Now that Ame felt a lesser sense of surveillance but still found it was impossible for herself to train as she wishes, she knew she would have to develop other means of combat potential. She can find other places to train, but when preoccupied, she should use a trustworthy partner, namely her kittens.

Those two possessed divine memories and should inherently gain some unique skills. It doesn’t matter if they are not specifically combat orientated Spirit Guardians; she just has to come up with creative ways to make use of their abilities. On the other hand, combat spirit or not, without proper battle experience, those two were as good as sitting ducks.

Despite knowing this, or rather, due to knowing this, Ame could feel that there is a far greater need to train Morph and Kiro to hunt. Risk will inevitably be involved, but they need to start moving and can’t sit around.

With care and thoughtfulness, Ame had invited Dara to lunch. The elderly man enjoyed being in the presence of Sada, the lovely maid, and naturally of the little mistress. Morph and Kiro purr in Dara’s lap as he fed them a bit of everything.

Ame hid her frown at the kitten's lapse of manners, but her eyebrows still twitched occasionally. Although they were claiming to be giving their all to put Dara in a good mood, she can clearly see them just being lazy and acting spoil. In a way, they were a more royal treatment than their own master……...She will have to reteach them a lesson or two later.

 After some time, Ame lightly approaches the subject. “Dara, I once heard that it’s important for cultivators to experience different things and experiences to grow, is it not?” Ame innocently asked.

 “Of course! As a young man, I traveled all over Sen, battling men and powerful creatures,” Dara proudly said as he puffed out his chest. “You are only a told in a well thinking of sky above as the world until you truly venture and see new things; only after spreading your wings can one join the competition between crouching tigers and hidden dragons.”

Sada purposefully narrowed her eyes at the young lady’s comment but did not pursue the subject as she was serving Dara another cup of tea. “Then, does the same apply to maturing into a great personage, like you?”

 “Hahahaha, well, of course, but also no. Gathering experiences and new things are definitely needed for one to grow, but not every person with talent or power will be a great personage. To accomplish this, you will need to not only build up the necessary experiences and wisdom but also work on one’s character and temperament. Only then can one truly become a true man.” Hearing Ame’s view of him as a great personage, his emotions became much lighter and happier as he spoke in a grand manner.

“.... mmmm, I knew it. I will grow!” Ame originally listened to Dara with her hand on her chin, but her face soon grows dark as she contemplated. If one didn’t know any better, she would seem as though she was genuinely concerned and distressed.

  Sada frowned as Dara furrowed his brows in thought before swiftly assenting. “Young Mistress?”

Steeling her expression with a look of resolve, Ame gazes up into Dara’s eyes. “...At this rate, I will never grow into a great person. Can’t you see it?! No matter what, I am always trapped within a small portion of the manor, I am barely allowed to go anywhere outside, and I am always strictly watched when I even choose to visit the stalls! Doesn’t this mean I will be a sheltered and wretched person?!”

“Y-young Mistress, that will never be the case! Why would you even think that? Everyone is just worried about it, nothing more.” Dara hurriedly explained in panic. Even Sada seemed a bit shocked at her words.

“Didn’t you just say it? To grow and temper oneself, I need to experience new things and places to mature, but I can’t really do that in this situation, can’t I?” Ame said with a dark face.

“Th-that...” Dara stuttered. At the side, Sada’s face seemed to be getting more worried.

“Aren’t I that frog in the well you just spoke of?” Ame retorted once again.

“...Y-young Mistress, please don’t overthink such things.” Dara’s face also darkens. After all, he can’t help but feel as though he was rather careless with his words. He should have been more considerate about how she would feel about her situation.

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“.... Dara, please let me go to White Peak Mountain. Even if I have no talent, I can just temper myself and make up for what I’m lacking with sheer effort.” A resolute and bright passion started to burn in Ame’s cold amethyst eyes.

‘I will then be able to have fun....uh, I mean, intensive training. Not to mention, those lazy cats can finally start their training too and help get my hands on some good stuff.’ She secretly thought.

However, both Dara and Sada both thought something different. Seeing the passion in her eyes, they recalled how she has shown no progress despite her attempts at various cultivation methods. They also know that her standing is not too good, and with her intelligence, it is no wonder that their Young Mistress wishes to hurriedly improve herself. After all, no one and especially no child likes being looked down upon.

