It was a new day.
Shen Clan, Clan Chief Manor.
Shen Lexi and Shen Wenwan stood at the entrance, wrapped in warm fur clothes and blankets.
Both smiled, and their smiles deepened when today's key clan members arrived to attend Shen Liqian's first clan meeting.
Quiet resolve steadied her smile.
Their beautiful faces melted the snowflakes around them.
Shen Lexi said, "Good morning, Brother Tao.
"It's been a while."
Taofeng was one of the best hunters in the clan and her husband's friend.
In this case, she addressed him as "Brother" rather than official titles such as "Senior" or "Mr."
Wenwan only smiled as she eyed the man.
Taofeng reciprocated the smile.
"Good morning, Sister Lexi and Mrs. Wenwan.
"I appreciate your hospitality.
"Thank you for having me."
Wenwan gently shook her head.
"It's just Wenwan between us, since I'm no longer 'Mrs.'"
"Ah, that's true… forgive my carelessness."
"No need."
Wenwan's smile remained the same.
In Shen Clan, there was no pressure to remain loyal to husbands or wives after the other's death.
In such cases, the marriage oath could simply be set aside, and a person could pursue new love and warmth.
The warmth and support of one person was surely one of the best things one could experience while snowbound among beasts in a harsh environment.
It was surely why there was no pressure to remain loyal to a deceased spouse.
Shen Lexi carried on with small talk once the matter was settled.
"Why so stiff?
"Nervous before the first meeting?"
She was all smiles, as it was her son who would pull all the strings and bring change to the clan.
Pride was evident in her voice and body language.
Scratching his cheek, Taofeng nodded and didn't pursue the topic.
His palm was damp on the knob.
He excused himself and entered the manor.
Soon after, elders and other hunters arrived, filling the seats in the audience hall.
Shen Liqian had yet to arrive, which gave time for others to exchange a few words.
Taofeng sat next to Shen Lijian.
He asked, "What did you usually talk about here?"
"We usually conversed about beasts' movements, their behaviors, and possible expeditions to the caves to mine dark stones.
"And then, we talked about the overall mood of hunters and their families.
"Every leader of a hunting team had to report that.
"You often complained whenever I asked you about things between you and your wife, but that's part of the tradition here."
Lijian chuckled.
Taofeng awkwardly smiled.
"I complain a lot."
"Yeah."
Just then, the audience hall's door creaked.
Conversations halted, and the weight of every gaze settled on Shen Liqian.
Shen Liqian walked in.
He was flanked by his two vassals.
Shen Yiren stood tall with his spear in his hand, his expression emotionless.
Meanwhile, Shen Jixian looked around, unable to hide his nerves and the pressure that came from being Shen Liqian's vassal.
Do not embarrass Liqian, he told himself as he set his shoulders.
He still did his best to stand straight beside him.
Naturally, everyone gathered stood up and cupped their hands to welcome the Clan Chief, though their eyes drifted to Shen Liqian's awkwardly bent arm.
Why did he even bend it this way, as if he were pinning something under his arm?
Well, the answer was simple—Cultivation Cat Purrse was with him.
Shen Liqian sat down in his honored seat and put Zhiyin on his lap.
His vassals remained on their feet behind him.
"You may sit," Shen Liqian said, and everyone followed his order.
As in his past life attending his boss's meetings, Shen Liqian took inspiration from him and began with small talk.
"I hope you all have slept well after yesterday's events."
He smiled.
Everyone nodded, clearly more relaxed.
Shen Liqian's own breath eased when the tension in the hall loosened.
Shen Liqian opened his system window.
"Today's weather is especially nice, since it isn't snowing much.
"Let's get this meeting over with fast so we can enjoy more of it."
Elders and hunters alike nodded, their lips curving up.
Only a few didn't like Shen Liqian's laid‑back attitude, but he didn't pay them much heed.
It could be nerves.
Shen Liqian stared ahead, past the farthest person.
It was a tip he had received from his father about speaking to everyone.
