Chapter 18- Homecoming

"We are almost out of here! I can feel the fresh air."

"Finally, it's so stuffy in here," Orphelia complained.

They exited from a different ant hill and found themselves facing a group of cultivators.

A burly man picked up his double-bladed axe that he was resting on. "You came from below?"

"Yes," Maxwell replied.

A scantily clad woman spun a dagger in her hand before pointing it at them and demanding, "Hand over your treasure and we can consider letting you go."

"What if we say no?"

"Then my friends over here will have some 'fun' with your girlfriend, they are quite hard to control." She then added seductively while licking the blade of her dagger, "Your appearance is also quite good, maybe I will have some fun with you."

Arion snorted, annoying the cultivators.

"You're older than their parents and you're trying to pull this off with such measly strength."

"Is that horse making fun of us? Let's roast it first for a nice meal."

"I will reject, grandma." Maxwell retorted with a calm look.

"Huh, what did you call me?" She spoke angrily. "Kill them first, they are annoying."

The other 2 cultivators in their group came forward to attack with a saber and sword. The women went after Maxwell, the burly man after Orphelia and the other 2 after Arion.

"You are rather short tempered. I can't be bothered to waste my time with scum like you."

Maxwell released his spear intent that scared her instantly and slashed at her throat.

"Spa-" Her words cut off as her head rolled off.

The 2 lackeys that went after Arion were writhing in pain as he had kicked them straight between their legs. Maxwell cut off their limbs and let them bleed to death. He had no mercy for such terrible people.

Orphelia on the other hand had cut the burly man's head instantly and was looting his corpse.

Maxwell had already grabbed the most valuable spatial ring from the woman.

"They must have robbed a lot of people. Look at all this treasure."

Maxwell poured out the contents.

"They didn't even know how to use the real treasures here."

Maxwell picked up a small gold needle.

"Ooh, a defense shattering needle. Can I have that, Max?"

"No, it's my loot."

"Please," Orphelia looked into Maxwell's eyes pleadingly.

"That won't work on me."

She walked away, pouting at the loss of such a valuable treasure.

"Stop sulking. Let's go back now, it's already evening."

Maxwell hopped onto Arion's back and held his hand out for Orphelia. She grabbed on and he pulled her in front of him.

"Why am I in front?"

"You can feel the wind better that way."

"Are you up to something?"

"No."

'I just don't want what happened earlier to happen again, but I can't say that.'

"What's up with the lightning dragon, why is it all excited?"

"Huh, wha?"

"It stopped now."

'Weird, is the lightning dragon connected to my feelings?'

Maxwell focused on the thought of being free. Arion flew off the ground and burst through the thick canopy. After a few seconds of focusing out came the dragon.

"Woah, it's outside."

The dragon flew around Maxwell in the air, twirling around. It then flew around Orphelia.

"You can make it fly around?" Orphelia poked the dragon in amazement.

"Apparently so. I feel it's helping me absorb qi."

Maxwell's dantian felt warm as qi dripped in.

"Woah, I don't even have to meditate to absorb qi."

"Can I do that also?"

"Probably not, cause it's still part of me."

Orphelia's hair had been braided at the top and tied together so the rest was flowing freely with the wind. Maxwell could smell the scent of plum blossoms from her hair. It was mild but very sweet.

Arion flew quite slowly, allowing them to witness a beautiful sunset, with orange filling the horizon of endless green treetops. There was a cool evening breeze blowing against them as Arion flew with his giant white wings casting a shadow over the forest.

They landed quietly right outside the mansion to not scare anyone.

"You're going to go back to your home tomorrow then?"

"Yes, you can come with me if you want to."

"I'll go with you. I got gifts from the capital too."

"Speaking of gifts, did you give Lily those earrings?"

"Ah right, that slipped my mind. Thank you for reminding me."

Maxwell went to his room to get the spatial ring which had the box of earrings. He then went to Lily's room where she was sitting upright, reading a book.

"Lily, I'm back."

"Hello Max." Lily replied with a distant tone.

"I have a gift for you."

"What is it?"

"Open it."

"Thank you." Lily responded after seeing the earrings.

"I put some formations that will save you in case you get in a tight spot."

Lily put on the earrings carefully.

"You look good with those earrings, I didn't make a bad choice."

"I do?" Lily asked innocently.

"Yes, look in the mirror."

Lily used a hand mirror to look at herself. Her expression didn't change, and she just examined her appearance. She didn't say anything and just put the mirror away on her night stand. Maxwell then left to sleep.

Maxwell woke up early and went to train. He felt his muscles were stronger, so he decided to increase the length of his exercise routine. He started off with stretching his body. He then did different exercises aimed at training different muscles and he then trained with his spear against a metal training dummy. It was made of rank 6 metal, so it didn't take damage against a full blow from Maxwell, even with spear intent and his violent qi.

'Gáe Dearg is being limited by my strength. The destructive power it showed yesterday proves it's at least made of Rank 7 materials.'

Orphelia walked out yawning. She was already dressed in a cyan top and a black skirt.

"Why are you making so much noise?"

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize it would wake you up."

"It's alright. You should break through to the 10th stage. Training won't improve your skills any further. You need to improve your body strength and you need firsthand experience."

"Hmm, I can break through 2 levels with the level 5 core."

"With your constitution and body a day should be enough to stabilize your cultivation."

"Ok, I'll refine the core partially before we go to your house."

Maxwell sat down cross legged on top of a flat rock. There was a qi gathering formation engraved on it. He swallowed the hot orange core.

He focused all his attention on refining it. It grew smaller as time passed. He had refined a fourth of the core before he was interrupted by Orphelia.

"Is it time?"

"Yes, go wash yourself first, you're covered in sweat."

Maxwell washed himself in the bath. He controlled the heat with his fire qi. He went out, feeling refreshed and clean. He changed into an olive green turtleneck shirt and black pants.

"You're wearing your new jewelry. It suits you."

"Thank you."

They rode in the carriage drawn by Arion. They asked Arion to hide his cultivation fully.

They got out at the gate of the Chevalier Estate. The guards recognized Maxwell and realized Orphelia's identity from her hair color.

They headed straight to the main building to the patriarchs study. They knocked on the wooden door.

"Enter." Orphelia's father spoke in a gruff voice

He looked up from his work and saw them.

"Orphelia? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. I met Maxwell in the capital during the test and I came with him."

"I see, you have grown well in the past 10 years. I'm sorry I can't leave my work right now, it's very important."

"Where's mom?" Orphelia asked saddened at her father's lack of emotion.

"She's in the stables checking the horses."

"Okay, see you at lunch dad."

"Hmm." He nodded his head as Orphelia left.

They went to the huge stables that held the famed horses of the Chevalier family. It was very clean and spacious. Every horse was strong, fast and trained for battle. Orphelia's mother was wearing equestrian clothing.

"Mom, hi!" Orphelia greeted her mother with a hug.

"When did you return Orphelia?"

"15 minutes ago, I met dad and came here."

"So that's why you're a bit down. He might seem like that but he cares about you. He's terrible at showing his emotions and conveying them." She sighed and then added, "I had to push him so much before he finally conveyed his feelings to me."

"Why are you checking the stables? Normally the workers will check the horses."

"Trouble is brewing, but it won't concern you. I'm almost done her, we can have a picnic together."

"Auntie, I got some tea leave from the capital for you." Maxwell spoke while she was inspecting a horse for injuries

"You did Maxwell? What a caring son in law. At least call me mother in law."

"Okay."

"Mom, do you need any help?" Orphelia offered.

"If you're fine with getting dirty."

Orphelia and Maxwell joined in to check if the steeds were healthy and asked her about things they didn't know.

"Maxwell, I heard you made a contract with a strong Spiritual Horse. Can I see him?"

"Sure, I'll call him"

Maxwell used the contract to call Arion who flew in. He had stored the carriage in a small pendant that was around his neck since the carriage was large and bulky.