I forgot to say in the last chapter, that the scene with Li Fanghua was meant like a “bonus” or “extra” scene, like a mini crossover with a story that does not exist beyond its summary and my haphazard notes... 🙈

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In the quiet room, Lin Yijun envisioned the words he could say to Zhou Sheng.

He had to think about how he felt about Zhou Sheng’s demonic cultivation, how he could explain his own actions, and how to apologise.

All those times that Zhou Sheng came to him, trusting him to help...why hadn’t he seen that Zhou Sheng had tried? He regretted it, so, so much.

His heart ached. He wanted to see Zhou Sheng again...

Lin Yijun had another dumpling, but he couldn’t eat any more. He closed the food box and placed it into his spatial storage.

His eyes wandered to the sleeping form of Disciple Wen. The angle of the sunlight had become steeper as the sun moved across the sky.

The qi in the air ebbed and flowed like waves across the sea and the sand. A lot of that qi was absorbed, especially the qi coming from the sunlight.

Was Wen Zhihao truly sleeping, or was he cultivating with bad form? One was never meant to fall asleep during meditative cultivation.

Lin Yijun’s eyes started to grow heavy. He caught himself and sat up straight and with good posture. With a deep breath, he dispelled the sleepiness.

“Disciple Wen.”

Wen Zhihao did not move.

“Disciple Wen,” Lin Yijun repeated louder. “Disciple Wen, not everyone has time to sleep.”

“A...ah?” Wen Zhihao closed his drooling mouth and blinked dazedly at the other cultivator. Oh yeah, they were supposed to be in the middle of kitten dog therapy! He rubbed his bleary eyes. “Is there something the matter, Lin-shixiong?” he asked with a yawn.

“I must get going. Look after the demonic wolf.” Lin Yijun nudged the beast still sleeping across his lap.

The wolf gave a grumble of discontent as she rolled over onto the mats. Freed, his lap colder, Lin Yijun stood up.

Wen Zhihao shifted his bones and stood up too. He took out a fairly symmetric and pleasing-looking calming stone and gave that to Lin Yijun.

“Have this, Zhou Sheng also has one too.”

Lin Yijun accepted it. “Good day, Disciple Wen.”

“Take care of yourself, Lin-shixiong.”

Lin Yijun left first, while Wen Zhihao looked at the dog still flopped on the floor.

“I have to go and pick up the children now. Should I take you back to Huang Jialing?”

The wolf’s ears perked up. She immediately got up on her feet. “Awoof!” Go with you!

“I’ll have to ask Huang Jialing…”

“Woof woof!” No need, I can decide for myself! Go with you!

Wen Zhihao didn’t understand, so he took the dog and went to see Huang Jialing.

Huang Jialing waved a hand at him. “She can do whatever she wants until Cultivator Tan comes back.”

The wolf gleefully tackled Wen Zhihao, making Wen Zhihao carry it like a giant baby. “Woof!”

That afternoon, a very happy wolf rolled around and played with the human children, while Wen Zhihao relaxed and occasionally wrote some talismans.

 

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The next day, the children didn’t have any school. So on that morning, instead of sitting inside listening to an old scholar, they and their Uncle and Little Uncle could all be found at Senior Cultivator Liu Zhongmin’s training courtyard.

At the center of the courtyard, Liu Zhongmin and some of her disciples, including Sun Fuyu, were practising new forms. Swords glinted and sliced through the air.

On the side, Wen Zhihao sat and admired the handsome Sun Fuyu. The way his hair flowed and his robes fluttered was very aesthetic.

The children sat down in a row on either side of him, hands holding up their little faces as they watched too.

“Little Uncle is awesome,” Ruan Lanxi said, her eyes sparkling.

“En,” came the little chorus of agreement.

“Uncle, can you use a sword too?” Ah-Yi asked.

“Nope,” Wen Zhihao said without a drop of embarrassment. “Different people are suited to different activities.”

The children nodded wisely.

The training in the courtyard halted for a noon break. Sun Fuyu put his sword away and came over. “Not playing with the cats?” he asked.

“Little Uncle is awesome.” Ruan Lanxi told him earnestly. She jumped to her feet, holding an imaginary sword. “Swish! Woosh!”

Laughter made Ruan Lanxi stop and turn red with embarrassment. It was from Liu Zhongmin, strolling over.

Liu Zhongmin smiled warmly at the little Ruan Lanxi. “You’re all old enough to begin meditative and martial cultivation,” she said thoughtfully.

The children’s eyes widened.

Liu Zhongmin barely restrained her urge to pinch their little cheeks. “On this day of the week, Disciple Wen and Disciple Sun usually have their own business, am I correct? Why don’t I look after these children today? I and my other disciples would love to teach them. And not just them, but the other mortals too.”

Sun Fuyu’s cheeks reddened slightly in shyness. His shifu knew that he had weekly dates with Wen-ge….

Wen Zhihao turned to the children. “Well, do you want Senior Cultivator Liu to teach you? Uncle and Little Uncle would be back by bedtime.”

Xiao Bai was hesitant, but the other children, especially Ruan Lanxi, nodded their heads, their eyes shining.

“Xiao Bai will be with us!” Ah-Yi added in a warm voice.

“En.” Xiao Bai finally nodded too.

“Thank you very much for your offer, Senior Liu,” Wen Zhihao said. “I’ll take them to lunch first, and then we’ll be back.”

“Take your time, I’ll be waiting here,” Liu Zhongmin said warmly.

Liu Zhongmin waved them off and then turned around.

The hour or so that they had lunch would give Liu Zhongmin to find her recently-returned Elder Liu Ru, and show her how cute the children were. If she couldn’t adopt Sun Fuyu, surely she could adopt one of the others, right? Hmm, she should practice some pleading looks in front of a mirror before looking for her wife…

 

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After handing the little ones and bigger ones over to Liu Zhongmin’s care, Wen Zhihao and Sun Fuyu held each other’s hands and strolled through the sect. Today, they decided not to go anywhere fancy. They simply walked out of the Sect and into the surrounding forest.

With the autumn, some of the trees had turned golden. Sunlight made its way through the increased gaps in the tree cover, and the forest canopy rippled with green and fire-like leaves.

“Wait, Xiao Yu.” Wen Zhihao squatted down to the ground, still holding Sun Fuyu’s hand. He picked a nice shiny rock from the ground with his free hand and transferred it to one of his spatial rings.

The corners of Sun Fuyu’s lips curled up at his ge’s behaviour. “Wen-ge, isn’t there a patch of late-growing chrysanthemums nearby?” He tugged his ge’s hand.

Wen Zhihao nodded, standing up again. He was happy for Sun Fuyu to lead him.

They hadn’t reached their destination when Sun Fuyu tensed. He turned his head and looked behind them, his eyes narrowing.

“Ah?” Wen Zhihao also looked back.

With a light thump, Lin Yijun jumped off his flying sword. The sword flew neatly to his side. “Disciple Wen. Disciple Sun.”

Lin Yijun grimaced slightly at Sun Fuyu, but on this matter, he really couldn’t wait any longer. The thoughts had started to go round and round in a frustrating way again...and the only person he could think to talk to was Wen Zhihao. “Disciple Wen, a word in private?”

Sun Fuyu’s jaw tightened. Wen-ge and I have barely spent some time alone! At least the children are sweet when they interrupt, but Senior Lin Yijun is not! He tightened his hold of Wen-ge’s hand.

 

 

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Fanart time ❤️

Zhou Sheng and Lin Yijun by Benomora!