The next morning, Ken awoke in the bosom of Emerald. He could feel her warmth and he cuddled up against her, wrapping his arms around her into a tight hug.
“Good morning, Ken,” she said, leaning down to force him to rest up against her.
“Good morning, Emerald.” He smiled and kissed her neck. He pried himself away from her and looked at the three other women, who were still fast asleep.
They finally woke up, taking a hot bath since they would be going through the plains and would not be able to for some time.
They each ate breakfast, including the escorts, and Gin made sure to start his day right by getting a little tipsy.
Ken handed Gin a few silver coins. “Why don’t you top up our alcohol supply for the journey?”
“Yes, boss!” Gin grinned wide and was already walking off, with Lan following after.
With the most embarrassing and troublesome person gone, Nana wheeled Ken to the Escort Pavilion. The worker was an older man, with a short white beard.
“We’re looking for a guide through the plains. Someone who will make our journey safe, as safe as we can be.”
The worker looked down at Ken, seeing his crippled form, and gave the cripple a pitiful look. He looked at the others around him. “Our typical guide charges five silver coins upfront and twenty silver coins per day through the plains.”
Ken reached up and placed down one gold coin on the counter, and then another beside it. “I prefer to keep things simple.”
Seeing the two gold coins, the worker almost spat out. “Young Master! Allow me to inquire on your behalf! Are there any other requests?” The man’s tune changed as he saw the coins, swiping them into his palm and he stood up straighter.
“I will be leaving in an hour. I’d like the best guide that you have.” Ken stared up at the older worker.
“The best guide?” The older man began to sweat nervously.
“The best guide,” Ken confirmed, his gaze never leaving the older worker’s.
"..." The escort worker bowed his head. "I will send her to you soon. Please, take a seat,” he said, raising a hand towards a corridor which led to a set of rooms.
The room was quite bare, though there were a few pieces of highly crafted furniture for people to sit on. Unfortunately, Ken was still pretending to be a cripple.
He waited, tapping his hand on his armrest. “Should we order a few more escorts for the journey?” Ken asked, wondering if it would be a good idea to beef up their security.
“I don’t think there’s a need for it,” Yue said. “If the guide is the best they have, then we should be able to travel through the plains with minor issues. If we do need more escorts, we could always trade with the tribes in the plains.”
Ken stopped tapping his finger on the armrest.
[Trading with the tribes?]
He could form a relationship with them if everything went right. He nodded towards Yue, glad that she was here to speak with.
“I’ll definitely protect you,” Chandi said, sitting up straight.
“I, as well, Ken.” Emerald, reached out a hand and placed it on his.
“It’s not that I don’t trust your skills,” he said, raising his voice so the twins could hear too. “I just like being careful. Cripples don’t live long lives without being careful.”
[Though the only reason I became a cripple was because I was careless.]
Someone brought him some tea, but as he was about to sip it, someone charged into the room and sat down opposite him.
“So you’re the guy who needs me guiding him?”
Ken looked up to see a pretty woman. She was tall and slender, which skin like milky tea, and eyes like a tiger. Her smile was like that of a tiger, baring just a canine towards him, like he was her prey. She wore a loose shirt, as well as trousers which went into her boots, each piece of attire a dusty gold.
"If you're as pretty as your skills, I won't have to worry about the journey." Ken placed down his tea cup, unable to taste the tea because there was something better to taste.
[Is it my aura that allows me to attract beautiful women? Is that why I’m crippled?]
"Do you have any idea about how many times I've heard that?" The woman raised her brow, not impressed by her client.
"This is the first time from a cripple, I’m sure." Ken sipped on his tea, trying to play it cool.
Her eyes went wide, before her smile joined them. "That's true." She bared a single canine towards him again in a playful smile.
"Ken. I'm an Arrayist."
"An Arrayist?" She tilted her head questioningly, looking at his crippled form.
"That's right."
