Torsten Hewson
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v3c1.2: Settling Back into it part 2
🕑 Added 2022-04-07 06:56:34 +0000 UTCMeiling always thought it was fun gathering mushrooms. Wandering the forest and finding food never failed to put her in a good mood. While most of the fungus was from the mushroom farms they had decided to expand their search, simply walking together through their home.
It was good to see her husband at peace and smiling. It suited him best, instead of his brow furrowed and his body tense.
He even had his silly grin back on his face as he cheerily narrated a battle between two Great Hornbeetles.
“And the Green Thunder has the upper hand! Can the Crimson Demon hold on?!” he shouted. The bugs rammed against each other, until the smaller of the two managed to get under the larger. “Oh, what an upset! The Crimson Demon takes the win!”
Meiling held out her hand as Jin slapped a mushroom into it. Meiling was the winner of their little bet. She smiled up at his, his green eyes sparking with mirth.
“Ah man, I totally thought I was gonna win that one.” Jin said, as good natured as ever in defeat.
“I’ve got a good eye for these things, you know.” She said with a smirk. “My little brother has his own little cabal that he thinks I don’t know about. He bribes Yun Ren to cover for him and then he takes the ones he rears to Verdant Hill. The Crimson Demon’s horn had a better hook to it.”
Jin let out a laugh as they held hands again and wandered through the forest, rays of light penetrating the canopy from the afternoon sun. The massive Emperor Woodpeckers, as big as eagles, looked intently at them as they passed before the birds resumed their hammering. The normally elusive creatures were brazen here, carving out nests or looking for food with thundering reports.
So they wandered. Jin had a lot of land, and even he didn’t know everything about it. He’d only been here for a year and a half, and they still found new little nooks and crannies to explore or rocks to clamber upon. Springs to inspect and trees to climb.
It was a bit like being young again, when she was more inclined to follow the Xong brothers directly.
But eventually they did have to head back home. They had dinner to cook and mouths to feed. It was a lot of work… But she could never say she hated it.
They wandered back to their house, which Meiling still thought looked better than the palace in Verdant Hill. It was a little bit strange, it defied every other building plan she knew of, and yet… it worked. It worked, and now she could barely imagine living without a river inside the house or the lovely little upstairs library already swelling with scrolls. Jin was even making noises about something he called a skylight, once they had enough glass, and that just sounded ridiculously appealing.
There was a sound of encouragement and combat from the house. Previously, Meiling would have raced to see what was happening… but she was slowly getting used to that.
Tigu was jumping around the courtyard, followed by a small streak of black and silver.
“You’re getting better at this!” the orange-haired cat-turned-girl called as she dodged again, the little rat accosting her missing completely. Ri Zu’s needle attempted to follow her, but it was to no avail. Tigu was just too fast for her, her yellow eyes easily tracking the rat’s movements. Her tanned skin and muscles flexed as she moved, dancing around the tiny silver needle. She was smiling as well, her grin looking remarkably like Jin’s. The other of their number was sitting off to the side, in conversation with Bi De. The rooster stroked his wattles sagely while Xiulan nodded to him. Their conversation apparently over, the woman noticed their approach as she turned. Her eyes brightened as she rose to greet them. Their friend was currently wearing one of the green tops Meiling had made for her.
If Meiling had to admit it to herself, she was a tiny bit jealous of Xiulan. The other woman was absolutely gorgeous, even more so than Meiling’s childhood friend, Meihua. Her eyes were crystal blue, her features delicate and refined, her skin pale and unblemished, and her brown hair, done in a single simple braid today, was like touching fine silk. And, well, the less said about the difference in their body types the better. Meiling was thin like a reed. Xiulan was… Xiulan.
Really, Xiulan’s top needed nearly three times more fabric than Meiling’s did.
“Master Jin. Senior Sister.” she greeted, but there was a teasing lit to it.
Meiling rolled her eyes. While the respect that Xiulan gave without question at first had been gratifying… it was good that Xiulan was moving past it.
