Kind Young Master [Progression Fantasy - Cultivation]

Fushuai's gu-en was in his storage ring. His finger twitched, but he did not summon it.

They had just reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the street, and the man who called to them did not look like a guard. He wore fine robes trimmed in green and a pendant around his neck marked with the fanged spiral of the Emerald Adder Sect.

He approached swiftly, with his hands clasped at his waist and no accompanying sense of threat. His spirit was veiled, but from his confidence alone, it was clear he was an inner disciple at least.

"That beast," he said. "Let me examine it."

"Bai Tu?" Fushuai said. "He is his own master. I would advise you not to finger his teeth."

"Bai Tu?" the man repeated. "What a name." He bent to meet the fox's eyes. "So then, little rabbit. Will you come to me?"

The beast was tense, but he did not growl, bark, or whine. His gaze was locked on the man's, and he moved neither forward nor back.

Lin stepped between them. "What is your interest in him?"

"My name is Xin Zi," the man said. "And you could say I'm a collector. That fox is not like any I've seen in this region. You must have come a long way. Where did you find him?"

"Far south of here," Fushuai said. "I met him as a pup."

"Do you know what he is?"

"Only that he is my friend." The first beast he had killed on the slopes of Lonely Mountain had been what his master called a ghost fox. For all he knew, Bai Tu was of the same breed, or he might have been another. He'd never heard the word "ghost" applied to a beast name before or since. Usually, their appellations were assigned according to elemental affinity and polarity. Ghost might have signified Yin alignment in some regions, but he had never heard it used that way.

Xin Zi licked his lips. "Let me buy him from you."

"As I said, Bai Tu belongs only to himself. He is with us as a companion, and he has no price."

"No price? Even friends have a price. What do you want? A few cores? Money? I'll tell you what. 50 tael in gold. That's my final offer."

It was enough money to acquire and outfit a small estate. Ao Lao's eyes bulged, but Zhang Sha scoffed.

"For a tame spirit beast like this one? You'll have to do better than that."

Fushuai held up his hands. "Thank you for your interest. We will take it into consideration. But that's not why we came here."

"No, I suppose not," Xin Zi said, his eyes flicking between them. "I've never seen you before. You don't carry any signs, so you must be treasure hunters. Am I right? You want permission to enter the ruins and leave with your heads."

"We are going to seek it now."

"Well, if you don't want money, you will want my influence. There's plenty of value in those ruins, as you must already know."

"You've already given us your name, and we thank you for it," Fushuai said. "But who are you here? Is it your place to offer us permission?"

The man's smile was sly.

"Yes and no. I'm not the clerk who writes the scripts, of course. But I am Xin Zi, Inner Disciple of the Emerald Adder Sect and nephew of Sect Leader Huashe. If I say you are worthy of entering the ruins, then it is so. And if I say you are not…" He shrugged. "Then it is so as well."

"It was our intention to apply in the usual way."

"No trouble, no trouble," said the man, still smiling. "I'll take you to the House of Guests myself."

"We do not wish to impose."

"It is no imposition. I am the first face you've met in the city, and it's my place, then, to show you all it has to offer. It would be an affront to my honor if you refused my hospitality."

Phrased that way, his suggestion was impossible to deny. Especially if he held as high a position as he claimed. A disciple was one thing, even an inner disciple, but a close relation to the sect elder? Offending him would be a sure way to end their journey here.

He walked beside Fushuai as they made their way toward the great building at the center of the fortress, with the others following close behind. Along the street, commoners gave signs of respect, bows, and murmured blessings. Even other cultivators paused what they were doing to offer nods or subtle gestures of recognition.

His mood soured with every step, inwardly cursing their bad fortune. Each encounter confirmed that this was a man who could not be ignored.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"You know," Xin Zi said, "if you do well in the ruins, there might be a place for you among the Emerald Adders."

"I'm afraid we're already members of another sect."

"Are you now?" Xin Zi glanced at him. "You don't look like Steel Ribbons."

"Nothing so grand," Fushuai replied. "Ours is the Sect of Devouring Death."

There was a slight hitch in Xin Zi's next step, quickly covered.

"Never heard of it," he said swiftly. "It must not be important."

Was there more weight to the name he had chosen than he knew? He could not ask without revealing his own ignorance.

Aside from the company, being within the compound was a relief after months of travel. There was shade here, and the smells of more than dust; scents of food, fresh flour, and living wood filled the air. The qi was richer than any region they had passed through. He did not extend his senses to their fullest, as that could have been seen as an intrusion, but he was certain there were formations built into the roads and beneath the palace to keep this place as green, alive, and comfortable as it appeared.

"The guest house is there," Xin Zi said, pointing to a three-story building with a sloped roof of crimson tiles. "While you're in the city, that will be your home. If you have a token from the wall, show it to them, and they will find you a room. For a price, there is companionship as well."

He winked at them. "But of course, you're not here just to enjoy the sights and the shade."

The bottom floor of the massive pagoda was open to the elements, but the interior was as cool as a deep cavern pool. A staircase wound upward into the upper levels, and before it stood a man behind a long desk, wearing robes similar to Xin Zi's, though less fine.

