Making Actual Friends

Since the both of them were walking ahead, Yeon had no choice but to approach them if he wanted to continue in this direction.

Eventually, their distant figures became closer and Yeon could make out some of their discussion from the distance.

"Emi, what did you think of those noodles we had yesterday? The broth was so rich and tasty. Mmmmm," She patted her non-existent belly, "It was my first time trying anything like it!" She kept praising their dinner from last night.

She was going somewhere with this conversation, guiding it in the direction she wanted.

"It was pretty good. I suppose that's to be expected of a city surrounded by mountains and danger zones. I think that they used the lard of a Mountain Hog as the base which was why it was so filling for us even though we're cultivators." She analysed the dish. It was a new experience for her as well and it was a pleasant experience to her first night in the city.

"You're right! I could feel my qi filling up as I ate. It felt so invigorating… Maybe it'll help with our cultivation if we ate some more…" She explained.

Yeon who was eavesdropping from the distance was beginning to understand where Mia was going with this. She probably wanted to go there again and was in the process of persuading her partner.

"That is a possibility, but we would need to eat a lot of it for that to happen. Either that, or we order meat from a higher level magical beast that contains more qi."

*Gulp*

"Wouldn't that be even tastier than yesterday's noodles?" She drooled at the thought of something surpassing what had been the best dish of her life, her smiling face trying to imagine how anything like that could be possible.

"Yes, it would. But it would be astronomically more expensive. If the level of the meat is higher than level 2, then the chef would need to be a cultivator chef who specializes in cooking arts to make the qi digestible." She explained to Mia.

These chefs were difficult to find and even more difficult to hire. Although Sapling City contained millions of citizens, it would be hard-pressed to find a single culinary cultivator.

"Cooking arts… Does the Sapling Sword Sect have cooking arts?" She asked, momentarily forgetting about her scheme.

"No." She cut off Mia's delusions curtly.

"Whaatttttt? Hey Emi, let's go somewhere else." She said while leaning her head into Emily's shoulder affectionately.

Emily looked at Mia's complaining face to see if she was being serious. Entering a sect was a life-changing decision, something that should be deeply pondered over before coming to a conclusion.

But her friend was suggesting that they go elsewhere simply to experience better food. To anyone else, it would be a completely preposterous idea, but she still checked her expression.

She believed that if it was Mia, then she could be being completely serious right now. Emily felt bad since she knew deep down that Mia had only come all the way here to not be separated from her.

Thankfully, she had a disgruntled expression but it was only playful.

"We can't. The Sapling Sword Sect is by the best option we had, and you know this too."

"Bweeaaaaaa~" Mia couldn't think of any words to rebuke her so she could only make a weird noise to show her complaint.

"…"

"Emi~" She stopped crying and turned to face Emily.

"What is it Mia?" She asked in an exasperated manner. They had always been together ever since she was younger and she knew what was coming.

"I'll forgive you if you give me a kiss~" She shot her a smile, her previous displeasure was nowhere to be seen.

Emily didn't reply but took her eyes off the road and looked over to Mia who was ready. She looked at her friend's smug and expectant face as she leaned down to give her a quick peck on her forehead.

*Chu*

"Hehehehe" Mia giggled with a light blush. Her steps gained an extra bounce and her smile reached all the way to her ears, her cheerful face turning ecstatic.

"A kiss?" Yeon couldn't help but murmur.

"Who's there!?" They both replied in sync, pulling out their swords. It seems that both of them were sword users as they were planning to apply to the Sapling Sword Sect.

"Ummmm," Yeon, who ended up facing their two swords quickly approached them and made his presence known.

They immediately recognized him since he had incredibly distinctive features and a face that could compete with any girl.

Yeon decided that they weren't going to attack him anytime soon despite Mia's fully flushed face. It looked like she was angry but she was probably just embarrassed over what Yeon had just witnessed.

He cupped his hands and greeted them politely.

"Yeon greets esteemed fairies. I was not planning to follow you or overhear you talk. It just happened to be that we were walking in the same direction."

Although Mia was still slightly flushed, she didn't forget to tease her friend.

"Heheh, he called us fairies Emi," She lowered her sword and nudged her friend with her elbows.

"I know your smiling underneath that veil, just admit it!" She declared with confidence.

Her energetic movements made her huge peaks jiggle but Yeon made sure to stare directly into their eyes with his immense self-control.

This would be their first proper interaction and it was always better to leave a good impression. His experiences as Beatrice came in handy when dealing with women and he thanked her and her promiscuity in his heart.

Meanwhile, Emily completely ignored her friend's antics and returned Yeon's greetings by cupping her hands and bowing ceremoniously. Her perfect posture and clear blue eyes made her seem refined and sophisticated.

