v6c6: The Musings of a Blade of Grass

The morning had started off rather stressfully for Cai Xiulan. While she was quite used to odd things happening at her home, it was something else entirely to have some of the foremost experts in the Empire suddenly drop by for a social call.

Well, aside from Shen Yu, but she hadn’t exactly known who the man was before she had gotten relatively used to him.

But their guests? The Cloudy Sword Sect and the Soaring Heaven’s Isle Sect? Everyone knew those names. Less than a year ago, a single Outer Disciple from either of those sects could have conceivably fought and defeated every single sect in the Azure Hills. Their weakest members would have rolled over their best like a Wreckerball over a rice stalk.

So Xiulan had been quite nervous… and that nervousness had increased when she felt them.

If Xiulan hadn’t been used to Jin’s and, more importantly, Shen Yu’s Qi, then the power that came down from the Heavens would have sent her to her knees. Even restrained, it was potent—four blazing stars in the sky. She had shifted uncomfortably. Standing close by, Tie Delun had grunted with discomfort but still held as strong as stone, and the Torrent Rider had wobbled uncertainly before Xianghua had pressed a hand to his back.

When Xiulan had stepped forwards to pay her respects… well, nothing had happened. Every single one of their guests’ eyes had simply just swept past her, barely seeing Xiulan. Not a single one of them even paused to give her more than a moment of their attention.

She was the strongest of her generation, the Grand Marshal of the Azure Hills, and she had been treated like she was no more interesting than a pebble at the side of the road.

Some may have been insulted by the clear disinterest—but Xiulan knew better than to take any offence.

Objectively, she lacked the qualifications to be “somebody” to the Masters of the Cloudy Sword Sect and a Lady of Soaring Heaven’s Isle Sect. The Azure Hills were simply too weak. Outside of them, her position meant nothing. And Xiulan was honestly fine with that. To them, she was not something to comment on. Her power, barely into the Spiritual Realm, and wavering there because of her injuries, unremarkable.

Besides, what would she even do if she had their attention? The Azure Hills needed to sort itself out, not ask for boons from the Cloudy Sword Sect. Perhaps, sometime in the future she might speak with them… but that was not today.

So instead of putting on her political cap, instead of being the Grand Marshal, who would have to step daintily around these old monsters… Xiulan got to spend all day looking after Zhuye while everyone else had to be all prim and proper and give the tour!

Her dear Martial Nephew had been quite the fussy little man today, rubbing at his nose and grumping that he couldn’t go and hug his mother, but Xiulan was his favourite aunt and so she could calm the Young Master’s mercurial temper with her most powerful technique!

The ends of her braids!

His little teeth were coming in and he loved chewing on things, Xiulan’s hair chief among them.

… well, Xiulan’s hair was second among them. His actual favourite thing to chew on were the fuzzy, armored carapaces of Vajra’s bees… who seemed to like the treatment. They looked to jostle amongst themselves for the position, and once a winner was decided, they bathed themselves fastidiously with water before obligingly landing in his chubby fist to be gummed at relentlessly.

Somehow, they managed to look proud and smug at the same time while enduring such treatment, their little butt waggles even seemed vaguely insulting whenever she looked at them for too long.

However, today, Xiulan had provided his comfort and his nose rubbing eventually stopped. He didn’t even make that much of a mess when Xiulan fed him some diced up carrots and a bit of meat for dinner, following Meiling’s instructions precisely, and now he was content to doze on Xiulan’s chest while she lay on Gou Ren’s couch.

It was actually the first time Xiulan had used the couch. Gou Ren had learned well from Jin the art of making furniture. It was sturdy, yet wonderfully soft, and big enough that even Chun Ke at his normal size could sleep on it. It was decorated with the geometric designs of his mother’s tribe—and the thick quilted blanket draped along the back had the symbol of the Misty Lake Sect on it.

Gou Ren’s home was very pleasant. Here, Xiulan could devote herself to recovering. The demons had been horribly inconsiderate, interrupting Xiulan’s limited rest time and injuring her so. The middle of her chest still sent dull throbs of pain throughout her body at times, but she had grown adept at not reacting to them.

She shifted and hugged Zhuye a bit tighter. Zhuye mumbled and snuggled in, making murmurs of contentment.

Ah… cute.

“Cai Xiulan, you take care of Young Master Zhuye well; I shall allow you to attend to my own children when they arrive. Be honoured,” Xianghua said from her place at her loom, weaving cloth in the traditional style of the Misty Lake. Yin was working beside her, the woman intent on learning this new skill as she had learned so many others. Xianghua had a little smile on her face as she said it, and Xiulan took the compliment for what it was.

“Naturally, if they are as cute as my nephew and Junior Brother. They shall wail for their aunt instead of yourself when they need comfort,” Xiulan returned haughtily.

“Impudence. Declaring yourself their aunt already?” Xianghua huffed.

“Will I not be?” Xiulan asked.

“If you need to ask, you are a fool a hundred times over,” came the prim reply.

Both of them chuckled. Once upon a time Xiulan would have been foolish and second guessed Xianghua’s words, taking needless offense to what should have been friendship.

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Now she knew better. What a fine friend to have, who always spoke exactly what she meant.

Xiulan sighed with contentment and let her eyes wander. Gou Ren, Yun Ren, Ri Zu, Miantiao, Tie Delun, Bowu, Huo Ten, the Torrent Rider, Spooks, and Bei Be were all around the central table, playing one of the card games Jin had made up and betting nuts on the outcome. Yun Ren looked to be in the lead, his vulpine grin wide and his pile of nuts vast. He pushed them all forwards and threw down his cards. Miantiao, whose cards were on a glass stand so he could tilt his head down and look at them, flipped his cards as well.

The table erupted.

“Royal Court?! You noodley bastard, what?!” Yun Ren howled, much to the merriment of the others. Miantiao was hoisted into the air by Bowu and Ri Zu, the snake laughing as he was paraded around the table as the victor.

Xiulan smiled and felt her eyes start to close when she was interrupted.

“Hello everyone!” came Tigu’s voice, along with the sound of Gou Ren’s door opening. “We’re done for today!”

Tigu strolled into the main room, accompanied by Wa Shi, Pi Pa, and Chun Ke. All attention turned to them.

“No Bi De?” Ri Zu asked, and Tigu shook her head.

“He’s still gotta stay. We all begged off,” Tigu replied. Room was swiftly made at the table, and most of them sat down, except for Tigu, who stalked over to Xiulan and opened her arms.

Xiulan glared.

Tigu pouted.