“So I got myself a blue lotus alchemist license, it valid for about a fifth of this continent, recruited a few bandits, got myself a shop in the richest city of this kingdom, what did you did you Han Heng?”
Han Hao was on a chair, a creaky one made of mortal wood, annoyingly fragile, his legs were laid on what seemed to be an old desk, also made of mortal wood, in fact the whole supposedly luxurious inn was made with mortal materials, Li Ling said it was a status thing, in his opinion it was ‘rich people doing stupid things to flex how rich they are’ thing, although who was he to say, he is after all an incredibly rich young master, his pocket money is enough to buy a galaxy.
“I am in Whale Burgh city”.
PFFFFT
Han Hao spat his drink all over his disk, fortunately it was cheap drink from the city and not any of his tasty collection.
“How the fuck are you already there? it only has been two weeks and a bit, it would have taken me at least a few moths”
“Spatial techniques are better due to the weaker laws here, being in this shit hole of a world has it’s upsides I guess”
Han Hao waved his fingers and dried the desk, “Han Guang would be glad about this development, I would be sure to inform her, bye”
“You sunnova-“
He shut down before Han Heng could protest, does that little shit think he could off load all of Han Guangs fighting-maniac desires into him? he should man up and take a few rounds, she always promises to be gentle.
A smirk appeared on Han Hao’s face as he thought about his dear frenemy’s upcoming torture.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing, just enjoying the little things in life”
Han Hao turned around his chair to face Li Ling, who was laying on the bed dressed in practically nothing.
“Then why don’t you come to enjoy the grander things” Li Ling suggested playfully.
“Dear, I wouldn’t call what we have grand in any way, it just a little fun to pass the time”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Oh please I wouldn’t call sleeping with a married woman a small thing especially if the woman is me”
Han Hao rolled his eyes amused, “First you aren’t married yet, second we both know your marriage is a sham”
It was Li Ling’s turn to role her eyes, “The wedding is tomorrow, and maybe I have lied to you about the sham part”
“I would know if you did, you didn’t, and I checked with your ‘husband’ he had the decency to not stare at me as if I were a piece of meat, unlike a certain someone, he and his family both agreed to the deal that you told me, I don’t know what you are trying to do right now, maybe provoke me into fighting your husband, or to elope either way I don’t care much, I am not the sort who involves himself into matters of political conflicts between ruling factions”
Han Hao shot Li Ling a smile, before trying to get up, however she extended her legs into his lap.
“Not even for me”
“Especially not for you, now I have business to attend to”
Han Hao grabbed her leg by the ankle and moved it to the side, he started moving to the door.
“The business that I gave you” Li Ling’s voice grew cold.
“You didn’t give me business, you just issued me identification papers and arranged for me to take the alchemist test as soon as possible and for those things I owe you, and if you want to call the favour right now, do so”, Han Hao turned around to face her “However, let me be clear I will not elope with you, I will not get myself publicly involved, if you want me to help you escape that’s fine, but before that allow me to say a few things”
Han Hao sighed as he headed back to his chair, he grabbed another one from the table and set It in front of his, then he gestured to Li Ling to set in front of him, she did so hesitantly
“You see, I would understand your desired if your family is forcing you to marry someone for political gain, but they are not” Li Ling tried to speak up, however Han Hao just put his fingers on her soft lips “Let me finish”.
“The marriage that you have been arranged is a sham, you don’t have to consummate it, you don’t even have to actually see your husband much, you can both have as many lovers as you desire, there are only two restriction, no children for both you and your husband and no leaving this city, if your family wanted power they would have married you to either a powerful clan or a powerful cultivator, you would have been treated as a breeding machine, however you were married to a subordinate clan, for no benefits with restrictions that will go away with time and on top of that, and it has been done for your protection”
“Bullshit, I don’t want to be protected, I don’t to be married of to someone I don’t know, I will leave this clan, An this city-“ Li Ling screamed, rage building up in her voice.
“And do what exactly?” Han Hao mockingly asked.
“You don’t need to answer I will answer it for you, do you think it will go like the fairy tales, you will ascend the cultivation ranks in a few years and your family will beg you to come back, No that will not happen, your constitution will be stolen, and even if it doesn’t your cultivation will stall as you look for more resources, eventually after decades you will settle down unable to advance like many others, you will wither and die with regret in your heart”.
Li Ling deflated a bit, however she did not give up, when were cultivators docile creatures who listened to reason? “I could make it out there countless others have, people without my constitution -“
Han Hao put his hand on her shoulders, “How many people live in this city?”
Li Ling looked at him questioningly.
“20 million people, how many of them will amount to anything in their lives? How many of them will surpass the early stages of qi refinement? How many will reach The Foundation Establishment? A thousand at most, Do you know why? It’s not because they lack talent, it’s not because they lack determination, it’s simply the cards that they are dealt with. You on the other hand have been born in luxury, not a single resource has been spared to allow you to reach foundation establishment at the tender age of 22, you never had to suffer the indignity of hunger, of being of being homeless, of being bullied, of being humiliated, all of that because of your clan, all you have to do to repay them is a sham marriage with a few resections that would disappear in a decade or two, and it’s not like you are strapped for time, as a cultivator time is one of the few guaranteed things you have in life, now it’s up to you, your clan that allowed you to achieve what you are right now? Or bit of personal freedom for a few decades? Answer me tomorrow and I will comply to what you tell me to do”
Han Hao got up and headed for the door once again.
“You speak as if it is from personal experience”
“I just appreciate what I have in life, you should too, trust me when I say we are quite lucky you should at least understand how lucky”