Chapter 19: This Young Master Still Needs A Break
"Good morning Young Master Chen!"
Manager Song had taken to his forcibly occupied role with gusto. It hadn't taken him long to get familiar with the estate and the serving staff. He was remarkably diligent in performing his new duties as well. Chen Haoran learned this because he had grilled Manager Song with questions, ostensibly under the guise of testing him, to learn about all the inner workings and details he couldn't ask Manager Lin. Seeing as how he was stuck with Manager Song he might as well extract whatever benefits he could.
"Don't you have anything more important to do?" Chen Haoran said.
"What could be more important than serving Young Master Chen?" Manager Song said, smiling.
Chen Haoran snorted in annoyance. Manager Song was just as cheerful as he was shameless. It aggravated him even more that he was so tense around such a happy-looking man. Manager Song's cheerfulness wasn't enough to make him drop his guard however, he wouldn't forget just how easily the bald man shrugged off his strongest blow.
He needed to keep his distance.
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In the following days, Manager Song would not leave him alone. In the halls, in the dining hall, in the gardens, in the bedroom, and in the baths. Constantly flittering around like an attention-starved pet and chirping in his ear all sorts of questions. What are you doing today? What are you doing tomorrow? What are you doing here, there, everywhere.
But Manager Song never asked what he did before.
The training field was Chen Haoran's only sanctuary. The rhythmic circulation of his qi calmed his mind; the furious torrent of the Canyon Carving Sword vented his frustrations. The basics that Lan Fen first beat into him, then taught to beat into himself, tempered him. For all the stress that playing another life took on him. For all the fear that hung behind every thought he had. Chen Haoran was grateful for this. Lan Fen had called cultivation an act of continuous self-perfection. He could feel the truth of it with every breath of qi, and every perfect cycle. It was a feeling he would have killed for back on Earth. A feeling he probably did kill for if he was responsible for whatever happened to the original Young Master.
Chen Haoran only ever thought about the history the person before him left behind. He never considered what happened to the Young Master after he occupied his body. Perhaps he died and moved on. Chen Haoran hoped that wherever the Young Master was, it sucked.
He completed his routine. Basic stabs, thrusts, and slashing. It was good to practice on his own but he needed a sparring partner to put it all together. He'd have to find one of the guards despite his discomfort, if he wanted to grow he couldn't just practice against Lan Fen forever.
There was a sound of ecstatic clapping. Manager Song had appeared out of nowhere. Chen Haoran frowned. Manager Song had no presence in his sense. His superior cultivation didn't burn him the way the Golden Lily Association's supervisor did. Lan Fen had said he'd adjust to it but it was too soon for that to be the case. Chen Haoran thought of how Manager Song appeared right behind him when they first met, and the shadow that emerged from his hand.
Manager Song was a super cultivator ninja. A wonderful fact that surely wouldn't keep him up at night.
"Your progress is outstanding Young Master Chen!" Manager Song exuberantly said. "Truly it brings a tear to this servant's eye to see how diligently you practice."
"Stuff it. What do you want."
"How could I dare desire anything from Young Master Chen? I was merely passing by when I noticed you were practicing."
Pigs would fly before Chen Haoran believed that. Manager Song was clearly monitoring him, had been monitoring him every time he went to train in fact. Even though he couldn't sense Manager Song it was obvious he wouldn't actually leave him alone. The question now was why he chose to reveal himself. It wasn't like his real strength was unknown to Manager Song.
Was he looking for the techniques? Chen Haoran was familiar enough with them now that he didn't really need the books anymore so he hadn't pulled them out. It wasn't a bad idea to try and use them to get the Chen family off his back though. It wasn't like he worked hard to get them anyway.
"Would Young Master Chen care to hear this servant's meager experience?" Manager Song said.
The question startled Chen Haoran. He didn't think the offer was in good faith but he wasn't sure what else Manager Song could find by helping him practice. Perhaps an attempt to lower his guard? Whatever the case getting guidance from a higher realm was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
"Enlighten me then o' wise one," he said.
"I see that you're focused on the fundamentals. But have you attempted to harmonize it with your sword technique?"
Harmonize? There was nothing like that in the Canyon Carving Sword's book. Seeing the confusion on his face Manager Song brushed his hand past his waist. There was a storage bag on his hip and without reaching in a dagger flew out into his hand. Chen Haoran's storage bag certainly couldn't do that. Manager Song waved the dagger at him, a curved, jagged pitch black blade. It looked more like someone had smashed a piece of obsidian till sharp and attached it to a hilt than any kind of dagger he had seen before. It was completely at odds with Manager Song's image of happy buffoonery.
"Observe."
Manager Song slashed at the air in curving, brutal, strikes. Chen Haoran could imagine him using those same strikes to tear out the vitals of an unsuspecting target. Manager Song finished his terrifying routine and twirled his knife in an elaborately unnecessary flourish.
Then his knife disappeared.
Manager Song slashed out again but this time Chen Haoran could not keep up with his knife. It wasn't that Manager Song was going any faster than before, the knife itself was just harder to see like a gnat buzzing around and avoiding focus. He caught glimpses of the knife when the light caught its edge but that was it. Manager Song finished and with another flourish put away the knife and bowed.
"What do you think Young Master Chen?"
That his life was much better before he learned Manager Song was a super cultivator ninja assassin.
"How did you do that?" he said instead.
"Simply circulate your qi as if you were going to use your martial technique while you practice," Manager Song cheerfully said.
He already knew it wouldn't be that simple or else Lan Fen would have already taught it to him. He cycled his qi according to the Canyon Carving Sword's pattern and held it. After confirming it was stable he began his normal practice routine. What followed was miserable failure. Chen Haoran couldn't hold his qi together at all when he tried to swing. Instead, it exploded out in a formless blast and left Chen Haoran feeling like he had been punched in the chest. His subsequent attempts fared no better. Chen Haoran was sweaty and sore when he gave up and turned to a smiling Manager Song.
"Will you tell me what I'm doing wrong now, or are you just enjoying the show?"
Manager Song dared to laugh. "You're not doing anything wrong. You're just not good enough, I recommend getting better."
"Did you come here just to be a dick?" It was completely in line with what he had seen from Manager Song so far but Chen Haoran was speechless nonetheless.
"I'm not lying to you," Manager Song said. Wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. "To Harmonize is to infuse your being with the essence of your martial technique. It takes practice and familiarity to properly achieve."
"How is this supposed to help me with my fundamentals? The whole issue is that I'm bad at fighting."
"Consider it a multiplier. You are correct that, on its own, Harmonization won't directly improve your fighting ability. When combined with proper skill, however, Harmonization can bring your combat potential to a whole new level."
"Why are you helping me?" he asked. Manager Song was annoying but what he was teaching him wasn't nonsense. Chen Haoran could appreciate just how much potential Harmonization had with the power of the Canyon Carving Sword. The issue was what Manager Song had to gain from it. Chen Haoran's cultivation? He knew it already. His trust? Manager Song took every moment to aggravate him.
"You are the Young Master of the Chen family I serve," Manager Song said. His tone was surprisingly formal. "Assisting you in your practice is only natural."
Manager Song made it sound obvious but it startled Chen Haoran to hear it. He had known, intellectually, that he was the Young Master of the Chen family. He knew it was an identity that brought him protection and benefits but he never actually thought of himself as a member of the Chen family. To him, they were a threat that at any moment could expose the lie he'd been living. In Manager Song's eyes, however, despite being the object of his investigation he was still the Young Master. Perhaps Chen Haoran had been approaching this situation all wrong.
"Should I still keep calling you Manager Song?"
"Pardon?" The confusion on Manager Song's face was sweet.
"You're teaching me, and you're a higher realm than me. I can't just call you Manager Song all the time now can I?" Rather than push him away Chen Haoran should use his identity to get closer to Manager Song. What better start than his nominal superior calling him by name?
Manager Song's smile bloomed. "Then in that case Teacher So-,"
"Hell no."
Manager Song laughed. He looked just as happy as he usually did but it felt… gentler. "If it pleases Young Master Chen then you may call me Song Yuelin."
