Chapter 34 - Agreement

"Yes, actually, there is something you can do for me. I don't want to beat around the bush: I want you to join my faction."

It was what the sect leader said. This sentence completely surprised Hei, given that recently it had been decided that he would remain in the outer sect, and from there, he would have to take the selection test if he wanted to move to the inner sect.

The sect leader, together with the first and second elders, had decided to proceed in this way. However, now the same sect leader denied the decision she had made earlier.

"Joining your faction? Sect leader, didn't you say that I should stay in the outer sect and then from there, go into the inner sect, like all the others?” Hei asked inquiringly.

As he asked the sect leader, he was conversing with his mother to decide how to proceed before this unexpected situation.

"Yes, it's true. That's what I decided with the first and second elders, but things have changed now. I didn’t expect you to be able to restore a spirit vein. Don't try to deny it. The Flower Sect was known primarily for our expertise in growing rare plants. I perfectly know how to recognize the soil’s qualities. The surrounding terrain has spirit power, something it shouldn't have, and this strangely happened after you arrived. "

Hearing that the spiritual vein had been named, Hei immediately tried to deny his involvement.

"I have no intention of denying that the spirit vein is active. However, this has nothing to do with me. I don't know how it happened, but I'm certainly not capable of such an undertaking." With a resolute voice, Hei looked straight toward the sect leader’s eyes.

From this interaction, the sect leader perceived that Hei was telling the truth. Indeed, it wasn’t Hei who restored the spirit vein but his mother. Saying that he had nothing to do with it, wasn’t entirely a lie; after all, the only thing he had done was just observing.

The sect leader pondered to herself if this was indeed the case. The boy seemed not to be lying, yet it was a coincidence that this had happened when he had come, after years of inactivity from the spirit vein?

Eventually, the sect leader sighed and decided to let it go. Inside herself, she felt it was better not to investigate this matter further. Somehow, after mentioning the spirit vein, her body was sending warning signs, but she couldn’t understand where this danger came from.

"Alright, I believe you. However, this doesn’t change that I want to recruit you in my faction. But if I had to formalize it now, I would unleash an uproar with the other two factions in the sect. So I propose an agreement: promise to join my faction when you move on to the inner sect; in return, you will have an unlimited loan of contribution points."

"An unlimited loan of contribution points?"

Hearing this, Hei's interest was immediately captured. Since he had just joined the sect, he had no contribution points at the time, and he would have to wait at least three months for him to make some profit from selling his crops.

Noticing his interest, the sect leader continued,

"When your plantations bear fruit, you can return these contribution points. As a sect leader, I cannot give contributions points without reason, but I can lend them to you. In this way, you will be able to borrow manuals right away. Of course, I can only offer you those destined for the outer sect. What do you think about it?"

At those words, Hei remained silent to meditate on the proposal. Indeed, having contribution points now would accelerate its growth, but this meant that it would then have to keep his word.

"In addition to the manuals, is it possible to request other items? Like medicinal herbs and agricultural tools?” Hei asked the sect leader.

According to what his mother had said, outer sect techniques were simple basic combat techniques. Since Bao Bei already had a set of attack moves ready for him and Lian, it wasn’t advantageous to borrow contribution points for basic techniques. But medicinal herbs were different, especially those that facilitated wound regeneration.

The program of Bao Bei included various cycles of wounds and healing, as befits a spirit beast. Therefore, it was necessary to procure materials to decrease healing time.

"Yes, it is possible. But keep in mind that although I have said unlimited credit, it must be in the number of contribution points you can get from your harvest. It mustn’t exceed this amount for any reason. Even if I'm the sect leader, I have to show neutrality for everyone. What I'm proposing to you is already something that barely fits into the sect’s rules. "

"There are no problems. For the moment, I want a bag of medicinal herbs every week, and if I request other medicines, they will have to be delivered as soon as possible. I also want a manual on the art of spear and an agricultural plow. To finish, all the information on the types of existing dances, with precise descriptions of their respective moves. This is the price I ask."

