CC3 -Ch5- (Patreon)

Crossing the gates of Xing city, Ash felt like something was different.

When he’d left was he considered home last time, he was without power, backing, or influence.

He had some money from selling transference papers at the auction, but that’d been it. There was nothing that set him apart from most of city’s population.

One could easily fool themselves into believing the world was full of cultivators while living in a sect. That everywhere one went, one was bound to encounter them.

Except that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The kingdoms were vast and spanned three realms. The number of people that lived here were great. So many in fact that a great majority of the population anywhere was devoted to agriculture and growing food.

Cultivators weren’t in the majority.

They had power, influence, and wealth, but not number.

Ash was now amongst the elite just by being a Mortal Refiner. Even though he was only a level two Mortal Refiner after absorbing his crystal, he was that much closer to being untouchable on this realm.

Truthfully, the greatest houses in his realm only rose to a peak Empowered Mortal, with most of their clan in the Spirit and Mortal Refiner ranks. They would be the peak here.

It wasn’t until one journeyed to the second or third realm, that they realized an Empowered Mortal wasn’t much at all.

“— was my last boyfriend,” Locke said with a sigh. “He just wasn’t for me in the end. I apparently have a really bad picker when it comes to men. They’ve all cheated on me, tried to hurt me, or control me.”

Over the two weeks it took to get here in the weird roundabout way they did it, Locke had been relaying her sexual and dating history to him. Much to his surprise and despite his lack of interest.

Locke… I care. You know that.

But in the same breath… I don’t remember asking about all the previous men in your life?

I didn’t want to know all this.

“I know, I know. I could feel your disinterest and distaste in it all.

“You actually even got a little jealous here and there I saw. I’m flattered that you pity me and think I deserve better.,” said Locke with a laugh, followed by another sigh. He couldn’t deny he’d thought such things, even if he hadn’t voiced them. “I just wanted to give you the run-down. You know? It’s only fair.”

Why would it be fair? You keep alluding to something but you haven’t told me anything.

“You’ll see. Very soon. I’m almost done. Just a few finishing touches,” said Locke with glee. “I never expected it to work, but it really is.”

The only thing that came to his mind, that Locke had been interested in, was the corpse he’d stored away for her at her command. A dead woman of incredible beauty and physical attributes.

Did you do something with that body?

“Ah-ah, not telling. It might be, it might not be,” Locke said with laughter, leaving Ash very unsure of what it actually was.

“This was your home?” Chunhua asked from Ash’s left. She was staying fairly close to him. He got the impression Jia was leaning on her as her “assistant”.

Na and Tala were directly behind them, with Jia on his right.

“Yes,” Ash said with a nod of his head. They were slowly moving deeper into the city. Walking at a sedate pace. Without much in the way of cares.

“We spent several years together here,” Jia offered. “At the Spark’s Jump training sect. This is where I hid after escaping my family. I was quite young and only had a single maid to assist me. The year Ash and I went to the Jade Fist was the year she left for home as well. I was old enough to care for myself.”

And how your brother found you. That maid didn’t hold your secrets very well.

“It’s rather large,” murmured Chunhua, her eyes moving from house to house, from stall to stall. Everything was filled all manner of people and things.

Ash had always felt like Chunhua came from a smaller background. This only confirmed it for him.

“It is indeed large, but it is a genuine place,” Jia said with clear fondness. “While it was not easy here, it was not difficult either.

“Even Yue who spent time in the streets and back-alleys will tell you that while it was bad, and quite dangerous, it was not truly awful. There are some cities that I have read about where I would not walk about, even during the day.”

“Where’re we going?” Tala asked from directly behind him. “You said your parents house, right? If I’m going to present my Elegant Self to them, I’d very much like to bathe first. The dust of the road clings to me like you do.”

Ash only grinned at that. With Moira and Mei out of the picture, Na and Tala had stolen up all his bedroom time. Though Chunhua had made certain he understood in no uncertain terms that she wanted to start having sex as well.

Jia hadn’t brought it up again since the last. He suspected she was plotting something but didn’t have any proof to that belief. He only knew how her mind worked but he had a hunch.

