Once the fog lifted from the city, the terrible destruction was laid bare for all to see. Most of the library was gone, scorched by flames and riddled with holes. Precious marbled tiles lay in scattered messes around it, limp bodies of guards mixed between them. What books remained inside were forced to face the natural elements as rain streamed down from the sky.

The Governor’s Palace was no more. The peak that housed the grand place now looked like an abandoned set of ruins that housed the bodies of nameless guards who had either succumbed to the sickness or been killed off by Sun Hu’s ethereal chains while he was trying to destroy the thorn.

But what really struck Lei was the empty looks on people’s faces. Most of them were aware that they had lived through something terrible, though only a few seemed to know what it really was. The sickness still clung to them even as the source of it was removed from the city.

So Lei and the others couldn’t rest in the following days. There was still a job to do, people to rescue, and a city to pull back from the depths of desperation.

Thankfully, they found Aunt Lifen in the depths of the library along with some others, mostly healers who had been captured when the Governor’s men found out they were handing out a remedy that could heal the sickness. They looked like they’d been through some dark times, but the weight of the responsibility made them reliable allies.

They set up stalls around the city while Lei and Zhu Luli prepared cauldrons of the remedy inside the restaurant. People lined up before the healers. Kids carried batches of medication to the ones shackled to their beds.

It was a common effort in a period of silence. Without the guards and a board to guide them, people patched their own wounds. They cried together in the squares for the ones they’d lost. Laughed when the sick got healed. Praised the Heavenly Cook and the Herbalist who’d pulled them out of their miseries.

There was one thing Lei made sure everybody knew: no matter who they were, and no matter how old or young they were, there was always some food for the sick people of Jiangzhen in the restaurant. The doors were opened wide, and beyond the wooden walls, smoke wafted in beautiful waves as the Chef and his staff kept working on.

They carried tables, laying them before the restaurant—dozens of them stretching in long lines, hundreds of people joining in each meal, carrying their own chairs. Pain became something they shared openly. Stories were told about the ones who were no more.

All throughout this, Lei worked in silence and with a guilt that was mixed into his selfish relief. He was relieved because his newly found family was still around him—everyone. But there were people out there in the city who had lost someone during the chaos. He felt guilty because of his own relief.

Snake and Stone kept cultivating in the backyard, their eyes bloodshot after all the tears they’d shed. Lei learned from them that the sword of light that had appeared on that day came from their mysterious master. Snake had told him, eyes teary, that he was a wise and old man who liked to talk in a roundabout way, always stretching the words to sound clever, never letting him get his way.

Lei was more than surprised when he heard his name was Master Grim. When Zhu Luli learned of this matter, she made them sit at a table and told them tales about him: an Immortal of old, with a fearsome reputation that stretched over hundreds of years. Many thought him a mere legend, some tale made up to scare unruly children.

But after that day, he’d become a true hero to the pair of kids and Lei alike. He would be ever remembered as one.

Meanwhile, Master Li and Granny Xu had shown their wisdom through these chaotic times. They guided the lost and established order in the city. They took promising youngsters and made them act as guards. They took people who were masters in their professions and rallied them to the work.

Slowly, the broken city was healing itself.

…….

It was another day in the restaurant, and the counters were full of ingredients. The kitchen staff, ever the diligent chefs, were waiting for the Head Chef to decide what sort of menu they would be serving for today’s lunch. There were ideas, of course, but Lei could see they were keeping their silence with patience.

“Alright, chefs!” he said, sweeping his eye across them. Before him stood Little Jiao, Ning, Yunru, and Chuanli—his most reliable staff members, who had proved their talents in the field of cooking. Behind them, though, was a crowd of people staring expectantly at him.

Now that they had removed the outer walls of the restaurant to expand the kitchen, they could let dozens of cooks get in line before him. Lei didn’t know how it happened, but at some point, a good part of the city started eating their meals around here, and there was no way his little team could provide hundreds of people a good meal each day. So more help was needed.

