Fatherly Asura

Forget not their wild nature, they are not as our partners.

Intelligent, yes.

Cunning, yes.

But their civility comes only from the recognition of strength.

The law of the Jianghu and the law of the Jungle are not so far removed as many would pretend.

“Lords Among Beasts,” by [Jade Arrowheads Come Calling]

The disturbance in Fu’s soul was strange and dislocated, prompting him to ponder what it was their second halves were currently undertaking, if only for a moment.

An auspicious morning, it seemed.

Even his disciples could feel it, for there was an invigoration in their continual sets of the [True Wind God Arts] that was not there in days passed. One that could only be attributed to the Heavenly Roaming Prefecture’s rise in Qi density.

A knock sounded across his courtyard, and the rearmost disciple opened it wide for Aunty Quan to no less than bowl him over.

Her matronly [Spirit Hare] held a glare as icy as [Winter] itself.

“Gao Fu,” she called. “Explain yourself!”

Hushi stirred beneath the douli as affronted disciples moved to action, intent on removing the one that would dare address their sect leader this way.

“Matron, hold your tongue. If you have complaints then they are surely worthy of my ears first. Sect leader Gao Fu need not be troubled,” ordered a brash youth of a disciple.

Aunty Quan darkened. “Mind your manners, little boy. I’ll speak to Gao Fu how I wish when it concerns my flock.”

An eight-armed blur held the disciple’s jian in place before it could be drawn, and Fu arrived as a swift second. “Disciple. Cloud Dragon Hall does not answer insult with blades, and more so, no insult was given. If you are slighted on my behalf, I extend gratitude, if you feel slighted yourself then I must ponder if this is where you truly belong.”

“It’s this that I’ve come to speak about, Gao Fu,” Aunty Quan grunted.

Fu held the weight of his gaze upon this disciple for long moments before parting, leading his guest deeper into his private chambers.

A kettle was delivered in moments, though he had not even thought to ask.

The fumes of sweet tea calmed Aunty Quan well as she sat. “This morning I came across this beneath the pillow of my eldest charge,” she said, clattering a dagger across the table.

“A dagger,” nodded Fu. “Has the boy possessed it long?”

“I don’t allow blades in my orphanage, Gao Fu, save for those that cut our meat. The boy is red about the ears now, but when I asked he said it was for protection against your disciples.”

Shuidi bristled, emerging. “Our disciples. This Gao Shuidi does not raise villains, Matron Quan.”

“Even so, the boy isn’t known for lying,” she bit back. “Nor would that explain his bruises. Done in hidden places, where falling sleeves or daily work wouldn’t expose them. I’ve known husbands to strike in the same places.”

A moment passed.

“Don’t tell me wisdoms, Fu. Don’t say ‘boys will be boys’. You’ve done right by us, but a child has a right to safety, no matter what shape their home takes.”

Fu could only nod. “Could he place these disciples?”

“He won’t, for fear of reprisal. They are children with [Spirit Beasts], and yet, this doesn’t make them cultivators. I only ask-”

“Please, Matron Quan, accept my apologies,” he said, dipping his head. “We will investigate this matter immediately.”

Aunty Quan slurped more of her tea, and merely said, “Good,” before departing.

The screen shut firm.

“A product of our absence?” he asked aloud. “Have we not instilled enough good virtues in these disciples? To grant them talent in the [True Wind God Arts] and purity through the [Shrine of Final Skies] while they remain solitary has perhaps, brought about ill effects. If their number must fall, then so be it.”

Shuidi’s [Intent] flared. “Ghosts.”

Some dozen moon-facing disciples filled his study, angled upon eaves, shadows and door frames.

“Venerable senior, we exist to enact your will,” voiced the closest mask-clad assassin before him.

His [Senses] expanded, and he found them able to penetrate two of this number. All else about them he gleaned from the [Primordial Law of Tribulations].

Inadequate.

“Senior Pinxui has kept you busy I see. This growth is admirable, in most,” he said. “There are two among you that have progressed no further since your recruitment.”

The assassin’s speaker dipped his head. “We are not afforded the same-”

Two heads rolled to the floor faster than these juniors might comprehend, and a further three were taken by such fright that their [Clouded Ghost Arts] flickered.

Six heads littered his floor before such a failure was corrected.

“The ghosts of Twenty Sunrises City disappoint me. There are at least thirty moons upon all of you, and the stains of long cultivation are clear. More is expected of you,” said Fu, straightening his douli. “But I call for another reason. Speak now if it is known, or discover who among Cloud Dragon Hall’s disciples has inflicted unkindness upon the orphans. The brutality of such harm cannot be tolerated.”

Many [Spirit Serpents] were among these ghosts. Rare, that the Sect’s [Heritage] was so thick here.

“As you will it,” said the group’s new speaker.

Fu nodded. “A menial task, but one that I expect you shall not fail in. Return swiftly, as it seems I must stop being so lenient on both sides of my disciples. We are fortunate, however, that there are simple steps to rectify that.”

🀨

Disruption came not half an hour later.

It was a point of frustration that Fu could not put his full attention upon the matters at Cloud Dragon Hall, for his duties in the Phoenix Melody Coalition ever called him distant.

Such was the way of winds.

Three fresh [Paifang] had opened upon the farthest reaches of Mingqin’s domain and their severity required much attention, warranting the presence of not only the Four Tiger Pill Society, but that of the Plum Phoenix.

The Qi about these three, pace-distant [Paifang] was in violent flux. Myriad densities of warring [Affinities] strove for dominance, pushing greater affectations of the elements from their epicenter.

[Death Qi]. [Soul Qi]. [Force Qi].

Fu held no control over any of these elements save for [Soul Qi], and it was a nebulous touch indeed. Lest he was to cultivate and [Pull] the rampant energies into his [Core], he could offer no swift solution.

He said as much.

Bojin and his [Spirit Stoats] were beings of ultimate neutrality, and only contributed with a flick of ink upon papyrus before dispatching it to an aide. “My Four Tiger Pill Society will deal with the [Soul Qi] realm. It is an acceptable boon for City Lord Mingqin’s lands, for this [Affinity] is not commonplace. If all are in agreement, I would not collapse it.”

“As you say,” agreed Fu. “With the shift of the Jade Songbird Prefecture’s Qi density yesterday, there is room to negotiate. The next threshold will not arrive swiftly. Have you thoughts on this, Mistress Plum?”

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“Pah. You think yourselves worthy of my input?” she sneered. “Still you act as if equals. Do as you will, but the realm of [Force Qi] is mine.”

Her form faded across the third [Paifang’s] threshold, unperturbed by the growing maelstrom of energies at their core.

“The [Plum Axe’s] progeny, have you much experience with them, Bojin?”

The alchemist dipped his head. “A strange question. It is as though you ask if I have encountered water aside a river or dirt upon a path.”

“Even so,” said Fu.

“Even so,” repeated Bojin. “She is a talent above them all. Worthy of the disregard.”

[Ink] shared through the [Primordial Law of Tribulations] spoke of as much. A nigh flawless existence, save that she held few of the Jianghu’s most unknown treasures.

“Her reason for joining this Coalition may be plain. To secure [Constellation Seeds] and what lies beyond - if her knowledge extends so far. A monster of her talent may rise to rival even those of the Cloudy Serpent Sect once this is achieved.”

Fu inwardly nodded at the mental impression, stepping towards the realm of abundant [Death Qi]. “We will fulfil ,” he said.

Though his [Dao of Conquest’s Exhalation] flared in opposition to these words.