Shen Junan was once again slightly embarrassed. As it turned out, they had to be members of the illusion division to participate in the betting if they did not have an official invitation to the division by one of the elders. They could still participate in the challenges, though.

"I guess I could simply put a few bets if you'd like? It is not like the organizers would stop me. Also, I am sorry that I did not recognize that you might be uncomfortable in this environment, Brother Mu, in my excitement upon entering the division it must have slipped my mind." The boy said, sounding sincerely apologetic.

Zhi Mu simply waved him off, and gave the younger boy a mild snort in response. "No harm done, Brother Junan, it is not exactly what I described when I said I disliked gatherings, and even though it might feel a little stifling there is no harm done." He told them, not sounding ruffled in the slightest. Ren was not sure how accurate this was, but as he could not detect any falsehood, simply took it for the truth.

"Okay, how about we make a bit of money then? We could first each try the solo challenges and then try our hand at one of those team battles. You would of course bet on us getting to a high standing in the rankings, we would need to see how far up exactly, and that would be it." Xin Jing completely ignored the older boy and got directly back on topic. She looked supremely confident in her proposition, two small dimples showed on her face and she crossed her arms behind her back, miming an elder.

"Very good, Sister Jing. There is only one tiny problem with your suggestion that I also did not think about." Shen Junan was about to shut her down, once again scratching his head abashedly.

"And what would that be? Don't tell me you think we could not get into the upper rankings?" She looked at him incredulously and uncrossed her arms, instead putting her hands on her hips.

Shen Junan held out both hands placatingly, trying to forestall any unnecessary arguments before he even made his point. "No, that is not what I am worried about, Brother Mu may even be able to take one of the first places on the Adept ranking, and I am sure none of us would make a weak appearance. BUT, this is unfortunately not how the betting is done. If all of us were disciples of the illusion division it would be different, but you are not.

The reason for this is quite simple. Your ability has to be judged to not skew the odds disastrously in some way. The venue organizers are even using things like your predicted improvement speed, comparisons and predictions on your performance in other trials, and more, that can be used to more accurately evaluate you. And they have no access to the information of other divisions.

You must understand that while the betting and formations take place in the same room, the organization of the betting is not strictly being monitored by the elders of the illusion division, and instead is run by a multitude of disciples banding together.

It was also them who made this place into what it is now, from its former dry appearance. This place was nothing but a mix of dull whites and greys before it was remodelled, and people only ever came to compete, with nary a word exchanged. This all changed for the better, even events are being occasionally hosted now. For all of this, they had to seek approval from the elders first, though." He told them, not unkindly, and Ren could even see that he himself was both impressed with the work that went into the remodelling of the competitive formations venue and disappointed that they could not easily take some funds for themselves.

While Xin Jing proclaimed that they would then just have to try their hand at the formations and then just beat people in duels, Ren had another idea. "Can't we just talk to someone who is in charge, or if that does not work, just start team battles with you betting on us, Brother Junan, wouldn't that work? Also, what about me only being an Initiate?"

Ren thought that he was being quite clever, and saw no problems with his suggestion.

Shen Junan sighed in response, and began talking in a patient voice. "Well, we could try talking to someone that I know, but we aren't really likely to sway them. As for just directly going into team battles..." The boy considered it for another moment, not looking at any of them. "Our participation should still suffer from the same difficulty. You are simply not registered and as such wouldn't be allowed to be bet on, even if I was part of the team. As for you not being a Novice, that really doesn't matter at all. Normally, we have no Initiates in the division, and thus you would simply contend against other Novices. In fact, I personally also placed in not only the Novice, but the Adept ranking as well." He said, and soon the woman, who would likely be their waitress for the rest of this day, returned.

"May this one receive the orders of your esteemed selves?" She bowed once again, but did not meet their eyes. Ren could sense her shaking and clenching her hand behind her back. He reminded himself to ask the others about her curious behaviour later.

Shen Junan once again took the word, putting on a smile and soothing voice. "Please relax, there is no need to be so stiff." It only made her shaking intensify, and the boy sigh. "We will just take one meat plate, and a bowl of each side dish."

The nervous waitress already wanted to leave when Shen Junan's next words stopped her dead in her tracks. "I would also like to request that you tell Brother Long that I'd like to speak with him about a matter. He is present after all?" He formulated it like an innocent enough question, but to Ren's ears it sounded more like a command, and Shen Junan already knew where this Brother Long was.

"This one will immediately serve your order and speak to Senior Brother Long." She hurried away before anyone could ask more of her, red hair swaying over stiff shoulders.

Shortly after she left, Han Ting began talking."Well, that could have gone better, Brother Junan, do you think we will see this Brother Long you talked about?"

The boy pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled wryly. "It could have, yes, but I don't think that Long Bolin will let us wait for long. It is not his style, and he does not only know me but know of you four as well, he is well-informed on all matters of the sect, not in small part due to his family being quite influential, though like Brother Mu he could be unaware of you, Brother Ren." He took a big swing from his calabash and continued. "Ahh, a nice and strong flavour, with a touch of cherry, I believe. Anyway, Brother Long is the leader of this fine establishment and the organization that called it into life in the first place, and even if he will not appear either distant or severe, do not let him fool you into his facade of casualty. He is an overly ambitious man and vicious like a viper, one of those who are unsatisfied with the elders wanting to foster future leaders instead of maintaining the current system and taking more power from the families that have been the foundation of the sect for many a generation. I originally did not want for us to meet him or someone like him on this excursion, but since such is inevitable, we might as well get it over with while getting a little money out of him."

Shen Junan smiled, and Ren noticed that while he talked he had maintained a dome of his spirit around their table, muting any sounds from outside, and presumably also those from the inside.

Zhi Mu spread out his arms confidently, leaning back into his seat, the wooden stick resting against his shoulder. "Those people can complain as much as they want, in the end it is only a small step into the direction of taking power from the families, and as the old man is in favour of it they will do nothing but posture for a bit. But Brother Junan is right, for us, and you guys in particular, it is important that you are at least aware of them. They might not do anything, but until you are strong enough, being extra cautious doesn't hurt."