Well, the food is free. That plays a part, I guess.

Another part, a bigger one to Lei’s thinking, was the experience itself. After all the things that had happened in Jiangzhen, nobody wanted to stay alone. The notion of “the more, the merrier” had become something that erased what boundaries were there between the people, and now they were like a big family.

“I’ve heard that the reconstruction of the library is coming along. And I’m also pleased to announce that Brother Hu told me he’d notified his Master about our situation. The Empire is in the process of sending a grand delegation of people that’ll supposedly help patch our wounds.”

Lei nodded at the crowd, who looked with doubtful gazes into his eyes. Most still didn’t believe the Empire would help them, given that it remained silent even when the city was under the attack of what many thought was a group of demonic cultivators. People were furious, and they had every right to be.

But a kitchen wasn’t the place for giving a voice to such thoughts. Therefore, Lei focused on what was really important.

“Already the winds carry the promise of a long winter. It’s getting cold, and it’ll get colder still. So for today’s lunch, I’ve decided to go for a simple meal,” Lei said, a smile tugging at his lips. “One that is good for the soul and body as well. A chicken soup, followed by a kimchi stew. We’ll start with the broth, people!”

The crowd dispersed into their respective stations scattered about the kitchen and beyond. Most of them consisted of a basic cauldron and a makeshift stove, with a table to serve as a counter that lay beside it. Still, nobody uttered a word of protest and followed the Head Chef’s orders.

Lei checked the cabbage parts he’d fixed earlier that day, then skinned the chicken with practiced ease. On a pot large enough to fit the chicken, he sprinkled a bit of salt, some black pepper, and put a mix of onions and potatoes to give the broth that rich flavor. Once it started to simmer, he eased the chicken inside and half-closed the lid.

“Big Brother Lei—“

“You’re supposed to call him Chef!” Little Jiao was quick to silence Little Chuanli, who’d called out to Lei. The little boy scowled at his sister, but it was quickly replaced by a beaming smile as he glanced up.

“Chef, can I skin the other chicken, please?”

Lei crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the boy, his face perfectly still. He purposefully let the wait get to him before he gave a small, strict nod. “Chef Jiao, make sure our Chef Chuanli here will keep all his fingers intact during the process.”

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Little Jiao’s mouth parted slightly while Little Chuanli’s shoulders sagged. Then the little girl patted him on the back and nearly saluted Lei. “Yes, Chef!”

“Alright, chefs! Get a move on. We don’t have much time!”

It didn’t take long for a deep silence to settle over the kitchen and the field beyond it. Dozens of cooks worked to deliver the menu in time, faces creased with focus. But Lei could see the occasional smile here and there, as if now and then people suddenly remembered who they were cooking for.

That brought some warmth around Lei’s heart as well.

He paused when he heard a flurry of steps from the main hall. He craned his head around the counters and arched an eyebrow when he saw Little Mei coming with the little squirrel perched over her shoulder.

Wiping his hands on a cloth, Lei walked over to welcome her, the girl’s eyes sparkling when her gaze settled on him.

“To what do we owe this pleasure, Little Mei?” Lei asked with a wide smile on his face. Little Mei and Little Yao were now a famous duo around Jiangzhen, partly because of how fast they were at delivering the remedy to bedridden people. The old grannies were especially fond of them.

“Teacher Luli sent me here to fetch you, Big Brother Lei,” Little Mei said in a sing-song voice. Her cheeks had that cute flush that made her look like a doll. The same couldn’t be said about Little Yao, however, as the squirrel looked as tight as a rolled-up sleeve. Her beady eyes seemed lifeless, too.

“What’s this about?” Lei asked.

“A group of people came to the Library,” Little Mei said. “And there is this man… He’s one of them, and I think he is Big Brother Hu’s Master.”

Little Yao poked a claw into Little Mei’s arm, which made the little girl scowl in confusion. Then the squirrel squeaked in an irritated, but almost pained, voice, to which Little Mei nodded as if she understood the meaning.

