Torsten Hewson
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v5c59: Musings of a Sword
🕑 Added 2024-10-23 05:56:04 +0000 UTCThe morning after Shen Yu returned to Fa Ram
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It's raining.
“Victory!” somebody yelled.
He can’t feel anything.
“Victory! Victory!” the men around Shen Yu cheer.
He can hear their happiness.
“Shen Yu! Shen Yu led us to victory!” somebody cried, raising his blade high.
The words are true. They’ve won. He's won, again.
But all he can see is the one person who mattered to him, laying dead in the dirt, the price paid for another one of Shen Yu’s victories.
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Shen Yu woke from the familiar nightmare with a grimace. It had been his first time actually sleeping, rather than entering a state of meditation, in quite a long time… but he was truly exhausted. This temporary weakness was allowable, considering the previous day’s events.. It wouldn’t do to indulge too often, but he felt quite refreshed, even if he was objectively still in a sorry state. He was in a warm home. Jin was alive. He cast the memories aside.
Still, he looked up, just in case.
The sky was still dark, the room lit only by the dull glow of the fire and the light emanating from the coloured glass balls on the walls of the house. It lent a pleasing, warm effect to the affair.
It reminded him quite a bit of Minyan’s cabin in her first skyship, the Breeze Dancer. So long ago they too had all been sprawled out together, fresh from their own victory against a Demonic Sect.
… perhaps that was why he had asked Minyan for help. He normally wouldn’t have, but last night, the camaraderie had truly infected him.
His eyes locked onto Jin. He was sleeping propped up on a pillow, sitting and only slightly reclined. His was a pose of a warrior not quite ready to truly rest; should there be any commotion, he would be the first up to deal with it, as a true man should. Despite it all… his face was at peace. His brow was unfurrowed.
And why should his brow be furrowed? He was victorious.
Shen Yu let out a breath and smiled, warmth filling his stomach.
Shen Yu’s cultivation had been set back a full realm, with only the dregs of his previous heights remaining. His body and soul were riddled with holes. He had cracks through the rest of his cultivation, some of the damage almost reaching to the foundation.
Centuries of work was gone. And yet there was no despair in the loss. His grandson slept, victorious. Alive.
It was the closest that Shen Yu had been to death in centuries. It was the most damage he had probably taken in his life—yet he lived, triumphant and victorious.
Better still it was a shared victory. Too many times had the Unconquered Blade been the last man standing on a field of fallen comrades. The sole survivor, the only one strong enough.
Something precious to him, something dear to him that he did consider fragile had been directly attacked. But when the desperate hour came, so too had Jin risen to the challenge. He had met it head on, took all it had to strike him with, and then defeated it utterly.
Indeed, what could a man be other than pleased, after hearing that his grandson fought a running battle against three Earth Realm Cultivators at once and then another construct peaking at the Sky Realm? His grandson, who was merely in his twenties?
How magnificent.
They had not emerged completely unscathed. He would mourn Nezan as a martyr, if the fox’s core was completely unsalvageable—but he could not stop the feeling of relief that was in his heart.
Shen Yu let himself smile, as he ran though Jin’s recounting once more. The boy had been sharp, decisive; he had acted well with what little information he had. He would have made a magnificent leader of armies. Shen Yu had felt his pride swell as he described each blow that he had suffered with each he had dealt in turn.
Electrocuted by a man using his vital Qi.
Poisoned by a powerful demonic cultivator.
Fighting against three at the same time, and standing victorious.
What warmed him most was the knowledge that Jin had done it largely upon the diligently-practised basics Shen Yu had taught him. His years running the boy ragged with lessons worked.
It had taken Shen Yu two hundred years, studying thousands of styles and distilling them into their purest essence, to form his Immortal Foundation Arts. It was the closest thing to perfection he had ever made. It was to be his gift to the first he found worthy of being his disciple…or his children.
Bu had learned it first. Many an hour he had spent with his son, teaching him. They were some of his fondest memories. And yet, by the end, no trace of the style had remained, lost and tossed aside.
Jin held to it still. The knowledge was bittersweet, as it always was.
A small tinge of sadness reached Shen Yu’s heart that his grandson's mind was not truly on the path of traditional cultivation, for the Unconquered Blade could see the unpolished greatness… but Jin had made his choice.
A different path. His own. He had sworn he would defend this place against every threat. To create a heaven upon this earth.
He made good on that oath. And while his grandson had shouldered the heaviest burden, each and every person here had helped to lift the titanic boulder.
His eyes shifted from his grandson’s face to the side. Little Mei was using her husband’s thigh as a pillow, their son Zhuye tucked into her breast. Her breathing was slightly uneven due to the internal damage she had suffered from the poison cultivator, rasping along. Her contribution was easy to overlook—yet she had been vital for their victory, staving off injury and death and dueling the poison cultivator. Poison cultivators fighting inside another’s body was like a mortal’s knife fight in an alleyway—dirty, brutal and savage, where the smallest margins meant death.
Cai Xiulan was on Jin’s left side, similarly sleeping partially upright. One of her swords rested against her shoulder, her robe falling open slightly, exposing a raw, angry looking crack in the middle of her chest. The edges were charred and flaking, as if the golden seam had heated up so much it had begun to cook her. Her hand poked out of the bottom of the blanket, her hand resting in Jin’s upturned palm.
The woman had transcended her limits somehow, according to her story with the aid of mortals, to punch up into the Earth Realm. The feat had obviously taxed her—but that was the sort of thing that had one’s name resounding through the world. A talent that nearly equaled Bi De, in his own opinion.
He was still a little unsure of her relationship with Jin and Meiling—but there was something deep there. Whatever it was… it was good.
Movement caught his eye, and he finally stopped staring at his grandson. His other disciple, Bi De, was stirring. The sun was still hidden, but the rooster knew his calling. He gently extracted himself from Ri Zu and Yushang, and with a small pop, he was in his natural form.
Jin and Meiling’s eyes both snapped open at the sound, both of them fixing swiftly onto Bi De, who was in the middle of bowing to Shen Yu in greeting. Jin and Meiling looked at each other, then their eyes closed as their breathing evened out.
