2 Ch 2

Hatzu, fell to the floor shocked. Dust kicked up as he scampered backwards, the shop keeper approaching slowly. "Stay back!" the boy muttered – part cry part scream.

"A cultivator follows certain practices. First are fun ones like the pursuit of strength but down the line are the more practical ones. My favorite is the equal exchange, years ago it benefitted me greatly. Child do you know what equal exchange amongst immortals entails?" He asked finally coming to a stop in front of the boy.

"No sir…" Hatzu said making eye contact first with the body then the door.

"It means that man got what he wanted from me and I got what I wanted from him. As such those items are not mine, nor can they assist a dead man." As the shopkeeper pointed to the body Hatzu became more aware of the gold then ever before.

"I can have that?" Hatzu asked slowly shuffling towards the body.

"Fair and equal trade also says that I traded for you, to me your life is worth two gold coins. If you can pay that you are free, but this item stays." As the Old man gave Hatzu the good news he deliberately held up the boy's trinket showing his intent to keep it.

Hatzu was a simple, young child with no backers. The pirates who planned to sell him into slavery where the closest things he had to a family he could remember. It was with little hesitation that he drew two gold pieces from the bag and placed them onto the floor. Backing up slowly to the door he bowed to take his leave.

"Don't forget your knife." A cold voice said sending chills down the child's spine. He dropped to the floor cowering his head before he dared looked up. "The knife is yours as well" the man said holding out the dagger.

"Thank you…" the child said as he took the blade and backed out of the shop.

As the door closed the old man looked to the item and spoke softly; "by the hand of god, one of the astral tokens." The old man looked back to the door and with a thought of the small child he disappeared.

A ripple shuttered across the floor of the shop before the building fell unto the ground in a dusty pile of rubble.