[RSM] Chapter 96. Tour (Patreon)

"Tiger Bones are some of the best medicinal materials known to the world." The elder of the White Striped Tiger beamed and praised in front of a large audience, mostly visiting disciples, lower ranked elders and their attached guests. The grand elders and sect masters who came to visit the White Striped Tiger had their own separate reception, so for people like Anna, Celestia, Yavin and Julia, they joined the rest of the lower realm guests in a reception that felt more like a marketing event for the White Striped Tiger's greatest produces. 

Tiger-based medicinal products and other spirit beast bone-based products. 

"It's good stuff." Julia declared. "They are not wrong to brag, though I think everyone who's any bit involved in alchemy already knows." 

Yavin shrugged. "Really?"

"Yes." Julia leaned in a little closer to whisper to only their group. "But the White Striped Tigers are not the only ones producing Tiger Bones. The Black Tiger Clan are just as famous, and usually they are cheaper."

"Cheaper?" Yavin asked.

"Yes, by about ten to fifteen percent, if we manage to get a big bulk purchase." 

"The White Tiger doesn't do big bulk purchases?"

"Only with the Great Sects and sects that they feel are their peers. Lesser sects like us have to buy by piece and so it is more expensive." Julia explained a little bit of alchemical market trivia, though it did seem to amuse Celestia. Julia appeared to be fairly involved and informed of the movements in the alchemy markets, partly because now that she is an elder, the Verdant Snow passed the duties of dealing  the various merchants and trading houses and selling their alchemical products. 

"You seem to know first hand." Yavin winked, perhaps it was a tease. "As if you've looked into this material in particular."

"Oh. I was looking into producing male reproductive fertility pills for mortals and low realm cultivators at a large scale and wanted to buy some Tiger Bone for the extra energy boost."

Yavin seemed absolutely unfazed by what Julia just said, though Celestia did not know why she felt a twinge of second hand embarrassment. Yavin merely asked with absolute nonchalance. "Did you buy it in the end?"

"Not yet. I wondered whether I could get to know someone here and get a better deal."

Yavin looked around and grinned. "Well, then let's get to know our fine hosts better. Surely some of the disciples and lower ranked elders have some access to Tiger Bones. We could buy it from them at a preferential rate."

The group mostly stuck around and soon, they were given the opportunity to mingle with some of the disciples of the White Striped Temple, once they adjourned to a nearby restaurant for more wining and dining. 

"Ah, and I was wondering when I would meet the people from the Verdant Leaf." A tall, fairly tanned man spoke, and stepped right next to Yavin as if personal space was a suggestion. 

"Greetings." Yavin ignored the obvious slight. He wasn't a competitor, so there was no need to be annoyed. Instead, he went and asked "I'm afraid this one does not recognize this esteemed gentlemen." 

"Of course you don't. I'm not famous yet, but I will be. I am Lunder Black, Core Disciple of the White Striped Tiger." 

Yavin blinked as he realized this man was Gurdra Black's third son. Some of his intelligence and informants did highlight a list of potential participants, but because it related to core disciples around 4th and 5th realm, it was a fairly long and illustrious list. There were many stars from the other great challenger sect, so he certainly didn't stand out. 

"Ah. Are you part of the competing team?" The elder smiled gently, and perhaps, that arrogance was a little too familiar.

"Yes. So I am here to tell you that we will crush you." Lunder Black declared, and from the sense of things, the man was in the fifth realm. It was the flat tone, and the look of condescension. In his eyes, they were worthless. "All of you."

In the first round, it was a group hunt of the various Wartigers of the Forest of the Thousand Rainbow Wartigers, the most they could do was 'steal' any of the Verdant Leaf's kills. Direct combat was not permitted. "Ah. We will do our best to make it a challenge for such esteemed talents as yourself." Yavin answered, doing his best to feign a kind of friendly competitiveness. 

Julia sighed. There was a little too much of the older Gurdra Black in the mannerism of his descendant. Lunder just went on. "Well, that's it, I made my acquaintances, I will see the rest of you soon, though I doubt I will see your people in the second round." Lunder said, as if declaring war on the rest of the Verdant Leaf's participants. Yerra and Sam, both just a few steps away from Yavin, felt the man's glare, and they heard his challenge. 

Yavin turned to those participating. "Well, that was an introduction."

The ten disciples chosen to participate looked nervous. 

"Is there really a need to do so?" Celestia sighed. 

