Soaring Heaven's Isle 31: The Morning After (Patreon)

I woke up nice and warm and feeling good. Half of it was me… and half of it was the bubbly feeling coming from Ningjing. She was in a real good mood this morning, singing with the birds from where she was anchored to the roof. 

After drinking that much booze, you would expect a killer hangover, but…cultivator baby! We cheat! Naturally I had multiple sources of protection, like Wukong had multiple sources of immortality!

There was just being a cultivator, which meant I was sturdier, there was the week Minyan had told the Storm Wings to give me “anti-poisoning training” which had fucking sucked, and finally… there was something Gramps had slipped into my training.

Apparently included in what the old man had taught me was a Qi trick that specifically defeated hangovers… and I used it unconsciously every time I fell asleep, thinking it was just part of my Qi exercises. 

Minyan, Song, and Lili had been strangely impressed by that part of my technique, and to my surprise thought it was essential.

But in any case, I was feeling pretty great. The party had been awesome, and I was in a wonderful bed; we had eventually crashed in some noble’s mansion on one of the floating islands.

Oh, and I had a warm body pressed against me, and strong, toned legs tangled with mine.

I opened my eyes to Xue Ying, who was nuzzled into my neck, her hands on my chest: My hand was on her bare side. As if sensing my gaze, her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed into my eyes.

Then her face went through a tumult of emotions. Triumph, confusion, and then into deep red and absolute mortification as she remembered what had happened last night. 

I remembered the good bits: dancing with her, trading jokes and just generally having a good time: when she wasn’t glaring and looking suspicious at people, she had a really nice smile, and I had a wonderful time.

She was probably remembering the part where she drank too much, and started hurling her guts off the side of the floating island. Me and Daoyi had taken turns rubbing her back until she had finally passed out, and then I carried her to bed. But I had also been kind of bushed, and it had looked comfy, so… I just fell asleep too.

“Heck of a party, huh?” I asked, smiling at her. “You feeling better?”

Her hands fisted in my outer robe. Her mouth opened, then closed, her face crimson, and her eyes searching for any hint of mockery… but I was genuinely concerned about her.

She cleared her throat. “Feeling better? Why would I feel better? I did not feel bad at all last night!” She declared, her face crimson and her eyes fierce… though that was ruined by the little tears gathering in them. She already had people making fun of her appearance, and I guess also being known as a lightweight who had upchucked on the winner of the tournament would have been social death.

“You’re right. My bad. I was a bit drunk and misremembered things.” I replied. The tanned body cultivator again searched me for deception… but soon the mortification faded, and her fists, clenched on my outer robe, loosened. She let out a little sigh of relief.

“But…. I will thank you for the wonderful time and the consideration you showed me last night.” She said and a bright smile that suited her much better bloomed on her face.

…man, how could people think she looked bad? They were idiots.

“What a pretty sunrise,” I said, and got her to blush again, but she kept her smile. Okay, that was a bit flirty, but hey, she was pretty. “I had a great time last night. Thank you for sharing it with me… but we should probably get up before the rumours start.”

Xue Ying’s hands tightened around my waist. She looked into my eyes, her gaze suddenly resolute.

“Rumours have most likely already started.” She said, and I grimaced. I didn’t want to dishonour her, that was a big deal in this time period. “But if they are here already… I would like them to be true.”

I blinked as she stared into my eyes. Her hand went from my chest to the side of my face, and it was my turn to blush. Part of me started cheering and whooping. This time, instead of people who had to obey me… she actually wanted this. But there was just one problem, as she leaned in.

“Ah, sorry, but we probably shouldn’t.” I said, apologetic.

She closed her eyes, hurt flashing across her face. “Ah. Even after you said you admired my body…”

“Ah, no, its not you. Its just Daoyi is on the bed behind me.”

The hurt vanished, and she pushed herself up with her elbow to see over my shoulder. I turned as well to where Daoyi was lying on his back. He raised a hand in greeting.

“Good morning, Xue Ying. My apologies for the complications. I did not wish to interrupt, but this would have been rather awkward.” Daoyi said. “I was about to see if I could abscond through the window without you noticing.”

He nodded firmly at me.

What a bro. But the mood was already ruined.

