I handed Hein a blindfold and he scoffed at it.
“What’s this?”
Although I wasn’t expecting to run into any Star Born demons, just the sight of normal ones could still send soone loopy.
“So that you don’t go mad from seeing the unseen.”
“Please, I’ve fought demons before, you know,” Hein said, tossing the blindfold back to . “And besides, no way I’m trusting you to lead blindly through the sky.”
“Okay, man. But don’t bla if you end up crazy.”
Hein sighed. “At this rate, it might be a relief.”
I laughed and hopped into the air with [Lightning Walk]. “What do you an?”
Hein joined with his [Silver Sail] technique, gliding effortlessly through the air next to . “What I an is, this reunion might be a bit more pleasant for you than it is for .”
It was probably true. He hadn’t seen Yu Li in person since I curb stomped him into the ground three years ago and she pelted him with rotten fruit.
“Co on man, Yu Li’s not holding a grudge or anything, I don’t think. She writes back to you, doesn’t she?”
“It’s not just that,” he said and then paused. “There is Su Ling… and Gui Zu to think about.”
I couldn’t argue with him there.
Things could get uncomfortable indeed.
We both kept quiet for the rest of the trip across the wild as I kept us protected from the Bloodmoon with my [Sacred Soul Shield] technique. In truth I hardly needed it. Well, personally anyway. I could endure the rays of a Bloodmoon now, but for Hein he would slowly be going mad with each passing minute without it.
It took us just over an hour to cross the distance via air, and thankfully we didn’t run into any stray beasts along the way. I could just about see the lights of the bunker settlent on the horizon when I began to sense sothing else in the air.
Frenzy.
As we hit the surrounding tree line of the village, I spotted an unmistakable form running towards us. Blond hair, buff and sprinting at nearly one hundred miles an hour.
“Kelsey!”
I cried out her na as I touched down on the ground and my little sister ca running into my arms, letting out a squeal of joy as she hugged .
“Damn, big bro! You’ve gotten even huger!”
I laughed. “So have you!”
It felt like a million bucks to see Kelsey in the flesh again. I couldn’t stop smiling.
“I assu the Warden is defeated?” she asked.
“Aye, my great aunt is no more,” Hein said as he touched down on the ground next to us.
Kelsey’s eyes went wide when she saw him. “Damn. No wonder Yu Li let you knock her up. You’re fine as hell!”
“Kelsey!” I chided her as Hein went beet red.
“What?” Kelsey shrugged. “Anyway, you guys need to walk the rest of the way. I got a surprise for you but its not ready yet. Walk slow, okay?”
And with that she was gone, sprinting away in the other direction again.
Hein laughed. “So that’s your other sister, huh?”
“Yup,” I said with a mixture of embarrassnt and pride. “The great Kel Zhi.”
“You’ve got yourself one hell of a family, Max.”
I couldn’t agree with him more.
* * *
We did as instructed, and took a slow walk the rest of the way into the village. I was treated to a myriad of improvents since I had been there last, which thinking back now had to be close to a year ago.
There was now over a mile of distance between the forest’s edge and the protective outer wall of the community and even outside the wall, were cultivated orchards and wells. Inside the walls were fields that grew more delicate crops, like rice and wheat and in so sections were fields made for pure grazing, where over a hundred head of buffalo were now sleeping in grassy adows under the stars.
It felt like I had been away for multiple years instead of just one, with how much advancent I saw. It was a testant to the power of the cultivation skills I had left to germinate those three years ago now. Back to when I first t Kelsey and her mom.
As the lights of the village proper ca into view, I was again treated to a sight of wonder. When I had left there were but a few crude log cabins, but now there were proper stone houses and even a smattering of Yee architecture in the mix, perhaps thanks to the new influx of people from the Native Housing District.
The closer I got the more excited I grew to see Fia again.
After all I’d been through, I almost couldn’t believe it was finally happening.
I was practically running again by the ti I reached the main square.
My eyes widened at the huge congregation of people that were gathered and then, all as one, they yelled out with cheers.
“Welco ho, Max!”
