CC6 -ch 15-

Fifteen

The One Emperor’s projection was handed over to a very flustered Locke.

She’d been somewhat beside herself due to the fact that she couldn’t contact him at all while he fought the monster. It’d been as if Ash hadn’t existed at all to her and there was nothing for her to reach out to.

He imagined it’d been a horrifying experience to her.

Unless he was sleeping, and really he suspected she watched his dreams, there was no time she couldn’t reach out to him. Even when she had been holding back his tribulation, she had heard him and been aware of him.

Which was all to say he wasn’t going to hold the current situation against her.

Plastered against his side, clutching to his arm, with is wedged into her chest as well, was Locke of all people. Her left hand was clutching his, and her right hand had what felt a lot like a death grip on his upper arm.

As they walked out of the darkened cave-works that’d been where the portal was buried, she had been unrelenting in her desire, if not demand, to hold onto him.

Rou was on his other side and had a hand on his back.

Behind him was Xiuying and Hui.

In front of him was Chunhua and Siu.

Walking at the front of the very close knit group was Tala and Moira. Their weapons out and ready for anything that made their way past the Brides and Knights that formed the front of the group.

No-one had taken Ash being wounded very well and more than a few were still unhappy.

More than a few were rightfully angry at him.

He wouldn’t change how he handled it though. After having fought the thing, he was positive anyone other than himself going up against it would’ve died.

The only reason he had been given the opportunities he had to fight back were entirely because of who he had presented himself as. That he was Lord Sheng, not Ashley Sheng.

Otherwise it was likely the One Emperor’s monster would’ve just killed him outright.

“Ah, sunlight,” Tala remarked as she slowly turned the corner to follow the group up and out of the cave. “I’ll be glad to see it once more. I’ll be glad to be back on our realm.

“Things made sense here and everywhere else we’ve been has been… strange… to me. My Cuddly Elegant Bunny Wife self wants a long holiday and lots of naps.”

“I agree,” Moira got out in a huff, throwing a sidelong glare at Ash. She was most certainly one of the people who was quite angry with him. “Naps and rest.”

“I’m all for naps and resting, but I’ll be honest… there’s things that are wrong with the realm,” Ash offered up for everyone. He could practically feel the heat being directed at him and that everyone wanted him to settle in for a vacation. “I can feel a great deal of resistance to our momentum here.

“If you think for a moment I’m going to let something like that exist than you clearly don’t know the man I’ve become. Because that’s not something I can leave alone.”

“Liu has reported often that she’s felt things moving in the background,” Locke added. “Like someone was plotting against Gen and the Langye Royal family.”

“Ah. Yes. That would make sense then,” stated Hui. “If they’re against Princess Ju and Elder Gen, than they are most certainly against the Sheng. We can’t allow that to remain as it is.”

“Oh, oh, oh, we can’t stay here either!” Xiuying chirped, patting at Ash’s back rapidly. “We’re too strong! We need to present ourselves to the mid-realms transfer.

“Does that mean we’re going to go see Sister Jia’s family?”

Ash rose his eyebrows as he thought about that.

Xiuying was right that they did need to attempt to report to the realm transfer point. That technically weren’t welcome in this realm as they were all considerably more powerful than those that should live and dwell here.

“Speaking of Jia, I’m pleased to report I believe I’ve finally gotten the rest of the plague out of the three of them,” added Rou as they continued to clearly walk upward. The sloping ground of the cave interior was most certainly guiding them toward and exit filled with sunlight. “We’re waiting to make sure but it’s just a precaution.

“They forced me to take drastic measures as they were more than a little angry at being away from Ash as long as they have been.

“I cut the path of Qi between their upper Dantian and Lower Dantian. It will heal in time and they will be fine.”

Uh, that sounds way worse than she makes it out to be.

Ash glanced at the very cuddly Locke at his side.

“It is, and isn’t. It was like having their spines pulled out and then being reinserted after giving it a good wash in some very bubbly acid. It’s not something I’d want to go through.

“She’s underselling how Jia, Mei, and Na were willing to take extreme measures though. The three of them were quite willing to be permanently crippled if need be to return to your side.

“After listening to her go through all the possibilities, and everything she tried, this is honestly the least problematic. It just… it just was extremely painful but that’s on them to handle as they wanted it.

“She’s only bringing this up now as their recovery is moving well. Jia, Mei, and Na, should be able to participate to a degree by the end of the day.

“Which is good since we’ll need to move onto the Bridal Sect and visit. It wouldn’t do for Jia, Mei, and Na to not be there with you. They’re the leaders of it, after all.”

Blinking, Ash had a train of thought jump tracks at what she’d said.

Reaching out he sorted through all the Bonds of Sheng to find Ying-Yue’s.

It felt dead, for some reason.

As if a barrier had been erected between himself and her.

Holding onto it, he realized it wasn’t just dead, but it’d been severed.

Somehow, someway, Ying-Yue had cast it off and connected it to something that was neither alive nor dead. Something more akin to a stone that’d hold the Bond mutely.

Unable to think more deeply about it, and genuinely not wanting to consider it, Ash simply cut the Bond and let it die.

Wherever Ying-Yue went, whatever she was doing, she didn’t want any part of Ash or his alliance. He hoped that it was something akin to needing space and not her going off the deep-end.

Because if he was being honest with himself there was always a part of her that seemed ready to snap. That her extreme nature left her on the razors edge of being able to break away and run screaming off to the hills.

Ahead, the exit loomed in front of them. It was an odd exit with an overhang of rock. It was also incredibly narrow and covered in trees and brush.

Knights were hacking away at the vegetation to make a path for them to get out.

Slowly, the group was able to push through and then exit.

When they did finally exit the cave Ash found himself staring onto an open area filled with grass, trees, and shrubs.

Staring out at it he found his mind telling him he knew where this was, but he couldn’t place it. The extreme sense of recognition was there and wouldn’t let go.

“Oh, we’re in the valley, Ash,” Moira blurted out and turned to look at him. Giving him a grand smile. “This is on the interior of the rock walls that surrounded it. I never realized there was a cave here. It was well covered from above.”

Once Moira said it Ash knew she was right.

Looking over the tops of trees and bushes he could faintly see the ruins where he’d found the ring and started this journey.

“It seems the One Emperor didn’t get far,” Ash murmured. “He put down the projection, sealed the way, and left the cave. Then set up in this valley only to let it fall down.

“Except as far as I can tell he didn’t die here. If he didn’t die here, where did he go?

“Why leave the ring here without even a clue as to what happened to him?”

“I’m not sure that’s something we’ll ever get the answer to, Darling,” Siu said with a heavy sigh. “Those who would be able to tell us are most certainly long gone, far from here, or dead. Even if they could speak of it, I don’t think they would.”

Ash let out a long breath at Siu’s words but he couldn’t find a fault in them.

She was most likely right.

“Well! This will be a perfect location for a new monument and fortress,” Siu said and turned to look to Ash. “Ashley dear, Darling, my love, would you please give this valley to me? I would very much like it.

“I want to move the portal ring to this position, reinforce it, and then turn it into a monument as well. After all, this is where it all started.”

She’d moved forward, put a hand to his chest, and laid her head down on his shoulder as she asked. Gazing up at him with a smile on her face.

She knew very well the effect she had on him.

“Of course,” he said but then laughed. “But I don’t own this valley. I have no idea who does.”

“I’ll just take it over,” Siu murmured, watching him from his shoulder. “If someone comes to claim ownership I’ll pay them a fair value for the land as it was when we arrived.

“For the Sheng though, this will be an important place.

“We’ve already relocated the portal in Ghast’s realm to the center of the fortress and where her seat of power is.

“The portal that is in the modern realm is in the middle of being relocated to the island. On top of that, Locke found the exit portal that we came out of in that realm. It was under the ground which is why we appeared on the mountain where we did. It’s also being relocated.

“In little under a week, we’ll have all the portals under our control, open, and ready for our people to transfer about.”

Well… the way will be open, I suppose.

Ash put his free arm around Siu and looked back out to the valley.

He suddenly wanted to go on a tour of all the places he’d come from and see them again.

“Oh me, oh my,” purred Siu, rubbing herself against him bodily.

Locke took a step inward, pushed in close to his front, and just about next to Siu.

“We need to set up portal protocol,” Locke whispered to Siu, the two partners staring at one another in front of Ash. To which Siu nodded her head.

A trip to my parents first, then the capital.

That’ll give Liu time to prepare whatever it is she wishes.

My parents come first though.

