves of them. I dare say you are one of the finest wives I have ever met in my life. Continue! I shall allow you to ask me whatever you please.”

“What are your plans for Jin?” Meiling asked simply.

“For now? To see and hear all he has done. He will rest a while; He will grow this place to whatever heights he chooses. I will not begrudge him that. But he will once more soar in the skies.” The old man’s eyes were utterly confident. “Fear not, little one. He shall always come back to you. To abandon this place would be foolish… and we all need a place to rest our heads.”

“And what if he doesn’t?” Meiling said defiantly. “What if he refuses your demands of him? Tell me, Shen Yu. How conditional is your love for him?”

The old man froze. The beast born out of the star’s unchained fury mulled over her question… before once more smiling.“It\'s a shame you don’t like me, little one. Because I dare say I like you. If only all women were so bold as to walk into a monster’s den like you have.” This time, the words were not quite so condescending, but it didn’t escape her that he didn’t answer the question.

Perhaps that was an answer in itself.

They lapsed into silence as she completed the formation. A copper wire was stuck under the bandage.

“You dislike me, but you will still attempt to treat me?” Shen Yu asked, once more in the guise of the affable grandfather now that the time for questions had passed, amused.

“Yes,” was the reply. “Now, this may feel uncomfortable. Remain still.”

Meiling pulled out the flask of medicine that she had made with Wa Shi. It was most of their stocks… but Meiling couldn’t really smell the extent of the damage.

Healing a monster to curry favour.

Honestly this was rather foolish, but Jin had seemed… quite concerned that the old man had been injured.

Preparations completed, she clapped her hands together and pulled. Her medical Qi rose—with a wave of gold following behind it.

The water instantly turned into black sludge. The copper wire corroded into dust. The sparkling medicine turned dull and inert.

Meiling opened her eyes, shocked. There was still so much in there!

She looked up at the old monster, expecting a rebuke. Instead, he looked just as shocked as she was.

And then the humor came back.

“It seems that little Rou is very, very good at collecting mighty allies.”

Shen Yu stared at the door, as Rou’s woman—no, as Hong Meiling left. She had been clearly thinking about what she could do differently the next time.

“Rou… what kind of place is this, you crazy boy?” Shen Yu wondered.

The Demonic Qi, something that would have to be carefully ground down over months or, more probably, years… had been removed in moments. More curiously, her Qi had peaked at the Earth Realm, a wave of cleansing gold and medicine.

“What if he refuses your demands of him? Tell me, Shen Yu. How conditional is your love for him?”

Shen Yu sighed. He always had trouble dealing with perceptive women.

To her question… he had no current answer.

Doubts chewed at the back of his mind, returning after being banished over the course of the day.

What if Rou wanted nothing to do with any of Shen Yu’s plans? What if he couldn’t convince the boy?

Shen Yu grimaced, and meditated on the answer.