MARD Chapter 26 After the Storm (Patreon)

The gentle hum of the World Marble filled the air. The eternal daylight shone down, casting a soft glow over the open meadow where the group had chosen to rest. The faint scent of blooming flowers mixed with the crisp air as the sound of running water echoed from the nearby stream.

Issei sat with his back against a tree, his torso wrapped tightly in bandages. His coat was folded beside him, and his upper body bore bruises and scratches, souvenirs from his clash with Mayor Shuren. His left arm rested in a sling that Mei had made from spare cloth.

Beside him, Wu Ying sat cross-legged, her body also bandaged. She leaned slightly forward, staring at him with that mischievous smirk that always meant trouble.

“So…” She began, her tone dripping with mock admiration. “The almighty Red Dragon Emperor finally shows us his secret move. What was it again? ‘Dragon Shot’? Really?”

Issei groaned. “Can we not make fun of the name? I was kind of dying at the time, you know.”

Wu Ying laughed, flicking a small pebble in his direction. “Oh, I’m not making fun of it. I’m impressed! I mean, you vaporized the mayor and part of the forest.”

He smirked weakly. “Glad my near-death experience was entertaining.”

From a few steps away, Wu Lan knelt by a low fire, stirring a small pot of herbal broth. “You should take it as a compliment,” She said calmly, glancing at him. “Wu Ying usually doesn’t praise you so easily.”

Wu Ying blinked, then huffed. “Hey, I was being serious.”

Wu Xiao, lounging nearby with her arms behind her head, snickered. “I know you were, big sis. I saw your face when he fired that beam, you were so surprised.”

“Was not!” Wu Ying shot back, her cheeks flushing faintly.

“Was too!”

“Keep talking, Xiao, and I’ll wrap you in more bandages next.”

The younger sister stuck out her tongue. “Mean~”

Mei, seated on a flat rock a few feet away, giggled softly. She was also covered in light bandages, though her qi aura was calm and steady, a sign she had recovered faster than the others probably because of her higher cultivation. “It’s nice seeing everyone like this again, laughing instead of fighting.” She said with a small smile.

Issei nodded, exhaling. “Yeah… feels strange, doesn’t it? Almost peaceful.”

“Almost,” Wu Lan said, setting bowls of broth in front of them. “But not quite. You all still look like you’re about to fall asleep mid-sentence.”

“Because I might.” Issei accepted his bowl with a grin, the steam warming his face. “Thanks, Lan.”

“Eat,” she said simply. “You need the energy.”

The group ate quietly for a few minutes, savoring the rare calm.

Then Wu Xiao, ever the troublemaker, broke the silence. “So, are we gonna talk about that?” She said, pointing toward the large pile behind them.

Everyone turned to the glittering mound of weapons, scrolls, coins, and pills lay stacked near the tent, everything they had looted from the mayor’s estate. Blades gleamed, golden coins spilled across the grass, and even a few dusty books poked out from the pile.

Wu Ying grinned proudly. “Our spoils of victory.”

Wu Lan sighed. “Our evidence of questionable moral conduct.”

“Evidence? Please,” Wu Ying said. “He’s dead and deserves it for messing with us. We earned it.”

Mei frowned softly. “I still think we took too much…”

Wu Xiao shrugged. “Finders keepers!”

Issei chuckled, resting his head back against the tree. “We really raided the whole place, huh?”

Wu Ying smirked, flicking her braid over her shoulder. “Hey, I’m not wasting a perfectly good villain’s hoard. Besides—” She leaned closer, voice dropping into a teasing whisper. “One of those scrolls has your name on it.”

Issei blinked. “My name?”

She grinned wider. “Well… it doesn’t literally say ‘Issei,’ but it screams ‘reckless fool who blasts people through walls.’”

Wu Lan rolled her eyes. “You mean the offensive qi technique manual you snatched from the mayor’s study.”

“Exactly,” Wu Ying said proudly. “I figured it would suit us.”

Issei raised an eyebrow. “Do I even get a say in this?”

“Nope.”

Wu Xiao laughed so hard she nearly dropped her bowl. “You’re doomed, big bro.”

Despite himself, Issei smiled, letting their voices wash over him. The warmth of the fire, the smell of food, the faint rustling of leaves, it all felt like something he hadn’t realized he missed until now.

—---------------------------------

After everyone had eaten, Wu Lan stood up, brushed off her hands, and turned toward the glittering pile of loot beside their campfire.

