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64.9% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 209: Chapter Nine - Butterflies begin to circle Jin Li

Chapter 209: Chapter Nine - Butterflies begin to circle Jin Li

Looking at the slumped shoulders before him and so not used to seeing him so, Leon couldn't help but grasp Jin Li's sleeve in worry.  At school, Sun had always been an abundance of energy, often to the point of being exasperating, but it had almost always been a positive sort.  And now, that same quickly moving youth seemed drained, an air of gloom about his person.  Jin Li sighed as he saw the worry etched upon his lover's face and was of half a mind to kick Sun out of his funk and so he did.

"Ow!" Sun complained, rubbing his derrière and sending a glare behind him, though Jin Li's face of indifference made him question what he had just experienced.  In the rambling gardens in between palace courtyards, he didn't feel like he could be as uncouth as to ask Jin Li if he'd really just kicked him!  Mond paused beside his younger brother, a frown upon his face as he wondered what had happened.

Still, Jin Li's face revealed nothing and he even questioned Sun's reaction; "Well?"  Sun pouted, but said nothing, however before he could turn away, the other suddenly continued to speak.  "Just to remind you, you owe this one a sparring session."

"What?" It was Sun's turn to frown.  Since when did it become his roommate who pushed for such?  Their usual trips to the arena were all instigated by himself!

"Was it not yourself that invited this one to travel a distance from one's humble abode, all that you could attempt to impress me with the size and architecture your family home?" Jin Li questioned offhandedly and Leon attempted to hide a smile behind his sleeve.  Mond saw this and found himself somewhat enlightened and he too began to relax.  Sun took another moment, before shedding the grey clouds about him like a cloak and replying;

"Wait until you see the training grounds, Jin Li!" He grinned, cheerfully.  "Much better and well equipped than even the ones in the inner school!"

"We shall see," Jin Li replied, the corners of his lips curling upwards a tad.

Just as his name suggested, the wintery gardens suddenly felt warm as a more familiar Sun reappeared before them.  "Big brother, did I tell you that I made it into the inner school?" He asked, giddily of his brother.

"Indeed," Mond smiled, before glancing back at Jin Li and nodding his thanks.  Sun continued to babble on about some nonsensical things that had happened at the institute recently, while Leon sighed with relief. 

"You are too soft hearted," Jin Li murmured close to his ear, which proceeded to turn red as the warmth of his breath brushed against the sensitive lobes.

They entered a slightly more subdued garden with leafless cherry trees scattered here and there and the path leading in several directions.  This section of the palace could be said to belong to the Second family's courtyard properties in its midst.  Mond indicated that his and his brothers homes were nearby, if one took the paths down past the two largest trees, while their father's rooms were just up ahead.  Further still, they would come to a wall where the women, their mother and father's lone concubine of the inner palace resided and where their sister's formally resided.  He need not tell them that they were not welcome there.

Mond was about to bid them good partings, when a voice called out to them; "Well, well, if it isn't sixth brother Sun.  Hime had heard from Second Aunt that big brother Sun was due back soon.  Didn't think it would be today!"

"Oh that would have explained the prepared coach this morning," another female voice of a higher tone said softly, though clearly with intent to make trouble.

"That coach?  The one we used to make a trip into town?" The first girl questioned, before turning to Sun with a faux embarrassed expression.  "Is that so, Elara.  Oh, big brother Sun, do forgive us!  We were in a rush and didn't question it!"

Leon shuddered, as first impressions went, there really wasn't anything to say.  There were three girls in front of them and that was if a person didn't count their entourage.  All three girls had varying shades of brown hair, partially pinned into elaborate styles.  Powder decorated their faces and the sweet scent of perfume drifted into the air from their bodies, which were wrapped in bright silks and finished with gold jewellery.  The first girl had a round face and large brown eyes, the second was taller with high cheekbones and plush lips and the last girl, who had not spoken so far, was most abundant in feminine blossoms and her sultry eyes held a hint of dark intent that made Leon's blood run cold.

Mond frowned, he had wondered why Sun had appeared in a plain, travellers coach rather than one of their own.  His countenance turned cold and unforgiving. 

There were many little misses in their family and only a couple of Mond could consider virtuous and obedient, both happened to be shu born girls.  And there was Dia, but that girl was a law on to herself; running away and joining the army.  She had always been more interested in Martial Arts than make up and Grandfather had indulged her so...  these girl-cousins before him, Mond had no time for at all.

"What are you girls doing here," he said, coldly.  These unmarried girls all resided in other parts of the palace and in inner residences.  There was no reason for them to be walking through the Second Family's gardens.

The girl who called herself Hime piped up; "Ah, we had just met with Second Aunty."

