A:N- Guiyue = "Osmanthus Month" August 23 - September 23

Qi Country

In Phoenix Academy...

They read the recipes Jun Wuxie left behind.

They were mostly for Nabe Dishes utilizing Summer Ingredients, with a lot of Tofu and Eggs.

So the hungry students began cooking a lot as Wuxie instructed that they must eat till they're so full for their deprived bodies' sakes. And to avoid harassment during meals, eat ahead before the students' free times or when they're not coming out at night!

That, was their plan.

They were also glad for the bottles of hair wash and soap within their boxes. How long has it been, since they last had a bath by the river again?

And this month of plenty was the happiest they've ever been!

Food more delicious than the Cafeteria! Enjoying all the roast they could want as only the wealthy EVER eat roast meats!

YUM!

They enjoyed their great fortune and ate like starved hyenas.

And as days go by due to pills they must take, they felt...stronger? Fuller? And more alive?

It can only be Wuxie's pills, being friggin' Grade 9 pills as Ye Mei wailed that she's giving away high-class goods again!

Her pills are crazy-powerful that upon refinement, Qiao Chu remembered the girl who gave strongly sweet-smelling pills to old guy peddler for Eastern Pearls to buy his books!

She cheerfully argued that she raided Hidden Cloud Peak's massive herb farms so she didn't spend a single iron coin on her own expense, so it's OK!

In their minds, is it really?!

Grade 9 pills.

are.

a.

HIGHLY SOUGHT PRODUCT!

Refining such pills are insanely-difficult, yet she did it so easily?!

But when one month ended?

'Aiya! Since when is this door so brittle?!' Rong Ruo cried as she broke the doorknob by accident when she just handles it as she normally does.

'Be careful Ruo'er, it must be her pills making us crazy strong!' said Fei Yan. 'I normally need dumb-Qiao's help in lifting heavy stuff but I can now do it by myself!'

'Eh?! Really?!'

CRASH!

'Owwww! Since when can you throw me so hard?!' Qiao Chu howled from afar. The two exchanged looks.

Qiao Chu and Hua Yao are sparring today. They ran for the courtyard to see...Qiao Chu denting the wall where he leaned on.

'I-I didn't know? I just do what I usually do...' Hua Yao croaked out, shaken by what he caused to happen as even he was shocked. 'You usually end up a meter away when I throw you as it always happens, not you flying into crashing!'

'Hummm...maybe we should stop the sparring sessions for now.' said Yan Bugui, perplexed with his students. 'Food cannot possibly do this to us, it must be Miss Jun's Elixirs responsible!' he remarked. He took out his empty bottles. 'It must be the Hungu and Jurenli pills responsible for our physical prowess. Their name says it all! We'll test your full strength using trees, before concrete! That's after we trade a tael for silver so these guys will finally shut up and I can finally buy decent clothing for myself.'

'Master, you may wanna take a bath and groom your beard first.' said Qiao Chu. 'That way the bank will take you seriously!'

'Oh, nearly forgot...you boys gimme a hand with my back?'

xxx

The Soul Moon Bank in town...

Its an unusual sight for wealthy-looking young men coming in with a beggar who's strangely clean with a groomed moustache and beard, to the guards can't say a word. Then said beggar trades a rarely-seen gold tael, let alone TEN of those for 5 million silver coins. However, some of that was converted into 4000 taels of silver put into a separate small sack, and they went on their way.

Whuuuut?

What's going on? Did those two youths willingly help a beggar out? With that kinda money, that old man will live his remaining lifespan in luxury with huge change left over!

Its rare to see rich youths nice to commoners!

xxx

In a clothing store...Qiao Chu and Hua Yao waited until their master was done purchasing a whole closet for himself, for three seasons. Summer, Fall, and Winter. To save up money, they wear winter clothing into Spring, just minus the fur coats.

And he came out wearing decent things, carrying a pile of boxes.

Normally he'd put that in his cosmos sack, but showing such an item in the lower realms will get them in trouble.

'Now then, time to get out of that dump.' said Yan Bugui happily. 'What do you boys say to living in an apartment in Weiguo after we consult missy with our bodies? Let's make it our next base before we search for our next map.'

xxx

A month before that...

Wuxie and Ye Mei came home once they got the last of the prisoners with the convoy. They were in Qingyun Sect for a total of twelve days. One day per Sect, acting at random times of the day and it always coincides with mealtimes. Because Yingsu has access to a lot of poison, those twelve days were very-well-spent, that he was past twelfth rank as a Familiar. He was powerful enough that he can combat Rank 2 Purple Spirits according to Ye Mei. And by being in Close Proximity to Yingsu, Wuxie got boosted to Peak Yellow and will break through in the coming months when she cultivates alongside him.

For the next men in status rankings in Rui Lin Army, they can now catch up, becoming Blue Spirits as well with the treasures Wuxie took home. However, those who must be Indigo, will be Mo Qianyuan, Jun Xian, Jun Qing and being the General, Long Qi.

They were taken to Rui Lin Camp to rehabilitate the next batch of prisoners.

It comes in three stages.

1. Detoxification and Cleansing - 1 month

2. Regeneration and Fortification - 10 months...5 of which is by eating healthy through medicinal congees with tofu and eggs, before starting on pill-popping and continuing the healthy diet this time, in solid food such as meat, shellfish and vegetables.

3. Restoration...in terms of looks and by that, what can POSSIBLY be done - 1 month

4. Hand-to-Hand Training, physical training and Combat Tactics - 1 year after. Anyone knows martial arts, but these guys got horribly rusty.

A total of one year and 11 months.

The last step being the Jun Family will exclusively pay for their education and job occupation training, as well as food and board, and what Wuxie calls Counseling. Wherein Counselors will listen to the woes and anger of the patient, and then comfort and console the tormented hearts of the patients, before assisting them in developing their social and mental capacity. The goal is to enable the students to become mature and well-functioning adults who overcame their traumas. During school, they will learn Literacy(grammar and hanzi), Arithmetic, Weaving, Sewing, Embroidery, Cooking, Cleaning, Music and Art for females while for men, it's Carpentry, Artisan skills and Farming. Manners and Etiquette will come last, and men will understandably, take longer in occupation training!

After that, these guys will individually-gain a starting fund of 20 gold taels converted to 10 million silver. They can spend it on building their own homes, furnishings, their own clothes and that is why they'll seek jobs. As for land issues, Jun Family will pay for it. They have been tortured for so long they forgot their own names. They had to be given a surname first and that was Wuyao's job to refer to them, and once they were halfway into literacy lessons, they can choose their own given names.

Only the new Emperor and Jun Family knew their origins...and they were shocked.

As far as everyone else knows, they were rescued from slavery by bandits by Jun Wuxie on her travels. Nobody can EVER know the truth, that she was the Qingyun Slayer. Only the rescued prisoners know who she is, since she was their SAVIOR AND DOCTOR. Their Black-Clad Moonlit Goddess, that these prisoners...started a cult and the Rui Lin Army had to inform the family of their newfound obsession that got them stunned, and Wuxie sputtering in her freakout.

'How on earth did THAT happen?!' she cried in shock.

She tried her best to put an end to the...budding religion...with hilarious results.

And so...

'You worked hard today, Wuxie.' Jun Xian looked amused as his granddaughter came home, looking like she is so done with the world as she threw manners out the window as she sat on her seat on the dining table, and sulked after face-planting on the table. Steam comically coming out of her head. 'So, did you put an end to the budding religion?'

'Leave me alone.' came the petulantly-childish reply, making her family snicker.

'But Xie'er would make a wonderful goddess.' Wuyao teased her.

'I'm human and I'll stay that way.' Wuxie grumbled. 'But at any rate, it's good that their mood improved and our men helping out. I could use a vacation!'

'That would be nice, but Mo Qianyuan gave you a job due to your age. But there is still time for that, so worry not!' Jun Qing smiled. 'Have fun in your vacation until then.'

'A mission from him?'

