Torsten Hewson
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v6c8: Bright and Early
🕑 Added 2025-03-11 05:29:05 +0000 UTCThe morning, as always, dawned bright and early.
However, this morning, I had to deal with an issue related to our guests. It had been a surprise—I never expected something like this to happen, but really, I maybe should have seen this coming. So with a stone heart, I looked upon it, focused completely on my current predicament. I steeled my spine, and with as much of a commanding presence I could muster, I addressed the problem.
“Meimei, I have to get up,” I said seriously, my hands on her arm. It was locked across my chest, preventing me from getting up. I traced the arm back to the nest of blankets.
A single amethyst eye glared out at me from under the covers, while two smaller eyes looked up at me, Zhuye seemingly pleased by his new burrow. He gurgled happily.
“Nuuu,” Meimei whined maturely. “Don't wanna deal with cultivators.”
I felt my composure start to crack, and I could barely keep from laughing at her petulant tone.
“Come on, they weren’t that bad, were they?” I cajoled. And to my surprise, yesterday hadn’t been that bad. Hells, it had actually been pretty enjoyable. Ge, Shou, Yukong, and Minyan had all been a lot more chill than I had been expecting.
Take Elder Ge, for example. He looked like one of those old xianxia Masters. His cultivation was so powerful that even suppressed, I could feel it blazing inside his chest. He practically oozed mastery, a man who was approaching immortality. The kind of man who, in stories, was obsessed with honour and propriety. A man to be careful around, and watch one’s manners.
That lasted until the bath. This old monster, this man who could rend mountains and split the sky? He used his phenomenal cosmic power, gained through centuries of cultivation, to retaliate after getting smacked on the ass with a tree branch.
Elder Ge and Gramps had an entire wuxia sword fight with their sticks in the air, dancing off snowflakes, and executing techniques that had Big D watching with wide eyes at their mastery. It ended with both of them yelping, and then smashing through the ice into the river.
The Elder of the Cloudy Sword Sect walked out and declared the entire experience ‘refreshing’. He walked past me back into the bath with a visible red welt on his ass, followed after by Gramps.
Shou was a lot easier. Dude was a nerd. And I mean that in a good way. It was in his mannerisms, even after centuries of cultivating. He was a bit awkward, but his passion for plants was like a blazing star. Out of all of them, he had been the easiest to be with.
I had always got along with my people, even if I never really had looked the part. Most people in the Before didn't expect the big, dumb-looking farmboy hockey guy to get into arguments about obscure science stuff.
With Shou it was even easier. Plants were awesome.
Elder Yukong was basically the same way, she just hid it a bit better. I could see the nerd eyes on her, though, as she talked to Elder Minyan about the sealing formation, and spoke to our disciples.
The only one I didn’t particularly have a read on was Elder Minyan. Meimei said she had started to engage a bit more after they went to the baths. According to Meimei she was less prickly than she first appeared, and had even complimented what we had here.
Meimei grumbled at my statement.
“Admit it, you liked showing off a bit,” I continued.
The grumbling intensified.
“You kind of like Shou and Yukong, at least,” I said, and the grumbling reached a fever pitch before petering out.
“No, they aren’t that bad,” she finally conceded. It sounded almost painful for her to say it, but say it she did.
I chuckled at the grudging tone.
“Don’t worry. I don’t think they’ll be here long, anyway. They have a bunch of cultivation stuff to do, so we’ll host them for a couple of days, and then they’ll go about their business, and we’ll be back to normal.”
Meimei sighed. Her grip on my chest went slack.
“It's hard. I hated them for what they did to you for a long time, you know?” she said, “I wish I could be more like you, and just be comfortable around them.”
I took her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Honestly, I’m not,” I said. Meimei blinked at me, poking her head up out of the covers. “I’m still uncomfortable with them here. I just fake it. Being nice and laughing along is easy, when it’s something that’ll help my family. And if they turn out to be good people I can get along with, well, then that's when it stops being a mask, and starts being real. We had a saying in the Other Place. Fake it till you make it.”
Meimei looked into my eyes. “Being nice and laughing along is easy, when it’s something that’ll help my family, huh?” she muttered, a little smile on her face.
Then her hand moved to the back of my head, and she pulled me into a kiss.
“...let's get ready for today,” she declared.
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Breakfast was our usual affair. We had been respectful of the cultivators yesterday by reducing the number of people, but today, everybody was in our house for breakfast. Meanwhile, I stood at the entrance, and waited for our guests.
They came in from the guest house… while Gramps and Minyan wandered in from his house.
The house had been part of the summer’s renovations—a place for the old man to stay if he wanted it, and if he didn’t, well, considering the number of visitors we got, somebody would use it.
I showed it to him after everything calmed down, and Gramps had immediately moved in… though that may have been because it was a bit sentimental. I had based the layout on the little house we had lived in in Crimson Crucible City.
I hadn’t been in since I gave it to him, but we all had been busy. Judging by the bright grin on his face, and the fact that Lady Minyan’s eyes had a kind of smug look in them, I guessed he had… well, broken it in.
I wondered what the hells was going on between them… but wasn’t sure I really wanted to know. A hundreds of years-long relationship was probably bound to result in some weirdness.
I pushed the thoughts out of my head.
“Good morning. Were the rooms comfortable enough?” I asked the Cloudy Sword Sect contingent.
“A fine place to meditate for the night,” Elder Ge declared.
Elder Yukong nodded. “The scent of cedar is a good alternative to incense, and the Qi here is very gentle.”
Shou, meanwhile, seemed a bit confused by the question.
“They were fine enough to conduct my analysis in. The specimen you have is absolutely fascinating! I still don’t have any idea what it is!” the man said, sounding a bit distracted.
I just found it a bit funny that none of them had actually slept… but I guess most powerful cultivators didn’t.
“It's definitely a mystery,” I agreed. “Now, we normally all have breakfast at one big table, but if you wish, I can instead serve you in the greenhouse, if that's too crowded?”
Shou perked up at the mention of the greenhouse.
“Thank you for inviting us into your home,” Yukong said, preempting him. Shou blinked, and obviously reorientated himself at her interjection.
“Of course,” he said, coughing.
And that was how we got a bunch of cultivators at our breakfast table. It was a little bit awkward, as everyone made room for them, unsure of how to truly act… until a voice piped up.
Ever-fearless Tigu charged into the fray with a bright smile.
“I never got to say this yesterday, but the design on your robe is very beautiful!” Tigu declared. Her eyes were practically sparkling as she looked at Minyan’s robe. “Do the designs mean anything? Who made them? Where is the cloth from? It’s so floaty!”
The woman raised an eyebrow, and there was a brief pause. Her cold, icy gaze settled on Tigu, judging her. Then, her eyes roved round the table, and the awkward silence grew.
“Hmm. Like the Midships,” the woman said. “You’re quite lively. Do you enjoy art, child?”
“Yes! Your clothes are really neat! It's so different than what I’ve seen of most Imperial styles,” Tigu enthused. “But I see some things! Like these clouds. Did Soaring Heaven’s Isle invent them, and the rest of the Empire start using them?”
Minyan appeared taken aback by her enthusiasm, but her eyes warmed a bit.
“That is indeed the case. You’re quite canny to notice that our clouds were the originals. Which of the arts do you engage in?”
“Sculpture, mostly! And carving!” Tigu pulled off her bracer and presented it to Minyan.
The woman studied it with a practised eye.
“You’re fairly skilled,” Minyan said. She looked back up at Tigu preening at the compliment. “As for your questions. The design on this dress depicts the limitless sky. It was made by Honoured Luhua, one of the finest artisans of the Isle, six thousand years ago, and was a gift to me from my Master. The cloth was woven out of Flying Lotus Silk—a species of Spiritual Herb now long extinct.”
