The high stone walls of the Mu Clan Manor stood beneath the afternoon sun, yet the atmosphere within was uncharacteristically hushed. Usually, the air rang with the rhythmic thuds of fists against wooden dummies, the sharp clash of sparring weapons, and the boisterous challenges of hot-blooded disciples.
Today, however, the training grounds were swept clean and deserted. The bustle of servants and hurried footsteps of messengers had vanished, leaving the manor in quiet suspension.
At the massive iron-studded gates, two guards stood at their posts, leaning on their spears as they enjoyed the rare silence. Their boredom didn't last. One squinted at the horizon, nudging his companion and pointing toward the sky.
A drift of white mist, solid yet ethereal, glided through the air with quiet purpose. As it drew closer, the guards realized it was no natural phenomenon.
Seated upon the cloud was a youth in simple white robes, his posture so relaxed he looked as if he were reclining in a private study rather than traversing the heavens. Beside him sat a young woman whose presence seemed to brighten the air itself, her green dress fluttering like fresh leaves in a spring breeze.
At the very front of the cloud, perched on her haunches with an air of absolute command, was a cat with fur like spun gold. She sat tall, her five tails swishing with a rhythmic authority that made it look as though she were the one steering the cloud itself through the currents of the sky.
The cloud descended with a soft hiss, settling perfectly in front of the gate. The guards didn't need a second look. They recognized the youth instantly. Their eyes brightened, and they quickly snapped to attention, bowing their heads with hands clasped in deep respect.
"Greetings, Young Master Mu Chen!" they called out in unison, their voices filled with genuine warmth. "Welcome back to the manor."
Mu Chen stepped off the cloud, the mist dissolving into the cobblestones beneath his feet. He looked around at the eerily still entrance, a faint flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Why is it so quiet today?" he asked, his voice as calm as ever. "Did everyone move out while I was away?"
One of the guards chuckled, a broad smile crossing his face. "Well, Young Master, you've picked a busy day to return. Today is the annual Main Clan Competition. Every disciple, elder, and spectator has gathered at the central arena to witness the rankings. It's the loudest place in the territory right now, which is why it's so peaceful back here."
Mu Chen tilted his head. "My parents and Xiaoyu went too?"
"The Master, Mu Xiao, is still within the inner manor," the other guard replied. "As for the little miss Xiaoyu... well, she's likely around somewhere. You know how she is, Young Master. She's been like a whirlwind lately, training and running about. To be honest, she's grown quite naughty. Other than you, she doesn't listen to a single soul in this manor. Even the Master has a hard time keeping her in one place for more than an hour."
A ghost of a smile touched Mu Chen's lips, a rare spark of affection softening his features.
"Yeah," he murmured, "I know. Some things never change."
...
Mu Chen and Shen Xi passed through the heavy gates, walking leisurely down the familiar stone-paved paths of the outer manor.
Mu Chen wasn't in a frantic rush to find his parents; there was a comfort in simply feeling the ground of his home beneath his boots again. Shen Xi walked beside him, her mysterious eyes darting from the ornate carvings on the eaves to the meticulously manicured gardens.
Behind them, the two guards remained at the gate, their heads huddled together the moment they thought they were out of earshot. One whispered fiercely to the other, "Hey, did you see her? I've never seen a woman that beautiful in my life. She looks like an immortal that stepped out of a scroll. Do you think... do you think she's the Young Master's mistress?"
The other guard nodded sagely, his eyes wide. "Probably. Who else could walk beside him with that much grace? Our Young Master certainly has high standards."
They were whispering as quietly as mortal lungs would allow, but their voices were like thunder to the divine sense of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Walking a dozen yards ahead, Shen Xi felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
The blush started at her neck and raced to her ears, her usual ethereal composure faltering under the blunt gossip of the guards.
After a few more minutes of walking, they reached the secluded inner courtyard that housed Mu Chen's immediate family. He came to a halt in front of the familiar wooden doors, a sense of nostalgia finally settling in his chest. He stood there for a heartbeat, then raised his voice just enough to carry through the wood.
"Mother, I'm back."
Inside the house, there was a sudden, violent clatter of something being dropped—perhaps a tray or a ladle. A moment of stunned silence followed, and then the sound of hurried footsteps echoed against the floorboards.
The door flew open, and Liu Yan stood there, her eyes wide and brimming with instant tears. She didn't wait for him to greet her formally. She let out a choked cry and lunged forward, pulling Mu Chen into a crushing embrace.
"Mu Chen! You're finally back! Mother missed you so much, you heartless boy. This house feels too quiet without your lazy face."
Mu Chen was caught off guard by the sheer force of the hug, his breath nearly wheezing out of him. He looked like a trapped bird, his arms pinned to his sides as his mother squeezed him with the strength of a woman who had spent months worrying.
He let out a long, muffled sigh against her shoulder. It seemed that no matter how much he grows, he would never be able to escape the overwhelming, bone-crushing love of his parents. It was a trouble—a profound, complicated trouble—but he had to admit it was a sweet one.
Shen Xi stood a few paces back, watching him looking utterly helpless and slightly squished in his mother's arms, was the most amusing thing she had witnessed.
"Mother, it's okay," Mu Chen said, his voice muffled by her robes. "Let me go. I am not running anywhere."
