Mana 6 Chapter 2 (Patreon)

I arrived back at the Su family estate to see servants and lower members of the family bustling about with their daily activities.

It didn’t pass my notice that the epicenter of the family had shifted drastically. Tianxi, Wenxi’s mother, seemed to be the beating heart of the clan now. Servants were coming and going from her home.

When we’d arrived here fresh from Murdock, Tianxi’s home had been devoid of servants, like they had isolated her in her own family.

“Lord Hughes.” A thin girl stood before me, bowing. “Is there anything I can do for you?” The way she bowed with her hands pressed into her lap squeezed what little chest she had forward. The little minx wanted my attention.

I’d only paused for a moment, but that had been long enough to catch attention. “No, thank you. I’m just taking in the family, before I head to see Tianxi.”

She nodded, but a small frown of disappointment graced her cheeks before she darted off.

The servants were almost too receptive to me. Folding my arms behind my back, I walked like the old man I was despite looking young, slowly taking everything in.

I wasn’t in a rush; like so many Immortals, I was starting to understand that time was now on my side. Instead, I enjoyed the ascetics of the swooping roof lines of the Su family estate. There were handmade tiles that swept off the corners, making it look like a swan’s wing while still being in line with the typical design.

The artistry of the design was incredible, and it made my heart ache. For all the power that I had, we had raced to the top of the cultivation food chain. We’d had no choice but to progress in order to survive; I was unsure if we were the luckiest or the unluckiest cultivators. In doing so, we had missed much of the art in life.

I often thought good fortune was shadowed by misfortune, balancing the scales.

But in the rush to progress and survive, my wives and I hadn’t had time to enjoy art and build creative skills. We’d missed the ways art could heal, focusing instead on cultivation.

Tianxi’s home was busy; a servant almost ran into me twice as I walked through the archway and into the main courtyard.

A long table had just been set up, and servants were placing in the last leaf and settling the chairs.

“There he is! Just in time.” Tianxi was like a whirlwind as she appeared at my side, grabbing me by the shoulder and parading me around in front of other members of the Su Family. I recognized the elder who had turned his back on Tuomo and the other 6th rank of the family.

My wives were off to the side, being waited on by servants. Ming, in particular, was getting heavy attention. It looked like she was getting her drink refilled before she could even get it to the halfway point.

“Hello, Tianxi, Elder.” I nodded respectfully to both of them. While I’d killed Tuomo, I didn’t hate their entire family. I hoped to move on from that and establish myself among them or, better yet, help Wenxi and her mother become established enough to take over.

“Our family is blossoming.” The elder respectfully tilted his head to me. “The Feng family gave us several profitable trade agreements this morning, and we are celebrating along with getting some of the necessary members ready. Tietan, who you’ve met, will be leading them.” He gestured to the 6th rank cultivator of the Su family that I hadn’t known.

“Congratulations.” I gave the three of them a winning smile. Sending off Tianxi’s primary competition on an important mission meant that Elder Su was supporting Tianxi and creating space for her to gobble up all of Tuomo’s power in the family.

And the fact that he was telling me his plan meant he was trying to earn my trust and establish a deeper connection between us.

I smiled and gave him a nod. It was great to be back on top.

He smiled back. “Well, we have things to attend to and must be off. Good luck with everything, Isaac.” Elder Su bowed to me before taking Tietan in tow and leading her away.

As soon as they were gone, Tianxi swept me up in a hug and twirled me around.

The servants all paused to watch.

“You are the best thing to happen to me and my little girl.” She crushed me to her chest as spun about.

“Wenxi deserves all the credit, no?” I teased, knowing I could pass this hug off.

Tianxi dropped me like a sack of bricks and charged her daughter. “Come her my favorite daughter.”

“I’m your only daughter.” Wenxi jumped to her feet, holding out her hands to ward off her mother, but it didn’t matter.

Tianxi broke right through her guard, scooping up her daughter and shaking her like a child with their favorite toy. “I love you so much Wenxi. You’ve done so well.”

“Mom!” Wenxi blushed so deeply that it spread down to her chest.

The servants were all good natured, looking away to hide their smirks.

“Wenxi.” Her mother cried out in agreement as she pulled her close, completely oblivious to her daughter’s protests.

“Really, you should be thanking Ming too. She’s your daughter through marriage now.” Kat mentioned, giving Wenxi a moment to breathe as Tianxi charged Ming.

My lovely warrior princess was no match for Tianxi’s motherly might, as she was also hugged within an inch of her life.

Tianxi calmed down after that, clapping her hands happily and remembering why we were all here. “Lunch. I have lunch planned for all of you. Come sit.”

Ming smoothed out her dress with a rueful shake of her head and commiserated with Wenxi as they sat down at the table.

Kat came and claimed her spot next to me. Having thwarted her new opponent, she wore a pleased smile.

“Do I need to be worried about you adding more women to this family?” I raised an eyebrow at my slightly broken wife. Okay, Kat is more than a little broken.

Kat batted her eyelashes at me. “Whatever do you mean?”

