n

n

nOnly silence followed after Mia's words.

nInternally, I couldn't be any happier. This was the first moment in both of my lives when someone unrelated to me by blood would stand up for me like that.

nThe situation turned even spicer when one would consider Mia's own position. As a mere slave, even with talent, she would normally be unable to even greet the elder of the sect.

nAnd yet she was here, standing between the two of us, acting as if she was shielding me from Vaner.

nOn the other hand, Vaner was equally as stunned as I was, if not more. His previously displayed wrath was nowhere to be seen, replaced just by the sheer shock alone.

n

"Fine,

" he finally muttered, shaking his head and placing his hands on his hips. He then raised his eyes and sent me a look filled with awe.

"I was going to accept him anyway, but now that you put the situation in this way...

" Vaner cut his words short, most likely to emphasize a huge smirk that grew up on his lips.

n

"Now, you will receive the same treatment that I have planned for him,

" he announced, moving his eyes back to Mia's face.

n

"I will teach you two to the best of my ability, serving my role as your teacher,

" he said, once again making a short pause for purely theatrical purpose,

"but you can forget about obtaining any resources that direct disciples would normally be privy to!

"

nVaner's smirk achieved its final form, turning into a smug smile as he closely observed the reaction of the two of us.

n'So that's what he wanted to achieve,' I thought, a wave of relief mixing with the feeling of enlightenment in my soul. 'It was just his greedy wish to not burden his purse with additional expenses!'

n

"How could you?!

" Mia shouted, her eyes widening and her hands tightening in fists.

"And here I thought you were a valiant elder who stood up to the principles!

" she screamed out, her face turning ugly.

n

"Chill, Mia. Calm down,

" I muttered, shaking my head as I stood up. Rather than being conflicted, I was relieved.

nIt sucked that I wouldn't obtain any resources from this man. While I had my doubts about how permanent that arrangement would be, I could happily accept it.

nBecause now I understand what this man valued. Even if it was only a part of what made Vaner... well, Vaner, it was a point good enough to lay a foundation of my relationship with him.

n

"What? Don't you understand?!

" Mia turned her face to me, changing the target of her shouts to my face.

"Providing cultivation resources for their disciples is the main responsibility of the teachers!

" she screamed in my face, clearly unable to understand how could I be fine with accepting the situation.

n

"It's fine,

" I said, reaching out and patting her head.

"So that's what you were after, huh?

" I added, turning my head towards the elder while my hand continued to rub Mia's scalp.

n

"Exactly,

" Vaner easily admitted to his schemes.

"Seeing how you acted during the auction and even right now, seeing how quickly you progress...

" The middle-aged man took a deep breath only to hang his head low.

"It would bankrupt me,

" he said in a pitiful tone as if lamenting over his own inability.

n

"Still...!

" Mia continued her protests, forcing me to press my hand down on her head and make the girl turn her face back towards me.

"It's fine, I said.

"

nRetracting my hand, I lowered it towards the pouch at my belt. Then, using the excessive cloth of my sleeves, I pulled two spirit stones out.

n

"I have five more in the pouch,

" I added, only for my lips to form a smirk.

"And I can easily buy a lot more if needed,

" I said before stealing a glance of the elder's face,

"right?

"

n

"That's correct,

" the elder smiled, clearly satisfied with how the conversation was progressing. His eyes brimmed with happiness.

"Also, the main reason why I will never provide you with any resources or money unless absolutely necessary is that I believe it would only hamper your potential.

"

nMy eyebrows moved up my forehead.

n'So this is what he was truly after,' I realized, squinting my eyes.

n

"And in case I still have some excellent ideas hidden in my mind, you will be more than happy to provide the funds in exchange,

" I finished the elder's words before waving my hand and turning back to the girl instead.

n

"Would you mind explaining what's going on?

" Mia asked.

nRight. Most of my recent interactions with the elder were non-verbal. It was a continuous exchange of unspoken words and implied meanings, an exchange that we could understand only because we were aware of the same things.

nBut the same couldn't be said for Mia. For her, our debate had to look quite confusing.

n

"That was tiring,

" I whined, surrounding the girl with my arms and resting my head on her shoulder.

nWhile surprised by my sudden intimacy, Mia didn't push me away, nor did she try to slither away from my grasp.

n

"You don't need to worry about lacking cultivation resources for the foreseeable future,

" I whispered, taking a moment to let her warmth, smell, and softness chase my mental exhaustion away.

n

"Okay?

" Mia replied, unsure how to react to my strange behavior. Still, rather than protesting or demanding answers, she placed her hands on my back and started moving them up and down as if trying to cheer me up.

nTruly, a lovely girl.

n

"Anyway,

" I said, unable to be bothered to lift my head from Mia's shoulder, not to speak about looking at the Vanner's smug face.

"What should we do now?

"

n

"Here,

" Vaner stepped forward and placed something on my shoulder. Reaching for it, I saw two crystal orbs roughly the size of a small coin.

n

"What are those?

" I asked, finally rising from the girl's hug and turning my face to the elder.

n

"Tokens that prove you are my disciples,

" Vaner replied.

"There is a droplet of my blood imbued in each of them,

" he explained, making it sound as if the meaning behind his words should be obvious.

n

"I still have some matters to attend to, so I want the two of you to go to the accommodation office. They will tell you what to do next there,

" he said before pushing the cloth of his robes and locking his hands behind his back.

n

"Thank you for your hospitality, elder!

" I said, resuming the usual routine of giving proper respects.

n

"Don't mind it,

" Vaner replied, a smirk once again forming on his lips.

"I have great expectations for you two!

"

n