Yanlin and Yen Wen had cornered Xiulan and Yen Wen was imploring her, “we have noticed a few cultivators from the Capital skulking around asking questions about you and the Combine. It might be safer to avoid going down river for now.”
Xiulan was admiring her new boat and only listened with half an ear. However, she still answered, “would you rather slog through the untamed interior? That journey will not be nearly as comfortable as taking a boat to the sea. Besides we will be in the Capital for less than a day. We will just slip quietly through like any other trading ship.”
Yen Wen and Yanlin looked sceptically at the boat that was moored at the Combine docks. Xiulan had named it the Opulence and the name was fitting. The exterior of the ship was decorated with swirls of gold. Just behind the helm there was a pavilion with cushioned chairs and a permanently employed musician to play soothing music.
The mast doubled as a chimney for both chemicals from Zheng Ling’s lab and smoke Fu Jinjing’s workshop. The rooms where below deck immediately beneath the mast. There was an expensive telescope bolted to the prow of the ship that could be used for observing the stars at night or the distant scenery.
There was a master bedroom at the back of the ship that had plenty of windows fitted with glass. The boats sails were golden in colour and seemed to sparkle in the morning light.
Its most striking feature however had to be its size. It was at least twice the size of any other boat on the water.
Yen Wen said to Xiulan in a sarcastic voice, “yes I am sure that we will breeze through unnoticed.”
Xiulan hugged her blonde lover and said, “I trust you to protect me.”
The Opulence was being loaded with chests of gold and the clothing trunks of Xiulan’s entourage. Xiulan had an elaborate wardrobe made for each of her women. Fu Jinjing however did not often wear anything other than her forge cloths.
Bai Meirong was pottering around the deck of the ship making sure that everybody had been assigned their rooms and knew where they were going to be sleeping. Xiulan was bringing along a few students from the Combine to accelerate the growth of their western branch.
Everyone was busy getting ready for the journey except Zheng Ling. She was biting her lip and looking at the boarding plank with conflicted eyes.
Xiulan pecked Yen Wen on the lips and dismissed her concerns, “we will have to travel through the Capital sometime and if we do have any enemies then they will come here to find us even if we do not go to them. Besides we are all foundation establishment cultivators now. That power should be enough to fend off the petty sect disciples. We only need be concerned about energy focusing level elders coming after us.”
Xiulan then made her way over to Zheng Ling and made the woman jump when she asked, “not keen to go back to the Capital little Ling?”
Zheng Ling flushed when her thoughts were so easily exposed but replied in a low voice, “no not really. My family is still in the Capital, and I do not know what they will think of me. It has been a long time since I left. We probably will not see them this time, but we might. There is also the matter of the dual cultivator who sealed my cultivation. He might not be pleased to see me doing so well now.”
Xiulan squeezed Zheng Ling’s shoulder in support, “we are all here for you now little Ling. No matter what happens. If you want to talk about what happened in more detail, then I am always willing to listen. If you want revenge, then I will make sure you get it.”
Zheng Ling teared up a little but shook her head and said, “it is enough that I am living a good life now. I do not need revenge I just what to stay with you all and do my work. You and the others have become my family now.”
The final preparations had been completed on the Opulence and they were finally ready to set off. Yanlin was going to stay here in Temple Gorge to monitor Xiulan’s business interests and continue to train the Golden Hand. He too had broken through to foundation establishment as his cultivation method was unhindered by the qi scarcity of the interior. Apart from that he was also naturally talented.
A small crowd had formed on the docks to wish the Opulence a safe journey and their mission a success. Xiulan had already spread her intentions around the city and the general prosperity that a canal would bring to the city had everyone elated.
More for dramatic effect than any real necessity the Opulence raised its brilliant golden sails and pulled off from the dock. It made quite a sight as it was swept down river by the wind and current.
