Bloodline Tree – [Clan Building]

“I always suspected it, but to see it actually come true. Unbelievable,” Tianren muttered.

“How come you still feel so delicate?” Tianyue asked, pinching Shu Yang’s skin on his forearm. 

“You can try stabbing my skin with a knife and see if I’m delicate,” Shu Yang said.

“Really?” Tianyue asked.

“No stabbing your father,” Qianyue scolded, pulling Shu Yang’s arm away from their daughter, “How old are you, still so playful?”

“Please don’t bring up my age, Mom,” Tianyue said, leaning back in her seat and rubbing her forehead. 

“Alright, has everyone processed the news? If so, it’s time to decide what to do next,” Shu Yang said. 

He was sitting in his living room with Qianyue, Tianren, Tianhu, Tianan, Tianyue, and Tianzheng. He felt he needed to hear their opinions before deciding what to do next. They were the ones who would be left here while Shu Yang went looking for Tianyi, and they had families of their own to consider.

“Wait, I’m still not quite sure I understand,” Tianan said, “How did you advance, Dad? Did you eat Xiaorong?”

Shu Yang coughed awkwardly, “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. Xiaorong is family.”

“Then how? I thought the Saint stage was basically unattainable? Or is your bloodline that powerful? How come I haven’t inherited any of it?” Tianan questioned. 

“I should be a bit special. Let’s leave it at that for now,” Shu Yang said. He didn’t want to lie to his children by making up an excuse, as that might just lead them astray. But he couldn’t reveal the secret of the Bloodline Tree either. Not to mention how dangerous it would be if someone were to spread it, but how would his children feel hearing about his ability? Would they believe they only existed to make Shu Yang more powerful? That he only viewed them as resources that could fuel his strength?

He really didn’t think like that. But he didn’t believe he could ever explain away all the doubt his children might have should he reveal the truth.

“That’s it? You’re special?” Tianyue asked.

“That’s it,” Shu Yang nodded, “Now. I’ll leave to get Tianyi back soon, but we need to discuss what to do before then.”

“Really? You can get Tianyi back?” Tianren asked. He had always felt guilty for losing her.

“Do you know where she is? Is she alright?” Tianan asked. He hadn’t had an easy time with the guilt either. 

“I have no idea where she is,” Shu Yang answered with a sigh, “But I believe I’ll find a way to locate her. Either way, she should be doing fine for now.”

Qianyue’s hand clasped Shu Yang’s tightly when he mentioned their daughter. She was just worried about her as he was. 

“Anyway, before I leave, I thought I might take care of some enemies for us,” Shu Yang said, “It would make me more assured to know some threats are gone while I’m away. But you’re the one who will be left to deal with the consequences, so I want to know what you think.”

“Enemies?” Tianyue asked.

“You’re not talking about the Lishen Emperor, are you?” Tianzheng asked.

“Him and the King of Wen,” Shu Yang said with a nod, “Those are the only ones who worry me. Otherwise, Tianhu should be enough for any opponent.”

“Can you kill Saints? Already?” Tianhu asked.

“I should be able to,” Shu Yang said with a nod, but then he realized that he had assumed Xiaorong would be with him. That’s at least how he had planned it before advancing. 

‘Will she be able to help me fight still?’

“Should?” Qianyue questioned, “I would prefer you to be more certain than that before going against another Saint.”

“Do you even know how strong those two are?” Tianyue asked.

Shu Yang rubbed his forehead slightly, realizing he hadn’t thought things through. Without Xiaorong, the situation was completely different.

He might have had a chance with the invisibility talismans. He wouldn’t need to count on Xiaorong for a sneak attack if he used those. But now that he had actually advanced himself, he realized those talismans might be useless against a Saint. His perception had reached an entirely different level; he doubted he would be fooled by those things even without his Piercing Gaze. 

“Dad, the Lishen Emperor has been a Saint for at least a century already,” Tianhu said, “He really can’t be underestimated.”

“And yet he hasn’t succeeded in killing the King of Wen,” Tianzheng added, “Neither of them has killed the other. There must be a reason.”

“Even if you manage to kill one of them, the other one would hear about it,” Tianren said, “He would definitely become cautious, maybe go into hiding for a while. Can you kill him if you can’t find him? If not, there will be a surviving Saint that could reemerge at any time, with no one to hold him back, and keep his attention away from this place.”

