Myriad Rivers to the Sea

The rugged canyons of the Stone Ridge Kingdom gradually softened into rolling hills as Li Yu made his way back south. The dirt roads stretched out before him while the bright sun warmed his shoulders. Li Yu walked at a steady and measured pace while taking the time to appreciate the vibrant world around him along the way.

Li Yu stopped at small roadside inns to share stories with wandering merchants and he helped farmers push their stuck wooden carts out of muddy ditches. He did not use his strength to show off or demand respect from anyone he met. He simply existed in the present moment and enjoyed the simple interactions that came his way.

His second mind hummed quietly in the background and was comprehending things much more easily and quicker now. The two halves of his mind worked in better harmony now that his soul felt more balanced. One half pondered the intricate laws of the cosmos while the other half enjoyed the taste of food and the sound of wind rustling through the trees. This newfound balance allowed his body and soul to become stronger with every passing day even though the Qi here was so thin.

The journey took him back through the vast river valleys and across the grassy plains until he finally reached the Zhan Clan base. The guards stationed at the outer perimeter nodded respectfully as he approached the hidden compound. A base elder greeted him and quickly activated the spatial array located in the center courtyard so he could return.

A bright pillar of light enveloped Li Yu and the thin spiritual energy of the Blue Cloud Realm faded away. The familiar sensation of shifting space washed over him for a brief moment before his boots touched down on solid polished stone. The rich and dense spiritual energy of the Zhan headquarters quickly washed over him. He left the headquarters and returned to the Five Star Lakes and the sight of them welcomed him home.

The air here carried the heavy fragrance of spirit herbs and the sound of waterfalls cascading into the pristine lakes. Alden stood waiting near the entrance of the main pagoda with a thick ledger resting in his hands and was still at work. The head butler offered a respectful bow as Li Yu walked up the wooden stairs.

"Welcome home, young master," Alden said with a warm smile. The butler paused for a moment and studied his employer with a perceptive gaze even though he was much weaker than Li Yu. "Your journey seems to have been very fruitful. Your aura carries a new weight or should I say edge. It feels much like the still surface of a deep lake yet at the same time it feels powerful."

"Thank you, Alden," Li Yu replied while returning the warm smile. "The trip was exactly what I needed. I learned a great deal from the people I met along the way that helped me with my mindset. How are things at the estate?"

"Everything is running smoothly and the staff are doing well," Alden reported while gesturing toward the main doors. "We also received some unexpected arrivals this morning. Your father Li Canghai and your mother Zhan Tielan returned just a day ago. Your grandfather Zhan Tian is also present, having returned at roughly the same time. They were hoping to see you when you returned."

The news brought a bright light to Li Yu's eyes. His parents and his grandfather spent most of their time stationed away in places he wasn’t even aware of to fight off rival factions and cosmic threats. Having all of them back at the Five Star Lakes at the same time was a rare stroke of luck in recent times.

"That is wonderful news," Li Yu said while walking past the butler. "Please inform them that I have returned. I am going to the kitchens to prepare a meal for us. We will eat together today."

Alden bowed and hurried off to deliver the message. Li Yu made his way to the kitchen. He tied a simple woven apron around his waist and selected fresh ingredients from the storage cabinet that the staff had set up. He chose a large silver scaled fish caught fresh from the local waters along with an assortment of crisp vegetables and fragrant spices for his first dish. Li Yu then got out many more ingredients as he planned to make some of their favorite dishes for today’s meal.

Li Yu prepared the meal with deliberate care as he always did but did so this time with even more love. He did not use his Qi to instantly cook the meat or slice the vegetables. He used a heavy iron knife and focused his attention on the precise cuts required to bring out the best textures.

He listened to the oil sizzle in the hot pan and breathed in the rich aromas filling the room. Li Yu remembered the old noodle vendor from the Silver Stream Kingdom and cooked the food with a genuinely happy heart to bring out its best flavors. An hour later, he carried the large ceramic dishes out to the table overlooking the central lake.

His grandfather Zhan Tian sat at the large round table in the position that seemed to command the most presence even though the table was round. The ancient warrior’s broad chest radiated immense physical power even though he looked like a simple grandfather right now. His parents sat together on the right side of him.

His father Li Canghai wore a serene smile that contrasted his sharp swordsman aura while his mother Zhan Tielan leaned back in her chair with a relaxed posture. They all wore comfortable robes and looked remarkably at peace compared to their usual demeanors on the battlefield.

