Regressed Master: Raising The Son Of Heaven Isn’t Easy (Xianxia/Progression)

[Overload69]

Before Li Muchen became Li Muchen, he wasn't sure if he'd reach his thirties. And, as he predicted, he died at the age of twenty-three. Then, reborn as an orphan in a world much crueler than the capitalist society, he once again wondered if he'd live till thirty.

Thankfully, while working as an errand boy at the city lord's mansion, he caught the eye of the Sky Mending Saint. The young man who dreamed of thirty lived past half a millennia. But sometimes he wished he didn't.

The short years he lived on earth were already wracked with problems. Same when he crossed over. Maybe that pain was the price for his second chance.

But the second chance, one he believed to be full of fortune, did give him pain in equal measure. He met his junior disciples and had a kind master. He lived a much easier life than most people in the mortal realm. That was until he took in his disciple, Wang Yang.

Wang Yang's existence flipped his world. He received a lot because of the Son of Heaven, but misfortune came in spades. Muchen had lost count of the times he had got targeted for being Wang Yang's Master, the number of hardships he went through because of that title, and the people he lost.

Was the loss equal to what he gained? Li Muchen still couldn't answer that. He couldn't measure that fortune and misfortune.

However, one thing he knew was that his problems stemmed from the Disaster Gods and their followers. Even when sealed, the presence of these Gods of Carnage had the mortal realm in a death grip.

Li Muchen lost his life battling one of them, Hundun. However, he received his third chance thanks to another Disaster God, Taotie.

A strange connection, a strange balance.

Inside his mind realm, Muchen eyed the Black Lotus. The previous small flower had outgrown the pond it sat in. Its velvety petals increased from 12 to 16, each darker than the night. The mist from the stamen, much thicker and heavier. It washed over his feet like chilly water.

Standing in its shadow, Muchen felt a faint heartbeat inside it. He wondered if it was the Taotie it had eaten. The creature had this inside it, and the Disaster God had an affinity for absorption.

Absorption… Regression…

Muchen couldn't grasp the thread between them. Maybe there was no thread. Maybe it was the Heavens sending him back because they had no other way to save the world? But if they had the power to send someone back, why him? Why not Wang Yang himself?

And, even if they chose Muchen, why does someone else seem to know the future?

The only thread Muchen had at the time was a fragile one, at least regarding the secret of his regression. But one way or another, he had to find Bai. He had to stop him before things blew out of proportion, out of his chessboard.

"Brooding again?" Yae appeared on his shoulder.

"A little." Muchen had allowed her entry only under strict rules. "So, know anything about this?" He signaled at the black lotus with his chin.

"The only thing I know is that it's disgusting." Yae's two tails moved impatiently, her snow-like fur ruffled. "But it suits you, I have to say."

"Very funny." Muchen looked into her eyes. "What do you know?"

"The great famine in the eastern continent, a Black Lotus caused it." Yae seemed to remember it. "It sapped the continent of its vitality by latching onto the main Qi vein and then fed on the hungry souls of the perished mortals."

"The Black Lotus was the cause of that dark period?"

"It's an entity that is only found in hell, only one of its kind, I think. They summoned it into the mortal realm by offering sacrifices." Yae said lazily. "After a century of preparation, the Sun Cult then sacrificed 1,287,678,546 bodies, the century-long famine's victims, and the Black Lotus to summon Taotie. I am sure you know the rest. Your Master must've told you all about the hardships."

"I didn't know they had summoned Taotie." Muchen had read the ancient texts a hundred times; by now, he had them memorized.

"A gag order. Fear of Disaster Gods only feeds them." Yae licked her paws, eyes locked on the lotus. "I know because my father told me, he put the thing in an illusion so your master and others could seal it. If it wasn't for him, the Eastern Continent would have disappeared long ago."

"And he was repaid with a knife." Muchen turned to the emotionless fox.

"Whatever the repayment was, the end would be on my terms." Yae looked at him, eyes burning again. "I will not stop till I slaughter those chickens."

"I am sure you won't." Muchen nodded along.

"With the rate you cultivate, even they might die before I get my chance. Come on, let's get back to cultivation." Yae slapped him with her fluffy tails, eager to go.

How could Muchen explain to this genetically lucky creature that his mortal body needed time to adjust to the new level of power?

Rome wasn't built in one day, now, was it? Besides, he had other matters to attend to.

"We have a feast to attend." He told the grumpy fox.

***

Yae had a few places to rest in Plum Peak. It used to be an empty lot with rough cliffs and forests. The entire place was her garden, but lately one part had become so obnoxiously loud that she couldn't help but growl.

Why did they build that stupid thing along her walking path? They didn't even leave the cave she liked to nap in.

The noise alone pissed her off; she had contemplated torching the buildings a few times. But after taking a dip in Heaven's spring, she decided to tolerate it.

What she couldn't tolerate was the massive waves of people entering Li Muchen's residence for the past three days. Apparently, the sect decided to hold a seven-day celebration for his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm. Muchen said that it was just formality and a normal tradition, since breaking into the Nascent Soul Realm held value now.

Caught between the rush of people, gossip, and performance going through the residence, Yae couldn't even rest in the eaves.

Seriously, a party for reaching Nascent Soul Realm? I reached that before reaching double digits, and all I got was an extra mooncake! Yae hissed in his mind, but she couldn't deny that the mooncake that day was exceptionally sweet.

She only watched as Elders and important-looking people visited each night, gifts and pleasantries in hand. Thick with perfume, their mouths had smiles and sweet words, but eyes as sharp as daggers.

At least Muchen didn't have that mask; he was a scheming bastard through and through.

He welcomed them as the host, looking as princely as ever. Silky black hair with a golden hairpin, pure white robes with a silver belt with black trimming, not to mention he smelled like fresh sunshine and flowers. No wonder the women admired him from afar; it was like he was one, just dressed up as a man.

There were even small competitions in literature, poetry, and sword dances. Giving the less well-off elders and disciples a chance to enter Heaven's spring as rewards.

Yae sat at a table right now, hearing Muchen talk with a powdered, chubby man with a greasy smile. His name was Elder Shen, or was it? Didn't matter. What got to her was that his servants placed a teal ceramic vase near her.

On it was a red bird with a fiery crown of crimson and legs like a swan; below it were people genuflecting.

According to him, this was a treasure unearthed from an old tomb of the Xia dynasty. A vase with the divine bird blessing the Xia royal family to hold eternal power.

I'll kill all these chickens! Yae scoffed, her pink paw smacking the vase off the birch table.

Crashing to the ground, the vase burst into a million pieces, shards sliding across the polished wooden floors. The sudden crash drew eyes, all wide with shock.

"The Resurgence pot! No!" The elder grasped his head, turning red. It didn't take long before he collapsed.

Hahaha! That's what you get for worshiping chickens! Yae's victorious laughter lasted for mere moments.

Muchen's eyes locked onto her, but he simply smiled. She wanted to run away, but the bastard was much smarter and faster.

"Mei'er, I found Yae." He called out the biggest nightmare of Yae's life.

"Yae!" Hua Mei, the little ball of infinite energy, arrived as fast as lightning.

Yae could only stay still as the little girl hugged her, smothering her like a common house cat.

I am a fierce beast. A nine-tailed fox that can wipe out this sect with a swing of my tail! Show some respect and don't you dare pat my head! Yae raged.

But the little fangs and the growl, that even thought of as cute, only fueled the intensity of the Hua Mei's squeals. The ear scratches weren't bad either; even better was the grooming. The kid had a talent for brushing fur. Yae had never felt so thoroughly refreshed before.

"Come, Yae, I saved some rainbow trout for you." Hau Mei broke off bits of the moist white fish and fed her a little by little.

Why does this seem so normal these days? Yae shuddered after eating the third fish. Truly, how terrifying this little girl was.

"Would you like to eat anything more? There are roast fowl, spicy beef, sweet and sour pork, too." Hua Mei beamed.

Yae looked at the table, a polished oak wood standing on six legs. Nine cushioned seats with intricate wooden patterns on the padded armrests. The table had enough food for a party of twenty, but only Hua Mei sat there alone.

There wasn't a single kid around her age, no, not a single youngster in the main hall. Just elders in all shapes and sizes clinking wine glasses over trivial small talk. Most disciples, alongside Wang Yang, were in the lower gardens.

Yae looked back at the expectant Hua Mei, then back at the crowd. Her eyes reached into the garden beyond the hall. Leaping off the table, she rushed through the hall at lightning pace, scaring some elders in the process.

"Are we playing a game?" She heard Hua Mei, the girl kept up.

Sliding under tables and jumping off walls, scratching off heads, they arrived in the back garden. Hua Mingzhu, in her orange dress with white strips, noticed their appearance and looked away from her conversation partner. She smiled at Hua Mei and turned back to the woman from before.