"I believe he was asked to introduce himself to the other participants in the tournament." Julia elaborated. "Not something he was keen on, so he took it as an opportunity to just declare war on everyone. Not unusual if one wants to make a statement." 

In the eyes of the Great Challenger Sects, it was one way to gain clout. Make bold statements, and see through them.

"Traditionally it is one of the challenger sects that took the first place." She continued. "I suppose it doesn't change anything, since we are all competitors. So, do your best."

Julia tapped Yerra and Sam on the shoulders, and they both looked slightly nervous. Yerra, at least, tried to feign confidence. "Yeah. We'll be fine."

***

Tundra reunited with the rest of his entourage rather late that night, there was quite a bit of drinking and mingling with the many other sect masters and grand elders who made their way to the city of Fangara. There were quite a few familiar faces. Both Lord Baljuk and Duke Hadrian's disciples were here too. 

From the invitation list, the White Striped Tiger invited almost all of the neighbouring sects, while only those of some prominence from far away were invited. 

Their accommodation was lavish, though there were more opulent ones down the road. Celestia seemed happy to have him back, and started the conversation first and narrated what they did the entire day. 

Tundra grinned. "It sounds quite familiar with what we've done throughout the years." 

"It does, and it is so tiring." Celestia sighed as she rested her head on the pillows. Whatever stuffings were used for them must be quite rare and precious, because they were exceptional. "It is so tiring dealing with cultivators that have not gained their full maturity."

The regressor smiled, and realized, at some level, he wasn't that mature either. Not until much later in his first life. 

"Most cultivators go through some variant of that phase." 

"I didn't!" Celestia protested with a pout, and she quickly buried her face in it. 

"That's because you came from humble origins. Life in the lower classes has a great way to ensure you grow up." Tundra said. In fact, now Tundra wondered whether the urge he had in his first life, to make his sect grow into a great sect was nothing more than a thinly veiled youthful ambition. 

If thought from that angle, it does mean his warmongering days were just a long, long stretch of violent growth. It is even more embarrassing when he realizes that it took him 10,000 years to actually grow out of it. 

For once, he could understand his children and descendants. It must have been hard for them.

"You're smiling to yourself." Celestia said, her face half covered by a pillow. "What is it?"

Now the regressor chuckled, and decided his wife would enjoy the humor. "Ah. I was merely realizing that it took me 10,000 years to grow up and be a wise man." 

His wife's eyes widened, and then she too laughed. "Cultivation's mental suppression was very harsh on you, husband."

"You can say so." Tundra picked up a cup of the local tiger bone tea and drank it. The versions of the teas supplied to the various guesthouses were of much poorer quality than the one Lord Black served, but it still had mild spiritual enhancing effects. He felt his blood pumping, and it would do well for nightly activities. 

But for now, his mind was still elsewhere. 

He thought about his first 10,000 years and knew he learned a lot from the struggles and failures. The best cultivators, he realized, were those that failed and then managed to recover from them. "Tomorrow, when you meet our delegation, let them know that they do not have to win this. Our goal is to just do decently, and that means the middle ranks are more than sufficient for our cause. I hope they try, but I do not fear if they fail." 

Celestia nodded, but decided not to be the one carrying the message. "I think it would lend more credence if they heard it from the Sect Master personally. You've always meant what you said, so I don't see why there's a need for me to carry it for you."

"Ah. Fair. I just fear that I may be occupied by other things. Politics and networking, in particular." 

"Oh? Is there someone you want to know?"

Tundra's personal goals for this trip were fairly ephemeral. It was more of a socializing trip, and in his mind, the main priority was mainly networking. He would hope to get to know the various elders, merchants and sect masters of the other sects. If he wanted to check the Zuja, it would be good to have contacts.

"Not really, but there are many great challenger sects' seventh and eighth-realm grand elders present, and many would be a worthwhile connection." 

***

Anna was not one of the competitors, but it was quite easy to make new acquaintances and 'friends' when she introduced herself as the eldest daughter of Sect Master Tundra Fox. 

Disciples, even in the White Striped Tiger Sect, were incredibly pragmatic about things like connections, and so she was soon chatting and mingling with a few third and fourth realm disciples of their host sect.

Drinks were cheap, and plentiful, the Great Challenger Sect did not want to be seen miserly when hosting. Such is the nature of face and pride. 

Anna, admittedly, took a cup or a mug too many. She was feeling just a tinge dizzy, even if she noticed Elder Yavin and one of the Core Disciples nearby keeping their watchful eyes on her. 

That made her feel safe, so she continued the conversation with a pair of Inner Disciples that seemed to be trying to get to know her for some benefits. 

"What is it like, being a disciple in a large, powerful sect?" Anna asked. She was feeding into the thick egos that many of these inner disciples seemed to have, as if they were one with the sect. Every other sentence seemed as if they were bragging about something. 

"It is an incredibly progressive and fast moving environment!" One of the younger Inner Disciple said, as if amazed by their sect. "It feels like every week I am learning something new or seeing some new technique performed by our seniors." 

One of the older Inner Disciples didn't look so enthusiastic. "Things are competitive. One learns to watch their back, their sides, and also keep an eye on those ahead of them. And also be wary of rising stars."

The younger one looked annoyed. "Oh come on, senior brother. It is not so bad, and certainly not things we should tell our guests."

"It is the truth, junior. The White Striped Tiger is a ruthless place, and every year at least fifty disciples die from internal conflicts." 

"Fifty!" That was surprising for Anna. "And... the elders just let it happen?"

"They are mostly deaths during internal competitions, where one fighter refuses to yield!" The younger one tried to defend their honor. "The winner has no choice but to force them to fight until they are unconscious! It's certainly not as gruesome and cruel as my senior described it!"

The older disciple groaned. "Every year, the Clawan Family, the Black Family, and the Bullard Clan kill so many, and yet there is nothing ever done. It is a good thing that your sect only has one dominant family. It makes conflict so much more straightforward."

Anna sighed. "Surely some of you can stay out of it?"

"We keep our heads down, milady, and try to look for friends in high places to speak for us. That is how we deign to survive in a place like this!"

"Or you can get scouted and join as an outer member of one of the big Three families!"

"Is it hard to be scouted as one?" Anna asked.

"Of course! The three families have so many talents and resources!"

"The last thing you want is to be a grunt and sent to your death." The older disciple answered. "The three families are no saints, and they do sometimes pretend to 'recruit' some disciples, only to use them as fodder. I've been here for thirty years and I've seen a few of my friends die because of it."

Anna sighed again, the wine was really getting to her. She felt her words slurred, and her vision was not as clear as it should be. 

"The wine is a little strong." Anna admitted, and took a read of the bottle. It was made from a gourd, likely some local variety. "Would you recommend the White Tiger to someone like me?"

The two looked at each other, and after a while, they both answered. The older, more roughed-up disciple decided to elaborate. "Maybe. But milady, is it not better to be the dragon in a small pond, than to be just one of many regular sized fishes in the ocean? There, in the White Striped Tiger, those with backings and families like yours are plentiful, and yes it is easier for them to get scouted by the Three Families, but in the end, true power never leaves the three."

"Things are rotten here too, eh?"

"If, by some fortune, someone in the Three Families takes a great liking to you, then the heights you could rise is impressive. But when that happens, a marriage is usually on the line, and no is not an answer they would take. Even if you are already married." 

"That's the best outcome." The younger one admitted.

Anna found that rather depressing, but then asked. "But then, why stay?"

"Because it's better than outside?" The wine has definitely gotten to both the disciples as well. Their faces were just as flushed as hers, and maybe that's why they are honest. "If I want to feel good, I leave the city of Fangara, away from the Three Families, and walk on the streets of any other town. I am feared and respected as a member of the White Striped Tiger everywhere. I may be a worm here, but when I walk to the other cities I am a Tiger."

The woman smiled. "So you are often outside?'

"As much as we can, we take missions, we get merit points, and do our best to spend most of our time away from the politics of the Sect." The older disciple admitted. "Even this trip back is solely to fulfill our duties to the tournament. If you do join a sect with such tense internal politics, being away does wonders. The elders and the families don't see you, and so they don't think about how they can use you." The older disciple elaborated.

Anna felt she reached her limit, and decided to nod and say her thanks. Luckily, Elder Yavin was already nearby to help her get back to her home.

As she somehow clumsily walked back to her home, away from that spirit wine-filled restaurant and diner, she leaned on the elder for support.

"Thank you."

"It is nothing. I see your attempts to grow as something rather interesting, and so I would like to support it." Yavin answered.

"Grow?"

"This entire trip. But later. We must get you back to our inn." 

***

[My apologies for the delay. My work kicked my ass, and I was also simultaneously working on the rough plot directions for book 3, so that I can have something more cohesive to hold this story together. Thanks for your patience.]