Shen Yu nodded at his disciple. The rooster smiled. He spared a glance at Jin, and seemed buoyed by his Master’s closed eyes and even breathing. With his head held high, and proud steps, he exited the house.
Shen Yu heard him hop up to the roof, to the top of the building, where a perch had been crafted just for him. Shen Yu heard his disciple take several breaths.
Little Mei shifted slightly, so she was less curled around her son. Jin had a smile on his face.
The first light of dawn broke the horizon.
Bi De let it be known to the world. The melodious sound filled the hills, resonating with the brightening sky, invigorating, awakening, but not startling. Everyone in the room shifted, roused to wakefulness.
Zhyue’s eyes snapped open. The babe thrust his arms into the air, and trumpeted his own crow, bouncing up and down, a giddy smile upon his face, and his eyes searching for the source of that wonderful, familiar sound.
“I’ve missed that,” Jin said with a soft, warm smile. He brushed some of Mei’s hair out of her face, and bumped Xiulan’s shoulder with a smile. “You tell ‘em, Bi De!”
The rooster hopped back in, looking very, very proud of himself.
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Shen Yu gave each and every one who had shouldered the burden their due consideration while his granddaughter and Ri Zu attended to him. The rat was showing Little Mei how things were supposed to work with cultivator medicine. Lishu of the Shrouded Mountain Sect had been an able teacher to Ri Zu…and Little Mei drank in this new information like a woman dying of thirst. Their Qi soothed Shen Yu’s wounds, but they needed to make more medicine before they could truly aid him… and that required Wa Shi’s lightning. However, the dragon was still asleep. Such was his exhaustion that even the smell of cooking breakfast had yet to rouse him.
Truth be told, Shen Yu had pegged the beast as something of a coward—yet when he had to fight, he had fought savagely. He was certain some of the dragon’s tale had been exaggerated, but the truth of the matter was easy to discern, with the shattered remains of the puppet his trophy. Another who transcended mere power through knowledge—the Honoured Founders of the Cloudy Sword Sect would have loved the beast.
Chun Ke, the boar, gently laid a blanket over the dragon as he slumbered. He moved gingerly, obviously injured from his holding action. That he had survived an Earth Realm poison was a testament to his vitality. The boar noticed Shen Yu‘s gaze and smiled at him in silent acknowledgment. He nodded back at the boar, who went over to Spooks, Han, and Shao Heng and began showing them his assortment of nuts, lichens, and dried persimmons, much to the Thunderhoof’s pleasure. Spooks was looking much better today, his wounds mostly sealed, and his eyes bright and happy.
“Do we need anything else?” Tigu called, a bale of rice over her shoulder. The girl was as bouncy as ever, though she had obviously been tempered by her experiences on the road. She felt firm; mature, even. The cheerful girl had swiftly blossomed into a young woman—and it had been a long time since Shen Yu had last felt the sharp cold fire of a Demon Hunter’s Qi. It had been centuries since he had seen one in action, the baleful green flame smiting all before the man as he held the line before a rift.
She walked beside Tie Delun, who carried jars of pickles. The tall, freckled man was a good egg. He had joined the defense as soon as he had heard what might happen, offering himself against a foe he knew little about without hesitation.
He was also… well. Shen Yu would not call him a toad lusting after the flesh of a swan. The boy was better than that. If Jin agreed, then Delun was… an acceptable lad.
Shen Yu took his eyes elsewhere, as the food was delivered. Pi Pa in her human form received it. There was still something raw about her… and he could not blame her. She had confessed to nearly striking Chun Ke when she unleashed her cultivation. The void was truly a terrible, indiscriminate thing… but she had leashed it once more, even after letting it loose. Her fortitude was near equal to Chun Ke’s. She would surely recover.
Yin scooted past Pi Pa and Tigu, her job lighting the kitchen fires done. She yawned and stretched, then scratched at the deep bruises on her neck, before flopping down beside the Xong brothers, who chuckled as she began to doze. A woman who had fought multiple opponents a realm above her, and then acted like it was something she should have been expected to do, and was upset she had started to flag near the end.
Gou Ren simply sat leaning against his older brother, who had Nezan’s core in his hand. His hope was still strong. He and Yun Ren drew strength from each other’s presence—both brothers were as stalwart as they came. They reminded him a little of Ge and Ran, the two with him through thick and thin, his greatest friends. To think, they were mortals but two years ago. Now they were toppling sects, fighting demons, and crafting fortresses that could withstand demonic assaults with raw Qi reinforcement.
Gou Ren had certainly grown mighty. His cultivation, already rock-like, now felt more like a mighty fortress.
Xianghua, who had helped to defeat an entire Fulmination Assault Group without casualties, and then burned nearly twenty demons to death in a single technique, looked very satisfied by the fact that her feet were in Gou Ren’s lap while she lovingly repaired both of their headbands, stopping occasionally to look at a scroll.
Not a single soul here had shirked their duty. All had contributed.
Zhang Fei, Shaggy Two and Huo Ten, who despite their level of cultivation had managed to contribute, were even now talking to Bi De and Yushang, the rooster-masked boy animated as he mimed sharp thrusts to his approving Master.
Bei Be, who had cut down his fair share of the enemy with a plow. Miantiao, who had leapt in front of Meiling when he thought her down, ready to give his life rather than have her hurt when an artificial demon had barged into the room.
Even the bee, Vajra, had done her duty…and was by all accounts essential. To think, even insects upon his grandson’s farm had the soul of heroes.
Again, Shen Yu was inordinately pleased. What man would not love to have his grandson be surrounded by such a wealth of heroes?
“This is as much as we can do,” Little Mei said, as she removed her hands, and interrupting his thoughts.
“Thank you, granddaughter,” Shen Yu replied—and he truly was. Little Mei bowed to him, and then from Shen Yu they next went to Yingwen. The member of the Shrouded Mountain Sect was still awkward, but the boy was polite enough, revealing the leg Ri Zu had transplanted onto him. The woman preened under her Master’s praise, while Fenxian looked amused.
Both men had proved themselves in Shen Yu’s eyes. They had fought well, and held to their oaths…but they were both clearly lost in this environment.
“Not at the table!” Jin scolded the women as he emerged with breakfast—and he was obeyed, with tittering laughs.
