Hustling.
“The price is ten gold Peng De” said Xiulan flatly to the man sitting across from her. It had been about a week since the attack at the inn. The Kangs had men patrolling the streets of Rockcreek. None of them were above the first level of qi condensation so they were not hard to avoid.
Peng De was one of the buyers that Xiulan had cultivated for spiritual beast, furs, hides, meat, and antlers. Yen Wen had been challenging tougher and tougher beasts higher up the mountains. They had not found a bow for her, so she had been fighting them bare handed to train her heaven grade technique.
Both Xiulan and Yen Wen were at the third level of qi condensation, which was around the top end of cultivation level in the qi light interior of the Blue Crane kingdom.
Peng De grit his teeth and spat out a counter, “seven is as high as I will go.” He sipped his tea as if that was the end of the matter.
Xiulan yawned and leaned back in her chair. She lazily rebuffed, “eleven gold.”
Peng De spat out his partially swallowed tea and chocked out, “eleven? You just said ten.”
Xiulan felt the side of the tea pot and clicked at Madam Chen to bring a fresh brew. Xiulan had been conducting business in the Plum Blossom as a form of revenge against the woman for giving them up to the Kangs.
Madam Chen walked up to the table and personally served fresh tea. Madam Chen had become terrified when Xiulan had bent a steel bar in front of her former owner, demonstrating that she was now a cultivator. She did not dare to serve Xiulan with anything other than diligence in the hopes that this was the full extent of Xiulan’s revenge.
Xiulan looked at Peng De and in an irritated voice berated, “Mr Peng I know how much this snake meat is worth to your business. If you prepare it well, you can charge as much as five silvers per serving to your customers. I have left you so much profit, but you still want more. I originally said ten only as a gesture considering our growing business relationship.”
Peng De went red in the face, “fine eleven!” he almost shouted. Xiulan gestured for Yen Wen to bring over the basket of snake meat for Peng De to inspect. Grunting in satisfaction Peng De slapped eleven gold coins on the table.
He seemed reluctant to speak further even though Xiulan had been right in the fact that he still would make a healthy profit on the deal. It never felt pleasant to lose a negotiation.
The system trilled in celebration, “the host has earned 215 gold coins. Reminder the reward for 100 gold has not yet been collected.”
Xiulan rolled her eyes. The system was desperate for its gold. Yen Wen ran her hands through Xiulan’s hair and asked, “can we spend some of this money on a bow? I am getting tired of having punching matches with pythons.
Xiulan nodded, “sure we have enough money to start the plan. We just need to stop by little Ling’s to collect here before we go. We also need some horses or maybe a cart.”
Yen Wen chuckled, “why? We can probably run faster and for longer than a horse could.”
Xiulan pouted up at Yen Wen, “you don’t understand. I am a merchant I have to appear lazy and above the average person. I have to be high up on horseback or in a luxury cart.”
Yen Wen laughed full now, “okay why don’t I go and get us some horses. I doubt that this town has any palatial carriages.”
Xiulan smiled, “okay.”
Madam Chen tried to hide her relief that they were leaving. Xiulan looked at her sharply, “I prefer the jasmine tea, Chen. Make sure to stock up for when I return.”
Madam Chen was so shocked she dropped a teapot.
Several minutes later Xiulan was alone as Zheng Ling made the final preparation to lock up her home and pack her essentials. Xiulan confirmed that she wanted to receive her reward. The system gobbled up 100 gold coins from her backpack in a flash.
Xiulan might be imagining it but she thought she heard a small burp of satisfaction. Another technique scroll appeared in place of the gold. “Congratulations host you have received a heaven grade acupuncture technique for your lover Zheng Ling. Quickly give it to her and take the credit.”
Xiulan did not like the system’s tone but chose to ignore it. She went to find Zheng Ling. Xiulan found Zheng Ling packing a bad in her bedroom. Xiulan moved up behind Zheng Ling and hugged her, “I have a gift for you Little Ling.”
She placed the scroll in Zheng Lings hands, and it disappeared into her skin. Zheng Ling trembled and then collapsed against Xiulan in shock.
“Heaven grade! Not even the royal doctor has a technique this good,” whispered Zheng Ling. She squired in Xiulan’s arms until she was facing her, then kissed her deeply.
After that she placed her head against Xiulan’s chest and murmured, “Who are you, Xiulan? How can you access something like this.” Xiulan stroked her fingers along Zheng Ling’s spine.
“I need some mystery little Ling. More exciting that way.”
Zheng Ling swatted playfully at Xiulan’s arm, “well where are we going mysterious benefactor?”
Xiulan replied, “The Kangs derive most of their wealth from mining and transportation, but their home base is in the city of Temple Gorge south of us. That is where we are going first to bleed them a little with your wonderful qi gathering pills. After that we will come back north to cut off their roots.
Xiulan sounded ruthless and her eyes blazed with such intensity that she looked as if she were off to war. She did not sound like a merchant even though she was discussing how to financially cripple her enemies, not kill them.
Outside the whinnying of horses signalled Yen Wen’s arrival. Both Zheng ling and Xiulan moved outside and were greeted by a bowing Yen Wen, “lady merchant I bought the grandest horse I could find for you.”
Yen Wen pointed out one of the beasts and it was grand. Pure white and powerful, it was exactly the type of eye-catching grandeur that Xiulan was looking for. After admiring the beast for a time Xiulan lifted herself into the saddle and said, “south then too our revenge.”
Yen Wen gave a small mock cheer and all three woman laughed.
