Torsten Hewson
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v2C94: Victory?
🕑 Added 2022-02-09 04:40:52 +0000 UTCThe air was tense, in the stone room. I was in another one of the throne-like seats. Honestly, they were less uncomfortable than they looked. Either that, or as a cultivator, I just didn’t feel discomfort as easily.
Guo Daxian was to my right, and Xiulan’s dad, Xi Kong was to my left. Daxian had pushed part of his robe off his shoulder, exposing the mass of tattoos that ran down his arm and chest like he was some kind of yakuza. Xi Kong had his hands linked in front of him in the robes of his sleeves, and cut a rather more traditional figure.
The rest of the Elders were seated behind us. Some were leaning on walls. The Shrouded Mountain Disciples had been grabbed, and were sitting on their knees before us. They looked as uncomfortable as I felt.
And me? I was front and center, with my arms crossed and a chicken on my shoulder. I felt a bit underdressed, in my normal outfit. All rougher linens rather than the silks everybody else was wearing. But it had the symbol Meiling had designed over my heart and on my back. I liked this uniform. It felt right. And maybe, remembering her with her tongue stuck out as she sewed the design on helped me calm down a bit.
Still, it made me feel just a bit like a mafia boss or something, about to give the Shrouded Mountain an offer they couldn’t refuse. Or had I already given them that?
It was a funny image, yeah, but right now I was seriously questioning where things went wonky. How did I go from running away from the Cloudy Sword Sect and never wanting to deal with cultivators again to apparently being the guy in charge of the entire Azure Hills cultivators?
….Just what had my life become?
No sense dwelling on it though. One of the cultivators outside the door slammed on it, and declared: “Zhou Yingwen of the Shrouded Mountain Sect!”
I felt everybody else tense up even more, as the young man entered the room. I could feel the Qi pouring off the people behind me. They were nervous, and I felt myself respond a bit. My Qi burbled unpleasantly.
“They dare?” I heard Daxian mutter.
“No Elders, they insult Master Rou.” I heard another snarl, as Yingwen walked forward until he was in front of me, and dropped to one knee.
“Zhou Yingwen pays his respects to Lord Rou.” he intoned. His head was bowed completely. Nobody else spoke, so I asked the question on my mind.
“Are you it?” I asked.
“As you have ordered, Lord Rou—no member of the Shrouded Mountain Sect has stepped foot into the Azure Hills without your permission.” The young man stated immediately. “Elder Chongyun is available should you wish to receive him.”
I raised an eyebrow at the statement. Honestly… I had kind of been expecting for an Elder to come around. Counting on it even. But was this really them preemptively doing what I asked them to, or something more nefarious? I had no idea. This. This is why I hated politics. I had no doubt that the Elders could probably run circles around me. Honestly, the incompetent old men who grabbed the idiot ball and ran with it, so common in stories, seemed to be absent here.
The cultivators of the Azure Hills seemed pragmatic and practical, without much arrogance, but I didn’t know if that was because they were all scared of me or not. People tended to act differently when you walked into the room carrying a loaded gun and told them to get along. They were all still trying to kiss my ass.
Instead, I simply nodded.
“So what do the Masters of the Shrouded Mountain say?” I ventured.
“Officially, Elders Shenhe and Chongyun thank the wandering cultivator for his virtue and benevolence, avenging the death of the Young Master. Should he require anything, the Shrouded Mountain Sect will do their utmost to aid the man who avenged Young Master Zang Li.” Yingwen said, his eyes still on the ground.
“What about the damage inflicted on the town?” I asked.
Yingwen grimaced. “The Elders apologize for the deplorable conduct of their disciples, getting drunk and causing a disturbance. They offer the recompense demanded by Lord Rou.”
Was that it? Really, was that the end of things? Just a yes, sir? I hummed, and gestured for Yingwen to continue, but instead he just reached into a pouch on his hip, and pulled out a ring. For an instant, I was confused, then I remembered that spatial rings existed. They were basically bags of holding, from what I remembered. Yingwen stood, and took a couple of steps back.
There was a flash of light and Qi.
And then, there was a table in front of us. A table piled high with pills, and giant pouches with the symbol of what this world used for currency on them.
I heard a strangled gasp, as the feeling of tension ratcheted up again. Every eye was on the new table, or more specifically, the ranks and ranks of pills.
“Spiritual Level refining pills?”
“Thousand Year ginseng—!”
“Iridescent Soulflower?”
The whispers and mutters raked across the arena. Every elder was staring at what the Shrouded Mountain Sect had produced.
“As Lord Rou has demanded. We shall give these small treasures to the mortals and the cultivators of the Azure Hills.”
Which were decidedly, to the Azure Hills, not something “small”. I guess they couldn’t resist giving the Azure Hills at least some nose tweaking. I saw the shock and the greed in their eyes and couldn't help the rather loud sigh that escaped my lips.
Surprisingly, the action immediately shut everybody up, the press of bodies craning to look at the resources on the table snapped back into position. Xiulan’s father and Guo Daxian looked almost embarrassed at their exclamations.
But I just had one last question.
“And what about yourselves?” I asked.
Yingwen looked directly at me. He looked resigned. “That…. Is for you to decide, Lord Rou.”
The silence, and the implication was defining. Yingwen walked forwards, and once again dropped to a knee, bowing his head.
It was an odd feeling, somebody outright giving you permission to kill somebody else if you felt like it. Somebody easily offering up their lives to you.
Perhaps, if it was the heat of the moment, I might have said yes. Perhaps, if the town hadn't been repaired, if the Shrouded Mountain hadn’t just said yes to everything I asked, I might have felt angrier.
But dancing around all the Elders? All the stress, wondering what was going to happen? I just felt exhausted.
I had already killed one man. I had no desire to kill or cripple anybody else.
Maybe I was weak… but at that moment, I couldn’t stomach the thought.
“Go.” I stated simply. “Go, and never return.”
The Disciples of the Shrouded Mountain stared up at me with wide eyes.
“We all owe you our lives, as unworthy as they are, Lord Rou.” Yingwen said.
And that was that. The whole altercation with the Shrouded Mountain was finished.
All I would have to show for the entire meeting was a scroll written from the Elders of the Shrouded Mountain, and a whole load of stress.
Being the guy in charge sucked.
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The rest of the day was spent handing things out, for the most part. I got the Lord Director his money. I had to… oversee a bunch of old men and women squabble over the stuff for their students like birds fought over a berry.
I kept my arms crossed, and my face stern… even as my Qi occasionally bubbled unpelasently.
With the immediate threat of the Shrouded Mountain out of the way…. Things got a little bit more hectic.
Invitations for dinners. Invitations to visit people’s sects. Or their manors. Or from the one guzheng lady, Xinling, request for a private, late-night dinner.
I could have stayed for weeks, just dealing with everything.
But there was one big benefit of being in charge that I did like.
Namely that you can tell everybody you didn’t want to deal with to sod off.
“You can contact me through the Azure Jade Trading Company if there is an emergency.” I said pleasantly, and people stopped asking.
It was late at night, and the stars were out, by the time I got time to myself. Sitting on the top of some inn, and reading the scroll I had gotten from Yingwen. For the first time, I wanted some peace and quiet. Loudboy.. Well, the kid was really loud, especially when he started bawling his eyes out when I gave him the stuff that could possibly restart his cultivation. I still don't know if I trusted the Shrouded Mountain’s resources, but a primer on ways to repair broken cultivation had been added. The rest of the cultivators were all pretty hyped about the pills and stuff though.
Or the normal people staring blankly at the “compensation” they had received, and going just as nuts.
I shook my head, and turned back to the note. A note of thanks, and apology, as well as of all things, poetry. Some flowery stuff about a mountain blocking the cold wind from the north, and how they would never forget the Cloud’s gentle shadow.
I think I got the gist of it, maybe.
I never was very good at poetry.
I sighed, and put the scroll down, just in time to hear a thump as Tigu jumped up from the ground floor as well. She had a bright smile on her face.
“There you are, Master!” she cheered, climbing onto me, and wrapping me in a hug. I smiled at her, and hugged her back.
“Hey Tigu’er.” I whispered. “Did you enjoy your time with your friends?” I asked her.
Tigu grinned, and she immediately started babbling away about Loud Boy and Rags, as well as “The Smaller Blade of Grass” having some kind of drinking contest.
I listened to her, as she curled up into my lap, and just talked. She wasn’t too far into her story, when there was a light flapping of wings, as Big D landed beside me, with Rizzo on his back. The little rat squealed a greeting, and let me scratch at her head, leaning into my touch. I took a breath, and just let her voice wash over me.
“So I added to its beauty!” Tigu enthused. “It's a treasure! Just ask the owner!”
‘She carved it into the wall.’ Ri Zu interjected. ‘Then she had to apologize to the owner!’
Tigu stuck her tongue out at the rat, who just responded in kind. I raised an eyebrow at the two as they started squabbling like sisters.
Big D just seemed amused, as he hopped over and started preening Tigu’s hair, The girl harrumphing and going still.
She... sounded like she had, at least after everything was over, had a good time.
I stared up at the sky for a little bit longer. Until I finally said what was on my mind.
"What do you think about heading home soon?” I asked.
Tigu paused, and looked up at me. She considered the question.
