“We thank Elder Tianjiao for the enlightenment.” Qingfeng cupped his hand and bowed

  ‘What are you waiting for? Repeat after me.’ Qingfeng then told me using telepathy

  “We thank Elder Tianjiao for the enlightenment.” I repeat after him and awkwardly try the cupping hands and the bowing

  Then both of us raise at the same time.

  “Ey ey ey. You.” The elder point at me. “Do it properly.”

  If I have eyebrows I will frown but fortunately I didn’t now. I repeat the sentence and the gesture.

  “Again.” He tells me

  Again I repeat and the elder clicks his tongue and shakes his head.

  “My apologies, Elder, Danxing is not from this realm and he has a completely different culture.” Qingfeng bowed and explained

  “You don’t need to do that.” I tell to Qingfeng

  “Yes yes. Your master is known for picking up strays from the randomest of places.” Qingfeng’s halo flared red in anger at the elder’s words

  “Now you,” He pointed at Qingfeng. “Move forward and show the gesture properly to your junior.”

  Qingfeng does just that. The elaborate movement of cupping hands together, the elbow straight with the cupped hands, then the bowing. It's like the Japanese bowing but much more elaborate and formal. Now that I see it again, it looks like the gesture some of my chinese friends do during their new year stuff. Minus the bowing and the hands and elbows is not as stiff. I think they ditched the bowing. Oh, and I think I know what’s wrong with my gesture. I did not bend my upper body forward. Just hunching my shoulder forward. A habit from playing too many games I guess.

  “Now you again.” Elder Tianjiao points at me again

  I repeat again, still awkward, but at least passable. Though from the slight cringe from his mouth, it is still not good enough. But he waved us both to raise our heads finally. Eugh, I will need to do this for anyone that has slight seniority over me isn’t it. But then I caught a line of telepathy, to Elder Tianjiao and to someone quite far away. The conversation is short so I don’t get to catch from who it was using my divine sense. Elder Tianjiao looked at me again with one raised eyebrow before he opened his hands towards the Grand Library. A book flies towards his hands. He scans the content briefly before giving it to me. I picked the book. Titled, Fundamentals of Soul Arts. Well, I don’t know if this one is better than Celestial Projection, but I won’t refuse freebies. Again I said my thanks and bowed.

  “Has your new father told you about your surname yet?” Elder Tianjiao then suddenly asks

  “Xuan right? No. Why?” As soon as I mention my new surname, the air feels tense somehow.

  Even the curious stares watching me from other disciples immediately avert their eyes when I looked at them. Their halos spiking in what looks like fear

  “Well, it's better if he tells you himself. Now off you go.”

  —

  “Since when have you been so charitable?” A young man asked

  “Sect leader.” Tianjiao greets without formality. Still sitting with his feet on the table

  “Apparently that deerhead was just a mortal two weeks ago.” Tianjiao then explains

  “Oh? The one Luochen asked about to the Tianji sect elder?” The sect leader now understands more

  “Still, that book you gave him is from the second floor.”

  “Its also the only book on Soul Arts on the second floor. No one picked that book for long and if he can’t understand the book like all others, then he will return it himself.”

  Then silence for a while. Before the sect leader hums after accepting Tianjiao’s explanation.

  “Do mind yourself. The other elders are… definitely irked with you favoring Luochen too much.”

  “Maybe if you focus more on your cultivation rather than politics, they will listen to you better.” Tianjiao criticized the Sect Leader

  “If I am not good at politics, you wouldn’t be here as an elder.” Then the Sect Leader is gone

  “Humph.” Tianjiao starts picking at his nose again, definitely not caring about the other elders' opinion.

  But still, Tianjiao disapproved of Luochen’s decision. Adopting someone who was just a mortal recently without knowing the background of his name. He expected better. If this Danxing is as talented in Soul Arts as Luochen tells him using the voice transmission back then, then at least he can make use of the book. If not, then he will die early or be used as someone’s stepping stone. But after thinking again, the former and the latter are highly unlikely.

  —

  “What was all of that about?” I finally speak as we walk

  “Listen to me here, you should be grateful Elder Tianjiao taught you this.” Qingfeng said while pointing finger

  “And why is that?” I glance at the whispering female disciples who immediately leave

  “I don’t know if you are conscious or not, but you have been quite rude... No, mannerless so far.”