Jin just waved, while Meiling opened her arms.
“Senior Sister indeed. This Hong Meiling has heeded your dinner request. You may kowtow before me for my generosity.” She declared pompously.
Xiulan chuckled, a throaty thing, and embraced her. Meiling hugged her back. Her husband was a very touchy man, quick to hug or embrace. Terribly improper, but Meiling was certain he had the right of it.
She pulled back and smiled at Xiulan. “How was your time?”
“It was very good, Sister. I can feel my strength regrowing already.” Xiulan said with a smile. “I’m nearly at the Fourth Stage once more.” Her friend touched her chest, where a small golden crack lay under her clothes, a wound that one of those bastards at the Dueling Peaks had inflicted on her. The translucent, metallic thing seemed to be benign, and acted perfectly like Xiulan’s own skin.
It was cultivator strangeness. But from what Xiulan was saying, it was a miracle that she was able to heal at all considering what had happened to her. A burnt out cultivation.
Xiulan herself, however, had endured the ordeal remarkably. She hadn’t had any nightmares at all, unlike the ones she used to have about Sun Ken, and when they talked at night the other woman opened up easily about it.
It was something that calmed them both, talking through it together.
“And how did Tigu do?” Meiling asked, curious about how the excitable girl, who was now sitting on Jin’s shoulders, handled meditation.
“Tigu is a natural.” Xiulan stated simply. “She doesn’t complain, or even move at all. I must confess I was a bit surprised, but she's good. Better than Junior Brother, at least.” she said the last part with a smirk.
“Gou was never good at sitting still.” Meiling stated, shaking her head and clapping her hands together. “Now, let's get started on dinner!” she commanded, and everybody snapped to attention.
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Many hands made for light work. Dinners were always fast when Tigu or Xiulan could cut everything up in seconds, and Wa Shi eagerly got her all the water she needed.
Meiling had started practicing her own knifework. She was the lady of the house and she wasn’t going to get shown up completely, damn it!
She hummed to herself in the crowded kitchen. It was much bigger than any other kitchen she knew, but with a pig, three humans, a fish, a rat and a monkey, it was starting to feel just a bit cramped.
And this was after Jin had been kicked out to go and get the boys.
She hummed as she worked. Tigu hummed with her, her voice just slightly off key, but making up for it in enthusiasm.
Meiling pulled the wok from the stove, smelling the aromas, and then handed it to the monkey waiting by the door.
She was still getting used to the monkey. “Huo Ten” was a quiet creature and spent all his time around that strange crystal Bi De had brought home, occasionally chipping in to help with household chores. Meiling was still sussing him out and wondering what would make him open up.
It was something for later. Soon enough all the food was done and they carted the feast outside to the enormous table Jin had set up.
A table that could accommodate six humans, a boar the size of a small house, a dragon, an ox, and several other animals, all with room left over. Meiling deposited her load on the table and sat down in her place.
“Yup, it's looking good! I made some improvements to the hammer!” a voice said, full of good cheer. Meiling glanced to where Bowu was getting a ride from Gou Ren, cheerfully sitting on his shoulders. Liu Bowu was at that awkward teenage stage of looking like he was mostly composed of his limbs. He was gangly and thin, but still had whipcord muscle in his arms and good leg from the fact that he still kept up his sect’s exercise routine. His hair was tinted blue, with a bit of a wave to it, and his eyebrows were rather large.
But the kid seemed inordinately happy. Jin had to drag him out of the forge he had built most nights, the kid tinkering with pipes and the drop hammer constantly.
“Thanks, Bowu, Gou. All those gears give me a damn headache.” her husband replied, nodding to them.
Gou Ren nodded and set his charge down.
Her childhood friend looked good these days. Oh, for sure he still looked quite a bit like a monkey, but he was less scruffy and comical looking with his trimmed sideburns and close-cropped hair.
He’d even gone off and really become a man. Little Gou, managing to woo a cultivator of all things.
