Elder Rong stopped in place while casually gripping the unconscious leader by the neck. He looked to the right, then to the left, and finally focused his gaze on Xue.

“Disciple Xue,” Drawled Rong, enunciating each word with a beard stroke. “what is shameless lesson number 26?”

Felix’s looked from the elder to Xue as her expression slowly turned red. She averted her gaze and coughed lightly into her hand.

“It is ‘Waste not, want not, Elder’.” She grumbled.

Elder Rong Snorted “Mmm, is it now? Then why have you not eve retrieved these men’s interspatial rings? I understand if you refuse to strip them completely, not everyone can live up to the true meaning of shameless lesson number 26. But really now, I don’t see a single spoil of battle collected. I expected better from you.”

“Um, ‘Waste not, Want not’ Elder?” Said Felix, feeling he should distract the Elder. “What are you talking about? I didn’t see you take anything from those men earlier in the woods?”

Elder Rong looked at Felix and then shook his head sadly. He opened his mouth but a groan to his left cut him off. Rong glanced at the unconscious man in annoyance and the lightly laid his free hand on the man’s cheek. The hand blurred as the sound of rapid-fire slaps filled the air. The groaning stopped.

“Seems I didn’t rattle his head enough. Getting soft. Now, where was I? Oh yes, ‘Waste not, Want not’. I see you don’t remember your lessons young Felix. A shame but rectified easily enough. As for me, I certainly did not forget to collect the spoils of battle. Your eyes were simply unable to keep up with my movements. We were in a bit of a rush to check on the disciples after all.”

Felix stared at the former leader's swelling face.

…I feel like it is best if I take Elder Rong’s word on this one.

“…Okay, but isn’t looting the corpses disrespectful to the dead?”

Elder Rong's eyes went skyward as if seeking strength. “See disciple Xue? You are setting a bad example for your junior. Look, Felix, the journey to immortality is long and EXPENSIVE. Being short of the needed resources can easily be the difference between advancing and stagnation. I won’t bore you with all the whys, hows and justifications but it is a deed that any successful cultivator should embrace.”

Wow. This sounds like the philosophy of a tightwad.

Elder Rong ignored Felix’s stunned look and surveyed the lumps of snow with a critical eye. Having come to a decision, he smacked the unconscious man in the head once more and let him crumple to the ground.

“In fact,” Said Elder Rong, “it is so important that we are going to use this as a learning opportunity. Come over here and I will show you what I mean and Xue gathers the rest of the spoils.”

Felix looked at the elder and then at the snow all around. It was still several feet deep. Elder Rong rolled his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the air nearby vibrated. The vibration spread until a large swath of snow moved in sync. The snow slowly shifted, clearing a decent area and revealing three frozen corpses.

“Now come here and I will show you,” Said Elder Rong “And stop just sitting around disciple Xue.”

With obvious reluctance, Felix shimmed off the log and waddle over to the elder. Xue watched his progress for a moment and then blurred, running straight into a snowbank and disappearing. The elder ushered Felix over to the most intact corpse and flipped it over with a foot. Felix couldn’t’ help but grimace at the frozen look of shock on the dead man’s face. Elder Rong paused as he saw Felix’s expression.

“Mmm, perhaps I was hasty. Are you going to be alright Felix? This is an important lesson, but we can take things slow. Dealing with the vulgarities of life can be difficult. Especially the first time.”

Felix closed his eyes and took a slow deep inhale, letting it out slowly.

“I think I'll be alright elder.”

“Well… try to focus on the goal.”

Felix nodded slowly. Elder Rong gave a crooked smile and gave Felix’s shoulder a comforting squeeze.

“Good. One must be able to master one’s emotions. Not ignore them of course. That would just make an uncaring monster.” Said, Elder Rong. He watched Felix's eyes as if to make sure he understood the importance of those words. “Now, what we are doing is not wrong but there is no reason to be barbaric. We are here to make use of the resources we have earned, not for petty vengeance. So, the first object you should look for is the cultivator’s storage device. Storage devices can take many shapes but the common two are rings and cosmic bags. These are all objects that have been altered to have a greater space on the inside and are often the main location for the majority of a cultivator’s wealth” The elder reached down and slide a ring off the corpses left hand. “In the case of this man, it is a storage ring.”

Felix looked at the ring and nodded thoughtfully.

“The next thing you should take is the obvious treasure.” Said the elder, pointing at a small talisman in the man’s left pocket. Elder Rong plucked it out and gave it a glance before storing it in his own ring. “However, valuables can take many shapes but the most common are storage devices, weapons, talismans, armor, and even clothing. One strategy is just to strip them and take everything or even the entire corpse.”

Elder Rong placed his hand back on Felix’s shoulder and guided him to another corpse. He plucked off this man’s ring and stared at it for a moment.

“Aaahh, a perfect example. There are several dangers to alleviating people of their worldly possessions. For example, they could be booby-trapped or the objects themselves can be dangerous. This ring here is actually trapped.”

Elder Rong tossed the ring in the air and as it came down, he brought his hands together, clapping the ring between them. Nothing happened for a moment and then a boom sounded out that nearly made Felix lose his footing. Rong’s hands, still clasping the ring between them, vibrated so much that it looked like he was doing a weird dance. Even as smoke sneaked between the elder’s fingers, the hands remained closed and vibrating. Eventually, the elder seemed to gain control and the vibration stopped. Elder then unfurled his hands to show an undamaged ring.

