19

"Hello, young one. My name is Da Shuizhi. What can I do for you?" the old man introduced himself, waving for Onari to sit down in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"Greetings, Da Shuizhi," Onari said, bowing to hide his slight grimace. He hated showing respect to people who hadn't personally earned it from him, but in this case he didn't really have a choice. "I am starting my journey in the art of alchemy, and find myself in need of a source for quality reagents."

Da Shuizhi leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard in thought, "I see… And surely you must be well connected if you were able to find me…"

"It is as you say. I am confident I will be able to properly compensate you for any herbs and ingredients you are willing to part with."

"Hmm… No begging for instruction or apprenticeship either… Very well. As long as you continue to respect my boundaries, time, and privacy, this sounds like it will be an agreeable trade. Come, let us see if you find anything in the greenhouse that catches your eye."

Onari's next bow was a little bit more genuine after Da Shuizhi's quick agreement, "My thanks, Elder Da Shuizhi."

The old man just hummed in response, "Hmm…"

The two made their way out of the office, and into the greenhouse Onari had seen from outside the house. Inside the greenhouse, the air and Qi was thick with a plethora of different smells, elements, and differing Qi levels. The sun shone through the crystalline glass of the greenhouse, casting godrays upon the diverse selection of herbs and other reagents.

Onari marveled at the otherworldly beauty of the place for a couple seconds before Da Shuizhi's voice broke the silence, "Open yourself to the world, young Onari. Find what things call out to you."

With tacit permission to roam the greenhouse, Onari closed his eyes and took a breath. A barrage of sensory information flowed into his mind, but three scents stuck out to Onari. Each one of the three scents was unique and seemed to resonate with his cultivation.

Onari opened his eyes. Following his nose, he began to walk around the greenhouse. Da Shuizhi waited patiently for Onari to collect his reagents. Onari eventually returned to the old man with two herbs and a fruit in his hands.

"Hmm…" Da Shuizhi hummed as he inspected Onari's haul. "A bud of Golden Smoke-Fire Flower: a fiery catalyst. A sprig of Morning Dew's Lavender: a quality tempering agent. And, ah… A fruit from the Yang Pillar Tree: a solid foundational reagent for anything you may want to create."

The bud of Golden Smoke-Fire Flower was a small, amber-colored bulb that was continuously letting off a sweet-smelling smoke. The sprig of Morning Dew's Lavender looked like a sprig of mundane lavender, but it sparkled and glistened with potent drops of Qi that looked like morning dew. The Yang Pillar Tree's fruit was about the size of a plum, with a red gradient coloration and a hardy outer rind.

Onari wasted no time paying for the reagents and getting the hell out. As thankful as he was to Da Shuizhi, the old man still creeped him out. Especially the last words he said to Onari before he left.

"You may see yourself out. And for your own good, stay out of the left wing of the house…"

He met Yu Wu again on his way out. After being dismissed earlier, she had gone back to training in the plaza in front of the house. Her face brightened in a smile when she saw Onari before almost instantly dimming as she realized he was leaving.

"You're… leaving?" she asked with none of the pomp and boisterous energy she previously had.

Onari nodded, "Yeah… Before I go, we should exchange information like you suggested. It's not the same as interacting in person, but we can still get to know each other."

Yu Wu's beautiful smile returned in full force, "Hohoho! Of course! We shall become the best of friends through the glory of instant communication!"

And so, even with how creepy the hidden alchemy master turned out to be, Onari still left in good spirits. He teleported away from the hidden compound, making sure to wave and smile at Yu Wu as he went. Once he was home, he checked in with his family and told them there was something he needed to do alone.