"That's right," the second girl, Elara, confirmed, "Fifth sister came to visit."  Fifth sister happened to be one of Sun's older sisters of which there were three, one di and two shu.  Fifth Sister, Lunisa, had been married out two years ago to a man, who was a cousin to one of the Eastern Kings.  Despite his family being of a distant branch, Lunisa was surrounded by a wealth of things and often brought jewellery and valuables back with her when she came to visit.  So really it was no surprise that the girls rushed over once they had heard she was in residence.

"Then you should quickly return," Mond insisted and indicated to Sun that they should also move on.

It was then the silent girl chose to speak.  "Are you not going to introduce us?" Her voice was like liquid velvet, seductive and warm, but her eyes were like arrows focused upon their target, unwavering and filled with interest.  Without waiting for Sun's answer she stepped forward and introduced herself; "My name is Carmen and you are?"

The tall, striking man before her glanced down, his dark eyes were like two jet black gems frozen in ice and she shivered involuntarily, but if anything, it reinforced her resolve.  The man sneered and looked towards Sun.  "This place is so noisy," he complained.

Sun grinned and replied; "Yes, it can be at times.  Let's go to my courtyard, it'll be quieter there."  He did not hide the obvious smirk upon his face as he gauged his cousin's reactions. 

"Lead the way," Jin Li demanded and gave Leon no time to hesitate, pushing him that he should follow Sun.  He knew that his lover was likely already worrying over their rude actions towards Sun's kin.

Mond also gave his cousins no face.  His family was not one to hide their daughters from the world nor suppress their ability to learn and think, but there were still rules of etiquette to be followed and he felt that these girls had broken one too many too many times.  He walked in the direction of his own courtyard and decided to have a servant inform his grandmother about their behaviour later, less ill rumours begin to stir and do his little brother and his friends harm.


Chapter 210: Chapter Ten - I don’t understand these complicated relationships

General Ramas had been born of a declining family, one that had titles, but lacked money for various reasons.  The man had been a di born son, but born to his old father's third wife and was named his seventeenth son amongst brothers and paternal cousins so his importance was almost as lacking as a few of his shu born brothers.  Just as with the previous two wives, the family bled this wife's dowry dry and began seeking other money to fund their spend-thrift ways; selling off daughters as concubines, taking new ladies from merchant families as brides... it was all quite disgusting and the boy, who'd been seventh born awoke his inner root in anger.

A child who could cultivate would seem as a treasure in most families, more so in a greedy one like this.  But immortal sects would have a child cut off their relations from the past in order to focus on cultivating, this family desired his life blood to make their lives more comfortable.  The seventeenth son was intelligent and had others suggest that they enrol him in the army to learn the ways of a soldier.  He'd learn to cultivate and be paid a soldier's wage.  It was a pittance, but they would not need to give him money to live and could press on filial duty to have him send any treasure or access funds back to them.  And so, the child grew up mostly in the confines of the first King's army, rising through the ranks through battle and blood.

He returned home a seasoned officer, that while not high ranking, had decorations of merit all earned by himself and not through family links.  The family were happy, wanting to leech, suggesting brides from wealthy, even noble families who would be quite happy to wed a warrior such as himself.  He sneered at their ridiculousness; who didn't know their ways by now?  He only came for his mother's bones and mourning tablet, for she had met her death when he'd been deep in campaign and was unable to investigate the circumstances before they buried her.  Not being able to save her was his deepest regret. 

The First King had granted him one request and he had only asked to be able to separated from the parasitic family and form his own branch.  The King had hesitated, for he believed deeply in filial duty, but he was not unaware of his soldier's family history and so he agreed to it, only stipulating that he would have to send to the main branch some silver each year as filial reparation.  After renting a courtyard on the outskirts of the First Capital, the man had returned to fight for his King. 

It was many years before he'd been decorated as a general and many years as he built his King's forces, before declaring independence from the kingdom for political reasons and moving to Cenapar, forming his own mercenary forces and his own family.  He married a genteel woman from an official's family, a third born daughter, hoping to instil the manners and understandings of such into his own children, that their opportunities in life be better than his own.  During this time, he'd broached the bottleneck of Core Formation and failed to step through it.  None of his sons nor daughters were born with inner roots, nothing to awaken and so he'd placed all his hopes on the next generation.  But one grandchild after the other...

Sun was not the first born with roots, he was actually the fourth.  The first two had tertiary roots, waste roots, the third had his root accidentally destroyed when an awakening was attempted and later died to pneumonia one winter.  This was unforeseen and he was mourned.  And then Sun was born...