'Come eight days into Guiyue*, will be when enrollment starts in Zephyr Academy in Da Du Country. And since our nobility doesn't study in Phoenix Academy, they study in Zephyr Academy.' Jun Qing told her. 'You will choose single girls close to his age to be candidates for the Imperial Harem.' he told her. 'And he doesn't want vipers for wives. He wants thoughtful and prudent women with traits worthy of an Empress who will help him take good care of Qi Country instead of round two with a nasty life all over again.' he said. 'He wants his wives who are good wives and good mothers to children. Basically, a happy family that he never had but wanted to have.'

'However, in a harem setting, families will encourage their girls to learn treachery for that throne to further family political power.' Wuxie frowned. 'That's risky.'

'We know that. So there are measures in place through the Eunuchs.' said Jun Qing. 'We prepared an insane security for the Imperial Harem. Why a harem is to make things fair to the wealthy and nobility. It's politics and a political war. Emperor cannot favor just one girl. All these girls have an equal, even chance to compete for the throne as Empress and all the losing families can do is swallow the bitter pill and accept losing with grace. You will choose eligible maidens during your short time in school and give them tokens, before mailing their families about their daughters' new situation that requires withdrawal from school to focus on their position. Then withdraw when you've chosen good candidates. At least, 100 girls.'

'Originally, you're among those 100 girls, but Wuyao...' said Jun Xian weakly as Wuyao immediately leaked bloodlust. '...put his foot down.'

'Grandfather, Xie'er is MINE.' Wuyao griped, somehow taking Wuxie into his lap in a blink with a possessive hug. 'She's too good for even an Emperor!'

His declaration caused many wide-eyed stares from family and maids alike.

'Aiya~' Wuxie's behavior...said it all. She blushed and snuggled with Wuyao who looked at her with 'those kind of eyes', complete with holding hands, even.

These two...aren't siblings anymore!

They wondered WHEN they transitioned from close siblings...to THIS and how did this get past them?!

Well...to be fair Wuyao was adopted by Jun Gu, so...nothing wrong with this...but it'll be weird from now on...Wuyao is now 26 and Wuxie 12 years younger...

'Y-you two...' Jun Xian squeaked, pointing shakily, wide-eyed.

'Oh, he'll wait until I'm 18 or 20, isn't that sweet of him?' Wuxie asked them, still enjoying Wuyao's presence.

'At least...that's one thing.' Jun Qing croaked out. Eyes blinking rapidly. Wuxie is too young for most of the stuff relating to intimacy it was good Wuyao was willing to wait. 'Anyway, dinner before you two...er...you know...'

The whole mansion has to re-adjust to a new situation hence, between its young master and eldest miss.

xxx

'Ahhhh, we can finally relax missy!' Yingsu sighed in relief as he planted himself on a pot as a flower. 'We worked nonstop ever since we became partners, I'm so pooped!'

'But thanks to our work, we can finally relax.' said Wuxie as she had tea with Yingsu outside as Wuyao went to murder people who found out he was free and wanted him dead. So he'll be gone for a few days.

He was in a foul mood that he had creative ways to dismember his enemies who ahem, interfered in his time with her.

'Anyway, you've made leaps and bounds in our short time in Qingyun Sect, how are you feeling?'

'Haha, I drained the land dry as you instructed, though in ten years, ki will return to that farm, seeping out of the soil.' Yingsu told her. 'But still, I can defeat anyone below a Rank 2 Purple Spirit, that's saying something!' he sounded rather smug with himself, beaming with pride.

'Hopefully we find stronger plants for you to feed off of...that buffet in Qingyun Sect is gone now.' Wuxie sighed. 'I wonder where else to find stronger plants~'

'Er, that can wait once missy become a Purple.' Yingsu said awkwardly. 'I know where, but you need to at least, be Rank 1 Purple to survive going there...so maybe missy needs more vacation for cultivation.' he advised. 'Going there as you are now for my growth, that psycho's gonna kill me.' his flower form shuddered at the notion.

