“This elixir, reeks of the methods used by the Alchemists and Apothecaries, of the Ural Empire.”
At the mentioning of the Ural Empire, Rowen felt his own mind and dantian shake involuntarily, as the region he was in right now could be said to be the furthest to the south from the borders with the Empire, although what made his blood cold, was the fact that the incredibly bad position he was in, was growing worst with every day and every piece of information he was receiving, giving him a small understanding of why no one had taken the request of help for the villages in this place, a monster from an enemy state, that could crush him on a whim, was moving thru this region that could barely be said to belong to the Kingdom, and at a long distance from the Empire.
“Are you sure?”
“I may not be an apothecary or an alchemist, however, the numbers of medicinals I had to appraised in my life, had granted me a wide view of the small and distinct differences of methods use to make medicinals, though the most striking thing about this elixir, its is purity.”
“How so? I can not see—, although it looks like transparent water, it does not seem like something I have never seen before from the Kindom?”
“How potent do you think this is?”
“If you were ready to give so many benefits to Hubert before, it must be a real Immortal stage elixir, so rank 1!?”
“You are going in the right direction, though you are off by several ranks, this is enough to refill the dantian of a rank 4 Immortal with a very strong foundation. Moreover, it has a very mellower kind of energy, that can be used in a much more varied way, and by lower ranks, without the risk of going into an excess of what one can take, this is one of the reasons I took it from this boy, as this is an extremely favorable elixir for your condition. And yet, the most frightening aspect of this elixir is the small signs of it, being nothing more, than a mass-produced tonic by an extremely high-rank Alchemist.”
As old Wan talked about him being the reason for taking the flask, Rowen lowered his gaze for a moment in a pensive state before rising and nodding to the old man, as he knew something like this would be extremely beneficial to himself.
“From all of this, I can—, I can only confirm that the owner of the flask is a true King Immortal and although I can not understand the situation profoundly, from Hubert's words some of the prairie Kings were chasing him, as, for the power of this king, I can not say exactly although it should be of a high rank and not low, this is far too problematic. Though from the imprints in the ground, if the kings were to have been close, they could have pressed him, however, if they had stayed beyond the borders, the only one that could have pressed him like this—, this place--, this place had become far too dangerous for us right now, although the treaty between us and the prairie stands, this is devolving into a far worst situation than I anticipated, we need to leave this area as soon as possible, I can no longer guarantee your safety if we continue to stay here, especially if someone were to know who you are.”
“Alright, once we return to the camp, we will leave in a day or two at most.”
However, the old man was still hiding some pieces of information regarding what he had learned, especially about the “flask” itself, as he was inclined to contact the one he was serving, for the sole fact that he did not trust anyone from the guards to city lords or even the army of the south, with any information that could put them at risk.
“So, do we call them here, to make the oath of silence?”
“Yes, I will do it immediately, I will use the conscious stone given by the old master, to bound them from speaking about this.”
Nonetheless, as no more than five minutes from Hubert’s exit, he was called again, though this time the boy that he had taken care of in the last day or so, was called, alongside himself. Despite him being confused as to why he had been given half of the content of the flask, as it was of no use to anyone other than a cultivator.
“Come here and touch this tablet, the both of you.”
Regardless of what he was thinking, as he and Levis entered the hall, they were called together, although Levis was somewhat confused when he approached the old man holding a small, black, and glossy tablet, while captain Rowen was sitting next to Adrian, overseeing their proceedings from the sidelines.
“Now repeat after me, “I will say nothing of what happened, the night prior to this day, about the old man or the flask, as it was nothing more than an ordinary night.”.”
“-“I will say nothing of what happened the night before this, about the old man or the flask, as it was nothing more than an ordinary night.”-“
As both Levis and Hubert were reciting the verse while touching the tablet, a small reaction took place on the two of them, as something seemed to invade their body, and move towards their minds, as though a small needle fixing itself on them, only there was no pain or discomfort what so ever, after the brief and small moment of strange sensation on their head.
“Alright, now with this, you can not talk about what had happened here yesterday night, that is to anyone other than myself, young master Rowen and the old master. This is for your own protection too, as this is far more problematic than what you can understand. Have I been clear?”
“Yes.”-”Aha.”
“Now, Hubert take this.”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
However as Hubert and Levis responded in confirmation, the old man took a small hand-size pouch and handed it to the expectant guard, as it was received with trembling hands, while trying to hide his own excitement.
“There are twenty energy shards inside this pouch, while the pouch itself it has been woven from a special method to hide the energy from the shards, and for you young Levis, inside this pouch there are two shards, see if you can use to cultivate!”
“Thank you, I will try it later. Is that fine?”
“Yes, it is alright, now remember to keep it hidden, one small shard is equivalent to the energy of rank 6 dantian, I do not need to tell you what will happen if you fly them in open.”
“Ranks 6, this is—, this is–, this is-, no-nothing like the rank 2 and 3, from the yearly salary of being a guard. However, Levis?”
Although Hubert was in high ecstasy at the sudden riches that had befallen him, the fact that Levis was receiving some too, was a very perplexing matter to him, as he could not wrap his head around the conclusion, in the moment he was almost entirely focused on the pouch in his hands.
“Aha-aha, boy, you could receive this from the guards if you are to reach rank 6, though in lower numbers. What I need to tell you, is that we will not give you the whole sum in one go.”
“What? Why?”
“If anything were to happen to you, how can you explain the wealth that should not belong to you, giving your power? To make it simple, how can a fat lamb walk thru the wolfs.”
“Gulp”
Nevertheless, as he was brought down to reality, he subconsciously gulp down, as he was getting out of himself, and forgot his own place, for a second in absent-mindedness.