Xue Ying lowered herself back down. She seemed relieved, but also just kind of done with things. “Thank you for your consideration, Young Master Daoyi.” she managed to get out.

“Please rest assured that this is entirely my fault, he is quite enamoured with your body.”

Her hands came up to hide her face. “Thank you, Young Master Daoyi.” She said again.

I, on the other hand, just had a terrible idea.

“Awww, you’d run? Thats a shame. A man has two hands for a reason, you know?” I said, sounding as disappointed as possible.

Xue Ying’s jaw dropped, and the red returned with full force. Daoyi, on the other hand, managed to maintain his perfect composure, raising a single perfect eyebrow at me,

“Oh? Well, I don’t mind the rumours if they’re true either. Those ladies were quite keen to tell us what they thought of our friendship.” He said, his tone mild, but his lips were twitching.

I remembered the hastily produced merch we had found two drunk noble ladies with. Daoyi and I had been holding hands, how lewd.

“You have to admit the art was pretty good.” I said, nodding sagely.

We stared at each other for a moment, our faces perfectly straight.

Daoyi’s lips started twitching. My shoulders started shaking.

It was just so fucking absurd we both started laughing.

“I think if some people could see how Tianzhe Rou and Liang Daoyi act behind closed doors they would suffer cultivation deviation.” Xue Ying said, her voice dead.

“Only your true friends get to see how foolish you are.” I replied with a bright smile. “That's what makes them your true friends.”

The body cultivator looked touched at my words… before she started to laugh too, the faces we showed the world forgotten for a moment.

It was really nice to have friends.

And well, if there were gonna be rumours anyway, a bit more of a lazy morning wouldn’t hurt. None of us made any move to get out of bed.

===

Xieren of the Sovereign Sword sect set foot on a floating island, appraising the manse before her. She was clad in her travelling cloak with the hood up, allowing only the bottom of her face to be seen.

The area was peaceful and tranquil and had quite a lot of trash covering the gardens. There were several cultivators unconscious on the grass, and one in the fountain, contrasting against the beautiful trees and churruping songbirds. Someone had even bought a rooster. She noticed the creature out of the corner of her eye, hopping past the wall.

The Wang family’s summer home upon the 6th Peach Blossom Isle was well known these days by the Younger Generation. Wang Huo was a cultivator of little talent… but he had many resources, and a permissive grandfather. He made up for his lacking talent by spreading his wealth, and in so doing was a popular man, to an extent. Most of his “friends” were fair weather, and any true test would see them abandon him… but the man made sure that no such challenges would arise. And so he enjoyed much face, some minor favours, and the prestige of rubbing shoulders with his betters.

He was a pathetic creature, and Xieren detested him. Not for his weakness,  but for his cowardice. A cultivator who chose not to be tested was no cultivator at all.

The guards were lax by design. Having a bunch of drunk young cultivators running around the place made having any real semblance of order impossible. The manse itself had to be repaired almost weekly–– which was actually rather impressive, now that she thought about it. 

She had never really considered it before, but Jin Rou, or rather Tianzhe Rou had mentioned it was difficult for mortals to clean blood off the floor. Completely erasing the evidence of a younger generation party was likely to be a genuinely impressive feat. She would have to look into the mortal servants who repaired this place later.

But for now, she continued on her way; she had summons for Tianzhe Rou to receive his reward for victory… and for Yunxi to speak with him privately. It was a rather sensitive matter, after all.

She simply strolled past the token guards without alerting any of them, and then the supposedly more alert keepers of Young Masters and Young Mistresses. Quite a few had minders, it seemed, including Tianzhe Rou… but the Storm Wings were probably sleeping somewhere.

Which was a bit foolish. Tianzhe Rou had made many friends in the capital, but he had also surely made a great many enemies. 

Xieren decided to give the young man a gentle lesson on not getting complacent… as well as tweaking the Storm Wing’s noses. She hadn’t seen the two of them in a while, and they looked most amusing flustered. 

Yunxi also had a soft spot for those dreadfully cliche stories, and a master with a mission appearing unnoticed in someone’s room never failed to make her smile. It probably didn’t help that her Ancestors did do such things. Xieren was rather certain the First Emperor had invented that particular bit of silliness. 

Xieren turned a corner and paused. There was a rooster sitting in the middle of the hall. The same one she had seen earlier and–– Rou had a pet rooster. One that looked exactly like this one.

