4 Ch 4

In the three years that passed Hatzu matured from a young boy to the young teen. He made copies of every book he could read and stored the ones he could not. Then after trading the originals he received a small pendent the man called a shield and sword, several pill bottles and several small rocks and gems from an old cultivator.

Hatzu looked through all the books and could only read about a third. All the others where in storage but he had felt quite confident in his exchanges.

Clearly the items they would trade, would only be the useless items they cannot use but luckily the red robed woman he first came across was kind enough to gift him such a large supply of books. Selections from this fueled rouge cultivators passing buy to detour. Eventually it the mortal boy who peddled immortal wares was believed to have a backer. Due to this he was often met with relative kindness.

On this day, outside the inn sat Hatzu practicing the simplest of the Qi techniques when a cultivator came around. It was a young man strolling slowly with an open book, he paused to look up; "mortals cannot cultivate that technique" he said bluntly

Hatzu stood up and walked over before bowing "honoured immortal traveller, could I interest you in an equal trade?"

"A mortal that struggles against the heavens. It seems you embrace our culture." He said looking the child up and down. "What are you looking for?"

"You seem knowledgeable and insightful. Is there a way or method for mortals to cultivate?" Hatzu asked bluntly.

The boy laughed and sat down. He quickly began flipping through the pages before showing the book to Hatzu. The title across the top of the page read; 'mortal practitioners' path to power'

Hatzu stuttered trying his best to memorize the complicated page as he spoke out "are you kidding me?"

"It cost me nothing to reveal this." The boy said standing up "but beyond what is in this Manuel I don't know much more.��� As he held up the book he looked to Hatzu; "this is the guide book for the local academy, I'm told its not taboo to take in mortals but one is not allowed underlings until they reach the qi formation stage."

Hatzu instinctively began with drawing items for trade. The patch of green grass in-between the two was littered with items yet Hatzu showed no signs of stopping.

"This is quite the collection for a mortal" he waved his hand across the whole lot of items as they all disappeared into a small bag. When Hatzu began to rise his head, the boy struck him down with a blast of electricity. Hatzu laid on the floor twitching as the immortal continued to walk onward. "Equal exchange is the path of weak cultivators claiming to tradition… strength is everything in this world."

The cultivator passed by and never looked back. After the sun had set Hatzu eventually found the strength to stand up, and slowly began walking towards the inn. Stumbling to his room he drew out a paper and pencil and began to write – The Mortal Path to Immortality.

Two days later he came out from the room several books and boxes in tow. The innkeeper called a carriage and the carriage to the two down to the docks.

"I know a merchant who travels, since you like to trade this will be a good fix. Have you ever been on a boat?" The innkeeper asked Hatzu with a face of amazement. He had known this child for almost a year. At first, he though Hatzu was the child of a rich merchant who tried to run away but after days and months he began to investigate it. Yet the couple found nothing.

"Yes of course, so you don't need to worry." Hatzu also grew attached but in his pursuit of cultivation he could not stay dormant. "Care for the inn while I'm away but about my destination, I'm looking for the largest library available to mortals. It might be sometime until I can return."

"Don't worry we will leave your room and attend to the building as we always have." The innkeeper promised.

"What an interesting child." A middle-aged woman commented walking over to the pair.

"Olivia, how wonderful!" The innkeeper said looking the woman up and down.

She was dressed elegantly albeit sparingly in blue silk with long flowing brown hair. "James what can I do for you today, are you selling the boy? You know I don't ship that type of merchandise." She laughed awkwardly.

"No, no, this boy is a traveler and I though he could seek passage with you?" the innkeeper explained.

"Where is the child going and who is paying for this little trip?" She asked looking menacingly at the child.

The old man was hesitant over the short while he knew Hatzu, he had seen him perform great acts of charity. For that reason, he stalled.

"It's only nine tales of copper for the child to take a bed and have hard tac for a month's passage." Olivia continued.

"How much for the nicest room?" Hatzu quickly asked not wanting to upset the woman.

"Fifty tales of copper." She said still looking to the innkeeper James almost ignoring Hatzu.

"How much gold is that?" He continued to ask.

With this the innkeeper James began to smirk but Olivia simply looked angered, "who is this kid? 100 copper pieces buys a silver, and 1000 silvers buys a piece of gold" she said sternly.

"Is there anything larger than gold?" Hatzu asked pulling at her shall gently.

"God this kid is annoying! James who is he?"

James coughed quietly, "He is the new inn owner."

"You sold?" Olivia yelled.

"How much gold is you company worth?" Hatzu asked annoyingly.

"You... You cannot measure my company in gold it would be like hundreds of thousands, it would be worth essence stones! Yea… its that big." She yelled half historically.

Without hesitation Hatzu began rummaging around in a box pulling out two stones that gave off a light blue shine.

"So, these are currency, like gold?" Hatzu asked holding up the two stones.

Olivia and James began to gasp before pulling them selves together but Hatzu spoke before either could raise their voice; "you cannot leave the company if I buy it." He said casually looking at the two who could not contain themselves.

"Why do you want the company?" She asked hoping for an inspired answer but James the innkeeper knew better.

"Same reason I bought the inn, same reason they built the inn, or you built your business, its useful." Hatzu casually commented leaving the two stones in front of Olivia, "but if this is my company then today, I need this boat to find a library."

"Is that all?" Olivia said holding the two stones with a brimming smile and whole new attitude.

"I also need something call a beast core, five to be exact." Hatzu knew little of the world but he had studied furiously to learn about cultivators.

"Those are immortal items only one place in the world can a mortal buy something like that!" The two exclaimed together.

"Do you wish to go to Katus and test your luck in the markets little master?" Olivia asked. Since these mortals could not tell they soon began to wonder if this child might just be a cultivator.