Chương 76: Chapter 73 - Westward Ho!

Song had no further luck with mastering the second technique of the Stellar Crane. Master Crane told him not to worry, it was normal to take a few weeks, months, or even years to master new martial arts. But Song still felt disappointed in himself. His rise from novice to adept had been practically meteoric by Lee family standards, and he'd dreamed that it would continue all the way to expert rank and maybe even to Foundation level. But alas he, Lee Song, was not that blessed; he'd arrived at his first bottleneck.

WIth more time on his hands to actually think, Song realized he'd been remiss in his familial duties and asked his master to look at Mae. Unfortunately, the big crane dismissively announced that as far as he was concerned there was nothing wrong with her, and he couldn't help anyway. He then complained that he wasn't going to waste his time 'waiting for a pack of groundbound snails', before flying off to disappear in the direction of Chengdu.

With no Master to boss him around, Song continued doing as he did best, practicing with Wook and Tae in the mornings, delivering messages and supplies to Lees performing monsoon repairs, and sitting in the rain watching horses. Cyrus complained that it was a dreary life, but Song enjoyed it. And so two days passed in the flick of a mare's tail. — The morning of departure felt somehow nostalgic to Song. How many times in the past few months had he stood at the gates with a feeling of a grand adventure before him?

Unlike the last time, there were more than just Lees assembled. Jo Jinu stood a little ways off to the side, being fussed over by his mother, a short plump woman with waves of black hair down to her ankles and a voice so shrill that it resembled a marmot in a mating frenzy. Jo Harin stood beside her mother and brother, a bemused look on her face. She caught Song watching and gave him a smile and a small wave. He blushed and desperately averted his gaze, hoping against hope that Cyrus hadn't seen the interaction.

Yu Dami stood a little ways to the side, discussing the trip in dry clinical tones with her father. Yu Jii was never one to turn down a chance to test his children, and had Dami listing off medicines that Chengdu was most famous for. They were joined by Dami's brother and sisters, who all had matching bored expressions. Song really hoped that this trip wouldn't cause Dami and Jinu any trouble. Not that he had much time to worry over his friends.

"Make sure you wear warm socks, and don't stay out too long in the rain," Chohee said for the umpteenth time, patting Song's shoulders and adjusting his deel.

"I don't want my little star catching a cold."

"Motheerrr~" Song didn't quite whine. He batted her hand away.

"I'm fine! Wook and Tae will be with me, and we're going to spend most of our time helping at Uncle's restaurant."

"Dont worry, Mother," Tae said, stepping up alongside Song and draping an arm over his shoulders.

"We'll keep Song out of trouble." This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"That's what I'm worried about,"Chohee replied, her lips thinning.

"Do keep them safe, Wook."

"Of course," Wook pulled their mother up into a bear hug to her faint protest, twirled her once and setting her back down.

"I'll make sure to keep Tae in line."

"Hey!" Tae protested.

"Remember not to offend any Orthodox martial artists while you're in the city," Lee San rumbled. He pulled at his beard, reminiscing.

"They can be overly touchy, especially where Unorthodox cultivators such as ourselves are concerned. I'm glad Yu Jii is going with you, but you can never be too careful. You have a tendency to get swept up into matters, Song, which can be good for cultivation, but unhealthy for the cultivator."

"That's right," a deep feminine voice said from behind them. Song turned in surprise to see Hunter An approaching them.

"The sects don't rule the imperial cities, but they act like they do. Don't hesitate to bend your neck if it'll let you keep your head." Her hand reached up to touch the scar on her cheek as she growled, "But don't let them insult your honour either. There's no harm in slapping their face if the time and place allow."

"Yes, Teacher." Song, Dami, and Jinu all stepped forward and bowed, their hands cupped together.

"I can't come with, but that doesn't mean you three should be slacking off," Hunter An said gruffly, she pushed a piece of parchment into Song's hands.

"Here's a list of native Sichuan wildlife, and their habits. Practice your hunting and tracking as best you can on the road. I expect to hear how you stepped on a crane's tail, or caused a red panda to fall over in surprise. Understood?"

"Yes Teacher~" The three chorused.

"Good. And… stay well, I'll await your return before the first snows come," She slapped Song on the shoulder, then turned and stalked away.

"Not one for long goodbyes is she," Chohee tittered.

"Neither am I," Lee San huffed.

"Eunji!" Lee Eunji trotted forward, already astride her massive warhorse and in full armour which sluiced the monsoon rain down in rivers. She carried her helmet under her arm, and looked just as annoyed as usual.

"Just waiting on all the children, Patriarch." She sniffed, looking down at Song and his brothers, then swept her gaze over the Jos and Yus.

"First time I've ever been asked to babysit. I'm not going to coddle you children, understand? You'll keep up or I'll send you home."

"Yes, Elder!" Song, Wook, and Tae all gave closed-fist-to-chest imperial salutes.

"Good." Eunji slicked her short black hair back and put on her helmet, then roared, "Yu Jii, it's time! The rest of you lazy lot, we're moving out! I want to get to the waystation before dark!" Yu Jii hopped onto his own horse, a small hairy white gelding, and trotted over.

"You're quite sure it's safe, Lee Eunji?" Eunji shrugged.

"Captain Cho says that all the grasswolves seem to have shied off with their leader injured. And you have plenty of that poison, so we should be fine."

"Yes, I'm quite pleased with the effects." Yu Jii gestured at a small scoop holstered on his cantle.

"I've also been practicing with a smaller version of Song's own sling staff. I still have difficulty adjusting my strength when tossing glass." He tutted, clearly finding fault in himself.

"Too thick and it won't break, too thin and it shatters in the grip. I may ask the Tangs for advice while we're in Chengdu."

"That's the concern of you Yus. I just need to deliver these three chicks safely to my cousin," Eunji spun her horse around and trotted to the front of the train.

"Move out!" And so, unceremoniously, the contingent from Changpo sent their horses trotting out over sodden changpo flowers, headed westwards to their grand adventure in Chengdu, and the Gangho beyond.

"Wait for me!!!" Jo Jinu called, quickly hopping onto his dappled gelding and cantering after them to his mother's shrieking protests. In a yurt halfway up the hill, on a futon surrounded by tapestries, a young girl with skin like porcelain and hair of fluttering jade lay with a doll in her arms, tears leaking at her eyes. Mae didn't like goodbyes either.

"Come home soon, Cousin Song," she whispered, and hugged her doll closer.