"So that's how it works. The younger generation is truly formidable."
"The Swarm of Bees Technique certainly lives up to its name!"
"If that is truly the case, this little device is far more than merely compact. Offering it to the sect might earn you artisan status outright, and even a stipend from the sect."
"Obtaining a Secret Art would be no great difficulty either."
Amid everyone's exclamations of wonder, Artisan Lei could not help taking several more looks at Li Chen.
He now understood Zhao Bin's intentions completely. Zhao Bin thought highly of Li Chen and was looking out for him, hoping to help introduce and recommend him.
"On the Puppeteer Dao Path, nothing is harder than acquiring skills and resources. The four essentials of cultivation-wealth, companions, methods, and a place to cultivate-are four great treasures everyone vies for."
"But I have always enjoyed raising up young talent, and I cannot bear to see a genius held back by material concerns. If Artisan Zhao and my young friend Li trust me, why not submit this device and its Secret Art under the name of a retainer of my Lei Family?"
"I believe the sect's administrators will give the Lei Family some face and handle the matter promptly and properly."
Artisan Lei was a man who acted with the force of thunder and the speed of the wind. After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to help.
Delight appeared on Zhao Bin's face. "Nothing could be better. It's just..."
He glanced at Li Chen.
Li Chen hurriedly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Artisan Lei. But if I merely borrow that designation, might the higher sect take issue with it?"
Artisan Lei smiled. "Why call it borrowing a designation? If you are willing, young friend Li, simply join us and become a retainer of the Lei Family. We welcome talented people from all quarters."
Li Chen said, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Artisan Lei, but I already have plans. I will probably leave this place in the future and travel far and wide."
Hearing this, Artisan Lei could not help looking disappointed. "I see."
Although Li Chen was somewhat worried about the recommendation, he was unwilling to deceive the Lei Family for its sake. Some things were better stated openly and clearly from the outset.
Seeing this, Zhao Bin hastily smoothed things over. "I forgot to mention it, Artisan Lei. Li Chen plans to travel to the northern part of the continent next year, perhaps to search for relatives he has been separated from."
Artisan Lei smiled. "In that case, never mind. But there is no harm in borrowing the designation. The sect will not quibble over such a small matter."
Li Chen apologized again, but Artisan Lei generously waved a hand, telling him not to worry about it.
"Artisan Zhao, I truly owe you a great deal for this."
After leaving the front hall for the guest courtyard where they were staying, Li Chen waited until the Lei Family's servants had departed, then sincerely thanked Zhao Bin.
Although the Lei Family was handling the arrangements, he kept a clear account in his heart and naturally knew whom he ought to thank.
"If the sect takes notice of me and grants me artisan status and a stipend, I... I truly won't know how to repay you."
Li Chen felt both moved and a little ashamed. Artisan Zhao truly was a benefactor destined to enter his life.
Li Chen added, "It's just that I don't wish to become anyone's retainer. I only want to be a rogue cultivator out in the wilds. Might that offend the Lei Family and put you in a difficult position, Artisan Zhao?"
Zhao Bin said, "I recommended you in response to the sect's call to seek out talent, not for personal gain. Besides, we have come to know each other, so there is some affinity between us. Lending a hand is no great matter. But have you truly decided which road you will take from now on?"
Li Chen paused, slightly taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Zhao Bin said, "You don't wish to enter the Lei Family's service and become a retainer kept by an aristocratic household. All I can say is that everyone has their own aspirations, and you must weigh the gains and losses yourself. But there is one thing you must always remember."
Li Chen said, "Please tell me, Artisan Zhao."
Zhao Bin looked at him and said solemnly, "You cannot rely on loyalty, nor lean on kindness! All the bustling world comes for profit; all the jostling world goes for profit. What you can truly rely on is the value you yourself possess."
"If you were not a young genius, I would never have favored you or helped recommend you. If I did not have leverage over the Lei Family, and if Artisan Lei and I were not both master artisans of comparable standing and equal strength, he would never have been willing to help on that account."
"Since you are a rogue cultivator, I will teach you what it means for a person to drift through the world like duckweed. This matter was also a debt the Lei Family owed me. There is no need to worry about offending them."
Li Chen was visibly moved by his words. "I will remember."
Zhao Bin sighed softly, then said, "Remembering does not necessarily mean understanding. In the end, you will only understand after venturing out yourself, after suffering wounds and pain, weariness and regret."
"This road may seem free and unfettered, but it is not nearly so easy to walk."
Li Chen fell silent, unsure how to respond for a moment.
The Lei Family proved efficient indeed. Early the next morning, Artisan Lei sent someone to fetch Li Chen from the guest courtyard, and Zhao Bin went along as well.
"The sect has replied. Your offering has been entered on the evaluation roster, my young friend. Within this month, several grand artisans will review it together and determine its quality and rank."
"A friend of mine privately revealed that the administrator responsible for sealing the diagrams and recording the files looked quite impressed when he saw it. If even a puppet master with such broad experience reacted that way, your creation is sure to make a splash at its first showing. Allow me to congratulate you in advance."
Hearing this, Zhao Bin smiled. "Li Chen, now you can set your mind at ease. Find somewhere to stay in the Commandery Seat for the time being and wait for word. Once you receive official status from the sect, it will come with the corresponding enchanted robes and a puppet. Traveling will be much easier then."
Artisan Lei said warmly, "Young friend, since you intend to travel and make your way in the world, I will not try to keep you here. But surely you can stay with the Lei Family for this little while? Haha, I once traveled far from home myself. Demons lurk along the roads, and followers of evil paths run rampant. It is hardly peaceful. You should obtain the defensive equipment and identity credentials issued by the sect before venturing out into the wider world."
This time, Li Chen could hardly refuse. He hastily said, "Then I'm sorry for the trouble."
Artisan Lei laughed heartily. "Brother Zhao and I felt like old friends at our first meeting. His juniors are my juniors too. Please don't stand on ceremony."
And so, Zhao Bin took the Heavenly Crafts Academy's apprentices to make arrangements for their examinations, while Li Chen stayed in the home of this powerful local family, preparing for his future travels.
The first thing he did was visit the Cultivators' Trade Market in the local Commandery Seat to purchase spiritual materials.
Over the years, he had attained some proficiency in his craft and put aside a fair amount of savings. Now he would put all of it to use, turning it into mechanism puppets that would allow him to secure a place and make a life for himself in this world.
In the years before, he had come into contact with many such things, but he had never truly owned a combat puppet of his own, because they were far from cheap for low-ranking apprentices.
Li Chen came from an ordinary family, so he was counting on exchanging his contribution for one issued by the sect, saving himself a considerable expense.
With the money he saved, he planned to buy a mechanism mount himself, an indispensable means of transport for traveling far and wide.
Mechanism mounts were transport-type creations. At lower tiers, most took the form of mechanism beasts, because the wilds were full of mountains, marshes, and forests. Making a wheeled vehicle capable of crossing every kind of terrain was far too difficult, while flying vehicles were even further beyond the means of ordinary rogue cultivators.