"Thank you for your help today then Song Yuelin," Chen Haoran said. He clasped his hands. He didn't bow but the gesture was enough. "I look forward to working with you in the future."
"Likewise, Young Master Chen." Song Yuelin bowed in return.
"Now if you'll excuse me I have to continue my practice." Chen Haoran turned to leave.
"Where are you going Young Master Chen?"
"To find a guard to spar with."
"Don't you have a sparring partner right here?"
Chen Haoran stopped dead in his tracks. Song Yuelin blinked at him innocently. He reached out with his sense. Song Yuelin was still a Liquid Meridian Realm cultivator. There was only one answer.
"No."
"Excellent! Here I come Young Master Chen!"
Chen Haoran regretted ever trying to be kind.
Chapter 20: This Young Master Has No Break Yet
Lan Fen had told him of four realms of cultivation: Qi, Liquid Meridian, Crystal Transformation, and Star Core. He was told of the Nine Layers each realm required one to ascend. He had felt for himself the difference between those Layers.
Now he felt the difference between realms.
Chen Haoran accelerated the qi in his legs and shot forward, kicking up the liquid shadow that coated the ground. Song Yuelin stood proud and smiling; one hand behind his back. Chen Haoran would make him regret that. He held the Mysterious Watersteel Sword low to the shadows, obscuring its tip. When he closed in it flashed blue with the power of the Canyon Carving Sword and he swung upwards with all his might. Song Yuelin fearlessly stepped into the swing and punched down sharply. Although he had limited his strength to only the peak of the Qi realm Chen Haoran was still the David to his Goliath. His fist would connect before Chen Haoran could finish the technique.
Which was why he let it explode instead.
Song Yuelin was blinded twice over. First by the flash of the weak explosion, then by the liquid shadow stirred up by its force. Song Yuelin was quick to react and launched a vicious right hook through the shadows that would have floored Chen Haoran had he not rolled to Song Yuelin's defenseless left.
Chen Haoran had no time to use the Canyon Carving Sword so he stabbed instead. Within his meridians, the last vestiges of the Canyon Carving Sword seemed to react to his thrust. For a brief moment, he felt like the river carving the canyon.
Then Song Yuelin accelerated faster than the eye could see and backhanded Chen Haoran across the face.
Like a skipping stone across water, Chen Haoran flew across the training field dragging up liquid shadow and dirt with every bounce. Inertia finally halted him with a painful landing that knocked the breath out of his lungs. Song Yuelin leaned over his fallen form, the smile never leaving his face.
"A good attempt Young Master Chen, shall we call it here?" Song Yuelin offered a hand to help him up.
Chen Haoran batted the offending limb away. "You said you wouldn't use your Liquid Meridian realm strength."
"I suppose I did. It seems it's my loss once again Young Master Chen."
"You said that the last 13 times."
"A testament to your sheer skill I assure you."
Chen Haoran ignored the boldfaced lie and picked himself up. He was sore and bruised but otherwise fine thanks to the enhancement of the Stygian Flower. It helped that Song Yuelin hadn't struck him with the full force he could bring to bear either. The bastard did however take great joy in discovering just how hard he could hit Chen Haoran. The last blow had been the strongest so far.
"Did you really have to slap me?" Chen Haoran cradled his stinging jaw. He had felt that backhand to his bones.
"No, I did not."
Was this how Song Yuelin intended to get answers? Aggravate Chen Haoran to death until he fessed up and begged him to leave? Whatever the case despite Song Yuelin being a lying bastard he was more useful than Lan Fen as a sparring partner. Chen Haoran looked around at the liquid shadow Song Yuelin used to cover the training field. It was almost like air in how easily he moved through it, but whenever Chen Haoran used the Canyon Carving Sword it completely absorbed the after-effects and preserved the training field. Just being able to train the Canyon Carving Sword without worrying about wrecking the environment was worth Song Yuelin slapping him around.
He also had a much clearer idea of the chasm that existed between the realms. Just relying on his Liquid Meridian realm cultivation Song Yuelin was faster than he could react and stronger than his ability to defend. The physical parameters alone made it a hopeless fight one-on-one and that was before taking any techniques into account. It put into stark relief the level of the enemy Lan Fen was plotting against.
"Is this something every Liquid Meridian realm can do?" Chen Haoran motioned to the field. He remembered the supervisor at the auction catching the gold taels with liquid energy as well.
Song Yuelin sat cross-legged on the ground. The liquid shadow curled up over his lap and he trailed his fingers through it. "Yes, releasing the liquid qi that floods in their body is something every Liquid Meridian realm can do."
"And the reason it's so shadow-like is because of Harmonization?"
Song Yuelin laughed. "A good guess Young Master Chen. Unfortunately, I'm not capable of such a thing. My qi looks the way it does because of my cultivation method. Once you cultivate to the Liquid Meridian realm the properties of your qi can become enhanced as a result of the sheer density."
Properties of the qi? Did the yellow dragon he sometimes saw while cultivating count? His qi didn't feel particularly dragon-like but Chen Haoran wouldn't say no to potentially summoning a dragon in the future.
"Oh? What are you thinking about Young Master? Are you wondering what your own qi would look like in the Liquid Meridian realm? I recommend focusing on less difficult subjects, it's not good for your health to hope for too much."
Chen Haoran quickly schooled his features. He couldn't help biting back though. "What about you? You were so proud showing off your Harmonization before and now all of a sudden you're not capable?"
"I'm simply aware of my limits. Perhaps you could learn from me?"
Chen Haoran ignored Song Yuelin's needling. He was getting curious now. "Is there a difference between Harmonizing a martial technique versus a cultivation method?"
Song Yuelin leaned back as he considered the question. His gaze turned upward as if looking at something far in the sky. "I told you before that Harmonization is infusing your very being with the essence of your technique. For martial techniques that means your fighting style but, despite strong opinions otherwise, fighting isn't a cultivator's whole being."
"Not like a cultivation method is."
Song Yuelin smiled and nodded. "Yes, not like a cultivation method is." His gaze had not left the sky. "A cultivation method is the foundation for everything a cultivator is, to Harmonize with it is to express its essence through everything you are. Unlike Harmonizing with a martial technique it is a fundamental change. Thus the difficulty is so high as to be out of reach for the majority of cultivators."
"And for those who could reach it?" Chen Haoran was spellbound by the quiet air Song Yuelin took on as he lectured.
"I would call them monsters." Song Yuelin closed his eyes. "Let alone a multiplier I imagine it would be more accurate to call it a whole new world."
"Enough to make you use two hands?"
Song Yuelin was startled and his eyes fell from Heaven back to Chen Haoran. He huffed a laugh, his somberness dispelled. "Not even close." He laughed.
Song Yuelin seemed to have some history behind him. Although Chen Haoran would have liked to know more he knew the annoying bastard wouldn't share it so easily. What he learned was more than enough for him to stew over anyway. Chen Haoran didn't hold out any hope of ever Harmonizing with the Yellow Dragon River Refinement like that but it was enough to know the possibility was there. Perhaps his Gifting power would give him an opportunity one day.
Song Yuelin perked up. "Before I forget there was a guest who came earlier looking for you, Young Master Chen. He said his name was Lan Junjie, I was told he's an acquaintance of yours."
Chen Haoran's eyes narrowed. Someone from the Lan family came looking for him. No doubt it was about Lan Fen's matter, the Lan family might have started to finally catch on to something. If Chen Haoran had to guess it was probably due to the cultivation supplements he had Manager Lin purchase. He avoided Lan Junjie today but he needed to prepare himself for meeting them in the future.
"You did well turning him away Song Yuelin," he said. "Just ignore whatever messengers they send for now."
"I didn't turn him away though?" Song Yuelin blinked at him. Innocent as a newborn lamb.
"What?" Chen Haoran felt his heart stop.
"Since you were friends I had him wait in the receiving room." Song Yuelin stood up and cracked his back.
"You mean he's here right now?" he demanded.
"No."
Chen Haoran let out a sigh of relief.
"He's been here for 2 hours."
"Chen Haoran!" A rage-filled voice sounded in the distance. A white-haired youth, face red with rage and eyes promising murder barreled towards them.
