Torsten Hewson
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v5c65: The Experts of the Empire
🕑 Added 2024-11-06 02:40:28 +0000 UTCThe previous chapter has been edited.
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While the Lord Magistrate left to deal with the Auditor-General, we continued walking down the hall towards where the disciples were being entertained by Lady Wu. Shenhe had been sent away by Gramps, leaving me as the only “outsider” among these people who had obviously known each other for a long time.
I felt a bit on edge, meeting the real movers and shakers of this world… but all of them seemed, well, if not normal, then much different than I anticipated. I had expected humorless, grim experts, with eyes ready to kill.
Instead, Elder Ge seemed downright approachable—he looked like a stern but fair teacher, and he hadn’t hesitated to speak to the Lord Magistrate with what sounded like respect in his voice.
Yukong and Shou were a bit harder to place. Yukong looked like a woman in her mid-thirties; she had dark hair and eyes, with a stark, stoic feeling about her, but her lips were quirked in a small smile. The man she was standing beside, Shou, seemed to have a bit more of a temper and had reacted the most obviously out of anybody. Even now he was shooting me glances… but they weren’t hostile, more like an eager academic. He obviously wanted to sit me down and talk with me about stuff, and I’d be happy to later.
The person I was the least sure of, however, was Tianzhe Minyan.
She had a cold arrogance about her and seemed bleached of colour, looking like a frozen ice sculpture rather than a woman. Most of her face was covered by a veil, leaving only her blue eyes exposed. They looked like chips of ice, sharp, cold and merciless. When Gramps had first introduced me as his grandson, those eyes had focused on me with terrifying intensity, her intent so cold it had made my bones creak.
That intensity had faded when Gramps had explained things further, the woman visibly calming—and now her glances were merely curious, rather than murderous. Gramps had spoken of a lady friend before, and I was beginning to think that this was her.
She had also arrived on a flying ship—which was awesome. My desire to see it up close was currently warring with my desire not to become a walking icicle if she took offense.
The final person was the Herald. The guy seemed fairly lenient and easy-going, surprisingly, taking Gramps’ jokes and likely active treason without a care.
It was weird, but considering how strong Gramps was… or rather, had been, I guess polite disinterest was probably the best move.
We neared the room where the disciples were, when to my surprise, the Elders veered off slightly, instead going into one of the neighboring, empty rooms. There was no one else in here besides us, and Ge did something that made my hair stand on end. Whatever it did, Ge nodded, satisfied.
“Divine Falcon Minyan. By the ancient friendship between our Sects, the Cloudy Sword Sect wishes to enter into an accord of information sharing and mutual cooperation for the duration of our examination of the north. Are you amenable?” Elder Ge asked the veiled lady.
“I cannot speak for the entirety of the Isle, but this Minyan accepts the offer of the Black Cloud of the Silent Sky,” the cold, icy looking woman declared.
They clasped forearms and nodded to each other. Gramps smiled at the byplay.
“Ah, it feels a bit like old times,” the old man said, a small grin on his face.
Minyan raised an eyebrow at him. “How are you so energetic, you old fool?” she demanded. “Look at you, you’re weak now, yet you’re bouncing about like you did as a boy.”
Her words were disdainful, but there was no heat to them. In fact, the way her eyes looked, she seemed to be smiling.
Ah, her voice and mannerisms suddenly clicked. She wasn’t just an arrogant asshole.
She was a tsundere.
What the hells.
“Indeed! I am in a fine mood—even my body’s aches have been improved by seeing you again. If I could but behold you for a few hours, I would be fully healed,” Shen Yu smiled brightly at her.
Minyan clicked her tongue and looked away, tilting her nose up in the air slightly.
Yup, this lady was tsundere as fuck.
Ge chuckled and shook his head.
“Then let us see to our disciples,” he said, and we exited the room again. When we reached the room where the disciples were staying, the others paused. The door was closed, but I could hear Lady Wu’s guzheng… as well as other instruments being played.
Ge opened the door.
Most of the Cloudy Sword Sect disciples were seated and seemed to be enjoying the music, save for one woman who had added her erhu to Lady Wu’s guzheng. The lady had a few bandages over her arms, but other than that she didn’t look too worse for wear.
The Soaring Heaven’s Isle disciples, in contrast, had mostly left their tables. Several of the women had their own instruments out as well, and most of them were sitting in front of the impromptu concert bobbing along to the music. They were all well-dressed, but I could see some callouses, and the occasional flash of a tattoo.
