Mana 5 Chapter 27 (Patreon)

Ming finally finished her absorption of the Phoenix blood essence and opened her eyes, activating her bloodline and releasing a new pressure onto the world.

“This is fantastic.” She jumped to her feet, full of energy.

“I’m glad you were able to merge the blood essence into yourself.” I said with a smile. Her bloodline was so rich and powerful. I thought it was pretty likely she was a direct descendant of a phoenix.

Ming bowed to me, falling to her knees and kowtowing. “Ask anything of my family. I’ll ensure it is delivered.”

“Whoa.” I waved my hands in front of me and backed up. “Take it easy. The last thing I need is the princess of the Feng family bowing to me.”

“I am not a princess.” Ming jumped to her feet to declare.

I smirked. I had a feeling that would rile her up enough to get her back on her feet. “Good. Then I’ll come by the Feng Family later, after I deal with a few things. I wish you the best of luck with everything else in the meantime.”

“You’re leaving.” She realized from my words.

“Parting ways. I’m taking my wives and Breeze back into the city for now. Can you take everyone else?” I offered.

Ming smiled brilliantly, her eyes pinching together. “The least I can do. Don’t take too long to come visit me.” Having had a moment to rest and recover, not to mention absorbing the phoenix blood. She expanded her domain, grabbing the rest of the participants and rocketing off towards Blueheavens.

“Come on, let’s go. I want to meet your father.” Wenxi tugged at my arm. I obliged her, wrapping my own smaller group in my domain and lifting us off the ground. I struggled to carry even this many.

I had to invoke Aurora’s bloodline to stabilize my strength, but we made it all the way to Blueheavens.

My domain collapsed as we landed inside the first ring.

“It’s not far. Follow me.” Breeze broke from the group and deftly weaved through the crowd.

I shrugged and followed after him. I found it interesting that the swordsman was at home in the outer ring of Blueheavens.

The Su family had seemed to avoid it, using the causeway over it instead. But Breeze seemed to thrive within it, and I realized it reminded me a bit of my home as well.

It actually felt more comfortable than the Su Family compound. This was a busy city street that felt far more like my time in the mortal world.

Breeze turned down alleys until he stopped at a rundown looking tavern and kicked the door in without preamble. “I’m back!” He shouted into the tavern.

I half expected angry curses, but got a surprise instead.

“Breeze!” Men and women sitting at the tables lifted their glasses and cheered for him. It was like a hero's homecoming.

I stepped in behind him, looking around. The place wasn’t much, just wood benches and tables. The wood was worn where countless people had sat upon it, but there was still a cheer and life within the place. It was worn down by people who kept coming back.

They were a community.

Men got up and clapped Breeze on the back, while throwing wary glances over his shoulder at me and my wives. My sixth rank cultivation oozed out of me. I had no doubt more than one of these people was worried about what I’d do.

“Can I get a round for me and my group? Heck, while you are at it, a round for the whole place! Breeze and I became brothers on this trip.” I called to the bartender, wanting to reassure the group.

My request sliced through the tension in the tavern like a knife through hot butter. The crowd’s apprehension dissipated, and maids quickly filled mugs with warm ale and wine far too early in the day. But few things worked better than booze to lighten the mood.

“Where’s my master?” I overheard Breeze asking the bartender, who hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

Breeze turned, noticing my attention. He waved me back as he wove through the bar to a back door.

My wives all followed at a respectful distance.

I followed Breeze out the back to see a disheveled man who radiated danger and sharpness as he hunched over his sword.

He wasn’t practicing the sword, just focusing on his sheathed blade. But somehow his aura made you feel like he could cut through everything within a mile radius in an instant.

“Who’d you bring with you?” My father asked without looking up. Hearing his voice, my breath caught. I knew it was him.

“A friend.” Breeze was suddenly carefree, like a child before my father.

“Won’t teach them.” My father replied gruffly.

“Jokes on you. You already did.” I laughed.

My father whirled around, his aura of sharpness crashing down on me.

I flared my domain life, trying to stop that sword intent, but it was so sharp it cut right through my domain and made me jump back. A razor thin line was drawn in the ground between us.

“Impossible.” My father stood up straight and looked me in the eye. He was haggard. His clothes were worn and his face was tanned by too many hours in the sun. He was also in dire need of a shave. The only thing on him in pristine condition was his sword.

He looked me over, his eyes sharp and full of intelligence.

“It hasn’t been that long. Surely you can recognize your own son?” I held my arms out for a hug.

