After Shen Liqian planted the first Frostheart Snowcup of the Shen Clan, the elders and other hunters approached to ask about the meeting regarding their future.
Shen Wei, one of the elders, crushed the ice off his long white beard.
"You have carried out your first duties and orders with a strong hand, Chief Liqian.
"We are impressed by your thoughtfulness, decisiveness, and mercy.
"The stability of our clan has always been the primary objective.
"The objective we strongly advised to all chiefs.
"Not anymore."
The elders of the clan wanted to share their experience and help the youngest chief make better decisions for their future.
They knew the most, so Shen Liqian nodded.
"Of course.
"I will have meetings with our core members to ensure we can start developing as soon as possible.
"So, tomorrow it is.
"I look forward to your wealth of knowledge and experience, but the final decision will still be mine."
All the elders cupped their hands and bowed low.
"Naturally," they replied in chorus.
Then the other hunters drew Shen Liqian's attention.
None of them looked at him as if he were a youngster.
Instead, respect for his strength was clear, and hope flickered in their eyes.
Their hope settled on him like a weight he chose to carry.
"We have been losing so many people in our expeditions to the caves.
"Frost, beasts, and even a lack of courage—those wear our men down, Chief Liqian."
He pictured the empty seats at winter tables and set his jaw.
Shen Liqian nodded.
"Yes."
"I have been too weak to assist in any form of hunting and only practiced with my fellow clan members.
"But I have been enlightened and will ensure our hunters can finally spread their wings in the wilderness.
"I will bring that up in tomorrow's meeting as well."
The hunters cupped their hands and bowed low, their voices booming across the winter.
"Thank you, Chief Liqian!"
Those were the only pressing matters Shen Liqian would soon attend to.
He took a last glance at the first flower and Shen Kexin cultivating by its side, then turned to the others.
He waved at them and dismissed the gathering.
Not many wanted to leave, still captivated by the flower and the potential new cultivation method.
It also felt better to be around the flower, thanks to Kexin's help absorbing so much Qi.
Smiling, Shen Liqian looked over at his vassals.
"You're free to stay with your families for tonight.
"I will do the same."
Shen Jixian was the first one to cup his hands and bow low.
"Thank you, Chief Liqian!"
He ran to his little sister and his parents, who had many questions for him.
But before any could leave their lips, Shen Jixian's mother tightly embraced her son and ruffled his hair.
Shen Liqian let the warmth of their joy steady him.
"You have become so strong under Chief Liqian's care!"
"Mom… don't embarrass me!"
"Embarrass? You're smiling from ear to ear!"
"Haha!"
Shen Liqian and Shen Yiren chuckled at the exchange.
Then they headed to the Clan Chief's Manor where their families stayed.
Shen Liqian received the same treatment from his mother as Shen Lexi ran into him and pressed him tightly to her chest.
"You made me so worried, Qian'er!
"I'm so glad you're all right…"
He had slept for two weeks, then arrived like a hero to save the day.
He made his parents proud, but Shen Lexi's worries took priority as she could finally speak with her son again.
"I'm sorry for making you worried, Mom.
"I cultivated my body and then encountered my first Heart Demon."
At the mention of a Heart Demon, Shen Lexi's face crumpled, and more concern spilled from her.
She cupped his cheek.
"If there's anything you want to talk about, don't shy away."
Shen Liqian awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"I didn't defeat the Heart Demon…
"…I actually let it survive so that I could challenge it again.
"It still exists within me."
Silence tightened, but his gaze didn't waver.
Shen Lexi, Shen Lijian, and Shen Yiren all blanked at those words.
What in the world did he do?
He didn't kill his Heart Demon, let alone allow it to exist so he could challenge it at any time?!
A moment later, Shen Lijian burst out laughing.
"That's a way to turn misfortune into fortune!
"Haha!"
He laughed without end despite his wounds and having barely any Qi.
He coughed because of it, but his sore throat couldn't stop him from expressing his joy.
Shen Lexi looked at him with hopeless eyes, her lips still curved up.
Shen Liqian awkwardly coughed.
"Yes.
"I felt grateful for this Heart Demon because it helped me stabilize my Dao.
"I was much more confident when fighting Shen Junce after my clashes with it."
Hearing that name, Shen Lexi and Shen Lijian's faces grew solemn.
Shen Lexi asked her son, "How is your heart?"
"My heart?" Shen Liqian asked.
"Yes… you have killed your uncle," Shen Lexi replied.
Shen Liqian straightened and looked into her eyes.
"And I also imposed suicide on the other traitors and banished their families to the outskirts.
"It's a heavy decision, but it's also a weight I am willing to carry.
His heart felt heavy, not hollow, and that mattered.
"Should I struggle, I promise not to hide anything from you and Father."
Shen Lexi faintly smiled.
"That's my boy.
"It's a promise."
"Yes," Shen Liqian said, smiling.
At the mention of decisions and his new role, Shen Lijian put his hand on Shen Lexi's shoulder.
She understood the cue and stepped back.
He faced his son.
There was a moment of silence as the two stared into each other's eyes.
And then, Shen Lijian hugged his son and scratched his hair.
For one breath, he allowed himself to be only a son.
His son had picked up his torch, dealt with the traitors, and saved his life.
Because of him, he lived to see tomorrow and the Shen Clan's grand future.
He was so proud of him that he couldn't put his feelings into words.
Shen Lijian let his son go and looked at the manor.
"It doesn't match your ambition.
"But currently our clan has nothing better to offer you.
"You're the new owner of the Clan Chief's Manor, Chief Liqian."
Responsibility clicked into place like a blade in its sheath.
Shen Lijian cupped his hands.
Shen Liqian did the same.
"Thank you, former Clan Chief.
"But our clan has a lot to offer me.
"Their loyalty and ambition to improve are worth much more than buildings.
"So I can only strive to give them houses that match their feelings."
Shen Lijian clenched his fists and nodded.
"Yes."
In that moment, he wished so much for his Dantian not to be broken that his stomach started to hurt.
Shen Liqian caught the flash of pain and filed it beside his vows.
He wanted to assist his son as much as possible.
His wife noticed it in his eyes and smiled, twining her fingers with his to show her support.
"Qian'er said many times, didn't he?
"What can be broken, can be repaired.
"Our boy filled me with so much hope whenever he said it."
Shen Lijian smiled, knowing that he couldn't really hide anything from his wife.
He allowed for a moment of weakness that stunned Shen Liqian.
"Yeah… the same goes for me."
Shen Liqian's eyes flashed with a system message.
[You're now eligible to see the entire information about Shen Clan.]
Resolve flared, and the clan would feel this change soon.
I must create a rewarding system for everyone to work hard.
And once I am done rewarding the first batch of clan members, I will consume Spirit Lotus and start cultivating again.
Shen Liqian had a plan for his cultivation.
He hadn't talked about it with Zhiyin yet, but he wasn't sure whether she would like it, either.
Perhaps she would scold him.
Still, he wanted to go for it and pave his own path that wasn't built entirely on his system and Zhiyin's guidance.