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87.57% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 282: Chapter Eighty Two - Things don’t always go our way

Chapter 282: Chapter Eighty Two - Things don’t always go our way

"Sold! For the price of 150 points!"

The first auction was bustling and quite fun, at least compared to the dryer more serious atmosphere to an auction in town. This auction was open only to students, who purchased the products which were sometimes uncommon, though not really that rare in exchange for points that they had earned throughout the year. Some genuinely wanted the items; Pike bid on some metal ore, Bowyer tried hard to obtain several pieces of sizeable leather, Leon raised his hand whenever a decent herb came to attention.

Then there were others who bid randomly, showing off their 'wealth' and others who used the auction as a psychological way to seek vengeance. One such young woman, for example, bid on a selection of lesser gemstones just to block another young woman, who happened to make jewellery to hold paper talismans to sell onward. Leon and the others didn't understand the grudge between the two women, but it was clearly deep.

"Lot number 73, this bottle of six high quality Hidden Fog Pills, do I have any bids?"

The auction itself was quite fast, there were many, many items to get through after all, so there were no flowery descriptions designed to lure in customers and besides that, generally the students already understood the value of what was on offer so didn't need eloquent words to draw them forth. The First Years were particularly enthusiastic; their participation in school events was always kept to a minimum, so they loved to be involved more in the things open to them, such as this auction. Most of the cheap and common items found their way into their pockets while most others held out for things with more interest or value. In this way, everything was sold in the end.

Leon didn't manage to get his hands on all of the herbs he wanted, but he did collect one stalk of the uncommon herb known as Whispering Juniper and a couple of common stalks that he didn't already have the seeds for. When he collected them, he noticed they'd wilted a bit, partly due to the conditions they were kept in, partly as they'd come from a warm place to a cold one. He borrowed a small bowl from Roman to water their roots in while waiting for the results of the closed auction.

The one to pick the winning bids were the team captains, reducing the time and possible arguments that could occur if the whole team gathered to discuss.  Leon didn't think that there was anything wrong with this idea; it was the Captains that formed the team's at the end of the day, without their initial decisions, they never would have had the chance to go on such an adventure and test themselves.

The closed auction was not completely discreet; although the names of those to make winning bids were not called out in front of the masses declaring to all what had been won, the winners did each receive a jade plaque with the details carved upon it.  This plaque also acted as a key to the pedestal on which their items were standing upon, lowering the arrays protecting them so the item could be retrieved.  As the plaques had to be handed out, there would be keen eyes who noticed them exchange hands after all.

Jin Li was not given a plaque.

This caused him to be completely sullen for the whole journey back to their small home on the outskirts of the alchemist's outer school.

Leon quickly potted the three plants, once more watering their roots and placing them somewhere relatively sheltered and light in the home, as Jin Li tossed a fairly large amount of coal into the stove to fire up the smouldering embers within.  Leon couldn't help role his eyes heavenward, thinking that it was a waste, but that was soon forgotten as the room became awash with warmth. 

The kettle began to steam and Leon grabbed a cloth to remove the iron pot from the stove so he could pour the water into the awaiting teapot with leaves ready to seep.  Placing the lid on the teapot containing the water that was turning a grassy green, he placed two teacups either side of it and lifted the whole tray to the low table in the middle of the room. 

"Is it such a b-b-big d-deal?" Leon couldn't help questioning his silent lover as he passed him a warm cup.

Jin Li hesitated on bringing the refreshing scented tea to his lips, but still drank it gracefully before replying; "This Lord wasn't expecting gratitude, but thought it might have some use to you.  Seems I would have been wrong."

"You wanted t-to g-get it for m-me?" Leon realised and felt warmth spread from his belly to his face.  "Thank you."

"What's the use of thanking this Lord now?" Jin Li grumbled, the tips of his ears slightly red.  He blamed the growing temperatures caused by the heated stove.

Leon didn't answer, just smiled and poured Jin Li a second cup of tea.

The amber pendant was a cultivation aid, much like Spiritual Pills, but without the side-effects, naturally it would be sought after.  Of course Leon didn't know what Jin Li wrote upon the bidding slip, it could have been a little or a lot less in value in comparison to whomever won it in the end, but Leon appreciated the thought in his heart.  Still, it was not meant to be and Leon would have to continue to cultivate without its help.