Horns and claps of applause filled the air, as I struggled to catch of glimpse of everyone who was there. Kelsey and her mom, Colonel Harris and the families from the bunker, but there were people from back in the square as well. I spotted Master Hei Dong and his wife Rhi Dong, who was failing to hold back little Su Ling as she ran to .
“Uncle Max!”
My heart swelled as she jumped into my arms and then suddenly, I was sward.
Yu Li ca out of nowhere and planted a kiss on my cheek. “Welco back, Max!”
“Welco ho, brother!” Gui Zu crushed in a bearhug next.
My eyes were near tearing from all the welcoming embraces, but I was still looking feverishly between the clamoring bodies for the embrace I yearned to feel the most. Then like a hidden angel she appeared, waiting patiently at the back of the crowd.
She was wearing simple robes but looked as gorgeous as ever with her short silver bob. The sparkle in her silvery eyes as she caught sight of , ward my soul, but even more so when I saw our baby held gently in her arms.
“Fia!”
It was my turn to run now as I leapt past everyone else.
Fia burst into a laugh and a sob at the sa ti, her face a brilliant visage of joy and relief as she outstretched her arm to embrace . We collided like two souls rejoined in heaven and as I pressed my lips to hers, I had to be careful not to crush the baby between us.
“I can’t believe you’re finally ho,” she whispered to , and then making so space between us, she lifted up Bryce for to see. “Look, Bryce, it’s your daddy! Daddy is here.”
I stared at the small face peeking through the tightly wrapped blankets and nothing else seed to matter. I was now responsible for this tiny, little soul and he was staring back at with a curiosity and innocence that made want to protect him from all the harms in the world.
“Co, Max,” Fia said. “Hold him.”
Bryce whined and cried as Fia handed him to and a new fear awoke inside at how small and frail he felt as he squird within my arms.
“I feel like I’m going to break him,” I said in a panic.
Fia laughed. “Don’t worry, He’s tough just like his dad. I assure you.”
I stared with awe at the two little eyes looking up at , so wide and filled with wonder.
“Hey little guy,” I said. “I’m Max. I’m your dad.”
Bryce gave a little smile and my heart lted yet again.
I pulled Fia back towards and embraced her with another kiss. As everyone cheered around us, I couldn’t help but feel like my life was now sohow more complete. My ordeals across the Hell Worlds was over and I was finally, truly ho and back with my family again.
* * *
The festivities kicked off in earnest as music began to play.
Kelsey dragged by the arm to show her big surprise and as we got closer to a large fire pit at the back of the square the scent of sothing tantalizing filled the air. She then spread her arms in a “ta-da” fashion as she unveiled a huge grill filled with hunks of at.
“Oh my God,” I said, looking closer. “Are those hamburgers!?”
“Yup!” she said proudly. “Got buns, fries and everything. Welco back to the cravings of your past, Max!”
I let out a confused laugh, unable to fathom how she had pulled all this together. “This is incredible.”
Kelsey grinned. “You should have seen how much debate there was on what went into making burger sauce. Anyway, it’s almost ready. I’m calling everyone to dinner, but you’re the guest of honor, so you get to go first!”
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I shook my head still in disbelief.
I’d never felt so loved in my life.
“Thanks, little sis. This is truly amazing.”
As the crowd gathered, I went to look for Fia again and found her with her parents and Hein. Rhi Dong was gushing all over him, pinching his cheeks like only a mother could. Fia was getting a kick out of his new look as well, laughing while patting his bald head.
“Its great to see everyone back together again,” I said joining them. I then turned to Rhi Dong specifically. “Mother, I didn’t have a chance to thank you before, but thank you so much for saving our child.”
She laughed. “Wasn’t , boy. He had a strength to live.”
Hei Dong slapped on the back. “The strength of his father!”
Fia smiled weakly at , looking almost uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She instantly shook her head. “Nothing. We’ll talk later. Co, let’s get you fed. Kelsey said this al was very popular from your world. One of your favorites.”
“No doubt,” I said. “Who doesn’t like burgers and fries?”
I laughed at the irony of it all.
A junk food al to celebrate, but what a taste of ho it would be.
