Mage And Wolf
Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Chapter 95

The mood is high back at the hotel. The Shadowed Blade Sect has won 2 major competitions in the tournament, plus a third place finish in inscription.

The Sect Elders have been pushing to have the light Sects evaluate us as a grey sect of neutral assassins, and high profile victories without incidents are key. Especially non combat categories that show us as a well rounded sect.

Not that the members are any less evil cultivators, or planning to stop practicing forbidden techniques, but officially being neutral would allow marginalized light sects to hire us without fear of being labeled a Devil Sect themselves. And that’s good for business.

The Inner Sect semi finals are today, finals tomorrow along with an exhibition by Elders. I’ve just got to find a way to actually get out of the building to go.

The outside of the hotel is crowded with civilians clamoring to meet the champion of the Outer Sects, and 3 or 4 times an hour the lobby turns away merchants trying to sell some product they insist will help my cultivation.

Breaking through Realms is notoriously hard, with many cultivators building energy for months or years just to take that step. It’s not likely to take so long for me, but I’ve still been stripping Death Energy from everywhere I can. Even the most infamous of our Elders no longer wear such a thick burden of dark aura.

Maybe my cultivation will help the Sect’s reputation?

Finally I had to go up to the roof and thank everyone for coming to see me and showing their support during the fights. I toss a collection of bronze coins that Elder Po gave me for the purpose into the crowd and tell the lucky winners to go get a drink on the Shadowed Blade Sect.

That gets them moving.

The crowds are even bigger for the Inner Sect competition with travelers still arriving to watch the matches. They’re the true stars of the tournament, moving like lightning, throwing around energy attacks at will and hitting with such forces that the crowd can feel the wind.

I’ll admit, I’m more than a bit jealous.

The High River Sect was entirely knocked out of the Inner Sect elimination round, but placed well in the skills competitions and are planning to head home early, citing extremely high room rental rates for the final nights.

Their route takes them past the Shadowed Blade, but Nanny Vitale isn’t keen on letting the Forbidden Treasure Sect near her sheltered ladies, so we’ll be traveling separately.

Close enough to intervene should the other require assistance though. Safety in numbers is definitely a thing in the cultivation world, with lone cultivators often leading very hard or very nomadic lives.

We’re leaving early to get the beleaguered Dual Cultivators back to safety before the major Sects are on the move. The plan is to run the route near the High River Sect and get home tonight, instead of taking multiple days.

Stamina pills for everyone have been prepared and well wishes made, so we take off as soon as we’re out of sight of the gates. Elder Po was originally going to travel with us for added safety, but an old friend arrived and they will be fighting an exhibition tomorrow, so Elder Ming has joined our group instead. Making it myself, Elder Song, Elder Ming and the Forbidden Treasure Sect.

We got out a bit late due to the crowds I drew to the hotel and it has gotten dark. The High River Sect decides it safest to make camp for the night, while we’re only an hour from home, so we will continue.

Elder Song passes out a few small wooden necklaces. That’s a bit unlike him, giving parting gifts. But they’re communication tokens more than jewelry and will let me, the Elders and Nanny Vitale communicate over a distance for the next 24 hours. A final precaution, he insists, against being attacked.

They’re fortunately not needed tonight and we arrive safely with Sect Mistress Becky and her disciples. No call for aid comes from the High River Sect, so I hope they’ve had a great night.

I’ll have to make a list of non douchebag Sects to post up in Arcana when I get home. If one portal to this world opened near enough to send spies to the city, plus the one I went through, there’s bound to be more somewhere.

Sect Master Becky is actually a lot of fun to talk to. We spent much of the run talking about her plans once they’re safely settled in Arcana. I explained clothing customs, and she had no problem modifying the uniforms to be more culture friendly for the population of Earth.

Elder Song is going to get them set up in the morning. The new uniform is simple, they’re moving to a pure white layer under translucent peach Sect robes. With a white dress under a peach cloak as a more fancy option. We’re hoping that gives them the innocent but sexy look that they want to portray.

For the night, we’re all bunked in Elder Song’s library, either passed out on furniture or meditating on cushions.

I’m almost done breakfast when the white robes arrive and the Forbidden Treasure members all get dressed. The effect is stunning, the white inner robe layer under the gossamer fabric gives an ethereal look that still says martial cultivator.

But it’s when the dresses arrive that we are blown away. They’re a below the knee length white hanfu dress with wide sleeves the reach the fingertips, with a shorter sleeved translucent peach second layer with a slightly shorter hem. A black sash with white embroidery holds it all together and helps accentuate the ladies assets. Worn with loose pants underneath it’s surprisingly modest.

A short discussion on whether the gossamer peach pants or the white ones go better with it ensued, with no real decision. As far as I care it’s a pantyhose versus tights under your dress type argument, both are fine.

"Where did you even find these Elder Song?" I ask in disbelief.

"Yes, it’s only been a few hours" Sect Master Becky agrees.

"Well, you see, we have the patterns for both styles, and plenty of fabric in the disguise creation storage, so I simply used a spell to cut and sew them to match everyone’s size."

"I’m a bit jealous now Elder Song. Those dresses are lovely" I tease him.

"Fear Not Young Miss" he announces grandly, pulling a bundle from his storage ring "I made something for you"

It’s a soft silk dress in Dark Silver, almost floor length, with a translucent black outer layer and a silver sash tied by a black silk rope around the waist. A thick black silk outer layer, shorter in the sleeve and hem, worn loose and decorated with Dragons embroidered at the sleeves gives it a very traditional Chinese elegance. The black dragon Mark on my chest settles elegantly along the neckline, showing just enough to be sure it’s a tattoo and not part of the gown.

A definite change from my usual western style. I sort of feel like a fairy, or maybe an actual Young Miss, living up to my title.

"There’s a few more of them. I know how hard you are on clothing."

Wait, I took photos of Mary enchanting clothes to self repair. With her scrunched up concentrating face and constantly bloodied fingers. I’ll bet Elder Song would love that enchanting circle.

"Thank you Elder. Now I have a gift for you. It’s a touch more valuable than a few beautiful dresses, but I think you need to have it."

I hold out my phone and show him the self repair circle "copy this down if you would".

He looks intrigued, but by the time he’s done he’s bouncing like a hyper school kid waiting on the final bell.

"That’s self repair for clothing?"

"Yep" I smile at him. "I’ll need it on every piece of at least one of these lovely gowns"

He laughs at my boldness. "That’s the Young Miss, always putting me to work" but he starts making more copies of the circle.

He’s really quite fast, must be the thousands of years of experience, and soon he’s got enough to do one of my new dresses plus Sect Master Becky’s new uniform.

"Now ladies, in return for all this hard work, should we give the sect a fashion show and tour the grounds?" Elder Song smiles at Sect Master Becky in particular.