I glared at her for a moment in warning. “Don’t push it too far.” I didn’t need my women fighting and none of them would like it if I had to intervene.

She nodded, although I wasn’t sure how much she’d actually taken to heart.

The rest of the group sat down around the table as well.

Michelle sat across from us, smirking after watching my exchange with Kat. “Are you going to let the others out to join us?”

At the mention of them, my mana beasts beat against their rings in agreement.

I released them, causing my surroundings to explode with color as they each launched themselves out.

Aurora sailed over the table on her wings, swooping down low over me before landing and taking the chair on the other side of me.

Mei tried to sit in my lap, but Quinn snagged her first, giving me a peck on the cheek before pulling the frisky fox away.

Lumi and Phoebe were better mannered, and both kissed me before finding their seats.

“Master, you are going to put the people that make bigger tables out of business if your harem keeps growing.” Aurora commented as she looked around the table with wide eyes.

She wasn’t wrong. My harem was large enough that giving each of them personal attention was getting difficult.

But I still had a ring to fill, and I knew the Yunpi family was going to push me for children bearing the Pixiu bloodline. Our harem would likely grow, and I could only hope we added women just as amazing as the ones already surrounding me.

“Well, then we’ll also have to put the big bed makers out of business.” I tried to crack open the subject. “Because I’m afraid you are going to get at least one more sister and probably several more wives.”

It had its intended effect, and I caught the attention of the table. My wives all turned to me. I found myself with the Hua sisters, Thea, Celina, Michelle, Kat, Wenxi, Rachel, Ming, along with my five mana beasts all gazing upon me with love. Fourteen wives. None of them seemed upset at the prospect.

I shook my head ruefully. My life was blessed with luck.

Clearing my throat, I stood up at the table as servants came out to fill our glasses and place food on the table. I could only return that love.

“Thank you all for sticking with me. Our lives have been blessed with luck, and I am honored that you all came with me on this amazing journey. I know we have been through a lot, but I’m afraid we still have more to come. We must go to Cloud City, to the Yunpi family. If we can come to some sort of peace with them, I hope that we can explore and build in this world more easily.”

I smiled, looking around the table. “Who knows, maybe we can get Michelle to take up painting.”

The table laughed at that, and Michelle’s face flushed with embarrassment. She’d had a small painting phase while she was pregnant, and it hadn’t worked out so well when Kat asked Michelle to paint her.

Tianxi took up her own glass. “My daughter has joined a man of varied and refined tastes, but with it, he’s brought nothing but luck to our family. Cheers to him and may he continue to make you all and many more women happy.”

“Mom.” Wenxi looked like she wanted to bury her head in the sand.

“Isaac isn’t a man that can be contained by a single woman. He’s the kind of man with a journey that only occurs once in a million years. His meteoric rise will draw more women than you can imagine. That he’s kept himself to just a little over a dozen is impressive enough.” Tianxi raised her glass in cheers and sat back down.

Her toast seemed to signal the servants. They bowed and left us to eat.

“So, now that we are in private, what is next for you?” Tianxi made conversation.

“Training, preparing for the Yunpi family, and then heading to Cloud City here shortly.” I answered by taking some orange glazed duck onto my plate and enjoying the greasy, flavor filled meat.

“Will my daughter be in any danger?” Tianxi asked with caution.

I glanced at the women around the table, already knowing what the Yunpi family would do. “More than likely, her movements will be restricted, and they’ll be treated like royalty in an attempt to get a favor from me.”

“Royal prisoners.” Tianxi could read between the lines. “Reliant on your survival to maintain that status.”

I nodded. “Until I can stand up to a seventh rank immortal, a family the size of the Yunpi will be able to hold leverage over me with my wives and my children.”

Tianxi drummed her fingers on the table. “They could stay with me.”

But I knew that drawing Tianxi into my problems wasn’t the answer. “No, when the Yunpi family comes to collect them, I don’t intend to involve you. I can handle this.”

Tianxi paused, then nodded. “I trust you.” She looked me in the eye before she went back to her meal.

All of my wives were looking at me with varying levels of concern. Not all of them were comfortable with the level of family politics that we were about to endure.

But I would do everything within my power to ensure that I remained valuable to the Yunpi family and rose to the top, getting rid of that pressure on them by amassing sheer strength.

And those who imposed upon me or them would regret it one day. No one holds a blade over my family without consequence.

“Excuse me.” A servant walked in. “There are several guests waiting to speak with Lord Hughes.”

Tianxi looked at me to decide.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Lanhua and Lilly.” The servant didn’t look up from the floor as he spoke to me.

I smiled. It figured that they had found each other. I still wasn’t sure the entirety of their friendship, but I knew my mother had used Lanhua to look after me.

“Then if you’ll all excuse me, I think there are conversations that need to be had.” I bowed to my wives and stood from the table, heading off to talk to my mother and Lanhua. I wondered if I might finally get some clearer answers out of Lanhua.

My mother and Lanhua were chatting closely as I approached.

“Son.” My mother hugged me tightly, putting her head on my shoulder. “With everything that has happened, we haven’t had much time to talk.”

