Pale Moon Lake City, Shen Yu decided as Lu Ri led him through the place, was fascinating in its sheer… mortalness. A city’s population was always going to be predominantly mortal, but he had never yet seen one in all the Empire that was like this, with barely a hint of the touch of cultivators. It was a glimpse into a world without Qi. There were no grand stadiums or arenas for cultivators to battle, no auction houses for rare reagents. There wasn’t even a ruling sect as most cities had, with the administration supposedly being purely mortal.

It was so different that for a brief moment Shen Yu had questioned whether he was in the Empire: but the flags fluttering on the palace roof told no lie, flying the ever radiant phoenix.

Pale Moon Lake City was a quiet and sleepy place. The mortals hawked their wares. The guards inspected caravans. Life ground on, in this Qi-less desert without cultivators.

It was strange, so strange, to see the world like this. They hadn’t had a demon attack in this province since the Empire was founded. Shen Yu hadn’t felt any powered formations on the walls— hells, the shanty village spilled far, far outside them, fearless of any Spirit Beasts—if there were any amount of the creatures at all.

The mortals who ruled here, however, were obviously fairly intelligent and industrious. Their little buzzing medallions that Lu Ri had pointed out were actually quite ingenious contraptions, and exactly what they needed.

It was probably less shocking for Shen Yu, compared to other cultivators. He had spent enough time as a wandering vagabond that he knew the mortal world better than most. This city was about the same as any other, albeit without the enormous amount of crystals used to provide water or light.

Honestly, it was slightly cleaner than Shen Yu had been expecting. The circular lake, obviously a remnant of some great battle from ages past, was fetching in its own right.

If it weren't for the fact that it was in a horrid Qi desert, he would have said the city was an enjoyable thing to walk through. Shen Yu took his eyes off a banner advertising a play called “The Demon Slaying Orchid”, and turned to his companion.

“So, your “Plum Blossom Shadow”… You think these mortals will have information for us?” Shen Yu questioned as Lu Ri started towards an alleyway. He had sent a transmission to one of his men as soon as they stepped foot within the province, warning them of their impending arrival.

“They do. I requested that they keep an eye on things for me, and if anything came up involving Jin Rou they should know. In truth, however, I expect little to have changed.” Lu Ri replied as he started down the narrow corridor filled with junk.

Shen Yu’s eyes snapped to what looked like a drunk, laid out from his alcohol, against the wall. But the smell wasn’t right, and he was far, far too alert.

“The shade under a plum tree refreshes the spirit.” Lu Ri intoned as he stopped just before a door in the side of the alley.

“And its fruit a grand prize.” The pretend drunk whispered back, rising from his prone position gracefully so that he could kowtow before Lu Ri. “Master Scribe. This old man pays his respects. The Section Heads are ready for your arrival.”

“Already?” Lu Ri asked.

“You called, Master Scribe. We are ever prepared to answer.” The beggar rose and gazed upon Lu Ri. The worn man’s eyes were full of a zeal one only saw in a loyal subordinate.

Lu Ri opened the door and the man returned to his guard position. On the other side of the door were two far more armed and armored mortal guards, who clasped their fists and bowed as Lu Ri led Shen Yu down this separate alley until they arrived at the back door to a manor.

Once more Lu Ri spoke his pass phrase giving them entry within. Not that they could have stopped him.

Lu Ri had not, to Shen Yu’s eyes, changed his mannerisms. He was still as mild and seemingly uninterested as he had always been. But now, there was a presence around the boy. An aura of charisma and command.

How interesting.

================================

Thus they stepped foot into the lair of the Plum Blossom’s Shadow. Shen Yu had worked extensively with information brokers throughout his life. They were some of the most powerful organizations in the Empire. Each province seemed to have its own master of shadows who was supreme—geography and intimate knowledge crafted over centuries ensured there was some variety between places.

They were wealthy clans living in the shadows of grand cities or hidden within illusion drenched forests. Individuals existed too, solo operatives who worked out of dive bars—and this was neither of those. There was no mysticism here, no ancient clans or special techniques. Instead, as they entered the lower level of this simple manor house in the city, what met them was organized chaos.