Of course, if Liu Xianghua hurt him, Meiling would hunt her unto the ends of the earth… but from what she had heard the woman had put her life on the line for them.
Next to arrive was Yun Ren, the fox-like man settling down and yawning. His ponytail was a bit disheveled looking and he had bags under his eyes. “Got the last of ‘em done, Meimei.” he said with a sigh. He was referring to a set of images he was recording for her, of various medicinal plants and mushrooms. The pieces were then placed onto paper, Yun Ren’s Qi fueling the transfer.
Meiling perked up. “Thank you, Yun Ren.” she said, but her other childhood friend waved her off, making a vague dismissive gesture.
“ all good.” he muttered, clearly tired. He set his sword in a chair next to him and almost absently poured a cup of tea, setting it in front of the blade.
The sword, Summer’s Sky, rattled in a way that Meiling could only interpret as happiness.
The final ones to arrive were a snake with terrible burn scars across his body, a missing eye, and a broken back. He arrived riding a rather sooty looking silver rabbit.
Maintiao and Yin, the glassmaker and the sun rabbit. The snake had an air of quiet satisfaction about him, while the rabbit just looked annoyed.
With the arrival of the last of them, they all settled in their seats.
The family was together for dinner.
Jin looked over them all, a smile on his face, and simply nodded his head.
While some days everybody went their own way or took care of themselves, since there was just so many of them… they all ate dinner together like this at least once a week.
Meiling let the conversation wash over her as everybody started talking, passing each other food, and generally enjoying themselves as the sun set.
The sheep and the cows grazed nearby. The talking was accompanied by an undercurrent of birdsong and the buzzing of bees.
She glanced at her husband, and at the faraway look in his eye as he looked over everybody.
He noticed her glance and he grinned at her.
Meiling smiled back.
He nodded his head, and turned back to watch over everybody, his eyes full of fondness… and conviction.
==============================
The land was alive. It was pulsing. It was vibrating, coursing, and surging along a latticework of golden threads.
It was, as always, a pleasure to observe. The watcher’s senses ghosted along the coils of energy. A polite distance, as they observed the vast and unknowable.
And even now they pulsed to a familiar rhythm. They were more vital, greater than last year, and yet, the energy of the earth was slowing down. It was slight, yet it was perceptible to his senses. The coils and lattices of Qi, churning with life and power were not diminished, but their pulse was slowing.
It was preparing. Preparing once more for the cold to blanket the land. For the trees to lose their leaves and for nearly all growth to stop.
The observer nodded his head, satisfied at what he was witnessing.
Bi De, First of the Disciples of Great Fa Ram, opened his eyes to the night sky. He gazed up at the moon; Its waning crescent a sublime sliver, high up in the heavens.
How truly blessed was he, to observe a second cycle upon this earth. He noted well the differences and the similarities, trying to deepen his understanding. For another hour he sat upon the roof, deep in contemplation, yet his senses were ever open to interlopers.
He was on the night watch, guarding the flock from those who would dare harm them.
Though.., he rarely needed to be so on guard anymore. The beasts now seemed to know better than to mount an assault upon the coops, for what must have been thousands of their kin fertilized the soil. Nay, they stayed in their places. His Great Master had decreed that they be able to receive the bounty of the forests and the hills, for it was not for them alone; and so in the wild places, untamed by His Master’s iron spur, they slunk and went about their business, completing their cycle.
And thus, Bi De was largely free to gaze at the moon on these nights, contemplating the land and the changes of the moon.
It truly was a great life.
Bi De frowned as he saw his Great Master exit his mighty coop, carrying with him a scroll and a stick. His lord glanced up to where Bi De was sitting and gave him a short wave as he set himself beside the river.
His master opened up the scroll and looked at it closely before placing it on a rock beside him and taking his stance.
Bi De was intrigued as he watched him wield his wooden spur. He knew his Great Master practiced his punches daily, with a diligence and mastery Bi De strove to emulate, but he had never seen him use a spur like Sun Ken’s.
