Departure
I glanced at Arianne who walked with me to the manor gate. She seemed very pleased with her spring-like steps.
She already wore her metal mask, but the shape was somewhat different. Not only that, her robe and equipment also different.
With her red-ridding hood, no I think it's crimson. Black Tight cheongsam, silk gloves not the metal one, and stocking. Add that with high-heel made from some kind of leather material black in color.
Although she wore a metal mask, it was not rugged one like yesterday, but a fancy one that looks like rider facemask.
What's with this dangerous-looking sexy lady?
I recalled her flawless face back in the morning.
That face is an SS tier beauty! Not good, I can't get rid of my dirty thought about her.
"Oy ..., don't you have something to say to me?" I glared at her.
"Hmmm ...? Ah, yes, lord ..., is that sick-looking horse will be my mount?" Arianne pointed at the two traveling horse in front of the manor gate.
There were some family soldier and butler Luze.
"Don't change the subject ..., but what, a curse? I demand an explanation from you, Arianne."
"Hmmm ..., maybe later time, lord." she ran to the horses.
What's with this treatment? Did she just ignore me? Impertinent!
I fasten my step and walked to the front manor gate.
"Like I said, what's with this sick horse! Don't you see that this guy looks weak and pathetic? Find me a better mount, I won't torture such pitiful guy." said Arianne.
"Young Miss, it's not like we don't want to give you a better horse, but this is our best one that available." said the stable keeper.
"What ...? This is the best horse you have? What a joke is that? Don't you see his eye? Here, look! This horse is definitely sick, what if he suddenly fainted in the middle of the road?"
"That's will be Young Miss problem then! I won't hand over other horse, they're more tired than these two! Take this or you gonna walk!"
"Let me go to your stable! I will pick myself a horse!" she started to shout at the old stable keeper.
"Arianne, enough!" I said and walked to her.
I know that she has some temper, but to shout in front of an old man like this, I feel bad for the stable keeper.
"You need a mount, right? Just pick from these, I got some Crystal to spare."
I showed her seven Creature Card, all from Horse species and could be summoned as a mount. From the 10 basic card pack and 2 silver card pack, I got all of the seven-colored mount creatures.
The hard-scaled rhino [Armored Rhino(V)], steed with burning eyes and feet [Hellhorse(R)], red tuatara-like creature with flaming tongue [Flame Tongue(R)], amphibious three-headed dragon [Seadra(B)] , scaled dinosaur-like horse [Dragonhorse(Y)], a lion-lizard hybrid [Scaled Lion(G)], winged-white horse [Bagasus(W)], and semi invisible ghastly horse [Phantom Horse(P)].
"Ohhh ...!" she appeared in front of me almost immediately, carefully observing the eight card in my hand.
Without much thought, she chooses the Hellhorse.
"Here, of course Helli will be my choice."
"Butler Luze, you pick one too ...,"
"Young Master, this is ..., what is this?" the old butler looks perplexed.
Huh, didn't he already know with this whole card thing?
"... just choose it. I'll summon the creature on the picture for you."
"Hmmm ...," with his wizened eyes, butler Luze look at the card.
After some time his hand went into the Yellow card. Butler Luze element was also earth, is this a coincidence or he feels something from it?
I summon both of them. Spending 7 of my Void Crystal.
The [Hellhorse(R)] is a pitch-black horse with two horns on its head. The eyes are replaced by a blazing red flame. The mane and the hooves are also ablaze. Truly outstanding spectacle, it's also really hot. I can feel the heat.
The [Dragonhorse(Y)] is a hybrid of lizard and horse. It has body structure like that of a horse but has yellow-sand like the scale on its body. The head was a reptile-like sand alligator. It looks like dinosaurs that come from the Jurassic era.
"Ohhh ..., beautiful!" Arianne went to the black hell horse and caress its flaming mane.
"What in the world ..." butler Luze just stood dumbfoundedly with in front of the dragonhorse.
"Whoaa ..., these horses look ferocious."
"You there ..., put a new saddle and rein on these two!" I commanded the two stable keepers.
They looked at the hellhorse and dragonhorse alternatingly. Their gaze seemed afraid and hesitant.
"Y-Young Master ..., this demonic beast, is ..., is it tamed?"
"It won't bite us, right?"
"It won't just believe me," I said.
The stable keeper then put a new saddle on the two horse-like creatures. This was their first time seeing such an odd-looking horse. It looks like a horse, yet it somewhat different.
