Benton fell immediately in love.
Not with the cultivator’s master—a dude—obviously, but with that guy’s sword.
It flew. It was a real flying sword, and Benton wanted one more than he’d wanted anything in either life.
Admittedly, he knew flying swords were a thing from Su’s memories, but that was kind of like knowing that superheroes were a thing because he’d watched all the Avengers movies. Seeing one actually being used in person was a whole different story, like you’re walking down the street and suddenly Iron Man flies down and lands in front of you. In real life.
To really utilize one of the devices like they should be used, one needed to reach Golden Core. Twenty-two points. Just twenty-two points. Spending them would be totally worth it to be able to fly.
Not that he could in good conscience justify such a thing.
Of course, a more immediate concern was the cultivator who was landing in front of him, the one who was definitely real and definitely angry. From the control he demonstrated over the flying sword, he was at least early Golden Core.
Maybe he’d start a fight. That would justify spending the twenty-two points.
By reflex, Benton almost scanned the newcomer, but he thought better of it. Through Foundation Establishment, it was highly unlikely that a cultivator would be able to sense the source of such a scan. If the flying man was actually a major realm above that level, things changed. Su’s memories put it at about a fifty fifty chance that the attempt would be detected.
Worse, the cultivator might be able to gain information from the power of Benton’s scan, and there was no way to know what conclusion that observation would lead the man to. For what was surely about to happen, it was far better to remain as complete a mystery as possible.
Benton slightly inclined his head toward the man as one would do for a cultivator who was of a similar level when one didn’t know which of the two held supremacy. Importantly, the same gesture could be used when a cultivator of a higher level wished to give face to one of a lower realm.
The man paused, obviously having expected a much different response. He came to a dead stop, staring at Benton intensely.
He understood exactly what had happened. The guy had scanned him and didn’t get any reading at all.
The man must be furiously working through which of the three possible reasons for the failure was most plausible.
One, Benton was at least a major realm higher than him, which meant at least Nascent Soul assuming the guy really was Golden Core. At first blush, that explanation would seem the least likely due to cultivators of such a high realm being so rare and Benton appearing to be so young. On the other hand, his youth could actually be an argument for him being Nascent Soul as everyone knew that such cultivators’ bodies were essentially reborn upon ascension to that realm.
Two, Benton was not actually a cultivator. Of course, the man wouldn’t be able to sense anything if there was nothing to sense. But that explanation was illogical. For one, Benton was dressed as a practitioner. To not be one and dress that way was essentially a death sentence if his ruse were uncovered, which it almost certainly would be. For another, he had somehow cowed the arrogant young master. No amount of words could do that without an accompanying show of force.
Three, Benton had a treasure that hid his cultivation. That explanation was both the easiest to accept and the most unlikely. Such devices were, if anything, even more rare than Nascent Souls and expensive in the extreme. Benton wore nice robes but nothing extravagant, and the only visible equipment was a spatial ring, though the man couldn’t judge its quality from afar. Nothing indicated that Benton could afford such a thing.
The man quickly responded with a nod that exactly matched Benton’s, showing his adherence to a major rule of life for old cultivators—if you suspect that you might be in the presence of someone who can curb stomp you, play it safe.
Benton chuckled internally as he was reminded of a quote he once heard. Paraphrasing, “There are old cultivators, and there are bold cultivators. There are no old, bold cultivators.”
“This one is called Kang Ya-Ting,” the man said. “Who does this one have the pleasure of addressing?”
“This one is called Chao Su.”
Just because Benton trampled over what he considered to be unnecessary social niceties whenever he thought he could get away with it didn’t mean he wouldn’t use them when he had to.
“This one apologizes if this one’s lowly disciple has caused offense, Master Cultivator,” the man said.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“It’s just a minor disagreement between juniors. Nothing to be concerned about. This one believes the Esteemed Cultivator’s disciple may have learned a valuable lesson.”
“What lesson might that be?”
“The folly of acting without knowing all the facts.”
Kang Ya-Ting glared at his disciple. “Would that the lesson will finally stick. This one has tried to convey just that message many times.”
The disciple in question looked like he was praying for the ground to open up and swallow him. The encounter definitely hadn’t gone the way he had intended.
Benton, on the other hand, was beginning to think the whole situation might just come up roses for him. “It appears that the Esteemed Cultivator’s disciple was covetous of this one’s disciple’s spear.”
Kang Ya-Ting glanced at the weapon in question. “It does appear to be a finely crafted piece of equipment.”
“This one couldn’t help but notice that the Esteemed Cultivator’s disciple is in possession of a fine blade. Perhaps a wager is in order.”
The young master swallowed hard.
“He is,” Kang Ya-Ting said, looking like he was sucking on a lemon. “What did the Esteemed Cultivator have in mind?”
Sect members were so worried about face that they were sometimes quite easy to manipulate.