  “Mannerless?” I repeat the slur, “How dare you!”

  “You don’t properly greet back, you don’t properly introduce yourself, you don’t even properly respect our master!” He list my mistakes

  “What? What!? Mind you I behave perfectly respectable. At least back home. I did forget to introduce myself to the elder though. But now I know how to greet people properly.”

  “Remember to apologize to Elder Tianjiao about that should you meet him again. He’s gracious enough to teach you how to properly convey respect. Normal cultivators usually wouldn’t tolerate such disrespect and will remember it.”

  “Oh he teaches me respect so he’s gracious now? And cultivators keeping a book of grudges?” I defend my own conduct

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Well, yes. Usually he just beat unruly disciples. What’s the Book of Grudges?”

  Is he an elder or a thug?

  “Oh, just a book where people keep every slight that needs to be repaid and such. This is not normal mind you, this is an extreme.” I then explains

  “I think it's better if you think every cultivator has that book. However, do mind that we will repay every generosity too, not just slights.” Qingfeng advices

  Ok, treat every cultivator with respect as you do to a warhammer fantasy dwarves. Noted. Though as they are Chinese and from Qingfeng's explanation, it is more like a balance book. Haha! Then, the heated discussion died down as we walked in silence. I once again try to keep note of the surroundings. It would be embarrassing if I got lost here. From the aesthetic, it is reminiscent of what my friends say when they visit Japan on vacation and Japan, if I read correctly, is also influenced by Chinese culture. Though he never went to China and I never did either so that is the closest reference I had. The American ban after we get to Mars first is still in effect. They should get over it in a few years but it looks like I will never visit there.

  Aside from the aesthetic, there are plenty of other disciples too. Though they wore grey robes instead of our odd black and white. They parted and made their way as me and Qingfeng walked. Some bowing at us. There’s some kind of hierarchy between us and them. Or are they servants? Will ask later. Then I remember what Qingfeng said before.

  “What you mean I don’t even properly respect the old man?” I start again

  “Have you kowtow to master yet?” He answer after giving it some thought

  “What even is that?” My God, another ceremonial gesture isn’t it

  “It’s the highest gesture of reverence. As for how it looks, there should be a group of outer disciples rising to inner disciples in the grand plaza. The ceremony should be ending soon, you can look there.” He explains and gives the general direction to the plaza.

  I use my divine sense straight towards the direction he is pointing. There I see a group of four disciples in grey robes. I see, so grey robes are outer disciples and black and white robes are inner disciples. What’s the distinction? No idea. The four of them have both knees on the ground, bowing deep until the head touches the ground. Some are even doing it until their heads make sound on the ground. They do this three times. Then I retract my divine sense.

  “I’m not doing that.” I flatly refuse

  “Your people never do that?”

  “Nope, not in three hundred years of American history.” I declare with pride

  “Then how do you greet people and show reverence?” he asks

  “We do handshakes, show me your right arm.” As he did, I take his hand and shake it

  “It’s a gesture of peaceful intent, as the right hand usually holds weapons. As for the show of reverence, we knelt but only one knee touches the ground. Two knees touching the ground usually means coercion or submission. The former is usually done by defeated soldiers and the latter only to kings and God.” I briefly explains

  “I see. It must be an interesting place.” He seems to like my explanation

  “Look, another animal.” Came an uninvited noise

  Both of us look at the source, a group of three inner disciples. Though their robes are quite customized. Some have no sleeves, some don't wear the inner shirt and show their muscles. Immediately Qingfeng’s halo burns red in hostility, head low and hunched, like a lion ready to pounce. The same goes from the three but not as hostile as Qingfeng. Why so hostile? Oh yes, the balance book.

