A Nice Little Present

Shu stared up at the sky, laying on his back in the soft, white sand that served as ground for the sparring area, he wasn't certain what that sand was, but it did not feel rough, it did not get everywhere, it was a blessing really, otherwise things would have been worse.

He was panting and sweating like an overweight pig that had been forced to exercise in the summer heat, the inner disciple had truly tried his best to get the better of Edrick, and whilst he definitely was faster than the noble scion, his senses for combat were far inferior, so despite having a rather big advantage as he could manoeuvre around at great speeds with great agility, Shu had just been tossed around the entire time.

His movements might be fast, but they weren't quick enough that they could not be perceived, and furthermore, his dire lack of experience at actual combat made him highly predictable, to the point that Anoteros could have probably beaten his ass even if he was as swift as a bolt of lightning, additionally, he was much too easy to stagger, also due to his lack of experience, so whenever he got hit, it took him a few moments to compose himself again, but in an actual fight, one instance of that and he would have gotten stomped.

Furthermore, the Wind-Riding Serpent-Tailed Rat Anatomy was a technique that did not grant any strength boost whatsoever, so whenever he tried to strike with something other than his weapon, it just felt like he was kicking stone, not quite literally, but Edrick's body was definitely way too hard for Shu to strike without the use of a tool, if he actually tried to go all-out and attack as hard as was possible in this way, he would just hurt himself.

But thankfully, contrary to his expectations, Anoteros did not beat the crap out of him with that bamboo staff, and actually provided some insight in how to get better, most consisted of 'get out there and assault some people' though.

"Doing good down there?"

"...Yeah"

"Then stand up, I have something I want to talk to you about- But first, change your clothes, you're dripping" as though having been waiting just out of sight, Linmin swiftly showed up out of nowhere carrying a basket, accompanied by a girl Shu was fairly certain he had never seen in here before, but that he was also confident he knew, at least a little bit.

'Isn't that the girl Li is head over heels for? In Edrick's residence? Dressed in something bearing the symbol of his family?' the inner disciple knew Anoteros well enough by now, any woman he kept close to himself, he was definitely bedding.

'Better not say anything about that and just act none the wiser…'

After getting a change of clothes, as apparently, for some reason, Anoteros had spares of robes for inner disciples that happened to be his size in his house, another thing that was best left unquestioned, Shu was invited to walk around the residence with Edrick, no one else anywhere to be seen.

That scenario differed from usual, he would normally get him to sit in the living room to discuss business…

"Aherm… If I may ask… What is the subject that you wish to discuss?" Shu watched as Edrick rubbed his chin with a smirk.

"Shu, you have done very good work so far, everything that you claimed you could get me, you got without any delay, and always in the right quantities, I already told you that I was planning on hooking you up with my family for your mercantile talents, but I would like for our connections to be further deepened- I intend for us to become lifetime business partners"

"I see…" that wasn't exactly a great deal considering that Shu was working for free, but he just nodded along.

"To forge a greater bond, I prepared a gift for you" Edrick opened a door, revealing a small room in which some tea was already being served by JIngyi "Come on take a seat"

Edrick made a sign to his maid, who bowed before walking out of the room, her hair brushed by her master's fingers, making the girl vibrate ever so slightly.

The two men sat down, Shu looking around the room and noticing that there was another door within it.

"Oh, you have my thanks then! But, what sort of gift are you talking about?" Shu asked as he picked up the teacup he was served as Anoteros grabbed his, both sipping the warm tea at the same time, the lord of the house only responding when they had both finished their cup.

"I'll make you into a man"

"Pardon?"

"The room right over there"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember when you told me about why you joined the Myriad-Arm Sect in the first place?"

"Of course"

"Well, let me be frank with you, Shu… The gang that you were so scared of? They are dead"

"I- I heard about it from my sources, but I do not dare believe that completely…"

"You can trust your sources, I can confirm, I killed them personally"

"...But I heard that the Prosecutor Yi had already linked that case to the murders in town…"

"Of course he did, I left my signature there as well- But let's not switch the subject, I am an Elt, I do whatever I want anyways- Let us focus on the topic at hand, I slaughtered that gang out of the kindness of my heart, for your sake, and I even brought you a present for those little excursions, and that gift will allow you become a man"

Shu swallowed his saliva, feeling something churning in his stomach, literally.

"I was thinking about bringing Tao, the one that was really responsible for your predicament, but that would have been too crude, so instead, I brought you his sister, her name is Yaling, she is waiting for you in the room right over there, you can enjoy that girl before I dispose of her, that is my gift" explained Edrick in a most casual tone, Shu could think of a lot of things to say, but stayed silent, for one, for some reason, he was getting weirdly hot and the horrific present was sounding more and more alluring- Secondly, was he really in a position to refuse a gift from this man?

The answer was no! You do not, under any circumstance, refuse a present from someone with a status that is so much higher than yours, there was no point in using logic or morals anyways, Edrick was an Elt, the clan that openly sponsored cults that worshipped devils and the most unsavoury of cultivation sects, doing such a thing was normal to him, it would be like insulting his family directly to refuse.

"Oh… Huh… Can… Can I take my present at-"

"Right now"

"I… See" Shu was really starting to feel weird.

'Was there something in the tea? I feel awfully willing to take this gift…'

"W-Well then, I guess I'll go ahead then…"

"Oh, and Shu, enjoy yourself, you can do anything with her, she is impatient for your arrival"

Then, the inner disciple stood up, and entered the room, closing the door behind him before even looking at what was awaiting him inside…