“Please let me go on this trip! Please! If they are any bandits or dangerous beats, I won’t do something and will prioritize safety first. But how can I find any ways to improve if I just give up or stick to only the safe route?” Seeing their contemplating and worrying faces, Ame hurriedly tried to strike while the iron is hot. Thus, she held her hands together and pleaded once more.

A few seconds of silence then passed. It felt both short and long at the same time, Ame’s heart ever so slightly increasing in blood pressure due to the anticipation. She gulped as she hoped her pleading worked, but at the same time, she felt slightly bewildered on why/how she is letting this situation get to her. However, she only quickly dismissed such thoughts before returning her attention onto the two adults in her presence.

“Of course! There are no bandits or monsters for the little mistress to worry about. I have already and will make sure of that!” Dara sighed and firmly said. “Nevertheless, White Peak Mountain is indeed rich with various life and Qi, making it a good place for any cultivator to train and find opportunities. As long as you are careful and stay in the safe areas, you can definitely train and have a fortuitous encounter.”

Sada unhappily put the teapot down and crisply said, “But without weapons or safeguards, what can milady do? Do not be foolish, Dara!”

 Dara pauses and smiles, “I have just the thing.” Reaching into his sleeve, he pulls out two fine daggers and holds them out for Ame to take. “I spotted these fine daggers earlier in the market and thought they were a fine suit for the little mistress,” Dara tactfully said.

    Both dangers had a green handle with gold and brown designs adorning the weapons. The blades had a beautiful luster but strangely doesn’t reflect that much light, and there were wind patterns engraved onto the blades using gold and a brown metal. Although one would normally question the practicality of a such a beautiful weapon, Ame could “see” how the weapon was not ordinary and even feel the threatening pressure emitted when simply grabbing the hilt and gazing at the daggers for just a little. It was an instinctive pressure generated when knowingly wielding a dangerous weapon that you know nothing about.  

“Although it is not a very high grade, these daggers are high-grade second tier weapons forged by a reputable smith. Don’t be deceived by its appearance as it has traces of Resplendent Cloud Gold, Flowing Crust Copper, and other such metals. Thus, despite their rank, they have a bit less of the characteristic agile movements but make up for this with much greater durability and heavy momentum.” Not realizing how conspicuous it was for him to know such much about the dangers, Dara explained about these details to Ame. He even went as far as to guarantee its quality, but maybe, Ame is just overthinking things.

“Most importantly, Young Mistress can slow down the movements of others by inflicting deep wounds. The essences of the materials will burden all targets with this effect, but higher cultivation or aggression will slow down the effects and possibly require more wounds.” He continued.

After seeing Ame stare in fascination for a while, he smiled and nodded. “They are named Dew and Collett......I won’t go into too many details, but they should protect you from most dangers.” Dara then made two sheaths for the daggers to appear in midair and continued.

“As for the rest, don’t worry about protection, I shall take care of it by the evening. On the morrow, the little mistress shall safely be able to enter the mountains,” Dara proudly said to Ame’s delight and Sada’s sorrow.

Pursing her lips, Sada duly says, “Very well. My lady, I wish you the greatest of fortune on your trip into the mountains on the morrow.” With a flourish, she climbs to her feet as her skirt rustles angrily. “I’ll go get some more tea,” She crisply says flouncing away.

Dara confusingly glances at the tea pot and remarks, “There is still tea in the pot.”

 Sada was not out of earshot, but she acted as if she could not hear. Ame hides her smirk and instead gratefully says, “Thank you, Dara. I will not waste this valuable opportunity.”

 Dara chuckles and continues to feed the hungry kittens. Ame, seeing that her business was successful and concluded gratefully, digs in. The behavior of Morph and Kiro can be ignored for now.

By the time Sada returns with a new pot of tea, the entire feast of lunch had been consumed by one elder man, the young lady, and two kittens. Somewhat aghast, Sada orders more food for herself but, more importantly, for the young miss. Even now, Sada was still somewhat disturbed at the lady’s appetite, but Sada swiftly consoled herself with the fact that the Third Young Mistress was a growing child and needed to make up for the lost nourishment.

Besides, it may have been a habit left behind by her days living on the streets with every day is just a struggle to eat, and this just shows that she is learning to trust in them a bit more. As long as she can keep her manners, no one can criticize her. With that in mind, Sada serves a new cup of tea and chats about more pleasant topics.