Chapter 202 - Resolving the conflict

"This works for me!"

With the Katenari's disciplinary elder accepting the outcome proposed by the city mayor, NAtural Edge sect also complied with the preliminary judgement, leaving the whole matter finally finished.

"Let us depart then. I hope we will be able to come to a mutual understanding of the meeting three days from now! Also, I hope you will forgive me, but since your next duel is supposed to start in just half an hour from now and I was told that you just broke through while helping yours betrothed to reach for greater heights as well, I will need to cancel your fights for today and push them for a later date, possibly rescheduling your fights for one's wit more fitting opponent. Is that alright?"

Even if the matter on hand was done, the problem that arose with the tournament couldn't possibly be ignored just like that.

"Yeah, I don't see any problem with that!"

With Eve easily agreeing to the terms proposed, we were finally free to leave… Or at least that what I had thought!

"Don't be in such a hurry! I still need to talk to you in private!"

Just as I was about to take Eve with me and leave for the smithy so that I could calm down while working on the remaining products that I wanted to get for the auction, Venna swiftly halted my steps in place, blocking my only way out of the great plaza. I couldn't thank the fate enough that this commotion didn't bring a bigger crowd to this place, because it would mean that a lot of weaker cultivators would probably arrive as well, putting them at risk of getting hurt during my moment of berserker's rage.

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

While I would love to go to the smithy that she offered me back then, with how big this situation blew up, there was no way that neither Katenaris, Dracons or even the town faction would allow me to get there unnoticed! Speaking while in the open was surprisingly the best option for now!

"What the hell did really happen? Don't try to sugarcoat the reality for me! I know that This damn elder wouldn't try anything like assaulting you in the open!"

While it was obvious for everyone concerned, the public that watched the entire commotion consisted mostly of tourists and random passersby, allowing me to steer their opinion by giving a teary story away. Speaking with the real players only, we all know perfectly well that unless there was some great secret under the table, there was simply no way that such a veteran official of Katenaris like this disciplinary elder would ever make such a mistake!

"They came for her. Since she comes from a higher branch of the family and had an insanely talented father, the moment she would learn about it, she would not be coming back. Thats why I created a small distraction that lead to this Elder really making move on me. When I tried to drive my cultivation to prepare for his outright assault, my injuries caused my cultivation to go berserk. Only thanks to Eve's help and the fact that we already comprehended the way to break through to the spirit realm long ago, I managed to use this ravaging force to break through our bottlenecks and force my energy down. End of the story"

The moment that her soundproof barrier enveloped us, I instantly recounted slightly enriched version of the story, albeit far closer to the truth that the bullcrap that I fed to the others. Even our ploy with the auction was outright directed against Katenari's and Dracons, it would come as no surprise for her that I intentionally put my few cents into escalating the situation!

"Ehh… I understand where you are coming from, but try not to make such a huge ruckus next time, or rather, if I will ever notice you trying to make things more heated just like today, I will withdraw from supporting you, even at the cost of losing face! I can't allow my faction to go at odds with the city hall!"

While I had my reasons behind my actions, Venna had to consider not only her ideas, but also the standing on her entire sect. I could easily understand her reasoning, but that didn't change the fact that I would never yield to Katenaris demands!

"Oh, before I forget. I still need to make those swords that I promised both for you and the neutrals. Can you create an opening for me to safely reach the smithy? I doubt I would be able to avoid survivelance of those powers if I were to just go there by myself."

While I would love to go smithing right away, there was no way I would risk other powers knowing that all the wares that will be auctioned came from me. Even if they wouldn't be able to connect the dots now, that the whole ploy was still hidden, the moment that the auction would fully start, only an idiot wouldn't add two to two!

"I would prefer if you would stall your crafting before the court trial will take place. This way, we can take some attention from your back before you would go to craft anything. The other option is inviting you to our public forge… But I doubt you want to flaunt your abilities there, am I right?"

Speaking about this second option she gave me a small hope, only to shatter it with the second part of her sentence. I already had a big marker painted on my back. I wouldn't believe that such an important business like smithing was free from spies, making it impossible for me to forge anything there. unless I would be willing to just waste my time creating some mediocre and worthless blades, there was no point in going there!

"Yeah, that won't work for me. I guess we'll just cuddle up in our lodging, waiting for the Eve's games to be rescheduled. Two days after the trail will be enough for me to finish creating one of those swords, but seeing how I managed to use this heart of the weapon somehow, I might as well just craft something for my love and give our current blades away."

There was no point roaming the city anymore. We had way more food that we could eat during the coming seclusion, the wine could be ordered in the hotel and we had way more than enough way to keep ourselves from getting bored!

"That settles it then. Just hole up in your room and have some rest. I will come pick you up when the time for the trail or her fights will come."

With those words, Venna didn't linger in the place any longer, but gathered her servants and disciples and simply went back to the arena.

All in all, everything went as good as it could if I were to exclude my cultivation going berserk. The only thing that I regret now, is my inability to create this one funny item that I had in mind for so long already! I guess Lucia will need to put up with my requests for now!