29 After Training and aftercare

Zhen Liu and Nepherage practiced their forms two more times, before finally wrapping up and returning to standing ready positions.

'Much obliged Nepherage.'

[Twas nothing milord.]

Zhen Liu made a gesture with his hands and recalled Nepherage into her bracelet form.

At this point in time, the crowd of on-lookers had mostly left Zhen Liu and Jin Fang to their own devices whilst returning to their own training. There were a few people still watching, but they left as well when the "puppet" was placed away.

"So that's an aether puppet huh? Damn, maybe I should've looked into one of those formulas."

"Our clan don't have any of those, remember? Even if we did, we don't got any craftsmen trained in making puppets."

"Couldn't we just hire a guy from that one sect to do it for us?"

As the others discussed the possibility of using aether puppets themselves, Zhen Liu and Jin Fang had other things in mind.

"I don't have any familial obligations to do yet, right?"

"Not that I'm aware of, Young Master. You did just return from being presumed dead and are no longer handicapped. I imagine the elders are trying to figure out how to handle your situation now that it's changed so drastically."

"In that case I have something I need to check on in the city. But after that," Zhen Liu began to say as he suddenly took Jin Fang into his arms. Evidently, this action caused Jin Fang to blush like crazy from surprise. Zhen Liu had never been this brazen or bold before.

???

"Care to stroll about the city with me?"

From what Zhen Liu could remember, past him wanted to take Jin Fang out on the town properly after going to the wandering ruins and possibly fixing himself. His logic being that if he could stand equal amongst his peers, he could go out with Jin Fang without embarrassing her or his clan more than necessary.

'Granted it sounds more like inferiority complex, but hey, I ain't judging...much.'

Zhen Liu also had more selfish reasons to want to go out, but they were things he could do while taking Jin Fang out and about. Technically a win-win.

Jin Fang was still a bit stupefied over the situation, but did manage to give a quick nod as a form of affirmation.

The two of them made their way back to the their respective quarters in order to prepare for their day out.

Unbeknownst to these two, a certain sharp-eyed green-eyed woman was laughing to herself.

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Stone Claw City: The Zhen Clan Jade Nest Stables

Due to the Zhen Clan specialty being aether beast, they needed a lot of open space to practice their trade.This unfortunately meant that a vast majority of their businesses were relegated to the outer perimeters of Stone Claw City, which were far and away from the main market areas of the city. On the other hand, this also meant they got first crack at hunters bringing in their kills, nobles bored and wanting something exotic and those who need their animal companions cared for.

"You want to housetrain a 2nd grade Spiny Draguar? Sign here and that'll be thirty gold and ten silver please."

"Here you are, four fully trained Thunderstrider Mustangs. Be sure to mix in bits of Silver Star grass into their feed for maintain max speed and health."

"A third grade Stone-Hide Boar dismantling will cost about fifty gold pieces, but for an additional ten gold pieces we can also tan the hide for you and for an additional five silver we can hook you up with a restaurant contact and get the liver processed into a nice pate."

It was a quarter past noon when Zhen Liu and Jin Fang arrived at the Jade Nest Stables, and the two were surprised at the sheer amount of people and beasts coming and going. Normally the stables would be rather quiet with maybe one or two customers coming to visit at this time of day. Jin Fang wasn't sure why there were so many people today, but Zhen Liu had half an idea why.

There was a bit of line to the stable's front desk, but after Zhen Liu flashed his clan emblem, the attendants at the stable let them in with no problem or additional hindrances. Surprisingly, even the inside of the stables was a flurry of activity.

"So many people...why are we here anyways?," Jin Fang finally asked. She knew that Zhen Liu had some business in the city and that they were going to go out afterwards, but Zhen Liu hadn't been forthcoming about what he had to take care of.

"I need to check on some...friends? Benefactors? They're the ones who helped me get back to Stone Claw without getting jumped by bandits," Zhen Liu explained.

"And they're staying at the stables?"

"Yeah."

While the two were discussing, a deep jovial voice suddenly interrupted.

"Zhen Liu? That you? What a surprise! To what do we owe the pleasure of your appearance?"

Approaching the young couple was a jolly-looking portly middle-aged man with a bald head and a surprisingly bushy beard. This man was Stable Master Ricardo Viento, who despite his jovial appearance was actually an Aether Master of the first ring in the employ of the Zhen Clan. Master Viento also happened to have been a travel buddy of Zhen Liu's father Zhen Yan in their younger days.

"Stable Master," Zhen Liu and Jin Fang said with respect as they both bowed while cupping their hands.

"Oh please, just call me Ricardo. I've never been one for fancy titles," Ricardo said while waving a hand, "Now how can I help you two? I heard the news that you can cultivate now, looking for a cat beast to follow in your old man's footsteps?"

"Perhaps another time, we're here to see Tiny and Mini."

"Tiny and Mini?," Ricardo asked.

"Tiny and Mini?," Jin Fang echoed.

"The hippos?"

"Ohhhh, the ones that have been attracting business all day! Yeah, they're over here," Ricardo stated before leading the way to the part of the stables where they keep the larger beasts.

"Fair warning though, we might've accidentally gotten the bigger one drunk last night."

"Wait, what?"