Druidic Cultivation | Fourteen

As the caravan of carriages pulled toward the front gates of the Crouching Grass Village Feng Jiao could see numerous families lined upon the walls. There were smiles upon every one of their faces as they awaited the return of their children and their results.

The carriages entered the village and pulled off to the side, toward the stables and coach yard. Stablehands ran out to assist with the undressing of the sethra, a scaled oxen-like animal that was docile enough to be tamed as a pack animal, and the children were finally allowed to dismount from their carriages. 

“Brother Jiao, walk with me?” Duan Cao asked cutely while pulling lightly at the edge of her sleeve. Over the last week, Duan Cao and Feng Jiao had become very good friends, going as far as sleeping in the same bed roll the last couple of nights and cultivating together during the day. So far, Aideen’s ritual of friendship seemed to be working pretty well and Feng Jiao found himself enjoying the process of making a friend more and more. How he would make friends with other males though, he didn't know. Some of the tips she’d given him were just too odd to do between two boys.

“Of course, let's go Lil Sis Cao.” Feng Jiao grabbed her hand and started leading the way toward town center. One might think that, after spending weeks away from home for the first time, children would rush home to greet their families. This, however, was not the case. Twice a year, upon return from the awakening ceremony, the returning children were required to gather in the town center before the village head. There, they would wait while the chaperone debriefed the village head on the trip and would only leave after dismissed. The only one’s exempt from the rule were those who’d failed to awaken their martial spirits. 

Feng Jiao and Duan Cao weaved their way through the streets with the other kids, hand in hand. It was almost like a stampede, nearly two hundred children running toward the town center as if they were racing. Adults lined the streets as well, passing out treats and snacks to the kids who were rushing by as was tradition. A few of them gave dirty looks to Feng Jiao and Duan Cao as they nudged by until they noticed that it was just two girls holding hands, or so they thought. Feng Jiao really didn’t understand why physical contact was such a taboo subject for these humans.

The streets within the town weren’t nearly as wide as the roads between cities were, only fitting a couple of horse-drawn carriages abreast rather than the sethra dragged one. Although, it had to be said, the streets within Willow Mountain City were also much larger than his hometown’s. Horses in this world still aligned, for the most part, with the size of his memories which made them easier for humans to ride. They were in no way, shape, or form, the best mount in this world though as there were massive birds and land-based beasts that travelled much faster, they were just the most affordable.

Thankfully, the Crouching Grass was not too big, and Feng Jiao found himself standing within the clearing for town center in no time. There was a stage set up upon one side of the clearing, blocking the street that led toward the village head’s manor, and a large well in the center of the clearing. The children, Feng Jiao and Duan Cao included, began forming up on the cobbles opposite the stage. The children continued to whisper amongst themselves but there was a charged tension as they awaited permission to go to their families. 

The sound of wood on stone rang through the clearing, bouncing off the various buildings and into the ears of the waiting children. The whispering dyed off as a carriage pulled around the bend and into view behind the stage. Two white horses pulled the carriage up to and then parallel with the stage before stopping, staring down at the crowd with their large eyes.

The door opened and four figures stepped out onto the stage, three men and a woman. Of those, the one that most of the children recognized right away was none other than Feng Zhipei, Feng Jiao’s father. Using that as a start, the rest of the children were able to figure out the identities of the other three on the stage with some amount of confidence.

The woman was older, well into her eighties, but carried with her a sense of youth and confidence. Considering the event and her company, everybody assumed that she was the village head, Feng Xiaoke. Feng Jiao, however, did not have to assume. He knew the woman as Granny Xiao and she was, indeed, the village’s leader. He’d seen her several times in his life growing up and respected the woman very much. 

Beside her were her two other sons, Feng Yaobei and Feng Aomen. Along with Feng Zhipei, the youngest of the three, all the village head’s children were present. Both Granny Xiaoke and Feng Jiao’s father were gleaming while Feng Jiao’s two uncles seemed to be scowling for no particular reason, at least none that most of the crowd present would know. Feng Jiao, of course, was able to make a few assumptions. After a quick look at the crowd, Granny Xiaoke stepped forward and began to speak.

“Good Morning, my little would-be-cultivators. My name is Feng Xiaoke, but most of you know me as Village Head Feng. I am here today to tell you how proud I am at all of you for brining face back to the Crouching Grass Village. Each one of you before me today will go far in life, see distant places and meet exotic people. You will love, you will learn, you will pain, and you will grow. This much I know to be true.

