0040. The Path Forward

Nile looked at everyone and let out a weary sigh. "Look, I do hate the word 'slave.' But there's something I've come to hate even more—death." His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words that made everyone listen in silence. "After coming so close to dying during the trial, I realized something. Ideals, vows, philosophies—none of them matter when death is staring you in the face. When it's a choice between survival and principles, survival wins. Call me a coward if you want, but being a coward is still better than being dead."

The room fell silent, each person reflecting on his words. The heavy air hung like a shroud over them. The vulnerability in Nile's voice was raw, unfiltered. His words were not just a confession but a realization, an epiphany forged through the fire of nearly losing his life. Arin, Lyra, and Jessica all sat motionless, their expressions a mix of understanding and empathy. Veena's eyes softened, her hands trembling slightly, but there was something deeper in her gaze—a mother's concern, mixed with guilt.

Nile's words had touched a nerve in everyone. The idealistic pursuits they had all clung to were being questioned in the face of survival. It wasn't just Nile's personal struggle; it was a universal truth that hit too close to home.

Suddenly, Veena stepped forward. In the blink of an eye, she was standing in front of Nile, her arms enveloping him in a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, my child," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I was so proud of your growth, but I never realized it came at the cost of almost losing you. I should have seen it sooner… I'm the worst. I'm so sorry, my child."

Nile stiffened for a moment, a mix of surprise and discomfort flashing across his face. But as her warmth enveloped him, something in him softened. His eyes closed, and the emotions that had been bottled up since his near-death experience slowly began to ebb away. He held her tighter, not speaking but allowing the silence to fill the space between them.

Time passed slowly, each second stretching into the next as the bond between mother and son was reaffirmed in that quiet moment. It wasn't until the tension started to ease that Nile gently calmed Veena down, guiding her to sit beside him on the sofa. The heaviness in the room slowly dissipated, though the weight of his words still lingered in the air.

Veena wiped her eyes, composing herself, though there was still a lingering vulnerability in her expression. Nile took a deep breath, turning his attention back to the matter at hand. "Now that we've settled the first problem—getting a home—we'll move on to the next. We'll open a shop."

James nodded. "Tomorrow, we'll also go and hire a Level 3 bodyguard. I'll take you to choose the best one."

Nile glanced at Arin. "How long will it take for the shop to open?"

Arin thought for a moment, tapping his fingers on the armrest as he calculated. "If we start tomorrow, it'll be ready to live in within a week. But for business? That'll take about 15 to 20 days. The renovations will need to be done before we can truly get started."

Nile nodded, already mentally mapping out the next steps. They had a roof over their heads, and the shop would be their livelihood. The plan was starting to take shape, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of progress in the air.

"Until our home is ready, we need a source of income," Nile began, his tone shifting to practicality. "I had a long talk with Jennifer and found the perfect opportunity. If we handle it right, we can stay here for free. Even after our shop opens, we'll be able to use the cultivation rooms anytime without charge."

Jessica's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you sure? If we can use the rooms freely, I won't need to go to school every day. I could just cultivate here and only attend for theory lessons and tests!"

Nile nodded, his voice steady. "Yes, I had a long conversation with her. She was drunk and, thinking I was just a little kid, she vented all her worries to me."

Veena, slowly recovering from her earlier emotions, let out a small giggle, though it didn't quite mask the residual tension she still felt.

Nile continued, his voice carrying a new edge of intrigue. "Do you all know that this inn doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the Cultivation Market? It isn't overseen by the Protectorate of Trade and Commerce."

Jessica was quick to respond. "Yes, we all know that," she said eagerly. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, her mind already racing ahead to the possibilities that this new development offered.

Nile pressed on, his gaze becoming more focused. "Actually, all the areas in town that aren't governed by the five Protectorate subsidiaries are ruled by two factions. One is the Town Mayor's family, and the other is a group of small gangs that form the underworld of this town."