“Alright,” she said, her practical tone cutting through the lingering laughter, “before anyone gets too comfortable, I’m going to sort through this before it drives me crazy.”

Wu Ying groaned, already lying back on the grass. “You’re unbelievable. We just survived a near-death battle, and your first thought is organizing the treasure?”

Wu Lan shot her a flat look. “Yes. Because someone has to make sure you don’t sell half of it for candy.”

Wu Xiao gasped dramatically. “I would never! ...Probably.”

Issei chuckled from his spot against the tree. “Better let her do it, Ying. I’m too tired to help.”

The group agreed as Wu Lan knelt by the pile and started dividing it into neat rows. Her eyes were sharp, methodical, hands moving with the kind of quiet discipline that came naturally to her.

“Most of these weapons aren’t worth keeping,” she murmured, testing the edge of a sword before setting it aside. “Most are ordinary or from First to Third-stage fighters’ gear, nothing worth mentioning. But…” she paused, pulling out three weapons wrapped in fine cloth, “these belonged to the Fourth-Stage mercenary. Good steel and worth taking.”

Wu Ying tilted her head from where she lounged. “Keep them. They’ll fetch a good price or make decent backups.”

“Agreed,” Wu Lan said simply.

She continued working, sorting through the smaller piles. “The coins are mostly silvers and a few golds. I’ve separated them evenly, five bags, one for each of us.” She tied the last one neatly with string and set them in a row. 

Next came the miscellaneous supplies. Wu Lan inspected a stack of tools, jars, and bundled herbs. “Several pots, pans, cooking utensils, and needles. Nothing special, but useful. I took these straight from the kitchen before we left.”

Issei raised a brow. “You stole kitchenware?”

She looked up at him without shame. “I call it securing provisions.”

Wu Xiao whispered to Mei, “That’s Lan-speak for ‘yes.’”

Wu Lan ignored her and began stacking books and scrolls in front of her. “Now, these are the real finds.”

The campfire reflected off the covers of several old tomes and rolled parchments. “We recovered a few books filled with detailed food recipes, I’m keeping that.”

Wu Ying smiled lazily. “Of course you are.”

“There’s also a map of the Sky Blue Empire, finally, something useful for navigation,” Wu Lan continued, her voice turning a bit lighter. “This will give us directions to the capital.”

Issei leaned forward a bit, curiosity flickering in his tired eyes. “Good. We’ll need that if we’re heading deeper in.”

“There’s more,” she went on. “ Several talismans of questionable content. Multiple pills of various effects. A few Beastology and Herbology texts, books on talismans, pills and medicine, which we’ll study later and several smaller maps marked with X’s. Likely places the mayor was interested in, or where his family hid assets.”

Wu Ying’s smirk returned. “Treasure maps, huh? Guess the old man really was greedy.”

Wu Lan nodded once. “And finally, the real reason for why we stole from the estate.” She held up three distinct scrolls, the parchment glowing faintly under the World Marble’s eternal sunlight.

The group gathered a little closer.

“Three martial skills,” Wu Lan said. “Crushing Pulse, the offensive technique we saw him and his family use. Quick Step, a movement skill, probably what the mayor used to keep up with us. And Steadfast Will, a defensive skill that enhances resistance to pain.”

Wu Ying’s eyes lit up. “Those three alone could raise our entire team’s fighting level.”

Issei gave a small grin. “And you said looting was wrong.”

Wu Lan shot him a look but didn’t argue. She rolled the scrolls carefully and placed them atop the neat stacks. “That’s everything sorted. We can divide study time for the manuals once we’ve recovered.”

She finally stood, stretching her back with a quiet sigh. The group headed to the Wu sisters' small house and started to lay down. “Alright. That’s done. Everyone, let's get some sleep. We’ve earned it.”

Wu Xiao yawned loudly. “Finally! I’m sleeping with Luna and using her as a pillow tonight.”

The wolf gave her an unimpressed glance before lying down anyway.

Mei smiled softly as she adjusted her blanket. “It’s been… a long day.”

Wu Ying nodded, rolling onto her side, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. “At least we’re all still here.”

Issei looked around at them, Wu Ying already half-asleep, Mei leaning quietly against a wall, Wu Lan stacking the last scrolls by a table, Wu Xiao nestled against Luna’s side and let out a slow, contented breath.

As the eternal sunlight of the World Marble continued in a soft, blue hue, the group finally drifted into rest.

—-------------------------------

The next day.

