While a lot of stuff wouldn’t look out of place in ancient china, the exchange was not one of those features. Or at least I thought it looked strange. A building where all the rchants gathered, like so kind of ancient mall? I was expecting a marketplace the last ti I ca here, not… this.
But I guess faster travel in the form of Artifacts, and communication in transmission stones could make sothing like this possible.
Shaking my head, I went about my business. First, was Tan Gong’s Heavenly Furs. Which was a super fucking pretentious na for a dude who dealt in mortal furs. But it was none of my business. There was a small line of people selling things. So people got shouted out of the line for poor quality, while so completed their transactions quickly.
The man sitting behind the booth and wearing a uniform t with a frown on his face.
“Ugh. Another dirt farr. Yes, yes, boy. Make it quick. I’m sure you think your pelts are worthy to be purchased by our Heavenly Furs company but we have exacting standards--my word!”
I had, naturally, ignored his speechifying, and bought out the pelts. His eyes bugged out, and he swallowed.
Hey, xianxia tropes are in fine form today. Now hes apologising for being hasty and wringing his hands, and calling “Good Sir”. I guess this is the part where I should start face slapping him, but I really don't care.
Whatever dude, you’re practically drooling over my stuff, you want to buy it or not?
Of course, I was actually keeping my mouth shut with a small smile on my face, and nodding along appropriately. There was nothing to be gained from insulting so rando dude manning a counter--
And now hes bought his manager out. Who is also calling Good Sir. And making noises of wanting to have a contract to supply them.
I declined as politely as I could, and just sold them the pelts.
“If you ever have any other furs to sell, please think kindly of our Heavenly Furs company!” The n both said and bowed.
Of course I’m going to “think kindly” of you, you’re the only gig in town.
The man who bought my planks of wood was considerably more polite. An Ren was a good bloke.
I then went to shop for my own supplies. More sesa oil, sesa seeds, I found a guy with so wheat, which was a major boon. Ah, bread, how I’ve missed you. Wouldn’t be able to plant it now, because fall was going to start soon, but Other than that, a bunch more veggie seeds, so more barrels, and a few more chickens, and a lovely set of cast iron pans.
I briefly debated getting a pig or a cow, but decided against it for now. Gotta establish the farm a bit better I think.
I’d probably be eting up with ii soon, so we could go through the last of the herb guides. Today was a good day.
My back itched a little bit, as I stepped into the town again. I scratched it absentmindedly.
/////////
iling had been having a good day.
Emphasis on “Had”.
It had started out well enough. Jin had so business to take care of, so she had invited ihua out into the town. They had walked together, arm and arm, and had enjoyed the city together. ihua had even bought her a lovely new hairpin, and now, they were sitting down to have tea together.
But her sister in all but blood uttered foul betrayal.
“So, when is Jin marrying you?” She asked conversationally, just as iling had taken a sip from her tea.
She choked as it went down the way, and started coughing.
“Wha-Uh? Not- Maybe-Nev-- ihua!” She gasped, and her friend laughed rrily, the sound like tinkling chis.
She glared at her friend. “Not you too,” she whined, “I’m getting enough of that from father! We haven’t done anything either, so wipe that knowing look off your face, you vile woman!”
“Oh, but you snuck out in the night with him~”
“ihua, please.” She begged, her face red.
“Allright, I’ll stop. All attack, no defense with you. You do like him though, don’t you?”
Short, brown hair. Vibrant green eyes. That stupid grin.
Her lips quirked up into an almost smile.
“Oh, dear,” ihua said, looking at her fondly, “You are smitten, ii. Almost as bad as I am for my darling~”
“Shaddup.” she grumbled, and drained the rest of her tea. ihua giggled again, but obligingly finished up as well, and needled her no further.
“Co on, I can’t deal with you anymore,” iling said acidly, but ihua just smiled knowingly, “Lets get you to your darling--”
There was an acrid tang on the wind, that was sliding under the sll of earth that she had gotten used to. Blood and Oil. An insidious, slimy thing, full of ill intent.
Qi.
Her head whipped sound, and she saw the man. Dressed in fine clothes, with two n standing on either side of him. His head started turning in her direction, and she looked away.
“ihua. This way.” ihua noticed her discomfort, and obliged her. They exited the small outdoor seating area swiftly, iling practically dragging her friend behind her through an alley on the way to the palace.
