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72.67% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 234: Chapter Thirty Four - They boast about their descendants

Chapter 234: Chapter Thirty Four - They boast about their descendants

"Master Cygnus."

"General Ramas. There seems to be a lightness to your step this evening."

While butterflies flittered elsewhere, two silver haired men smiled at each other and made small talk, however although they appeared of similar age, there was actually a few decades between them. The much more stout of the two, for his figure resembled a plush ball unlike the robustness of the man with sun darkened skin, was actually some fifty years older. However, they both had experienced stagnation in their cultivation, although at different times, so the years had taken hold of them and lined them both. This similarity between them and joint wistfulness of fate had formed a bond of friendship that stretched now ten long years. Both also shared the hope of their dreams within their grandchildren now, their own offspring being ordinary. However, while General Ramas was the head of his family with shallow roots, Master Cygnus was born of a branch within the extensive and ancient Cygnus clan. He grew to head this branch family that had been dying away were it not for his tenth grandson and current hope.

The old man's name was Winter, but as he represented the clan within Cenapar city, others respectfully called him by the clan name.

General Ramas smiled brightly, even as he dismissed the compliment. "My wife invites new doctors all the time to create tonics for me. Perhaps this new bitter medicine is actually taking effect for a change. But I see that there is a sparkle in your eyes this night, perhaps you received good news?"

"Not so, not so," the old man was equally as dismissive, but allowed; "although this one's Grandson happened to return home to visit this New Year and it is always the delight of the elders to welcome home their descendants."

"This is true," General Ramas agreed. "It so happens my Grandson is also back for a visit."

"Is that so? Ah I recall that you mentioned that you allowed him to attend the Ascending Mountain Institute as a Martial Artist. May I assume he is progressing well then?"

"When will that stinky boy ever progress well?" General Ramas scowled even if that did not reach his cheerful eyes. "However, I bet that your Grandson is performing brilliantly as usual as a Mage at the Ascending Mountain Institute?"

"Not bad," the man stroked his impressively long beard that dressed his round stomach like a second scarf. "His talent is mediocre, only just managing to breakthrough to tertiary level a little less than a moon ago. His sea is now all over the place and so I let him remain home to rest." These depreciating words were only upon his tongue and clearly not in his heart as each one was filled with pride.

"Isn't he a little over twenty one? And you consider such talent mediocre," General Ramas snorted. "Should I remind you how long my sixth grandson lingered in primary level? More than ten years to break through to secondary! Were it not that he gained an attention of one of the Teachers, who took him as a direct student, I'd worry that it would be another ten years before he even approached the peak to enter tertiary stage!" His arms were crossed as if dissatisfied, but Master Cygnus heard the relief, the hope and the joy in his voice.

Both old men stood as if their grandchildren were the epitome of greatness, even as they berated them verbally. Naturally, others began to bemoan their grandsons and daughters just as happily as well. This one's granddaughter had only just finished reading ten books about medicine, this one's grandson had managed to enter the Imperial Academy by some luck considering his weak calligraphy and this one's grandchild had sold all the recent batch of wine brewed by his own recipe and hand and only saved him a single barrel of the highly in demand beverage.

"My youngest grandson is so unfilial, he'd rather cultivate than spend the time hunting spirit beasts with this old man," a gentleman groused from beside them and all had to take a second look.  This man had long black hair that reached to his knees even threaded high upon his head and through a simple crown that it was.  He wore a long midnight blue silk tunic with swords embroidered about the hem and ivory silk trousers tucked into long, black leather boots.  The belt about his waist shimmered like scales and jade beads dangled from it as well.  His silver eyes were shaped like Phoenix feathers, his skin was only a shade darker than milk and his lips were reddened by wine.  By no means should this 'youth' be a grandfather, but they couldn't doubt his words.  There were immortals amongst immortals.

The tall and rather stunning man had attracted many glances and contemplation, but suddenly warned, these old men felt the need to warn their wives not to look in his direction.  It was very unlikely that this man was here seeking a young bride, more than likely he was a special guest of Qinwang. 

He suddenly swaggered off towards the palisade outside, after glancing at his empty glass for a few moments and the old men sighed, before beginning another round of bragging.  Slowly, as the wine flowed, the depreciative words covering their pride were forgotten for more outrageous comparisons, each trying to one up the next.

