Ascension: Online

"Would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"

Hina-nee blinked. "Come again?"

"You were able to figure out the inner workings of a pill based on just the outside effects," Song Qing Long explained. "It didn't just seem like a baseless assumption, either. I must say, you appear to have talent for alchemy."

"Hm… I'm flattered, but I'll be entering the Blessing Nature sect soon. I don't think I will be able to become your disciple…"

"Ah… that is truly unfortunate," he sighed. "However… I do have a friend within that sect. She is an alchemist of an even higher caliber than me. She has never taken in a disciple before due to her extremely high standards, but perhaps… you can be the first?"

Met with his mysterious smile, Hina-nee was unsure of what to do and glanced at me for help.

I nodded briefly in reply, signaling that she should accept his offer.

"I see… in that case, I'll do my best to become her disciple," Hina-nee replied after seeing my decision.

"Heh. I'll let her know."

"Ah… if I may ask, what is her name, to be an alchemist of even higher caliber than you are, Grandmaster Song?"

"Xue Liao," he replied. I didn't miss the reminiscent and slightly sad look in his eyes.

"I understand. I'll look for Grandmaster Xue once I enter the sect," Hina-nee nodded firmly in determination.

"Good. Now, with this, our deal is complete," Grandmaster Song said, taking out a gold token of some sort and handing it to me. "Here. This is the VIP Token of the Ascentian Alchemist Association. Your name was… Igarashi Kaze, correct?"

He must've read me using that soul art of his… damn.

I nodded, seeing no reason to deny.

"Alright. Your name has been carved on the back of this token and enchanted for security, so no one can take this and impersonate you."

Couldn't they just take this token and claim they were Igarashi Kaze though…? Ah, whatever. I assumed the 'enchantment' probably protected against that, somehow.

"Thank you," I said, accepting the token gratefully.

"We had a deal. All I did was uphold my part. Now… if there is nothing else, I will lead you out."

I turned to Hina-nee with a meaningful look in my eyes. Realizing what I wanted to do without any words, she nodded in reply and stood up.

"We'll wait outside."

"Huh?" Furuwa raised an eyebrow, confused, but was pried away from the table by Hina-nee. Nadeshiko and Aisa both understood what was going on, so they headed out together with the other two without any trouble.

Once the door was shut tight and only Grandmaster Song and I remained in the room, I spoke.

"We're alone. You can explain your motives to me now, can't you?"

"Whatever could you mean?" he smiled wryly, teasing me.

"Cut the bullshit," I replied harshly. I felt no warmth towards this man whatsoever, despite him doing me a favor. The reason for this was he tried to manipulate me.

"So… you realized?" he chuckled.

"It may have worked against someone else, but not me."

Of course I had realized.

Baiting me into becoming a VIP… asking Hina-nee to become her disciple… hell, even our first 'coincidental' meeting… all of that was in order to turn me into one of his soldiers.

Unfortunately for him, I was no pawn. I was the king. He would do well to remember that.

"Why are you trying to use me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "I mean, why me, of all people?"

"… Before that, how did you find out?"

I scoffed. "This whole deal was a farce. Asking me to report back to you on what happened? Please. You can simply watch the tournament yourself, or ask someone else who did. I'm sure a person in your position would have plenty of eyes and ears… especially given how manipulative you are."

"Oh, but you are the same, no? On the surface, you are calm, easy-going, and sometimes even friendly. But I can see your true nature with my soul art. It tells me… you're a devil deep down, willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve your own goals."

"That's not true. There's one person I would never use as a pawn."

"Ah, yes. Sakura Hina, was it? Interesting."

"But speaking of that soul art… I want you to teach it to me."

"Oh? And why would I do that?

'Vanishing Clouds.'

In an instant, I appeared right beside him. He flinched, but quickly regained his composure.

I leaned in and whispered by his ear.

"If you teach me the art… I'll become your pawn."

The man laughed. "Can a pawn who knows he is one still be called a pawn at all? And besides… how am I supposed to trust you?"

"Hey… what's your relationship with Grandmaster Xue?" I asked suddenly.

As he froze in shock, I smiled darkly and patted his shoulder a few times.

"It's certainly more than just a 'friend'. Whatever it is, it's something you want to keep hidden, right? I wonder… what would happen if I start spreading rumors, even if they weren't true?"

His eyes widened as he shot up from his chair and grabbed the collar of my shirt, glaring furiously into my emotionless eyes. I didn't bother dodging.

"You wouldn't dare…!"

"Oh, but would I?" I smirked smugly, as if mocking his anger.

He tightened his fists, breathing heavily.

"In that case… I will kill you right here and now."

"Ah, ah, ah, wrong move," I said, laughing softly. "You definitely saw the tournament, no? Asking me to report back to you was just testing if I was an honest person. But in that case… surely you know how my sister was revived?"

Back when I asked the mayor about revived contestants, this had been the other reason. I had foresaw this all. I had planned this all. Back then, I already knew this man's true intentions.

"Someone powerful by me knows resurrection arts. I would advise against using any more threats… because even death won't be able to stop me."

"…!" Grandmaster Song's body began shaking in fury and helplessness.

Of course, what I said was a lie. The truth was, all players had infinite lives. But he didn't need to know that bit.

"You should've accepted the offer the first time," I sighed. "I was truly considering being nice to you back then. But now, after that threat, even after you teach me the art, I won't give you anything in return. Too bad."

"Tch…" he let go of my collar at last and sat back down in his chair. "Fine. I admit… I lost this time. You want the soul art, correct?"

He opened his palm. Suddenly, a scroll appeared, hovering above it and glowing orange. The scroll fell into his hand shortly after, and he tossed it over to me.

"Here."

I caught it with ease, opening it up and reading through. Within it was the name of the art, 'Soul Search', what it did, and the directions on how to use it.

"Hm… I see, I see…" I murmured as I skimmed over the text and diagrams. "This will be useful. Thanks."

"… You're very welcome. Now, don't ever come to me again."

"Sorry, but I'm afraid… if I ever need a complex pill refined, I'll still be counting on you," I laughed as I stood up, dropping the scroll into my inventory.

"You…!" he gritted his teeth and glared at me as I walked towards the door.

Placing my hand on the handle and glancing back at him one last time, I smirked.

"I don't let go of my pawns that easily, Grandmaster Song."

As I left, shutting the door behind me, I could hear him say one final sentence.

"Igarashi Kaze… you're a monster."

*****

After that, we headed directly for a restaurant to grab some breakfast.

"Kaze-kun, how did you manage to get your hands on the soul art?" Hina-nee asked after I told them I would teach her how to use it. "Don't tell me… you accepted whatever condition he proposed?!"

I chuckled. "Nah. Don't worry about it."

The other girls looked at me with skepticism, with the exception of Nadeshiko, who only looked impressed.

Did she… notice Grandmaster Song's weak spot too?

Man… she's dangerous. I'm only teaching Hina-nee this Soul Search art, since if Nadeshiko were to learn it… there was no telling what she would do.

I decided to check the Quest tab on my System since I hadn't been there in a while and saw that there was a single quest under the 'Tournaments' section.

[Annual Qilian Regional Competition (rec. lvl: 30)]

[Participate in the tournament.]

I then clicked on the arrow beside the name, opening up a drop-down list that displayed all the steps to the quest.

[✓ - Make it past the preliminaries.]

[✓ - Enter the top eight.]

[✓ - Enter the top four.]

[✓ - Win the semifinals.]

[✓ - Win the finals.]

[X - Participate in the closing ceremony. Countdown: 00:59:57]

So, we had a little under an hour left before the ceremony began. That was more than enough time to finish eating.