Chapter 8:Apparently
-Again...
Tian Shuangmen landed heavily on the ground...but got up again, misaligned, dirty, full of dirt and sweat...before carrying everything to the old man back...
-Again!
Sebastian got up, worse and worse, but with an insatiable positive light in his eyes...
Feng took his role as Sebastian's master to heart.... and for the next six months, all of Tian Shuangmen's training was based on beating him up and knocking him down twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week!....
-If you want to be a cultivator...if you want to master the deep force better than anyone else, first master your body!...and your body lacks reaction and tanning!...-he growled before kicking him in the distance....
The boy had given up complaining a long time ago, the first four days, ....Feng hit him in the mouth whenever he spoke to do so....
Compared, the old man was a demon next to Zhou Xuzi...and seemed to somehow enjoy every time they slowed down for the boy to eat or drink...barely smiling when he saw him swollen and bruised in the eyes or around the mouth....
For Sebastian it was not easy, since if he already despised the butler, now that he was awakened with the first light of dawn with a kick (and not a gentle one) and beaten until sunset, now he had an indescribable resentment....
Feng noticed it and that's why he tried to make fun of him more and more...
-What is this?...and you call yourself a cultivator?...even an ordinary man would have endured that kick in the ass...!
-Poor thing, do you want to rest?...what a beaten dog you are!....
The young man knelt down on one knee while a slight trickle of blood ran down his eye, at the same time breathing heavily, looking hatefully at the old man through his blood....
-Damn old man!...I hate you!....
-You don't have the capacity or the right to hate me...as a weak being...you can only submit and let me beat you up...-I exclaimed, before kicking him again in the distance...
The days went by like leaves falling from a tree, and Sebastian, although he wanted to tear the old man to pieces, for him everything soon became successive...this does not mean that he could ignore the pain of the blows, in fact it was intolerable...but...little by little...in spite of the impotence he felt .... Tian Shuangmen's body learned to deal with the constant attack he was subjected to...
Every day he could perceive how his mentality and capacity to react were disrupted by the force of the blows, and although he usually ended up fainting on the dirt floor of the small hill where they were, in a few days, he soon got up before Feng's awakening kick...in a few weeks he stopped fainting...and soon the bruises became less and less.......
As you can see, he was finally covering that huge gray gap that was his fighting experience, and even when he hated the method, he had to admit that he was getting results....
One day... Tian Shuangmen opened his eyes and practically jumped off the cot, unconsciously avoiding the blow that the old man dealt him every time he saw him. However, he discovered that he was alone in the room where he used to sleep, inside the small shed in the bush behind the Mu clan...
When he came out, he even noticed that the sun had not even risen, barely filtering its first rays of light over the mountains, covered with greenery....
Tian Shuangmen took a deep breath and felt his face. ....
The flesh of his face was barely cleft and looked smooth...a result of the multiple beatings he had suffered while looking like....
-What ....?...were you expecting another beating?...-questioned the old man's voice behind him ....
When Tian Shuangmen turned around, he saw Feng sitting in front of a small campfire...that was burning and crackling quietly.... over it, two fish were slowly cooking and it seemed that he was not missing much...
Sebastian narrowed his eyes and looked at the old man. ....
-Should I wait for some? ....-he mumbled cautiously...while without realizing it his feet had already looked for the most optimal position to get away from the fire...blows were one thing, burns were another...
-Not at all...this old me has been bored of beating a sack like you day and night for the last months...even though you went from a useless sack to a more usable one I don't intend to keep beating you all my life you know...it's been six months since we started....
-Umm...I still despise you...what am I going to do with this...?
-Well start cultivating so you can get even fast...-.... for the moment all we have done is to reaffirm your physical bases...-he mumbles while taking a fish-...eat...then we will go down to the clan...the clan leader wants to see you...he has news for you...
Tian Shuangmen moved a little closer.... and took one of the fish.... looking seriously at the old man.... these last few months he had really questioned himself, beyond any progress, whether he had done the right thing by becoming a cultivator of the Mu family....
When the young man had finished his impromptu breakfast, Feng and he descended the mountain towards the Mu clan, entering through the main gate, where the boy could see that the servants seemed very busy coming and going from here to there....
Soon...they both reached a main room...and entering, Mu Huanzhi received them in the company of the council of elders....
