Chapter 16-17-18-19

   

    Chapter 16- New business venture

    

    Larchen had no choice, he had to.. rally caravans into the dark forest.. He asked permision from sect officialls to be able to epxlore

    and register the lands unusued over the river. And with Fowliang's support support they were somehow okay with it.

    They not only made fun of him, but they'd pay him for any land he claimed so long as it was usable. 

    

    The offers attracted many people. The potion were used to guard oneself against magicc of the land, while the land was of danger,

    Larchen was also fair.. He paid well, since sect also paid well, for him to survey the land, and trim this dark danger near the sect. Its not

    like this was a new idea, but without the sun potion, these ventures usually ended up in catashtrophes. The human psyche weren't easy

    to guard, but too easy to manipulate with and against soul attacks. The potion distribution was the only

    way to make sure all the necessary personal were able to move freely across the swamps and ponds of the dark forests..

    

    He remembered the onion's story about sect founder being buried near the river.. Today, they were travelling towards the other end

    of the forest, which was almos the near end of the explorable land in the south. Quite a few people, were complaining they

    got some strange burns today, and hearing dog barks.. He decided to investiage since it was effecting the business..

    

    Hey where are you, he shouted to nowhere particularly.. There was a whimpering sound, so its a ghost dog ? Show yourself.... 

    

    There appeared an amber furred canine puppy out of nowhere..

    Why are you biting the workers ?

    The dog whimpered and breathed as if he was hungry... and helpless..

    If i feed you will you accompany me ?

    The dog barked approvingly..

    Come along then..

    

    

    

    The second phase of the competition were beginning just now... it was a 5 months break... But actual participation was

    low this time.. Many people were making excuses for why they couldn't participate...  The situation at the mines got

    worse, and worse, and everyone was scared, and the sect itself was also criticized for not being able to take care of the

    matter in short time. The mine crashed, and investigation was quickly wrapped up. So nobody wanted to be in an awkward position..

    

    

    Regardless, there were still many people visiting for the occasion. Flying vehicles were coming every hour of every day. Larchen's

    expedition business were also of interest to many people. He was making money now, and considering how to invest it, so the

    elder Fowliang couldn't find ways to dump him, and get rid of his relentless dry humping every day..

    

    

    Some of these newcomers were interested in funding more expeditions..Larchen explained him the dangers reasonably and

    expressed the situation which was that, he could promise nothing.. The competitiors were also organizing large expeditions..

    And unlike him they didn't lack the funding or materials.. Wisdom was being replaced with greeed, but it also made the town

    more lively. Some stuf they brought back from the ruins, have become so common in households, suddenly nobody could

    be uninterested. The profits exploded, and the near-ledge has become a new familiar part of the daily life of the town..

    

    

    Elder Fowliang were also supportive.. He was bringing her many artifacts secretly, that he encountered during his journeys,

    which caused her cultivation to skyrocket in such a short time.. They supported each other, and albeit begrudgingly the

    elder started to accept they were in this together for some time at least, sometimes she cursed the day and what made

    her even pay attention to this person at all. She would be free now..

    

    The larchen also needed to feed the dog now, it was a puppey still and feeding him materials was costly. He had expanded

    his company buying a few bulldings, hiring more people of various talents..

    

    Recently a new trade alliance have sprung up in the towni, and it was cutting his business, until the competition were over,

    he'd have no choice to find a way to deal with it.. They were offering high pay and selling low.. Trying to capitalize the

    expeditions business and goods flow to actual marketplace.

    

    

    Chapter 17- Unions

    

    Larchen was getting super depressed ever so surely.. He was stil attending the sect classes and cultivating, but his stress

    level topped the charts by now. Potential was only, that, potential, there was the actual necessity to be able to apply it to material reality.

    Between the classes and his home life it was really getting near impossible to find time to do anything. His wife, was his teacher...

    it was funny at first but as usual she hold nothing back,  embarassing his as much as she could. not for being mean, but it wsa

    her way.

    

    He was starting to accrue debt as things go... it wasn't quite there just yet,

    but still, between this and that, he had a hard time keeping up the discipline.

    

    Its your fault for being so nosy, his wife snapped one day... You've reached beyond

    what you can grasp...

    

    She then regretted that she said it.. Its not like their life was bad...Its been so beautiful.. and they were important people now, all thanks to him. Often time

    she suddenly needed smt, and he procured it out of thin air, as its his way. She was just worried... for.. not sure why, just worried, she supposed..

