Chapter 313 - Apprentice (1/2)
”It's 2 in the morning.”
Nik groaned loudly. Not a single shred of his 'teacher' charisma remained on his face. His hair was disheveled, his eyes could barely open and there was still the dried out mark of the trail of his saliva from the corner of his lips to his chin.
”Besides the point.”
Shen Xiu spoke with a dispassionate tone. Her eyes groaned in an equal amount of protest as Nik's did while the slight darkening of the region under her eyes marred her pretty face slightly.
”I need you to train me,” She continued. Even hailing from such a noble family, the number of etiquette classes still failed to improve her social interactions, ”You will be well remunerated, of course.”
It was at this point, Nik understood the implication behind her words and his eyes finally opened up slightly. Amusement flashed within his gaze as Nik inquired, ”In other words, you wish to be my student?”
Shen Xiu nodded in a heartbeat. Nik's strength was something she longed for. She couldn't care less about the political interests of the three high noble families and her elder brother's conspiracy in regards to arranging her marriage. She needed to find answers to certain events. Events that could easily spiral out of the strength of her own being. To grasp the issue by its neck, she thirsted for Nik's strength. His was the style that seemed the most pleasing to her eyes.
”What was your spirit rank again?”
Nik inquired for confirmation's sake.
”I am a rank 26 Spirit Grandmaster. Why?”
Shen Xiu inquired with a look of confusion.
”It's nothing. I think I can train you... but wouldn't that come in between your cultivation?”
The spirit masters were divided from rank 1 to the fabled rank 100. Every ten ranks marked a breakthrough. Rank 1-10 were Spirit Trainees. The capacity of their spirit energy wasn't enough to accommodate a spirit ring. Du Ze, Shen Yue and even Ye Ziyun were all spirit trainees. While Ye Ziyun had long since reached the requirements of absorbing the spirit rings, the laws of the city restricted her from absorbing one until she graduated from the apprentice class with flying colors.
Rank 10-20, however, could hold a spirit ring. In fact, absorbing a spirit ring of a decently aged spirit beast was one of the requirements to breakthrough into each ten-rank realm. Shen Xiu was already a Rank 26 Spirit Grandmaster. Her admittance to Nik's guidance instantly allowed her into Nik's pool of students he had to guide while nurturing them into a peak rank-30 spirit Grandmaster.
Hearing Nik's inquiry, Shen Xiu's lips curled up mockingly.
”My daily diet holds an average of a hundred-years spirit beast while many ten-years spirit herbs. My cultivation won't stop rising even if I wish it to. Now, teach me your techniques.”
Nik frowned and then took a step back before inviting Shen Xiu in, ”Let's talk about my remuneration first.”
Shen Xiu nodded and entered Nik's room. Unlike her daily clothes, Shen Xiu wore a slightly loose pair of robe-pants. It was more of a sweatshirt and pants than anything else. Her hair was worn in loose braids that made it easier for her to train.
”This is quite small if one considers that you are from the Gin Family,” Shen Xiu remarked as she measured the edges of the room with a condescending gaze.
”Beggars can't be choosers. I left that family in pursuit of martial arts. This space is my current accomplishment,” Nik then gazed Shen Xiu's back and smiled, ”Your remuneration will be my future one. And your achievement will be my greatest accomplishment.”
Shen Xiu turned on her heels and matched Nik's gaze. He was an interesting one. At least, more interesting than the youths from the Snow Wind Family and the Divine family who wanted an 'in' into her body and the estate she held within the Sacred Family. Although she might be a socially disrespectful, living with her conniving sibling, she had long grown cautious.
”I will pay you with a ten thousand demon spirit coins every month and you will be supplied with ten kilograms of hundred-years spirit beast meat daily.
Is that enough?”
Shen Xiu impudently sat on Nik's bed and crossed her leg, an action that would have exposed her butt if she wore her usual thigh-split qipao.
”Of course, not.”
Nik shrugged and leaned back on the wall. His words made Shen Xiu frown as she increased his salary once again.
”Twenty thousand—”
”Get a hint already,” Nik sighed and ruffled his hair in annoyance, ”I don't want your money. I can just rob one of the mobsters running amok within these parts of the city.”
Nik's unruly words made Shen Xiu flinched as she inquired, ”You want a higher quality of spirit beasts?”
”And the world calls men dense social animals. Get a hint, will you? I want you.”
Nik smiled and winked at Shen Xiu, ”Over the past four days, I have spent a better part of my day with you. Needless to say, I like spending my time with you—”
”Do you think it is that simple?” Shen Xiu cut Nik in between and spat coldly, ”I have earned a lot of estate over the years. Now that I am at an age more than enough to place me in the books of men looking for marriage, do you think you have the chance—”
”This is what I am talking about!”
Nik grinned happily. Money, he loved it. No doubt about it. But pursuing a woman was never based on monetary reasons for Nik. He was a being that craved carnal desires. Shen Xiu's very essence seemed to ignite something within Nik every time he saw her.
”You are presuming that I want to get richer, but in fact, I only intend to bring you to my social status voluntarily.”
Nik's words stunned Shen Xiu as he continued, ”I want neither your money or the spirit beasts. My compensation is the fact that I am the only man who is capable of boasting that you were in my room past midnight.”
Nik's mocking smile and the implications behind such boasts made Shen Xiu's eyes widen in rage and disbelief.
”You—”