Kohaku sighed in his seat and opened his mouth. "Like I said, though the young miss is already at Gathering; Concentration rank 5. It is barely passable to be able to enter the hunting grounds. Especially since some of the higher beasts wonder closely in the borders." He started as he motioned to the vast expense outside the window.
"If the young miss enters with just your realm alone as your backbone, it would be disastrous as you might encounter some higher level beasts." He smiled wryly as he added. "And judging from young miss's attitude, you seem to want to work alone so I won't be able to come with you."
Zhi Ruo could not help but quirk her brows and laughed aloud when she heard the accurate description her senior brother laid upon her. "Then senior brother knows that even if you try to stop this young miss, you won't be able to succeed." Amused, she beheld as Kohaku sighed in resignation.
"It's quite unconventional, but I am well aware." Both men in the room eyed Zhi Ruo pointedly. Through the small time that they were in Zhi Ruo's presence, it took them enough time to know that Zhi Ruo can and would do as she pleased.
Wether unaware of the consequences or not.
"It's not like I cannot stop the young miss, but more of like, I do not want to be rude to your wishes." Kohaku said but it sounded like a lie even he himself could hear, while Zhi Ruo made it clear in her mind that she doesn't agree to his words. "And right now, I really do not think it is advisable to go into the hunting grounds alone."
"The tournament is around the corner senior brother Kohaku." Zhi Ruo frowned as she said. "When you say advisable, I can take it as an advice. And if that's the case, I can choose not to take it. Senior brother said that my grade is barely passable, but barely passable is still a pass." She tapped the table in a slow manner.
Kohaku have off a stoic expression as he listened more. Yu Zhúlín hid his face as he drank from his cup.
"What I am trying to say is, though your words may hold a sustainable amount of authority over my freedom. 'Sustainable' is not enough for you to force out a decision out of my mouth that I do not want." Her tapping was solid now, and Kohaku was still maintaining a stoic front.
"Be it as it may senior brother, but if I say right now what I want to go to the hunting grounds you won't be able to say no to me will you?" The veil tilted as Zhi Ruo looked from beyond the clothe. "I am in the same predicament, I respect brother Kohaku, I really do. That is why I want brother Kohaku to understand that you do not need to uselessly worry over this young miss as you do. I have made it this far without further help with my cultivation, I have made choices that have benefited me the most. So if I say that going to the hunting grounds is good for me, who are you to say that it is not."
"I am your senior." Kohaku all but spat out in a breath. "I am called a senior for a reason because I went through much more than you, and is able to discern what is most beneficial for the clan!—" he paused.
At this, Zhi Ruo smiled.
"Beneficial for the clan." She said, "But not for me."
The tea on her cup was all but forgotten. "Now that senior brother knows of my capabilities you worry about wether the clan could keep me or not." She narrowed her eyes, and even Yu Zhúlín could not help but flinch even though he could not see that Zhi Ruo did so. "Senior brother is treating me like a deciple." She paused. "But senior brother. I'm not a deciple."
"You do not even have the last Ye surname yet, don't get your head too bloated."
"And yet, none of you can deny the blood that is flowing through my veins now can you? Senior brother Kohaku?"
"..."
"Might you recall. I am not some lesser branch of the family, but the direct descendant. You, as a senior, as a person who has gone through the ritual to take the surname Ye even without blood relations. Should know how important my decisions are."
Zhi Ruo smiled thinly. "Important enough." She repeated.
It was a standstill for a few moments, and Yu Zhúlín who was with them could not let out a word even if he wanted to.
For all that is worth, Yu Zhúlín could only blink as the man beside him stood up and headed to the door. The room was plunged into this feeling of resignation as Kohaku left the room, but he stopped at the door. Back still turned to the people on the room, he assented.
"Do as you please." Well, if you could count that as assenting that is. "Brother Yu can accompany you to the entrance of the Hunting grounds. The patriarch will be informed on your endeavor." The last part was basically saying 'watch yourself.' vibe.
Zhi Ruo cannot tell if it was the good 'watch yourself' or the bad 'watch yourself' that is basically threatening the receiver. But Zhi Ruo could not care, nor does she want to. The meaning floated right above her head.
Yu Zhúlín watched with gaping mouth as his name was used without his permission. Some senior brother he has taking advantage of his silence. Yu Zhúlín looked affronted as he pointed at himself.
"Me?" He uttered in bewilderment, but Kohaku was already out leaving only the faint smell of bamboo on his trail. Both him and Zhi Ruo wondered how can a man smell like that naturally without having a bamboo forest nearby.
"You." Zhi Ruo nodded, as she reaffirmed Kohaku's words.
Yu Zhúlín made a strange noise from the back of his throat. He closed his eyes in resignation before he addressed Zhi Ruo again. "I see." He nodded, and yet his face was awfully blank in retrospect. "Please meet me on Huā Tián, I'll be leading you to the entrance."
Zhi Ruo nodded, "What time should I meet Brother Yu? Should we schedule this tomorrow?"
Yu Zhúlín eyed Zhi Ruo warily. "Yes, with young miss in consideration we need to set of the moment the sun arises. As the tournament is nearing I believe it should be appropriate."
Before long, Zhi Ruo and Yu Zhúlín was discussing the don'ts and do's when inside the hunting grounds. The task that was Kohaku's job ended on Yu Zhúlín's hands as he briefly told what Zhi Ruo what to watch out for. In his heart Yu Zhúlín could not help but sigh when he recalled his Senior's expression as he argued with the young miss.
Yu Zhúlín was honestly surprised that Kohaku acted like that at all. The guy was the kind of person that can nearly be called a devout follower of the direct descendants of the Ye clan.
Yu Zhúlín could only suspect that Patriarch Ye had done something to trigger Kohaku like that. Or Kohaku had realized something to lead him into such poor choices if words.
Yu Zhúlín left after he finished his explanation.
After a while, Zhi Ruo opened her dimensions and with a flick, a token with a red tassel in the end laid on her hand. It was one of the many things that Zhi Ruo had commissioned someone to custom-make for her to play with.
⟨⟨MP: 250/250⟩⟩ → ⟨⟨MP: 225/250⟩⟩
She remembered that the person who made it was starting a small business with only 1-2 clients per month. She fancied one of the shop's ancient representations, and ended up ordering 12 tokens each with a theme in mind. In the end, Zhi Ruo told them that they would use her resources to create the tokens, and she would pay them for their skills if they finish making her commission.
Zhi Ruo had given them bars of gold for their metal works, and the finest silks she could could get her hands on in earth to create the tassel.
For a small business, Zhi Ruo was their first major client. And they ended up spending a month each of the tokens.
When she finally got them, Zhi Ruo ended up paying a huge amount of fortune to the business. More than pleased with the results, and generous with her money. The business ended up soaring after that.
As a token, it had Zhi Ruo's name carved and hammered into it. As a set of 12, when you put the tokens together it took the image of a soaring phoenix.
"Ravel," Zhi Ruo called out, and the man in question entered the room silently. "Gather all of the servants under the new plaque. I have something to announce to them." She ordered after a thought.
Ravel, ever the faithful butler nodded and left.
The servants were well under Ravel's control, and had prior knowledge on serving their master. So it did not take under 5 minutes for them to gather in a neat line under the plaque. Zhi Ruo was satisfied when she saw the quick response as she got to the staircase.
On her hand was the golden token lined with intricate detail. Her eyes roamed along the people waiting for her to open her mouth.
"I am going to the hunting grounds tomorrow just as the sun rises." Zhi Ruo began her voice clear under the veil. "But before that, I would like to address all of you." She raised the token in her hand. The gold glimmered under the sunlight. "This is a token, under the firefly pavilion this token will determine your future here."
The servants looked up and saw the token in Zhi Ruo's hands with veiled interest. Zhi Ruo was gratified to see that they were paying close attention now.
"Under me, as a servant, you should not have the right to cultivate, get an education nor regain your freedom as you please without the knowledge of your master, Me." Zhi Ruo lowered her hands. "This token will allow you to gain resources, opportunities and knowledge. All of those would be given to you by this young miss if you are loyal enough to get this token."
Zhi Ruo motioned Ravel to come to her, and he did. Staying low on her side. "Their are three tokens. One higher than the last. This token is the highest one any of you can have." She gave the token to Ravel. "The lowest of the token will allow you to have a salary. And the second token, you will be able to cultivate, or learn as you wish."
The others under the staircase stifled the feeling of envy when they saw Zhi Ruo bestow the token to Ravel.
"From now on, Ravel will be the one who will overlook the situation in the firefly pavilion on behalf of this young miss." Zhi dragged her words carefully. She handed authority to Ravel, as she trusts him. "Their are only 12 tokens in gold and red tassel. and I bestowed one of them to Ravel."
One particular maid servant, took the courage to raise her hand in a shaky manner. She suppressed the urge to flinch when she felt Zhi Ruo's gaze on her. "May this lowly one ask a question?" Her voice wavered as she asked.
"Go ahead." Zhi Ruo consented.
"Will the token be able to give us our freedom back?" She uttered the words with a bravery if a fool.
"If that is what you wish when you are able to get one of the 12 tokens. Then so be it." Zhi Ruo smiled as she said so. "But know that you will let go from the great Ye clan. Do not expect any other favours after you have regained your freedom." With hidden implications Zhi Ruo answered.