Two hadn’t joined in. The first was a woman with her long blue hair in two braids who was watching over her fellow disciples. Above the waist she was still, but I could see her feet tapping along to the song. There was another woman beside her, who appeared to be wearing part of a kimono, of all things. She had short purple hair, grey irises, and a mole under her left eye. Instead of looking at her fellow disciples, her gaze was locked onto a large pot of rice. She had an utterly forlorn look on her face, and I saw her swallow thickly. There was still quite a bit of rice in it, and she was clearly holding herself back for some reason.
The Elders seemed to find this arrangement satisfactory, and the disciples swiftly noticed their leaders. The music, aside from Lady Wu, immediately stopped, the disciples rising to their feet at the entrance of the Elders.
“Have the accommodations been satisfactory, disciples?” Elder Ge asked.
“Yes, Elder,” one of the Cloudy Sword Sect members stepped up—another woman, who looked quite a bit like Elder Ge. “We pay our respects to the Household of the Lord Magistrate.”
The other disciples followed suit.
Elder Minyan looked at all her girls and simply raised an eyebrow.
“It was delicious,” the purple-haired woman said simply, her voice wistful.
“Excellent. Now that you are refreshed, gather around. Our course of action is clear,” Elder Ge said. The disciples all sat again as Elder Ge took the stage, flanked by Yukong and Shou while Minyan was only slightly behind Ge. Gramps and the Herald stayed back beside the wall. Elder Ge started explaining the mission to the north, their objectives, and their duties.
Seeing as I wasn’t really a part of this, I went over to Lady Wu.
“Thank you,” I whispered to her. She smiled at me.
“It's no trouble, Jin. They were all most polite.” She stood gracefully, lifting up her guzheng. “It has been a while since I have played for so long.”
With that she left, exiting out of the servant’s entrance. Meanwhile, I walked over to the pot of rice. There was enough for a couple of rice balls left, as well as some pickles. I glanced at the lady whose dress looked a bit Japanese, then shrugged.
Onigiri it was. There wasn’t any seaweed, but there was a cloth and a box to wrap them in. I’d pay the Lord Magistrate back for them later.
The briefing didn’t take very long.
“That is all, disciples. We are moving out immediately,” Elder Minyan stated.
The cultivators all rose and started filling out, but I walked up to the purple-haired woman before she could.
“Excuse me, miss?” I asked. The woman turned, and I saw the shift in her body language. She put on a haughty mask and looked at me.
“Can this one assist you?” she asked, her voice prim and proper.
“Please, you looked like you were still hungry,” I offered, holding out the rice balls. The woman’s look of haughty coldness instantly broke. She gaped at the food I was holding out to her, and her jaw worked for a moment, like she had no words.
“Ah, um—” she turned to look back at Lady Minyan, who was watching with a raised eyebrow.
“Time is of the essence, Seiyu,” was all she said before turning away.
Seiyu instantly took the offered food and dipped into a bow.
“Wakokukin Seiyu humbly receives this!” the woman said, her voice not quite a shout.
She then fairly dashed off, the prize clutched to her chest. The blue-haired woman, who had paused with Seiyu, looked at me for another moment, and then to my surprise, she broke out into a big, sunny smile.
“I’m Lanlong Bailu. Nice to meet you, Mister!” she said cheerily, her voice bubbly and far more carefree than I expected, and then sauntered off as well.
I followed after, at a slightly more sedate pace, to the roof.
Neither myself nor Gramps would be going—we were too injured, and somebody had to run the base of operations.
Both of us lifted our hands in the gesture of respect.
“My friends, I pray for your victory,” Shen Yu declared. “And you! When you go back to your Master, tell him not to bother me for a while! I don’t care what the boy wants me to do!”
His eyes were locked onto the Herald.
The man bowed, and once again let the insult roll off him. The cultivators jumped as one and moved so fast they disappeared into the distance, leaving no trace of their passing to the town below that was slowly waking up.
Then it was just me and the old man.
I glanced at Gramps, who rolled his eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. Fengyan isn’t incompetent enough to send a man who will get offended at my words… and it's fun to guess who's under the mask by the reactions alone. I think it's Shi Lang, since he was doing that little shrug with his shoulders. Not the most inspired man, Shi Lang, but he’s not terrible. He has a particular dry wit, and was originally Fengyan’s cupbearer…”
I sighed and shook my head as we went back in to collect Shenhe… and head home.
Our duty was done.
For the moment… this was somebody else’s problem. I still didn’t feel 100% safe, but hells, I certainly didn’t want to be a demon right now, with that kind of firepower heading towards me.
Truly, delegation was the strongest super power.
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Jin realises one of the most powerful women in existance is a tsundere.
He is most confused.
Edited by: BargleNawdleZouss, Massgamer, Oshi
Comments
Lanter
Rereading this, its always funny how quickly Seiyu switches from "😑Eww, what does this lowly man want?" To "🤩 Oh gracious, benevolent, food-giving benefactor, Thank You!"