Chen Haoran cursed. "Song Yue-"
Song Yuelin was gone. In his momentary distraction Song Yuelin cleared the field of his shadow qi and disappeared.
"You dare make a fool out of this Lan Junjie! Chen Haoran!"
He was going to kill Song Yuelin.
Chapter 21: This Young Master Will Make A Break
"Is this how the Chen family treats its guests? I demand answers Chen Haoran!"
Lan Junjie looked like a male version of Lan Fen. White hair, golden eyes. On the other hand, his composure was lacking compared to her. His pale skin was flushed red with rage and he spat fire with every word. Chen Haoran felt his rising qi, rippling with his rage. Qi Realm Fifth-Layer.
"Well?" Lan Junjie's golden eyes flashed at him. The whole Lan family really was blessed in that regard.
Chen Haoran could understand Lan Junjie's fury. He would be pissed too if he was left waiting for two hours like an idiot. Thus he would respond to Lan Junjie with empathy and compassion.
"The fuck do you want?" Chen Haoran picked at his ear. Song Yuelin had really knocked his skull around when he slapped him.
"The fuck do I want?" Lan Junjie said, incredulous. He purpled. "The fuck do I want!" He roared.
It was bold of Chen Haoran to curse him out but he didn't have a better option. He didn't have Lan Fen here to fill in for what he didn't know and he couldn't let the Lan family know anything. He could only be unreasonable and uncooperative.
Lan Junjie stepped close to Chen Haoran. Qi flaring dangerously. He was quiet as he spoke but no less angry. "Is that any way to speak to the people whose money you took?" He punctuated his sentence by reaching out a hand and pushing Chen Haoran.
Chen Haoran frowned. He didn't like being pushed. "Don't do that again."
Lan Junjie scoffed at him. "After how long you've kept us waiting? Be thankful it's me and not Lan Yao."
"Why are you here?"
"Why else would I be here? You haven't communicated with us at all!"
Some sort of follow-up on Lan Fen? Or was the deal between Lan Yao and the Young Master the start of a longer-term partnership? Manager Lin probably facilitated communication between them.
Chen Haoran shrugged off the accusation. "I've had my own issues recently. Don't blame me for prioritizing them."
"Such as those cultivation supplements you purchased?" Lan Junjie's suspicion was clear on his face.
"Get to your point."
Lan Junjie scanned the training field. "Are we alone?"
No. Song Yuelin was absolutely creeping around.
"Yes," he replied.
"Have you broken Lan Fen yet?"
Chen Haoran carefully didn't react to the question. Lan Junjie's question struck him as wrong. As if there was a purpose to the cruelty. If the Young Master had broken Lan Fen what did they intend to do with the pieces?
"You know who Lan Fen is. Do you really think it's that easy?"
"She's crippled," Lan Junjie mocked. "Can you not handle a mortal girl?"
It was Chen Haoran's turn to scoff. He had seen that 'mortal girl' kill a Seventh-Layer cultivator with her fingers. Nothing about Lan Fen in the short time he had known her was normal even if she genuinely couldn't cultivate. Even without him taking over the Young Master's body this plan would have failed regardless with how severely they underestimated Lan Fen.
"Hurry it up," Lan Junjie continued. "Lan Yao is getting impatient. Get ready for the handover."
"Handover?" Chen Haoran internally winced. He misspoke.
"What are you saying? Chen Haoran." If before Lan Junjie was angry he was now dangerously quiet. His hand fell hard on Chen Haoran's shoulder.
It was a careless mistake on Chen Haoran's part but being told to hand Lan Fen over surprised him. It didn't sound like it was due to his recent actions either. This was probably originally planned between the Young Master and Lan Yao. What was the point though? To torture Lan Fen? Lan Yao could just come here for that. Lan Yao was the one who spurred Lan Fen's marriage to him to begin with. Why send her away from the Lan family and then bring her back?
"Explain yourself Chen Haoran. You better not be thinking of crossing my sister now." His grip on Chen Haoran's shoulder tightened with every word.
No. Not back to the Lan family. Back to Lan Yao. Whatever it was she wanted Lan Fen for she didn't want the Lan family to know.
Chen Haoran sneered. "Why would I hand Lan Fen over when I'm not finished with her."
Lan Junjie exploded with the full force of his cultivation trying to crush Chen Haoran's shoulder. Chen Haoran allowed him the futile attempt. A Qi Realm Fifth-Layer couldn't break his stride let alone his bones.
"This was not part of our deal Chen Haoran," Lan Junjie said through gritted teeth.
Could such a perfect moment truly exist?
"I have altered the deal." Chen Haoran cycled his qi and brushed Lan Junjie's hand off his shoulder. "Pray I do not alter it further." He smiled. It was a tense situation but he had always wanted to say that.
Frustrated, Lan Junjie pushed Chen Haoran again.
He told him not to do that.
"Listen here you-" Lan Junjie didn't have time to finish. Chen Haoran's backhand caught him in the jaw and sent him sprawling. Chen Haoran loomed over his fallen form as Lan Junjie cradled his mouth. He looked up at Chen Haoran with a disbelief that soon turned into rage. "You bastard!"
Chen Haoran kicked him full in the chest and cut short his attempt to rise. Lan Junjie went skidding across the ground in a cloud of dust.
"Fuck!" The dust was blown away. Lan Junjie stood worse for wear. His fine robes were dirtied and a large bruise was forming on his face. While his qi was brought out in full force Chen Haoran still saw how he winced. He hadn't held back with his kick. "Do you remember who I am Chen Haoran!" Lan Junjie roared.
"I told you not to push me," Chen Haoran replied. He didn't like getting pushed.
Lan Junjie growled in lieu of a response and his hands glowed green. Chen Haoran unsheathed his sword. He was curious to see the Profound technique of the Lan family.
"I've brought cookies!" Song Yuelin landed from the air in between them. He held a silver platter stacked high with pastries. The scene froze. Song Yuelin looked happily around. "Would you care for a cookie, Young Master Lan?" Lan Junjie rapidly shook his head, the green light around his hands vanishing. "Pity. And you, Young Master Chen?"
Chen Haoran snorted in annoyance. He shooed Lan Junjie away. "Go tell Lan Yao that I'll do as I please."
Lan Junjie looked warily at Song Yuelin. "This isn't over Chen Haoran," he warned before leaving.
"It's a shame he didn't want any cookies." Song Yuelin pinched one from the platter and noisily chewed it. "They're really quite good," he said between mouthfuls.
"Are you going to explain yourself?" Chen Haoran demanded.
"No." Song Yuelin ate another cookie.
Of course he wouldn't. Chen Haoran grabbed a cookie for himself. They were flower shaped with some kind of jam in the center. He ate it and tasted butter. They really were quite good.
"Why did you only just come out now?" he asked.
"I came to bring snacks of course." Another cookie.
"Of course," he blandly echoed. "Your help would have been appreciated earlier."
"I did ask before, you said you didn't need the Chen family's assistance to deal with the Lan family."
Chen Haoran's pent-up annoyance evaporated. He sighed in defeat. He did indeed say that, he should have expected Song Yuelin would use it against him.
"I must say though Younger Master Chen," Song Yuelin said, licking his fingers. "The more I learn about this sordid affair between you and the Lan family the more interested I am in meeting your Lady Wife."
"She's amazing." Chen Haoran honestly told him. "I hope she leaves you completely stupefied and shocked." He would enjoy that.
Song Yuelin laughed. "I look forward to it then." He offered Chen Haoran another cookie. "What will you do now?"
Things would no doubt intensify with the Lan Yao after this. Fortunately, she should assume he's just going rogue rather than actively working against her. Lan Fen would still have the element of surprise on her side when she left isolation training. Chen Haoran took the cookie and savored it. He should prepare some more gifts for Lan Fen when she restored her cultivation. It was worthy of celebration after all. Chen Haoran looked at Song Yuelin.
"Young Master?"
If Song Yuelin was going to stick around and be annoying the least Chen Haoran could do was put him to work.
"We're going to the mountains," Chen Haoran declared.
