The bandit camp was abuzz with anticipation as a celebration was about to begin. Their most recent haul may not have been the most valuable, consisting mainly of textiles and a few barrels of subpar beer, but there was one item that stood out from the rest. Rin proudly wore it around her neck - a small, cracked ring that held great power. It was a Spatial Ring, damaged and unstable but still functional for several more years to come. As all cultivators in the bandit crew were already equipped with their own spatial storage devices, they all agreed to give this precious find to Rin.
Under Myron''s guidance, she bonded the ring with a drop of blood and could now access its contents. The space within was not overly large - just enough for a sphere with a diameter of nearly one pace - but it was magnificent. Excitedly, Rin began storing hundreds of projectiles inside, eager to use them in future battles.
As the group sat around the fire, trading jokes and swigging beer, Rin couldn''t resist summoning small stones from time to time and returning them back to her ring. They also celebrated the prospect of finally having proper clothing thanks to Wanda''s skilled sewing abilities. Rin had been stuck wearing furs for far too long and looked forward to wearing something more fitting for a cultivator like herself.
"A toast for Ginger!" Arn''s voice rang out triumphantly, echoing through the cold night. His strong, calloused hand gripped his mug tightly as he raised it high into the air. “And to our newest member, officially deemed a bandit after her successful first heist."
The scent of ale permeated the air, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration. Rin blushed at the attention but couldn''t help feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. This was where she belonged now, among these outlaws.
Arn took another swig of his beer before sharing a story from his own early days as a bandit. "I remember my first heist, that didn''t go so well," he chuckled. "We were operating in the country of Tzu at that time."
"It was near the Clover Pass, and it was the rainiest day I''ve ever seen," he continued. "Slipping and sliding through the mud, we managed to sneak into a wealthy merchant''s warehouse."
"But things took a turn for the worse when I accidentally stepped into a deep pool of mud," Arn recalled with a grin. "It took three of my comrades to pull me out, but by then we had already been discovered."
The group erupted into laughter, imagining Arn flailing around in the mud while trying to escape.
And so they spent most nights together, while during the day Rin started pushing more and more into improving herself.
They had formed a strong bond and spent most nights together, their camaraderie growing stronger with each passing day. Meanwhile, Rin was determined to push herself further and further towards self-improvement, dedicating her days to honing her skills.
And finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she broke through to the coveted fifth tier of Blaze Tempering. The fiery energy within her aura pulsed stronger than ever before, and she could feel her physical body growing and strengthening with every tier.
With each step, the number of cycles seemed to double, and Rin''s mind boggled at the thought. By her calculations, it took her over three hundred cycles to reach this last step, and if she continued advancing, she would soon need thousands of cycles for every tier. It was a daunting realization, but still, even as Rin complained in her mind about the time-consuming process, she knew she was far ahead of the rest. Myron had taken over thirty years to reach Late Foundation and had been stuck there for the past twenty. The thought made Rin grateful for her own cultivation speed. One day she will have to pay back Master Whiteflame.
Rin''s friendship with Violet continued to deepen as they spent more and more time together. They shared meals, trained together, and talked about their past lives and hopes for the future. Violet was a skilled fighter in her own right, but Rin could now overpower her in sparring since she had broken through to the fifth tier of Blaze Tempering.
"You''re getting stronger," Violet grunted, sweat dripping down her forehead.
"Thanks to your training," Rin replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
The two girls took a break and sat down for lunch, enjoying the warm sun on their skin. "Do you ever think about your past life?" Violet asked, taking a bite of her meat jerky.
Rin just pondered silently her horrific last day in Scarlet City coming to mind. "Not anymore. I have a new life now, thanks to you." she lied.
Violet smiled warmly at her friend. "I''m glad we found each other."
Their conversation turned to their insatiable thirst for power and the heights of cultivation they aimed to reach, daring to defy the very boundaries of heaven itself.
One day, Wanda surprised them with custom-made clothes made from the finest materials. "Wow, these are amazing!" Violet exclaimed, admiring the intricate designs and expert tailoring.
"I had no idea you were so skilled at sewing," Rin added, equally impressed.
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Wanda blushed with pride. "Thank you both. I''m happy you like them."
Rin thanked her profusely for the beautiful garments, feeling grateful.
She could hardly believe she was adorned in such luxurious attire, a stark contrast to the rags she used to don as a desperate street urchin. The memories of her tattered clothes, always stained and torn, flooded her mind as she ran her fingers over the delicate fabric of her new dress. It was a moment of pure joy and disbelief that this could be her reality now.
Well, now that you''re out of those creepy furs,” Wanda interrupted Rin''s thoughts. “We can send you to unload.”
“Unload?” Rin asked with surprise.
“Yeah, from time to time we have to get rid of the stuff we steal,” Wanda explained. "So we sell it to unsuspecting merchants. And now that you''re not dressed like a wildling anymore, we can send you back into civilization. Plus, since you''re the newest member, no one knows about your ties to us yet.”