The eternal blue daylight of the World Marble never truly shifted, yet the air somehow felt different the next “morning.” A cool breeze swept across the meadow, carrying the scent of dew and wildflowers as the group slowly stirred awake.

The soft crackle of embers came from the campfire, where Wu Lan was already awake, calmly reading the map they had recovered. Her expression was serene but focused, the quiet look of someone who had already started planning the next ten steps ahead.

Nearby, Issei sat cross-legged on the grass, his eyes closed as he practiced controlling his breathing. Even inside the World Marble as it continued to heal him, the faint remnants of exhaustion still clung to his body.

“Morning already?” Wu Ying groaned from her bedroll, sitting up and rubbing her neck.

Wu Lan didn’t look up from her scroll. “Technically, there’s no morning here. But yes, it’s time to get up.”

Wu Xiao groaned dramatically from under her blanket. “Why… we just got comfy… Can’t we stay lazy for one day?”

“Absolutely not,” Wu Lan replied smoothly. “We’ve rested long enough. Now that everyone’s recovered, it’s time to plan our next steps.”

Mei stretched quietly beside Luna, the wolf lying curled around her protectively. “Are we leaving soon?” she asked softly.

Wu Lan finally set the scroll aside and stood. “Not immediately. First, we’ll review the manuals we recovered and decide how to train with them before we continue toward the Sky Blue Empire’s capital.”

Issei stood and joined her, dusting off his pants. “Good idea. We’ve been moving nonstop lately. Some more training and preparation for our next journey might actually help us not nearly die next time.”

Wu Ying snorted. “That’s a low bar, but fair.”

Wu Lan walked to the pile of scrolls and manuals, her tone turning thoughtful. “Our priorities should be clear. Each of us will eventually learn the three martial skills we recovered, the Crushing Pulse, Quick Step, and Steadfast Will. That way, no matter the situation, everyone can attack, move, and defend effectively.”

Wu Xiao, who had finally dragged herself up, groaned aloud. “Ugh, more training? Ying’s already mean enough when she’s teaching!”

Wu Ying smirked. “You’re welcome.”

Wu Lan ignored the exchange. “However,” she continued, “training will have to wait until later.”

That made everyone blink.

“Why?” Issei asked.

Wu Lan looked up from her notes. “Because it’s time to meet Master Shen. Remember? Our order should be finished by now.”

Wu Ying’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right! The Earthfang Armor! Finally!”

Wu Xiao perked up immediately. “Wait, so I get a new outfit today?!”

Issei chuckled. “Yeah, assuming Shen didn’t mess it up in the forge.”

Wu Lan glanced at Mei, her tone softening. “Mei… I’m sorry. We won’t have a set made for you. When we placed the order, you weren’t part of the group yet.”

Mei blinked in surprise, then shook her head with a gentle smile. “It’s fine. Really. I’m happy just being here. I’ll manage without it.”

Issei frowned slightly. “We’ll fix that next time we’re near a city. Promise.”

Mei’s smile warmed. “I know.”

Wu Ying stretched and slung her sword over her shoulder. “Alright, let’s get moving then. If we wait too long, Shen might sell our armor to someone else.”

Wu Xiao gasped. “He wouldn’t!”

Wu Ying grinned. “You’d be surprised what blacksmiths will do for profit.”

Wu Lan rolled her eyes but didn’t disagree. “Pack up what you need. We’ll return once we’ve collected the armor.”

Within minutes, the group had everything stowed away, the food stored, manuals stacked neatly, and Luna ready to carry the bags.

Issei stood at the center of the meadow, the red light of the Boosted Gear glowing faintly on his arm. “Everyone ready?”

Wu Ying nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”

Wu Lan adjusted her satchel. “Let’s go.” 

Mei gave Luna a gentle pat. “We’re ready.”

Wu Xiao stretched, yawning. “Adventure time again~.”

With a flick of his wrist, Issei opened a swirling blue portal. The gentle hum of spatial energy filled the air as the gateway to the real world shimmered before them.

The group stepped through one by one and emerged back into a back alley of Meihua Crossing, now quiet and still under the morning sun. The smell of ash from the mayor’s estate still lingered faintly in the distance, but the streets were calm. 

Wu Lan glanced around, then turned toward the street leading to the forge. “Let’s not waste time. Master Shen’s waiting.”

—-------------------------------

The streets of Meihua Crossing were quieter than usual. The morning sun shone gently over the town, but beneath its warm light lingered an unmistakable chill.

As Issei and the girls walked down the cobblestone path, they couldn’t help but notice the way the townsfolk reacted.