He rushed over and picked me up, twirling me around as tears welled up in his eyes. “How? How did you come early? Your cultivation.” He paused, realizing my strength. “Damnit! You are past me again, you bugger.”

I laughed and sized him up. “You need a shave, maybe two. You should look more presentable before we go find mother.”

My father’s finger took on sword intent as he brushed it over his face, all of his beard falling to the ground forgotten in his excitement. “You found her? Where is she?”

I knew there was no beating around the bush for that question. “Cloud City.”

Standing, my father began moving around, grabbing some essentials. “Breeze, we are going on a journey.” My father announced.

“Yes, Master.” Breeze was grinning ear to ear as he looked between us.

“Dad, calm down. There are a few things for me to handle in the city first. And then I should be able to get the Feng Family to allow us to use their teleportation circles to go to Cloud City.” Something told me if I didn’t fill him in on the plan, he’d be off to Cloud City with or without me.

It took a moment for him to settle down, but he didn’t stop packing, only the urgency was reduced.

He met my eyes, nodding, but I could tell he still felt a sense of urgency. Then his eyes shifted over my shoulder, seeming to notice my companions for the first time.

Wenxi and Rachel stepped up on either side of me. “Pleasure to meet you, father.” They said it in unison, bowing at the waist.

“More?” My father had the subtlest smirk as he met my eyes. “I don’t know how you survive that many wives.”

“Father.” Michelle teasingly scolded before she stepped around us and walked up to give him a hug.

He opened his arms wide, pulling her into a big bear hug. “See, Michelle knows how to greet me.”

Wenxi and Rachel paused for just a moment before they laughed, losing the formality as they ran forward to join in the hug.

When they’d finished, they stepped back, and my other wives went forward to greet him.

My father clapped his hands together once. “Now, let's head back in. I can hear the bar becoming a madhouse.” My father pushed me back into the tavern with a big smile on his face.

Everyone greeted my father; the bartender even called him ‘owner’ as he led us to a table. I smiled. It made sense he’d have found a way to establish himself in the city. He just pursued his own path.

“So, what do you have to do in the city before we head to find your mother?” My father cut right to the chase.

A server came by, dropping off ale for everyone as the bar settled down.

I took a sip of the ale that tasted, politely, like piss. Apparently, my father was not going for the most discerning palette in the place. But he’d also never been one for fancy things.

He was a military man through and through, even if he was no longer the captain of the guard.

“I need to visit the Su Family, Wenxi’s family. I have a few things to sort out there and to marry her. Then, I probably need to visit the orchid pavilion to thank Madam Orchid. She’s done so much for us. I’m probably behind in showing some appreciation.” I looked over at the Hua sisters. Lanhua had definitely invested in the two of them, along with Rachel. The way they’d been able to battle was part of what had kept them and our family safe. I owed her for that.

“Then we can head out to visit the Feng family and see about Cloud city.”

I didn’t mention that I also needed to talk with Phoebe. I took a big gulp of my drink, enjoying the momentary pause before all of that kicked off.

“Then let’s get moving.” My father slapped the table. When I went to take another sip and enjoy myself, my father reached forward, grabbing the bottom of my drink and tilting it up, forcing me to chug. I sputtered a little as I drank it down.

When it was empty, my father relaxed, smiling. “Oh, good. You’re done. Shall we go?”

Michelle and Wenxi both grabbed his shoulders, pulling him back down to sit. He grumbled, but he didn’t fight them.

“I feel like you probably have a few stories for us before we head out, oh Sword Saint.” Adding a little skeptical humor to my voice. I knew the title wouldn’t sit well with him. He was too modest for that.

My father sighed and looked at Breeze. “Is that what you call me?”

“Master, everyone has acknowledged you’ve become a sword saint. You cut his domain!” Breeze gestured wildly at me. “At the fifth rank, you cut a sixth rank domain. Your sword has transcended cultivation limits!”

Breeze was shouting so loudly that half the tavern quieted down to listen.

“I just focus on what I can control.” My father sighed so hard I thought his hair might turn gray on me. “But it seems you’ve found the funds to cultivate through to the sixth rank.” My father nodded at me.

“With help and treasures.” I agreed. I had a feeling it had been much harder for my father, who had stepped through with only three rings and far fewer resources. What he’d managed to build was impressive.

He reached over, grabbing Breeze’s mug with a smile, and took a sip from it. Then he began to talk. “I came through to a small town, where I fought for money in an arena for a time. Using that, I grew to the fourth rank, but then everything stalled. I needed lots of mana crystals to progress and a technique, which was prohibitively expensive.”