"You're joking, right?" She tilted her head even further, blinking a few times, as though she can’t believe it.
"I can show you if you aren’t willing to believe me." Ken smiled with his eyes.
"..."
"This is Emerald. She's an Alchemist." Ken motioned with a hand towards Emerald, who bowed her head slightly.
"An Arrayist and an Alchemist?" She glanced at the others, taking them in quickly. "A one armed wolf woman too. Are you some kind of circus?"
"A rich circus."
"So,” she said, leaning her chin on the back of her hands. “Where are you headed to?"
"Dragon Hill Town. I want to take the safest route." Ken finished his tea.
"The safest route? Are you sure you can afford it?”
"Like I said, we’re a rich circus." Ken smiled with his eyes again.
The woman took a moment to think. "One gold upfront, another gold when we get to Dragon Hill Town. You'll also need to procure offerings for the various tribes of the plains."
"What kind of offerings?" Ken asked.
She tapped the table, and Ken placed down two gold coins. He smiled at her still as she swiped the two coins.
"Since you're an Arrayist and an Alchemist, you can offer a middle grade earth array and pill to the Chief of each tribe. If you really want to impress them, then a high grade earth array and pill."
"I will do as you recommend.”
[That’s a cheap price to pay considering Emerald makes so many pills every day.]
"High grade, then. You'll follow the path that I pick for us, and since I don't want to die, I'll pick the safest path for all of us. There are still dangers but I'm almost certain we'll be fine."
"Almost certain?" Ken wondered what she meant by almost certain in case she was hiding something.
"There is always a small chance things go wrong. I don't control fate." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Unfortunately for me, she hasn't been kind to me." Ken motioned to his legs.
She smirked again. "I'm Asha, from Clan Tigervale."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Tigervale."
"Call me Asha."
"As you wish, Miss Asha."
"Good enough."
"We'll be leaving within the hour. If you have any requests for food or drink, please hand them in now."
"Requests for food and drink?" Asha asked, tilting her head again.
"It's to keep your morale high during the travel. I would like you to be at your best the entire way through the plains so we don’t die."
"Then..." Asha rattled off a large number of meats, from chicken, to ducks, to pork, and plenty of drinks too. Surprisingly, none of the drinks were alcoholic.
“You’re not a fan of alcohol?” Ken asked.
“I don’t want to be under the influence when we’re in the plains, not unless were in a tent village.”
“…”
[Right, that makes sense…]
Ken nodded and looked to Yue, who was able to remember everything. Once Gin and Lan returned, Yue went with the Twin Spears to order the food and drinks, as well as the fodder for the horses. Ken increased the drinks budget for the drunkard within the group, even though he had already sent him away for more drinks earlier.
“I’ve never met someone who treated their escorts so well,” Asha said.
“I’m sure you’ve never met someone like me.” Ken nodded.
“Are you going to show me your array skills?”
Ken placed down a talisman in front of her. “This is something I’ve made. If you activate it, it will be able to take a blow from anyone within the Martial Expert realm, though it will take fewer from those in the higher minor realms.”
“That’s understandable.” She took it, eyeing it up. “How many of these do you have?”
“I wonder.” Ken smiled up at her with his eyes, which caused her to smirk down at him. “Everyone has their secrets, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me for not telling you.”
“Are you expecting to go against a small army?” Asha teased, her voice becoming a little raspy.
Ken’s little brother was enjoying the company of such a woman, but he quickly willed him away. “It’s good to be prepared.”
“Since you’re a cripple under the waist?”
“Not everything under the waist is crippled.”
She almost coughed up from what he said. “I see…”
[What did I get myself into?]
It took all her effort not to glance downwards towards his crotch.
Announcement Enjoy another early chapter today! I've almost caught up to what I owe everyone! Thank you for your support everyone, I really appreciate it! Spoiler
Also, did anyone notice that Chapter 69 had Emerald and Ken 69ing?