He settled in to watch, fascinated.
His master took a breath and launched into the first form.
The movements looked wrong on him. Not in the sense that they were incorrect, for Bi De could see they were fine in execution.
But the movements simply did not seem to fit him. They did not seem to fit his body.
His Great Master looked uncomfortable as he studied the scroll of bladework, as he practiced the art of war.
His master paused in his martial form, shaking himself after frowning at the blade. For a moment, he looked as if he was going to put it down.
He took a breath and started again.
The world was not kind, Bi De knew this first hand. He knew of Lu Ban, his attempt upon Sister Xiulan and of his abduction of Tigu. He knew the world contained many horrors, and that it was only right to defend oneself.
Yet as Bi De gazed at his lord and his training he was struck with a mild sense of loss.
What a shame it was, that hands so skilled at making were forced to cultivate destruction.
The rooster turned his head back to the sky. He turned away from the frown on his Master’s face as he reset.
Bi De stood up.
He would call on Sister Tigu and Sister Yin to spar with him on the morrow. But tonight….
Bi De jumped, a silent shadow. He landed upon the Great Pillars of Fa Ram.
He, like the rest of his fellows, had done the bare minimum in recovering himself.
That was no longer an option. His Lord sought the path of war.
Bi De swore to himself: His Lord would never have to use such things if he had any say in it.
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This reintroduction has been strange to write. A bit of a slow start as well.
But I think I'm happy with the current outcome.
Thanks to the edit squad!
Comments
TheGreenKraken
Or the tool that he started working the land with. He needs a shovel.
Shadow Gaming
Maybe a big hammer or axe, axe matches his wood but I believe that the hammer is more fitting
Shadow Gaming
Or will their be another general to compete with the old
Shadow Gaming
Wooden sword? I agreed with Big F that the weapon doesn't match with the big burly build Jin has going for him. Maybe something 2 handed would better match him?
paul Emmer
A sense of jealousy Purhaps there's no future for a shared relationship it is not the end of the world either way CF will tell a great story no matter what the scenario ❤️
Imspinnennetz
The intended schedule is MWF.
Thunderhoof
What's the schedule pf the chapter releases?
Imspinnennetz
Casualfarmer mentioned on discord that she is still at the village with Guo Ren's parents.
TheOne320
I wonder why Xianghua has not popped up yet ? Last she was in the village greeting the parents of Gou Ren.
N0m_N0m
I Just want to say thanks for letting the rest of us know :)
Imspinnennetz
Heads up for those not on discord. The chapter is delayed to tomorrow.
W. Randy Hoffman
Thanks, Ritwik. Good to know!
Thunderhoof
Or a shovel so that after wacking the enemies, you can instantly bury them. Like the Wicked Blade.
Carl Mason
Is that different from Shovels in Spades?
matthew gilley
Funny coincidence, the main character in another book series is a necromancer that uses a tactical shovel as his main weapon. Its called the unconventional heroes series by L. G. Estrella. I recommend it, especially for people who also like this story.
Jeff Scott
Surely he would have been told the story at least once. Not every little conversation is covered here.
Carl Mason
Like Hades. ...Disturbing comparison.
Steven Whitfield
Pitchfork.... Also known as a War Fork... Very Dangerous in skilled hands. Not a trident BTW
Leander
It could also be a scythe, not those ridiculous anime things, but rather the historical war-scythe
BlueMage_VT
History has a funny way of turning farm tools into weapons, I wouldn't be surprised if Jin adopted a shovel as his primary weapon as a polearm, or experimented with different options. I could see him using a hammer like Tie Delun, or if he keeps going with a sword, learning to use floating blades like Xiulan or Tigu. There could be many weapons and many forms that would suit his larger frame, but a graceful style with a one handed blade may not ultimately be it.
RedFaux
Granpa being like, "2 great-grand children? Wonderful!"
