25: Stepping Stones

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The newly founded group watched eagerly as the server came back with the 12 ordered spirit meat on a cart. "Enjoy," The server expressionlessly said.

"You too- er, thank you," Wen thanked. After the meat was placed on the table, Wen turned his head to the young trio. "Remember, eat every single piece, this stuff isn't cheap,"

"Thank you senior," Guang Hu and Chu Hua thanked, but Zhao Feng was already eating.

The meat was the size of Wen's hand and emitted a small amount of aura which seemed to have come from a low-ranked beast. However, it would still help him in his cultivation so Wen didn't complain.

< The cutting was poorly done... That quality is just shit for the price... The f*ck are they trying to do!? this is robbery in clear daylight! With my instructions, you can become the God of Cooking!>

'Chill, System, although the quality is sh^t compared to my father's imperial chef's cooking, this is just a tavern anyways, nothing too big. Also, this is just the first floor anyway, the food is obviously going to be bad, or in nicer words, 'not the best quality,'

< ... >

"Well," Wen awkwardly started while looking at Zhao Feng who was chomping down his food in a well-mannered way with a small knife and fork. "No need to eat respectively like that kid, just eat and enjoy, this is a good day after all,"

Guang Hu and Chu Hua started eating their food while Zhao Feng had a confused expression. "Who's 'that kid' that you're talking about?"

Wen ignored him and gently lifted his mask to eat.

* * *

Wen quickly checked his cultivation, 'Still at the 1st Golden Core stage, no surprise there.' He also quickly glanced at the 12 empty dishes while the young trio was talking. 'It seems the bill is going to come soon...' Wen quickly affirmed.

"Hey, juniors," Wen said after putting back down his mask, "I'm going to leave early because I have to meet someone, I'll meet you guys again at the training grounds tomorrow because our meeting is going to last long,"

"Oh, senior, who are you going to be meeting?" Guang Hu asked while the other two curiously observed.

Wen shrugged as he stood up, "A friend who's an inner disciple. See you guys soon," Wen then eagerly left.

As he was walking out the door he then remember to do something and searched for a specific someone. Wen quickly found the person he was looking for, a server with a red sash who was standing next to a table, he was apparently leaving at the moment.

"Hey, sir- er, fellow disciple, you know how we ordered the spirit meat?"

The server raised an eyebrow, "Let me guess, you can't pay for it?" The server asked as if it was an obvious fact that everyone knew.

"Well, 'I' can, but, I have to leave early. So you see that kid with the two sabers on his back?"

The server nodded in slight confusion. "The one sitting next to the other boy?"

"Yeah, that guy, he'll pay for everything, if he tells you otherwise, doesn't matter, I'll deal with him," Wen then happily left the tavern, as if all his problems were solved.

The server's lips tugged upwards after hearing what Wen said but he quickly returned to work, not wanting to upset his boss.

* * *

In front of room 420, 4th building, boys division...

Wen was walking to his room when he saw a figure in front of his door. The figure turned after hearing Wen's footsteps.

"Wen! Where the he!l were you? I've been waiting for like, well, I don't know, but enough to make someone crazy!" (A/N: He was waiting for only 3 minutes...)

Wen looked at the figure's face, "I'm honestly confused why you show up almost every day, like, I'm an outer disciple so there's no reason for you to shame yourself,"

Talen shrugged, "You're going to be an inner disciple soon anyways."

The two of them stopped talking as Wen opened the door with his key. Wen's room was neatly organized. Books were neatly placed on the shelves, his extra clothes were neatly folded and hung in his open closet, chairs were properly placed and his bed was neatly made. Even the empty bed on the other side of the room was neatly made. This was all because of Wen's strict childhood.

"Wow, you're parents must've been really strict for you to actually listen to their words even when they're not around," Talen joked. But then he quickly regretted what he said and made a worried expression. 'Oh shit, what if he- he doesn't have-'

Wen quickly noticed Talen's expression and inwardly laughed at Talen's 'most likely' pure intentions. "Make yourself at home," he officially welcomed.

After a few minutes of talking about cultivation, Wen noticed that Talen today, was looking more... Happy? Worried? Excited? Wen inwardly shook his head and ignored it.

"I heard a disciple got killed murdered last night, it's honestly great to see you're okay," Talen asked after Wen regained his focus.

Wen nodded, "Ha, thanks, but, you won't have to worry about me, I'm capable of taking care of myself,"

"Yeah, I guess so," Talen quietly replied. 'The elders said that this guy is a big suspect, so I have to be careful around him...'

Wen looked at Talen's 'zoned out' phase. 'The sect elders and him probably suspect me, I'll have to make my next kill a little special to show I'm 'totally' innocent,'

"You alright Talen?" Wen asked.

"Mmhm...Just got reminded of...um, a few things to do after this,"

Wen decided to break the strange atmosphere, "Uhm, what cultivation technique do you use? It must be pretty good since you're at the 3rd Golden Core stage,"

And so, the two friends- more like acquaintances, talked for a few more minutes before they had nothing else to talk about.

"...what's the reason for your secrecy?" Talen politely asked like a toddler would when asking a stranger for candy.

Wen shook his head to Talen who was getting ready to leave and was currently standing next to his room door. "That doesn't really matter... anyway, I'll see you at the training grounds tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I guess, I have nothing else to do so sure. See you tomorrow,"

Shortly after Talen left, Wen's room became silent, as if nothing else existed. Wen walked over to the windows and closed the curtains, making his room seem even more lonely.

'I'll spend a few minutes to think about my father's given mission and then a few more minutes to think about what to do tomorrow...' Wen decided in his head. 'Everything that happened today... although it'll seem useless or a waste of time to an outsider, however, for me, it's my first stepping stone.' After clearing his head, he spent an entire hour planning and cultivating. After all, was done, he slept.

Even though it was only a little afternoon, he had slept early because he had a lot of things to do the next day, like preparing for an angry spoiled kid or undertaking chores such as killing someone...

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