A month quickly passed since the time Yvette first visited the city. Ever since that day, she no longer came to visit the city and instead only took a look at the map of the city and engraved it into her memory when she came back to the clan. Even so, no one forced Yvette and left her to her own devices.
After she reported her results to Nastaran, her teacher did not seem surprised, as if she already expected it as such. But ever since then, instead of giving Yvette her usual training regiments, she was constantly given new, harder tasks.
Even then, Yvette passed her days just as how she usually would. Cultivate, train, read books, and visit her parents during her breaks. And because she now had her own weapons, she also focused on researching and training with her war fans.
Naturally, many curious people wished to meet her, the new princess of the clan. This include the time during her first month of her arrival. But because of her seemingly cold disposition, few managed to even take up the courage to speak up. And even if they did, they would only receive a reply of few words, causing them, as kids, to find it hard to continue the conversation.
In result of this, few dared to approach her. Still, many of them were fascinated by her beauty and ended up watching her from a distance.
And now, on a certain day, when Yvette visited her parents, her father pulled out an invitation.
“Behnam, the regional tournament is about to come soon and you are already old enough to attend. It will start at the beginning of the next month; you may decide whether you wish to attend or not.” Saying that, he handed the invitation to Behnam and looked at him silently.
Behnam, who received the invitation, did not hesitate for a moment and quickly answered, “I am willing to attend.” Hearing this, Bahram nodded in contentment.
At that moment, Yvette who has been spectating from the side with her mother inquired, “Tournament?”
“Yes, tournament. It is a regional fight which begun since the founding of the empire for the younger generation who are within the body tempering stage. The tournament occurs every three years and it is divided into the east, west, south and north side, where the four states of the empire are. The winners of each tournament will be given the title of Regional Prince or Princess. The title will make them receive treatment equivalent to a prince of the empire within that region. But their titles are applicable until they are twenty years old, no more, no less. This means there can be more than one regional prince or princess within a region each generation.
Since we are located within Eastern State of the empire, we will be going to capital of the Eastern State.”
After hearing the explanation, Yvette pondered before saying, “I wish to spectate.” Bahram who expected her words nodded in consent, “That is fine. We shall be leaving tomorrow with those who will be joining and spectating the tournament.”
As Bahram finished speaking, Esfir stood up, “If you wish to leave the city, I will prepare a veil. The last time you left for the city, your brother managed to act as a deterrent. But we will be leaving for another city with people outside the clan, so I hope you would take precautions.” Saying that, she soon left, seemingly in preparation for the trip.
Following her leave, Bahram turned towards Yvette, “You should go prepare. We will not be returning for a few days, so make sure to tell your teacher.” Before walking away.
Seeing this, Behnam and Yvette parted ways and left for their own residences.
Taking Daiyu back to the North Yin Peak, Yvette went and notified Nastaran of her trip and received her consent.
After doing so, she went to the Pavilion of Knowledge to gather information regarding the Eastern City and the tournament with Daiyu.
By the time they finished, day turned into night and the pair spent their night as usual, cultivating and training.
When morning came, not a hint of fatigue could be seen from the pair. This could be contributed to their daily meditation and cultivation. But even with their strong mind, meditation and cultivation were not enough to keep away their fatigue, hence they would still need to rest occasionally.
Just as the pair were preparing to go to the Main Peak, a servant appeared, saying that she was instructed by Esfir to lead them.
Hearing this, Yvette consented and followed the servant as she led them towards the teleportation array.
There, she saw Arya standing guard over the array. When Arya caught sight of the three, she faintly smiled and lightly waved towards them.
“I heard you will be leaving for a while.” Hearing her words filled with faint reluctance, Yvette nodded towards her and stepped onto the array with Daiyu and the servant, saying nothing.
Though she did not receive a real response, there was no change in Arya’s expression. From the few interactions they had, she understood that Yvette is someone who speaks very rarely, though she knows not of the reason. But knowing so, she continued, “I will miss you quite a bit.” Ending her words there, she went and activated the array, sending the group of three to the Main Peak.
Arriving at the Main Peak, the servant continued to lead the pair. Soon, they passed the mansion and arrived before the path leading to the peak of the mountain.
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As they neared the peak, clouds started to appear around them and the air slowly turned colder. For ordinary people, this kind of place would be unbearable without the right equipment. But for cultivators, even ones with weak physiques like Yvette, this kind of place would not bother them much. Instead, a location which allows one to reach closer to the skies would only be an advantage for people who cultivates the corresponding techniques.
Just as the group was about to reach the peak, the female servant suddenly turned around and took out a barely transparent white veil sewn to a white beret.
“Young mistress, please put on the veil.”
Not questioning her words, Yvette took the beret from her hands and wore it. Though it had no hole for her fox ears, she could still hear smoothly and feel no discomfort. The white veil then fell and covered her face as a whole until it loosely fell to her neck. Curiously, though the veil seemed thick enough to impede the view from the outside, she was able to clearly see anything over the veil. But whether it is because of the material, the crafting technique, or because there is an enchantment placed on it, she was unsure.
Seeing Yvette wearing the veil, the female servant continued to lead the pair to the peak.