Thus, they had their meal. It was truly as delicious as ever, and they also got a show—as Spooks and Cai Xiulan made the exact same noise of pleasure when they ate.
“Unless there’s anything you need seeing to, Gramps, we’ll start the day trying to wake Zeng up to get the full story from him, then work on the corpses outside. For our guests, please don’t worry about any of that. Tell Pi Pa if you need anything or get hungry or thirsty, okay?” Jin informed everyone.
“I shall require some provisions. After we awaken Zang Zeng, I shall be heading north to resupply Lu Ri,” he informed his grandson.
Pi Pa was given that task, and Wa Shi finally awoke, to eat his fill and then go back to dozing.
The sun was barely up when they entered the fortress, Zang Shenhe there to greet them at the door. The Shrouded Mountain disciples were restless, but their behavior had been good. They were supplied with some more medicine, and Jin made small talk with Shenhe about what they needed, while Shen Yu simply settled in to wait. They questioned some of the other members of Zeng’s team while they waited, but the men had little information, and had not been informed of their leader’s whole plan.
Naturally, his granddaughter was skilled beyond measure—and with some enlightenment from her, Zang Zeng awoke and was ready to report.
A report that left Shen Yu a bit conflicted. The man was massaging the truth a bit, but not lying. He had clearly been intending to assault Shen Yu’s grandson, and had broken his orders…but he had also been directly targeted by a disciple of an Imperial Realm Demonic Cultivator, and had managed to resist both her and a puppet worm in order to act righteously. His interference in the fight had allowed Jin to come out less scathed than he otherwise could have been.
Yet he had also known about the Patriarch of his Sect, and the past secrets of his sect.
He asked his boy what he wished…and Jin just didn’t care. He would receive healing for his assistance in the battle, and leave with his life, as long as he stayed away from Jin’s home forevermore.
Shen Yu washed his hands of the man…and left the Shrouded Mountain Sect to have their internal breakdown. This one was boring to watch, because he quite liked Shenhe, so he went to do his other duty.
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The flying sword strained him, but Shen Yu was not about to admit defeat—and this was also the quickest way, and much faster without having to carry others. Shen Yu arrived at the captured base swiftly, Lu Ri radiating a beacon of Qi to guide his path.
“I see you have been busy, Disciple,” he called when he arrived, casting his gaze at the formerly hidden base.
“Lu Ri greets Master Shen,” the man intoned, bowing politely outside the captured base. Not a hair was out of place, not a drop of blood stained him—despite the several dozen corpses that were lined up and ready for cremation. “Forgive this Lu Ri for the mess; he just finished mopping up the stragglers, and was going to commence the funerary rites for unwilling enemy combatants.”
Shen Yu smiled at his voice and actions. Truly, Lu Ri was upon the path of the Founders.
“I bring you resupply. My grandson and Pi Pa assembled the victuals.”
The man perked up at that statement, a small smile on his face.
“You honour me, Master Shen— This one accepts and appreciates your goodwill.” Lu Ri bowed again.
“Nonsense. A reward and an apology must both be delivered in person.”
The man rose and blinked as the words reached him. “Apology? he asked, sounding confused.
Shen Yu clasped his fist in his hand and bowed. “This Shen Yu must make amends. He questioned your honour, and the honour of the Cloudy Sword, when he found you absent from the defense, while you were defending by striking at the core of the enemy camp. This Shen Yu offers his apologies to Senior Disciple Lu Ri of the Cloudy Sword Sect, and asks for his forgiveness.”
Lu Ri’s eyes genuinely widened, and he seemed at a loss for words. The man opened and closed his mouth several times, before he cleared his throat, and returned the gesture of respect. “Lu Ri accepts Shen Yu’s apology. Past actions of the Cloudy Sword Sect destroyed a lifetime of trust, and it is only natural that it will take time to rebuild. This Lu Ri will endeavor to once more make the Cloudy Sword Sect’s honour unquestionable.”
Even in accepting an apology, Lu Ri was above others.
“Shen Yu thanks Lu Ri for his magnanimity,” Shen Yu said, rising and laying eyes upon the man again. “But I will insist upon setting this matter to rights properly. I owe you a boon of your choosing—we shall discuss it further when Brother Ge arrives.”
Lu Ri inclined his head. Then, Shen Yu looked around as they both began to walk into the base. “You said there was another here, a Yuanlin?”
Had she been here, he would have told her about Nezan’s state. She deserved to know that much.
“Yes, Master Shen. I told her to go back and check on First Den while we wait, and make sure things are still fine. She was instrumental in our speedy advance, and finding this base in the first place.”
They lapsed into silence as they began to tour the facility, fully intact in a testament to Lu Ri’s talents and intelligence. He had already captured everything he could in a recording crystal, but had declined to touch the formation should he accidentally set off some kind of warning.
If they could analyze it completely, they could craft their own artifacts and formations to seek out the formation’s unique Qi signature, and its unique Qi signature alone—allowing them to find these anywhere in the world they might try to hide—and for that they needed an intact example.
“Excellent work, Disciple,” Shen Yu said. He had seen enough to give information to Ge when he arrived…but was in no state to start gutting the place himself. “Please, eat. You will be relieved soon.”
Lu Ri bowed and made the gesture of respect, then opened up one of the jars that had been sent along with the meal.
Lu Ri’s eyes widened and a faint smile crept onto his face.
“Ah, Miss Pi Pa has outdone herself,” Lu Ri murmured, as he ate the sweet.
Shen Yu chuckled, and he ascended back into the sky.
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He returned about an hour before midday with his joints screaming at him. He briefly checked on the Shrouded Mountain Sect, who were all in varying states of shock, before dismissing them and going to observe what Jin was doing.
His grandson had out a piece of paper, a chart, and was getting people to use their techniques on the pile of corpses in thirty-second intervals.
Curious, he had asked—and Jin had told him. Told him about the charts and the intervals and repeated testing, as well as the different “states” of Demonic Qi.
Jin’s information was not new…it was just not often so quantified. Most scrolls were rather vague about the phenomenon. Demonic Qi was not generally completely static. It could change “states” quite readily—doubly so in some techniques where the Demonic Qi actively fought back, so it was generally best to learn how to grind it down with one’s own Qi.
