I failed to form my golden core. I mean, it wasn't a total failure. A month of isolation allowed me to reach a deeper understanding of Qi. My qigong was far superior to it had been. That was progress. I just hoped to have formed the core by the end.

But foremost, I was a chef. I'd suffered many setbacks in my carrier. And the only thing to do was dust off your sleeves and got back to it. The same applied to any aspect of life. You kept moving forward no matter what life threw at you.

Despite that, I was excited. Today marked the first year I had been with the sect. I could now go home. Jiutian Xuan had paid me a visit earlier to ask me what my plans were. I told her that from now on I'd spend one week at home and one week in the sect. It would be a fair split of my time.

Liu Fang and Li Mei would accompany me. They were both nervous and excited to meet the others. I just hoped they would get along with Min and Jiao. No point putting it off. The girls were packed and ready to go. We stood facing the spirit gate. I held both their hands since I didn't know if they'd be able to follow once I'd passed through it.

I gave each of them a reassuring smile and walked with them through the gate. On the other side, the garden was quiet. I looked around but didn't see a sign of anyone. I let my senses reach out, but I couldn't sense anyone. This was a letdown. I expected the girls to be here at the very least.

I showed the girls to the guest rooms, letting them pick which they'd prefer. I was going to have to have someone renovate the house. During my time in the sect, I'd embraced the standards of this world. I would not go out and sleep with every woman I saw, but if I met a decent woman who was interested in me, I'd make her a wife or concubine.

After Liu Fang and Li Mei were settled, they joined me in my quest to find my missing wives. Our first stop was Bamboo Haven. The town had grown bigger in the time I was away and they had expanded the produce fields. It looked like there they had enough to feed the entire valley. I was proud of them.

When I entered the town, I was immediately beset by spear-wielding pig women. I held up my hands. I was feeling like rip van winkle having woken up and finding everything had changed. Didn't they recognize me?

One of them pleased the blade of her space against my throat. "Who are you?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Alastair Ivory. Leader of the five mountains, alliance. Sound familiar."

"Liar!" she snarled, drawing blood as the point of her spear broke the skin. I could use my qi to knock them all back. But these were Min's people. I didn't want them to get hurt. "Everyone knows he's cultivating in the Yin Yang Sect. You look nothing like him."

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I turned my head to look at Liu Feng. She had a hand on her Jian but didn't attack. "What is she talking about?"

"You've reached Middle Body perfection and Late Qi Refining. Both would have changed your form. You look like yourself, but better." She told me with a shrug.

I shook my head. I was too tired for all this. With an upward slick of my finger, I sent all the spears out of their hands and up into the air. I held the spear up there, out of their reach. Everyone backed away at once. Mothers clutched their children. The looks of abject fear hurt my heart.

"Where is Min?" I asked them. They looked at me defiantly. I sighed and sent the spears soaring away to land in the closest field. Then I remembered there was one person who would know where my wives were. It stuck two fingers into my mouth and used my qi to increase the range of my whistle. I was pretty sure the entire valley heard it.

My senses heard the distinct sound of a joyous roar. Moments later, with a whirl of wind Lian was there. Her tongue lolled out of her jaw like a cheerful dog as she nuzzled me.

I scratched under her jaw and between her horns. I had missed my Lian. "Lian, go get my girls. Bring them to me. Okay?"

She nodded her head and with another gust of wind; she shot off like a bullet from a gun. Five minutes later, she was back with a confused Min and Jiao. They dismounted and looked me up and down.

"Alastair?" Min asked uncertainly.

Jiao's nose twitched. "You smell like him and yet you don't."

"It's me. I've reached middle Body Perfection and Late QI Refining. Apparently, it changes your outer appearance." I told them with a shrug. "Min, I killed your last husband Chu. Jiao. The first time we were naked together. You refused to let me a couple with you because you said I'd kill you."

Jiao blushed, and Min snickered and bumped her hip against Jiao. "You really are a wilting blossom, aren't you?" She teased.

"At least I don't roll around in the mud." Jiao retorted.

Min huffed in mock indignation. "At least I don't have fleas."

"You take that back. My hair and fur are utter perfections. I don't have fleas."

I held up a hand to get their attention. "Ladies, let's go home. We have some things to discuss."

Lian was long enough to carry all of us. We were home in seconds. Sitting in the kitchen with my girls, I introduced Li Mei and Liu Fang. Both Min and Jiao were shocked to meet Li Mei. Especially when Jiao had recognized her as a Huli Jing.

But once their initial shock was over, they were excited to meet Liu Fang and Li Mei. I told the women how I'd be living with them for one week and living in the sect for one week. They also agreed it was a fair amount of time.

"Alright, tell me about the alliance," I said to them.

Jiao was practically bouncing in her seat. "It's been going very well. After making several successful trips to nearby villages and towns, we sent a caravan to the capital. Now we send at least two caravans there every week."

"We're rich. Our goods are famous. The new king orders his clothes and the clothes from his harem from us. It's been a busy year. But we're glad you're home."

She put her hand in mine. "I'm glad to be home. I had an interesting time in the sext but I missed you."

She gave me a mischievous grin. "Even with those two to keep you company?"

I laughed and kissed her palm. "Yes, even then. You too will always be in my heart."

They beamed at me. Together, the five of us made tea and finger sandwiches and had a picnic out in the garden. Life was good. And if I had anything to say about it life was going to get even better.