Like Li Yu, they were happy to be able to enjoy moments like this as a family. It wasn’t that long ago that Zhan Tian was still fighting off the horrors in a zone that he had been trapped in for such a long time. Li Canghai and Zhan Tielan had hidden Li Yu away and could not see him for over ten years as he grew up without them.

Family time like this was one of the most precious things to these three great powerhouses that controlled the life and death of countless individuals on their respective battlefields. While they were known as experts so many looked up to, feared and hated, at this time they were simply a father, mother and grandfather that were about to get to enjoy another meal that their son or grandson made for them.

"There he is," Zhan Tian let out a booming laugh as Li Yu approached the table. "I heard you were out delivering letters to others like a common courier. Has my bloodline fallen so far!? Come sit down and let us see how much you have grown during this time. You really terrified us all with your tribulation back then."

"Greetings, grandfather," Li Yu offered a respectful bow with a smile at his grandfather’s words before turning to his parents. "Greetings mother and father. It is very good to see all three of you together. I made a few of your favorite dishes today."

Li Yu took his seat and the family began to serve themselves from the steaming platters. They ate in comfortable silence for a while and simply enjoyed the delicious food and the peaceful atmosphere of the lake. Li Yu watched them eat and felt a deep wave of gratitude wash over his soul. He had spent so much time worrying about losing them that he had almost forgotten how to just sit and share a meal with them without those feelings of anxiety.

"This fish is cooked exceptionally well," Zhan Tielan noted while setting her wooden chopsticks down. She looked at Li Yu with soft and caring eyes. "You seem different today, Li Yu. You look more at peace now and of course you have learned to control your new power now."

Li Yu wiped his mouth with a cloth and nodded slowly. He looked around the table and decided to speak from his heart since his entire family was here now.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I was in a bad place before I left for this mission," Li Yu openly confessed while holding his mother's gaze. "I was terrified. The threats against our clan are endless, chaotic times are coming and left me feeling helpless. I felt like I was running out of time to grow stronger in time to be able to help you."

Li Canghai leaned forward and listened intently without interrupting. His father rested his hands on the table and offered silent support as Li Yu laid bare his internal struggles. They weren’t foolish themselves and had sensed his anxiety long before the Patriarch had but it had not developed into the state it was when the Patriarch saw him.

The three of them had similar thoughts back then when they noticed his slightly growing anxiety at the time. Li Yu had been too carefree of a person and was on the completely opposite end of where he was recently. While they wanted him to be happy and would bear any burdens to see him so, they also knew that the cultivation world was not so simple. One must have their own strength in order to survive and do what they want and they of course wanted that for Li Yu.

"I possessed this overwhelming anxiety that pushed me to want to rush my cultivation at all times." Li Yu continued with a steady voice. "I felt guilty every time I stopped to do anything else. I still did those things but the feeling was always there. I believed that every second I spent enjoying my life and not cultivating was a second I was failing my duties to this family. I forced my mind to constantly chase power alongside my second mind and it created a terrible feeling that was tearing me apart."

Li Yu looked down at his tea cup and smiled softly. "Patriarch Yue saw what was happening to me and he sent me to the Blue Cloud Realm with some rules to help me."

He spent the next hour recounting the lessons he had learned during his travels. He told them about the merchant caravan and the tragic story of the drunk merchant Bai Jung.

"That story terrified me more than any beast," Li Yu admitted while looking at his parents.

He told them about Elder Su and the mountain villagers and shared the wisdom of the old noodle vendor. Finally he recounted his encounter with the desperate young martial artist Jian. Once he was done, a quiet stillness fell over the dining pavilion as his words lingered in the air. Li Yu waited for their response and wondered if they would scold him for losing his drive.

Instead, Zhan Tielan reached across the table and took his hand. Her eyes were bright and her smile was filled with immense warmth.

"We are not disappointed in you, Li Yu." His mother said with a tender voice. "We are incredibly proud of you in fact. Finding balance between duty and self is a hurdle every single cultivator must face on the path to the peak. Many great warriors fail that test and become empty husks of themselves or become confused later on. That is why there is the saying that everyone must find their own path towards the Dao. It isn’t all about talent or martial might as so many think. And it isn’t about the kinds of laws you master or martial path you pick either. Everyone must find their own way there because the path is immensely long."

Li Canghai nodded in agreement and offered a reassuring smile. "While you enjoy many privileges being a part of the Li and Zhan Clan, you also carry a heavy burden for someone your age. Being our son has put a lot of pressure on you even though that isn’t what we want, it is the truth of your position. Your kind heart also makes you worry too much about us, which further adds to your burdens. You need to remember that your grandfather, mother and I have been shouldering these things for a very long time. Long before you were born and we aren’t quite over the hill just yet.” The three adults chuckled softenly and were offering Li Yu bright smiles because they knew he was going against his nature and pushing himself more quickly for them.