Song Yuelin stared at him in a daze. He looked hesitant. Chen Haoran started getting nervous. Had he misspoken again?
"But the cookies," Song Yuelin said glumly.
Chen Haoran saw red.
"You can bring the cookies with you!"
Chapter 22: This Young Master Does Not Admire Nature
The last time he left the city with Lan Fen they had gone east. This time he and Song Yuelin went north. Clearsprings City was named such for the numerous springs in its territory. It amused Chen Haoran that nobody mentioned that said springs were located in large green mountains that surrounded the city on three sides.
"It really is a shame that I've been spending more time out of the city than I have in it," he said.
"Need I remind you that this was your idea Young Master Chen?"
"I know, that's why it's so shameful." He wanted to explore the city as well. He'd have to make some time for it. "This place isn't so bad though."
They were deep into the mountains when they discovered a secluded grove. The small pond was fed by a burbling brook that flowed from some unknown source higher up the mountain. Chen Haoran took his shoes off and soaked them in the cool water. This trip was much more pleasant than the last one. They had been unmolested the entire journey, Song Yuelin's doing no doubt.
"You still haven't told me why we're here, Young Master Chen."
Chen Haoran looked over his shoulder. "You're here to earn your keep."
Song Yuelin blinked. "My keep?"
Chen Haoran smirked. "How much do you think those cookies cost? My chef isn't cheap you know, you're going to be looking for treasure to pay for them."
"And what will you be doing while I brave the dangers of the wilderness?"
"Supervising," he said. Chen Haoran leaned back onto the soft grass with a contented sigh. Lan Fen had the right idea.
Song Yuelin's shadow ruined his beautiful moment.
"Laziness is a terrible habit Young Master Chen," Song Yuelin said seriously. "Are you not in a position where every available moment to train is precious?"
Chen Haoran clicked his teeth. Song Yuelin wasn't wrong but damn if he didn't want a moment of peace right now. He just wanted to inflict onto others what was done to him, was that too much to ask?
"If you don't train then I won't do anything either." Song Yuelin promptly sat down to punctuate his threat.
Chen sighed. "Alright, I'll train. You better not slack off either though."
"Don't worry Young Master Chen, I have the perfect training in mind!" Song Yuelin looked pleased.
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The screaming hell pig slammed into Chen Haoran's unguarded side; the monster carried him with the blow and straight through a tree. They separated in the splinters and Chen Haoran immediately jumped into the air, avoiding three more hell pigs attempting to gore him. Rather than fall and be surrounded, he grasped a tree branch with his free hand.
Below him, 16 hell pigs surrounded the tree. The largest one, Qi realm Sixth-Layer, pawed the ground in preparation for a charge; it wanted to bring the whole tree down. Chen Haoran's sword glowed blue. The pig charged and he let go.
Canyon Carving Sword
Instinct had caused the hell pigs to congregate together under the tree. The same instinct had them attempt to flee as a blue river of energy engulfed their leader. The ground cracked and split beneath their feet and the pigs fell. Blue energy scythed through flesh and earth alike. Chen Haoran landed heavily in a bloody pit. He breathed deeply and felt for where the tusks impacted him. No blood, they hadn't pierced through.
"Excellent work Young Master Chen." Song Yuelin's voice echoed unseen from the tree canopy. A blue flower fell to his feet. "I was lucky enough to find a Moon Flower."
"Is this valuable?" Chen Haoran picked the flower up and dropped it in his Storage Bag.
"No, it looks pretty though."
"Are you even taking this seriously!" Chen Haoran roared.
"Of course I am," Song Yuelin chirped. Chen Haoran could imagine the shit-eating smile on his face. "It's not like we're that far from the city. Even for a Liquid Meridian realm it's hard to find something good in an area that's been picked clean."
Chen Haoran sighed in frustration. He climbed out of the pit and flopped onto the ground exhausted. Song Yuelin and Lan Fen must have shared their notes because they both had similar ideas about training in the mountains. At least Song Yuelin let him use the Canyon Carving Sword. As if to make up for that grace he had no compunctions about leading stronger monsters to Chen Haoran. The bastard didn't even have the decency to find anything good. While Song Yuelin's excuse made sense Chen Haoran couldn't shake the feeling that he was just picking out the garbage from his Storage Bag.
"Why does it always have to be the fucking pigs?" Chen Haoran sighed.
"Don't be like that, Demonic Thrush Pigs are a constant pest for the people. Getting rid of them is doing a public service."
Chen Haoran groaned.
"Oh fine," Song Yuelin said. Was that mercy he heard in his voice? "There's more than just pigs on this mountain anyway."
Chen Haoran barely had enough time to scramble to his feet as a giant brown bear barreled into view. A Qi realm Eighth-Layer.
Chen Haoran ran.
"I'm not seeing any training being done, Young Master Chen," Song Yuelin called after him. Despite racing through the forest with a giant murder bear after him Chen Haoran could still clearly hear Song Yuelin's voice.
"It's called evasion training!" Chen Haoran shouted into the sky. He raced up the overgrown slopes of the mountain. Ducking branches and jumping only to hear the bear behind him crash through them.
"Ah, an excellent idea!" Chen Haoran didn't register what was going on until he felt a flare of energy in the distance. Strong enough that he didn't need his sense to be able to feel the qi.
The noise in the forest died suddenly. Even the monster bear stalling in its tracks. Chen Haoran put as much distance between them as he could. He could feel the earth rumbling. The birds were the first to move, rising into the sky in such numbers they blotted out the evening sun's waning light. The beasts surged out after them, a single rolling tide of panicked animals. Pigs, wolves, foxes, tigers, and monsters of all shapes and sizes both familiar and not.
"Do your best Young Master Chen!"
"Song Yuelin you crazy fucker!"
——————
Chen Haoran ran up the mountain. The monsters ran after Chen Haoran. The day ran into the night. Whenever he thought he had finally escaped, Song Yuelin would flare his qi again and herd the horde in his direction. His breaths came up short and blood ran in rivulets down his exposed torso. His shirt had been torn to shreds under the same devastating claws that finally ripped open his durable skin. He did not know where he was or how far into the mountains he ran. Everything else had faded away save for the way forward and the qi running through his body.
He could see light ahead of him in the tunnel that surrounded his vision. A soft green-blue that beckoned him forward until he finally tripped. His awareness returned. The light he had seen was a glowing pool high in the mountains. It sat at the bottom of a depression in the earth which had caused him to lose his footing. He stared blankly at the water- no, it was qi. It was a pool of Liquid Qi.
The roaring of the monsters snapped him out of his shock. He looked back. He could see the madness in their red eyes. He could not run anymore, but he couldn't fight the monsters either. Song Yuelin hadn't responded at all to his pleading the whole night, but he knew he was watching this. Song Yuelin wouldn't let him die, the issue was when he would decide to step in.
Chen Haoran gritted his teeth and pulled out his sword. He faced the horde. "Come on then!" he roared. He tried to use the Canyon Carving Sword, but he didn't have the qi. Despite that, he still felt like he held a river in his hands. Chen Haoran roared and raised his sword in defiance.
The night grew black. Liquid Shadow flooded out of the darkness and drowned the horde. The angered roaring of the monsters was consumed and silence was born. Chen Haoran watched the flood and the beasts within it rush down the mountain in an avalanche of shadow and flesh.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Song Yuelin was next to him.
Chen Haoran swung his sword in shock. His river turned into familiar watersteel. Song Yuelin casually batted it away with his bare hands; he was looking at the qi pool.
Chen Haoran's legs gave out. It was over, he was alive. Too exhausted to be furious at Song Yuelin he tiredly responded. "What is this place?"
"A Mourning Pool," Song Yuelin said. His smile was gone.
Song Yuelin approached the unnaturally still waters of the pool and peered at his reflection. Chen Haoran wondered what he saw in it.
"A Liquid Meridian realm has fallen here."
Chapter 23: This Young Master Has A Talk
The Mourning Pool was green and the only light in the night, it dyed the world around them with its color. The trees were solid and heavy with fruit. Moonflowers carpeted the ground, unlike the pale flower that Song Yuelin dropped in his lap these grew tall and vibrant blue.
