novelraw Chapter 244 - 243 - Negotiations for the Slot
Chapter 244 - 243 - Negotiations for the Slot
"And then, I struck the nearly steel hide of the flame boar dead on. It nearly burned my flesh to be so near, yet the blood flew like a burst grape from my sword strike!" An older man was moving his arms through the motion of an attack as several women sat on the edge of their seats in a large pavilion.
Master Bord was a decent story teller when he did not swear or act unbridled to Lind's ears. He was smiling widely out of sight as it would disrupt the servants from enjoying his story. It was not the first time Lind heard it but it always seemed to get bloodier as time passed.
Still, he was glad the Divine Sword Sect had sent Master Bord once more. It showed some sincerity but also a level of forthright connection he found refreshing. Bord was not a schemer in politics. With a sword he was a nightmare enemy, but in talks he was blunt and to the point.
"What happened next, Master Bord?" One of the younger girls asked breathlessly and he smiled at her widely. Lind almost wanted to warn them but it was far too late to save them.
"Why its pack came hounding around the great oaks of Sleinte Forest. That boy, Solon, and I were outnumbered but we never flinched as there were villages around us in danger from the aether beasts if we let them be." Lind nearly rolled his eyes. As Solon spoke of it, only 2 more boars appeared, not a whole pack or herd.
While they were troublesome enemies, they had only been at the low Stone Tier. For a newly minted 6 elemental Stone Tier and a Gold Tier from the Divine Sword Sect, it was child's play. Even so, it was a good story.
Bord had the girls enthralled and he had no intention of interrupting.
Lind carefully scanned the older man head to toe and frowned. While his elixirs had done near miraculous work, it was clear Bord was nearing the end of his life. He still had decades but compared to the normal lifespan of a World Realm, it was nothing.
There was little he could do anymore. Elixirs could work wonders, as he had been reminded, but the potential of life was burned by Bord himself when he broke through into the World Realm.
All his research indicated that the power to restore potential was far beyond grade 4 even in the Heaven Realm. Part of why his elixir for Fey had faced the wrath of Heaven was that he exceeded the rules of grade 4.
Still, it told him such a miraculous elixir could be reached one day.
"How long will you let him keep talking?" There was a gentleness to Cyntilla's voice but they were expecting the Saint and Darkmoor representatives any moment. Even so, Lind felt no need to spoil Bord's fun.
"Let him have this. If nothing else, he is not the only one having fun." Cyntilla followed his eyes and understood. Lind had rescued so many from Altair but the group following him had worked hard for him. Some relaxation was long overdue.
"They should be hard at work!" Reya was not far behind them but Lind smiled back at her. He patted her head like a small child which the woman did not seem to mind at all.
"Hard work is fine, but resting is important as well. Cultivation is not all about the battle, but the quiet in between as well." His words were very true and Reya nodded while blushing. Cyntilla would normally be slightly worried but she knew Reya and the other girls viewed Lind as a savior and protector. They truly wanted to only serve him and make his will manifest if they could.
"Still, it had been a long time, perhaps it would be wiser to announce ourselves." Cyntilla voiced her opinion but Lind smirked as he pointed at Master Bord.
The old warrior was still speaking but Cyntilla noticed what Lind was pointing out. His back was to them yet his hand was never far from the hilt of his sword during his storytelling. His stance was easily able to turn and face them at any time. It meant the old swordmaster was well aware they were there.
The only people unaware were the servants and Lind was not spoiling their fun just yet. Reya arched her eyebrow as she also pieced together that their guest was far more impressive than he looked.
She then perked up as a jade stone flashed into her hand. She concentrated and then looked to her master.
"Lord Frey, a demon and a human arrived as expected, they are not in the best mood." Lind nodded and then looked back at the pavilion. He waved his hand and pointed to the front of the mansion and saw Bord slightly nod. Smiling, he followed Reya to the meeting room.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
"Your hypocrisy speaks for itself!" Lind entered the room to find a rather svelte demon sneering at a woman with wisps of white hair in her dark braids. Her deeply tanned skin revealed she was from the western side of the Saint Kingdom.
Clearly the rivalry between the 2 powers extended to any meeting but Lind had no time for their argument. His arrival brought both around and had their faces clear.
Cyntilla shook with laughter but Lind kept his face clear.
"I thank you both for coming on short notice but I wanted to clear up some things I found in an invitation." The demon swept back his dark blue hair as his bright orange eyes stared at them. The woman next to him was standing ramrod straight and seemed tense.
Her dark hair reached nearly down her back while her white and silver robes told Lind she was from the Saint Kingdom's central capital. It was the uniform all the cultivators wore for the capital from what he had learned.
Her eyes were actually a mix of blue with a yellow ring at the center. It was the most human eyes he had seen so far as colors went in awhile.
"Please, take a seat, Master Bord will be with us shortly." Both frowned at his words but Lind did not care overly much. In this conversation, he held quite a bit of the power.
"I do not see the need to bring the Divine Sword Sect into this discussion, Master Frey." The woman had the aura of a low Gold Tier but the demon was easily a mid Gold Tier. It was clear Darkmoor was trying to one up their rival but Lind did not care about that.
"I disagree, since the invitation was unclear I had to seek clarity as to what exactly I am being offered." Lind's firm tone made both of them flinch, which was not missed by anyone. Midnight's information seemed accurate.
"It is never wrong to survey the field before battle begins." A voice came from the doorway and Lind smiled as Master Bord came in. He was smiling wide and the demon bowed with respect while the woman merely nodded at him.
She was far above him in cultivation so that was already a concession but Lind frowned inside at her dismissive attitude. Master Bord was an honored elder of the Divine Sword Sect and deserved more respect.
Bord, himself, simply smiled and bowed to both respectfully.
