v6c32: Another Cycle

One day Before the New Year:

 

Nezin Han, Chief of the Nezin Tribe, had seen a great many things in his sixty five years of life. He had seen the Seven Flame Aurora of the Sea of Snow, painting the skies in all the colours of the rainbow, a tide of light that turned even the darkness of the north to day. He had seen the Millennium Migration: the rivers of Long March Caribou on their eternal, looping odyssey from one end of the continent to the other.

 

He had seen volcanoes that spewed ice, the flashes of light from battling Spirit Beasts in the distance, and had even borne witness to a full-grown Thunderhoof, the titanic creature almost a mirage as it strode, unhurried, through the snow.

 

However, these past two years had revealed to him more than he ever thought possible.

 

First, his grandsons had become cultivators. Then, Yun Ren brought a baby Thunderhoof through their encampment. He met distant kin from the Howling Fang Mountains, hid in the ancient refuge of First Den while cultivators battled demons outside, and then he had flown on a skyship with his kin and their herd of yaks all the way to Hong Yaowu!

 

He was getting too old to have this much excitement in his life… but at the same time, it was invigorating.

 

And Hu Li’s face had been bloody hilarious when the skyship had touched down. Yun Ren had shown him the recorded image, as Han had stayed behind until the last trip. The chief went last, that was the way of things. Seeing his daughter’s gobsmacked expression had brought warmth to his heart while he waited, though. Served the little hellion right.

 

Flying had been amazing. Watching the ground pass by… indescribable. He had been a bit worried when one of the herd took a shit on the deck, but the pretty lady with the blue hair had waved it off.

 

“It’ll wash off!” she said cheerfully… before her face became ever so slightly nervous. “I think.”

 

There had been quite the welcome party when they had touched down in Hong Yaowu. Xian had been front and center to welcome them and offer their homes, and should they need it, medicine.

 

The Hongs had always been good, reliable friends, which is why he hadn’t minded Hu Li running off with Little Ten.

 

But now, his little adventure was over. He thanked the cultivators for their escort, even though he didn’t really know the correct protocol was for such things. Master Lu Ri had accepted his thanks and had bowed back, though. Han assumed he would never see them again after this, but he offered them their tribes’ hospitality if they ever needed it anyway.

 

With his duties done, at least for the moment, he could finally spare a moment to look around.

 

Hong Yaowu had changed, too. It had been a while since he had last visited—and the place was completely different. Han at first hadn’t known if they all would fit, and assumed they would all just be in tents, like they normally were for the winter… but the village had room. Shit, Hu Li had practically a damn mansion now—built by Gou Ren.

 

A fierce pride filled his soul when he saw that. The symbols of their tribe hung on Ten Ren’s doorway. And more than that, Yun Ren still had his scarf, and Gou Ren was wearing his headband… along with another lady wearing their colours.

 

She was a tall and stately woman. Stunningly beautiful, with wavy blue hair down to her shoulders, and booming laughter erupting from her mouth as children clambered all over her like a tree. He had heard her name, but hadn’t really had time to talk to them properly with all the excitement.

 

As first impressions went? He already liked her.

 

“Alright! We’re going up twice more, then we have to leave!” the blue-haired skyship lady shouted.

 

The children abandoned their tree and sprinted back to the skyship, the tribe’s young ones and the children of Hong Yaowu so mixed up Han couldn’t tell who belonged with whom.

 

Han chuckled, and moseyed on up to his daughter, son-in-law, kin from the mountains, and grandchildren.

 

“Daughter. Grandsons,” he greeted them. The woman, Xianghua, immediately perked up as he approached.

 

“Honoured Grandfather, it’s good to meet you at last,” she intoned, bowing with respect.

 

There was no hesitation. The cultivator immediately lowered her head, her voice filled with nothing but sincerity.

 

How could he not approve?

 

Han smiled and put his hands over hers, gently pulling them apart so he could hold her.

 

“You wear that headband very well, Granddaughter,” he said. Xianghua beamed at him.

 

Han turned to Gou Ren.

 

“Boy, now how the Hells did youse pull a gal like this, huh?” he demanded, his accent coming out.

 

Gou Ren rolled his eyes while Hu Li and Ten Ren started laughing… along with another girl who was standing beside Yun Ren.

 

Han’s eyes narrowed at the way the short, owlish woman was holding onto Yun Ren’s arm.

