Aksai quickly learned the circumstances surrounding Reman’s group.
To begin with, Reman’s wife, Jasmine’s mother, had perished in the sudden chaos that engulfed the Lakir estate, catching everyone off guard.
The injured young man, Kaamen Limu, was Reman’s prospective son-in-law. His original name was Raak Shinzai but the sect gave him a dao name after becoming the outer disciple.
The dao names were often given to practitioners of path by their masters of patriarch. These names were supposed to strengthen one’s will to walk on their respective cultivation path.
Raak Shinzai AKA Kaamen had the misfortune of being present at the Lakir estate when the turmoil erupted. He sustained injuries while defending Reman and Jasmine from the assailants and robbers who had descended upon them with malicious intent.
While Kaamen, an outer disciple of the Purple River Sect, possessed combat skills, he was overwhelmed when facing multiple opponents and ended up injured in one of the skirmishes. To escape unscathed, Reman and Kaamen had to utilize many of their defensive strategies.
Given Reman’s frequent explorations of the inheritance grounds, it was no secret that he had amassed considerable resources over the years. This made him a prime target for the robbers, who saw him as the proverbial “fat sheep” ripe for fleecing.
Naturally, Reman drew the attention of numerous robbers. Recognizing that relying solely on Kaamen for protection wouldn’t suffice, Reman started looking for sellswords, just like what Aksai had done from the very beginning.
However, he attracted even more trouble for himself when the sellswords themselves turned on him. Reman and Kaamen were again drawn into another conflict. It was only because of Reman’s preparations that they made it out alive.
Realizing that the three of them couldn’t navigate Wuyum County alone, Reman expended a significant portion of his wealth to enlist Laairo’s help.
Reman and Laairo, both Spirit farmers from the Lakir estate, had previously ventured into the inheritance grounds together. Their shared experience and expertise made them valuable allies in navigating the dangers of Wuyum County.
With Laairo’s assistance, Reman’s group managed to flee the Lakir estate. Like Aksai, they deemed it unwise to seek refuge in Ragui County, the epicenter of the trouble. Instead, they opted to make their way to Purple River Gate.
Purple River Gate stood at the convergence of the Purple River and the Dadangar Sea, situated in the coastal region of Wuyum County, far from the Lakir estate, on the opposite side of Ragui County.
Primarily overseen by the outer disciples of the Purple River Sect, the city boasted a spacious river route leading to the sect’s main headquarters near the river’s source.
Benefiting from the strong influence of the Purple River Sect, Purple River Gate remained insulated from the chaos gripping Wuyum County. While the sect’s cultivators might not intervene directly in county-wide turmoil, they safeguarded their base of operations from external disturbances.
Aksai devised a plan to cross to the other side of Ragui County via the river route, aiming to reach the Purple River Sect. Given the prevailing chaos, journeying to Purple River Gate emerged as the optimal strategy, albeit lengthening the travel time, ensuring the safety of both himself and Aunt Reta.
It appeared that Reman’s group harbored a similar intention. Aksai speculated that they relied on Kaamen’s status as an outer disciple of the Purple River Sect to establish a temporary foothold in Purple River Gate.
***
Laairo was astonished to learn that Aksai had already attained the late-stage of Spirit Refining at such a youthful age.
Recalling their previous conversation, during which he had encouraged Aksai to join him in exploring the inheritance grounds as a means to establish his foundation, Laairo realized that Aksai had forged his path to advancement independently.
It appeared that Aksai had surpassed the need for chance encounters within the inheritance grounds, having discovered his own route to progression while managing his farm.
Laairo couldn’t suppress a twinge of envy towards Aksai’s accomplishments. Reflecting on his own ventures into the inheritance grounds, he felt a tinge of discomfort, remembering how he had boasted of his daring exploits in front of Aksai, practically calling him a turtle for remaining on the farm.
If someone like Laairo felt awkward witnessing Aksai’s growth, one could only imagine the turmoil within the Linoyi family. Reman immediately regretted his decision to call off the wedding between Aksai and his daughter Jasmine.
Although Kaamen was an outer disciple of the Purple River Sect and already a late-stage Spirit Refining cultivator, he was significantly older than Aksai.
A cultivators youthfulness mattered a lot in order for them to achieve a breakthrough. Especially when it came to the Spirit Refining cultivators. Even a minor difference of age would become a deciding factor of cultivator’s future to break into the 2nd realm.
As such, nobody present at the scene had a doubt that Aksai had a better chance of establishing his foundation and advancing to the 2nd Spirit cultivation realm than Kaalem. And this was when Aksai had solely depended upon himself while Kaamen had received help.
If Aksai were to ascend to the rank of Foundation Building Expert in the future, his socioeconomic status would far surpass someone like Kaamen.
Aksai might even receive a direct invitation from the Purple River Sect to become one of its sect elders upon entering the 2nd cultivation realm. In front of a sect elder, an outer disciple was not worth mentioning.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Reman undoubtedly felt a mixture of regret, frustration, and envy. Jasmine and Kaamen weren’t faring any better. They too experienced a complex array of emotions when they looked at the current Aksai.
It seemed that Aksai had swiftly come to terms with the current reality of Wuyum County. He had taken decisive actions that not only ensured his own safety but also facilitated the escape of Aunt Reta’s family from the Lakir estate.
Observing Aksai seated by the campfire from a distance, Reman and the cultivators beside him couldn’t help but feel shocked that Aksai had not only survived but also managed to hire a mercenary group for himself.
They undoubtedly wished to join him to ensure their safe passage to the city of Purple River Gate. After all, traveling in a group was a safer choice. Plus, Aksai had the help of the mercenary team who was well versed in battles. They couldn’t have asked for a better group to join in their journey.
By this point, Aunt Reta emerged from her tent upon hearing familiar noises emanating from the crackling campfire.
Upon seeing Reman and the others, she was initially shocked, but her expression soon turned to a frown. Sitting beside Aksai, she patiently listened to Reman’s story. When he asked if they could join him, she finally couldn’t maintain her composure and snapped back.
“Forget about asking for any favors, Reman. We’re fresh out of generosity, especially for someone like you,” she retorted in a cold tone. Then, she turned her gaze to Kaamen and spoke in a ridiculing voice.
“Why don’t you ask your future son-in-law to help you? I’m sure he’s QUITE capable, given his status as an outer disciple of the Purple River Sect. Perhaps you can mention that fact to any robbers you encounter on the way and see if they spare you.”
Reman’s face flushed red upon hearing Aunt Reta’s words, while Jasmine looked down, avoiding eye contact with the woman. Kaamen seethed with anger, ready to retort, but he was halted by Reman’s response.
“Madam Reta, please don’t be so harsh,” Reman pleaded in a conciliatory tone. “We’re practically neighbors from the Lakir estate, after all. We ought to stick together. How about I offer you 100 spirit stones as compensation for allowing us to accompany you to the Purple River Gate?”
Before Aunt Reta could decline Reman’s offer, she realized that the decision was not hers to make. She turned her gaze toward Aksai, who sat beside her, silently indicating that he should take charge of the conversation.
Aksai smiled and shook his head, a mirthless expression on his face. “100 spirit stones, hmm?” He pondered for a moment, stroking his chin.
Finally, he smirked at Reman before responding, “Honestly, 100 spirit stones might make me consider your offer more seriously, Uncle Reman. But if you truly want me to say yes, you’ll need to offer much more. I think you know that.”
Reman gritted his teeth, fists clenched in frustration. He knew Aksai held complete control over the mercenary cultivators surrounding them, so he didn’t dare offend him.
Speaking in a grave tone, Reman proposed, “Then how about 200 spirit stones? Aksai, don’t forget, we have Laairo and myself in our group who could be of assistance. It would be mutually beneficial—”
Before Reman could finish his thought, Aksai shook his head, interrupting him.
“Uncle Reman, Uncle Laairo, don’t misunderstand. I don’t want to disrespect you, but frankly, I don’t need you. It’s you who need me and the assistance I can provide. And my assistance comes at a cost.
I’m afraid even 200 spirit stones aren’t enough if you truly want to ensure your safety,” he stated calmly.
“How many spirit stones, then?” Reman asked, his voice tinged with agitation, displeased that Aksai wasn’t making it easy for him, just as before.
Reman vividly remembered how Aksai was able to convince him to buy a talisman on his conditions in their last meeting. Realizing it was futile to argue with Aksai, especially in their current situation where he held their safety in his hands, Reman allowed Aksai to state his demands directly.
“200 spirit stones won’t suffice. But I’m not asking for more. I need something else. I do believe you still have the Barrier-bypass talisman in your possession, which you purchased from us earlier. Am I right?”
Aksai said confidently, smiling at Reman. “Offer us 200 spirit stones along with the barrier-bypass talisman, and I’ll permit you to accompany us to the Purple River Gate.”
Since Reman had approached him voluntarily, Aksai saw fit to leverage the situation to his advantage.
===
AN: Reman had bought the 1st order high-grade barrier-bypass talisman from Aksai and Aunt Reta in chapter 46.