Tian felt his muscles try to jump him to his feet before his brain had fully caught up. Yes. Ten thousand times yes! This sounded excellent. This sounded like the best deal he had heard in a long, long while. And then Grandpa coughed, cutting through the sudden surge of enthusiasm. Grandpa had warned him, repeatedly, that anything too good to be true probably was.
His mind started working very quickly, sorting through what he knew and what he suspected.
“I’m not convinced he’s human. Humans would jump on an opportunity like this, no questions asked. You said he was fifteen?”
“Going by his bone age, yes. Though according to his file, he has no recollection of his life before the age of six.”
“Any dark history there?”
“Certain to be. He has also shown a strong aversion to trying to uncover his past, and an active loathing of his birth family, which correlates what the diviners reported.” The two elders discussed Tian, not bothering to keep their voices down. Tian waited until there was a pause.
“Our meeting today was not coincidental. This… young lady was the person I was here to meet. Are the others having similar fortuitous encounters?”
“Yes. And no.” Elder Feng shook her head. “Not everyone is temperamentally suited to raise a non-human Daoist. You happened to suit this particular crane. Incidentally, you may remember Senior Windmother?”
“We never met, but I heard her illustrious name.” Tian remembered she had been carrying Direct Disciple Sung, and contributed a lot to the battle at Depot Four.
“She is a Stormchaser Falcon. Senior Redmane needs no introduction nor explanation, I think. He was fostered by a now-deceased elder. Should this Snow Grace Crane awaken her spiritual intelligence and decide to join the sect, we could be living and working with her for a millenia. Potentially longer. You can understand why we take such care arranging companions for them.”
“Then why call it ‘fostering’ instead of companionship?” Tian had always enjoyed eating rat. He could smell a rather large, fat one scurrying around somewhere.
“Remember our conversation on Filial Virtue? You are their foster parent, but she is not fully sapient. In other words, you are responsible for a wild animal who is very intelligent, often in extremely problematic ways, backed by Level Nine strength.”
Tian nodded. It was indeed quite a juicy rat. Responsibility without authority. Lovely. No wonder Grandpa gave him a cough and a nudge. He tried to think of any other questions he should really be asking, and drew a blank. Then cheated.
“Elder Feng, this junior thinks this is an amazing opportunity, and is quite eager to agree. But because he is a junior, he knows that there are many things he does not know. Before I agree to this, what are the things you would wish to know before you accepted such a fostering arrangement?”
The two seniors looked like they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Grandpa Jun was sniggering too. It was really a sensible question. The kind of thing you would want someone to ask if you were entrusting them with the development of someone in your care. It was also bloody inconvenient.
“One hundred percent sure-”
“Yes. I should also mention that he is the inheritor of the closest thing to an ascetic lineage we have. It has been a revelation, seeing how someone wanting to be helpful and not wanting material things can become a full scale regional problem. Junior Tian, we aren’t pushing you out of the nest, as it were. You will have months on Windblown Manor to figure things out with my supervision and support. I will also ensure that your messages reach Senior Deepwalker who will, I am sure, be only too happy to answer all your questions.”
“Just not right now, huh? Hmm. But I don’t think it’s a trap.”
It’s not. You are driving them crazy because you are asking them how to raise a well adjusted Heavenly Person Crane. If they knew the right answer, would they be asking you to do it? Think about it- what they are trying here is kind of how the sect raises human cultivators. Once someone hits level nine, they send them out adventuring and gathering new experiences. Meanwhile, their seniors stay busy at home and keep their fingers crossed for good luck.
That, and they want you to be responsible for someone. It’s another kind of healing, and another way of guiding your character. Not in a malicious way. This little girl is quite thoughtful about what would suit you best.
Tian closed his eyes while he momentarily consulted with Grandpa, then opened them. “I thank the seniors for this amazing opportunity. I will do my best to raise the best Crane Immortal I can. I just worry she won’t have good things to eat. If I could trouble the seniors to send snacks-”
There was a sudden sensation of general dampness. When he fully recovered himself, there was a fish as big as he was pinning him down, and what appeared to be dozens of small fruits scattered over his body. The Snow Grace Craine was looking down at him, bright yellow eyeball calmly deciding which of her options was going to be food next.
“Grandpa, I have to know. Is her face meant to be that way? All… bright red and featherless?”
No sign of disease, and I’m not seeing any signs of her losing feathers or anything. I’m going to say this is just how her species looks.
Tian smiled up at her. It was a freaky looking face. But he really should be the last one to throw stones.
He quickly picked up his first snack delivery and packed it away in his storage ring. He’d have to figure out how to make fish jerky later.
“I don’t know how much longer the Elder will keep us here, Sister. But let's get to know each other. Can you show me how you hunt?”
It was several hours later when Brother Wang crashed through the reeds to find Tian knee deep in the water next to a snowy white crane. Both were glaring into the water, Tian holding his rope dart, the crane with her neck retracted and ready to strike.
There was a sudden “Plop” and the two struck nearly simultaneously. The crane came up with a frog in her beak which she swallowed with relish.
“I didn’t know a bird could look smug. I have learned something today.” Brother Wang nodded sagely.
“Not one frog! Not one! I haven’t even caught a fish! She’s too good at this.”
“Do you often hunt frogs?”
“I grew up eating them. They were a rare treat, and I loved every bite. Frogs were right up there with bamboo rats and much better than most grubs. I am, or I thought I was, an expert at hunting frogs. And yet Her Highness here has been snagging every single one.”
“Well, you are probably out of practice.”
“Yes. I, the immortal with magic tools, am clearly a worse hunter than a starved, crippled, sickly, dying, nearsighted child.”
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Brother Wang coughed and looked away. “So, do you have a favorite recipe for frog?”
They were able to lure the Crane back to the Windblown Manor with fishy bribes and sweet words. Tian was confused by the bird’s intelligence. Sometimes, it seemed to understand his words, other times, it just ignored him. He was worried that the crane would just fly off one day, but the elder assured him that wouldn’t happen. How or why was not explained.
Tian got the feeling the elder was a bit exhausted, behind the elegant facade. The piles of books and scrolls in her library kept growing and shifting. Tian learned from Steward Pan that one of the reasons for significant portions of the manor being off limits was because there was an aviary for very, very special birds used for courier work. The exact nature of how all that worked was restricted to just a few elders.
Speedy communication over long distances was a privilege, and a rare one. By policy.
It was only a few days after they left The Lake that Tian found out why the elders were in such a rush to arrange the crane’s fostering.
“Certain matters have come to a head. We must make our way directly to the Five Elements Courtyard. I had intended to drag this out another year or two, but my plans have been overtaken by events. Again.”
Elder Feng had summoned all the disciples to her office. She continued to look elegant and poised, but she didn’t hide the frustration in her voice. Tian controlled his shock. She had planned to drag out their trip for years? Could you even still call it a trip at that point?
“Some good came out of the calamity at Depot Four. The loss of Eunuch Hei, three giants and a truly shocking number of demons and heretics was enough to seriously wound even Black Iron Gorge. Better was what the sword fanatics from Sword Peak managed- they took enough land to shut down a number of trade and resupply routes for the heretics. This let our other allies launch their own attacks. They were not as successful as Sword Peak, but they took big bites out of the enemy.”
Elder Feng waved an elegant hand.
“One of the Sects that took the biggest bites was Five Elements Courtyard. So big, in fact, it’s become a problem. They captured a major caravan. Not one that belonged to some random merchants, a caravan that belonged to the masters of the Gorge themselves. A caravan of Sky Barges. It was loaded with enough heavenly and earthly treasures to start a whole new sect. The impact on a well established sect can be imagined. The Courtyard is going to take a very big step forward in power. At the start of the war, we were still on roughly equal footing. Now?”
The room was very quiet.
“Now we have to show that we are not merely prey or spear fodder. We must prove that, whatever we lost, our gains made up for it. Our younger generations are still talented and strong.” Elder Feng rang a little bell on her desk. Steward Pan appeared seconds later.
“Elder?”
“Serve dinner. They will join me.”
They walked into a small dining room. There was a round table, with a few bowls laid out. There was a big piece of braised pork, sitting in a deep bowl of soup. Next to it was steaming white rice and vegetables glistening in a clear sauce. Elder Fu walked in and stood at the chair facing the door. She pointed clockwise around the table. “Wang, Su, Li, Tian, Hong.”
Tian saw Sister Liren’s face twitch, but they all moved dutifully to their seats. Sister Su was in her wheelchair, so she simply rolled up to the table. She didn’t like the chair, but after a while the crutches hurt.
Elder Feng looked around the table, then sat. Those still standing followed suit. Nobody picked up their chopsticks or spoons. The etiquette of the temple was drilled into them.
“I am going to break custom today by speaking during dinner, and permitting you to speak as well. I want you to see, really see, what’s going on at this table. Junior Hong, explain why we are sitting where we are.”
“Elder sits facing the door, or the east if there is no door, as that is the place of honor reserved for the host. As it is a round table, going from your right is the main guest, then across from them is the second guest, then bottom left from your perspective is the third guest, bottom right is the fourth, and so on.”
“Correct. I am the host, and I have established a hierarchy. I am the most honored, and you all obey my arrangements. As is polite. If you failed to do so, I would be more than just irritated.” She smiled. It wasn’t a nice expression. “Why aren’t you eating? Junior Wang?”