We finally got to eating and I nearly shed a tear when I took my first bite. I almost couldn’t rember what a hamburger tasted like, but Kelsey and team had co through with a winner, right down to the pickles and onions. I ate my fill as my Yee family got accustod to true Terran food. Again, probably not the highest quality example but it was authentic.
We laughed, talked and joked while we ate, and Yu Li had to constantly keep little Su Ling at bay as she kept asking what a Hell World was. After a while I noticed that Hein was still quietly tucked away to himself, sandwiched between his parents.
I eyed him from across the table.
He stared back at . “What?”
“Let’s go, bro.”
“Huh?”
Before he could get another word out, I grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him from between his parents.
“What’s going on?” Fia asked, looking concerned.
“Nothing, just so unfinished family business.”
“Max, I swear,” Hein said, but I was already goosestepping him towards the table where Yu Li, Su Ling and Gui Zu were eating as a family. I stopped him right behind Yu Li and then cleared my throat.
“Sis, I got soone here to see you.”
Yu Li turned about slowly, her elbow draped over the back of her chair.
“Ah, Hein,” she said looking him up and down. “It’s good to see you again.”
To even my surprise, there wasn’t a drop of sarcasm to her words.
Gui Zu stood up clumsily, clearly nervous. “Master Hein. It’s been quite a while.”
Hein stood frozen for a mont, his mouth open, but then he fell to his knees.
“Yu Li, Gui Zu… I co to beg your--”
“Please get up,” Yu Li said, pulling him back to his feet by his armpit. “Too much ti has passed for all that. We’re all grown people here now.”
“Who’s that, daddy?” Su Ling asked as she shuffled away from Hein and towards Gui Zu.
“Well, that’s ah…” Gui Zu said, looking lost for words.
“That’s Aunt Fia’s brother, sweetie,” Yu Li said as she looked Hein dead in the eye. “He’s your Uncle Hein.”
Gui Zu laughed nervously. “Yes. Uncle Hein.”
“What happened to all your hair, Uncle Hein?” Su Ling asked innocently.
Hein laughed. “I’m in the army. They don’t let grow it there.”
Su Ling slapped both hands atop her head. “Well, I don’t wanna go there.”
We all laughed.
“Your Uncle Hein is a very brave soldier, Su Ling,” I said. “And he and I are very good friends.”
“Okay!” she said, disinterested again and went back to nibbling her hamburger.
Hein nodded. “I’ll catch up with you all later.”
Yu Li and Gui Zu both politely waved and bowed.
As we turned and left, I caught the pain in Hein’s eyes.
I rested a hand on his shoulder. “You okay, man?”
We kept walking for a bit and then he said: “Forgiveness is one thing, but I suppose consequences are another.”
I simply nodded, not really knowing what to say.
Eventually he snorted back a breath, composing himself. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Just need to go get so air.” He then glanced at and nodded. “Thank you, Max.”
I patted him on the back as he stepped away and disappeared into the crowd.
I then looked back to Su Ling now sitting in Gui Zu’s lap.
Life had consequences indeed.
Good and bad.
* * *
As the night of celebration went on, I eventually found myself sitting in a chair under the stars, with my son in my arms and Fia leaning her head against my shoulder. Gui Zu was entertaining us with mundane stories of day to day life, keeping us all chuckling.
Hein then kicked in with the stories next, his best one being a recount of our adventure together on the core world of Lu Shui Pri where I battled the creepy little ‘old’ girl, Rhe Su Long while his life hung in the hands of the gangster Mak Tung. He went into every detail, right up to barfing in Rhe Su Long’s face.
“Or so I was told anyway,” Hein said. “I was too busy being tied up as ransom to visit the match myself.”
Everyone laughed and waited for to complete the story, which I did with as much gusto as I could. While I told the story I could feel our brotherhood being put on display, which went a long way to easing the earlier tension I was sensing from Hein. I was glad to see him back to his sowhat normal self again.
Eventually, Fia looked up at and asked the question I had been dreading all night.
“So,” she said. “Is it safe for all of us to go back ho now?”
I imdiately shot a glance at Hein and he rely shrugged.
“What?” Fia said. “What was that look?”
“You going to tell her?” Hein said.
“Tell what?”