As they passed several rooms Shen Yu glanced within at the teeming papers and mortals gathered by them in amusement. The air was thick with code-speak and sign language. Some of the mortals had fingers pressed against minor transmission stones, transcribing what they were hearing in shorthand. These men and women moved with a purpose that would not look out of place on Tou Le’s own mortal soldiers. Shen Yu could see the influence of the Cloudy Sword Sect clear as the summer sun in the brief glimpses of organization charts, hierarchy, and well laid, efficient planning and rotations. It was more of an artifact machine that gathered information and processed it, rather than the organizations Shen Yu was used to.

“Within six months you built this?” Shen Yu questioned. Like the beggar and the guards outside… they were all driven. Driven by passion, an almost tangible force within the building, and Lu Ri had been the one to inspire it. Once more, it seemed that Lu Ri had only the illusion of mediocrity about him.

“Three.” Lu Ri responded absently. “They were receptive to the words and works of the Honoured Founders… and just needed a slight push.”

Shen Yu had to stop himself from laughing. This boy—he thought what he had done was unimpressive. That it was merely the work of the Founders of the sect, rather than his own skill, not realizing that he had replicated in months what the Founders had taken centuries to refine.

He would have to give Brother Ge a heads up about this one. With a bit more refinement and a century or two… Well, Elder Lu Ri was something that was nearly a foregone conclusion.

They ascended a set of stairs to the top floor. There, the throng of people thinned out as the building became more what one would expect from a noble manor.

There was a servant waiting for them as Lu Ri marched unerringly towards a room. The woman’s head touched the floor and the door was pulled open for Lu Ri.

Within were three people— two men and a woman, and all immediately bowed.

“We pay our respects to Master Scribe, and his honoured guest.”

==========================

They were swiftly seated and offered refreshments. Shen Yu took a swig of the offered wine, which wasn’t bad, as the mortals composed themselves for their “Master Scribe.”

“Thank you for receiving me so promptly.” Lu Ri said as a scraggly-looking man brewed him tea.

“It was no trouble, Master Scribe.” A corpulent male wearing merchants garb intoned. “We are ever at your service.”

Lu Ri nodded his head. “Very well. Report.”

“As Master Scribe has commanded, we have worked extensively with the Azure Jade Trading Company and expanded the reach of our Plum Blossom’s Shadow. It has been mutually beneficial for both of our organizations.

“And Jin Rou?”

“As you dictated to us, Master Scribe, Verdant Hill has not been approached—however, shortly after you left, there was an… incident. We were unable to contact Master Scribe at the time.”

Lu Ri raised an eyebrow.

“What manner of incident?”

The woman popped open a scroll. “This one will begin the first consolidated report on Jin Rou—Rou Jin as he has named himself.” The mousey, nondescript woman began. She wore the garb of a palace worker in the transmission stone division.

Shen Yu frowned deeply at the reminder. The name change was an attempt to hide, so Lu Ri reported. Rou had apparently been worried that the little bastard who had tried to cripple him would go looking to finish the job.

It was a simple method to hide, changing the characters of one’s name and then reversing them. A little shit like the one who had hurt his grandson most certainly would have been fooled and dissuaded.

“We start less than a week after you left. Jin Rou was involved in an incident at the Dueling Peaks, as codified by these reports—in which there was an altercation with the Shrouded Mountain Sect.”

Shen Yu paused in the middle of taking another swig, his eyes narrowing at the woman.

Oh, little Rou, little Rou! Shen Yu chastised. Something had to have happened. The Young Master, back for revenge! He had been proud when Lu Ri told him little Rou had managed to suppress a Young Master of the Shrouded Mountain Sect—the story had been downright hilarious. Beating an upjumped shit, and then leaving him for the mortals to contain after declaring he was so weak he couldn’t be a Young Master?

That was damn poetic, and something Shen Yu wished he would have thought of. In fact, the next time he happened to suppress some boy too big for his britches, he’d do just that! How embarrassing! How shameful, to rot in a mortal’s cell, and be declared an imposter because you were too weak!

The mortals, however, seemed unconcerned with angering Lu Ri, so little Rou had obviously come out fine from that event as well.

“The altercation involved every sect in the Azure Hills, as well as the Shrouded Mountain Sect’s observers. The official story of the sects is that it was a drunken altercation, a small fight. But agents have unearthed that the whole thing began over the apparent assault and imprisonment of one Rou Tigu.”

The world ground to a halt at the name. The barest hint of Shen Yu’s intent leaked out, and one of the little medallions in the room shattered.

“What?” Some of Shen Yu’s intent leaked out at that. Rou Tigu? “Describe her.” Shen Yu commanded the suddenly silent and sweating mortals. They were struck dumb, and the fat merchant started choking.

Shen Yu retracted his aura and they began to gasp for air. The woman fumbled her scroll, panic in her eyes as she tried to obey him.

“Recover yourself first.” Lu Ri said calmly to the mortal, and Shen Yu grudgingly banked his will. The woman seemed to take heart from Lu Ri’s words and took a deep breath before speaking again.

“F-Female Cultivator, age fourteen to sixteen. Orange hair. Facial markings. Clothes had a depiction of a maple leaf and rice stalk upon it. She was part of the sectless contingent, but defeated all in their path, save Cai Xiulan, who she was seen interacting with frequently. A wild, unrestrained, and bestial fighter. Relation is likely that of a daughter or niece. She was physically affectionate with him, but not in the manner of a lover. The observer likened it to his own daughter.” The mortal bit out as sweat trailed down her cheek, the woman shakily held out an unrolled scroll. “Likeness is included.”

Shen Yu gazed down at what was an advertisement, of all things, of a stuffed doll.

A cheeky, orange-haired, and smiling brat looked back at him. Was… was she perhaps some manner of family? Was that why Rou had come? She was far, far too old to be an actual daughter. And there was something about even the drawing that was familiar. Something in the facial structure.

Had she been some sort of distant family Rou had found that still lived ? Or was she simply like Rou, picked up off the street by the sympathetic boy? Well, allowances could be made if she was impressive enough.

“Continue.” Shen Yu commanded.

The mortals continued. Spinning a tale about an assault at the Dueling Peaks… and how Little Rou had apparently taken to heel the Shrouded Mountain Sect in its entirety.

He would have to confirm the tale himself! Rou, crushing a sect already?! Just what had his boy been doing?! How had he grown so fast?

He should have been worried. The tale was distressingly familiar to his… to his son… but there was a massive, glaring difference.

Instead of depredation and death, the tale the mortal told was of a benevolent and still righteous boy—one who had taken it upon himself to repair the city that had been wrecked. They were polar opposites.

So Shen Yu had a small smile on his face as he reigned in his frayed temper.

“He was at the head of negotiations, from what observers said, and the disciples bowed to him and him alone. They gave their reparations— And then left.”

“They did not challenge it?” Lu Ri questioned.

“Not at all. From all reports, not a single member of Shrouded Mountain Sect has stepped foot in the Azure Hills since they left.”

“That is good, then. Keep an eye on things.”

“As you command.”

“And the Trading Company’s relation to him?”

“It again, was as you surmised. The Azure Jade Trading Company has aligned with his interests, and now they are dedicated to his cause. Even Guan Chyou, the favoured daughter, was witnessed by agents spending the night with him, twice, and even journeyed up north with a full guard and stayed with him. She has also been absent at the functions she normally hosted, and the company closed off all offers for her hand.”

Shen Yu perked up at that little tidbit.

“Oho?” he asked.

Another drawing was quickly provided—This time of a fetching beauty with beautiful scarlet hair.

Oh, Rou had excellent taste.

“I see. I thank you for your report.” Lu Ri said as Shen Yu examined the woman. There was a thunk of a scroll hitting the table. “Within lies your next set of orders. I will be back soon, to further explain them.”

“Yes, Master Scribe!” the mortals intoned, but Shen Yu ignored them, already standing. His Qi churned. The mortals actually had been useful—though now he had more questions than answers.

Lu Ri received Shen Yu’s silent demand as they removed themselves from the manor.

The pace increased.

==================================

Through the Qi desert, the cultivators leapt. Over the hills and the roads, heading further and further north. It was as if they were going back in time as spring regressed. The leaves on the trees shrunk and the blossoms closed— They reached Verdant Hill two days after they left Pale Moon Lake City.

Lu Ri was gasping for air and Shen Yu was feeling a bit of strain himself, his wounds acting up slightly in the Qi starved air. But as they traveled further north, one thing was clear. There was more Qi up here. At least a little. It soothed their breaths and the air stopped feeling so hostile.

They passed by an unfinished road and entered a tiny town, the most backwater Shen Yu had ever seen.