“My mistake. He’s Big Brother Hu’s Master. He’s the head of Sky…guard? Anyway, Little Yao says he’s strong, and I think he doesn’t like it when people make him wait. So you better hurry, Big Brother Lei!”

Head of Skyguard? Are these the people Brother Hu told me about?

Shaking his head, Lei told his staff to take a break while he followed Little Mei to the Library.

…

The statue of Emperor Xia still stood strong under the bright sun, beyond which rose multiple scaffolds that surrounded the Library. Dozens of townsfolk were busy patching the holes around the marbled walls, with Master Li overseeing the construction in person.

He had a makeshift tent placed near the statue, with a pair of young men clad in leather armor acting as guards before it. Though they tried to look the part, it was clear from the tight frowns on their faces that they weren’t used to those spears.

Lei gave them a nod as Little Mei guided him past the tent toward the Library’s entrance, where a group of blue-robed men were standing. Sun Hu was there among them, conversing in a hushed tone with a bulky, mean-looking man who had a pair of hawkish eyes.

“Ah, Brother Lei!” Sun Hu’s eyes glinted the moment he saw him, and he gestured for Lei to join them. “This man here, gentlemen, is the true hero of Jiangzhen! This city is lucky to have him, as not only did he save the mortals in this city, he and Sister Luli came up with a remedy to heal that strange sickness.”

The large man swept Lei with a fierce gaze. He was easily a head taller than him, and just like the others in his group, his dark hair was cut short. There was something feral about the way he carried himself—a sense of power, a tremor of strength. It was just like looking at a monstrous beast, one hidden under a human’s skin.

“Jiang Liu,” the man said with a gravelly voice and nodded in greeting. “On behalf of Skyguard, I’d like to thank you for saving these people. Please forgive us. I’m ashamed that the Skyguard failed to arrive in time.”

“Oh…” Lei was taken aback by the sudden apology and scratched his head. He almost used the Yellow Maiden’s Eyes to check the man’s cultivation stage, but decided against it, as he still had little idea about what these people would think when his eyes started blazing. Instead, he used Spiritual Sensitivity to check whether there was anything abnormal about the man.

Nothing… So he’s a real cultivator. That’s a relief.

It had become a habit for him lately. Dealing with a bunch of rotten and crooked people had done a number on his faith in appearances, after all.

Noticing the man kept looking at him as if he expected something, it dawned on Lei that he hadn’t accepted the man’s apology.

“There was nothing you could do,” he said with a solemn voice. “They locked all means of communication so we couldn’t reach out to you.”

“A bastard of a Governor, and a bunch of corrupted fools,” Jiang Liu growled, then turned and nodded at his men. “Clear the city. Don’t leave anything unchecked.”

Spiritual energy stirred as the group of men gave him a nod and took off from the ground. Each one of the five took a different route as they all flew away.

Flying… They must be at least Core Formation Stage experts.

It looked like the reputation of Skyguard was nothing to scoff at. They did have some strong people in their ranks.

“Brother Lei, we were talking about the strange nature of our enemies with Guard Jiang Liu here,” Sun Hu said after a moment, sounding greatly troubled. “I’ve decided to make a detailed report to the Emperor’s Own and present it myself to the Office. After all the things you’ve told me, I think it’s fair to say this is not a simple case of a demonic cultivator attack.”

Lei nodded. They had a good talk with Sun Hu after the thing settled, thus he knew these people were of a different origin. Not only had they come here from another world, but there were also hundreds of others like them scattered in the Empire.

“So you’re going back to the capital?” Lei asked.

“I must,” Sun Hu said. “This is not something I can handle on my own. I also want to consult my Father on this matter. Something tells me this is not the secret we think it is.”

Jiang Liu shifted uncomfortably at those words, averting his gaze.

