Cruising Along in Desolate Era c5

Ren looked around the Prefecture Lord’s palace. The scale of the palace made his mouth slightly open.

He might as well look like a countryside bumpkin because he was feeling like it!

It's not that it was pretty because it was not. It was a wood and stone building. But what got him a sense of awe was the sheer amount of people working around the clock.

The black-haired teen finally saw some of the famous females of the cultivation world. ‘Jade beauties’, however, with fur clothes, these females looked more like Norse beauties than Chinese ones.

Not that he minded how the fur highlighted those breasts or those hips.

‘It would seem that living dangerously stimulates my self-preservation instincts.’

Regardless, Ji Young motioned for Ren to take a seat. Once seated, a pair of maidservants brought cups with drinks.

“Disciple Ren. It might be bold of me, but I would like to ask what you will do next?” The Prefecture Lord asked with a respectful voice.

“Hmm. I am planning to stay around. Maybe join Ji Clan if possible.”

Ren's reply made Ji Young’s eyes bulge out. He swiftly got himself together and looked at him more seriously.

“May I ask why Ji Clan? Sad to say, but my clan doesn't have much to offer for a Zifu Disciple. You have better prospects in Stillwater City.” The Prefecture Lord explained honestly.

“I could, but it's far away. I would rather help a weaker clan grow strong than join something far away.” Ren casually explained as he took a sip of the drink.

He hummed to himself when he tasted this drink. It was some sort of fruit wine. The fermentation of this drink was high class. It is high-class for someone who never drank alcohol in the first place.

“If you genuinely want to join Ji Clan, I won't stop you. I just want to remind you that once you carry the name of Ji, you will have Ji clan friends and Ji clan enemies.”

“That goes without saying. I suppose I should start plotting the downfall of the Ironwood clan?” Ren joked while saying that.

“Not necessary. First, you must meet the Clan Master and discuss this with him. Usually, we wouldn't need to meet the Clan Master. I could just adopt you. But your strength is beyond mine.”

“It's fine. We can go and visit him then. I heard the city of Ten Thousand Swords is quite impressive.” The teen swiftly agreed he wanted to see an even bigger tribal city!

“Indeed, the City of Ten Thousand Swords is the bedrock of Ji Clan. Without it, Ji Clan would cease to exist.” Ji Young said with a proud tone. Having ownership of that city gives them status above smaller tribes.

“Good. Then I will set up a meeting. In the meantime, you can rest and enjoy the hospitality of West Prefecture.”

Ren nodded when he heard that proposal.

‘I should get a bath and sleep in a proper bed. It has been ages.’

After finishing the conversation, the Prefecture Lord gave him a chest of gold.

The reason why Ji Young gave this much gold is for him to dress up as a proper ‘Zifu Disciple.’

But this was an overload of wealth! However, according to the Prefecture Lord, even Xiantian could have ten times more.

All Ren could think was that he had no sense for wealth as he never tried hard to reach Xiantian or the Zifu Disciple Realm.

Regardless, he did decide to check out the stores.

As he left the Palace, black armoured guards escorted him. Having guards is a sign of power, as people in this place can't sense differences between cultivation realms.

So here he was, walking around like a celebrity, trying to think what to buy.

Eventually, he found something he had forgotten was very common in tribal times, and that was slaves.

Ren stroked his chin as he looked at the building.

‘Hmm, I should get some chicks. I wonder if I can find Spring Grass and Autumn Leaf.’

Two hot maidservants, the main character, were around him the whole time. Well, Spring Grass died for plot reasons.

‘Honestly, the main character's shortcomings start appearing when discussing relationships.’

“How is it common for a Zifu Disciple to have beautiful ladies around him?” Ren asked his guards.

The guards for the second were confused. But they tried to explain.

“...Reporting to Disciple Ren. From what I know, even Xiantian lifeforms have several of them. In Ji Clan, once one owns a maidservant, her body and soul belong to the Lord.

On the other hand, the Lord has to protect his property. If he loses a maidservant, then he is looked down upon.”

‘It appears I will be getting— hmm, I guess four? I need four seasons.’ He hummed to himself as he imagined four distinctive beauties representing four seasons.

“I see. Then I shall get four of them.” The teen nodded to himself. It was very trope-ey of him.

“Disciple Ren. If you wish the best of the best quality, then you should follow us. Ji clan gets their maidservants from high-quality sources.”

“Sure. Then show me where it is.” Ren nodded to the suggestion. If he wants the best stuff, then he will go to the best place there is in the whole Prefecture.

~~~

As they arrived at the ‘shop’, Ren's eyes immediately perked up as he saw a hot girl about to be sold to this place.

The teen listened to what the man was saying.

From what he understood, his tribe was destroyed, and he was about to go on an adventure, so he wanted to sell his daughter to the Ji clan as he knew they would take care of her.

‘Isn't this Spring Grass backstory?’

Ren grinned like a viper. His plot armour was holding! He swiftly entered, and one of his guards was carrying his gold chest.

“It appears I am right on time.” Ren smoothly slipped into the conversation.

The seller and the girl’s father looked at Ren, who had black-armoured Ji guards surrounding him.

“I am Disciple Ren—”

*Gasp*

The seller gasped like a fish; Ren ignored him instead, and he looked at the man and his daughter. The girl looked around his age, which was perfect.

“Y-You are a Zifu Disciple!?” When the seller clarified, the pair, father and daughter, looked flabbergasted.

“Yes. I am about to join Ji Clan. The Prefecture Lord is arranging things while I shop for maidservants, clothes and other things.” He clarified to them.

“I-I see.”

“Yes. Since you are at this point.” With a snap of his fingers, the black armoured guard opened the chest. It was full of gold

“Give a couple of sacks.”

The man dumbly nodded and pulled out a leather sack.

Ren started pouring gold into that sack. Once it was full, he stopped and returned the chest to the guard.

“Will it be enough?”

“...Y-Yes!”

“Know that I am seeking the path of immortality. Once your daughter follows me, there is no coming back.”

His eyes trembled like his daughter’s, who was quiet the whole time.

“Blacktooth understands, Disciple Ren. However, I need to get my revenge and rebuild my tribe.” The man explained to him.

“I see. Then you shouldn't worry. Since I am following the path of immortality, your daughter will follow me. That means she will follow the same path. Once she is strong, she will be able to protect your tribe with her cultivation.”

Ren’s words have brightened the man’s eyes as he never considered that way!

“...Y-You are going to use resources to train Miwa?” He was pretty shocked to hear that!

*Snort*

Ren replied with a scoff.

“What kind of Young Master will I be if my girls die from old age? I won't be able to show my face to fellow Daoists.”

At that moment, the pair, father and daughter, dropped to their knees.

“Discipline Ren! I entrust my daughter Miwa to your care!”

“Disciple Ren, it will be an honour to serve with the whole being!”

The pair proceeded to swear their allegiances to him.

For a second, Ren was baffled by how hardcore the pair were. While a guy swearing like that doesn't make him feel much. The girl, on the other hand, is a different thing altogether. He has 25% of his mission to have four seasons done, just like that!

“Good, good. Blacktooth, don't forget the moment you are ready to do your revenge. I might as well join you. My Qingqing has a taste for humans, right Darling?” Ren stroked the snake’s head with his finger. The snake hissed in agreement.

“Blacktooth will remember your generosity.”

The man nearly stumbled when he realised that the snake around Ren’s bicep was not an ornament but an actual Diremonster!

He had never seen anything like this before!

“I know.”

After a short discussion with his daughter, the man left. He needed to do things.

The girl fought back her tears; Ren watched how strong her mentality was. He didn’t need to worry about that. These tribal girls are good when it comes to such things.

Once she got over that, she walked over and stood beside him.

“I do need to finish the pair. What do you say?”

“...A pair?” She asked him with confusion.

“Indeed. I still need three more girls for my set.” Ren said with a thoughtful look.

“...a set? Master, I don't understand.”

“I will have four girls, which represent seasons. You, my dearest, from now on, are Spring Grass. Once you reach Zifu Palace or Wanxian Adept, you will be known as Daoist Spring Grass.

The other three will be known as Autumn Leaf, Summer Wind and Winter Snow.” He named his three other girls, which he still needs to find.

“...Master Ren, your ambitions are impressive, but I don't know if I will ever reach Xiantian even…” newly named Spring Grass nervously fiddled with her furs.

“That's where I will guide you every single step. Before you even realise it, everyone will know you as my Spring Grass.” As he said that, his hand went to her chin, making her look at him.

That fearless, even reckless gaze of his made her cheeks implode from heat. The black-haired beauty’s heartbeat accelerated.

“...I understand.”

“Good. Now, let's go and see if we can find a candidate for the other three positions.” Ren motioned for his maid and guards to follow him back to the building where the seller awaited them.

“...Disciple Ren, how can this one be of service?” The man rubbed his hands nervously.

“I want a girl the same age as my Spring Grass, with a different disposition.”

“...I-I understand. Let me see if I have something for you!”  As he rushed back, his followers followed.

“...What do you mean by ‘disposition’, Master?” The girl next to him asked.

“I don't need another Spring Grass. I have you. I need other seasons. Aloft like Autumn or cold as Winter or energetic as Summer.”

“...I-I see.”

‘Master is surely a strange one. Is his uniqueness what allowed him to reach Zifu Disciple so young?’ Spring Grass pondered.

But the next moment, the seller returned with a slightly aloft girl dressed in plain furs. She had brown hair done in several braids.

‘Autumn Leaf!?’ Spring Grass immediately knew who this girl would be!

“Discipline Ren! This girl is the only one I have! She was sold to me as her tribe was destroyed. She knows how to read and write, as she was the daughter of the Tribe Leader.”

‘Just like me!’ Spring Grass internally gasped at how similar this was! It felt like destiny!?

“Wonderful. I will take her.” With a snap of fingers, the guard opened the chest.

“How much?”

“...A Beast head of gold is enough!”

Beast head of gold is a simple term for a leather bag full of gold, which everyone uses in Stillwater territories.

“Give him.”

With a nod, the guard processed a poor leather bag full of gold while the girl looked at Ren from top to bottom.

“From now on, your name is Autumn Leaf, and from now till the end of times, you will be with me.” The teen said with a grin, which only made the newly named Autumn Leaf confused as hell.