How Saving a General gets you Adopted
Somewhere far away in a big mansion facing a wide street paved with stones, an elderly old man lay seated inside a small room deep within this residence.
Ahem, 'small' by rich people standards, that is.
Though old and covered with white hair, those eyes remain wise and sharp, something attainable only by experiencing many things in life. Yet there's not an ounce of wrinkles on that face. In fact, he looked quite handsome for someone that's of quite the age.
At this moment a series of footsteps were coming over from the outside. Two men came in from the courtyard, one wearing a silken gold robe which gave this man a very elegant style of someone wealthy and high in status. As for the second man, this person was slightly younger with a handsome face. Despite being well into his forties, he's kept up well over the years and looked no more than twenty-something.
As soon as both were inside this dark unlit room, the two kneeled in unison at the elder.
'Father.'
This residence wasn't some random place, it was the mansion belonging to one of the big four noble families of Daxia, the Hong Household.
As to the identity of this elder, he's none other than the infamous Marquis Zhenyuan of Daxia and current chief of the Hong House: Hong Qingyun.
Regarding the two on their knees, they are his eldest son and bastard son Hong Fang. He cannot forget that particular wedding day, and nobody will forget in this house.
'That is in the direction of Bo City.' Hong Qingyun's voice created an echoing effect in the unadorned room.
He may not have taken a single step out of the room, but that doesn't hinder him from knowing everything that's occurred outside.
'Can it be Lan Yingwu?' The eldest son curls his brow.
'I fear it can only be him, but why is that man still able to make a breakthrough?' The trio of sons and father ponders the question.
As the representative of the nobility faction, the Hong Household had always held absolute authority over the court. However, thirty years ago, the position of the big four became challenged when the civilian faction rose to power under the leadership of Marquis Wu.
In order to make an example of their defiance, all four of the big noble families started to collaborate and took the initiative to secretly suppress the other faction whenever possible.
This time too, the eldest son of the Hong House took the excuse of Lan Yingwu's injury to proclaim his incompetence and forcibly ousted him to a remote place like Bo City, thus depriving the general of all his glory.
They originally thought the guy would never be able to have a comeback after this fall, so a replacement was already decided to replace Lan Yingwus position in court. However, before the newly appointed general Nangong Liang belonging to the noble faction could even warm his seat, this happened.
Since Lan Yingwu's breakthrough had made such a big commotion, there's no doubt people from Marquise Wu's side would also notice it.
If no other incident occurs during this period, its a certainty Lan Yingwu would be called back to the capital to be reinstated. This will inevitably affect the interests of the Hong House.
'Have someone send a gift to Glass City as congratulation to the guys breakthrough.' Hong Qingyun declared, ending all discussions in the process.
His eldest son became a little stunned by the order, unsure what his father meant.
'Isn't father not on good terms with Marquis Wu? Why would he...'
'Big brother, father means to have you send someone over there to investigate the situation regarding Lan Yingwu's breakthrough.' Hong Fang explains on one side, clearly understanding what his father meant.
Making a slight cough, the eldest son didn't look well at being told by the bastard son. Giving Hong Fang an angry glare, he sweeps his sleeve when turning to leave.
Likewise, Hong Fang also left the premise after making a cold smile.
Back inside the small dark room, Hong Qingyun heaved a heavy sigh over his two sons.
In terms of wisdom and farsight, Hong Fang exceeds his big brother by too much. He made one mistake in life while his brother made a few. But that one mistake was so huge it needed smoothing over than lose a connection to Tiankai Sect if they find out that Hong Fang is a bastard child of his and no woman of Zhu Gerou's background would touch bastards with no chance of inheriting.
Normally, that's true for any household, but the Hongs don't work that way. They go for competence, connections and resources. The more the better! The most accomplished son inherits. Talented Hongs get assigned specific duties to further empower the clan, and daughters are married off for business.
He could not forget that night, the night that 'something', possessed his infant granddaughter.
'I'm going to need to observe some more to decide who inherits the entire house in the future at this rate.'
That woman and that girl no doubt lives. Unlike Hong Fang, because he married Huangyu before discarding her, his nameless grandchild is of legal birth and not a bastard like him. Her and her siblings are of higher status than even he.
But a loose end is a loose end. If Huangyu stays away, fine. But if they dare come...
xxx
Come morning when it's all over...Governor Lan came back out fully-healed after spending half a day a human barbecue.
Not only did he look younger than ever, his stature also grew taller like an imposing statue. Its faint, but the shadows of a powerful general commanding thousands of troops in the battlefield was back!
'Father!' Cai'er cried, lunging herself into the old man's embrace. Sobbing, she cries out in tears because she truly thought she's going to lose her father forever.
Most people stay in Dan Realm...for obvious reasons unless some things just can't be helped. Either you get lucky or you don't!
'Haha, good daughter, you are so big already and you are still crying like a baby. Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughing stock in front of your friends here?' Lan Yingwu laughs with his strong voice. When he turns to glance at Lingyue, his sharp eyes hinted a deep meaning in there.
Following his injury in the battlefield, he's been doubting whether or not there's some sort of issue with his body as nobody can heal him. But until today when Lingyue literally killed that bastard Fang Hao with her power, the reasoning behind the problem finally surfaced.
He may have appeared unconscious after drinking the rainbow monkey wine, but under that hood, he still retained a certain level of consciousness. Therefore, the short, one-sided battle between Lingyue and Fang Hao was abundantly clear to him. What perplexed him though was how did a little girl defeat an evil entity twice her strength. His world went blank when he broke through and can't hear any more.
'Father, if you keep teasing me then I'm going to start ignoring you.' Lan Cai'er gives her father the eye.
Grinning at the threat, Lan Yingwu caresses his daughters head to calm the child.
Watching the close bond between the two, Lingyue chuckled, remembering how Kiritsugu doted on her.
'Congratulations to General in breaking through to the Reincarnation Realm.' Lingyue congratulated respectfully.
'What are you saying Lingyue, so formal! If not for your help then my father would never have made it through this ordeal!' Cai'er exclaimed. 'Father, since I and Lingyue are hitting it off so well, why don't you take her as your god daughter? This way around, I can also have a sibling.' Lan Cai'er had always wanted a brother or sister since her childhood, but due to her father being perennially in the battlefield, the wish never came true.
This was also her biggest regret during all these years. Unexpectedly, a glimmer of hope appeared after she met Lingyue in Bo City. The idea to become god sisters came up very early on in their relationship as she grew to like the girl in the few hours they spent together, but out of consideration for her parents, she didn't have the nerve to suggest it without being certain of their feelings.
But now that things have come this far, Lan Cai'er had more confidence in seeing through the plan.
'H-hey?! Is that even OK?!' Lingyue's eyes popped and eyebrows went all the way up. The general laughed boisterously and jovially. 'Is that even possible?!'
'Oh you, I have no problem with this matter.' Yingwu reassured the stunned girl. He appreciates her as she saved his life as who knows how he'll end up if that bastard stayed longer in his body? How should he know he's possessed?! 'First go discuss this with your mother before we proceed. If she doesn't object then we can have the ceremony today to celebrate my new daughter.' Lan Yingwu refreshingly agrees. Unable to wait another second, Lan Cai'er immediately ran off to find her mother to leave behind the three alone.
Wen Ce could see how stunned and how shocked the young girl was.
Becoming stern upon his daughters departure, General Lan said, 'Lingyue, I thank you for saving my life today. I only have one daughter so I hope you can be sincere with her and not hold anything back.' Ever since their first meeting, Lan Yingwu can already tell the young lady wasn't so simple. She's clearly a commoner by the quality of her clothes. But she's no noble yet her beauty can rival theirs, clearly having access to cosmetic pills. And those things, are expensive.
But he didn't take Lingyue as a bad person. With a pair of eyes as clean as his, Lan Yingwu sincerely believes if he judges her wrong then there won't be another good person out there.
'Sir, Miss Ye is also a Reincarnation Realm.' Wen Ce informed the man causing the guy to choke.
'WHAT?!' Yingwu looked at Lingyue in disbelief.
'Confirmed and certified last night.' Wen Ce stammered out. 'She is a master of Lightning and Metal elements.' as if to support the man's words Lingyue showed off making Yingwu slack-jawed in shock.
'H-how old are you?'
'...I was ten with Lightning Trial and twelve with Metal Trial. That was several months ago.' Lingyue smiled stiffly. The old general gaped at her, horrified. 'My order was in reverse when people say it gets deadlier the further you go.'
'Oh my god...' this horrified the man. Lightning at freaking TEN?! Most adults DIE from even just a single lightning strike! Even then death is more preferable than being a charred cripple for life!
'Well, you can keep going unlike most cultivators, given what people know about you.' Lingyue giggled. 'Only those with strong hearts can go further. Those with weak hearts are killed by the trials. So many deaths, so most people don't dare, not daring to take a leap of faith.'
'That explains it...' Yingwu shuddered. 'My master Marquis Wu and that annoying bastard Marquis Zhenyuan are currently level 6...they don't dare with going beyond into Avatar...that could be their last.'
'Well...maybe before we worry about celebration, maybe you should repair your house first...' Lingyue pointed out their rather large ventilation above them and sunlight was on them all. The general's face fell upon seeing that gaping hole. He thought it was bright because of the aftermath, it was actually because of sunlight!
'Urk...where did my wife and servants sleep last night...?'
xxx
Ye Xuan, Lan Cai'er's mother heard from her daughter what led to her husband's breaking through.
It was a stroke of luck. Cai'er invited a girl home with awesome wine, her father drank some, causing him to collapse from his energies that went chaotic...because the parasite of an evil alchemist freeloading off her husband, was kicked out by overpowering him! And Lingyue effortlessly killed the bastard before warning them all to stay away...with good reason.
She knows full well what happens should one break through that while her daughter was anxious, the younger girl is as cool as glass, knowing her husband will survive as 'only strong hearts make it, the weak-hearted die'.
And her husband indeed, survived.
And now her daughter wants Lingyue as a godsister!
'I would like to meet Lingyue first before I decide.' Ye Xuan told her daughter. 'We descended from the same name. Given her background, we're distant relatives.' she chuckled, making her daughter happier. 'My grandfather was a Ye from Qiufeng Town and he had sons that led to me.'
'Oh! All the better!'
Well, with Ye Xuan's support and shocking revelation...?
Apparently, Ye Xuan's grandfather was older than old Ye Gu by fifteen years and Ye Gu a toddler that barely started walking.
Unlike Ye Gu loyal to family and business, Ye Kang wanted other avenues. He aimed his luck elsewhere upon adulthood and opened a successful tavern where he could smell wine and food all day than the smell of metal that annoys him. And that was why Ye Xuan understands her husband's love for drinking!
'OOOOK?' Lingyue's eyes went comical chibi drops, and a bunny hopping above her head, leaving behind a big black dot per jump.
xxx
Ye Manor, Qiufeng Town, by sundown later through a Courier...
Ye Gu got a letter from his granddaughter about her time in Bo City and the last bit made him dig records...
'Oh dear, karma really does make things work...'
Family Registry showed that Ye Kang indeed, exists, in Branch Family Records. In records, he married a Shu Yunyun three towns away when he moved out, and had three sons, Ye Leien, Ye Feitou and Ye Xielu.
The youngest son bore six daughters. Among them, that very Ye Xuan his granddaughter talks about! How'd she end up meeting and marrying the man who became Governor Lan...?
xxx
With the manor repaired that took a couple days, a ceremony followed by a banquet after was held to celebrate Lan Yingwu's full recovery, Cai'er becoming a Dan Realm Expert and adopting a goddaughter into the family. They got many guests and gifts from said guests. The latter carefully dealt with on Lingyue's wish, because...
'I'm known in the Alchemist Association as Yi Liya.' said Lingyue. 'For my family's safety I went by an alias while applying for work there. Given my level, I'll end up on the Ranking List for sure no matter how much I conceal myself.' the Lans choked. 'Using an alias is safer for us all.'
The Ranking List.
If to the naive public, making it there brings you great prestige and respect, its true nature was nasty.
Its a way to locate future vassals for nobles by hook or by crook. Commoners who reach such levels at a young age, are indentured by force or else. Its the only way they can nurse their bruised egos by making it clear nobles and royals are always above commoners, accomplishments be-damned! The only way to avoid such fate, is if you have a sect or a powerful backer backing you up!
This adoption by the Lans who are backed by Marquis Wu can provide such protection.
She's powerful for someone who's only thirteen.
'At least if I somehow make it in the list as Yi Liya, I can move with impunity and my family will never be in danger.' said Lingyue. 'They have nothing to hold over me.'
'We nearly forgot that stupid list.' Lan Yingwu pinched his nose in utter displeasure. 'Heck, I wouldn't know it existed if Master didn't warn me in time...under his tutelage and support, I rose high and gained many merits and the Emperor's praise. I failed to notice I was slowly sinking deeper into quicksand called nobles' ire until he warned me. He soon made it clear I have his backing to protect me from their bullshit and I made sure I repaid in kind with my support as well...and helped him stabilize the Civilian Faction.'
As Lingyue knows, the Civilian Faction under Marquis Wu, is full of capable people, be they good-hearted nobles and highly-accomplished civilians, thus he's very well-connected and they're very popular, unlike the powerful, but unpopular, snooty Noble Faction who looks down on everyone simply because they can?
It was also a warzone back in the harem wars for the Empress' seat.
They succeeded in putting Liu Yunxiu as Empress. Her father was the current king's tutor. Beautiful, kind and caring. Popular...until stuff happened.
Before checking the boutiques out last she was there, she scoped out what information is useful for her against the Hong House.
There's a reason she befriended Lan Cai'er. She too, needs the backing of Marquis Wu under her alias.
She had sent an anonymous letter to the Queen attached to a paper-wrapped present in a box with a silk ribbon, and left behind her Rainbow Monkey Wine then.
Instructions in how to make her son feel better in secret, and get stronger in secret.
Let their enemies still think he's a maniac. Once her son recovers and gets stronger, they can then make a comeback!
By now, Xia Houqi should be OK...assuming the queen followed instructions, that is...that's not on her any more!
Once the queen is back in power...so will the Civilian Faction.
This should be fun.
Her real father, is an assassin and covert operator. Right now, covert operation is what she needs to gain a power base that can back her up, before she can act against the Hongs before they act on HER if they find out she and her mother are still alive.
'Then instead of Lingyue, your name on records will be Lan Liya.' said General Lan. 'Your real name is indeed, out of the question...wait, Alchemist Association? What rank are you?'
How can a family of miners protect themselves from monsters in the capital...? Lingyue indeed, went smart that she made an alias in Alchemist Association when she applied for work.
'Well, I can effortlessly lift nine cauldrons to be an instant Senior Alchemist, but all I have is Spirit Force.' said Lingyue, frowning. 'My knowledge is mostly on the pharmacy side as buying precious items to make magical items, tools and weapons is simply out of my hands, unless we hunt for those ourselves so it's in a way, free.' said Lingyue. 'I got by that way with my herbs too. Qixing Mountain is my playground so I know where to get what.'