“I will create a personal deposit and give you access to withdraw a limit every so often on the amount, of what you can take, depending on your rank at that moment.”
“Alright.”
However, at the old man's words, Hubert could not say anything, as it seemed that almost everything, was already arranged for him so that no problem could arise from any mishaps from his side.
“Although, I still do not understand why Levis got—.”
“Because, he is a cultivator.”
Yet at the moment Hubert was finely saying his doubt out loud, he was interrupted by Rowen, that had become nothing more than a silent spectator for a while.
“A cultivator—? Eh! He is a cultivator—, how old is he?”
“Thirteen, have you forgotten when I told you my age?”
“That is---, yes, you did. However, why have you said nothing.”
“You never asked.”
“A moment please, I am not done.”
And yet, as Hubert was conversing with Levis, old Wan, inserted himself between the two of them, as he took the reigns of the conversation.
“Young Levis, your situation is a little bit different—.”
“Do you want to follow me? If you want to get revenge or simply grow strong, the best way to do that is by following me, anyone else will just impede on your future and use you for small-time benefits.”
Although, as old Wan was beginning to address Levis, Rowen stopped the old man by raising his hand, as he addressed the boy directly, saying all that he wanted to say, in a fast and direct method with no twists or turns in his words.
Though as the eyes of the old man the young captain and the now somewhat flabergast Hubert, moved towards young Levis, what they could see was a stunned and unchanging face whit eyelids that were blinking nonstop, though as if attempting to make sense of what was happening.
[It is really happening as you said. So I will do what you have told me?]
[Yes, go get those two, they will be good legs and arms to experiment on, and to get experience on how to command over others. Hmpf, these brats sure are precocious, if they think that this small restriction can hinder my disciple. Kid when you want to cancel it just dissipates the small mind you have formed to attract the foreign consciousness that makes this lousy restriction.]
[Alright.]
While the three men continue to look at the boy for quite some time, they could finally see his face reveal a certain slow down of the turmoil of his mental storm, as he finely open his mouth to speak to the one that had posed his offer.
“Can you really help me get strong? Can I get revenge?”
“I can not assure you, of getting your revenge, however, if you truly train hard, you can get stronger than what you are right now. So do you want to come under me?”
Yet, as Rowen answered seemed somewhat uncertain about the boy's greatest desires, Levis lowered his head down, as he began to pounder in deep thought as though calculating if this was beneficial to him or not.
Although at the same very moment, someone else seemed ready to burst into curses, while looking at him in a very conflicting manner. That someone in question, being Hubert, as he knew a thing or two about the identity of this “young captain”, who should have never been a real captain if he were to be selected as per the standard procedure.
“Just so you know, if you ever feel dissatisfied with how I treat you. You can just leave, as I will not force you to work for me.”
Nevertheless, as Rowen tried to convince Levis once more, seeing that he was powdering over without reaching a conclusion, he gave the option that would almost guarantee his positive choice, and yet the boy pondering body and facial expression deepened still, as he was taking an uncertain and doubtful glimpse at him while trying to open his mouth, as to say something.
“Is there anything that you want, you can say it and I will see if I can help you?”
“Yes—, can you—, can you give me the two bandits that you have captured?”
“Eh!?”
“Wha-What?”
Even so, the sudden and strange request from the boy, stunned for a brief moment, not only Rowen but even old Wan as well as Hubert, as none of them had any idea on how to react to the peculiar request that was thrown out.
“Are you—, do you want them, so you can kill them?”
“Ahh—, no not that. I heard that the leaders of the bandits had escaped, so I will use them to recognize the ones that have escaped.”
“In that case, all you need is a sketch of their faces, you do not need them for such a trivial matter.”
“No, I need them so that they can search for them, as I do not think you are going to look for the bandits for years to come, are you?”
“No, but the guards all over the country will be notified and—.”
Yet, even as Rowen was trying to placate the boy's demand, while showing a different perspective on how he could go about, regarding his concerns, he was forced to stop, as the direct and almost scary fixed gaze, made him understand that Levis was not willing to go back, on his request of taking Zuger and the man name Square under himself.
Nonetheless, as he was in a conflict, about giving the two or not, though in a natural reflex, he turned to look at the old man, that had ceased to talk and only scrutinized them from the sidelines.
“Sigh”
Nevertheless, old Wan knew that this was a situation that required him, though he could not stop himself from sighing seeing the indecisiveness that Rowen was showing, despite the fearlessness in any battle he had ever partaken.
“It is possible, but this depends on how willing and ready the young master is, to bend or falsify the reports that we require to give, to the Guard Hall. Faking their deaths is not hard, though the chance of being recognized by the guards that had seen their faces might be a problem. Asking for favors is another option, and bribing too. Their circumstances do not imply certain death, it is possible to achieve this small demand for young Levis, the choice however is up to the young master.”
Nonetheless, as the ball was passed to rowen, his eyebrow begin to furrow, nevertheless, once he looked again at the boy, decisiveness manifested on his face, as he nodded to the young boy.
“Alright, I will make it happen one way or another. From now on you will be part of my army.”
“Army?”
“Yes, I will explain it to you once we have time, It is already late, so it is best to rest now. I and old Wan will take the village hall and look over Adrian's condition, you three take one or two houses to sleep in. The horses will arrive tomorrow at daybreak so you can go to sleep. However before this, Hubert, you must understand that everything that is spoken here remains here, and nowhere else do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand."
However as Rowen addressed directly to Hubert, the guard did not have much time to think about the last words clearly as the pressure from the captain's eyes were enough to make him understand, what kind of repercussions could he get himself, otherwise.