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“When a successor from each peak has a golden core that is sufficiently capable and developed for the role, that core will manifest changes that reveal its personality. Great cultivators have gone through this very process; it is nothing you need to worry about.” The Lady of the peak, Qing Jing, who was speaking, rose from her chair and sat down beside her chief disciple. "The current leader has the spirit of a lion, and if you notice, it can be anything, a deer, a wolf, even as simple as a sparrow. “If you tell me you’re feeling changes in your body and your spiritual energy feels more uncontrolled than usual, that’s simply it. I knew it was a good choice to choose you as a disciple that day despite your condition.”
“I dislike the idea,” was the simple comment her disciple offered. The Lady of the peak laughed softly, placing a hand on her disciple’s shoulder despite the look he gave her, for despite the years, he still disliked physical contact from most people. The Lady of the peak didn’t flinch; instead, she patted him a few times before getting up.
“It’s late, Shen Jiu. Go to your room; this week you’re simply going to need to rest as much as you can.”
Shen Jiu glanced at her sideways and stood up, leaving the room. When he was in the doorway, he turned around once more. “Am I the only one going through these changes?” he asked. “I don’t want anyone talking nonsense behind my back.”
"Watch your tongue; a scholar of the Qing Jing Peak shouldn’t speak that way. To answer your question, no, the others are likely going through the same process. It’s like pulling a thread to unravel the entire tapestry. Someone may have already changed, and simply because of the spiritual power of the connected peaks, the same thing is happening to the rest.” Shen Jiu nodded upon hearing this and silently made his way to his room.
Most of the disciples at Qing Jing Peak were already aware of the change that had come over their Shixiong; it was actually quite obvious, regardless of whether he wanted to hide it or not. Shen Jiu presented the changes expected of each main disciple; a white cat’s spirit manifested in his appearance, with white, pointed (and fluffy) cat ears and a cat’s tail that he used to tease others, and if you made him angry with it, he’d hit you or trip you up. it was very noticeable that this didn’t mean his attitude changed in the slightest; instead, most people preferred to stay away so as not to accidentally touch him, though the female disciples under fourteen were the only ones who could get slightly close without him saying anything to them, they preferred to keep their distance.
Shen Jiu was handing out orders for future missions to the new disciples who would soon begin traveling alone, children who seemed to need constant attention, since the few times he’d gone on a mission with that rabble, they hadn’t known what to do.
“You,” said Shen Jiu, pointing at the shortest boy. “You’ll go to the central plains with the rest of you standing next to him. they're class C demons, get out of here unless you want to pay for your punishment.” Most of them grumbled inwardly, but a single glance was enough to silence them, while Shen Jiu continued assigning the various missions to the others.
It wasn’t something Shen Jiu enjoyed doing; he preferred not to surround himself with anyone, nor to speak to them. Despite his title as main disciple, the rest were still insolent rats who talked and spread lies that he didn’t bother to refute. It didn’t affect him, and he had already removed several from his path on his way to the top; getting rid of a few more wouldn’t be difficult.
The stupid expressions on their faces made him want to laugh; he hadn’t threatened them with anything. What’s with that look of fear? he wondered to himself.
“As you command, Shixiong!” the disciples shouted, turning on their heels to run in the opposite direction as if a swarm of bees were chasing them. Shen Jiu scoffed slightly at their strange behavior.
He set about reviewing and jotting down the rest of the information when the wind blew, and instead of the usual cold breeze for this time of year, it was hot air that swept over him. It was strange, since it wasn’t even like this in summer, and it was mid-autumn. Turning to see where the air had come from, he nearly fell as he stepped back so quickly. “What the hell!” Shen Jiu hissed.
A dragon was literally right in front of him, about two zhang away… What the hell! What was a damn dragon doing behind him? Shen Jiu immediately backed away, looking for a way to summon Xiu Ya to eliminate the threat when a voice echoed in his mind, «A-Jiu… can you hear me?»
“Qiang? How are you talking to me through my mind! What dirty trick did you learn now?” Shen Jiu calmed down slightly upon hearing the voice of someone familiar, though he still preferred to stay away from whatever was in front of him that could kill him in a single bite. Gripping Xiu Ya, he lifted him up and pointed him at the dragon, just so it would see that it shouldn’t come near him.
«Your Shizun told you about the changes, didn’t he? My Shizun told me that all the main disciples know about it.» To which Shen Jiu nodded. «I’m right in front of you…» When Shen Jiu heard that, he immediately looked ahead, where the dragon with dark scales and golden fur was still staring at him.
“You! You’re that thing?” Shen Jiu shouted, nearly letting go of Xiu Ya at the unbelievable words he’d just heard.