“As if you don’t snuggle him almost violently,” Na said with a soft laugh. “Tala, you’re more of a tender one than any of us. It isn’t as if we can’t hear you asking him to hold you. To kiss you and treat you as his wife.”

There was a sputtering noise that was most certainly Tala. Probably choking on her own tongue in fact.

“I like that part of her. I also like that she’s still boastful and the prideful woman we’ve known,” Ash said, wanting to put a quick damper on this. He really liked Tala as she was right now. “She’s just perfect at the moment.”

She was warm and fuzzy when alone and private, though semi-boastful and arrogant in public. It felt like it fit her personality quite well to him.

“I… that’s true,” Na said in an oddly reflective tone. “You’re most certainly different when being compared to men of this veil. I could see how you’d be drawn to her.”

“We turn up ahead,” Ash said with a hand gesture. “My parents home is only two down from there. They won’t worry about how we look, Tala. Father Duyi was a city-guard for a long while, and then a day-laborer after his youth fled. Mother Far was a washer-woman.”

“Just be yourself,” Jia advised, turning to look behind them. “You will be fine, Tala.”

Everyone fell silent as they walked down the street. They took the turn in that same silence.

Ash didn’t hear the sound of Duyi’s guqin playing and so didn’t bother to go around the back.

Only the everyday sounds one could expect in the merchant quarter existed as they came to a stop at the front door. The five of them standing there with four of their number looking at the fifth and waiting for him to knock.

Taking in a swift breath, Ash raised his hand and then knocked on the door twice.

Ash put his hands behind his back and waited. He wasn’t sure if anyone had heard him, but all he could do was wait and try again shortly.

Half a minute ticked by before Ash heard someone walking up to the door.

When it finally opened Ash found the person on the other side was looking at him with wide eyes. Wide eyes and a shocked face.

“Hello, Yan,” Ash said with a grin for his sister.

Only a short time ago she’d been a few inches taller than him, where as now they were of an equal height. Her eyes were black like pitch and her hair looked as if it had been painted with ink.

The last time he’d seen her she’d been so pale he’d have described her as unhealthy looking.

Now, she looked like a woman in her prime and full of vigour. A mature woman who was most certainly not a girl anymore.

“How are—”

Yan slammed into him and hugged him, holding her tightly to herself. Her arms were pressing into his back with the strength of a Cultivator.

“She’s grown in strength. Did I mention that the abilities we gave her would easily move her up at least a Sovereign Immortal with only effort on her part?” Locke said with a chuckle. “She’s already half-way through Mortal Refiner. Apparently she had her tribulation here in Xing city and passed it.

“Ash, I’m so sorry!” Yan said with a voice on the edge of tears. “I abandoned you. After all you did, everything you gave me as your older sister, I ran. I ran, thinking I didn’t have a place with you anymore.

“I was so stupid. I was wrong. I’m so sorry. When I realized what I’d done, I was already halfway home. There was no way I could come back either. The Jade Fist refuses all rogue cultivators and that’s what I was. I’d already sold my position and —”

“It’s okay,” Ash said for the sixth time. The first five times Yan had simply blown right through. Slowly, Ash began rocking side to side, hugging Yan tightly in return. For whatever reason she’d finally heard him this time. “It’s alright. I understand. It was a lot to take in. Especially with what happened to Jing. It’s completely understandable. It’d be weirder if it didn’t effect you as it did.”

Yan fell into wordless blubbering at this point. Crying into Ash’s shoulder.

“Second time you’ve made your sister cry on you at the doorway. You’re going to give people the wrong impression of your relationship with her,” Locke said with a snicker.

Rolling his eyes, Ash crab walked yan into the house, the rest of his group following along.

Then he proceeded to listen to her cry and fall apart, listening to all of her guilt spill out of her.

As far as he could tell, there was nothing wrong. She just felt terrible for leaving him in the way she had. That she’d abandoned him to the sect, just as Jing had abandoned her.

***

“Ah? Yan?” called a voice from the front of the home. It was a voice Ash knew instantly.

