Beware Of Chicken v7c51: To Stride Forward, Undaunted

Even with all the encouragement from the previous night, the actual meeting with the Sect still brought a wave of nervousness. A familiar tightness formed in his throat, the kind that usually preceded him throwing up, but he pushed through it.

As Jin had advised, ‘fake it till you make it.’ For Xianghua’s sake—and for his own, too. This venture was destined for immense success!

From the outset, it seemed things were unfolding favorably. Elder Bingwen displayed a moment of surprise before a smile touched his lips and he began stroking his chin. The surrounding individuals regarded him with wide eyes, and numerous disciples stood with their mouths agape. He maintained his Qi as a protective shroud, just as Xianghua had instructed. This deliberate flexing felt peculiar; it wasn't a common practice back home where such displays held little significance. However, in this new environment, the potency of one's cultivation mattered immensely. Apparently, he now matched the strength of the former Sect Master, while Xianghua had advanced two stages further.

“Thank you for the gracious welcome, my disciples and esteemed Elders!” Xianghua's voice resonated with authority throughout the remarkably stunning courtyard. The architecture was magnificent, featuring colossal stone pillars intricately inlaid with veins of topaz, jet, and white jade, artfully sculpted into the likeness of koi. The flagstones themselves formed a grand, swirling mosaic depicting water currents, mountains, and clouds, all interwoven with a majestic dragon. The entire scene was breathtakingly exquisite. “Now, you are acquainted with Elder Bingwen, are you not, my husband?”

“Indeed. Thank you for your blessings at our wedding, Elder Bingwen,” Gou Ren replied, offering a nod.

The Elder stroked his beard, a faint smile gracing his features. “It was my honor to be invited to Master Rou’s home—and my sincere congratulations on your ascension. Though not much time has passed since our last encounter, you have already surpassed your previous self. Your skill commands my utmost admiration.”

His words elicited further gasps from the onlookers. The other Elders exchanged glances, first with Bingwen, then back towards Gou Ren.

“As always, the Sect Master’s intuition proves unerring,” chimed in another Elder. He stood tall and erect, one hand behind his back, his right foot angled slightly. A red sash adorned his person, identifying him as Elder Yanling.

Xianghua seldom described individuals by their facial features, preferring instead to focus on their bearing or their characteristic attire. Honestly, this method often proved more effective. It compelled him to observe individuals more closely, offering him a glimpse into Xianghua’s unique perception of the world, particularly given her peculiar affliction that made discerning faces a challenge.

This approach also facilitated his descriptions of people to her, especially when he truly focused his attention.

He recognized every Elder present, including Sei Fen, Xianghua’s own mother.

Gou Ren could discern the familial resemblance in her cheeks and facial structure—yet, Xianghua herself adopted such an expression.

He was aware of what Xianghua and Bowu’s parents had done. He had discussed it at length with both of them.

The idea that someone could cripple their own child, or cast another aside so carelessly… Gou Ren struggled to comprehend it. It was so profoundly shocking and alien to him that he found himself at a loss for words.

And there she stood, with an air of composed detachment in her eyes. Every movement was precise, formal, and purposeful. It lacked the warmth of a mother, resembling more the strained interactions of rival scribes back at Verdant Hill.

As she approached, his fist clenched instinctively for a fleeting moment, but Xianghua’s gentle touch on his wrist, coupled with his promise, restrained him.

Xianghua had made him vow not to confront her mother directly. She claimed to have a plan and urged him to place his trust in her.

And so, he did.

“Congratulations on your wedding, Sect Master,” the woman stated flatly, executing a deep bow before stepping back.

“We shall, of course, hold a celebration here and pledge our vows before our Ancestors,” Xianghua continued, not granting the woman a second glance. “However, before that, we have another delivery. Elder Boshai! My brother, alongside my husband, has crafted additional steam furnaces for us!”

A ripple of pleased murmurs spread through the Sect. One of the Elders cast a scrutinizing glance at Gou Ren.

“Master Gou Ren is capable of crafting the furnaces?” Elder Boshai inquired. He wore blue inner robes and carried the sixth iteration of Bowu's Spirit Furnace on his back, distinguished by its canted vent. It radiated considerable power, though its stability was questionable without a steady hand.

“Yes. My brother imparted all his experimental knowledge to me, enabling me to assist my wife and her Sect,” Gou Ren affirmed. “I would be pleased to collaborate with the Sect’s Elders, incorporating his insights.”