Sun Hu rolled his eyes at the man, then shook his head and smiled. “Anyway, I’ll put a good word in with the Emperor’s Own while I’m there. You ought to be rewarded for your efforts here.”

“You’re too kind,” Lei said.

“So, did you make a decision yet? What are you going to do next? Don’t tell me you’re planning to stay in Jiangzhen,” Sun Hu said.

“I’m not sure,” Lei muttered. “We always talked about trying our chances in Lanzhou. The kids deserve a real opportunity as well, and this city is too small for them. Sister Luli also wants to try that academy she’s been talking about.”

“What about you?” Sun Hu asked. “I know you like to put the kids first, but the Emperor’s Own can use a man like you. You have a… gift that I haven’t seen before.”

Lei smiled at him. “Me? I think I’ll continue with my cooking. The other day we were talking with Brother Lou about a restaurant. Perhaps we’ll try to open one in Lanzhou.”

“Oh?” Sun Hu’s eyes glinted.

“But before that, I want to focus on Jiangzhen. You know there’s still a lot of work to be done. The people weren’t the only ones affected by that sickness. Farms, buildings… Hell, we don’t even have a Governor anymore!”

Sun Hu waved a hand at him. “Don’t worry about those things. Now that the Skyguard is here, the Empire will provide everything your people need in a few days. Things may look grim, but trust me, it’ll take at most a week for life to get back to the way it used to be here.” His eyes turned toward the makeshift tent by Emperor Xia’s statue. “And from what I can see, you already have a Governor candidate. We just need to officialize it.”

“You mean Master Li?” Lei chuckled. After all the talk about retirement and having a peaceful life, nowadays Master Li barely had a moment to scratch his own head. Good thing Granny Xu was keeping up with him. The woman never left him alone.

And he sure likes the responsibility.

“We’ll see about that,” Lei said. “Can’t make the decisions for them, right?”

“That’s true,” Sun Hu said, then sighed out a long breath. “I know you’re busy, so I don’t want to keep you any longer. Just know that you’ll always be welcome in the Sun Clan. If you ever decide to come to the capital, don’t forget to send me a word. I would like to try your dishes one last time before death claims me.”

“You’re too young to talk like that,” Lei said, and clapped the man on the back. Though the time they’d spent wasn’t long, they’d braved those bastards side by side.

“Take this,” Jiang Liu said all of a sudden as he stretched a hand toward Lei. Clasped in his fingers was a round, blue token with a pair of clouds carved along its surface. “This token proves your identity as a benefactor of the Skyguard. Whenever you need some help, you can show it to our people and get aid.”

“Oh…” Lei said, taking the token. It felt cold in his hand. “Thanks, Brother Liu.”

“Mm,” Jiang Liu nodded and turned to Sun Hu. “We should talk about the details.”

“Alright, I’ll leave you two alone,” Lei said, taking the message. He gave Sun Hu and Jiang Liu a bow before drawing back.

Little Mei joined him, and people smiled at them as they were about to make their way back to the restaurant, only to pause when Sun Hu yelled at them.

“Brother Lei!” the man called out to him. “I forgot, there’s one final thing. Sister Luli is expecting you in Master Li’s tent. I’m afraid she has some strange company with her, though.”

“Strange company?” Lei arched an eyebrow.

“Yes… Strange indeed,” Jiang Liu muttered, and a look of dread flashed behind his eyes before he gathered himself. “That man is more terrifying than the rumors.”

“I know, right…” Sun Hu said.

“And?” Lei insisted when it looked like the pair would refuse to tell him who this terrifying person was. “Anything I should know?”

“Don’t worry,” Sun Hu said and chuckled oddly. “He’s just Sister Luli’s father. I don’t think he’s going to do anything harmful to you.”

“You think?”

“You can’t be sure about these things,” Sun Hu shrugged. “He’s the famed Heavenly Scholar, after all.”

Heavenly Scholar…

Lei swallowed. It looked like today would be a day for meetings.

………