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55.59% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 179: Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Nine - Is someone talking about us?

Chapter 179: Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Nine - Is someone talking about us?

The Hidden Bellflower happened to look quite like its name described. A smattering of flowers dangling from their stem like golden bells with the peaking stamen representing the internal clapper, all neatly protected by a cage of long, thick leaves which spiralled about them. Those who viewed it, could only peak between the succulent leaves at the treasure within. It was less a plant and more a cactus and Leon could understand from viewing it why it was seen as such. This herb came from the desert and was very rare. Teacher Sagi had won it from a recent plant auction, having placed his highest bid in advance and now relied on Leon to collect it from the Dome of Prosperity.

Carefully sealed inside a protective container, for a living thing could not be stored within an interspatial pouch, they allowed Leon to take it in exchange for the jade ticket Teacher Sagi entrusted him with. The plant was not very large and Leon did not need to head straight back to school, thus decided to take advantage of the trip into town to complete a few things he'd previously forgotten about.

Such as collecting his coat.

It had been weeks since he had given the tailoress the good-sized Snow Fox Bear pelt. The weather had remained of good temperament for all this time, with only brief showers and warm winds accompanying otherwise sunny days, so it had slipped his mind for the most part. Even now, the sun shone brightly, but there was a change in the air, albeit small. Perhaps it was the hints of earthy dampness upon the wind, which seemed just a bit cooler than before, but Leon was reminded that the long summer would eventually end. And he'd remembered the coat at that point.

The seamstress greeted him warmly, chiding him for not returning all of this time. "Were i' no' for Pharmacist Clawse' reassurance, I wou'da though' somethin' bad had happened t' ya!"

"Sorry," Leon apologised. The seamstress brought him the coat. It was beautiful. The main length, which easily reached his ankles was edged and lined with the fur. And while the outer part was still of hemp, rather than silk, the seamstress had it dyed a pale blue and had embroidered white cloud patterns which decreased in number the higher one looked. The arms were also of hemp, layered for warmth and lined at the cuff with remnants of the fur. The overall product appeared of higher quality than normal commoners clothes, but remained hard wearing. Leon felt it would be very warm to wear and was very happy with it.

With profuse thanks, he left the seamstress and headed for the pharmacy, bringing with him the White Warming potions and Soft Ice pills that Clawse had requested of him last time they spoke. These were made by standard recipes and were not considered special, but for commoners, they were too useful, one helping to prevent people from catching spreading illnesses and the other helping to reduce high fevers. Clawse did not stop to chat with him, after the money was exchanged, for he had a guest upstairs he needed to turn to. Leon smiled with understanding and bid him goodbye, Clawse watched him leave, before returning to his guest.

That guest happened to be his Great Uncle, who unlike him, was able to cultivate. He currently worked as a Healer at the Ascending Mountain Institute and liked to bend his 'young' relative's ear about things that had happened at the school from time to time. Clawse looked at this old uncle who appeared his junior in appearance with a slight sigh.

"You were saying?" He asked as he poured fresh tea.

"Teacher Corvus just hasn't changed," he lamented. "So free of spirit and lacking the concerns that plague other men! Swans in and out of the school as if he owns the land it's situated upon. Did I tell you about the time when I was a student attending his lectures?"

"Hmm," Clawse replied, nonchalantly. There had been too many reminiscent memories shared over the years to count, not just ones about the man known as Corvus.

"While I was not one of the unlucky ones," the man admitted, "I was there the day one of my fellow First Years was almost killed upon one of his field trips into the wild part of the mountains. A nasty case of sepia rash, that poor boy scratched those swollen pustules until they bled and became infected. This time he brings in a boy who'd upset a Dire Fox Bear and didn't get away unscathed. Except..."

"Except?" Clawse couldn't help but ask as he sipped his hot beverage.

"Keep this between you and I, but..." The Healer went on to describe the situation in some detail, mentioning about the strangely improved One Heart Pills and Corvus' lack of memory to whence they came from.

Clawse managed to retain a stoic face as he considered the origins of those pills and responded blandly; "Is that so."

*****

Old Julip town, on many occasions, had a flourish market to explore. There was no fixed day the market stalls would appear upon the streets nor were there fixed produce, one never knew what one would find within when it would appear. There was also no set time of day, it was more like that one person would suddenly decide to set up a stall and his neighbours would consider this a good idea and do the same and within the space of an hour, word would get around that the market had begun once more.

At this time, a youth with long yin-yang hair tied neatly with a pin and crown was wandering through the crowds in curiosity. He happened upon a stall cooking steamed dumplings and chose a few with pork fillings and a few more with fresh green fillings and wandered away happily munching upon them with a complimentary dish of soy sauce. They were very tasty. As he took his snack, he happened to walk past a stall selling saki. The vender was a bit of an entrepreneur and had set stools beside his stall, creating a small open bar for people to come and drink at. That way, people could enjoy a quick sip or purchase a bottle to take home with them.

"So my wife," one man complained, sourly as he sipped the strong liqueur with ease, "really has hopes for the boy and wants our daughter to wed him. However, that stubborn girl has another in mind and her mother's pleas can't move her. So my wife insists I speak to the girl. What do I get instead of an agreement? A plea that I set aside any plans for Justin and have this fellow she likes enter our sect and be made my direct disciple!"

Leon shook his head, feeling a bit of pity for the man who seemed stuck between the wishes of the women in his life, but quickly forgot about it as he noticed a stall selling strips of leather. Some thicker pieces had been woven into a belt of midnight black and rustic red. He purchased it along with some thin lengths that he could hang his wooden carvings upon as charms or necklaces. After this, he happily melted into the sea of people bustling from one stall to the next.

So he didn't hear the man at the saki stall continue to bemoan to the owner and any other listener; "Maimai is so much more agreeable than Merylin. I'm sure she won't cause me so much fuss when it comes to her marriage."

In a small hut, beside a bubbling cauldron, a girl with wayward curls sneezed... and then her cauldron blew up.


Chapter 180: Chapter One Hundred And Eighty - I am noticed for my charms

"Leon! My boy!" Ursam boomed as he exited his shop arms wide open as if he was about to envelope the youth whose approach became hesitant in a suffocating hug. However, before he was able to, a broom smacked his head, distracting him. The wielded of said broom glared at her husband, before placing down a wide, handled pan and resumed sweeping the flagstones outside of the shop.

Leon covered his mouth, entrapping his chuckles before clearing his throat. "I have the p-p-Pills," he said softly, once his mood had calmed a little.

Ursam's eyes brightened visibly as he ushered the youth into the shop.

Soon, an array of jade bottles with small wooden labels attached decorated a shelf close to the counter, the sign beneath them declaring that they were Smouldering and Bursting Energy Pills. Ursam stepped back from this new display with a satisfied smile upon his face. They discussed prices over tea, settling in the end on 1 silver a pill or 4 silver for a bottle of pills, pricing them well above ordinary Burning Energy Pills, however they would still be less than what the patron at the Auction that day purchased them for. Of each silver, Leon would take 800 brass coins, while Ursam would claim the rest. Leon was worried that his percentage was too great, considering Ursam had assisted him so, but the older man lay his worries to rest.

"It is you that if pouring effort into making these," the man reminded him, "and it is you that obtained the ingredients. If anything, my percentage is too high seeing as all I am doing is making available a shelf and counting the money!"

Not long afterwards, Ursam saw the small alchemist out, but before he left, the older man recalled a thing and withdrew an ornate bottle from his sleeve. He'd already deduced that it was not too late to hand this gift of encouragement over with the words; "Ah last time I spoke to Jin Li, I meant to hand him this. Would you mind passing it along?"

Leon took the translucent, blue bottle that was about the length of his palm and noticed it contained some sort of liquid. Couldn't help but ask; "W-what is it?"

A grin split Ursam's face and his eyes twinkled wickedly. "You see that is..." his words were cut off by a broom to the face.

"Ursam!" His Wife chided, crossly, "What did I tell you about tryin' to corrupt those boys?!"

"Wife!" Ursam pleaded with reddened eyes and marked cheeks. However, his beloved resolutely refused to listen and chased him with her non-lethal weapon. Leon could only leave in confusion and curiosity.

He soon forgot about it, though and after purchasing a flank of salted meat and a small sack of rice upon the way, headed towards the griffin's nests in town. As this was the transport he'd used to arrive here, he saw no reason not to use them to head back as well. He checked the small plant, the true reason for his journey and saw that it seemed well enough before carefully repackaging it in its small container.

His hair became swept into a breezy flurry as a massive, adult Griffin landed with grace despite its size and its occupants disembarked, leaping from the box upon its back rather than use the ladder that was presented. The travellers happened to be experienced Seniors and Teachers from the school. One was quite diminutive compared to the rest, but not a silver hair was out of place upon his head as he landed.

His dark blue eyes enhanced by round frames scanned over the area in habit and happened to land upon a youth with long yin-yang hair, who was waiting close by, ready to travel. The silver-haired Teacher frowned, attempting to recall where he had seen the youth before and his eyes intently looked over the boy, finally landing upon the belt upon his waist. Unlike most others, this boy was wearing wooden carved charms upon his belt instead of jade and the Teacher's interest was piqued.

He took a step forward, ready to question the lad, curious to know where he obtained the charms and more so to know if they were anything like the one in a certain small beasts possession. He'd ever wanted to know the origin of the koi charm, but its previous owner had not been forthcoming. The Teacher had not been sure whether that student had been evasive on purpose or just couldn't recall where he had gotten it from and was embarrassed by that.

"Teacher Volun," one of the seniors called to him when he began to walk in a direction that was not towards their destination.

Ever polite, the Teacher turned to look up at him; "What?"

"Lord Garius is waiting for us at the Singing Drake restaurant," the senior reminded him. Lord Garius was a former student of Teacher Volun's, who after inheriting his title, opened a breeding farm for rare beasts. He sought the two adolescent Coeurl to try to match one with his female mount, hoping to raise a generation of tamed Coeurl in the future. However, although he retained some respect for his former Teacher, he'd gained the arrogance of a noble with influence and power and had a temper to match.

Teacher Volun was not concerned, however. To him, Lord Garius was still a hot-headed child who threw tantrums at whim. Lord Garius being stuck within the bottleneck between tertiary and quaternary stages of cultivation was due to this personality flaw, was Teacher Volun's belief. Not everyone was suited to reach the Immortal stages of Cultivation, Garius was one.

With that thought in mind, he turned back to discover that the youth had already mounted the Griffin that would head back to the school. Satisfied that this indicated that the youth was a student, meaning he could find him later at some point, he allowed himself to be lead towards his appointment.


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