Tian clapped his hands together. The loud noise shocked everyone out of their argument. “We are going around in circles. We should take a break here. May I trouble Sister Su to compile the notes into something readable?”

“Certainly, Brother Tian.”

Tian retreated to his room to meditate. Big problems require big solutions. If the illness has reached the bone, the cure may be nothing less than amputation. Tian was an orderly who had read some medical books and gotten a bit of field experience. He was under no illusions that made him a competent doctor. So if he didn’t trust himself with a single patient, how was he supposed to doctor an entire nation?

What’s more, did he even want to?

Meditation wasn’t happening. He could feel himself descending into a mood. He demolished a few dozen rice crackers, then a cold roasted chicken leg from his ring. He had stocked up before leaving the Depot, and was glad of it. His appetite had gone berserk.

The food didn’t do anything to cheer him up. That made him irritable. His brothers would no doubt tell him to meditate to settle his heart. Instead, he opted to run through Calesthenics and Gourmet for the first time in ages. His body hadn’t forgotten the movements. They flowed effortlessly, each form perfectly executed. Tian remembered struggling to complete even one or two forms when he was in the dump. Every move pulled on his burn scars.

He persisted through the pain. The entire world was his reward. There was probably a lesson there. He didn’t care to learn it just now. Instead, he started running through all the forms for Thunderous Palm. He pushed himself to go harder and faster than he had ever managed before. He didn’t neglect the vital energy circulation either. He was trying to exhaust himself.

It didn’t work.

“Just what the hell is going on with my body?”

Three things. The first one is that you underwent a subtle, but powerful, bodily enhancement recently. It’s not particularly dramatic, but your efficiency in using your vital energy is up, as is your overall strength. And some other, far more dramatic, things you are going to find out about a long time from now so don’t ask but it’s a good thing. The second thing is that you regrew a finger, which means you are storing more energy and the energy you already have is flowing more smoothly. All very good stuff. The third thing is… more of a mixed bag. Net positive, and it has some upsides that I think you will really like, but you are going to be in for a rough time of it. And that rough time will last years, I’m afraid.

“Oh?”

Your puberty is picking up the pace. It’s wild to watch. Out of the blue, your endocrine system just went crazy. Your whole body is flooded with all kinds of… well you don’t know what hormones are but don’t worry about it. The good news is that you are going to get taller. The bad news is that you are going to have mood swings like nobody’s business, be hungry all the time, and have a much higher likelihood of doing SPECTACULARLY dumb things. Oh, and the growing thing can start and stop and start again at random times for random intervals. So that’s fun.

“Ah.”

Yep. And… I know you got “The Talk” from that kid Wong, but let me add something that your brothers have already told you a dozen times. The only one who decides when you are ready for sex is you. No one else. And you don’t get to decide that for anyone else either. You are going to live for a very, very, very long time. No need to rush.

“I know. I’m also just not really interested.”

That will change.

“I dunno if it will, really. I mean-”

Tian? Do you fully grasp how thoroughly developed and redeveloped your body is? Including the parts that crank out hormones? Did you miss the bit where you have highly active kidneys in the daoist medical sense? Your libido is going to change. Just remember- you have time to make whatever choices you want. Your body will be putting pressure on you. You have disciplined yourself in so many other ways. Make this one more.

They were another week in the air. Elder Feng had sent out another round of scrolls. Tian’s was about a particularly bloody revolt led by a messianic figure who claimed to be the younger brother of the Jade Emperor. The message he preached was quite benevolent and egalitarian.

Twenty million people died in the chain of civil wars and insurrections. That total included disease and famine as well as the battlefield dead. What bewildered Tian was that not one person under the “Revealed Prince of Heaven” tried to stop the madman before the collapse started. They had policy differences, yes, and a few tried to take the "Descended Celestial Throne” for themselves. But the central assertion of divinity? The social programmes, the way he strictly divided the sexes and reordered land ownership all in the name of replicating the heavenly order on earth?

No problems there. None at all. Tian might have called the divinity into question once the harem hit triple digits, and checked for demonic influence once it hit four digits, but not the honored ancestors. Perhaps they saw it as proof of his celestial father’s blessings. The scroll didn’t mention how many women joined the harem voluntarily. Tian had a suspicion that anyone laying a legal claim to so many people wasn’t really interested in those people’s opinion on the subject.

“Sister Liren, didn’t you say once that you had several dads?” He asked her when they were practicing out in the garden.

“Yes. Five.” Tian saw the pain in her eyes. He hesitated, then decided it was better not to ask.

“Ask.”

“No, I don’t-”

“Brother Zihao, just ask. If you say something stupid I’ll just stab you a few times. Just until I feel better again.”

“What an understanding little sister you are.” Tian smiled benevolently. Then frowned again. “Were they all part of your mom’s harem?”

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It seemed even Sister Liren wasn’t immune to the choking disease. He would have to check himself for signs of infection.

“Harem? Harem?!”

“I’m guessing no?”

“GOOD GUESS!” She banged her chest and got herself under control. “No. It was an arranged marriage. No concubines, or… or like a private household for them or anything. All one family, just not necessarily… I don’t know if Mom even had… well, I was really young when they died but I can remember seeing two of my dads kissing. So. You know. Seems unlikely.”

“So why did they- oh, you told me this.”

“Marrage on paper, combining businesses and influence networks in reality. My dads all came from good families. Our Burning Heavens Chamber of Commerce was pretty sizable, and marrying in was an easy way of mixing in smaller companies and families with good lineages who had fallen on hard times. My dads all married in and took the family name. Mom is the bloodline descendant of my Grandma.”

“Did they… get along?”

