Unexpected Visit

"Ge, you are the best." – Na'er gave Aiden thumbs up and locked her arms around his. They already claimed winning money and escaped to a house rented earlier, but somehow unsettling feeling kept lingering around. Similar to a relentless pursuit of spirit beasts that happened on a regular basis during his time in the North Pole, this time it looks like someone was watching them closely.

And Aiden had no way to escape it. If you have no way to escape, there is only one possible solution – confront.

"Senior, I believe you have followed long enough to have a chat?" – he said in emptiness while stopping in the courtyard. The silence was an answer.

= Master, look at your two o'clock thirty degrees upwards.

"Senior, there is no use in hiding." – he did as was told and immediately heard a surprised gasp when an old man walked out of the void giving Na'er a scare.

"No need to be afraid, I meant no harm." – he said in a hollow tone with no emotions, but it could be seen he is trying his best to be amicable. It's just seemed to be out of his character. Still, this awkwardness in his way of establishing a connection through talking, on the contrary, gave positive feeling to Aiden.

This and the fact that the guy is Titled Douluo. But the main reason why he let down his guard because this eye-catchy old man was a unique Titled Douluo that is easy to recognize and thus he knew no harm will come to him or Na'er. His master is a relatively righteous person.

"Are you hungry?" – Aiden asked lightly, thus creating a slight ripple of surprise in the eyes of an old man.

"If you dare to eat with me, why wouldn't I dare to eat with you?" – he asked in the same serene voice.

"Good." – he turned to an unusually quiet girl by his side. – "Na'er, please, fetch some wine for the elder from my stock, while I cook outdoors."

The old man sat in a garden by the stone table and froze like a statue, but his eyes always darted from one place to another, eventually stopping for the longest time on Aiden, who was grilling spirit beast meat! That gave rise to his curiosity. He can't be foolish enough to poison him, so what is he doing?

Amazement thickened when he saw how kid used lightning and ice in synergy and control them perfectly. Eventually, captivating aroma filled the courtyard.

"It's done, let's eat and you can tell me why one of the reputed Titled Douluos of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Bone Douluo wanted to see me." – he smiled and the old man tensed up. There is one possibility he never wanted to play out as truth, and that was this kid's affiliation to Spirit Hall.

"You know a lot." – he said lightly while picking a piece of meat and receiving a cup of wine from Aiden.

"It can't be considered a lot, senior. Both you and Sword Douluo are well-known figures. It would be strange for the junior not to know you." – they both ate in silence and it wasn't awkward in the least. Aiden preferred this way of dinning after years of being alone. He found peace and appreciated the old man more. Unbeknown to him same thing played in the old man's mind who not only enjoyed the meal but the tranquility of the kid in front of him.

What made him shocked, however, was the meal itself. He found that it can promote cultivation and even purify the body! Although just one meal isn't nearly enough, with proper diet and daily consumption it will create unbelievable effects. This kid… he is a walking treasure trove, but Bone Douluo knew better than looking at short term gain. An amicable relationship with this kid was a must!

The meal ended, Aiden washed the dishes and served refreshing tea, that calmed the mind and now its purification effect was almost noticeable by the naked eye! He felt his bottleneck loosening.

"This…"

Aiden noticed how amazed the old man became and chuckled.

It was a creation of Nexus extensive research on cultivation era alchemy liquids and current era spirit herbs plus enhancement that gave his dragon aura and Tree of Life spirit force. They tried to find a way to evolve a martial spirit, and that tea was the best creation so far for that purpose, albeit useless for Aiden. His auras and converted spirit power will never work for himself.

Still, for others they are indispensable.

Actually, he wanted Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to be his test subjects. He wanted to know whether he could evolve their spirit in nine layered one or not. And the process of their evolution can give him many clues. That's why he did not guard against Bone Douluo and welcomed him with open arms.

Old and young sat there, gazing at the starry night sky in tranquility. Neither wanted to break silence and peace of the moment. Old man seeped tea leisurely and found every time it was gone another full cup would be filled. Despite him knowing that such goods can't be cheap he wasn't willing to talk about money. Somehow it seemed low and preposterous.

Eventually, they sat like that for several hours, barely saying anything to each other.

"It is time." – Bone Douluo faced the sky and sighed. Then he stood up and left like the wind. Only a scroll remained as proof of him ever being here.

Aiden took it in his palms, feeling the rough texture of the outer casing, opened it and started reading, while a slight smile forming on his lips.

"Expected as much from you, Ning Fengzhi. Truly a gifted merchant."

* * *

Half an hour later. Ning Fengzhi.

"How is it?" – a handsome middle-aged man with a serene, but amicable expression asked the old man, who just appeared in the room. Only the timing of a question that was shot at the Bone Douluo told about real impatience that the clan head had about the entire issue.

"Surprising and unexpected." – he said without thinking, but with this remark eyes of Ning Fengzhi grew into two large watermelons. What is he hearing, that block of ice actually praised someone to this extent? – "Don't stare at me, the boy is a true monster. And… you know why am I called Bone Douluo, right? Little people know that I can sense the bone age of a person from close proximity. Well, he is the same age as Rong'er."

Now Ning Fengzhi really felt shocked out of his wits.

"He… he is just eight years old?" – he asked in disbelief.

"Would I joke?" – Bone Douluo preserving his stone face shot a glance at clan head. – "But that's not the point. Ning Fengzhi, listen to me and don't be rash." – he took a cup of tea he liked to drink every time when they sat like that for a talk, but now it felt severely lacking. Bone Douluo sighed and put the cup back, surprising clan head, who paid attention to his every gesture. – "He might… and I'm telling just might have a way to solve our clan eternal regret."

Ning Fengzhi froze. That short conversation really gave him a run for his soul and heart.

"So, tread with caution on that. It's imperative."

"Haaa…" - clan head finally let out a breath and entered his serious mode. – "What is he like?"

"Hard to say. He is unlike other youths. He is not impatient, knows propriety, and very strong-willed. Also, he has an air of a true expert, who killed a lot, one can only imagine his childhood and there might be some dark and bloody story, but I advise you not to be forceful here."

"Might he have enmity with any power?"

"Hard to say." – repeated himself Bone Douluo. – "But you need to understand, to be in possession of such strength and maturity at the tender age of eight one should have unbelievable circumstances. For every legend out there has its price to pay. And the shinier it looks, the more skeletons will be hidden."

"You are very cautious about him." – Ning Fengzhi arched a brow in response and take a sip from his cup. He looked at it in a perturbed expression, not knowing what was wrong. To him, it tastes as good as ever.

"You will be too, seeing him in person. But on the other hand, I sense no evil in him. It is almost strange to say, but… he is very pure and to some extent even lighthearted. Again, it's just a hunch, but I rarely am wrong in judging people."

"Do you think he might be interested in Rong Rong?"

"Fengzhi, don't push it." – Bone Douluo gave him a stare. Both doted on that pearl of their clan very much. – "What interest? They are only eight! Ask me in three to four years. But… you know how Rong'er is."

Ning Fengzhi sighed. Yes, his daughter really brought him not one pile of worries.

"Your suggestions then, what do we do?"

"Nothing." – Bone Douluo nonchalantly shrugged.

"Nothing?"

"Mhm." – he nodded and stood up. – "We made our move, clan head. Let's see his reply."