That seemed to break the ice. Gramps smiled at Tigu as she kept the conversation going, her honest and innocent interest cutting through Minyan’sicy cold.
“Young man,” Elder Ge began, getting Yun Ren’s attention. “That pane of recording crystal, what is its use?”
Yun Ren recovered quickly from the shock. “Well, it may not be able to record in motion, but…” he began, explaining what was basically his camera.
Yukong was talking to Huo Ten about the designs on his crystal pendants, looking intrigued at the monkey’s explanation… and even Shou was listening to Ri Zu, as she asked him a question about healing that was way out of my league. The man paused for a moment, but then launched into a deeply technical medical lecture that quite frankly went over my head, and had even Ri Zu and Meimei looking intimidated.
It was still a bit awkward. It was still a bit stilted.
But these Elders began to thaw just a little bit, conversing freely with those so infinitely far below them.
And then… Washy came out with the pancakes.Normally we would have had a more traditional meal, but hells, sometimes you just need something sweet in the morning.
“Ah, this one is my Grandson’s specialty!” Gramps said,a smirk on his face.
We had a selection: thick, fluffy cakes with pats of butter on top, ready to soak up the syrup. Thin crepes, ready to receive the jams, whipped cream, and fresh berries from the green house.
“How innovative—” Shou began, as he picked up a pancake. His eyes focused on it… and then he was rudely interrupted by two sounds of absolute pleasure.
Both Xiulan and Spooks flushed when everyone turned to look at them.
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We are officially back to 3 a week. Next chapter wednesday!
Edited by: BargleNawdleZouss,
Comments
Maria Klein
This is a great perspective! I didn’t think of it like that, thank you!
Harish
Honestly, nobody in this Age has any idea what walking the Path of Shennong truly means. Every cultivator just assumes that the Path involves enriching the Earth and dying like a mortal. True knowledge of the Path of Shennong lies with the Earth Spirits alone and going by what Tianlan understands, even they don't fully understand the Path either. On the other hand, Jin is truly walking the Path of Shennong, just like the original Divine Ancestor. What that might be, we'll find out when CF lets us find out. As for the CSS, nobody has a clue yet. Ge might but the Path of Shennong is usually the last possibility for any cultivator, never the first.
jord
I like to think they're making the exact same noises. Xuilan's foodgasms sounding like a moose in heat is gut busting.
Angel
Yes!!! I love that they’re finally getting a bit of that top tier medical learning, I’ve been waiting for that, especially for Meiling since she didn’t get direct training from the SMS, and had to learn it second hand from Rizzo.
matthew gilley
Oh yeah, I wonder how that is going....
matthew gilley
No need to belittle someone to defend someone else. We are all @CF fans here. 😊
matthew gilley
He is on the path of Shennong though. Just to a spirit the size of a Providence instead of a valley. He also rearranged the dragon veins to make him be able to draw on more power, but it is still very much the path of Shennong. He is mortal and will die. Despite his power, and the company he keeps, he has well and truly turned his back on cultivation.
Alex Ingraham
Less than 12 hours until my next fix! 🥳
Alex Ingraham
@CF ignore this ENK person. Their comment reveals their lack of both class and appreciation of the finer things in life. Keep doing your thing CF!
Ian Burns
And even these guys, though they may be affable enough and are significantly wiser than expected, are still the winners of a system that has steadily strip-mined the planet of anything rare and beautiful. And they're still practiced and casual killers whose range of responses to affronts includes 'spend a thousand years torturing someone.'
Ian Burns
He isn't quite. He's Path of Shennong Adjacent. But no, I don't think anyone but gramps knows.
Ian Burns
My guess is that its relation to those phoenix-named plants is why this is the Phoneix Empire. Jin is getting handed the title of Emperor and the power to go with it TWICE now, he just doesn't know it yet.