"A Liquid Meridian realm leaves this behind when they die?"
"Typically the liquid qi is absorbed into the environment. It takes the right conditions and luck for a pool to form." Song Yuelin knelt on the lush grass at the pool's edge.
"They sound rare." Chen Haoran struggled to sit up. He couldn't miss the chance to learn about the next realm.
"They are uncommon yes. Particularly since they're an incredibly useful resource for any cultivator who stumbles upon them."
Something heavy settled in the air. Song Yuelin had said it in an offhanded way, his tone neutral, but it was clear that he had his own opinions on the practice. Chen Haoran hesitated but pushed forward regardless.
"Will you tell me about the Liquid Meridian realm?"
"What is there to say?" Song Yuelin said. Chen Haoran had the feeling it was rhetorical. "In the Qi realm, one concentrates the qi into a single point until a drop of liquid is created. They shepherd that droplet through their meridians as it grows larger becoming a stream, a river, a torrent, and finally-"
"A flood," Chen Haoran realized. "You said a Liquid Meridian realm's qi floods through their body. That wasn't a metaphor."
Song Yuelin did not turn around. "A Liquid Meridian realm is a walking flood. Both in its destructive potential-" He motioned to the scenery around them. "-and the life-giving benefits left in its passing." Song Yuelin huffed a laugh but it was a harsh contrast to his typical joy. "It's almost beautiful in its own way."
Chen Haoran dragged himself over to Song Yuelin. In the pool's unnaturally still waters he saw a face with bloodshot eyes and sagging with exhaustion. He touched his face, his reflection looked alive in the liquid qi as if at any moment it would reach out and touch him with the same hand. He peeked over at Song Yuelin's reflection. The face in the water had more in common with the stones strewn across the pool's depths than the man it was ostensibly a reflection of. Chen Haoran looked away and instead peered deeper into the pool. It was a clear view to the bottom.
"There's no body," he noted. Anyone who moved it would have taken the liquid qi with them. Had it decomposed then?
"There never is," Song Yuelin airily replied. "A Liquid Meridian realm gives up that right."
"What?" Chen Haoran felt cold.
"A Liquid Meridian realm must hold their flood gates firmly in control, it's what separates them as cultivators from a typical disaster." Song Yuelin's hands clenched and unclenched. "That control is lost upon death, their qi rushes out and devastates the area. The body is destroyed in the process. There are many names for it, The Last Water, the Water of Regret, the Reaper's Riptide, the Final Flood."
"What do you call it?"
"Sad," Song Yuelin whispered. Lost in the reflection of the pool.
Chen Haoran didn't know how long they sat there. A ripple suddenly spread through the pool and their reflections were distorted. Song Yuelin's eyes regained their clarity and he shook his head as if removing the last of the strange spell he was under.
"My apologies Young Master Chen." Song Yuelin looked embarrassed. "That was unseemly of me."
"It's fine Song Yuelin." He wouldn't begrudge someone having a moment. Even a bastard like Song Yuelin.
"Regardless I've already delayed Young Master Chen enough." Song Yuelin swept his hand to the qi pool. "If you will."
Chen Haoran frowned "I'm not interested in robbing a grave." His own people back on Earth had seen their fair share of that. His situation wasn't so desperate now that he'd have to violate his principles for strength. The Gifting power would give him plenty of opportunities in the future. He didn't need this one.
Song Yuelin blinked in confusion but realization dawned on his face. "It's not a problem Young Master Chen. I've already checked, this Mourning Pool belongs to a monster, not a cultivator."
So if it belonged to a cultivator there would definitely be a problem.
"It's important to you though, isn't it?" Chen Haoran said.
Song Yuelin stared at him, shocked. He looked at Chen Haoran as if he were some strange object. Right as Chen Haoran began to get worried, he smiled. Not like his typical obnoxious ones but smaller, more muted, but all the more significant for it. "Yes," he said. "It is important to me." He rested a hand on Chen Haoran's shoulder and nudged him forward. "However my duty to my master is more important."
Chen Haoran stared at Song Yuelin but all he did was shoo him forward. Tenderly he dipped his feet in the pool, it was warm and what felt like lightning raced up his legs. Using the edge to keep afloat he slowly slid into the water.
"It's best to submerge yourself completely," Song Yuelin said. "Remember to circulate your cultivation method."
"I barely have any strength in my limbs," Chen Haoran admitted. "I don't know if I can swim back out."
Song Yuelin placed a hand on Chen Haoran's shoulder. "Do not fear it Young Master Chen. Qi is life. It aids all beings; it will not harm you."
Chen Haoran searched Song Yuelin's face for any trace of falsehood, but he knew he wasn't lying. He could feel the truth surrounding him. He took a deep breath and let go of the edge. He sank like a stone into the deep. The pool itself was only three times as deep as Chen Haoran was tall. To his senses though it might have well been an ocean.
He touched the bottom and the lightning-like feeling was too much to bear. He opened his mouth, gasping for air, and his lungs filled with liquid qi. Yet he did not drown. The aches and exhaustion he suffered from were washed away with the abundance of vital energy. Remembering Song Yuelin's words he used the Yellow Dragon River Refinement, the yellow dragon was vivid in his mind as it swam through the deluge of qi in his meridians. The dragon feasted and grew endlessly larger, it's gluttony wasn't enough to consume all the qi, however. More spilled over and filled his body, Chen Haoran could almost feel it soaking into his cells.
A transformation occurred, he could feel something being squeezed out of his body. The yellow dragon roared. Chen Haoran's qi exploded. A vortex of liquid qi formed around him.
He advanced.
The Sixth-Layer.
Chen Haoran jumped from the bottom of the pool and the liquid qi rose with him. He burst out of the pool with an eruption of qi. As he landed before Song Yuelin the qi evaporated into the air.
"Congratulations on your advancement Young Master Chen." Song Yuelin clasped his hands and bowed.
Chen Haoran ignored him in favor of studying the black oil he found himself covered in. "What is this?" he asked. He sniffed it and nearly vomited. "It's so foul," he gagged.
"Those would be the impurities within your body," Song Yuelin helpfully informed. "It's the unhealthy residue that a person accumulates in life from their diet and environment. A cultivator can gradually expel it as they rise in cultivation but removing it earlier will be far more beneficial to you."
Chen Haoran cycled his qi and the filth was scoured off him with a single burst. Flexing his hands he felt the new power the Sixth-Layer provided. He also felt cleansed, or perhaps lighter would be the better word. Like the impurities had been some kind of weight that he was now free from. He could see why the Mourning Pools were so valued by cultivators. Chen Haoran looked back at the now empty hole in the ground.
"This doesn't feel right," he said.
"If not us then it would be someone else," Song Yuelin consoled.
Chen Haoran looked at him. Song Yuelin didn't look bothered by the pool being ruined. "Can I ask why these Mourning Pools are so important to you?"
Song Yuelin hummed as he considered the question. "I just think they're nice," he finally said. "For a Liquid Meridian realm who wouldn't otherwise have a marker of their passing a Mourning Pool is a wonderful honor." He smiled. "If fate is kind then I hope to have such an honor when I pass, somewhere secluded perhaps."
If fate was kind Song Yuelin would have an undisturbed grave. Chen Haoran's thoughts slowed as the implications crystallized in his mind.
He shook it off. "Don't worry about it," he said instead. "I'll have a massive monument built when you die."
Song Yuelin laughed. "I'll thank you in advance then." Song Yuelin dusted his robes off. "I must say I didn't expect today to turn out as it had. I thought you were going to lead me to some hidden ruin instead of randomly run around the mountain."
"I'm still pissed at you for that," Chen Haoran reminded him. "I wanted to use your help to find some gifts for Lan Fen when she left isolation training."
Song Yuelin blinked at him. "Young Master Chen, why didn't you say so earlier!" Song Yuelin tapped his Storage Bag and a stream of liquid shadow came out of it carrying herbs, cores, and other animal parts. The small pile was worth far more than the useless junk Song Yuelin had given him before. "I'm always willing to assist Young Master Chen with his romantic affairs!"
