Winter
"Good thing I had a greenhouse put together" in the morning, as sunlight just barely showed itself, Edrick and his wives stood outside, ankle-deep in snow which was currently softly falling from above.
Fanqia was looking over at a small greenhouse that was put together on her demand, to continue doing some gardening even as the harsh winter rolled over the horizon, although they had prepared, none of them had actually expected winter to come so quickly, with everyone saying that it would at a most a week, they had naturally placed their expectations in the middle, but when they woke up this morning, they felt like they were freezing whilst still inside.
The insulation wasn't completely done just yet and the cold was quick to find its way inside, but Edrick had stocked up on wood already, so the fireplace should be kept going for the entirety of winter.
"It always snows a lot during winter… So prepare for the snow to perhaps rise up to our waist" Hui, being the one most familiar with Oie and the sect for having been there for a few years, informed them as she was currently wrapped around in much layers of cloth and her face basically completely hidden, wit only her glasses that constantly got fogged up peering in between scarf and winter hat.
"Our waist? Good thing we stocked up on food then, going to get groceries would have been a trek" said Linmin, although he would undeniably be freeing up the surroundings of the house everyday from the snow, as well as the roof, the path leading from their residence out of the private area was a long one and not one that would be cleared up by other people than themselves.
If it snowed like that all winter, it would have been a real bother to have to go get food every week, Edrick had already gotten a room filled with ice dug underground for meat to be conserved for a longer time.
The servant-wife was dressed in the same colour as always, and somewhat looked the same even as the long green coat mimicked the overall shape of his usual dress neatly, with a hood pulled atop the head, Linmin's breath was clearly visible.
"Well… We won't be able to leave the residence much at all, that's fine for me and Linmin, but will you get to your job at the library, Hui?" asked Fanqia, who unlike the rest, didn't have anything on her head, both ears and face were already flushed red by the cold, her long black flowing all over her shoulders and back.
"There is no need to worry, I'll get her there, and take her back home" Anoteros spoke up, his arms crossed as he observed the now white expanse, indeed, if it just kept on snowing like this, people might just completely stop venturing into the woods, and for those that did, they would make for remarkably easy preys.
"Now, let's get back in for now, make sure to keep yourselves warm, also, wear something when sleeping now' that last statement made the three visibly sad, as they would no longer feel their skin against their husband's when cuddling at night.
"Don't be sad, I am sure you'll look great in your nightgowns" he could already imagine it, having been there to buy them such nightwear, he had made sure to get them what he viewed as cuter on them, so his wives would probably get some more bedtime action from dressing up in them.
But he kept that last part to himself, it was better when they didn't see it coming.
In any case, after confirming with his own eyes that yes, winter had come, he went through his usual routine, but this time, when he left the residence, he was accompanied by Hui, although the snow wasn't quite high enough to warrant his assistance when walking to the library, he might just get to it now.
She tightly held onto his arm the whole way.
The amount of disciples training or wandering outside was a flat zero, at best they were quickly rushing from one place to another, seemed like they would be staying indoors for the majority of winter, which would allow the newcomers who had yet to experience this season when in the sect to get to know why having such small rooms and having to share them with others was a problem now that were basically locked inside.
"Probably no one cares if you don't show up at the library, you can just stay at home if you want" Anoteros initiated a conversation.
"You're right… But the winter season is when the libraries are busiest! There is heating there, so many disciples crowd them all day" she said, with so many people around only to enjoy the warmth, the place could get rowdy and undisciplined.
Imagining Hui actually telling people to be silent and not disturb the library was a funny thought, Anoteros had heard from Ku Xing, that his third wife was very apt at receiving punishment, and very much inapt at dishing it out, the few lessons Ku Xing had had with his wives had been enough to reveal that Hui was incapable of hurting someone without a good reason.
But he guessed that messing around in the sacred place where all the books were kept was reason enough to make the meek and mousy librarian turn confrontational.
"Also… Since you made me into a special disciple, I have access to much more of the library now, before I could only dust the shelves in the further sections, but not actually engage with the material there… I have never been having so much fun, and it's all thanks to you!" she said, twiddling her fingers together as they arrived just before the doors to the library, the sound of disciples inside impossible to hear unless they were opened.
"It is only natural that my wife would have to be a special disciple as well" he responded, taking off the glove on his right hand and pushing Hui's scarf down to caress her face, before following with a small slap, making her turn all red.
"Heheheh… Thank you, Lord Lucien…"
"You're welcome" he picked her up like a cat and kissed his third wife on the lips before sending her into the library.
'I guess I'll go see Ting Zhenniao right now' he thought to himself, he wasn't certain what she was going to teach him exactly, she had mentioned anything about that during the visit the night before.
From what he knew, the Poison Sutra of the Zhenniao pretty much compiled everything about toxins and all methods to inflict them, but since she had said that no portions of it at all could be taught to him, she probably had another idea in mind.
Ting Zhenniao was a part of the Myriad-Arm Sect after all, so it made no doubt that she was an extremely skilled user of at least one weapon.
Anoteros would only know by going and seeing for himself, however, as he was about to enter the main building, he noticed that a conversation was going on, feeling like he recognised at least two of its participants, he decided to hide and listen in for a while.