"Currently," Sun concluded over tea, "Eldest Uncle has one Di son and one Di daughter, Dia.  Dia ran off to join the First King's army rather than marry the man First Aunt picked for her.  My father was second born and is an officer in the General's army.  Third Uncle... he is the father of cousin Elara and cousin Hime, two of those girls and plus my shu cousin, Sky, who awoke a Fire root and is now Grandfather's hope.  Even though he is not their full brother, they became more open in their conceit.  He's been adopted by Third Aunt to improve his status too.  Fourth Uncle only has daughters, but that's not from want of trying.  I think his ninth daughter was born just a few months ago.  And Fifth Uncle only has Carmine, her mother died in child birth and she was raised by my grandmother.  Fifth Uncle never remarried nor took in concubines, so she has no competition in the fifth branch.  She's a bit... two-faced.  She has three roots, a minor root and two body roots, making it difficult for her to cultivate well.  That... and she doesn't like to cultivate much."

"And?" Jin Li's expression was less than impressed by Sun's family matters.  "When will the tea be finished?"

"D-done!" Leon smiled, triumphantly and placed the honey coloured beverage before Jin Li with a slight flourish.  A look of amusement flickered over the Martial artists features and Leon blushed with embarrassment.  He attempted to retreat but was captured by the wrist and tugged into Jin Li's lap.  As his waist was captured, Leon could only hide shyly against the other's chest.  "This is sp-spring orchid leaf and sunset n-nettle t-tea, m-meant to help ch-ch-ch... see away fatigue and r-refresh the b-body."

Medicinal tea was a fairly new thing to Leon, but he caught on quite well to the concept. Also, the tea was much less potent than Medicinal Cuisine or Medicinal Wine, so though the benefits were less impressive, the teas could also benefit non-Cultivators. There would also be hardly any side-effects if the brew was not produced correctly, just would not provide anything of value either. As the teas required precise amounts of herb to water, Leon had also pre-measured some of the herbs carefully and placed them in labelled jade bottles before they had left, in order to make Jin Li's favourite teas at anytime.

Jin Li's black eyes which often reflected the abyss in cold and darkness, had softened to resemble warm velvet and although he was tempted to whisk Leon away to show his appreciation in a more physical sense, he held in the impulse and elegantly picked up the tea cup in order to taste the beverage. It was slightly bitter with an aftertaste of sweetness and infused his stomach with a feeling of refreshment. "It is well made," he complimented, before biting the lips that curved into a smile before him. They were just too inviting!

Sun coughed and glanced away. "Um... my grandmother is a bit... forceful and straightforward. Her mind is very hard set, inflexible. If she says things... anyway, she won't go against grandfather and he's accepted you. I'll sound her out during morning greetings."

"Your family is q-quite large," Leon said, more as he couldn't really think of a compliment. It was fine for Sun to complain about the unpleasant sides of his relatives, but just too rude for an outsider to say things. In his heart, though, with perhaps the exception of Sun's older brother and grandfather, he really had no good impressions of Sun's family so far.

"Young Master..." as a son of a prestigious family, Sun had a few servants, mostly males as he had driven off any potential tong fang a couple of years ago as he had found them quite irritating... but this older woman was not one of his people. She bowed politely, her eyes having already scanned over the two youths sitting with her employer's offspring with calculating eyes. "Young Master, Second Madam asked this servant to bring you to see her."

Sun's expression was a little complicated. "We'll be summoned for the family meal soon, won't I see mother then? Mother is always in such a hurry for things." He fidgeted in his seat as he glanced over at his friends. After the three of them had arrived at Sun's humble courtyard (which was much less humble than Leon's own, honestly, the study was the size of Leon's main room by itself!), the servants had provided them with hot water and towels in order to freshen up and they had changed out of their dusty clothes into something new, before sitting in the courtyard and enjoying the only slightly bitter air.

Leon caught the frown on the older woman's face, clearly disapproving and nudged at Jin Li. The other just rolled his eyes and said; "My mother's last summon was in order to test my sword skills. I lost. She did not go easy on me at all." Leon was out of his depth in such complicated family situations and had hoped Jin Li could provide the answer, but clearly such was wishful thinking.

He thought of his own mother, who would sometimes sit with him at dinner, even when she'd eaten free at work, just to keep him company. A twinge of discomfort settled in his stomach. That had been the mother of his last life, not this one. He would never see the woman who painstakingly raised him by herself again no matter how much he missed her. He didn't know the relationship between Sun and his mother, but he knew if it were him, he'd want to accompany her if he could. "M-maybe," Leon murmured, "since d-dinner is shortly, Sun c-could accompany her t-to where we will eat?"

"Yeah, I suppose," Sun sighed and rose to his feet, before instructing one of his men to guide Jin Li and Leon to the hall in half of an hour. His mother's servant's eyes softened and without knowing it, Leon had gained her approval.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Ebonsolaris Ebonsolaris

Author’s note; seeing as it’s the 29th of February of the leap year, let’s leap forward with this extra chapter! (I know, really bad pun.)

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