The creature was glaring at her. Xieren raised a brow at chicken, who puffed himself up as if he would oppose her. Which was amusing gumption, but the true threat was behind the weak spirit beast.

“Yeah, shes probably up to no good if shes in this hall, Eh Bi De?” Bailu asked, looking fresh and alert.

“You drank more than your bodyweight in that clear alcohol last night, and you’re known for allowing yourself to get drunk.” Xieren said mildly. Bailu was normally asleep past midday after she was given leave, and the alcohol had been strong. Absurdly strong, for something that could be produced by mortals.

“Mn! It was good stuff, but… that’s not the topic of this conversation, hm?”

Bailu smiled at Xieren. Her teeth were entirely too sharp to be human. Her skin was moving, the precursor to scales bursting from beneath human flesh.

Another Qi signature stepped out of the darkness behind Xieren.

“Katte kabuto no o wo shimeyo.” Came an incomprehensible language from behind Xieren. The tribal tongue was soft and full of vowels, and yet it managed to sound intimidating, considering who was speaking it. Wakokukin Seiyu’s eyes were half lidded, and her stance loose and dangerous. “Tighten your helmet after victory.” 

Xieren filed that particular proverb away. She did enjoy collecting them, and had several scrolls full.

The rooster made noises that sounded like he was insulting her. The promise of violence was in the air.

And Xieren… raised both hands in a conciliatory gesture, and laughed. Ah, she had been wanting to surprise them, but had gotten surprised instead! How amusing. It seemed the Wings took the guardianship of their Young Master with more care than a lot of their missions.

 The Storm Wings didn’t react to Xieren’s giggling. She reached up, pulling back her hood, and letting her Qi loose. 

The tyrannical might of a sovereign sword clashed against the burgeoning storm. Both Storm Wings blinked.

“Oh. Xieren. What are you doin’ hiding and sneaking around?” Bailu said, her tone becoming more friendly, but her body still ready for combat. Anything less would have been an insult.

“Forgive me, I sought to impart a lesson to my junior, but it appears it needed no imparting. I am here on behalf of my princess, with summons for Tianzhe Rou.” She replied, pulling back her Qi, and relaxing her stance.

The Storm Wings paused, and then they too let their Qi drop.

“Your Junior?” Seiyu asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Indeed, Rou did me a good service near the Phoenix Tears River. I sought to repay the favour.”

Bailu pounded her fist into her open palm. “Oh, yeah, he mentioned beating up a bunch of people at the restaurant, and the “scary sword lady!”” Xieren smiled. Scary sword lady? How amusing. “Well, if you’re here on official business, we can wake our captain up. He’s normally up by now, but it's good to sleep in once in a while.” 

“Especially after he spent most of an hour taking care of that fountain.” Seiyu said, her voice derisive.

“Fountain?” Xieren asked, allowing the Storm Wings to flank her. That more than anything made them confident Xieren wasn’t here to cause trouble, and the tension dissipated the rest of the way… though not from the rooster, who was still squinting hat her.

“Oh, his new friend, the tanned muscly one.” Bailu said. “He just rubbed her back though, he was just being friendly––”

“Ah! Both of you at once… too much!” came a slightly pained female voice from behind the closed door.

“Ha! Not so cocky now, huh?” Rou demanded.

“Hpmh. Arrogance.” Daoyi stated.

Bailu froze, her eyes going blank. Veins bulged all over Seiyu’s forehead. Xieren raised a hand to cover her mouth. “Oh my.” she said, scandalized.

The door slammed open, Seiyu bursting through it, anger on her features…. Before she froze, blinking at the scene before her.

Liang Daoyi and Tianzhe Rou knocked their fists together, as Xue Ying pouted mightily, tossing her mahjong tiles aside.

Xieren glanced at the piece of paper they had been keeping score with. Xue Ying had been dominating the both of them until the last turn.

“Stand tall, you were a mighty opponent. Not many can say they faced our combined might.” Daoyi continued, crossing his arms and smirking at Xue Ying, who seemed to be mollified by the praise.

“She’s as good as Aunt Song…” Rou said, shaking his head, before turning to the open door. “Morning guys, you want a cut in to the next game?”

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Surprise! A bit of a transition before we finally see what the princess wants