Chapter 4: Solicitors

To Pepper, the fried rice tasted bland and her tongue can't quite feel the textures of the food in her mouth, but noting her brother's exuberant comments, she knew that the food had to taste good.

In addition to the take-out, Bell also took the liberty to light a fire and started to roast Cloud Mushrooms on the open fire.

The fungus let out a white steam as it cooked, a cloudy formation lingers; each band on the Cloud Mushroom puffed out like cotton candy, while the mushroom had a meaty flavor.

"We are probably the only ones that use them like this. Alchemists would cry if they see what you did with these 30 years old Cloud Mushrooms."

"What about you, Sister?"

"Well, I am not an alchemist. Plus, your handiwork is delicious. Maybe in another world, you could be an excellent chef. You certainly know a lot about food."

Pepper smiled at her brother's excitement, she did want to relearn the ropes of cooking , but due to her dulled senses in base form, she would end up just wasting food.

One time, she accidentally dumped a whole year's worth of salt all at once, Bell didn't let her cook much after that since.

"Yeah, hehe. But family first. I have to become a great cultivator so that I can protect you, Sister."

Bell spoke in earnest, but Pepper quickly shook her head.

"You keep yourself safe first, before anything. That will be enough for me. Being a cultivator is dangerous, that was how..."

Pepper somberly said, but before she could finish, she felt the presence of of others crossing into her formation; she grabbed a spare training sword and rose from her chair: "We've got guests. Bell, you go meditate now, take the elixir with you. Remember to take the wax coating off."

Upon hearing his sister's order, Bell hesitated a little, but still quickly followed through as he believed that his sister can solve any problem.

He had nothing to suggests that things would turn out differently this time.

…

"I'm sorry, but my domicile is not open for visits. Please refrain from resisting."

Pepper gestured her sword to activate a hidden formation, which utilizes the Flowing Cloud Sect's special barrier formation, a gentle breeze began to sway the few fallen leaves around the courtyard.

The strength of the wind corresponds to the target's resistance; should a normal person use their full might to fight the wind, they will be blown back out the entrance.

The gale barrier, of course, had a limit; be it a wind specialist or just simply being stronger than the maximum output.

"Yo, little witch. You beat up two of my boys pretty bad, I ain't letting you off the hook that easily this time."

A blast of pressure wave kicked up the dust, as a polearm-wielding green-haired female cultivator emerged; she had a loosely fit Sect uniform to accompany her affinity with wind and with each barefoot stride, the pressure of the winds near her lessened to almost none.

It is clear that this cultivator is both a wind-user and had sufficient power to straight up counter Pepper's tailwind.

Pepper knew irritating presence, even if she couldn't see the faces well.

"Bao Feng, nicknamed wind-leopard, former rogue cultivator, rank 7 of the outer disciples. This is not going to be easy to deal with."

Pepper spoke to herself; the issue with rouge cultivator is that they didn't train on a fixed regimen, so there are reliable gaps to take advantage off.

"What are you yapping about there? Imma whoop your sorry ass for picking on my boys."

Similar to Yansha, Bao liked to pick fights, and while her manner of speech was very... unique, Bao's cultivation base has reached Core Formation at the young age of 27; at that rate, she even bested the Sect's inner disciples.

But that was ten years ago... now? Bao's cultivation base never increased since then.

"..."

Pepper did not respond, perhaps deep in thought to come up with a way out.

She didn't have much leverage to sway the situation, no physical strength knock the opponent into submission, no political power to get bailed out, and certainly no capital power to bribe away.

And, of course, Pepper is not going to convince all the "kind visitors" to vacate, her words are not going to outweigh one of their own.

Thus, Pepper is keen to not make the first move, only presenting a passive face.

"You have to pay for injury fees, at least. My guys got beat up real bad."

Bao held her spear by her side and sighed beneath her breath, "Tsk, why couldn't you just... be more evil or something?"

Pepper noticed the aggression lessened, but couldn't make out what Bao murmured; still, this could be a break through point.

"The injury, those two just got knocked around a bit, the bruises should heal fine on their own... But, I could prepare some Cloud Rejuvenation Mix."

Pepper judged, though she wouldn't mind part way with some healing powder if it means the solicitors would get out of her hair.

"Just 'bruises?' are you serious?"

Bao paused for a moment, before continuing: "The two sentry could barely walk after backup arrived, they said that you didn't want to pay the agreed one-tenth fee and hired assassins to defeat them."

"If I had money to hire assassins, why would I go out and pick mushrooms."

Pepper felt a bit speechless at the baseless lies.

At first, she thought there maybe was a small chance that Yansha hit them too hard, but now, it is clear that there are some ulterior motives.

Thankfully, no one is dumb enough to follow the lie.

"Just hand over all your pocketed Cloud Mushrooms. Even if you have the 3rd Elder backing you, you still have to follow the rules."

Behind Bao, an unfamiliar face walked up and held Pepper at sword point; his presence was weak, voice slightly trembling, and held the sword off-center. 

"So that is how it is."

Pepper noted; a hired aggressor? Likely, as the kid was only around 14.

It seems that someone wanted see her fall, or at least, they wanted the Cloud Mushrooms Pepper picked; maybe someone noticed the more aged mushrooms in her basket.

It appeared to be a recent development, be it for the up coming Sect trials or someone discovered that Pepper only gave up younger Cloud Mushrooms.

"I don't have any more Cloud Mushrooms, sorry. I will personally deliver you 20 percent next time, Miss Feng. Would that be enough for you?"

Pepper did not pay much attention to the sword pointing near her throat, and rather consulted Bao; Bao was the leader of the group after all.

"That's fine."

Bao sighed, and turned towards the underling that held Pepper at sword point, seemingly disappointed: "You, back off."

Bao, while a fine fighter, it seemed that she couldn't quite maintain her group; she didn't know that the two sentries raised the tax to fifty-percent and she is unable to control her followers.

From Pepper's point of view, Bao lacked the gravitas and authority needed to be a leader.

"But, I... I can't. I saw you with still had half a dozen. I can't leave without it."

With shaky sword arts, the kid charged up for an abrupt slash, he seemed desperate.

Thankfully, Pepper still had some reservation, and pulled her wooden training sword in for a block; however, due to her weak grip strength, the wooden sword flew out of her grasp, leaving her open for another strike.

"Enough."

When Bao had time to realize what happened, she quickly disarmed the kid with her spear and flung him back.

"Unfortunate. While it is good to have a following for support, they become a liability without a proper leader."

Pepper held her wrist, hand still hurting from the hastily put up block. 

"You certainly know a lot."

"Well, since I can't cultivate anymore due to my necrobind, I spend a lot of time learning other things."