'Aiya, I guess I should take care of myself more from now on, huh~' Wuxie looked thoughtful. 'But still, my only time to relax would be that crummy bride-hunt in school. I've got so many pills to make for the patients before I leave.' she told him. 'I'd best get started so I have a lot of time to rest before school begins...sigh...school, huh?'

'Missy?'

'Back when I was Ren...there's no such thing as school for us girls, so I'm a little nervous.' said Wuxie weakly. 'School was only for men. For us girls, we only learn literacy and math, and housewife skills. Our other skills will then depend on our husband's job. Its his job to teach his wife if he wants her assistance in jobs like being a merchant and stuff. But otherwise, nothing more. We women, are locked in strictly gender roles. Our only future is being a Housewife.' she sighed. 'It was thanks to Master that I became something more...a doctor. A swordswoman...things no woman can ever hope to be. Government won't allow it.' she scowled. 'Here, I can be whatever I want to be. Accomplished and free.'

'Weeell...your world sucks if its that restrictive to women.' Yingsu tut-tutted. 'Women can do what men can do except weight-lifting.'

'Its complicated, but one man ruined the lives of women of two countries centuries before I was born that our life is so restricted as we know it in ancient history.' Wuxie sighed glumly. 'Ah well...I'm free at least and soon, I'll experience school, short stay it may be.'

xxx

Two weeks later...sleeping on her bed, she felt a weight on her bed and snaked his arm around her waist...going up.

She smiled, and put her hands on his pale ones, caressing them in comfort. He kissed her by her temple and hugged her like he would a teddy bear.

He smells like blood.

Nothing new, she was used to it for all her years as a slayer.

But next morning?

Her lover was quite, the bloodstained mess?!

'Aiya, how are we gonna explain this to the laundry maids?' she wondered with comical flyaway hairs, that Wuyao came back bloody and bloodied her sheets! And when he hugged her last night, even her own sleeping gown is bloody!

'Well, we throw it away?' Wuyao joked, somewhat sheepish with the sheets.

'You're gonna pay for that~' Wuxie gave him a deep kiss...

It turned Wuyao on and dominated her in their kissing, making her moan in pleasure...he pinned her to the bed and hands roamed, conveying how they missed each other.

'Well, we need a bath, Xie'er...grandfather and uncle probably won't like how we smell.'

xxx

Dressed in luxurious fineries as she usually does, Wuxie went to work refining pills while Wuyao was in Rui Lin Camps as a Supervisor.

All her patients have different needs to truly heal after all. Some of their medication, is NOT the same!

But upon a week into working, she has visitors.

'Wow...so this is Lin Palace where Miss Jun lives?' Qiao Chu croaked out as they arrived.

'It should be, there are many Jun Families here, but written in different hanzi and there's only one Jun nobility in Weiguo, the Lin Wang Clan, consisting of just three people protected by the Rui Lin Army. Its only daughter is Jun Wuxie. Since those clues we got from her bodyguard, she's who we're here for.' said Rong Ruo. 'This is here.' they approached a guard. 'Excuse us, but our Master wishes to see Miss Jun for a check-up.' she asked politely. 'A Yan Bugui, sir.' one of the guards went in, so they waited outside...until a maid came out.

'This way please.' she said, leading them inside. To an open area in the garden where a pretty white table is set up for six people, complete with a teaset, and a plate of snacks with dessert plates and silver small forks for dessert.

But Yan Bugui's group went mentally-blank.

Snacks here, are little round flowers, nuts and mushrooms?

Wait, upon a closer look, they ain't real!

Rong Ruo took one and cut it open...there's something inside.

'Uwaaa, it's soft, but what is this?' Rong Ruo asked the maid. 'I've never seen this in any store!'

'It is miss' personal creation she taught us.' said the maid. 'Take sticky rice dough, edible food coloring, a little bit of powdered sugar as a sweetener then wrap it around a semi-solid filling, like sweet bean paste or dried fruit solidified into cooled honey. Then with artistic skill, you can make pretty flowers and other nature-related things.' she explained. 'It was really hard at first, but we got better.'

'Ohhh...'

