Zilan didn’t wait to hear any more of the red squirrel’s ‘offers’. His pace increased once again, not even caring to look back.
“You think I’m stupid?” He inwardly sneered. “All those things you’re mentioning, do I even have hope of attaining any of them? If you want to scam people go find another rock head somewhere else. What treasure can compare to my own life?”
Seeing the departing figure of Zilan, the red squirrel felt quite wronged.
“Ah! This Sage is trying to help you stand out as a genius. Do you know how many people would fight just to grasp a little hope of gaining my guidance?”
In translation he was saying, “Do you know how many people dare to refuse me face?”
“Senior you can’t say that, didn’t you tell me to step out just to play some games?” questioned Zilan.
In translation, “Face or life? Who cares about those death sentences you call games?”
“Ehem, that is how this Sage guides his students.”
In translation, “*Cough* Maybe this is why I don’t have any students.”
Zilan, “………”
Fujo, “……….”
Kifo, “…………”
“Wait, why are you running?” shouted the red squirrel who stared with widened eyes at the fleeing Zilan.
“I don’t want to go see that person but you’ve forced me.” Lamented the red squirrel. He’d waited so long for an interesting child to appear, how could he just let him run away so easily?
“You don’t want to move forward with the test? Ha! Even if you don’t want to, I can’t let you go.”
Suddenly the forest calmed down, the sinister character appeared to have vanished. Maybe, he’d gotten tired of trying to persuade Zilan, after all he was a great Senior of the Alchemy Association.
At least this was how both Kifo and Fujo interpreted it.
“Brother Zilan, why is that guy so interested in you?” wondered Fujo.
“I don’t know but I have a bad feeling.” Replied Zilan.
Kifo didn’t know what to say. Even when they weren’t looking for trouble, it would still find this person known as Zilan.
“Sigh~ Why do I feel sad about that Senior only bothering with you. Are Kifo and I really that bad?”
“If you want, you can go and ask to play a few games. I’m sure he won’t refuse you.” Smiled Zilan. “I’d almost forgotten that you were an idiot.”
…………………….
Elsewhere,
In an unknown location, a smaller garden flourished. The entire place looked ethereal. Dazzling blue lights shone and flickered across the area, almost like tiny shooting stars streaking across the sky before their spark was eventually extinguished.
A pond could be seen in the middle of this blue garden and currently standing beside it was a familiar figure.
The red squirrel!
“Old Blue, I’ve come to see you.” He shouted before taking a puff from his pipe.
No response came however, as if expecting this he just sat by the side of the pond humming a melody.
A whole half hour passed yet still not a peep from the blue garden.
“Come on, Old Blue, I wouldn’t bother you if this wasn’t important. Didn’t you say you owed me one after that last time when I took care of your affairs while you were training?”
Still nothing. It was obvious he was being ignored.
“What!? You’re still not speaking? Fine! If you don’t help me with my matter then lets see if I don’t haunt you for a hundred years. Heh, I’ve always liked the environment here despite it being a little boring. No matter though, I’ll just treat this short century as a vacation.
Mm, I still remember those days when we as Elder and Junior disciple traversed the sky heeding Masters Orders. Do you remember that time when……….”
The garden remained silent for a very long time. Hours went by yet the red squirrel was still being ignored.
“Oh! Also do you remember that time when that small boy tried to take some liberties with _…….”
Before he could finish his sentence a wizened ancient voice sounded out. Despite the extreme volume though, the only effect was that faint ripples appeared on the surface of the pond.
“Little Red, what do you want?” The voice was unbelievably soothing to hear. Even the red squirrel felt his mind clearing.
It was also surprisingly feminine. However, despite the calmness in the way she spoke, it was evident that this Old Blue was irritated.
“Don’t be like that, I need your help persuading a certain child to move forward with the test. For some reason he doesn’t want to go any further.”
“……….”
“That is the reason you’ve come here? Do you honestly believe that I will help you just so that you can toy with a good seedling of our Association to death?” Coldly replied Old Blue.
“There’s no other way, Master said that only you have full authority over the test and this ground. I can’t break those rules.”
*Silence*
“Besides, this child is different. He was able to get the treasure of the green forest so easily. Even the methods he employs are things I’ve never seen before, especially his formations.”
“What do you mean?” As calm as she usually is, even Old Blue was unable to believe that a child would be able to use methods that someone like little red knew nothing of.
“You cannot deceive me into breaking Master’s rules.” She stated.
“No, no, no. This kid is really interesting. When some tiger tried to mess with him, do you know what he did?” laughed little red. “He cursed him, turning that tiger into a crazed monster whose cultivation increased at a rapid pace. Its thirst for killing was quite the sight but the most stunning thing about it was its resilience. Killing it was quite the hassle even for that little monkey. He had to use four treasures to do it.”
“Now you tell me, is this kid interesting or no?”
Old Blue took her time processing the information. In truth, she found it hard to believe but once she remembered that it was little red retelling these events, the story seemed somewhat believable.
Even if he wanted to, little red wouldn’t be able to come up with such an outlandish tale just so that he could play around with a child.
If his goal was to torture or teach Zilan a lesson then, he wouldn’t sugar coat his words nor would he beat around the bush. He would state his purpose and his request.
“How is his skill in Alchemy?” she asked.
“He has a good smell so it should be good.” He replied.
“What do you really want, little red?”
“Ha! You’re thinking too much. I just want to test him a little bit, as for that other thing, I’m not thinking about it at all. You should know better than I Masters thoughts, there’s no need to search. If it’s meant to be then it will happen. Who are we to butt in?” His face sank as he spoke.
“Ok, I’ll help you but I won’t allow the situation to be unfair. Also, no one can know about it. I’ll try to persuade the child but if he refuses, choosing to leave the Association instead, then there’s nothing I can do.”
“That’s enough. I don’t think that kid will leave the Association, he already has the tools to increase his cultivation and move forward yet he chose to come here. There’s a reason for it but I don’t care at all.
I just want to see if that kid can make me see some more interesting things.”
