"Honorable Elder Karn, I believe we have gotten off on the wrong foot." Elder Cho smiled as he approached closer, his fingers lightly brushing the storage ring on his finger.
"My disciple was foolish. I admit that. But there is no reason for our relationship to sour over the actions of a young man." Karn remained silent.
"If you are willing to agree that the Martial Exchange only vindicated Shin from the charge of theft, rather than declaring my disciple guilty of framing him. I am willing to offer you a hundred spirit stones and a Black Rank cultivation resource." Elder Cho spoke as if he was giving away a great amount.
Just as Karn considered the offer, an unexpected guest arrived at the hall entrance.
Li Xiang, the strategist of the Fourth Young Master, arrived in a scholarly robe with specs that still seemed too large for the size of his face. His weary face seemed like he had not slept for the past three nights.
Li Xiang’s face brightened as he saw Karn next to Elder Cho. A slight smile appeared as he walked over.
"Greetings Elder Cho and Elder Karn!" Li Xiang spoke as he gave a fist palm salute.
"Koko... Strategist Li, what brings you here?" Karn asked as he rubbed his beard in interest.
"I got a report about the current situation a few moments ago and ran over to assist in any way I could but it seems like you were able to handle it. Quite well at that..." Li Xiang spoke as his eyes scanned the situation at hand, his dark eye bags eliciting a bit of sympathy.
"Indeed, the situation has turned out for the better. The martial exchange has determined that Elder Cho’s disciple framed Shin but Elder Cho is adamant in making an exchange for his disciples reputation." Karn smiled.
"An exchange?" Li Xiang’s smile disappeared. He glanced toward Elder Cho before looking at Karn.
"Indeed." Karn chuckled.
"Elder Cho has offered one hundred spirit stones and a Black-Rank cultivation resource in exchange for changing the conclusion."
"May I ask why?" Li Xiang pushed his glasses up his nose.
"Strategist Li, this is merely a private matter between Elder Karn and myself." Elder Cho’s expression stiffened slightly.
"Private?" Li Xiang glanced toward the Martial Hall.
"The Martial Hall has already recorded the outcome of the Martial Exchange. The matter concerns two personal disciples of elders, one of whom has been accused of framing the other. I would hardly call that private."
"Surely you aren’t suggesting I am attempting to undermine the Martial Hall?" Elder Cho’s smile became somewhat forced.
"Of course not." Li Xiang smiled.
"I am merely saying that if you truly believe your disciple is innocent, there should be no reason for you to offer anything." Silence followed and Karn’s lips slowly curled upward.
"Strategist Li seems to have misunderstood. I am merely trying to avoid unnecessary conflict between our factions." Elder Cho’s eyes narrowed.
"The Martial Exchange has determined that Shin was framed for stealing the thousand year storm orchid. Your disciple’s testimony was disproven, and he subsequently lost the Martial Exchange. But if you wish to erase the implication that your disciple framed him..." Strategist Li Xiang spoke with a smile.
"...then you should probably offer more than one hundred spirit stones." Elder Cho’s face scrunched up realizing this bargaining opponent was not simple.
"The strategist title is truly fitting for you Strategist Li." Karn chuckled out loud.
"Elder Karn praises me too much." Strategist Li smiled in response.
"Then what would Strategist Li consider a suitable offer?" Elder Cho asked coldly.
"I believe 200 spirit stones, a black rank cultivation resource, one of the armaments created by blacksmith Jin and a non-aggression agreement between our factions would suffice." Strategist Li spoke as if he was ready to provide the list.
"The first three are negotiable. The last one is not." Li Xiang pushed his glasses up.
"Two hundred spirit stones, a Black-Rank resource, and an armament from Blacksmith Jin..." Elder Cho’s expression darkened. "You call that reasonable? You are asking me to pay a fortune simply to change a few words in a record."
"No." Li Xiang smiled.
"We are asking you to pay for the privilege of ensuring this matter does not become a problem for you in the future." His expression became serious.
Elder Cho deliberated over the offer, the day he accepted his disciple into his tutelage came to his mind. The promise under the heavens to raise his disciple laid heavy on his shoulders.
Elder Cho coughed in frustration and replied.
"At most, I can offer one hundred fifty spirit stones, a Black-Rank cultivation resource, an incomplete armament from blacksmith Jin and the non-aggression agreement."
"Koko... I can accept that." Karn stroked his beard for a moment.
"Then we have an agreement." Li Xiang nodded.
Elder Cho sighed in defeat. One hundred fifty spirit stones, Black-Rank cultivation resource, an incomplete armament and a non-aggression agreement that would prevent him from acting against Karn’s faction. It was far more than he had intended to pay but compared to allowing today’s events to damage his disciple’s reputation permanently, it was still worth it.
"Then it is settled." Elder Cho forced a smile.
The two parties made their way to Hall Master Mo where they agreed to change the result of the martial exchange. In exchange Karn received a storage ring that included all the goods they had agreed upon.
"So I am not a thief...?" Shin mumbled to himself.
"Idiot, you were never a thief." Rei smiled.
Shin glanced at Rei, his teary eyes returning.
"Rei...Thank you..." Shin replied.
"Mhm, you should thank master as well." Rei said.
Shin nodded with a smile. It was thanks to his master and Rei that he had survived this ordeal.
------------
Late into the night. In the second young master’s courtyard sat Xiao Chen. His face displayed a frown as he read a jade slip report given by his subordinate.
"How is this possible? Not only was the plot almost completely foiled and backfired but Disciple Cai lost to a greenhorn as well." Xiao Chen spoke as a servant poured him some wine.
"To think a single elder could change the situation this much." The thought of Karn came into his mind.
A smile bloomed on the second young master’s face.
"No matter... I’ve obtained enough information." Xiao Chen smiled as he looked at the garden hall disciple standing in front of him. If Karn was here he could recognize the disciple as the one who accused Shin of stealing the Storm Orchid originally.
The disciple’s skin suddenly glowed with a brilliant golden light. His body began to distort. Flesh hardened into metal. His arms fused into his torso, his legs disappearing beneath him as his entire body compressed.
Within moments, the disciple was gone. In his place sat a much smaller golden bell.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter