Daily life of a cultivation judge

Yang Qing's eyes flashed like he was about to grasp something but it kept escaping his grasp at the final moment.

His grandfather's words were like an endless storm of inspiration. Every sentence he spoke seemed to contain profound wisdom that kept filling the missing pieces in Yang Qing's mind.

"Grandpa is Grandpa after all.." he thought as his awe-filled gaze fell on his grandfather who was still enthusiastically going on about the peerless jade physique.

He may be the one with the physique but his grandfather seemed to have deeper insights about it than he did.

All this while he had been treating the Yin Yang jade bones as something separate to himself, like an external weapon instead of considering it a part of himself.

It took his current weakened state and his grandfather's insightful words for him to suddenly realize his peerless jade physique was no different from his soul.

He could feel something within him stir when he came to grips with that thought and willingly accepted it. However, he couldn't capitalize much on the feeling. It was like a soft itch that came and went.

"Must be because of my weakened state.." mused Yang Qing.

"Thank you, Grandpa.." Yang Qing suddenly said with a simple smile though was simple bore the weight of how he felt.

His grandfather paused in surprise before he laughed as he said,

"You're my grandson and we are family, there's no need for these wish-washy words.." 

Though he said that, he couldn't hide how pleased and proud he was.

"The valley master said it would take two months for you to go back to normal and regain complete use of your physique. 

What were your plans for those two months?" his grandfather suddenly asked as he narrowed his eyes with a serious expression.

Yang Qing paused briefly in thought before he said,

"Well other than continuing the treatment plan I was given by the Judicial Review Committee.."

When he reached here, he realized he had not shared with his family yet about the ordeal with the Ice Emerald Sect and the events after.

His family already worked for the Order, so sharing the details after the fact wasn't considered a breach of the rules, and he needed to offload it on someone, and there was no one better than his family.

In his recounting of the events he started from how he met Ma Yuan, his story with his wife and daughter and how they were kidnapped, down to the crimes the Ice Emerald Sect had engaged in over the years, and the lives it took, and finally the sentencing of the sect.

While he divulged the relevant parts, including his frame of mind at the time and even currently, he did leave some parts out, like how he and the rest almost died to the red abyssal tree. 

He didn't want to add to their worries, especially his mother's. He detected her presence slowly leaning on the door to the courtyard. Clearly, she knew something was up with Yang Qing which was why she had been hanging close.

Even with his palace sense temporarily unusable, Yang Qing still had his heightened sense as a palace sense cultivator and it was his mom. He could sense anywhere almost instinctively with or without a cultivation base.

Her presence was part of the reason he decided to go ahead and divulge what had happened, and the remedial measure and advice the Judicial Review Committee had given him.

"You're sure you don't want to join the Medical Valley, Qing'er?" asked his grandfather.

"You can join the Institute too as an instructor or researcher if you like.." his father added.

"Or the alchemy division, or the formation hall too.." added his brother.

"I won't deny that switching departments had crossed my mind especially before I started the treatment.

I had given it some serious thought, but I don't know I feel like I am where I should be. When I graduated, I became a judge because the pay seemed better, I would be safe within the walls of the headquarters, and I was also under the illusion that the work would not be a lot.

Had I known it would be a never-ending storm, maybe I would have chosen a different route. But after doing this for quite some time, without even noticing, it seems to have grown on me.

Even if I were to switch departments, it can't be because of fear of what might happen next, otherwise, that shadow may follow me for the rest of my life. I can't do that.." said Yang Qing.

"But I am okay, well I am slowly getting there thanks to the support given to me by the seniors at the Order. Also being at the auspicious grove has really helped a lot.." said Yang Qing as his eyes secretly darted to the shadowy silhouette at the back of the door.

He could feel his mom's body tighten. The rest of his family members had noticed her presence too, so they didn't delve much into the topic, and just offered their help should Yang Qing at any point in time need it.

In typical fashion, the three Yang members, this is; his grandfather, brother, and father, had a quick change in tune when they asked Yang Qing to bring back some of the water from the brook of clarity if he could, so they could use it in their various experiments, especially when they heard from Yang Qing about its wondrous properties.

Yang Qing could only helplessly acquiesce to their shameless begging before he continued where he had left off on his grandfather's question.

"After that, I will follow the valley master's guidance and continue my treatments at the Valley to try and deepen my understanding of the Universal Duality cultivation art.." said Yang Qing.

"But from the way you asked, I take it you have another idea in mind, Grandpa?" he added.

He knew his grandfather well. The fact that he asked that question meant that he had some idea in mind and he only asked that question to try and see if Yang Qing had the same plans.

"Well, it's not something out of the way. What I had in mind happens to align with Valley master Fan Ru's advice somewhat, on you practicing the various techniques and spells, to try and improve your understanding of them without the boosted effects brought on by your physique.

However, different from her, I want you to internalize and note the difference in every technique and spell you do.

Note down the subtle differences you experience now, from when you did them when your physique was operating normally. 

I would advise that you don't just concentrate on the healing techniques alone, but on every technique you have mastery over..."

"You want me to use that as a reference point to try and discover the nature and properties of my physique that I may have missed?" asked Yang Qing slowly following his grandfather's train of thought and intention.

"Mmh, that's right. Some techniques may not be affected, while others may be affected greatly, which will help you know more. 

Be as detailed and thorough as possible on the differences just like I taught you. You can seek your father's help on that. He may be a coward, and too willful but he has always been meticulous with the minute stuff.." Yang Fen said which drew a surprised look from Yang Qing's father, who didn't expect the compliment, though it was still laced with vitriol.

Over the years, the only compliment he ever got, was marrying Yang Qing's mother, and having Yang Qing and his brother. Other than that all he got was threats, criticism, and guilt trips on his lack of filial piety.

Yang Qing nodded before he suddenly remembered something,

"Oh and Grandpa, the day you told me about the peerless jade physique, I saw something..." 

Yang Qing went on to describe the process by which he discovered the ethereal jade tree lying deep within his palace realm.

"A tree huh.." muttered his grandfather as a strange look appeared in his eyes.

"What?" asked Yang Qing when he noticed his grandfather's look.

His grandfather suddenly coughed like he was trying to conceal something before he answered,

"Nothing.."

Did he see a tree because I made the comment about him being nothing more than a glorified tree? Did I curse him?

No, there is nothing wrong with being a tree. Trees are strong, resilient, adaptive, have long lives, and have wondrous abilities that are not only beneficial to themself but to others also.

My grandson being a tree is a blessing for him and the Yang family. Yes, being a tree is a blessing.

I hope he doesn't remember what I said that day..."