Beware Of Chicken

Beware Of Chicken - v7 Epilogue: And The Paths Leading Back Home

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:20:24 GMT

Ming Jie, Messenger of the Lord Magistrate of Verdant Hill, put one foot in front of the other. He was weary, but pleased he had completed his duty—and that the road to Verdant Hill was beneath him. In the distance, he could just make out the walls. He had made fantastic time back north, the worst of the weather far behind him. He had made such good time he had even surprised himself. Some days he must have managed a hundred li!

And now the journey was at its end. He felt his heart swell over the fact that his task was nearly completed… even if he would not be able to deliver his message directly to his lord.

He had been found by a fellow messenger in a stroke of great luck, who were also participating in the grand mail experiment. Some organisation called the Plum Blossoms or another, who were conducting a deep review of the more populated Grass Sea.

The man had informed him of his Lord’s departure from Verdant Hill to handle urgent business in Pale Moon Lake City; apparently his message from the Young Master, now Acting Lord Magistrate’s, predicament had advanced some timetables.

Still, he was not particularly worried. Pale Moon Lake was a nest of vipers, to be sure, but his Lord treated with cultivators on a regular basis. The Patriarch of Verdant Hill was sure to walk all over those fat fools.

The Lord Magistrate was superior to them in all respects—and Ming Jie had proof. A puffing, hissing contraption in a nearby river, attached to a long animal hide tube. It looked a bit like a pump—and indeed, it was drawing water from the river and into a field. A man was just standing beside it, chatting with a friend, instead of doing the arduous task (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c87 END of volume: Roads, Stretching to the Horizon

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:15:26 GMT

The news spread across the Grass Sea like wildfire; through transmission stones, through word of mouth, and through the whispers of the Plum Blossom’s Shadow. Soon, there was not a soul in the Azure Hills that did not know of the Lord Protector, the youngest Lord Magistrate in the Azure Hills. The youngest to ever hold the title, it was said.

A young hero, properly rewarded for his efforts. A city that had organized a spontaneous celebration, its people taking to the streets in jubilation—and the Lord Protector himself walked among them, witnessing their joy for himself.

===

The Lord Protector of Grass Sea City glanced to the side as another great cheer from the crowd gathered around this particular stall rang out, and An Ran laughed delightedly.

“Oho, didn’t you say you would score double?! Even if we combined your two scores, you’re still behind me!” An Ran declared, sticking her tongue out at the twins and flinging out another brace of rings one-handed. The game was rigged… but to an acceptable amount. It was merely hard to win, not impossible… but watching An Ran score so effortlessly, you wouldn’t know it. Every single ring settled perfectly.

“Ama tat, you swindler!” Narantuya fired back, stomping her foot childishly.

“Cheater, cheater!” her sister agreed, both of them bristling like cats. “You all see her, no? She uses techniques on a children's game!”

“Sounds like the words of losers,” An Ran taunted. “And you two started it, throwing your (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c86: The Rising of a Dragon

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:45:33 GMT

“Is it starting soon?”

“Court is in session right now, it won’t be long.”

“Oh, I hope it's good news…”

The air was filled with murmurs and gossip. Grass Sea City had ground to a stop as its populace gathered around the Announcement Pillars. The great formation that the Azure Heroes had repaired allowed announcements to ring out across the entire city, making them quite convenient. The Acting Lord Magistrate used them to tell the citizens of events he had planned, progress on the reconstruction of the city, or sometimes just to warn them of inclement weather, reported from outlying towns. His ‘dinner time chats’, as they were called by the people, were a much-beloved institution of the Acting Lord Magistrate’s tenure.

But today, instead of people eating meals while listening with half an ear, all of them were focused. Word had got around that there was an official decision from Pale Moon Lake City about the status of the Lord Magistrate position. Every official had been called into the palace—even Boss Tanhui of Underbridge was there—to witness whatever was taking place.

Everyone in Grass Sea City knew of Pale Moon Lake City—their distant, disinterested overlords that their own leaders constantly quarreled with. There were always speakers on street corners, declaring those of Pale Moon Lake to be jealous of Grass Sea—weak, aging overlords who were pushing down on them to keep them from growing too strong and taking their rightful place as the true capital of the Azure Hills.

The words often found fertile (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c85: The True Ruler

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:17:22 GMT

The Acting Lord Magistrate, along with everyone else, retired to the Magisterial Suites—and more specifically the gardens, so they could have some privacy. He thought he would need the peace the gardens brought for the conversation to come.

On their journey, they were joined by a few more people. One of them was refreshingly ordinary, another woman who looked like part of the Nezin tribe, wearing a rather fetching white and black outfit—Lao’s eyes had gone wide and shiny at the sight of it. The woman had a change of clothes for the babe, who was once more trying to take off his current attire.

Ah, children. Little ones were always amusing.

However, that was the only bit of normalcy. The others were far stranger. There was a fish in an absolutely stunning masterwork of a jar, the kind of art piece that would cost more than most mansions. He was lazing on his back, his fins draped out of the vessel like he was human. There was a full-on ox—and a flight of bees who flew in an oddly tight and professional-looking formation, fanning out over the room like soldiers.

His life had been very strange for the past year or so, but this was pushing it. Especially because An Ran was talking to the fish.

“It's good to finally meet you properly, Lord Wa Shi! Would you like some tea?” she said, her voice polite and respectful.

“That would be wonderful, thank you, Smaller Blade of Grass,” the fish said. Spoke. And he knew An Ran’s nickname.

Xinlai seemed to be taking (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c84: The Son of the Lord Magistrate

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:30:54 GMT

Xinlai woke up to the feeling of a warm body in her arms moving… and instantly realised that last night had not been a dream.

She had finally broken through the fortress of her man’s heart! And sure, they might have all gone way further than she had been intending… but she now realised what her mother was getting at when she said a lady should seize the day, and not worry about flapping lips later. This had been great! Why would she ever be bound by the waggling fingers of mortals?

Though perhaps the threat of those waggling fingers would scare that prude An Ran off and cut down her rivals… either that or An Ran would start crying about how she wasn’t fit for marriage to anyone else anymore. Like one night would render her that; for all the Smaller Blade of Grass was an annoyance, she was good looking. Nowhere near Xinlai’s level, of course, but she was comely all the same. She could easily go and find another.

The twins were… well, they were probably just looking for some fun, and now that they’d had it, they would probably move on… though Xinlai would have to make sure there were no kidnapping attempts.

Which left Lao. Lao wasn’t exactly a threat, so Xinlai, in her great benevolence, would allow her to be his concubine when Xinlai had to go out into the world.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Xinlai was absolutely exhausted and might need some assistance, because heavens above she knew he had stamina to spare, but last night was ridiculous.

Satisfied with the way the wind would surely (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c83: Heaven Before Hell

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:38:38 GMT

The day of the Acting Lord Magistrate always began early.

He awoke with the dawn. After a brief moment of taking his bearings, he would reach over to his bedside table and spin over the artifact hourglass he had. Then, he would stare at the ceiling of the Magisterial Suite in the palace for five minutes.

In those five minutes, he would breathe in and out, staving off the worst of the existential dread that filled his soul—all the work, how his actions would be judged, the lies he had told his parents, all of it settled upon him like the rock that had sealed away the Great Sage Wukong.

It had been worse, ever since that delivery had come, indicating that his parents knew of his deception. Every day he worried about them, what they would try to do to protect him. His poor, sickly mother, his aging father. Even with the news of scandal, and some kind of fall from grace by the Wu Clan, which was still trickling out into the Grass Sea, they were still more powerful than anything his parents could hope to do anything about.

And all because he had lied. All because he had been foolish and gotten caught up in all of this.

He would swallow the slowly building scream, feel the sweat build on his face—which was about when the hourglass would chime that his five minutes were over.

His moments of contemplating his own mortality and failings over, he would rise from his bed and begin the day.

Thankfully, there were at least some comforts to being the Acting Lord Magistrate of Grass Sea City. His rooms were vast and well appointed; the Magisterial (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c82: Clean Up and Cool Down

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:11:14 GMT

Earlier:

When Xiulan and the others left, it was time for us to leave, too. While I could get a head start on moving trees around and helping to repair the damage, we just didn't have the time right now. Zhuye and the others were waiting for us, as was the reason we had originally come here. Patching Tianlan up to Ash Forest really improved how well she could feel her Dragon Veins. She joked that it was because she had two eyes now, instead of one, and she could better direct us to the small ruptures nearer to the Grass Sea.

“Vajra, if you need anything, just tell us and we’ll be right over,” I told the newest member of the human form club. I had already said my goodbyes to the others, while Meimei was still alternating between mothering Rizzo and Spooks, both of them bearing the hugs with smiles.

“Worry not, My Lord!” she replied, puffing out her chest and flipping her hair. “Your Vajra will not give you any cause to worry! Nay, rest easy knowing that all in this forest resides within her palm!”

I chuckled at her over the top declaration. She and Xianghua would get along like a house on fire. I was also relieved. At first, I thought there might be some problems with her calling me ‘Emperor’… but instead Vajra proved to be a very reasonable woman and had gracefully ceded that ground. ‘My Lord’ wasn’t much better, but it was a start until she was comfortable enough to call me by my name.