“We shouldn’t forget that these guys aren’t exactly standing out in the open waiting to get attacked, they have hundreds of Masters around them, and an army of innate warriors,” Tianhu said, “Unless you have some assisation skills I don’t know about, I’d say it’s impossible to succeed in killing them.”

“Alright, alright,” Shu Yang said, “I get it. I was foolish. But what do we do then? Just continue hiding like this?”

“It’s not like we’re in prison,” Tianren said, “I don’t think we have it so bad.”

“What about your children? Some of them haven’t even seen the outside world,” Shu Yang said, “And what about in a few years when they grow up and want to start a family of their own, how are they supposed to find a partner?”

“I didn’t say it was optimal,” Tianren said, “But as long as they’re safe, I won’t complain.”

“Dad, it really is fine,” Tianhu said, “Everyone is safe and happy. The last thing we need right now is to take any risks that could make this all disappear.”

“Just go bring Tianyi home, Dad. We’re enjoying life just fine. The kids are all happy, too. It’s not like this place is that much different from Baishu Village now anyway, with all the refugees that have joined us.” Tianan said.

‘Well, I suppose they have a point. I could reveal my strength and warn the other Saints not to mess with this place, but that could have unpredictable consequences.’

“Fine,” Shu Yang said, “You’re right. But I’ll leave Xiaorong here with you just in case anything happens.”

Shu Yang had planned on bringing her with him, but now she was hurt and needed rest, and this place needed her protection in his absence. 

“No, you should take her with you,” Tianren said, “You will need her help if you want to get Tianyi back.”

“I’ll do fine without her,” Shu Yang said, “Either way, she stays, or I really won’t be able to leave without worrying.”

“Will she even let you go alone if you ask her?” Tianan asked, “I never got more than a glance from that fox. I don’t think she likes us much.”

“That’s you. She likes me just fine,” Tianyue protested.

“She should be willing to stay,” Shu Yang said. 

‘Right?’

“Why are you so worried all of a sudden?” Qianyue asked, “I didn’t see you this worried the past 8 years, and we didn’t have a Saint then either.”

“And we were just fine, weren’t we?” Tianren questioned.

“Still. I might be gone for a few years,” Shu Yang said. 

“You worry too much,” Tianan said, “We’ll be fine. We are only weak if you imagine a Saint coming over to kill us, but what are the odds of that? Anyone else, and Tianhu can just cut them down.”

“We made it this far without a Saint suddenly deciding to look for us and kill us,” Qianyue said with a slightly teasing smile, “I think we’ll be fine in the future as well.”

Shu Yang frowned slightly. ‘Maybe I’m worrying too much.’

“Alright, I’ll talk to Xiaorong and see what she decides,” Shu Yang said.

“When are you leaving?” Tianyue asked with a slightly gloomy voice.

“Not right away,” Shu Yang said, patting her head, “I’ll be here for at least another week or so. We still have plenty of time.”

“Okay,” Tianyue said with a small pout. 

The family discussed a few more things before the children left for their own homes. 

Once they were gone, Shu Yang went out to check on Xiaorong, who was sleeping in the tree outside as usual.

“How are you feeling, Xiaorong? Do you want more meat?” Shu Yang asked.

Xiaorong opened her eyes and glanced down at him, “Meat.”

She jumped onto his shoulders and looked around. “Where?”

Shu Yang pulled out his storage pouch and brought out some of the meat she hadn’t finished yet. 

“I was thinking you could stay here while I go north,” Shu Yang said, “You can just rest and eat, try to recover. I’ll bring something to help you when I come back.”

Xiaorong paused after swallowing a piece of meat and looked at Shu Yang.

“I’m coming with you,” Xiaorong said, and then continued eating.

“That’s…a lot of words,” Shu Yang said, not sure if he had ever heard Xiaorong say so much at once before. “Are you sure? It would be reassuring to have you here to keep my family safe as well.”

“Going,” Xiaorong said, narrowing her eyes stubbornly while looking at Shu Yang.

“Fine,” Shu Yang sighed. He couldn’t force her, so there was no point in arguing. 

‘I’ll see if she changes her mind before I leave.’

‘If not, I can just cross my fingers that nothing happens while I’m away.’