Chapter 386 The Ruby Bow

"I really couldn't." Keng pushed the bow back into the weaponsmith's hands. They had been going at this for a while and Zixin was still trying to reel from the amount of money the bow had.

"Please. I insist."

"I can't."

"It chose you! You have to take it!"

"I really can't, sir. I'm so inexperienced. I just wanted something for a novice. I can't take it!" The two went back and forth as the chimes rattled.

"This is where they are." Gorrum groaned. "I thought I told you to meet me at the North gate in three hours. It's way past the time. What're you doing?" The weaponsmith pushed the bow into Keng's hand and noticed Elder Jyu'so and Gorrum.

"Jyu'so, you must let this boy have this bow!" The weaponsmith ran to him.

"Juniper, what's with the racket?" Jyu'so asked. "Why're you so hellbent on giving him that?" Jyu'so and Gorrum turned to look at Keng who looked more like a Daros Fox Spirit adventurer now. The oak wood bow with white inscriptions didn't really scream "take this" for them. If want until they saw the red string that the two older Foxes looked at the weaponsmith.

"Juniper, don't tell me that's–" Jyu'so pointed at the bow with the words falling out of his mouth from pure shock.

"The Ruby Bow you made eighty years ago?!?" Gorrum finished.

"Exactly! I've found the owner, Jyu'so. He must have it."

"It's at least 20 million for that bow. I can't possibly–" Jyu'so began to tell Juniper, the weaponsmith when Juniper cut him off.

"10 million will do. I know you have that much!" Juniper told him.

"10 million? Just the bow?" Jyu'so asked.

"I'll throw in a return quiver with arrows, too."

"Deal." Jyu'so immediately shook Juniper's hand.

"Elder! You can't just make a deal like that! The boy doesn't even know the immense power he's wielding now. He has Lady Hydran's Hydrosphere and a Ruby Bow! You're really gonna give him so much for so little shown?" Gorrum asked.

"What's the big fuss? Juniper's been waiting for that special someone to come to him for ages! We should give it to the boy!" Jyu'so pointed. Keng set the bow back and grabbed another bow. This one had fainter energy resonance and he immediately walked straight to the quivers and grabbed one and set them down on the counter.

"I'll take these." Keng said loudly. Juniper sighed in frustration and grabbed the Ruby Bow off its spot and moved behind the counter.

"You're taking this. It has to be you." Juniper told him.

"I can't." Keng shook his head.

"You can get someone to train you in how to use a bow. Ruby Bow's don't just pick anyone, kid. Just take it!"

"And I'm gonna snap that thing in half if you force it into me." Keng pointed.

"I'd like to see you try." Juniper smiled.

'Why's this such a big deal?' Keng sighed and turned to look at Zixin. Gorrum and Elder Jyu'so we're standing next to him, all watching him.

"Ruby Spider Queen's are large underground creatures located where the desert is. They're basically calamity monsters with huge benefits. Calamity grade gear doesn't come along so often. That's why it sells high but with the Ruby Bow, no one can just pick it up and pull the string back. It chooses who it resonates well with." Gorrum explained.

"I'd take this more seriously than you're taking it, Silver one. It's a very, very, very rare opportunity. A mere 10 million pieces is nothing. I can handle it. You must be the wielder of that bow. I command it." Jyu'so told Keng.

"Order? You can't just–" Keng felt a strange pull to turn around and grab the bow. He grunted as he spun around and his hand snatched the bow out of Juniper's hand. "WHATS GOING ON?"

"Sly fox." Zixin shook his head. "Did you plan this or something? A calamity weapon wouldn't just sit in a weapon's shop for all to see.

"It needs to be tried. If someone just saw it and decided to buy it based on looks, it'd be useless. Adventurers need to try their weapons and you tried the bow and it accepted you." Jyu'so motioned. Keng grunted as he tried to force himself out of the command but it didn't work.

"I'll handle the rest, Juniper. The bow has chosen its warrior, so I can't ignore it."

"But I already have a god weapon. Why would I need a calamity grade bow?" Keng asked between his gritted teeth. "Lee Seng already has a bow I can use."

"But you are here and he is there. He doesn't even remember you. How are you going to take someone's prize when they don't even know you're a friend?" Jyu'so asked. The spell wore off and Keng grunted as he turned around.

"I don't want everything handed to me." Keng threw the bow at Jyu'so. Shadows snatched the bow and brought it to its master's side. Keng moved to Zixin and grabbed his coin bag. He turned around and looked at the weaponsmith. "How much for these? I'm not taking the bow."

"F-five hundred–" Juniper.began to say when Keng slammed the bag down in the table and took his things.

"I'm taking a couple bunches of arrows. Deduct it out of my brother's coin!" Keng shouted. He put some arrows into the quiver and walked out of the shop.

"Stubborn mule." Jyu'so shook his head. "I'll still take the bow as we agreed on."

"J-Jyu'so are you sure? He vehemently denies wanting anything to do with that bow." Juniper asked. Jyu'so nodded as he floated above the counter.

"I'm sure. He'll need it one day. My feelings about these things are usually correct. I'll pay for whatever else he bought, too." Jyu'so grabbed Zixin's bag and tossed it to him. Zixin grabbed it and put it back in its place.

"I'll, uh, go after him first." Zixin pointed. Jyu'so simply nodded and set the bow on the counter. When Zixin was out of earshot, Jyu'so looked at Juniper with a serious expression. "Old friend, did you feel it?" Juniper let out a deep sigh and nodded.

"What're you going to do, Elder? They infiltrate and Shapeshift to be amongst us. They clearly want the boy." Juniper replied.

"They're impatient." Gorrum commented. "They know they need to wait for the Silver one to arrive first."

"Then it means the situation has worsened. We'll have to expedite the training, Gorrum. Juniper, keep an eye out and let me know if they show up, again. I'll deal with them myself."

"Yes, sir. I'll do my best for you, old friend." Juniper nodded. Elder Jyu'so pulled a piece of paper out of his sleeve and handed it to Juniper. It had Jyu'so's symbol on it. Three shadow hands with two white eyes.

"The payment will come in a couple weeks. The paper will light up when it comes." Jyu'so nodded at the paper. Juniper nodded and rolled it up.

"I'll keep an eye on things here. I'm afraid something might happen soon if the Merfolk's problem doesn't get solved soon." Juniper sighed.

"The Clan Leader was there with me, too. He should know, out of everyone, it'll be okay. It's Fated to go this way." Jyu'so turned around and lowered himself onto the ground. The Shadow hand pulled the bow along at his side as he waved goodbye. "This is why it's going to take more time to ally with the Merfolk. They're impatient."

"We'll take our leave." Gorrum bowed at Juniper before following Jyu'so.

Zixin followed Keng to the North gate. He called after Keng a bunch of times, but the Silver fox simply ignored the fiery fox.

"Keng! Hold up!" Zixin shouted. He slowed to Keng's pace and looked at him from the side. Keng's eyes were filled with stubborn determination. "You did the right thing by refusing it. Why stay mad and stubborn?"

"Because the Elder insists I take the bow too!" Keng shouted. "It feels like they're just trying to give me easy options. I don't even know how these daggers work. How am I gonna take a calamity weapon?!?"

"Shush." Zixin covered Keng's mouth as eyes turned to look at the both of them. Zixin led Keng out of the North gate and past the guards a bit before stopping. "Don't be so loud, Keng. It's fine if you don't accept it. I understand.

"It's not my place to give you my opinion on things but I think you should think about it." Zixin began to say when Keng started to roll his eyes and turn. "After you train a lot more. You don't even let me finish my sentence!"

"You sound like them."

"No I don't. I'm talking about the future. Not now. The future. They're talking about the future. I'm not. You're not ready to wield such a power that could potentially save Lee Seng anyways."

"What?" Keng looked at Zixin. Zixin shook his head.

"You only hear what you want to hear, huh? You're such a kid." Zixin spoke in Fox tongue.