“Mother!” Yan immediately called back, coming to a standing position. Then she looked to Ash, unsure what to say next.

They were all seated in the family room, everyone casually chatting after Yan had managed to recollect herself. She’d even managed to offer them some tea to drink while everyone went one by one to the bathroom to “freshen up” as it were.

Even Ash had been made to do so, though Na had followed him and personally groomed him. Apparently he wasn’t allowed to be trusted to the task since he’d originally declined it.

Na, Jia, Tala, and Chunhua all stood up. Which in turn caused Ash to rise as well.

Apparently they were on full social decorum and niceties at the moment.

Before Yan had figured out what to respond with, Far had entered the room.

She was a small woman who looked to be in her late forties, with black hair and dark eyes. She was only a citizen, as was her husband.

Previously she’d look thin and had a worn-away feeling to her.

That was completely gone now. She had a vitality to her that shone as well what felt like an air of optimism.

A second later and Duyi had joined her, standing just behind her.

Duyi’s dark hair had grown out and he was keeping it in a fashion Ash had often seen amongst the mercantile types. His complexion was healthy, and his small frame seemed it had kept the healthy weight, but he also looked like he was keeping himself physically fit as well.

“Ashley!” Duyi said with a wide smile as Far practically leapt across the room and wrapped him up in a hug. It only took the man a few seconds to follow his wife and join in the hug. “It’s so good to see you. We were so worried after what Master Gen had sent to us.”

“I’m sorry your brother betrayed you two,” Far said, holding onto Ash as if he were a life preserver and she was lost on the ocean. “He was always quick to anger and envy. Quick to look for a quick way out. Father Duyi warned him often. Many times.

“He never listened. Listened to anyone. I will miss my boy, but as Yan told me directly, he cast aside our family and family name.”

Even though Far said it, Ash knew what Mother Far was asking him to do behind the words.

“If I can save him, I will,” Ash promised, unable to do anything else, even as he hugged those he considered his parents. “I promise you that, mother Far, father Duyi. Should I have the chance to save him, I will.”

“Do what you must, son,” Duyi said as an answer. As a guard he imagined Duyi had seen his fair share of awful things. What seemed shocking to Far, might not be that incomprehensible to Duyi. “He cast his name, and us, aside. That’s enough of that.”

Duyi released Ashley and Far, who didn’t let go of him, and nodded his head once. Giving him a smile he looked around to those around the room.

“Now, how about you introduce me to everyone here, son,” Duyi said, his eyes moving from person to person. “But… you… you look… Jia?”

Duyi was staring at her with full recognition, though he looked confused.

“Yes, hello father Duyi,” Jia said and then bowed at the waist to Duyi then stood up after a full pause. “I am indeed, Jia. I am no longer hiding that I am a woman and I have changed my name as well. I am formally known as Jia Sheng the Bound now. I am pledged to Ashley.”

Far twitched at that and then gently pulled away from Ash. She was looking at Jia now with something akin to curiosity. When she announced that she was a woman, Far hadn’t moved away.

It wasn’t until she stated her name that Far was interested.

“To be fair, mother Far likely already knew. She just chose not to say anything,” offered Locke.

“I am Na Sheng, the Handmaiden,” offered Na, bowing her head to Duyi and Far as well.

“I am Chunhua Sheng,” the sorceress said, bowing as well.

“And my Elegant Self is-” Tala paused on that, her fur bristling partially. She froze up as everyone looked to her. Then she let out a long breath and bowed at the waist to Ash’s parents as well. “I am Tala Sheng. Regretfully I am in a one-sided love with Ashley at this time. Though I have only recently told him of my feelings.”

Everyone eventually stood up, staring at Far and Duyi, as the two elderly people looked back.

Finally, Far looked to Ash and then gave him an odd smile. Tilting her head to one side while watching him.

“It would seem, Ashley Sheng, that we have a great deal to talk about in regards to daughters-in-law for me,” she said with a small shake of her head. “That will come later, I imagine. You are likely here for a different reason all together.

“Let’s all take a seat, and discuss what has transpired. I will quickly bring out some small plates and things to snack on. I can’t have all you girls wither away to nothing in front of me.

