Chapter 133: Qi Part 5: Becoming A Horse, Before Buying A Sword!
Xie Xiu's POV:
"YEE HA!"
"I'M NOT A DAMN HORSE!"
Damn this guy! Ever since we left the mountain, he has lost any respect or formality towards me, while his actions have been getting bolder and more humiliating by the day.
After leaving the village, the chicken bastard forced me to take in his goon as a disciple of my branch of the qi sect. He used some weird method he called a 'Soul Contract' to control my body so he could have me pull the cart he and the thug were relaxing on.
As for why this was happening. Apparently, the thug I'll just refer to as Bucky, since I couldn't be bothered to figure out his name, were one of the guards at the village. He had spotted that ingrate Feng the day he left as he pawned off my precious sword to a traveling merchant.
The merchant was allegedly heard saying he was heading towards the Chou empire in the west before leaving a week ago, which is why we were heading in that direction. Since I live rather close to the western border, it's likely the merchant has or is about to cross over to the neighboring country. Once he leaves, I will have very limited opportunities to find him, since I have no connections outside the sect, not to mention I don't even know his full name or face.
Even if we haven't left my territory yet, we likely aren't going to reach him in time before he does. I was going to give up, when that chicken guy suddenly walked off somewhere, only to return with a small cart and ordered me through that deal we made to sprint across the land while dragging it around. As humiliating as it is to be treated like a pack animal, I can't deny our progress. We made a week's travel in the span of two days. Unfortunately.
"Sorry sir! That man left a while ago."
After asking all over the border, we found that the guy we were looking for had already left a few days ago. With what little hope I had of regaining my sword gone, I started walking back towards my home. That's what I would like to say, but.
"YIPPEE-KI-YAY ELDER HORSY!"
That obnoxious chicken decided he wasn't giving up. After leaving Bucky behind, he suddenly wanted to go for a joy ride across the Chou empire. I have never regretted anything more than making that deal with this kooky chicken. How, me sprint all over the place in a horse mask while being rented off to a caravan as a beast of burden is going to help find my sword is beyond me. After about a week of nothing but literally horsing around I have had enough.
"Okay! So, the next shipment needs to go to-!"
*CRASH*
"SCREW THIS! SCREW YOU! AND SCREW WEARING THIS FUCKING HORSE MASK!" I screamed after flipping the cart of goods as my qi was practically bursting out of me in rage.
"Geeze! Did you have to flip it? If anything breaks, they will take it out of our salary, you know!" The chicken guy said as he tried to flip the cart back up.
"WHO NEED YOU'RE SALARY?! I'M GOING HOME!" I said as I turned around to leave.
"Don't leave this room! That's an order!" He said, before my body froze in place.
This has happened several times over the last couple of days. I would turn to leave, then he would activate the 'soul contract' as he called it, and I would then feel this indescribable urge to do whatever he said.
There are no words that can accurately describe this urge, but the closest thing resembling it would be the urge to survive. It's as if I don't do this or don't do that, I will die, only it is much more intense than just a simple life or death situation. As an elder of the sect, I have risked my life in battle countless times, so I know, whatever this feeling of danger is, I don't want to find out. Though, even if I did try to resist, I can't. Whatever it is, it can control me even if I'm unconscious or far away. I can still remember the shock from the time I fell asleep only to wake up to a full-on sprint towards the next city on my route.
"THE HELL?! WHY THE FUCK CAN'T I RESIST!"
"Because we made a deal! Now the next place we need to go is-!"
"BULLSHIT! IF THIS SOUL THINGY IS REALLY PART OF OUR DEAL, THEN HOW COME I DON'T HAVE MY GOD DAMN SWORD?!"
"Because you haven't earned it yet!"
"WHAT?!"
"Truth is! I already know where the sword is!"
"WHAT?! WHERE?!"
"Your sword is going to be sold off at the 'Rabbit Jewels' auction house that's opening in the capital next week!"
"THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU MAKING ME DO THIS?! LET'S GO ALREADY!!"
"No, can do!"
"WHY THE HELL NOT?!"
"Because of this!" He said as he handed me a menu of the items being sold at the auction house in question.
"There it is! That's my sword! You weren't bluffing, it's really being auctioned off! We need to go get it back, now!" I said as I started shaking him to let me leave the room.
"Check the price first!" He said as I was shaking him back and forth.
"Huh?"
I picked up the menu I dropped on the floor and flipped back to the page on my sword.
"HOLY SHIT! 1000 GOLD TEALS!"
"Yep! 1000 gold teals, or around 100 low-grade magic stones!"
Even back when I was given a fair amount of resources, I never received more than 5 low-grade magic stones worth a month. Even if I dipped into the sect branch's funds along with my personal savings, it would still be far from enough.
"Why is it so much?"
"Because miss Xie, it is a unique grade item!"
"Yeah, but still, this is too much!"
