Beware Of Chicken

Epilogue: The North Wind Blows

Epilogue: The North Wind Blows

A freezing wind spoke from the north, cutting through the Dueling Peaks in the small hours of the morning. The world outside was hushed, a thin film of snow covering the frozen ground. Xiulans office mirrored the bleakness outside.

There was no light nor warmth here. No flame lit the hearth, nor light emanated from candle flame or light stone. Missing too were the voices that would fill her office and the bustle of moving bodies. Today there was only the rattle of the wind and the soft sound of a brush ghosting over parchment.Geett the latest novels on

Xiulan was seated at her desk. It normally bore the weight of many stacks of neat, orderly, scrolls and papers. Now, it was nearly empty. Save for the single scroll upon which Xiulan wrote. .

Finished writing she set aside her brush. Then she pulled out her seal and pressed it to the page. She took a moment to blow on the ink and ensure it was dry before she rolled the scroll up and sealed it.

Her last task completed, Xiulan stood from her chair and walked to the door. Once she reached it she turned around and spared the room a final glance.She had actually become oddly fond of the room and its big desk over the months. She smiled, turned, and exited the room at last.

Everything all finished Grand Marshal? Bao Wen askedfrom where he stood outside, and she nodded.

Yes. Please ensure this gets to Director Huizhong, Xiulan replied, handing the young man the scroll.

It will be as you command Grand Marshal, the young man said with a bow before he rose with a small smile. We shall miss you greatly during the days you are away.

Xiulan chuckled. I shant be gone long, Bao Wen. We still have more work to do but everybody deserves a rest. Especially yourself.

Bao Wen coughed sheepishly. Xiulan had actually had to scold him for working too hard. He had been sleeping in his office, trying to keep up with the amount of hours cultivators could work. Bao Wen recovered swiftly from his embarrassment, however, and clasped his hands in the gesture of respect.

Then allow me to wish you a good Solstice and a wonderful New Year, Grand Marshal.

Xiulans smile softened and she collapsed her hands together as well. You as well, Bao Wen. Have a wonderful Solstice and a happy New Yearwith luck, I shall hear of a date for your wedding.

Bao Wen beamed.

With that, they went their separate ways. Bao Wen, back to his duties. And Xiulan, out of the quiet mountain.

The corridors of the Dueling Peaks were as empty as her office. Almost everybody had gone home to celebrate the Solstice and the New Year. There would be a few scouts and rangers who would remain, volunteers to watch over the wide reaches of the Hills over the break. None of them were expecting any trouble, but if something did arise Well, then Xiulan and her dear friends would come to assist.

And whatever caused a disturbance big enough to have Xiulan come running to confront it, interrupting her most important period of rest and relaxation, would perish.

If Xiulan got to it first, of course. Tigu was getting extremely fast with her movement technique, and Xianghua at full steam was more like a superheated arrow than a human.

Xiulan chuckled at the thought as she finally came out of the mountain into the cold air. The sky was slightly brighter now, with the coming sunrise, but it was still overcast and grey.

Xiulans feet took her through the town. Over the new waterways that werent freezing, due to the subtle warmth of the channels beneath them. Past her own sects compound, where she had already wished her father and her students a wonderful break. An Ran was headed to Grass Sea City. Huyi was going to spend time with his family and make sure that bastard is good enough for my cute little sister. Xi Bu and Li were among those who had volunteered to stay and make sure nothing went wrong in their absence.

Her father and the Elders would be in seclusion for the next few months as they finished digesting their memory crystal.

Xiulan started humming to herself as her feet moved to that old beat. She danced alone, now. The normal slight pushback she felt from her dancing partner was absent.

It might have been a cause for concern, normally, but Xiulan knew where her friend was.

Half-remembered dreams of helping a good friend build a house for the winter tickled the back of her mind. As did the warm smile of the little girl as they tucked her in and kissed her good night.

Tianlans smile was the one thing she did remember with full clarity; peaceful. Relaxed. Happy.

It had put Xiulan in a good mood too.

Soon enough, she came to the square. The first one she spotted was Tigu. Her bright red knitted hat immediately caught the eye but it was more the fact that she was standing on top of a statue, her arms crossed, and pouting at the lack of sunlight.

Her tan was already starting to fade a bit, and she was most cross with that predicament.

Next, she spied Xianghua, learning against the statue. Xiulan raised an eyebrow at the red hat she also wore, with her headband firmly overtop it. Xianghua was talking with the Torrent Rider, the younger man having forgone his mask today to also wear a red knitted hat.

In fact, all of her comrades were similarly dressed. From Delun to Loud Boy, to even Huo Ten and Shaggy Two.

Blade of Grass! Are you finally done? Tigu demanded, shouting from the top of the statue.

Indeed I am. Are the rest of you ready to go? Xiulan asked, and received nods and confirmations as the rest of their party started standing. Excellent. With luck, well make good time today

Hold on a second! Tigu interrupted, hopping off the statue. Youre improperly dressed!