“ii, whats going--”
“Qi. Cultivator. I know you think my nose is off on Jin, but please, trust on this.”
ihua sighed. “All right. But I think you’ve read too many stories. Would soone dare do sothing like that?”
iling grimaced. And kept walking to the palace.
“I hope we never find out.”
///////
ii was looking off when we t up, all tense angry. I asked her what was wrong, but got a snapped “nothing” and decided to leave it.
The next few hours passed in silence, but we didn’t find anything on my root. I wasn’t bothered, and the hours of reading had bled so of the tension out of ii’s shoulders.
“....it wasn’t nothing.”
I gestured for her to continue.
“I can sll qi.”
Huh, so thats how she followed .
“...and theres a cultivator in Verdant hill. He slls like oil and blood. He had nasty eyes too.”
Well, thats not good.
“I’m probably just being paranoid… but I’m worried about ihua. Shes in the palace right now, so there should be no problems.. But…”
What? Sure, ihua was kind of pretty, but so douche just going full young master on her?
ii looked stressed and worried.
“C’mon” I said, after we put the scrolls back away. “Lets go pick up ihua and ...Tingfeng? We’ll have dinner together.”
“....Fine.” she muttered, still looking stressed. That wouldn’t do.
“My Lady Hong iling, would you do the honour of dining with tonight?”
Her lips quirked up this ti, and she gave a halfhearted glare.
“Of course. Jin Rou, I would be honoured to dine with you.” Ouch, I could feel the sarcasm.
It didn’t take long to reach the palace. ihua seed delighted to see us, and imdiately clasped arms with ii, while I nodded at Tingfeng.
We set off for dinner.
///////
“And then she called , what was it again? A “wretched, pig-headed shitmonkey?” It was great!”
I slung my arm around ii’s shoulders and pulled her close while Tingfeng howled with laughter. ii ramd her elbow ineffectually into my side, so red I thought she might have a stroke.
“Ah, I rember when she called a worthless slug sniffing around a lotus flower! She was right, back then, and those words gave the strength to earn my position, if only to prove her harsh words wrong.”
Tingfeng grinned at ii, walking with ihua arm in arm back to the inn. ii had given up trying to escape, and was now just glaring half-heartedly at .
She suddenly froze, and paled. My back itched.
Three n suddenly appeared in front of us, looking for trouble.
...were we getting mugged?
The leader, in silks, smiled. “I am Zang Li of the Shrouded Mountain sect. You girl, be honoured. I shall allow you to warm my bed tonight.”
I frowned. Sothing didn’t feel right.
“Do his lackeys have qi?” I whispered to ii. She sniffed, and nodded. I could feel how tense she was where my hand was on her arm.
“Not much, compared to you.” she bit back tersely.
Well, that settled it then. If they had less than , they were definitely not part of the Shrouded Mountain.
I took my arm off ii.
“No, she won’t be doing that.” I said simply.
“You dare oppose the Shrouded Mountain sect?” The cultivator sneered.
I scoffed. “You aren’t Shrouded Mountain. And I doubt they’ll be happy about you taking their na, buddy.”
The cultivator glared, and he snapped his fingers. His buddies drew swords and jumped at , but hell, even I was more than a match for them. They were certainly slower than that big wolf I brained for iling. Poor thing had the mange or sothing, and it was still better than these guys..
I gave both of them a good smack, and then started towards fuckboy playing at being a young master. Qi exploded around him.
I paused, a bit worried at his developnt.
“You bastard, you’re courting death--!” He roared.” Behold the technique that slew a cultivator in the profound realm! My ultimate spear!”
“Heaven Piercing Lance!”
Oh shit he was fast-- I didn’t have ti to block, and gathered my qi in defense for the first ti in months.
He hit in the chest--
And his fingers bent backwards. Like the wrong way backwards.
He fell back and started screaming.
The fuck?
….how much of a shitter can you be?!
I gave him a good smack for being an idiot, then gathered them all up, and took them to jail. Tingfeng ca with .
I hope I can convince the captain of the guard to just say I was a wandering cultivator. I don’t want any douche nozzles to co try and find in case he had friends.
//////
iling stared around the street. Grass and flowers had grown up from around every stone. The trees, preparing for the fall, had all grown blossoms. The wooden buildings closest to the impact point had started growing branches, with tiny leaves poking off them.
“....Told you my nose hadn’t gone off.” iling said, feeling a bit faint.
Reviews
All reviews (0)