-I have brought Tian Shuangmen..." announced Feng respectfully, as he extended his fists in greeting and they were both scanned by the elders from high seats...
Sebastian at no time bowed or even pretended anything of the sort, his gaze went straight to Mu Huanzhi, sitting in the main seat....
-Good job Feng .... fellow cultivator...how are you feeling?...after all this time we hope that you have managed to recover much of your combat ability....
-I feel confident about it...- the boy mumbles, while sighing and looking at his hands-...the old man said he had news for me...is that so?...
-Umu...indeed, discouraging news unfortunately...-Mu Huanzhi mumbles while leaning forward-...based on the things you told us and additional data...we conducted a search for 500 km around the city and in all directions... but we found no trace of a man traveling with two handmaids or women...much less any record of a person entering or leaving the city as you describe...the elders present on my orders have checked those who crossed the borders of the city in the last two years and have found nothing significant either....
Tian Shuangmen narrowed his eyes ....
-Then there is no news about Elder Zhou's murderer?
-I'm afraid not..." replies the clan chief... "Does this discourage you as a competitor of my clan?
-The deal was that if I participated as a fighter of your clan, you would look for information about the murderer of my master... It is vital for me to find him and make him pay...I have postponed never letting go of this matter.......-he answers quickly...
-Young man...you shouldn't be so rampant...the Mu clan has welcomed and nurtured you in an unusual way....-an old man commented coldly...
Tian Shuangmen turned around and faced the old man....
-So what?...that gives them the right to go back on their word?...as I see it, the most benevolent person in this matter has been me...or what?...are you insinuating that the Mu Clan is not capable of keeping its word?
Feng and Mu Huanzhi laughed at the answer...not as much as the elders .... who looked at him with a mixture of fury, impotence and desire to hit him for having said such a thing....
-That's not the case, Young Tian...-the leader answered softly-...you see...as you know, there is not much time left for the final team of the Mu family branch to leave for the capital and from there to the tournament...
-Yes...
-Well, the thing is that in the capital... is the headquarters of the Amber Dragon Trade Guild...
A sudden shock runs through the wrinkled faces of the elders...
-Clan Chief...do you intend to...?
-In the past...the founder of the Dragon Ambar Trade Guild was a poor merchant who traveled between our imperial territories at random, selling both goods and information... .... When the Purple Lightning Divine Empire was established with the help of the four great sects, the founders of the Yan, Situ, Lu and Mu clans helped this man so much that in gratitude, he gave them a medallion that allowed these clans to freely ask a favor of him.... If they did so, everyone in the guild would immediately oblige...
As he spoke, Mu Huanzhi took out a small jade disk, molded into a dragon coiling in on itself and with a shining amber star in the center. ....
-As I understand it...the other clans have already spent their favor, this is the last one left...- he mumbles looking longingly at the medallion.... before throwing it in his direction..-.... the Dragon Ambas trade guild is a powerful organization with connections throughout the continent.... if you ask them for information on anything.... it is inevitable they will get it....
Tian Shuangmen received the piece between both hands.... with a grimace of surprise...
-I understand that we must honor the covenant with young Tian... but do you really consider that handing over that medallion is...?
-Keep quiet ....-murmurs Mu Huanzhi-...since we said we would help him fulfill his purpose we have to keep our word...all the elders of the clan have failed miserably in getting the slightest clue of the one responsible for the death of the venerable Zhou....including you.... or what?...do you intend to continue taking from this young man?...would you rather they say that the Mu clan is full of liars and lack of honor?....
The old man remained silent in his place before Mu Huanzhi's biting retort...while Tian Shuangmen looked at the piece....
He smiled...
This gesture was not entirely venebolo....it was a two-way move on the part of the clan chief....
Having failed to discover the slightest information about the self-proclaimed prince, Mu Huanzhi had no choice but to please Tian Shuangmen...otherwise, the boy really had no reason to remain a cultivator of the Mu family and could have gone quietly... ....
By doing this, Mu Huanzhi made sure to buy time, getting Tian Shuangmen to stay and move the matter to a larger entity than himself....
However, the clan chief was interested in having him fight for his family, nothing else!
Sebastian held the medallion to his chest and bowed graciously to the head of the family...
-I thank the head of the clan for his kindness!
Mu Huanzhi narrowed his eyes and nodded in satisfaction....
-Right...young Tian...you have spent six months training with Feng on the family hill.......