***

Having entered Xing city with only his inner circle, Ash felt rather odd.

While the city wasn’t running in the Sheng’s momentum, it wasn’t running against it, either. In fact it was moving in a way that supported it.

Which wasn’t that surprising when he noted the fact that there was a great number of city guards moving through the city. All of them employed by the governor of the city who was appointed by the royal family directly.

The Langye family was family to the Sheng and that was obvious to Ash and his Dao.

Ash turned and looked to a home he was passing by on his way to his parents home.

There was a number of Brides in the building and he got the impression they were watching the street. Monitoring it and keeping an eye on all those who were on it.

His belief was confirmed when he felt an extreme sense of awareness being directed at him as he continued along. Only for it to recoil and then flutter off.

“Goodness,” Siu said with a laugh. “They were so intent on policing the street to protect Mother Far and Father Duyi they didn’t even realize their Husband was here. I’m not sure if I should reward them or punish them.”

“Reward them, please,” Ash put in before anyone else could speak. He turned to look at Jia and then Mei.

Siu was the commander and leader of the Brides right now as Jia and Mei were still recovering their Qi-Sea and recovering. They would likely take control back in only a few weeks and he didn’t want this to be lost somewhere.

“I value my parents and I would value those who value them,” he stated.

Mei who was under his arm after having taken her normal place there only laughed.

“Don’t fret, my dear Ashley, my love. I have no doubt Siu is just trying to get a little rise out of you. To be fair, it’s fun to poke a bit,” Mei said with a warm laugh and then reached up to hold his hand as it rested against her neck. She squeezed it once and then let go. “I’m glad we’re back in the realm. Very glad.”

“Yes, it is quite good to be home,” Jia said followed by a laugh as well. She was immediately on Ash’s left. “It is very strange though. The pond as it were feels quite small anymore.”

“You’re not going to challenge him to a spar again and force him into it, are you Jia dear?” Mei asked teasingly.

“Oh heavens, Mei dear” Jia responded and sounded mortified. “Please do not remind me. I still cringe away often from that. Aaaahhh… please, no.”

More than a few people in their group laughed as they continued to walk down the road.

“I hope Mother and Father are in,” Na murmured. “Especially Mother Far. I wanted to tell her in person I was able to remake all the dishes she taught me.”

Ah.

Well.

That explains why it suddenly felt like I was eating Mother Far’s cooking when Na made food.

Can’t deny it was rather nice.

Locke laughed at his thought and then sighed.

One of the reasons she had finally given up on holding his arm is she had work to do.

Moving the portals around required a great deal of help from her. They weren’t things that could easily be shifted about and were being treated as if they were delicate.

That and she could managed it all while being unseen.

Xiuying was helping her with it by her own request and Ash wasn’t about to question that. Wherever Xiuying went was where she was needed.

“I regret my inability to cook. But I make up for it in other ways!”

You sure do, my sweet little house-wife, Locke Sheng.

Ash looked to the home that Mother Far and Father Duyi lived in.

The area and the homes around it looked just as it did in his memory.

A group of Brides were moving toward the house as well though Ash wasn’t sure where they’d come from. Dressed in normal clothes they looked like anyone that might be out and about but the feeling he got from them was unmistakable.

Ash could always determine who was and wasn’t a Bride almost as soon as he looked at them.

They all in turn stared at him with wide eyes as they slow walked toward his parents home.

“Sister Yan lives in the home next door now. She moved in after we left,” Siu reported, her fan slowly wafting back and forth in front o fher face. “We also purchased every home around theirs, up to three homes away, and make sure we only rent them out to those we feel would be positive neighbors to Mother and Father.”

Kinda weird that they keep calling them Mother and Father.

Is there something—

Mother Far and Father Duyi came around the corner from a nearby intersection. They were moving sedately, arm in arm, and seemed perfectly content in their own world.

Mother Far was a small woman who appeared to be in her late forties, with black hair and dark eyes. The vitality he had seen in her last time was even more present today.

Father Duyi dark hair was pulled behind his head in a fashion the mercantile class had been fond of. He looked quite fit and healthy with a good color in his face.

On seeing them, Ash was relieved that they were in such good health and that they were well. Now he only had to find Yan and make sure she herself was well.

Ash didn’t miss it when several Brides also not in uniform just happened to approach from the other side of the intersection and then stop at the corner. Facing one another they began to chat but Ash knew they were watching over his parents.