Muchen had explained it to her, but Yae couldn't understand it. There was no doubt in her mind that Mingzhu cared for Hua Mei as much as a mother would for her child, even more so in her case. But every time she arrived, the witch only showed harshness.

Yae pulled the silk dress, her fangs tearing into the golden edge.

"Lady Hua!" The woman in white gasped, eyes on the tear in what seemed like an expensive cloth.

"Yae, you can't do that!" Hua Mei snatched her up.

Look at her, you fool. She's more important than whatever you are talking about! Yae growled at Hua Mingzhu. There was no way she'd understand, but maybe she did understand.

"My apologies, Lady Mu, I will continue the topic another time." With a curt goodbye, Hua Mingzhu took Hua Mei and returned to the hall.

She didn't bother changing her dress and sat at the table with her daughter, talking with the kid while eating. At some point, Yae slipped away from the two. Her usual spot on top of the main western wing's roof looked rather cozy right now.

Most of the hubbub was on the eastern side, so she could have some peace here. Watching the full moon, she curled up into a ball, her tails around her neck on the slightly colder night.

"Why would she leave a child alone? Is that what you are thinking?"

Yae hissed. But Hua Mingzhu sat beside her, a jar of wine in her hand.

"No need to act." She said, cracking open the mud seal. "Hua Mei is already sleeping, if you were wondering, she ate a lot today."

"I don't care about that." Yae raised her head, locking eyes with the woman. "How long did you know?"

"Since I first saw you." Mingzhu took a swig of the wine, a thick, flowery scent wafting over. "Muchen doesn't like pets; he hates burying them."

"If you knew, why act like you didn't?"

"Hua Mei is perceptive; if I treat you differently, she'll try to find out why." Mingzhu rested the jar on her thighs, leaving a stain on her bright dress.

"I… I know I am not the best mother." She started. "I never thought I'd become one, because I wasn't even human to begin with."

"Wasn't human?" What nonsense was this woman spewing? She was a human from what Yae could tell. "Is the wine that strong?"

"I wouldn't know, alcohol stopped affecting me by the time I was 5." Mingzhu chuckled. "I was only born to serve, to follow, and to protect, like a dog. That's all I was trained for. That's all I knew."

"There were many kids like me. I don't even remember them anymore."

"Were they that forgettable?" Yae's eyes narrowed.

"They didn't have any names. I didn't have one either." Mingzhu peeled off the fake skin on her wrist, showing the ugly brand with the number 701. "My mistress gave me one after I came under the service of Frozen Flower Holyland; she thought it was an inconvenience that I didn't have one."

"I've never had a parent myself, so I tried to do the only thing I knew best. Make my kid stronger." Mingzhu sighed. "It's the only way to survive out there."

"Is that all?" Yae turned her head, ready to close her eyes again.

"It seemed you've raised kids before," Mingzhu added. "There aren't many mothers I can consult here, you see."

"I used to have a lot of free time, so I helped look after the clan's younger ones; they weren't that younger than me after all. They loved playing with me, eating too, but the happiest I saw them was when they returned home and hugged their mothers." Yae lay her head on her fluffy tail.

"Giving your child the tools to survive is good, but being around them is much more important." She added. "You may have another child later, but your child only has one childhood. Once it's gone, she won't have another chance."

"I understand." Mingzhu set the wine jar aside. Yae didn't doubt her on that. "I am going back to her. Do you want to come?"

"It's too noisy down there," Yae complained.

"That it is, come by my residence in Tiger Peak. It's the quietest place. I'll prepare some rainbow trout and meat for you."

"I'll think about it if you make mooncakes, the fish better be high-quality too. I don't eat common drivel." Yae scoffed.

"I'll get the best I can."

After Mingzhu left, Yae closed her eyes.

But she couldn't sleep. She could never sleep. She only closed her eyes to recall her village. The high mountains, the clear streams.

Running along the wooden houses with kids, roasting wild game, and picking fruits from Uncle Ping's garden. Memories of her childhood and adolescence. Memories of the cherry blossoms fluttering in spring, running down the stream to catch fish, catching birds, and insects.

And memories of the fire that rained down on them from high above on that cold night.

"Li Muchen, I will not allow failure." Her eyes glowed in the night, locked onto the man she had to sign a contract with. He had reached the Sky Peak, but she knew he could feel the rage in her heart.

It didn't matter if she had to be a docile house pet or the terror of the mortal realm; she'd do anything if it meant snuffing the fire out of those damned birds.

"I will have my revenge." She vowed to the moon, gazing into the far west.
...
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[Overload69]

With the chill prickling his skin, Muchen climbed the black marble steps. Hands behind his back, he took one step at a time, feeling the wind flow through his flapping robes.

Cold on the surface, but something burned deep within his chest. Was it Yae's feelings of revenge, or the rage he felt towards the person he would meet in a few moments? Muchen hadn't the slightest clue; few things could shake the lake-like mind of his. But when it shook, he had a hard time understanding the cause.

Not that the reason was complex, but the fact that he could still lose his cool. It terrified him, but also relieved him.

Passing through the bamboo forest on the western face of Sky Peak, Muchen passed through the main gate of Elder Ling's estate. Wide gates made of obsidian and high walls of black brick, the intricate patterns on the gate showcased every major conflict the continent had seen in the past millennia.

The Purple Tiger tragedy, the Qin revolt, the Corpse King War, and even the Jingyuan pass incident. Muchen had handed the tools to Elder Ling when he carved them into the gate. He had helped design and build this very estate he entered now.

Past the long hallways full of ink paintings and calligraphy from his Master, Muchen followed the scent of the eternal spring. A scent from the incense only made in the Kunlun Mountains. An incense Elder Ling fell in love with. An incense Muchen had given the old man as a gift after his trip to the Western Continent.

Beyond the cream-colored doors, in a room full of vases and statues depicting mythical beasts, Elder Ling sat in a seat reserved for the second-highest honor.

Smoking tobacco through a simple bronze pipe, he looked over lazily.

"The star of the sect shows himself." Elder Ling's voice sounded hoarser than he remembered.

"You didn't bother to come, so I had to." Muchen knew Elder Ling wouldn't attend the banquet. His haggard face said it all.

"Stop the formalities, you never bothered with them before." Elder Ling leaned back into his cushioned chair, eyes on the black hairpin in Muchen's hair. "Get to the point, Shadow."

"I am sure you already know." Muchen took a seat across from him.

Elder Ling had been in the sect for the longest time; he knew the ins and outs, the secrets, and the roles everyone had. Muchen could see it in his eyes from the last meeting they had during the sect trial, and his recent silence only confirmed it.

"Ever since you were little, I was glad that your loyalty was with the sect. Out of all the disciples of Sky Mending Saint, you were the one I least wanted to have as an enemy, I guess. Zhao Jun came a close second." Elder Ling set his bronze pipe on the small stable beside his chair.

"The Heavens always push you to a position you dislike, a cruel and fickle thing it is."

Muchen looked at Elder Ling, his hands clenched under the silk sleeves.

"Do you have to do this, Muchen?" He asked.

"I am just following what you taught me," Muchen remembered it all clearly. "Working with the Demonic sect to incite conflict in the Orthodox Alliance, that's traitorous. Not to mention harming the sect's disciples."

Elder Ling closed his eyes at those words, a sigh laced with anger escaping his lips.

"We needed that. We had to put those bastards in their places. The Saint wanted to make the Azure Sky Sect the strongest on the continent. I just wanted to do that!" Anger bled into his words.

"Making the sect strong and conspiring against others to bring them down are different things. This wouldn't please my Master."

"How do you know?" Elder Ling's voice cracked.

"How do you not know?" Muchen looked into his shaken eyes. This man had followed his master for close to a millennia. A person who respected the Sky Mending Saint above all.

"Is it because you are at the end of your rope?" Muchen already had the answer.

"…" Elder Ling sighed, all external anger washed away. "Did the Saint tell you?"

Muchen could only shake his head; his Master never confirmed it. But he wasn't oblivious to signs. Elder Ling had made no progress beyond the 7th lamp of Nascent Realm for the past century. He could see the peak, but not reach it.

"Does it make a difference?" He looked at Muchen.

"A little." Muchen nodded.

For the first time in years, Muchen saw Elder Ling laugh again. He had watched him since young and felt it himself, so he knew. The pain of stagnation, of not having enough talent, of watching the ones you want to stand with move forward.

"I only wanted to stand at the peak with the saint once." Elder Ling confessed, eyes lingering on the seat of honor. "This was the only way I saw; Heaven had closed other doors for me."

"You can still run away; I am the only one here." He hadn't told his fellow disciples yet; just like him, they too grew up with Elder Ling. Even though he had changed since Muchen's appointment as a Peak Master, they still held respect for him.

