Shui stared at the mass of dead silent spirits before her. None willing to even shift, much less make a sound or speak amongst themselves. Even the ones at the table stayed quiet. Minding their own business. Playing with their weapons, or in the tiger's and turtle's case, pretended to nap.

It was obviously not a real nap. Shui caught them peeking out of a single eye a few times to look at her. Studying her. What for, she wasn't quite sure. Qi was involved and a lot of it too whenever their glow eyes turned to stare.

Hu Shui jumped in her seat. The old man reappeared. Standing by her side and coming to a full bow. "Great Spirit Queen. The accused shall be apprehended shortly. Only a matter of time."

"Accused? What does that mean?"

"That," The old man scratched at his neck. "It means he is a criminal and you've passed judgement on him."

"I passed judgement?"

The tiger raised its head from its crossed paws. "You shook your head. A savage smile graced your visage. Does that not mean death? Execution and ruin of his spirit? What else could it ever possibly mean, Great Spirit Queen?"

"I don't remember saying anything. Do you all do this often? Make things up? That's not a nice thing to do. What if I wanted something else?" Shui said.

She was confused with the reactions and sequence of events. At no point did she claim anything. Pass judgement? She wasn't Jun nor was she her Ancestor. They could do things like that when they wanted, not her. Not yet at least. Maybe once she was older she could ask her Ancestor for pointers.

Maybe I could practice on them. Ancestor would be proud if I do a good job, right?

"What do you suggest?" The old man said.

"Bring them back! I want to judge them! And give them my own punishment!" Shui shouted. She could already imagine a few heinous punishments. Things she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy. A few she would be able to exercise today.

She shivered in excitement.

The old man snapped his fingers. All the missing guards reappeared a moment later at the edge of the clearing. They dragged the still fighting four armed spirit to her. Emotionless husks. Each one doing what they were told without any hesitation. The group stopped before her. Holding the defendant down on the ground.

"Before you is the accused. Order us, Great Spirit Queen. Say the words and we shall tear him asunder!" The old man shouted. Making a show of the whole thing.

"Please! Forgive me—"

The four armed spirit attempted to plead with her but the guards were quick to silence him with a kick to the face. Sending him reeling, in and out of consciousness.

Shui turned to look at the old man. "You want to kill him?"

"It is what he deserves for speaking out of turn. Insulting your ancestor. Attempting treason and disloyalty to your great lineage." He nodded.

Hu Shui frowned. Unsure of when he had done that during the whole time she was here. Then again, she had ignored most of the conversation. More busy enjoying the comfy seat and the tiara on her head than the babbling of a few old people. Whether they be old tigers, monkeys, or normal humans. Old people tended to babble on for ages at a time.

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She brought a hand to her chin. Copying Yin Hu's thinking actions and expressions. Enjoying that she got a chance to commit to the action.

The entire clearing waited with bated breath.

Hu Shui wondered how mean she could get with her punishments, but quickly decided against anything that was too bad. Her ancestor would not be pleased. She still remembered his words clearly when they were still near the cave. The way it echoed in her mind. Shui was unable to forget it even if she wanted to.

"There must be balance in all things. An equilibrium. One we strive to uphold and keep intact. Otherwise the world turns the way it has so far for everyone here."

She would need to find a middle ground.

Her Ancestor had shown what he preached not after he said those words. The Gang Boss had begged for forgiveness. She remembered him clearly pleading for his friend's life when they tried to hurt their tree. It defended itself and protected them from the thief. Her Ancestor had given him mercy. She would have something similar.

Hu Shui giggled to herself, incapable of keeping her face straight and stoic. She would need much practice to perfect it.

The old man cleared his throat.

"You shall be punished for your crimes!" Shui shouted, pointing at the accused. Letting the moment build up tension.

All the spirits hollered and shouted. Shouting at the top of their lungs at the four arm spirit. The guards slamming the butts of their weapons into the ground. A rhythmic beat that matched the chaotic crescendo of cheers and excitement.

"You shall be banned from eating cookies for the next ten. No! Twenty days! And you have to dance for a full day too!"

Silence fell upon the clearing. The shift in energy and temperament made the change more obvious. Shui's ears were still ringing from the loud commotion and cheering from a moment ago. Thankful silence had replaced it.

"Great Spirit Queen," The old man whispered to her. "I-Is this your decree?"

Hu Shui nodded. Serious.

"The Great Spirit Queen has spoken!" The old man shouted for everyone to hear. He waved his hands, the guards separated from the four armed spirit. It fell unceremoniously to the ground. Struggling to stand up after the beating it had taken.

Some of the guards helped guide it back to its seat around the table.

The monkey jumped onto the table. Slamming its staff onto the table and dancing for a second. "Your mercy knows no bounds. Truly worthy of your great name, Great Spirit Queen."

All of the spirits around the table intoned the same message. Some were more quiet than the others.

"We have come to learn of your mercy," The tiger was the last one to speak. "Yet, we did not gather here for that. We've come for something far more important. We've come here to figure out our survival! How do we deal with your ancestor? What should we do?"

"There are far more important questions." The old man said, sitting back on his seat beside Shui.

"Like what?"

"Great Spirit Queen. What does your Ancestor, the Calamity, desire? Why is he here on this plane? Teach us so that we may serve him well."

All of the spirits on the table nodded. Naming Shui their Great Spirit Queen had been a clear indication at which direction the old man was pushing them all. As the eldest and wisest, the rest were willing to trust his judgement. Even the strongest among them.

Shui took a moment to consider everything her Ancestor had shown them. All the words he said to them. Things he mumbled to himself occasionally. Hints and bits of pieces he would mistakenly let out without noticing it himself. There were many cases in between all the action and training. In between all the Ancestor like actions and heavenly items he gave them without batting an eye.

Hu Shui nodded to herself. It was clear to her.

"My Ancestor doesn't want much," She said, surveying the crowd before her. They listened with attentive ears. Pulling out her hammer and immediately feeling Mr. Mo Mo's disdain for everything gathered here. She patted the hammer to calm him. "Two things really."

Her weapon spirit appeared behind her. Towering over the entire forest. A shadow bloated out the little light the entire clearing had, descending them into darkness. Only Mr. Mo Mo's glowing eyes gave them any visibility.

All the spirits looked down. Afraid of looking at the gigantic weapon spirit, lest they insult it. The tiger, turtle, and the monkey sat there with shoulders hunched. Staff dug deep into the ground. Even the Old man felt fear grip its heart.

Shui noticed it's shaking hands. The first signs she had seen of the old bag of bones and any emotion other than stoicism.

"The two things are simple. To live a peaceful life in luxury and surrounded by buxom women!"

Shui had no clue what buxom meant and what it was supposed to do with ladies and luxuries like eating the heavenly rice he gifted them every day. But it was what he had been whispering and muttering about under his breath. One day, she would be the one to do things for him. Find him these luxuries he looks for and whatever these buxom women were supposed to be!

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