Reed and Fern exchanged looks of surprise.
"A small house, within the city," Ren continued. "It's not very central, still about five hours from the academy, but the important thing is that it's outside Goldcrest territory. It's a start... So you can visit mid-year and..." His voice carried pride but also uncertainty, the tone of soone who hoped their gift would be well-received.
"A house?" Fern blinked, still struggling to assimilate the news. "You've already bought a house?" The concept seed almost surreal after months of worrying about making rent.
Ren nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Finch, my favorite banker, convinced not to spend everything on a more expensive house in the interior. He suggested starting with sothing modest that I could sell later, when I had more savings, and use that money as a foundation for sothing better."
The practical wisdom of the approach reflected a maturity beyond his years, a stark contrast to the impulsive child who had once rushed into the mana forest with nothing but a bag of supplies and desperate hope.
"Sounds sensible," comnted Reed, impressed by the type of conversation they were having. His son, barely eleven, discussing property investnt as casually as other children might discuss toys or gas. "Do bankers usually give good financial advice?"
"In my experience they ne..." Wei began, but Lin elbowed him sharply in the ribs. "Never mind... This banker is special." He rubbed his side with a rueful expression, shooting Lin a reproachful glance.
"At first I was determined to get sothing in the innermost districts," Ren admitted, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. "But the prices were much higher than I imagined. Practically triple for each hour saved. So I followed Finch's advice."
The admission of his initial naiveté made him seem more like the child he still was for his parents, despite his extraordinary achievents.
"But do you want us to move now?" asked Fern, the turtle at her side seeming equally interested in the answer as it tilted its head attentively. "And what about the rent and damages we now owe the current owner? Although I'm ashad to admit it... We haven't been able to pay the last few months. Maybe..."
"We can communicate with him through Pegasus later," Ren interrupted gently, not wanting his mother to dwell on their financial troubles. "As for when..." he paused, the mushrooms in his hair dimming slightly. "If we could, we would leave right now, but I had planned to stay with you for two days... there's sothing I need to do here first..."
Wei, who had been listening silently, looked up sharply. "You didn't say anything about that. It's very dangerous to operate in the vicinity, even waiting here in this situation is already a risk. I don't think you understand the enormous importance your docuntation work has for the city and the future of..."
"It's related to my cultivation," Ren explained, his eyes eting those of his parents. "I need to visit the forest where I escaped last ti." The gravity in his voice suggested this wasn't rely a casual expedition.
"The forest?" Reed tensed visibly, the turtle mirroring his unease. "The sa one where you nearly died a year ago?"
The mory of that night, the fear, the desperate search when they discovered Ren missing… was still painfully fresh.
"My level is much higher now," Ren assured them, his hydra briefly manifesting in a display of crystalline armor. "It won't be a problem at all like it was then. I just need to avoid the patrols."
The confidence in his voice was backed by physical evidence of his growth, but underlying tension remained.
Wei approached, his brow furrowed with concern only slightly less than that of Ren's parents. His scholarly instincts warred with his protective impulses toward the exceptional student.
"It's part of my mushroom," Ren responded cautiously. "Since it's unique, sothing only I can do, I haven't docunted it in my writings..."
The implication hung in the air, this was sothing beyond even the extraordinary thods he had already revealed.
"But the danger of losing your invaluable head," Wei insisted, leaning forward with uncharacteristic emotion. "I must insist that you're too important to the city to risk yourself."
Ren looked at him directly, a flash of determination in his eyes. "If I don't cultivate, I won't be able to write books for higher ranks."
The simple statent carried Wei's bigger weakness.
Wei opened his mouth to protest, but finally fell silent, acknowledging both his curiosity about the higher levels and recognizing the finality in the stubborn young man's words. The academic in him couldn't deny the value of such knowledge.
"I'll go with you," Lin declared, her tone brooking no discussion. "Yang and Wei can stay to look after your parents while the situation calms down."
Yang, who had been periodically checking the entrances with vigilance, approached the group. His massive fra seed to fill the small space as he joined the conversation. "What do we do with the two we brought? The spider one and the fire lizard are still unconscious, but they won't be for much longer and could make a commotion."
Ren glanced toward the corner where the two patrollers lay bound and motionless. The tiger leader had been buried, but they had decided to bring the other two for interrogation.
The cold practicality with which he assessed the situation spoke volus about how much he had changed in a year.
"We could put them in a hole to reduce the noise as much as possible," he suggested. "I don't think old Chen would mind if we make him a small improvised basent and then seal it."
Lin nodded, a cold smile forming on her lips. "When they wake up, interrogate them. If they make too much noise or pose a threat... dispose of them."
The coldness with which they discussed the possible execution of the patrollers startled Fern slightly, her eyes widening as she unconsciously clutched Reed's hand. But Reed seed to accept it with resignation, his weathered face revealing no particular moral qualms about the fate of n who had tortured him only hours before.
"I could go with you," suggested Reed, standing up straighter than he had in years, the turtle's influence already evident in his renewed vigor. The turtle at his side nodded, as if backing his offer. "I feel much stronger now, and I know the forest route."
"No," Ren responded firmly. "It's better that you stay with Mom and begin cultivating your turtle."
He searched in his backpack and extracted a book bound in black leather, similar to the turtles in appearance, and a box with crystals that emitted a soft glow.
"These crystals are already processed according to the exact specifications for Obsidian Turtles," he explained, handing them the book and box. "The book contains all the details of the cultivation thod, from Iron to Gold 2." His tone carried the quiet pride of an author presenting his most cherished work.
Reed leafed through the book with reverence, noting that it was handwritten, in his son's now neater and more orderly script. Each page was filled with precise diagrams and detailed instructions, the culmination of knowledge that most scholars would spend lifetis pursuing.
"Although you're double tars, your beasts are still Iron rank," Ren continued. "You don't yet have sufficient offensive capabilities to face Silver rank opponents. Trust on this, I'm small and fast, and Master Lin is even faster."
His practical assessnt left no room for argunt, despite coming from a child. Though on second thought, maybe he was still a bit of the impulsive child who had once rushed into the forest…
Fern stroked her son's head, wanting to say sothing but stopping herself and seemingly deciding on sothing else.
Her fingers briefly tangled in his hair, feeling the small mushrooms pulse in response to her touch. "When will you leave and how long will you be gone?" The question restrained all her unspoken fears.
"I won't leave yet, I don't have Min's support, so not until things calm down a bit," Ren assured her, leaning slightly into her touch with the unconscious response of a child seeking comfort. "But I need to be ready when the ti cos."
Without further preamble, Ren invoked his claws and headed toward the farthest corner of the storehouse.
He began to dig in the softest spot. His control of the elent was still low but his beast was perfect for displacing earth with ease, and driven by his increased strength, it was even easier.
Yang soon joined him, and between them, the hole grew rapidly. The Stone Behemoth master's earth manipulation accelerated the process, his massive hands moving dirt with supernatural efficiency.
"Ren," Wei called softly as they worked, his scholarly curiosity unable to remain silent. "Are you sure this is necessary? Crossing the plain to reach the iron forest will be very difficult without being seen."
"It's absolutely necessary and I don't care if they see us enter the forest," Ren responded without pausing in his work. "The final part of my evolution to Silver 1 depends on it."
"What exactly are you looking for there?" Wei persisted.
Ren stopped for a mont. His eyes took on a distant quality, as if seeing beyond the storehouse walls to ancient mysteries that waited in the darkness.
"The sa energy that helped reach Bronze," he finally revealed. "There should be more fruiting bodies now, if not I'll cultivate them. Ancient Golden Mushrooms... Components that are fundantal to my particular thod."
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