"Ah so what if your granddaughter wrote a poem that impressed the Headmaster of the Imperial College," slurred one old man, "my granddaughter composed a piece of music upon the qin that impressed the princess consort's mother!"

"My Great Grandson has been accepted as a disciple of Teacher Dean, the most famous scholar of the Ascending Mountain Institute!  It's said his knowledge is no less that the Deputy Head Master of the Institute himself!"

"My Grandson has not only been accepted as a disciple of Teacher Quan Zhang, the immortal Mage from across the oceans.  He heads the Magic school of the Ascending Mountain Institute!"  This man was Master Cygnus' old rival and happened to be of a slightly smaller clan devoted to raising Mages amongst its children.  Master Cygnus had once hoped also to be a Mage of the Cygnus clan and had never gotten along with this Master Ibis of the Ibis clan.  Now their descendants had the fate to attend the same school and be pit against each other in their Elder's stead.

The two men's eyes met and illusionary lightning seemed spark between them.

"My Grandson's place in the Standings was some ten places above your Grandson," Master Cygnus decided to remind him, "if I recall correctly."

"But isn't your Grandson only a branch family member and so oppressed by the main house's young Di daughter?" The other man sneered. "At least my grandson is of the main bloodline, so all the resources are his to use. He naturally will exceed your Grandson in the future!"

The vein of the Cygnus old Master throbbed at the side of his temple. But before he could retaliate, a servant approached him and murmured in his ear. He took a deep breath that did little to expel the redness in his face. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he bowed slightly, though was slighted by the old Ibis Master who stepped aside insulting him by refusing to accept his departing gesture of respect. Winter Cygnus gritted his teeth and vowed for all to hear; "The Inter-School Exchange is not far from being upon them.  We'll see who has the last laugh then!"

"Ha, we shall!"  The old men flicked their long loose sleeves in each other's direction then turned on their heels and left abruptly. 

General Ramas looked gloomily at the crimson liquid in his glass; Sun had never spoken of these school events to him.  Unfilial child!  He must get an explanation at once!


Chapter 235: Chapter Thirty Five - She misses him, he misses school

Little servant girls looked demure as they poured tea for the ladies while little servant boys appeared tall and amicable as they poured wine for the men. The guests were very satisfied. One little servant girl bent at the knees as she presented a tray of little cakes and sweets to a group of girls before being jovially dismissed with the wave of a hand and a small pouch holding a silver coin passed by that girl's personal maid. The girl, who happened to have burnt umber coloured hair prettily braided and caught in a half bun upon her head turned to ask a question of the girl beside her.

"Are you also here to see Qinwang's sons?" She spoke behind her lace fan as if attempting to hide her blunt words.

Carmen huffed and glanced at that girl's colouring, admittedly jealous that the girl had such a wealth of rich hair, while hers seemed so dull in comparison.  Of course, there was no comparison between skin tone; Carmen's was like milk, this old Marquis granddaughter had to hide the ruddiness of her skin with pearl powder.  "I can't say that is not what my Grandmother might be thinking," she replied with some evasiveness.

The girls all nodded; they knew that Carmen was her Grandmother's favourite.  "They are quite handsome!" A girl with indigo curls sighed as did the others, causing Carmen to almost sneer in front of them.  Could they not be any less like sheep?

Her sultry eyes glanced over at each princeling in turn.  The older brother was much like his father, but virile in his youth with a pointed chin and narrow eyes.  Two sword shaped brows neatly finished his handsome face and his dark steel coloured hair was captured in an ornate silver crown.  He was very broad of shoulder.  The younger brother was known to take after his maternal family more, he was round of face, which was very youthful and his hair was like strands of spun gold held in a crown of the metal with the same name.  His height just about reached his brother's chin.

"They are alright," Carmen finally gave her response.  It was just that hair as black as coal was more appealing, a man who was tall and strong but not build like an impenetrable wall... ("I question your eyes," Sun would have said if he had access to his cousin's mind.)

The girls all looked at each other, enlightenment suddenly lifting their features and with a rustle of silk, they all took a seat about her with broad smiles upon their lips.  "Just which cad has attracted our Carmen's attentions?"

"Yes, yes," the Marquis granddaughter tugged her sleeve coquettishly, "is he here today?  Surely we should confront him!  How dare he steal our Carmen's heart and leave her so melancholy!"