A smaller, softer smile spread across her face. “Home sounds amazing.” she stated simply.
“Yeah. it does, doesn’t it?” I asked.
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Hmm. unsure about this one. But things are slowly wrapping up. Dunno if this one was too much tell though.
Comments
Mickey Phoenix
A few typos: "...Xinling, request for..." -> "...Xinling, a request for..." "Namely that you can tell everybody you didn't want to deal with to /sod off/." should be either "Namely, that you can tell everybody you don't want to deal with to /sod off/." or "Namely, that you could tell everybody you didn't want to deal with to /sod off/." "Loud Boy.." -> "Loud Boy..." "Yeah. it does, doesn't it?" -> Yeah. It does, doesn't it?" (Or, "Yeah, it does, doesn't it?")
Mickey Phoenix
"Officially, Elders Shenhe and Chongyun..." This is the one thing in their interactions that really rang false to me. The whole point of plausible deniability and cover stories is that you've never actually say out loud that they are plausible deniability and cover stories! So I just can't buy the Shrouded Mountain's envoy saying, "Officially" out loud and explicitly like that -- because that declares, overtly and publicly, that that is only the official story, and not the underlying truth. And that kind of eliminates the whole point of saving face and plausible deniability. To me, it would read much more authentically/realistically for him to just speak about the Shrouded Mountain's gratitude to "the wandering cultivator" without in any way overtly acknowledging that this was a cover story at all.
Cyclic Addict Recovering
Typo offering: unpelasently Thank you for the chapter!
Ashlee Jacobsen
Really good wrap up, you covered and touched on all the important points, im excited to see The Lord Magistrate react be Jin asking for political lessons lol
Notcreepycreeper
I know this is slice of life, so hard core inter-sect drama doesn't really fit. But it also kinda feels like the resolution is a little lack luster. Guy turns out to be a demon imposter. Same as Jin's original killers. An interesting angle, obviously a set up for some future plot. But it feels like it takes away from the events a little. Like a bunch of people decided to follow orders that included murder, attempted kidnapping, and the implication of future rape. This is relatively par for course for this world's cultivators, a little distasteful, but not wildly unheard of. So now you have a pretty messed up culture, but everytime someone does something bad to our MC they turn out to be a demon, so it's not reeeaally the cultures fault. Idk, it feels like the story is stopping a little short of what it could be saying
David Bean
Always a excited to get a Tianlan chapter. I love Jin’s nickname for her too. I hope we get confirmation if he remembers her when awake or only when sleeping soon though. Not being sure about it adds a weird element of confusion for me.
Guy L.
Am I the only one hoping that Loud Boy will turn up for some time at Fa Ram?
Liam Rafferty
Are there any plans for official merch? I would totally buy a Beware of Chicken sign.
BZD
“Go and never return.” Okay Scar.
RedFaux
Its makes you strong Jin, nothing a difficult as mercy can be could make you weak
Heidao
All the elders seeing Jin unfazed at the presentation of "small" treasures, showing he truly is powerful and such things are beneath him. "Some flowery stuff about a mountain blocking the cold wind from the north, and how they would never forget the Cloud’s gentle shadow." Shrouded Mountain sending a coded message saying they will be defending the north from the impending "invasion" and thanks the Cloudy Sword for alerting them.
Baconater
Come on, it was right there! “ seems to leave him in a *fowl* mood.
Conor lennon
I see it as something he will need to get over eventually. This is his first serious political situation on his own really. Not like he has had any training apart from knowing xianxia tropes. I imagine he is nervous about fucking things up and getting innocent people unnecessarily killed. When gramps comes back he may get training or advice on that as well.
As much as I like Jin, I’m starting to get really tired with his apparent distaste for politics. Here we have a guy who supposedly abhors violence, yet politicking, that is, means for people from different groups to reach some sort of an understanding with words instead of swords, seems to leave him in an even fouler mood. It’s especially grating when we start with him dreading a long and difficult discussion that gets completely sidestepped due to the other party’s fear of violence, be it due to Jin’s own power or that of the sect behind him.
Even_Odds
Wrapping things up here. Were there any dolls of Xiulan? Might be fun to have Jin get one to tease her and bring back something else as a souvenir for Meiling.
Carl Mason
Last chapter was incorrectly numbered. "Change" was chapter 93, this chapter is properly numbered. Last chapter should have been 93.3.
Undead Writer
Yay!!! Love it! Your doing great!
Mikkel Raffnsøe Koefoed
A fine chapter (y)
mindsystem
They probably assume he's got his own. He is (in their minds) Cloudy Sword Sect. Giving him one might be seen as an insult.