'So for that reason you never let anyone know you're powerful enough to be a Senior Alchemist. It makes horrifying lot of sense.' said Cai'er. 'So you'll sell pills for money to fund other projects.'
'Pretty much.'
Then Cai'er looked awkward.
'Speaking of pills...' she said with a childish way of squirming. Lingyue knew its about the yellow pill she gave her.
'No need for that now I guess...I thought its a heinous issue that even experts at Xia City failed, how should we know Exorcism is all General Lan needed all along?' Lingyue deadpanned before freezing.
'Lingyue?' Ye Xuan asked in concern as the girl froze.
'General...is Spirit Possession a technique of all alchemists worldwide?'
General Lan shook his head.
'Well, evil practices are forbidden in Daxia. Anyone caught doing it will get you execution until your whole family dies to prevent succession so evildoers like Fang Hao gather in Central Plains to experiment there.' said General Lan, seeing what Lingyue is thinking. He knows that the best in their fields could not help him even with the Emperor's backing himself. 'They probably wouldn't know Spirit Possession.'
'Ah...just incase.' Lingyue thought the alchemists may know but are bribed to NOT help the guy...
'Wait, what pill?'
'Lingyue gave me a pill...its a yellow one supposedly for your injury I was gonna purchase for 50000 silver...' Cai'er took out a yellow pill. Her parents' jaws dropped so fast at the sight of a rare, hardly-seen commodity that she returned to Lingyue. 'Again, how should we know father needed exorcising? This probably wouldn't work if we didn't know the actual truth...'
'It really wouldn't because that bastard will ensure General will never heal.' Lingyue snarked. 'He'll suppress the benefits.'
Lan Yingwu knew arrangements had to be made...and fast.
'You can make yellow pills?'
'Since I was in Dan Realm, yup.'
Holy shit.
HOLY.
SHIT.
Lan Yingwu knows now, that they need this girl on their side.
As he had his musings, he was an open book to Lingyue who was easily seeing his thoughts with magic.
But she also learned how much danger things are now, if the Noble Faction gets more say in matters. This falls more into Kiritsugu's beliefs that when he taught her as a child, 'To save a body, take out the cancer.' and such logic applies here. The body is the country, and the cancer are the corrupt nobles and officials. They need an alchemist who can make Yellow Pills for everyone to empower the Civilian Faction.
xxx
Ye Huangxuan's Home...
Cai'er went to check on Lingyue as she had gone to her uncle's home to clean up as promised.
Tons of laundry hung out to dry. Linens and clothes. The house so clean it almost looked newly-built and artificial. And she's now munching on sliced vegetables from a plate? And she was sitting on a chair.
'Looks like you're almost done.' Caier grinned as she made herself welcome.
'Yeah. 5th uncle will come home to a fresh-smelling house for sure.' said Lingyue with a smile. 'It's exhausting though!'
'Where are the family servants?'
'Uncle chucked them on paid leave when grandfather ordered him to come home for a period of time...according to grandfather he gave his servants about 5 months worth of paid leave money.'
'Whoa, what a long holiday!'
'Welp, there was a big stroke of luck but all family sons and nephews must gather...we run our Ye Household fair and square to avoid internal family disputes by hearing what everyone has to say, then choose the best option that's good for everybody with logic behind explained.' Lingyue explained. 'It's like a congress in there as family sons and nephews have assigned duties...which their eldest son then inherits.'
'Ooh...then what about daughters of the Ye Family?'
'Well, given how tough and tiring mining is that fathers and brothers come home tired and achy, we prepare hot baths and muscle pain relievers...and talking about work at home after a rough day is taboo. Distraction is essential~' Lingyue snickered. 'By all means necessary, be it talking about fun things, or putting delicious food out or dinner...or even have the kids play in front of their father and brothers and look cute.'
'What a fun family.' Cai'er pouted in envy. Compared to her family, Lingyue's seem to be a warm bunch.
'Well, there's so many sons, nephews and grandsons there's only a few of us Ye daughters in there.' said Lingyue. 'Us girls must do well in martial arts or studies or both to appeal for a boring future...too bad for Grandfather Sister Ning and Sister Yinshuang wanted to explore since Sister Liuyun got handpicked by a sect after grandfather recommended her.'
'And you weren't?' Cai'er frowned in concern. Lingyue was talented yet wasn't picked?
'Nah, I chose alchemy. Sects have too many rules and I got used to my free life, sooo nope.'
xxx
After cleaning and bathing, the girls walked to the Courier Service before going home to Lan Mansion where Lingyue is now staying.
She now has a room in Lan Mansion and was treated very well. So out of gratefulness, she introduced tasty Earth Food to the maids using medicinal ingredients.
Lan Cai'er, to help supplement her father's income after getting pulled out of Daxia Martial Hall, planned and built Drunken Immortal, a restaurant popular for its taste and each time you eat, you gain a some yuan energy so people are willing to spend silver for cultivational boosts!
It's annual revenue, is over 15000 gold.
Because Lingyue could brew wine, they can put Rainbow Monkey Wine on the menu as so far, they have medicinal tea that also boosts cultivation.
And Fairy Square has a Brewmaster, an Employee Cai'er doesn't have.
The reason for their high clientele was because of their beneficial wares.
Their rival, was Fairy Square.
Fairy Square has delicious meals with a long history through its owner Madam Anguo, Cui Shi, the mother of An Mingxia who was Cai'er's rival, but they have plenty of wine to boast about that attracts a lot of civilian drinkers. Madam Anguo has a flair for business that she was favored by her husband despite her commoner background and provided great financial background to him. They are famous for their Five Treasure Wine.
Court Officials do NOT earn much after all.
Even Lan Yingwu who would say that 'Being a Civil Official is little improvement.' their salary a year is 1500 gold. But for a governor in this backwards place, Lan Yingwu's salary was 1100 a year. Ouch!
But being of the Civilian Faction and knows how commoners think, he made Bo City prosperous and a hubbub of trade, and gave many people jobs. His annual reports impressed the Emperor.
However, because of his news about his breakthrough reached the Emperor, the King wants him back in the capital and in the military again. Because of his level, his salary as General tripled to reflect his worth. This annoyed many nobles who were his age who were in the peak Upper Celestial still, as forming cores, required to enter Dan Realm, were that difficult. You cannot enter Dan Realm if you can't form a core before you can begin cultivating in that core, and Small Yin was harder than Big Yuan. Lingyue helped Cai'er achieve Small Yin.
Lingyue's stay in Bo City lasted half a month because of the repairs and helping Cai'er cultivate...and General Lan dealing with loose ends, before the new governor comes.
Selling Pills in the Association that nets her so much money as she sells Cosmetic Pills that attracts rich ladies. But she doesn't sell them in pill form just so women can crush it at home and rub it in their faces and lips, to her, that way is sooo primitive...she created blue-level shampoo, bathing tonics, lotion, skin cleanser, lip cream, and other things.
She exploited vanity of women, but one thing she cannot sell in Bo City is the Rejuvenation stuff that would be too expensive for Bo City folk. Only the rich in the capital can afford that thing, and even nobles can only dream of having yellow-wares due to failure rates even by masters. But she also tended to her 'new family' as well. With her red-level cosmetics, 50 years old Lan Yingwu and 38 years old Ye Xuan do not look their age. They were young and youthful again with very firm skin that underwent cleansing and skin whitening. And Lan Cai'er did not look twenty now. Lingyue also aided Cai'er in forming her core with her red chiyang pill, enabling her to break through to Dan Realm in five days, and began cultivating in the next few days by gathering pure Yin Energy all over the city for Cai'er to take during the rebuilding of Governor's Mansion, before the celebratory banquet happened.
They will keep it up until they leave Bo City.
Of course, it goes without saying that is Lan Family Secret for her safety!
When Lingyue sent a Spirit Seal crane to her mother in the mountains who was mastering her elements about recent developments on her part, the woman rushed to Bo City, clean and neat in appearance with thick, glossy flowing hair she usually wears loose and part of it braided.
'So you are Liya's mother.' said Lan Yingwu as the family welcomed Ye Huangyu.
'Thank you for taking care of my daughter.' said Huangyu gratefully with all humility in her posture. 'She's at work with Miss Lan is it?'
'Yes. They're preparing a large batch of wine to leave in our Bo City Branch of Drunken Immortal.' said Ye Xuan. 'She and my daughter hit it off.'
'Well, Ling-er, Liya broadens her horizons as...well...I might have sheltered her too much.' Huangyu admitted weakly. 'To the point that when I got home and talked to father, my poor girl had quite the encounter with a young man stronger than me and father gave her the talk I should have given her before I left for seclusion.'
'An encounter?'
Huangyu explained the Mountain Hunt incident that left her daughter in a stunned daze...and the horrified Lans told Huangyu just WHO was it her daughter met that got the young mother terrified.
Lingyue encountered a MONSTER who must be of the Avatar or Void strength as who the hell is a God-tier or Ghost-tier in this world?
Apparently, cities would know of Ghost Emperor, a feared power even in Daxia. A power even the top four nobles feared.
'We wouldn't know of him, how can such people be known in our peaceful Qiufeng Town where nothing happens?' Huangyu was horrified. The Ghost Emperor could have taken advantage of her sheltered daughter and she wouldn't know as she was in seclusion! All sorts of Adult Fear got Huangyu hyperventilating in terror and grief the couple had to calm her down before she became a mess and plain glad it didn't go beyond kissing. Yeah, no good parent would want THAT sort of thing happening to their daughter!
After calming her down into hiccups...
'So about your daughter...she's a level 2 in Reincarnation...'
'I'm a rank above her. She helped me break through safely thanks to her pills.' said Huangyu who sported reddened eyes and a reddened nose from crying making the couple choke. 'Liya has great affinity with energy which is reason for our meteoric rise father felt it's due to our karmic burden...that due to injustice upon us when she was born, we were aided in turn through my daughter. And if you're all going to Xia City out of royal command...'
...she had to tell them the truth about them.
The truth floored the parents. Huangyu was also privy to what she currently knows of the Hong Family, combined with her daughter's knowledge from two years back which was a boon to the Lans as they were of the Civilian Faction under Marquis Wu, Gu Cangtian.
'Lingyue and I are gathering strength for now. Our strength is enough for a single Hong Fang, the problem is what's behind him.' said Huangyu. 'We need more strength to be thorough.'
'Mm...we understand.' indeed, you can't avenge yourself that easily. Because they WILL look for 'who caused them to lose face'.
They hadn't known Hong Fang is a bastard son, that's something the public doesn't know.
'Lingyue will be careful as well.' said Huangyu. 'I will come to see her in the capital when I mastered Water Element martial arts for cultivation aid before I return to the mountains. Right now as much as we love each other, distraction is out of the question right now. We work to live through the aftermath should we gain our justice. The aftermath is the hard part.'
'Then why not enter Xia City under an alias like your daughter?' Yingwu suggested. 'You can work for my Master who will teach you the ropes for that future while Lingyue stays with us.'
'I'm halfway to level 4 now, I'll consider when I break through again.' said Huangyu with a weak smile. 'Liya gave me a red pill for that. Though I'm honestly terrified of what's next...but she said those weak of heart die, so I'm preparing my heart as well.'
'I see...next for you is probably fire as Liya said you went through Earth, Wind and Water in that order.' said Yingwu. 'Well, as one who drew that card for my first level...I know how it feels to be roasted in campfire now.' he said sardonically, drawling out his words, making Huangyu laugh feebly one can hear a whimper and she was shaking.
'R-right...gulp...'
Huangyu then left the mansion.
'Karmic Burden...huh?' the general muttered darkly. 'And that Hong Fang is indeed, a bastard through and through!' he shook his head in disgust. 'Who else what they've done, that they even attracted an entity that came to punish them!'
'My poor cousin...' Ye Xuan shook her head at how her cousin's marriage turned out. 'No girl alive deserved men like him, but girls draw the bad luck, before finding the right man in the end. Surely by working for Marquis Wu someday, she'll find a good man.'
'Mm. I'll have to tell Master this in person, what we learned just now is too dangerous to be put in letter.'
xxx
'So this is your Heirloom Spirit Space...' Cai'er looked around the spirit space which was stupidly huge for a thirteen year old who inherited it from ancestors. It was Lingyue's personal garden of high-class herbs too expensive to buy in markets that she raised a FIELD of them. And this place is brimming with energy that made her herbs and trees stupidly-high-grade.
'Yes. Most alchemists can only refine blue pills as their best product, as materials they get are of low quality no matter how good their talent is or how strong their spirit force is so if its product in concern, they can go for weapons, tools and items. To gain yellow-grade pills, they need higher grade herbs and fruits but those are rare to come by...'
'And you're raising high-class goods in your field now...' Cai'er sweatdropped as there's one looooong row each, for everything she's known. If she sells one of these, they'll go for hundreds of GOLD in auction!
'Well, this is where I let my wines mature.' Lingyue smiled. 'One day outside is one year here...' at that, Cai'er can compute that 2 hours outside is 2 months in here! 'So yes, it's easy for me to churn out wine every other week.'
'Oh my gooood!' Cai'er gasped out, amazed.
'Since you guys adopted me, I began making wine vats for the storage room of Drunken Immortal.' said Lingyue. 'But due to their value as a decade-old wine with healing properties, you should price it appropriately.'
'Yeah. How many glasses in a vat?'
'About two-hundred.'
'...how am I gonna make people believe that one of Monkey Wine's ingredients is Phoenix-Infused rainbow water?' Cai'er was utterly flat in her expression as she can imagine how people will react now if she made such claims even if it's true! 'If people believe me, this wine's gonna be hella-expensive! 50 silver per glass!'
'Well, how about we make a free taste-testing using small cups?' Lingyue suggested. 'That way, even THEY will understand through taste and body how expensive this is gonna be. And due to the price, we have to make it a seasonal product at let's say, Springtime.'
'Yeah...if I serve this every day...my customers will go bankrupt and go to Fairy Square instead.' Cai'er pouted. 'On our last days here, let's hold that free taste-testing and make it clear that this is seasonal.'
'Mm. But Cai'er, I'm not gonna sell this in Xia City, OK? With good reason.' said Lingyue warningly. 'I don't wanna empower my enemies.'
'They're our enemies too y'know.' Cai'er snorted. 'If they get more power, corruption will destroy our country as the noble faction only cares about themselves.' she scoffed. 'For now they support the current Crown Prince Xia Houhong, but anyone with a brain will know that he'll be a mere puppet emperor.' she snarked. 'Just use tap water for our branch in Xia City.'
Only select people will get your goods.
With that, they organized a Free Taste-Testing event.
Lingyue lured a lot of people by releasing the fragrance of Rainbow Monkey Wine by removing the cover of her wine jar...and its Cai'er who handled publicity while her job was keeping those shot glasses coming.
Free taste doesn't exactly mean you get a cup!
Due to the nature of the wine as people felt its powerful beneficial effects, they got the message they want to come across.
It's seasonal, every spring only! For 50 silver a cup!
Many people cringed at the price, lamenting on how only the wealthy can enjoy that every day while for those who need to save up, would rather buy a glass for actual usage as medicine.
That's fine too.
xxx
Soon...it was time to leave when the new governor arrived. Lan Yingwu prepared a first-class hotel for the man while having his and his family's belongings inside the estate while he and his family clean up theirs.
And it's a long journey to Xia City on carriages loaded with heavy goods that pacing is understandably...slow!
Lingyue was the food source guarding her part of the food caravan, while hiding that she's mass-producing food in it thus the maids simply think, 'We sure packed a lot, didn't we?'
It was an all-vegan diet for half a month into August...opps, that should be the end of Lanyue now that tomorrow is the beginning of Guiyue, the second half of 'august' to first half of September. Calendar here is weird!
The morning before they got close to Xia City, everyone took turns bathing in tubs with Lingyue's bathing solutions just so they'll get to the capital fresh as a fragrant flowers. General Lan polished his armor till it gleamed, before taking a bath with the manservants with him going first and the ladies by then, are in comfortable cool carriages, thanks to Lingyue's Ice-Freezing Grass. They wore their best dresses and hairdoes.
The capital of Daxia, Xia City was an old and rustic city in this kingdom. Rich in tradition and wealth...oh, and social nasties between nobles and the wealthy that commoners opt for 'Nope, not gonna deal with that shit,' and continue living peaceful lives lest they get killed for getting involved.
The Gates are guarded by heavily-armed soldiers, all of whom are Upper Celestials. And there's plenty of patrols by the entrance!
'Finally, we're here!' Lan Cai'er groaned as she came out a beauty that stunned the patrol guards. Her skin is so creamy and her lips lusciously-pink and soft-looking! And her hair! 'I need some exercise when we get home!'
'That can wait after we pass through customs.' said Lingyue wryly, also going out for stretching. 'After we get to your house, I need to rush to the Association for my monthly membership fee before the day ends or my membership's toast.'
When the Lan family left the capital before, most of the nobles here thought they would never see their rise again. Yet who wouldve guessed that Lan Yingwu would make a breakthrough into the reincarnation realm in that tiny place like Bo City!
'Madam, you take the girls back to the generals mansion in the northern district first, I need to make an appearance in court before coming back.' said Lan Yingwu, coming out...a young, handsome man in his armor! He didn't look 50 at all! What the hell, the guards thought, wide-eyed.
'Alright dear, we'll get dinner ready then. 'We'll definitely have meat ready, we have way too much vegetables and tofu!' Ye Xuan smiled as her laughing husband left on a separate horse.
When the Lan family's carriages passed through the gate, several paper cranes of various colors also took to the air in differing directions.
Inside the mansions belonging to some of the capitals biggest nobles, these influential figures all became aware of this news as soon as possible.
'Have our men spy on the generals estate and Marquis Wu's place. If anything happens in this period, report back immediately!'
Due to Lan Yingwus return, the struggle for power between the aristocratic faction and the commoner faction once again had its curtains unfolded.
xxx
The mansion that Madam Lan headed to was their former estate prior to leaving the capital, and inside remains the many old servants that they had employed prior to departing the capital before. To smooth over the introduction, Madam Lan immediately brought Lingyue to her side to introduce the girl to everyone.
'This is here Liya, my goddaughter from my side of the family and with our family's blessings, she took on the Lan name. Therefore, from now on she's the second miss of the house. Be sure to treat her as you would to Cai'er.'
Second Miss?
The old servants were all somewhat displeased over this because its only been five years since the governor and his wife left the residence. Why would there suddenly appear another lady of the house?
Then having another look at this second lady, jade like skins with a beautiful feminine face, rather than calling the second miss like the general, this young girl was more like the madam with a mild temperament to their eyes.
'Second Miss,' all of the old servants of the estate called out in unison to acknowledge Lingyue. Henceforth, every member of the generals residence has learned that no longer does the general have one young miss, he has two, the second one by adoption as goddaughter!
Gifting every servant with a gold coin upon their meeting, Lingyue did the smart thing and instantly won their hearts. In return for the bribe, the word that went around was that the second miss was a clever one instead of a brutish one like the elder sister. But after she got changed out of her formal clothes, her actual clothes were more on the cute side...and she left in a hurry because she had a deadline to make!
And Cai'er introduced Lingyue personally to cement her presence at home.
That night after Lan Yingwu returned from the court, the four enjoyed a joyous meal together for the first time in the capital. And by next morning when the general went out for his duties, Madam Lan called the girls over to discuss something.
'Cai'er, since there's only some old servants here in our home right now, I'll have to bother you two to get us some new ones for the family.' said Ye Xuan as she noted that the servants here are near retiring age. 'Bring Liya with you to the Slave Market too and have a look. If you find some clever little girls then buy some back to help. At that, Madam Lan hands over five hundred silvers worth of money.
Despite being a lady of the Ye house, Lingyue never experienced the catering treatment of having a servant at her side at all times because she and her mother only ever had Nanny Liu for ten years, before she took in Yanche and the kids. This also applies after she gained the favor of Ye Gu later on in their relationship, which was clearly demonstrated by the lack of maids accompanying her for the ride to the capital.
Not missing this point, Madam Lan had to do something. After all, unlike Lingyue's former background as a merchants daughter, her identity now was a general's daughter. To fit this image, she had to bring along some maids to be presentable.
Madam Lan was thoroughly thoughtful. Anything Cai'er had, Lingyue will have. Whether it be maids or living quarters, everything will be prepared in short timing.
Also, in the not so far future, she intends to bring Lingyue with her to attend the various formal gatherings so that the girl can gradually meld into the lifestyle of the capital.
Lan Cai'er grew ecstatic. As a lively individual, its been far too long since she went out to prowl the busy streets. Coming out of the estate, she first brought Lingyue to have a stroll around the main market in the city before leading the way to the Slave District.
In Daxia, free citizens are free to sell or buy people that's fallen into slavery. The Illya in Lingyue highly disapproves of this, but alas, when in Rome, do as the Romans do!
This was a first for Lingyue to visit a place like so. Bustling with life, there are plenty of stewards from powerful houses making a scene here. For those less fortunate, there are families currently in the middle of selling their children because they are unable to support themselves.
Towards this level of treatment where others would treat a human being like livestock, Lingyue knew her father Kiritsugu would hate this. He taught her right and wrong on the morally-humane side and how to deal with the wrong properly when she reaches adulthood. He would surely pull a kill em'all schtick to free these people.
Cai'er saw how uncomfortable Lingyue was. She never bothered exploring Xia City before so she never saw this side. Lingyue tends to have tunnel vision in her goals, so she'll have to teach her to explore.
'Daxia's capital is like this. There are people of all types here, but only the strong and influential gets a say. After you stay here long enough you will also get used to it.' she explains to Lingyue gently and kindly, worried the girl might be turned off by the scene.
Despite making a full round around the market, Lingyue was thinking.
'Cai'er, what happens, if nobody buys them?'
'Well, they usually end up in a Brothel.'
'What's that?'
Cai'er had to explain was a Brothel was, that horrified Lingyue with a red face before looking furious. Sure, some Brothels are nice that sold only entertainment and company but NEVER their bodies...and there are those that cater to man's carnal fantasies.
"How soon do I nuke those places?" Lingyue thought darkly. But the matter of fact is that the Lan Mansion only has so much room...not all the kids can be saved and their family needs adult workers, not kids. 'Sister, how about this? We buy girls, tell them that unlike slaves who don't get paid, they are paid employees, so their families won't have to sell even their toddler siblings as slaves.' she said. 'I understand and somewhat-but-reluctantly accept selling teenagers of 15 and above, but...little kids?' she was utterly disgusted, shaking her head at how disgusted she was. Sure she took in Yanche and the kids but at least she gave them good lives in return for cleaning her house and they are tutored on free times!
Cai'er knew this was hard for Lingyue to accept.
Sometimes she envied Lingyue's rose-colored life. Backwater Countrysides must be where the good people in the world are, she thought.
'Well, you'd best choose who to save.' Cai'er told Lingyue softly. Lingyue nodded before spreading her magic spell about.
She can only choose those who had the worst lives to take in.
There can only be ten because that's the vacancy in the mansion.
It was a difficult choice, as Lingyue put on a brave face. She'll have to use magic on the better human beings among customers into selecting those with shitty lives and buy them.
xxx
Lan Mansion, hours later...
'Cai'er, where's Liya?' Ye Xuan asked her daughter.
'She said she'll let loose some steam, mother.' said Cai'er with a sad smile as she brought home ten girls. 'She didn't like the culture of the Slave Market.' she said. 'She was so upset. I guess her hometown must be full of good people who would never do things to others like what we're used to here in the capital.'
'I see...well, this is an aspect of life everyone will know eventually.' said Ye Xuan with a sad smile. 'And those girls?'
'Paid employees, salary about 3 gold a month.' said Cai'er. 'For now Liya's paying their paychecks.'
'Eh? That's your father's job!'
'Er, let Liya pay them for one whole year, she said.' said Cai'er. 'Our moving here cost us a lot of money, we need to bounce back first before we build another Drunken Immortal.'
A:N- I can see that so many diehard fans are so focused on what they want that they only believe what they want to believe in. That's fine, we all have our own opinions, I just don't wanna get flak for much worser things. And I will write what I want to write. All fanfic authors are entitled to their own freedom too.
Again, instead of flakking me with complaints, helpful stuff is more appreciated. Again, I am not a TYPEMOON encyclopedia. I go by what's in wiki sites but even then they're not much helpful either.
Are You TYPEMOON Virtuosos then? Do you have such access to stuff only Japan has right now?
Help is appreciated, not complaints.
