Chapter 463 - Heavenly Marks Family (2/2)
'What's with the dragons? How about a lion, a gorilla? Even a boar would liven up the place...'
Followed by Moon, and then Nie Hai, Nik walked into the hall with slightly larger and lavish chairs placed on either side and the most lucrative one on the opposite side of the entrance. A sweet scent lingered within the room while the lack of lucrative chandelier didn't stop the family to push glowing light orbs in the open mouth of the metallic dragons 'flying' around the ceiling.
”Please, Master Nik, take a seat,” Nie Hai led Nik to the seat right next to the main seat. As Nik sat on the comfortable chair and added a note to change the chair in Yuuko's shop, Moon mewled playfully and jumped over to Nik's lap before chasing her tail slowly and then crumbling into a lazy posture while yawning. Maybe... Moon just didn't like to be active for too long, be it day or night.
Once everybody settled down, Nik waited for them to speak up. Since his intentions were pretty much clear, he remained patient enough to let someone else direct the conversation. If he wasn't wrong, political swimmers like these elders loved to have the chance to take the initiative. Seeing that a few breaths had already passed, one of the elders finally spoke up, ”Master Nik, we all have heard your tales. But, may we get enlightened on the reason of getting chosen for your selection test?”
”Oh,” Nik smiled, ”It's pretty much Nie Li's contribution. He is a rare talent but my techniques cannot benefit males. These techniques were a fortuitous encounter and unwilling to let them go to waste, I decided to find talented female apprentices.”
”Sigh, I wish my son had been a foolish, unruly lass instead!” One of the elders lamented while the third one waved his hand through his beard, his words testified to his shamelessness, ”Had I known this... I would have made a daughter...”
”Ehm,” Nie Hai interjected, his glare instantly silencing the particularly stupid elder before speaking with a smile, ”Anyway, Master Nik, we cannot let you help our family's member without compensation. So, I insist that tomorrow morning, before starting the selection, accompany me to our humble treasury and take one thing of your choice.”
Since Nie Hai's words weren't objected, this decision already looked discussed. ”Patriarch Nie Hai, standing to ceremonies is not who I am known for. If that is your wish, let me see it through.”
'Ah... sometimes, I terrify myself with my superb acting skills,' Nik sighed internally as Nie Ming and Nie Li finally entered the scene. What took place next was an extremely vein-popping conversation filled with compliments upon compliments. The elders and Nie Hai complimented Nie Ming for providing such a son, meanwhile, Nie Ming flattered everyone back. Nie Li took part, too, with a surprising eloquence at that.
Finally, after Nik showed a distinct favor to accompany Nie Li's family for the dinner and his hosting, practically making Nie Ming swell with pride, Nik and Moon were finally able to get away. Meanwhile, Nie Li looked over at Moon following behind Nik curiously.
'Hmm? Finding a Moon Kitten is extremely rare... the more it grows, the more enticing it scent becomes, especially to the feline kind, practically making it the best beast lurer in the category of the cat family. If used well, of course. I should search for one, too.' Nie Li remarked as he saw his father and Nik chatting happily, making him smile internally. After his previous mistake with Ziyun, Nie Li had cooled down and wanted to approach her in a more orthodox and 'respective' manner. And if Nik introduces him to Ziyun once again, then his past slights could probably be forgotten.
'Sigh... the pages of the Temporal Demon Spirit Book seems one-time use only... if I had it, I could have mastered the forms and insights hidden within Teacher Nik's techniques. That would have doubled my power instantly... and quite literally. And teacher seems to be a talent, too... I can already feel multiple insights meld into his body and forming a resonance with the surroundings. He is close to mastering an insight.'
In reality, since Nik had mastered too many insights too quickly, he needed to properly adjust his body. The feel of 'being one' with the world was the most basic use of insights and right now, Nik was simply making use of multiple insights into his daily activities to integrate with them. This, according to the [Tome of Battle,] was the true method of utilizing insights gained— To allow them and seep into one's body instead of turning them into 'techniques.'
Of course, this was only true for physical insights and not special kinds like elemental ones.
Meanwhile, learning upon the news of the 'master' of her dreams visiting their house for the meal and stay, a certain buxom housewife instantly called upon her younger, far more sexually active, twin and started preparing the meal that would even put the said wife's five-year anniversary's dinner to shame.