“Sit Duyi, I’ll return momentarily. You may catch our son up on what’s been happening in the city.”

Far patted Ash on the shoulder in a familiar way and then gently pushed the front of his hair to one side. Just as she often did.

Exiting the room quietly, everyone watched her go.

“Uhm, Ashley,” Duyi said in a cautious tone after his wife had completely exited. “I ask only for information. I’m not in a rush. Am I due to be a grandfather soon?”

“No, I’m taking lightning vine,” Ash said with a quick shake of his head.

“Ah, that makes sense,” Duyi said and motioned everyone to sit. He went over to what was clearly a recliner specific to him and sat down himself. There was one right next to it that looked only slightly smaller. “Do try to make sure I have grandkids before I can’t hold them. Far will likely say the same at some point, but she’ll wait a bit.

“As to what’s going on in the city, there’s really only one big piece of news. Our auction house started selling some very high end items just after you left, I think. It’s drawn a large number of people to the city. They’re all hoping for more such items from this great person and their items, though also bringing their own to sell. A lot of coin is flooding the city. It’s a good thing.

“There’s a great deal of movement going on through the back-channels, too. A number of my old acquaintances were called back into service, being offered double their pay and a pension. Even I was asked to return, they offered me triple to be a captain.”

Suddenly, Duyi broke out into a grin while looking around the room. He held his hands out in front of himself in an odd “what can I do?” gesture.

“Alas, I’m suffering a fate put upon me by my son,” Duyi said with a chuckle. The way he said it sounded like he’d repeated this little story a number of times already. “I’m forced to rest, relax, and enjoy the days as they come.

“My son has become a grown man and taken my worries away without any say so in the matter by me. I’m now relegated to retirement and living for my wife and myself. It’s truly a terrible fate assigned to me.

“I had to reject their offer of course, it wouldn’t do for a man in his retirement to work again. Not to mention I’m sure I’d never hear the end of it from my son.”

All the while he spoke, the grin on Duyi’s face couldn’t be any bigger.

“He always did strive as hard as he could for you. I base this on scouring your memories, mind you. Not just from what I’ve seen personally,” Locke said in a very quiet voice. “He was a true father do you.”

“You and mother Far planted the trees that gave me shade, father,” Ash said, unable to look at Duyi. The man had done everything in his power to provide for Ash who’d been a stranger to him.

Without Duyi, Ash would be a slave or dead.

“It’s only fitting that I return the favor,” mumbled Ash.

Glancing up he saw everyone around sitting there with a grin.

Duyi himself was smiling, but there was a deep sense of satisfaction there while staring at Ash.

“And that’s why you’re a good son,” Far said appearing at his side. She patted him gently on the head with her free hand and then ruffled his hair a bit. “Now, tell me about all my daughter-in-laws here.”

“We are only… we are only half the number, mother Far,” Jia said with an odd smile. “Also… we have formed the Sheng family clan. Gen is an honored elder for us.

“Though the originator of the Sheng clan is you, father Duyi, and you are his first and only wife, mother Far. Ashley is the family head.

“Also… you should know that the great person selling things in the city? That is Ashley. He is the one who sold those items. He is the great person and rightfully so. He has filled your credit to bursting with spirit stones through another wife of his, Ying Yue Sheng, across all of Xing city. Your account you make your withdrawls from has also been filled to bursting.

Duyi snorted once at that, looking to Far. Then he started to chuckle almost to himself.

“That would be why they always treat me like some sort of special person when I go withdraw our weekly needs. It makes a great deal of sense,” Duyi said with a laugh. One that slowly built into deep guffawing as if it were a hilarious joke. He proceeded to try and speak while laughing, but accomplished very little.

Far only continued to pat Ash on the head, ocassionally smoothing his hair backward as she did so.

Duyi just kept laughing.

“Mm. I mean, I get why you didn’t tell them. It’s not part of who you are,” mused Locke. “Though to be fair, it’s nice to see them so happy. They didn’t know their son was such an important figure.”A

Ash just sat there and smiled.