“…. This is why I am joining the Monstrous Flame Sect.”

Ikasa crumpled the note his visitor at night had left for him. His face contorted with rage and then helplessness. Taking a deep sigh, he looked at the ceiling to calm the turmoil this letter had caused.

There was one explosive news after another mentioned in the letter.

‘A Chakra Sensing Realm Expert has arrived in the Monstrous Flame Sect!’

This news alone was enough to blow the city up. The City Lord and Hu Clan Master would suffer from insomnia if they heard it.

A Chakra Sensing Realm was different from the Sense Realm Expert because he could manipulate the Energy at will! His attacks would be enhanced by attributes and so he had the ability to steamroll hundreds of Sense Realm Experts alone!

Then there was Yin Ying’s arbitrary decision to sneak into one of the most dangerous places in Birch City. Ikasa appreciated the display of loyalty, but she was way too valuable to undertake such missions herself.

It was like Director Fury sneaking into the Hydra’s Base instead of sending Black Widow or Hawkeye!

While Ikasa came to terms with the explosive revelations in the note, Manger Chu knocked on the door of the Study.

“I have purchased the Shop near the Blacksmith’s that you wanted, Master. Here is the deed.”

Chu Kuang said, presenting a stack of papers to Ikasa.

“Good Job, Uncle Chu! You got it done within two days!”

Ikasa praised while receiving the deed. He quickly skimmed through the details and noted the key points.

“Tax Bracket is 20%… Not bad. Renovation Cost is around 130 gold and deposit is 100 Gold. A bit on the expensive side but still bearable.”

He rearranged the deed and remembered the pitiful Grandma that lived in the Shop.

“What about the Grandma who lives there with her Family, Uncle Chu?”

“I have settled them in the Herb Garden. She wanted to be near her grandson who has joined your militia.”

Ikasa nodded and dismissed Chu Kuang. He looked at the deed and the crumpled note as he steepled his fingers and rested his elbows on the table.

‘Would it be a good idea to start the shop now? It definitely would  attract the attention of a Chakra Sensing Realm Powerhouse. That to a hostile one.’

Ikasa began to rethink his decision to sell his manuals through an open shop in Birch City. When he decided to get a shop, there was no bigger fish who could threaten him in this tier 3 city.

Now? The situation had changed.

“Master, Young miss of my family is here to see you.”

A pompous voice he had not heard in quite a few days announced the arrival of a guest. It belonged to Zhu Zan, the original Caretaker appointed by the Xue Family for this Villa.

‘So the young miss must be Xue Mi…’

He made the connection. Without rising from his seat, he ordered Zhu Zan.

“Bring her in.”

A few seconds later the doll-like figure of Xue Mi appeared at the entrance of his study.

“Ms. Xue you abandoned the poor me in an unknown City and disappeared. Were you so busy that you couldn’t spare a few hours of your time for me?”

Ikasa asked with a smile, trying to embarrass her.

“Do not tease the poor me, Mr. Ikasa. After our last meeting I was afraid to sour your mood with my presence. Also, you had Zhu Zan. Was he not a good helper?”

The quick reply mildly surprised him. Her shy demeanor could fool anyone but not him. She was doing this to look more innocent and alluring.

‘Did this girl learn some bewitching tricks from her aunt in her month-long stay?’

Ikasa wondered as he observed her. Seeing his tricks not work on her anymore, he grew serious and asked in an even tone.

“So what brings you here Ms. Xue?

Xue Mi took a deep breath and met his eyes.

“I am here to mend our friendship before I return home. I know our request put you in a difficult position as soon as you arrived in this City. But we were helpless and you were our only hope.”

Her flattery did not elicit any reaction. She tried a different approach and decided to offer information.

“I am thankful you heeded our request. Now that you are involved in the Tribute tournament, you should know who will supervise it.”

Ikasa still looked at her with emotionless eyes though his lips had a smile. Xue Mi felt uncomfortable from the indifference in his eyes.

She focused on relaying the information and hoped it would be enough to bridge the gap in their friendship.

“This time the Governor has sent his younger sister to arbitrate the tournament. She is also the younger sister of City Lord.”

