The Childish Woman (4)

Fiona turned to look at me, waiting for my approval. Under her expectant gaze, my heart softened. While it is our priority to get to Glenora as soon as possible, that does not mean I should pass up on some parenting lessons! It's important to have goals in life and to stay committed to it, but one shouldn't ignore anything and everything that interrupts it. Such as passersby or random events, for example. It's not a terrible thing that we can get closer to someone so much stronger than us. Plus, Ellie has already done the two of us a huge favour!

Detecting that shadow that was tailing us was one thing. He, or she for all I know, is many times stronger than us. Being tailed by someone that can kill you and your loved one's in a heartbeat is not the best feeling in the world, that's for sure. Just by staying near Elle will provide me with some form of protection. Since the shadow is just tailing us, I don't think he'll risk his life to collect more information. That's already a big favor I need to repay, and there's a bigger one...

Providing me with sleeping arrangements so I can cuddle with Fiona! Nothing is more important than a late night snuggle with Fiona. Ah, the warmth and comfort under the blankets, shielding me from this cold and heartless world, the reassurance that I felt under my arms when her heart beats steadily... sniff, I miss it already.

How can I repay this... this grand favour?

Fiona needs to know this, to treat kindness with kindness and animosity with ruthlessness. What doesn't kill you will only make the enemy stronger! They'll come back with more hatred, even more so than the ones planted in their minds already, which is why when dealing with these kinds of people you must pull them from their roots.

The cultivation world is like that, I presume from my knowledge and experience. A sea of flowers, where some look beautiful but are venomous, where some demand attention, praying to get picked and carried, or some that are just common weeds trying to survive.

Sprouts need to learn the ups and downs of life to survive. There will be days where the sun never rises or the water never falls. But there will also be days where some kind souls will lend a hand to help you survive, and that feeling of gratitude is treasurable.

"Sure, it's not a problem." I replied, patting Fiona's head. "Let's eat first, though."

Ellie beamed. She dragged us into the crowd of villagers gathered in the village square. The village head stepped out of the building and addressed the crowd.

With a wave of his hand, the commotion stopped.

Villagers, young and old, looked up expectantly, joy clear on their faces.

"As you all know, Felixistuta Village recently got promoted to the ranking as a town. With this, some sects around the capital are holding scouting grounds for cultivators of all ages to find nurture some talent, and as a congratulatory gift for us villagers."

Cheers erupted from the crowd as mothers prayed that the sects would select their child and the children grit their teeth, determination blazing in their eyes.

"I never thought this was the opportunity that the village chief was talking about!"

"Ahaha! I'm getting old, I'm glad that I can take part in the selection at the very least! Who knows, maybe I'm some hidden genius that needs awakening."

"Son, do well! This is your chance!" A mother broke down crying, hugging her son.

All the villagers knew what a high cultivation base would bring, along with the backing of a sect. Status, power and wealth. Legends of cultivators ascending to the heavens and their accomplishments spread throughout every commoner household. Who would want to continue living impoverishly, when an opportunity for greatness is right under their fingertips for them to grab?

'Is this what Elle wants our help for? For us, no, Fiona, to take part in this talent scouting thing? Well, Fiona's part of the royal family of Glendora, there's no way she would join a minor sect. But finding out her talent won't hurt, and gaining experience isn't too bad either. But what would Elle gain from this?' I looked at her, puzzled.

She met my gaze and mouthed something along the lines of, 'I'll explain it later,' and turned her attention back to the village head.

"The recruiters have already marked the areas of the scouting grounds and have hidden themselves from your senses. They'll be watching you and judging your performance in fighting spiritual beasts."

The excitement in the air disappeared as uneasy murmurs broke out in the crowd.

"Spiritual beasts, they're not livestock. This... is quite a challenge." A young man added, creasing his brows.

While many villagers are hunters, most stay away from spiritual beasts, and thus, have less experience and knowledge about them. It's not like the beasts are undefeated, but many if not all that were hunted required coordinated group efforts and meticulous planning.

The thought of going against a spiritual beast on your own made some villagers shiver. A third-grade spiritual beast needed a group of the 5 best hunters in the village to take it down. If they encountered one in the wild, then...