Now, compared to Bowu, Gou Ren’s proficiency in furnace construction was less impressive—both Xianghua and Miantiao surpassed him in this skill. Nevertheless, the Sect appeared to have made minimal progress in developing these devices without Bowu’s direct involvement, especially if one of the Elders was still relying on a sixth iteration.

Xianghua was presently utilizing a method that Bowu would term her 'iteration,' fully reconstructed subsequent to the Solstice. It contained water saturated with Xianghua’s Qi to such an extent that its weight had noticeably increased. This mixture was energized by a fire crystal and reinforced with compressed pellets of rice stalk for an added boost, apparently retaining enough Qi to burn with greater heat and duration than most other fuels.

Elder Boshai considered Gou Ren for a moment before nodding. “That would be most welcome, Master Gou Ren.”

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“Enough of that! We can speak more after dinner. My husband must see our home,” Xianghua interjected—and her word was law. She linked her arm with his, and they proceeded forward, the rest of the Sect following in their wake. The sensation remained profoundly strange. He attempted to maintain a stoic and composed demeanor, a sense of control… but that facade faltered upon the sight of the manor.

“What a truly Pre-Cataclysm manor,” Gou Ren exclaimed with admiration, adopting the terminology Jin had begun using for most things prior to Tianlan’s injury.

He had viewed a portion of the memory crystal, though the cultivation aspects had held little interest for him. Bi De had spoken of the structures, and so Gou Ren had simply… by it, enabling him to examine them. The peculiar little Spirit Guy residing within had offered assistance, despite displaying a hint of sadness when Gou Ren expressed no desire to be Emperor. The formation of the clay roof tiles, the intricate details on the stairs—whoever had designed this place was clearly a master architect. “And it is so remarkably well-preserved!”

“You possess knowledge of this architectural style?” one of the Elders inquired with surprise.

“Indeed, I have studied it extensively. Observe the interplay of colors? How the manor's entrance is perceived first through the mist, its depth receding, while the remainder of the structure appears simultaneously? Your ancestors were masters of their craft.”

Gou Ren paused, a blush creeping onto his face as he realized his own actions. These individuals were actually present! Yet, when he stealthily glanced back, everyone was gazing at the manor with what appeared to be renewed appreciation. A few disciples were subtly shifting their stances, optimizing their view of the “reveal.” Elder Bingwen stroked his chin, contemplating.

“…I had never truly considered it,” Xianghua remarked after a pause. “But now that you mention it, the effect is indeed quite striking. Please, continue, husband.”

And so, an hour was spent in his perambulation through the Misty Lake Sect’s manor, offering commentary on its doors, lintels, and interior design in comparison to contemporary styles. While by no means an expert, the majority of the Sect seemed to find his discourse engaging enough to avoid appearing overtly bored.

Gou Ren began to ease his apprehension. Xianghua was content. He was making a favorable impression on her Sect. Now, he merely needed to discover something truly to impress them.

Thus, he applied himself with his utmost effort.

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“Our Sect Master has managed to capture a dragon,” Elder Boshai declared, shaking his head.

“In any other era, we would have ascended to the pinnacle,” Bingwen concurred. Indeed, in any epoch other than perhaps the age of the Ancestors themselves, Xianghua’s marriage to Gou Ren would have been a union potent enough to propel them to become the preeminent sect in the Azure Hills. It is highly probable.

Gou Ren had been present for merely a week, yet he had completely the existing situation. Had he brought only his formidable strength and his expertise with steam furnaces, he would have been an unparalleled asset, a celestial treasure bestowed upon them. Bingwen had exchanged techniques with him, discovering skin akin to that of a member of the Hermetic Iron Sect, complemented by a stance so robust and expertly trained that it surpassed Bingwen’s capacity to breach. Bingwen’s comparative advantage in speed proved inconsequential; the young man could effortlessly anticipate every thrust, even those originating from blind spots or obscured by mist.

Yet, Gou Ren’s contributions extended beyond mere steam furnaces and personal might. He was the esteemed Disciple of Master Rou, the Spiritual Herb Master of the Cloudy Sword Sect.

He arrived bearing legendary boons: Seven Fragrance Jewel herbs, the Qi-infused rice, and other provisions. But more significantly, he brought invaluable .

Knowledge that he intended to generously impart to his wife’s Sect.

The man had entered their Spiritual Herb gardens, surveyed their efforts, and expressed considerable dissatisfaction.

“You are not cultivating these correctly,” he pronounced.

