70. Little ducklings following a pair of mandarin ducks

Working with Zhou Sheng, Sun Fuyu had seen some heavy things. In contrast, Wen-ge was like a soft island of kindness. Sun Fuyu felt warm and safe in Wen-ge’s arms.

Wen-ge’s aura also felt stronger than before. His Wen-ge had advanced again!1

Wen Zhihao lightly petted Sun Fuyu’s back. “Hungry? Sleepy?”

“Hug.”

Wen Zhihao’s eyes softened. “Xiao Yu helped a lot of people. Good work.”

The praise made Sun Fuyu feel tingly. “En. Elder Liu Ru is coordinating with the other sects to take over in their areas,” he spoke, muffled by Wen Zhihao’s shoulder.

The extended ‘territory’ of the Golden Sun Sect had been scoured through already. Zhou Sheng didn’t care where he operated, but to avoid the other cultivation sects’ ire, Elder Liu Ru was now coordinating with the other sects to take over the task of helping the unjustly enslaved mortals. Because of that, Sun Fuyu was finally able to return to Wen Zhihao’s side.

Wen Zhihao looked over Sun Fuyu’s shoulder, to the other corner of the courtyard where the children were playing with cats. He wanted to go and have that much-postponed date with Xiao Yu, but he couldn’t leave the children. What if they cried? What if they felt sad?

...He accidentally felt like a parent.

“I’ll have to bring them back with me,” Wen Zhihao said.

Sun Fuyu finally released Wen Zhihao and followed Wen Zhihao’s gaze. He had helped almost all of these children. Even more than Wen Zhihao, he had seen their previous circumstances. Their smiles and tinkling little laughs now felt a world away.

But if Wen-ge wanted to bring them back to the sect… Sun Fuyu’s brow creased, thinking about what they’ll have to do.

“Not just them,” Wen Zhihao continued quietly. “There are others too. We can’t leave them here.”

From the children who had no homes to those who needed more support, they all needed to be brought back to the Golden Sun Sect.

“I’ll send a message to Shifu Liu,” Sun Fuyu said.

Wen Zhihao nodded. “Then I’ll rely on Xiao Yu then.”

Sun Fuyu straightened. “You can rely on me.”

“And after, I promise we’ll have dinner.”

Sun Fuyu shook his head. “Don’t need dinner, just need time with Wen-ge.”

Wen Zhihao couldn’t help it, he had to hug Sun Fuyu as tightly as he could, and then rub his head until his hair was all messy.

After Sun Fuyu asked, Senior Liu Zhongmin agreed, and even personally came with her flying ship to transport them all back. The mortals would be quartered in the area where the mortal staff of the sect lived. Some of the older freed mortals would also be hired as staff for the time being: it helped some of them to have work to do, and they were already familiar with some of the staff that had come to the safe house, like Liu Jing and Old Tang.

There was no need to delay: they left that day.

On the flying ship, mortal children and adults alike were amazed at the expansive view of the ground below, and at how fast they travelled. Liu Jing also spoke to some of the adults about what they could expect in the sect, and the kind of work they could do.

Wen Zhihao sighed lightly as the Golden Sun Sect came into view, with its familiar buildings and familiar gardens. This place was truly his home.

The ship touched down in a landing area on the outer part of the Sect. There were some clusters of cultivators watching their arrival, talking amongst each other while shooting pointed looks at the people exiting the ship.

“More mortals? We’re a cultivation sect, not a mortal charity!”

“The Golden Sun Sect will degrade with those kinds of people let in.”

“Some people are born to be emperors and some people are born to be slaves. What a waste of time helping them.”

“That Sun Fuyu was also picked up from the streets….Liu Zhongmin gives him too much freedom!”

Wen Zhihao rolled his eyes. He held Sun Fuyu’s firm hand on one side, and Xiao Bai’s little hand on the other. “Don’t listen to them,” he said. “Cultivation itself is going against fate. Those cultivators are simply being hypocritical and jealous. You’re here because I, we, want you here, okay?”

The mortals, who hadn’t been able to distinguish the mutterings of the other cultivators, confusedly nodded. Sun Fuyu, who had heard, carefully remembered the cultivators who had spoken.

The other cultivators, who in turn heard Wen Zhihao’s response, grew annoyed. But they shut up when Senior Liu Zhongmin exited. With a command, the ship shrunk until it fit on the palm of her hand, which she then stored in her spatial pendant.

With Liu Zhongmin leading the way, they went to the accommodation quarters of the mortal staff, which was located in a corner of the outer sect. The buildings were plain but of good quality.

