Still Learning To Live As A Cultivator

Chapter Seventy Six - They sound ambiguous

The scenery offered aboard the griffin while it was in flight, was marred by specks of white descending both unhurriedly and hurriedly to the ground as the wind dictated. But it was nothing that Leon and the others had not seen before and the small alchemist couldn't help but yawn before dozing against the warm pillar of Jin Li. However the flight was not long, Jin Li woke him the moment he reached to carry him off the beast after landing.

"P-put m-m-me down!" Leon pleaded, the tinge of red upon his face not just due to the cold. "It's em-embarrassing."

Jin Li raised a brow, appearing a little unwilling. He couldn't use the excuse of slipping upon ice again, though, as the nests here were on top of the tall towers that made up part of the martial arts outer school structure. So he could only put him down. He did not release his hold upon Leon's arm, this was his final compromise.

They moved beneath the shelter of the roof top a few moments later, two young men and two young women following in the former's wake. To enter the inner school, they needed to pass through portals that would transport them directly. They proceeded unheeded.

The twenty teams lead by students of the school were gathering in wait in the lower stands of the arena, while observers had to take higher positions, guests gathered in an allocated space in the north of the arena and students had to squeeze in the other three quadrants. Students from Merylin's school and the inner scholars schools would mostly witness this from the spelled mirrors set up for them. Students from outer schools would have to accept the same arrangement if they wished to observe. There were also spelled mirrors here, two in fact, one which would reveal the proceedings in the inner Beast Taming school and the other doing the same for the inner Mage school. It could be said that the Teachers took this competition quite seriously considering the arrangements from beginning to end.

As Leon and Jin Li, with Maimai and Merylin, had arrived quite early,  there were only a few teams beginning to form in the arena.  Pike and Bowyer were there, bickering over nothing for the sake of amusing themselves.  Troy stood with Pike, but Bowyer was currently alone.  Troy noticed Leon and the others first and waved him over.

Feeling he should not keep them waiting, Leon attempted to hurry, but his condition held him back and it was obvious upon his face.  Pike gave Jin Li a knowing leer and patted the other heavily on the back when they reached him.

"Really, you ought to hold back some, Jin Li," Pike advised him, cheerfully.  "You'll break him if you continue having him 'serve' you like that!"

His words were ambiguous to the ears of those who did not know of the relationship between the two men, let alone Leon who's colour bloomed red and Maimai who began to giggle and reach for her handkerchief.  Merylin felt as if understanding was within reach but just eluded her grasp, but an uncomfortable feeling was settling into her stomach and she became unhappy.  She couldn't help but chide Pike for his words; "Senior, suggesting Jin Li and senior Leon have matters of status, wouldn't that damage their reputations should rumours based on these words spread?"  After all, the Institute did not allow young Masters to bully and use servants within its boundaries.  Such could lead to suspension or expulsion.

Bowyer exchanges glances with Pike, before turning on his heel sharply, his shoulders shaking with mirth.  Pike swallowed his own laughter, his eyes tearing up with the pained effort.  He cleared his throat before responding; "Miss misunderstood.  My words were only in jest."

"It is not to me Senior should direct those words," Merylin continued, satisfied that she had made her point.  She glanced through shuttered lashes at Jin Li, hoping he would notice her successful attempt to retain his honour, but was dismayed that he was not paying attention to her.  He was currently allowing the alchemist to lean on him after they had removed their thick coats, she couldn't help but frown.