Going to Cyrus Again

With the remaining time he had in the Library, Shui sat down and read through texts on ancient history. After finally creating Alice's gift he didn't even want to even look at inscriptions for some time. That same day, he told Yur that he was ready to head to Cyrus with him next time.

"Ohh~, looks like you finished the gift for your girlfriend."

"Tch, she's not my girlfriend."

"Oh really, guess I'll tell her you said that."

"Wait wait, I'm telling the truth but for some reason I don't want you to tell her that."

Right after leaving the Library with the finished product, he wanted to tell Alice but he barely managed to hold myself back. As an avid reader, even with his pitiful interpersonal relations with people of the same age group, he knew that being too excited was a minus. He had to be 'cool' about it.

"Yeah yeah, sure. I'm planning on going this weekend so you can come then but,"

"What? What is it?"

"I'm not sure it'll go so well."

Since he was already holding back his excitement, Yur's words were enough to convert almost all of it into anxiety.

"What, what do you mean?"

"Won't Miss Lilia want to come this time?"

"Ahhhh."

The moment he remembered how Lilia acted when she heard he met Alice in Cyrus, Shui was indeed a bit fearful that she would try and come along. He had long realised that he couldn't rely on Bartos to help him in this situation so he could only beg that Yur's assumption was wrong.

"I'm coming."

'No no no no!'

He didn't even plan on asking Lilia, he was intending to skirt it by Bartos and hope he got away, however, his plans were foiled the moment Lilia appeared in the living room.

"You don't have to worry Aunt Lilia, I'll be going with Yur, he'll,"

"No, I just want to go to the town, it's been a while after all."

Her response took away any objection he had, the only thing that would still work would be asking if she didn't need to take care of the house, but he obviously couldn't say that. Bartos was already turning his head away so Shui knew he wouldn't be able to stop her either.

'Uhh! What am I going to do?!'

After a few days, Shui, Yur and Lilia were on their way to Cyrus. When she heard he was going, Kate also wanted to come with them, but the training for the upcoming inter-clan competition was keeping her occupied so Lilia would be the only extra companion on this trip. It would have been better if Bartos came as well, but someone needed to look after Kate.

Since Yur was only going to Cyrus to stock up on materials and such, they went out early in a carriage and were only going to stay in the city during the daytime. Even so, it should have been enough for Shui and Yur to complete their objectives. However, Lilia was also with them. Though she was in the late Mortal Realm, such a cultivation was as common as leaves in the town so they couldn't allow her to wander off by herself. Shui would be with Alice who would obviously be protected by guards, while Yur was in the early Soul Realm and was only going to buy stock, therefore she could stay safe by going with either one but it was obvious which one would be more fitting.

There would be no problems if she simply went with Yur but Shui knew she wouldn't make that choice. Luckily, he was prepared for this.

When they went to the auction house, Yur went to the receptionist.

"Excuse me, I'm Yur from the Heaven Clan. Can you check if my order is ready?"

"Of course, please wait for a moment."

The receptionist looked through files under his desk to confirm Yur's order. Other than being a simple auction house, Coin Storm also had a shopping service for VIPs. With this shopping service, a VIP customer could give the auction house a list of items for them to find along with a commission fee of one gold, and once the items on the list were ready, the customer could pay for them and pick them up.

In Cyrus, this was the only service of its kind since it required vast connections with other businesses, however Coin Storm obviously knew how to get the job done.

Since all he had to do was pay for and pick up the materials, Yur didn't actually have to stay for long in the town, that was merely for Shui's sake. Once Yur's order was confirmed, the three of them were led to a room further inside the auction house. Up until right before they entered the room, Shui was at the diagonal left of Lilia and right behind Yur, but the moment the two of them entered the room, he was gone. Once they reached the town, Shui had already told Alice that he was coming so he could go straight to the room they met in last time.

After much consideration, Shui had come up with this way to get away from Lilia. Slipping away from their group was easy enough, but there was a high risk if he didn't have another ally. And so, the day before their trip, Shui made a deal with Yur.

"If you take my side, you won't regret it."

"Well, you're my junior and all but, let's talk my language, okay."

"If you help me, I'll raise your commission to 40% and you can take half of the bonus."

"Ohh, sounds good."

Since Yur was the one in complete control of his sales, one would think he might have considered taking an 'extra' cut out of the money. Most people who knew Yur would think this as well, but as fellow apprentices Shui knew Yur always upheld his deals.

"So, do you accept?"

"Hmm, I guess I will."

Like that, Shui blocked Lilia's interference and was able to meet Alice in private.

...At least he thought he would.

"Shui!"

"Alice!"

As soon as he entered her room, Shui was greeted by a hug from a smiling Alice. She was in a purple robe wrapped over a white blouse that peeked out from the opening under her neck. After she had put her arms around him, he was planning on doing the same to her, but then he noticed. He noticed the mature gentleman standing behind her, watching them, with his arms frozen in place.