On the tablet was a list of five jobs with the name of whoever was in charge. The first and second job had the same name Ren Zhiyuan. Wen Zixin headed to reception while putting the tablet in his pack to ask for their location and was told he was up on the second floor, second door from the left side stairs. Heading up to the second floor he went and knocked on the door and waited.
“Come in!”
Hearing the invitation, he went in. It was a small office with a desk, chair, cabinet with scrolls, and one more chair for guests. The cultivator, at the First Step of Qi Condensation Stage, sitting at the desk looks at Wen Zixin and notices the tablet he has in his hand.
“So, you’re Wen Zixin, you’ll be helping me with two jobs for the same client. They’re a mortal but they have made enough money to employ the Association. Sit down while I go over the details.”
Wen Zixin sat down with a nod and Ren Zhiyuan continued.
“The mortal has paid for two jobs, but we won’t be able to get any actual Association member to follow the orders of a mortal, so we’ll use you. The first job is to follow him around at a party he is hosting for his fellow merchants. He wants to impress them with his connections by showing that he can hire a cultivator whenever he wants so to be sure to follow his orders. The second job is to spar with his son when at the party. The mortal wants to enhance his image by showing his soon to be cultivator son off. Can you work for a mortal? If not give me that tablet and leave, the Association won’t lose face in front of a mortal because of an ill-tempered Qi Condensation Stage nobody.”
“Sir, I can do both jobs but would like to have more details so I can do well and not embarrass myself or the Association.”
“Good, stand over in the corner, the mortal is waiting downstairs. He’ll come up and give you some more details before the both of you head out to this party he is having.”
As Wen Zixin got up and stood off to the side, he saw Ren Zhiyuan release some qi that flew out the door. Wondering what type of technique that was, they waited in silence for a minute before there was a knock on the door followed by someone calling out.
“Sir, a Su Qiang is here to see you.”
“Yes, let him in.”
The door opened with one of the receptionists holding it open for a mortal, who walked in and bowed to both Ren Zhiyuan and Wen Zixin.
“Su Qiang, sit, I have found someone to handle your needs. Let me introduce Wen Zixin, he will be leaving with you tonight. He would like to go over the finer details with you so that you can be satisfied with the Association’s service.”
Su Qiang sat down looking a little nervous as the receptionist closed the door and left.
“Yes, well you see I’m a merchant and have made enough money that I can help my son become a cultivator. His Spirit Root is too inferior to interest any clans in the city and none of the closest sects have enough influence in the city to help our family. I’m hoping to draw more business by showing our family has become closer to the cultivator world. At the party I would like you, Cultivator Wen, stay by my side as I go around greeting friends and business partners. I’l-l-l make sure they won’t bother you too much but if you could answer a question or two that would help. At the end of the party, I’d like you to have a friendly spar with my son. Although he isn’t a cultivator yet, he has been practicing an Earth grade martial art I managed to get the scroll for and-d would like you to help him show of to everyone making him look good. Y-y-y-you don’t have to lose, just make my son seem impressive to the other mortals there.”
Su Qiang said all that in a little bit of a rush and only stumbled over parts Wen Zixin thought he saw as particularly offensive to cultivators. Wen Zixin was happy that all he had to do was a basic meet and greet with a performance at the end.
“Su Qiang, thank you for the information. If you are ready, we can head out now.”
Su Qiang looked surprised at Wen Zixin’s polite response and hurriedly got up. Both Wen Zixin and Su Qiang bowed goodbye to Ren Zhiyuan before leaving. Wen Zixin was curious about how they would get to their destination. He didn’t recall seeing any cultivators and mortals walking together on the street while he made his way to the Association. The short answer is they don’t. Before they left the building Su Qiang gave Wen Zixin directions to his home where the party would be held. As they walked out into the street, Su Qiang melded into the mortal masses and Wen Zixin walked into the middle of the street. Following the directions he got, Wen Zixin came to a nine-story building being worked on by a bunch of mortal laborers. It looked like it was in the middle of being converted from a mortal building into a cultivator building. Walking through the front doors he found a foyer with an open plan without any furniture except a reception desk against the far wall. He stood off to the side and decided to look through the System to see if he could find something more appropriate for a cultiviator than Leaf On The Wind.
