v5c8: The Master of the Azure Hills

While it was nice to relax with everybody, there was at least some work to be done before we went to Hong Yaowu later today… as well as some messages and reports I had to take as “The strongest man in the Province” rather than just Jin.

Normally a guy would probably take correspondence from the leader of a powerful clan in an office as they pondered the political ramifications over some fine wine or something.

I took them in my barn as I performed my monthly cognitive tests on my normal animals. Afro, Pompom, and Fuzzy the sheep completely disregarded me trying to communicate with them. They were butting my hands, trying to get more food. They were treasured members of my farm, and their fleece was in a good portion of our clothes, but it didn’t look like I would be holding any new lessons. Still absolutely zero thoughts in these guys’ heads.

“Of course I’ll make some time to go to Crystal Hill to have dinner with Master Gen, Huo Ten,” I said, answering the polite request from the monkey. “It’ll be good to visit again.”

‘Thank ye kindly, Master Jin,’ the Monkey said, bowing. ‘Master Gen wants to thank everybody who helped us retrieve our past, and this is the least we can do to show our appreciation. Near fifty of my kin have awakened. It’s glorious… but we’re a right barrel of monkeys right now, with everyone discovering themselves.’

I laughed at his joke, and Huo Ten chuckled from beside me when I got an idea. “Actually, I’ll remind him of my previous offer. If Master Gen or any of your people want to stop by, my door is open.”

‘Oh, you’ll definitely get some visitors then, Master Jin. The young’uns are adventurous!’ Huo Ten replied.

It would certainly be fun having a bunch of sapient monkeys around.

The thought was appealing. I could only hope the Cultivators of the Azure Hills thought similarly…

“And Huo Ten? I know you’re all taking a massive risk, exposing yourselves to the humans of the Azure Hills. If anything bad happens…” I trailed off, looking directly at him.

The monkeys of Crystal Hill had extended their hand in friendship to the people of the Azure Hills, and I was partially responsible for them deciding to break their cover.

I wasn’t just gonna let them hang out to dry.

Huo Ten’s smile faded slightly as the seriousness of my words resonated with him. Huo Ten clasped his hands in the gesture of respect before bowing slightly.

‘On behalf of all of my kin… thank you, Master Jin. I can only hope that we will never need to make use of that kindness.’

“I hope the same,” I said before giving the begging sheep one last handful of food and then turning to face the monkey fully. I clasped my own hands but didn’t bow, as was expected of a man in my position. “Thank you for the message, Huo Ten of Crystal Hill. You’ve served your Master well.”

The monkey repeated my gesture, bowed again, and nodded at me before setting off to the house.

I watched him go for a moment before turning to the other “messenger” for today. Xiulan was standing in front of my cows, Lonlon and Malon, and their calves. She was looking into their eyes and feeling for their Qi, as well as asking them questions in a soft voice. The cows obviously weren’t getting a word, just like the sheep, but they were extremely happy to receive scritches from the floating brooms and brushes Xiulan was levitating.

“Yes, you’re a cute little girl, yes you are,” I heard Xiulan murmur as Lonlon leaned into her. Lonlon was pregnant again and would be giving birth this spring.

“So, Grand Marshal of the Azure Hills, what message do you bear?” I asked in my most pompous voice. Xiulan snorted at my tone, before her voice became a bit more serious.

“Ulagaan Baatar, Patriarch of the Grand Ravine Sect, humbly invites you to the Grand Ravine,” Xiulan said.

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“That’s quite a big thing, isn’t it?” I asked after a moment, remembering the lessons the Lord Magistrate had given to me. The people of the Grand Ravine rarely tolerated outsiders. To receive an invitation from the Patriarch himself? Well, that just didn’t happen. “Did he give any indication what it is about?”

“He said it was so the Grand Ravine Sect could better serve your will… and I do believe he is telling the truth. Out of everyone, they were the least surprised by what the crystals contained… and when we first met them at the Peaks, they were bearing a banner that said Tianlan upon it,” Xiulan replied. “Tarkhan—Guo Daxian the Younger, as you know him, also mentioned something about listening when the earth speaks.”

I grimaced as I realised what Xiulan was implying. “They think I might be Tianlan, or Xiaoshi’s successor, don’t they?”

“It’s very likely,” my friend said as she leaned against the cow she had been scratching. “They gave no indication that they know Tianlan is an Earth Spirit, just that she was a good friend to their people and that she and Xiaoshi were the ones to swear brotherhood to them.”

I chewed my lip for a moment. That was a can of worms I didn’t particularly want to deal with. And yet… the secret was out.

“Will it make your job easier?” I asked her. Xiulan smiled softly at me.

“I will not say, because I know what your answer will be if I indicate one way or the other. The Patriarch of the Grand Ravine Sect holds no hopes in his heart that you will agree to meet with him, and I told him the answer would likely be no.”

“Jeez, can’t make it easy on me, eh?” I asked her before I sighed.

Did I want to meet with him? Not particularly. But the Grand Ravine was a powerful sect for the Azure Hills… and I should probably keep my finger on the pulse of things, just so I didn’t get blindsided later.