"Would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"
Hina-nee blinked. "Co again?"
"You were able to figure out the inner workings of a pill based on just the outside effects," Song Qing Long explained. "It didn't just seem like a baseless assumption, either. I must say, you appear to have talent for alchemy."
"Hm I'm flattered, but I'll be entering the Blessing Nature sect soon. I don't think I will be able to beco your disciple"
"Ah that is truly unfortunate," he sighed. "However I do have a friend within that sect. She is an alchemist of an even higher caliber than . She has never taken in a disciple before due to her extrely high standards, but perhaps you can be the first?"
t with his mysterious smile, Hina-nee was unsure of what to do and glanced at for help.
I nodded briefly in reply, signaling that she should accept his offer.
"I see in that case, I'll do my best to beco her disciple," Hina-nee replied after seeing my decision.
"Heh. I'll let her know."
"Ah if I may ask, what is her na, to be an alchemist of even higher caliber than you are, Grandmaster Song?"
"Xue Liao," he replied. I didn't miss the reminiscent and slightly sad look in his eyes.
"I understand. I'll look for Grandmaster Xue once I enter the sect," Hina-nee nodded firmly in determination.
"Good. Now, with this, our deal is complete," Grandmaster Song said, taking out a gold token of so sort and handing it to . "Here. This is the VIP Token of the Ascentian Alchemist Association. Your na was Igarashi Kaze, correct?"
He must've read using that soul art of his damn.
I nodded, seeing no reason to deny.
"Alright. Your na has been carved on the back of this token and enchanted for security, so no one can take this and impersonate you."
Couldn't they just take this token and claim they were Igarashi Kaze though? Ah, whatever. I assud the 'enchantnt' probably protected against that, sohow.
"Thank you," I said, accepting the token gratefully.
"We had a deal. All I did was uphold my part. Now if there is nothing else, I will lead you out."
I turned to Hina-nee with a aningful look in my eyes. Realizing what I wanted to do without any words, she nodded in reply and stood up.
"We'll wait outside."
"Huh?" Furuwa raised an eyebrow, confused, but was pried away from the table by Hina-nee. Nadeshiko and Aisa both understood what was going on, so they headed out together with the other two without any trouble.
Once the door was shut tight and only Grandmaster Song and I remained in the room, I spoke.
"We're alone. You can explain your motives to now, can't you?"
"Whatever could you an?" he smiled wryly, teasing .
"Cut the bullshit," I replied harshly. I felt no warmth towards this man whatsoever, despite him doing a favor. The reason for this was he tried to manipulate .
"So you realized?" he chuckled.
"It may have worked against soone else, but not ."
Of course I had realized.
Baiting into becoming a VIP asking Hina-nee to beco her disciple hell, even our first 'coincidental' eting all of that was in order to turn into one of his soldiers.
Unfortunately for him, I was no pawn. I was the king. He would do well to rember that.
"Why are you trying to use ?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "I an, why , of all people?"
" Before that, how did you find out?"
I scoffed. "This whole deal was a farce. Asking to report back to you on what happened? Please. You can simply watch the tournant yourself, or ask soone else who did. I'm sure a person in your position would have plenty of eyes and ears especially given how manipulative you are."
"Oh, but you are the sa, no? On the surface, you are calm, easy-going, and sotis even friendly. But I can see your true nature with my soul art. It tells you're a devil deep down, willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve your own goals."
"That's not true. There's one person I would never use as a pawn."
"Ah, yes. Sakura Hina, was it? Interesting."
"But speaking of that soul art I want you to teach it to ."
"Oh? And why would I do that?
'Vanishing Clouds.'
In an instant, I appeared right beside him. He flinched, but quickly regained his composure.
I leaned in and whispered by his ear.
"If you teach the art I'll beco your pawn."
The man laughed. "Can a pawn who knows he is one still be called a pawn at all? And besides how am I supposed to trust you?"
"Hey what's your relationship with Grandmaster Xue?" I asked suddenly.
As he froze in shock, I smiled darkly and patted his shoulder a few tis.
"It's certainly more than just a 'friend'. Whatever it is, it's sothing you want to keep hidden, right? I wonder what would happen if I start spreading rumors, even if they weren't true?"
His eyes widened as he shot up from his chair and grabbed the collar of my shirt, glaring furiously into my emotionless eyes. I didn't bother dodging.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, but would I?" I smirked smugly, as if mocking his anger.
He tightened his fists, breathing heavily.
"In that case I will kill you right here and now."
"Ah, ah, ah, wrong move," I said, laughing softly. "You definitely saw the tournant, no? Asking to report back to you was just testing if I was an honest person. But in that case surely you know how my sister was revived?"
Back when I asked the mayor about revived contestants, this had been the other reason. I had foresaw this all. I had planned this all. Back then, I already knew this man's true intentions.
"Soone powerful by knows resurrection arts. I would advise against using any more threats because even death won't be able to stop ."
"!" Grandmaster Song's body began shaking in fury and helplessness.
Of course, what I said was a lie. The truth was, all players had infinite lives. But he didn't need to know that bit.
"You should've accepted the offer the first ti," I sighed. "I was truly considering being nice to you back then. But now, after that threat, even after you teach the art, I won't give you anything in return. Too bad."
"Tch" he let go of my collar at last and sat back down in his chair. "Fine. I admit I lost this ti. You want the soul art, correct?"
He opened his palm. Suddenly, a scroll appeared, hovering above it and glowing orange. The scroll fell into his hand shortly after, and he tossed it over to .
"Here."
I caught it with ease, opening it up and reading through. Within it was the na of the art, 'Soul Search', what it did, and the directions on how to use it.
"Hm I see, I see" I murmured as I skimd over the text and diagrams. "This will be useful. Thanks."
" You're very welco. Now, don't ever co to again."
"Sorry, but I'm afraid if I ever need a complex pill refined, I'll still be counting on you," I laughed as I stood up, dropping the scroll into my inventory.
"You!" he gritted his teeth and glared at as I walked towards the door.
Placing my hand on the handle and glancing back at him one last ti, I smirked.
"I don't let go of my pawns that easily, Grandmaster Song."
As I left, shutting the door behind , I could hear him say one final sentence.
"Igarashi Kaze you're a monster."
*****
After that, we headed directly for a restaurant to grab so breakfast.
"Kaze-kun, how did you manage to get your hands on the soul art?" Hina-nee asked after I told them I would teach her how to use it. "Don't tell you accepted whatever condition he proposed?!"
I chuckled. "Nah. Don't worry about it."
The other girls looked at with skepticism, with the exception of Nadeshiko, who only looked impressed.
Did she notice Grandmaster Song's weak spot too?
Man she's dangerous. I'm only teaching Hina-nee this Soul Search art, since if Nadeshiko were to learn it there was no telling what she would do.
I decided to check the Quest tab on my System since I hadn't been there in a while and saw that there was a single quest under the 'Tournants' section.
[Annual Qilian Regional Competition (rec. lvl: 30)]
[Participate in the tournant.]
I then clicked on the arrow beside the na, opening up a drop-down list that displayed all the steps to the quest.
[ - Make it past the preliminaries.]
[ - Enter the top eight.]
[ - Enter the top four.]
[ - Win the semifinals.]
[ - Win the finals.]
[X - Participate in the closing ceremony. Countdown: 00:59:57]
So, we had a little under an hour left before the ceremony began. That was more than enough ti to finish eating.
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