Russell Todd
With his build, all the references to his sturdiness, and his bond with the earth, a hammer definitely suits him more than any edged weapon
Imspinnennetz
On discord, Casualfarmer said that she is still with Guo Ren's parents.
Gigifiy
Nah, it's gotta be Tigu picking it up. Big D gotta learn all about the moon and then pick up Eclipse stuff for his bunny waifu.
IG884HIRE
So, who wants to bet that Big D turns out to be a better fit for the Cloudy Sword sect style of swordsmanship than his master is? The moon does pair better with the clouds than the earth does, at least thematically.
Zarik0
Yeah sword is zzz, a pure shovel seem a bit off depending how the form the shovel have, feel like something like a spade seem good, its a multi tool, shovel/staff for march and travel/agriculture/search/unearth forest bounty with/and can be used for war/defend yourself A buddish Monk's Spade type seem good for him but not the version with the Crescent blade on it just the spade as one extremity and the Spade version more for travel/work/multi tool/zen staff, not the version accentued as a weapon we get at a first google glance :)
James Squibb
The final portion touched me on an emotional level: Jin going out under the cover of night to do something he disdains but knows it is necessary. Big De vowing that his master won't have to. SO much to cover! We are deeply glad you are back Casual. Thank you for another day to look forward to!
Ryan Tirella
In my opinion a good compromise would be something like a Monk’s Spade. It’s similarly shaped like a shovel but is an actual weapon. Also a weapon used by Buddhist monks seems like a good fit for Jin philosophically speaking.
Martin
Are we going to see return of General that commands the Winter? I remember that Jin has shelved its ice crystal and considered reusing it next winter
wanderer117
She smiled up at his, his green eyes sparking with mirth. should be She smiled up at him, his green eyes sparking with mirth.
Daniel
You generally only use a sickle or scythe when you can't get a real weapon. They can work, but they will never work as well as a purpose-built weapon. Its like comparing a spear to a pitch fork; they are similar in general design, but the spear is definitely more effective at killing people.
Daniel
Why would a shovel be any more unwieldy than many of the polearms? They are basically the same - a metal head on the end of a wooden pole.
Kyfe
Using a shovel instead of a sword, no matter how everyone is imagining things, would be unwieldy, because the balance would be off. I think Bi De's statement of Jin's sword practice looking off is more along the lines of his body is built for building, not destroying.
Kyfe
I don't think Bi De was literally thinking Lu Ban, more along the lines of a simple statement of he knew OF Lu Ban, and because it was meant for the readers, and we know who Lu Ban was, that name was used. Kind of like saying, for instance, if Bi De knew what lightning did, the author would most likely use the term electricity, even though Bi De wouldn't know it.
SoulofaGremlin
That was good - But I want to point out that he wouldn’t think of the name “Lu Ban”, He hadn’t heard it.
Kensai
Am I beginning to see a “wax on, wax off” type training montage once Jin rediscovers Okinawan martial arts evolved from farming and traditional tools?
Undead Writer
Thanks for the chapter!!
mindsystem
I thought of that part as being more a preview/teaser/cherry on top of the Gou relationship arc. It'll get there eventually but also, yeah, probably a timeline backtrack in that it hasn't happened yet or is concurrently happening. Also wouldn't put it past Xianghua to stick around and help out to strengthen her ties (or try to). So maybe she is still hanging out with the parents.
GG
Give this man a hammer, so that he can repair the fence and smack the evildoers alike
Sebastian Rubin
It is so good to have you back, master Casualfarmer; your words soothe my mind and soul in these troubled times.
W. Randy Hoffman
Also, the multiple suggestions that Jin would do better wielding a shovel put me in mind of Broccoli Bunch in Ravensdagger's story "Cinnamon Bun", who wields her spade to excellent effect. :-)
W. Randy Hoffman
Where's Xianghua? Have we backtracked in the timeline, or is she still in Hong Yaowu for some reason, or what?
