Maxwell's fight couldn't be called a spar, it would be better described as an assault. He could not defend himself fully from his father's attacks and was bruised everywhere. At the end of the fight Maxwell fell onto the ground exhausted from the relentless assault with his arms aching. He had used all his qi to strengthen his body and could not even use a slight amount of wood qi to heal his aching limbs. As he lay there panting Orphelia rushed over and healed him with her wood qi. A warm qi flowed through his body invigorating him and removing the bruises.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. You fight excellently, very few people would be able to match you in our generation."
'It's not all my effort, I also used the memories I have as reference.'
"Thank you, I wonder if I can beat you."
"No chance, I am at a higher stage of cultivation and Sword Intent. Maybe if you catch up to me."
"I'll catch up to you soon, then you will have to duel me." Maxwell stated, brimming with confidence.
"Sure."
"Next time don't heal yourself, you should endure the pain. If you don't work hard, you won't be able to protect anyone or survive the capital as my son." Maxwell's father said, interrupting them.
"Fine, old man."
"What did you call me? I'm still young for a cultivator. You can continue what you were doing, I must head to the palace."
"Bye."
"Why is your father going to the palace?" Orphelia questioned.
"There's probably some problems in the army he has to take care of."
"It's already afternoon, you have to take me for lunch."
"Do you have anywhere you want to eat at?"
"Well, there is a place I want to go, but it's hard to get in."
"It should be fine; I can always use my dad's token."
"You don't have to. You already spent so many Spirit Stones. You need to save it for cultivation."
"Well, if you insist, but you're still going to choose the place we're eating at."
Orphelia wandered with Maxwell through the capital, and they stumbled upon a small restaurant from which wafts of delicious food arose, instantly captivating their attention.
"Maxwell let's go in there. It smells excellent."
"Sure."
It had no name and had very few customers, but it seemed lively inside. Inside there were only 4 tables with 2 chairs each and a small counter where you could order food. On the other side of the counter was where the food was cooked freshly. The person cooking the food and the man who seemed to be the owner was an old man with a clean face.
"Welcome dear customers, please take a seat." He greeted them warmly with a smile before directing them to a seat.
"Every item on the menu on the table is available. If you have any questions about any dishes, please ask me."
Maxwell and Orphelia took a seat before browsing the menu. It was not an extremely long menu, but it was not too short either. After deliberation, both Orphelia and Maxwell ordered.
"We'll take 2 plates of Fried rice, 2 Peking Ducks, 2 bowls of Soup Dumplings, 4 skewers of Barbecued Meat, 2 plates of Kung Pao Chicken. I apologize for ordering so much at once."
"It's okay but are you sure you can complete it all?"
"Yes, we are sure."
"Excellent, you youngsters are in for a treat. It will take about 30 minutes for everything to be ready."
"Woah so fast."
"I may be old, but my skills are still excellent."
The old man prepared multiple dishes at the same time and many delectable aromas spread throughout the restaurant. The old man talked to the pair while he cooked. The pair slowly opened up to the old man. He was an excellent chef and managed everything at the same time flawlessly. Both Maxwell and Orphelia were amazed at the old man's skills and wondered if he was a strong cultivator, but they clearly felt he was a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator.
"Old man, what is your name?"
"My name is Gordon. Nobody has used that name for a long time, you can just call me grandpa if you want to."
"Alright I'll call you grandpa." Orphelia chirped up.
"Haha, you both are very interesting. From your attire I can say you are from a prominent power, but I have never seen anyone with influence being so kind to an old man like me. Your parents must be great people to have taught you so."
"There is nothing wrong in being kind, on the other hand they make so many unnecessary enemies with their terrible attitudes. Of course, we are never kind to those that attack us." Orphelia said.
"That is a good attitude for a cultivator. If you are soft on your enemies, they will pile up. Everything is ready now, tell me how it is."
Orphelia and Maxwell tried some and were instantly amazed. The meat was cooked to perfection and it melted deliciously into their mouths. Each bite was flavorful and cooked flawlessly.
"Woah! This is the best food I've ever eaten." Maxwell exclaimed.
'I thought nothing would be able to beat my mom's food.'
"Yes, it is." Orphelia agreed happily.
"It is good that you like it, now eat it before it becomes cold. It is not good to talk while eating."
Maxwell and Orphelia ate everything while relishing it. At the end they were full and satisfied.
"Grandpa, how much do we have to pay?"
"It's nothing much, just 50 Silver coins."
"What! So less? We can't pay you so less for such excellent dishes." Maxwell replied in protest.
"I cook not for money but to satisfy people. Your gratitude and satisfaction are more than enough."
"Fine, but you have to drink this, we can't have such an excellent chef leaving this world." Maxwell said while removing 50 Silver coins and a vial. The vial contained some of the qi from the piece of the world tree and it had been liquefied by Maxwell as an experiment.
"Hmm, what's this? Wood element?"
"It's an elixir. It will extend your lifetime for a long while since you are only at Foundation Establishment realm."
"I can't accept this. Elixirs are precious even for powerful families, it will be wasted on my old bones."
"Just consume it already."
Gordon consumed it reluctantly and his body started to brim with vitality and some of his wrinkles smoothened.
"Woah, it's miraculous. I feel younger by years. You better come back to keep me company, your youthful liveliness is nice to watch."
"Of course, we will return. The food is the best and cheap." Orphelia said with Maxwell nodding in agreement.
Orphelia and Maxwell walked out and decided to take a shortcut back. On the way back, in an alley they were suddenly surrounded by a group of thugs. They were all big and had muscles along with a few scars. Their leader was a tall grey haired man with a scar stretching from his left eye to his mouth.
"Hand over your valuables." The leader said while releasing some of his aura of Foundation Establishment 10th Realm.
"Oh, a beauty and a toyboy." One of the 12 thugs said while staring lustfully at Orphelia.
"We are going to get rich and we will have some fun." Said another while eyeing them greedily.
"These two must have good stuff on them, I saw them entering the auction with a VIP card." The deep voiced leader said while bringing out a giant broadsword. Both Maxwell and Orphelia were angry and ready to attack, but Orphelia quickly brought out a beautiful green sword with a blue water element sapphire in the pommel. She slashed towards the leader without any skills. The leader blocked it with his broadsword.
"What a loser, he has to be protected by a woman."
Orphelia then released her Sword Intent and made quick work of 10 of them with graceful attacks. Flower petals formed with her Sword movements, further damaging them. She sliced of the head of 6 and stabbed 4 in their heart. The remaining 2 was the leader and his right-hand man who were slightly scared now.
"Shit, Sword Intent."
Both of the remaining thugs lunged at her, not letting her take the opportunity to attack first.
*Clang*
Orphelia blocked both their blades and chipped their poorly made weapons. She then used Sword Intent and unleashed another attack with Plum Blossoms following the blade. The plum blossoms made holes through the weapon easily and hurt both badly. They were immobilized quickly and shook in fear.
"I wasn't protecting him. I was protecting you from him, he wouldn't have given anyone a quick and painless death after your comments." Orphelia replied to their previous words. She then tied them up. Maxwell then dragged the 2 along to the guard outpost to hand them in.
At the entrance Maxwell saw a familiar face. It was Leonard.
"Oh, it is the Young General with some criminals. Thank you for handing them over, there was a small bounty on them. If you wish to claim the bounty you can."
Leonard took the convicts from Maxwell and dragged them in to be locked up temporarily before they would be shifted to the main prison after paperwork.
"You can keep the bounty; we have no interest in it."
"Thank you, Young General. I am unable to entertain you for long since I have work."
"It's alright, you can return. These two tried attacking us so we turned them in."
With that Maxwell left.
"Orphelia, how did you know I would brutal?"
"I have known you for long and you are not one to let criminals of easily, even as a child."
"I'm impressed you remember that about me from so long ago."
"It's nothing special."
"Now, how about we talk about how you let other people see your card. Do you know how much trouble you would have gotten into because of the piece of the World Tree if someone else saw it?" Orphelia scolded Maxwell for letting his guard down. After a few minutes Orphelia calmed down and said, "Well, at least nothing bad happened and he was too greedy to tell anyone."
"You care about me so much to lecture me?" Maxwell said to receive a hit on the back of his head.
"Stop trying to tease me and think about your mistakes."
"Fine, Fine."
They walked back silently with Maxwell rubbing the back of his head. Maxwell left Orphelia off at an inn where she stayed. Before entering the inn, she wished Maxwell.
"Good luck in practicing for the test. Although I can't help you in any way, I will support you the whole time." She said smiling warmly.
"Thank you, I will not disappoint you."
Back home Maxwell went to Arion with the carriage artifact. On seeing the artifact Arion said, "This carriage is barely good enough to be driven by me. It's not even close to my unparalleled beauty."
"Enough of your narcissism. Also, here. I got you some rarer Spiritual herbs from the market."
"Woah, this is good stuff. I would also have a hard time finding some." Arion gratefully ate it all.
In the evening of the eventful day Maxwell went to the training field and prepared for the test to shock everyone present just like he used to all those years ago.