Story 7 - To Kill Demonic Vines (18/18 End ??)
Spear That Weaves Through Lightning walked forward with his own weapon out. “Even though she just made us help a bunch of mortals by doing work that should have been left up to the city lord—”
Little Spring scowled. “Are you still talking about that?”
“—You don’t insult our sect’s senior.”
The kid stepped in front of , as if determined to protect this ti. This brat.
Actually, all of these young kids were brats!
As a thousand-year-old monster, I really didn’t need the help. But youths liked to feel useful so I’d let them do what they wanted.
“You realize that two of those alchemists are in the golden core realm, right?” I gestured to Violet and Red Leaf.
Clear Eyes grinned. “Doesn’t matter. We’re from the Indomitable Will Sect, and we have each other’s backs.”
“Also, one of their guards.” I pointed to a muscular man who was eyeing us like he was gonna take us down any second.
Basically, we’d end up dead before we could even touch their sleeve. It was partially why I hadn’t tried anything.
“It’s not like Peak Elder Grass Sprout isn’t in the area,” Little Spring said.
Point to the brat.
Goddamn it. That dragon was going to update our scorecard once he found out.
“Oh! Grandmaster Grass Sprout is here?” Alchemist Red Leaf said. “I haven’t seen her since the last Alchemist Assembly a few decades ago.”
Violet sent a look that told that I was on her ‘To Kill When She Had the Chance’ list.
Red leaf waved everyone down. He must have had the respect of everyone there because they did so without question.
“There’s no need for that. Violet Pill Fairy here was rely expressing her concern and didn’t an anything by her words. Now, why don’t we discuss the Dao of Alchemy while we wait for your Peak Elder?”
I could practically feel Mad Tongue getting ready to escalate and Violet Pill getting ready to prove her elder wrong.
The last thing our sect needed was to start a war with the Alchemists’ Guild just because Violet and I wanted to murder each other.
“Of course we can discuss the Dao of Alchemy!”
The teen pursed his lips.
I began to lead everyone to our courtyard while talking to the old man.
“By the way, when is the next assembly?”
“Oh, in a few years.” He stroked his beard, “With your contribution to creating a cure for the plague, I’ll be sure to send you an invitation.”
I glanced back at Violet. That plastered smile on her face couldn’t fool . Not when I could see a vein in her forehead bulging from her rage.
She had obviously wanted to impress him to get into the conference.
Having been there before, I knew that they limited who could enter, relying almost entirely on the current mbers to bring in new ones who contribute to their field.
This was likely her one chance to get in. And I was stealing it right out from under her.
Muahahahaha! Take that bitch.
Now, I just needed to con er— convince these guys into helping end the plague so I could go ho faster.
***
Several difficult months later…
Little Spring, Salamander, Clear eyes and I gathered to say our farewells to Hu Huan and Head Physician Xiang You.
“I hope you both will live healthy lives.” And long ones for mortals.
Little Spring grinned. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Hu Huan ran up to the kid and handed him a rock or sothing that seed significant between them. The two had beco friends since their ages were so close and since they’d both experienced similar upheavals.
After much persuasion, Xiang You had adopted the little mortal into his family as a favor to … Also because he’d co to care for the child after looking after him for so many years.
Surprisingly, the kid had spent the whole fight sitting on the toilet and completely missed everything. That may have been for the best, though it probably left him a bit traumatized.
I looked to Sword Master Salamander, who had reached the peak of Golden Core and was almost ready to go through his tribulation.
In my past life, he only made it to this level when I turned 25.
::I don’t have any gold or silver…:: I explained to Salamander. ::Sword Master, can I borrow so, and I’ll pay you back in spirit stones?::
He sent a look. ::The last ti I used mortal currency was around twenty years ago… I think I might have a few coins sowhere?::
We both turned to Clear Eyes Mad Tongue. ::Bring out your silver and gold.::
The teen rolled his eyes and waved his hand in front of the two mortals. A small chest of silver teals in the Empire’s currency appeared in front of them.
I tossed him a spirit stone to pay him back for it and he looked insulted.
Hey, not all of us had a master who could bankroll our cultivation. So of us had to be our own masters.
I turned to the Head Physician. “This should be enough for Little Huan’s education.”
He wiped the sweat off his forehead using a handkerchief. “I-I believe so. You don’t have to do this. You already saved our city!”
Of course I did. I needed to get rid of any karmic ties I made because of my promise to Hu Xiaofan. I was currently outsourcing most of my responsibility to Xiang You.
“Also, if the child is ever in danger, break this.” I handed him a token I carved out of jade and embedded with a piece of my will inside of it, similar to the one I left with my body’s original parents. “I promised his mother that he’d live a long mortal life and I intend to keep that promise.”
“Yes, Master Alchemist Lin!”
I was just glad the kid didn’t ask to co with us.
***
Our team and the alchemists from the Guild, gathered together outside of the palace in front of City Lord Long Jiaye. It was ti to officially leave.
“Thank you everyone from the Alchemists’ Guild.” He bowed to them, then went on for a few minutes, extolling how they’d helped.
Violet, who had been shockingly quiet over the past few months, hid a smirk behind her fan. It was like the bitch thought she was the only one who deserved the praise.
Senior Red Leaf nodded. “The Guild will rember your hospitality.”
“I and the Empire also would like to thank the cultivators from the Indomitable Will sect.” He bowed deeply to us. “And I am grateful to you for helping save my citizens directly after the disaster.”
“We only did what needed to be done,” I said.
The City Lord then placed several chests in front of each team for us to take back to our organizations.
Most of ours were full of raw materials that our sect could use, like local herbs and tals. He also had his maids give each cultivator a small box with local spiritual ores as a token of his gratitude. They weren’t rare, but this wasn’t exactly a rich area.
But I could use them to create armor for Little Spring and myself. We’d need a good set for our tribulations.
“And to Master Alchemist Lin. I’d like to give you this in appreciation for all the work you’ve done to help the city and the empire through this plague.”
He handed a box. Using my divine sense, I looked inside to find a rare spiritual fruit in stasis.
Violet Pill Fairy sent a glare.
What? It wasn’t like she could use it since she was already in Golden Core.
“I had planned to have a Perfected Golden Core dicine made from this when I reached the peak of Foundation Establishnt, but I might not reach that realm in my life. I’d rather give it to soone who will need it.”
I kind of liked this City Lord. When his people were in trouble, he did everything in his power to prevent the spread of the plague. He’d listened to our advice without complaint. There were even rumors going on about how he fought off the vines during the Demonic Slaughter Formation incident and protected those he could.
There were no rumors going around about him doing weird or extrely heinous things behind closed doors, and he treated everyone decently enough for this ti period.
He may have ignored when I first ca here, but that had been my plan. As far as I was concerned, the guy was a rare decent person for soone in his position.
I scanned Long Jiaye with divine sense. Ah, there it was. A blockage from an old injury prevented him from continuing down his path.
::I recomnd you get a Three Tears Qi and Blood Cleansing Dan from a good alchemist. It needs to be at least High Quality. Its effects might surprise you.::
His hand subtly shook. ::Thank you, Master Alchemist Lin!::
Whether him becoming a Golden Core cultivator would be a good thing or a bad thing, who knew? ::Just keep taking care of your city and people as well as you have been. So cultivators look down on mortals, but we should never forget that we ca from their number.::
He nodded.
As long as he did a decent job keeping everyone here safe, that would also help take care of Hu Huan.
Now, it was ti to go ho and get my goddamn kiwis!
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