"I don't know. I drank the herbal soup given by my wife and got my legs back." Henry replied casually, and walked away without wasting more time with the middle-aged men.
Everyone stared at Henry's legs as he walked casually. A kind of fear and tension were apparent on their faces.
After coming out, Henry took a long, comfortable breath while observing the courtyard.
"I thought at least a single Uncle would smile with happiness. But it seems I am expecting too much." Luna commented in disappointment.
"That's the cruelty of this mortal world. It's hard to really have feelings if you're not a close relative. Our Clark family, one of the three major wizard cultivation families in Silver Leaf City… outside, we have to compete with several other big families, and inside the family, we have to compete with our own family in secret. This is the reality of the open and secret competition among blood."
Henry, who survived the cruel immortal world, could easily understand the complexity of this mortal world. Humans will only think of their desires and profits. It's the nature of any human.
"But husband, why should everyone compete? Why can't they live a happy life with the available resources?" Luna asked with a questioning look.
"For the sake of power. Since we are all wizards, naturally everyone's goal is to become powerful. But the path of magic is so difficult. If we sit at home every day or rely entirely on ourselves, this is completely impossible. Therefore, every wizard must gather large amounts of spirit stones, pills, magical items, mana stones, mana crystals, and so forth. These things are very rare, and that's why there is a struggle for power. For example, when I joined the Academy, I used to send 10 spirit stones to the family every month. At that time, they saw me like the hero of this entire family.
"At that time, your family promised to marry your sister to me. But everything changed when I became crippled and stopped producing those spirit stones."
Luna became dead silent after understanding his words. She remembered the day when her own family pushed her to marry Henry.
"Let's go to the family accounts room. With my current identity as a member of the Clark family, according to the old rules, with my current age, I can receive the minor spirit stone. Even though the minor spirit stone is among the worst spirit stones, still, it is useful to us now."
Soon Henry and Luna arrived at the Clark family accounts room.
The two servant ladies and the bookkeeper paused for a second after seeing Henry, who was casually walking inside.
"..."
"Young Master Henry… how can you walk again?!" the bookkeeper asked in a trembling tone.
Henry could clearly see the shock on the bookkeeper's face.
"I got my legs back. I hope you're not disappointed." Henry replied in a sarcastic tone.
"Aahhuu… ahhuu… Young Master Henry, why are you saying that? I am really happy to see you walk again. You are the real pride of this Clark family." Book-keeper replied in a hurried tone.
"Whatever… I came to collect one minor spirit stone, which I should receive according to the family rules." Henry asked.
"Uhhh…" The bookkeeper gave a long thought before replying. "Henry, I'm really sorry. That's the old rule. During the last family meeting, the patriarch specifically explained that the minor spirit stones will be given only to the top-performing five young wizards of the family. Also, it should be decided by Young Master Philip, the son of the current patriarch."
Henry could clearly see the changed attitude of the bookkeeper toward him. During his prime, this bookkeeper always personally delivered the spirit stones and even tried hard to say some good words.
"What? I have contributed more than 100 spirit stones to this family. Now I can't even take a single minor spirit stone?"
The bookkeeper replied in embarrassment. "Mr. Henry, we are also bound by the family rules. Why don't you consult Young Master Philip? If he says a word, I will immediately deliver the minor spirit stone to you."
Henry gave a cold look, but he wasn't that angry… he could expect these types of manipulative dramas from humans.
Luna grabbed Henry's hand and said, "Husband, forget it. I don't want you to beg anyone for just a minor spirit stone."
Henry finally gave a smile and left the accounts room with Luna.
After they left, the bookkeeper began laughing with the two servant ladies.
"I am really surprised to see this cripple walking again. But I never expected him to demand a minor spirit stone." The servant lady said while pouring wine for the bookkeeper.
"Leave it. His cultivation had already deteriorated. It is impossible for him to become a wizard again. Young Master Philip will be more happy if I tell him about this incident." The bookkeeper commented before gulping the wine.
On the way back, Luna asked, "Husband, it's just a minor spirit stone… why should we be upset about it?"
"Hmmm… to be honest, the cultivation of magic is slow and tiresome. Without these spirit stones, I might need to spend a few months just to make a little progress."
"It's fine, husband. We have a long lifespan. You can grow slowly." Luna said in a comforting tone.
"No Luna, people won't let us survive if we don't have power. Take Philip… he used to behave like my subordinate. But after I got crippled, without any concern, he started harassing us. If I become powerful, nobody in this family will dare to raise their voice against us." Henry said in a serious tone.
"Husband, I understand. Then let's work hard to become stronger." Luna said.
Henry smiled. "Wifey… the Clark family has a spell master who teaches young children and helps many people refine spirit stones. If my guess is right, he will have a lot of spirit dust, which might be useful to us. I helped him many times during my prime. Let's go and try our luck."
"Is he a good person?" Luna asked in a doubtful tone.
"I think so… first, we will say something nice to him. Maybe he will give me some spirit dust for old times' sake. There is no harm in trying." Henry replied.
"Husband, it's better not to go. Previously, that spell master stared at me with contempt many times. I don't want you to beg him." Luna said.
"Luna, forget such things. No man is good in this world. People always try to take advantage of the situation. Also, that spell master was hired personally by my grandfather after paying a huge price. His status is very noble, and I think he won't humiliate me for the help I have done for him."
After saying that, Henry held Luna's hand and walked forward.
-
Thank you for power-stones!