The wolf approached cautiously. Its posture was wary.
A Fourth Order beast shouldn't be a threat to a Seventh Order, but Feng Yan's bloodline was special.
Vermillion Birds were legendary creatures. Even a descendant carried weight that transcended simple cultivation order.
Feng Yan turned to face the wolf calmly. She didn't show aggression but she also didn't show submission.
The wolf studied her for a long moment. Its intelligent eyes assessed the crimson bird.
Then, surprisingly, it lowered its head slightly.
A gesture of respect acknowledging Feng Yan's superior bloodline even if their cultivation orders differed.
Feng Yan chirped in response. A friendly sound. She had no interest in challenging the wolf's territory.
The crowd erupted in excited chatter.
"Did you see that?!"
"The guardian just bowed!"
"To a Fourth Order beast!"
"What does this mean?"
Before Shen Tianxu could respond to the murmurs, a woman's cry cut through everything.
"Tianxu!"
A figure shoved through the crowd without any care for dignity or protocol.
She was elegant despite her simple dress, with silver hair falling past her shoulders and eyes that were already streaming tears.
His mother.
Lin Yue.
She reached him and immediately grabbed his face with both hands, checking him over like he was still five years old.
"Let me see you. Are you hurt? Where did they hit you? Show me right now."
"Mother, I'm fine—"
"Don't you 'Mother I'm fine' me!" Her voice cracked.
"You were gone for two days. Two days! Do you know what that's like? Not knowing if your child is alive or dead or being—" She couldn't finish.
She pulled him into a crushing embrace instead. Her whole body shook.
Shen Tianxu wrapped his arms around her awkwardly.
These emotions were still new. But something about his mother's genuine terror and relief made his chest feel tight.
"I'm okay. Really. I'm home now."
"You better be okay." She pulled back just enough to glare at him through her tears.
"Because if you're not, I'm going to kill you myself for worrying me like this."
Despite everything, Shen Tianxu laughed. Actually laughed. "That's... contradictory logic, Mother."
"I don't care about logic right now!" But she was starting to smile through the tears.
She cupped his face again, gentler this time. "You're really okay?"
"I promise."
"TIANXU!"
Two small bodies slammed into him from the side. He actually staggered from the impact.
His younger siblings. Shen Chen and Shen Ling, both around ten years old with matching silver hair that stuck up in every direction.
They were both talking at the same time in that way only siblings could manage.
"—thought you were dead—"
"—said slavers never let people go—"
"—that your bird?—"
"—SO BIG—"
"—can I touch her—"
"—does she eat people—"
"—I bet she does—"
"—can we ride her—"
"Stop!" Shen Tianxu held up his hands in surrender. "One at a time. My brain can't process both of you talking together."
Shen Chen immediately spoke first, the privilege of being slightly older. "Is that really YOUR bird? Like, she listens to you and everything?"
"She does."
"That's SO COOL!" Shen Ling jumped up and down. "Can we meet her? Can we touch her? Will she let us?"
"Maybe later—"
"Please please please please—"
"If you behave—"
"We'll behave!" they chorused together.
Lin Yue finally managed to pull the children back. "Give him some space before you suffocate him."
But she was fully smiling now, the fear replaced by joy.
She noticed the twins standing awkwardly nearby.
"Oh! And who are these lovely young ladies?"
Shen Tianxu gestured. "Mother, this is Shen Yue and Shen Xian. They're from the Moonlight Tribe. We were captured together."
Lin Yue's expression immediately shifted. The playful mother disappeared, replaced by someone who'd survived in a dangerous world.
She moved to the twins and gently took both their hands. "You poor dears. Come here, let me see you."
She looked them over the same way she'd checked Shen Tianxu. "Are you hurt? Did they feed you properly? You both look too thin."
Shen Xian seemed overwhelmed by the motherly attention. "We're... we're okay, thank you."
"We're fine, really," Shen Yue added, though her voice was softer than usual.
"Fine? You're skin and bones!" Lin Yue was already pulling them toward the village.
"We're getting you both fed properly. And bathed. And into clean clothes. Don't even try to argue with me."
"Mother, they're the Moonlight chief's daughters—"
"I don't care if they're the Heavenly Emperor's daughters. They're children who've been through hell."
Lin Yue shot him a look. "Now come along. All of you. And bring that bird of yours. If she's family now, she eats with us."
Shen Tianxu caught Shen Ming's eye. His father was trying very hard not to laugh.
"Your mother's in full mode," Shen Ming said, walking over. He clapped Shen Tianxu's shoulder. "Good luck escaping now."
"I wasn't planning to escape."
"Smart boy." Shen Ming's expression was pure warmth. No interrogation. No suspicion. Just a father happy to have his son home. "It's good to see you, Tianxu. Really good."
"It's good to be seen."
They started walking toward the village center where people were already setting up for an impromptu celebration.
Shen Ming kept his hand on his son's shoulder like he needed the physical confirmation that Shen Tianxu was real.
"So," Shen Ming said conversationally. "Two days out there. Must have been quite the adventure."
"That's one word for it."
"The fun word or the traumatic word?"
Shen Tianxu considered. "Both? Definitely both."
"Hmm. Well, you came back with a legendary bird and two pretty girls who can't stop looking at you. Could be worse adventures."
"Father—"
"What? I'm just observing." Shen Ming grinned. "Your mother already loves them. Called dibs on planning a wedding."
"It's been twenty minutes!"
"Your mother works fast. You should know this by now."
Before Shen Tianxu could respond, another voice called out.
"Oi! Tianxu!"
A young woman pushed through the crowd. She was around his age with sharp features and silver hair tied in a practical braid.
Her clothes were training gear, not festival dress. Her eyes were storm-grey and currently narrowed in what looked like annoyance.
Feng Qingge. His childhood friend and the tribe's best fighter in his age group despite their collective curse.
She walked right up to him and punched his arm. Hard.
*Tat!*