Chapter 51 - A Great Opportunity
After the pink-haired girl's words, the room fell into complete silence, leaving everyone tense about what had just happened, being the only one who didn't seem to grasp the magnitude of the problem Chloe herself, who kept eating without pause. Zhou Tianhe had also gone quiet, his gaze fixed on the girl, before taking a closer look at everyone else in the room. After a moment, his expression softened, and he resumed smiling in a friendly manner.
"Oh, I see, it's one of ‘those’ missions. Don't worry, no one will know you came to this place. All I ask is that, when you return, you speak well of me and my excellent hospitality to the Divine Bloom Seeress."
The atmosphere gradually settled as Zhou took a seat at the table as well, never losing his smile... How could they be so lucky? Could it really be that one of them resembled a character from that world so much that they could fool even a mid-to-high-ranking NPC like him? Li wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by, so he spoke up.
"Ahem... Yes, we're looking for information on how to meet with the most important person in this city."
However, the moment Li said those words, Zhou's eyes locked onto him with a murderous glare, as if the man had just shouted the worst insult imaginable. The atmosphere immediately grew oppressively heavy, and everyone present felt a chill run down their spine.
"A mere retainer dares to address me when I’m trying to speak with..."
But his words were suddenly cut off. The atmosphere and bloodlust vanished in an instant and Zhou trembled, as if he had sensed something that made him stop and break out in a cold sweat, to the point of even appearing nervous.
"My apologies, it’s clear that if one of your retainers speaks out of turn, it’s because you’ve allowed him to act as your representative."
Zhou then said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and forcing a smile, trying to calm whatever he thought he had felt... Because that was it, right? He had just imagined it, hadn’t he?
"Yes, of course, the one in charge of this city is none other than the esteemed Don. Park Zhen, 1st seat Don and leader of the Celestial Harmony Union, so meeting him in person is out of the question, even for you, I hope you understand. The only way would be if you had a direct invitation from the White Flower Divination School's high boarding. But I'm sure if you had that, you wouldn’t be asking me this."
It seemed that the idea of directly seeking out the most influential people in the scene wouldn’t be so easy, as Li believed these characters were the most likely to provide them with a subplot. However, the thought of asking Zhou anything directly had become unthinkable and was discarded the moment he openly confused them with an executive's entourage. What should they do then?
"Oh, but now that I think about it, there is a way you could have an audience with him. After all, perhaps that's why the Divine Bloom Seeress sent you here without further information."
Zhou had suddenly recalled something, and by a twist of fate, it seemed this could help them secure an audience with Don. Park Zhen, the city's regent. This useful information also appeared to be connected to the curious individual Zhou had mistaken them for. It was an unexpected opening, one they might be able to leverage.
"Don. Park Zhen has organized a small martial arts tournament at his castle, where he promised a special prize to the winner. Many sects, schools, and alliances are sending warriors to participate, but clearly, you wouldn’t have any trouble, after all, the White Flower Divination School is one of the few factions that still clings to the old customs, which is quite unusual in this era. It will be very easy for you, and you'll be able to secure an audience with him."
A tournament with such a convenient reward? Wow, that was quite a stroke of luck. Most of those present exchanged glances, fully aware of what their new course of action would be, as it was far preferable to have a clear objective within the scenario than to wander around aimlessly searching for information.
"However, I’m afraid the tournament won’t start for another two days, so you’ll have to wait... Do you have accommodation? I can offer you the best available room in one of my most luxurious hotels. I’ll also take care of the paperwork and register all of you for the tournament if you wish."
Zhou continued, seemingly a bit tense as he said all this, but his smile and apparent calmness concealed it well.
"One moment, please. Not all of us will participate—only those we decide on beforehand."
Li interrupted, causing Zhou to widen his eyes violently, extremely angry at being interrupted for the second time, and addressed so rudely and disrespectfully by a mere retainer.
"Again, you insignificant… *COUGH COUGH*”
The man seemed about to raise his voice for a moment, only to cough almost immediately, alerting everyone momentarily. However, Zhou simply raised one arm to signal that no one should approach. It didn’t take long for him to calm down and lift his head again, smiling even more exaggeratedly than before as if nothing had happened—an act that was starting to feel quite creepy.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry... Moreover, if you would be so kind as to tell me the names of everyone who will participate in the tournament, it would help me prepare the paperwork for you."