Old Dog
Agreed.
pat
Going off the alternate story based in their sect, the expy Japan is an obscure little tribal place on the outskirts of the empire, so I would think that it would be unexpected for anyone to actually recognise that, never mind know anything of the foods of her people.
CringeWorthyStudios
Way earlier. That quote was referring to his wing based wind attacks.
CringeWorthyStudios
She’s wearing a kimono…
CringeWorthyStudios
To be fair, soy sauce is super difficult to make if you don’t know what you’re doing and I doubt Jin would have learned in the Before. Maybe Seiyu will be able to teach him, however. Also I don’t think Jin has Soybeans yet.
Adam
Isn't that his Wheel of Eternity technique that he used in the SMS tournament?
Caoimhín
I so hope that it will fuse with the slapping technique he was practicing in the SMS, it would be hilarious.
Caoimhín
Her reactions to Yun Ren having fox ears and a fluffy tail will be hilarious and adorable.
Mark Greenberg
Yep, you're right. I remember him watching team games but this IS his first winter at Fa Ram.
Mark Greenberg
Yes, it would be nice to see Senior Sister Yeo Na, his fiancee Xaio Su Ge and the attentive fox, Su Yuanlin, interact with Lu Ri.
Aune
When it comes to Big D, HOPE the author have written down this passage from v2c10: Routine. "It was not a technique. Not yet, merely being brute force. It was an inelegant thing, meant only to chastise and rebuke. But... he was getting closer. In time, it would be refined. In time, it would be elegant. Perhaps not as elegant as the moon, but something beautiful." like, the last part would be somewhat great to behold, aye?
Old Dog
@CasualFarmer After going through posts, with many great comments, I personally think you don't need to revise that chapter again. Like fine wine being sipped to fully enjoy, your writing should be read at a modest rate and savored. My question is will Biyu, Rags, and Loud Boy be around when CSS members, other than Lu Ri, show up? I am also looking forward to Biyu's reaction to Yun being back as well as the reactions as to why she came to Fa Ram.
Old Dog
Yeah, i did. Thanks CF for another word of the day.
Old Dog
Agreed. Even rereading them goes by to quickly.
Old Dog
Word @TempestK
David Morrison
I think it is high times that Gramps made an honest woman out of her. ... Or her, chim lol
SamHawke
Zeng Zang is a unique case tho, unless another cultivator is being puppeted by a puppet worm and can turn intt lightening or fire etc, theres no saving them
Stuffed Duck
Gramps is still on the farm, and honestly, neither CSS nor SHI shows any signs of killing a spirit beast right on sight, just for its existence.
MatrixM
Huian is in a separate province. 3 provinces away iirc.
Caoimhín
I agree about the timeframe of the posts, but I don't think something like an Imperial-realm formation defense/trap exists anywhere close to where they are going. The main northern base didn't have that, with Yulong admitting that they had no contingencies against an Imperial Realm Cultivator. I doubt anything like a formation that can harm or trap an Imperial Realm exists outside of the very top most secure locations in the world, like the top sects of the Empire, the inner sanctuary where the Emperor met Shen Yu, or something from the Age of Heroes somehow preserved to this day. For example, we know that the formation that is now protecting Hong Yaowu can barely withstand a strike from someone in the Sky Realm, and it was described as an extremely powerful and complex masterwork. We also know that the formations in the Imperial Palace allow the Phoenix Emperor to fight at the level of the Imperial Realm instead of being something able to kill someone in the Imperial Realm by itself. So, something that can even impede the way of an Imperial Realm for more than a second is extremely unlikely to be in any random secondary base where Yulong is currently hiding. Even if they go out of province and find the true headquarters of their demonic sect, it's unlikely that they would meet something like a trap that can harm 2 Imperial Realms at the same time.
litalmexy
I use royal road to reread old chapters not in the books to work around that
Evander
Since they aren't visiting Fa Ram now, I hope none of them randomly shows up and inadvertently kills a Spirit Beast trying to be helpful.
Catherine
He’s seen them play la cross but I don’t think he has been at the farm during winter yet. He arrived in summer I think
Mark Greenberg
Pretty sure he's watched them play before.
Marcin
Kinda shame she isnt a twintail :D
Seaspike
Sigh. Trying to go back to re read older stuff. Disappointed because patreon has changed the filter setup. No longer can I load specific months, just years. Sucks because it only loads a handful and the more button is not working consistently.
Len
going to LuRi at the base First, Then probably find the abandoned base/evacuating base when Youlong SMELLS THEM COMING and FLEES- the question is, do they find Huilan first?
Len
biggest problem is he will SMELL THEM COMING....and run away.
Len
TRUE we come here to escape that..that said. at least we know who won.
TempestK
Dude, please don't drag real-world politics into this.
pat
Hah, he made some barbaric tribal food for her, how did he know?!
Nef Mccrimmon
Are they going to fa ram next
frankie doerr
So now that we got rice balls Jin needs to create soy sauce I don’t think you mentioned it in the series yet. It’s something else miemie can complain about because making soy sauce smells awful
John D Jones
I figure the Fa Ram visit will come in a couple-three posts. Figure one post for the Elders visiting Lu Ri at the captured base. Then maybe another of the Elders and company tracking the demonic sect and running into (or being lured into) still active Imperial-realm formation defenses/traps. Then "I watched as the bruised, hurt, exhausted and frustrated Elders landed their Flying Swords outside Fa Ram..."
Artur Vogt
Best Day of the year! Oh, And the chapter is also nice.
Geoffrey Sullivan
Oh yeah - to do anything *other* than prioritise that would be *stupid.* It just makes the anticipation of the Fa Ram scenes *worse,* though.
Geoffrey Sullivan
And they're both old enough to understand and accept that - *eventually,* anyway. :)
WarStrider72
Magic lol
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter. It was a nice ray of sunshine on this morning.
Beggar of Freedom
Divines bless your kind heart!
Just A Dude
To be fair it might be the rice, too. IIRC, enough Gold Grade rice to make that onigiri is worth a small fortune.
Will Iam
Adding her here would only add complicactions i believe, now in the first or second wave of reinforcements would be excellent plot hook
Barry Morgan
A few unconnected thoughts: 1. I am guessing that the injured woman from the CSS that was playing the erhu was a certain Senior Sister of everyone’s favorite mailman. 2. When Xianghua meets Minyan I expect her to start taking notes (“ ah, so THIS is how to be EXTRA as a woman leading a sect!”). 3. Minyan’s (and others, really) reaction to Xianghua could be interesting, too. I’m sure that, like Gramps, they’ll figure out pretty quickly that she is acting.
Catherine
Also I wonder if they’ll resupply at the farm before the sms leave. It strikes me that Shou would be interested in studying zang zhen as the only survivor of a puppet worm in hopes of expanding his knowledge so he can save others
Catherine
Hmm I don’t think Shen yu has been introduced to ice ha qi yet. I look forward to seeing his reaction. I bet he loves it
Catherine
I wonder if Shou and Mei will work together to fix Miantiao’s back. Or at least he could give her some info to help
Casualfarmer
Jin offered them a place to go to rest and resupply. They have no need for either at the moment, so they're off to do their jobs.
Cypha
Wait weren't they supposed to drop in by FaRam? Hopefully they do when they come back then. :)
Holo
They all left immediately? Weren't they going to check out the farm first?
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
Gwyn
Poor Typhoon Twins, they get to meet their soulmate from another life, but he's already wifed+1 up with a kid. Looking forward to the elders reactions to Jin raising so many spirit beasts that ascended to human form. Really hoping we get a Vajra POV sometime soon too.
Stark Trist
Fa ram distributing war rations as the troops come back for orders and deployment. I imagine the campaign will last a few weeks at least, and 1-2 months of investigation + cleanup. Disciples finish their mission extra fast once their supplies run low.
CringeWorthyStudios
Yeah, that’s all true, and I think I said the first part above, but my point was more that I’m surprised that Jin or TLM didn’t suggest Xiulan joins. She’s not *needed* but there’s also no real harm in her being there to listen in and it couldn’t hurt to officially commit the sects of the Azure Hills to the effort. And with Shen Yu being her the others wouldn’t react badly to her presence. Xiulan is the both official and technical leader of the province since Jin very explicitly didn’t want the job. As for the last point, yeah, that’s true that she didn’t say anything before because it either wouldn’t help in time or be bad if it was a false alarm. Now that it’s over it might be worth going “hey, yeah, a thing happened. Watch out for demons.”
Caoimhín
They probably have Time Magic, focus, commitment, and sheer fucking will XD
Caoimhín
Behold, the bounty of Fa Ram.
Caoimhín
Probably Minyan coming up with an excuse to stay with Shen Yu while he recovers, and the dumdums tag along.
Daniel Mountain
And Jin finally makes contact with the main universe dumdums... who thankfully seem to like him.
Caoimhín
Well, this matter is not really something that concerns the cultivators of the Azure Hills, in the sense that it is something way above their level. They simply don't have what it takes to even participate in the discussion or the operation, so they aren't included. All that was needed here was Shen Yu and Jin to provide information before they launch the attack, so they don't really need Xiulan's presence, nor do they have to give face to the Azure Hill cultivators. Besides, the location of the enemy is not in the Azure Hills, but the Sea of Snow (and other provinces). Also, the technical leader of the province’s cultivators is Jin, not Xiulan, for all that she's the one doing all the work in uniting them. In practice, it's Xiulan, but if you ask any of the sect masters they would all reply that it's Jin. There's also no point in Xiulan leaving or sending a messenger anywhere as that would take weeks just to get there, as was explained by Xiulan herself on why they didn't ask other sects for help when they knew the demons were coming to attack Fa Ram. It's too far to get any reinforcements in time, and whatever help they could help would be useless.
Caoimhín
From the info we have, it seems that Xiulan and her mother don't resemble each other much except in body figure. Xiulan's features, hair color, and eye color all come from her father's side.
Truedragon5374
Ah, that explains it. My thanks.
CringeWorthyStudios
Yeah, I doubt she left yet. Sent a messenger maybe, but not left. Not a major plot hole overall but still noticeable. I think it would be best to retcon her into the meeting and just not have her do too much (it’s still not on Royalroad yet so it won’t be too hard to do) but there are definitely other options and Casual probably has a specific plan anyway.
Fluffy druid
Not that accidentally. He saw a kimono, thought "Japan" and made onigiri. And our favourite not-pirate was won over.
Qahlz
By now I doubt that she's part of this group, since there was no foreshadowing of that at all, unlike Bailu and Seiyu. I'm also pretty sure that Jin would have recognized her as a relative of Xiulan in that group.
Caoimhín
That's explained in the most recent chapter of the Alternate Universe timeline. Seiyu tells this to Jin when they are in the Noodle Shop: “A fairy of one of the four winds must comport themselves in a certain manner.” She explained. “Bailu wasn’t allowed to drink and I was only allowed four bowls whenever we were officially deployed.” As for what Jin is saying he will pay the Magistrate for, I think he means the cloth and box to wrap the Onigiri in, not the rice.
Insertnamehereokokipressedokok
Per the Soaring Heaven's Isle AU chp 18 their behavior is restricted while deployed. Bailu can't drink and Seiyu is limited to four bowls of food.
Will Iam
One i felt missing was xiulan mother but maybe she will come with the first reinforcements. Otherwise wonderful chapter
Fluffy druid
I hope that this can be explained with her leaving in order to explain stuff to the other sects, in particular the tattoo guys. The battle was likely noticed, after all the earth spoke loud and clear. But then she would have taken her officers. So yeah. Currently a bit of a plot hole. I think.
Peter Gerganov
Presumably she didn't indulge because she's in mixed company and her behavior might reflect poorly on her sect and Master. And Jin decided he would later pay for the cloth and box which he used to make Seiyu's bento, not the rice.
Truedragon5374
Why is Seiyu restraining herself from eating the rice? Presumably it has already been cooked, and it's not like they can throw it in the fridge for later. And the hosts provided if for their guests to be eaten. It's nice that she didn't take more than her share until all had eaten, but now there is no reason not to take a second helping is there? And why will Jin need to "pay back" a couple rice balls worth of rice? See previous arguments.
Samantha Kuhn
CF, thank you for creating this heartwarming, funny, and fun-as-hell story that makes me laugh out loud with its humor and brings tears to my ears with the simplest of scenes. This series is like comfort food that has had real effort put into it. A big slice of Grandma's apple pie or chicken noodle soup, whose mystical qualities have been perfected over the years, to help one feel better on a cold winter's night OR during a dark night of the soul, which is the case for some of us now--I know it is for me!. Forgive the drama, but I'm in Iowa; things have been so bad lately that one of my best friends is moving to Minnesota this week because the so-called Nice State state has become distinctly and overwhelmingly unwelcoming to people of specific minority communities. The latest polling numbers showing the state is flipping blue shocked the hell out of me and gave me hope, but I AM SCARED. We did our part; we voted. Now, no matter who we voted for or what we believe, we have to simply wait and see if it will all go to hell or not. And it won't be a few days of waiting, either. One candidate, I'm sure, has the election fraud charges ready to go flying. CF, I know you don't take requests for the books and all that, but it would be AWESOME if you wrote an Alternate Universe scene of Bi De, Shen Yu, and Jin with the Orange clown cowering in a corner, faced with ALL his dishonorable conduct like the SMS was! That would be beyond wonderful!!! Just think about it *wink, wink* So, with all this going on, CF, I have a BIG favor to ask of you: Please keep the chapters coming fast and furious over the next few days, weeks, however long it takes until we know FOR SURE who the next US president will be and whether any possible coups/treason have been attempted and gotten rid of already? (BTW, I feel like a tinfoil hat-wearing paranoid kook for talking about coups and treason! I WOULD have been considered a kook for even suggesting it was a remote possibility that a defeated US president would do such a thing even just 10 years ago!) You're helping to keep part of the world sane and we DEEPLY appreciate it. Just keep providing us our medication (aka chapters) until our current symptoms are alleviated (aka, we definitively know who will be the next US President). However, patients are known to become addicted quickly with repeated exposure to BOC, sooooo... I guess this means you'll just have to write even more to feed all your patreonees' already established addictions, which will be permanent after both the increased dosage and actively using it to escape the "Real World," lol! So, more work for you, but the world will be a better, happier place because of Beware of Chicken. Small embers, my friend. ;)
Z H
Eh, if you go back and read the one attempt at smut for this story you'll have a new appreciation for it not being in the official story. CF isn't terrible at it, but they weren't very good either. It read like an only slightly edgy teenager writing their first sex scene on fanfiction.net. It was only mildly painful to read through instead of a trainwreck. The story is MUCH better as is.