I sighed. I honestly didn’t want to even think about the princess much less bring her up for conversation. Hell, I hadn’t even married Fia yet and now I was going to be forced to discuss the idea of marrying the princess with her?
My stomach instantly soured.
“What is it?” Rhi Dong said.
“He’s too much of a chun to probably say it,” Hein said. “But before Great Aunt Silver Tear died in the ring, she told Max that it was the Princess who ordered Fia’s death, because she had the hots for Max and wants to marry him herself.”
Everyone went instantly quiet.
“What?” Fia said.
“You heard him,” I said with another sigh. “It’s the princess who wanted you dead Fia. And now that she already thinks you are, I don’t know if it’s a good idea to show her you’re still alive again.”
“What does that an?”
“It ans, I don’t know. Maybe staying low for a few more months. Plus I still need to fight this proxy match for her at the High Council in eight months’ ti.”
“What do you an hots for him?” Kelsey said. “That’s kind of gross right?”
“He’s skimming around the most important part,” Hein said. “Aunt Silver Tear thought it would be a good idea to marry her first. She said the princess is infatuated with him.”
“She what!?” Rhi Dong said. “That wicked old woman. She never liked Fia or , I swear.”
“Mother, that’s not important,” Hein said. “She’s dead now, but what she said might hold rit. Don’t you think, father?”
“Look I’m not damn well marrying the old bitch!” I said, attempting to end the discussion. “The idea is revolting. Plus, I’ve already vowed to damn well kill her for targeting my family. Marriage isn’t just so transaction to . Our love ans sothing, right Fia?”
I looked to Fia, but she was staring at the floor, deep in thought.
“Right, babe?” I said, nudging her.
Her silver eyes shifted back and forth, finally landing on Master Hei Dong. “What do you think, father?”
I was flabbergasted. “Fia!”
She hushed with a raised finger and then continued to look to her dad.
Master Hei Dong cleared his throat as he looked upward in thought. “You’ve always said you wish to control this planet, do you not, Max?”
I blinked. “Yeah, but not like that. Plus, Lady Silver Tear was saying stuff about marrying her to make a Duke or sothing and owning my own land. I’m not sure if it’s worth all that. I’m an Imperial Marshal now. Technically even more than that. I don’t know if I need to be a Duke or whatever anymore.”
“Status and royal title are two different things,” Hei Dong said crossing his arms. “Status gives you access to royalty. But only royalty can truly ‘own’ land, planets included.”
My stomach sunk a little at that. “So, I can’t just take over a planet?”
“Not legally. And what do you an by ‘take over’? Were you just thinking you were going to kill the princess and inherit the planet?”
I kept silent with my mouth open.
Because that was pretty much my plan.
Hei Dong laughed. “They’d send a stronger princess to take it over after they killed you and all of us. If you truly wish to progress this idea of yours, then you need to do so within the laws. You need to be able to own things outright. There is a legal process to everything. The sa way there was a legal process to how you now control Jurin Province. But rember, you do so only at the will of the princess, who truly owns it.”
“Damn it,” I said, feeling the bars of the invisible prison closing in on yet again. “Every ti I think I make so progress, there is just more and more bullshit to overco.”
“Hey, chin up,” Kelsy said in English, nudging . “The Struggler said there would be days like this, right?”
“Yeah, I know, I know. But still…”
“Max,” Hei Dong said. “You may not want to acknowledge it, but a first marriage is a powerful contract to wield. And catching the eye of a princess is no easy feat. Lady Silver Tear was right to suggest you marry her. You could beco ruler of this planet imdiately. A legal owner as a Duke.”
“But I couldn’t go through with anything like that.” I then looked to Fia. “You couldn’t allow to do sothing like that, could you?”
Fia looked at sadly but then sighed. “I would not like it of course. But what my father said is true. This is an opportunity, Max.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re not supposed to agree with this crap, Fia! I love you.”
“Of course! And I love you. But this is politics, not love.”
Hei Dong nodded. “I taught you well, girl.”
“How long would it have to go on for father, to make it seem authentic?” Fia asked. “I pray not more than a year.”
“A year!?” I cried, totally disgusted. “I’m not playing married to that psycho bitch for a whole damn year!”
