188 Strategy

As they finished their dinner Ryuu was about to pay the bill, only to be stopped by Frozen Flames, "You are our junior and we invited you as such let me pay."

Ryuu reluctantly relented at that, well mostly under a glare from Frozen Flames, 'Oh well free lunch if nothing else.'

As they left the restaurant Lu Wu suddenly spoke, "Teacher what are we going to do now."

Frozen Sky spoke with a smile, "My dear martial niece we will be touring the city a bit.", she turned towards Ryuu as she asked, "Junior would be accompanying us."

Ryuu shook his head as he replied, "As much as I would love to accompany you all, but unfortunately I have some work to do as such may be next time."

Frozen Sky: "Well it is a shame then maybe next time."

With that as they were about to part ways, all of a sudden Ryuu stopped them, "Excuse before we part ways I would like to ask something if you all would not mind."

At that they all stopped before looking at Ryuu with curious eyes as Frozen Flames spoke, "What do you want to ask junior?"

Ryuu: "Nothing much just if I occupy the top of the bunk bed near the door is there any problem?"

Aliyah and Alhma looked at each other before they spoke in unison, "We do not have any problem fellow Daoist."

With that Ryuu started making way towards his room where as the others went on with their city tour.

As Ryuu made his way into to the room his mind went back to the conversation he had with his future teammates and their teachers, 'hmmm, I know I am stronger than them and I may be more knowledgeable when compare to them, but I lack experience but that does not mean I will let them dictate me as they please I have learnt from my experience during my last expedition what lack of knowledge could cost. Oh well I will have to finish the arrays before catching some much needed nap.'

Ryuu quickly made a few more talismans each for variety of functions ranging from simple paralysis to barriers to much needed lethal ones before he quickly placed a few dozen arrays to secure the room leaving a good amount of nasty surprises for any uninvited guests, but unfortunately he would have to activate it afterwards as he did not feel to energetic to wake up from his nap and allow his roommates to enter their room.

Then he rummaged through his space rings before sighing loudly he was missing some blood replenishing pills, 'Great I will have to make some when I get some free time and after I wake up.', as he yawned loudly he was tired as the previous nights shenanigans were catching up to him.

With that he stripped off his dress before changing into a something casual before jumping on the top of the bunk bed drifting onto dreamland for his much needed sleep.

"Hahahahaha, that was really funny teacher.", spoke Aliyah trying to contain her laughter which Lu Wu was failing spectacularly even the most stoic ad strict Frozen Flame's shoulder shook as she tried to contain her laughter.

Ryuu suddenly jumped up from his bed battle ready at the sudden intrusion his sword drawn in order to intercept any threat, before his eyes focused on them as he lowered his weapon.

The group especially the teachers and the twins tensed for few seconds seeing Ryuu pointing a sword towards them only to relax as he sheathed it.

Ryuu smiled sheepishly, "I am extremely sorry I was taking a nap as such I was startled by your sudden arrival as such I…"

Frozen Sky raised her hand to stop Ryuu from speaking as she spoke, "It is alright junior Ryuu, I understand although I would suggest that you wipe out the drool on your face.", although Ryuu could not make out her expression but the twinkle of amusement in her eyes portrayed everything to him.

Ryuu shakily raised his hands as he touched his face and his face turned a deep shade of red from the embarrassment as he stuttered out, "P-p-please make yourselves comfortable, I have some business in the washroom."

With that he literally vanished from the eyes of Aliyah, her twin and Lu Wu, a loud thud signifying the closure of the door brought their attention.

Frozen Sky could not contain anymore as she broke into laughter, "Oh my, what a cute child."

A few minutes later Ryuu left the bathroom with a stoic face he walked casually as if the entire situation with drooling never occurred.

Frozen Sky spoke in a teasing tone, "So did you have a nice nap junior."

Ryuu simply blushed before he tried to change the topic, "I hope the excursion into the city was eventful."

Frozen Sky: "Of course junior it was greatly eventful, so did you just take a nap or did you do something else.", as she spoke everyone including Ryuu took their previous seats.

Ryuu: "Well I created some talismans, also I created a couple of arrays around the room for some uninvited guests."

Frozen Flames looked interested as such she asked Ryuu: "Junior what kind of arrays did you place inside this room."

