v4c4.1: The Old Monster’s Plan p1

Earlier

“… walk in the front door. Myself, in my own way—and you, my apprentice… as a disciple,” Shen Yu declared as they walked along the mostly empty forest road. They were bordered on either side by towering pines that Yun Ren and Ri Zu had been discussing.

Bi De froze, his mind screeching to a halt. Ri Zu coughed, and Yun Ren turned in confusion.

His mind had conjured an image of Shen Yu simply walking forwards, kicking a massive gate off its hinges, and then demanding everybody come down and kowtow before him. After all, while the old man could be affable and seemed to enjoy playing the role of the crotchety grandfather, Bi De was under no illusions about what Shen Yu was capable of. Shen Yu’s eyes barely hid dispassionate steel—and the stories he had told during their journey, where the old man had laughed and reminisced with Nezan about ‘the good old days’, did little to hide that.

“Ah, I slapped him one hundred times for that! His face looked like this after I was done!” Shen Yu said, mashing his own cheeks together and making a stupid face. Bi De had laughed, because it was an amusing image, while Nezan outright cackled.

Such a delightful tale, until one learned that the man in that story had committed suicide later from the shame he had endured. Those little dissonances always made him feel slightly uncomfortable around the old man.

Bi De was unsure if the entirety of the Shrouded Mountain Sect deserved such treatment. Simply starting a rampage sat ill with him. Perhaps Shen Yu merely meant to talk instead?

But…?

“As a disciple?” Bi De asked, bewildered.

Shen Yu laughed and turned to smile at him. “Indeed. It’s true, at first, I was just going to demand that they kowtow before me and explain themselves, after crushing all of their formations and suppressing their Elders. It would be efficient, this Old Man simply smashing everything aside, would it not? After all, they insulted my Grandson. Such a thing is not done.”

Shen Yu’s eyes turned cold for a moment.

A single bird in a nearby tree simply perished, its heart stopping. It fell to the forest floor with a thump even as the rest of the birds in the forest took flight, screeching in terror. Shen Yu smiled, the brief flash of his rage subsiding, the kindly grandfather look returning to his eyes.

Bi De swallowed thickly. Yun Ren started shaking. Ri Zu squeaked, and Big De felt her start to bolt beneath his vest before she managed to catch herself. Even Nezan’s cheery smile turned brittle, sweat dripping downwards on his current form’s face.

“But instead, I had a much better idea. Now, tell me, why would I command you to join the Shrouded Mountain Sect through their upcoming initiation?” Shen Yu asked.

Bi De mulled the question over for a moment before he realised the answer.

“To know my enemy,” Bi De replied. “This Bi De swore that he would handle these matters of cultivation for his Master; yet he is still too inexperienced. You wish me to learn the ways of the Sects. To truly know them, instead of only hearing of them through the accounts of others.”

Shen Yu nodded, looking pleased. “An excellent deduction, Bi De. That is exactly my intention. Words are nothing compared to experience. The Shrouded Mountain Sect is an Orthodox Sect. Their methods are common across the world. You will learn their ways—what drives them, their abilities—while keeping an eye out for anything having to do with demonic taint. I too will be searching, and observing your methods to speak upon them later. Then, we shall correlate what we have found and render judgment upon them. Do remember to find ways to seal any exits or escape routes. Catching every rat is always annoying, no offense intended to Miss Ri Zu of course, and I have agreed not to destroy the mountain. Remember, smashing a mountain is always easier than having to search it.”

Bi De nodded; crushing a mountain would certainly have been simpler.

Shen Yu’s plan did make sense, to gain experience in the ways of the sects and to train his ability to root out demons in a hostile environment. His Great Master would say that a teaching style like this was ‘sink or swim’. Indeed, the part of himself that he was very careful to keep under control exalted in the challenge Shen Yu was presenting him with. There was just one problem.

They likely would not accept a chicken as a disciple, which meant Bi De would have to do something he still was unsure about.

“And… I am to become human for this?” Bi De asked.

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“Is there a problem with that?” Shen Yu replied. “Nezan said you are more than powerful and skilled enough to achieve human form if you wished.”

“… I must admit some discomfort with the human form. As you have said, ‘one must be themselves’, and I have seen no need for it. My spirit is in harmony with my body; disrupting it like this is not something I would wish to do… but if I must, then I must.”

Shen Yu considered Bi De’s words. “I approve of the sentiment,” the old man said. “However, if you must, then think of it as a disguise.”

“I see. I had wished to maintain this form for a while longer, at least, but if this will aid our cause, then I am ready.”

Shen Yu nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes.

“Wait-Wait,” Ri Zu interrupted, her voice becoming thicker and more guttural. “What about us-clan?”

Shen Yu shrugged. “Your current form is suitable enough for the task ahead. Or, you could attempt to achieve human form yourself and join him out in the open. Whatever you decide… Well, that is your business.”

Ri Zu squeaked, her eyes narrowing.

Bi De frowned at the man’s bluntness. “I will be relying on your support, Sister,” Bi De told Ri Zu. “But I will need you to get down for a moment.”

“Oh? Right now?” Nezan asked.

“There is no time like the present,” Bi De stated. Ri Zu paused, wringing her paws for a moment and then leapt down off Bi De’s back.

He walked further up the path; Tigu had said there was lightning and he would not let anyone else get caught in the blast.

Bi De took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and willed himself to change.

There was, to his surprise, no lightning. There was just an odd sensation.