Muchen saw his shoulders sag. Elder Ling sighed again before locking eyes with him, a smile on his lips.

"The fact that you've shown yourself means I have no chance, I know that much, kiddo." He shook his head; a thorn still stuck in his throat. The man had aged another decade in mere moments. "No matter where you go, you can never outrun the shadow."

"I am flattered." Muchen gave Elder Ling a black jade bottle. A few spoonfuls of liquid inside sloshed.

"Yellow springs, eh? The poison of the Nameless." He examined the colorless and odorless liquid before pouring it into a newly opened jar of wine. "Glad to know my last toast would be expensive."

Muchen didn't stop him from stirring the rice wine; it was a cheap wine drunk by beggars and peasants, far removed from the luxuries of this estate. A wine from Elder Ling's hometown.

He could see it in the man's eyes. He had given up, maybe long before this confrontation.

"Will you tell the others about it?" He asked.

"Liu Zhi will figure it out. But she is good at holding her tongue at the right price."

"I have a secret cellar below this house. Give the wine there to her, it'll be wasted on the other fools." Elder Ling upended the cup, his face turning rosy as he downed the entire jar.

"If I do that, she won't work," Muchen said.

"Troublesome as ever." Elder Ling nodded; the jar crashed on the marble floor. He looked at the decorated ceiling and asked his final question. "Will you tell her?"

"It's not a matter of whether I tell or not." Muchen glanced at the seat of honor in the hall; a lotus carved into the headrest. "Nothing escapes my Master's eyes."

"That is… true." Elder Ling laughed, the tears he had tried to restrain flowing down his wrinkly face.

He had more to say. Muchen could see his lips move, but no words came. The Heavens didn't allow him the parting words, or maybe they just weren't for his ears.

Walking out of the estate, Muchen shielded his face from the torrent of cold air, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ears. Under the bright moon, he walked down the black stairs dividing the mountain in half.

The line between good and evil, Elder Ling taught him how to navigate that space. However, he crossed the line himself.

Muchen closed his eyes, coming to a halt.

How much longer could he walk that thin line? At some point, he'd fall. Just like the ones who tried before him. The fall didn't scare him. It was, which side would he land on?

Sitting on the black stairs the entire night, he wondered about the answer.

***

Wang Yang could never hide his awe when he compared his time in the village to the life of cultivators.

The ability to smash a tree with a touch, the wind blasting on your face on the flying sword, pills that could give the taste of delicacies, not to mention the extravagance of banquets that could bankrupt an entire kingdom.

To the average person, cultivators were far removed from the mortals. Like gods, gods you could meet if luck allowed it.

However, today he found one point both shared.

A body rested in a grave; dirt shovelled over him. Inside was Elder Ling, an important elder of Sky Peak who passed away.

The news was as sudden as lightning, but no one looked surprised. His Master and other Peak Masters paid their respects, holding a three-day fast, and finally sealed the tomb on Lotus Peak, his prized possession, a wooden flute, next to the tombstone.

Even though the surface seemed calm, Wang Yang heard that the Peak Masters thought highly of Elder Ling. Hua Mei said that her father had rushed back the moment he heard of the incident, and the peak had been in chaos.

Master must be feeling down, too. Elder Ling was like a Second teacher to him. He had heard from Hua Mei when she came to play with Yae.

Most disciples on other peaks had stopped training for three days; they filled their time with praying or meditating. Just when Wang Yang expected a little break, his Master broke that illusion shortly after the funeral rites ended.

"Forget about no training, it has doubled." Crawling back into his room, Wang Yang ate a healing pill. He had done it every day for the past week, but it only numbed the pain.

Since the tribulation, his master had made a point to look over their training every day. He personally guided them through theory about formations, alchemy, and sparring for martial competence. To say the least, he gave them only enough time to breathe.

Sun Lingling followed along with little to no problem, his senior only had to worry about the sword and cultivation, along with some theory which she could memorize at a glance.

Wang Yang, however, felt like he'd fail to keep up even if he had two bodies. He wanted to learn Sun Lingling's technique, but his mind wasn't as sharp. But what he lacked in brains, he made up for with effort.

It had reached the point that on the one day of the week he got to rest, his body felt uncomfortable. Even sitting still became a problem, as someone poked at him to move.

Maybe I've lost my mind. Wang Yang truly felt so when he walked into the library, shuddering at the scent of dried ink and aged paper.

"Library on a rest day?" His Master, sitting on the windowsill, looked over with his sharp face. Still as fresh as the day he first saw him, Wang Yang looked at his reflection on the polished glass desk and regretted it.

"It felt weird to sit still after constant training." Wang Yang scratched the back of his head, looking and acting like a monkey compared to his graceful master.

"Must be because you are young. I would kill to get some rest." His Master smiled, just like he usually did.

Wang Yang doubted his words. Since he had come to Plum Peak, he had never once seen his master, Li Muchen, rest. Never caught the man catching a wink of sleep. Every day at any moment, he had a task, cultivating, or he was in the library reading or writing.

"It may sound like a joke, but I really do need rest. Everyone does."

And, his Master could definitely read minds.

"I am not reading your mind."

See? There was no other way to explain it.

"I am sure I've told you the reason before." He shook his head.

His Master most likely did tell him, but Wang Yang had no clue. So, he changed the subject.

"If Master wants to rest, you should rest, no?" He came closer to the window, and the cool wind, along with the soft sunlight, washed over him.

"Well, it's never about what you want, but about what you must do." His Master closed the grey book in his hands for a moment.

"Can't they both be the same thing?" Wang Yang tilted his head.

"Life is seldom that convenient." His Master laughed; he never laughed like that. But he should definitely do it more often; it sounded like music.

"Since my disciple wants me to rest, I guess we can arrange that," he said.

"Really?" Wang Yang wondered what the catch was; with his master, there always was one for some odd reason.

"Have you understood the first chapter of the Shan Dian Manual?"

"…" Wang Yang stepped back; he would've reached the library door if his Master hadn't grasped him by the shoulder.

"I'll take that as a no."

Wang Yang had tried. He had tried for days. Understood what the words said. Even memorized them. But he could never follow them.

His master tapped the book on his fair cheek for a moment before he looked over with a smile. Wang Yang felt a pit growing in his stomach.

"If you execute the first chapter by dinner today, I will take tomorrow off. What about it?"

"That's…" Wang Yang stepped back, a web; he had been caught in the web.

"What happened, my dear disciple?" And the spider closed in without mercy, looking as pitiful as one could with that handsome face. "Don't you want your master to get some rest?"

Unfair. That was the only way to describe his situation.

A man doesn't go back on his word. Since it has come to this, Wang Yang could only brave through the consequences like the protagonist of The Valley where two Paths meet.
...
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[Overload69]

Shan Dian Martial Manual. A book as thick as they come. It contained techniques, many of which Wang Yang saw in the index.

From hand-to-hand combat to swordplay, and even spear techniques and footwork. Mind-related spells and techniques for tracking and observation. The book contained hundreds of these techniques, created and refined over centuries. At least that's what Wang Yang's master told him.

But when he opened the book, it started with none of them. The first chapter taught him about the energy needed to use these techniques. Of course, they won't work on normal elemental qi.

Sitting on a rock in the middle of the pond, Wang Yang felt the refreshing breeze brushing through his untied hair, bringing the scent of the nearby garden. The sweet smell of the flowers circled him, the taste of ripe fruits on his tongue.

With the sun moving westwards, the sunlight fell square on his face. Gentle and empowering. Earth, Water, Wood, and Fire, the elemental qi gathered in his hands, and last, he introduced his own metal qi, completing the chain.

After hours of focus and retries, he finally had the right amount of qi from each element. Every bit measured with care, eyed to perfection. But the moment he tried to blend the five-element qi, they dispersed. He braced himself for an explosion, but it didn't happen this time.

"I almost had it!" Wang Yang clenched his hands after an exhale of exhaustion and relief, hitting his already sore thighs.

"Observe why you failed and try again." His Master turned the page of the thirteenth book since he started, lying in a thing he called a hammock. It looked like a wide swing, but for sleeping? "You won't find your pure qi if you get distracted this easily."

"Apologies, I will try again!" Saying that, Wang Yang reopened the manual. For a book so thick, it weighed as much as a feather, even though it looked very heavy. The cover felt good to touch. Like aged crocodile leather.

Wang Yang shook his head, fighting the distraction. He reread the first chapter.

To use these techniques, you must unlock your pure qi. Wang Yang went over the concept again.

Pure Qi, a qi only accessible to those who could manipulate all five elements. The mixture of the five elements formed pure qi. Easy enough to say, but a heck of a lot difficult to pull off.

The main problem for Wang Yang was the end part; he could disassemble the qi from his Dantian into five elements, like unraveling a cloth, one thread at a time.

However, he couldn't reassemble them outside his body. His master said it was about balance and image. He succeeded in balance in his last try, but the image eluded him. Even if he thought of it as mixing five colors in a bowl, it didn't help; in fact, that attempt ended in the explosion he feared before.

Thanking the silk vest and protective barrier on his chest for the nth time, Wang Yang started to contemplate. Arms crossed and eyes narrowed, his face sterner than the rock he sat on. His reflection on the pond looked funny, but he decided to focus.

As the orange hue settled in, Wang Yang wanted to give up. He had tried seven more times, seven different images, but nothing worked. Was it just not possible for him?

"What do we have here? Giving up?" His master stood at the pond's edge, hands behind his back. Seemed like he had finished reading for the day.

"No, I will find the right answer." Wang Yang scrambled to his feet; only an hour remained till dinner time. He had to do it fast.

"Right answer?" For some reason, his master chuckled. "No wonder you keep failing."

"What?" Wang Yang tilted his head. Wasn't finding the right answer the point? What else would he look for?

"Wang Yang, if you see a person drowning in the lake, what would you do?" His Master asked.

"I'll save them." That was a no-brainer.

"Do you believe everyone would do the same?"

"I… believe they should." Wang Yang hesitated for a moment. "I am sure they would want to help."

"What if the person is evil?" His Master didn't let him hide behind that answer. "Do you think they'd still save someone?"

"Well… How would you know?" Wang Yang didn't know; maybe they'd save them? Maybe they won't. Everyone had their own answers.

"That's right…"

Wang Yang saw the smile on his master and understood immediately. He didn't need the right answer; he needed his answer.

He had seen the Shan Dian manual in action. Whenever he thought about the pure qi, only one person popped up in his mind. Shan Pei. His lightning-like energy, the color and shape of it, had left a deep mark on him.

Wang Yang had already decided that the pure energy should be like that. He had made that decision in his heart, and his brain tried to follow. However, that white lightning was Shan Pei's answer, not his.

Five elements gathered in his hands, each in its spot, each a symbol. What was the best way to mix them? When Wang Yang closed his eyes, the image flashed in his mind.

The flash that had him mesmerized a few days back. The thundering clouds above his Master's head. The swirl in the middle that churned with lightning, the white sparks that tore the sky. The thunder that reached him.

Even with his eyes closed, he saw the elements move. A clockwise movement, however, unlike the violent shift of the clouds, it moved with gentleness. A slow swirl he used to make in a bowl of soup as a child, it moved like that, gathering the elements in the middle of the swirl. Contained and smooth.

When he opened his eyes, the pure qi sparked between his fingers, illuminating the darkness that surrounded him. Unlike the white he had yearned for, this one had an azure tint to it. But this was his answer, his pure qi.

"Water's smoothness, but the fierceness of thunder." His Master said, as if waiting for him to get out of the trance. "It suits you well."

"Thank you for your teachings." Wang Yang bowed; excitement bubbled in his heart at the thought of the next chapters. How much of the true potential could he unleash? The question blew away all the tiredness.

"Aren't you glad you did something instead of resting?" His Master asked.

"Definitely." Wang Yang understood his master's point, he really did. "Still, isn't it ok to take a rest sometimes? We can just work harder the next day, right?"

"If you think about it that way, then that's good." His Master nodded, then looked him in the eye. "But, if your hard work today makes your tomorrow easier, would you take a rest?"

"Oh…" Wang Yang scratched his head; his master liked to prepare in advance. But he respected that train of thought. "Guess I'll have to avoid rest for a while."

"Don't take my word for it, find your answer." His Master added. "If you believe that after an enlightenment, after advancement in cultivation, or after figuring out a difficult technique, if you feel you've earned rest, you should give yourself that luxury."

"What do you think, Wang Yang? Have you earned a rest after today?" He asked.

"I feel like I did, but I want to learn more. So, I'll delay the rest for now." Wang Yang itched to read more of the manual, but he had another question. "What about you, Master? Have you felt like you've earned your rest?"

"Hmmm…" A playful smile danced on his master's lips as he glanced at the moon, covered with clouds. "No, not yet."

"I see…"

Even after reaching Nascent Soul Realm, his Master didn't feel like he had earned his rest. Wang Yang understood the importance of that realm; there were only 200 Nascent Soul Realm in the Azure Sky Sect, it was like a needle in a haystack.

Wang Yang felt in his heart that if he had chosen to rest today, he would've regretted it. No, he wouldn't even know what he missed to regret it.

A day well spent indeed. Wang Yang smiled. Even though he failed to reach the pure qi before dinner time, he gained something more in comparison. Maybe next time he'd be able to stand true to his Master's expectation and maybe make him feel like he had earned his rest by raising a capable disciple.

***

Deep inside the Lotus Peak, near a yawning crevasse, was a clear blue lake. Its water as clear and clean as it could be, giving the onlookers a look at the lives of the colonies of colorful fish and corals. It was the only lake on the peak where Lotus flowers didn't grow.

Near it was a pavilion nested under a rocky overhang, fingers of sunlight illuminating its wooden pillars and walls, breathing life into the vines and flowers that climbed the red tiled roof. With the thick forests and warding herbs and a dozen formations that connected to all in the sect, this place was formally named the command center about four decades ago.

Before that, it used to be the playroom for Muchen and his junior disciples. A place hidden from their master, at least they thought so at first, where they could relax after long days of training.

There were many a room in this labyrinth-like structure that had started as four mud walls and a thatched roof, every disciple gathering what they liked in the ever increasing rooms.

Xianquan enjoyed gathering olden artifacts that he bid for in his travels. Liu Zhi filled her area with exotic wines bought from merchants and tonics of her creation. Huang Bai gathered books from new to ancient, anything that caught her eye. Hua Jiahao gathered the weapons of the opponents he had bested since his youth; the collection continued to grow. And, Muchen also had a room of his own, but it was a mixed bag.

He had manuals, old swords and weaponry, artifacts he had found in some secret realms, music scores he happened to hear or remember or find in some graves, and games he had recreated from earth for his leisure.

The games in particular were a hit with his juniors; Huang Bai and Li Xianquan took a shine to chess, which Zhipeng later commercialized; last he heard it had even reached the distant northern isles. Liu Zhi used blackjack to fleece Jiahao of his money and wine, which Muchen had to win back before the stubborn boy would lose even the clothes on his back. The cards had become a big hit in the Western continent.

Now, the disciples gathered here again.

Even after they had given this place an official title, they only gathered here to unwind. To catch a moment of respite from their high positions.

However, for the first time today, the burgundy walls of the main hall saw their serious faces. Around a five-sided table carved out of spiritual wood, the disciples gathered as the sandalwood incense burned slow, the illusory smoke sliding off the curved ledge.

With the moon on the zenith, most of the sect slept, aside from those on guard duty. But the Peak Masters had another sleepless night ahead of them, discussing the current turmoil under the calm surface.

"Are they still preparing their forces?" Huang Bai looked weary, but she had found her footing again.

"Rather than preparing, they have already tried to take over Elder Ling's artifact business by force. It is a miracle that they haven't succeeded." Li Xianquan shook his head, clearly upended.

"Rather than a miracle, isn't it because of us?" Liu Zhi sighed, sprawled against the table. The real miracle was that she hadn't run away yet.

The problem came with the fortune Elder Ling left behind. He had only dedicated his life to cultivation and never took a wife. Even if Muchen scoured the records, the man hadn't a single blood relative alive. Not even distant cousins, he was the last of his bloodline.

Now that he had passed, without leaving any will or orders, his subordinates started to move in the shadows to shovel as much gold into their pockets as they could.

But the problem was that Elder Ling's fortune wasn't small; it had a couple of dozen businesses and several cities. He had enough in gold and silver to even make Muchen look like an average person. Not to mention the cultivation resources that could measure up to a big mid-sized sect.

With that amount of wealth, things were bound to get bloody sooner or later. So, it came to them to stop this before an incident broke out.

"Can't we just take the property and be done with it?" Liu Zhi groaned as the discussion continued.

"We can't do that." Hua Jiahao, sitting next to Muchen, showed his towering presence. His deep voice echoed in the otherwise quiet hall, bouncing off the filigreed walls. "They have served Elder Ling for years; they deserve a fair chance, too."

His smoldering golden eyes shone, and his bright crimson hair moved like a live flame. If not for the smile that seemed even brighter, he'd feel like a beast in human skin with wide shoulders and bulging muscles.

"We aren't fighting for the inheritance, Jiahao." Muchen had to make it clear.

"We aren't?" Jiahao seemed conflicted, even though he had just returned from his long journey filled with duels and beast subjugation, he wanted more.