"Son... mom doesn't know about this. Nothing is more important than your life."

"Mom, I..." the child stammered, pale from fright. He'd been with a hunting party alongside his father and saw the viciousness and brutality of those beasts up close, but he also wanted to bring his family glory and themselves out of this shabby village.

The village head saw the nervousness and reassured them. "Do not fret, the recruiters will step out and help those in danger, and bring them to safety. In addition, most beasts that you will encounter are ones bred in captivity. The sects have raised and released them to bring down danger levels. Many have not even fought yet, but that does not mean you should underestimate them. Do you understand?"

The crowd nodded, as fresh hope relit in their hearts.

I nudged Fiona. "Do sects really breed spiritual beasts?"

"Most of them do. They're good training partners, or mounts. Some sects have guardian beasts protecting them, so the spiritual beasts serve as food," Fiona explained.

"Huh. Does the royal family have guardian beasts, then?"

"Nope. Mommy says they're too expensive to keep around."

"That's a pity." I replied, looking up at the sky. I turned back to Fiona, remembering something.

"Daddy will get you a spiritual beast as a pet, if you'd like. We can just let it roam in the wild and train it to come back to you with a whistle or something."

Fiona chuckled and jumped into my arms. I also laughed at the sight of that and raised her until she sat on my shoulders. It was an ambitious laugh coming from someone who is only Qi Foundation Realm Stage 2, but I'm confident in Fiona and my abilities. We'll stand at the top in no time!

The village head continued, garnering our attention.

"I, on behalf of the villagers, want to thank the sects and the Mareriona Kingdom for the opportunity and promotion. I, as your village head, want to remind you of this: that this heaven-sent opportunity may also be your greatest regret. It is neither a curse on your future, nor on the sects - but the outside world is dangerous. The recruiters must save you, but if an accident occurs, they are not held responsible, nor are the villagers here standing with you." He paused.

"This is all I have to say. I, as a man who has lived for 47 years, and has travelled far and wide before settling here as the village head at Felixstuta, hope that all of you will live your life to the fullest and become someone worthwhile to your expectations!"

The villagers were silent before erupting into applause.

"Thank you for the splendid speech and cooperation, village head." An old man said, sitting down at his desk behind the crowd.

His sudden appearance garnered much of the crowd's attention.

"I didn't even notice he was there!"

"Is this the rumored Golden Core realm, where one can erase their presence? Or is it something even stronger?!"

The children grit their teeth with determination. Seeing this, the old man smiled.

"I'm an elder from the Burning Blaze Sect, and I'm in charge of the screening process for the scouting grounds. I want all of you who will participate to line up orderly in front of me."

I moved towards Ellie, who stood afar the line.

"Do you want us to take part in this?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yep."

I scratched the back of my head. "This isn't polite but... may I ask why?"

I already agree that I would do whatever she demands as long as morally correct in repayment of her favours, so it was embarrassing trying to ask why. Hope she doesn't think I'm chickening out on my words, and she kills me. Eheh. I'm truly curious why she's adamant on participating in this with the two of us.

Does she have a feud with the sect and want me to enter as a spy? Or she's secretly the sect leader and already found out about me and Fiona's amazing talents, and wants us to enter the sect as direct disciples, so she wants to recruit us formally by entering the scouting grounds?

Or is it a setup to kill us... and pass the murderers of our deaths to spiritual beasts...?

My palms were getting sweaty thinking about all the possible reasons, and Fiona noticed. She glanced up and met my eyes.

'Be careful,' I mouthed. She tilted her head, looking even more confused than before.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Laugh because she's the cutest dumbo ever, with that expression of hers, or cry, because the rumoured father-daughter bond telepathy thing clearly isn't working.

Darn.

Ellie's cough brought me out of my misery. I was half expectant and half nervous at her answer. Am I overthinking things or do I have hidden talents in fortune-telling? Oh god, if an evil smirk breaks out, I'm prepared to alliance with a sect for some protection...

She looked away, her cheeks flushed red, looking even more flustered than me. In a mumble, she said, "I... wanted to follow you two and explore the outside world. I've been nowhere except this village... and since uncle, uh, village head wanted me to join a sect, maybe you two can join and tell me about your experiences...?"

"..."