The revelry outside was beginning to wane, the roar of the bonfire festival softening into the murmurs of the drunk and the exhausted. But for me, the night was far from over.
I sat in the dim light of my yurt, my senses tuned not to the sound, but to the (atmosphere). The air was thick with it—if it had a smell it would be a heavy, sweet, intoxicating mist , the emotion. It was the sheer "joy" of victory and survival. According to the (Joyous Wind Inheritance), this specific emotional residue was a refinement material as precious as any rank 3 or four material, but far more fleeting.with little shelf_life .
I had to use it before the sun rose and the cold reality of the threat of the incoming blizzard sobered everyone up.
I turned to the corner where Yue Yin slept.
"Wake up," I whispered.
She was awake instantly, her hand moving to a hidden dagger before her eyes even opened. Seeing it was me, she relaxed, though her gaze remained sharp.
"Do you have the bubbles from the Space Soap Tree?" I asked directly. It was a common material for Space Path and Theft Path, something a master thief and Rank 4 gu master of this path would likely hoard for the advancement of her gu to thenext level.
She blinked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I have eight of them. Why?"
"Good. Give them to me. We are going to the treasury."
"Now?" She glanced at the sliver of moonlight filtering through the smoke hole. "It's already half past midnight. The festival is ending."
"Exactly," I grinned, adjusting my wolf-fur cloak. "The Treasurer ,Elder Ju Li never leaves his post, not even for celebrations. And I have merits i want to cash out immediately."
We moved through the camp swiftly. The cold wind bit at my face, a stark contrast to the heat of the celebration. We navigated past piles of sleeping warriors and overturned wine jars until we reached the large, reinforced yurt situated directly behind my father's—the Tribe Leader's—tent.
Standing guard at the entrance were three men I recognized instantly: Ju An, Ju Liu, and Ju Hong. They were triplets, all Rank 2 Peak Stage Gu Masters, known for their defensive coordination. They stood like statues, their eyes scanning the darkness, unaffected by the festival's allure.
"Halt," Ju An stepped forward, his hand already formed an attack form and his rank 2 wind wolf claw already activated ready to send out claw strikes capable of even cutting in half big sized stones like cutting tofu. "The Treasury is closed to—"
He stopped as the torchlight illuminated my face.
"Young Master Ju Yang?" Ju Liu frowned. "It is late."
"The path of cultivation knows no time," I said smoothly, adopting the arrogant yet driven persona they expected. "I have just returned from the front lines. I defeated Commander Hei Ziyu of the hei tribe and secured a great victory for the tribe. The inspiration of battle is fresh in my mind, and I need materials to consolidate my gains and refine a gu worm immediately. I am here to cash out my merits."
I let a sliver of my Rank 2 aura leak out—enough to press against their own aura without being openly hostile.it was enough so they don't look at me as someone of lower generation because of their age difference.
The three guards exchanged glances. The news of my victory had spread like wildfire. To deny the hero of the hour, the Clan Leader's only son, would be unwise, especially when that hero had just single-handedly turned the tide of a locked battle and returned with the enemy's most valuable asset as a living trophy.
Ju Hong was the first to lower his spear. "Elder Ju Li is inside," he said quietly, lifting the heavy felt flap. "But he does not like to be disturbed."
"I will take my chance," I replied, stepping through.
Yue Yin followed one pace behind, silent as a shadow. The triplets did not try to stop her; they didn't want lower themselves to question the movements of the woman who looked absolutely ordinary ,first of all she was my maid and wouldn't do something out of line and even if she did they were here and elder li himself was a Rank 3 gu master so there was nothing to worry.
Inside the yurt, it wasn't a room, but a tunnel. A set of stone steps led downwards, carved directly into the frozen earth. The air grew cooler with every step, carrying the faint metallic scent of old ores, preserved beast materials, and the dry dust . Torches flickered in iron sconces, casting long, wavering shadows that danced across the rough-hewn walls.
At the bottom, behind a wide wooden counter cluttered with abacuses, ink stones, bamboo slips, and stacks of papers made from the rank 2 bamboo paper gu, sat Elder Ju Li.
He was a withered old man, skin like dried birch bark, hair reduced to thin silver wisps. His fingers moved with mechanical precision, clicking primeval stones into neat columns as though the sound itself could ward off intruders. He did not look up when we entered.
"The festival noise is annoying enough up there," he rasped without lifting his eyes. "Do not bring it down here, Young Master."
"I bring business this time , Elder," I said, placing my identity token on the counter with a deliberate *clack*. "I wish to exchange my battle merits."
Ju Li finally looked up. His hawk-like eyes narrowed as they took in first me, then Yue Yin standing silently behind my left shoulder.
"The battle just ended this afternoon," he said slowly. "The scribes have not yet tallied the official merits for the capture of the enemy commander or the disruption of their formation. Come back in three days."
"I cannot wait three days," I replied, leaning forward slightly so my shadow fell across his ledger. "I need resources "now" to prepare for the next wave. The Hei tribe will retaliate. The blizzard rumor is spreading faster than anyone expected. Let me pick my items first. Record the debt. When the merits are calculated, deduct it from the total. If there is a deficit, I will pay with primeval stones from my own pocket—or my father will cover it. He was very proud of his only son tonight."
Ju Li's thin lips pressed into a bloodless line. This was highly irregular. Treasury protocol was sacred; even the Clan Leader rarely bent it. But I was not asking for charity—I was asking for a loan backed by the Tribe Leader's own bloodline and the fresh glory of battlefield victory.
The old man exhaled through his nose, a sound like wind through dry reeds.
"Very well," he grunted at last. "But do not be excessive. If you take more than your merits are worth, I will drag you to the Clan Leader myself , hero or not."
"You have my word," I said, offering the thinnest possible smile.
He waved a gnarled hand toward the rows of shelves that stretched into the dimness behind him.
I stepped forward.
The treasury cavern was larger than most outsiders would guess—three long aisles carved deep into the permafrost, reinforced with ironwood beams and sealed with defensive Gu formations. The air smelled of metal, dried herbs, beast fat, and the faint sweet tang of preserved primeval essence.
I moved methodically.
First aisle: common materials but preserved for unordinary times.
I swept my hand along the shelves, collecting:
- Three large jars of (Peach Blossom petals) (still faintly fragrant, perfect for Pink Heart Gu)
- Two pouches of (Pink Crystal Dust) (ground from Northern Plains rose quartz)
- A sealed clay pot of aged millet wine (for Entranced Gaze Gu)
Second aisle: Gu worm food and higher ranked materials for gu refinement.
My newly-awakened Gu worms were starving after the inheritance awakening. I grabbed:
- Five sacks of (pollen pellets) (for Joyful Thought aphids)
- Two crates of (aphrodisiac herbs) (Bliss Flower, Laughing Grass substitute)
- A dozen (small beast cores) (Rank 1–2, various paths)
-A 20 piece pack of The sensory whiskers of Sensitivity beast ( hundred beast king level)
- A sealed jar of (euphoric beast blood) (snow wolf, still warm)
- A small wooden box containing (Fox Eyes) preserved in spirit alcohol ( hundred beast king snow fox)
Third aisle: strategic and rare items.mostly gu worms and information on gu recipes collected and seved in small booklets made from the rare precious Rank 4 steel bamboo essence paper gu [the information path is not yet created or if it's created it's not too common for later changes]
My eyes locked onto a golden shelf that practically shouted I'm the one holding the most preciousthings here .
(Rank 2 Red Iron Relic Gu)— dull crimson beetle in a black iron box, wings vibrating lightly .
I took it without hesitation. This was the fastest way to push my cultivation to peak Rank 2.
Next shelf: Strength Path support Gu.
- Bitter Strength Gu ( Rank 2 version): The more injuries the user suffers, the stronger their attacks become
- Strength Qi Gu (Rank 2): Allows the user to shoot out "Strength Qi" to attack from a distance, or attach beast phantoms to the Qi for ranged physical attacks
- Self-Reliance Gu (Rank 3): A healing Gu that relies on the user's physical strength. The stronger the body, the better the healing effect
These would serve as perfect cover—everyone would assume I was shifting toward Strength Path to synergize with Hei Ziyu. No one would suspect Wisdom or Emotion path cultivation.also they are less valuable as in our tribe the Enslavement path is what the top brass cultivate in so even if i take out a Rank 3 gu it should not be a problem
I moved to the Enslavement section.
My wolf pack had been reduced to two survivors. Rebuilding it was priority one as not only could they help me show less of my trumpcards they could also help in feeding the rank 4 EcstaticThought gu as althoughit doesn't consume primival essence it needs food although more lower rank happy beast brains are needed to feed it as i can't find higher level ones and need to kill them of happiness myself.
I picked:
- Rank 2 Wolf Enslavement Gu × 8
- Two bone cases containing Rank 3 Wolf Enslavement Gu
Ju Li's voice cracked like dry wood behind me.
"Young Master!"
I turned slowly.
The old man was standing now, both hands braced on the counter, face purpling with rage.
"Those Rank 3 Gu are strategic reserves! They are reserved for elders and critical tribe operations!"
I met his gaze calmly.
"Then consider this a critical tribe operation. My wolf pack was annihilated holding the left flank. Without them, the Ju Tribe loses its fastest mobile unit. These two Rank 3 Gu will allow me to rebuild a core pack capable of flanking maneuvers in under 6 days. Or…" I let my voice drop. "I can leave them here, and when the Hei tribe counterattack comes, the tribe Leader can explain why his son's merit reward was denied over procedural concerns."
Ju Li's knuckles whitened.
He knew I was right. He also knew my father would side with me.
After a long, poisonous silence, he spat a single word:
"Fine."
I placed the bone cases on the growing pile.
One last sweep.
I spotted a modest sack on a low shelf , (Echo Stones). Cheap, common, often overlooked. ( the sound path is not created yet ) But for the Echoing Chamber Gu recipe, they were indispensable.
I added the sack.
The counter was now covered in a small mountain of goods.
Ju Li stared at the pile as though it personally offended him.
"Tally it," I said.
He snatched my identity token and began stamping furiously, muttering curses under his breath.
When he finished, he shoved the token back at me.
"Get out. Before I change my mind."
I inclined my head , in mock courtesy.
"Thank you for your generosity, Elder."
Yue Yin and I ascended the steps without another word.
Behind us, I heard Ju Li slump back into his chair with sounds like a whispering a thousand curses.
Outside, the cold bit harder.
But inside my aperture, the Red Iron Relic Gu was already pulsing in anticipation.
The real work was just beginning.