For those less intellectually gifted, allow me to explain.
After twelve hours of torture, the mage "talked" quite a lot. All those "suspicious" sounding names were not just taken out of Aki’s ass, they're actual associations and groups.
It may seem strange that said "seemingly" low ranked mage in the starting kingdom's capital would know that lots of small organizations in the continent are "seemingly" working toward the same goal without knowing each other, knew that certain nobles high rank are working with them, didn't know their identity and still informed the royals of various important places…
No, yeah, he was just very much hated and considered semi useless thanks to his personality, so when deciding who to send as the blood magician, the villains were like:
"I mean, it's very risky, so he will need certain level of ability."
"It could be a she!"
"No, it cannot because none of your girls know how to keep it In their pants! Now, that leaves us with four candidates for the position, so if you would look at…"
"More like, isn't this perfect for Li? I am sure he'd screw up right after completing his task, and he is so arrogant he would never say anything."
"That's what we have vows for, idiot."
"So what? They have a soul torturer, they'd just get the info out of his dead body, so it's best if he doesn't know anything crippling."
"Mako wouldn't even be captured."
"But she would leave a bloody giant trail of destruction leading anywhere she goes, and that's why we don't send her anywhere without teleportation. So everyone agrees that Li is the perfect scape goat? Great, let's eat."
That's basically the gist of it.
As a result, Aki just had to make a scene with a lot of nobles and voila.
-Outrageous! How dare they!
-The Lin family were traitors all along?
-I (Add self important to family name the Mc totally did not hear) represent my family and say that we shaw cooperate with the crown in any way possible so as to bring these criminals to justice!
After one of the nobles self destructed, only four people in the room remained unscathed.
Aki, the queen, the announcer, who had pounced back in the room in time to make a barrier in front of the queen, and another noble, who had a line of nobleman and their treasures between himself and the explosion.
That, infuriated most nobles, and even the ones smart enough to see the bigger picture agreed that at the moment they all had a common enemy, further options can be considered later.
With that, everything proceeded smoothly and accordingly to plan after that. The nobles swore their oaths, no one else exploded from destroying their own soul and the Lin family had all their riches confiscated.
And that's why Aki finally got his first reward.
…
-This is the attributeless cultivation manual you asked for, but are you sure? These are practically useless. Asked the queen with doubt.
-Yeah, of course. I will use it till I get a better one that is more suited for my tastes. For now I shall be going them.
-Eh? Going, you mean…
-I am going to have a look at the city. Eat some regional food, find a bookstore, stop to look at the sun set, go to a brothel and lose my virginity… Normal things.
-What?! No, you're the hero! You can't just walk around like that. Complained the queen.
-Dear, it's a city with millions of people and I haven't even walked around the palace, that means it won't matter so much with your shadow guard following me, will it? Relax, one day we'll find out a way to cure you of your beauty. Said Aki while putting a hand in her shoulder.
-Don't touch me! Said a pouting queen who forgot to put her veil back while walking away, what caused everyone who passed through her to feint. You could basically see the hearts in their pupils. It took five minutes for the queen to notice this, but that still meant lots of feinted servants.
While at that, Aki had already teleported to the outer city together with Bei. It was actually harder to find a taxi then to get there.
-Where to young master? Asked a sweating bald old man who looked kind of scared.
He was simply the owner of a mule driven open carriage, he was afraid for the well being of his family. Nobles change opinion for the slightest mistakes after all.
-How much for a tour through the outer city? Aki directly asked with a poker face.
-Eh? Well… that much would be… 5 plus six, four, fifteen… twenty silver. It would be twenty silver young master, though I can…
The old man made the count with his fingers and tried to say something about lowering the price in case the noble in front of him got angry, but before he could do so Bei already pushed a pouch with twenty silver to him.
-I will pay you the same amount again if you get me through a certain series of locations I have in a list and give me some information on the places you know of something. Even rumors will suffice. We may need to stop and gather some people suddenly, so please wait for me on those occasions, understood?