There were many more demon beasts in the world that more bizarre than this horse. So they didn't surprise seeing this. Just a bit afraid.
The stable keeper took some time adjusting the saddle and rein. After it finished, the horses were ready.
"Arianne, is everything ready? You don't forget something, right?"
"Don't worry, lord. I'm fully prepared." she smiled.
She stored the Sword of Blaze and Vermillion Orb inside her storage box. And she also stored some supplies. Because it needs about seven hours with the horse to go to the Xianjing city, she will arrive at noon.
"Good, you know what to do. And if somehow they don't want to cooperate, then don't ever let those two things fall into their hands. And remember, you owe me an explanation." I put a serious face.
"Sure ..., lord." She just nodded her head.
I looked at the old butler that cautiously sat down on the dragonhorse saddle and said.
"Butler Luze, you will show her the way and introduce her to the Gu Clan Patriarch. Ah, and let her handle the negotiation."
"Aa ..., as your order, Young Master." he almost stumbled from the ferocious dino-horse.
"Good, you two may depart."
Butler Luze nodded and pulled the rein on his Dragonhorse. The yellowy dragon-horse move albeit in slightly awkward steps.
Arianne waved her hand with her eyes curved, I think she just smiled. I waved my hand back and she also pulled her rein, more skillful than butler Luze.
Alright then, let's get some meal. I haven't eaten breakfast yet.
***
I was in the middle of making a note of what should I do next.
As of now, I have made some objective that needs to be done.
1. Rescue my father.
2. Conduct research about the card system and find out how to abuse it.
3. Raise my level/cultivation.
4. Raise my mana pool, or get a stable source of Crystals.
5. Get some gold and buy a card pack.
6. Summon a Heroes Card or Artifact Card into this world.
7. Get a Noble Seal.
It was not necessary to do all of those at the moment. However, some need to be done immediately. Like rescuing my father and get a stable source of crystals.
Crystals were needed to materialize or summon a card into this world. The known way to get it was through converting mana and from the Land Card. Some Resource Card also could be materialized into crystals, but it only a one-use item and the amount was less than it cost.
I could exchange one void crystal for 10 Mana. My mana regeneration one mana per three minutes, and my maximum mana pool was only 225. I could fill it for every ... about 11 hours?
Every time my mana filled to the brim, I convert it to void crystal. Granting 2 void crystals every hour.
Though, sometimes when I convert it there's this feeling of headache caused by overusing Mana. It was like something inside my head was splitting. And it was really damn painful.
The other way to gain Crystals was from the Land Card. Right now the active Land Card in were [City(V)].
The total cost for maintaining these Land Card was only -30 Void Crystal per three days. And its production revenue was one crystal per hour. With three days, I will get 42 Void Crystal.
Still, with the Land Card, I got a steady supply of crystal. Even now my Void Crystals were 19 just from the [City(V)] Land Card.
With this much of Void Crystal, I think could summon others Creature Card. Yeah ..., I'm ready for another summoning.
I looked at the cards in my hand. I didn't turn off the summoning mode and the system kept on drawing cards one after another. Until all of the cards on my deck and inventory drawn and become such a mess in my handbag.
[Heya! Goshujin-sama, your natural intellectual beautiful A.I. helper Catherine is back! Did you miss me? I bet you do, right? Don't be shy! I know what are you thinking. Ohh ..., what is this?]
When I carefully thinking about what I would do next, the A.I chatterbox suddenly rang inside my head.
I was always someone who easily shocked, so when I heard her voice, I jump out in surprise. Somehow, I don't really like this.
'So you're back, how are you? Did you finish your upgrade?'
[Huhu ..., yes, Goshujin-sama will be surprised with this new me. But what's this card upgrade? Huhuhu, Goshujin-sama, you did some amazing thing when I went away. As expected from the Master that I serve.]
'Tell me in detail what's new! And give me the summary of the Pyromancer upgrade!'
[..., beg for it!]
'Wha-, you ..., so you're getting cocky now, I'll disable you, you know?'
[Huhuhu ..., this is my revenge, Goshujin-sama. Don't think the same trick works twice. I'm not the same Catherine you know before. I have upgraded myself into something that Goshujin-sama can't touch.]
She giggled and sounded so smug. For an A.I. to defy me, her master(user). I'll teach her some basic manners.
I check the setting and the A.I. Helper configuration somehow darkened. I can't do anything to it.