Muchen could only shake his head as his junior brother had embraced the Martial Path in full.

"We already hold enough power and wealth; if we try to dip into what Elder Ling held, it would destabilize the balance of the sect," Xianquan added. "Should we intervene, I suppose it would be better to go in as an intermediary force to prevent escalation."

"That seems logical." Jiahao nodded, though he seemed a bit deflated that he couldn't have another duel.

Muchen would agree with Xianquan's suggestion here, as he had before his regression, but times had changed. Azure Sky Sect had two factions, one around the Peak Masters, and the second revolved around Elder Ling and the pioneers of the sect.

Some of these pioneers had already passed on, and the rest had no interest in wealth or power. If wealth were a measure, Elder Ling was the second richest after Muchen's Master. Elder Ling's faction had elders and members who were hostile towards the peak masters, Muchen in particular, or only cared for profit. Letting them have the fortune would only sharpen their claws, claws that could harm the sect.

"We have to seize the wealth." Muchen had to use this opportunity to cut away the harmful parts in their system. He spread a yellowed scroll across the table for his junior disciples to see.

"This is Elder Ling's will, a will where he left everything to the sect." He could see that Xianquan had already caught onto it.

But Muchen planned to leave on a journey in a few days. And before that, he wanted to bring about a few changes in the sect.
...
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[Overload69]

Before Muchen's regression, Elder Ling's connection to Gu Changge only came to light after his passing. If his subordinates hadn't fought tooth and nail for the wealth, taking out the skeletons hidden in the closets, maybe the sect would've never known.

The fight over the inheritance at that time had destabilized Sky Peak and, in turn, caused a mess throughout the sect because the disciplinary force was too busy pointing their righteous blades at each other. The reason it escalated so far in a matter of months was because Zhao Jun, the peak master of Sky Peak, had left to hunt down the Sun Cult alongside his second in command, Ning Fan.

Without the two, and Elder Ling dead, things only grew wilder as some families were almost wiped out by the time Xianquan brought the situation to an end by force. It hurt the sect's philosophy of Peak autonomy and also weakened the sect a bit, halting the progress.

To prevent that escalation, Muchen decided to forge a will and put an early end to the farce. And it wasn't a shallow attempt. Years of practice and studying had allowed him to copy his target's movements, a result of Muchen's obsession as someone who could only observe the geniuses around him.

But forging a cultivator's will was more than just replicating the writing; each cultivator had a unique qi print that stayed in their ink. A stamp of legitimacy that became unrivalled proof to connect the writing with the cultivator.

"This is Elder Ling's handwriting." Huang Bai studied the characters with narrowed eyes, tracing the cursive strokes at the end and bold straight lines.

"The qi print checks out, too." Liu Zhi checked the qi waves emanating from the writing with a ceramic dish that had the original stored.

"It looks real, but something feels off." Jiahao's nose scrunched up; his instinct must've kicked in.

"That's because it isn't real," Xianquan added, closing the will.

"Brother Li…" Jiahao looked over, scratching his cheek. He wanted to ask a question, but didn't want to in case it offended Muchen. That was very much like him.

"This is a good opportunity to separate the chaff." Muchen started. "We can use the assets as rewards for those who are still useful and repay the loyal ones, and the resources can go to the disciples who need them."

"That is reasonable. We do have a shortage of resources at Tiger Peak." Jiahao agreed. Tiger Peak housed the main combat force of the sect; the more resources they got, the better.

"What do we do with those who object?" said Huang Bai, although the will had no fault, some would appeal without a doubt.

"I'll handle them." Xianquan smiled. No doubt, he already had a plan in mind. "With this, we can finally put an end to factions and stabilize the sect; a loss of a few sect members wouldn't be a problem."

"Don't go around kicking out whole families now." Liu Zhi grumbled, praying that her peak won't get affected.

"I'll try and not do it if possible," Xianquan stated.

"He's definitely thinking about it," Jiahao muttered.

"The older Xianquan gets, the more he resembles Senior brother Li." Huang Bai giggled, her face softening as the decision became final.

"Makes you wonder if they are real brothers and not just in name." Liu Zhi shook her head, eyelids heavy.

"Blood matters little in relationships; it is how strong the bond is that matters." Xianquan nodded to himself as he looked at Muchen. "With this task done, we must achieve internal stability as soon as possible."

"They are plotting again, aren't they?" Jiahao whispered to Huang Bai, but everyone still heard him loud and clear.

"Rather than plotting, it is preparation," Xianquan added. "Since the demonic cultivators are on the low, we must consolidate ourselves before some new problem sprouts outside."

Muchen nodded. It was only after they had dealt with internal problems that they could look outward. Since the opening of Heaven's spring, he had crafted a plan to increase the sect's authority beyond their territory.

With the conclusion made, they decided to go their own way and focus on their respective work. Huang Bai had to work on keeping public order in the sect, Liu Zhi had to oversee the pill production and profits, Xianquan had administrative work and trained the talents in Lotus Peak.

Jiahao would usually leave first; he was always the busiest among them. But Muchen stopped him this time as others left.

"You've improved a lot from before, brother." Jiahao felt up Muchen's frame from over the silk robes.

Although Muchen had indeed gained a sturdier body than before, his junior disciple's calloused hands were like a beast's maw even when he meant no harm. He had gained more control compared to before, where every hug meant broken ribs. Quite the experience that was.

"Heaven's spring and tribulation helped, though I don't plan on stopping here." Muchen patted the muscular shoulder of his fellow disciple, a body denser than iron; it was like touching a block of tungsten.

"I heard about that. You have a penchant for surprising and worrying others." Jiahao seemed very proud that Muchen had faced the tribulation head-on.

"I would share a drink with you right now as a celebration, but my dear wife is waiting. I haven't had the chance to talk with her since I came back." Jiahao smiled sheepishly. He was about to take off, but stopped.

"So, you do realize your mistake?" Hua Mingzhu entered the hall, eyes dripping with disappointment.

"Ming-Ming, what are you doing here?" Jiahao leaped over to his disgruntled wife, arms around her already. That was his way of making up to her. "I apologize for my mistake. Next time, I'll come to you first."

"Mind your manners, your senior brother is right there." Mingzhu wrenched herself out of Jiahao's trunk-like arms, but her face had a hint of red.

"If anything, I am pleased to see that your marriage is still going strong after ninety years." Muchen wasn't going to let this opportunity go, seeing a flustered Mingzhu was rarer than spotting a golden carp in the wild. "I have a feeling that I'd get another nephew or niece any day now."

"About that, we ar—ouch…"

Mingzhu smacked her husband's shoulder, turning redder. As cool and calculating as she was, Jiahao knew how to melt that ice sculpture. Even now, Jiahao kept smiling at the icy glare she threw at him.

"If you two have finished flirting, shall we get to the main topic?" As a five-hundred-year-old single man, Muchen could only shake his head.

"Main topic?" Jiahao looked between the two, clearly not caught up.

"Take a seat first." Muchen sat down in his seat, inviting the two to sit down across the table. In the same table, they had a serious discussion about the sect's stability a few moments ago.

However, to him, Hua Mei's situation was as serious as the sect, because it was a thread that tied the disciples together. All his junior disciples, and Muchen himself, cared for their niece's safety and well-being. They knew how much pressure Jiahao and Mingzhu were under, raising a child with talent like that. And they did what they could to help.

As a trained assassin herself, Mingzhu had understood the level of protection Hua Mei would need, even more so after the Sect Master's warning. The very reason Jiahao spent more time outside the sect, clearing Qi beasts and keeping track of demonic sects and assassination groups, was to make sure they never reached his daughter. A task Muchen helped with himself whenever he wasn't neck deep in cultivation.

But as they say, excessive care causes the same damage as negligence.

Although Hua Mei had kept up with her training, she had had no contact with the world beyond her parents' estate. Over time, that built resentment and then turned into defiance.

And Hua Mei was as defiant as she was talented, the very cause that landed her in many difficult situations. Gu Changge, or Bai behind him, had used her to draw out Jiahao once. Muchen felt a sting in his heart even now, though Hau Mei lived that day, things weren't the same after that.

"You are making me nervous here, senior brother. You too, Mingzhu." Jiahao shifted in his seat. "Did something happen to Mei'er?"

"She's as healthy as ever, don't worry." Muchen started. "But I do have a suggestion, or should I say request."

"Request? Don't be like that, senior brother, you don't need to ask." Jiahao smiled, his eyes eased up.

"I will be leaving the sect in a few days. I plan to bring Hua Mei with me." Muchen observed the two overprotective parents in front of him.

"About that…" Jiahao let out a wry smile, glancing at his wife. After it was Mingzhu's domain, and from the look on his face, he expected a refusal.