Aki explained and they went on.
In total they spent twelve hours going around the outer city.
At breakfast they paid for the driver as well. During lunch there were two kids who were apparently siblings shoving the food down their gullets like the simple soup and steak with salad was the best thing they ever ate.
In the middle of a snack at 4 pm there were now a dog kin that apparently didn't know how to speak and could only bark, growl and cry, a prostitute that was helping Bei take care of the boy and a little, very pale and anorexic girl that ate all of Aki’s rice while he combed her hair. The old man was even showing how to play chess to the elder brother that appeared first.
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…
On a not so narrow side street stood Aki, a disheveled eleven year old boy and three tugs.
-Clear off punk! Don't think just because you're from some family we won't beat you. Said the first tug.
-I am sure you will. Actually, I'd like you to beat me. Said Aki with a smile.
Is this guy some drunk perverted?
-Get out of here. Another guy tried to get to him by the collar to throw him out of the alley, but he dodged it and threw his body at him.
Hitting the guy with a palm and a knee basically threw him back some meters as well, but Aki was actually just trying to get himself away from the guy he put a explosion talisman on.
Muttering some chants while his enemies were hit by the explosion bought him some seconds, but Aki wanted the boy and wasn't letting some idiots get him.
Running into the dust cloud, he was rapidly attacked by one tug, but he finished the chant he was elongating and cut the man's sword hand clean off with a wind blade.
Proceeding to use two fingers to hit the idiot's eyes, our hero used the chance to grab the man and judo throw him, which almost hit the other guy, but he still barely evaded it.
The thug was trying to get the boy and run, but he didn't know if he could outrun the guy in front of him while carrying the boy.
While making a motion to get a blade, Aki threw the sand he was holding in his other hand in the enemy's eyes, got the blade and them stabbed the man's neck.
Just to make sure he rapidly stabbed the other man in the neck with his shortsword.
Now, as for his reward… It was trying to sneak away.
-Boy, you are coming with me. Aki said.
-Senior, I am grateful but… The boy was fearful and didn't want to mix with this troublesome man, so he tried to get out of there.
-Don't be ridiculous boy. I saved you, so it's my responsibility to see it to the end. Besides, you're hurt. My maid knows some healing arts, so she can help you. While at it you could answer some questions of mine. Aki didn't say anymore and turned to leave.
Of course, he was not stupid, just making it harder to see the earth wall talisman that he was using to hit the back of the boy's knees.
They got out of that alley only after Aki held him like a potato sack. He was also screaming of pain, but it was mostly fake.
-Don't run, ok? Said Aki before setting him on the wagon.
The mule was not actually being mistreated, but buffed and well fed by the way. After all, one normal animal carrying nine people is something that does not work so well.
-Stay still. Said Bei while slowly healing the boy with her usual smile.
-Now, I've only bought ten of these questionnaires and I screwed it up a little bit twice already, so you only have two chances. You've got to answer truthfully, because I don't like the sound this artifact does when someone lies, we clear? Asked Aki while summoning a piece of paper, a pencil and a wooden slab so he could do the formulary. He pointed at a ring he had on his left thumb when talking about the truth thing.
By the way, since starting to cultivate the day before, Aki’s fingers had actually started to slim out and his nails kind of self polished themselves, so he doesn't have any visible signs of actually coming from earth at the moment, except maybe the silver ring he has on his right thumb, which has a serial number on it, but it would normally be unnoticeable.
For you that did not understand, please remember cultivators have to expel tons of impurities from their bodies and pass through rigorous torture as energy opens and forms channels in their bodies.
That is to say he doesn't have even a pimple mark or vaccine mark anymore!
By the way, cultivators who stagnate or get poisoned can still have acne and other things, it's just that advancing is quite cleansing.
-An easy one first. How old are you?
-Eleven years old.
-Have you cultivated before?
-... Yes.
-Did you learn lock picking?
-Learning.
-Shucks, oh well. Choose a number from 1 to 10.
-9?