Xiulan rolled her eyes even as she allowed Tigu to put a red hat over her head. Stepping back, hands on hip, Tigu looked her up and down before nodding decisively with a self-assured grin, one of her fangs poking over her lips,

Did you make this? Xiulan asked.

Mm! Master said everybody needs a red winter To ke!

He huffed and straightened his robes, annoyed that the country rube was making him wait but soon enough some random serving girl approached.

The Lord Magistrate apologises to His Majesty's Imperial Auditor for the waithe had to make himself presentable for such august company.

The Imperial Auditor frowned and then felt some of his anger fade away. The hick had probably had cow shit on him or something, and he wouldnt have wanted to smell that.

He nodded regally and rose, following the serving girl into the meeting room. It was not anything personalbut the man was about to have a very bad day. And likely a very bad next couple of years, if he truly had caught the Wus ire.

He walked into the room like he owned the placeand then froze as he felt eyes level at him. Eyes that made his hair stand on end.

The Lord Magistrate of Verdant Hill greets His Imperial Majesty's Imperial Auditor, the man said, his voice powerful and smooth. The Imperial Auditor was immediately forced to reevaluate the man. Instead of a fat, ruddy faced peasant, he was greeted by a man who wouldnt have looked out of place in the capital. His clothes were of expert quality and make; his hair clasp subtly worked gold. His goatee was well-trimmed, just long enough to stroke, and his eyes were flinty daggers.

He cut an impressive figure, but he was somehow overshadowed by the woman sitting next to him, who was smiling pleasantly yet had an air of palpable malice surrounding her.

She looked very much like Ladyhe paused. This woman was a Wu. Lady Wu Zei Qi, the cripple. The woman who constantly shook from the damage she had taken from a cultivator.

This woman looked anything but a cripple. She did not shake at all, her hands steady like rocks. Especially the hand holding a fan in front of her mouth. A fan painted with a Soaring Phoenixa declaration of war.

He swallowed thickly, his mind racing.

Beside Lady Wu was an unexpected person, a representative from the Azure Jade Trading Company,wearing an Azure Sashwhich meant that this place had the backingthe full backing,of the Trading Company, who were just about the only people who could tell the Wu family to go shove it.

The Auditor was starting to feel faint. He felt his eyes slide over to the corpulent, jolly-looking man that had a tremendous stack of papers in front of him and looked downright pleased to see the Auditor.

The Auditor raised his hands and smiled politely, but inside he was suddenly very, very worried.

Alarm bells were ringing in his head as he greeted the people before him. He would have to tread very lightly here.

Why, oh why, had he been so sure that heading north would be a good idea?

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My wife scratched at her nose. We were long past the property line and quite far north, hip deep in snow. It was actually quite nice and the scenery was beautiful, but neither of us were particularly enjoying it at the moment.

Anything? I asked Meimei.

Nothing, She said with a frown.

We had been taking these walks for a couple weeks now, to see if Meimei could smell the acrid scent again But it hadnt returned.

Meimei was grumpy that she hadnt found the source, but it was probably a good thing if it was gone. Meant it was not here.

What do you think? I asked.

I think I think it flies? she said, hesitantly. Maybe very high up? I dont know.

My wife looked incredibly grumpy that this mystery was still persisting.

Maybe it's some kind of I dont know, Seven Stenches Buzzard? I said, trying to lighten the mood, and Meimei chuckled, before her face turned serious again. It bothers you that much, doesnt it? I asked.

It's just annoying. Every time I smell it, it ruins my day. It's like when you get shit on your boot and you wonder why your house smells like crap and you look everywhere trying to find it, Meimei huffed, definitely speaking from experience. And to be fair, I knew that feeling too. The ol shit shoe sucked.

So well keep looking, I said simply. Besides, I get to spend a lovely day with the woman I love the most in the world.

Meimei smiled at me and bumped me with her shoulder.

We wandered a bit more, Meimei occasionally sniffing at the air. Suddenly, she tensed, her eyes narrowing before she sighed and slumped. Why did you tell the Guan siblings that they could have their cultivator guards help them get everything ready in Verdant Hill? I keep smelling them, faintly, under Lu Ris Qi and it's annoying.

Because they have like five hundred tons of food to move? I asked back. It had taken them nearly a month to figure out how to even move everything, and this was the second trip. They would have to make a third to finish taking all the grain, pickles, and maple syrup jars.

Dont be reasonable with me, husband, Meimei said jokingly before she sighed again, then she made a face.

This was really bugging her. I put my arm around her shoulder.

Cmon, I think this is enough for today. Let's have some soup, then a bath. If the smell comes back well find it, and then you can experiment on it if it's evil.

Meimei perked up just a little, and a rather vicious smile stole across her features. My wife let me guide her away as she muttered under her breath. I turned my ears off, dismissing the war crimes I was hearing from my mind. I spared one last glance to where the smell always came from.

The northern wind blew, tousling my hair and caressing my cheeks.

It was cold, and I shivered a bit.