Had any other individual uttered such a statement and condescended to their endeavors as he did, a conflict would have ensued. Instead, heads immediately bowed, and they complied with his instructions to amend the soil composition, revise the irrigation systems, and reconfigure the placement of the pots. His Qi flowed through them, employing a transcendent technique that they could only vaguely comprehend, yet which he described as ‘relatively simple to master.’

A mere week later, and the Spiritual Herbs had already achieved a verdancy and stature surpassing expectations, their intrinsic energy noticeably more vigorous.

“Elder Boshai, I acknowledge your sagacity,” Elder Bingwen stated. “You never wavered in your conviction, and your foresight has proven unmatched. He even carries himself well amongst the mortals.”

On the third day, the leaders of the scattered villages arrived to offer their respects, fulfilling ancient pacts. The floating settlements had congregated around the island at the heart of the Misty Lake, and its mortal inhabitants marched forth to behold the husband of their Lady.

Their wedding vows echoed for all to witness, before the Lakemen and the ancestral funerary tablets.

Subsequently, Gou Ren sat among the common folk and conversed with them. He spoke of agricultural practices, fishing techniques, and inquired about their methods of constructing the grand rafts, hunting game, weaving reeds, and trading the abundant resources of the Misty Lake.

Within a single night, he had won the hearts of the Lakemen who came to see him; it might have been a more humble approach than strictly necessary… but his youthful verve certainly had its merits.

“Even his choice of activities surpasses our initial hopes,” Elder Yangling murmured.

Honestly, they had anticipated Gou Ren would remain with Master Rou, but when questioned about his intended place of residence… his response had been unexpected.

“My master still has much to impart to me,” the man had replied. “However, I shall establish a second home here amongst you, so that our children may remain connected to their origins and I may learn your ways.”

He was genuinely intending to integrate into their Sect.

“And what is your stance, Elder Sei Fen? Do you have any thoughts?” Bingwen turned towards Xianghua’s mother. The woman had remained silent until this point.

“I shall reserve my full judgment until an heir is born,” the woman finally declared, her voice devoid of any discernible emotion. “But for the present time, he is satisfactory.”

A hush fell over everyone at that statement. That… was indeed the crucial point.

“The heavens have favored us thus far. Let us pray we continue to merit their favor,” Elder Yangling said, his tone darkening.

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“And well, yes. It… wasn't particularly remarkable, I suppose? I thought it went quite well, but I was really focused on not making any mistakes,” Gou Ren concluded.

I offered a smile at the end of his account. It was quite late by then, but it felt truly good to hear about everything from Gou Ren.

“My husband managed everything splendidly!” Xianghua proclaimed with pride. “Naturally, he impressed every Elder and earned the profound love and admiration of my entire Sect!”

“Let’s not exaggerate too much…” Gou Ren interjected with a blush, his gaze shifting away from Xianghua towards us to gauge our reactions.

“It sounds like you performed admirably,” I affirmed, offering him a nod.

“I’m relieved you’re not moving away,” Meiling added.

Gou Ren’s blush deepened into a gentle smile.

Xianghua beamed. “Indeed, you shall be seeing a great deal of us! Especially since I will be requiring your exceptional abilities, Elder Sister!”

Meiling blinked, her expression shifting. “Why, has something occurred? Are you quite alright—” Her words trailed off. Her eyes moved from Xianghua’s face down to her own stomach. “Oh, gracious heavens, what is happening with your Qi? It’s barely flowing!”

Xiulan let out a gasp. Rags and Loud Boy ceased their movement. Tigu’s hands flew to cover her mouth.

Gou Ren’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?” he queried, turning to face Xianghua.

“I am pregnant,” Xianghua announced resolutely.

Gou Ren’s face cycled through a spectrum of emotions. Shock, alarm, dread—before his expression settled into one of firm determination. He drew a deep breath, composing himself, and met Xianghua’s gaze directly.

“That is absolutely wonderful news,” he declared, his voice resonating with genuine sincerity. “You are going to be a mother.”

I witnessed, in that precise moment, the rekindling of Xianghua’s deep affection for Gou Ren.

Sleep eluded us that night. The room naturally divided into gender groups, with the ladies clustering around Xianghua, while the gentlemen gathered about Gou Ren, offering congratulatory slaps on the back and meaningful nods.

“You’re going to be amazing, Gou Ren,” I assured him.

He nodded in response. “Yeah. Gonna be amazing,” he affirmed, his gaze fixed intently on the distant horizon.