Ian Burns
Genetic manipulation and lifecrafting is something SOME Cultivators can do - usually in the form of bioweapons, granted - but Jin isn't one of them.
Idan tal
Not same power scale
Idan tal
We don’t know the origins of the plant, and Tianlan is only in this province so they would need the help of the other land spirits. But maybe it was precious enough that it was also spread around and not only harvested to extinction.
Idan tal
Purging the demons was pretty damn good “action”.. and it’s not just animosity towards the CSS, but to all of the classic “old power hungry monsters” that they need to get over with. And you see from the way these old masters act that usually people at their level are dangerously power hungry and that they can relax only at their own homes, so Jin place experience is unique for them in more ways then one.
Maria Klein
Does anyone know if the CSS know that Jin is on the path of shennong?
Maria Klein
I have a feeling that their interactions here, at least for the cloudy sword sect, will give them food for thought when it’s time for the elders to return. They are spending time with a guy that has given up on the path of cultivation yet has raised several spirit beast to a level of power that they have previously had to kill. They are getting first hand knowledge of a new way to teach AND they are seeing the words of the founders in his ways to boot.
Maria Klein
The best thing about this series is the lack of “action” The main character is the guy that wants to get away from all that “action” and just be a farmer. 🤨
Lanter
While Xiulan reacting like she's in Food Wars is 😅 at best, putting her next to Spooks doing the exact same thing makes it X2 funnier 🤣
Often Irrelephant
I like action too, but I think this story is about more than Jin swinging through through the trees from fight to fight. Jin's family's 'deep seated resentment' (https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/deep-seated-deep-seated-usage) is something that should take time to resolve. And I, for one, am here for the elder nerds geeking out and bonding with the youngsters - that way lies real progress.
matthew gilley
Do you think the elders are going to get to see the Crystal. I'd pay money to see their reaction when Jin responds to "will you be the emperor"
matthew gilley
What do you mean nothing? This is the big reveal! Jin, Our Jin, gave up cultivation Jin, is teaching 1000 year old experts stuff long classified as impossible. All while explaining it the same way you and I would show someone how to use a toaster! If you don't understand the world shaking revelations or implications happening here, you are looking at the wrong perspective. You may not be learning NEW Secrets, but you get to watch as the secrets crash upon the unsuspecting like a tsunami or a nuclear reaction. All while YOU KNOW. I feel I just watched Marie Curie just gave a tour of her lab and her safety precautions and i can see the cancer form in real time.
Synova Vitale
This whole chapter got me in the feels!! I love it!!
Ben
Loving the pacing rn, it feels like the breather that was much needed
Insertnamehereokokipressedokok
Pouty Meimei is cute. Elegant Xiulan making the same foodie noises as a moose is hilarious.
Menthewarp
The Warrior of the god of Justice For The Dead will always forge ahead first and best!
ENK
I gotta say, it's been 5-6 chapters now with nothing substantial happening. I get the whole "deep seeded resentment against Cloudy Sword" thing you're going for with Rou and Mei, but it's getting really boring having chapter after chapter be "they're not so bad after all". For the later edit, I'd seriously advice you to compress these chapters to half length and merge them. I understand the desire to have a lull after such an intensive end to the previous volume, but don't forget that the meeting over at the Magistrate's office, and the subsequent chapters about them purging the demons, cleaning up Fa Ram, Shrouded Moutain getting a new leader, etc, were also a post-battle lull.
Angela Roberts
Tigu leads the way!
Gray Code
@Duncan Morin - Jin's level is at very, very good selective breeding. He's not doing genetic bioengineering. Depending on exactly how the seeds work, there might be some still-viable seeds somewhere in the Empire, and I'd put that at far more plausible than recreating it from a sample of six-millennia-old processed clothing fibers, especially if they're not allowed to damage the sample.
N0ct3m
Huzzah!
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter. Great as always.
Duncan Morin
Recreate is more likely than somehow finding seeds for a long extinct plant species.
Some guy
Im pretty sure Shen Yu knows that Jin isn't trying to do that. I think he's just hoping for it to happen anyway when the land advances enough. And to be honest, it's not a bad theory.
Often Irrelephant
Ho-hum - nothing to see here but good food and our humble spirit herb shop. Maple syrup on the left as you exit; pancake recipe included with every jar!
Often Irrelephant
You're so right - Seiyu's head might explode.
Matt Grayson
Tianlan was around 6,000 years ago. She might know where some seeds are.
Old Dog
Makes me want to go make some right now.
Old Dog
More than like Bowu getting asked if he'd like to join the CSS as allowing mortals into the CSS was previously discussed by the elders.
Old Dog
Jin still needs coffee and hot chocolate to add to the morning repast.
Ligeia
CF edited that out already so your comment no longer makes sense.
Old Dog
I second this.
ABTelford
Great chapter! The comfort of home sprinkles with a little xianxia stuff.
Seiden Kyoukai
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thanks for the chapter! I can finally get by BoC fix!!!!!
Philip Hunt-Bull
Does Shou know about mortals managing to grow Spiritual Herbs yet?
TwoRavens
Re-create, probably not. Ask Tianlan to give him some seeds? Who knows?
Andrew Carter
Ahhhh the best way to start a day. Nothing goes better with bacon and eggs than a little BOC on the side.
Matt Grayson
Didn’t work out so well the last time someone tried that.
frankie doerr
Can Jin recreate the flying lotus
fruit dragon
Is 100% thinking about stealing tigu
StarkRG
Yeah, Shen Yu is blinded by his own path. Even in a normal human lifetime, people become entrenched in their own perspectives that they're practically psychologically incapable of seeing anyone else's point of view, or even understanding that there *are* other perspectives, imagine what *centuries* would do. I think he's starting to get it, though I don't think he realizes that he's starting to get it so would deny it if asked. I kind of wonder if the Path of Shenong *isn't* a dead end, but you have to embrace it being a dead end or it won't work. You can't even know that there is a route to ascension that way. You have to devote yourself *completely* to the concept and not attempt to back out like the other guy. And maybe it only works if there are enough people likewise devoting themselves to that path. What *is* clear, though, is that Jin doesn't care. He just wants to farm with his family. Everything else is a side quest.
Truedragon5374
And once again, Tigu breaks the ice like an ACME boulder. And moose that indecently loves maple syrup is just too perfectly Canadian.
WarStrider72
Xiulan: *foodgasm Minyan: The moan reminds me of one of our sect members
WarStrider72
As expected of Tigu! She broke the ice easily with Minyan!
MysticallMist
I like very much.
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
WindGunner
Increase in skill meant metaphorically. You reading to many litrpg.
Matt Grayson
Tianlan: “Long extinct plant? Challenge accepted!” And Chekhov’s Weird Root wins another round!
Buck
Good to be back on schedule. TFTC!
Kt-x
Thanks for the chapter! 😁
Timothy Dana
Lvl up?
Kasinki
HAHAHAHAH can't help the foodgasms 😂 thank you for the chapter!!
Red Viking
I hadn't made the connection between Spooks' and Xiulan's reactions XD
Harish
Jin has no plan to cultivate the land into a Heavenly Realm. He is happy to live a long life with his family and pass on at the end of things. Gramps believes Jin is trying to ASCEND the land. In reality, Jin has no such thoughts and Shen Yu believes this because of Jin's comment of making his own heaven (read: happy family, happy life. Shen Yu could it another way entirely.) But the comment did give Tianlan the idea of trying it out and she is currently exploring to see if ASCENSION OF THE LAND is a possible course.
Fullmetal
Short but sweet
Aki_Iokua18
Good on Tigu for disarming Minyan through pure curiosity and admiration. I do have to wonder if Xiulan has either accepted her Xiulan-ness tendencies when it comes to Jin’s food or what. Hopefully she and Seiyu can compare notes/noises.
Cindermoth
Meimei can be quite the demon
Tsorov
What we also know is that the path of Shenong doesn't lead to immortality. As far as I remember, the traditional path of Shenong can lead you high, make you strong, but surpassing the limits goes against this tenant. What the old man thinks Jin is doing, is cultivating the earth to immortality so Jin can follow. What we don't know is if that really is Jins plan or if he just let his Grampa in that believe to reassure him.
Anzer'ke
Meimei levelling up that healing skill in the background. Love it. She'll be a true Healing Sage in another arc or two at this rate. One taught by the Medicine God himself.
Hound
The holy foodgasms
Justin
Nice chapter for breaking back in!
NameGame
Pats of button on the pancakes? I've never patted a button specifically, but perhaps I'll give it a go. Probably not on a pancake, though.
Stuffed Duck
Krampouezhenn gwinizh du, Breton galette would be the right choice for that.
Cranky Otter
Life on Fa Ram is kinda laid back 🎶
Harish
That might not be surprising to them. Because of all the legends about Carps and Gates. Remember how Xiulan reacted to finding out about Wa Shi's transformation. The next biggest surprise might be Bowu's inventions when they get around to it. Seeing a mortal's comprehension of the world might actually give them incentive to allow mortals to apply for the CSS again.
Cranky Otter
Love how much Spooks is into Maple syrup enough to rival Xiulan’s foodgasms.
Geoffrey Sullivan
*Wait.* :D
StarkRG
Shou and Yukong should create a subsidiary sect (or partner sect) to the Cloudy Sword dedicated to research and crafting-based cultivation. It's clear that the fighting-based, "face the heavens alone" cultivation is pretty much the only kind most people know, with the Path of Shenong being derided, if it's remembered at all. We know that science produces the best results when information is shared freely, but the selfishness of traditional cultivation means that information is hoarded, handed down only to highly trusted disciples or traded, often for personal benefit. Development is, therefore, significantly stymied, to the benefit of demons and demonic cultivators.
Fidel Castro
"Fake it till you make it" nice implementation
asdo
hah, pancakes and crepes, Helltaker Jin spin off when? XD
Alex Ingraham
Meimei whining had me rolling 🤣
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
leopard eye
And pay him back a little for his growing knowledge.
Mark Greenberg
I thought that was going to be Minyan or Yukong's reaction to the syrup.
Dirk Gent Lee
I know they know that many spirit beasts have human forms but I can’t wait until they realize the dragon is also a fish
F0ZYWOLF
No Bi De morning ritual?
Harish
Damn. That's a thought that might work. Hell, Shou might see this as a way to deepen the connection with Jin.
Often Irrelephant
Xiulan making Xiulan noises...
Harish
Can somebody fast forward to wednesday? I really want to see their reaction to the standard life on Fa Ram.
Zeromaru2
The power of the pancakes are might indeed
Cam
TFTC!!
Zero Wrath
Haha love that ending
Daniel Mountain
Washy might soon be ready for savory crepes. Fill one with a deliciously thin omelette and whatever fresh greens one can sautée that morning.
Parker Maisterra
Xiulan and spooks being total foodies will always be adorable
leopard eye
I hope they ask Shou for help fixing Noodel's back injury—or, rather, ask him to teach them how to fix it.
PickledTink
---- fluffy cakes with pats of button on top ---- Breakfast of Tailors.
AG
What does “ pats of button on top” mean or is it supposed to be butter rather than button?
Xavier Harris
Yay! I was looking forward to the thrice weekly updates ! Also good chapter!
Enzo
Lively breakfast to start another beautiful morning 😁. Thanks for the chap!
Katharine Gould
Thanks for the chapter! And thak you for making my er trip better
BargleNawdleZouss
Pancakes w/maple syrup FTW. As always!
Deathlokke
TFTC!
