Wu Tianmo looked at Jiang Ling'er with admiration,
She hasn't run away.... interesting.
Jiang Ling'er slowly approached, cupped her fists and bowed her head with a grin,
"Congratulations, Hermit Wu, on your breakthrough"
Wu Tianmo smirked and nodded, he was growing quite fond of this girl.
Heh.. this girl. She looks to be not much younger than I am...
Wu Tianmo looked around, the estate was somewhat empty, but what remained was kept in pristine condition.
While they hadn't had much interaction, she watched over him and diligently did the task given.
"Has anything happened while I was in seclusion?"
Jiang Ling'er laughed nervously while eating a food pill,
"Actually... Something did. A few weeks ago my sisters and father appeared at the gate. I dare not receive someone in your hall so I didn't answer the gate. I fear...."
*Knock Knock*
"Patriarch Wu? It's Liu Changfeng. Are you there? What was that pillar of light?"
*Knock--*
Wu Tianmo and Jiang Ling'er appeared at the estate's front gate to greet them,
"So it's Patriarch Liu and a guest, please come on in."
Wu Tianmo led the two men, who appeared in their 60's and dressed in blue robes to the central pavilion where guests were received.
On their way they passed by many ashen barked trees with crimson leaves, delicately laid to create a pathway to the main hall.
As they passed through the outer gate of the walled central pavilion, hanging stone lanterns illuminated a wooden walkway that crossed a small reflecting pond.
Jiang Ling'er obediently followed behind Wu Tianmo causing her father much confusion.
Was this still his unruly daughter?
Liu Changfeng spent this walk admiring the Chen Clan patriarch's attention to detail. While he was a crazy old man, he really knew how to design an elegant estate.
At the end of the walkway stood a four-level blackwood pavilion.
It rested upon a stone foundation, where thick blackwood pillars supported a curved tile roof. Each floor was also supported by wooden walls that depicted a different mythological beast.
They walked through the main door which hosted a large patriarch seat atop an elevated wooden platform. It was a blackwood chair with carved armrests depicting dragons. Beside it was a low tea table.
There were two rows of guest seating chairs with small tea tables between them. The chairs were parallel on each side of the main pathway leading to the Patriarch's seat.
With the orientation of the chairs, it gave off the feeling of judgement, as the Patriarch's chair looked down upon them.
Wu Tianmo sat in the Patriarch's chair while Ling'er poured some tea for all the guests, including her father.
She merely winked at her father and returned to Wu Tianmo's side.
Jiang Ling'er's father was flabbergasted, this unruly daughter was somehow pacified by this man.
He could only think,
Is it some trick? A demonic spell?!
The Liu Patriarch and Jiang Fushui looked around the hall, it was without decoration as Wu Tianmo had only spent his time cultivating. Ling'er got the place looking presentable, but there was only so much she could do with what was left behind.
They all raised their glasses and took a drink together, the tea was bland but that didn't matter.
Wu Tianmo tapped the side of his chair with his fingers sequentially,
"What brings the Liu Clan Patriarch and his guest to the Wu Clan Estate?"
Liu Changfeng chuckled internally,
This kid really knows how to put on airs.
Jiang Fushui nervously looked to the Liu patriarch who gave him an affirming nod.
This gave him confidence, the Liu Patriarch had his back!
"Patriarch Wu!.... *clears throat* I'm Jiang Fushui, a Yellow Level merchant of the Flying Carp Merchant Association. We arrived earlier in the year at Heimu Village."
Jiang Fushui looked at Ling'er,
"I'm here to reclaim my daughter. She has been at your estate for months."
Despite the Liu Patriarch's supposed backing, Jiang's eyes revealed a nervous demeanor.
He was a mortal in the presence of two cultivators after all!
He took a sip of his tea,
"If this were to be known by others how would she get married in the future?"
Wu Tianmo's eyes became grim,
"So you haven't come to apologize for trespassing onto my estate, but to take my maid?"
A burst of red aura pulsed, while this didn't affect Liu Changfeng, Jiang Fushui was filled with terror.
The Liu patriarch looked toward Jiang Fushui impatiently, clearly there was more to the story than he knew.
Jiang Fushui had heard that the Wu Patriarch was in a much lower realm than the other Patriarchs. He thought by bringing Patriarch Liu, he would have leverage.
Yet this man still gave off quite the imposing aura....
He started to sweat, immediately he knelt and kowtowed to the Wu Patriarch.