“Then I won’t worry. I trust you, Vajra,” I replied. Vajra had already proven herself, silly moments aside. There was a feeling you got when you were around people who actually knew what they were doing, and Vajra struck me as a person who wouldn’t need much minding (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c81: Reunions

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:43:09 GMT

The funeral for the Martyrs of the Azure Hills ended quietly, as two funerary tablets were placed in the hallowed halls beneath the mountains. Patriarch Baatar bowed in acknowledgement to the two heroes, the first two names of what would hopefully be an institution that would last into eternity. The children of the Blue Sky had done their duty, and now could sleep peacefully.

One tablet was carved out of stone from the mountain itself, carved by Rou Tigu; the other, made from the lacquered wood of the Lonely Tree. Two separate paths that found a place together. They were the kind of monuments that paid their full respects to where those had come from, and when their time came to an end. A shard of stone from the Grand Ravine would be placed here too.

Though they would have to have a grand conclave of all their elders to chart this new course. The Grand Ravine did not bury their dead. The Grand Canyon Condors took their bones into the blue sky, so they could fly eternally… but to be bound forever with your comrades, ready to defend this sacred place, would be acceptable to some.

As had clearly been acceptable to their ancestors; Baatar had seen the symbols in the old mausoleum. Brothers and sisters of the Ravine had chosen to rest in this place, and to move their remains now would be the height of disrespect.

Baatar watched over the children as they paid their respects; every member of the Grand Ravine in Dueling Town was here, by his command, their bandannas absent as they said goodbye to the honoured dead in the Imperial way before departing. Some of the Imperials seemed rather shocked at the reverence, but they should not have been.

They had (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c80: The Triumph

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 03:43:47 GMT

Much to Bi De’s surprise, the aftermath of the battle went by much faster than he was expecting; he was rather used to dealing with human problems. Destroyed buildings, wrecked fields, shattered fences.

Ash Forest had been spared these things, because the hornets didn’t touch them. What the reconstruction mostly needed was time—time, and good management to truly allow the depopulated portions to recover.

Which led to the second reason why things were much faster. Blaze Bears weren’t much for debating in circles like humans.

‘She has all-seeing eyes. She's the best to be in charge of healing the forest,” Huishou grunted, pointing at Vajra. The Healing Sage’s speed at altering outfits was unrivalled. Gone were the ill-fitting clothes, and in their place was something that evoked queenly majesty and hints of her ancestry. It was a fine dress of black and yellow, with a handsome fur shawl that closed around her neck. Her hair was held up by several black sticks, whittled by their Master, that did look rather a lot like double-ended bee stingers.

The outfit perfectly enhanced her queenly figure. Bi De found he required some stern self-control to keep from looking for too long. Master said the outfit was a bit on the nose, but Vajra was absolutely enamoured with the clothes, and had spent much time preening in front of her daughters.

‘She’s definitely a trustworthy sort,’ Paobu agreed, seated beside his five bee hives. He wasn’t entirely paying attention. Instead, he was focused on a bee crawling along his claw, his eyes (...)

Beware Of Chicken - v7c79: News

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:39:27 GMT

Pi Pa found herself at the southern fence again.

Their morning walk always took them to this location, where Bi De and the others had departed from. Her dear friends indulged her, and they stood together there in the morning, waiting for any news.

None had come for nearly the past two weeks. Pi Pa, with her mind full of the last battle she had been a part of, could not help but worry for everyone… but that worry was blunted by a simple fact.

Her dear was not. Chun Ke was a pillar of calm, as always, and was quite sure everyone was both fine and well; and really, that made all the difference.

So instead of standing there and fretting, Pi Pa found herself closing her eyes and listening to the sound of the birds and insects, the river and the wind. She smelled the sweet scent of growth, and felt at peace.

It was nice to have a moment of rest and quiet as well. With everyone gone, it should have been quiet and slow, but Young Sir Bowu was testing out a new steam furnace design and the drop hammer was thundering away at all hours. And when it wasn’t pounding something into shape, he was off with her Dear, travelling to Hong Yaowu or overseeing the workshop in Verdant Hill—with his ultimate goal to make a one-person cart so he wouldn’t have to continuously bother people into carrying him around, not that anybody really minded.

Additionally, they had had quite a few guests, both from Hong Yaowu and Smoky River. There was always somebody coming and going most days, dropping things off… or just coming to visit and have tea. Ty An was a regular fixture, as was Lady Nezuhua and one fox or another, (...)