It's like, me the User, can't change anything in that configuration. What the hell is this? I'm your User you know! And I can't change anything? Why are you putting this useless function?
'This f*cker!'
[Yes, f*ck me, Goshujin-sama! Ahngg ... mess me up! Auhhnnngg!!!]
She ..., did this A.I. just imitated that girl's moan? Nevermind that, but really disabling a setting to make it unusable?
'Are you really gonna do this, Catherine?'
[Hmph ..., you're the first to make me do this. If you want to enable it again, beg this great me to forgive you.]
I opened the setting once again and look at the power option.
I tap the shut down button. With that, I can't use the UI and Card System. But the summoned creature or materialized object and land still exist. The drawn card on my hand(all 187 cards) also returned into deck and inventory.
[Wait, wait ..., what are you doing?]
'Three hours.'
I turn off the system and my vision returned to normal. Almost ..., almost normal. There was a floating power button in my bottom right corner of my vision.
Well, this turns out to be better. Maybe the best system for a human being is without a system.
"A very good morning to you, Young Master Xianli," a graceful figure called my name.
Wearing a green robe with her hair tied in a loop bun. Her daughter, Dian Shixi also walked beside her.
"Oh, stepmother Qian, Sixth Sister good morning." I greeted them back.
"Uhm ..., can we talk for a moment?" asked Qian Yuerou still with her smile, but her tone really serious.
"Alright, what does stepmother Qian want to talk to me about?"
"Not here, please come with me ..." she led me to somewhere else.
Qian Yuerou and 6th sister brought me here to the manor garden.
But there were several people waiting in the garden's gazebo. There was stepmother Yi Shixiao, Han Yin, Yun Meizhu, Mu Hanxia, Bai Ning, and Tie Xintong.
In another word, they are my father's first batch of concubines.
I looked at Mu Hanxia who was somehow leering at me, sending a flirtatious smile. Just what happened with her?
Some licentious memories faintly appeared in my mind, did I f*cked her before? Oh, the memories are becoming clearer.
Wait, what? So this bastard's first time was with her? He was a child 12 years of age at that time you know, and more importantly, he was your half-son!
This ..., this is bad, in many ways this is bad. I've done it, with my father's woman. Damn, this f*cking jerk of a body! Even his stepmom!
I shook my head and decided to not think about it.
Yes, let's forget it. And promise to not do it again. Yep, it's easy ..., forget it ..., just forget it ..., damn! I can't get this thing out of my mind!
"Young Master Xianli, please sit down ..." stepmother Yi beckoned me with a gentle smile.
Yi Shixiao then glanced at sixth sister, she nodded and left the garden.
Leaving me alone with these six mature women. Because last night I go all out with Arianne, my pent-up lust was alleviated. And also, I won't touch my own family.
Yes, I've done it before, according to this guy's memory I've touched Mu Hanxia. But no, I won't do such a thing again.
"So ..., what is it? Do you have something to discuss with me?" I sat down and go to the point.
"It's about Lady Liu." Qian Yuerou was the one who answered. Her expression was crumpled.
"Mother? Okay, what's happened?" I tried to ask.
"Since diner last night, she never walked out from her room. I am afraid that she still minding about that red stone," said Yi Shixiao with a worried face.
"..."
"Young Master Xianli, you also know about it yourself. This morning Lady Liu didn't go ate breakfast with us."
"Locking herself in her room, this is the second time, right?"
"Ee ..., the first time it was when she got into argument with Lord Husband."
"At that time, she wouldn't even go out until Lord Husband coax her three days and night, poor him."
"She must be upset about last night."
Except for the second concubines Han Yin, they told me thought. Did I misunderstand something? I thought my mother's relationship with the first seven concubines was not that good. Is it just my misconception?
"Did I made her ..., angry?"
Yi Shixiao shook her head lightly.
"Unlikely, she won't never mad at you, Young Master. However, she's probably still sulking about what you did."
"I'm confused, and why is that have to do with me? We have talked it out, right? And she said that I could do whatever I want to do with the orb. It's mine anyway .... or something along those lines, last night."
"Yes, but ...," Yi Shixiao stopped speaking with a creased brow.
"Her temper is just like that. When something is not according to what she wants, she will lock herself in the room like a little girl."
"Sister Mu, that's too direct ..." Tie Xintong reminded Mu Hanxia.
"But it's the truth. Forget it, Xian'er you must come to Lady Liu room at once. She won't even eat her meal when she's like this. So please ..."
