Chapter 38: Arrogant Young Master
I woke to the sound of raised voices filtering through the way station's walls. Wei Lin was already up, standing by the window with a concerned expression.
"Trouble?" I asked, reaching for my outer robe.
"Young master throwing his weight around," Wei Lin replied. "Xiao clan, from the looks of it."
I joined him at the window. In the courtyard below, a group had gathered around what appeared to be a confrontation. At the center stood a young man in elaborate silver-trimmed robes, his qi flickering with barely contained aggression. Around him stood several attendants, all wearing the cloud pattern that marked them as Xiao clan servants.
"Xiao Feng," Wei Lin said before I could ask. "Third son of the Xiao clan's fourth branch. Known for his... forceful negotiations."
The target of Xiao Feng's attention was a young cultivator in plain brown robes, the mark on his sleeve identifying him as a disciple from one of the smaller sects. The Star's Rest Sect, if I remembered correctly – barely worth mentioning in most cultivation circles.
"You dare claim your sect's spirit herbs are equal to the Xiao clan's?" Xiao Feng's voice carried clearly across the courtyard. "A third-rate sect like yours should know its place!"
The Star's Rest disciple stood his ground, though I could see the slight tremor in his hands. "Our herbs are grown with traditional methods passed down through generations. The quality speaks for itself."
I felt movement beside me as Lin Mei slipped into our room, her expression troubled. "I heard the commotion. That disciple... his technique for growing Winter Frost Grass is actually quite innovative. I saw his samples yesterday."