Muchen also readied himself to convince her how important this was; he had prepared several counter-arguments and other things. But Mingzhu folded her arms neatly and gave a light nod.

"I'll allow it," She produced a book and slid it across the table, "but you must take good care of her meals and training, do not let her skip them."

Flipping through the book, Muchen nodded to himself. He'd only follow about one-third of it. But he couldn't blame Mingzhu or Jiahao here either, both of them never experienced normal families, and if he went by this world's normalcy, they treated Hua Mei with better care than 90% of cultivator parents. Especially if the kid belonged to a noble clan of the major sects.

"I didn't think you'd agree so readily." Muchen stored the book in his ring and pointed at Jiahao; the man froze in shock.

"Stop it." Mingzhu elbowed her husband with fierce precision, knocking the wind out of him. "Our main concern was demonic sects and assassins targeting her, but thanks to a certain someone, those problems have evaporated. And I can't be calling myself a mother if my actions take away my girl's smile."

"You must thank Qian Yun when you meet her. She went above and beyond for this." Mingzhu scoffed at Muchen's words, eyes narrowing on his face.

"Did something happen?" Jiahao seemed more occupied with his wife's sudden change of mind to catch on to the subtle hints she threw at him about Muchen's subplot.

"I just had a talk with a fox." She shook her head, giving up for the time being.

"Brother, once my wife makes up her mind, she never changes, even if I beg. How did you do this?" Jiahao looked over, eyes full of hope. "Teach me your ways, please."

While Mingzhu sighed in exasperation, Muchen thought hard about what actually changed her mind. He had not spoken with her about this. So far, he had only hinted at it and kept Hua Mei near his eyes. But she named a fox, who else could it be?

She found out about Yae in the end. That was the only logical conclusion. During the banquet, that fox did make some strange moves, and he noticed the two on the roof.

Muchen concurred with Jiahao's words; Mingzhu wasn't easy to persuade, especially when it came to her daughter. That was the reason he reduced the demonic cultivators, assassin troupes, and even removed Bai's pawns early. He was even ready to give a makeshift PowerPoint presentation, but Yae had saved him from the silliness.

No wonder Master felt bad for her that time. Her revenge isn't an easy job, but I suppose I should put in some real effort. Muchen decided and looked at the bickering couple.

"If senior brother is with Hua Mei, I have no fear. I would come along if not for my duties. But we'll go with her next time." Jiahao laughed, holding his wife's hand like one would handle a flower.

Muchen hoped he would measure himself like with everyone; he didn't want anymore broken bones and pain.

"There are so many places I want to show her, the city I met Mingzhu in, the garden we had our, err, what did senior brother call it again?"

"…Date," Mingzhu added, eyes turning away.

"Yes, Date. We should go on another when we get the chance, they are always fun." He beamed, already looking forward to it. "There is also that theater troupe you liked. The Princess of the Purple Plains, was it? I am sure Mei'er will enjoy that too; she takes after you a lot."

"Stop it, you oaf…" Mingzhu growled but made no effort to move away.

They were like that always, Jiahao and Mingzhu, from the time these two met, they seemed very different, but that made them click well. Made for each other, as some say. In fact, weren't they doing too much? He was sitting right across from them.

Love truly turns people blind. This time, Muchen wanted to preserve the little innocence and joy they had found in a world that only grew harsher.

Maybe if he did that, he could rest well.

However, as he was drinking his tea, Mingzhu froze, her pupils dilating.

"What happened?" Muchen noticed her flickering eyes, eyes looking past him, in the direction of Plum Peak.

"Lady Han, I feel her energy." She shot to her feet; fierce yet confused eyes locked onto him. "Why is she here, Li Muchen?"

To that question, Muchen could only take a deep breath and sigh.

"Why don't we go ask her that?" He got to his feet, carrying a smile of the one who had given up. This would be hard to explain for the master of silver tongue, Li Muchen.
...
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[Overload69]

Climbing the stairs to Plum Peak, Zhi Rou reflected on how hectic the past six months had been for her.

From the harassment of the returned Gu Changge to the attempt on her life to the demonic cultivator subjugation that spanned over half the continent, she hadn't been busier since she assumed her position as the leader of Gu Family's shadow forces.

But of all things, she didn't expect to spend weeks delivering an invitation to her madam's crush. Though she should've seen it coming as her lady had started to become bolder with each passing year, thinking back, she missed the old time.

The Lady Gu of that time had an awkward cuteness where she'd run away at the mere eye contact. Only heavens knew how she turned into such a fierce woman.

If I had love rivals like Senior Han Yue, maybe I'd become like that too? She mused, but remembered that she was already fierce enough. Suitors hadn't approached her since she broke the arm of the last one who tried to flirt with her. That happened when she was in her teens.

At times like this, she thought of her sister. Calm, polite, and sincere, a woman who could coddle even a raging bull with a smile. Maybe she ought to be like her more, but that wasn't possible for Zhi Rou. The separating lines of disciples and elders on the steps to Plum Peak confirmed that.

Was it the aura of blood clinging to her? She had killed as many people as the days she had lived, to the point that she had stopped counting. Or was it her gaze? When alone, the more she tried to relax, the sterner her eyes became, especially on missions. The training had done a number on her.

"At least Yingyue resembles her mother; if she took after me, I wouldn't be able to face my big sister." She chuckled, knocking on the heavy doors to Senior Li's estate. The bronze rings struck against the metal knobs, echoing in a pleasing sound.

With a creak, the wooden doors sank inwards, revealing the stone path through an expansive courtyard. Unlike the wild forest that surrounded the estate, the inside had a sense of harmony; every stone, tree, and flower seemed to hold a purpose.

Although disguised, Zhi Rou could sense the pulsating lines of qi running beneath her feet when she concentrated. Formations, a lot of them.

No wonder Lady Gu called this place a fortress. Though entering through the marble doors of the main estate, which opened for her, she wondered why he would prepare so many defenses in his personal estate.

If this peak stood on the sect's outskirts, she'd understand, but the Plum peak stood very close to the center of Azure Sky Sect. A sect on the easternmost edge of the continent, protected by valleys on the north and east, and a mountain range to the south. But on one side, she understood.

Maybe it was to catch the women who try to slip into his bed. Zhi Rou thought it was a waste; if she had half of Muchen's handsomeness and elegance, as a man, she'd leave her doors and windows open on purpose.

Though she could only imagine the carnage if Senior Li tried that.

"Why are you nodding to yourself there?"

Zhi Rou found the source of the mildly annoyed and squeaky voice in the shadows of the hallway leading to the training ground.

"If it isn't Miss Hua Mei. Are you doing well?" Zhi Rou had met the little imp on her last trip; she was stuck to Senior Li by the hip.

"I am fine, I suppose. But why have you sneaked in?" Hua Mei crossed her little arms; her suspicious glance seemed almost cute. The kid took after her mother more, both in looks and mannerisms, which was good.

"I walked in from the front door; Senior Li allowed me to register my qi here so I could enter freely." Zhi Rou couldn't believe it herself, but whatever, this was a fact she could brag about to Li Muchen's admirers. "I am here to deliver some news to Senior Li. Is he not at the estate?"

"Uncle isn't here at the moment." Hua Mei let go of her frown and turned around. "Follow me."

Zhi Rou followed as told; she expected the kid would take her to a parlor or where Senior Li was. But wasn't it too far away? She swore she had passed by a dozen forks, up and down stairs, through several gardens and patios. For a moment, she expected the kid had lost her way, but that wasn't the case.

Is she trying to throw off my sense of position by going in circles? Zhi Rou had kept track of every door, vase, window, and even the floorboard patterns. It was a cute trick, but nothing she hadn't seen before.

Noticing that she had failed, Hua Mei pouted and finally veered off the path. Smiling Zhi Rou followed. A minute later, she stood before a heavy door varnished with silver.

"Wait, is this…" Zhi Rou blinked as Hua Mei pushed the doors, five times her size. Silver doors only meant one thing.

"Yes, this is Uncle's Bedchambers. If you wait here, he'll come back faster." Hua Mei said, almost proud. "It seemed you had an urgent message, so I brought you here."

Wasn't this kid a bit too thoughtful and innocent? She seemed very bratty before, but maybe that was her misjudgment.

"It is very urgent, you're really smart." Zhi Rou smiled, producing a bag of tanghulu. "Here, these are a speciality in Gu Clan during spring, enjoy them well, but don't eat all at once or you'll catch a cold."

"Thank you, big sister!" Beaming, Hua Mei took the rice paper bag and ran away, all smiles.

"Maybe I did have the wrong idea about her." Zhi Rou sighed, but that thought lasted for a second; her eyes turned to the open door. Beyond it was Senior Li's bedchamber, a place many women dreamed of entering. "It wouldn't hurt to look around a bit."