Though she was half in doubt from the clear transparency of the veil, Yvette decided not to question the servant, thinking that her mother might not have explained anything detailed to her.
Finally, the group arrived at the peak of the mountain. But unlike the peak of the other two mountains that is either filled with extreme heat or extreme coldness, the peak of the Main Peak could be described as paradise. The peak is covered in lush plants and other greeneries while a lake filled with life could also be seen within the peak.
But Yvette ignored the sight of this paradise and perceived the energy around her. Soon, she realized that the energy within the peak, especially those of sun and moon, are multiple folds better in comparison to the ones within the peak of the other two mountains.
Within the two months, Yvette had a few chances of visiting the peak of North Yin Mountain. Though most people would rarely visit the place as staying there for a prolonged period of time could cause hidden injuries from the concentrated moon yin energy. And even if she was unable to visit the South Yang Peak, she assumed that the concentration of sun yang energy would not differ much in quality.
But within the peak of the Main Peak, the yin and yang energy are balanced, causing the usual possible occurrence of hidden injuries to disappear. Yet, she could not see a single person making use of this place to cultivate.
Just as she was wondering about this, she caught sight of her parents, brother and a few others looking towards her group from the distance.
When Yvette and Daiyu finally reached the group, Bahram waved his hand. Seeing this, the female servant who led the pair there bowed and left without a word.
“Now that all of us are here, let us start the preparation.” Saying that, Bahram took Esfir and went to a square stone tablet that is stuck into the ground faraway from the group. Curiously, the stone tablet looked perfectly smooth which made one wonder whether it has long been taken care of to stay like so.
Bahram then took out a talisman from who knows where and placed it atop the stone tablet. After doing so, both Bahram and Esfir placed their hands above the stone tablet.
Though she stood faraway, Yvette managed to catch sight of the translucent layer of gold and silver which flowed into the talisman atop the surface of Bahram and Esifr’s hands.
Soon enough, light lit up from the stone tablet and flowed around the mountain peak in certain paths, powering the array hidden underneath.
When the array was finally fully powered, causing the whole peak to shine with a bright light.
Then, the light all gathered to the center of the peak, converging into a body of light in the shape of a boat. Moments later, the light slowly disappeared one by one into motes of light, leaving a ship behind.
“Everyone, please get on the ship. Later, we will be breaking through the cloud layer so that we may be hidden from the flying beasts who usually flies under the cloud layer, so I advise everyone to be careful as we break through the layer of clouds.” Hearing the command from Bahram, the group leaped up to the ark one by one while those like Yvette with low cultivation had to wait for those with higher cultivation to bring them up.
When Yvette finally reached the ark’s deck with Esfir’s help, the boat slowly rose up from the ground and flew down from the cloud layer. As Yvette looked back, she saw how the peak slowly became smaller in her view until it became hidden by the clouds.
When they broke through the clouds, various people who is not from the clan, especially those from the younger generation, kept glancing curiously at her.
The reason for this is, not only because of her being the adopted daughter of Bahram, the Aasmany Clan’s current generation patriarch, but also because of the pair of fox ears protruding out of her beret.
But Yvette who gained all those attentions calmly followed Esfir who led her into the ship with Daiyu following right behind.
Seeing this, the children that are not from Aasmany Clan turned towards Behnam in inquiry. But just like Yvette, Behnam ignored them and sat down to cultivate.
Finding no way to sate their curiosity, some of the children followed Behnam’s example and sat down to cultivate, while those who could not focus or did not want to cultivate went to look around the ship and visit their cabin with the guide of the Aasmany Clan’s servants.
Meanwhile, within one of the ship’s cabin, Esfir stood before Yvette who has removed her veil and took out a set of clothing.
“I noticed that you do not seem to have any change of clothes aside from your white robe, hence I had this prepared for the trip this time.” Hearing her mother’s words, Yvette looked down towards her clothing, a two layered white robe tied with a sash on the waist, that she had been wearing since the time she first came to the clan. Then, she looked towards the clothing her mother prepared.
The clothing is composed of a white haori with a red trim over a black yukata and a red hakama reaching her knee tied with a long black obi and red-white bow.
“Come, allow mother to dress you.” Saying that with a smile, Esfir carefully changed the clothes of Yvette who has quietly consented to her mother’s actions.
Soon after, Yvette stood within the cabin wearing her new set of clothing.
“This set clothing truly looks great on you.” Saying so, Esfir smiled and continued, “Now, on to another matter, you will be staying within the room right across here with your handmaiden. You are free to do anything you wish during the trip and both of your meals shall be sent to your room.”
“Understood, mother. I shall be taking my leave.” As she said that, Yvette bowed towards Esfir and left the room with her veil on, directly going to her own room.
To the disappointment of the curious people, Yvette and Daiyu spent their time quietly cultivating within the room and outside of prying eyes, only occasionally making leaving when called by her family. Not only that, the various guards of the Aasmany Clan and the lack of windows connecting the hallway to the rooms caused the last notion of those who wish to take stealthily take a peak to disappear.
And so, without realizing it, a few days passed and they soon arrived at East City.