  “Chusheng (畜生|beast), if your master keeps picking up stray animals he should make a circus instead.” Said the frontmost guy with a very punchable face

  “Senior brother, this one have a deer head, so he should be a Chulei (畜類|livestock) and not a beast.” Said the female one on his side then the group laughs along

  “True senior sister, our Tianhe sect is a respectable sect not a circus.” The one on his left adds and laughs again

  Qingfeng started to growl from the barrage of insults. Then like before his size starts to grow. The three of them grins like an idiot as their hands go to their weapons. I put my hand on Qingfeng, making him jolt in surprise. I told him to calm down using telepathy and he somewhat calmed down. His hostility is dampened by his concern for me. All around me, the outer disciples are gathering while still making space should there be a throwdown. The other three look annoyed as they now lack excuse though they keep their hands close to their weapons. The sleeveless one with two swords on his back kept his hand on the back of his head. The woman kept her hand on her hips near his sword. The frontmost one crosses his arm, two swords on his hip.

  “Is it customary here to trade insults on the first meeting?” I start and the three’s initial confidence is now halted

  ‘Who are they?’ I ask to Qingfeng in telepathy

  ‘Inner disciples of Elder Qizheng. He frequently creates problems for our master.’

  ‘I see.’ They want to play this game? Let’s play this game. Let’s see.

  “Of course not.” The frontmost one chuckles and cupped his hand in a performative apology.

  “We are—

  “Don’t bother, I won’t remember.” I immediately cut him off

  “You dare!” The youngest disciple flared in anger before being halted by the guy at the front

  “Do the three of you have any appointments or purpose with us? Or are you hounding us like a pack of wild dogs?” The three’s hostility immediately ramped up

  The one at the front initiated telepathy. I immediately split my divine sense into two and cut the connection. An impromptu effort that thankfully worked. Their eyes widen but I applaud their self control, with the exception of the youngest one that almost exploded.

  “Not at all, we just happened to pass by.” I spit on the ground as soon as he said that

  It was an accident! I was caught off guard by the sudden spiciness that exploded in my tongue. Which means he’s lying! It’s good that I confirmed that I can taste lies and I am not hallucinating the taste when meeting the old man for the second time. But the damage to my earlier advantage is done. The crows whisper and gossip but I have no attention to spare.

  “It would seem like we do need to educate some animals.” The guy said low, dripping with venom as his hand now fully grip his weapons, the other two follows

  Fuck! Fuck! What do I do!?

  “Well, you see, I always felt like spitting when someone told a blatant lie. Even more when the lie is not even a good one.” I try to make some time

  “You dare call us liars!?” The youngest one get riled again and the eldest waste time in collaring him again

  My eyes darted around, mind racing. Qingfeng prepares himself for a brawl again. Think, think! They lie when saying that they don’t have any other motive and are just passing by. Meaning they are told to make problems with us. Who? Qingfeng said their master, Elder Qi-whatever usually makes problems for us. Is he the owner of the invasive divine sense that annoys me before?

  “Junior, I hope you have proper justification for calling us liars, otherwise we will take some measures.” The eldest spoke

  Oh!? He gave me a free pass to hit him again? Nice.

  “Of course. To me, the three of you look like pet dogs, sent here to make problems. What happened to your owner? Mauled by a wolf perhaps?” I change my head to wolf, looked to the side and made a loud biting motion

  Their halo briefly flares in fear. That’s it… Motherfuckers! As I made another time, I quickly assess what I can do. Throwdown seems inevitable. Qingfeng can shapeshift into something. I have some degree of biomancy, projection that I have yet to test at all, and above average divine sense that maybe can be used for offense. Based on their unconscious affirmation, if I can damage their master when I bite his divine sense, maybe I can do the same using divine sense and infused with Qi. Then three against two, another disadvantage.

  “Not at all.” The guy still manages to sound condescending. “Our master is—

  Again I spit to the ground. Another spicy lie. I need to get used to this. The three unsheathed their weapons. Qingfeng explodes in size. I split my divine sense into three, sending one to each to maul them.

  “Danxing?” Came the old man voice that immediately halts everyone

  The three immediately sheathed their weapons. Qingfeng's size returns to normal. The crowd of outer disciples immediately parted in the direction of the old man. He walks towards us calmly. The outer disciples and even the three motherfuckers do the same.

  “We greet Elder Luochen.” The old man ignores them

  “I always get lost when I walk on these parts. Not waiting too long?” He ask directly to me

  “Not at all.”

  “Let’s go back then.” He then immediately lead us away

  “Oh, and here.” The old man threw some small box

  “For your master. Tell him to do be careful. There are wolves that can maul even him.”