Tyvan left Yan Xue with Song Wei’s secretary before stepping into his office alone.

As was the custom, he brought a reasonably priced gift, still in the brown paper bag provided with its purchase.

Song Wei sat at his desk, even-tempered and austere. A proper lord of his territory, he exuded an air of confidence, complemented by the tidiness of his workspace, his attire, and even his personal grooming.

Tyvan preferred seeing him in that light. When he had on his martial uniform, he was... easily excitable.

The older gentleman set down a leatherbound stack of papers and stood up, slapping his palms on his desk.

“Valorum! Your formations are a gift from the heavens. Your master must be proud.”

Tyvan returned a practiced smile as they shook hands and sat down. The formations he set around the Song Estate were technically his designs. However, the misunderstanding afforded him an additional layer of protection.

Hm. If he considered his master as the him of his previous life, it was a valid judgement. He was always proud of himself.

“Services have been rendered for payment received, Master Wei. Of course, do inform me if the efficacy seems to wane, even minutely. Per our contract, I can dispatch an agent to inspect the formations’ integrity on request.”

“They’re working perfectly!” Wei grinned, “To be honest, I’ve never hired a Formation Master before-- never seemed useful. But no one told me that a good formation could keep out the mosquitoes!”

Tyvan nodded impassively.

Did his formations keep out mundane pests? That wasn’t a function explicitly defined-- not that Wei needed to be informed of that.

Or perhaps he was using nuance. Yes. That was more likely.

Tyvan placed his gift on Wei’s desk and pushed it forward.

“What’s this, Valorum?” Wei scoffed, “A bribe?”

Tyvan continued to smile, choosing not to answer. It was not a bribe. A bribe implied that he had something he needed.

Wei chuckled lightly as he took the paper bag in hand, removing the item inside: a ‘best of the year’ picture magazine-- a curated collection of explicit photographs.

“I selected it myself,” Tyvan said.

That was mostly true-- so it wasn’t a lie.

He had his secretary regale him of the physical qualities that modern men found attractive in modern women. The subsequent lecture was... informative.

Afterward, Tyvan patronised a specialty shop and spent nearly five minutes selecting a publication. He compared the images of the women on the front covers, choosing the one with the most symmetrical face and with their bosom most prominent and least concealed.

“So you’re a man of culture,” Wei said. He focused on the glossy image of lingerie-clad, female breasts before nodding sagaciously. “I see...”

He looked up, scanning the room. Then, he placed the plastic-covered magazine in his top desk drawer.

Tyvan pursed his lips. “I was told that in Chinese culture, a gift is refused once or thrice, and... I was supposed to insist otherwise just as many times.”

“Let’s not and say we did.”

“...Very well.”

From Wei’s tone, scent, and expression... he was appreciative. However, he made no offers to peruse the contents together.

Some weeks prior, Shay mentioned that contemporary men were wont to view pornographic material as a bonding activity-- something for the sake of camaraderie. #See the conversation about Edward in Chapter 45.

Assuming that was true (and Shay had no reason to lie to him,) Wei had politely rejected Tyvan’s offer of personal friendship.

It was a fine decision. Their professional business relationship was critical to the Song Estate and to muddy it with personal feelings was an unnecessary risk.

Wei lifted his chin and gestured with his hand. “You mentioned over the phone that you had a favor to ask of me.”

“Indeed. I have a hatchling. And I believe he needs special care to grow and thrive.”

Wei glanced down to Tyvan’s lapel, eyeing his golden snake for a moment. He crossed his arms and nodded.

“I see. Despite the... unorthodox methods you’ve displayed during the martial tournament, from your movements and the way you carry yourself, I can tell you’re an experienced fighter... He’s your disciple then, this hatchling of yours?”

“I lack the skill to be his direct teacher,” Tyvan said, bowing politely. “I am but steel that sharpens steel.”

Wei placed his hands on his desk, touching the tips of his fingers together.

“What use is there for a sword in this day and age, Valorum?”

It was an odd question, but Tyvan kept his bearing. It might not have been a question of curiosity... but a challenge.

“We are warriors, Master Song. We hone ourselves because that is what we do.”

Wei nodded slowly-- but once.

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“Rare is the warrior who trains merely for training’s sake,” he said. “You remind me of myself when I was younger. Even now, it still feels that the empire I built stands only because of my personal strength.”

Tyvan narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t merely being challenged. He was being doubted.

It was... vexing. But fostering Wei’s confidence was more beneficial than reminding him of his place.

“You are a resource, Master Song. When I sought to contract to you and your estate, it was to the benefit of both our parties.”

“Hah! Interesting,” Wei smirked, “and arrogant. So you’re saying this old Wei is your strength?”

“You’re not a weakness,” Tyvan replied.

Wei took a breath and closed his eyes... “Your faith in me, Valorum...”

He forced a smile to hide his uncertainty. “You helped my family at its lowest point in decades. For that--” He bowed his head, “I am eternally grateful. Speak freely. What is the favor you wish to ask of me?”

Tyvan smiled. He’d passed the test.

“I wish to rent out your training halls for a few weeks. And I hope to make use of your sect’s resources.”