“I have with me a letter that was sent back with my little Zhi’er, a letter from a sect that expresses how impressed they were with this generation of Crouching Grass children. The God Tree Grove has explicitly expressed interest in sponsoring our Crouching Grass Village while we attempt to grow into a larger power. They sent with the letter numerous cultivation resources as well as a few martial techniques, and a message for you all. 

“They say ‘The Crouching Grass has reared many talents, all of which would be welcome in our Sect. Those who pledged to join the God Tree this ceremony have all made a wise decision, and the God Tree is ready to receive all these young saplings and help them grow.’ The letter goes on to invite all of those who are older than yourselves but have not officially joined a sect to defect to the God Tree after their martial ceremony. Those who do would receive a portion of the resources sent here today, and the resources they receive in sponsorship after their awakening would be reimbursed by the God Tree.

This is a good thing. Our Crouching Grass is entering a time of growth and trials, with a power like the God Tree helping to cultivate our youth we can only grow taller and stronger. On this note, I want to remind everybody present that they will soon be assigned a mentor. We will try to match each youngling with another child a few years older, of similar talent. On top of this, we will attempt to match one with someone who has pledged the same sect, as to help establish the bonds of friendship before you children leave home.

Finally, we will be having a feast tonight. Everyone present is invited to attend, along with parents and loved ones. Talk to your siblings who might have interest in switching their allegiance to the God Tree Grove and have them attend the feast as well. I will see all of you night, I hope. Dismissed.” The elderly lady finished speaking and allowed the children to go to their families. Like the tide returning to the sea, children began pouring out of the town center toward their homes, excited to talk to their parents about their success.

Almost every child had left the clearing, with the exception of two. Those two were, naturally, Feng Jiao and Duan Cao, who was still attached to Feng Jiao at the wrist. As the clearing finally emptied, Feng Jiao approached the stage where his family was still standing, excited to finally introduce his first friend to his father.

Feng Jiao and Duan Cao had spent a lot of time together on the week’s travel back, but he hadn’t had much time to speak to his father. Feng Zhipei kept himself busy during the entire trip back, tirelessly organizing and planning for the village’s future. Although his father wasn’t next in line for the village head position, due to the Feng Family Clan being largely matriarchal, he was still holding out hope that his wife would inherit the position since Granny Xiaoke had only borne sons into this world.

Naturally, his brothers contested his attempts to solidify the succession of the village. The two of them both craved the power and authority that came along with the position of family head, and therefore village head, but not for their wives. Each of them wanted the position for themselves and cared not about the matriarchal tradition, craving power and discarding all else. In Feng Jiao’s opinion, they’d make terrible leaders.

The two of them glared at Feng Jiao as he approached, confirming his earlier theory about their sour looks. The two of them had likely been told that he, Feng Jiao, had been the highlight of the awakening ceremony as well as the reason that the God Tree had proposed a sponsorship of the village. Feng Jiao’s accomplishments and glory were, after all, a credit to his father and mother. His success threatened their future plans.

“Jiao’er, you look as cute as ever. Who is this little missy? You’ve already decided on your wife, hmm?” Granny Xiaoke expertly intercepted Feng Jiao before he could reach his father, pinching his cheek and being cheeky at the same time. Duan Cao turned a shade of scarlet and weakly attempted to remove her hand from Feng Jiao’s. ‘Not likely! I won't let granny take away my new friend so easily.’

“Ow, ow, ow. Must you pinch me so every time Granny? This is my friend, Duan Cao, she will be joining the God Tree with me.” Feng Jiao expertly dodged the question of future wife as it was far too soon to begin picking marriage prospects. One needed to grow before they became a viable mate, although Feng Jiao thought he could do a lot worse than Duan Cao.

Granny Xiaoke seemed pleased enough with the answer and released her death hold on Feng Jiao’s cheek, finally allowing some feeling to return to his now throbbing face. She greeted Duan Cao who was suddenly a lot timider than Feng Jiao remembered her being and allowed him to introduce her to his father. His uncles stared over at the three of them as if they were attempting to bore a hole through Feng Jiao with their gazes alone. Finally, Feng Zhipei sent his son and friend on their way to speak to their other parents with a reminder to be at the banquet that night.

Feng Jiao walked Duan Cao to her home before reluctantly letting go of her hand. Aideen had told him that the longer and more frequently one held a girl’s hand, the more solid their friendship would become. Since Feng Jiao acknowledged Duan Cao as his first friend, he wanted that friendship to be as solid and permanent as possible, so he took every opportunity to hold her hand. 

Feng Jiao turned around only after she entered her residence and set his courses for home, excited to tell his mother and younger sisters all about his trip.