Several days passed after Wu Fei attempted to murder Wu Jian. He had recovered from his injuries nicely and was back to training like normal, though Hou Jingshu had been hovering around him a lot more than usual. She never outright expressed her worry like Wu Meiying did. However, he had noticed that she was looking at him a lot more.

On the other hand, Wu Meiying had constantly asked him how he was feeling and loved getting into his personal space. If he didn’t know any better, he would have said she was using his injuries as an excuse to touch him. She had been a lot more handsy than usual.

That day had started just like any other, with some strength training and sparring before they cleaned themselves off and headed to the dining hall for breakfast. A young man stepped in front of them before they could reach their destination. He was tall, possessed dark hair, and dark eyes. Wu Jian didn’t know his name, but he was obviously a member of the branch family.

The Wu Clan was divided into two branches: the main family and the branch family. The main family consisted of those who were direct heirs to the clan like him, Wu Yong, and those related to the elders, while the branch family was everyone else. They were only distantly related to members of the main family and often were born from people who married into the family.

As an aside, Wu Yong would have been a branch family member if Wu Taohua had not married the clan head.

Since ability mattered more than lineage, being a member of the main family didn’t mean much. Anyone could become clan head if they had the strength for it. However, it was easier to gain strength if you were a main family member because more resources would be spent to cultivate you.

“Lord Yōushì has requested your presence,” he said.

“Just mine?” asked Wu Jian.

The branch member nodded. “Just yours.”

Wu Jian pursed his lips for a moment, but then turned to Wu Meiying and Hou Jingshu with a smile. “Sorry. It looks like Father wants to speak to me.”

“We understand,” Hou Jingshu said.

“Go talk to Uncle. We’ll see you when you get back,” Wu Meiying added.

“Thanks,” Wu Jian said.

Father was located inside of his residence, standing in the reception hall. He stood with his back to the door, hands clasped behind his back, staring at a large mural painting that hung from the wall. Mother and Wu Taohua were not with him. Wu Jian entered the room, knelt, and respectfully lowered his head.

“You requested me, Father?” he asked.

“I did,” Father said. He finally turned around. “As you know, one of the prizes for winning the Three Clan’s Tournament is preferential treatment from the Zhou Clan. I just received a letter from the Zhou Clan this morning. It is a request from Zhou Zu to have dinner with him. The dinner will be held two days from now. His letter asked that I bring you along.”

“Just me, Father?”

“Just you.”

Wu Jian wanted to frown and say he wouldn’t go anywhere without Wu Meiying and Hou Jingshu, but he knew that would be childish of him. He was nearing thirteen years of age now. Such behavior might have been appropriate when he was younger but no longer. It wouldn’t be long before he began taking on more adult responsibilities.

I also know that Mey and Jingshu won’t always be by my side. There will be times when we’re apart. I have to be ready for that.

Now would be a good time to learn what it felt like to be separated from the two girls. He didn’t like the idea, but he knew it was necessary if he wanted to become stronger mentally and emotionally.

A cultivator’s mental and emotion constitution was just as important as their physical strength.

“I understand, Father.”

“However,” Father continued in a stern tone, “We cannot have you meet with the Zhou Clan with the current clothes you possess. The Zhou Clan is far more prestigious than our Wu Clan. They have branches in nearly every city both within the Shang Kingdom and outside of it. This is a good opportunity to impress the Zhou Clan, so we must have you looking your best.”

Wu Jian didn’t quite comprehend his father’s words at first, but it wasn’t long before Father was ushering him out of the reception hall, through the compound, and toward the gates. They emerged from the other side to find a carriage waiting for them. The horses, black beasts of burden with intelligent amber eyes and sturdy frames, were attached to a harness connected to the black carriage with the Wu Clan crest: A dragon coiling around a cherry blossom.

Both he and Father were soon sitting inside of the carriage as their driver cracked the reins. The horse whinnied and began slowly ambling toward the city.

Wu Jian glanced at his father out of the corner of his eye. The man did not notice him, but he quickly looked away just in case. He shifted in his seat. This silence was stifling, but he dared not say anything for fear of doing something to anger Father.

His father also did not speak. He sat with his back straight, eyes closed, and arms crossed.

They soon reached Zahn City, which he heard before he saw. The noise from the city was lively even at this time of the morning. He glanced out the window to see where they were heading. The carriage eventually stopped in front of a simple two-story building with lintel posts holding aloft a curved roof, which extended at least one chǐ past the outer wall. A sign in front with the image of a robe told him this was a clothing shop.

“This is it. Come, Jian,” Father said.

“Yes, Father.”

Wu Jian climbed out after his father did and followed the man inside. The Wu Clan had their own clothier, so he wondered why they would bother coming all this way, but he soon realized the difference when a sprawling store filled with all kinds of fabric and premade clothes appeared before him. He looked to his left and found several rolls of beautifully decorated fabric ready to be bought. This store was clearly far more high-end than what they owned.

“Welcome, Honored Customer,” a man in the back said. He stood behind a table. “What can I do for you?”

“I need a hanfu for my son here.” Father placed a hand on Wu Jian’s shoulder and pushed him forward. “Dress him in your finest fabrics, something worthy of the future head of the Wu Clan.”

“Th-the Wu Clan?! Of course, sir! Honored Sir! I shall endeavor to make sure only the finest of fabrics and most stylish of cuts are used in your son’s clothing,” the man said with a stutter.