The girls all giggled, but Carmen just smiled, coyly and allowed them to coax and please her for a while. Eventually, she gave them a little fodder for their thoughts. "His name is Jin Li."

More glances were exchanged and a girl with hair the colour of grape wine asked aloud; "Is that person of West Xulaphrey? He sounds such with that unusual name."

"I couldn't say," Carmen allowed, not admitting that actually she knew very little about the young man, not that she hadn't attempted to find out. But Sun's servants never showed any face to her maids when they inquired. "He attends that school that my sixth brother attends." Although they were cousins, as they had the same genealogy, it was natural to refer to him as such.

"Speaking of your sixth brother," said the girl with indigo hair, who happened to be related to a duke but not close enough to be considered for marriage amongst the purple. "He seems to have matured somewhat over this half year."

Carmen scowled using her fan to discreetly hide this from the Madams who happened to glance their way from time to time.  "How so?" She wanted to know what was going through this silly girl's mind.  They looked at her as if her eyes had no sight to see.  "What?  Do you look at the brothers in your family and think they have grown up during the time that you had not seen them?  Besides, what is half of a year?"

The girls looked sheepish; she had a point.

Sun shuddered as he felt too many eyes boring into him, like he was some object upon display.  "Are you alright, brother?" Mond asked him, lightly as he stood beside him, their grandfather having wandered off in some other direction.

"I... I'm fine, I think," Sun replied with slight hesitation, before pouting.  "Why was it that Grandmother insisted we attend tonight?  I feel as if I have been put out on display at auction as one of the lots!"

"At least you are not considered one of the most valuable items, little brother," Mond indicated the starry eye girls practically lining up to greet the second princeling with their parents.  The man's bright smile remained upon his lips, but his eyes seemed very weary.  Their Grandmother was not the sort to throw her granddaughters in front of men's eyes to try gain their attention, so neither she nor any of her granddaughters were amongst that crowd.  And with Grandfather remincising elsewhere, the elders in the room did not approach them as that was beneath their status and was inappropriate.

"You're the luckiest, brother," Sun was not resigned.  "You are already engaged; they won't look at you like some prize bull, ah!"

"Not entirely so," Mond denied.  The elders were not considering him and his future wife's family were not present at the affair this evening, but he'd felt a handful of burning stares regardless.  He then decided to tease, albeit clumsily, his little brother.  "So you want Grandmother to find you a wife, I should inform her."

"Don't you dare!" Sun leapt up at him and covered his mouth with his hands, attracting a fair bit of attention before realising he'd been played.  His face reddened brightly as he lowered his hands, his older brother apologising to him, even if he offered others stares of indifference.  "Brother!" He wailed softly after the crowds resumed to chatting and making uncomplimentary compliments with each other, letting them slip away unnoticed.

"What do you plan to do?" Mond asked with some curiousness.  He'd not the options that Sun currently had available, he was an ordinary person after all.  Marrying, having a young wife to return home to once he'd gained some merit in the army then raising children with her had never seemed a bad notion to him, however, so he was not jealous of Sun. 

Sun beamed as he answered; "I'm going to prove to everyone that a wind root is not lame!  Did you know, my Teacher Corvus has just a wind root, yet he's amazingly strong and fast!  Admittedly, he can be a bit weird sometimes and annoying, impulsive, doesn't think things through, likes to show off... a lot and he doesn't understand the concept of privacy at all, but he's taught me a cultivation method that is perfect for me as well as some techniques I didn't know were possible!  I get a cloudy Spiritual Pill every month, access to the medicinal baths everyday, the food isn't bad and no one looks down on me because I am short!  Well, some of the other first years did in the beginning, but those idiots alienated Jin Li because they were jealous, so that type of people aren't worth my time anyway!"

A small smile curled Mond's lips as he listened to Sun rattle on, uncaring that he had heard much of this before.  Sun began to once more embellish some of his adventures at the school, some including his Teacher, some including the young Master Jin Li and the alchemist boy, Leon.  As his brother spoke, he noticed from the corner of his eye someone pause in the shadows of the palisade, but as he turned about, there was no one to be seen.  So he simply dismissed it and returned his attention to his little brother, enjoying the renewed connection with him he'd thought some ten years lost.


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