Naturally, he did not know that Jin Li's thoughts had run deeper.  Although the martial artist did not want to damage the foundation of Leon's cultivation by hurrying his advancement, a sense of urgency had developed in his mind.  This had been caused by the reappearance of his maternal grandfather in his life.  He'd always known that he'd have to return to the heart of his family in the Higher realm eventually, but he'd grown comfortable living and studying close to Leon's side.  He'd found companions to fight next to, Teachers whom he could respect and his small lover who was obedient and loyal; even if he was a bit stupid and naive at times.

As Leon curled into his embrace, fast asleep that evening, his eyes roamed that youthful and still tender face deep in thought.  They'd been together for two long seasons now, lovers and Dao companions for the majority of that time, but during that first time when he'd drawn his sword at that narrow back, he never would have imagined that he was meeting the man he was fated to be with.

That quivering, huddled form, adorned in the cheapest and plainest of cloth and with dirt marring his pale cheeks... not to mention those offensive things covering his eyes... how was he to have known this man who he'd mistaken as a threat to him, possibly the cause to his unforeseen fall into this realm, was actually going to be his life partner!  He looked like a beggar rather than a student of the alchemist profession.  After realising that he'd been a fool to even consider the timid rabbit as a danger to his life (he didn't even think his disorientation could be blamed for that idiot assumption), he'd sought to use him in order to return to his own realm, to his home.  Things hadn't gone his way, of course and slowly strange feelings had arisen in him the longer he'd spent with the alchemist.  The need to bully him had always been there, but there also developed a need to protect, a need to possess... a need to touch.

He placed a kiss upon the smooth forehead after brushing aside lengths of black and lengths of white hair, the silken locks running through his fingers as he did so.  Now there was the need to keep his small alchemist as close to his side as possible, even though that meant that he could not yet return home, even though that meant he needed to wait for a greater time.  But seeing his maternal grandfather appear before him, he'd come to realise that time might not wait for him.


Chapter 283: Chapter Eighty Three - When Jin Li met with his Grandfather

Crossing paths with his maternal grandfather was actually mostly a coincidence; the eccentric Cultivator happened to have business connections with various villages dealing with herbs, wild beasts, ores and such like in this realm as well as many others. His connections didn't just linger amongst commoners; he also had created friendships and acquaintances with kings, queens, emperors and dukes. It was not that he had a thing for money either, he'd long since been wealthy for as a youth he stumbled across an ancient legacy and inherited the riches of its last owner. It was just that he was not a man that could remain in one place for any length of time.

The longest he'd settled in an area was about a decade, when he reacquainted with a woman he'd once tangled with and met for the first time his then five year old daughter. Her mother was married, but the man disliked the fact that she already had a daughter, despite being a widow with two sons himself. He was not kind to his wife's daughter and while the woman tried hard to maintain a balance, it was hard for her to care for her husband and his sons as well as the illegitimate child. It really didn't help that her daughter was very gifted and outshone her two older step-brothers.

Thus when crossing paths with her daughters real father, she begged him to take care of her.

Jian Juren had gazed upon his small daughter and she had stared back with hard, fearless eyes and he'd become smitten with the idea of being a dad. He purchased a villa nearby, hired a cook and a maid to take care of their daily needs and showered his child with dresses and jewellery. He also commissioned a weapon smith to provide the girl with her first sword. He taught her to read and write and how to cultivate.

She broke through to secondary stage at the precocious age of ten and to tertiary stage at sixteen. Just this excellence alone would have her stepfather regretting his choices had he known, but father and daughter had already left town by then.

For more than three hundred and fifty years (as based on the higher realm's calendar), they travelled from place to place, with his daughter honing her sword arts and he dabbling in business, alchemy and whatever else took his attention.  And then her heart was captured by a 'rogue' and he'd had to return to his bachelor's life.  Of course, there were the three grandsons, but none of them were as cute and adorable and didn't seem keen on the wandering life-style.