    

    There was an intensity about Larchen, that she noticed, and he was a training maniac. That's why he almost worked himself to depression

    every day.. It was an habit with him, since before they met, it was second nature to do crazy dangerous things in search of valuables.

    

    They often had arguments about what he should set up at the badlands, and what she suggests he does. The valley was dangerous,

    advancing from one place to another required extensive stabilization.. He suddenly declared that they were a trade union now,

    which has enraged sect elders, it also caused violent fights at home..

    

    It was his household, she was his wife..True, she was impressed by him, and she also were benefiting from his ventures. But sometimes

    he overdid things..He constantly begged her for children, which she said no repeatedly, pointing to the need for care in the planning

    such things, that as cultivators they weren't capable of a normal life.. She was aware that their life were.. barely stable if

    any at all.

    

    She often gave him broad answers, for if she said no, she knew he would do smt crazy.. She soothed him, still hoping he get tired

    and  would give up.. He could marry smo else... She found herself hoping he 'd go away to an enemy sect

    so that she could hate him, they'd accept him with his talents, most anywhere..

    

    Unfortunately she finally got pregnant...a few months ago...which was the end of all discussions..She stopped playing games,

    and confronted the reality.. Doing her daily chores, and not being a huge weight..They've also gotten married in

    a silent ceremony, she being the sect elder, and being two hundred years older, but he being a promising actor in the shape of things..

    

    They also were in constant contact, he acquired an artifact that allowed them to communicate from some reasonable distance.. 

    so the were able to chatter all day.. He would supply her with information about dissidents, she would warn her

    constantly not to be naive in money deals..

     

     .

   

    Chapter 18 - The Crowd

    

    Second phase of the competition has begun. And suddenly she was now sitting at the stalls, with a pregnant belly, she wondered

    that somewhere allong the way it was all this bastard's plan...otherwise such a ridiculous reality wouldn't occur.

    

    Larchen stepped on the the arena, and there were quite a few cheers. He was the resistance to the newly set up trade union, that were killing town business. 

    

    The test was about spell knowledge and application. A person was led to step on  the stage, where then they would be required to

    have a conversatin with a supreme being, such as their sect's grandfather's ghost.

    

    At Larchen's turn, he got a famous architectural genius of quite forgotten times. He would ask questions to him about his union, and

    how it changed over the years, to Larchen it looked like he was geniunely curious. He was quite a famous architect

    back then who had built many sects over in the west including the famous ancient first sect. He built their land cannon, as well

    as their champion cauldron, which was controversial at the time, but now it was possible to pull out spirits from it, after

    some centuries. So you could say, Larchen was in it, for some reason, once again...

    

    He asked him about the subsequent shifts in architectural trends, and won't the independent methods would cause an unhealthy

    opposition..He claimed that rather than localized, an universal defense was needed against many threats, of demonic nature or otherwise.

    To which he gave him his pass. Some were doing strange things, like begging or getting angry, then they were eliminated..

    

    His wife started whispering in his ear once again, talking about how she was feeling, as she often did these days. She was also

    explaining to him, who was whom in the crowd, including the people from his own circles.

    

    The competition went on for a few days more, while they stayed around and watched also. This was more important than business.

    The conversations were often time extremely curious and valuable, old heroes had much to say...

    

    They openied to door to heir house, and the female elder Fowliang laughingly jumped at Larchen's lap. She was making some

    jokes about the way people spoke earlier. They were kissing and being romantic also. She was being terribly flirty lately, losing

    all her earlier inhibitions. She was still deadly beautiful. Larchen felt himself relax, since he was finally able to steal her heart fully.

    

    Alth she was pregnant he felt no need to stop himself from violating her once again..

    

    Next phase of the competition were about two teams going at each other. One defended, whlle the other attacked. Before

    they made there however, they encountered quite a few officials also, wanting to speak with them. Some were investigative

    types, coming from other cities and sects. But one of them were quite a famous historian, Haeremai  he didn't have much

    allegiances, which made him welcomed by anyone. His appearance here suggested that something fun werea bout to happen

    Haeremal were of demon race, but he technically defected..

    

    So how can i help you Fowliang asked handlng the conversation ?

    

    Here take this... 

    

    It was an article about the last test's flying over event. It appeas larchen made quite a funny story over there in the western plains..

