Beastmaster of the AgesBeastmaster of the Ages
Eminent Jiguang couldn't help but laugh; her smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze. There was a scent of springwater coming from her. It was so dense and fragrant that standing close to her would cause one to enter a slightly buzzed state, as if surrounded by hundreds of beauties.
"Auntie, my eye for talent’s great, isn't it? See how amazing he is on the Prehistoric Path!" Suishen Yao proudly boasted as she held her aunt's arm.
"I saw it. He’s indeed rather interesting. Yaoyao, you've truly distinguished yourself," Eminent Jiguang said with a gentle smile.
"Auntie, he also stood up for my sake and didn't think twice about going against Yumo Yuanni! Can House Suishen..." Suishen Zhao probed, but didn't dare to finish the sentence. He wanted House Suishen to take Tianming in and guard him.
"Is that so? Such a dear friend of Little Zhao must have something that's worth cherishing." Eminent Jiguang knew what he meant and had come to do that exact thing.
She turned to address the crowd, especially the specters. There were a few seniors of House Yumo there as well. She spoke with a cold, but authoritative voice. "From now on, I, Suishen Jiguang, represent House Suishen by taking him into our ranks as a Suishen ward. Know ye all that he shall stand with us to share in our burden and glory!"
Suishen Yao and Suishen Zhao were absolutely elated. The former pinched Tianming on the waist. "Quick, offer your thanks!"
Tianming hurriedly bowed with gratitude. "My utmost gratitude to Your Eminence and House Suishen.... Thank you, Little Master, my brother!"
At the same time, Tianming got Yin Chen to listen for what the status of 'ward' meant. It told him that being made a ward of House Suishen was basically what happened when an outsider got officially taken in under the house's banner. Wards were still considered outside the inner circle of the house, however.
Many people who married into House Suishen started out as Suishen wards. Even after marrying into the family, outsiders were still considered Suishen wards and wouldn’t become true members of the house. Their surnames and bloodlines couldn't be changed, after all. However, they were still considered part of the house alongside the true members who were born into it.
Tianming was incredibly grateful and accepted his new status. No matter how well he got along with Suishen Yao and Suishen Zhao, there was a limit to how much protection and benefits that would bring him. But with official status as a ward, it meant that if there was an incident that involved Tianming, House Suishen should investigate it in an official capacity and seek redress for any damages caused. Whether they would actually do so remained to be seen, but at least they had a right to.
Even if Suishen Yao claimed Tianming as one of House Suishen, it wouldn't count. But it was different in Eminent Jiguang's case. In other words, I'm properly on House Suishen's side now. My mistakes will reflect poorly on them, but my triumphs will also be theirs. It was an incredibly significant change; he had gone from being one of the children to a proper member of the family.
While others expected something like this to happen, it still caused some commotion in the crowd. Some eminents of House Yumo looked grim. One even asked, "Suishen Jiguang, is this your personal decision or Eminent Ranxing's?"
The intent behind the question was clear; the words of different people in House Suishen had different weights. Most of the affairs of House Suishen were handled by Eminent Ranxing, not Eminent Jiguang.
Eminent Jiguang ignored the specter, and the crowd's chatter soon overwhelmed the dissenting voices. Yumo Yuanni was the most tragic of all of them, having become a stepping stone toward someone becoming a Suishen ward. With that new status and his previous one as a prospective eminent, Tianming would no longer be threatened by the likes of Eminent Tiankui, or those of Fallengrace Peak.
Yumo Yuanni was so mad that he puked blood.
"Suishen Jiguang’s just doing her own thing. Eminent Ranxing might not have approved of this, so it should still be fine for you to seek revenge against Tianming," a senior said to him.
"Is that so?" Yumo Yuanni began calming down. He knew that he could no longer defeat Tianming, so he had to employ other methods! "There’s no other way to vent my hatred!"
***
With his newfound status and the care of the Suishen siblings and Eminent Jiguang, Tianming's path ahead would be even more smooth. Having taken down Yumo Yuanni once more, he now had a new goal: clearing the fifth divine idol of the Prehistoric Path with Suishen Zhao and maintaining their first-place rank.
Suishen Zhao said, "We have more than ten days to prepare. Let's go back to Suishen Cave and research how to clear the final two idols."
"Come, let's go and celebrate!" Suishen Yao said, seemingly in a good mood.
Tianming gave it some thought and said, "Little Master, since there's so many people here today, I want to try making my way to the top hundred of the Fortuna Ranking."
"Top hundred? It shouldn't be an issue, given your current capabilities. But is there a need to rush?" Suishen Yao said.
"Sis, you don't get it. With a ten times multiplier, he'll be able to gather much more rewards the sooner he's in the top hundred! That's when he'll start being rewarded with springwater! Even if he ranks around the fifties, he'll get as much springwater as people in the top ten! If he reaches the thirties, his reward will be close to yours," Suishen Zhao said.
"What?!" Suishen Yao stared at Tianming with surprise and desire. "Little Li, you've only achieved so much because of my guidance. Tell me—how are you going to repay me now that you're going to get all those merit points?"
Tianming immediately said with a serious look, "The daily merit points are nothing compared to what you have, Little Master. However, the multiplied rewards I'll get from the Prehistoric Path, on the other hand, are significant. If I get that, I’ll repay your gracious guidance with half of the merit points and springwater I get!"
Even Eminent Jiguang couldn't help but raise an eye at the sound of that. Suishen Shuang came over and said, "Yaoyao, what kind of love potion did you brew to make him do that?"
Suishen Yao snapped out of it and glared at Suishen Shuang. Then she cleared her throat and said, "Your sentiments are more than sufficient. I have much more of that, so I don't need your menial rewards. Keep them for yourself. Your amazing performance is repayment enough for me."
"Understood!" Tianming said. There was no way he would actually be willing to give her half of all he got. However, he knew that the more he exaggerated, the harder it would be for her to accept the rewards. And if he offered, Suishen Yao would still appreciate the sentiment. He had publicly made that offer, after all, and there was no way she didn't enjoy that public show of devotion.
Suishen Yao couldn't wait any longer and urged, "Quick, go raise your rank. Put your unique red-and-black name high up on the Fortuna Pillar."
She was in third place, and Tianming would be closer to her when he made it to the top hundred.