When Jin Li had vanished not long after his seventeenth birthday, Jian Juren had not learned about it until he happened to stop in for a visit some weeks later.  Rumours were rampant, effecting the reputation of his grandson as well as the whole family. His son-in-law's expression was more or less the same, but his brows were a whole milli-metre lower than usual and there was a tint of shadow beneath his eyes.  The two older grandsons had organised searches using their personal forces, but to no avail.  Jian Juren's daughter had destroyed a courtyard of 'indestructible' mannequins attempting to keep her temper small and her mind clear.

Jian Juren could only promise to keep an eye out for his youngest grandson as well as contact his numerous connections.  But it was a coincidence that had them reunite; a party that he hadn't really the mood to attend, but couldn't think of an excuse to avoid and the conversation of two brothers upon a balcony, overheard while seeking air to clear his alcohol fuddled mind.

After that was a simple matter, getting in contact with his old friend, who just happened to be the Headmaster of the Ascending Mountain Institute and awaiting the opportunity...

Didn't think that Jin Li would actually be reluctant to go back!

"How did you come to be in this realm?" Jian Juren had inquired the first evening of reuniting with the youth, over a mountain of supper; the incident clearly had not dented his grandson's large appetite in any manner.

Jin Li had politely swallowed the mouthful of noodles he had been consuming before answering. "This... I have yet to discover the cause." Actually, after becoming comfortable sponging off of his small lover and enjoying the fruits of Leon's labour, he'd lost interest in the why's. Just deemed it fate. "I recall heading towards Uncle's compound... despite the late hour, I wished to return something to him... I heard a sound from behind a tree. My vision became... distorted, the air felt icy cold and it felt as if I was being pinched and dragged backwards by unrelenting fingers."

"Uncontrolled temporal distortion," Jian Juren had stroked his chin as he had made this conclusion. His eyes narrowed. "You say you were on the way to your Uncle's compound? What were you returning?"

"Ah? A small Concubine, well her corpse at least," Jin Li had muttered, glad that his small alchemist was not around to hear this confession.

It hadn't been the first time one of his Uncle's many, many concubines had tired of a widow's existence and attempted to climb into another 'master's' bed, but it had been the first time one had had the audacity to attempt to climb into his. Disturbed from his cultivation, he'd lashed out with the sword ever at his side and killed her instantly. He wouldn't lie to himself and claim he felt regretful, irritated would be closer to the truth, especially as he'd had to traipse across several acres of garden with the body towards his Uncle's compound. Only, he had never made it there in the end.

Jian Juren had not been shaken by his confession, just nodded as if it were of no consequence. As cruel as it was, Jin Li's uncle would not have missed that small Concubine, who'd once been wooed with sweet words and loving gestures to marry into the scorpion pit of a backyard. Though Jian Juren disliked the man, he respected the fact that the man had never forced a woman; they all chose their fate. Who hadn't heard of the infamous Jin who collected flowers as others collected gold and silver? Any woman who thought they might actually change and win the heart of this man permanently was in for a harsh awakening.

"I feel that there is more to the circumstances of your disappearance than a natural phenomenon," Jian Juren had sighed as he poured to cups of wine and passed one to his grandson, before savouring the aroma of his own for a moment. He tossed the potent liquid back, enjoying the burn as it slid down his throat before pouring another cup.

"What do you mean?" Jin Li had queried.

"Temporal distortions do indeed occur naturally, but they are extremely rare, this you are aware?" Jin Li had nodded in response so Jian Juren had continued. "Not only are they rare, but they vary in size and of course how long a period they remain in existence. I've heard that some ten hundred years ago, a man lost his head thanks to one opening at his neck. Then there was a villager who once claimed that he'd witnessed his numerous of his famed pumpkins implode as well as many vines severed as a spat of anomalies plagued his fields. And then there was the historical collapse of the City of Atlas, in which a temporal distortion appeared above the city and swallowed much of it, leaving nothing but a ruin in its wake. So how is it that one opened that was the perfect size of one person, which only claimed him alone and caused him to vanish without a trace of him remaining?"

"You suspect foul play?"

"That small concubine's corpse didn't come through with you?" Jin Li denied this. "As well, there was no mention of discovering one in the garden's either. In fact, it was your Uncle who claimed you eloped with his Concubine! Such made your mother very unhappy." Jin Li's face at that point had unknowingly altered to reveal a similar expression.


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