Chapter Nineteen: The Twin Forms of Tiger and Crane

After meeting Hu Yu, Second Master He spent a restless night, tossing and turning without sleep. In his mind, he recalled that fierce tigress from years ago, and he couldn’t help but rub his aging lower back. He was almost certain that Hu Yu was his son.

The very next day, he sent people to make inquiries at Hu Yu’s birthplace and the county where Hu Yu resided. The results matched—age, time, and place of birth all aligned. Yet, Second Master He felt somewhat guilty; after all these years, he had known nothing, neither cared nor asked. Hu Yu had wandered the world alone, escorting caravans and surviving countless near-death experiences.

“No, I can’t let the He family bloodline end here. This escorting business is just too dangerous.” Second Master He was a man of swift action: when pursuing a woman, he pursued without hesitation; when it was time to move on, he did so without regret. He was even more decisive in other matters, seeking out Hu Yu’s master and father-in-law directly to explain the situation.

The master, hearing this, considered it a great fortune—no need for his daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and grandson to suffer any longer. He agreed on the spot. Thus, there was the scene when everyone advised Hu Yu to take up the post of constable.

Still, they feared Hu Yu might bear a grudge and be unwilling to return to the He family.

On this day, Master He, the eldest of the family, came to visit Hu Yu at his home. “Chief Hu, forgive my intrusion. There are matters that cannot be avoided, and I ask for your understanding. My father is fading fast and wishes to see Chief Hu one last time before his passing.”

Hu Yu was at a loss for words. Out of nowhere, he suddenly had a father, an uncle, and a grandfather. It was difficult to accept all at once.

Master He continued, “My father is over ninety now and grows more stubborn with each passing year, especially concerning his descendants. If he does not see you and your children, he may not find peace in death.”

After some thought, Hu Yu realized he could not refuse and agreed to the visit. He gathered a few gifts from home and brought his two children to pay their respects.

It was the first time in Hu Yu’s life that he had seen such a lavish residence—even the dragons and phoenixes carved upon the beams were made of jade. The courtyard was filled with rare and exotic flowers; a single breath of their fragrance was enough to fill one with serenity and joy.

Entering a room and passing through a long corridor, he found a grand bed covered in silks imbued with spiritual energy. An elderly man reclined against the headboard, his jet-black eyes studying Hu Yu intently.

“How alike—truly alike! As the ancestors above bear witness, the He family’s line endures, not broken in my hands!” the old man exclaimed. “Come here, child, let your great-grandfather have a look.” He beckoned Hu Yu’s son over, barely glancing at the little daughter standing nearby.

Yet by the measure of demon bloodlines, it was Hu Yu’s daughter who truly belonged to the He lineage, while his son was a descendant of the tiger. The old man, unmistakably of the He line, paid this no mind, delighting in playing with the child.

“You all may leave. Hu Yu, stay,” the old man commanded.

“Yes,” came the reply.

When the others had gone, the old man spoke again. “Do you know how many children I, He Tianhui, have had in my lifetime?”

“I do not.”

“Of those I know of, forty-six. Forty-two daughters and only four sons—and one of them has already passed.”

Hu Yu did not know how to respond; the sheer number was daunting, for those of demon blood rarely bore many children.

“My three remaining sons have given me sixty-seven grandchildren, yet not a single boy among them. It was my own greed in years past… but let us not speak of that.”

“I will give you two choices. First, you may choose a day to acknowledge your ancestry and return to the family—everything of the He house will be yours.”

Seeing Hu Yu still silent, He Tianhui continued, “Second, the He family will fully support you in becoming Chief Constable of the county, but this child must be recognized as one of our own.”

At this, Hu Yu’s feelings were deeply conflicted. His childhood had been too harsh, leaving him with a profound loneliness and a heart reluctant to let others in. Acceptance was easy, but true belonging was hard.

Whatever the case, he had received much kindness since becoming a constable; even his wife’s health had improved. Sensing his hesitation, He Tianhui offered, “Very well, I’ll grant you a third option: the gates of the He family will always be open to you. If your children ever wish to return to their roots, you must not stand in their way.”

The saying goes: scholars are poor, warriors are wealthy—only now did Hu Yu understand its truth.

Since becoming constable, the gifts he received multiplied. Even if he refused, people would find all manner of ways to deliver them. He could not reject everything; if he alone in the county spurned all favors, survival would be difficult. In a crowd of corrupt officials, a single honest man would be the first to be crushed—not for being corrupt, but for refusing to be.

Now, Hu Yu had collected more and more secret manuals, even a few of superior quality. Among them were two techniques, “Crane Wing Saber” and “Tiger’s Hidden Fist,” perfectly suited to him. This sparked his desire to create his own technique.

Among the many demon kingdoms, few like Hu Yu carried two demon bloodlines in balance. Finding compatible techniques was exceedingly rare.

In the days that followed, Hu Yu devoted himself to his duties—presiding over court, apprehending criminals, and more. Everyone in the county knew the name of Chief Hu, who had captured countless fugitives and cherished all aspects of county life, from every blade of grass to every person and object. Here, he felt at peace—where the heart finds rest, there is home.

In his leisure, he studied various martial arts, often sparring with constables from the yamen and escorts from the caravan guild, testing his theories. He even spent heavily to buy a stack of demon paper, binding it into volumes to record his techniques.

In the blink of an eye, more than a decade passed.

Hu Yu was no longer the dashing youth he once was; his eldest son and daughter were now married. Even his second son, born in recent years, was already thirteen and well-versed in the classics. The boy’s demon blood was extremely faint; with the help of several formation masters, Hu Yu had it extracted. This way, if his son wished, he could pursue an official career.

The He family, meanwhile, had lost favor at court and, due to poor management, was forced to dissolve its estate—the former glory gone.

Hu Yu’s second son wished to acknowledge his ancestry; Hu Yu did not object, even though he had made no promises in the past.

Hu Yu was not a warrior in the pure sense. He possessed the ferocity of the tiger and the grace of the crane. In his younger years, he was bold and aggressive, full of rage, but the example of his master’s conduct brought about a change in his nature.

Through more than ten years of tempering, he had become adept in the ways of officialdom within the county.

During the He family’s downfall, he secretly helped them in many ways. Because of this, the higher-ups considered removing him from his post as constable, but ultimately, the people of the county petitioned en masse to have him reinstated.

After all, in his position, Hu Yu had personally apprehended many criminals and protected the people. The magistrate, hearing of this, deemed it a worthy tale for his administration and allowed Hu Yu to remain in office.

Not long after, Hu Yu had a breakthrough and finally perfected his own technique: “Twin Forms of Tiger and Crane.” This art combined martial discipline at its core, but also included techniques for unarmed combat, weapons, movement, and even demon magic.

“The Treasure Pavilion rates this as a high-grade profound technique, but to me, it is more fitting than any supreme art.”