Chapter 95: Star City (5)

Chapter 95: Star City (5)

Lan Xiaohui walks through the streets of Star City with an energetic hop in her step. Distant from her mind are thoughts of running into disciples from her former sect or enemies that she did not even know she had. There is a good possibility she might run into them the Martial Meeting will be attended by many sects, including the affiliates of the Galaxy Sword Sect, one of which is her former sect.

Lan Xiaohui, today, is difficult to read and understand. There is something different about her.

The sheath her essence produced for me is much like her dress and the flower in her hair: black with red highlights, and gold embroidery. I am still not sure how essence can produce matter like this but I dont feel the immediate need to question it. Intuitively, I understand that it cannot exist far from its owner or without a constant input of Qi and Essence; it truly is a part of the entity that produced it.

Whether the sheath has the intended effect is difficult to tell as heads still turn to regard Lan Xiaohui as she passes by people though it is uncertain if theyre drawn in by my [Avarice] or Lan Xiaohuis own curse of beauty.

Only time and results will tell, but even if it turns out to be ineffective, this new method of dual cultivation that we discovered would, without a doubt, have much better results than the method we used previously. Whether that will be enough to allow her to overcome the challenges of a rampant curse or if I will have to find a new owner is currently undecidable.

This Jadeskin Serpent hide is very well processed, the woman tells Lan Xiaohui. I can give you 15,000 silver for it.

My owner nods. She doesnt haggle, which I find somewhat peculiar. Either the price matches her intention or she refuses to make the trade. No haggling.

The goods exchange hands and she stuffs the new pouch of silver into my internal storage and then makes her way to the next store.

Most of the morning was spent on this task trading the materials we have obtained. A majority of them did not fetch a good price Lan Xiaohui made a total of 20,000 silver selling the materials of the other beasts. The only exception was the spiritual wood and the Jadeskin Serpent, which brought her total amount of silver to 60,000.

She did, however, find several job opportunities.

I dont understand the economy of Star City well enough yet to make a guess as to why these two are in such high demand, and the others arent, though I suspect it is related to rarity. Jadeskin Serpents are tough to kill, so materials are likely rarer. As for spiritual wood I assume it is the same case. In that whole forest, we only came across several trees that had become of a higher grade. When I recall that we were burning them for their thermal output, I almost regret it. Almost.

A part of me does regret that I did not collect the willows or their branches. Even Lady Yue stayed behind because of them, so they must be valuable if someone like her finds it is worth her time.

The tree and snake in my internal system are a different matter they may be unique existences, at least on this continent therefore selling their parts, if that were even possible, would carry risk of exposure and unwanted attention.

Does Star City have a central market or bank? I ask Lan Xiaohui. Now that she has sold all her materials, I dont know what she is planning next.

I would hate it if that is where it all ends for me, she says and then shrugs. I am not afraid of dying. I am afraid of not being able to become immortal with you. It is silly, isnt it?

It is not. Not being afraid of death itself, but afraid of consequences that are worse than death itself is a reasonable and enlightened way to view ones mortality. It is still being afraid of death, but recognizing what about it makes one afraid.

I cant even think about running away, she says, after nodding. I cant live in a world where he exists and reminds me of she trails off and shrugs but I dont want to die either.

I understand.

You will kill Yu Shun. I will help you, I encourage her.

She nods and rests her hand on my hilt. I know.

After the exchange, she heads into an inn where I get a taste of the purchasing power her silver possesses.

One room for one week is 10,000 silvers, the receptionist tells Lan Xiaohui.

My owner frowns at the price. That is too much.

The receptionist shrugs. Its the time of the Martial Meeting. There are cultivators from all over the continent and everyone wants a room. It is a miracle we have one available. Take it or leave it.

Lan Xiaohui thinks about it for a moment, then sighs and slides over ten large coins. I will take it.

The receptionist smiles triumphantly and nods. Name?

Zhu Xuelian, she says.

The receptionist slides over a key. Down the hall on the right. Dont lose the key.