Hustling.
“The price is ten gold Peng De” said Xiulan flatly to the man sitting across from her. It had been about a week since the attack at the inn. The Kangs had men patrolling the streets of Rockcreek. None of them were above the first level of qi condensation so they were not hard to avoid.
Peng De was one of the buyers that Xiulan had cultivated for spiritual beast, furs, hides, meat, and antlers. Yen Wen had been challenging tougher and tougher beasts higher up the mountains. They had not found a bow for her, so she had been fighting them bare handed to train her heaven grade technique.
Both Xiulan and Yen Wen were at the third level of qi condensation, which was around the top end of cultivation level in the qi light interior of the Blue Crane kingdom.
Peng De grit his teeth and spat out a counter, “seven is as high as I will go.” He sipped his tea as if that was the end of the matter.
Xiulan yawned and leaned back in her chair. She lazily rebuffed, “eleven gold.”
Peng De spat out his partially swallowed tea and chocked out, “eleven? You just said ten.”
Xiulan felt the side of the tea pot and clicked at Madam Chen to bring a fresh brew. Xiulan had been conducting business in the Plum Blossom as a form of revenge against the woman for giving them up to the Kangs.
Madam Chen walked up to the table and personally served fresh tea. Madam Chen had become terrified when Xiulan had bent a steel bar in front of her former owner, demonstrating that she was now a cultivator. She did not dare to serve Xiulan with anything other than diligence in the hopes that this was the full extent of Xiulan’s revenge.
Xiulan looked at Peng De and in an irritated voice berated, “Mr Peng I know how much this snake meat is worth to your business. If you prepare it well, you can charge as much as five silvers per serving to your customers. I have left you so much profit, but you still want more. I originally said ten only as a gesture considering our growing business relationship.”
Peng De went red in the face, “fine eleven!” he almost shouted. Xiulan gestured for Yen Wen to bring over the basket of snake meat for Peng De to inspect. Grunting in satisfaction Peng De slapped eleven gold coins on the table.
He seemed reluctant to speak further even though Xiulan had been right in the fact that he still would make a healthy profit on the deal. It never felt pleasant to lose a negotiation.
The system trilled in celebration, “the host has earned 215 gold coins. Reminder the reward for 100 gold has not yet been collected.”
Xiulan rolled her eyes. The system was desperate for its gold. Yen Wen ran her hands through Xiulan’s hair and asked, “can we spend some of this money on a bow? I am getting tired of having punching matches with pythons.
Xiulan nodded, “sure we have enough money to start the plan. We just need to stop by little Ling’s to collect here before we go. We also need some horses or maybe a cart.”
Yen Wen chuckled, “why? We can probably run faster and for longer than a horse could.”
Xiulan pouted up at Yen Wen, “you don’t understand. I am a merchant I have to appear lazy and above the average person. I have to be high up on horseback or in a luxury cart.”
Yen Wen laughed full now, “okay why don’t I go and get us some horses. I doubt that this town has any palatial carriages.”
Xiulan smiled, “okay.”
Madam Chen tried to hide her relief that they were leaving. Xiulan looked at her sharply, “I prefer the jasmine tea, Chen. Make sure to stock up for when I return.”
Madam Chen was so shocked she dropped a teapot.
Several minutes later Xiulan was alone as Zheng Ling made the final preparation to lock up her home and pack her essentials. Xiulan confirmed that she wanted to receive her reward. The system gobbled up 100 gold coins from her backpack in a flash.
Xiulan might be imagining it but she thought she heard a small burp of satisfaction. Another technique scroll appeared in place of the gold. “Congratulations host you have received a heaven grade acupuncture technique for your lover Zheng Ling. Quickly give it to her and take the credit.”
Xiulan did not like the system’s tone but chose to ignore it. She went to find Zheng Ling. Xiulan found Zheng Ling packing a bad in her bedroom. Xiulan moved up behind Zheng Ling and hugged her, “I have a gift for you Little Ling.”
She placed the scroll in Zheng Lings hands, and it disappeared into her skin. Zheng Ling trembled and then collapsed against Xiulan in shock.
“Heaven grade! Not even the royal doctor has a technique this good,” whispered Zheng Ling. She squired in Xiulan’s arms until she was facing her, then kissed her deeply.
After that she placed her head against Xiulan’s chest and murmured, “Who are you, Xiulan? How can you access something like this.” Xiulan stroked her fingers along Zheng Ling’s spine.
“I need some mystery little Ling. More exciting that way.”
Zheng Ling swatted playfully at Xiulan’s arm, “well where are we going mysterious benefactor?”
Xiulan replied, “The Kangs derive most of their wealth from mining and transportation, but their home base is in the city of Temple Gorge south of us. That is where we are going first to bleed them a little with your wonderful qi gathering pills. After that we will come back north to cut off their roots.
Xiulan sounded ruthless and her eyes blazed with such intensity that she looked as if she were off to war. She did not sound like a merchant even though she was discussing how to financially cripple her enemies, not kill them.
Outside the whinnying of horses signalled Yen Wen’s arrival. Both Zheng ling and Xiulan moved outside and were greeted by a bowing Yen Wen, “lady merchant I bought the grandest horse I could find for you.”
Yen Wen pointed out one of the beasts and it was grand. Pure white and powerful, it was exactly the type of eye-catching grandeur that Xiulan was looking for. After admiring the beast for a time Xiulan lifted herself into the saddle and said, “south then too our revenge.”
Yen Wen gave a small mock cheer and all three woman laughed.