CringeWorthyStudios
Oh, for sure, it’s more that it would have been good for her to be there. She distinguished herself well in the battle and at least had the nominal authority to be present. Plus, it would have strengthened her position as Grand Marshal to be there, even just watching. For that matter, while the strength of those involved makes it less of a problem, it still undermines her authority more than a little to have the technical leader of the province’s cultivators completely absent from such an important meeting. It would be fine if she just wasn’t in the area since it was urgent but she was literally right there and no one bothered to invite her? If nothing else, there should be a scene explaining why she either didn’t want to go, somehow didn’t know or was denied. It doesn’t seem like an oversight Jin or TLM would make.
Alex Ingraham
I'd be disappointed if they didn't lol
Ender419
I agree with you, Xiulan, led have been an excellent member at that meeting. But that’s not to say CF might have a chapter up his sleeve where the direct disciplines of the Ge, Minyan, Yukong and Shou meet the family & friends of Jin at his farm.
Caoimhín
Well, they have been fucking for centuries, so at this point what they need to break the status quo of their relationship is an outside intervention that makes one of them (or both of them) swallow their pride and commit instead of keeping things casual. The problem comes from both sides: -Shen Yu has sworn off having children again after Bu's disaster, and he is getting what he wants from their current deal, fucking Minyan whenever they meet, so he has no motivation to change the way things currently are. -Minyan truly loves Shen Yu and wants to have a family with him, but she's too proud to be the one to make the offer to have something serious and official like marriage.
Saaski
We neared the room where the disciples were, but to my surprise before going in, the Elders stopped briefly in another, empty room. Once no one else was around, Ge did something that made my hair stand on end. Whatever it did, Ge nodded, satisfied.”
Stuffed Duck
I think it is something like a concealing formation to keep whatever is said inside to those intended.
Caoimhín
They were going to where the disciples were, but then entered a different room and Elder Ge likely activated a privacy formation which is the "something that made my hair stand on end" Jin described. They did that because Elder Ge was about to officially offer to enter a cooperation with Minyan's sect.
Caoimhín
Hm, I'm not so sure if Xiulan and her mom would resemble each other, considering that Xiulan's features come from her paternal line, as evidenced by how she has her father's eyes and she is nearly identical to her ancestor Cai Ruolan. But I really hope she's part of the team that was assembled for the ship, as she seemed to be friends with the Storm Wings (enough that they knew about her last attempt to send a letter home). PS: I went to check again the chapter where Liusei appears (A Boring Night) and this is all the description about Xiulan's mom: "A very pretty lady with the most impressive set of tits I had ever seen on a woman, and I had just had too shitty a day to be polite even in my own head. Her figure was positively lush, and she had both a mature face and a kind of motherly aura about her." So... yeah, "features" indeed, LMAO
CringeWorthyStudios
Honestly, the only thing I felt was really missing from the last few chapters was Xiulan. Yes, she isn’t exactly qualified to be in that room by cultivator standards, but she *is* officially the highest ranking cultivator in the Azure Hills. Feels like she should have been there at least in an official capacity. Even if all she did was sit quietly and look embarrassed when she gets approving looks for fighting an Earth Realm cultivator while in the Spiritual Realm.
Truedragon5374
I wonder if Jin will join forces with Minyan to Parent Trap Gramps?
CringeWorthyStudios
Shen Yu is too weak to survive that currently. 😅
Truedragon5374
Who else thinks that Seiyu, Beilu, Yin and Tigu will get along like a house on fire? Possibly after starting some fires...
CringeWorthyStudios
Indeed. “Features.” Both of them. Admittedly it was said that other than that they didn’t look super similar. Xiulan looks more like Roulan’s sister via Dad of Grass’s side of the family.