People stepped aside the moment they saw them. Vendors paused mid-sale, mothers pulled their children closer, and groups that had been whispering among themselves fell silent as the group passed.

The further they went, the more obvious it became. Everyone that was a civilian had the look of deep fear in their eyes.

Whispers rippled through the crowd like the wind.

“That’s them…” A man selling fruits said.

“The ones who killed the mayor.” Says a shopper holding her child.

“I heard they destroyed the mansion in one blast!” The voice came full of worry from an old man.

“Don’t look at them, you’ll draw their attention.” Say a young couple as they walked further away.

Issei’s brow furrowed. “...They’re staring.”

Wu Ying folded her arms, her expression unreadable. “Good. That means they won’t bother us.”

Wu Lan frowned lightly. “That’s one way to look at it.”

Wu Xiao looked around nervously. “Still, it’s weird. They’re acting like we’re the villains.”

Issei sighed. “Well, we did blow up the richest guy in town and looted his mansion.”

Wu Ying smirked faintly. “Details.” But her voice couldn’t quite hide the exhaustion behind her humor.

As they continued, the crowd seemed to part on its own, merchants pretending to rearrange their stalls, townsfolk keeping their eyes lowered until the group passed. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the empty street like a slow, heavy rhythm.

Mei’s gaze lingered on the people, the way they whispered about them, the fear in their eyes. Her hand tightened into fists. “They’re scared of us…” She murmured softly.

Wu Ying glanced at her. “So? Let them be scared. Fear keeps people from doing stupid things. Nobody here will ever try to harm us again.”

Mei didn’t respond. Her purple eyes lowered to the ground. “But… that’s not what I wanted. I didn’t want them to be afraid of us.”

For a brief moment, no one spoke. The tension in the air was uncomfortable, not from anger, but from something unspoken that made it uncomfortable.

Issei broke the silence. “Hey,” he said quietly, “don’t let it get to you. They’ll calm down. People always need someone to blame when things change.”

Wu Lan nodded in agreement. “He’s right. The mayor ruled this place with fear and wealth. Without him, the town doesn’t know what to do. In time, they’ll understand we’re not their enemies.”

Mei looked up at them, her expression still uncertain. “You think so?”

“Of course,” Issei said, flashing a small, reassuring smile. “Trust me. Once they see the town’s actually better off without that guy, they’ll forget about all this.”

Wu Ying let out a light snort. “Or they’ll just remember the explosion and think we’re walking disasters.”

Wu Xiao chuckled nervously. “Technically, we kinda are.”

Issei glanced back at her. “Not helping, Xiao, Ying.”

But even Wu Ying couldn’t hold back a small smile at that. “Disasters or not, we’re still alive. That’s all that matters.”

The group continued walking through the uneasy town. And though the path to Master Shen’s forge was lined with wary faces and hushed rumors, the five of them walked with steady steps.

Issei took a deep breath. “Alright. No more gloomy faces. Let’s go see how our armor turned out.”

Wu Ying smirked faintly. “Finally, something good today.”

Mei offered a small smile, though the worry in her eyes hadn’t fully faded.

With the sunlight glinting off their bandages and the metallic hum of the forge growing louder, the group pressed on toward Master Shen’s workshop.

—---------------------------------------------

Shen’s Forge

The rhythmic clang of hammer striking metal echoed through the narrow street before they even reached the door. The scent of hot iron and coal smoke hung in the air, mixed with the faint tang of molten ore.

Master Shen’s forge looked much the same as before — sturdy, and alive with heat. The group paused at the entrance, glancing at each other before Issei stepped forward and rapped twice on the thick wooden door.

“Master Shen! It’s us!”

For a moment, there was no answer, only the sound of hammering from deep inside. Then a muffled voice called back. “The door's open! Don’t just stand there, come in!”

Issei chuckled and pushed the door open.

Inside, the workshop glowed in the orange light of several furnaces. The air shimmered from the heat, and the walls were lined with racks of weapons, half-finished blades, and pieces of armor waiting for polish. In the middle of it all stood Master Shen, sleeves rolled up, face streaked with soot, his hammer still in hand.

When he looked up and saw them, his expression didn’t change one bit. “Oh, you’re early. Good. Saves me the trouble from hunting you down.”

Wu Ying blinked. “Wait… that’s it? No ‘oh my, the town’s in ruins’? No ‘what happened to Meihua Crossing’?”

Shen raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. “Something happened?”

Wu Xiao covered her mouth to keep from laughing. “You… didn’t hear?”