    His flying act were known universally now, and some also later claiming that was cheating.. 

    

    Hey wait, did you get my permission to publish this ?

    

    No, that's why i'm here, compensation. i owe yo some back pay.. a lot of it actually

    

    They loooked at each other, it was their lucky day..

    

    Well, we are on our way to the arena, why don't you join us... 

    

    .....

    

    They were asked for tickets, before they entered the arena, none of them had to pay, but the person didn't recognize the elder,

    nor the investigator, but Larchen was able to pass without paying since he was participating.

    

    What do you think about the fate of the western plains ? The historian asked..

    

    I belive in incentives, and friendly relations, Larchen answered.

    

    Ectoparasite court would suggest quite the otherwise, he sighed..

    

    Fowliang said nothing... 

    

    If you excuse me, Larchen said..

    ..

   

    

    

    

    Chapter 19 - The Tag Match

    

    

    Hey Larchen, you are at the roof duty.. defend us rom aerial attacks, since you are the

    master of flying.. there were a few laughs...

    

    Sure, Larchen nodded non chalantly. He then added his bomb modification to his Blood golem..

    

    The match has started, Larchen was just calculating their odds, but then something strange happened, most of the free agents

    of his team was cut down quite violently at one swoop.. This surely meant, they were gong to lose, and thus all of them eliminated..

    Larchen, let his flaming dog guard the place,and then jumped down, slaugthering without care...

    

    Larchen, stop, do you want war with our souther sects ?

    

    Not my issue, he was enraged.. (If you wanna.. he almost dared to say). But he couldn't speak for anyone.. Except maybe his trade union.

    

    Stop Larchen, bastard... 

    

    Larchen stop, her wife warned him over their link.

    

    Stop your mother why should i ? Larchen killed another..

    

    If you stop, i'll letyou do stuff to me..

    

    Larchen stopped suddenly, ehm never mind, you were re right, southern sects... and what not...

    

    He looked at the land.. and there were some movements that caught his eye.. The day was

    getting long by now.. and he more or less guessed the enemy teams plans.. 

    

    He opened up the book he got from his spy network that listed to people in the other team and their talents.. There, he said pointing

    to see scruffy looking picture. He saw one of them in his own team, he was surely by then starting to run away with the flag. He put

    on some dead disciples clothes and infiltrated their base..

    

    

    He summobed the twelve, near their base, and as she asked what was his bidding, it was to beat up everyone you see with the clothes

    i'm wearing,.....

    

    He golem nodded and started beating up people.. The "casualty list" were high by now... but ofc it was a given... It was a funny sitaution,

    which lightened the scene that was too serious due to nature of the events of earlier...

    

    The spy has arrived with the flag, and  Larchen has beat him to a bloody pulp, using his face as target practice.. the bell has rung and

    his team won... everyone else was eliminated, which was quite a shock, reagardless of their contributions, some were feeling resigned

    and depressed.

    

    ..

    

    What do you think about the  murders, Fowliang asked.

    

    Ah, isn't that right near around here ? investigator said, quite a lot.. actually. Ther are more nervous officers than there are market

    stalls in the north... It also caused a change of at least fifty regulations in general law around the empiure.. Recent mind collapse..

    

    May i ask how did this disciple persuade you to marry him ? you are at a realm 6, self worth realm and a sect elder, one

    of the strongest people of the continent.. by now..

    

    Ah, she sighed.. I gave him one date, and he succeeded, you could say, only one..

    

    Come on, if it was that easy.. everyone would try it bynow

    

    He saved my life..where i almost had a cultivaton divertion..

    

    How can that be ?

    

    Well, i didn't plan enough, it wasn't his fault.. I had often struggled planning my way in cultivation..And it almost ended my life..

    and certainly missed my chance at advancement...  

    

    You better believe it, Larchen said.

    

    

    But how did you meet ?

    

    He, sank another disciple to underground, at a regular lesson where they were supposed to float above the air. So the sect

    told me to investigate...

    

    And then ? 

    

    And then, i tried to help him out, pretending nothing going wrong.. He was also winning  competitions then...

    

    wait, you are able to talk to each other silent ? is that some forbidden art ?

    

    Oh well.. better not say..

    

    Does that include cultivation pairing ?

    

    Ehm, indeed..

    

    The historians eye's opened, that's quite. a revelation... How can that be ?

    

    Larchen and i were.. quite.. closely bound when i .. almost died.. ever since then..