There were some spare rooms, and the mortal adults were willing to share them—it would already be more spacious than the safe house, and even more so in comparison to their prior living conditions.

Nonetheless, Liu Zhongmin gave the disciple currently in charge of the administration some money in order to build some more rooms and left them to organise the temporary room allocations.

The rooms were straightforwardly allocated to the adults. However, when it came to housing the children...

Aunty Liu Jing showed them the rooms that the children could sleep in: they were the closest empty rooms to her. But the other children didn’t want to enter, looking at Wen Zhihao for instructions instead.

Ah-Yi bravely asked, “Uncle Wen, where is your room? Is it far?”

Wen Zhihao had to answer, “Far.” The mountain was on the other side of the sect.

The freed adults weren’t horrible people, but many of them were not in the mindset to lovingly care for the children, not when they had their own pains to heal.

The mortal staff were busy—they were workers after all.

But what if they cried in the middle of the night and wanted to find him? On their little legs, it would take a long time for them to walk to find him, and they’d even get lost.

Wen Zhihao’s chest ached. Thinking about it was much too stressful.

“No, it’s fine, you can all come to my room, and I’ll move in with Xiao Yu,” Wen Zhihao declared. That way, the rooms would be right next to each other and Wen Zhihao would have peace of mind.

“Are you sure?” Liu Jing asked.

Wen Zhihao reached out and lifted up Xiao Bai. “Yes. Can’t impose on Grandma, can we?”

“Listen to Uncle,” Xiao Bai said softly.

Liu Jing inwardly rolled her eyes at the ‘grandma’ in Wen Zhihao’s mouth. “Then don’t forget to come by the kitchen for dinner.”

“Yes, we’ll be imposing on Grandma for a delicious dinner,” Wen Zhihao said.

And so, after they temporarily farewelled Liu Jing and the others, two golden robed cultivators carried and led a small group of small children through the picturesque pathways of the Golden Sun Sect, like a pair of golden mandarin ducks leading their ducklings home.

Raise your hand if you like praise kink heheh. As for Fujo Con and Work-related stuff...so tired _(: 」∠)_ ....so if this chapter feels a bit jumpy to you, that's why...

BUT.

ALSO.

LOOK! More fanart!!! ?????

Afternoon nap by Emi:

And Salted Smooch by hatcubed!

70. Little ducklings following a pair of mandarin ducks

Working with Zhou Sheng, Sun Fuyu had seen some heavy things. In contrast, Wen-ge was like a soft island of kindness. Sun Fuyu felt warm and safe in Wen-ge’s arms.

Wen-ge’s aura also felt stronger than before. His Wen-ge had advanced again!1

Wen Zhihao lightly petted Sun Fuyu’s back. “Hungry? Sleepy?”

“Hug.”

Wen Zhihao’s eyes softened. “Xiao Yu helped a lot of people. Good work.”

The praise made Sun Fuyu feel tingly. “En. Elder Liu Ru is coordinating with the other sects to take over in their areas,” he spoke, muffled by Wen Zhihao’s shoulder.

The extended ‘territory’ of the Golden Sun Sect had been scoured through already. Zhou Sheng didn’t care where he operated, but to avoid the other cultivation sects’ ire, Elder Liu Ru was now coordinating with the other sects to take over the task of helping the unjustly enslaved mortals. Because of that, Sun Fuyu was finally able to return to Wen Zhihao’s side.

Wen Zhihao looked over Sun Fuyu’s shoulder, to the other corner of the courtyard where the children were playing with cats. He wanted to go and have that much-postponed date with Xiao Yu, but he couldn’t leave the children. What if they cried? What if they felt sad?

...He accidentally felt like a parent.

“I’ll have to bring them back with me,” Wen Zhihao said.

Sun Fuyu finally released Wen Zhihao and followed Wen Zhihao’s gaze. He had helped almost all of these children. Even more than Wen Zhihao, he had seen their previous circumstances. Their smiles and tinkling little laughs now felt a world away.

But if Wen-ge wanted to bring them back to the sect… Sun Fuyu’s brow creased, thinking about what they’ll have to do.

“Not just them,” Wen Zhihao continued quietly. “There are others too. We can’t leave them here.”

From the children who had no homes to those who needed more support, they all needed to be brought back to the Golden Sun Sect.

“I’ll send a message to Shifu Liu,” Sun Fuyu said.

Wen Zhihao nodded. “Then I’ll rely on Xiao Yu then.”

Sun Fuyu straightened. “You can rely on me.”

“And after, I promise we’ll have dinner.”