Hong went quiet. The two were resting after practicing their martial arts, and Tain thought the sight of her shaded by a Namu tree softened the lines of her face. The hair was just starting to grow back, but she still looked rather ferocious, almost alien. And, in the shadow of the tree, she looked sad.

“I was young. They never argued in front of me. They bickered sometimes, in a way that I remember felt friendly. They seemed to get along with Mom too, but I know I missed a lot. They were kind to me. I knew some of my friends had very cold relations with their other moms and dads, only getting love from the ones who gave birth to them.” She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.

“Is that what you want for yourself? A big family?” Tian asked.

“Not even slightly. Not even one tiny bit.” She shook her head vehemently.

“It sounds warm.” Tian wouldn’t have minded several dads, if they were all like Brother Fu. Just having the one dad was a thousand lifetimes of blessings though. Frugality was a supreme virtue. He would be very content with the one parent.

“It was, but like I said, that wasn’t common. All those marriages mean getting tied into all the business and politics of Mountain Gate City and, no. Just no. Maybe you are rubbing off on me, but I honestly would rather peel off my skin and jump in the sea than get into that snakepit.”

“I know you have been supporting your family-”

“Yes, I have. And I will keep supporting them. But, Brother, I refuse to be chained down by them. Unless I die or somehow fail to break through, I am destined for the Monastery. Just by existing, I will give the Hong Clan both face and power. I don’t need to make a good marriage, and I don't want to either. So, at the risk of sounding even more unfilial, anyone looking to make me marry their idiot sons better be ready for one hell of a fight!”

Tian smiled and applauded. “Hear hear!”

“What about you, Brother Zihao?”

“I, too, refuse to marry their idiot sons.”

Hong pressed a hand to her forehead. “You are also destined for the Monastery. Your adoptive father is already a direct disciple. You are an elder’s protege. Best of all, you don’t have any awkward family to negotiate with. You don’t come with any money, but as a political and military marriage, you would be fantastic. I could find you a half dozen wives now, let alone when you ascend.”

“Oh.” Tian frowned, then shook his head. “It wouldn’t work. Can’t fit them all in a cell. I’ve measured.”

“Brother…”

“My dream, for as long as I can remember, is to fly. To soar through the sky and explore the mountains and valleys in the clouds.” Tian glanced at Hong, then looked up into the blue heavens. “The only family I really know is Brother Fu, and until recently… there were some nights I couldn’t sleep because I was scared that an old man might not wake up in the morning, so if I didn’t sleep he would also be awake in the morning. I can’t imagine what it would be like if there were more people I had to worry about that way.”

“You need someone who can fly with you.”

Tian didn’t answer. He just looked out into the wild skies.

The next stop for the Windblown Manor was another sect.

“You have seen a mortal city, and most of you have had some dealings with mortals before you rang the Dragon Calling Bell. I don’t believe any of you have dealt with other sects before. Now it is time to see an immortal sect. Bamboo Medicine Hut is a minor sect in the Broad Sky Kingdom. Their speciality is in growing herbs and formulating medicine. An honorable sect, if unimpressive in most regards. Their medicine is quite good, however, and the Monastery has significant business ties with them. Technically we are allies, though in practice our relationship is more hierarchical in nature.”

Elder Feng called the disciples into her study the night before they were to arrive.

“Remember to comport yourself with dignity, uphold the rules of the Sect, and do your best to cultivate good relations with your peers.” Elder Feng’s smile was brief. “You never know when you will need good medicine, after all. Junior Lin, you will be accompanying the others on this trip. I will expect you to make introductions and smooth over conflicts as needed. To the extent you can, of course.”

The wide eyed girl cupped her hands and bowed in acknowledgement.

“The five of you will go around the sect and make friends, or at least make new acquaintances, while I have a cup of tea and a chat with their sect master. The conversation might stretch as long as a few days, so don’t feel the need to rush anything. You may have an opportunity to do some trading too, but that’s up to you. Go prepare, we arrive a little after breakfast.”

They bowed and turned to go. Before they reached the door, Elder Feng added- “If challenged, you may defend yourself. Exchanging pointers with our hosts may be beneficial. But as always, there is absolutely no fighting allowed between the five of you. I trust I am clear?”

She was.

The next day, the disciples gathered on the flying cloud platform.

“Brother Wang! Who knew you tidied up so well?” Tian smiled over at the big man.

“First impressions at a new sect, naturally this Young Master must look his best.” Wang pulled a fan out from his robe and casually fanned himself. There was a picture of mountains displayed on the back of it, as well as a couplet in beautiful calligraphy.

“‘Unlined clothes are good for dancing, no wine means getting drunk on song.’ Brother Wang, did you compose that?” Sister Hong’s recovering eyebrows shot up. She still had her head covered in a scarf and was still wearing the long gloves. It lent her an oddly holy look.

“Haha! Not me, not me. It’s a poem by a mountain hermit, part of a longer piece. But it’s good, so I had it put on my fan.”

“And you, Sister Su. You never look sloppy, but I see you have done up your hair today.” Tian nodded appreciatively.

“Yes. Sister Hong assisted me.” She nodded plainly. “You, on the other hand, appear… unchanged. Though I haven't seen you with that rosary before.”

“A souvenir from my last trip.” Tian smiled slightly. He felt nervous about meeting new cultivators, and there was something about fidgeting with the beads that was calming.

Tian looked over at Sister Lin and nodded politely at her. She shot him a venomous look. He shrugged. It saved him from having to find something to complement.

The manor drifted to a stop, and the flying cloud shot out of its storage jug. Tian silently ran his fingers along the rosary. This trip should be peaceful. A nice, peaceful trip to meet some fellow medicine appreciators.

The beads started moving through his hand. His mind could proclaim optimism. His body was a little more honest.