Chương 8: Fruits of hard labour

Those Venerables from the Blue Lotus Sect didn't reach the Nascent Soul Realm by being stupid. Once a problem appeared, and they learned about it... they could also solve it. In Sister Mei's case, they decided a hostage was quite useful, making her father responsible and having to pay a huge gift to the Sect, for not killing the guilty spy. On the other hand, since my hand was involved and drenched in that flower dew already, I was assigned a jailer role.

Perhaps as a husband too, if and when things normalized again. Life went on in the Blue Lotus Sect, and the disciples' drama was used as entertainment by higher ranks. Soul searching made investigations much too easy. As for Sister Lina... she wasn't too happy. I couldn't tell with all the ice, but I had a hint. Things went back to normal... a new normal at least. Sister Mei was also confined to residence, like any hostage should be. It did make learning and practicing her sword manual much easier.

Elder Gong showed up a week later, holding two Golden Mangos, paid by a certain rich Nascent Soul father.

"Your father-in-law sent these for you, Pef Tian. And also a stern warning about keeping Disciple Mei intact and virgin."

"Help me extract the wood cores first, Elder. With three of them... we can perhaps make a Tier 3 pill." I asked while holding a third core in my hand. The Head Librarian stared at me for a minute.

"You mean the Grand Meridian Melting pill? Why do you want to reform your meridians? They are pretty much perfect already." she asked while easily extracting the cores, without damaging the spirit fruits.

"I have a friend called Qin Lin. She also comes here often, Elder. Her meridians are... defective." I said in a level voice.

"Ah, I know about her, yes. Lina mentioned your childhood friend. But even with those three cores, you need a Tier 3 Alchemist, and at least 10000 spirit stones for his services." Elder Gong said with pity in her voice.

"I can manage that, after I finish my Foundation and can take external sect missions." I declared in a confident voice.

"And the fruits?" she asked, just as I grabbed one and ate it whole. Rotating my qi in the three fold pattern made my cultivation grow at speed, and step into 9th level of Qi Gathering, right in front of her eyes.

"The second fruit is for Sister Mei. I might need to beat her up with my sword... in order to temper her meridians. You can watch if you want, Elder. Sword reinforcement is very useful." I explained in a kind voice, and the Elder smiled.

"I guess I can do that. These small tricks of yours... can they truly guarantee a safe Foundation?" she asked curious. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"Safe... that's a big word, Elder. But 90% chance is possible. It is also very painful." I said in a compassionate voice. The Head Librarian nodded cheerfully.

"I'd say death is even more painful. I'll go bring Mei." I tended to agree, having tried that in another life.

"What is it now, Pef Tian? Do I have to pay another tithe?" my Dark Sister growled in a hateful voice.

"That could be a good idea, yes. How much is a Golden Mango worth, Elder?" I asked in a sneaky voice.

"Around 300 spirit stones, if in perfect condition. Such as this one." the Head Librarian pointed at the waiting spirit fruit. Sister Mei hesitated, then sighed and took out the payment from her storage bag.

"I can pay for that, but I'm not sure my meridians can hold the energy. Will Elder Gong help me with that?" she asked cautiously.

"You can't afford a Core Elder's services, Sister Mei. But, luckily there is another way. Sword reinforcement. We just have to fight 100 rounds..." I explained with a kind voice, then smacked Mei over her thigh.

"Bastard! Let me get ready!" Mei yelled and took out her own sword. It was useless anyway, since I was already a higher level than her. But if it made her feel better... I kept smacking her meridians with my wooden sword, making sure I used just enough force to bruise, but not too much. By the time we were done, Sister Mei was a mess, dripping tears and sweat.

"If you would, Elder. Now is a good time for the fruit."

"I see. All meridians were struck in order to unblock them, and shake up any impurities. Clever stuff, or someone getting beat up so much that he learned something from it." Elder Gong noted while feeding the Golden Mango to Sister Mei, then helping her dissolve it by grabbing her qi and rotating it forcefully.

"At first one, then the other. Can't be sure if there was anything smart about it. I remember the pain..." I mused about Tian's experience with his old master. Being a hero surely seemed painful.

"Haha, well said, junior. Now let's wait and see if it still works..." the Elder said while monitoring Sister Mei as a test subject. I already knew it would work. It might look simple, but the sword reinforcement was a technique from the Azure Sword Sect in the Central Continent, not something that a small sect like Blue Lotus would know about. Groaning in pain, Sister Mei relaxed and drifted into the 9th level of Qi Gathering as well, then fell asleep.

"Amazing! If we can maintain 90%... and find enough spirit fruits..." Elder Gong mused to herself, planning for a future that will never come. Not unless she came with us, and survived the massacre.

"I say we let the rich kids know. Those who can buy the fruits. No point making the poor suffer even more. I know how it feels." I muttered in Pef Tian's farm boy voice.

"... Right. Without the fruit the pain is useless. I'll see what the Venerables say. Maybe we can hold a contest, and give a few fruits to poor disciples of talent. Like yourself." The Elder proposed in a warm voice, and rubbed my hair. Pef moved my body and hugged the mature and big breasted Elder by the middle, placing our face between her breasts. Heavenly feeling..." You're so kind, Elder Gong! I don't need more fruits, but on behalf of every poor child..."

I began speaking when the Elder grabbed me and flung me away. Damn it, Pef! You're going to get us killed!

"Use those tricks on young Lina, you horny kid! She has even larger boobs..." Elder Gong grumbled in an exasperated voice and flew away, still blushing a little. I grabbed the beat up Mei under my arm and walked inside, placing her on my bed to sleep comfortably. Then I stuffed my face between Mei's perky boobs to take a quick nap. Still something.