Vindicator’s Wrath - Chapter 20

Hong Wu had no patience to listen to Hu Huan’s supplication. “Not interested.”

Seeing Hong Wu was about to leave embittered, Hu Huan blurted out as a last ditch effort, “The Young Dragons Competition is to be held about half a year from now. All outer sect disciples are offered the opportunity to participate. All of the sects rising stars are sure to compete.”

Hong Wu saw where Hu Huan was going with this, but merely snorted. ‘What do I care? Let the young lords and ladies strut about. I have better things to think about.’

Hu Huan did not stop talking, trying to bait Hong Wu again. “It might interest you that the rewards for the competition this time are quite handsome; I heard through the grapevine that the top ten positions will receive one hundred spirit stones. Better yet, the top five will receive a magic tool that regular Qi Condensation cultivators only dream of!”

Hong Wu’s resilience faltered. Pills were almost useless to Hong Wu and incense was only mildly effective. Right now, spirit stones were the most reliable means of cultivation for Hong Wu. Yan and Hong Wu had a decent stockpile built up, but it was bound to be used up quickly. In addition, there was no guarantee the two would be able to obtain another windfall anytime soon. Even with the far off date of the competition, Hong Wu couldn’t help but show a hint of interest. Still, Hong Wu held on to her suspicions. “What are you playing at?”

Hu Huan’s agenda was always a mystery to Hong Wu, and that irked her. After the fight with Cang Rong, she had thoroughly fallen out with the rest of the girls in the Drifting Clouds Quarter. Her use as an informant about the activities of the other girls no longer existed. Hu Huan had no visible reason to offer this information to Hong Wu.

Hu Huan put on a hurt expression that almost looked sincere. “You wound me with your words Sister Hong; I merely wish to offer my assistance to a friend who has met with hard times. I wish to see Sister Hong rise from the ashes as a phoenix. Entering this competition will allow you to temper yourself in battle against your fellow disciples. The success of my friends is my success.”

Hong Wu knew Hu Huan was not telling her everything, but also knew she would not be able to obtain a straight answer from him. Instead, she attempted to exploit Hu Huan’s current giving mood and pump him for more information. “What are magical tools?”

The reward of one hundred spirit stones was self-explanatory, but Hong Wu only had a vague understanding of magical tools. Magical tools were, simply put, any object that used spiritual qi to operate. This was a broad term that encompassed many different objects. Elder Zhao’s fan and Yan’s flying sword were both examples of magical tools. Beyond this, Hong Wu knew very little of magical tools.

“Magical tools are the best way for cultivators to unleash the maximum potential of their cultivation base. There are near infinite different types of magical tools, each with their own abilities. All magical tools vary in quality, but none are useless. Any cultivator worth mentioning has at least one magical tool to aid them in some way. Having the right magical tool can even allow one take on cultivators of a higher cultivation base. In a fight between someone with a magical tool and someone without one, the person with the magical tool will win nine times out of ten.”

“That powerful?” Hong Wu marveled.

“Magical tools are very valuable. Even the cheapest will cost you thousands of merit points. The fact that the Black Mountain Sect is giving the top five a magical tool is unprecedented. Many outer sect disciples are undergoing intense training to prepare for the competition. Some are even suppressing their breakthrough to the sixth layer of Qi Condensation to remain eligible.”

Hong Wu’s excitement got the better of her. ‘The rewards are indeed tempting. Yan and I cannot miss any opportunity to gain benefits.’

“Sister Hong, I am telling you all of this now because I wanted you to have time to prepare. The competition is coming soon and entering with a cultivation base as low as yours is inadvisable. You must break through to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation at least to be eligible, but it would be much better if you were at the fifth layer.”

Hong Wu soured at this. “That is easier said than done.”

Hu Huan looked as if he was thinking, then suddenly seemed to be struck by an idea. “You came to see me today for resources right? Come with me; I recently obtained an item that may prove useful to you.”

Returning to the Cloud District Exchange with Hong Wu in tow, Hu Huan disappeared into a back room of the shop. After a few minutes, he returned with a small wooden box. “A gift for Sister Hong. Please accept it as an apology for my rude behavior earlier.”

Receiving the box from Hu Huan, Hong Wu opened it to reveal a dark blue, circular, polished stone with a plain black string tied through a hole in its center making a necklace. “This pendant has the unique ability to accelerate yin-based cultivation techniques. While wearing this, your Coldmist Breathing Technique should improve its efficiency by about fifteen percent. Cultivate quickly so that you can participate in the upcoming Young Dragons Competition. I look forward to seeing your success.”

Hong Wu did not know how to react. An hour ago she was resolved to cut all ties with Hu Huan, but now he was giving her something she was in desperate need of and could not refuse. ‘He sure is a master manipulator. I can’t stay mad at him now.’

Feeling awkward about her earlier cold attitude, Hong Wu conceded, “I would like to be polite and refuse this, but am in true need of this item. Thank you for the gift Brother Hu.”

“No problem, no problem,” Hu Huan laughed, “I am just glad that you are willing to accept my goodwill.”

Hong Wu used her newly acquired merit points to purchase a few critical cultivation resources and headed back to the camp in the woods.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments section.