CringeWorthyStudios
Probably a good choice but also kinda sad. It might be fun to have some as optional canon but skippable interlewds. Like, the story doesn’t *need* it, but I doubt many people would complain if it existed outside the books to read separately.
Peter Gerganov
Among his many talents are the ultimate techniques of delegation and genre savvy. OP MC fr fr
ENK
"We neared the room where the disciples were, when to my surprise, the Elders veered off slightly, instead going into one of the neighboring, empty rooms. There was no one else in here besides us, and Ge did something that made my hair stand on end. Whatever it did, Ge nodded, satisfied." Not entirely sure I understood this paragraph.
zdm
Right there with y'all. But it's good we have BoC and each other.
mhaj58
I’m starting to wonder if the relationship between Shen Yu and Minyan might need a little something special. Imagine if he threw her into a mud pit. 😆
Fluffy druid
Wishing all of you the best from Germany.
Caoimhín
Agreed. It will be awesome when they go to Fa Ram. I'm guessing they are prioritizing launching the decapitation strike on Yulong before he can escape further away, then they will go back to Fa Ram and use it as base of operations while they carry out the investigation and cleaning of other bases.
Alex
A tsundere is a female character that is initially cold, standoffish, and potentially even outright abusive, but ends up being very caring towards the people who she becomes close with in the story arc. It’s a whole thing in anime; 50ish percent of the female characters are tsunderes.
Kasinki
Yeah, that much is clear. I'm saying that in a hypothetical scenario where the attack force isn't just Shen Yu and Fa Ram but these guys, the demonic forces stand little to no chance. So most likely now, beaten and routed, they hold even smaller chance to escape properly, esp if we account that they dont know senior mailman captured an intact base.
taukid
Cock shock reactions coming we up when they meet Bi De
John D Jones
I'm looking forward to Jin having that conversation with Ge/Shou to set them straight. Jin might well have been as grand a grower as he is now if he'd stayed with the CSS - after a few hundred years or so. Not in three. Jin is as he is BECAUSE of what Chen Li did. BECAUSE he left the CSS and came to the Azure Hills to abandon cultivation and become a farmer.
John D Jones
@ Kasinki They're not trying to "win" but to flee and preserve their forces to start anew elsewhere. The challenge for the CSS and SHI folks isn't fighting/killing to demonic sect folks, it's tracing and finding them in the first place.
Angela Roberts
Seaspike, I've never watched any anime and had to look it up too.
Bluebag
Oooh I vaguely remember Seiyu came from some nomad tribe or something. Jin might've accidentally made food from her childhood?
Angela Roberts
I am getting more worried by the hour. It's stories like these that are keeping me sane too.
Caithdean SValerient
Kudos!
Angela Roberts
I was wondering where the disciples of CSS & SI were and what they were doing. Jin realizing that Minyan is a tsundere, priceless! These chapters go too quickly!
Geoffrey Sullivan
Now *that,* I'd like to see. :)
Antony Claughton
Very annoying we didn't get to see their reaction to Fa ram.
Andrew Denton
Yes. Her... "features".
Katharine Gould
How do you always get here so quickly?
Geoffrey Sullivan
If Soaring Heaven's Isle decides to send *anyone* to Fa Ram in future, for *any* reason, Seiyu will now volunteer without hesitation - and Minyan now has a new goad to keep her in line with. :D I would've liked to see Jin interact more with the Elders, but neither the time nor the place. I *do* look forward to their visiting Fa Ram - if Ge was wishing to resurrect Chen Li in order to kill him again, *Shou* will no doubt be *apocalyptic* on seeing with his own eyes EXACTLY what the Cloudy Sword lost with Jin . . . And no, I did NOT misspell "apoplectic" - and you can't convince me otherwise. :)
Kreylix
And his son.
V01D
It’s ‘Wa’, according to the AU
V01D
Don’t forget Xulian finding out about her mother! (Even if her mother isn’t present, I can easily see some of them recognizing her features.
Cory C.
Yeah, very early on there was actually one lemon chapter but CF decided to keep everything off screen after that.
HawkwardEgal
Same here. I wish we had the Magistrate irl.
BlueMage Theneras
The fun chapters always feel so short! 😂 But I guess that's the curse of good reading material, it's so easy to get lost in! Thank you very much for the chapter!
Sam a Goat
Really cool chapter! Disappointed we didn’t see their reaction to Fa Ram and probably won’t for a bit but I’m excited to see where it goes!
Laura Hemly
See CF's reply to the same question after you'd posted.
Laura Hemly
And all the gold grade rice they can eat, with all the trimmings they want!