To complete the scene a colourful Parrot landed in the rigging. Its plumage was comprised of deep reds and brilliante whites. Xiulan blinked up at the unusual bird and appraised it:
Spirit Parrot – level 4 foundation establishment cultivation, spirit pet, owner Thunder sect Elder Xin. Worth 100 000 gold coins. Double to eliminate. Triple to forcibly purchase.
Xiulan blinked in surprise. That was a new option then again this was her first time seeing a spirit pet. Not every spirit beast made for a suitable pet.
While she was contemplating the Parrot squawked and dove straight for her. Some metallic Qi showed on its claws as it struck at her neck. Xiulan barely dodged backwards in time. It was such an odd sight that it took everybody else on the boat a moment to react to the attack.
The Parrot having failed in its surprise attempt did not stick around. It took off high into the air. Yen Wen launched a few arrows after it, but it dodged them all with ease.
It seemed that the Thunder sect was not willing to let Zhao Yaozu’s death slide.
This attack though did not seem well considered or very well planned. The Sect likely did not know all the details.
Xiulan decided that a small punishment was enough of a retaliation for this attempt. Besides she liked the Parrot’s colouring.
300 000 was a lot of gold but Xiulan could always make more. With a snap of her fingers Xiulan chose to forcibly purchase the spirit pet.
There was a brief snap of tension in the air and Xiulan felt that some previously unfelt qi connection severed, and suddenly, she had an awareness of the Parrot.
Xiulan called out, “it is okay now it will not attack again.”
Her guards and Yen Wen seemed sceptical but allowed the Parrot to fly back down and land on Xiulan’s outstretched arm. The Parrot puffed out its feathers and whistled at Xiulan. Xiulan could not understand the Parrot in the same way she would if it had spoken but she got the distinct impression it was saying, “finally I am rid of that old fogey. He was no fun at all.”
In the Capital an old man was bleeding from the nose after he felt his spiritual pet be forcibly snatched from his control.
SmithJuly Thank You for reading. IF you are enjoying the book then please consider joining my Patreon at patreon.com/SmithJulyNovel. The Patreon page is five chapters ahead and includes bonus chapters as well as some artwork.
Yanlin and Yen Wen had cornered Xiulan and Yen Wen was imploring her, “we have noticed a few cultivators from the Capital skulking around asking questions about you and the Combine. It might be safer to avoid going down river for now.”
Xiulan was admiring her new boat and only listened with half an ear. However, she still answered, “would you rather slog through the untamed interior? That journey will not be nearly as comfortable as taking a boat to the sea. Besides we will be in the Capital for less than a day. We will just slip quietly through like any other trading ship.”
Yen Wen and Yanlin looked sceptically at the boat that was moored at the Combine docks. Xiulan had named it the Opulence and the name was fitting. The exterior of the ship was decorated with swirls of gold. Just behind the helm there was a pavilion with cushioned chairs and a permanently employed musician to play soothing music.
The mast doubled as a chimney for both chemicals from Zheng Ling’s lab and smoke Fu Jinjing’s workshop. The rooms where below deck immediately beneath the mast. There was an expensive telescope bolted to the prow of the ship that could be used for observing the stars at night or the distant scenery.
There was a master bedroom at the back of the ship that had plenty of windows fitted with glass. The boats sails were golden in colour and seemed to sparkle in the morning light.
Its most striking feature however had to be its size. It was at least twice the size of any other boat on the water.
Yen Wen said to Xiulan in a sarcastic voice, “yes I am sure that we will breeze through unnoticed.”
Xiulan hugged her blonde lover and said, “I trust you to protect me.”
The Opulence was being loaded with chests of gold and the clothing trunks of Xiulan’s entourage. Xiulan had an elaborate wardrobe made for each of her women. Fu Jinjing however did not often wear anything other than her forge cloths.
Bai Meirong was pottering around the deck of the ship making sure that everybody had been assigned their rooms and knew where they were going to be sleeping. Xiulan was bringing along a few students from the Combine to accelerate the growth of their western branch.
Everyone was busy getting ready for the journey except Zheng Ling. She was biting her lip and looking at the boarding plank with conflicted eyes.
