After leaving the Purple River Sect, Ruan had settled well on Shamrock Peak.
He had been given a permanent residency at the Emerald Cove and, thanks to Aksai, was provided land to start his own Spirit farming endeavors.
He also oversaw Aksai's Spirit farms, serving as Aksai's proxy in managing the rental farmers.
Ruan had also gotten married and had a son who was just a few months old.
He had bought a home and shop in the city at the bottom of Serenity Peak, which enabled him to buy and sell things as needed.
Aksai had provided Ruan with all the help he needed. In return, Ruan ensured that Aksai's region produced good cultivation resources year-round. He was now renowned as Aksai's right-hand man and held prestige in the eyes of both mortals and low-stage Spirit cultivators.
Aunt Reta was delighted to see her son prosper on Emerald Cove. She was glad that she and Ruan had accepted Aksai's offer and moved there permanently. She could play with her grandson and shower him with all the grandmotherly love she had in her heart.
Aunt Reta was content with her life after seeing her son's progress. When her lifespan came to an end, she had a smile on her face. She stopped breathing just as the dawn of a new day began. She did not live to see the light of the next day with her own eyes.
"Goodbye, Aunt Reta. Rest in eternity."
Aksai murmured as he closed her half-open eyes with his own hands. For a split second, he was reminded of how his father had died and how he was also the one who closed his eyes after his death.
Aunt Reta's form was even more old and fragile than it had been a year and a half ago when Aksai met her at the Purple River Sect. She had sunken cheeks and wrinkled skin that made her lose all her facial features. Her lifeless form looked so weightless on the bed.
'Well, my father died with a lot of regrets in his heart. At least Aunt Reta died with a heart full of contentment and happiness. I'm doing at least something right.'
Aksai had a thought and sighed to himself.
Aksai got up from his position and looked around. "Aunt Reta has passed away," he said with a heavy voice. He felt a bit sad that his druid powers weren't enough to replenish Aunt Reta's lost life force.
His druidic bloodline powers only enabled her to say a few words to him and her son, but that was it. Her body was so weak that she couldn't even handle the life force and essence of energy Aksai could provide.
After all, one needed a strong vessel for a potent life force and vice versa. Even if Aksai could provide her with the druid essence to extend her lifespan, her mortal vessel was too worn out to process that essence.
"Mother," Ruan wiped his tears and approached Aunt Reta's bed. His wife stood behind him, supporting her husband by placing her hands on his shoulders. Ruan's son, who didn't quite understand the concepts of life and death, stood beside his grandmother's bed silently, looking at his father. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel fire.net
There were others outside Ruan's house, gathered around—from neighbors to rental farmers who knew Ruan well. They all bowed in unison as soon as they saw Aksai coming out of Ruan's house with a solemn expression and hands behind his back.
"Jasmine, come here," Aksai said, looking at Jasmine in the crowd. By this point, she had also established herself well on Shamrock Peak. However, she had a lower status than the likes of Shuan and Ruan, who were considered Aksai's right- and left-hand men.
"My lord," Jasmine stepped forward and offered a bow to Aksai. He nodded before speaking to her. "Can you arrange the last rites ceremony for Aunt Reta, Jasmine? I ask you because you two knew each other. It'd be better if someone Aunt Reta knew personally arranged this," he said, looking at Jasmine intently.
"Certainly, my lord," Jasmine replied while still keeping her head down. She then hesitated a bit before asking Aksai a question. "My lord, have you thought about my request?" she asked, lifting her head just enough to look at Aksai's face with some trepidation.
A few months ago, Jasmine had requested that her only daughter be accepted as Aksai's personal maid. The child, around ten years old, had potential as a Spirit cultivator due to her mid-grade Spirit Root Aptitude.
Aksai did not accept Jasmine's request immediately. He found the prospect of accepting the daughter of a woman who had rejected his hand in marriage in the past a bit odd.
Moreover, Jasmine's daughter was simply too young to serve as his personal maid at this point.
Aksai contemplated and sighed internally. 'This woman hasn't stopped her old ways. She still forms relationships based on potential gains,' he thought, shaking his head.
'But I understand her. She wants the best for her child. This kind of parental ambition is natural. So I can't blame her for using her connections to try and secure her daughter a position,' Aksai reasoned before responding.
Aksai would have questioned Jasmine about the timing of her request, especially when he had asked her to take care of Aunt Reta's last rites. However, he understood that this was probably the only way Jasmine could approach him.
After all, Aksai was not easily accessible to just anyone on Emerald Cove. Jasmine had decided to ask her question despite the unfavorable circumstances because it was a rare window of opportunity for her.
"Alright. But let your daughter grow up before she comes to work for me as my personal maid," Aksai said casually before walking away. Although he had adapted to Dadangar's customs, a part of him from his old world still set some boundaries.
"Yes, my lord," Jasmine replied, relieved and happy that Aksai had finally accepted her proposal.
She knew her daughter was not old enough to serve as Aksai's personal maid, but she approached Aksai anyway to beat the competition.
After all, Jasmine wanted Emerald Cove's permanent residency. And this was one way she could get it.