Chen Haoran pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't bother correcting Song Yuelin. "When did you even get all these? I thought you said the mountain was picked clean."
"We are a bit further in now," Song Yuelin pointed out. "And I had plenty of time while you were doing evasion training."
Chen Haoran froze.
"Song Yuelin," he said slowly. "Did you leave me alone while I was being chased by that stampede of monsters?"
Song Yuelin dared to give him a thumbs up. "Not to worry Young Master Chen, I had it completely under control!"
"Song Yuelin!"
The bastard laughed at him. A full-belly type of laugh that left him teary and had him keeling over.
"Just you wait for the day I reach the Liquid Meridian realm, you bastard."
Song Yuelin regained his composure. "I beg for Young Master Chen's mercy," he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "As an apology, this servant will show you the power of a Liquid Meridian realm."
Song Yuelin looked out into the distance. The barest slivers of a new day could be seen rising over the horizon. Chen Haoran felt the ground shake.
"My opponent is almost here anyway."
Chapter 24: This Young Master Wants To Sleep
"What do you mean a worthy opponent!" Chen Haoran yelled. The shaking was getting stronger as the unknown enemy approached. Whatever it was, it was big.
"It must have sensed the liquid qi evaporating. I imagine it will be very angry once it gets here and sees it missed out." Song Yuelin began to stretch.
"What should I do then?"
"Cheering for me would be nice," Song Yuelin mused. "If I can't hold on then you've got no chance of surviving."
"Song Yuelin!" Chen Haoran could feel the tremors in the ground travel up his legs and beat in his chest. His heart pumped with the cadence of the massive steps. It was almost here.
The bastard chuckled. "I'm only joking, Young Master Chen." Two curved obsidian knives appeared in Song Yuelin's hands with a flash of liquid shadow. "I'm very good at what I do after all."
The trees in front of them exploded into splinters. A great bellow forced Chen Haoran to step back. A bear stepped into view, far larger than the one that had chased him earlier. He'd seen semi-trucks smaller than the monster in front of them. Chen Haoran cautiously stretched out his sense, but immediately pulled it back as soon as he felt the enormity of the monster's energy sting him. Liquid Meridian realm.
The monster bear sniffed at the air and cast bestial eyes towards the empty pool. It huffed and swung its massive head towards them. It reared back and roared, the vegetation between them was immediately flattened and Chen Haoran was sent flying. Liquid Shadow wrapped around him and cushioned the worst of it but he still cracked the tree he'd flown into. Chen Haoran could feel something hot run down his face and he wiped it off, his hand came away bloody. His nose was bleeding.
Song Yuelin hadn't been moved at all. Even his robes were unruffled. The monster bear seemed to take that as a challenge and charged toward him. Liquid shadow spilled from Song Yuelin and obscured his form. A paw slashed out with claws the size of his sword; the shadows scattered and dissipated but Song Yuelin was nowhere to be seen.
The bear abruptly roared in pain. Song Yuelin appeared behind it and carved a line into its heel. The bear lashed out backward with the same leg, apparently the cut hadn't been deep enough. Song Yuelin deftly avoided the blow and left the bear another cut along its paw for the attempt. The bear reared up on its hind legs and raised its paws to the air.
Chen Haoran immediately turned and ran. The bear slammed down and the earth shattered. Dust and stone blew out and covered Chen Haoran. The little paradise nurtured by the qi pool was now an impact crater with the monster bear triumphantly roaring in the center. Its roar was cut short when a flood of liquid shadow rose from beneath and swallowed it whole.
Chen Haoran couldn't see inside nor hear anything. He'd had his suspicions that Song Yuelin's shadows could block noise. He sighed, frustrated. The satisfaction he had from reaching the Sixth-Layer was long gone in the face of a fight where he could die just by getting close.
The shadows were blown off. Whatever had happened inside, the bear had gotten the worst of it. Its brown fur had been dyed dark with blood from the numerous wounds across its body. Song Yuelin by contrast stood before the monster with nary a scratch. Chen Haoran watched them begin their deadly game of back and forth again. The bear clearly couldn't keep up with Song Yuelin's speed but that same bulk prevented him from landing a lethal blow. It was a fight of attrition at this point.
"Are you impressed yet, Young Master Chen?"Chen Haoran reflexively swung his fist. It connected solidly with Song Yuelin's cheek.
Song Yuelin was unphased and merely raised an eyebrow. "Are you always like this, or is it just me in particular?"
Chen Haoran withdrew his fist and flexed his fingers. Landing that punch had hurt him more than it did Song Yuelin. He looked back to where the monster bear was futilely trying to crush another Song Yuelin who danced around its claws. "A clone?" He stared with wide eyes. "Since when?"
"Just now," Song Yuelin said. "So, what do you think of a Liquid Meridian realm fight?"
Impressive. Humbling. Infuriating. He felt many things about the fight. He was also confused. "The bear isn't flooding its qi. Can a monster not do that?"
"Although beasts share the same cultivation realms with humans they do not deliberately cultivate the way we do. For a beast, cultivation is an instinctual process passed down through their bloodlines. Beasts in the Liquid Meridian realm control their liquid qi through those same instincts, thus they have to learn to deliberately release it." Song Yuelin smiled when the bear screamed in rage after missing another blow. "Evidently, this beast has not."
"Can you hurry it up then? I want to go to bed already." While he was physically refreshed with the qi bath he took he wasn't any better mentally than before.
"We haven't even reached the best part yet! I was going to engage the bear in intense hand-to-paw combat soon."
"You promised to show me a Liquid Meridian realm's power not a Liquid Meridian realm fucking around."
Song Yuelin sighed. "I suppose I did."
The monster bear had finally speared Song Yuelin's clone on its claws only for the false body to explode into liquid shadow and blind it. Song Yuelin disappeared in a burst of speed that left Chen Haoran's robes fluttering. As if sensing the danger the bear blindly lashed out.
Chen Haoran blinked once and saw the bear's paws fly into the air. He blinked twice and saw its head follow. He blinked three times and the bear's chest exploded in a shower of blood. He blinked four times and he was suddenly picked up and accelerated far away.
Amber-colored qi spilled out of the open wounds of the bear's corpse. Like a dam bursting the corpse suddenly swelled and disintegrated. Liquid qi flooded out in a wave several times larger than the bear itself. Chen Haoran saw the air distort before he was blinded by a shock wave of qi. In his blindness, he heard the world groan under the destruction of the qi flood.
He felt Song Yuelin place him down. Chen Haoran held onto him for support as he opened his eyes. If before the bear had created an impact crater with its power now, it looked like a bomb proper had gone off and scoured the area of life. In the distance, he could hear the wailing of panicked wildlife.
"Young Master Chen," Song Yuelin said. In his hands was a bloody brown core the size of a volleyball. He cleaned the blood off with an application of qi and presented it to Chen Haoran. "For your Lady Wife."
Chen Haoran looked at the core and then back at Song Yuelin. Gingerly, he took it and placed it in his Storage Bag. "You're a scary bastard, Song Yuelin." He finally said.
"Thank you for the compliment Young Master Chen."
He looked at the devastation. "There's no Mourning Pool."
"Indeed. What a shame," Song Yuelin replied. Chen Haoran had the feeling he said that more for the bear than he did for them.
"Let's go home."
"I would like to, Young Master Chen." Song Yuelin looked into the sky. "We seem to have company, however."
Chen Haoran followed his gaze and saw a giant dragonfly hovering above them. Or rather, a dragonfly that took its name literally. It had the familiar wings and abdomen of the insect he knew on Earth; its head however was quite literally dragon-shaped and possessed two compound insect eyes that dispassionately gazed down at them. An older man was standing on the dragonfly's back. He was clothed in a bright yellow robe with a white dragon winding across it. As he stared down at them Chen Haoran felt a pressure weigh down his shoulders.
"Long time no see City Lord," Song Yuelin clasped his hands and bowed.
"I was wondering who was causing such a ruckus so close to my city." The City Lord spoke gravely. "I see now that a dog of the Chen family was responsible."
"Apologies for the disturbance." Song Yuelin smiled at him. "Just a simple wilderness excursion."
