Aimless Ascension

"Grandma," Wang Li asked, "how sure are you about letting Xiaolin become Mister Gale's apprentice?"

"It's not about me letting her," Grandma Wang said with a sigh. "I'm only there to shelter her from any fraud, but in the end, the final decision is hers to make."

What her grandma meant was that she was playing the role of a guardian, and she deferred that Gale was genuine about what he meant.

"Still, considering soul oaths are involved. . . Is it absolutely necessary to take a soul oath?"

"Silly girl, it isn't like your neighbourhood teacher giving free teaching in spirit arts," Grandma Wang explained. "You don't know what makes one a Master, do you? Just accepting a disciple doesn't make one a master. If that were true, I would be a master a hundred times over."

"Is it a rank?"

Grandma nodded. "Not like Copper, Iron, Silver, though," she said. "It's more like a prestigious position that only a few can achieve in their lifetime. In ancient times, one absolutely needed to be a master to accept someone as their direct disciple, but currently, that rule had pruned out along with the lesser number of masters. Master is the first prestigious position that entails one is ready to teach someone else."

Wang Li nodded in understanding. "It sounds like a great opportunity now that you are saying that."

"It is," the old woman said. "Allow me to explain further so that you understand how big of an opportunity this is for Linlin.

"Nobody below gold can ever become a Master in orthodox spirit arts. Even those who become masters at gold are ingenious freaks. Not even one in a thousand make up to a Master at Gold. It's not just about talent, but it's almost spiritually impossible to become one. That's why most masters are mostly Jade-heart experts.

"Although it is a bit easier to become a Master in auxiliary spirit arts like crafting, alchemy, and scripting, it was still Xiaolin's great fortune to be noticed by one."

"Grandma, what makes one a master?"

"I'm not so certain. There are a few prerequisites like touching the laws of the universe and more. As for the adjacent paths, one needs to create something unique to adopt the mantle of a Master."

Wang Li understood barely, though many things were still vague to her. The way Grandma talked, it seemed she wasn't entirely sure about that as well.

Such are the mysteries of spirit arts, people of power protect their secrets ingeniously.

Still, she was happy for Xiaolin. At least, Xiaolin wouldn't have to worry about resources anymore if she agrees, Gale being a Master artisan.

"The boy is a good apple," Grandma said as an afterthought. "Honestly, it is too hard to find people like him in the martial world. I hope he really could do something with Xiaolin's talent."

Wang Li was about to depart when Grandma asked again. "How is it going with Gu Dong?"

Wang Li bit her lips. "We don't talk that much these days."

Grandma nodded with her thoughts as Wang Li departed.

As Grandma asked her, Wang Li proceeded to open all the books of accounts after that. She calculated whatever source of finance their family-owned, save for those devised by the main house, which shifted to Azure park before she was born. They still have most of the lands they owned in Wayshire.

The exact amount was three hundred and sixty-five acres of farmland, which profited them somewhere between one and two thousand gold marks each season.

The profit would have been a lot higher if they cultivate the land on their own, however, with everyone busy with their own thing and grandma getting old, they could only leave it in other's care and get a share of the profit every season, although most of the share was sent to the other house.

The Inn produces little compared to them, although, during the times of festival, it becomes hectic.

Accounting for all sources of income didn't take her much time. She was done in half an hour, though that didn't relieve her. Much of it was because they needed to amass a large sum to buy the fate lock that would put them in financial peril if they cashed in things they owned.

Grandma's argument about owning a good fate lock did make sense, but it wasn't a good deal when they had to go through a financial problem to get the item.

As far as she was concerned, to purchase the fate lock, they had to at least make half of the price as a down payment—as it was how things went in the world. That amount might not put their finances in jeopardy, but it surely would be a risk. Not to mention the festival was coming.

Moreover, Wang Li was in the middle of this. She would inherit the fate lock first, and it would stay with her until she dies. If she fails to grasp its power, then it would truly be hard for her and the family.

As Wang Li lost herself in musing, the door of her room opened. Xiaolin came in with an uncertain expression on her face.

"Elder sister," the frail-looking girl called.

"Yes," Wang Li answered and sorted out all the stacks of paper laid before her. "What happened? Are you still considering Senior Gale's proposal?"

Xiaolin nodded. "I simply cannot understand," she said, sitting next to her. "Why me? I'm nothing special. Useless, even."

"Is that all in your mind?"

Xiaolin bit her lips.

"Have you thought about what he said?" Wang Li asked. "Gale seemed genuinely intrigued with your talent, yet you still held onto your past. Just think about what you can do if your constitution was like any normal persons. If your Senior Gale can achieve that feat, would your past still matter?"

"I don't know," Xiaolin said. "What if I fail? What if I disappoint him and everyone else?"

"You won't know if you don't try."

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