025: Killing Loot
"I'm not sure," Zemirah hesitated for a moment before saying, "Remember the group of Foundation Building Realm that fought with the enemies? I think the ambush was aimed at them. After all, they are the most powerful group on the flying ship right now."
Verona also thinks the same.
She sighed, "Anyways, I'm unlucky this time to encounter that situation but also lucky that I met you."
Zemirah smiled, "Well, it is a fortune in misfortune." Seeing her looking shy but also agreeing shamelessly made Verona laugh.
"Speaking of fortune, let's divide the loot we got earlier." Verona perked up.
"I almost forgot I came here for this," Zemirah said embarrassedly with a smile.
Verona laughed and winked, "Well, don't worry, I remembered." She took out all the storage artifacts. Most are space bags while some are rare space rings and bracelets.
"Now, let's see what do we have here." Verona licked her lips as excitement flashed through her eyes.
Zemirah rubbed her hands, her habit when thinking of having new treasures, "Let's look at the space bags first."
"Okay," Verona agreed and let Zemirah have her first pick.
Of all the twelve space bags, Zemirah chose the most beautiful and clean. It was just a 3 cube meter size which is quite small. She and Verona looked at the contents of the space bags and arranged them to their types.
The other space bags only have a 1 cube meter storage size, the reason why they are the most common for storage artifacts.
After that, the space rings and bracelets.
The contents are much richer compared to the space bags, the space inside is at least 5 cube meters and the widest is at most 9 cube meters. There are quite a few artifacts inside but most are for Demonic Cultivators.
"You get half of the loot –", Verona's words were interrupted by Zemirah.
"Just one-third, you guys did more than me," Zemirah said to Verona.
Verona was about to argue how Zemirah helped the team greatly when Zemirah waved her hand, "No need to argue or let me have a pick first?"
Verona saw how she was sincere in not wanting more and sighed with a small smile, "Well, that's fine."
Zemirah smiled sweetly at Verona and then chose what she wanted. In one space bag, there are quite a lot of seeds. Both normal, mortal-grade, and grade 1, they guessed that it was plundered from a village.
The seeds have a lot of variety from vegetables to flowers. Zemirah recognized some while most were unknown to her. She figured that when she hired a spiritual plant master, she'd give the seeds to them.
Then Sia, her system, will reward her with better ones.
Zemirah took half at first but Verona said she could get it all since she really has no time and ability to plant. Instead of selling them, it's better to let Zemirah have them.
Verona saw Zemirah's interest in the seeds thus the decision.
Then there are some medicinal pills Zemirah doesn't have on her, one is a Common-Quality Grade 1 medicinal pill called [Moon Bathe Pill] that aids the cultivators that cultivates with the power of the moon.
Zemirah cultivates the power of the stars, she doesn't need it but she thought it was interesting. Maybe Riya will be interested in studying it, after all, for an alchemist every strange and new pill is a treasure.
Then an Uncommon-Quality Grade 1 medicinal pill called [Internal Corrosion Pill] which Verona laughingly told her that it's a poison.
Zemirah still took it though after remembering Riya's advice before she departed.
"My friend told me to keep some poison on my body before. She said that it can be in handy in some situations." Zemirah explained after keeping the poison pill.
Verona smirked, "Your friend is a wise person."
Zemirah didn't understand the meaning behind her words, her attention was attracted by the loot. Only Verona knew that cultivators rarely trust each other, backstabbing and schemes are common in order to get resources and achieve their goals. For someone to remind Zemirah that is genuine with their friendship.
Next are resources such as beast blood and beast skin that Zemirah intended to use for making talisman ink and talisman paper. Though she doesn't have the method to make talisman ink and talisman paper, she believes she can acquire one someday.
After that is an Uncommon-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 1 Demonic Artifact called [Abyssal Bamboo Fan]. It's a crimson red fan that has beautiful intricate black linings as a design, which caught Zemirah's attention.
"You want that?" Verona was surprised at her choice.
Zemirah nodded while admiring the fan, "It's beautiful looking."
Verona was speechless at her reason. What's more ridiculous is that she didn't doubt her reason.
Lastly, she took a space ring and bracelet. Zemirah doesn't have much storage artifact on her so she took the chance to have more. Though she can easily buy it in any artifact shop, it will cost quite a sum of gold coins, who wouldn't want something free?
"That's it?" Verona was in disbelief at how little Zemirah took. Except for the seeds, everything is too little.
"I only need this." Zemirah nodded.
Verona sighed, "You are easy to be taken advantage of, you know that?"
Zemirah smiled, "Nope, no one will dare to take what I want."
Those words made Verona raise a brow before nodding in understanding. She knew the lady meant her words, after all, as someone who had so many life-saving items on her, she even dared to meddle in a battle a real higher than her.
There are quite a lot of items left to Verona, she will distribute them to her team while keeping most on her. The team wouldn't mind it, especially since Verona really contributed a lot and has the highest cultivation.
Besides, Verona spent most of her fortune in the maintenance of the flying ship besides her daily cultivation.
The team wouldn't argue for such trivial things.
"I'll go back then. Have a good rest, Captain." Zemirah teased Verona before leaving Verona's office.
Zemirah didn't choose to go back to her cabin but went to explore the flying ship. Compared to the previous bustling deck, there is almost no one out of their cabin.
Most people were recuperating from the battle since not everyone was like Zemirah who quickly replenished her spiritual energy through a superior cultivation technique and didn't suffer many injuries.
Black-Grade cultivation technique has its own merits.
Zemirah saw a young man sitting in a reclining chair while watching the flowing teal-colored river. The sky was sunny and bright when reflected by the river, it looked like countless shiny gems were crushed and thrown at it.
It was a perfect weather to relax.
"It looks peaceful from this angle." Roch felt Zemirah's breath and footsteps a while ago. Only when she went closer did he speak.
Zemirah sat on a chair with a vacant one between them. "Yeah, it's like nothing happened earlier."
Thinking about the bloodshed and lives lost on this flying ship and the quiet peace now, it was a world apart.
"This is how the world works. It won't stop nor change for anyone." Roch stared at the sky with narrowed eyes.
"Tragic."
"Just reality." Roch still has a smile in his voice. He went back to his gentlemanly temperament, gone was the sharp and murderous swordsman.
"That ambush… it's aimed at you, right?" Zemirah asked this after careful consideration. She wanted to clarify this point as she didn't want the event that almost killed her and killed many people to go unanswered.
Roch paused then nodded, "Hmm."
Zemirah didn't ask more after that. She knew her boundaries and her question already hovered on the limits.
Roch was also silent for a while, the chirping of birds and splashing sound of the water from the famous teal river was the only sound in the background.
After a while, Roch spoke, "May I ask lady Zemirah where is your destination? Maybe we are in the same way. I can be the lady's guide as a repayment for earlier."
Zemirah raised a brow and pondered his words. Going with a Foundation Building Realm cultivator would indeed be safer, especially since she is really not familiar with the way.
Thinking so, Zemirah answered, "I'm going to Rudd Village."
"What a coincidence, my destination is Azure Oak Town and Rudd Village is on the way." Roch mixed lies with truth without blinking, in truth, he's going to the Border City but he doesn't need to say that.
It's just that he is really curious about the lady near him. The mystery around her continued to thicken as he observed her carefully.
Most importantly, the itch to see the face behind her veil is palpable. Anyway, he can also protect her on the way so why not make it convenient? What if he really unearthed her mystery?
Roch decided that this mission was not bad after all, especially since something sparked his interest. Though the danger made him start to raise his vigilance, he considered the whole ordeal a challenge to hone himself.
Meanwhile, Zemirah was rethinking whether her decision to join Roch was correct. The incident before shouldn't happen again, right? I mean, who would do another ambush after losing so many Foundation Building Realm cultivators?
From what Zemirah knows, only Bronze-Rank forces have the ability to command so many Foundation Building Realm cultivators and these forces don't dare to be presumptuous in the dynasty's territory.
Sect forces allowed inside the dynasty's territory would never be Demonic Cultivators.
Zemirah knew from Verona that there are 4 ranks of factions; Iron-rank, Bronze-rank, Silver-rank, and Gold-rank. It was separated into 4 tiers; low, mid, high, and top-tier.
Iron-rank forces that Zemirah usually came in contact with are already difficult, what's more someone at Bronze-rank?
Her previous sect was a Top-tier Bronze-rank force led by a Golden Core Realm cultivator, yet it was now destroyed.
The Bright Light Dynasty is said to be a Gold-rank force, which is a behemoth to everyone in the Azar Continent.
"Well, I hope to have a pleasant journey with Young Master Roch." Zemirah smiled politely, sincerely hoping that this journey would be smooth sailing and no more ambush awaits.
Roch smiled, his usual polite smile turning more sincere with a hidden meaning on it, "I hope the same, Lady Zemirah."
What a cute lady.
It took three hours before the flying ship fully crossed the river and docked.
Zemirah bid goodbye to Verona and her team, not forgetting to give each other their residence address.
"Go to Teal River Town, I'll entertain you in my abode."
"I'll definitely go, don't forget to prepare talismans to sell to me." Verona had her usual smirk as she said it.
After that, Zemirah joined Roch's group.
"Let's have a good meal first then set off?" Roch asked the lady beside him.
Zemirah nodded, "That's fine, I'm quite famished too."
"Then let's look for a good restaurant." Roch nodded to his subordinate.
The man who seemed a few years older than them saw Roch's gesture. He thought for a moment before speaking, "There are three famous restaurants in this small settlement and each one has their own merits. The first one is the Teal Fragrance Restaurant of Haile Family known for their skillful cooking of the Teal River's produce. I have heard of their specialty named Soaring Dragon Cloud that is praised by the previous emperor."
"Then there is also a branch of Light Grain Restaurant known for its tasteful grain reserves. Many cultivators are fond of this restaurant."
"Lastly, the Cascading Taste Restaurant is known for its exotic way of cooking. It was established by a faction of spiritual chefs all over the Eastern Plains Region. They have many branches and the one here is just one of the many."
The man grew more and more enthusiastic as he introduced the restaurants in this place. He spoke like he knew them very well that Roch has no doubt that the man must've already tried the restaurants or was planning to do so.
Otherwise, how could he know so much without prior knowledge?
Zemirah on the other hand was also immersed in the man's description. She felt her stomach silently grumble making her have the urge to go and try all of them.
She suppressed her greedy thoughts and asked instead, "Young Master Roch, how about you choose where to eat?"
Anyway, he is the one with the most authority in this group while Zemirah is just an outsider who was invited to tag along.
Roch saw that she meant what she said and noticed her early conflicting look when listening to his subordinate. He chose the one whose reputation also reached his ears before, "Then go to Teal Fragrance Restaurant, the other's could be found in other places while this one is unique here."
Zemirah nodded happily after hearing his decision, "I also thought so!"
Roch smiled lightly after seeing her so joyful.
Zemirah didn't know why but she unknowingly let down her guard around this young man. She didn't give her full trust but she just stopped restraining herself when it came to little things like being so talkative.
It was something she felt when she met her disciple. That intangible thing she intuitively she as… fate.
This young man named Roch…
Who is he exactly?
Just as Roch was enthralled by the mystery surrounding the veiled lady named Zemirah. Zemirah was also being slowly lulled by the secrets piling on the young man who looked so gentlemanly in normal times but showed the sharp edge of a blade when holding his sword.
Zemirah is a talisman master who is also well-versed in the ways of the sword. So, she appreciates sword and their wielder.