"Do you think I will just accept such an explanation?"
"I do not recall the Chen family's business being something we had to explain."
"For the rest of the Chen family perhaps."
Chen Haoran felt a stone sink into his stomach when the City Lord nodded toward him.
"But what you do with that one is my business as well."
Chapter 25: This Young Master Hates Politics
The Golden Lily Association supervisor. Song Yuelin. The monster bear. They were all far more powerful than Chen Haoran and made him feel small in various ways. None however were able to force his head down with their presence alone.
He attempted to copy Song Yuelin and show his respect. It felt like his hands were moving through molasses when he tried moving them and he was forced to cycle his qi to prevent his bow from turning into a fall. He did not bother trying to sense the City Lord's cultivation, he knew the answer.
Crystal Transformation realm.
"I'm curious as to what you mean by 'that' City Lord." Song Yuelin, bless his soul, still looked unruffled in front of the stronger cultivator.
"You know what I mean."
"I do not." Song Yuelin's smile was like a razor. "You couldn't have possibly referred to the Young Master of the Chen family so rudely after all."
The City Lord raised an eyebrow. "Will Chen Qitao come himself to strike me down for the offense?"
"If he believes you're becoming uppity, then perhaps."
The air froze. Chen Haoran couldn't breathe. He had mouthed off to stronger cultivators before but he had never so blatantly threatened one.
"What is your name, dog of the Chen family?" It sounded like a final courtesy.
Chen Haoran braced for violence. He could only hope wherever Song Yuelin got his confidence from was enough to save their lives.
"This one is known as Song Yuelin. I have met the City Lord before."
The City Lord stopped. "I remember you now." He clicked his tongue and Chen Haoran could breathe again. "Six years ago. You're one of Chen Qitao's hunting dogs," he said, annoyance flashing on his face.
Song Yuelin didn't react to the insult. He bowed again. "It's truly an honor to be recognized by the City Lord."
Song Yuelin used reputation. It was super effective. Chen Haoran breathed a sigh of relief. He'd suspected Song Yuelin was important in the Chen family, and this Chen Qitao he served was probably either the leader or someone else high up. He was definitely a Crystal Transformation realm at least.
"That only raises even more questions." The City Lord crossed his arms. "Why is Chen Qitao's dog here with his son? And why was I not informed of this?"
What?
"I came on my own accord." Song Yuelin lost his smile. "It wasn't a matter worth informing the City Lord about."
"You expect me to believe such a blatant lie?"
"It is the truth."
"Does the Chen family take me for a fool!" The City Lord exploded with anger. His Qi rose and Chen Haoran felt like a mountain fell atop him.
Song Yuelin grabbed him before he could be crushed by the pressure and wrapped him in liquid shadow. It helped him stand at least but nothing else, he watched as the Dragonfly beast descended lower. Song Yuelin's shoulders started to quiver with strain.
"Calm yourself, City Lord." Song Yuelin warned him.
"First this marriage to Lan Fen," shouted the City Lord. "Then the sudden acquisition of funds." The air began to distort. "And now a Chen family cleaner, do you think I can't see you Chen family plotting in my city!" Qi carried his voice and raised it to a level that would have ruptured Chen Haoran's ear drums had Song Yuelin's qi not protected him.
Song Yuelin spoke over the still echoing accusation."I assure the City Lord that the Chen family has no intention to renege on our deal."
Deal. The word rang in Chen Haoran's skull. Deal. Six years ago Chen Qitao and Song Yuelin met the Clearsprings City Lord. Deal. Six years ago Young Master Chen came to live in Clearsprings City. Deal. The City Lord monitored Chen Haoran and was aware of his affairs. Deal. The City Lord and the Chen family made a deal.
Chen Haoran was a hostage.
Song Yuelin narrowed his eyes. His face was deadly serious. "If the City Lord wishes for it then I'm sure Lord Chen will be happy to explain." It sounded like an offer but Song Yuelin spoke as if it was a threat.
The City Lord treated it like one. He froze, his qi froze, the distortions in the air froze. Even the mountain on Chen Haoran's back paused weighing him down. Slowly the City Lord's face became neutral and with it, the pressure he exuded was lifted.
"As if that man would explain anything to me," he huffed.
"Lord Chen considers the City Lord to be a valuable ally to the Chen family," Song Yuelin replied.
"Out of consideration for Chen Qitao's face, I will drop this matter." The Dragonfly beast rose into the air. "Know this, the Palace exams are to be held in Clearsprings City soon. I will not tolerate any interruption to it." The City Lord glared at them. "Not even from the Chen family." His gaze slid to Chen Haoran. "You have been quiet for once. Keep it that way." With that final order, the City Lord left.
"Pompous bastard," muttered Song Yuelin. The liquid shadow covering them receded.
Chen Haoran sat heavily on the ground, his legs shaking. "Fuck." He buried his face in his hands. The Young Master wasn't exiled he was used as a guarantee for the Chen family. Which meant if the Chen family didn't uphold whatever their end of the deal was his life was forfeit. If Chen Qitao's reputation hadn't been enough to ward off the City Lord he really might have died just now.
That was another issue. Chen Qitao was the Young Master's father and was scary enough that his name alone was a threat to a Crystal Transformation realm. He glanced at Song Yuelin, Chen Qitao's hunting dog, the man the father sent to investigate the son. A cleaner, the City Lord had called him. An assassin. Chen Haoran felt cold.
Song Yuelin smiled softly."Don't worry about him, Young Master Chen. He's too cowardly to actually do anything."
"Could have fooled me," he muttered.
"It's true! He's weak and he knows it, so he pretends to be tough. If it wasn't for luck he wouldn't be able to hold his head up in front of the Chen family at all with his Profound-rank cultivation."
"Profound rank? Can't he just get a better technique?" Unless Earth rank techniques were rarer than he thought. Still, it was good to know that the higher realms could be reached even with a lower-quality cultivation method.
Song Yuelin shook his head. "You can't change your cultivation method once you reach Crystal Transformation. The fact that he couldn't get a better technique in the Palace School proves the extent of his abilities."
Chen Haoran processed that. Palace School and Palace Exam. A school in the Empire where government officials were trained and could receive Earth-rank techniques. The Palace Exam was probably hosted for admittance to the school. Did Lan Fen know about this? The City Lord warned them not to cause trouble. What would he think about Lan Fen's plans to destroy the Lan family?
Chen Haoran's thoughts ground to a halt. The City Lord called Lan Fen by name. Chen Haoran's marriage to her in particular was worthy of accusation. He didn't mention the Lan family at all. Was he aware of Lan Yao's conspiracy? Why didn't he mention it then? Why didn't he accuse them of trying to form an alliance with the Lan family? Did he not consider it a problem? Did he know it wasn't? Did he know Lan Fen? Did she tell him?
Chen Haoran rubbed his forehead. He had learned too much today. He'd get a headache at this rate.
"Young Master Chen?"
There was also Song Yuelin to worry about.
"If the City Lord had really tried to kill us would you have been able to stop him?"
Song Yuelin gave him a thumbs up. "Of course not!"
"Of course not," he tiredly echoed him. "And here I was hoping you had something to back up that big mouth of yours."
"I apologize for making you worry Young Master Chen. However, the City Lord had to be reminded that even the dogs of the Chen family can't be insulted by the likes of him."
"You did that for me?"
"You are the Young Master of the Chen family. It is only natural that I defend your honor." Song Yuelin looked serious, his eyes sincere.
Chen Haoran couldn't help but respond to that sincerity. "Song Yuelin, you truly are a loyal servant."
"Thank you Young Mas-"
"Is what I would say if you didn't just call me a dog," Chen Haoran cut him off.
"How could Young Master Chen be a dog," Song Yuelin asked with a straight face. "People like dogs after all."
Chen Haoran huffed a laugh. It sounded hollow to his ears.
"Let's get out of these damn mountains."
Chapter 26: This Young Master Needs A Drink
Adventures were fine, but too many people who went on them took for granted having a place to come back to. Not Chen Haoran. After coming back from the mountains he appreciated the warm bath he took. He paid his respects to the softness of his bed. He lit candles to honor the 12 hours of sleep he had gotten, and upon waking clapped his hands in thanks for the breakfast brought to his room.