Wei half-turned his head, looking at him from the side. “I’ve paid you more than enough for you to afford contemporary facilities.”

A dodge.

But Tyvan wouldn’t let him go so easily.

“I prefer traditional means... and I hope whatever you used on Yan Xue would be effective in developing my hatchling’s ki.”

Shay was a basically trained amateur before her grandfather began cultivating her. And in mere days, she’d progressed to a level where she could fight on par with one of the Zhang family’s disciples.

The memories of her previous life were erased. He did so, personally. Thus, by process of deduction...

Wei winced slightly. “She told you about the medicinal baths? That’s a sect secret!”

“You told me about the medicinal baths, Master Wei,” Tyvan smiled-- “just now. Yan Xue is innocent.”

“Bah,” Wei shook his head, “You’re a snake, Valorum.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You... called it ki,” Wei said thoughtfully. Then, he leaned forward, eyeing him with suspicion. “Are you... not Chinese?”

Tyvan paused to think. He used the term thoughtlessly. Ki and chi were different terms for the same concept, but the former pronunciation was distinctly Japanese.

It was a common precaution to research any current and potential business partners. Information about his birth parents were available via public records, so Wei should have been well aware of his mother’s ethnicity-- as well as her matronymic surname and the implications it carried.

However, Wei’s question implied... he did not know? The Song Patriarch had more trust and faith in him than he let on.

“I am not,” Tyvan said. “Is that a problem?”

Wei stared for several more seconds before relaxing. “I suppose not. But call it chi in my presence. Personal preference. The younger disciples watch too many Japanese cartoons nowadays-- I don’t see the allure.”

“I feel obligated to inform you of a popular anime with Sun Wukong as the lead character. In Japan, his name is Son Goku.”

“...Xiaoxue has mentioned it before,” Wei said. “But I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to watch an episode or two.”

He stroked his long white beard, staring in thought.

“Valorum,” he said... “You’re asking me to share an advantage solely available to my inner disciples.”

Tyvan returned his gaze. He considered using threats, blackmail, or coercion... but as such was obvious, he didn’t want to insult Wei’s intelligence. He considered mentioning he could requisition a different ❴Hidden Village❵ organisation-- that wouldn’t be terribly difficult. But that... would betray his faith.

Why, then, was Wei posturing? Was it his pride-- or was it another test?

Perhaps he could resort to plain violence? No. Yan Xue had a good relationship with her grandfather and that could potentially foster negative feelings.

A drop of sweat ran down Wei’s forehead. That was Tyvan’s mistake. Wei was not a particularly powerful warrior, but he was mature and experienced. If he’d sensed hostile intent in that brief moment, that was enough to incite a glimmer of fear and uncertainty, explicable or not.

Tyvan raised his chin. “My hatchling has potential.”

Wei shook lightly, surprised by the sudden admission. “Is... is that all?”

“That is all,” Tyvan nodded.

“Valorum,” Wei sighed... “I’ll be direct. Is there a war coming to Archangel?”

Ah... so that was his primary concern.

“Always,” Tyvan said, “and we must be ready.”

“I see,” Wei nodded... “Then on behalf of our friendship, I can grant you this favor. Thank you again for saving the Eternal Sun sect in our time of dire need.”

Tyvan once more adopted a smile of politeness.

“You’re worth the investment, Master Wei, both for your business prowess and martial ability.”

It wasn’t a lie. Tyvan didn’t specify his thoughts on Wei’s martial ability.

Wei smiled, chuckling lightly, “Well... I am rather proud of my strength. Will Xiaoxue be participating in your training, as well?”

Tyvan kept his bearing, but frowned inwardly. Why would he train Yan Xue? He needed to keep that young lady safe and away from trouble-- nowhere near the front lines.

“No. That will be unnecessary.”

“Did you... ask her?”

His insistence... Tyvan found highly unusual.

“Yan Xue is not being trained as one of our enforcers, Master Wei.”

“...Is that not a waste?” Wei asked, “That girl...”

He shook his head, “I can’t say exactly, but she’s got a good head for fighting. She is keeping up with her training at home, isn’t she?”

Was she? Tyvan recalled seeing her in training attire earlier that morning. That was good. Shay needed to maintain her physique to defend herself, if necessary. Beyond that was... not an efficacious use of time for a variety of reasons.

He gestured to Wei. “On that note, can your family teach her to make pills?”

Wei made a troubled expression. “I told my granddaughter I’d support her in whatever endeavors she sought. She’s not someone to be manipulated or controlled, Valorum.”

Tyvan frowned at the sudden accusation. Why was Wei so convinced that Yan Xue wanted to cultivate her martial strength? They were in contact more days than not and she hadn’t mentioned anything regarding the matter even once.

“The more options available to her, the better she can decide on her path.”

Wei took a deep breath... and a long sigh. “I’ll talk to her about the pills, then... Is that why you brought her with you?”

Tyvan leaned back in his seat, daring to relax comfortably in the company of an established martial veteran.

“I brought her to spectate. You mentioned you trained your best and brightest on Saturdays, so I arranged for a team of my strongest to arrive soon.” He smiled. “What say you to a friendly exhibition, Master Wei?"