I sit in the little courtyard that is adjacent to my office behind the manor. It is the only space in the house where my wife is not allowed and where I cultivate. They call it closed door training after Tion put a name on it, I call it my man cave. It has an office with a desk and drawing board, oven and outside a courtyard filled with plants and a table to work on. Of course, my wife spends time with me here, it is just not her domain like the rest of the house. Now it is filled with my travelling party.

Tion look the beauty she is after three years of work the only thing that can betray her is the small penis between her legs. I have shrunk it, but not removed it since it might someday be needed or wanted. She has pert breasts sized like a small C and a bubble butt ready to be grabbed. From being all man and having to work hard to be feminine she now exudes sex, and I know that she has male lovers in the villages. Her dress is what has begun to be known as the floating rose schools style. It is much less heavy clothing like Chinese or renaissance form of dress and rather a flowing kimono. I like it on the women since they usually only wear one or two layers.

Xi has grown with the growth of his children, a boy of two years and a girl of one. His brooding and serious demeanour has opened up and become more playful. He is still a brooding person, but with that little spark creating knowledge that has humour inside. He is also now what I would call a battle maniac having sought to teach in the school and become serious about his life choice. Last year he swore allegiance to me having understood that he needed someone to guide him and serve. Ha was furious at the decision, even as she did the same three years prior to become the vice-head of our school. He sports a red stripe on his clothing representing his rank in the school. Could have been white by now, but he has yet to master his career choices to split his focus three ways between the sword, bow and massage.

The last person in the group is Yuan. One of my first disciples being thought daily at the temple. I am surprised that Xia did not protest more about having her as part of my retinue on my travels. She is beautiful, nearly as pretty as either my wife or Tion. Her demeanour is also good and the only reason I did not marry her rather than Xia is that her parents are just day labourers working on the villages farms and forest on a wage. Not like Xia whos father is the village head of Banks. Her family will rise with her however since she will earn more in her life than the family has earned in generations.

These are the people I will travel with to see all the wonders of the land. I am giddy with excitement looking forward to this. Having scores of plans myself. I hope to see spectacular landscapes. Discover new and exciting people while uncovering the secrets of this world. There is so much to see, feel, enjoy and experiences. The capital is the first big goal for me since I wish to see the seat of power. The most magnificent buildings and people are said to gather there and I wish to take part. On the way, I will get to do all the other things and maybe even have a fling or ten. I hope to earn money, eat good food, drink all the different drinks and meet people from near and far. Three or five years I have planned to be away, then I should have kids at a good age since Xia is pregnant for the first time now. I will see the kids born and then I will be gone.

“Good, finally can we gather and plan our journey, any suggestions?” I ask them and write down what they say. “First Mao of course,” Tion says and the think it over. “We really should go to Nassan and back towards the capital.” She thinks it over and nods. “Yeah, that is about all I have.” I nod and think it over since I have nothing better. “Wait a moment and I will find a map,” I tell them. Xi begins rattling off a whole slew of places he wants to visit. Know battle sites, sieges, school, sects and a whole range of families and know masters he wishes to see. Yuan has her list of cities, most for the money she can earn I think. “Okay, Okay,” I tell them and hold my hands up. “First we need to decide if we will go in the mountains or along the ocean,” I tell them and look at the map I found. “We can also pass between them crossing the rivers,” Tion says and traces the route with her finger. “So three choices.” In the end, it is up to me to decide. I take a stick from a game with three sides and throw it. “It is decided, we will follow the mountains to the capital,” I say Xi is overjoyed by this while Yuan and Tion groan. The mountains are cold, hard to pass through and little life. On the other hand, there are many schools and sects there know for their battle prowess, fortresses know for great sieges and some really heroic battle sites. “That decides it, we will leave early in the new year,” I tell them and everyone nod at this, no reason to pass through when there is too much snow.

There is a lot to do and the extra time will be useful for me. I can begin construction on the bamboo paper mill. Finalize the work needed on the school and get a feel for how the gardens progress. I have big hopes for them and if they are able to cleanse the area of polluted energy it will be a great leap forward in cultivation. Looking it all over I am not so sad that I will break my own promise. I am able to leave no when I still am eighteen, but I will not, I will wait and do so when I am truly ready. Rushing into something is not the solution, rather I will take my time and truly savour the world around me. That is my goal after all. I will set out on new adventures soon enough. Postponing also means I will have more time to work through all the hurt the attack caused on me and my people.