Treasury Hall

Just before sunset, Qai and Shandian arrived to the plateau from the hunt.

And when they came, the Gale Village guests had already left so Qai had not a single clue of what transpired earlier in the day.

Shu Wei for his part manifestly rejected the marriage proposal but the village chief was determined. The chief, as a matter of fact, insisted that he wouldn't leave the manor without first getting Shu Wei's approval.

It was, without a doubt, a long and arduous deliberation, and in the end, Shu Wei submittedly promised to only see them again in the next few days but adamantly requested the that the concerned children should first meet.

Shu Wei obviously did not want to force any of the two to marry without their consent—especially Xiao Ning who might not really be interested in marrying his son.

****************

"Father, we're back," Qai happily reported.

His father didn't know whether it would be wise to immediately tell his son about the proposal but he decided to tell it anyway.

Qai was speechless.

Shu Wei, for his part, recalled everything and explained in detail all that the Gale Village people offered.

But upon learning that Xiao Ning had Wood affinity and is at initial Sky stage, Qai eventually contemplated for a bit and weirdly thought of something.

"Hmmmn."

Clearly he wasn't concerned about the girl particularly. As a matter of fact, their current age was clearly far from really developing any 'Dao companionship.'

He was, for a fact, more concerned whether the addition of a Wood elemental affinity cultivator in the family's fold would be a boost to his dream.

"Let's see, Father," Qai thoughtfully said. "I might consider it."

****************

Two mornings later, while Shu Wei and Shu Ling were enjoying a cup of tea, their youngest child once again eagerly approached them with a bright face.

"Father, Mother!" Qai yelled from afar.

"Hold your horses, Little Qai," his mother softly said while gesturing her hand to slow down.

"Ha ha ha.. whatever's bothering you," his father sarcastically interjected, "from the looks of it, I presume it's another one of the 'bright' ideas of yours."

Qai rubbed his nose with a grin on his face.

"He he he..," he then uncomfortably replied, "Father, I just thought it's about time we put up a new building in this plateau."

"Eh?"

Shu Ling' expression totally looked confused.

"A what?" his father asked with a surprised look.

"A new building..," Qai confirmed before he carefully explained. "..and I'd like us to call it 'Treasury Hall,' and.."

He then paused and gathered some breath.

"..and I thought it to be nice if... if we divide the hall into three..," Qai suggested.

"Three?" Shu Wei asked, obviously perplexed.

But his son, Qai, had been spelling things out rapidly and without pause.

"Yes," Qai went on to explain. "There will be a 'Pill Room,' a 'Library' and an 'Armory' and.. perhaps an additional small entrance hall."

Both the husband and wife were stunned by the words of their youngest son.

Qai justified that the Pill Room would store all the beast cores, herbs and concocted pills the family had.

The Library, meanwhile, would obviously house books, maps and all the skill scrolls they could possibly get—Qai said that they would need to collect skill scrolls from then on as a form of investment since the family was evidently getting bigger.

Lastly, the Armory would store all the weapons and armors belonging to the family.

"Little Qai," his mother quipped, "I don't know where are you getting all those ideas.. but they certainly sound fun."

"Indeed," his father answered, "..but I'm a little worried that we're going to draw some attention with it."

Shu Wei sighed and looked seriously at his son's eyes.

"The last thing I want to do is give an ambitious impression to the world without the strength to back it up," Shu Wei clarified.

Truly, even if Shu Wei was already at the mid Earth stage of Sage realm, he could not just recklessly act with arrogance.

"But I don't think one hall will do any harm," Shu Ling said with a slight smile on her lips.

The three of them paused.

"Alright," Shu Wei sighed. "Do what you have to do, son."

Qai grinned with grateful eyes and hurriedly left.