"You've opened my eyes, disciple. This whole sneaking around and taking things might be slower than my way, but it's definitely more fun!" Snail gushed to Kenja.

Kenja was in such a good mood, he had to consciously stop himself from skipping in celebration. With his trademark victory grin plastered on his face, his head swayed gallantly with each step.

He finally did it!

He was rich!!

Super rich!!!

Even Snail's word choice could not dampen his mood as he still took the time to correct him, "We did not take anything, Snail. We purchased those items fair and square."

Sakura hummed something to Snail.

"Who are you calling a sneak thief?! I'll have you know that I am upright and aboveboard when taking things! My style is not skulking around behind people's backs and stealing like this boy over here!" He redirected Sakura's insult to Kenja.

Kenja rolled his eyes. "I just told you! We didn't steal anything. We paid for everything." He knew it would be meaningless to explain to Snail how his "taking things" was as far away from "upright and aboveboard" as one could get.

"Ho? Then why did we have to sneak around like a bunch of criminals, sending all those delivery toothpicks anonymously and making me switch the bags out as they go? Truly, you are lucky that I dote on you else I'd mete out punishment for such deplorable behavior!" He puffed out his little snail chest and emanated an air of righteousness that he had no business displaying.

Kenja's smile turned upside down. He had successfully accomplished one of his lifelong goals to become rich, and Snail was still capable of ruining the mood. He rubbed his glabella in frustration as he walked, wondering if sticking with Snail any longer was even necessary.

After all, he was rich now!

"Let's say, someone has a really nice shell. Nicer than yours."

Snail gave Kenja an incredulous look with his eyestalks crossed. "Impossible, but go on…"

Kenja took Snail into his hand and curled his other fist alongside his shell. "This shell is bigger, smoother, shinier, tougher, lighter and roomier than your current shell, and it's not yours. You ask to trade for it and bring out some spirit stones for it."

Snail nodded his crossed eyestalks to show that he was with him so far.

"Now, let's say they refuse to trade for your things. What will you do?"

He did not need any second to think before responding, "I'll take it from them."

Kenja nodded his head as if he expected that response.

"Okay. How about if they trade it for everything in your shell?"

Snail gave him a look of scorn. "I'll take the stuff back when he turns away."

"Yes. Do you see what I'm talking about now?" Kenja felt he did not need to explain his point any further.

Snail contemplated for a moment before replying, "But I'm not going to steal from you, disciple."

Kenja slumped his shoulders, feeling Sakura vibrate in her sheath in a way that could only be described as stifled laughter.

This lesson was a cruel one that Kenja learned about a year ago.

His daily duel with Vice Elder Shirou had given him a steady supply of spirit stones that he could sell to mortal vendors who utilised spiritual tools. At some point, he had the bright idea of travelling to the inner parts of Ryuga and selling to the more affluent shops for a larger amount of gold.

Little did Kenja know at the time that it was a crime to have money if you could not protect it.

Shortly after one of his first sales, he was caught by a group of thugs who beat him up and took the new money pouch that he had hidden within his jacket's pocket.

His appearance clearly belonged to one of the lower class, so the only way those thugs would have known about the money was if one of the shops that he traded with had informed them.

He tried again a couple more times, being more selective about which vendors to talk with, but regardless of whom he spoke with or whether he had successfully sold his supplies, the thugs would find him and unburden Kenja of both, the spirit stone fragments and any money he had on him.

When Kenja finally decided to stop going to the inner parts, a couple of thugs came looking to see what happened to their new piggy bank, forcing him to stay hidden for a while.

That was when Kenja learned that it was not a good idea to display his wealth or good fortune, especially when he lacked the means to defend it.

It truly was a good lesson to learn early on.

"Snail, I'm only at the Qi Flourishing stage. Do you think trouble won't come looking for us if I let the whole world know what I have in my pockets?"

Realization gleamed off his tiny eyeballs as he quickly gathered himself and puffed out his chest righteously once more. "Hmph, I'd like to see who dares steal from you while this old snail is here…but you have done well, disciple. This snail isn't a garbage-collecting snail that like to deal with trash all day long."

…

Meanwhile, Third Elder Kondo had long arrived in front of the area where Hirai Hikaru's cave was located with Matsushita Hizumi and Bando in tow. For an incense stick worth of time, he stood a slight distance away from his three brothers who were in the midst of their cultivation, inspecting them, wondering why they were here together.

If they had decided upon this location to welcome Sister Kazane, they should have informed him!

"Ahem!" Elder Kondo released a loud, echoing cough that shook all the disciples cultivating awake. Sixth Elder Gao Diao parted the grass stalks that engulfed him while Fourth Elder Ariyoshi Miji peeked through one of his eyes at Elder Kondo. As for the Second Elder, there was no distinct movement, but the teacup that balanced on top of the bald part of his head that was not submerged in earth vibrated periodically.

"Third Brother? What brings you here?" As Gao Diao walked out of the foliage that grew around him, the vines uncurled from his limbs and the flowers that dotted his hair and mustache pulled themselves out from their stems.

Fourth Elder landed on the floor and saw the vibrating cup on Second Elder's head.

"Oy!"

He shot out his palm, and a rush of wind slammed against the dirt hill that contained Second Elder Inazuma, dislodging some of the dirt around his head. The tea cup was blown away into the crowd of disciples.

A loud snoring rang out followed with an abrupt cough.

"I'm up, I'm up!"

Second Elder Inazuma shook off the armor of dirt encasing him as if they were crumbs and stepped towards the other three elders who could only sigh quietly at the sight.

This was why it was pointless to ask Second Elder to cultivate. Even if he took it seriously in the beginning, he never failed to doze off after some time out of boredom. If it weren't for his love of spiritual tools that led him to speedily raise his cultivation, he probably would be a raisin at the Qi Flourishing stage by now.

"Ah, Third Brother has come as well? Did you also come to meet—" Second Elder's question was interrupted by a white pill being tossed into his mouth and two hands covering his lips.

"Second Brother does not cultivate often. Circulate this to make sure no negative consequences have arisen from halting your cultivation suddenly, che-che," Gao Diao stopped him from speaking any further.

On the same page as his much taller brother, Ariyoshi Miji quickly took control of the conversation, "Is Third Brother out for a stroll? It's rare for us to meet like this."

His true intent was clear: 'What are you doing here, brother?'

It truly was a rare thing for so many of the elders to be found together in a location other than their private Elder Hall or their informal gathering location, the Dragon's View.

Third Elder Kondo raised an eyebrow at them. "I have come to redress my disciple's grievance with another disciple. What about all of you? We agreed to welcome Fifth Sister together. If it was decided to meet here, you should have sent someone to inform me." He still believed that they were here for Elder Kazane.

A look of realization flashed in Ariyoshi Miji as he thought over how much time they had spent cultivating.

When meditating, the best results were obtained by focusing wholeheartedly on their circulation and contemplation. Splitting one's concentration on other activities like tracking time or guarding against attacks would undoubtedly slow down one's progress.

This was one of the many reasons cultivators sought safe, isolated places such as an Immortal's cave or a sect.

After noting that Elder Kazane would arrive soon, both the Fourth and Sixth elder were at a loss for words. To think three days had passed and the disciple surnamed Hirai was still cultivating without having taken a single break.

Three months of secluded cultivation was nothing for a Nascent Soul elder like them, let alone three days, but Hirai Hikaru was still at the Qi Flourishing stage. One whole day would show exceptional diligence while two would show an insane affinity for cultivating, yet it had been three days?!

They had been eager to accept Hirai Hikaru as a disciple before, but now their desire to poach such a promising seedling from their Fifth Sister doubled.

"As you know, Fifth Sister had accepted many new disciples this year, so I thought it might be a good time to find a another disciple to learn alongside Little Mizu," Gao Diao replied while gesturing to Shimizu Mizutani who was standing behind him. He had already left the Second Elder to his own devices.

"Aye, as am I. It's about time Little Yu and Little Hide had someone to look after." Ariyoshi Miji agreed with his brother.

After witnessing their Second Brother Inazuma arrive here for Hirai Hikaru, Ariyoshi Miji and Gao Diao were a bit concerned to see another elder join them. Since the Third Elder had made it clear that he was not here for Disciple Hirai, they were no longer hesitant about sharing their intentions.

Second Elder Inazuma shrugged off the earlier rudeness and chimed in, "You've come at a good time, Third Brother. I've found another spiritual architect!"

Elder Kondo was pacified after hearing the reasons they were here had nothing to do with Elder Kazane.

"That's good to hear, brothers. Perhaps finding another disciple to impart my inheritance is not a bad idea," he said while glancing to his back at Matsushita Hizumi, "but that will have to wait until after I teach a lesson about respect to one of the younger generation."

Gao Diao and Ariyoshi Miji's relaxed further knowing he did not come for the disciple they were in a tug-of-war over.

They both nodded in agreement with his actions, slightly curious as to which troublesome youth could trouble the Third Elder's disciple, but they withheld their curiosity. Now that the time before Elder Kazane's arrival was almost up, perhaps they could agree on a truce and meet Disciple Hirai together. Three days of cultivation was too much for a Qi Flourishing upstart; interrupting her now to ensure nothing untoward happened was their responsibility as elders.

They did not have time to spare for a story about two kids bickering.

"Go handle your affairs, brother. We'll wait for you here."

"Don't be too harsh on the child, che-che-che."

Elder Kondo nodded to the two of them. "Naturally."

He wanted to add a few words of congratulations to the Second Elder, but…the Second Elder was no longer paying attention to them as he was ordering the random crowd of disciples to bring back the teacup that was blown away. Turning to Aracha, he was about to request a fresh pot of tea when he saw that she had preemptively ignited a flame under a newly-filled teapot.

The Third Elder rolled his eyes and motioned for Bando to lead the way.

Even though he could have sent a disciple to fetch Hirai Hikaru, he was not entirely clear of the disciple's background, only knowing that she was a close friend of the younger princess and a new disciple of the woman he had fallen for. Additionally, since Elder Kazane was returning soon, he had only a brief window of time to rebuke the troublemaker before he would be forced to seek retribution through her master or give up. Neither of which were acceptable.

The three of them left the center of the encirclement and headed towards Hirai Hikaru's cave marked 5-5.

A bad case of déjà vu caused a shiver to crawl up the spines of the Fourth and Sixth Elder's spines once they saw the direction they took. They shared a fearful glance with each other.

There was no way, right?