“This ring happened to have an explosive trap on it. Now I only did this as I am very familiar with this trap. Many a cultivator has ended their journey by their lack of caution.” The elder winked and then slipped the ring in a pocket. “So, the second concern is that the looted item could have a tracking technique on them. You think you got away with murder and before you know it, you will have an entire family hunting you. Elder Kang once had seven generations of a clan hunting him after he accidentally killed one of them. Three, taking certain items could cause the formation of a karmic bond. I honestly don’t know how to look out for the third as it is hard to pin down but just be aware of the possibility.”

Elder Rong waited for Felix to nod before he continued.

“Now, I am just taking the ring this time since I scanned this man with my spiritual sense and didn’t find anything else worth it. You are frankly looking a little pale and we should probably stop here. Do note however that there are amazing treasures out there that can fool one’s senses. Especially the treasures that are realms above your current cultivation. It is another reason that taking everything is a valid strategy. So, thoughts? Questions?”

Even though he was overwhelmed, Felix still tried to come up with a question. However, he kept finding himself staring into the dead man’s glassy eyes.

“Oh, ya.” Said Felix absently, running a hand through his hair. “Take everything you can. Watch out for dangerous items, tracking, karma, and offending people. Sometimes the seemingly mundane can be the most valuable. Does that cover it?”

Elder Rong sighed and seemed to deflate. “I suppose. Perhaps we shouldn’t have done this yet. Also, remember that there are differences in how one should treat an enemy and an ally. Do still take the ring but you should be extra respectful of fallen allies. Both for Karma and because it is good for your own mental health. Don’t forget, it is hard to trust a man who desecrates his allies.”

Xue exploded out of the snow with a bag of jingling rings in one hand. Seeming in a much better mood, she held the bag up and gave Elder Rong a grin.

“I got all the rings Elder Rong,” she said.

The elder gave a small chuckle and got his sword out. Without even looking, he reached out and grabbed the unconscious man, hefting him over his shoulder. Seeing how deep in thought Felix was, the other two let him be and they got on the sword without another word

They quickly met up with the Onooka Clansman and the three recruits. The three kids had wakened up by then but remained quiet. Felix winced when he saw how they shrunk back as their sword descended from the sky. Only when they spotted him and Xue did they calm down a little.

Elder Rong smiled kindly at the kids and nodded at the Clansman. He stomped on the sword and it vibrated, slowly growing to a size that could easily accommodate four more people. Xue and Felix ushered the kids onboard while the Clansman followed behind.

The flight that followed was also quiet, only broken every now and then by Xue comforting the kids. With a sigh, Felix gave himself a quick internal inspection. He found nothing wrong and couldn’t keep himself from his own thoughts.

So much death. Such casual killings. Even Xue, someone not that much older than me in the grand scheme of things killed so many. I suppose that confirms that this is a cruel world. But, but I don’t even know why they had to kill us. I suppose the killing of witnesses is the obvious answer but still. Over something so simple…

His thoughts spun over the deaths again and again. He was so absorbed that he wouldn’t have realized they reached the Sect except as soon as they crossed the Sect’s outer border, familiar text-filled his mind.

[Quest: Recruiting for the Sect]

[Aid the Thousand Season Sect in acquiring disciples]

[Rewards: KE points variable. Main factors are contributions to recruitment and quality of disciple]

[You have finished the base criteria for this repeatable quest; do you wish to activate the quest completion mechanism?]

[Yes or No?]

Huh, so I just needed to get them back to the sect. Maybe

He glanced at the recruits who were still lost in their own world.

Poor kids. I hope they are okay. Well, I suppose I might as well submit it. [Yes]

[Answer accepted]

[Quest Rewards Achieved: 97 KE points]

How the heck did it get to 97 KE points. I really wish it showed how it came to that exact value. Well, more importantly, I should figure out what I should use them on…

Felix was roused from his internal monologue by Xue poking him in the shoulder. He realized that they had ascended a good portion of the mountain. They landed in front of an ostentatious building, covered in symbols. The words “Hall Of Seeking” was written in gold above a giant door. They all got off the sword and Elder Rong snapped his finger in the direction at a grove of trees to the left. Felix was confused until one of the trees was suddenly a young plump woman that looked to be Xue’s age.

“Disciple Everglade, if you could take these recruits to their lodgings, I would be most appreciative. Oh, and look after them, they have had a rough day.”

The disciple nodded and she walked up to the recruits. A motherly smile graced the woman's face and Felix suddenly felt as if he was hit by a wave of reassurance. From head to toe, a feeling of warmth and wellbeing filled him. The recruits were noticeably affected as they finally began to relax. With surprisingly little fuss, the woman led the three away. Felix noticed how Xue’s glare followed the women's retreating figure.

“Now come on,” said Elder Rong. “The rest of the elders are going to need to hear about today’s events.”

Rong entered the large door and the three followed them. They found themselves in a massive room with one large table at the far end. Eleven people were seated behind it and Felix recognized Elder Shen among them.

Oh shit, these must be the elders.