He could let his gaze move from person to person, but focusing his gaze ahead made things simpler, or so his father had told him.
"Population of our clan is currently 2316 people.
"We're roughly losing 100 hunters yearly, which leaves our clan with more women than men.
"It's currently 1,112 males and 1,204 females, most of whom are between the First and Third Stages of the Qi Attunement Realm.
A few elders lowered their eyes as the cost of those numbers settled in.
Shock rippled across the hall as Shen Liqian presented clear numbers and cultivation stages for the clan.
It was as though no one slipped past his senses.
"We need immediate results to ensure that the hope which I planted in the hearts of our clan along with the Frostheart Snowcup remains within them.
"At the same time, we need everyone to work hard and not grow complacent.
"It's a difficult task, but I have an idea for it.
"First of all, Senior Taofeng.
"Do you want to continue your life as a hunter?"
Hearing this question, Taofeng's eyes widened.
For a moment, he couldn't process anything.
He'd been a hunter for as long as he could remember.
Therefore, was there any other answer to Shen Liqian's question than "yes"?
In the first place, why did he ask him this?
"W‑Why are you asking me this?" he asked.
His mouth went dry, and the words came out thin.
Shen Liqian nodded.
"I heard you've been complaining a lot about your occupation."
Taofeng's lips quivered.
His heart burned.
He abruptly stood up and bowed his head low in the direction of Shen Liqian and Shen Lijian.
"It is true that I have been complaining a lot, but that's not because I hate being a hunter!
"It's because I haven't seen any changes!
"Changes in our hunting formations, tactics, and even myself…
"If I wasn't so weak, I would have been one of the five hunters to go with Former Chief Lijian to the forest and would have helped him against Shen Junce and other traitors!
"But I was weak and therefore I wasn't the one to go there…"
Shen Taofeng clenched his hands, gritting his teeth.
This had been wearing on him so much that he couldn't bring himself to face his friend.
It was a miracle it hadn't become a Heart Demon.
Shen Lijian cast a brief glance at his friend, then turned to his son.
He nodded at him.
Shen Liqian did the same.
"Sit down, Senior Taofeng.
"Under my rule, I will not force men to be hunters or women to be breeding cows.
"Your feelings have reached me, and, per my father's recommendation, the former best hunter of our clan, I appoint you to lead the Hunter Pavilion.
"Hunter Pavilion will be a place for men and women to pick up weapons and embark on hunting missions across the eight mountains.
"As its head, I will cultivate you and the people of your choice so that you can bring us immediate positive results without any losses on our side."
Shen Liqian looked at Shen Jixian.
As if on cue, Shen Jixian left the audience hall through the other door reserved only for the Chief and his vassals.
He returned shortly after with six fully blossomed Frostheart Snowcups.
The sight of them and the gentle cold breeze they brought made everyone at the meeting stare in shock and disbelief.
A faint chill drifted over the benches.
It was incredible that Shen Liqian had so many of those remarkable flowers.
Shen Taofeng had disbelief written all over his face, but once those flowers arrived, he unconsciously smiled in shock.
Shen Liqian picked up on his feelings.
"You will eat those flowers and cultivate their Qi within you—more precisely, to wash your meridians with their cold Qi.
"This in turn will enable you to fare better in a cold environment.
"I will also fix your cultivation method, which will naturally elevate your strength."
Shen Taofeng had no reason not to believe in Shen Liqian.
After barely calming down his fast‑beating heart, he bowed so low that his forehead touched the cold stone table.
"I dare not betray the trust Chief Liqian and Former Chief Lijian have put into me!"
His hands trembled once and then stilled on the stone.
Shen Liqian nodded.
"I expect a lot from you, Senior Taofeng!
"Now, let's discuss the Hunter Pavilion itself.
"What kind of system should we implement to ensure all hunters work hard?"
Silence held for a heartbeat as minds raced for the safest answer.
Shen Liqian asked his people the first question.
They swallowed hard as they racked their brains for the best insight.
The elders felt the most pressure, as it was naturally their time to shine!