Riven's gaze swept over the Silk Dominion table.
The pigtailed girl sat tall, arms folded behind her head, looking smug despite their fourth-place finish. The blonde girl next to her stared into her teacup like it had personally offended her. The tall one seemed half-asleep.
And then there was the pudgy one — chatting cheerfully with a disciple from another sect while stuffing what looked like a sesame bun into his mouth.
Riven hesitated for only a second.
He was sure there way some kind of saying about becoming aquainted after crossing blades or that a fight was the fastest way to understand a person.
By that logic... didn't that make them something like friends?
He shook his head.
Even he didn't believe that himself.
But at the very least, it made the pudgy guy the easiest person to approach.
Riven started toward him.
But before he even got the chance to speak, the other guys eyes lit up as he noticed him.
"Ah! My noble enemy returns!" he called out loudly, waving Riven over. "Come, come! Sit! I've got a business opportunity for you!"
A few heads turned.
Riven paused mid-step. "…Business?"
The boy grinned broadly. "Of course! You're strong, reliable, and you don't look like the type to stab partners in the back. That already puts you above most people I know."
"You know I'm from the Venomthread Sect, right? " He countered a bit confused.
But the boy just leaned forward conspiratorially, unaware of how little his description had fit a Venomthread Cultivator. "I'm planning to open a small branch shop here. Nothing official — just a personal venture. Cultivators passing through, rare materials, monster parts… you get the idea."
Riven gave him a flat look. "What has that got to do with me?"
"You're quite strong." the boy said cheerfully. "And you have potential. I don't have too much connection too higher ranked cultivators but I believe we could gather some good stuff if we worked together. I supply you with tools and information and you get me materials to sell. Everyone's happy."
Riven exhaled slowly. "I didn't come for business."
"Oh?" The pudgy disciple looked genuinely surprised. As if he couldn't imagine anyone walking up to a Silk Dominion disciple without looking for business. "Then what did you come for?"
"Maps," Riven said simply.
Now that he thought about it. It kind of was business in a way.
he boy blinked — then laughed. "Oh! That's easy."
He tapped the side of his storage pouch proudly. "Maps of the Southern Provinces, trade routes, mountain passes, river crossings — I've got plenty. Silk Dominion's a merchant sect, after all."
Riven's expression darkened. He'd heard something he'd feared. "Only the Southern Provinces?"
"Only?" The boy chuckled. "You make it sound small. The Southern Region alone is already so big. Most cultivators never even leave it."
He shrugged. "We've got branches elsewhere, sure. But I'm just a Southern Branch disciple. If you want maps from other regions, you'd need to talk to someone from those branches."
Riven frowned slightly. It seemed that it wouldn't be so easy. "Even the elders?"
"Even them," the boy admitted. "Most have never traveled beyond their assigned region. Cultivation takes time. Travel takes even more."
Can't anything be easy for once?
A quiet sigh slipped from Riven as his interest visibly waned. For a moment, he considered ending the conversation right there.
The pudgy disciple noticed immediately.
"But—!" he said quickly, leaning forward. "That doesn't mean there's no chance. At the grand auction in six months, there'll be disciples from other regions. You could talk to them directly. Maps, travel routes, regional intel — that stuff circulates there."
Riven's gaze lifted again.
At least he'd confirmed this then.
He had to attend that auction.
No matter what.
"And," the boy added, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "there are rumors. About a treasure meant for long-distance travel."
Riven's heartbeat skipped just a fraction.
"What kind of treasure?"
Before the pudgy boy could answer, someone else spoke.
"It won't be something a single cultivator can afford," the blonde-haired girl said flatly.
Riven turned. She'd stood up from her seat at some point, and got closer, seemingly interested in the conversation.
"Anything that shortens travel across regions?" she continued. "That's sect-level pricing. Even our elders wouldn't bid lightly."
The pudgy boy nodded emphatically. "True! We're talking absurd amounts of spirit stones. Or rare resources. Or favors."
He glanced at Riven, grinning. "Which is why you'll need money."
Riven didn't respond immediately.
Was this all a ploy to make him join his business?
If it was. It was working.
He hated to admit it, but... he was actually considering it.
The conversation drifted after that. The pudgy boy, who belatedly introduced himself as Bosu told Riven where he stayed in the city and then Riven excused himself and returned to his sect's table.
Back there, Mei was surrounded.
Not aggressively — but unmistakably. Disciples from other sects hovered nearby, some asking questions, others simply listening. She laughed easily, gestured casually, and somehow managed to keep everyone at arm's length without offending anyone.
It wasn't that she was much better looking than the others.
In fact Talia and Lara didn't look bad either.
But there was some kind of atmosphere around her that made everyone like her.
Riven shook his head and sat slightly to the side, letting the banquet noise wash over him.
Before long, the elders rose.
"We have matters to discuss," one of them announced. "Remain here."
The disciples did.
While they were celebrating safely here, they knew outside of their area a lot of powerful cultivators passed through the city in the tree crowns.
And without their elders it would be risky to head out.
After some time, the elders returned, said their farewells, and began gathering their people.
The banquet ended quietly.
As they walked back toward the path leading down the tree, Mei slowed just enough to fall into step beside Riven.
"I saw you talking to the Silk Dominion," she said softly.
Riven glanced at her.
She hummed. "You should be careful."
He waited.
"They don't make friends," Mei continued. "They make investments. If you can't immediately see how something benefits them—assume it does. Somewhere."
Riven nodded slowly.
As they descended, his thoughts lingered.
Maps. Travel treasures. Spirit stones.
Money.
Maybe that business offer was worth considering.
As for Mei's warning?
He pushed it to the side.
He'd lived through worse.
Danger wasn't something he feared — not anymore.
And if walking that edge brought him closer to finding a way back home…
So be it.
He made up his mind to visit Bosu again later.
Now the only problem was... how would he tell Elder Syen that he wanted to stay in Verdance instead of returning to the sect.
He won't be happy.