Matters were settled at the school, Sun had agreed to become Teacher Corvus' student. Once clean shaven and bathed, the man that appeared was roguishly handsome, with a grin that spoke of devilish things and he suddenly became most of the female martial artists' favourite Teacher. It also meant that Sun had a sudden turn of popularity amongst those girls, which overwhelmed him to the point of refusing to leave his room. Anyway, now everyone was could do as they pleased for four days with the exception of those graduating and those transferring between schools. There was still indecision regarding Jin Li transferring, but it was more to do with his personality than anything. He wasn't bothered about it. Instead Jin Li decided to take the opportunity to settle scores with his little alchemist.
Only, said alchemist was not at his cottage when he had arrived. Jin Li had clicked his tongue and went to the Food Hall, where he filled his stomach under the happy gaze of a few girls, before discovering from Mino that "Leo 'ad liokly 'eaded down mountain wiv the two pre'ee gals."
His face filled with thunder, he had stormed down the mountain into town, but discovered that he had missed the opportunity to grab the slippery student as he had already left Mr Clawse's apothecary. Enquires directed him to the other side of town, but instead of continuing the goose chase, he believed his Leon would head this way before dark, perhaps taking refuge at Mino's folks place.
He was not wrong about him heading back this way.
"J-J-Jin Li," Leon said, wringing his hands nervously. "W-w-what are you d-doing here?"
"The question should be," Jin Li sneered, eyeing the youth's new robes with conflicted interest, "Why are you wandering all over town?"
Leon tilted his head, feeling slightly confused but said; "I was j-j-just heading f-for an in for the n-n-night." Jin Li clicked his tongue and grabbed the boy's hand, leading him back into the new town.
"You won't likely find a place where you can sleep safe in your bed that way," Jin Li told him. This was not too far a stretch from the truth. The inns, while mostly clean in the old town, were very cheap and often attracted those who preferred to spend their coppers on alcohol rather than beds unless that bed came with a woman or fairy like boy. Seeing a weak kitten like Leon wandering around alone would be a temptation to drunk and unscrupulous souls, Jin Li believed, thinking about a certain incident with ground teeth. After all, once those glasses were no longer covering his large round eyes... Jin Li yanked at Leon's arm, dragging him more quickly to an inn, that coincidentally happened to be the one Maimai and Merylin were staying at while their father visited.
Leon pouted a little as he threw down the silver it cost to stay for the night, though felt a little better upon hearing that the room at least came with an evening and morning meal. The evening meal was extremely delicious, a pink meat that tasted like chicken in a spicy sauce with nuts, a refreshing soup with silky parcels filled with fishy flavourings and something that reminded him of spring rolls from his last life, only these were filled with vegetables he did not totally recognise. Naturally, Jin Li claimed most of the meat, but Leon was still more than satisfied with his portion, his stomach swollen comfortably and was thinking how to get the recipes as he sat there feeling more than a little drowsy.
Jin Li did not allow Leon to doze in the tavern area under the eyes of guests, who chatted calmly amongst themselves while drinking wine for the most part. Maimai was more gleefully watching the two men over a cup of warm milk. Merylin had chosen a watered down wine, she hadn't wished for Jin Li to look down on her for partaking in a childish beverage. Only, not long after the two young men had eaten did they disappear!
The Sect Leader sat back down in front of his two precious daughters, nodding to the men he had left to guard them while a subordinate had pestered him about returning to the sect to deal with some silly matter. Who cared if demon beasts were becoming a little too boisterous in the Deep Crimson Ridge? The five great Elders of the sect were more than capable of dealing with a handful of upset beasts. His Merylin had transferred successfully to the inner school! He was worried how the sisters would cope without each other. And this was the only chance for him to see his Merylin and his Maimai for another few months!
"Maimai," he crooned, "is there no way that you can convince your teachers to transfer you as well?"
"No, daddy," Maimai replied. "I'm just not good at making pills like Merylin is and she is very talented, flying ahead of me in leaps and bounds!" Merylin naturally preened beneath the praises of her sister, but lowered her eyes less she appeared arrogant.
"Maybe, I should just bring you home and hire private tutors," the man grumbled.
"No, daddy," both girls cried out at the same time, but for quite different reasons. Maimai might not be good at making pills, but she was having too much fun watching certain interactions between certain people. Jin Li and Leo were not the only pairing upon her imagined list, just her favourite. And Merylin had not made any headway between creating a relationship between herself and that man, Jin Li, but now she had stepped ahead of that small servant in regards of alchemy, surely it was just a matter of time...
While the girls united against their overprotective father, the two youths had retired to their room, but Jin Li had yet to spill his grievances.