Cultivator Skills
Qi Condensation Skills(100xp):
Basic Spiritual Herbology
Basic Spiritual Zootherapy
Basic Blacksmithing
Basic Alchemy
Basic Formations
Basic Talismans
Swirling Mist
Spear Intent, Partial
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Looking at the Menu he saw browsed and looked at anything he didn’t find self-explanatory.
Swirling Mist (100xp)
You are the swirling mist. You surround your foe without constraint. All who strike at you find nothing to touch.
Spear Intent, Partial (100xp)
WARNING: WEAPON SKILL REQUIRED
Partially understand Spear Intent and begin your journey to mastering the spear
It seemed Swirling Mist was the Qi Condensation version of Leaf On The Wind but with some ability to strike one's opponent. The different Intent, Partials for the various weapons were a way to master the weapons. Wen Zixin took note of Swirling Mist but held off getting it until after these mandatory jobs. Meng Yulong had used a technique to understand what he was capable of, and it would raise some questions if he suddenly had a new Martial Art that appeared out of nowhere. At that time Su Qiang came through the door, saw Wen Zixin waiting, and came over to greet him.
“Cultivator Wen, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting. Please, let me take you to my office.”
“Very well Su Qiang, let’s go.”
Su Qiang led Wen Zixin to the back past the reception desk and up some back stairs to the ninth floor, which was taken up by a single office. Theire was a small conference area with two sofas facing each other with a small table between them. At the far end of the office was a desk with two chairs facing it and a comfy chair behind it.
“Cultivator Wen, please sit down and if you like you can leave your pack here. I guarantee your things will be undisturbed.”
Wen Zixin nodded, handed his pack over to Su Qiang, and sat down on one of the sofas. Su Qiang took the pack and placed it behind the desk before sitting across from him on the other sofa.
“So, Cultivator Wen, there are a couple of things to note for the party and demonstration afterward. There isn’t anyone you need to pay attention to. I’ll be telling everyone that you are a temporary hire to see how well we can Integrate outside cultivators with our family. As for the demonstration, I’m hoping that you can play a passive role so my son can show off.”
Su Qiang seemed to be calmer than he was at the Association and Wen Zixin hoped it was from his lack of usual cultivator arrogance.
“Su Qiang, I understand, please tell me more about your son, his martial art, cultivation, and any techniques he will be using.”
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“Yes, as I mentioned before it is an Earth grade Martial Art. It’s called Tiger’s Grace emphasizing quick graceful movements with powerful strikes after unbalancing the opponent. He has not become a cultivator yet but is close to the First Step of Qi Condensation Stage. He won’t be using any techniques. He knows some from the scroll but hasn’t understood any well enough to use in a fight.”
“Will I be meeting him now before the party?”
At this Su Qiang looked nervously to the door.
“If you would like Cultivator Wen, but I was hoping to wait until the demonstration. My son understands how important this is for us. However, while he is rightfully proud of becoming a cultivator soon, he lacks the wisdom to hold it in and give face when appropriate.”
Wen Zixin thought for a moment before replying.
“Are you worried that he won’t be proper with me and not give me the appropriate face if we are in private?”
“Cultivator Wen sees to the heart of the matter.”
Wen Zixin could only sigh. Great, a future asshole.
“Don’t worry Su Qiang, I will give you face and ignore anything he says or does that might be insulting.”
“Very well... I will call him in to meet you.”
Su Qiang gets up and heads to the door where he talks to someone for a moment before coming back to sit down. A few moments later, the door opened and a teenage version of Su Qiang came through. He walked over to stand between the two sofas, looked at Wen Zixin before scoffing and turning to talk to Su Qiang.
“Father, is this the best we can do? His clothes confirm what the servants have said about him. This is a nobody. He has no backing, no money, and is the lowest of the lowest cultivators. Surely, we could get a stronger cultivator to show case my talent as the future of Su Family.”
Oh wow, a total asshole not future one. Wen Zixin took a breath to keep calm. While what the teenager had said correct no one likes being called a nobody. Su Qiang hadn’t looked sure at the when his son came in and had looked increasingly worse as his son talked. After the kid finished, he looked to Wen Zixin for a reaction and when he didn’t see any sign of a cultivator about to kill everyone, he gave a small sigh before waiting for Wen Zixin’s response.
“Su Qiang, I don’t believe you have introduced your son to me yet.”
Seeing Wen Zixin ignore what was said, Su Qiang followed suit.
“Sorry cultivator Wen, this is my son Su Bao. He is the one you will have a demonstration with at the end of the party.”
Turning to Su Bao, Su Qiang tried to look stern.
“Su Bao, we will try and raise cultivator Wen up in front of the guests. The more they think of him the better you will look afterwards.”
Seeing his son keep quiet, Su Qiang turned back to Wen Zixin and looked him over.
“Cultivator Wen, if you would permit me, I will have some servants help you into some new clothes to impress our guests with. Treat them as a gift to thank you for your help.”
Not willing to turn away a gift that would save him some xp, Wen Zixin nodded his head in agreement and left with a servant Su Qiang called for. A little while later Wen Zixin was led to double doors on one of the middle floors of the building in some fancier clothes that reminded him of some of the better dressed cultivators he had seen on the streets. With the only difference being the ones he was wearing didn’t have any qi. Su Qiang was waiting at the doors for him and the servant stationed himself next to the doors.
“Cultivator Wen, the party has just started and the guests are here in the parlor. Su Bao is already in there talking himself up to them. We will spend some time going around greeting everybody, I'll then discuss some business with some associates here, before we move to another room for the demonstration.”
“I understand Su Qiang. I will follow and look impressive to your guests here.”
With that Su Qiang signaled the servant who opened the doors letting Su Qiang and Wen Zixin into the next room. The parlor had only a long table to the side with a wide array of finger foods for furniture and the rest of the room was filled with a small milling crowd. The people inside we all appeared to be mortals, wealthy, and from various walks of life if their clothing was any indication. Wen Zixin followed behind Su Qiang not really paying too much attention to the others in the room and just tried to look like a haughty cultivator. He noticed Su Bao circulating the room as well but maintaining a distance from him and Su Qiang. As he was noticing the kid, he saw the person he was talking to. She was very pretty, with a nice dress indicating whatever occupation she had it was people orientated and didn’t have her outside much. Wen Zixin was about to look away when he noticed a whisp of qi dissipate in the air between Su Bao and the woman. Taking a closer look, he saw her playing with an amulet around her neck. That wouldn’t have looked out of place with some woman trying to insinuate herself with the soon to be cultivator, but Wen Zixin could see the whisps that would occasionally come out of the amulet with most floating to and into Su Bao’s nose. Turning to Su Qiang to keep himself from staring, he tapped him on the shoulder. Su Qiang paused his conversation with the couple in front of him and turned to Wen Zixin.
“Su Qiang, take a quick look over to your son and tell me who he is talking to, but do not get caught staring.”
Su Qiang did as instructed and turned back to Wen Zixin.
“That is Fan Fang, she is the head of a rival merchant family. Normally she wouldn’t be invited to any of our functions, but having her here lets me send her a warning to not oppose our rise.”
“Well, when you get a chance, you will need to have your son looked over. She is a cultivator and she is using some technique or qi powered jewelry on him. Most likely the technique is one focused on altering someone’s mind.”
“WHAT!?!?”
Su Qiang almost turned to where Fan Fang and his son were standing, but Wen Zixin stopped him.
“Don’t worry Su Qiang, I don’t believe she would do anything overt. She is hiding the fact that she is a cultivator so I don’t believe she will blow her cover. I will be extra careful during the demonstration and afterwards you can get help from the Association on this.”
Su Qiang took a breath to calm down before he replied.
“You’re right cultivator Wen. Now that I know her trick, I’ll be more careful in the future. Let’s continue to circulate. We’ll avoid her tonight and no one will think anything of it.”
They continued around the room and made sure to avoid Fan Fang. Finally, it was time for the demonstration. Su Qiang addressed the crowd and directed a couple of servants to remove a false wall that opened up the room with an additional arena like attached space. The guests filed in around the center. Wen Zixin and Su Bao stood in the center waiting for everyone to settle down. Su Qiang joined Wen Zixin and his son before turning to the crowd.
“My guests, you have heard much about my son, Su Bao, and his talent. So, now let him demonstrate his talent before your eyes. To properly show off his skills we will have him fight cultivator Wen.”
As the crowd politely clapped, Wen Zixin took an internal breath. While this was just a demonstration this would be his second fight in this world, the first fight since he became a cultivator, and that made him nervous. His first fight was unexpected and he hadn’t had much time before he was in the middle of it. This one he knew was coming almost all day. Su Qiang turned to his son and Wen Zixin.
“Now, remember this is a demonstration so please avoid serious injury. Keep an ear out as I’ll call the fight at a certain point.”
With that said Su Qiang joined the crowd before calling out again.
“Alright, when your ready face each other and begin!”
Wen Zixin and Su Bao turned to each other and bowed. Then Su Bao launched himself towards Wen Zixin. Su Bao was moving in a way that did remind Wen Zixin of a graceful tiger. Su Bao launched quick strikes to try and unbalance Wen Zixin followed up by singular devastating hits designed to end the fight. Here the difference between cultivators and mortals was made evident. Wen Zixin was reacting to Su Bao almost before Su Bao could throw a strike thanks to being a real cultivator. With Wen Zixin reactions happen so far in advance Su Bao could see him starting to dodge and adjust his attacks accordingly. Wen Zixin’s dodging was due to Leaf On The Wind being designed for mortal reactions, not cultivator reactions. For the first few minutes of the fight Wen Zixin looked to be twitching like he was being hit with electricity every other second. As he grew used to his improved reaction time, he was able to figure out when he was supposed to move according to Leaf On The Wind with his enhanced reaction time. I will have to get Swirling Mist if I get into a real fight with a cultivator. Leaf On The Wind isn’t cut out for someone operating at a cultivator’s level. Before he was able to start moving correctly, he overheard a conversation from two members of the audience closest to the fight.
“I had no idea Su Bao was so good. Look how much the cultivator is working to avoid his strikes.”
“I know, I had figured all the talk from the Su family was just talk. However, given Su Bao’s performance I’m starting to wonder how he wasn’t recruited into one of the clans.”
“Maybe Su Qiang kept Su Bao out of sight of the clans to raise up the Su family. If they stay quiet, they might rise to one of the low-tier families within Shichang.”
Figuring he was doing Su Qiang a favor, Wen Zixin continued to over dodge Su Bao. He just worked on doing late enough Su Bao couldn’t correct. It ended up with the rest of the fight looking like Wen Zixin was too scared of receiving Su Bao’s attacks head on and could only dodge.
“That’s enough for now! Thank you both for showing our guests something amazing!”
Su Qiang called out as the crowd started to get a little restless. From there Wen Zixin bowed to Su Bao but the kid ignored him and left to talk to some people in the crowd including Fan Fang. As he walked away Su Qiang came to Wen Zixin.
“Please come to my office for a moment.”
“Of course, Su Qiang.”
Wen Zixin followed Su Qiang as servants started appearing to help guide the guests out. When the two of them got to Su Qiang’s office Wen Zixin sat on one of the sofas. Su Qiang closed the door before coming to stand near Wen Zixin. He immediately dropped down to kowtow to Wen Zixin while calling out.