Feeling that the asking price wasn’t something excessive, the sect leader was happy but was intrigued by a detail.

"The price you ask is fine. But why are you interested in the types of dancing? Is it for that girl, Lian? "

"I apologize if I offend you, but it isn’t of your interest. I know why you are compromising with me and why you are so keen on recruiting us. And I have no problem helping you in your purpose, but I want to leave one thing clear: no personal questions about what we do. My only purpose is to become stronger, that's all. I have no bad intention towards you or the sect. As long as someone doesn’t dare threaten my life or that of my family, then I will behave like any sect’s members and help you achieve your goals."

Hearing those words, the sect leader was stunned. She never imagined that a young man like Hei could have the courage to use that tone with her. She was used to the rude tone of the first elder and tolerated him because their strength was similar. Yet the words of this young man who had begun the cultivation path seemed more powerful and decisive than those of the first elder.

Even she, who was the sect leader, couldn’t help but be taken aback and re-evaluate the boy with new eyes. Although she considered him to be intelligent, she thought that by showing kindness to him, she could make him one of her subordinates. In this way, she would have had a loyal beast tamer with exceptional abilities, and perhaps he could have persuaded his elusive father to join the sect.

But now she realized that it was foolish to think this - if she had tried to make him her subordinate, she would probably be eaten alive. She was sure now - there was someone or something that was protecting the boy, and she was definitely not at its level. So, as long as she kept her distance, merely providing what Hei asked, she would accomplish her purpose of seeing the sect brought back to its former glory.

"Okay. As you wish, tomorrow I will give you what you asked for. Remember to keep your part of the agreement."

That said, the sect leader put her hood back on and turned away, disappearing into the night. As she ran, her body was trembling dramatically, and her breathing was heavy. Now that she was moving away from that area, she could better perceive the danger she had run.

Usually, Hei would have had a calm and peaceful character. However, from the night he made his promise, he decided to be more resolute towards other people outside the family. He knew what the sect leader had in mind and didn’t like the idea of having to undergo to tricks and a fake kindness. So he decided to make things clear right away. Bao Bei, surprised by her son, supported him in any case by putting pressure on the sect leader thanks to her spirit power.

Although they had revealed the presence of Bao Bei, in the end, they had achieved what they wanted. Also, as long as the sect leader behaved intelligently, she would do anything not to incur the wrath of that mysterious presence. Of course, they couldn’t merely threaten her, so they agreed to help her with her goals.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, it couldn't be said that it was a bad result. After the sect leader disappeared from their sight, Bao Bei re-entered the spiderweb house while Hei thanked Shui for support before following her.

When they returned, Hei briefly told others what had happened. Ye was particularly excited and was waving her tail vigorously. She preferred to approach others directly without tricks, using her own body. Xing instead asked if it was wise to reveal their mother's presence, but after being reassured by Hei, she accepted his decision.

Even if they didn't feel sleepy, Bao Bei sent them to sleep anyway because tomorrow was a training day.

*

The following morning, after having digested breakfast, Hei received a visit from an inner sect’s member, under the sect leader’s order with the things he had requested, except for the plow that would be delivered soon. Evidently, she had preferred to terminate her part of the agreement immediately.

Hei put away the medicinal herbs on one side of their house while giving Bao Bei a notebook with writings and drawings concerning the types of dances.

"Mother, here is the information you requested."

‘Thank you, my little one. Leave it on the ground; I'll give a look.’

In fact, it was Bao Bei who had made this request and, as the sect leader had guessed, this was for Lian. That was because the lotus flower style was a style based on dancing.

The Lotus of Love was a divine beast with a small body and humanoid appearance, but with a pink-green complexion and vines like hair. Her bloodline allowed her to control the wood law. By combining it with her passion for dancing, she had created a fighting style in which she would dance while creating plant vines from the ground to trap the enemy and kill them.