“Simply that the juniors exchange pointers, and the winner keeps the loser’s weapon,” Benton said. “This one assumes the Poison Claw Sect has an appropriate venue for such a spar?”
“The sect does,” Kang Ya-Ting said through gritted teeth.
Benton turned to Yang Ru and the young master. “So how about it? Do the two of you want to exchange pointers?”
Yang Ru grunted. Benton took that as a yes.
“This lowly one would very much like to exchange pointers with the Esteemed Master Cultivator’s disciple, but this lowly one has broken his wrist and is afraid that a spar will not be possible at this time.”
“Nonsense,” Benton said. “I’m sure I can scrounge up a spare healing pill.”
Kang Ya-Ting cleared his throat. “The Poison Claw Sect is not so destitute as to require others to spend resources to heal our members. He will be seen to.”
“Fantastic,” Benton said. “So… meet tomorrow, say noon, at the Esteemed Cultivator’s sect’s entrance?”
Kang Ya-Ting glared at his disciple, and the young man audibly gulped.
He cupped his hands toward Yang Ru. “This one wishes to invite the Honored Disciple to exchange pointers at the Poison Claw Sect on the morrow.”
Yang Ru, true to form, grunted.
“That’s a yes, by the way,” Benton said cheerfully. “See you tomorrow.”
Business complete, Kang Ya-Ting practically rushed through the niceties required before departing, hauling his dejected disciple onto the sword behind him and rushing off.
As soon as they were out of sight, Benton called Zou Tian over from out of the shadowed alley where he’d been watching the happenings. “I really appreciate you keeping watch and coming to find me. Things could have gone much worse had you not.”
“This lowly one is not deserving of such gratitude, Esteemed Master Cultivator.”
In contrast to his words, the boy’s face was beaming.
“Unfortunately, you had to approach me in public when you retrieved me,” Benton said. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to work for the gang anymore.”
Zou Tian nodded sadly, probably thinking he was about to be hung out to dry.
“I think you should move into the warehouse and, when we leave, come with us. From now until you decide you want to move on, you’ll work for me.”
The boy just stood there not saying a word.
“If that’s what you want, of course,” Benton said. “Alternately, I could give you enough silver to live on for a while?”
“No! This lowly one simply could not understand why such an Esteemed Master Cultivator would make such an offer. This lowly one would gladly enter the service of the Esteemed Master Cultivator.”
Alright. One more recruit. Probably best to wait until they got out of the city to start him cultivating, though.
----------------------------------------
Yang Ru, his sister, and their newest addition followed their master until they all reached the warehouse. Once inside, he asked for a report but not on the subject that Yang Ru was expecting.
“So how did shopping go?”
Yang Xiu filled him in on their purchases.
“You spent less than forty-seven thousand taels? That’s fantastic! We have nearly sixty thousand left. Great job! Both of you!”
The twins exchanged a glance. Yang Xiu’s eyes said, “Are you going to ask him?” To which, Yang Ru replied, “Nope.”
“What about what happened after, Senior Brother?” Yang Xiu said.
“Well, the walk back here was pleasant. There were some amazing smells coming from some of those street vendors’ stalls. I’m thinking we can hit them up tonight to celebrate.”
“Senior Brother is teasing us!”
Their master laughed. “Senior Brother is. Seriously, though, you did exactly what I told you to do as far as I can tell. Arrogant young masters like that idiot are just one of the obstacles life throws at you sometimes. My main hope is that, if you ever find yourself acting like that fool, you cringe hard at yourself and correct your behavior immediately.”
“And the spar? Is Senior Brother worried? We might lose the spear.”
“Honestly, we can get other spears. In fact, we’ve ordered a hundred of them. Sure, that one is probably better, but we’d be just fine without it. And besides, I really don’t think Yang Ru is going to lose.”
“But the young master is sect trained, Senior Brother.”
“So are you and your brother even if we haven’t officially formed the sect yet. That guy’s talent is trash compared to either of yours, and it shows. He’s slower and weaker than Yang Ru. A bit more agile, granted. But the big difference is in weapon skill. From the way he swung that fancy pigsticker of his, I’d say he’s not even using an actual technique at all. He probably only has a lame movement skill to help him dodge.”
Benton felt pretty darn confident making that determination since he’d read it in the boy’s status. “Meanwhile, Yang Ru crushed spear mastery like a boss.”
“Senior Brother seems awfully exuberant,” Yang Xiu said.
“Yeah. I guess I am. I’m so happy I can’t stand it. If my plan plays out how I want it to, I get to tick off all my boxes for this trip.” He paused. “Of course, there’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip, but don’t you two worry about that. All I ask is that you try your best. Understood, Yang Ru?”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
“Oh, yeah. That reminds me. I kind of switched to playing the role of your master with Kang Ya-Ting, so it would be best if you, all three of you, used that honorific going forward.”
“Yes, Master!” the three shouted.