"Emily greets fellow cultivator Yeon. Please ignore my friend and her…" She looked at Mia whose eyes were shining watching her interact with Yeon, "Peculiarities…"

"As expected of my Emily. Mommy's so proud of you! Your greeting was perfect, I'm sure that your swan-like elegance has completely captivated his heart!"

"…"

"…"

"Mia, quickly. Don't be rude."

"Yes, yes."

She took a small breath that made her chest heave out even more than they were already protruding and collected herself. She calmed her expression and put on an aloof expression that made her look wise and intelligent.

"Fairy Mia greets esteemed cultivator Yeon. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance and I hope that fate smiles upon you."

Yeon looked into her yellow eyes and beautiful long eyelashes and had a single thought.

'Shameless.'

"Pardon?"

"Pfft" Emily controlled her oncoming laughter by turner her head and bringing a hand up to cover her mouth.

"Ah… Did I just say that out loud?" Yeon asked in realization.

"Yes. You did. How rude of you to call someone you've just met shameless. You didn't seem like such an individual, cultivator Yeon. This fairy is aggrieved," She raised her hand to her forehead and sighed to herself.

'She called herself a fairy again…'

"Cultivator Yeon, the shameless one is you. How could an individual with such unparalleled beauty not be a fairy?" She flicked her sleeve then placed her hand on her huge breasts. The sun shined down on her and her yellow eyes glowed making her look opulent and extraordinary for that short moment.

Yeon quickly learnt from Emily and ignored this Mia girl and instead faced Emily.

"Did I say that out loud as well?"

"Haha," Her gentle laughter echoed out, "Yes cultivator Yeon. I thought for sure that you were playing along with her on purpose but it seems that you were just swept away by her energy."

"Yes… How frightening…"

Mia was still in the exact pose.

"…"

"…"

"…"

*cough* *cough*

"Ahem, now where were we. Cultivator Yeon, could it be that you're passing through this route as well?" Mia cleared her throat and confronted Yeon. She had completely swept the previous conversation under the rug.

"Just Yeon is fine, and yes. I was planning on hunting some Sub-Kanjus. I'm a rogue cultivator you see and I'm in desperate need of some money until the Disciple Trials," Yeon explained himself.

Although their previous skit had made them more comfortable with each other, he had yet to clarify what exactly it was that he was doing. Following two lone female cultivators into the wild was not a good image to have and was sure to cause unwanted misunderstandings.

"Disciple Trails…" Emily Muttered.

'So he is participating in it after all.'

"We were planning to head to the forest to hunt there as well."

"Although qi cultivation is important, practical battle experience and fateful encounters are both essential to cultivators as well. We were hoping to get some practice so that we're more prepared for the Disciple Trials." Emily explained.

Both her and Mia had only reached the middle stage of the Bone cleansing realm which was rather poor for the Sapling Sword Sect considering their age.

"I see…"

"May I know your cultivation realm, Yeon?" Emily asked.

"Emi! That's rude."

"I know Mia but we need to know."

It was important to know since although Yeon looked honourable and graceful, they couldn't be for sure that he didn't have ill-intentions. But they were relatively relaxed since Yeon couldn't be too powerful since he was participating in the Disciple Trials which had the age cut-off at 23.

Yeon didn't get angered and simply made his cultivation known to them.

'Peak of the Bone Cleansing realm, and he looks a bit older than us. He doesn't seem to be hiding his cultivation realm either… Not bad but not particularly good' was Emily's evaluation of Yeon.

Now that she knew that they could fend off Yeon if he decided to attack, she decided on what to do next. He looked trustworthy and they might end up attending the same so it was worth asking:

"Yeon, although we were planing on hunting in the forest, may we join you in hunting Kanjus instead? We will split the profits 1 to 1 between you and us."

Mia opened her eyes wide in surprise then smiled mischievously.

'As expected, she does like him after all. Not a bad move on her part. This way, they can get to know each other and then in the heat of battle he will sacrifice his body to save her. Then Emi would have no choice to nurse him and then… hehehe'

Meanwhile, Yeon was considering her offer in a logical manner.

'It's not a bad deal and they seem like righteous people.'

He looked at Mia who then tilted her head when she met his gaze.

'I can't imagine her being devious or scheming either…'

'It would be much safer to hunt in a group and although I can't beat them, if they attack me, I'm confident that I can run away.'

"I will take you up on that offer. I was going to hunt near the river that separates the Kanju mountain from the forest."

"That's perfect. We'll be in your care." She bowed to Yeon again and he returned her bow.

The three of them then set out.

While Yeon and Emily were making casual chatter to get more comfortable with each other, Mia was following closely behind them while giggling to herself occasionally.