Verdant Hill.

“He is supposed to be along the north road.” Lu Ri stated as they paused for a moment.

“Remain here.” Shen Yu commanded and Lu Ri bowed. “I shall continue alone.”

Rou was close. He could feel it in his bones. His feet took him past another, even smaller village.

And when he met the boy, he would get to the bottom of these outlandish tales!

=========================================

“Alright, that's it for the soybean field.” I muttered as I stared at the newly planted soil. I was rotating soybeans into the wheat fields we had used last year. Soybeans were nitrogen fixers—so that meant they could return at least some productivity to what we had going.

I mostly wanted to see what the effect was with my soil super powers. Maybe there was something better than the four field rotation I knew we used back home? And realistically, anything was better than pumping the ground full of chemical fertilizers and abusing things until they dropped.

I know fertilizer and pesticide has its place. Hell, it's the reason we could feed so many people—but quite frankly, if I could avoid doing any of that shit here I’d grab that opportunity with both hands.

Besides, I wasn’t trying to feed the world. Just myself and my family.

I turned from my new field and headed back to the farm.

I saw the ghost of a girl at the edge of my vision, riding around on Chunky’s back. —I was still getting used to really seeing Tianlan. She had been a bit quiet ever since she learned about what happened to Xiaoshi, but I could tell she was getting better. There was a bounce in her step when she explored and watched us prep the fields.

Everybody else was doing their own thing—Meimei had gotten back not too long ago from Hong Yaowu, grumbling about how Gou had changed the village too much. Hey, the man was working his new know-how—and it looked to be going well.

I got back to the house, where Meimei had just finished feeding our son. She patted his back until he burped and then set him down for a nap.

Smiling, she turned to me…

And then sneezed.

She froze. She lifted her nose up like Ri Zu did to scent the air.

I scratched at my back, something touching the edges of my senses.

“What is that smell…? What is that smell?” Meimei whispered, her eyes unfocused—before she reared back like she had just been punched.

“Jin! Somethings coming—!”

And then I felt it.

Something big was coming this way. My heart seized in my chest.

“Get everybody ready to hide.” I commanded, and then I was off before conscious thought really registered, the ghost of a little girl drifting beside me.

================================

Shen Yu felt it. The mass of Qi heading towards him. It felt like an avalanche. Inevitable. Like a mountain, turning to face him.

This was not subtle at all. This was the roar of a dragon towards someone who dared to intrude upon his territory.

Shen Yu broke into a grin. Rou had sensed his intrusion—to do so meant he was leaps and bounds stronger than when he left Rou.

His steps got faster. He flared his own Qi in response, meeting the challenge with one of his own.

Rou’s Qi sped up, closing the distance. The earth rumbled.

Shen Yu brought his arm up and swung. It was a strike that would have bowled little Rou on his ass and down the road when Shen Yu left.

Instead, his arm met another man’s, thick with muscle and power.

It was like hitting a mountain as the blows hammered into each other. The air roared from the impact and the earth shuddered.

Shen Yu allowed himself to be thrown backwards from the force of the blow. He landed, coming to an immediate stop, looking at the man who had blocked his blow.

Jin Rou’s face was set in an expression of pure determination. His Qi burned within him like a star; his eyes were pure and unclouded, facing directly at Shen Yu.

The old man felt some of the pent up worry fade as he saw those eyes. Those beautiful eyes. The same eyes Rou had when he was a small boy shoveling shit to pay for his lessons. The same boy who skipped meals to better himself. When he took the punches the world threw at his head, and kept marching forwards.

It was still Rou. There was no Bu here. No monster wearing the flesh of a son.

Rou’s Qi spluttered. His guard faltered.

His face flashed through a myriad of emotions: hope, shock, relief and a flash of love, before settling on confusion.

“Gramps?!” Jin Rou asked.

It was Rou. It was still Rou. He had grown a little bit; but it was still the boy that he had taught.

Rou’s guard faltered. His Qi faded into the background.

Which is why he was utterly unprepared when a bundle of dried horse dung struck him in the face.

“Have it back, you little shit!” Shen Yu roared as the boy spluttered. Shen Yu’s arms wrapped around the boy as he ruffled his hair.

There were so many questions. So many things to look deeper upon—but for now, in that moment…

Shen Yu had his grandson.