StarBat
It reminded her of home(YAMATO/NIPPON/GLORIOUS JAPAN) and she's been away for too long. I might guess that she befriends Wa Shi and they become food buddies.
mhaj58
The way Jin immediately realizes that Minyan is a tsundere is funny as hell. I really hope that the experts become a more constant presence in the story. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how Meiling and Minyan interact with each other.
Dirk Gent Lee
I am sad and worried for my children’s future and therefore re-reading all of BoC
Kasinki
Thank you for the chapter! Even if Huaian contacted Yulong, the might coming at them seems too much to bear with 2 imperial realm plus their sect disciples. Even at their full health I doubt the demonic master can win.
Jazer Andrew Sotomayor
Thank you!!
Randall Norman Pick
She's this to a couple rice balls wait until she hits the maple syrup.
Victor Segura
Do we have any concept art for Mynian? I wonder how does the veil looks? Because the one I can just remember was from Volcanic age, which was jus transparent, which I think its not for here. Also, its a shame, I kind of wanted for Seiyu and Bailu to get into the farm and get Jin'edd with his food and alcohol up to a cultivation coma
M e
I listened to that cozy fantasy panel a while back, and I think I remember CF saying he originally intended to write smut. I'd say he secretly succeeded, considering the way he's been edging us the last few chapters.
Robert Mullins
Ah, that makes sense then. I read it as Jin's house being where they plan/operate out of.
BigBro Bluesman
You know in the alt-story "unbroken" if his meridians are too damaged he could possibly take that route kinda what the others are doing if he's unable to heal properly but I mean with what he should have I'm not sure
HawkwardEgal
You’re the only thing keeping me sane this election night, CF.
THEMIGHTYBOXHEAD
long slow burning series full of laughs and suspense! been with this series for a couple years now. hope to be with it for many more!
Casualfarmer
He said they could stop by when they needed to resupply. They do not currently need to resupply. I will have to go back and change it, if people are getting confused, but they were never intended to immedeately visit the farm. They're heading off to do the military operation they were called to do.
Zeromaru2
More confirmation that Gramps was a former Shonen protagonist
Seaspike
He invited all the elders to come to the farm vice town to rest and resupply.
Robert Mullins
Didn't Jin invite someone back to the farm or did that get edited out as well?
Jazzinald Von Hiemdallvinar
I can't wait till the heavans give them the fortune of visiting Fa Ram
Larynx Punchworthy
We need excuses to keep the dumdums close. I don’t care if they have to join Meimei’s harem, just give me more canon dumdum
Civer
its pointed at Shen Yu and that part is filtered through xanxia land mannerisms
Jared Pincus
I was really hoping for a short trip to the farm!
Seaspike
With the bounty of Boozemaster Vajra.
Southmonk
Man the lead up is nerve-wracking. More like we want to know their reactions to farm noww
Seaspike
If you watch ANY anime, you've been exposed to tsunderes, even if you don't know the term.
CringeWorthyStudios
Very well hidden under the tsun part. 😅
Lynn Freeman
I can't wait for their reaction to the Fa Ram
D375
I'd love to see Jin and Meimei help ship Shen Yu and Minyan. Thanks for the chapter!
BigBro Bluesman
He should have said that last part out loud
Vasius
They have to come back for resupply and recovery that's the farm chapter I imagine
Patanahi
Thanks for the chapter CF !
William Harvey
Now to look up "Tsundere"! Thanks for the chapter.
Lalzparty
Where is the Dere part Minyan!
Nick
Tftc. Great chapter. Only disappointed that it didn't have a Bi De reveal to Shen's peers.
WarStrider72
And we have "officially" met booze hound Bailu and glutton Seiyu! Wonder how Jin will make them foodgasm next chapter?
CringeWorthyStudios
Felt a bit short but man is it nice to see Jin interact with the Baka twins in canon. He went straight for Seiyu’s weakness too, like a true cultivator. Somehow not surprised that Jin immediately figured Minyan out too… Thanks for the chapter!
WarStrider72
Wait... where's the rest?!!! I thought we were going to bask in Fa Ram's glory today?!!
Seiden Kyoukai
The idiots appear!!!!! ...and are gone without much screentime. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. TFTC!
David Brewer
Jin clearly didn't read enough Wuxia or Xianxia before his isekai not to realize that most of the "young mistresses" are ALL tsundere.
Joel Rodriguez
Wether on the highest peak of mount Fuji or the lowest cave in the Mariana Trench, the Tsundere spirit still fights strong!
Wizard830
I noticed Jin made a Japanese dish for the wakoku seiyu
ThatsTypicalTy
Aww i was really looking forward to the big wigs reaction to jins farm
Sean Ulrich
No trip to the farm?
WarStrider72
Tsun Minyan....
WarStrider72
thanks for the chapter boss!
WarStrider72
1st