"Now that we are all here, I want to discuss the slot offered to me." Lind summoned the invitation from his ring and laid it on the table between them. Reya stood to the side ready to serve food or drinks as they sat on the couches in the room.
"It was fairly straightforward. Your accolades more than qualify you on top of your age and cultivation. I do not see the problem." The woman dove right in but Lind looked to the demon first.
"I do not believe we have met before, your name sir?" The demon smirked and bowed to Lind.
"I am Anton. I am assigned to the Lotus Empire so I was chosen to be the representative of the Kingdom." Lind nodded and turned to the woman who seemed quite put out at being ignored but she knew the host held the power at the moment.
"I am Lora Maran. I was sent by his majesty to clarify the slot we assigned to you." Lind smirked at her attempt to take over the conversation but he was having none of it.
"You mean you want to tell me what Darkmoor and the Saint Kingdom agreed on for me to get a slot?" Both demon and human flinched once more but Lind signaled Reya and tea was brought over for them to drink. "I appreciate how much you value my services, but you must both be aware of my objection to such overt favors?"
Lind sipped at the tea as both the demon and woman seemed to be scrambling. They clearly did not expect him to figure out their motive but they also could not offend him or he would reject the slot outright to their dishonor.
"Surely, you do not believe rumors–" Lora tried to play it off but Anton was having none of it.
"I swear to the spirits, if you try to lie to Master Frey, we will break our ties with you." Anton did not even try to avoid the truth which lined up with Darkmoor. They could be crafty in battle, but in agreements and contracts, they kept their word to a severe level. Lind had experienced that first hand.
It meant that if he brought up a point of expectation, Anton was sure to confirm or deny firmly if that was true. Darkmoor's code of honor was sometimes too rigid but it was helpful here. Lora was clearly put out by it rearing its ugly head.
"You just had to keep your mouth shut, demon! Why must you all always insist on being this way?" Lind felt this argument was a long standing one between the 2 of many, but he had no time for it.
"Suffice to say I have the understanding of the offer. You offer me a slot, I will face hardly a challenge, take a shot at an Inheritance, and then owe you both, correct?" Neither side spoke while Bord quietly drank his tea. His smile was subtle but Lind noticed it.
"It is not a bad deal, Master Frey. Darkmoor has the honor of hosting your slot in the competition and you get an opportunity many dream of." Lind could not deny that entirely but he smiled wide as he turned to Master Bord.
"I understand the Divine Sword Sect has slots that can be fought for. Is that correct?" Master Bord slowly sipped his tea before setting it down. The older man then simply took out his sword and swung it at full force.
Lind rolled back and his seat was sliced in half! Both representatives did not even have time to act when Lind and Bord began to fight. What shocked them was how Lind had sword intent turn into Qi!
How had Lind Frey done that?!
The blades clashed but while Master Bord clearly had his well honed skill, Lind Frey stunningly was not losing out to him. While he had more strength, the experience of a true sword master shone as Bord deflected Lind's strong attacks.
Bord's sword Qi was far more profound than Lind's however. The white glow on their swords showed it clearly as bright white surrounded the simple blade in Bord's hands while a dimmer glow was on Lind's.
Anton and Lora were about to flare their aura when a stronger one sealed them instantly.
"Sit calmly and let my husband have his fun." Cyntilla calmly stood next to Reya with her shortswords sheathed but the hilts in her hands.
All turned back as laughter began to loudly come from Master Bord.
"Good lad! You put your body to some decent use at last!" Lind was smiling as even with all the Relic taught him, Bord was able to counter him. He had fought with Cyntilla, Shoti, Qing, Annabelle, and Fey on their journey back. They pushed him but they had never instructed someone on swordplay before.
Bord was an elder and had taught hundreds of disciples. He did not hold back to just a spar level at that moment. It was full strength and pushed Lind's comprehension of his own body and what he learned in the Relic.
Lind then smiled as elemental power flowed on his blade and the sword was yanked out of Bord's hands. Magnetism was not well known in the cultivation world, at least not from what he could find, but Bord was not thrown off.
Fists flew and Lind had to duck as Bord easily began to close inside his reach. It was enough for Lind as emerald light flared and Bord was sent flying backward only to flip over the other couch and land on his feet as if he was walking on air!
"Not bad, not bad at all. You are rough around the edges but more than enough. A slot is yours, Lind Frey!" Anton and Lora had their jaws open in shock while Cyntilla was laughing full throated across the room.
"Well, there we have it. I will be taking a slot from the Divine Sword Sect. Thank you for being my witnesses." Lind was breathing heavily but he was smiling at the demon and human. They suddenly realized it had been his plan all along.
It was only a negotiation in the sense he had to fight for the slot from Master Bord! Anger flared on Lora's face but Anton simply bowed before leaving the room respectfully. The Queen would not be happy but she could not complain about having a free slot either. Lora stomped out after him rudely but Lind did not mind at all.
"Master Bord, I would be honored to continue to test my limits with you." Bord smiled ear to ear in joy as he caught his sword Lind tossed him.
"Good, because while you have an interesting style, you are quite bad at it. You can't adapt quickly enough so we will start right now!" Lind barely saw Bord move before a blade sang near his ear. Rolling to the left saved his life but his crimson robe was sliced off at the hem! "Lady Cyntilla, please help me teach this upstart how to battle properly!"
Lind felt the blood drain from his face as his wife's virulent green eyes lit up in joy and the sound of swords unsheathing filled his ears.
"OUTSIDE! We need to go outside!" Lind whirled from the room as Reya slammed open the double doors to the back yard as Lind was chased by the 2 mad warriors. He apologized to the mess they left behind to clean up but the battle was joined. Lind was too busy defending himself to spare a thought for the lecture Qing would likely give him later.
It was fun!