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"Unlike your previous residence, this one has much more space and also a training ground in the backyard."

Mathew explained the advantages of the current residence.

"If you notice, the essence energy is a lot denser in this place. This isn\'t only because this place is closer to the sect\'s core grounds but also because of an array device."

"The array device is one designed with runes to gather the surrounding essence energy and help speed up cultivation multiple times."

Arthur nodded, "Indeed it is much more conducive for cultivation. Thank you for taking me here."

"No problem. I am just doing my job. I get paid for it anyway."

"I see, but shouldn\'t sometime like this be available to only outer court disciples rather than an inner disciple like yourself?" Arthur asked to clear the confusion he has.

"Oh that. I personally volunteered to do this," Mathew smiled.

"Why?"

"Hmm, I don\'t know exactly. I am just acting on a whim. But that isn\'t important," Mathew was dismissive about his reasons.

"Okay,\' Arthur did not press further for answers.

He only talked so much because he found something about this disciple familiar. But as to what was familiar about him, he could not place his finger on it.

"Alright then. Now that my job is done, I will be leaving. You should get ready, the sect might have a mission for you, top-ten disciples," Matthew left after saying that.

\'A mission huh?\'

\'I was just thinking of going outside anyway. Though I hope it would be an interesting one.\'

Arthur decided to experience his new residence and see how it is compared to the previous one.

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Two days later.

It was time for the top ten disciples to gather at the Contribution Hall of the Outer Court.

Arthur left his residence early ahead of time and decided to pay a visit to his neighbor who was nearby.

Standing outside his residence Arthur looked to his left a found a residence that was beside his.

He walked over to the entrance and knocked.

"Mark!" Arthur called out.

This was Mark\'s new residence as the second-ranked disciple.

Arthur was expecting Mark to come out but instead, a little girl ran out of the residence laughing playfully.

"Little Bell! Come back here!"

A female voice shouted from within the house and a young girl ran out after the little girl.

The young girl\'s speed was faster and soon caught the little girl in her arms.

"Hehehe."

The little girl kept giggling as she struggled to get out of the young girl\'s grasp.

"Do you want to make Big Brother Mark worried? Now let\'s-" The girl stopped talking halfway as she suddenly noticed Arthur\'s presence.

"Hello," Arthur smiled and waved.

"Who are you?" The girl asked warily and put the little girl behind her.

"You don\'t need to be on guard, I am a friend of Mark. Is he in?" Arthur found the girl\'s expression funny.

\'Hey, I don\'t bite,\' he thought.

"A friend of Mark? That can\'t be true. You are a liar!"

"What?"

"Mark doesn\'t have any friends..."

"Ouch, Makino. That was hurtful," A voice spoke as Mark walked out.

"Huh? What...I...I didn\'t mean that. I\'m sorry!" Makino hurriedly apologizes, afraid of Mark misunderstanding her.

Arthur took a good look at Makino and found her to be just about his age. And he also noticed that she was not wearing the outer disciple robe of the sect.

"Haha! You always fall for my teasing. It\'s fine, and you are wrong. I do have a friend and he is standing right there."

Makino furrowed her brows and looked at Arthur suspiciously. Then she turned back to Mark and nodded.

"That look in your eyes, you still don\'t believe me?" Mark shook his head.

"Where are my manners, come in Invincible."

Arthur smiled and walked in, "I was thinking you won\'t ask me to come in."

"How can I?"

"Well, I am surprised about something," Arthur said.

"What might that be?"

"The sect sees you as some expressionless person. But here you smiling and laughing heartily."

"Oh that, I am just in a good mood today that\'s all. I will tell you about it later."

Mark then introduced the girls by his side.

"This is my cousin Makino and my little sister, Bell."

Bell who was very playful earlier was hiding behind Makino\'s skirt while peeking at Arthur.

"Come on, Bell. Meet Big Brother\'s new friend."

Mark carried the little girl up and Arthur finally took a good look at her.

She was a beautiful little girl with dark green hair and eyes. There was a symbol on her forehead that Arthur sensed a strange power from.

Arthur walked closer and looked into the little girl\'s eyes and smiled, "Hello Bell, do you like sweets?"

``````````

After a while, Bell got familiar with Arthur and so did Makino who turned out to be very talkative when she is excited.

Soon it was time for them to leave for the Contribution Hall and so Arthur and Mark said their goodbyes and left.

"I heard we will be going on a mandatory sect mission," Arthur said on their way.

"I heard so too. I just hope the rewards are good enough."

"By the way, Mark. I hope you don\'t mind me asking, but... Is your little sister sick?"

Arthur had noticed that Bell was a bit too pale for a healthy child. And felt that something was amiss.

He believed in his conjecture, even more, when he saw that Bell became weak after a while and was put to sleep.

Makino tried to play it off as her being weak after playing too much, but Arthur knew better than that.

Mark went silent when he heard Arthur\'s question and frowned a bit.

"You don\'t have to say anything if you don\'t want to."

"No, it\'s alright. Many people in the sect know about my sister\'s condition anyway. Well, at least the gist of it."

Mark then went on to explain how his little sister had been sick since she turned nine years old which was two years ago.

They had asked for an experienced Alchemist to check up on her and he said she was plagued with an illness that he had never seen before.

Apparently, his sister had a never-before-seen physique that was related to poison. But it awakened too early and her body can not handle it as it is too powerful.

They later found that only certain herbs and pills can help her suppress it.

Mark told Arthur that he was grateful to him as among the pills Arthur gave to him was one that helped his sister greatly and for the first time in a year, his sister was able to leave her sick bed and come out to play.

As both young men converse, before they knew it, they had arrived at the Contribution Hall.

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------------End of Chapter------------

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