“So, I focused on what I was good at, my sword work. It was more in my control than my ability to gain money. I was never a businessman, always a soldier.” He shook his head with a sigh.

I wanted to cheer him up. “You bought this tavern.” I pointed out.

“Won it in a duel.” He clarified, smiling a bit as he looked around. “That’s what I’ve done to get here. I’ve constantly challenged stronger cultivators, ever focusing on the sword. They always assume they can beat me when they sense my rings. I’ve used it to my advantage.”

He took another sip of his drink. “People come by from time to time to challenge me for the bar. I even have posters out there telling anyone they can take the bar if they can beat me with the sword.”

Breeze hung on my father’s every word like he was a hero.

I knew my father was going about it in a way that suited him, but it seemed like he’d picked an especially difficult path. Not that it could change at that point. But he’d used the tavern as bait for bets and, since he still owned it, I assumed he wasn’t losing.

“Well, it seems to be working, but I’ll help you reach the sixth rank if I can.” I offered to him.

He shook his head before pausing. “What rank will your mother be?”

“I would guess sixth or maybe even seventh rank.” I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t imagine she wouldn’t have progressed that far. She was the last of the Yunpi family to retain their bloodline. If they weren’t showering her with resources, I’d be surprised.

He chewed on his lip and leaned back with a sigh. “Yeah, I better get up to par before I go barge into her family estate and demand her hand. It would be a shame to get dragged around by my ear by her. She always did get her way.”

I laughed, completely able to picture it. She left when I was five, but my memories of her were that she ruled the house, despite my father being the captain of the guard and nearly twice her size.

The warm memories of our united family settled over me like a comfortable coat. I hoped that one day soon my family would be back together again.

“Why don’t you join us heading back to the Su Family?” I offered. “It would be good for you to meet Wenxi’s mother.”

My father squinted at me. “There’s more than you’re saying. Tell me.”

“Well, I’m probably going to kill her uncle. Then hopefully we can have dinner with her mother.” I reached to steal a bit of my dad’s beer, but he batted my hand away.

“Is he strong?” My father asked, leaning forward.

“Very. He’s in the sixth rank. And he’s the active leader of a medium-sized ancient family.” I tempted him with a challenge. In the mortal world, he had been a firm, stalwart man, but here he was different.

It would seem thirty years alone, with no one to protect, had turned him into someone who thirsted for battle and for a challenge.

“Great. Let’s go. Breeze, come along. I’ll show you my sword again, and maybe you can teach Isaac here to appreciate the sword. Heavens knows I spent years trying to hammer the technique into him, but he never really loved it.”

That wasn’t entirely true. I was still an expert, though before these two it would seem I had fallen behind.

I threw up my hands. “Who is going to love something when they are forced to do it every afternoon?”

He’d wanted me to follow in his footsteps so badly, but I’d had a different journey to take.

I laughed, not being serious about my father’s criticism. “Oh, by the way, you have over a dozen grandchildren now.”

My father froze halfway to standing up. “Really?” His eyes lit up slightly.

“Yup. I have a daughter Catherine that really took to the sword. Rob might be a good candidate, too.” I thought about which of my children would take to the sword best. It would be a good distraction before he tried to force me into sword training again.

My father nodded. “Here in the city?”

“No, out in the town where we came into the immortal world. We took it over, and I left my second eldest in charge.” I explained.

“Good. They are too young for this city. Later… later, we’ll get the whole family together.” There was a little sparkle in my father’s eyes at the prospect of meeting his grandchildren.

“Then let’s get a move on it. I’ll bring us up to the Su Family estate.” I led us all outside and wrapped us in my domain. Lifting a group that size was taxing, so I only carried us over the inner wall. We walked the rest of the way to the Su Family estate.

***

“This is it?” My father asked, frowning at the ornate gate.

Wenxi stepped forward, motioning to the guards. “I’m back.” Unlike Breeze’s entry, Wenxi’s was met with less excitement.

“Hold up.” The guards looked at me in confusion. Then they looked back and forth at each other, uncomfortable. “Who are these guests? You need to clear them with the family before bringing this many in with you.”

“You know these girls.” She motioned to my wives. “They’ve already been cleared by the family. This, of course, is my soon to be husband, who has also been cleared by the family. The only two you haven’t met are his father and brother.”

Breeze smiled and pulled on my sleeve excitedly, clearly enjoying that she’d embraced him as my brother.

“I’m sorry, we cannot let these guests in. There is a celebration dinner set up for Quixi and Hendrick. Word has gotten out that everyone has returned from the shard of the shattered world.” The guard lifted his nose at our group and slammed the butt of his spear into the ground with finality.

