(A/N: quick question; are you guys interested in having a bonus chapter if the gets the 200th in power ranking? Right now it is like 300ish…)
——(POV Li Huang a.k.a the idolmaster)——
As I was struggling internally for a moment about how I can approach this topic, I remembered something.
"The green lake sect is in the vicinity of the gold sea, right?" I asked the boy.
The boy only nodded to my question because he didn't know where I was going with this.
"I have been to the gold sea not so long ago, how far is your sect to the coral city?" I tried to find out more about them and in the meantime also get a grasp of their personality.
I went to the coral city for the ancient sword mark that was in the destroyed old port of the city. As that region is under the jurisdiction of our heavenly sword sect, I can connect to these guys easier.
As the seven holy lands are the de facto powerhouses of the divine continent, the smaller powers started asking them for help to solve their conflicts and act as judges. Time passed like this and more and more of these kinds of events happened.
This resulted in talks about these issues between the seven holy lands and they come up with some solutions. To stop favoritism and creating new conflicts, they divided the continent into seven parts and each part would be under the jurisdiction of one of the holy lands. If something is presumed to have been handled unfairly, then a court of all the holy lands would be gathered to judge on that issue.
Now if the green lake sect is where I think it is, they are under our sect's jurisdiction so me supporting them doesn't seem weird even from an outside perspective.
"Oh, if you go along the golden coastal road, our green lake sect is located in the next city." The boy explained enthusiastically.
'He seems to like his sect. Their elders did this right at least…' I tried to gain insights from his choice of words.
"I see. I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Li Huang." I just now remembered that I don't know their name. Well, I could have asked them sooner but in my defense, I couldn't bring myself to start the conversation with 'you there, what is your name?' so this is for the best.
That would be something that a classic young master would do but let me tell you that my method is definitely more effective.
The boy paled as he heard my name and started introducing himself fast.
"Big brother, my name is Ren Tai and this is my twin sister Ren Ru." He pulled her sister to his side from his behind and introduced her too.
She kept her head lowered and would sneak a glance at me once in a while. I smiled at both of them and gave an acknowledgment nod.
The brother, Ren Tai was a bit restless but finally decided to speak.
"Big brother, which sect are you from?" he asked reluctantly. He seems to know about my name and he is only asking to make sure about my identity.
He couldn't figure it out by himself because although my robes are of the heavenly sword sect, they are for the chief disciples so they are different from the regular one, and only people who have been in contact with a chief disciple know about its design as it is not used that much.
When you don't know the answer to something, asking it is the next best thing after knowing it; and he just did that.
"I'm from the heavenly sword sect." I said with a small smile.
I looked at them as the brother, Ren Tai got visibly paler and the shy sister, Ren Ru moved her head and looked at my eyes with shock.
'Now I get why all the MCs did all those things and introduced themselves in the end, the feeling is just exhilarating.' I had my Eureka moment here.
Ren Tai cupped his fists and spoke.
"Young master, I apologize if we have offended you just now." He looked grim and her sister was also worried. He knows he wasn't anything more than an ant in front of the chief disciple of the heavenly sword sect, so apologizing fast was the safest option.
My expression changed and I frowned at him. This resulted in Ren Tai being more sure that they have somehow offended me.
"What happened to big brother? Am I that petty in your eyes?"I asked him. Sometimes when you want someone to be relaxed around you, using this technique is the best option.
Hearing my words the twins eased their chaotic minds a little. Still, Ren Tai tried to resist.
"But how can I—" he tried to say that he can't but I stopped him with a raised eyebrow.
"I understand, big brother." He said after a moment.
"Good, now let's sit and talk a bit more." I suggested. I would like to get to know them better a little.
…
We talked a little and I got to know that they have lost their family when they were 3 and after that, they were in the care of their father's friend that is an elder of the green lake sect. Because of this, they have a strong attachment to the sect as it was their home for as long as they can remember.
They are 13 years old and in terms of cultivation, they are at the peak of the seventh stage of the Qi gathering realm. They can not be considered geniuses but they are top disciples of their sect so they are here in hope of gaining the chance of entering the [Eternal Wail Trial].
"So how much chance do you think you two have?" I asked them while eating some snacks. Don't worry, I gave them both some. They wanted to refuse but didn't dare to do so.
"Not that much if I'm being honest, big brother." Ren Tai said. He is like the spokesperson of the twins from what I have seen so far.
To change the subject, Ren Tai spoke again.
"Big brother, you have finished your selection right?" he said like a child asking about fairy tales.
"Yes, it was long but it is finished now." I nodded at him. Ren Ru slowly warmed up to me until now and she doesn't keep her head down all the time as she did at the start. Okay I admit, the snacks also helped…
"But me aside, I can't accept that you won't be in the trials." I said and acted like I am in deep thoughts.
Ren Tai and Ren Ru were waiting for me to speak again as they were confused about my words.
Taking out two storage rings from my pocket (yes I have spares in my pockets, go ahead, judge me.) I played with them a little.
"Use the pills and potions to win and get into the final 30." I told them as I handed them a ring each.
"But—" Ren Tai tried to come up with a reason to refuse but I stopped him.
"Stop it. You call me big brother, won't you be losing face for me if you are not in the final 30?" I told him and this time Ren Tai understood that I was only saying this to make him feel at ease.
"Thank you, big brother, we will definitely repay this favor." He said and Ren Ru just nodded in confirmation.
"Sure, sure. I can take a portion of your loot in the trial." I told them.