“Fellows. Have you heard? It seems that, with so much bandit activity going on around Northern Wei's southern borders, the country's economy's taken a real hit!”

Merchant Chant, a traveling merchant from Northern Wei himself, nodded.

“Aye, it's true. I've even heard that the governor of Blue Valley City has put out a call for any willing cultivators to help bolster the city's security, what with the garrison stretched as thin as it is. He's even offering rather generous pay of fifty jade tael a day on contract, with a bonus of ten jade tael per bandit slain with proof to the local garrison office!”

“Really!? Fifty Jade tael a day AND a ten jade tael bonus for any bandits slain!? That's quite the reward...!”

Merchant nodded. “Indeed, though I'm sure that might not mean much to you since that'd only come out to something like, seventeen azure shells daily here, given the current exchange rates between Northern Wei and the Clear Waters Kingdom.”

Merchant Wu laughed, unable to deny that. “Aye, it's true. Trade has been good for the Clear Waters Kingdom, especially where foreign trade is concerned. The countries far to the east love our teas and silks, so business has been good indeed! And, if you don't mind a bit more boasting, even trade with the western Tigermount Kingdom has been going reasonably well, odd customs or not.”

“Hmph. As if I'd trade with those savages who barter over using proper currency! And that's even 'if' Wei wasn't at war with them.”

Merchant Wu laughed heartily at his friend and fellow merchant's harsh words. “Now now. They may have different customs, but a customer is still a customer. At the very least, they had enough sense to establish a proper trading city to the west after unifying not long ago, so it's not nearly as bad as you might think. Well, that might not be the case with you lot from Wei but... that's how things go I suppose. Now, enough of that. How has business been for you, Fellow Chang? Good?”

“So, is it true? The city's gonna offer up fifteen azure shells for every three demon beasts slain?”

The female cultivator sitting across from Liu nodded. “Yes. From what I heard, the mayor of Free Rivers just put out a job request to any cultivators willing to take on the work. From what i know, the demon beasts in question are only around Stardust Early or Middle stage at most in strength, so it's nothing most cultivators around here to be able to take on. I've even heard tell of a female cultivator in red who looks even younger than myself has been seen taking them out with little. It's not much money, but it's easy work.”

“What about the local guards? Shouldn't that be their job though?”

Falling Blossom Petals shook her head before taking a sip of her tea. “No, they've had their hands full patrolling the roads so they're actually undermanned themselves. You might not know this being from the Tigermount Kingdom yourself, but it's actually pretty common for cultivators around here to get jobs from towns or the government like this, especially with many of the country's national military forces already being deployed to the borders or handling patrols and such. If anything, for sectless cultivators or free spirits like you and I, jobs like this are a stable source of income. After all, sprit pills, medicines, essences and scrolls to help raise cultivation aren't cheap. Well, at least around here or where bartering can't be done anyway.”

Liu nodded in understanding. “That's true. Honestly... using azure shells or jade taels instead of just trading goods or services sounds like a real pain... Anyway, are you going to take the job? Actually, where do you even sign up for it?”

“Ah, about that. It seems the demon beast subjugation quest will be made public tomorrow. You should be able to find it posted in the notice board int he square.” she then leaned in, her voice much quieter now. “Actually, the only reason I heard about the job was because a guard I knew happened to be talking about it. Well? Interested?”

“Ah, so it seems my dear Master can finally hear me properly now? How wonderful~ ahem Do not be alarmed, dear Master. As this is our first proper meeting, let me make cut right to the chase. I am... what you might call a spirt from the Outer Heavens, one who has come to grant you a gift. What sort of gift you may ask? Well, simply put... I am the embodiment of 'the power through bonds', more specifically marriage!”

The spirit giggled, her voice like a clear bell's, amused by the bewildered look on her new master's face. “Well, I suppose that reaction was to be expected, all things considered. But, I speak the truth. After all, my presence is partly why you cannot gain strength like other cultivators. Why is that, you might ask? Simple. As the divine spirit who governs strength through bonds, you can now only properly gain strength through forging and strengthening bonds. More specifically, you advance realms by marrying wives and growing with them by means of improving your relationship as spouses and by making use of dual cultivation, which can boost a wife's own cultivation as well. In short, I am what's known as the 'Marriage System'.”

Smiling and nodding in understanding, or at least, that's what you think she's doing seeing as you can't actually see the spirit, the Marriage System then giggled.

“Indeed, dear Master. With my help and the right partners, you have the potential to become the strongest cultivator on the continent~ Ah, but that's all I wanted to say now that we can properly talk to one another, so feel free to summon me any time, should you need or wish to speak to me again. Well then. Good night for now, dear Master.”