It was slow, but it worked, and could readily be done with meditation and while cultivating…and so most were simply left to figure out the ‘states’ by themselves.
Even the Cloudy Sword Sect seemed conflicted on the changing nature of Demonic Qi. There was much discussion about it amongst the Founders of the Cloudy Sword on the phenomena, but they all called it something different, or had different terms for it—to say nothing of other sects.
His grandson’s understanding was perhaps not complete. But the theory was understandable in a way most weren't. The organized, repeatable tests swiftly collected data, and the writings produced from said data were easily understandable, enlightening all who would look at them.
Instead of one expert using their Qi and making proclamations about the nature of the Demonic, Jin had over sixteen types of Qi that he was experimenting with, from a variety of styles—while other disciples also gave their input and thoughts.
It was an interesting way to approach the problem, so different than many did.
As it was, the work was not yet done, and Shen watched with pride as Jin frowned at the charts, clearly ruminating on the nature of it. He looked at the results of his tests—then at the Hongs’ siphoning formation, and his own formation for growing plants, and scratched his chin.
“Multi-stage destruction array?” he murmured to himself.”Use different types of Qi to destroy it faster and more efficiently? Or siphon the different states into separate places to destroy them?”
All Shen Yu could do was smile
.
Then…to his surprise, the day got even better, as Yun Ren ran back to the house, waving Nezan in the air.
The wily bastard had lived.
Shen Yu’s grin stretched across his face. How long had it been, since he had had a victory like this? Where the stakes were so high, so involved with his family, but the price so light?
He did not know. But this victory was not his alone. He got to truly revel in it.
He drank with the fox, and made merry with the others, celebrating Nezan’s return—while he waited.
His comrades were surely just past the horizon. They would arrive… and then this victory would be truly complete.
Shen Yu was a cracked wreck compared to what he once was. And yet his smile took up his entire face.
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Shen Yu kind of interlude. Sorry for the wait!
Edited by: Brandon “Philosophysics” Zhang-Leong, Aaron “Pastafarian” Sofaer, BargleNawdleZouss, Plasma Regulators, Oshi
Comments
Casualfarmer
Shen Yu normally likes watching drama. He especially likes it when the person doing the blue screen are his enemies. However, he thinks Shenhe is actualy a pretty good person and likes her, and so is doing her a courtesy by not watching her mental breakdown, and deriving pleasure from it.
Nik
I love this chapter. I think I've read it five times already. It's so interesting seeing what Shen Yu thinks and how he is still growing as a person despite being so old and seemingly set in his ways. I look forward to seeing the path his healing takes.
Mark
TFTC, great as always. Small nitpick regarding this sentence: "This one was boring to watch, because he quite liked Shenhe, so he went to do his other duty." Is there something missing here? Because it makes no sense ‐ logically, I mean. At least I can't understand what this is supposed to convey.
Just A Dude
The Doom Slayer has been fighting demons since the first age, in the first battle, when the shadows first lengthened. If we interpret the Testaments into a Cultivation context, him being tainted beyond ascension and choosing the path of perpetual torment may mean he's made his hatred of demons into the foundation of his Cultivation. His Dao will never allow him to ascend, because it's a path that leads him always back to the demons, but it has made him the physical embodiment of violence towards demons the way Shen Yu is striving to become a sword. So, in short, Shen Yu would probably be looking at someone who has transcended the Imperial Realm without reaching the heavens. I imagine there might be a bit of pity that heaven is lost to him, but also much more awe and respect at seeing a being far older than even the Age of Heroes that even he would have to call an Old Monster. Also fascinated and/or horrified that he's essentially stealing the demons' Qi as he kills them to fuel his endless rampage.
Caithdean SValerient
Thanks for the update!
Osvaldo Antonio Carmona Calderón
Can’t wait to see Master Shou expression on the Farm!
Jason Newborn
I'm betting on a callback to the cultivator worm in Jin's compost pile as well...
Jason Newborn
Dollars to donuts the original read "I am thankful, Granddaughter", was simplified by an editor watching for wordiness who then missed that they were breaking an implied grammatical object.
Z H
So will we get a magic sword and a plow romance arc that ends in a baby shovel spirit? Summer's Sky/Sunny OTP!
Z H
Spiritual sawdust and pine pellets you say? That sounds like a job for Spooks and Master Forest Sweeper!
Z H
Obviously by telling the Doom Slayer that Yin still lives and is safe.
Splutty
I was thinking Sword sword, not Human sword. So was a bit confused at first. lol
Angela Roberts
Yeah, have to agree. There's no way all that sexual attention FROM GROWN MEN when she was 12 didn't scar her psyche. She trusts those two unreservedly and yes, in this case it fits and would make tons of sense.
KnightRider007
“Thank you” is short for “I thank you” Grammatically, “I thank you, and I truly am” does not make sense. ‘Thank’ is a verb, and ‘thankful’ is an adjective. Yes, they’re from the same root, but they’re not the same thing and you can’t just jump from one to the other. Sure, it’s a reasonable assumption, but it’s not inherently extrapolated or implied.
Cranky Otter
This perspective makes the lack of losses to the Fa Ram team more explicable. I very much wanted none to die, but it was starting to look unreasonable that they’d all be so relatively unscathed. That it’s balm for Shen Yu makes me fell better about it.
Cranky Otter
Agree. Not everyone will always be able to contribute in a way Shen Yu would value, but Jin would.
Cranky Otter
I too took “it truly was” to mean truly was thankful, but trying to parse it took time and interrupted the flow.
Just A Dude
Shen Yu and Lu Ri... truly Shen Yu is a man without compromise, even with himself. His doubtful thought, unvoiced and inconsequential, could have easily been simply forgotten, but he chose what was right over what was simple and easy even when noone and nothing would have known except him. That's a fine example of the conviction it takes to truly challenge the heavens.
Angel
Agreed! 🥰
John D Jones
"Not bad for a rookie."
Angel
Well said Laura, couldn’t have said it better myself!
Angel
Well said! Though, while she deserves a nice, long rest, I think she might feel enormous pressure to get home and take charge of the sect?
Net
Oui!
Randall Brynsvold
Jin needs to upgrade his weapon of choice with stronger metal and a Shovel Spirit.
