Kiernan let out a short yawn and checked the time on his phone and saw that it had been two hours since he told Old King that he would get the journal for him.
Luckily, he hadn't asked for it again, but he must be wondering what was taking so long.
'She sure is taking her sweet time.'
Kiernan thought as he looked at Aoi, who was not hurrying one bit and taking her sweet time to engrave every word into her mind.
At that moment, Aoi closed the book, caressed its old hardcover, and then looked up with a satisfied smile on her face.
She then turned her gaze over to Kiernan and offered the book with her arms extended, as if presenting him with a precious gift.
Kiernan accepted the book with a sigh of relief and headed to the door, but the black-haired young woman followed closely after him like a puppy.
'It looks like she isn't going to leave me alone until she gets what she wants.'
Kiernan shook his head, left her room, and with her walking close enough for their shoes to almost bump into each other, they sneaked back into his room on the second floor.
She looked with great interest around the male room and then saw something strange in the desk with candles flickering on top of a six-pointed star.
She tilted her head and looked at Kiernan with a frown.
If she could speak, she would definitely say, 'What in the demonic shit is this?'
It looked like some cultist ritual was about to take place.
Kiernan put the hardcover book in the center of the six-pointed star, brought out his phone, and sent a private message to Old King.
[Revenant: I am ready]
Aoi walked close to the desk and watched with her interest increasing by the minute.
She also tried to see whom he was sending messages to, but he kept it secret and made sure that she wouldn't be able to look into the screen.
She tried tip-toeing, but Kiernan turned his back and blocked her view.
Angrily, she stomped her foot on the ground, and Kiernan quickly shushed her as he didn't want her to wake up anyone.
[Old King: Good. When the clock resets, say the word]
Kiernan looked at his phone, and it was few seconds away.
Aoi raised an eyebrow as she tried to read his lips, but the word was unknown to her, so she didn't know what he said.
At that moment, the candles began to flicker, and a cold breeze swept through the room. It blew them off, and the room turned dark.
Kiernan flicked on the light switch, and they saw that the book was long gone, but there was something else on the desk.
It looked like a thick stick, but it was green in color and smelled like fresh grass, but when they took a greater inhale, their cheeks flushed pink as they smelled something very sweet.
Aoi's mouth was wide open as she saw something unbelievable.
'Is this my reward? A green stick.'
Kiernan rubbed his forehead, but he believed that it must be something extremely valuable and took it off the desk.
'It feels like a stick… It is quite heavy, though, and I feel my body turning warm for some odd reason as I keep touching it…'
Aoi tried touching it, but Kiernan moved it out of her reach, and she angrily reached for it again, but as she couldn't reach it, she angrily stomped on his feet.
Kiernan looked at her with a twitching eyebrow, pointed towards the door, and said.
"I already showed what I planned to do with the book. Now, shoo, shoo, I have something else to do."
Aoi shook her head and didn't plan to leave so easily.
She brought out her phone and typed on it furiously, then showed it to Kiernan.
[I'll tell my grandfather what you did to the book]
Kiernan took the phone and typed.
[What do you want then?]
Aoi took the phone and answered.
Kiernan took the phone and typed quickly.
[You don't even know what the stick is for]
Aoi took the phone, paused for a moment, and then replied.
[Neither do you. I saw your look of confusion. Let's find out together, shall we?]
Kiernan rolled his eyes, didn't take her phone anymore, and sat on his bed, then typed on the Martial Order app to Old King.
[Revenant: Thanks… for the stick. I don't quite understand what I need it for]
Aoi sat next to him and tried to take a peek at the screen, but he quickly turned it off and looked at her with a look of displeasure.
She pouted and crossed her arms, but she then looked away, as if saying, 'Fine, I won't look,' and just kept staring at an empty white wall.
Kiernan opened the phone again, and at that moment, he received a response.
[Old King: I appreciate the journal. It's protected by old magic, which is why it has survived this long. I am surprised every page is intact, and it is definitely authentic]
Kiernan quickly replied.
[Revenant: No problem… So, what is this stick for?]
[Old King: When I saw the journal, I felt a few martial soul trails… One of Martial King's… one Martial Master's… and latest, Martial Champion, which I expected to be you]
'Martial soul trails? What the fuck is that? Great, now he knows my current strength level. I wonder if he is disappointed that I am so careless or disappointed at my lack of strength.
Kiernan clicked his tongue.
[Old King: This green stick is called the Dual Cultivation Stick—you, and your partner have to use it together to cultivate your strength]
Kiernan frowned at the unknown term and quickly asked him about it.
[Old King: First, consume a tiny portion of the stick with your partner. Leave the rest of the stick in the bathtub with warm water. It will dissolve, and that water will greatly help your martial soul]
[Old King: You and your partner then go bathe inside the water at the same time. It will seep into your body, and then, at the final stage, you two will participate in sexual intercourse to maximize the benefits for the martial soul]
[Old King: It should be enough for you to make your final push to Martial Master rank]