Aaron
Good chapter, just feels a bit short
matthew gilley
The only thing that feels slightly off is the cheapness of them not offering the ring to Rou. Maybe I'm just greedy and want a spatial ring, but you'd have thought a container comes with the contents....
Guessed
Honestly at half the length of a normal chapter this would have been a good way to cap off last week, as it is it doesn't feel worth the wait.
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the Chapter.
Enkelados
In general a good idea, but with Jin as the receiver pretty much useless in a communication. He doesn't know the context and isn't one for courtly manners and poetry.
A shorter chapter. But it was fine for what it was.
Cyan
Thanks for the chapter! Feels just right to me for a final chapter before the trip home. "robes of his sleeves" -> "sleeves of his robes"
closeded
Is the number accurate? Last one was 92.3, this is 94.
Tarmandan
I liked this way of telling. Because the telling is done directly by Jin, because he is annoyed. It's nothing important that is being told, but it being told as if Jin is ranting is showing just how much he is annoyed by all this.
Shadow Gaming
I hope just the book is wrapping up, too god a story for it to end here
Merki
Love it. The perfect conclusion
Chad Hagner
This was a good way to start wrapping up this arc, I’m ready for them to get home and start having goofy Shenanigans again!
Caithdean SValerient
Kudos!!!
What do you mean things are slowly wrapping up? this arc? this book? the entire story?! WHAT!
Mahmood Husein
Nah it was the right amount of tell, this was a good wrap up
Nick
Thanks for the chapter. Looking forward to seeing them back at the farm
Don't be unsure, this feels just right.
Hellmo
I think it's just about right amount of 'telling' since most of the info were just minor details anyway. It's time for them to go home and rest.
Bruno Vieira
Thank you for your Beautiful work, got a credit card just to pay for the patreon XD
Sebastian Rubin
Could have been more show and less tell, yes, but as you said this is more of the final wrap up. We the readers are also looking forward to Jin returning home... And perhaps paying his respects to the Lord Patriarch of Verdant Hills. Right after he finds out from his contacts about the Hidden Monster that is Rou Jin, to whom the Shrouded Mountain Sect kowtows.
Imspinnennetz
Guo Ren is the next Wukong and Monkey Butler is his sidekick. Instead of defeating bad guys, they will team up to design and build tall towerblocks for housing.
Empty Shelf
Yeah, I can definitely see Jin being just 110% done with all of this. This kind of life-or-death Xianxia politics is exactly what he came to the Azure Hills explicitly to avoid. He got to play big shot here and found that the costume, predictably, was a poor fit. Now that it's resolved, it's time to head back. ~Take me home, country roads~
NFH
Agreed
Arnon Parenti
I feel this leaves more room for future interactions and favors exchanged. We already know the Shrouded ppl don't go to Azure Hills unless by some mistake, it costs them absolutely nothing to agree to not go where they never want to go anyway. But they also suspect Jin of looking for some treasure, so agreeing to not go and then going anyway still benefits them and the story. The sword Summer Sky that the elder woman was looking for is in the hands of Yun Ren, and Fenxian knows it after fighting him. There is a lot that can be done by hiding the active Elders' identity from Jin.
taukid
That was a satisfying wrap up so they can start on their way home. I wonder who will come with.
Some person
I think this is just the right amount of everything….
Shadow Gaming
When he first met rizzo she leant into it, but this minor inconsistancy is small enough for me to ignore.
V
Main impression of the chapter that I come away with is 'stress'. I would have liked to see a Shrouded Mountain Elder meet with Jin to get a sense of him as the Elders of the Azure Hills did, seems like that could have been an interesting scene. Understandable given Jin's character that he avoids such a meeting; seems like the kind of thing that could encourage character growth. Spelling error: ' bubbled unpelasently.' -> unpleasantly
Andrew
Thank you!
SuperiorFreak
My only “complaint” is that from what I remembered Rizu was always reticent about receiving headpats/scratches from Jin. Its not really an issue, but it did feel vaguely off when she leaned into it without any apparent pause or something. Of course this is my opinion and honestly its really not something worth complaining about.
Thomas Sawyer
I really hope the Monkey Butler becomes the new Wukong
Dust Russell
I loved it, sometimes tell is good, it especally fits well here wrapping things up
X Blade
Very Good
mindsystem
I love that the Shrouded Mountain sent a message in poem form because saying it outright would be shame on both of them, somehow. Glad to see Loud Boy getting the resources he needs for regaining his cultivation, even if that kinda implies he doesn't come to Fa Ram (yet). It'll be nice for the home team to have a break from outside cultivators before anyone comes to visit.
CptJimmy
Don't forget to bring some souvenirs back for everyone!
Thanks!
Ezio Azrael
Chapter is ok, it'll be nice to get back to the farm though
REPOsPuNKy
woot