"…"
"Why're you looking at me like that, you chicken bastard?" I said, wondering why he was giving me such a disappointed look.
"Wow! You really are spoiled, just like those dead disciples said!"
"YOU PICKING A FIGHT!" I yelled, as I was feeling more than ready to sock this guy after what he put me through this week.
"Well, then elder! Let this poor disciple teach you about economics! The rarer an item is the higher the market price is!"
"I KNOW THAT! YOU THINK I'M STUPID OR SOMETHING?!"
"Yes! Moving on!"
"YOU LITTLE! GOD DAMN IT! LET ME HIT YOU! YOU COWARD!" I screamed in frustration as he had used the soul contract to make it impossible for me to hurt him shortly after leaving the sect.
"SO! The lowest ranked weapons and artifacts are classified as 'Common Grade'. This is because they can easily be mass produced and replicated by any apprentice enchanter, blacksmith or alchemist. Of course, since it's the lowest grade, anything weaker than what an apprentice could make is considered to be in this category, like this rock for example!" He said as he threw a rock in my face.
"DAMN YOU!"
"Then we have the 'Rare Grade', which are artifacts that have some sort of special ability or is made from some high-quality items that would make it difficult to reproduce on mass, like an adamantite sword. Only an experienced professional of their craft is capable of making such an item."
"What are you getting at?"
"And finally, we have the 'Unique Grade' items. These are rare and powerful artifacts which would qualify any who makes one to be considered a 'Master Craftsmen' amongst the best crafters on this continent. For an enchanter, it would make them a 'Master Enchanter', a title considered on par with being a 4th to 5th tier spellcaster. The equivalent for a blacksmith would be a 'Master Blacksmith' which are as rare if not more so than nascent souls are on this continent!"
"What?"
"A unique grade artifact is about as good as it gets on this continent. Barring the Dark Empire, only a handful of countries can afford more than one or two such articles! In other words, 100 low-grade magic stones are actually on the short side!"
"…?"
I could feel the blood draining out of my face, as I realized I have been letting any Tom, Dick, and Herry in to clean the place, while I left the giant fortune sit unguarded under my bed for years. Good thing I never blabbed about its grade, or those geezers would have snatched it already.
"So, if you understand the value of what you've lost, then quit you're whining and pony up girl!"
...
Xie Xiu's POV:
Today is finally the day. I spent the last two weeks being whipped like a horse as I ran across the land transporting the goods of merchants and nobles until I finally scrounged up those 1000 gold teals. But it will all be worth it, once I buy back the beloved keepsake of my master.
"Hello, Mr. Chi! We have been expecting you! Please, follow me!" The reception lady spoke as soon as we entered.
She led us up to the second floor of the building and into the VIP section where we could see a hallway full of mechanical doors. She led us to one of the rooms where she pressed in a number of buttons on the side before it slid open.
"This is your room Sir! Please, enter!"
The room had a soft red carpeted floor, and a small table placed next to a very cushy chair facing a black mirror whilst sporting buttons on the armrest. On the walls there were drawings of different beverages and foods placed next to their individual buttons with numbers written on them. The food and drinks were separated on the left and right side of the room from the entrance. On the right there were drinks while on the left you could see food.
"WOW! This place is kind of trippy! So, when do we buy back my sword? Do we just wait here until the dealer shows up or is this just the waiting area?" I said as I sat down in the cushy chair that was as soft as a cloud.
"Today's event will start in 30 minutes! If this is your first time here, would you like me to explain how our bidding and catering system operates?"
"No, we're good! You can leave now!" The slave driving chicken guy said as he pushed a button that closed the door on the reception lady.
*Sigh*
I let out a sigh of relief and pleasure. After running through mud, wind, and rain, while fending off thieves and bandits, I get to relax in the comfiest chair I've ever sat in, while waiting for my beloved sword to be delivered to the VIP waiting room.
"You seem pretty happy?"
"Of course I am! I will get to go home with my most prized possession in hand after being your pack mule for two whole weeks!"
"Sure, you will! Assuming nobody else wants it!"
"…? Wait! What did you just say?" I asked as the smile on my face froze and I got this ominous feeling in my stomach.
"Yeah! I mean it is an auction after all!" He said as he pushed a button next to a drawing of some bottle of boiling black liquid.
"Auction? This is an auction event?" I asked, as I could feel my stomach sinking while my blood began to drain from my face.
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Yes, ma'am!" He said as he went to grab the bottle of dark bubbling water from the servant at the door.
"Chicken?"
"Hm?" He turned to me while slurping his drink through a straw.
"I let you handle the bookkeeping, right?"
"Mhm!" He nodded while focusing on his drink.
"You were also the one who found and booked our room for this place, right?"
"Mhm!"
"So, you got to know a bit about the business this place gets, right?"
"Mhm!"
"So, how likely would you say it is for someone here with more than 1000 gold teals aiming to buy my sword?"
"Hm?"