Although the mental communication was temporarily cut off, it seemed he had guessed correctly. The dragon lowered its head and lay down closer to him, even though Shen Jiu was still in the midst of a mental crisis, unable to understand what was happening. Although he could also use his full spiritual form, he didn’t see the need for Shi Qiang to come in that form. Besides, him, as a dragon? How unfair! He didn’t see him as one at all.
«My Shizun told me that since I possess the spirit of a great beast, my best option was to get used to this state… I almost ran into your Shizun’s bamboo hut on my way here… Besides, they say dragons possess wisdom! Don’t you think it’s interesting that I’ve become one? There hasn’t been one in the sect for two centuries!» Shi Qiang’s voice sounded again, and Shen Jiu lowered his guard and sheathed his sword. He approached where the head was resting in the grass and crouched slightly to stroke its snout.
“You’re an idiot. If you’d damaged the bamboo house, I wouldn’t have spoken to you for a long time,” he said, to which he heard a small snort from the other creature.
Shi Qiang closed his eyes; in his dragon form, he had to remain careful not to cause any unintended harm. Besides, thanks to his ability to slightly change size, he shrank a bit so that A-Jiu wouldn’t feel uncomfortable being with him. «Hmm… I would have paid even if it cost me everything I have, as long as you had a roof over your head.»
“Stop talking nonsense,” Shen Jiu replied, a slight blush on her cheeks that she tried to hide by turning her face away. Shi Qiang looked at Shen Jiu and the tail swaying rapidly behind her. Looking more closely, he could see the spirit beast that he had ultimately become, and he couldn’t agree more with this. Apparently, in the end, everything follows a logic that extends all the way to one’s own golden core.
«Are you a cat? A-Jiu looks just like one.» Upon hearing this, Shen Jiu gave him a gentle tap on the head, turning away to look the other way.
“Yes, I am. I don’t really like it. Cats are simple."
«Cats are agile, curious, elegant, and affectionate in their own way… I don’t think cats are simple. Besides, A-Jiu is a white cat spirit, and they bring ‘good luck.’»
“You and your big talk! Silly!" Clearly, for him, being with Shi Qiang simply meant flattery in a very refined form, all because they were at the pinnacle of literature, where they spent their days writing. And Shi Qiang dedicated them all to him!. He doesn’t understand how he’s even a main disciple. The day they both receive their official titles will be the day Shi Qiang gets new opportunities for more cheesy lines. From where he stood, he could see his tail swaying back and forth! Silly dragon!
“A-Jiu, I saw a spacious place on the way here. Can we go?” Upon hearing this, Shen Jiu nodded immediately. He isn’t the type to do favors, much less take someone somewhere… but considering how hard Shi Qiang has worked for him… something like this isn’t out of the question.
“Why is Yue-Shizhi here at Qing Jing Peak?” Yue Qingyuan, with his newly bestowed title and fully formed gray tiger spirit form, stood in front of the bamboo gate of the peak where Xiao-Jiu was. Even though he knew Xiao-Jiu didn’t like his presence, he wanted at least to spend a moment with him and check on his condition.
“I wanted to speak with Shen-Shidi, Shigu,” replied Yue Qingyuan. The mistress of the peak looked at him for a moment before pulling out her own tuanshan to cover half her face, a behavior Xiao-Jiu had copied from her.
“I don’t think my main disciple is available at the moment,” she replied after a few seconds of silence. Yue Qingyuan didn’t change his smile and continued to press her.
“If it’s not too much trouble, why is that?” The Lady of the peak waved her fan twice to leave the house and head in another direction, casting a brief glance back as Yue Qingyuan began to follow her. “I can show you where he is, but since I don’t know what your real relationship with my disciple is, I recommend you not bother him.” Yue Qingyuan nodded.
Both walked in silence along the bamboo path. Yue Qingyuan took in his surroundings and the peaceful atmosphere, compared to the peak where he lived, this place was much calmer. Sunbeams filtered through the leaves, reflecting their warm hues, while the cold breeze blew, causing the branches to clatter. The Lady of the peak continued walking beside him for a long time, without bringing up the subject. After a while, the bamboo thickened into a single mass; it seemed as though there was no way out or that the path had ended, but instead, the Lady of the peak parted the branches, revealing a place hidden from plain sight. If one weren’t curious, they would never find it.
A spacious and seemingly planned area lay there, surrounded mostly by bamboo shoots and a few trees.
In the background, two silhouettes could be made out: a large dragon with black and gold scales that reflected the light was the most visible; it was lying on the grass surrounded by various flowers: gardenias, daisies, acacias, and tulips. Meanwhile, the other silhouette, which was more concealed, was a delicate white cat lying on top of the dragon’s head. Both spirits were asleep and apparently comfortable enough to let their guard down, unaware of the presence of two other people.
Yue Qi could only smile. Turning halfway around, Yue Qingyuan bowed before the Lady of the peak and walked away from the spot. Summoning his sword, which he never draws from its sheath, he mounted it with spiritual power and left the area.