The maid who brought his food jumped at the sudden noise.
"Right. Sorry about that." He pressed a gold tael into her hand and shooed her off before digging into a bowl of congee and boiled eggs. He had never been a huge breakfast guy back on Earth, but, like many things, having someone else do it for you somehow made it better. This treatment was part of the reason he tried to make taking over the identity of the Young Master work.
Not like he would have been allowed to leave if something went wrong. He grimaced and put the congee down; it needed sauce.
What happened yesterday had blown apart the illusion of safety he had been holding. Lan Fen, Song Yuelin, the Lan and Chen families, all were potentially dangerous situations tied to the Young Master. What did that matter to Chen Haoran though? He wasn't the Young Master, he had no connection to any of them. He stayed to take advantage of the Gifting power and to use the Young Master's identity, but he could leave if he felt threatened. He had the money and basic knowledge he didn't have in the beginning after all. Now though? There was no way the City Lord would let him go while the deal with the Chen family was ongoing.
Chen Haoran leaned back into his pillows. Beside him was a scattering of maps he had fetched. He traced the location of Clearsprings City, it wasn't that far from the ocean although the Clearsprings Mountains separated the city from the coast. He knew the actual territory the City Lord controlled spread further; a city had to eat after all. Unfortunately, the maps he had didn't mark out a border.
He drummed his fingers on the map and listened to the paper crinkle. Even without knowing any of the specifics, everything Chen Haoran knew about the deal rubbed him the wrong way. Starting with the fact no one knew the reason the Young Master came to live in Clearsprings City. The City Lord held him at arm's length as well, the fact the man didn't confront them with his accusations within the city itself was telling.
A secret long-term deal going on six years. The City Lord was weaker than the Chen family but they needed his cooperation. Song Yuelin had called him lucky. Chen Haoran could see the pieces line up. The Chen family was doing something in the territory of Clearsprings City and enlisted the City Lord to help them. Something that had to be kept hidden. Something that required the City Lord to have a hostage to ensure the Chen family held their end of the deal.
Chen Haoran sighed. He didn't have enough information. He still barely knew anything about the Chen family besides the fact they were very powerful and probably far away given how nobody seemed to know much about them. Lan Fen at least, wouldn't have spoken of them so casually if she knew they had Crystal Transformation realms.
He needed Lan Fen. He had so many burning questions to ask her. So much context only she could fill. So much danger that only she could provide security for. He hadn't forgotten about Song Yuelin. Lan Fen's sensing and Inventory space were the best defenses he had against the man.
Chen Haoran cursed his foolishness. The shadows, the sneaking, the daggers, it was all so obvious, and yet it took the City Lord pointing out Song Yuelin's true nature for it to finally click. He wanted nothing more than to strangle Manager Lin right now. What had he written in that fucking report that convinced Chen Qitao to send an assassin to investigate his own son? How much more did they need to learn before Song Yuelin received an order to slit his throat?
Chen Haoran cursed him, they almost became friends. How many times had Song Yuelin wormed his way into his target's graces like he almost did with him? He had been so confident in seeing through Song Yuelin's tricks, yet he still lowered his guard.
Chen Haoran sat alone. A crumpled map in his fist and cold congee on his lap. The bed's softness had become suffocating. He needed to get out.
"Song Yuelin," he spoke into the silence.
Silence greeted him back.
"Song Yuelin, I have some hair growth medicine here."
"It's not nice to joke about things like that, Young Master Chen," Song Yuelin said, appearing in a burst of shadow. "I'll have you know that I'm shaved by choice."
"I'm sure you are," Chen Haoran replied, rising out of bed. "Come on, we're going into the city today."
"You're inviting me?"
"Of course." As if Song Yuelin would actually let him go alone. At least this way he could keep an eye on him. "Consider it my treat for helping me find gifts for Lan Fen."
"If Young Master Chen insists, this servant will obey."
Chen Haoran laughed. He was sure Song Yuelin would obey many things if a Chen insisted.
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Chen Haoran's views of Clearsprings City were either from a carriage or in the dead of night. The books he had read called the city a popular destination for the affluent and the cultivators for its many springs and their spiritual properties. It certainly felt that way to Chen Haoran as he and Song Yuelin waded through crowded streets.
Clearsprings City took on a style that distinctly reminded Chen Haoran of East Asian architecture back on Earth. The buildings emphasized a horizontal design, not tall exactly, but made to look tall. Sloping roofs shingled with black tiles curved and flared out into prominent overhangs. Little statues and reliefs of stylized warriors and beasts decorated their exteriors. Chen Haoran assumed they were charms or some kind of household god.
The pedestrians came from all walks of life. Peasants and laborers in loose-fitting hemp clothes bumped shoulders with wealthier well-to-do's in fitted cotton. Elaborate carriages ferried silk-clad aristocrats through the teeming masses. Everyone Chen Haoran could see shared a similar base style but the difference in details was as numerous as the people themselves. Some elegant folk had wider sleeves, some had flowers and insects embroidered in simple designs in rows of three, on some simply dressed men and women he saw chokers and armbands fashioned out of animal bone, he witnessed so many different designs and decorations he could scarcely keep track of it all. Above all else they were all colorful, he didn't see a drab grey or brown in sight.
Chen Haoran breathed deeply, basking in the energy of the city.
"Are you feeling better Young Master Chen?"
He spared Song Yuelin a glance. He wasn't surprised that the assassin picked up on his mood. Still, he had to be more conscious of what he let slip.
"I like cities. They have a different air to them."
"They do," Song Yuelin hummed. "It's easy to consider oneself as just another face in them."
"Have you been to many cities before?"
"Yes, both in the Empire and abroad. If Young Master Chen cares for it then I can share my humble experiences."
Anything to get Song Yuelin talking. "I would be glad to hear of it." He craned his neck, searching. He spotted it, a large blue building, the name Drunken Immortal Pavilion carved into a sign hanging above its double door. "Over some drinks perhaps."
Chen Haoran led Song Yuelin over to the restaurant. Lan Fen had told him about this place; it was popular among the city's elite youth and thus a must-know. Two startled door attendants ushered them into a bustling main floor. It seemed the Young Master's reputation preceded him even here. He wasn't worried about meeting anyone who personally knew him though, that sort only frequented the bars and brothels of the pleasure district.
The interior of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was divided between two floors. The main floor held the majority of tables and entertainment while the second floor offered more secluded booths with a view of the establishment. Well-dressed youths crowded the tables and swapped gossip and laughter. A few looked his way and pointed him out in whispered warning. One even ran for the doors when he was led to the second floor.
The nervous waiter held open beaded curtains and they entered a middle-positioned booth. Below, he could see a small stage where a woman was strumming a pipa.
"You have any preferences?"
Song Yuelin shook his head. "I'm not a picky drinker."
"Get us something that'll go down smooth then," he ordered. He dropped a few gold taels in the waiter's hands. "And bring us all the pork dishes this place has."
Song Yuelin raised an eyebrow. "Holding a grudge?"
"For the rest of my life."
Soon the waiter returned with a green liquor that smelled like flowers. Chen Haoran first poured for Song Yuelin then for himself. He raised his cup in silent cheers before downing it. The waiter had picked a good one, pleasant and sweet, it tasted like spring. He'd have to leave a big tip.
"Sir," the waiter called from outside the booth. "There is someone who'd like to see you."
"Who?" Was he really that unlucky that someone he knew was both here and wanted to talk to him? The beaded curtains flew open as a white-haired girl with furious golden eyes strode into the booth.
"Chen Haoran," she said. "I hear you had something you wished to tell me?" Her hair fluttered with a subtle press of qi.
Chen Haoran recognized her, she was the mouthy girl at the wedding and the cause of it all. Lan Yao had come to find him.
Across the table, Song Yuelin had already disappeared.
"Why do you not speak, Chen Haoran? You had such beautiful words for my brother." Lan Yao crossed her arms. Chen Haoran reached out his sense. Qi realm Ninth-Layer.
He poured himself another cup.