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The next morning, Ken awoke in the bosom of Emerald. He could feel her warmth and he cuddled up against her, wrapping his arms around her into a tight hug.
“Good morning, Ken,” she said, leaning down to force him to rest up against her.
“Good morning, Emerald.” He smiled and kissed her neck. He pried himself away from her and looked at the three other women, who were still fast asleep.
They finally woke up, taking a hot bath since they would be going through the plains and would not be able to for some time.
They each ate breakfast, including the escorts, and Gin made sure to start his day right by getting a little tipsy.
Ken handed Gin a few silver coins. “Why don’t you top up our alcohol supply for the journey?”
“Yes, boss!” Gin grinned wide and was already walking off, with Lan following after.
With the most embarrassing and troublesome person gone, Nana wheeled Ken to the Escort Pavilion. The worker was an older man, with a short white beard.
“We’re looking for a guide through the plains. Someone who will make our journey safe, as safe as we can be.”
The worker looked down at Ken, seeing his crippled form, and gave the cripple a pitiful look. He looked at the others around him. “Our typical guide charges five silver coins upfront and twenty silver coins per day through the plains.”
Ken reached up and placed down one gold coin on the counter, and then another beside it. “I prefer to keep things simple.”
Seeing the two gold coins, the worker almost spat out. “Young Master! Allow me to inquire on your behalf! Are there any other requests?” The man’s tune changed as he saw the coins, swiping them into his palm and he stood up straighter.
“I will be leaving in an hour. I’d like the best guide that you have.” Ken stared up at the older worker.
“The best guide?” The older man began to sweat nervously.
“The best guide,” Ken confirmed, his gaze never leaving the older worker’s.
"..." The escort worker bowed his head. "I will send her to you soon. Please, take a seat,” he said, raising a hand towards a corridor which led to a set of rooms.
The room was quite bare, though there were a few pieces of highly crafted furniture for people to sit on. Unfortunately, Ken was still pretending to be a cripple.
He waited, tapping his hand on his armrest. “Should we order a few more escorts for the journey?” Ken asked, wondering if it would be a good idea to beef up their security.
“I don’t think there’s a need for it,” Yue said. “If the guide is the best they have, then we should be able to travel through the plains with minor issues. If we do need more escorts, we could always trade with the tribes in the plains.”
Ken stopped tapping his finger on the armrest.
[Trading with the tribes?]
He could form a relationship with them if everything went right. He nodded towards Yue, glad that she was here to speak with.
“I’ll definitely protect you,” Chandi said, sitting up straight.
“I, as well, Ken.” Emerald, reached out a hand and placed it on his.
“It’s not that I don’t trust your skills,” he said, raising his voice so the twins could hear too. “I just like being careful. Cripples don’t live long lives without being careful.”
[Though the only reason I became a cripple was because I was careless.]
Someone brought him some tea, but as he was about to sip it, someone charged into the room and sat down opposite him.
“So you’re the guy who needs me guiding him?”
Ken looked up to see a pretty woman. She was tall and slender, which skin like milky tea, and eyes like a tiger. Her smile was like that of a tiger, baring just a canine towards him, like he was her prey. She wore a loose shirt, as well as trousers which went into her boots, each piece of attire a dusty gold.
"If you're as pretty as your skills, I won't have to worry about the journey." Ken placed down his tea cup, unable to taste the tea because there was something better to taste.
[Is it my aura that allows me to attract beautiful women? Is that why I’m crippled?]
"Do you have any idea about how many times I've heard that?" The woman raised her brow, not impressed by her client.
"This is the first time from a cripple, I’m sure." Ken sipped on his tea, trying to play it cool.
Her eyes went wide, before her smile joined them. "That's true." She bared a single canine towards him again in a playful smile.
"Ken. I'm an Arrayist."
"An Arrayist?" She tilted her head questioningly, looking at his crippled form.
"That's right."
"You're joking, right?" She tilted her head even further, blinking a few times, as though she can’t believe it.
"I can show you if you aren’t willing to believe me." Ken smiled with his eyes.
"..."
"This is Emerald. She's an Alchemist." Ken motioned with a hand towards Emerald, who bowed her head slightly.
"An Arrayist and an Alchemist?" She glanced at the others, taking them in quickly. "A one armed wolf woman too. Are you some kind of circus?"
"A rich circus."
"So,” she said, leaning her chin on the back of her hands. “Where are you headed to?"
"Dragon Hill Town. I want to take the safest route." Ken finished his tea.
"The safest route? Are you sure you can afford it?”
"Like I said, we’re a rich circus." Ken smiled with his eyes again.
The woman took a moment to think. "One gold upfront, another gold when we get to Dragon Hill Town. You'll also need to procure offerings for the various tribes of the plains."
"What kind of offerings?" Ken asked.
She tapped the table, and Ken placed down two gold coins. He smiled at her still as she swiped the two coins.
"Since you're an Arrayist and an Alchemist, you can offer a middle grade earth array and pill to the Chief of each tribe. If you really want to impress them, then a high grade earth array and pill."
"I will do as you recommend.”
[That’s a cheap price to pay considering Emerald makes so many pills every day.]
"High grade, then. You'll follow the path that I pick for us, and since I don't want to die, I'll pick the safest path for all of us. There are still dangers but I'm almost certain we'll be fine."
"Almost certain?" Ken wondered what she meant by almost certain in case she was hiding something.
"There is always a small chance things go wrong. I don't control fate." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Unfortunately for me, she hasn't been kind to me." Ken motioned to his legs.
She smirked again. "I'm Asha, from Clan Tigervale."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Tigervale."
"Call me Asha."
"As you wish, Miss Asha."
"Good enough."
"We'll be leaving within the hour. If you have any requests for food or drink, please hand them in now."
"Requests for food and drink?" Asha asked, tilting her head again.
"It's to keep your morale high during the travel. I would like you to be at your best the entire way through the plains so we don’t die."
"Then..." Asha rattled off a large number of meats, from chicken, to ducks, to pork, and plenty of drinks too. Surprisingly, none of the drinks were alcoholic.
“You’re not a fan of alcohol?” Ken asked.
“I don’t want to be under the influence when we’re in the plains, not unless were in a tent village.”
“…”
[Right, that makes sense…]
Ken nodded and looked to Yue, who was able to remember everything. Once Gin and Lan returned, Yue went with the Twin Spears to order the food and drinks, as well as the fodder for the horses. Ken increased the drinks budget for the drunkard within the group, even though he had already sent him away for more drinks earlier.
“I’ve never met someone who treated their escorts so well,” Asha said.
“I’m sure you’ve never met someone like me.” Ken nodded.
“Are you going to show me your array skills?”
Ken placed down a talisman in front of her. “This is something I’ve made. If you activate it, it will be able to take a blow from anyone within the Martial Expert realm, though it will take fewer from those in the higher minor realms.”
“That’s understandable.” She took it, eyeing it up. “How many of these do you have?”
“I wonder.” Ken smiled up at her with his eyes, which caused her to smirk down at him. “Everyone has their secrets, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me for not telling you.”
“Are you expecting to go against a small army?” Asha teased, her voice becoming a little raspy.
Ken’s little brother was enjoying the company of such a woman, but he quickly willed him away. “It’s good to be prepared.”
“Since you’re a cripple under the waist?”
“Not everything under the waist is crippled.”
She almost coughed up from what he said. “I see…”
[What did I get myself into?]
It took all her effort not to glance downwards towards his crotch.
Announcement Enjoy another early chapter today! I've almost caught up to what I owe everyone! Thank you for your support everyone, I really appreciate it! Spoiler
Also, did anyone notice that Chapter 69 had Emerald and Ken 69ing?
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