Unintended Cultivator

The first few minutes back at the house were surreal for Sen. Uncle Kho, who had been old and bald for as long as Sen had known him, had undergone a transformation. Now, he looked like he was only a bit older than Ma Caihong. The wrinkles on his face had been replaced with smooth skin. His head was completely covered with long, shiny black hair that had been pulled up into a topknot. While he still wore a beard, it wasn’t long, white, and flowing anymore, but trimmed close to his face. The only thing that was truly the same were his eyes. All of the years that some cultivation trick had peeled away from the man’s body were still plainly evident in the man’s eyes. They looked out at the world with a burden of ancient knowledge and countless secrets.

For all of the changes, though, the man was clearly thrilled to see Sen. He beamed at the young man like Sen had stormed the heavens, robbed them blind, and gotten away with no one the wiser. Sen couldn’t help it. He smiled back at the man. Uncle Kho’s attention shifted away from Sen for a moment as he greeted Falling Leaf. The old cultivator produced an entire roasted duck from what had to be a storage treasure of some kind and lobbed it to the big cat. Falling Leaf deftly caught the bird in her jaws before trotting off to a corner of the courtyard to enjoy her meal.

For her part, Ma Caihong remained a little way back from Sen and Uncle Kho. Sen didn’t think she meant to be rude, although he supposed it was possible. What little he could glean from her was more like caution. In a moment of insight, Sen realized that she was in almost as tricky a position as he was. Sen felt he had to tread with care around her because this was her home. If she ever told him to leave, he would have to do it. On the other hand, Uncle Kho had clearly formed an attachment to him. While Sen had no doubt that Uncle Kho would always choose his wife, she was family after all, it didn’t mean that she wanted an open conflict with Sen either. Such a conflict would likely cause a rift between her and her husband. After being away for years, she no doubt wanted harmony at home.

A petty little part of Sen wanted to push the issue. Maybe he could get a little revenge on her for Master Feng. That would serve her right, wouldn’t it? As Sen looked at that part of himself, he didn’t like what he saw. Master Feng had been right about one thing. Sen didn’t have a real quarrel with the woman. He hadn’t been truly harmed by anything she’d done. In fact, he’d only benefitted from her presence. Doing things to harm her would be a particularly nasty kind of ingratitude. Master Feng said to make up your own mind about her, Sen reminded himself. Master Feng had survived for a very, very long time without someone like Sen getting into the middle of his fights. It wasn’t easy, but Sen made a very conscious choice to set aside whatever leftover anger he felt toward Ma Caihong. He would wipe their slate clean and see what she did.

“Since you’re here,” said Uncle Kho, drawing Sen’s attention, “I assume it worked.”

“It did. Would you like a demonstration?”

Uncle Kho’s expression turned amused. “Well, you can’t blame an old man like me for being a bit curious.”

“Old man? I don’t see any old men here.”

Uncle Kho looked baffled for a moment before he let out a little chuckle. “Oh, don’t be fooled. I’m still an old man. I’m just a very handsome old man. Isn’t that right, my dear?”

Ma Caihong gave her husband an indulgent smile. “Truly, you are the most handsome man I married.”

“I’m the only man you married.”

“Well, that does make your victory easier, doesn’t it?”

Uncle Kho snorted. “You’re not wrong. Now, Sen, show me what you’ve learned.”

Sen nodded and unlocked that part of himself that killed the ape and all that had come after it. He fashioned his killing intent into the same kind of mental arrow he’d used with Master Feng. He’d considered just letting flow out across the courtyard, but he thought it would bother Falling Leaf. Ma Caihong hadn’t asked for a demonstration. He unleashed his killing intent and, much as Master Feng had, Uncle Kho blinked in surprise when it reached him.

The cultivator frowned. “Well, we’ll have to work on that.”

“Did I do it wrong?”

“Wrong? Oh, no. Nothing of the sort. But we can’t have you sending that out at just anyone. We’ll have to work on toning it down so you send an appropriate amount at people closer to your cultivation level.”

“Is that truly necessary?” Ma Caihong asked, suddenly much more interested in the conversation.

“Try for yourself. Sen, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Sen looked to Ma Caihong, who nodded at him. He sent her the same kind of focused killing intent he’d sent Uncle Kho. She actually blinked a few times.

“Well now,” said Ma Caihong. “Won’t that be a delightfully ghastly surprise for some foolish young master?”

Uncle Kho howled with laughter at the thought. “If only I could be there to see their expression when it happens.”

“I would…,” said Ma Ciahong before she hesitated. “I would help you learn to control it, Lu Sen. If you’ll allow me.”

There it was. It was the golden opportunity that Sen’s pettier self had yearned for. If he declined, she wouldn’t wonder why. She would know. That choice wouldn’t come without cost, though. Uncle Kho would want to know why he’d rejected the offer. Then, Sen would have to explain. It might not destroy his relationship with the old cultivator, but it would almost certainly put a strain on it. It would create a wedge. Sen wondered if a choice as small and petty as this had laid the foundation for Master Feng and Ma Caihong’s dispute. As much as it was an opportunity to strike at the woman, it was also the peace offering that he knew he should take. Sen considered the two paths in front of him for a moment. Before he could change his mind, Sen offered Ma Caihong a bow.

“I would be grateful for any help you could provide me.”

Sen knew it wasn’t much to build on. He expected Ma Caihong knew it, as well. But it was something. It was a tiny piece of common ground they could stand on. He wasn’t sure if he hadn’t kept his face as neutral as he meant to, or if Ma Caihong had simply intuited his thought process, but her expression said that she knew. There was a bit of relief and a bit of gratitude there as she inclined her head in his direction.

“Alright, enough of all this,” said Uncle Kho. “I’m sure you’re still tired, not to mention dirty, and probably hungry. So, let’s get you a hot bath and a hot meal.”

Sen didn’t quite groan aloud at the mention of a bath and food, but it was a close thing.