CHAPTER 48: The Lure of Gold Coins

After leaving Fabian, Han Shuo's path took him straight to the outskirts of the Dark Forest. He took paths that their party had all taken before.

During his journey, Han Shuo continued to practice magic. After going through the forging of the 'solid realm', it was as if Han Shuo had been reborn. Now that his magical training had borne fruit, the magical yuan could travel to all parts of his body at his will.

There were nine levels in the world of demon magic, and Han Shuo had now reached the realm of the 'Open Passages'. The training for the open passage realm and the solid realm were slightly different. This was a realm that focused primarily on expanding the body's energy channels, greatly increasing the width and durability of the channels. In every case of training, the process of 'opening channels' filled his body with splitting agony, as if insects were biting and gnawing inside the meridians.

The first three levels of demonic magic, solid, open passages and moulded spirit, were the most basic realms. Training became increasingly difficult as one progressed, but with the experience of training in the 'solid realm', Han Shuo already understood that agony and inhuman torture accompanied his magical training. The inhumane pain of the open passage realm was also within his expectations. He used magic yuan to expand his meridians over and over again, never letting up for a second, relying solely on his indomitable will.

After twelve days of training and travelling, Han Shuo still hadn't met Fanny and the others. He finally made it out of the Dark Forest on his own and made it back to the city of Drol as dusk fell.

Compared to a month ago, Han Shuo had survived the trials of the Dark Forest, and since then, his strength, mindset, and appearance had all changed drastically. Han Shuo was now over 170cm tall, and although his body was not too muscular, he was no longer thin and scrawny.

After the baptism of fresh blood, Han Shuo's strength and knowledge had greatly improved. His entire aura was also undergoing mysterious changes. He was slowly changing under circumstances that even Han Shuo wasn't aware of.

At dusk, the city of Drol was filled with a happy, carefree atmosphere. Many adventurers had returned from the Dark Forest. Some wore sad expressions because they had lost companions, while others had satisfied smiles on their faces because they had received rich rewards, and they were planning a thorough night of debauchery in the city of Drol.

As dusk fell, Han Shuo first arrived at the place where Gene and the others had borrowed and stored their battle steeds. He observed the place from a distance and noticed that the battle steeds they had spent money to borrow were still there. He immediately understood that Fanny and the others probably hadn't returned to Drol yet.

Even though they had spent money on the Battle steeds, The necromancy teachers and students only had the right to use them. When they returned to Zajoski, they would have to return the battle steeds to the Zajoski guards in exactly the same condition as they had received them. Since the battle steeds were still here, this meant that Fanny and others would definitely have not leave yet.

Han Shuo knew, of course, that if he travelled with such haste alone, he would surely return much faster than Fanny's slow-moving party. Perhaps Fanny and the others had been delayed by magical creatures along the way, so it was within his expectations that Fanny and the others hadn't returned yet.

He went to the small hotel where they had all stayed before, walked up to the main desk and said with a smile, "I need a room.

The owner was eating fruit with his eyes almost closed. He raised his head to glance at Han Shuo and said lazily, "Oh, it's you. Give me ten bronze coins. The warehouse is always empty... you can go there now."

The last time Han Shuo had come with the others, Gene had rented a warehouse especially for Han Shuo, and Han Shuo had been despised by the owner because of that. So when the owner saw that it was Han Shuo, he naturally assumed that with Han Shuo's status, he could only rent the warehouse.

He didn't get angry, he just smiled and took out the money bag from his waist. Clattering, he poured out a gold coin and threw it on the round wooden table. He looked sideways at the owner and said, "I don't want to stay in the warehouse.

The owner had been lazing around when he suddenly sat up and brushed the gold coin off the round table. A professional smile quickly spread across his face and he raised his voice, "Of course, of course. How could a camp be worth a gold coin? Sweet little fellow, tell me what kind of room you want to stay in. One gold coin will be more than enough."

His treatment was drastically different from the last time with the presence of gold coins. Han Shuo smiled faintly and nodded, "I want the room the teacher was in last time. Arrange it for me."

"No problem, no problem at all. This is the key. One gold coin is enough for up to five nights there. Is there anything else you need, young man?" The owner continued to ask with a toadying expression. The owner's face was wreathed in a smile as he happily took a key from a drawer behind him and handed it to Han Shuo.

"Nothing else, just go about your business!" After receiving the key, Han Shuo walked directly to the room Fanny had previously occupied, thinking that money had the same miraculous power no matter what world one was in. It seemed that gold coins were a necessary item to gain a foothold in this world.

Han Shuo unloaded his belongings after arriving at the room where Fanny had stayed before, and leisurely took a hot bath in the tub. Remembering the pleasant affair that had taken place here last time, Han Shuo felt a burst of flames erupt from him and his lower body bore certain uncontrollable, strong signs.

Cursing in a low tone, Han Shuo stood up naked and grabbed a towel from the side to dry his body. Just as he was about to leave the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of his athletic, sculpted body in a large mirror that had been placed off to the side.

Han Shuo's body in the mirror showed bulging muscles all over his body and a fit figure. The sun had turned his skin a coppery colour by this time, and he looked extremely healthy and full of masculine energy, a marked difference from his former waif-like, skinny self.

He squeezed his two pecs with satisfaction. They were neither too big nor too small, and he struck a few poses in front of the mirror. Han Shuo pointed at his reflection in the mirror with some narcissism and laughed as he complimented, "Little fellow, looking good, eh!"

After leaving the hotel, Han Shuo went to a clothing vendor and spent a gold coin to buy a soft, high-quality undergarment, which he wore inside the errand boy uniform issued by the Academy.

He then went to a weapons and spent ten gold coins on a higher quality dagger, four gold coins on fifteen sharp steel needles, which he hid in his trouser legs, and another six gold coins on a miniature crossbow, which he hid in his sleeve, fully arming himself.

Han Shuo then went to a pharmacist and took out forty gold coins to buy some solutions and powders. As well as some basic medical supplies, there were also tranquillisers and psychedelic aphrodisiacs, as well as a bottle of poison.

These items were forbidden within the Imperial City of Zajoski. Even if Han Shuo had the money, he didn't have the means to procure them, but in the city of Drol, open trade was allowed because adventurers needed them. Since Han Shuo had come here with money in hand, and now that he understood the importance of strength, he naturally bought some in case they were needed later.

After buying all these items, Han Shuo finally sighed and thought that it was good to have money. He felt that even his spine was straighter than normal after he left the pharmacy. Everything was so much easier when there were gold coins in his money bag.

On the way to the hotel, Han Shuo's stomach churned as he looked at the hotels decked out in colourful lights. He followed his body's needs and ducked into one of the hotels.

The noise inside the hotel was loud and deafening, and neon lights flashed randomly on the roof. Adventurers and merchants had formed small groups and gathered around the tables and chairs in the hall, chattering loudly about their adventures

Their faces were flushed, they held wine glasses in their hands, they shouted drunkenly and talked freely. Delicacies were placed all over the tables, and a few young waiters and waitresses were constantly moving through the crowd, serving them more fragrant wine and food.

Han Shuo made his way to the only empty table in the corner of the room and sat down. A shy young waiter quickly walked in front of Han Shuo and asked politely, "Excuse me, what would you like?"

"Good wine, good meat, give me some of both." Han Shuo fished out a gold coin and flicked it into the waiter's plate with his thumb, commanding loudly as he opened his mouth.

When the waiter saw the gold coin land, his eyes immediately lit up and he immediately bowed even more respectfully. He put the coin away without changing his expression and smiled with a soft voice, "Yes sir, please wait a moment, it will be right up."

One should enjoy oneself when one has wealth to spend. Han Shuo lazily leaned against the chair, his slitted eyes sizing up the various adventurers and merchants in the hall. Some of them might have just returned from the Dark Forest or were about to enter the Dark Forest. Some had just escaped from danger, while others were about to face unknown dangers. They all released their energy in great waves, enjoying the depravity of Droll City to their hearts' content.

After a while, the shy server placed a bottle of light purple wine, three large platters of meat and two bowls of fruit on Han Shuo's table".

"This is Purple Leylan, the most famous wine in the city of Droll. All adventurers like to drink it, I hope you will be satisfied with it." The waiter pointed to the bottle of light purple wine and presented it after placing everything on the table. Then he bowed and withdrew.

Han Shuo couldn't wait and grabbed a piece of meat and began to tear into it. Although it didn't taste as good as the ones he had prepared, it was still quite tasty. He twisted the top off the wine bottle and swallowed a big mouthful of Purple Leylan. The rich sweetness also embodied a certain fire, and a soft aftertaste remained in his mouth after it had travelled down to his stomach, giving Han Shuo a different kind of pleasure.

Good wine indeed, Han Shuo complimented. Lifting his head to look around, he suddenly saw two familiar figures walk through the door - Claude and Irene.

Claude and Irene scanned the area looking for an empty seat. Both of them started when their eyes landed on Han Shuo, after which they actually started walking towards Han Shuo by pure coincidence.