Ryuu: "It has detection array, barrier array, paralysis array, shock array, sleep array, illusion array among many others I wanted to make sure that my fellow daoist sisters might use them as such I have yet to activate them."

Frozen Flames sweat dropped at that as she spoke, "Don't you think that it is too much."

Ryuu: "Not at all senior after I register my fellow daoist sisters when the array is activated anyone not registered will have to suffer all those effects."

A dumbfounded Frozen Sky simply replied, "I see, then junior I hope you would not mind registering all of us then we would not want to suffer some nasty suprises."

Ryuu nodded that as he produced a talisman and a quick application of everyone's KI they were all registered.

Alhma cleared her throat bringing everyone's attention to her as she spoke, "Well I believe it is time for us to discuss about the 'Nether Realm Grotto."

Aliyah: "I believe so Daoist Ryuu have you read anything about this place."

Ryuu nodded at that as he spoke, "I have but currently I am more interested on the special suit that we will be supplied with, I want to study the arrays inscribed on them and maybe tweak a little bit."

Frozen Sky stood up as she spoke, "Well then I should pay a visit to Daoist Agrippa and ask him if there is a possibility to get hold of the special suit, what Daoist Ryu has suggested is a very good idea if we could tweak a little bit maybe we could possibly enhance them a little bit.", with that she left the room.

As the others began brainstorming about various ideas Ryuu suddenly realized something even if the Shangri-la pavilion had provided with everything they forgot to provide them a very important element the temperament and relationship between countries.

Ryuu: "Everything is good but it seems that there is something they forgot to mention, that is the relation between various countries as well as races."

Frozen Flames: "Explain Junior."

Ruu quickly took out a map as he pointed towards a particular spot on the map as he questioned Frozen Flames, "Senior how much do know about the relation between various races of this planet?"

Frozen Flames: "Nothing much junior we have just arrived yesterday, and to tell you the truth there is not much that we know about the races of this planet.

Ryuu sighed as he spoke, "The place I am pointing is known as Knife edged cape, and it is here that the portal will open, it has access from both from sea and land, and the entire world could be divided into two factions the beast and the human factions, the human faction led by an united alliance created by various kingdoms and empires even though I would say that at the end of the day it is just on paper only they wouldn't hesitate stabbing each other in the back, now the beast faction are consisting of both land based beast led by 'Beast King' and the sea based beasts led by the 'Sea Emperor', are much more united. Not only that but the human side and the beast sides are at war with each other for centuries,outside of the portal is a cease fire zone but inside the hidden space it will be…"

Frozen flames frowned as she finished Ryuu's sentence, "It will be a slaughter inside the hidden space."

Lu Wu: "Does the Shangri-la not do business with them."

Ryuu: "Yes they do, why?"

Lu Wu sighed in relief as she spoke, "Then there is no need to worry I do not think any group will try to antagonize you all."

Aliyah shook her head as she spoke, "Sister it is not so simple, if someone attacks us they will make sure to never leave any form of evidence behind, as such Shangri-la will not be able to pursue justice on the deceased's behalf."

Lu WU looked glum at that, but it was necessary for her to be aware of how dangerous the world around her is, as such no one decided to sugar coat neither did anyone try to cheer her up.

Ryuu sighed as he spoke, "We have to be vigilant about not only humans but also about various beasts, on top of various anomalies and hostile biomes it will be difficult."

Lu Wu frowned as she spoke, "But you all are so strong you could easily overpower this bad people."

Alhma: "Sister it is not easy many will see us trying to reach the city, as such we will be their primary target even if we are strong others will give into their greed and try to defeat us using various traps and what not. Also in what condition we will be during our return trip. Remember sister an elephant will kill an ant but an army of ants will kill the elephant."

Lu Wu frowned hard as her eyes reflected the sorrow inside her heart as such Ryuu tried to cheer her, "Sister cheer up, we will always put our safety first as such if we are in danger we will simply abort the mission."

Aliyah supported Ryuu's claim as she spoke reassuringly to Lu Wu, "Yes sister, we can enter and exit the portal within a month's time as many time as we wish for as such we will abort the mission and leave immediately if we face any danger, so cheer up sister."

"Ladies and Gentlemen see what I have brought back with me.", came an excited voice bringing everyone's attention towards the newly arrived Frozen Sky.