Two more Brides came out from the same street Far and Duyi had exited from. The two women slowly walking side by side in what looked like deep conversation.

Almost comically timed, three Brides in uniform rushed out of a sides-street near Far and Duyi.

The Brides heads turned toward the other brides as well as Far and Duyi as the ununiformed Brides’ heads snapped to the suddenly present uniformed Brides.

There was a single beat where they all stared at one another, then recognized one another. In the next moment they all reverted to their normal behavior.

It was strange to Ash.

“Oooh! Look at you. Hello dears, hello,” Mother Far said and patted her husbands arm only to break away from him and go straight up to the uniformed Brides. “Ahhhh, which of my daughters is this. You know I dislike those silly veils.”

Ash got the impression the Brides were here for him and this meeting was purely coincidental.

The squad of Brides in uniform quickly pulled their Weimao off their heads and let them hand behind on their backs.

“Ting, Qian, Ai, Zhi, Yu! My dears, hello, hello,” Far said with warmth and excitement. She laughed and then proceeded to hug each one of them. “How’re you all? Hm?”

Grinning, Ash now realized why they were calling her Mother Far. She was mothering the Brides as if they were all her daughter-in-laws.

To Mother Far he imagined they were all his wives and therefore her daughter-in-laws.

“Ai, look at you. You’ve done your makeup so well today. So pretty,” Far murmured and patted the young woman on the cheek. “You normally don’t care at all. ”

Father Duyi had long spotted Ash even as he stood there waiting for Mother Far. Looking between Ash and Far with a wide smile.

“Our Husband has returned to the realm,” said the woman that was apparently named Ai, bowing her head to Mother Far. “Only this morning, in fact. He has come straight here to see you and Father Duyi.”

Ai gestured to the side at Ash and his group who was still walking toward Mother Far and Father Duyi.

Far’s head quite literally snapped to the side and was immediately followed by her entire body.

Moving far faster than he had seen her move in a great deal of time, Mother Far rushed over to him and threw her arms around him.

Wailing loudly.

Standing there, Ash hugged his mother and gently patted her on the back.

“I’m home, mother. I’m home,” he murmured.

More and more Brides were coming out of the nearby homes and streets.

Some of them in uniform, others not.

It was quickly turning into a crowd.

Father Duyi had sedately walked up to him by this point and nodded his head slightly.

“Welcome home, son,” Father Duyi said warmly. “All is well here. My daughters-in-law have been most attentive in their care.”

Of course he noticed. He was in the guard too long not to have noticed.

“Your sister is currently out though she’ll be home in a few days. She went back with Ju Sheng and our grand-daughter. Very pretty grand-daughter you’ve given us by the way. I’m quite pleased and look forward to seeing them in the future,” Father Duyi continued with a chuckle even as Far just held to Ash and cried into his shoulder. “Ju is quite pretty as well, though I admit most of my daughters-in-law are.

“And speaking of… look at you Jia. You’ve become even more beautiful. Hard to believe we ever thought you were a boy.”

Duyi had walked up to Jia and was looking at her with a smile.

“Thank you, Father Duyi,” Jia said with a smile in return.

“Of course. Though, Mei… you seem more assured now,” Duyi said, looking to Mei.

Did he memorize all their names when we last saw them?

“I get the impression Father Duyi and Mother Far have made sure to memorize as many Brides as they could. Which of course makes the Brides rather gratified.

“To assume they would do any less for your inner-circle is silly.

“That and I kept sending them letters through Liu.

“I gave your parents all the information they could ever want and things you’d never want them to know. As well as who’s close to you, who you’re sleeping with, who’s likely to be pregnant before others, as well as everything they need to know as elders.

“Oopsie? Be sure to make me realize the error my ways?

“Tee hee?

“Damn I’m looking forward to when you get me alone and nake. I’m so bent for you right now that I swear I’m willing to fight Chu to the death just to get at you. Get at you and have you use me up.”

The last was said with such highly charged sexual energy that Ash felt like a lightning bolt had gone off through the Hall. One filled with the demands for pinning her to bed for a few hours.

That she didn’t feel like she was getting enough attention as of late and would get it from him one way or the other.

“Oh me, oh my,” murmured Siu, clearly having felt that. Either through Ash or Locke he wasn’t sure.