Wu Jian had never thrown out his clan name before, so this was his first time seeing how someone reacted to hearing it. He was amused at how overexagerated the man acted. Yet Wu Jian also felt uncomfortable. The amount of respect he was being shown didn’t feel like something he had earned, but it was being given to him simply because of the clan he belonged to.

But he knew how to act the part of clan heir. He didn’t cause a fuss.

“I’ll need to measure the young master before I can make something suitable for him,” the store owner said. Then he turned his head and shouted, “Fan! Come on out! We have a special customer!”

“Coming, dear,” a fluttery voice called out.

A somewhat portly woman soon emerged from a door in the back. She had black hair, a light tan, and a nice smile.

“These are members from the Wu Clan,” the store owner said without preamble. “This young master here needs some clothes. Create a custom hanfu with our finest fabric. Don’t skimp out on anything.”

“Of course, dear.” Still wearing that friendly smile, the woman looked at him. “Come this way, please. I shall first take your measurements.”

“I will be in your care,” Wu Jian said with a straight face as he followed the woman. She ended up taking all kinds of measurements. Shoulder to fingers. Chest and waist. Shoulder to shoulder. Even the size of his neck was measured. By the time she was done, Wu Jian felt as if this woman knew more about his body than he did. It was honestly embarrassing.

“You are very athletic for someone so young. I have never seen such a strong body before. I guess that’s what it means to belong to a clan,” the woman complimented.

“Thank you,” Wu Jian said.

“Okay. I’ve taken your measurements,” she said at last, putting away her tape measure. “I’ll begin creating a hanfu for you right away. It should be ready within two days. I recommend coming early in the morning. That will allow me to see how it fits you and make some last minute adjustments if needed.”

“Cost?” asked Father.

“Five thousand silver spirit coins. We request that all customers with expensive orders like this pay a one thousand silver spirit coin deposit. You will pay the remaining four thousand once you’re satisfied with the design,” the store owner said.

“Very well.” Father held out his hand and a large stack of silver spirit coins suddenly appeared. Wu Jian made an astonished exclamation as his father handed over the silver spirit coins. “We will return in two days time.”

“Thank you for your patronage,” the store owner said.

They soon left the store, entered the carriage, and sat down. As the carriage began moving, Wu Jian eyed his father’s hand.

“I didn’t know that ring was a storage ring,” he said.

Father looked at his left hand, which had a simple ring unadorned of any decoration residing on his ring finger.

“It is just a simple storage ring that I received from serving in the military,” Father said. “I decided long ago that it would become a family heirloom. Once you succeed me as clan head, this storage ring will be yours.”

“Thank you, Father,” Wu Jian said.

“Mmm. You are welcome, I suppose.”

Father and son stared at each other for several more seconds, then awkwardly looked away. Wu Jian didn’t quite know what to say to his normally taciturn father. The carriage was silent the rest of the way home.

***

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Wu Jian stood before an ornate carriage that rarely ever saw use. Golden dragons danced along the black carriage, which was much bigger than the one they had used when shopping for his hanfu. It was something his father only used when meeting important dignitaries and officials from the Imperial Royal Palace.

It’s a testament to the Zhou Clan’s importance that Father opted to use this carriage for them. He really wants to make a good impression.

Wu Jian was dressed in stately robes the likes of which he had never worn, a red and white hanfu with a dragon coiled around a cherry blossom on the left breast. Unlike his normal hanfu, this one came with a stately coat possessing voluminous sleeves.

It felt stifling and hot. Sweat dripped along his arms and torso. He would have preferred not to wear it, but he understood how important appearances were.

“I can’t believe I’m not going with you,” Wu Meiying pouted.

Wu Jian smiled helplessly. “Can’t be helped.”

“I know. I still hate it. Doesn’t it bother you too, Jingshu?”

“Huh? Oh, um, yes, it does, but it’s like Wu Jian said. It can’t be helped.” Hou Jingshu looked like she had been in a daze, but she quickly snapped out of it. “The Zhou Clan is one of the most powerful clans on the Xiao Continent. They have branches in almost every country. The Zhou Clan is one of the Ten Master Clans of the Azure Dragon Sect. You know about them, right?”

Wu Jian nodded. “They’re one of the Three Celestial Sects, right?”

“Right. They’re ranked as the second strongest among the Three Celestial Sects, but they’re also the richest. That’s because of the Zhou Clan, which owns and operates every auction house, slave auction, and has a booming business in the apothecary industry. Out of every clan on this continent, they are the most prominent.”

It was hard to believe such a powerful clan could exist. Wu Jian came from a small clan in the tiniest country of the Xiao Continent, so he couldn’t fathom a clan that was so big it covered the entire continent. He supposed that was just the difference between him and them.

“Come on, Jian. We’re going,” his father said from inside the carriage.

“Looks like I’m heading off. See you two later,” Wu Jian said.

“Wait!” Before he could fully turn toward the carriage, Wu Meiying trapped him in a hug. He paused as the girl tightened her arms around him and whispered in his ear. “Try to befriend Zhou Lihua if you can. She’ll prove very useful to you in the future.”

“What…?”

Wu Jian didn’t get the chance to ask Wu Meiying what she meant. The girl stepped back, smiled at him, and ran back through the gate. He and Hou Jingshu stood there for a moment, not saying anything.

“Do you want a hug too?” asked Wu Jian.

Hou Jingshu blushed a bit and shook her head. “I’m good.”