“Aye, that is a long ti,” Hein said. “Especially for Max. He’s far too much of a hot head to keep a delicate charade like that going on for so long.”
“Yeah, he’d probably just chun it up eventually,” Yu Li said, and everyone laughed.
I felt the dagger slide out of my back. “You too, Yu Li?”
She shrugged. “Hey, I’m not saying its right. But I am sure that no way in hell soone like you could pull it off. You’re too damn honest.”
Fia nodded. “Indeed. But that’s also why I love him.”
She pinched my cheek smiling but I was still too traumatized to even respond.
“Well at least soone has true honor in this family,” Rhi Dong said. “I married not for status or position, but for love and the heavens above have blessed as a result.” She then patted on the knee. “Stay true to your path, son. It has steered you rightly thus far.”
I sighed. “Thank you, mother. I appreciate that.”
We all went quiet for a while, each lost in our own thoughts.
For , I was still trying to recover from the fact that everyone simultaneously thought that it was both a good idea to marry that psycho princess but also that I had zero chance of pulling it off because I was such a damn chun.
“You know,” Hei Dong said. “There still may be a way to get everything you want without actually marrying her.”
All eyes turned to Master Hei Dong as we waited for the next shoe to drop.
He then chuckled. “When I was courting your mother, Lady Silver Tear made go through a great many trials. None to earn the approval of your mother, mind you, but to earn a title high enough to be wed to her. In the end, even my standing as a top tier artisan was not enough. I required a title to be bestowed upon by Silver Tear herself before I was deed eligible.”
“What’s that have to do with any of this?” I asked.
“A great many things can be asked of a person blinded by infatuation or love,” he said. “Even demanding a royal title as a condition to be wed.”
“Say what?” Kelsey said.
“If the princess is as infatuated as she seems to be with you, and she must be so, to try and kill Fia to wed you, then she would also likely find a way to curry favor with her father to bestow upon you a royal title, if you so asked for it.”
“Wait what?” I said. “I can just ask her to make a Duke in advance?”
“Not just ask,” he said. “Demand it. Tell her that it would be unfitting of a woman of her royal status to marry none but another royal and for her to make a way for you to beco a Duke.”
“Will that work?” Fia said.
He chuckled. “Ask your mother. Anything is possible if one is motivated enough. And rember who her father is. You hold a high ranking now Max. To ask the emperor for a title to marry one of his daughters might not be so far-fetched.”
“And then what?” Kelsey asked.
Hei Dong shrugged. “Well, once you’re a Duke with a royal title and land of your own. You can call the marriage off or do whatever you want.”
“Like kill her?”
Hei Dong shrugged. “I suppose. Though I wouldn’t recomnd doing that right away.”
“Holy shit,” I said. “I like this idea a hell of a lot more.”
“It will still an you’d have to stomach wooing her, you know?” Hei Dong warned. “And to keep it up until you can make it all happen. Assuming you can make it happen at all.”
Kelsey shrugged. “Sounds slightly less gross than actually marrying her. But still kind of gross.”
“Do you think you can do it, Max?” Fia said, looking at .
Everyone looked to then, waiting for to answer.
I huffed out a sigh.
“I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”
“Well one thing is for certain,” Hei Dong said. “Your first instinct was correct. Fia and the baby cannot return to the city until this is all over one way or another.”
“But you can still co though, right?” I said. “I really need you to help run the city, dad. The Warden and her dumb ass nieces have gone and screwed everything up.”
“Of course,” he said. “I foresaw this. Don’t worry. I will put things in order once we return.”
“Can it be tomorrow?” I said, hopefully.
He rely chuckled again. “Of course, Marshal Warden.”
We all laughed at that, but then I noticed Fia suddenly go quiet again.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“Well, while we are in the spirit of sharing complications,” she said pensively, while glancing at Kelsey. “There’s sothing more you need to know, Max.”
I looked between her and Kelsey. “What? What is it?”
Fia then leaned over and turned Bryce’s head while in my arms, showing the nape of his neck. As the light hit, I saw sothing that imdiately caused my breath to freeze.
There on the back of his neck was a small, inverted triangle.
The mark of I’xol’ukz.
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