“We are part of the vanguard and we are not going anywhere anytime soon. You do not need to rush to take our place or share our burdens. We have been doing this so you wouldn’t have to. You can afford to take your time and grow at the proper pace."

Zhan Tian let out a loud snort and crossed his thick arms over his chest. A wide grin broke across the ancient warrior's weathered face.

"Your father is right, boy." Zhan Tian laughed and his booming voice echoed across the quiet lake. "Rushing yourself only produces a weaker cultivator in the end as you already know. It is difficult to not have that nagging feeling when you aren’t cultivating but it is something you must find peace with. We do not need a little fist that shatters upon the first true strike. We need you to be the strongest you can be so we can feel assured that you are safe. To reach the true peak you need a Dao Heart forged on your own character."

Li Yu felt a warmth bloom in his chest at the encountering words and wisdom from his family. The validation from his family erased the last lingering traces of doubt from his mind that he should try to do his best in his own way. They did not want him to sacrifice himself on their behalf. They wanted him to stand beside them as a whole and healthy person.

Internally, the entire family felt a wave of gratitude toward the clan leader. They realized that Patriarch Yue had spotted the dangerous fraying of Li Yu long before it became a fatal flaw in his Dao Heart. The Patriarch had designed a mundane mission that provided roughly the medicine the young man needed to heal his mind based on what he knew of Li Yu’s character.

"I will have to bring a jar of my best wine to that little brat." Zhan Tian muttered to himself while stroking his chin. The ancient warrior let out an amused chuckle. "That young brat of a clan leader is not so bad after all. He has a sharp eye after all."

Li Yu smiled at his grandfather's casual disrespect toward the clan leader. Only a person at Zhan Tian’s power and standing could casually talk about the clan leader that way. The mood around the table lightened considerably and they poured fresh cups of tea to celebrate his renewed understanding of himself and his control over his Creation Lord strength.

As they enjoyed the gentle breeze blowing through the silk curtains, Li Yu's thoughts moved back towards the lesson he had learned from Elder Su in the mountain village. The elder had taught him that wealth and happiness were defined differently by every individual. With these thoughts in mind, he set his tea cup down and looked earnestly at his parents and his grandfather.

"I have an important topic to talk about with everyone." Li Yu spoke with a gentle curiosity. "I realized I have never actually asked you this question specifically. We always talk about the clan duties and the looming wars. But outside of our obligations to the clan and the realms as a whole, what do you truly consider to be a wealthy and fulfilling life? What are the dreams you hold for yourselves?"

The question caught the three power houses off guard for a brief moment. Cultivators rarely discussed their personal dreams outside of martial advancement. But the warm atmosphere of the pavilion and the honesty Li Yu had just shown them opened a door they rarely walked through even with each other.

Li Canghai looked out at the rippling water of the lake and a thoughtful expression settled over his features. Zhan Tielan smiled and rested her head lightly while looking up at the sky. Even the ancient Zhan Tian leaned back in his chair and stared at the wooden ceiling with a contemplative glint in his eyes. They had all lived for a very long time and knew more or less what was important to them at this stage. Even though they knew, they had rarely thought to put it into words so they needed a bit of time to think through the best words to describe it to Li Yu.

The family began an open and healthy discussion about their true goals and the desires they held in their hearts. Li Canghai and Zhan Tielan more or less already intimately knew what the other was going to say but it was reassuring to hear the other person say it and be validated. They talked about the things that brought them joy beyond the battlefield and the legacies they hoped to leave or not leave behind.

The conversation flowed freely under the afternoon sun and brought them that bit closer together than they had ever been. Li Yu listened closely to their words and was processing what they were saying while enjoying the present moment. It was a serious conversation but it flowed freely and the sound of their laughter drifted out over the tranquil waters.

Li Yu made sure to note each and everything that was important to his family and he would do his best to make sure those things happened. His parents and grandfather did the same. It was rare that everyone was sharing so freely and they even learned a bit more about one another since things do change with time.

Within Li Yu’s soul space the Fisherman Soul was currently not fishing but looking up at the artificial sky. He surprisingly had a bright smile on his face as he was staring off into space with his thoughts adrift. A sudden tear slid down his face but the bright smile never faded.

“Good Job.” The Fisherman Soul said proudly and quietly to himself without moving at all. If Li Yu were here to hear the words, he would have been stunned. The intense anger, hatred and all the other kinds of negative emotions that were present in his normal voice was gone. In its place was a slightly content sound.