"Senior Brother," he said, "who have you brought me?"

"Honored guests," Xin Zi replied lightly. "They seek fortune in the ruins, as have many before them."

The clerk was a cultivator as well, but his spirit suggested he had only just reached qi refinement. His robes marked him as an outer disciple, or perhaps a prospective one, and he wore no emblem around his neck.

"Well then," the clerk said. "I take it this is your first term in Emerald Bastion?"

"It is," Fushuai said.

"The price of permission is weighed against the advancement of the petitioner. The deeper one goes into the ruins, the greater the treasures that can be found. One cannot expect the weak to reach as far as the strong, if they even survive. If you cannot afford to pay up front," the clerk continued, "then you may leave goods in collateral and enter with the understanding that, upon your return, whatever you have found will be inspected. An appropriate tax will be levied upon the spoils."

"I understand."

"Good. Then I'll ask all four of you to release any veils on your spirit, so your cultivation can be assessed."

"No need," Xin Zi said, waving a hand. "I have already assessed them. Two early foundation, and two mid-stage qi refinement."

The clerk looked surprised, but he did not challenge his superior.

"Very well then," he said, unrolling a scroll. "We can begin negotiations."

"No need," Xin Zi cut in again. "I'd say one mid-grade treasure would suffice."

The clerk's face paled slightly, but he did not object. He only nodded.

"Steep," Zhang Sha sounded bored. "I wonder where this is going."

There was no response apart from Xin Zi's ivory smile.

Fushuai tensed. The flying sword was only low-grade. Unless Zhang Sha had kept something of great value hidden the entire time he'd known him, as far as he was aware, the only mid-grade treasure among them was the gu-en. And that was not something he could part with. Not even for this.

"We have beast cores," Lin said timidly.

"That's well and good, but unless you've slain a divine serpent on the way here, that won't equal the value."

"There's still—" the clerk began, but Xin Zi silenced him with a sharp gesture.

"If you don't have it," he said, "then you can still make use of your time in the city. And leave when that time is up."

He raised a hand to his chin as if an idea had just occurred to him.

"You know, that fox…he's a rare breed. I've never seen one like him in this region. I'd be willing to cover the mid-grade treasure myself in exchange."

"Hah," Zhang Sha said. "I'm sure you would."

The man's smile was locked in place, and his eyes were hard. "Take some time to think on it, if you must. Enjoy the House of Guests. But you won't find a better offer on the table. I'm sure of it."

"You are very generous," Fushuai said, "and we are grateful for your consideration. But for now, I must refuse. As I told you before, Bai Tu is not up for trade."

That serpent smile finally receded, like snow melting under a midday sun.

"I told you to take your time. There is much to consider."

Ao Lao looked between them, eyes wide, face white. "Just give him the fox," he muttered. "It isn't worth the trouble. It isn't worth—"

Bai Tu barked. Once. High and sharp. Then he nipped the young cultivator's hand.

His fist clenched, and he nearly struck back, but a look from Fushuai stopped him cold.

"Are all guests of the city treated the same?"

"Of course," the clerk replied tightly. "The Emerald Adder Sect always deals fairly."

"You mentioned collateral," Fushuai said. "The option of giving up a portion of whatever we find in the ruins as an alternative."

"Well, yes," the clerk began. "Normally, that would be the case…"

"You'll find that won't be possible in this instance," Xin Zi said smoothly. "These are times low on trust. You could be anyone. You could disappear into the ruins, and we might never find you to claim what is rightfully ours. If you were Steel Ribbon, that would be different. Our sects have an ongoing understanding. But who has ever heard of the Devouring Death Sect? I'm afraid there just isn't another way for all parties to be satisfied… other than what I have already offered."

The clerk blinked rapidly. "Did you say—" He cut himself off at another sharp gesture from the senior disciple.

"A thousand apologies for wasting your time. And a thousand thanks for showing us the city."

He turned, stepping away from the desk.

"Don't be a fool," Ao Lao hissed.

"Listen to your little disciple," Xin Zi extended his aura, which was as good as an open threat. He was early to mid-stage foundation formation. Fushuai did not know enough to guess the step, but his bare presence was sufficient to make Lao sweat and Lin tremble. Even the clerk clasped his hands to hide their shaking.

Fushuai paused.

"I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding," he said. "So allow me to be transparent. Bai Tu is my companion, and he is under my protection. I cannot sell him. However, a man who cannot protect his friends is not worthy of them. Instead of a simple trade, would you accept a challenge?"

"You have my interest," Xin Zi said.

"A contest between us. If you are the victor, I will be forced to admit that Bai Tu would be better protected by you. If I am the victor. You will cover the cost of our grant to enter the ruins."

"Witness!" Xin Zi snapped.

"Of course," the clerk said. "I have heard and will mark."

"Good, good, good," he rolled his shoulders, and his eyes glowed with a rush of qi. "I see no need for delay. Since you are new to the city, I will be honored to show you what it means to be an Emerald Adder."

The fox growled.