Ikasa’s eyes widened as the implications of these words registered.

‘The Governor and the City Lord are brothers! Does that mean that they belong to the same family?’

He withheld his curiosity and watched Xue Mi with limpid eyes. The girl fidgeted under his gaze. Unable to bear the silence, she continued to speak.

As if reading his mind, she elaborated on the background of the City Lord.

“My Uncle is the favored child of the Zhen Family’s Patriarch. When he married my aunt, everyone in his family was displeased. So he won the post of City Lord on his own merits and came to this backwater city for my aunt.”

“He is a proud person who rejected the help of his family and tried to take over this City with his own might.”

Ikasa could see adoration and respect in her eyes when Xue Mi spoke of her Uncle. Whatever she said so far, he had also noticed these characteristics in City Lord.

Except for one discrepancy.

“If his background is so illustrious, why did he need to collude with the Monstrous Flame Sect?”

He asked bluntly, disparaging the image Xue Mi had built of her Uncle.

She looked away and Ikasa could see conflict and hesitation in her eyes. She came to a decision as she closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

“The Collaboration with the Sect… It was the doing of my Aunt.”

Xue Mi confessed. Her eyes avoided the scorching gaze that bore into her.

“What?”

Ikasa asked, shocked by the revelation. For so long, he had assumed and attributed this to a lapse of judgment from the City Lord. And now he was coming to know that it was not his fault at all!

“My aunt watched the City Lord struggle everyday to control the Hu Clan. He had rejected the help from his family numerous times because they disdained his wife. He endured until the Monstrous Flame Sect decided to back the Hu Clan.”

She spoke with earnest emotion to make Ikasa understand the situation back then.

“City Lord couldn’t maintain order and decided to put aside his pride to get help from the Governor. My aunt didn’t want to see him give up on his pride. She started to negotiate with the Sect behind his back and they came to an agreement. When Uncle came to know, it was too late.”

Ikasa listened to her explanation, feeling no sympathy for her aunt. Due to her foolish ignorance, not only did she fail to help her husband, but she had instead invited a disaster.

However, this cleared up many doubts in his mind.

‘…..Did Xue Mi tell you this or did my wife?’

City Lord’s response when he had mentioned how Vice Commander Zhou was close to break through.

The complicated expressions he had when talking about the arbitrator.

And his depressed back that screamed he was in a do or die situation.

‘This man had done everything he could to avoid going to his family for his wife. Yet, he had to owe a much bigger favor to his brother because of her.’

Ikasa felt pity for the City Lord. He also had a tinge of admiration. He managed to endure all of this and still he is doing his best to preserve his freedom.

“Road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

He murmured the proverb that fit the City Lord’s situation the best.

Xue Mi looked up at him, unable to comprehend what he meant. He returned his attention to the guest before him.

“So, the Sister of the City Lord will arrive as the Arbitrator. Is that all you have for me?”

Ikasa asked nonchalantly, as if everything said before was redundant. She floundered for words as it took her a second to process that her emotional appeal had no effect on him.

Defeated, she chose to play along.

‘Since you want the news, I’ll provide it. Hope this keeps our Cooperation alive.’

She thought as she became more forthcoming and added details.

“Not just that. She became a Path Finder at the age of 23 and is renowned as a Martial Arts genius throughout the County.”

A hint of envy could be heard in her voice.

Ikasa was unaware of the normal time taken by Cultivators to advance. Hence, he had no idea how long or short the time was.

‘If everything goes according to plan, the kids will break through to Sense Realm in the next few months and maybe Chakra Sensing Realm next year. Wouldn’t they be Path Finders at the age of 16 then?’

He thought as he acted shocked in response to Xue Mi’s fact.

“The Governor and the Patriarch are Chakra Opening Realm Experts.”

Xue Mi proudly declared after receiving the suitable reaction from Ikasa. This declaration truly caused him to be stunned.

He had been bluffing about the backing of a Chakra Opening realm expert but the City Lord had the backing of two genuine ones and he still kept calm about it.

After hearing a few more tidbits of gossip like these, Ikasa looked at Xue Mi and sensed her impatience.

“What do you really want from me, Ms. Xue?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep