Chapter Thirty Four - They boast about their descendants

"Master Cygnus."

"General Ramas. There seems to be a lightness to your step this evening."

While butterflies flittered elsewhere, two silver haired men smiled at each other and made small talk, however although they appeared of similar age, there was actually a few decades between them. The much more stout of the two, for his figure resembled a plush ball unlike the robustness of the man with sun darkened skin, was actually some fifty years older. However, they both had experienced stagnation in their cultivation, although at different times, so the years had taken hold of them and lined them both. This similarity between them and joint wistfulness of fate had formed a bond of friendship that stretched now ten long years. Both also shared the hope of their dreams within their grandchildren now, their own offspring being ordinary. However, while General Ramas was the head of his family with shallow roots, Master Cygnus was born of a branch within the extensive and ancient Cygnus clan. He grew to head this branch family that had been dying away were it not for his tenth grandson and current hope.

The old man's name was Winter, but as he represented the clan within Cenapar city, others respectfully called him by the clan name.

General Ramas smiled brightly, even as he dismissed the compliment. "My wife invites new doctors all the time to create tonics for me. Perhaps this new bitter medicine is actually taking effect for a change. But I see that there is a sparkle in your eyes this night, perhaps you received good news?"

"Not so, not so," the old man was equally as dismissive, but allowed; "although this one's Grandson happened to return home to visit this New Year and it is always the delight of the elders to welcome home their descendants."

"This is true," General Ramas agreed. "It so happens my Grandson is also back for a visit."

"Is that so? Ah I recall that you mentioned that you allowed him to attend the Ascending Mountain Institute as a Martial Artist. May I assume he is progressing well then?"

"When will that stinky boy ever progress well?" General Ramas scowled even if that did not reach his cheerful eyes. "However, I bet that your Grandson is performing brilliantly as usual as a Mage at the Ascending Mountain Institute?"

"Not bad," the man stroked his impressively long beard that dressed his round stomach like a second scarf. "His talent is mediocre, only just managing to breakthrough to tertiary level a little less than a moon ago. His sea is now all over the place and so I let him remain home to rest." These depreciating words were only upon his tongue and clearly not in his heart as each one was filled with pride.

"Isn't he a little over twenty one? And you consider such talent mediocre," General Ramas snorted. "Should I remind you how long my sixth grandson lingered in primary level? More than ten years to break through to secondary! Were it not that he gained an attention of one of the Teachers, who took him as a direct student, I'd worry that it would be another ten years before he even approached the peak to enter tertiary stage!" His arms were crossed as if dissatisfied, but Master Cygnus heard the relief, the hope and the joy in his voice.

Both old men stood as if their grandchildren were the epitome of greatness, even as they berated them verbally. Naturally, others began to bemoan their grandsons and daughters just as happily as well. This one's granddaughter had only just finished reading ten books about medicine, this one's grandson had managed to enter the Imperial Academy by some luck considering his weak calligraphy and this one's grandchild had sold all the recent batch of wine brewed by his own recipe and hand and only saved him a single barrel of the highly in demand beverage.

"My youngest grandson is so unfilial, he'd rather cultivate than spend the time hunting spirit beasts with this old man," a gentleman groused from beside them and all had to take a second look.  This man had long black hair that reached to his knees even threaded high upon his head and through a simple crown that it was.  He wore a long midnight blue silk tunic with swords embroidered about the hem and ivory silk trousers tucked into long, black leather boots.  The belt about his waist shimmered like scales and jade beads dangled from it as well.  His silver eyes were shaped like Phoenix feathers, his skin was only a shade darker than milk and his lips were reddened by wine.  By no means should this 'youth' be a grandfather, but they couldn't doubt his words.  There were immortals amongst immortals.

The tall and rather stunning man had attracted many glances and contemplation, but suddenly warned, these old men felt the need to warn their wives not to look in his direction.  It was very unlikely that this man was here seeking a young bride, more than likely he was a special guest of Qinwang. 

He suddenly swaggered off towards the palisade outside, after glancing at his empty glass for a few moments and the old men sighed, before beginning another round of bragging.  Slowly, as the wine flowed, the depreciative words covering their pride were forgotten for more outrageous comparisons, each trying to one up the next.

"Ah so what if your granddaughter wrote a poem that impressed the Headmaster of the Imperial College," slurred one old man, "my granddaughter composed a piece of music upon the qin that impressed the princess consort's mother!"

"My Great Grandson has been accepted as a disciple of Teacher Dean, the most famous scholar of the Ascending Mountain Institute!  It's said his knowledge is no less that the Deputy Head Master of the Institute himself!"

"My Grandson has not only been accepted as a disciple of Teacher Quan Zhang, the immortal Mage from across the oceans.  He heads the Magic school of the Ascending Mountain Institute!"  This man was Master Cygnus' old rival and happened to be of a slightly smaller clan devoted to raising Mages amongst its children.  Master Cygnus had once hoped also to be a Mage of the Cygnus clan and had never gotten along with this Master Ibis of the Ibis clan.  Now their descendants had the fate to attend the same school and be pit against each other in their Elder's stead.

The two men's eyes met and illusionary lightning seemed spark between them.

"My Grandson's place in the Standings was some ten places above your Grandson," Master Cygnus decided to remind him, "if I recall correctly."

"But isn't your Grandson only a branch family member and so oppressed by the main house's young Di daughter?" The other man sneered. "At least my grandson is of the main bloodline, so all the resources are his to use. He naturally will exceed your Grandson in the future!"

The vein of the Cygnus old Master throbbed at the side of his temple. But before he could retaliate, a servant approached him and murmured in his ear. He took a deep breath that did little to expel the redness in his face. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he bowed slightly, though was slighted by the old Ibis Master who stepped aside insulting him by refusing to accept his departing gesture of respect. Winter Cygnus gritted his teeth and vowed for all to hear; "The Inter-School Exchange is not far from being upon them.  We'll see who has the last laugh then!"

"Ha, we shall!"  The old men flicked their long loose sleeves in each other's direction then turned on their heels and left abruptly. 

General Ramas looked gloomily at the crimson liquid in his glass; Sun had never spoken of these school events to him.  Unfilial child!  He must get an explanation at once!