Sun Fuyu shook his head. “Don’t need dinner, just need time with Wen-ge.”

Wen Zhihao couldn’t help it, he had to hug Sun Fuyu as tightly as he could, and then rub his head until his hair was all messy.

After Sun Fuyu asked, Senior Liu Zhongmin agreed, and even personally came with her flying ship to transport them all back. The mortals would be quartered in the area where the mortal staff of the sect lived. Some of the older freed mortals would also be hired as staff for the time being: it helped some of them to have work to do, and they were already familiar with some of the staff that had come to the safe house, like Liu Jing and Old Tang.

There was no need to delay: they left that day.

On the flying ship, mortal children and adults alike were amazed at the expansive view of the ground below, and at how fast they travelled. Liu Jing also spoke to some of the adults about what they could expect in the sect, and the kind of work they could do.

Wen Zhihao sighed lightly as the Golden Sun Sect came into view, with its familiar buildings and familiar gardens. This place was truly his home.

The ship touched down in a landing area on the outer part of the Sect. There were some clusters of cultivators watching their arrival, talking amongst each other while shooting pointed looks at the people exiting the ship.

“More mortals? We’re a cultivation sect, not a mortal charity!”

“The Golden Sun Sect will degrade with those kinds of people let in.”

“Some people are born to be emperors and some people are born to be slaves. What a waste of time helping them.”

“That Sun Fuyu was also picked up from the streets….Liu Zhongmin gives him too much freedom!”

Wen Zhihao rolled his eyes. He held Sun Fuyu’s firm hand on one side, and Xiao Bai’s little hand on the other. “Don’t listen to them,” he said. “Cultivation itself is going against fate. Those cultivators are simply being hypocritical and jealous. You’re here because I, we, want you here, okay?”

The mortals, who hadn’t been able to distinguish the mutterings of the other cultivators, confusedly nodded. Sun Fuyu, who had heard, carefully remembered the cultivators who had spoken.

The other cultivators, who in turn heard Wen Zhihao’s response, grew annoyed. But they shut up when Senior Liu Zhongmin exited. With a command, the ship shrunk until it fit on the palm of her hand, which she then stored in her spatial pendant.

With Liu Zhongmin leading the way, they went to the accommodation quarters of the mortal staff, which was located in a corner of the outer sect. The buildings were plain but of good quality.

There were some spare rooms, and the mortal adults were willing to share them—it would already be more spacious than the safe house, and even more so in comparison to their prior living conditions.

Nonetheless, Liu Zhongmin gave the disciple currently in charge of the administration some money in order to build some more rooms and left them to organise the temporary room allocations.

The rooms were straightforwardly allocated to the adults. However, when it came to housing the children...

Aunty Liu Jing showed them the rooms that the children could sleep in: they were the closest empty rooms to her. But the other children didn’t want to enter, looking at Wen Zhihao for instructions instead.

Ah-Yi bravely asked, “Uncle Wen, where is your room? Is it far?”

Wen Zhihao had to answer, “Far.” The mountain was on the other side of the sect.

The freed adults weren’t horrible people, but many of them were not in the mindset to lovingly care for the children, not when they had their own pains to heal.

The mortal staff were busy—they were workers after all.

But what if they cried in the middle of the night and wanted to find him? On their little legs, it would take a long time for them to walk to find him, and they’d even get lost.

Wen Zhihao’s chest ached. Thinking about it was much too stressful.

“No, it’s fine, you can all come to my room, and I’ll move in with Xiao Yu,” Wen Zhihao declared. That way, the rooms would be right next to each other and Wen Zhihao would have peace of mind.

“Are you sure?” Liu Jing asked.

Wen Zhihao reached out and lifted up Xiao Bai. “Yes. Can’t impose on Grandma, can we?”

“Listen to Uncle,” Xiao Bai said softly.

Liu Jing inwardly rolled her eyes at the ‘grandma’ in Wen Zhihao’s mouth. “Then don’t forget to come by the kitchen for dinner.”

“Yes, we’ll be imposing on Grandma for a delicious dinner,” Wen Zhihao said.

And so, after they temporarily farewelled Liu Jing and the others, two golden robed cultivators carried and led a small group of small children through the picturesque pathways of the Golden Sun Sect, like a pair of golden mandarin ducks leading their ducklings home.

Raise your hand if you like praise kink heheh. As for Fujo Con and Work-related stuff...so tired _(: 」∠)_ ....so if this chapter feels a bit jumpy to you, that's why...

BUT.

ALSO.

LOOK! More fanart!!! ?????

Afternoon nap by Emi:

And Salted Smooch by hatcubed!