They were in for some bad news if they were expecting Quixi and Hendrick.

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m afraid they aren’t coming home. But we’d be happy to repurpose the celebration.” My domain expanded to encompass the two guards, freezing them where they stood for just a moment as I flickered past, chopping at the back of both their necks.

When I released the domain, they both crumpled to the floor.

“Not going to kill them?” Kat asked with a smile as she stepped over, crouching just above them as if ready to finish them both off.

“No, they’ll be Wenxi’s guards here soon. Would hate to kill her guards.”

I earned a few eyerolls, but I kept moving forward, striding into the Su Family estate. I turned and headed straight for Tianxi’s home.

“Stop right there.” Our actions at the gate hadn’t gone unnoticed, and a number of those within the family’s gates were headed towards us.

Servants at the fourth rank headed out in front, as several sixth rank cultivations exploded deeper in the compound.

Tuomo, Tianxi, and one other middle-aged cultivator in the middle of the sixth rank appeared before me. “Halt!”

Their combined auras crashed down on our group, but my father unsheathed his sword. His own sword intent like a thousand blades ripped through their auras, releasing a bulk of the pressure.

“Wenxi!” Tianxi broke the momentary stalemate and swooped down to grab her daughter, pressing her face into her chest as she swung Wenxi around like a favorite doll.

“Mother.” Wenxi’s muffled complaint barely escaped Tianxi’s crushing hug.

“Ah, Wenxi and her group.” The third sixth rank cultivator paused. “What is the matter?”

But before we could answer, Tuomo’s face turned red as veins pulsed out of his head. If looks could kill, I would be dead a thousand times over. He glared at me with such intensity; I pictured his head just popping from all the tension.

Why not make him explode. “Hi, Tuomo, fancy seeing you again.” I smiled back at him.

“You’re dead.” Tuomo Su launched himself at me, trying to wrap me in his domain.

I brought my own domain to life, protecting me from his domain. Then I leapt into the air to meet his fist.

Everyone scattered as the force of two sixth rank cultivators destroyed the courtyard of the Su Family.

My father’s sword intent sliced right through Tuomo’s domain, and he was forced to block both of our attacks. My hit sent him flying.

Tuomo looked at his forearm. Blood welled up and dripped down onto the wrecked tiles below him. “Steel Sword Saint. I know who you are. Why are you in this fight?”

“Dad, I got this.” I motioned for him to stop.

“Dad?” Tuomo repeated what I’d said as understanding flickered in his eyes. “I see. Yes, let this just be a duel between the two of us. No sense in making it more complicated than it needs to be.” Tuomo didn’t even want to fight my father. I wondered just what kind of reputation he had.

As if he summoned more complication, multiple sixth rank auras crashed down on the Su Family Estate.

Guards wearing the military armor of the Feng Family surrounded the estate.

Ming stepped forward. “Su Family. We were already coming here with news. Your daughter and son-in-law betrayed the Feng Family. They have been put to death.”

“Impossible.” A shout boomed as an old man in the peak of the sixth rank floated up behind Tuomo. He was but a hair from the seventh rank, but that might as well have been an ocean when compared to the other seventh rank cultivators I’d felt.

“Elder Su.” Tuomo bowed to the old man. “There has to be some mistake.”

I had assumed there was a power hidden among the Su Family. Their heritage and status as an ancient family demanded some sort of power to hold it.

But his strength paled in comparison to what I’d felt when Elder Feng and Elder Long fought.

“Are you calling me a liar?” Ming demanded.

I held my hand up stopping, Ming from meddling further. “Stop this. I know what they did angered you, but I claim the fight with Tuomo. What he did to me needs recompense.”

Ming looked at Elder Su. “I will step back, if you will. Your family not only betrayed the Feng Family, but they also used the city guards to facilitate attempted murder. Tuomo must pay for his crime.”

Elder Su paused, eying Ming before he turned and glared down at Tuomo. “You will reap what you sowed. I declare this an internal family matter.”

Ming landed next to me. “Are you sure you have this? He’s been in the sixth rank for decades.” She almost seemed disappointed that I wasn’t taking her offer to solve my problems.

“Not to worry. I’ve got this.” I reassured her, cracking my knuckles. Raising my voice, I spoke to the surrounding group. “Tuomo had me falsely arrested, and then he attempted to kill me in the prison when I wouldn’t agree to his blackmail. I only ask for a fair rematch. I ask for justice.”

Seeming to get their agreement, I turned to Tuomo. “You should know, I killed Quixi and Hendrick when they betrayed Ming.”