Randall Brynsvold
From the author's Discord posts, Liusei is from Yellow Rock Plateau, and was in a fight that physically knocked her over the border into the Azure Hills with severe injuries. Cai Xi Kong (Dad of Grass) found her and helped her. When she was fully recovered and had the itch to recommence the advancement of her cultivation, she left as both of them understood she would. Xiulan was a complication in that plan, and may have delayed her departure; she was not regretted, but it was implied that she was not planned. Xiulan and Dad don't know where she is, and her attempts at sending messages haven't succeeded.
Randall Brynsvold
For some reason, that brings to mind Momo's grandmother Seiko Ayase (Santa Dodoria) from Dan Da Dan: half-glasses, a baseball bat, and a Very Much Not Impressed resting expression.
Seth
Loved this chapter.
Randall Brynsvold
I hope that Lu Ri has told Ge about TLM, so that Ge treats him with great respect.
Randall Brynsvold
We're all hoping that Liusei is coming with Minyan.
Randall Brynsvold
On the other hand, he truly enjoys having family around, especially family that will fight beside him, so he now has something worth sticking around for. Maybe that's the reason he thought of Minyan: someone he likes very much and someone he can depend on, who may have hinted at being open to something more.
Gwyn
Shen Yu contemplating demon killing has me thinking... What if in one his demon-plane missions, he came across the DOOM slayer, how does Shen Yu react?
Isak Mark
Ohh, is Shen Yu unwittingly preparing for his ascension? He now has his legacy, the only thing holding him back. Is that the reason why Minyan was also summoned?!!?
Angela Roberts
Fa Ram is working its magic on Shen Yu! It's great to see the Unconquerable Blade proud and smiling even while diminished in strength. Not sure dismissing Zeng from his mind is the answer but I guess we'll see. Good to see how everyone fought and survived from his pov.
Rake1810
Loved getting into Shen Yu's head a bit and i didn't think of it till I saw another comment but I'm curious about his thoughts about The General (or maybe if he didn't notice maybe one of the incoming allies will)
Zero Wrath
I mean if it is then I can’t see what it is, considering the army that is approaching lmao. Multiple imperial realms and the entire cloudy sword sect minus outer disciples (unless they are coming too).
John L.
Quick aside, I think Shen Yu would have an observation on the "General that Commands the Winter" as this is his first time seeing the giant snowman. Just a thought.
Laura Hemly
I also have to say how happy it makes me to see Shenhe recognize the way the Fa Ram disciples work TOGETHER and want each other to succeed. How many centuries has she watched the members of her sect try to advance by tearing everyone else down? She is stunned that Yun Gen wants her to succeed in helping him revive Nezan, something she has never experienced in all her long life. What an awful way to live for ALL the SMS people -- but even worse for her because they blame her for everything Wen did. She must be just INCREDIBLY strong to have survived that treatment for so long! I hope Jin and Meimei allow her to stay at Fa Ram for a while to rebuild herself and the techniques the REAL patriarch of the sect tried to convey!
Alex Ingraham
I feel like the onion ninjas are already working hard enough in this story's normal course. No need to make them work harder than necessary!
Alex Ingraham
Take that grim-derp shite outta my cozy cultivation story!
ItWasIDIO!!
I just had a thought will there be mention of Xiulan's mother by Minyan or is she not a gate guard in this universe 🤔
Alex Ingraham
Jin says all the animal names in English, not just Bi De's. Chunky is the only one we know for certain who also understands what Jin is saying. Stilllllll waiting on THAT conversation CF... 🥺
Laura Hemly
Un chapitre merveilleux, n'est-ce pas?
Laura Hemly
You have a point -- he's going to have a cow! But a question: is the auditor still there? Because I don't see the CSS Elders putting up with his -- or the Wu Clan's -- shenanigans for a single moment!
ItWasIDIO!!
Still good...yeah still good
Laura Hemly
They'll probably have a lovely time gossiping innocently about it.
Laura Hemly
And Jin always says it in English. So nobody can understand it, even those learning John Denver lyrics.
Hugh Mungus
"surely his companions are just past the horizon" - thats seems like a big ass flag
Laura Hemly
Jin isn't interested in another wife, and CF has stated he's not writing a harem story. But if it's Meimei gaining another wife? That seems to the current way their relationship is heading. I still love the cute cacartoon Tsuu did -- "This is my wife, Meiling, and this is Meiling's wife, Xiulan." 🥰🥰
Laura Hemly
But hopefully it has some interesting tea to console it in the meantime.
Laura Hemly
Mon père aussi, Net. Il était égaliment très sévère et n'avait aucune tolérance envers les gens quite n'étaient pas d'accord avec lui. Il resemblance également beaucoup à Shen Yu et gardait rancune pour toujours. (Désolé pour la correction automatique si elle a remplacé certains de mes mots par des absurdités!)
Fluffy druid
I might have to try and reacquaint myself with French. I actually understood this and it has been 40 years since my last French lesson. And yours is such a lovely language after all.
Often Irrelephant
3:1 they try to start something with Washy. For the best (most stupid) of reasons. And/or manage to provoke at least one Fa Ram member into a tussle. Before being forced to take it to the rink.
mag28
I kinda want Xiulan to marry Lu Ri. I think there were sparks during their interaction. Or as much Lu Ri sparks as Lu Ri has.
Often Irrelephant
Ooh - solid point! (No pun intended) - since gases also have to be considered when you're dealing with those quantities. Though now I'm thinking of giant composting toilets and wondering who has access to that quantity of spiritual sawdust or pine pellets.
Daniel Mountain
Chipped, cracked, bent, a little dented... but far from broken.
Melody Haren Anderson
Love all this, kinda wonder how everyone will handle Grandpa's old flame showing up.
Desert Yeti
Fa Ram: Home of Heroes, Birthplace of Legends, Garden of the Heavens.
Desert Yeti
I've convinced myself that the Herald is a Temple Dog in human form.
Desert Yeti
I get the feeling that Xiulan may choose to never marry. And as much as I've come to despise harem stories, I'd be ok with Xiulan joining Meiling and Jin. I can see her living the life of the solitary, dignified leader of the Azure Hills; beautiful, friendly, but ultimately untouchable, and then returning to Fa Ram, Mei and Jin for love and "comfort."
Len
definately, if not for her efforts back at the farm after he arrived, he most likely would have lost.. she is Granddaughter, like Tigu is also Granddaughter...
Idan tal
More? Pls?!?
Pat Sprehe
I'm really curious how the other sects in the Azure Hills will react when they hear the news. Wouldn't it be interesting if Xiulan borrows Cloudy Sword disciples to deliver the news? Maybe Su Ge will offer their services for the chance to participate in Lu Ri's mail delivery project...
Truedragon5374
When Gamps' friends show up, they're going stay up all night drinking Jin's best spirit honey booze while Gramps boasts about his grandson's family's achievements.
Gear-2557
The Lord Magistrate is going to be internally screaming with all these big league factions jumping into his little pond.
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
John D Jones
"Thank you" and he truly was thankful. "Thankful" doesn't need to be typed because it's implied. Shen Yu wasn't saying "Thank you" as a politeness. He truly was thankful to Meiling.
John D Jones
Meiling's (and others') Demon qi draining technique saved Shen Yu's life and possibly his actual soul. Damned right she's a granddaughter now.
Lonnie
He'll be a fun grandpa to have around
Alex Ingraham
The battle of wills was only on Bi De's son's side. Bi De just stared at him curiously for a moment before re-assuming his rightful place. lol
Cam
Such a beautiful chapter! Thanks CF! It felt like a long deserved deep breath!
Net
Ça c'est un chapitre! Oh mon Dieu! Merci.
Jason Newborn
Headcannon: The fairies of SHI cultivate and seek out various ways of flying. Xiulan's multi-sword levitation will impress them. But Yin will demonstrate her "Nova Drive" which will be a ridiculous, fiery rocket blast that she can only sustain for a second without being juiced by the formation.
Net
Shen Yu, il me rappelle de mon père. Un homme sévère qui aime sa famille, qui a une vue traditionnelle des devoirs et des choix. Il est frigide et ne tolère pas les crétins.
Duke of Coffee
Orthodox Cultivator musing indeed. 😜 Hopefully Shen Yu has no regrets when he ascends.
D J Meigs
I’ve been longing for that since the sun rose while they were riding Shen Yu’s sword to Fa Ram, and Bi De didn’t greet it. It felt so wrong. But this one was very satisfying.
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter. As @Deiskos said, you made the day better. Had to shake my head over Wa Shi not waking up as breakfast was being prepared. Then again about Spooks and Xiulan making the same noises while eating. I am looking forward to Shen Yu talking with Tigu about her demon hunting Qi and the last person he knew with that type of Qi. And of course all the people's jaw's hitting the deck when they get to Verdant Hill.
ItWasIDIO!!
I dislike the going over the same of several chapters but I really like the different viewpoint & really you're not as bad as others for this format of writing cause it's not a more in depth rehash
Old Dog
Or her mother.
Old Dog
Agreed.
mag28
If she is a decent person she probably volunteered for the mission when/if where it was going. Or at least I hope she would.
seth4bucks
I think you're looking at him way too harshly. He's old as dirt and has seen many family members and comrades die due to old age or in battle. Then his own son goes off the deep end and he personally has to kill him. After that he blames himself and intentionally distances himself from Jin in order to ensure his 'mistake' doesn't happen again. You can't pretend that all of that death hasn't affected him or his outlook. Hell, we see him suffer a dream in which someone close to him lies dead. He references that some of his victories came at the cost of all of his own comrades on the battlefield. Who knows what his personality was like before his son turned evil or before he had to end his own flesh and blood. I mean he's got a dedicated storage ring for conveying dead comrades to their resting spots. He's hard because he's learned that that's what he needs to be. Experiencing Fa Ram and meeting up with Jin again is helping heal that and is exposing him to a different outlook than he's ever experienced before. This battle kind of proves to him that Jin's path is strong enough to stand against attack, despite not following the principles he's internalized. We've seen him mellowing out some since his first arrival, but you can't expect him to undue millenia of more 'orthodox' outlook in such a short time. Jin, his companions, and Fa Ram itself is a balm on his soul and it's something that is clearly missing from his life and he's recognizing it more and more.
Igor Kaplunov
He is growing as a character though. But you got to remember he's ancient and thus has more baggage than anyone you know.
WarStrider72
I feel like both Bi De and his son got on the roof and had a stare down.... which Bi De ultimately won
WarStrider72
And so Shiyun's prophecy came true! The Unconquered Blade is cracked, but not broken!
AKK1990
Even by the standards of a 'typical' cultivator, Shen Yu is a very good and virtuous guy. Very much a hardarsed, tough as nails type, but still a good person.
MockingBird
I love how even Shen Yu's noticed the strange relationship with Xiulan. Interesting chapter. Hope the next involves POVs from the allies arriving.
Anzer'ke
I truly adore how Shen Yu had fully shifted to considering Meiling his granddaughter at this point.
Tyrell Facey
Obviously, once again proving the necessity of Lu Ri's postal reform
Randall Norman Pick
I'd say Shen Yu's a good person by most standards, but as a 'classic' cultivator he's not very nice.
Jojiro
Man. This has me so conflicted. Shen Yu is the sort of person I really respect and look up to...from a distance. A lot of the way he thinks about people as either worthy or not, definitively, is just so...toxic, to me? Like, when he's thinking about how nobody shirked their duty, it stands in stark contrast to Jin's philosophy, where he constantly emphasizes that everybody has a choice - he appreciates if people defend his home, but even more so he understands if some people might decide to flee (as the plan was originally formulated, that would have been the case for Washi). I think Jin giving space to let people choose is what gives them the safety and comfort to develop their bravery and sense of duty. Yet...well, at least Shen Yu isn't a hypocrite. He apologized to Lu Ri immediately, and his intention would have been to apologize to Yuanlin immediately too. Unlike many Asian parents I could name, he is accountable for his own imperfections, even if I heavily disagree with him about what perfection means as a concept. Shen Yu just leaves me feeling tired whenever I live in his head man XD
Travis Holley
If this was any other story, I'd seriously say that was a setup for a monstrous half the people die war twist
KnightRider007
“Thank you, granddaughter,” Shen Yu replied—and he truly was. ==> word missing. “truly was grateful” maybe?
Gwyn
So excited for CSS and SHI to finally reach Fa Ram.
Nick
Supposedly the letters she sent are still in the soaring isles (post office). They don't have modern mail systems (that's what Lu Ri is creating) they are just stored until a cultivator or merchant heads towards the Azure hills so they can be passed along. But, no one actually goes there, so they are just gathering dust awaiting pickup at the first hop.
Spade ♠️ Dragon
Thank you for clearing that up. As I said I didn't follow the AU. So as always the Real enemy is the Bad postal System. And the ultimate Hero will be Senior Brother Lu Ri. As expected
Sean Ulrich
It’s been confirmed Delun is a good egg
Sean Ulrich
I want Pi Pa to be gifted non prescription glasses. Preferably by Chunky. For reasons
Evaldo
I almost cried with the Bi De salute to the sun!
Brian P.
The dum dums are going to have to be on their best behavior though. No drinking, no eating more than four bowls of food, stoic masks, etc. And yeah, we've seen enough of all the Elder CSS and we know of Minyan via the other story, and we've even seen the Emperor likes him, so Gramps isn't in danger of much more than some light teasing.
Brian P.
Per the SHI story Xiulan's mom had repeatedly sent messengers but didn't ever receive a reply; she was unsure if this was because of them not arriving or because Xiulan was upset with her. From this story we know Xiulan and her father have not gotten any messages so presumably all of them have been lost/waylaid in the transit. The Soaring Heavens Isles and the Azure Hills are quite a distance away from one another. Like, Paris to Beijing but only overland only kinda distance.
Spade ♠️ Dragon
I have a pet peave. I didn't follow the Soaring Iles AU completly, but I heard that xiulans mother is part of that sect. Which means, she left her pre-teen daughter and Husband and never contacted them once? I mean, do those two even know if she is still alive? My point is, if she joins the strike force with grandma Minyan, she better apologize.
frankie doerr
I wonder if with the herald of the emperor that one general will also show up just so he can hear big d wake everyone up in the morning and cry because he can’t steal him for the army because gramps has a new disciple
Kasinki
Ah yes ah yes. Wonderful chapter. Can't wait for what's coming! Tyftc, CF!
Valderan
Weird but I suspect that disposal of demonic qi is going to have some parallels with Jins background as a wastewater manager. Take the solid and liquid it, settling tank with bacterial cultures to manage smell and neutralize, watch for off gasses, etc
Gibborim
Summer's Sky rattles sadly that this chapter wasn't about itself.
Namorat
What a long and wonderful chapter 😊
Trish Brown
Wow this chapter was amazing
CringeWorthyStudios
Jin marries Xiulan and so Mei Mei’s harem grows. (Because we all know it’s Mei Mei’s harem and not Jin’s.) Bonus points if she gets the Baka twins from Soaring Heaven’s Isle too.
CringeWorthyStudios
Eh, I doubt it. That’s not the Cloudy Sword Sect’s style (at least when an idiot young master isn’t involved) and Minyan genuinely cares about him. The only Imperial Realm cultivator coming who might even be slightly questionable is the Imperial Herald, but I still doubt it. Actually, maybe the Baka twins might try something, but not out of malice. It’d be more like “oh hey, let’s fight him when he’s weakened so we can brag about beating an Imperial Realm cultivation” and just not thinking at all.
Wumpy
They'd earn Tianlan's signature forehead bonk for that. How would they like an express delivery into the neighbouring province?
Mark Greenberg
Jin would be the sticking point here, he is at heart a modern Canadian. He sees Xiulan as a sister, not as a lover.
N U
As a result of fighting off an Imperial Demonic Cultivator? They'd literally get the entire Empire on their head for that. At worst, some people might rub it in that he's finally getting old or got too cocky, but even then that'd be some hard disrespect that'd get their asses beat in by his Sworn Brothers.
Cindermoth
So with the super cultivators just behind the horizon, who here is willing to bet Xiulan's mom will be on Minyan's skyship? Oh ho ho, that'd be such delicious drama!
Cindermoth
Eh, it's not that he doesn't understand it. It's just not truly compatible with the core of his cultivation. Either way, he's going to need centuries to recover. Plenty of time to spend with family in friends
Cindermoth
Well it is around Christmas time there ain't it? Seems like he gets to play Santa this time
Laura Hemly
I suspect the Cloudy Sword section folks are going to be quite shocked at the total victory of the Fa Ram folks over the demons -- and the amazing growth of all the spiritual herbs all over the farm! Bathhouse, fireplace, tunnels -- it's going to be fun!
Cindermoth
I'm totally betting on Minyan trying to poach some of the girls
Laura Hemly
Thanks for a terrific chapter, CF! I love the way you had Shen Yu pondering the achievements of each Fa Ram disciple in turn, and just how far beyond their own cultivation each one managed to reach to battle the multiple opponents they had to face! And then he went a step further to praise the mortals who helped. Also, he looked at how strong the younger ones were for the short time they've been cultivating. All in all, it was a lovely look at the Fa Ram crowd and how amazingly well they've done in only a couple of years. And of course, there's Lu Ri's capture of the fully intact base -- it really shows how well he demonstrates the virtues of the Honoured Founders, which I'm sure is the best praise he can possibly receive! And the finishing touch? Spooks and Xiulan making identical sounds over the Qi-filled food. Now they only need Xiulan's father to complete the chorus! 🥰😂
Silvris
Shen Yu: "This Shen Yu is alive. The comrades this Shen Yu fought beside are alive. The people this Shen Yu sought to protect are alive. The enemy is routed and fleeing. We captured a base of theirs intact, formations and all. What is a mere 100 Years of Cultivation compared to that kind of total victory?"
lockx
I swear he says that every time Bi De crows. But it's usually from another point of view. And when it's his point of view it's "Big D"
Silvris
Which shows just how important those foundational basics actually are, simple they might be. So many discard them for fancier, flashier stuff, ignoring that a properly perfected punch or kick has no flash. It is a simple strike, flowing from where it starts to where it needs to hit, with no power or speed lost by embellishment. And so much more devastating when done properly.
Kat Wilton
Oh, I *LOVE* this chapter! Excellent look into Shen Yu ♥️
Dale
Culturally Jin Marrying her is allowed even expected for him to take more than one spouse. Mei is all for it and even poking both Lanlan and Jin Playfully about it.
Please enter your name
I'm suddenly a bit wary of Shen Yu's colleagues... Let's hope they don't harbor resentment over his strength and take advantage while he's weak
GTRoid
Jin also only knows the BASICS of the style, that I have understood.
jord
Have you forgotten? No Xianxiua bullshit here.
Zeromaru2
I'm so happy for Shen Yu. After so long being the Last One standing, he's finally back to basking in a Win.
KnightRider007
Ah, an interesting and valuable outside perspective. We’ve seen the “mortal perspective”, which just lumps all their feats into “cultivator stuff”; we’ve seen the “cultivator peers perspective”, which showed them as prodigies. And now we see the “master’s perspective”, which acknowledges them as very gifted, but nothing he hadn’t seen before, because he’s vastly more experienced and has a much broader outlook.
Zax
Shen Yu: I bet 10 gold you all will punch Elder Chen in the face Elder Shou: Is that a Volcano ginseng growing in the fire place?! Brother Ge: Brother Shen Yu was right, you're getting punched in the face. Take it like a man Chen! Hold still
Idan tal
Beautiful. Thanks for the chapter 🍻
Tsorov
It is unlikely at this point, considering CasualFarmers happy writing style.
KRY
"Her hand poked out of the bottom of the blanket, her hand resting in Jin’s upturned palm. " This teasing is too much for me. When will their actual relationship be discussed? :(
Kreylix
😎😍😎
KRY
In addition to what Peter said, Jin says "You tell them, Big D" in his POV but other characters still hear "Bi De" in theirs. Mayhaps that's what confused you?
Patanahi
Thanks for the chapter CF
Peter Gerganov
That's not even trying to teach an old dog new tricks - this is trying to convince a wolf to put on a tutu and join the circus
Baldanders
Everyone not in the know of Jin's reincarnation shenanigans think he's saying "Bi De" and slurring a little. Since this chapter is from Shen Yu's perspective, the dialogue reflects that misapprehension.
Beggar of Freedom
Divines bless your kind heart!
Peter Gerganov
He's been saying it from before Bi De had the spark in Vol1. It's one of the longest running traditions in the series
Peter Gerganov
tyftc I wanna zero in on this little element "But this victory was not his alone. He got to truly revel in it." I love how much it humanizes the old "monster". He does not care to be the last one standing on a mountain of sculls - to him true victory is shared with his martial comrades. A good thousand-year egg. :D
Joel Magnuson
I can't wait for the reaction of the CSS elders to Shen's state, and the plants on Jin's farm.
Tony
Love to see Sen Yu's perspective, the old blade seems to be a more softer among family, and probably more positive than what he has been in centuries. I cant wait to see him dealing with those allies he has while they probably try to poach some of the Heroes and treasures the FaRam has.
leopard eye
Shen Yu made quite a few mental notes to give out boons. Mei Ling, Bi De, Ri Zu, Yun Ren, Shenhe, Now Lu Ri. He's gonna be buzy... and love it.
Kai
Maybe if his son kept the style he might have actually won, considering how Jin managed to punch up using it
MAS
Has Jin ever said, “You tell ‘em, Bi De” before? Does it mean something, or was it an oversight?
Nathaniel Jacob moore
I didn't know I needed this chapter, but I did, I also look forward to the practically inevitable moment where a certain fairy gets a grandson in the main timeline too xD
Kai
Oh, that's so lovely. And what a happy day for Shen Yu indeed. To have lived so long, he must have had many hard battles with heavy prices. A win against an Imperial level demonic master with 0 actual deaths, a captured intact base and everyone alive. Man, what a win.
RJKY
Jin about to meet grandma Minyan.
Brendan
The 2nd or perhaps in the top 5 worst things his actual son did in his eyes was to toss the style he tried to teach him away like it was nothing but trash.
Neil H
I found myself grinning so much during this chapter.
StarBat
Sooner or later. Shen Yu grandpa will understand the meaning of "why ascend? We have heaven here."
EqualPhysics
I can’t wait to see how his comrades react to him being set back hundreds of years in his cultivation, battle-scarred, and he’s just like, having the greatest time of his life chilling and smiling on a farm.
Jazer Andrew Sotomayor
Thank you
Pierre laplant
I hope he isn't tragically killed. I've read too many novels.
Often Irrelephant
So proud of his grandson - but willing to acknowledge the others helped a *little* bit. Happy to see Little D so happy. Relieved to see Handsome Man may be spared the chopping block. :)
Zatarii
I shall once more leash the reader's void that craves more chapters for to craft truly exquisite works take time.
mhaj58
I’m hoping that when the volume ends that we get another prequel story about Shen Bu. I’m liking Gramps more and more
Tyrell Facey
It's always nice for a hero to get the Victory they actually wanted instead of the one they had to settle with.
Regan
I enjoyed seeing a happy Shen Yu, and his views on everyone are always fun
Bluebag
One of my favorite chapters, hands down. It just shows a really good third party POV of Fa Ram. A wealth of heroes indeed. But what about the general who commands the winter? I hope he doesn't take as long as Vajra to be recognized...
Deiskos
Great as always. Thank you for making my day better.
Aki_Iokua18
Like Quiet Voice said, luck is truly a powerful force. Good thing our guys got the protagonist buff. Hearing it from an old monster like Shen Yu really helps put into perspective just how amazing what everyone has done. Even with more powerful monsters on the way, it’s good to know everyone at Fa Ram will be able to truly hold their heads up high. I can’t wait for the ripples of this arc to be fully realized.
TempestK
Very nice but you accidentally'd a url.
Jon Dough
Woo! Thanks for the chapter! Literally just checked two minutes ago :D
Trebuchet
👍
Mikey D
Thanks! Great interaction with Lu Ri and Shen Yu. Shows that, while sometimes Shen Yu comes off as an "he's an asshole, but our asshole" from a third party perspective, this showed he has his own code too. Also it'd be golden to see the internal panic and pride that Lu Ri underwent through that exchange. I wonder if Jin will go further into martial arts, if only to better protect his farm.
Baldanders
Thanks for the chapter boss