As they returned to the camp, the crew''s admiring gazes followed them. Rin stood tall and graceful, now dressed in elegant clothing. Myron chuckled at her transformation, while Aram couldn''t help but sneak furtive glances in admiration of her. "You look like a proper lady now," Myron teased. But there was also a hint of pride in his voice.
"I have a task for you, Rin," announced Myron, gesturing for her to join him. "I will send you on a journey to the distant village of Vancia in the North. We need to sell our wares there, and I believe you are the perfect person for the job. You''ll be accompanied by Violet, she knows the way. The village is about 50 fields from here."
Follow me to the cave,” Myron commanded, his voice low and intense. He stared at Rin with a penetrating gaze. “Your cultivation has increased yet again, girl. I''m not sure I could survive if we were to fight now. You are truly talented, Rin.”
Rin shifted uncomfortably under Myron''s scrutiny. "I appreciate your encouragement," she replied with a small smile.
"Don''t limit yourself, Rin," Myron urged, his tone suddenly serious. "Living on the outskirts of the mortal world is not your destiny. You have too much potential to waste it here with me, an old man who is too weak for the cultivation world."
Rin thought deeply, then turned to Myron with a puzzled expression. "You''re not weak," she said, trying to reassure him.
Myron let out a bitter chuckle. "Don''t be naive, Rin. Among mortals, I may seem powerful, but among cultivators I am nothing but a frog at the bottom of the barrel."
He paused for a moment before continuing, his expression grave. "That''s why I choose to live among mortals and prey on weak caravans. It''s safe and easy for someone like me – a scared and spineless old man."
Rin was taken aback by Myron''s confession. She had always seen him as fearless and confident, but now she saw a glimpse of his vulnerability.
"Listen carefully, Rin," he said firmly. "If you get the chance, join a sect. They will offer you more than I ever could. With your cultivation and talent, you could trample anyone who dares to oppose you. Think about it."
Rin fell silent, mulling over Myron''s words.
She knew he was right – joining a sect would bring her countless opportunities and resources. But it also meant leaving behind the simple life she had grown accustomed to with Myron.
"Thank you, Myron," she finally said, meeting his gaze. "I will think about it."
Myron gazed at the little readhead a little longer than his attitude slowly shifted his attitude to a more normal and joyful one.
“Anyway take this bracer and bind it to you, same as the spatial ring. We have all the materials here stored from the past few heists.“
Rin received the thick bracer. It was thick and heavy. After she bound it she looked inside and could see a large space probably 20 times bigger than her ring, filled with textiles wooden planks trinkets etc.
Myron''s eyes lingered on the redheaded girl before his demeanor softened into a more friendly and cheerful one.
"Alright, take this bracer and bind it with blood, just like the spatial ring. We have all the loot from our recent heists stored in there," he said, handing her a thick bracer.
Rin took the heavy bracer and bound it to her. Peering inside, she was amazed at the spacious interior filled with various materials and trinkets collected from their past escapades.
“You will go to the village and try to sell this to the merchants there. This is a mortal village with only few cultivators passing through from time to time. it should be absolutely safe.“
“Hey Rin, let me give you this list of things we need to buy,” Wanda said as they stepped outside the cave. She handed Rin a parchment with a long list of items. “I also wrote down prices for each item. Make sure to bargain and get the best deal, don''t let those merchants take advantage of you.”
Rin scanned the list and nodded, understanding the importance of getting the most for their money in their journey.
"Oh and one more thing," Wanda added with a warm smile. "I packed some food for your trip as well."
"Thank you so much, Wanda," Rin replied gratefully. "You always take such good care of us."
Wanda''s motherly tone softened even more as she replied, "Of course dear, I wouldn''t want my little companions going hungry on their adventure."
The road to the Vancia village was a winding path through the countryside, lined with tall trees and blooming wildflowers. Rin and Violet journeyed along it, leaving behind the bustling main road and entering into a quieter world. For Rin, it had been months since she had stepped foot in civilization, and the familiarity of this small country road brought back memories of simpler times.
As they traveled, Rin''s mind wandered to Myron''s words - was she wasting time living as an outlaw? With her cultivation level now, surely she could be accepted into the Sky Sect. But the thought of returning to Scarlet City filled her with dread. The trauma of her past experiences still haunted her, and she wasn''t sure if she was ready to face it all again.
Violet, usually chatty and energetic, was unusually quiet and seemed troubled. Finally, she spoke up:
"Rin, I won''t be able to accompany you into the village. The guards in this area know my face too well. You''ll have to go alone."
Rin nodded understandingly, knowing that Violet was trying to protect her. "I''ll wait for you at the outskirts. Everything should be alright, but if anything happens..." She couldn''t bring herself to finish the thought, the fear of what could happen too great to put into words.
Violet''s concern for her touched Rin deeply, igniting a fierce determination in her heart to protect her friend at any cost.
They reached the village within hours, their swift and nimble bodies carrying them effortlessly through the terrain. The village was nothing remarkable, just a cluster of simple structures surrounding a dusty crossroads. A crude wooden wall encircled the perimeter, serving as a barrier against wild creatures.
Rin hesitated for a moment, then left Violet behind and walked towards the entrance of the village, prepared to confront civilization once again.