“Please forgive my rude son for not respecting you at the end of the demonstration! I will make sure to have him checked for negative influences from Fan Fang and scold him for not giving you face!”
Wen Zixin quickly got up and helped Su Qiang to the other sofa while talking.
“I told you before I wouldn’t take to heart anything your son did or said, so don’t worry about it.”
As Wen Zixin was calming Su Qiang down, Su Bao came into the office.
“Father, dismiss the cultivator already. I have some great ideas for our family after talking to some of our guests. Also, I don’t know why you are against Fan Fang, her family and ours could do a lot together.”
Su Qiang looked towards Wen Zixin, and with a nod to him addressed his son.
“Su Bao, we will meet cultivator Wen at the Association. I have some more business for them and we can have some privacy in one of their meeting rooms where you can tell me about your ideas. Wait for us in front of the building while cultivator Wen collects his things.”
Su Bao smiled pridefully and left without looking at Wen Zixin. A servant came in a moment later with Wen Zixin’s old clothes as Wen Zixin was grabbing his pack from behind Su Qiang’s desk. As Wen Zixin received his clothes from the servant Su Qiang quickly got something from within his desk.
“Cultivator Wen, before we head down, I would like to gift you something as thanks for unmasking Fan Fang for me.”
As the servant left Su Qiang handed a small box to Wen Zixin. When Wen Zixin opened it up, he found a ring. He looked at it for a moment before looking at Su Qiang with a little bit of confusion.
“It’s a storage ring cultivator Wen. I was going to give this to my son when he reached the First Step of Qi Condensation Stage, but given your help with Fan Fang and my son’s treatment of you I hope you will accept it.”
Wen Zixin took the ring, dropping the box on the desk, and put it on. He waited a moment and when nothing happened, he tried putting qi into it like his amulet. Immediately he had the impression of a small space about the size of a square crate that came up to his knee if it was lying on the ground. He tried to will his pack and old clothes and they disappeared a moment later. He had a thought and tried to see if he was right. He dived into the ring and tried to swap out the fancy clothes he was wearing with his old clothes in the ring, and it worked. He was now wearing his old clothes. He indicated to Su Qiang that he was ready and they both left the building. They met up with Su Bao just outside the building and Su Qiang addressed Wen Zixin.
“Cultivator Wen, we will meet you at the doors of the Association.”
The Su senior and junior melded into the mortal traffic and Wen Zixin joined the cultivator traffic. At the doors of the Association with the sun setting Wen Zixin met up with the two Su family members. Together they walked in and head to the reception desk where Su Qiang addressed the receptionist.
“Hello, I Su Qiang would like to inform the Association that Cultivator Wen Zixin has completed my job requests to my satisfaction. I would also like to put out another job I would like to be competed immediately.”
“Very well sir, please note there is an extra fee for rush jobs. Wen Zixin if you would hand your job tablet over, I will mark the Su Qiang jobs as completed.”
Wen Zixin nodded and took the tablet out of his new storage ring, handing it over. The receptionist used some qi to scratch through the first two jobs on it and talked to Su Qiang.
“Sir, if you would like to go sit down someone will get you when someone is available to help you.”
“Thank you, we will wait.”
Su Qiang and his son went and sat down at a free table while Wen Zixin stayed with the receptionist.
“Wen Zixin, the one handling, Feng Ài, your next job has gone home for the night. You can get a meal and sleep here tonight. Kitchen is through the far door on my left behind the training ring. The male dorm is right next door to the kitchen.”
The receptionist explained while pointing out the specific doors. Wen Zixin bowed to the receptionist before heading to the kitchen. There he found a small sitting area for half a dozen people with a couple of cooks working at a communal pot. He grabbed a bowl of some vegetable soup, quickly ate, turned over the bowl, and headed to the dorm. It was a pretty bare bone being a long room with a dozen bunkbeds and two lockers per bunkbed. Wen Zixin found an empty bunk and sat down on the bed and started cultivate until the next day.