Jessica's curiosity piqued. "The underworld?" she asked, her voice a mix of intrigue and disbelief. Arin and Lyra exchanged knowing looks, both of them already familiar with this fact. The underworld was a well-known aspect of life in the town, though few outsiders were willing to acknowledge it.

"Jennifer is actually a Level 3 Array Master," Nile revealed, his voice lowering. "And she has long since developed Level 4 Cultivation Rooms, where gravity can go up to 150G. But she's terrified of being exploited by these factions, so she never opened them for business. She once dreamed of creating the first Level 5 Cultivation Room Hotel in this town. But when she opened the Level 3 Cultivation Rooms, she was forced to hand over three of them to the local gangs and one to the Town Mayor's family—completely free of charge."

A sharp silence followed Nile's words. The gravity of Jennifer's situation sunk in. To have developed such a valuable resource, only to see it co-opted by the underworld, was a bitter reality. It wasn't just the loss of power—it was a loss of control, a loss of autonomy in her own business.

"She fears that without enough martial power to back her, the inn will eventually be taken over by these two forces," Nile continued. "That's why she runs everything alone—no helpers, no subordinates. Anyone she hires is either driven away or mysteriously killed."

As Nile finished, Veena suddenly exclaimed, her voice laced with realization, "So that's why you asked me that question! You want us to act as the inn's martial protectors, and in exchange, she'll provide us with free accommodation?"

"Exactly," Nile confirmed. "But I'm not sure how to negotiate the deal."

"Don't worry," Arin said confidently, his eyes gleaming with business savvy. "Leave that part to me. Securing deals like this is my specialty."

Lyra nodded in agreement, her expression filled with trust. "Right, Nile. Just let Arin handle it. He's the best when it comes to business negotiations."

Nile relaxed slightly, trusting his companions. They were right—this wasn't something he needed to tackle alone. The negotiations would be a delicate matter, but with Arin's expertise, he felt confident that they could come to a favorable arrangement.

With a deep breath, Nile continued, "That settles our home and work. Now, for the last topic—what do we say to the guards when they come knocking in the morning about the collapsed building?"

Lyra was the first to respond, her tone casual, almost dismissive. "What's there to say? We'll just tell them we're changing our business field to alchemy, so we disassembled the shop. They'll be more than happy to handle the paperwork for us—especially if they think they'll get a discount later." She smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. "After all, our shop will be the sixth alchemist shop in town. Even if there were over a hundred shops selling alchemical pills and resources, it still wouldn't be enough to meet the demand of our town and the nine surrounding villages."

Nile nodded, satisfied with the solution. It was simple, efficient, and the best way to deal with any inquiries that might come their way. "Well then, that settles it, everyone. That's all I have planned for now."

James, noticing Nile wrapping up the discussion, interjected, "What about meeting the guy I mentioned tomorrow?"

Nile blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "I forgot! Thanks for reminding me, Uncle." He then turned to Veena. "Mama, I actually asked Uncle James to find someone who could teach me about adventuring and combat. Jessica has been teaching me about knowledge, culture, and traditions in the cultivation world, but—" he shot Jessica a teasing glance "—I seriously doubt she can teach me how to wield weapons and survive in real battle."

"Hey! Don't mock me!" Jessica protested, crossing her arms in defiance.

Veena chuckled at their banter before turning serious. "You're right. It's better to be prepared than to regret later. There will come a time when you'll have to rely on your own strength to survive." She placed a hand on his shoulder, her gaze soft but firm. "You have my approval, boy. But take care of yourself."

"I will, Mama," Nile assured her with a smile, before turning to the group. "Let's rest for the night. Good night, everyone."

With that, the group retired to their rooms. Nile had one to himself, while Arin and Lyra shared a room. James took a separate room as well, while Veena and Jessica cohabited another.

And so, Nile's first night in town came to a close. The weight of the day's discussions still lingered in the air, but there was a sense of calm as everyone settled in for rest. They were facing challenges ahead, but for the first time in a long while, Nile felt like they were heading in the right direction.