Jiang Fushui with a blood covered brow said,
"Patriarch Wu, I apologize for my daughter's actions. You have already caught the one responsible, please spare my remaining Jiang family!"
While Jiang Ling'er understood, she hated seeing her father in such a state. Her face grimaced but it was not her place to speak, so she kept quiet.
Yet Ling'er felt a tinge of anger, caught the one responsible? Was she not with two of her sisters!
Wu Tianmo observed Ling'er's reaction and took a breath,
"Jiang Fushui why do you kowtow? You did not trespass onto my land. However your three daughters...."
Jiang Fushui looked confused,
"W--what?"
Wu Tianmo started to understand what had happened,
"You were unaware?"
Jiang Fushui also now realized he had been deceived by those ungrateful brats.
Jiang once again bashed his head onto the blackwood floor,
"I-.... Wu Patriarch.. I did not know there was more to the story. I was under the impression..."
He looked at Ling'er, she was obedient yet not under duress, clearly she had been treated well.
Since when was a merchant so blind...
Jiang Fushui sighed,
"Wu Patriarch, I apologize, I need to teach my other daughters well. Since Ling'er has the fortune of serving one such as yourself she is fortunate. I have some mortal treasures that would befit this hall, allow me to send them to you"
Wu Tianmo smiled and nodded,
"Rise and sit, you have done nothing wrong. In truth it was a small matter."
Wu Tianmo looked around at his empty hall,
"However, I will accept your gifts"
Liu Changfeng also sighed in relief, he didn't really believe the original story. He was informed by this Jiang Fushui, that the Wu Patriarch had stolen his daughter for nefarious reasons.
Having a good impression of the Wu Patriarch he had to see it to believe it. Clearly, this wasn't the case.
Liu Changfeng internally patted himself on the back, he had judged him correctly.
Wu Tianmo spoke with authority,
"Since everything has been cleared up, Jiang Fushui finish your tea, then you may leave us. I will not see you out."
Jiang Fushui gulped all his tea down in one drink nervously.
He gave his daughter a smile and cupped his fist towards the Wu Patriarch.
He turned and began walking towards the gate, thinking,
Ling'er sure has luck, if she can score a husband like that our Jiang family will rise overnight! Hehe I'm going to inform the captain. Also... Those ungrateful brats, better hope they're not home when I get there! They nearly caused our family a disaster!
---
Doors close behind Jiang Fushui
---
Ling'er steps forward and refills Wu Tianmo's tea.
Liu Changfeng's eyebrow raised in response.
He then cleared his throat thinking to himself,
So that's it. The young kid actually found himself a wife. Not bad, despite being a mortal she's quite a beauty.
Liu Changfeng raised his glass toward Wu Tianmo in respect,
"Wu Patriarch's luck is admirable, to achieve consecutive breakthroughs in under a year. Already at the 3rd Stage of the Body Reforging Realm. One might think you're blessed by the heavens."
This sentence was true, yet it also was tactful.
The Liu patriarch was probing, subtly reminding him that his recent breakthroughs hadn't gone unnoticed.
The Liu Clan was friendly with the Wu, however they weren't the only ones in the village.
Wu Tianmo had a good impression on the Liu Patriarch, however that didn't mean he would divulge any of his secrets to him.
"What can I, Wu Tianmo, do for you"
Liu took out a scroll and tossed it towards Wu Tianmo,
"It seems, we're not alone in this forest. A beast tide is coming."
A beast tide was a swarm of beasts, depending on the level, this could either bring disaster or great fortune.
Generally beast tides are led by a beast of a higher rank, ushered towards a village like a wave of disaster.
Wu Tianmo sighed and looked at the scroll depicting a peak level two beast, the Blackwood Bull.
"It seems the Silverback Tigers didn't take losing their home too well. Calling in the support of another tribe, do they have no pride?"
Liu Changfeng sighed,
"The Zhang family scouts have confirmed that in less than a year, the beast tide will arrive. Depending on which direction they come from..."
Ling'er tightened her grip on the teapot,
It seems many people will die...
Many mortal villages were scattered along the coast, most without a cultivator clan to watch over them.
Wu Tianmo noticed her unease, yet he wasn't completely at ease either. Beast tides could destroy everything they have built, or provide the necessary stimulation for a realm breakthrough.
The latter stages of the Body Reforging realm required real combat, this was perfect timing. As long as no tier 3 beasts arrive, they will have a chance at survival.
Liu Changfeng looked around at this lifeless estate,
"I worry about this Wu Clan Estate..."
Outside, crimson leaves rustled in the wind.