Beware Of Chicken

Shen Yu smiled at her and turned his gaze to the surroundings. He took a breath of the fantastically pure air.

He couldn’t help but grin again. Rou had taken him around the farm showing him all he had crafted. Some of it, like the barn, was so mundane and mortal; but it was interspersed with wonders. The fields were full to bursting with Qi. There was a house made of glass and a still that distilled that divine nectar, alcohol.

He had tried some. It had been mortal, but the mead and vodka had been absolutely delicious.

But everything, everything looked like it had the capability to grow. The still especially. Today, mortal spirits; tomorrow, a mash of the finest spiritual herbs.

Any mortal noble would have killed for this land; quite a few sects would have as well. Hells, the Cloudy Sword Sect would take one look at the Seven Fragrance Jewel Herbs and ask if Rou wished to be a supplier for them— and all Rou had said was that they were ‘good seasoning.’

It was utterly absurd, and twice as amusing. He even had what Shen Yu was quite confident were Divine Peach saplings— that were growing. Apparently the dragon had brought them back from one of his adventures.

The people here were quite refreshing, too. He turned back to Tigu, who had finished her stretches. Several of the other Spirit Beasts were looking on, as were the more human elements.

There was but one ‘Young Mistress’—and the more Shjen Yu watched her the more sure he was that the girl was acting. There were simply too many little tells. Particularly the fact that the mortal boy laughed at her whenever she made a bombastic claim… and her lips had twitched every time she heard it.

Most astonishingly? There were no egos to burst. They understood their own strengths very well, and like the Cloudy Sword Sect, traded pointers often to grow.

It was like a mortal’s imagination of some idealized martial group.

Shen Yu shook his head. There was one thing he was curious about, however, and had yet to ask about.

“How long have you been cultivating, Tigu?”

“Two years!” She glanced up from where she had been talking to the little rat, replying cheerfully.

Shen Yu paused at the statement. “And yourself, Bi De?”

“I am approaching my second year of cultivation as well,” the rooster replied. “I first awakened under my Master’s care in the summer before last; and the wisdom of our Great Master’s Teachings ever propels us to new heights.”

Rou had raised multiple students right up to, and in some cases past, the edge of the Initiate’s realm. For many powerful families, that would be nothing noteworthy. For Rou? Either these were all transcendent talents… or little Rou had simply grown that much in two years.

Either way, it was something fascinating, a feat to take pride in. He was in the midst of pondering it when the ox then came before Shen Yu, a plow hitched to his back.

Amused, he answered the unspoken question. “Oh? Show me.”

The ox nodded. He set down his plow, and made one cut—long, and… almost perfect. His sword intent was clear.

Shen Yu, the Unconquered blade… could not even be surprised. An entire menagerie of Spirit Beasts, cultivators that a thousand masters might wish to be their disciples. Diligent, humble talents.

How absurd was it, that these base beasts were more respectable than most humans Shen Yu had met?

“Rou!” he demanded, and the boy poked his head out of the house where he was aiding his woman in preparing Shen Yu a meal. It already smelled quite good.

“Yeah, Gramps?”

“Your little beasts are magnificent! I approve!”

Rou’s surprise was clear… and his bright smile genuine.

Soon enough, dinner was served at the long, communal table. They had upon their plates the bounty of spring and the last preserves of the fall. And indeed, they were seasoned with Seven Fragrance Jewel Herbs.

Shen Yu took a bite of dinner, and his eyes widened. He took a sip of the strong spirit Rou had poured for him, refined from countless potatoes.

The dragon looked at Shen Yu with a smug smile. Shen Yu nodded back to the noble beast.

“Thank you for your bounty, Dragon,” he replied with good humor.

The noble beast nodded, the very picture of regality.

Less than an hour later, he ruined the image by turning into a fat carp and licking the leftover sauce off the plates. No pride whatsoever, that one, but… oddly respectable in the strangest way.

They spoke long into the night; small talk, as Shen Yu regaled them with stories of Rou’s youth.