-Do you have a family you wish to return to?
-I am an orphan.
-... Aki didn't even raise his head to that and just waited.
-No, my only family remaining is my thief of an uncle.
-Good, then would you be interested in becoming my sect disciple?
-I prefer to go solo.
-Ok, then let me ask you, do you remember any of your last reincarnations, and if yes, how many? Aki said, finally raising his head.
-...
-You know, literally everyone that has ever used a reincarnations technique pics nine as the number, doesn't seem interested in secular life, are self centered, don't want to be beneath someone else and normally go "solo".
-... Even Bei stopped what she was doing and prepared to restrain the boy to the best of her ability.
-Do you want to run now or are you going to attack me? By the way, good luck getting Bei as a hostage. I will say this now and only this time, but I don't give a flying fuck about who you were, right now you are just a brat that thinks too much and are coming with me.
-And if I refuse? A cold glint passed the eyes of the boy and a snap sound was heard.
-Is something the matter? Said a voice coming from nowhere in particular.
-Just show yourself a little. A fraction of a second is enough. Reason of threat assimilation. May be a valuable resource for the future of the kingdom. Aki said while shrugging.
-Understood. Said the monotone voice before releasing it's eighth stage soul pressure.
It wasn't even directed at him, but Aki unconsciously gritted his teeth. As for the reincarnated immortal, he just turned pale as a sheet and his browns formed a line.
-Yes, I am a reincarnated expert. Immortal emperor… He bit his tongue when Aki hit the wood plank he held on the boy's head.
-Again, I don't care much as for who you were. Right now you've got to re cultivate in a body that apparently wasn't so well prepared. How long do you think it would take for you to reach immortality again? A thousand years? Were you at least a sword immortal or body immortal to have such confidence that with a body like this you won't just be an average cultivator? Or were you planning on living as a hermit? Also, you don't need to lie to me, I know it takes at least a celestial emperor to consider using a reincarnation technique.
Every time Aki finished a sentence, everyone around him looked like they'd either had been punched on the gut or sucked a bag of lemons dry.
"A thousand year to reach immortality in a body without talent?!? What have I been slaving away my years for them?" Thought Bei.
"Body immortal? Do those even exist?" The thought flashed through the former emperor's mind.
"A celestial emperor is the highest grade of cultivation ever recorded. His threat level and potential value to the kingdom is immeasurable." thought the elite shadow guard.
-I will remember this. Said the boy through gritted teeth.
-You won't. I will either be a great helping hand or just a stepping stone. That's how it works with you cultivators. Said Aki with a sign. -Children, we're going! Bei, keep healing him.
The moment everyone was close enough, Aki activated the talisman to teleport them to the palace.
Some "ohhs" and "ahhs" later, everyone reached Aki’s new palace.
*clap clap* -Everyone, attention. We're going to enter a wing of the royal palace, so there's some rules. First, don't speak about the queen in a bad tone. If you must swear at her no matter what, say something really embarrassing like "I hope the queen will let me lick her feet today" or "The queen’s hair is so lustrous and soft, I could die for a strand" The reason being that she can always hear when she is being mentioned. Second, you don't disrespect any nobles in a direct manner. be sure to be able to say everything while smiling or with a straight face, otherwise they can call for your blood and head, so I'd have to pay some absurd price or destroy them entirely, but that is for later. Third, any of your ideas may be coined by me as inventions of the sect during your stay. In compensation I will see to it you are paid for that and the sect will help with production, innovation and upgrading your ideas. Fourth, I will help everyone here cultivate, some more than others, but for now there is no superior or Inferior. That will be decided by your effort. Fifth, have fun and remember why you are dedicating yourself. That's about it, so does anyone have any questions?
-En. The little white girl raised her hand.
-What is it dear? Said Aki without any of the seriousness from before.
-What is this place called? Cutely said the six years old girl while looking around with her big eyes.
-Thank you for asking, because I almost forgot this. Everyone, welcome to the Saint Bloodwood orphanage, your new home!