My eyes drifted over to Lanhua. “Hello Madam Orchid, are you part of that conversation, too?”

“Oh, don’t be a brute. Lanhua is an old friend and has had a tough life.” My mother pulled me away and put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

Lanhua did her best to look pitiful, though it didn’t work well. She just always looked sexy.

“Mother, why is it you that came to retrieve me, and not some elder from the Yunpi family?” I asked.

“Because I convinced them that I’d be able to bring you back. Speaking of, we don’t have much more time before that grace disappears.” She fretted slightly with her hands.

I didn’t like the sound of that. “What happens when that grace disappears?”

“They are aware of your children in Murdock. I suspect your children will be invited to the Yunpi family and housed there, waiting for you. The old elders of the Yunpi family have little patience for anything against their wishes.” My mother cringed.

I turned to Lanhua. “Do you have a solution for that?”

“No, but they’ll house your wives and children, regardless. The only one they won’t touch is Ming.” Lanhua seemed to know quite a lot about how a large, ancient family operated. “But it is also to protect them. The Leon family will target you.”

“Yes, I had a run in with an assassin just earlier today.” My expression soured. “I suspect that was them?”

“Describe the assassin.” Lanhua demanded.

“Black robes, tongue cut out and scars over his throat. Couldn’t speak when I caught him and tried to poison me.” I quickly explained.

Lanhua wrinkled her nose. “Hired dogs that can’t bark. Their poison is highly effective, though; are you sure you are okay?”

“Perfectly fine.” My Yin Harmony Bird bloodline had kicked off to suppress the poison, but it was quiet now. The poison was gone. “Are they connected to the Leon family?”

“Unfortunately not. But I wouldn’t put it past the Leon family to hire out the job to keep their hands clean. If they kill you directly, the Yunpi and Feng families will move against them. The last thing the Leon Family wants is to give the Yunpi family an ally on a silver platter.” Lanhua bit her thumb in thought before turning to my mother.

She nodded for Lanhua to continue.

“I think he needs to get to the Yunpi family quickly. The Bishou won’t like the embarrassment of a failed mission.” Lanhua gave me an apologetic smile. “It’s best for your family as well. If the Yunpi have determined the location of your children, the other ancient families won’t be far behind.”

I frowned, not liking the sound of my options.

“I could stay here with the Feng Family.” It was the only other option I could see available, but my mother shook her head.

“Impossible.” She stated. “They won’t extend their protection to your entire family. Besides, don’t you want to meet the rest of your family? My mother and father would love to meet their grandson, and I can guarantee you that they will dote on you and all your children.” My mother tried to encourage me.

The idea was certainly enticing, and I knew I’d have to give some ground. “Fine. Let me make a good faith gesture and send a letter to my kids in Murdock. Then the Yunpi family can pick them up.”

I realized it was going to happen, regardless; there was little point in resisting it and making everyone’s lives harder. We were just going to have to make a splash into the Yunpi family and earn our place.

“What of these grandparents? Are they 7th rank?” I asked hopefully.

But my mother shook her head. “No, there are two elders in our family branch, though. You will need to be on your best behavior when you meet them.” She gave me a chiding look, one that said she understood me better than I expected. “You were always a rascal as a kid, and I can already see that hasn’t changed.” She sighed, rubbing her fingers into her temple, remembering something from long ago.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior.” I felt like a kid again as I said it, wanting my mother’s approval. But then Lanhua caught my attention. “What will you be doing?” I said.

My mother gave her an askance look, like she was trying to confirm if I knew something.

There was a small shake of Lanhua’s head before she spoke. “I’d like to join you in Cloud City. I’ll work with my disciples that have the spirit bloodline, and hopefully set up more business with the Hua sisters. They are truly talented in trade and dealings.”

I knew there was more she wasn’t saying, but I decided to tease her. “And here I thought you just couldn’t stay away.”

“Careful or you are going to get more than you bargained for.” My mother laughed. “Lanhua here can be quite the handful.” She put her hands on Lanhua’s shoulders in almost a motherly gesture.

For a moment, I wondered if there was more between them. But Lanhua didn’t look anything like her.

She certainly couldn’t be related by blood, but there was something in their past that I didn’t quite understand.

“My only request is that if you have a conflict with the Leon family, you allow me to join in.” There was a little anger that smoldered in Lanhua’s eyes.

A common enemy would cause people to do many things. I wondered if that’s what was really driving Lanhua to join us on our trip.

Her secrets would come out sooner or later.

“Mother, tell the Yunpi family that I’ll arrive tomorrow. I could even send a letter with them for whoever they send to Murdock to pick up my kids.”

She clapped her hands together with a finality. “Perfect. Let me get everything arranged for you, son. Your family will accept you with open arms and I know you won’t regret it.”

It felt like the right choice, even if it would be frustrating to be under that family’s thumb. My mother wanted me to join the family, and I was curious to meet my grandparents.

A little part of me was full of hope, but I was pushing it down and reserving my excitement. I didn’t want to be let down.

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