"…!"
He just stood there while sucking on the straw and making a contemplative expression. I would have said there was an awkward silence filling the room, if not for the sound of him slurping his drink through the straw for a solid minute there.
*Smash*
"WOULD YOU DROP THE STUPID BOTTLE FOR ONE MINUTE AND ANSWER ME ALREADY?!" I screamed as I stood up and slapped the drink out of his hands, staining the carpet as the bottle shattered on the floor, spilling its contents.
"Ah! Hey! You owe me a new soda!"
"FINE, WHATEVER! JUST ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!"
"Well, I'd say everyone in the VIP section is probably after it! So, probably as many people as there are VIP rooms!" He said, before he went over to push the soda button again.
"…"
The VIP section is where we are now. On the way over we passed nearly a hundred rooms, not to mention all the ones further down the hall. So, that means I'm screwed!
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Sniffle*
"Hm?" He looked at me in confusion while slurping his drink as I started crying tears of frustration.
I had worked so hard to get back my keepsake, only to find out I didn't stand a chance in the first place.
"LADY'S AND GENTLEMEN!"
"WOW! WHAT THE FU-!"
"SH! Its starting!"
I was caught off guard as the black mirror suddenly lit up, showing a stage with an item displayed on a pillow while someone in a gaudy looking rabbit costume could be heard introducing the item.
"Hm!"
"Hm?"
"Hmph!"
While listening to the rabbit girl on screen, the chicken bastard, too enraptured by his beverage to form proper words started expressing his impressions of the items. Come to think of it I haven't had a good drink in a while.
*Swoosh*
"Huh? Hey! That's mine!"
"SHUT UP!" I shouted after swiping his bottle.
Drinking always makes me feel better when I get depressed. I don't know what kind of beverage this is, but I hope it's an alcoholic drink.
"HMM!"
With one sip my previously bad mood got turned upside down as the sweet flavor of whatever this soda thing was danced across my tung. I always wished the alcohol back home was a little sweeter. Maybe I should mix it with some of this, that would be perfect.
"HEY! GIVE ME BACK MY SODA!" The chicken yelled as he tried to take it back, but I shoved my foot in his face to keep him at bay while I finished drinking.
"AND NOW! FOR OUR MAIN EVENT! WHAT I'M SURE EVERY ONE OF OUR VIP'S HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! THE UNIQUE GRADE WEAPON! THE 'RED WILLOW KATANA'!"
By the time I finished slurping it up, we had already gotten to my sword. Its sheath had pink and red leaves painted on it. The sword was a steaming hot curved blade made from a type of red metal. My previously good mood started worsening as I saw my precious blade being sold away to some stranger.
"THE PRICE STARTS AT 1000 GOLD TEAL! AND WE ALREADY HAVE A BIDDER! GOING ONCE! OH, AND WE HAVE A BID OF 1200! AND ANOTHER ONE AT 1500! 1600!"
"So, when are you planning to bid?"
"How could I? We don't have the cash!"
"Well, maybe you don't, but I do!"
"What?"
"Move!" He said as he tilted the cushy chair, throwing me out of my seat.
"Ah! Hey! That's my seat!" I complained as the chicken sat down and started messing with the chair buttons.
"2300! GOING ONCE! GOING TWICE! Huh? 5000 GOLD TEALS!!!" The announcer screamed in surprise.
"5000?! Hey, chicken! That wasn't you, right?"
"Yup! Hey, mind ordering me another soda?"
"ARE YOU NUTS?! WE DON'T HAVE 5000 GOLD TEALS! HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PLACE! THEY HOST ABSURDLY RICH PEOPLE HERE! YOU THINK THEY WILL LET YOU JUST WALK AWAY WITH A WARNING AFTER SNUBBING THEM?!"
"Nah! It'll be fine! I'll just cover the rest of your tab out of pocket!"
"What?! Since when did you have that kind of money? And if you did, why did I have to work my ass off in a god damn horse mask for two weeks straight?!"
"Silly elderly horsy! You must have forgotten to read the fine print of our deal!"
"What?!"
"Our deal was not that I would 'give' everything back to you! It was that I would 'help' you get it back yourself! The devil's into details and all that!"
"WHAT THE HELL?! SO, YOU PUT ME THROUGH ALL THAT JUST FOR FUN?!"
"No! The particulars of the contract prevent me from directly just paying or giving you everything!"
"BULLSHIT!" I screamed in his face.
"Could you keep it down! You're hurting my ears!"
*Knock*
*Swoosh*
*Slam*
Since, I couldn't kill this guy because of that stupid contract I decided to take my revenge some other way. As soon as the servant carrying his soda knocked on the door, I used my experience from sprinting across the country for two weeks straight to swiftly run to the door, forced it open with my bare hands and then forced it shut after grabbing the soda.
"Hey, that's mine!"
Since I couldn't hurt him, I would settle for stealing all his food and drinks today.