The butler stepped forward and extended his fists in salute....
-This old me has done his best....Tian Shuangmen can now begin to cultivate with the physical foundations in place.... more is still needed, but for the moment we can consider it sufficient....
-Very good.... the next step young Tian is to start to stimulate your deep strength...we will use these last remaining months to do that and adjust your state to the best possible.... I know you will not disappoint me...
Tian Shuangmen nodded and put his fists forward just like Feng....
-I understand....... if that's all...I'll retire....
-In fact it is not...-Mu Huanzhi mutters while looking visibly more animated-...tell me young Tian .... is this book the one you used to make the pills months ago that we recovered from the apothecary compound...?
Sebastian looks at the book and then sighs in surprise as he taps his left palm with his other hand....
-Those pills.... I had completely forgotten about them...- he admitted with sincerity, while looking at the book-...that's right.... that book was bequeathed to me by my master...with it I made the pills.... is there a problem?....
Mu Huanzhi smiled....
-Oh nothing...we just wanted to tell you that we had seen a little bit of what was inside it....
-Is that so?...-asked the boy in turn...-...are they to your liking?....
-Umu...I must say that the content is surprising...-....
Tian Shuangmen narrowed his eyes....
-I was planning to start practicing the recipe of the earth grade deep opening pill on page 245...what do you think...?
Mu Huanzhi smiled....
-It seems perfect to me, I am pleased to see how you have taken seriously to help the younger generation....
A glimmer of bewilderment crossed Tian Shuangmen's eyes...but it was imperceptible, as he smiled....
-Of course, yes, .... since I said so, I will keep my word...-he moved the matter to a later time-...so have you tried the pills?...what were the results?....
At this point the elders' faces darkened....
-Well...the pills were first given to three monkeys...to test the medicines...they were given five pills each...-murmurs Mu huanzhi-...their hearts burst as soon as the pills dissolved in their body...
What?! .... - Sebastian exclaimed ....
The deep replenishment pills you made, usually depend on 30 percent of the nutrients and deep energies disseminated by the plants used in their manufacture, none should possess that much latent energy.... consuming 5 pills should not cause an adverse effect like what happened to those animals...but your pills are incredibly potent....-sigh Mu Huanzhi-...we reduced the dosage to 3...but your pills are incredibly potent....-sigh Mu Huanzhi-.... but the monkeys ran for 48 hours before they finally died...finally...taking just one pill, it turned out that the monkeys did not eat and sleep for a whole day...they had to walk energetically all day, before they could dissipate the effects of your pills in their bloodstream...the clan doctors did some calculations, and determined that at least below the Settlement realm, consuming more than half a pill is suicide...
Tian Shuangmen was stunned....
Had he made a mistake following the recipe?....no.... unlikely...
Any extra ingredient had been introduced by mistake?...not at all!...he himself had done every step according to the book and what Zhou Xuzi did!....
-How many pills are left?...-questioned Tian Shuangmen as he looked at the man-...I will study them, correct what I did wrong....
-Mmmm...there are only three left...-murmured Mu Huanzhi-...but...we want to buy them from you....
-Eh?
-Forgetting the incredible energy potential and how fatal it could be to be careless with such a pill...this medicine of yours is incredibly pure...there are no residues left in the body or impurities as is usually the case whenever similar methods are used to empower the body or accelerate its recovery...pills like this on the market are incredibly valuable...if our clan has them, even if it was a mistake in the preparation, we felt that having them would be an enormous addition...
One of the elders, his face glowing with an intellectual aura, spoke up....
-We are willing to pay you 30,000 gold coins for the three pills, young Tian," he said in a friendly tone....
Feng's face wrinkled to inconceivable limits and he looked as if he had eaten a spoonful of dirt... but he refrained from saying anything...
-Eh?...-Tian Shuangmen repeated again, while looking dazed.... a few months ago he barely had 3 or 4 copper coins...and now they wanted to pay him 30,000 gold coins for three time bombs!...at this point, he wondered if Mu Huanzhi was not crazy-...this...Major Mu...do you really want those things?...let me make something softer and safer...I am sure that I will not repeat the previous mistake alone....
-Not at all...-short the mature man while laughing-...we don't want something soft...if you do something like that, we won't pay you a quarter of what we offer you now...-comments amused-...we need this kind of nice surprise from time to time...besides...what's the problem...you feel it's too little...?
-Not at all!...- Sebastian exclaimed quickly-...on the contrary...I feel it's too much!...it's only three pills! ....!
-And that what?...the spiritual medicine is really expensive...you can think calmly that your master amassed an amount like that with only a few hours of work....
The truth is that Tian Shuangmen had never seen that old man Zhou put his hands in money...in fact it was impossible to associate his work to something material...the old man continuously seemed a benevolent spirit that worked for pleasure...as far as Sebastian was concerned, he only made the deliveries...he had never seen that those who received the medicine made payments...
-But... this...
-Don't overthink the matter...it's only 30.000 gold coins...-Mu Huanzhi mutters-...being a cultivator you will need much more.... the weapons, medicines, techniques and deep items you might want will definitely be worth much more than this amount...it's just a small bonus in comparison...-he mutters while throwing a small low grade space ring-...inside is all the money...
Tian Shuangmen caught the ring and as he sent his sense to the ring he almost felt like pulling out all the money and swimming in it....
-R-Really it's...30.000 gold coins...-he mumbles to himself ....
-Hehehehe...-Mu Huanzhi laughs before shaking his head-...the youth...so giddy for something like a little money...you may retire Tian Shuangmen...-he kindly dismisses the boy....
Sebastian bowed before sighing and leaving the place, heading for his courtyard again...
Minutes later...
Free of Feng, his beatings and so on .... Tian Shuangmen collapsed on the courtyard bed he had been given at the beginning of his stay....
By comparison, the six months spent in the bush getting beaten up by Feng already seemed appetizing....
Mu Huanzhi could be very kind, but Sebastian didn't quite like the fact that he handled him like a puppet...and although it was a bilateral relationship, the fact that he took his things just like that and seemed willing to give him everything he asked for didn't seem like something that would happen in other circumstances...
I hold the book that the clan leader had taken from the bedroom...and having the three in sight I smile just a little....
None of them apparently had been able to read them...she finished knowing when he answered her with an incoherent answer...on page 245 there was no recipe for a deep-opening pill...there was only a refining elixir...
Looking at the books, he formulated the question he had been asking himself....
Tian Shuangmen was a novice, his ability would really be nothing if he did not have the books, the fact that Mu Huanzhi had them in his possession and could obtain the knowledge that Zhou Xuzi possessed, made him expendable...having had the books and access to them...why did he not read them? .... it was clear that the man had not read any of them...otherwise how could he explain his surprise at the effects of the repocision pill ....?
-They...don't understand the words...?
The boy opened the book...
Clearly it was written in the language of that world...the language in which Sebastian was taught by the old man....
-Can't they read it?....
As implausible as it sounded...the fact that there was an enchantment in the book or something similar would not be very strange...Zhou Xuzi was a very intelligent old man...that he had methods to prevent people from reading his private books should not be strange...
Sebastian sighed and held the tome to his chest while somehow embracing it...
-Why did it have to be so mysterious, Major Zhou..." he sighed to himself, as he slowly began to close his eyes...and would have been ready to sleep for a moment at least .... when...
-Tian Shuangmen!...-an annoying female voice could be heard from outside, calling him from the other side of the door....
-Mmh?...-Surprised, he turned his head towards the front door-...who the hell is it?....
-Get out of there this instant!...-demanding the voice...
-Ah?...-Sebastian closed his eyes again-...yes yes...whatever you say....unless you ask nicely I won't come out....less if you are not Feng or Mu Huanzhi...and if you don't mind...keep your voice down...I'm trying to sleep...
-I'm losing my patience Tian Shuangmen!...-cry the voice from the other side....
-And?...I'd like to see you try to force your way into a man's room...-I comment confidently, very willing to sleep-...you know what to do...either you ask nicely or I'll go to sleep this instant...
A silence came from the other side of the door... as if the voice had been subtly stilled...
The young man smiled...
-Better this way...- he muttered before closing his eyes and getting ready to sleep...
Mu Xilei...from the other side of the door he reddened with anger and while frowning all over his pretty face he restrained himself from splitting the room in two, taking a deep breath and slowly lowering his hand... ....
This man was maddening to her...why couldn't he do everything she said like everyone else...?
Taking a deep breath and puffing out her bust (which in itself was huge), Mu Xilei knocked on the door softly...before lowering her voice, as a vein stood out on her forehead....
