59 Inception of a Technique Part 3 (1/2)

John sat in an inn near the gathering every day this week more gardeners would try their luck and feast. As time went on the city became very lively. Cultivators aren't known for sightseeing, so there isn't a significant tourism market for them. Typically only a few would pass through at a time unless some heaven-defying object appeared.

Today was the final day of the examination, and once again, all the local establishments were filled to the brim. John and a few acquaintances he knew from his work had gathered. They'd managed to get a table after a painstaking wait and were now drinking heartily.

They talked about recent problems and local events since they came from friendly sects in the same area. Rick was particularly boisterous as he boasted about his identifying of the two common plants that had been displayed the other day. ”HAHAHA, he bellowed. You should have seen their faces when I identified those plants. Most of them must be scam artists!” He laughed heartily. There were more than a few eyes filled with daggers now looking at their table.

A small woman with dark black hair and pitch black eyes dressed in a traditional Chinese robe. Her name was Liuxian though she had a strict upbringing she had long lost her dignified mannerism after her years of gardening. She gave a sidelong smirk to Rick and mocked, ”Are you sure they weren't surprised that a gorilla was talking?”

”I don't have any beast blood in me midget!” Rick retorted with a bit of a slur. He was indeed a big man with a very distinct face. The type that would get him arrested even though he did nothing wrong.

Liuxian started slapping Rick's back while laughing hysterically. Her laugh didn't match her refined clothing sounding like a cackling hyena. After a few minutes of this, she finally calmed down and held up her glass. ”Cheers to John winning the competition!”

”Cheers!” Rick joined in.

John frowned and shook his head, ”Come on, you're going to get us in trouble.”

Rick doesn't give in, ”Stop acting, which of these idiots could beat your gardening knowledge. You're the only person I've met that takes the job seriously.”

”That's right! If it were anything else I'd laugh in your face but if it's gardening who can compete? If you said you were the second most knowledgeable gardener no one would dare say they are first,” Liuxian added proudly as if she was part of the achievement.

Just as John was about to reject them, a messenger walks into the restaurant. ”Is there a John Oxylus here?” The messenger hollered over the clamor.

Liuxian gives John an I told you so look and laughs. She then jumps up on her chair and waves. ”He's over here!” she yelled while wobbling unstably.

The messenger pushed through to John and looked at him. He looked down at a basic description of the man he was supposed to find and John. ”Are you, John?”

”Yes,” John replied.

”Please come with me,” the messenger said.

John gets up with a frown they'd finally gotten a table, and now he had to leave. ”I guess I'll have to cut our get together short,” John said as he took his leave.

Rick yelled after him, ”Don't worry, we'll drink your fill!”

”Try not to die!” Liuxian laughed while still wobbling on her chair.