For a moment, no one said anything, but after a short while, Drake was the first to raise his hand slightly before speaking up.
"I, Drake Shawn, will participate in the tournament."
Immediately afterward, Li, Adam, Kazue, and, surprisingly, Gregor also stepped forward. This raised eyebrows among the rest of the group, but the conviction with which Gregor stated his intention left no room for doubt. After all, if his attire was any indication, it was clear he trusted his training as a soldier. Zhou, for his part, looked at them with a puzzled expression on his face.
"Is that everyone? Don’t you think *COUGH COUGH*..."
He began coughing and choking again, something that was becoming quite concerning. Yet, once more, he gestured for no one to approach him until he could recover. This time it took him a bit longer, but after a moment, he managed to regain his composure.
"I understand. I’ll register the five of you for the tournament... Please, when you're done eating, I’ll have someone waiting at the door to guide you to the hotel. Don’t worry about a thing, and enjoy your stay here."
Quickly, and while clutching his neck with one hand, Zhou stood up and prepared to leave.
"If you'll excuse me, I’ll take my leave to begin the preparations immediately. Please forgive me."
He said this before quickly exiting through the main door of the VIP room, leaving the entire team utterly confused about what had just happened. Unbeknownst to them, Zhou was stumbling slightly behind the door and leaning against a nearby wall to catch his breath.
"That damn monster... I’d heard rumors that the White Flower Divination School members were ruthless, but this is too much, what kind of technique was that anyway?"
Zhou muttered under his breath, finally letting go of his neck to reveal a fairly recent mark around it as if something had coiled around his throat and squeezed him repeatedly.
"Well, no matter. At least now I know who to place my bets on, hehe."
The man chuckled softly, a sly grin creeping across his face despite the lingering pain, just to abandon the area whistling a little.
On the other hand, the atmosphere at the group’s table was one of lively discussion, with almost everyone talking about what they needed to do next. They quickly touched on why Zhou had acted the way he did, theorizing that he might have been the victim of some sort of skill from someone else—perhaps someone pulling the strings to guide them down this path. However, Adam refuted this theory, pointing out that if that were the case, he would have seen at least some kind of information window indicating a skill activation, but nothing of the sort had occurred.
That was a solid point, as Adam’s eye skill had previously activated automatically, even without him realizing that what was happening in front of him involved a skill, so his words held credibility. But the important thing now was deciding whether they should take the offer of accommodation and spend the time until the tournament at that location. In the end, everyone agreed unanimously, much to Li’s displeasure, but despite his reservations, he admitted that it was the most convenient option. They just had to maintain the charade and stay vigilant for any potential danger.
"Then it’s decided. Finish eating before we head to the hotel to continue planning our next move."
Li said, wrapping up the discussion as they prepared to focus on the meal for the moment before continuing with their adventure in such an irregular scenario.
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The team finished their meal in relative silence, their minds still buzzing with plans for the upcoming tournament; one by one, they stood up, exchanging brief nods as they prepared to leave. As they exited the VIP room, they were greeted by a woman in a stunning dress with intricately embroidered and flowing patterns. Her demeanor was graceful, and she introduced herself as their guide for the evening with a warm smile.
As they followed her through the restaurant directly to the exit, and then to the bustling streets of Heavenly Jade City, the blend of ancient and modern continued to strike them. Towering buildings lined the skyline, yet each was decorated with glowing symbols and talismans that seemed to hum with a mystical energy. Floating lanterns illuminated the streets, and fluorescent billboards advertised various businesses and even some martial arts academies, blending technology with the world of cultivation. There was a palpable sense of hidden power in every corner as if the city itself was alive with the energy of those who had mastered ancient arts, but at the same time, the atmosphere was sad, like the whole splendor from the past was now a mere shadow of what once was.
After navigating through the lively streets, they arrived at a grand hotel owned by Zhou and the Wudang Sect. The entrance was flanked by statues of wise-looking people, and the lobby was an elegant fusion of modern luxury with ancient design—gleaming marble floors set with glowing jade, and tall columns etched with scenes of legendary battles. Their guide led them to a large room on the fourth floor, its luxury immediately apparent.
To no one's surprise, the room itself was a sophisticated mix of modern design and traditional elements. Sleek furniture with dark wooden frames was adorned with plush cushions embroidered with mythic creatures from ancient lore. The bed was grand, framed by intricately carved pillars draped with rich silken curtains. Soft lanterns floated in midair, casting a warm, almost magical light. A spacious balcony overlooked the city, offering a breathtaking view of the panorama, where modern apartments stood alongside ancient pagodas and towering temples.
The group took it all in with varying reactions. Kazue and Chloe's eyes lit up with excitement at the extravagance, Adam observed the room with quiet interest, and Li crossed his arms, still cautious despite the luxury around them. Drake and Nikolai exchanged looks, both appreciating the comfort, while Sebastian let Falk guide the remaining newbies inside.
As everyone began to settle into the room, the initial awe quickly faded, and they noticed a small but significant detail: despite the room’s vast size and ample space, there was only one enormous bed. For most, it didn’t seem to matter, given the circumstances, but Kazue immediately jumped in alarm, her face flushing with shock.
"W-What!? One bed?!"
She exclaimed, clearly flustered by the arrangement. While the others seemed unfazed, Kazue’s reaction was far more dramatic, her gaze darting between the group and the massive bed. It was clear that, while practical to some, this setup caught her completely off guard.
“No, no, no! We are not all sleeping in the same room, much less in the same bed! All the guys will have to find somewhere else to stay!”
Kazue protested, waving her arms frantically. Her face was a mix of embarrassment and determination, her flustered reaction contrasting sharply with the more indifferent looks of the others. The idea of sharing the room, let alone the bed, clearly horrified her, and she wasn’t about to let it happen without putting up a fight.
"Don’t be ridiculous, as if we could just ask for another room in these circumstances. Besides, what’s the problem? You can use the bed if you want, the rest of us will sleep on the furniture. It doesn’t matter."
Li responded, crossing his arms and talking as if the girl had said something very stupid.
“Then we’ll find another room! We can’t spend the night like this, it’s indecent, it’s dangerous, it’s... it’s...”
But before Kazue could continue, her words were cut short as Chloe stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her shoulder to catch her attention.
“I don’t really mind… Besides, all of you look like decent people, and they are your friends, are they not?”
Those innocent yet sincere words left Kazue speechless. It was true that she already considered them a team that had been through a lot together, but the idea of sleeping in the same room as a man was something her heart couldn’t handle—not because it bothered her, but because her nerves wouldn’t let her rest. As she stood there, still wavering, Li let out a heavy sigh, his patience clearly wearing thin, and responded with a deep frown of disdain.
"*Pfft* As if I had any interest in the bodies of a bunch of little girls, please, that’s ridiculous."
Li's words were clear, but they didn’t stand alone for long. Immediately, the other men in the group began to speak, one after the other, making their intentions just as evident.
“None of you are my type, sorry gal.”
Said Nikolai with a faint smile, as if it was funny.
“Not interested.”
Adam said, raising an eyebrow, clearly baffled as to why this was even a topic of discussion.
"I would never think of something like that, don’t worry."
Drake said with a warm smile, his tone reassuring.
“Think about my age, little miss, haha.”
Sebastian chuckled lightly, taking it all in stride.
“It would be unthinkable for a real man, It would make him worse than trash.”
Gregor added, crossing his arms and closing his eyes with utmost seriousness.
“...?”
The only one who seemed to be at a loss was little Emir, who watched them all with a puzzled expression. What was the problem with everyone sleeping in the same room? Back where he came from, his entire family, along with neighbors, would huddle together in one space, always on guard in case of… He shook his head slightly, trying to push away those memories.
"Well, now I don't know whether to feel relieved or offended."
Chloe remarked, crossing her arms and feigning annoyance. Her comment elicited a few chuckles from some group members, breaking the tension once more. It was clear that despite their differences in backgrounds and experiences, they could still find common ground in humor
Finally, they agreed that the three girls and the boy would sleep in the bed while the men would take the furniture in the room. To ensure their safety, Falk would keep watch, taking advantage of the fact that the little aviatrix didn’t need sleep anyway.
However, they still had a few hours before a prudent time to sleep; the night was still young, and the city buzzed with activity. Recognizing the opportunity, Li suggested forming groups to explore and gather information. This idea was met with enthusiasm from nearly everyone, being Drake the only one who had an objection.
"You should leave the newcomers here since it could be dangerous, and someone else should stay behind to keep watch."
This might have seemed excessive, but Drake was determined not to repeat the tragedy that had unfolded at the start of the second scenario, where two newcomers had been killed almost immediately due to the group’s inexperience in the face of an unexpected attack, however, the pink-haired girl protested almost instantly.
“Oh no, of course not! I’m not going to sit here doing nothing while everyone else goes out for a stroll! I can take care of myself if something happens.”
It was clear that the girl shared a similar perspective with Kazue, as she didn’t seem to fully grasp the horrors that could emerge from such scenarios, even one that appeared as calm as this at first glance. But just as Drake was about to insist once more, Gregor intervened.
“I have to agree with her, we won’t gain anything by staying here if the goal is for us to learn to fend for ourselves in this place. The best way to prepare for the unknown is to experience it. We need to find a balance between caution and growth.”
Those words served as a reminder of why Gregor had chosen to enter the tournament as well. His military background was becoming increasingly evident in his way of thinking, a trait that Li appreciated.
“It’s a good idea.”
Li conceded, nodding and searching inside his backpack until he picked a deck of cards.
“But don’t come crying to me if something goes wrong. We have to be prepared for anything.”
Then, with impressive skill, he shuffled the cards he held and tossed one to each of the present members, who caught them without much difficulty. He quickly explained that the groups would be formed according to the color of the cards they had drawn. Curiously, this resulted in two groups of five: one consisting of Li, Nikolai, Drake, Gregor, and Sebastian, while the other included Kazue, Chloe, Katya, Adam, and Emir.
This outcome drew a suppressed chuckle from Nikolai, who couldn't help but find the pairing amusing, much to Adam’s displeasure, since he wasn’t thrilled about going out with the loud squad… Well, at least the blonde and the kid were okay, and maybe Kazue could be the match that the pink-haired girl needed to tone down her energy, right?
“Girls outing!”
“Girls night!”
“H-huo-oh!”
Before their eyes, Chloe and Kazue had taken Katya by the hands, lifting her up and encouraging her to join in their celebration, and despite her noticeable shyness, Katya made the effort to respond with a hesitant yet genuine smile. Little did the three of them know that this was the first time they would truly bond with other girls their age, because… Well, let’s just say their pasts had been filled with challenges.
With a hint of concern, Adam turned toward where the child was, hoping that at least he would be a calming presence. To his surprise, he found Emir fast asleep on the bed, exhausted after a hearty meal. The little boy had quickly nestled into the blankets, his small form sinking into the soft mattress.
For the first time in his life, Adam felt a reluctance to explore something new, especially when he was clearly in a group that didn’t resonate with him at all. The thought of having to navigate the city with them felt more exhausting than exciting. Fortunately, Drake seemed to pick up on his expressions and took a few steps forward to approach him.
“You okay?”
Adam didn’t respond immediately, as for the first time in his life, he was beginning to feel the toll of being surrounded by people with whom he didn’t seem to have anything in common. Even considering the mission to gather information as a common ground didn’t alleviate the growing sense of unease within him. Should he resort to using his parasite to dull the anxiety that was starting to creep in? He didn’t know why he was acting like that so suddenly, not connecting it to the real reason, which was his change in his racial trait ⌠Half-Undead (Variant) Psyche⌡ that wasn’t automatically suppressing those kinds of emotions anymore.
“If you’re not comfortable with the groups, I can take your place, and you can go with the others. I have no problem with that.”
Adam's eyes lit up at the offer, looking at Drake with a light akin to a savior. He was about to accept when he felt something grip his arm from behind.
"Of course not! Mr. Security isn’t coming with us; in fact, we're leaving right now!"
Chloe exclaimed, tugging at the boy as she headed for the door. Normally, such an act would have been impossible due to their significant difference in physical strength, but the surprise caught Adam off guard. Following her were Kazue and Katya: the first laughed heartily while the blonde appeared still a bit shy, though she seemed to find her courage as Kazue took her hand to lead her along.
After the group left, the room fell silent once more, broken only by a brief comment from Nikolai.
"You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"
Immediately, Drake sighed, Sebastian simply chuckled softly, and Gregor snorted, while Li turned to the boy who had asked the question, responding with a peculiar smile on his face.
"What do you think?"