“You haven’t eaten yet, Elder.”
“So? Aren’t you hungry?”
“Ettiquitte, Senior. I once heard you crucified a junior for a week for failing to observe filial virtue. I’d hate to be the next cautionary tale.”
She laughed, a merry little sound that sent chills down Tian’s spine. “Oh him! That takes me back. It is quite true. He tried to slap me on the rear and asked if I wanted to discuss hopes and dreams in his quarters. He was quite drunk, so I let him live. Technically. I believe he is still “enjoying” his post guarding a defunct spirit stone mine. Every day he crawls through the dark, flooded tunnels and checks for new crystal growths. I haven’t thought of him in decades.”
She waves away the distraction with a flick of her fingers. “Filial virtue is one reason. The host is usually the eldest. Other times it is simply a respect for political and social hierarchy, or just respect for the host. A junior puts tasty food in their elder’s bowl to assist them, and the elder puts food in their junior’s bowl so that they grow up well, or just to show affection. Even kings and emperors observe this courtesy, sending dishes to inferior tables at a banquet to favor certain guests.”
She scooped some rice into her bowl, then reached out with her chopsticks and tore off a piece of fatty pork. A few shining green beans, bean sprouts and onions were laid next to it, and a wonderfully fragrant quarter of a young bok choy, steamed with garlic and a little cooking wine, finished the bowl.
“The cook always understands me well. I usually eat only vegetables, but he truly understood my wishes tonight.” Elder Feng deliberately shoved the neatly full bowl to the side. She reached out a jade-white hand, long nails brilliant in the lamp light, and carefully pulled back her sleeve with the other.
She picked up the whole head sized piece of fatty pork, still steaming hot in its broth, and lifted it to her mouth. She tore big chunks off it with perfect teeth, grease smearing her beautiful face. The black and white pearl earrings shook as she ripped the meat into pieces, slurping the fat and chewing noisily.
“You lot can have some soup.” She spoke with her mouth full, flecks of food spraying across the table. Nobody moved. “What? Not hungry? I guarantee you won’t eat another bite until you eat what I have served you here.”
They exchanged awkward looks. Brother Wang’s eyes were too wide open, and Tian caught a tremor in his hands. Lin shifted from side to side, refusing to look at anyone. Sister Su was glaring at the table like she couldn’t figure it out. Tian realized he was doing much the same. It was Sister Hong who reached out and loaded her plate with rice and meat, then put some of the steamed cabbage in Tian’s bowl. Tian shook his head and started filling his own bowls.
“There you go. Eat what I have left you.” Elder Feng’s voice was both kind and cruel. “Feel this moment. Contrast it in your minds with happy memories at the table. I know you have some. What is different now? What has changed?”
Some of Tian’s happiest memories were of the silent dinners at the temple, food flicking from bowl to bowl. This felt horrible. Cruel. There was no love here, only cold contempt disguised as hospitality and generosity. It was the illusion of etiquette, or the perversion of it.
“What should you do? Ah, before you do anything too rash, do remember the example of that young man whose life I deliberately ruined for a moment’s foolishness. Any rudeness on your part will definitely have consequences for you, and I assure you I am petty enough to make trouble for those you care about. And none of you are strong enough personally, or with your backing, to stop me.”
Tian believed her.
“Silently endure? Let it all pass by? It would be very daoist. Very enlightened. What’s one meal, more or less? Why concern yourself with the opinions of others? Why let them darken the mirror in your heart?”
The words hung in the air. Tian’s mind raced furiously. He always listened carefully to his elders. This was a test, and a teaching moment. What should he do? This was a refined, civilized moment, hiding something very uncivil. A big predator eating the best parts of the animal, leaving the scraps for the scavengers trailing behind her. Some of those scavengers lived quite well, as it happened. Big predators often starved while the scavengers grew fat.
Fight with the others for the rest of the soup? Gang up on the elder? Appealing to reason and justice wasn’t even a joke. That wasn’t what this was. He glanced over at Sister Liren, who looked sick to her stomach. Furious and helpless. It was an impossible situation.
Quite often those fat scavengers became the next meal of the big predators. Poor little sister. Big brother would have to show her the way.
“Elder, I have a question.” He stood and bowed.
“Oh? Go on.” She ripped off another bit of meat and kept eating, the grease and pot liquor dripping onto the lacquered table.
“Do you really dare try to ruin this little daoist’s life? Because I’m going to eat that fatty piece of pork now, or the flesh from your throat later. You will have to kill me to stop me.” And with the few good fingers of his right hand, he ripped the meat away from her mouth.