-Tian Shuangmen...c-could you come out? ....-he asked hoarsely...
A few moments passed...until the door opened and the tall (and smiling) figure of Sebastian showed himself...
-Come on...but if it isn't big sister Xilei ....-commented frivolously while smiling innocently-...were you the person who was shouting like drunk at three in the morning?....
The reddening of the girl's anger spread to her delicate ears....
-You have fun bothering me, don't you...?
-Not at all what's the case..." smiled Tian Shuangmen while inside he felt like laughing in her face... "What does big sister Xilei need?....
The girl looked as if she was about to burst out because of Sebastian's enjoyment of playing the fool in front of her, when she simply sighed and calmed down....
Mu Xilei held out her hands and in them, she reached for the linen that Tian Shuangmen had worn the other day, in the fight in which he had torn his own clothes from his chest, clothes that the young man had taken off to give to her so that she could go off on a tangent without being humiliated....
Sebastian looked at the garments and was surprised....
-You came all the way here to bring me this?" he asked, stunned... didn't this girl have hundreds of servants?
-Well what did you expect?...I can't let the others say that I took advantage of you...enough good show we gave the other day...besides...why would I keep these clothes?...they were old enough...I even had to mend them....
-Aha...-the young man took the clothes and hung them from his fingertips, spreading them freely and seeing the multiple seams-...you say you came because you didn't want to give a wrong image?....
-Of course not!...it would be my ruin!....
As soon as she finished saying that, Sebastian took her by the arms and made her enter the room quickly...closing the door behind him, before checking that no one was watching the scene...
-What the hell are you up to?" asked the alarmed girl as she quickly separated from Sebastian, standing in the middle of the room....
Tian Shuangmen leaned against the door and sighed....
-Are you crazy?...don't get the wrong idea...-she murmured sitting on a chair-...you said you didn't want to be seen with me...it's bad enough that you come to my room and bring me clothes...if they saw you they would think something wrong....
The girl reddened...
-The truth is that as soon as she knew that Tian Shuangmen had returned from the family mountain...she rushed to meet him with the clothes...according to her she didn't want to have those clothes in her possession anymore...without knowing that there was a deeper subtle reason that even she didn't know...
-You should probably avoid coming to my room in the future...whenever you want to return my clothes send a servant you trust or...just leave them at the entrance....
-In the future?...do you plan to break my clothes every time we fight?...-she asked scandalized while reddening again up to her ears....
The boy was surprised and started to excuse himself...
-N-No!...I was referring to .... you know!...just avoid meeting me in these ways if you don't want them to think we are together!...I don't care what you do, it's you who complains!...-explains indignantly while he crosses his arms...
-Tcheh!...do you think it is different in my case?...would you think that a toad can eat swan meat?...-I mumble offended....
-I am not the one who follows the subject!...- Sebastian exclaims crossing his arms while he smiled hysterically-...for my sake I could split you with a lightning!...
Mu Xilei inflated the annoyed chest....
-How dare you...!
-How dare I what?!...!...
Both of them advanced towards the center to start fighting and even their deep forces radiated outwards from their bodies....
A battle would have broken out at that moment if it wasn't for....
-Younger brother Tian..." called a soft cottony voice...
Almost in unison and for some strange reason that neither of them could glimpse...they dissipated their profound strength and retreated as far as they could before the entrance door opened and revealed the one who uttered the previous call....
Mu Xiaoqi entered the room with her jovial freshness and charming movements...totally unaware of what would have happened if she had not arrived....
-Ah!...Big sister Xilei...-she exclaimed musically...she seemed delighted-...how good that she is here too!....
-Yes...I had my reasons to come to see Tian Shuangmen.... as to check her cultivation level....
-If something like that...-seconded Sebastian...the last thing he wanted in those moments were inconveniences-...did you need something Big Sister Xiaoqi?
The girl smiled truly happy...showing all her pearly teeth in a graceful and captivating smile....
-Yes!...-I exclaimed happily-...my brother will return after years of being away from the clan for the selection of the family branch and in view of this, my father wants us to prepare ourselves by going to buy what we need for the best performance...!
Mu Xilei sighed, dissipating his anger towards Tian Shuangmen...he also didn't want to do anything that would compromise his place in the team....
-I see...The clan chief wants that right?
-Yes...he wants the three of us to go to Lord Qi's Pavilion of the Deep!