Any information she found would be useful to her lady, so with only the purest of intentions, she entered the room.

However, she couldn't find anything of interest or any secret stash of adult books or erotic paintings that had become all the rage lately. The few books she had found were in a language unknown to her. Simple-looking letters, some used more often than others, formed what she assumed to be a word. And numerous of these words, short and long, strung along to form a sentence, almost like a trail of worms on paper.

Losing interest, she looked at the other things; the walls were rather plain aside from a few pieces of calligraphy. The bed seemed standard, modest even. The mattress did catch her attention as it had a springiness to it. She could detect metal coils inside, and it felt rather comfortable to touch, especially the silk pillow.

If she hadn't controlled herself, sleep might've bested her. Moving away from the bed, she turned to the one object of interest in the room. A large silver mirror facing the bed.

At first, it seemed like a normal mirror, but the layer of frost on its clean surface said otherwise.

Was it to regulate the room's temperature? If it was, then wasn't this thing faulty? The room had become much chillier since she entered.

"I wonder if it's broken." Zhi Rou looked at her reflection in the mirror, a wave of cold qi leaking out, now taking a physical form. Like the breath of an ice sparrow.

Goosebumps covered her body. If she had learned anything in her life, it was the detection of threats.

The moment she tried to back away, the ice qi had already frozen her legs. The reflection in the mirror distorted, and a pale hand shot out of it, gripping her face.

"How dare you…" The voice echoed. It sounded like a bell, the bell of death, "…touch his bed before me?!"

Zhi Rou could only groan as ice clamped her lips shut. Her mind grew hazy when a killing intent as sharp as a knife plunged into her chest, gripping her heart.

Is this how I die? Zhi Rou's body went limp, a layer of ice encasing her alive. If she had known it would be like this, she would've at least taken a chance with Li Muchen.

With that, her vision went black.

***

Muchen only feared two people since his rebirth into the Cultivation world.

First, a serious Sky Mending saint, and, second, a jealous Han Yue. He had found himself in the second situation more times than he liked to admit.

Today marked another such day. And the victim was none other than the poor Zhi Rou. Though he wouldn't call her a victim, considering she had dug through his room with a rather sloppy smile, as he had observed through the formation. But even he felt a bit bad watching her shiver even after she had passed out.

At least she is alive, that's what matters. Muchen hoped this served as a lesson and helped curb Zhi Rou's mischievous tendencies.

Though he wasn't sure how to deal with Hua Mei, the main cause of this incident, Han Yue. Both of whom kneeled before the silver mirror, a fuming Mingzhu hovering over them.

"Lady Han, what is the meaning of this?" Her anger landed more on the latter.

"It is normal for one to keep their beloved always in front of their eyes." However, the woman herself had a look of absolute conviction. "Didn't you also spend your days tailing that muscled buffoon over there before your marriage?"

"You did?" Jiahao, who had followed them here, spoke in shock. He seemed happier than fearful, though.

"You sent me on those missions, Lady Han." Mingzhu glared at Jiahao hard and turned back to Han Yue. "You wanted daily updates on how Li Muchen was doing during his journey around the continent."

"Yes indeed, but you spent more time watching your future husband, did you not?" Han Yue argued with a shrug. "See? It's the same thing."

"That and this isn't the same thing." Veins popped up on Mingzhu's forehead. And Muchen agreed, this was a much bigger issue. "You have a path connecting the core of Azure Sky Sect and Frozen Flower Holyland. Do you understand the implications?"

"I've had this path for a century; if it wasn't for your little troublemaker, you wouldn't have known either." Han Yue pinched Hua Mei's cheek.

"Let go of me, Ice Witch." The little girl struggled as face turned red. The defiance only lasted till Han Yue glanced at her. "Aunt Li, Aunt Li, please have mercy!"

"You have some tact." Han Yue let her go, smiling.

"These two…" Mingzhu might pass out from high blood pressure at this rate; her anger did not affect the two in front of her. So, she turned to Muchen, and he still had his calmness. "Did you know of this already?"

"What do you think?" Truth was, Muchen only knew about it because of the regression. Around this time, he only thought the mirror was an artifact to absorb his excess yin qi and a way to communicate with Han Yue in cases of emergency.

"How did you even get something like this?" Mingzhu sighed in exasperation, turning back to Han Yue.

"Chen Zhipeng repurposed an existing treasure, the Seven Mist mirror, I think," Muchen explained.

"Lady Han, you tampered with a sect treasure?"

"Master gave it to me, so it is mine. I can do whatever." Han Yue wasn't wrong. The sect leader of Frozen Flower Holyland wouldn't bat an eyelid over a sect treasure. Made Muchen wonder if she was carved out of ice.

"Still, it shouldn't give it such abilities; the mirror only holds a small world inside it." Mingzhu turned back to Muchen, hoping for the answer.

"You remember the kidnapping of Jin Gui, the heir of Golden merchants from the Middle continent?" Muchen could see the fear build up on Mingzhu's face. But he had to deliver the answer. "It was her and Zhipeng."

"How did I not know?" She almost lost her footing.

"I gave you a week of free time, and you spent that with your now husband, too easy, I must say." Han Yue's face remained impassive and thick as an ice wall, but one could feel the smugness come through.

And Muchen could feel Mingzhu's anger, and he understood it too. Han Yue and Chen Zhipeng had played a great game with him all these years, too. But he was much more charmed by the possible uses of the artifact to chide them. Even more so when the Jin Gui, the victim, said it was a valuable experience that helped him understand the weak points of his security detail.

It is good she isnt asking how I know of this, instead she looks rather proud, doesn't she? He shook his head.

As the chaos unfolded, Zhi Rou finally roused herself.

"Senior Li is holding my hand, am I in heaven?" Even while shivering from a near-death experience, she had the time to joke, or she must've become delirious for the moment.

"Get yourself out of that bed, unless you want to see heaven." Han Yue's icy words cut right in. Ignoring the sermon from Mingzhu.

"Yes, sorry for the trouble." Zhi Rou jumped out like a cat and landed on the floor with firm feet. Fear was a nasty thing.

"So, can I know the purpose of your visit?" Muchen thought it must be urgent, given that Zhi Rou had reached his bedchambers to deliver the message.

"Lady Gu wishes to invite you to the opening of the Gu family's ancestral ground; she hopes Senior Li will grace the youngsters of the Gu family with your presence and wisdom. She also wishes that Wang Yang would participate." Zhi Rou said in a tone more serious and ceremonial than ever.

The Gu family's ancestral grounds? Gu Yue invited him and Wang Yang there? The most guarded location in Purple Cloud Sect? Muchen always had an interest in the area, but never had the chance to go. So, the opportunity was a welcome one.

However, there was an important issue he had to deal with before that.

"Let's change locations." He grabbed his vibrating token. "A certain someone needs an explanation."

Li Xianquan had already noticed the changes, so Muchen decided to bring the entire scene to him. He needed the Grand Elder's permission for a few of his own plans.
...
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[Overload69]

After the meeting with his senior brothers and sisters for the first time in a while, Li Xianquan entered the Great Lotus Hall with a smile. His first action was to summon the elders and oversee a general assembly with them.

The initial plan was to ease into the topic and legitimize Elder Ling's will. It would take a few days of back and forth, but he wasn't averse to it to get a clean conclusion.

However, shortly after the elders of the six peaks gathered, Xianquan felt a chill in the air. The others were oblivious to it, but he had a deeper connection with the qi flow and happenings in the sect. Like the needle of a compass, his eyes went straight to Plum Peak.

The qi came from his elder brother's estate, his bedchambers to be exact.

He'd recognize that qi anywhere, even if his five senses were gone. That savage, almost oppressive aura belonged to Han Yue. The Ice Maiden of the Southern Tundra and the woman most obsessed with his senior brother. No, obsessed was an understatement.

If not for the Sky Mending Saint and the genuine affection Han Yue had for Li Muchen, he would be in some undisclosed bedroom by now. These were her own words that she said in everyone's presence, including her own Master.

Now, why did that unhinged creature appear in his brother's bedchambers? Did she finally lose it?

"Is everything ok, Grand Elder?" Elder Long asked, a faint tremble in her voice.

"My apologies, I had something on my mind." Xianquan withdrew his qi; it seemed he still needed much practice. His unknown outburst had stirred the elders in the assembly; even the strongest of them had cold sweat rushing down their brow.

Although an accident, Xianquan welcomed the terror as he usually stayed as genial as he could. As his elder brother said, sticks and carrots.

"It has come to my attention that some elders have been conducting shameful schemes and violence against fellow sect members to acquire Elder Ling's inheritance." His voice cut through the people in question, the factions of Sky Peak in the left rows. He left them no escape or a chance to explain. "His body is still warm, and here you are, trying your darndest to disrespect his legacy."

The heads of thirty or so elders, responsible for this incident, hung low, some out of shame, most out of fear. It wasn't every day that he stepped into politics that stirred beneath the surface. If his brother was the observer of the shadow, he was the overseer of the sect in his Master's absence.

"The initial decision between the Peak Masters was to reveal this after the forty-day fast in Elder Ling's honor ended; however, some of you seem too hungry already." Xianquan gave the will to Elder Long, the timid woman took it with trembling hands and displayed it for all to see. "This is the will left behind by Elder Ling. The Peak Masters, aside from Sky Peak Master Zhao, who is away on personal business, had confirmed its authenticity."

Since Chen Zhipeng didnt care for the matter, Xianquan included him too. That man was more occupied with his contraptions than with sect politics or profits.

"If you doubt my word, you are free to confirm it yourself." Xianquan's voice lowered. "However, be ready to defend your claim when the dust settles. The assembly ends here."

Without bothering to wait for a reaction or excuses, Xianquan returned to the Grand Elder Hall. He contacted his Elder Brother, who had now reached his own bedchambers. In a matter of moments, he entered the Grand Elder Hall.

Lady Zhi Rou, the unofficial second in command to Senior Gu Yue, came in, scratching the back of her head. She was the reason for the summoning of the creature that hung onto her Elder Brother's arm at this moment.

Han Yue didn't bother to return his gaze, or even acknowledge it. Like how a human would ignore the ants below. Over the years, he had understood that this wasn't arrogance. For Han Yue, all living creatures fell into two categories: one contained Li Muchen, and everything else was in the other.

Her eyes would stay the same whether she looked at a rat in the gutter or the immortals of the Middle Continent. Somehow, his Elder Brother found that trait interesting, as it made her spiritual root stronger. This forever troubled Xianquan.

To him, Han Yue was a volcano that could erupt at any moment. Sure, disregard for others wasn't a rare trait for Han Yue; most cultivators were like crabs in a bucket, pushing and pulling each other as they tried climb out. However, in the face of larger enemies, even these crabs knew to gather and help each other.

Han Yue, however, had no interest in the world around her. Her eyes only stayed on Muchen; he was the only one tying her to the orthodox path.

So, in a way, Xianquan felt relieved, but the fact that such a person was to inherit one of the continent's most ancient and powerful forces did give him a headache. Even more so now that he knew she had a direct path to his sect's heart.

I must have a serious conversation with Peak Master Chen after this. Hearing the events, Xianquan subdued his twitching brow. It was unbecoming of him to lose his cool.

"So, Peak Master Li, will you accept the invitation?" Tired even though the day had only started, he threw the ball in his brother's yard.

"Since Matriarch Gu had been so kind to extend an invitation, it would be rude not to accept." His Elder Brother had a knack for performances; the way he switched faces and tones was still top-notch.

And, Xianquan didn't mind Muchen visiting the Gu family territory. Gu Yue was a woman whom he and the fellow disciples thought to be a perfect match for Li Muchen. Both were stubborn, but they had a good synergy with each other and shared a caring nature. Even their Master had approved of the pairing, and she was never wrong in her divinations.

But a big block of ice stood in that road.

"If you are going, I am going." Han Yue never asked for permission; she only proclaimed.

Needless to say, they couldn't allow that. Xianquan blinked several times to catch his brother's attention.

Stop her. he signaled.

I'll try. His brother blinked back.

"Muchen, you're blinking more than usual. Is something wrong?" Han Yue leaned closer to Muchen, her words dripping with concern.

How does she notice that? Xianquan pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Slight discomfort after reading, nothing serious." Li Muchen responded, naturally moving the conversation along. "Actually, I have a task for you. If you complete it, we can go to the Gu family together."

"What is it? I shall see it done before the sun sets." Han Yue's voice turned serious, as if the task was a mandate from the heavens themselves.

"An official alliance between Azure Sky Sect and Frozen Flower Holyland, can you do that?" The words stirred up the room.

Even Zhi Rou, who had stayed mild-mannered, looked at Muchen in shock. Only Xianquan and the eavesdropping Lady Hua had an inkling of this plan.

Li Muchen, his senior brother, had started this plot after he took in disciples. And finally, Xianquan could see the picture Muchen had in mind.

***

Muchen had three plans to change the dark future of his loved ones.

First, he had to cultivate and grow stronger. However, he alone couldn't change the tides.

Second, he had to strengthen his sect and allies. Still, that would be far from enough to face the armies of darkness that would descend upon this land.

That's where the third plan came in. The Alliance. He had prioritized this path more than his personal cultivation since regression. While solving the initial scheme targeting Purple Cloud Sect and becoming the main contributor, then stopping the possible massacre at Eastern Martial Meet, turning it into a continent-wide hunt with his future knowledge.

Muchen had laid his cards in a measured way without ever diminishing the gravity of the situation. He needed that looming fear to bring the major sects together, to unite them against the common enemy. Gu Changge was the perfect tool for that; he served his role well in restarting the activeness of the Demonic Sects.

So, the time to take the proper steps for the Alliance came at last after he had contained Gu Changge.

Gu Yue's invitation came at a perfect time. He could secure her agreement as the matriarch of the Purple Cloud sect's major family. Qian Yun, for all her grumbling and cheekiness, wouldn't ignore him if he approached with seriousness. The Azure Sky Sect already had good relations with the Gao Family's Head, the very man who served as Purple Cloud Sect's representative, also holding the title of the strongest in his sect. With that, the alliance with Purple Cloud was within reach as he had the agreement of the majority.

Frozen Flower Holyland came second on the list. For that, Han Yue was the perfect candidate to speak with. And, she too came readily.

"An alliance… Is it necessary to you?" She asked.

"Is it important to me?" Muchen nodded. The key to convincing Han Yue was himself.

"If it is important to you, it is important to me." Han Yue gave it little thought and turned to leave. "If I get my Master's approval, can I come along to Gu Family?"

"Sure." Muchen smiled.

"It's a promise then." Han Yue beamed in radiance and rushed away, leaving behind a trail of frost.

Muchen did not doubt that she'd convince her master, Han Xue, by hook or by crook. She had always done so. Always going above and beyond to help him or care for him.

In truth, Muchen always felt unworthy of that affection. Even more so when he could never give her anything of value in return, even if he offered his entire life, he would fail to repay even 10% of what she had done for him. He should get his act together in that regard.

After Han Yue left, Zhi Rou made herself scarce since she had finished her task. Now, only Muchen and Xianquan stayed in the Grand Elder's hall.

"Brother, what if she succeeds?" He could hear the worry in Xianquan's words.

"She won't make it on time, you know how stubborn Sect Leader Han is."

Muchen wasn't worried on that end. Han Xue wouldn't allow Han Yue's visit to the Purple Cloud Sect's territory, and she had enough power to contain the latter by force if needed. However, due to her motherly nature, she often went easy on Han Yue, giving in to her requests over time.

"Well, Sect Leader Han is reasonable, but why does she hate you so much, Brother?" Xianquan's smile turned lopsided. "Did you happen to do something to offend her?"

"The reason eludes me, too." Muchen actually knew the reason very well, but it was a matter of Han Xue's dignity, so his lips would stay sealed.

"Still, you're working towards the goal very earnestly." Xianquan leaned back in his seat. "An alliance, this is more a shield for the sect, isn't it?"

"That's part of my vision." Sure, the alliance would serve as a good safety net; it would be the shield that would deter attacks on the sect. However, the shield alone was insufficient.

"We need swords too." Muchen had already acquired the necessary environment to create these swords. "We must use Heaven's spring well for the next year."

"Until next year?" Xianquan tilted his head.

"Yes, after that, we'll allow our allies to use it too." The world ran on exchange; you could only receive something for a price. Even the acts of kindness that seemed random took something from a person.

It wasn't Muchen pessimism, but the world's law.

"So, that's what you are working up to." Xianquan didn't question him because he could feel the chaos waiting in the future. He had probably seen a snippet of it already. "If there is anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask… Well, aside from Senior Han's matter."

"I'll keep that in mind." A chuckle came out of Muchen when he saw the look of pity on Xianquan's face.

Everyone who knew of Han Yue's infatuation with him always gave him that look. Muchen couldn't relate to them. After all, he preferred this type of affection over the sweet words of superficial women.

Some might call him insane, but that wasn't so bad either. Only the insane could do certain things.

And trying to stay sane in a world full of immortal and immoral monsters, now wasn't that truly insane?

As he left the Lotus Peak, his token rang. Wu Kexin had finally called.

"Master, Fu Yuzhe survived."

The time to forge the first sword had come.
...
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