The next day, Aryon and the sect members left for some errands. Donning his illusionary form, he and his previous three companions parted ways with the others, who either had errands in the city themselves or were keeping guard of their hotel room.

Their first stop was a weapon store.

“Why here, lord?” asked Liu Wong. “Your staff is a great and powerful treasure, is it not?”

“More than you think.” he said. “But I want to peruse your armaments. If this land is so saturated in magic, then it is likely that the materials here are different from my land as well. And if you want to know the quality of the materials in an area…”

‘...Then you go to a weapon shop.’

The touring elder brought them to a building called the Bright Sun Weapon Pavillion, where a clerk greeted them at the door.

“Welcome! Welcome! Green Blade Forest Sect disciples, are you? Come in! Your sect has always been good customers to our Bright Sun Weapon Pavillion.”

They were ushered into a luxurious hallway filled with glass displays. Weapons of all types, even ones that Aryon had never seen before, occupied these places.

“So, guests! What are you interested in? Is your sect seeking to make a purchase, or is it a personal reason why you’ve come to visit us?”

“We’re just browsing.” said Aryon “Can we trouble you for a catalogue of your goods?”

“Of course, of course. Come, let’s start with this one…”

The clerk was a very chatty person with a deep knowledge of the weapons in the store. Even Aryon was impressed when he was able to recite, without pause, the specifications of each weapon and its materials, dimensions, grade and calculated cost, all while lavishing praise on it like a true shill.

“...So many swords, though.” said Aryon on the side to his disciple friends. “Why do you all like swords so much?”

“It is the king of weapons, lord. The greatest of the Four Major Weapons: sword, spear, saber and staff.” said Feng Yan.

“Isn’t a saber a sword as well?”

Liu Wong and Feng Yan didn’t know how to reply to that.

“You people should try maces. My land had maces and halberds everywhere.”

The tour of the shop continued for another hour. Aryon himself was impressed by the size of the shop, more so when one realized that the shop was filled with displays. It was truly high class.

But during the tour, they ran into two people who were also inspecting the displays.

“Green Blade Forest Sect!”

There came a man in blue-and-gold clothes, with an old and muscular elder following behind him in a rush. In a flash of familiarity, he recalled the younger to be the one who accosted him at the inn lobby.

‘And there goes my day.’

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“You have some guts staying in this city after what you did! If not for my sister-”

“Young master!”

The elder gave the youth a chop on the head. “Don’t offend!”

“Wha-! Guardian Ji-”

Another chop. “Stop being so loud. Sister’s orders.”

‘I like this old man already.’

The young man glared at the one called Guardian Ji, but backed down. The elder then gave a bow and apologised. “Forgive the young master, he is quite spoiled by the patriarch.”

“Patriarch?” said the sect elder with them. “I see. So this is… young master Bai Shun?”

“Just so.”

“And you must be Guardian Ji.”

“Mm.”

“Lord, this is the son of Bai Clan’s patriarch, and the other is his guardian” said the elder to him.

“Lord?”

“That is me. My name is Aryon.” said Aryon. He let the illusion drop for a second for clarification. “Pray do not go around telling others. I enjoy my privacy.” he said to the two clansmen and the clerk.

“Yes, lord Aryon. Again, forgive this old man and the young master for yesterday’s impudence.”

“Water under the bridge.” he said. “That is, I forgive you. Let us start anew, shall we?”

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In the end, the two groups left the Bright Sun Weapon Pavillion together as if nothing had happened before in the past.

Feng Yan was quite impressed at how… thick-skinned the young master Bai Shun was. Knowing now that he was dealing with a very important personage, he turned from an arrogant bully to one’s oldest friend in an instant.

He even bought them a few gifts when they were looking at the weapons. Feng Yan and Liu Wong were quite happy with their new third-rank Mortal grade swords. (the lord insisted on getting them maces, too, but they declined).

Lord Aryon, for his part, truly let old grudges go and chatted with the young master and the guardian cordially, swapping small talk and their daily plans.

“May I inquire as to the lord’s purpose here?” he heard the old guardian ask.

“Ah, that. I am here to purchase something from the auction there. A certain crystal.”

Feng Yan saw what looked like relief in the old guardian’s face. “Could lord mean the Great Spirit Core Crystal?”

“That it so. From what I heard it helps with spell- ah, mystic arts.”

“Lord has good eyes.” nodded Guardian Ji. Feng Yan stuck closer to hear his explanation of it. “The Great Spirit Core Crystal is a spirit stone of great size and possesses the purest spirit energy. It is rare for one to find its way here in the borderlands, but it is fairly uncommon in the central lands of the empire.”

“I see. I’ve always wondered where these Spirit Stones come from.”

Feng Yan chimed in on what he knew. “They’re mined from the earth like gems, lord. The empire is always on the lookout for new spirit stone veins.”

The two Bai Clan members led them to their second destination: High Breeze Library.

“Lord is a scholar?” asked the chatty Bai Shun. “My lord father is also an appreciator of the written word. If lord so wishes, he can visit our clan a-”

“I’m sure lord is very busy right now to have a chat with your Bai clan.” said the sect elder sternly. Feng Yan and Liu Wong nodded in agreement. ‘We’re not going to let you poach lord Aryon right in front of us. What face will we have to look at our masters then if we did?’

He only saw Aryon shrug, chuckling, and enter the building.

----------------------------------------

In a carriage, road north of Dragon Border Gate City

“...So the Ye and Bai Clans are the local powers, together with this Green Blade Forest Sect?”

“That is so, your highness”

“The Ye Clan has roots in the imperial army we can manipulate. Can they be used? What about the governor?”

“We may attempt it, your highness.”

“Arrange a separate private meeting with each of them, then.”

“It may take some time-”

“They won’t dare be late if they don’t want to disrespect imperial authority. Make sure our message bears the official royal mark and my title of Eight Imperial Prince.”

“Yes, your highness.”