Xiulan pecked Yen Wen on the lips and dismissed her concerns, “we will have to travel through the Capital sometime and if we do have any enemies then they will come here to find us even if we do not go to them. Besides we are all foundation establishment cultivators now. That power should be enough to fend off the petty sect disciples. We only need be concerned about energy focusing level elders coming after us.”
Xiulan then made her way over to Zheng Ling and made the woman jump when she asked, “not keen to go back to the Capital little Ling?”
Zheng Ling flushed when her thoughts were so easily exposed but replied in a low voice, “no not really. My family is still in the Capital, and I do not know what they will think of me. It has been a long time since I left. We probably will not see them this time, but we might. There is also the matter of the dual cultivator who sealed my cultivation. He might not be pleased to see me doing so well now.”
Xiulan squeezed Zheng Ling’s shoulder in support, “we are all here for you now little Ling. No matter what happens. If you want to talk about what happened in more detail, then I am always willing to listen. If you want revenge, then I will make sure you get it.”
Zheng Ling teared up a little but shook her head and said, “it is enough that I am living a good life now. I do not need revenge I just what to stay with you all and do my work. You and the others have become my family now.”
The final preparations had been completed on the Opulence and they were finally ready to set off. Yanlin was going to stay here in Temple Gorge to monitor Xiulan’s business interests and continue to train the Golden Hand. He too had broken through to foundation establishment as his cultivation method was unhindered by the qi scarcity of the interior. Apart from that he was also naturally talented.
A small crowd had formed on the docks to wish the Opulence a safe journey and their mission a success. Xiulan had already spread her intentions around the city and the general prosperity that a canal would bring to the city had everyone elated.
More for dramatic effect than any real necessity the Opulence raised its brilliant golden sails and pulled off from the dock. It made quite a sight as it was swept down river by the wind and current.
To complete the scene a colourful Parrot landed in the rigging. Its plumage was comprised of deep reds and brilliante whites. Xiulan blinked up at the unusual bird and appraised it:
Spirit Parrot – level 4 foundation establishment cultivation, spirit pet, owner Thunder sect Elder Xin. Worth 100 000 gold coins. Double to eliminate. Triple to forcibly purchase.
Xiulan blinked in surprise. That was a new option then again this was her first time seeing a spirit pet. Not every spirit beast made for a suitable pet.
While she was contemplating the Parrot squawked and dove straight for her. Some metallic Qi showed on its claws as it struck at her neck. Xiulan barely dodged backwards in time. It was such an odd sight that it took everybody else on the boat a moment to react to the attack.
The Parrot having failed in its surprise attempt did not stick around. It took off high into the air. Yen Wen launched a few arrows after it, but it dodged them all with ease.
It seemed that the Thunder sect was not willing to let Zhao Yaozu’s death slide.
This attack though did not seem well considered or very well planned. The Sect likely did not know all the details.
Xiulan decided that a small punishment was enough of a retaliation for this attempt. Besides she liked the Parrot’s colouring.
300 000 was a lot of gold but Xiulan could always make more. With a snap of her fingers Xiulan chose to forcibly purchase the spirit pet.
There was a brief snap of tension in the air and Xiulan felt that some previously unfelt qi connection severed, and suddenly, she had an awareness of the Parrot.
Xiulan called out, “it is okay now it will not attack again.”
Her guards and Yen Wen seemed sceptical but allowed the Parrot to fly back down and land on Xiulan’s outstretched arm. The Parrot puffed out its feathers and whistled at Xiulan. Xiulan could not understand the Parrot in the same way she would if it had spoken but she got the distinct impression it was saying, “finally I am rid of that old fogey. He was no fun at all.”
In the Capital an old man was bleeding from the nose after he felt his spiritual pet be forcibly snatched from his control.
SmithJuly Thank You for reading. IF you are enjoying the book then please consider joining my Patreon at patreon.com/SmithJulyNovel. The Patreon page is five chapters ahead and includes bonus chapters as well as some artwork.