“I’ve been in here for four days straight,” Shen said in a matter of fact tone, turning back toward his workbench. “Haven’t left, haven’t talked to anyone. The only thing I’ve heard is my hammer hitting metal.”

The group exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

Wu Lan smiled politely. “Then it’s probably for the best. You’ve been… very busy.”

Issei grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry if we gave you too much work.”

Shen waved the apology off without looking up. “Don’t be. I live for this. Rare materials, special requests, that’s the fun part. Most people bring me junk and expect me to make miracles.”

He set his hammer down with a heavy clang and gestured toward a large covered rack beside the furnace. “And speaking of miracles… yours are finished.”

He grabbed the cloth and yanked it aside.

The group’s eyes widened.

Four full sets of armor gleamed under the forge light, their metallic surfaces rippling faintly with the earthy sheen of the Earthfang Beast’s plates. Each piece bore the same subtle pattern of stone-like plates fused with tempered iron, sleek yet solid, beautiful in a rough, natural way.

“There they are,” Shen said with quiet pride. “Three female sets of different sizes and one male. Made to fit perfectly with your measurements.”

The group stepped closer in awe.

Issei reached out first, his fingers brushing the polished chestplate. “You actually finished them…”

“Of course I did,” Shen said, smirking slightly. “You think I’d waste material like this? Try them on.”

Without hesitation, Issei and the Wu sisters began equipping their new armor. The metal was surprisingly light, each piece clicking smoothly into place.

Issei slid on the chestplate and arm guards, feeling the weight balance perfectly with his stance. 

Wu Ying twisted her torso experimentally. “Wow…I feel no restriction at all.”

Wu Xiao kicked the air and jumped high, grinning. “It’s like wearing nothing! Except, you know, fully armored.”

Wu Lan adjusted her waist guard and nodded approvingly. “The fit feels flawless.”

Even Luna barked once, as if in approval.

Issei gave a low whistle. “You weren’t kidding, Shen. These are incredible.”

The blacksmith crossed his arms, pleased. “Earthfang scales are dense but pliable. Once tempered right, they’ll absorb shock and physical impact without slowing the user down. Should hold up against anything short of a High-Rank beast.”

Wu Ying smirked. “Perfect. That means Issei can go, punch more Sixth-Stage maniacs without dying.”

“Not funny,” Issei said dryly, though a smile tugged at his lips.

Once everyone had admired the craftsmanship, Wu Lan stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Master Shen, we’re grateful for your work. The quality exceeds expectations.”

Shen nodded once. “Where’s my payment?”

Issei pulled a pouch of gold coins from his belt and set it on the counter with a satisfying clink. “As promised.”

Shen picked it up, weighing it briefly before giving a satisfied grunt. “Good. It's always nice to work for customers who actually pay on time.”

It was then that his sharp eyes landed on Mei, who had been standing quietly near the back, admiring the group wearing such heroic armor.

“Hold on,” He said, pointing with a gloved finger. “You weren’t with them last time, were you.”

Mei blinked in surprise. “Ah… no, sir. I just joined them recently and became part of the group.”

Shen’s gaze softened. “Hmph. So that’s how it is. Well, you’re in luck. Seeing how you look at the group admiring my work. I have a surprise.”

He walked to another table near the furnace, lifting a smaller set of armor plates from a side rack. The metal shimmered faintly, the same dull silver tone as the others, though slightly lighter in build.

“I had enough material left from the beast you brought me to make one extra set,” Shen said, setting it down. “I didn’t know if I’d sell it or keep it for display. But if you want it, it’s yours but at full price.”

Issei didn’t hesitate. “We’ll take it.”

Shen raised an eyebrow. “You sure? It’s not going to be cheap and I won’t be giving a discount for bringing the corpse.”

Issei smiled faintly. “She’s part of the team now. Can’t have her fighting unarmored. Plus we came across a bit more money and are not suffering financially."

Mei’s eyes widened slightly, warmth flooding her expression. “Issei…”

Shen shrugged, then nodded approvingly. “Fair enough. I’ll adjust the fittings to her size. Won’t take long.”

Wu Ying grinned and nudged Issei lightly. “Look at you, spending money like a real leader.”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t start.”

The blacksmith chuckled slowly as he turned back to his forge. “You’re a strange bunch,” he said, amusement flickering in his tone. “But I like strange things. Makes life interesting.”

The group smiled at that. As the roar of the furnace filled the room as Shen prepared Mei’s armor.

Done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes.