Book 5: Chapter 5: Hearth and Home

Book 5: Chapter 5: Hearth and Home

Meiling smiled at the scene before her as she laid propped up on her arm. The house was quiet and dark, with everybody else still asleep.

Meiling reached down and absently tucked a strand of hair behind Tigus ear. The girl stirred at Meilings touch, leaning into it slightly before settling again on her pillowin this case Jins arm. Though Tigu was not the only one using that pillow. Xiulans forehead was almost touching Tigus as they faced each other. Tigu was closer to Jin, while Xiulans back was touching Meiling. Between Tigu and Xiulan was Zhuye, her sons fingers wrapped around Tigus. Jin had thankfully made the bed a bit larger, so Xiulan and Tigu had fit in just fineand this time Tigu stayed human instead of having to shift into a cat.

Meiling took a deep breath, focusing on the clean purity of first Xiulans Qi, then Tigus.

Her small smile widened.

She had been in a good mood ever since she caught her familys scent on the breeze as they returned home. There had been a minor undercurrent of bubbling stress, especially to Xiulan, but otherwise the smell of their Qi was perfect: no acrid tang, no rotten sweetness. They were hale and heartythey just all needed a bit of pampering.

Meiling had simply dragged Xiulan past her own room and into her and her husbands when they had retired from the roof. It said a lot that Xiulan hadnt even put up a token resistance as Meiling pulled her along. Then again, Meiling hadn't made any jokes either, but now was not the time. Xiulan had needed some comfort and support, not teasing, for the wonderful job she had done. Especially considering how Xiulan had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Meiling had carefully completed her examinations of Tigu and Xiulan as they slept. Her Qi had ghosted through both of their bodies as she fixed minor tangles in their meridians, removed minor blocks, and smoothed out the remaining knots. It felt a little like she had wrapped them both in a full body hug, and the results had been quite pleasing, as both Xiulan and Tigu fell into even deeper slumber.

Now their Qi had calmed completely. Meiling resolved to take care of both Yin and Xianghua the next chance she got. Both of them deserved itas well as Loud Boy, Rags, the Torrent Rider, and Delun. All of them had performed excellent work.

She didnt get to look much longer at Tigus cute, sleeping face, however. A reedy crow echoed out as Xiao Ku, Little Yell,greeted the morning. They had finally given their backup rooster, as Jin jokingly called him, a name. Xiao Ku shouted as long and loud as he could until Meiling heard the thump of him hitting the wall of the coop, having nearly passed out from his own crowing.

Zhuye then opened his eyes and proved why his nickname was Little De. A sound quite like a rooster issued forth from her sons throat as he woke up. He huffed, obviously satisfied with himself, before turning to look up at where Meilings face normally was.

He seemed slightly confused to see Xiulan instead, and then he turned his head again in shock and confusion as he saw Tigu instead of Jin. He stared into Tigus yellow eyes as she woke up. His face screwed up for a moment, like he was going to cry in shock at this new situation until he started sniffing. Meilings little one pondered the smell in his nose before his face brightened and he reached out to Tigu with a Gah!

Tigu let out an amused sound from her throat as she stood and scooped her little brother up, rubbing her cheek against him as she giggled.Geett the latest novels on no/v/elbin(.)c/om

Good morning, little brother! she called out as she spun him around.

Jin laughed as Tigu zoomed Zhuye around the room, much to his delight. Jins Qi flexed and the rooms Light Stones lit themselves, illuminating the bedroom. They watched her for a while, then her husband turned to her.

Good morning, love, he said and he leaned over to give her a good morning kiss. She could see some of the tension that had been plaguing him was well and truly gone too. He wouldnt be back to 100% until Bi De returned but this was good.

Xiulan, her head still on Jins forearm, grumbled slightly. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Meiling looking at her before Xiulan picked up her head, grabbed Jins arm, and put the limb over her eyes to block out the light.

Come on now, it's time to get up, Meiling said in an encouraging tone.

Jin just snorted with laughter at Xiulans grumbling as she shook her head in denial.

Let's let her rest. She's earned it, Jin said, an amused look on his face..

Oh very well, Meiling said fondly and chuckled at the small victorious smile on Xiulans face. Well. She did deserve her rest.

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It was fantastic to once more have an undercurrent of noise at the breakfast table. Meiling was just waiting for the rice to finish cooking and then everything would be done.

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She glanced out into the living room and smiled at the sight that caught her eye.

Meiling could only start laughing. Oh, it was so good to have everybody back.

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Her good mood continued as the day progressed.

They went out into the snow-filled yard and started on the General; with the extra hands, they packed more and more snow onto his already towering formthough this too was slow going as Yin and Tigu started a snowball fight in the middle of it all. Only Xiulan and Gou Ren abstained, cheering on the brawl instead of partaking. Meiling kept both of them topped up with tea as they dozed in the winter sun.

Eventually, however, the snowball fight petered out and they returned to working on the General.

Jin climbed up to the divot in the middle of the Generals chest and inserted the completely round crystal within it, sparkling with motes of white inner light. He packed the snow tight around the crystals new resting place.

Wa Shi placed the biggest carrot of the harvest into the Generals face as his nose, and Chun Ke brought over massive branches for his arms.

And finally, Meiling and Tigu heaved up the dark hat made of reeds and together they placed it onto the Generals head.

For some reason, Meiling almost felt like something was supposed to happen. It must have been the story Jin had told her about the magic snowman.

They both hopped down and turned to look up at their handiwork. The General, in his wonderful tall hat and carrot nose, stood tall. His sooty eyes and smile beamed out over the treetops.

Meiling very much liked this tradition. They sat for a while, admiring their handiworkbefore retiring inside to roast chestnuts.

The General stayed smiling, strong and proud, the Qi of everyone who helped make him swirling around his core.

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It grew and grew, as a nascent spirit formed. It reached out, almost blindly, and touched a web of gold. There were gaps in the web. Places where subordinate spirits were supposed to assist the Provincial Spirit. Minor land spirits that had been shattered and broken thousands of years ago. Dead, never to be recovered.

The General ghosted along these connections, as it had last year. His power flowed as he touched his subordinate.

He felt the Warden, who had fallen in battle last year; yet he was reborn from the will and belief of those who had retrieved his mighty hat.

And then there were others. Many others, small subordinates close together. They were tiny things, most of them set just outside of houses or on front steps.

Yet one was larger. One was much larger, and he had a name. The Captain who Braves the Devil Storms would be a fine subordinate; built as he was by guards, he knew his duty well.

He could feel it. The belief. The faith. The wish that had made him and even now empowered him.

He was the General that Commands the Winter.

He had a duty. He touched the web again. He grasped it.

There was a spark.

An empty position was once more filled; as the General swore fealty to Tianlans throne.