Mu Hanxia gaze me in the eyes.
"Alright ..., I'll try to talk it with her." I nodded without much thought.
But then she said something unexpected, "good boy, I need to give you reward when you've done with this." She said with a coquettish tone.
I shivered hearing her said this.
***
Dian Clan Ancestral House.
"Lord Patriarch, just now there were two people departed from the City Lord's manor." reported a clan soldier.
Dian Yunzheng creased his brow. It had been one day since their convoy arrived in this city. But there was no one who goes out from the City Lord's Manor. As if turtle hiding on its shell.
"..., servants?"
"No, it's the old butler Dian Luze and a red-hooded woman."
Dian Yunzheng pondered in silence.
"Then ..., where are they heading?"
"To the north."
"North?"
"Yes, Lord Patriarch. One more thing to note is that they ride ..." the servant stopped, unsure of how he would compose his words.
"... 'ride' what? Speak clearly so I can understand."
"This servant sorry Lord Patriarch, they ride a strange-looking demonic beast that should not exist in the continent."
"..."
Dian Yunzheng didn't say a word, the servant continues with his explanation.
"I have a bit of knowledge regarding demonic beast in this continent, and the beast that they are riding isn't recorded in the Encyclopedia of Bestiary. Old butler Dian Luze rode something like a Three Horned Horse, horse body, with a scale of a snake, limb of a lizard, and head of a dragon. While the red-hooded lady was riding a flaming horse."
"Hmmm???"
"It's true Lord Patriarch, it was real flaming horse! The mane, hooves, and its eye were ablaze in red flame contrasting with its pitch-black fur. It's this servant first time seeing such scary looking horse."
"Hoouu, I see ..., you may leave." Dian Yunzheng dismissed the servant.
"This servant will leave, Lord Patriarch." he bowed and left the study room.
After the servant left, he rested his back on the chair. Closing his wizened eyes while silently thinking.
"Flame horse ..., huh? That's sure a rare thing."
He smiled at the thought of having a Rank 4 demonic beast as a mount.
When the Dali City Lord's Manor fell into his hand, everything that belongs to Dian Yuanli will obviously become his! Of course, his beautiful nephews-in-law and their daughters will be his to enjoy.
"But still ..., north, huh? Are they trying to ask for help in Xianjing? I need to make some adjustments with the plan ..." thinking up to this, Dian Yunzheng hastened his plan.
Dian Yunzheng took a communication stone. The bluestone was shrouded with a mysterious ancient rune. It was an artifact that comes in pairs for communication.
Basically, this was the cultivation world equivalent to a telephone. But it could only be used in a limited distance of a hundred kilometers.
Dian Yunzheng activated the stone with his qi, the mysterious stone lit up in dim white light. Soon, the call connected.
"You called again, old strap? What is it ...? If you want to ask about that damn barrier, I told you before, I don't know. Even that notorious Dread Designer helpless when in front of barrier condensed from Territory Orb." a lazy voice sounded from the stone, just like the magical handphone of the 21st century.
"Damn with that, you brat! I'm not asking about that, I give up with it. Right, I need you to do something."
"Commission ...? Okay, I'll hear it."
Dian Yunzheng then said the characteristic of his target, "Two people, two demonic beasts. One is an old man in Head Warrior - 7, riding a demonic beast that looks like Three Horned Horse. The other is a red hooded woman, cultivation level unknown but it's should be not that high, this woman ride a flaming horse, rank 4. Most likely the two of them were going to Xianjing. Kill them and capture the beasts."
"What ..., rank 4 demonic beast you said? Hey old strap, you know that catching a demonic beast and killing is two different matter. Why would you ask me, someone from Assassin Association to catch a beast?"
"I know you can do it, besides..., you'll gonna like this demonic beast. You can have one if you catch two. How about it?"
Silence in the room after Dian Yunzheng said that. After three breaths, the voice said.
"Three hundred thousand..., and I'll bring their head and the horses."
"Deal ...,"
"Okay, I need to make some preparation. Wait for the good news, old strap!"
The Communication Stone flickering white light before it turns back into ordinary stone with a mysterious rune. Dian Yunzheng put the stone back on the cabinet.
"Ahhh, just how that dear nephew hides something like these beasts from my sight, I wonder ...?" Dian Yunzheng shook his head slightly, he admired the craftiness of Dian Yuanli, "but, everything yours ..., will be mine."
Weekly Power Status
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