Mage And Wolf
Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Chapter 174

It’s quickly agreed that these cultivators aren’t part of the larger problem, which means our job here is done. The members that healed the wounded bring me their list of pills and medicines consumed, as I promised to replace them. I don’t have many of the low grade items on hand, but I’ve got better versions, so I just swap them out, causing the volunteers to gloat at their good fortune and the others to curse their lack of foresight.

Unexpected rewards for service are a hallmark of the Shadowed Blade Elders, they build loyalty and motivation. But I’m an Elder in name only, due to the token I requested as a payment for pills, and it never occurred to many of them that I might have good things in store for those who jumped fastest to do my bidding.

We spend the remainder of the night at the farm, leaving very early in the morning to get back in the early afternoon.

"Hey, Kat, look. Auntie Ye made me a new cushion." Betty greets us when we return. She is sitting cross legged on a fluffy pink meditation cushion, trying to master the lightning cultivation technique that Alice has taught her, but she’s easily distracted it seems.

"That’s a very nice cushion, but aren’t you supposed to be cultivating?"

"I tried, but then you all came back and that was way too distracting." Betty shrugs, making Karl laugh.

"Hey Alice, how about a passive cultivating technique? One where you can just force feed her body lightning energy as she goes about her day? It’s what the Death God did for our hyperactive Little Lycan." Karl tells the Spirit Wolf, winking at me.

That’s a bit unfair, the Death God gave him the same technique. But it sure is convenient not needing to meditate all day to actually advance. How boring would life be if I couldn’t go anywhere or I’d stop my cultivation?

[I do know something like that. Not as efficient as mediation, but perhaps the increased time will make up for it?] Alice ponders before turning back to Betty and giving her a string of new instructions.

"Is Elder Chou of the Sacred Thunder still around here somewhere?" I ask Elder Song who points towards the tent.

"He’s cultivating in the spare room. If you want to start making dinner for everyone, we can tell him everything at once."

I nod and had to the kitchen to get something ready. Soup is good for large groups and not much effort, so that’s what they’re all getting. Not that the disciples will complain, good food is good food. As promised, Elder Song brings out the Elder from the Sacred Thunder Sect just as I’m finishing up and Karl is placing the bread rolls he created on the long table.

"Disciples, come inside, it’s time to eat. We can rely on senses other than sight for a while." I call out, bringing a wave of black garbed cultivators to the entrance of the tent.

It’s a very popular item, normally you can’t put living things in a storage bag, at least not one made by humans. So the concept of a mansion inside a canvas tent is a true novelty. Elder Song has placed a bounty on storage bags from Giants, hoping to make more of these tents for the other Elders, but him and Karl have still been trying to work out how to create them on their own whenever they’ve got a chance to experiment.

"Well Elder Chou, we’ve made quite the example of the Jalen Sect. I don’t think anyone is going to attempt to copy their actions in the near future, at least none that see what their fate will be." I smile at our guest and a number of the diners laugh quietly.

"Thorough I hope?" he asks and I nod. "A group of cultivators from the light Sects set out this morning to go talk with them, or provide verification as the case may be. They should be in contact soon."

We’ve long since finished eating and Elder Chou is teaching Betty how to make s’mores over a campfire when the sound of a crow alerts us to an intruder. The birds are everywhere on this continent, so guards use crow calls specific to their Sect to alert each other without causing panic or spreading too much information for enemies to hear.

"Ten incoming, multiple Sects." Elder Ye says, looking towards the noise.

"That’s likely us. Please don’t attack them." Elder Chou informs everyone in a voice designed to carry and help the others find the camp.

"Greetings to the Camp." comes a very familiar voice. Elder Han of the Divine Fist.

"Elder Han! Please do come join us. I’ve got leftovers in the pot." I call to the cheerful cook.

"Young Miss! I didn’t know you were back in this world. It’s good to see you again." His voice is cheerful, but his face is a bit pale. I wonder what happened? Or maybe it’s about the Jalen Sect Compound. The weather is pretty warm today, it might have smelled a bit ripe by the time they made it there. Not as bad as it will be in a week though.

"Young Miss, with Elders Song and Ye, plus Elder Chou of the Sacred Thunder, who we were expecting. I think I understand now what happened to the Jalen Sect." an Elder from a Sect I don’t recognize says.

"About that dinner. Did you really have some? That lovely display cost me a good portion of my lunch." Elder Han laughs and I bring the pot out of storage with a couple bread rolls and a ladle.

Han produces a bowl from his storage and scoops a serving, motioning for the others to do the same. "You don’t want to miss her cooking, trust me. And this is even better than I remember."

Before you get too into eating, it’s the problem with the Jalen Sect fully solved? I haven’t gone to see for myself." Elder Chou asks and Han grimaces.

"You could say that. Anyone who comes across what used to be the Jalen Sect will understand that they made an unforgivable mistake of some sort. Those that know what they were doing will know not to emulate them." Elder Han turns back to his food with enthusiasm, clearly wanting no more to do with that topic.