 

“And who’s this one?” he asked.

 

The woman startled, before offering him a smile.

 

“This one is Biyu, Grandfather,” she greeted him with a smile. Han turned to his grandson, who suddenly looked a bit uncomfortable.

 

“Yun Ren’s girl,” Gou immediately interjected, tossing his brother out of the saddle. “Who he’s been draggin’ his feet with.”

 

Yun Ren flushed.

 

“Boy,“ Han said, his disappointment dripping from that single word. The cultivator squirmed.

 

“I’m meeting her parents soon,” Yun Ren mumbled.

 

“And he’s supposed to kidnap me? It sounds quite exciting!” Biyu said brightly.

 

Han nodded. He considered the young woman for a moment. He looked to Hu Li, who nodded, then to Gou Ren, who nodded as well. He returned his gaze to Biyu.

 

“You look cold,” he told her. Biyu blinked in confusion, then her eyes widened as Han unravelled his own scarf—a match to Yun Ren’s, just as Gou had his headband. He tied it around Biyu’s neck and patted it twice, before turning his glare to Yun Ren. “Spring, you lazy boy. Get it done.”

 

“Yes, Grandfather!” the boy yelped.

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Han nodded decisively.

 

“It’s going to be the biggest gathering of the tribe since your mother married! Truly the biggest, if I have my way. Yuanlin!”

 

“Yes, Uncle?” his cousin from the mountains asked cheerfully.

 

“You think the others can make it here for spring?” he asked her.

 

“Hells yeah we can! We’re used to movin’ fast. Wouldn’t miss the Young Master’s wedding for the world!” she declared. “Speakin’ of, where is Honoured Uncle?” she asked, looking at Yun Ren.

 

“I’ll tell you everything later. But… right now he’s with Zang Shenhe of the Shrouded Mountain Sect, to make sure they’re honouring their side of the deal he made with them.”

 

The woman’s jaw dropped. “After so long…” she whispered. “My, this year has been something, hasn’t it?” the fox-woman asked, tears shining in the corner of her eyes.

 

Han chuckled. “That it has. Now! I need to go and pay my respects!”

 

He turned to where there was already a small group forming. A young Thunderhoof was looking on curiously while his tribe approached, greeting him.

 

A bringer of fortune was present; and fortune had graced them all. It would be rude, if he didn’t offer his own thanks.

 

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

 

I awoke early on the day of the New Year. We had done all the final checks yesterday, which was good, because Hong Yaowu had swiftly devolved into an impromptu party when the Nezin tribe arrived. I had set up the guest rooms at Fa Ram for Lu Ri, Su Ge, and Yeo Na, while Yuanlin was staying in the village.

 

Yun and Gou’s grandpa was just as much of a shit disturber as Yun, the older man constantly needling his family with a little fox-like smirk on his face… though he had pulled me aside to thank me for sending Lu Ri and Yuanlin his way.

 

“Family helps family,” I replied. “They’re Meimei’s brothers in all but blood, and my sworn brothers.”

 

Grandpa Han hadn’t known what to say to that… other than to drag me over so I could share a drink with him, and start learning all of my new “cousins’” names.

 

That, and get regaled with embarrassing stories about Hu Li and Ten Ren from when they were kids, to both of their chagrin.

 

It was a great time, but it almost felt like a pre-show, considering what was to come. Tigu was practically jittering in her new clothes, a big, excited smile on her face.

 

Though we had several more people than I originally imagined heading to Verdant Hill. Our number included Senior Brother, Su Ge, and Yeo Na… as well as Bailu and Seiyu from Soaring Heaven’s Isle. The rest of the women on leave ended up deciding to go to Grey Shard Coast—one of them had heard something about a cultivation artifact on auction, so the rest of them went flying in that direction. Partially because of the artifact, and partially because Verdant Hill still felt uncomfortable to them.

With Chunky pulling the sleigh we started our journey, along with several more sleighs hitched to the back, almost like one of Bowu’s trains.

 

We hit Hong Yaowu and more people filed… or in some cases, stumbled, out of their houses, nursing hangovers… but the prospect of the sleigh ride was too good to pass up.

 

It must have been quite the sight; the giant red sleigh pulling up to the walls of Verdant Hill, bells ringing and boughs of pine decorating the sides.