Liu Yan finally released him, though she cupped his chin in her palm, her thumb brushing over his cheek.
"You look tired," she declared with maternal certainty. "I'll make all your favourites, and then you're going to sit right there and tell Mother every single thing you've been doing for the last few months."
At the mention of food, the golden cat in Shen Xi's arms suddenly perked up. Nibi let out a loud, demanding meow, her five tails fanning out in excitement.
The sound startled Liu Yan, who had been so focused on her son that she hadn't noticed his companions. Her gaze shifted to the side, landing on the stunning young woman in green and the extraordinary cat she held.
Liu Yan stared at Shen Xi, then back at Mu Chen, then back to Shen Xi again. Her eyes grew progressively wider until she let out a sudden, high-pitched cry of realization.
"Mu Chen!" she exclaimed, her voice vibrating with a mixture of shock and glee. "Did you actually bring home a bride? How on earth did you do it? How did a girl this beautiful get tricked into liking someone as lazy and deadpan as you?"
The words made Shen Xi's face turned a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato, and the heat radiating from her skin felt like she was standing too close to a furnace. She looked at Mu Chen and him looking as though he was currently navigating the most difficult tribulation of his entire life.
Before the awkwardness could swallow the courtyard, the sound of heavy, steady footsteps approached from within the house. Mu Xiao stepped into the doorway, his presence grounded and calm.
He looked at his wife, whose hands were still fluttering in excitement, and let out a soft, amused huff. "Dear, don't start spinning your own stories before they've even sat down. Let the poor children speak for themselves."
Shen Xi stepped forward and offered a graceful, slightly stiff bow. "Greetings, Uncle and Aunty. I am Shen Xi... a friend of Mu Chen's."
Liu Yan waved her hand dismissively at the word 'friend,' a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, nonsense. You can call me Mother. Think of this manor as your own house from now on."
Mu Xiao looked at his wife and shook his head with a faint smile, then turned his gaze toward Shen Xi. His expression was soft, carrying a natural, paternal warmth that immediately made the girl feel a sense of safety she hadn't known since leaving Grandpa Yan.
"Don't mind her too much, Shen Xi," he said, his voice deep and comforting. "You are more than welcome here. Any friend of my son is family to us."
He then reached out and ruffled Mu Chen's hair with a rough, affectionate hand. "Well, you look like you've grown an inch or two since you left,"
Mu Xiao noted, before reaching out and pinching his son's cheek with a playful firmness. "But you're also looking a bit thin. Did you miss your mother's cooking that much?"
Mu Chen sighed again, leaning away from the pinch, though he didn't actually pull back. "Father, it's hurting," he complained, though there was no real bite to his words.
Mu Xiao just laughed, letting go of his cheek and clapping him on the shoulder.
The moment of reunion was suddenly interrupted by a series of sharp, indignant chirps. Nibi was squirming in Shen Xi's arms, her five golden tails fanning out in a dramatic tantrum. She looked at the gathered humans and let out a meow that sounded suspiciously like a sob, her ears drooping as if she had been deeply insulted.
The family stopped and looked at the cat.
Shen Xi smiled, stroking the cat's head. "She thinks no one is introducing her. She feels ignored, and now she's decided you're all being very rude. Her feelings are quite hurt."
Shen Xi scratched behind the golden cat's ears, and while Nibi let out an involuntary purr of contentment, she still kept her whiskers twitched in a pout, making it clear she wouldn't be won over quite so easily.
"This is Nibi," Shen Xi explained.
Mu Xiao and Liu Yan looked at the five-tailed creature, then at each other, and broke into a synchronized laugh. Under normal circumstances, a five-tailed spirit cat would be a legendary sight that would drive anyone with curiosity.
But after giving birth to and raising someone as incomprehensible as Mu Chen, their capacity for surprise had been thoroughly exhausted. They found the cat's dramatic personality more hilarious than her appearance was shocking.
"Oh, my apologies, Nibi," Liu Yan said with a grin, leaning down to look the cat in the eye. "We were definitely being bad hosts. So, how about I make a special dish of braised fish just for you? Would that make up for our rudeness?"
At the mention of fish, Nibi's entire demeanour flipped in a heartbeat. She let out an enthusiastic, high-pitched meow of agreement, jumping straight out of Shen Xi's arms and into Liu Yan's. She nuzzled against the woman's neck, her five tails thumping frantically against Liu Yan's arm in a display of sudden, mercenary affection.
Mu Xiao chuckled, stepping aside to let them all through. "Okay, okay, come inside. How long are you two going to stand at the door talking?"
Mu Chen and Shen Xi followed them into the warm, familiar interior of the house. As they walked toward the dining area, Mu Chen looked at his father. "Father, where is Xiaoyu? The guard said she's been training."
Mu Xiao's expression turned a bit more serious, though his eyes remained proud. "She's likely at the secluded clearing behind the manor or practicing her forms in the eastern garden. That girl has been obsessed with her training since the day you left. She hasn't missed a single morning of practice. She always says the same thing: 'I have to be ready. I'm going to beat Brother Mu Chen the next time he comes home.'"
Mu Chen paused, a soft, amused look crossing his face.
"This little girl… she hasn't changed at all."he murmured, shaking his head.