They waited a little while longer after the maids poured tea for them, before leaving. So they enjoyed the pretty, but tasty snacks

Soon, a beautiful girl with lily-white skin came out. Her hairpins were butterflies on both sides of her head, with two long strands at front held in place by hair tubes. Her hanfu dress was dark purple in color, and over it is a butterfly-print coat. She has red rouge on her lips.

'Uwaaa...' this, was who killed nearly an entire sect and healed their master?

'Oh my, did something else happen after my prescription?' she asked them kindly, but worriedly. With this lovely voice of hers, yep, it's her alright!

'Well, after a month of taking your pills, we seem erm, more destructive than usual that something as simple as opening a door wrecks said door...and in combat training, things that don't happen, happen in the power department.' said Yan Bugui. 'We would like training advice to avoid further accidents.'

'Ohohoho! That also used to be our problem back in the day when we all took it!' Wuxie laughed. They were surprised by her admission. 'My pills are my personal brainchild that even if you raided Qingyun's vast libraries, you won't find Hungu and Jurenli recipes there.' she said. 'My third creation, Hungu makes bones extremely dense that any force that will normally crush a human to pulp, won't crush you though still painful, but no need to worry about your brain and organs unless the weight of the force exceeded 500 kg, you'll really die then.' the group meeped at that. 'We tested that on a criminal on Death Row in prison after we made him eat healthy for maximum results. Sentenced to execution by producing a Class A Illegal Drug for sale.'

'As for Jurenli, exactly as it says, by rapidly producing muscle cells, making your muscle tissue eight times denser, giving you immense physical strength. In short, you have the combined muscular power of eight men with bodies like these.' she said, conjuring an illusion of a very chiseled, muscular man in just his underwear. 'However, if you took Jurenli without Hungu, you'll be half as strong only. Bones enhanced with Hungu provide the other half of the power. That, and how strong you are, depends on your peak condition. Sooo results vary.'

'Say for example, a normal person with no training and lacked diet discipline took Jurenli and Hungu for a month. They can only do eight times of their current strength. An untrained lady who cannot lift a sack of rice by herself, gains the strength of a seasoned but ordinary laborer is one such example.'

'Even I, with my well-trained, healthy body enhanced by these two pills, is merely half as strong compared to the men of my family and our army.' Wuxie continued. 'And these two can only be re-taken once every year. So for further growth, one must train their muscles and peak physical condition while eating healthy before re-taking it. So my clan is very, very busy.'

'As for training, you must discover the extent of your newfound strength. How far can you go as not even I can predict that.' Wuxie giggled. 'Then upon learning of the scope of your newfound level, you must learn to become gentle, and refine your strength control if you don't want small-scale property damage. Goodness knows how many doorknobs, doors, and even our personal belongings we wrecked in our first month as superhumans...so yes, learn the fine art of being gentle.'

That got the group sweatdropping.

Now she explains it!

'For now, since you guys lived in that dilapidated school building, its understandably no match for the current you, but well-maintained and renovated buildings can still resist the current you.' Wuxie told them to their relief. 'You guys are barely 1/4 into recovery from malnourishment, so you guys are 3/4 weaker than even me and buildings in cities can withstand your normal movements, but clothing and shoes are as weak as wet paper as well as frail items, so do be careful.'

They know how that felt! Laundry, putting shoes on, all easily wrecked! They had to buy new goods!

'Come see me again if you're at peak health and peak muscular strength after a year if you want full results...buuut you know the price to pay for that~' she laughed a tad too cheerfully, clearly amused that made the gang shudder. They swear she's a secret sadist. 'And normally, a month's worth of Hungu costs 900.000 silver taels and Jurenli would cost a million but we're still on the fence in marketing it due to malnutrition issues so wealthy customers may not like the results achieved.'

They're gonna be walking wreckers if they tried!

'R-right...we'll be training in the forests outside the city and we'll be living in an apartment in the business center.' Yan Bugui coughed. Like hell they can afford those costs anyway...

'Oh yes, consultation fee is five silver coins.'