Mahmood Husein
I don't remember if Jin's sword was ever described but I like to imagine it's a curved blade like a Dao. Both because it would fit Jin aesthetically, and because we've seen Jians already (Yun and Xiulan iirc both use Jians iirc)
Nicholas Roberts
I've always been of the opinion that should he have to fight, his trusty shovel would do.
Hampus Steinvall
That ending put a tear in my eye.
KnightRider007
ooh, good catch!
Demian Buckle
Thank you for another great chapter.
Ichypa
How would Bi De know the name Lu Ban? Wouldn’t he still think of him as Zhang Li?
ericksond
Finally Big D musings are back. Behold when a gentle man goes to war!
KnightRider007
“Though.., he rarely needed” - “…” or “,” or “ - “
KnightRider007
“The final ones to arrive were a snake with terrible burn scars across his body, a missing eye, and a broken back. He arrived riding a rather sooty looking silver rabbit.” This phrasing is awkward. “The final ones to arrive were a snake […].” - the pluralities don’t match. Perhaps “The final ones to arrive were an odd, mismatched pair. A snake[…]; he arrived riding a […] rabbit.”
Thunderhoof
Lmao Jin need to transform that sword into a shovel
Konrad2
“ all good.” -> “All good.”
Imspinnennetz
Gandhi should be using a nuclear weapon instead. Civ flashbacks.
Joseph Dizdar
Yep, it'd be like seeing Ghandi shooting an ak47 with military precision. It just looks wrong.
Konrad2
Corrections here:
Imspinnennetz
I think that Jin's body type is similar to his grandpas. (Especially their hips when they are shoveling) I do not think that his grandpa will be that surprised by his large frame as he actually chose Jin as his student based on his 'working class features' and hard work ethic.
Quentin Long
Of course, that's the origin of a number of martial arts weapons. But I think Alex A is right; Jin wouldn't want to pervert his tools by using them as lethal weapons.
Draugluir
Thanks, this was a good one! Big D's insights are always great.
Kairuf
I think it is implying that his form is perfect, but that the emotions and Qi behind it is very wrong.
Arnon Parenti
The General looking for a scrawny kid barely hanging out in the wilderness, running to Giant Jin will think he's a bandit who stole Jin's farm and wife.
Alex A
Jin would be miserable if he had to kill someone with a harvesting tool. Let tools of the harvest continue to do good - do not set them towards the purpose of turning men into ghosts.
David Barber
I don't think he has poor form, just it's not right for him. It looks wrong for someone who spends all his time and effort to bring life and protect those around him to be practicing to kill and destroy. At least that's what I took from it.
Leeland
Great chapter, thx. How about a staff instead of a sword for his weapon? As a blunt instrument it can be easier used in less lethal ways than a sword. It fits a farmer/peasant better and it is somewhat defensive in nature. It is alsohighly flexible, when you wield it at one end it has plenty of reach or you can grip it in the middle two-handed to be able to better parry attacks.
Arnon Parenti
I disagree, Jin does things how they should be done, when going to war, use the tools of war.
SuperiorFreak
I think he meant that it looked wrong on a conceptual level. His actual form was probably flawless due to liberal use of Cultivator Bullshit. Jin probably just looked wrong due to him being a peaceful man at heart.
David Bean
What a motley yet wonderful crew. I love it.
Joseph
I don't think his form is poor, his body is too high level for that now. It specifically mentions that hes a massive man a few times over this story. Id guess hes too built to comfortably move in the ways the scroll teaches
Npad11111
A shovel would be so poetic as that was the weapon he used to kill the wolf way back when he first met Meimei.
Jason Gariando
I approve this.
Jason Gariando
Bless
Npad11111
Jin should use a sickle or a scythe as his main weapon.
Imspinnennetz
I like the fact that Jin's form with a sword is poor. I really feel that the weapon that he will be most comfortable with will be a shovel. (Joining the illustrious group of combat shovel wielders.)
Summercat
Thank you for the chapter. May the Peace of Fa Ram be upon you.
