Chapter 17 #5
Their hostess, Sun La, didn’t look put off at all.
In fact, the cultivator gave a pleased nod.
“That’s the spirit! Settle for nothing less than the ultimate prize.
Any group that achieves such a miraculous feat will be feted as members of the aristocracy, given their choice of over a dozen fine manors tended by the prince’s eternal staff to call their own, and will furthermore earn coveted shares in the royal trust, which loans capital to, or outright owns most of the businesses within our fair city.
This ensures our prince’s newest supporters a comfortable yearly stipend in perpetuity, for so long as they are residents of our city.
You will also find yourself inundated with opportunities to marry into some of the most prestigious families of Wanshi, in addition to being permitted to attend council and vote on a limited number of measures. ”
Linnea’s eyes widened with awe. “That’s incredible! Boons like that are literally the stuff of fairy tales and fantasy!”
“And you would be worth all of those prizes and more,” their hostess assured with a smile. “Should you manage to retrieve cores of either Water or Ice from the depths of our four-season delve.”
Ya Ling gave her a curious look. “Four seasons?”
Alex’s ears perked up. For all that Nili had given them the basic lowdown, he was eager to hear what a cultivator directly involved with overseeing the delves in question would have to say.
Sun La dipped her head. “Different from Liushi, I know. For all that we have only one working waterfall, the delve we do have leads to a chamber where any one of four seasons symbolizing different pocket realms may be chosen to explore and plumb the depths of. Many feel that Spring provides the best bounties in terms of cores, while Autumn provides a glorious harvest of spirit fruit, game, and other highly valued supplies that greatly benefit our city. Summer is the desert and safeguards secrets we already know so well, with perhaps the least Dark Qi buildup of all, so is a favorite of many.”
Ya Ling nodded. “I see. Thank you.”
“But what about Winter?” Linnea queried, earning a pained smile from Sun La.
“Regrettably, it is considered the most perilous of delves and requires proper attire. It is filled with the deadliest of all the rift’s inhabitants, so we suggest that newer delvers avoid that delve until they’ve truly proven themselves and can fight at least at a deep Bronze-tier capability.
Or… at least Rank 7 in your preferred elemental affinity, as I believe you Ruidians put it? ”
“Close enough!” Linnea beamed. “Wow, now I’m super excited to try Winter! And enjoy some chilly air, just like my ancestors did.”
Sun La’s eyes seemed to glow in approval with Linnea’s enthusiasm.
“Wonderful. That is absolutely wonderful to hear. I suspect you three have had a long trip. No need for details. Here in Wanshi, we respect the oaths of confidentiality we know numerous clans are bound to. No doubt you would like a day or two to rest and recuperate, perhaps take in the city’s sights.
And of course, with your obvious delving background and excellent referrals, you shall be hosted for the next three days free of all charges or further obligations.
You’ll be enjoying Silver-tier accommodations no one who hasn’t ascended as a cultivator to at least the depths of Bronze can hope to enjoy or afford.
For such is our oath of comfort to all Ruidian guests…
and their companions,” she said with a pointed smile to Ya Ling, who, bronze cheeks showing a sudden crimson hue, dug into her sizzling pork and congee.
Their academy guide leaned back, gazing at the three youths with a thoughtful smile, paying no mind to Nili, who seemed to be in the odd position of being their obvious chaperon and no more present than a gentle, soothing mist.
“Retrieving a single Bronze core of any significance will ensure your continued comfort here for a full moon. I can all but promise you that. And everything else you retrieve will be pure profit upon selling it to our academy.” Sun La flashed an almost apologetic smile.
“Regrettably, Spring clan policy forbids leaving the academy grounds with any beast core of any value whatsoever. We do, however, promise exceedingly competitive rates. For how else will we entice you to make us your home away from home as the seasons turn and the years pass? Is it not so?”
Linnea beamed. “It is! Especially if you can entice us with farms right in the caldera! That was a brilliant start to your pitch, by the way. I’m already sold!
” She squeezed Alex’s hand, giving him such a warm look with her emerald eyes, just as she had when their hostess had first repeated Wei Lin’s spiel about the Ruidians already making a life for themselves in the caldera basin, to absolutely everyone’s benefit.
Because with so many tempting benefits to enjoy, where else would a jewel master prefer to delve save here, at the academy in desperate need of a Water core that everyone’s lives and futures depend upon?
Alex thought it a clever and tempting ploy. The best sorts, really. But if Linnea didn’t look like a young wife eager for her first child, then Alex didn’t know what was causing the twinkle in Sun La’s eyes, or Ya Ling’s own exasperated smirk.
Though all their cheeks flushed when Sun La gave a knowing smile.
“I’ve heard it said in some circles that some of the most powerful cultivators and the healthiest jewel masters come from intermingled pairs, even if it takes several generations for the gifts to manifest. Certainly the wealth you three will be able to accrue to Wanshi’s benefit, and your own, will give you all the time and resources you need to found your own dynasty. ”
She gave a now most definitely blushing Alex a thoughtful look. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say your clan already achieved just that.” She chuckled and waved her hand dismissively, revealing exquisitely lacquered fingernails and flashing rings formerly hidden by the sleeves of her silken robe.
Alex felt a horrified jolt of dismay, realizing that the hour was even later than he thought, and prayed that his features gave absolutely nothing away.
“But I digress,” Sun La continued with the most innocent of smiles. “What jewel are you a master of… Alex, was it?”
Alex sighed even as his heart began to pound.
Knowing that his formerly idealistic hopes had been idiocy and that absolutely everything was about to change as he lifted his brow.
His actions earned him a startled glance before Sun La’s beaming countenance faded to something cooler and definitely more calculating.
“I was under the impression that there were two Ruidian jewel masters among you. Not one jewel master, one hanger-on, and a too-young cultivator who I seriously doubt will tolerate more than a single delve per quarter.”
Alex couldn’t help but smirk, even as Ya Ling bristled. “And here you were, regaling us with the benefits of mixing bloodlines and dynasties, just seconds ago.”
“And I also made it quite clear, boy, that you could expect positive results by the third generation. And if you aren’t pure-blooded Ruidian…”
Alex chuckled softly. “It just so happens that I’m not.”
Sun La crossed her arms, no longer playing the gracious host at all. “I won’t be made a fool of, boy. No matter how eager—”
“I think you mean desperate.”
Her eyes flashed. “No matter how eager we are for quality cores, one thing we are not and never will be is so desperate that we’ll tolerate your blatant disrespect! Now I’m going to ask you to leave, and best you be grateful you won’t be charged for wasting our time.”
Alex ignored the anxious looks from his companions, locking gazes with the senior cultivator finally letting go of her control, revealing just a fraction of her killing aura as the rowdy Bronze and more refined Silvers nearby found their conversations dying off, all of them sensing the sudden tension at the table.
Alex’s smile grew. “Make me.”
Sun La’s eyes popped with outrage as the air grew chill as the desert in the dead of night, Alex sensing snow-white wards freezing into being around their hostess.
The entire eating hall went dead silent at those words, everyone staring at him as if he were either a madman or a fool.
“What did you say, boy?”