C10 - Benefits

Yin Kai continued walking around before he noticed that a new stall had opened.

The cultivators wore different clothes than the rest. Smiling, he realized that he had recognized their dress.

He cupped his hands towards their leader, a shorter woman with short, unkempt black hair. Her body was obviously tanned, and several scars covered her.

She appeared to be somewhat skinny, but she had wider hips.

Her black garb was unlike that of her compatriots; whereas they wore robes of black and red, with gold lining, she wore pieces of black robe to cover herself, and a black gauze covered her arms.

A small, black, gauze mask covered her face, and a small golden earpiece sat on each of her ears.

Her golden rings around her neck bespoke a higher standing in her tribe. Just then, an imperceptible smile hit her face as her golden lips trembled.

"This Yin greets the Imperial Gu Sect's fabled Body-Refining Tribe."

One of the male cultivators approached him rather pointedly. "How can we help you?"

"Jian, relax." The female cultivator approached him. In a rather exotic dialect, she turned towards Yin Kai. "I, Su Li, greet you. What is your full form of address?"

Yin Kai cupped his hands and twisted his wrists around each other and back again in a form of genuflection.

"This Yin is acolyte Yin Kai, Inner Disciple of the Martial Fist Temple."

"You seem acquainted with the Imperial Gu Sect. Can I ask where you learned our customs?"

"My late uncle once travelled through your lands. He taught me the proper respect for your people."

"I thank your uncle, then. How may we help you?"

"I would like to purchase some spare Body-Refining Worms, Spirit Termites, and a Soul-Refining Worm."

"INSOLENCE!" The man named Jian exclaimed. All the others drew their weapons.

The woman spoke. "If you know our customs, you should know that what you just approached is taboo amongst our people."

He touched his forehead in a gesture of apology. "I can assure you that what I am about to offer you is just as, if not more beneficial to your clan. Is there someplace more quiet where we can talk?"

Su Li looked him up and down. "Bu Tan. Come. You." She pointed at Yin Kai, "Will come with."

Yin Kai raised his hands in a gesture of harmlessness and followed her.

Su Li took him towards the residential district of the Bazaar, Bu Tan following close behind. They stopped near an inn. The two took him up the stairs and stopped inside their room.

"There. Now talk. What is your proposal?" Su Li asked, her eyes never once wavering from him. She was taking all of him in, measuring his worth.

"The Body-Refining Tribe of the Imperial Gu Sect is one of the five inheritance tribes. The inheritance must be guarded and kept at the ancestral grounds. None of the tribe are ever allowed to leave, and are expected to protect the tribe from birth."

Pain crept into the woman's smile.

"The five golden leaves around the worms upon your ears denote your position, the unmarried princess Su Li of the Body-Refining Tribe, heiress of the inheritance of Morr, ancestor of your people."

"The only reason you would come this far north is because you were forced out by the Imperial Father."

A single tear dropped from her eye as he continued.

"Any one person knowing of your status could lay as a detriment to what remains of your clan."

"The only way to honor your clan is to find a position of equal or higher status."

"I know your secrets, now I offer you mine in exchange for secrecy. My aunt, the Warden of Flower City, is willing to take you as her personal disciple. You will not be forced to marry, nor will you be forced against your will."

"In addition, she will install your tribe as a protected Family of Flower City. In exchange, your tribe will monitor and cultivate the pre-existing insect population around Flower City."

"In return, your tribe will not be expected to fight in any wars that Flower City is subject to and will remain protected by the city."

"I can leave any further requests to my aunt."

He genuflected again. "I wish to help the Body-Refining Tribe keep the prestige it deserves, whether they eventually return to the lands of their inheritance or remain elsewhere."

"As for the Soul-Refining Worm, I have long heard of its rumored capabilities, and wish to learn of the effects for myself."

The princess sat back in her chair. A few minutes came and left before she spoke. Bu Tan's hand was directly attached to the scimitar against his waist.

"Your late uncle… Was he Ji Tian?"

"Yes, my lady."

"…Ji Tian once visited us. Back then, he gave us children piles of candied amber."

She was busy judging his intent.

Flower City was one of the five great cities of the Holy Land of Skulls. The position of personal disciple to the warden was equivalent to the princess of the body-refining clan, and in some aspects, greater.

After another minute, she responded in full.

"I choose to believe you. We will visit the Warden of Flower City. If everything is as you say, we will visit you at the Martial Fist Temple, and at that time give you the things you have requested."

"Thank you, Princess Su Li. I will give you my Flower City Token; please return it to me after you speak with her."

After a series of proprietal exchanges, the two of them left quite satisfied.

Yin Kai walked from the inn towards the Martial Beast Pavilion. Martial Beast Pavilion was a subsidiary of the Martial Beast Heaven Sect.

Currently, a big-haired disciple was busy showing off their selection. "Come and get them! We have several varieties of spirit chickens, an Abyssal Toad, Infernal Hound, and even a Wind-Walking Wolf King!"

A man from the crowd spoke up. "What about an infernal ass?"

"Unfortunately, we don't have any donkeys at the moment. Hopefully you can find someone in your immediate vicinity." The employee replied.

Yin Kai smiled. As expected from a martial sect, this employee didn't back down.