The lotus style destined for Lian had this characteristic but through the use of a particular weapon - the ribbon. It was indeed possible to infuse one's own spirit power into a weapon to increase its cutting power and endurance. For materials like silk, it was also possible to harden them and soften them to your liking. Thanks to this expedient, the Bai Ze had created a style that exploited how the Lotus of Love fought.

However, the Lotus of Love’s dancing was very complicated. Therefore, Bao Bei planned to let Lian learn simpler dances and then move on to more complex ones.

But if the style of the lotus flower was based on elegance and creating a rhythm through dance, the spider and snake style were different. The first was based on acceleration speed and on using this speed to give power to one's shots; the second, instead, was based on the flexibility of the body combined with speed to hit vital parts in rapid succession.

After she finished reading the notes carefully, Bao Bei brought Hei and Lian out of the spider house, while she sent Ye and Xing to train with Shui.

So she made Lian running as a brief warm-up while explaining to Hei the peculiarities of the spider and snake style.

‘Listen to me carefully, my little one. I'm going to explain the moves that make up the spider and snake style. First of all, these moves are divided into three sections - detection techniques, movement techniques, and attack and defense techniques. At the moment, the detection techniques are too advanced for you because they require precise control of your spirit power. So we will focus on the other two.

Fortunately, you already know some techniques of these styles - the four-legged running that belongs to the spider style and the submission techniques belonging to the snake style.

However, the spider's movement technique is divided into two - four-legged mode and two-legged mode. The latter uses the toes to move in a rapid sequence. So from now on, you will have to fight barefoot.

Then we have the snake running that uses the flexibility of the upper body to dodge attacks as you advance toward the enemy. There are several exercises that allow you to stretch your muscles without damaging them. But you will also have to learn how to dislocate the bones at your command and increase their flexibility through unique methods.’

Bao Bei then stopped to show Hei the images of the moves he had to learn. Looking at the images that were transmitted inside his head, Hei couldn't hide his surprise. Those techniques indeed resembled the movements of spiders and snakes. From an early age, he wanted to look like his mother and his sisters, and now he finally had the real chance to realize his dream.

‘As for the attack techniques, excluding the submission moves that I have already taught you, we have for the snake style - snake fist, snake whip, snake fang; for the spider style we have instead - spider lance and spider bite. To these, we will also add two other moves - beast claws and chameleon tongue.

For the defense techniques we have for the snake style - snake hair and snake coiling; of the spider style, we have only one - spider carapace.

Although the moves of the spider style are less in quantity, the spider lance is the most powerful technique in your arsenal, especially when combined with animal claws. With that, you can quickly kill a person with a single hit.

In order for you to use these techniques, you will need to undergo training that will change the inner structure of your body, mainly we will have to concentrate on improving the bones because they are the fundamental point of these techniques.

Obviously, in addition to that, you will train yourself in the art of spear. Although these moves are based on hand to hand combat, it is essential that you master your weapon perfectly.’

Hands, feet, tongue, teeth, nails, and other parts of his body. In his mind, Hei was visualizing how his body could be transformed with those techniques. He didn't care about the price; the only thing he wanted was to start as soon as possible. He was looking forward to surprising his two little sisters when he would learn how to fight like them.

Bao Bei seeing his son's emotion decided not to waste time and sent him to train. The first moves she would teach him were the snake's fist and the snake's lance. To learn them, first, he had to bring his hands to an ideal level of hardness.

So she ordered Hei to dig the soil - aligning the fingers of his hands, he would have to stab the ground. This even if his finger bones became broken. If he could no longer use his fingers, he would have to use his knuckles and the palms of his hands, and when even those would no longer be able to hold, only then would he rest.

This training could be considered brutal and barbaric, but for spirit beasts, it was normal. Throughout their lives, the number of claws, teeth, and other broken bones was incalculable. If Hei wanted to become like them, he had to undergo inhuman training regimens.