CH3: On Our Own

Chapter 3: On Our Own

I stood in the side, quietly observing the old lady in the counter.

I was actually thinking of talking with the old lady about purchasing all their items and selling them a rare treasure with negotiable price which should let her think of me as a very important investor and not only that, but having a rare treasure in the shop's name will attract them more customers who would readily spill their riches for such an item.

But if I do that, it might just give me unnecessary amount headache and attention which I really won't appreciate at this time as someone might come after us and kill me to get their hands on what they could found from me, nothing is impossible here, so I should be careful with my decisions. Although I really have nothing to worry about because all of my belongings are stored in the system's inventory, but I have Yihan with us, so I should act in modesty in order to save ourselves from any mess that could bite our tails. I have to keep in mind that even the most innocent-looking person can become a beast in front of something they desperately wish to covet.

But it would be funny to see their faces if they found out that I lied and that they can't take anything from me. That would be awfully laughable, wouldn't it?

But I'm not that bad, I'd atleast make them a LITTLE... happy.

That's because I might be planning on doing '"something" regarding the "rare treasures." To be honest, I actually don't really have any treasures yet, but It should be possible to create a "proxy," but it would be just an illusion to be precise. With the help of my Qi, it's possible to make as much as to what my reserved Qi can handle. They would fall deeper in despair and disappointment if they get their hands on it only for it to suddenly disappear.

Anyway, during the two weeks that we had been traveling, nothing much had happened but Qi Fei taught me how to use the Qi to materialize what I desire, but I was only able to do that after reaching the Immortal Deity Realm which is the highest cultivation in this lower world and if I want to attain a higher realm, I will need to ascend to the higher world where all the powerful immortal lives. But although we can use Qi to materialize "whatever" we want, it's actually limited to inanimated objects and just like I mentioned, it's also not permanent as it will disappear after some time because the Qi that is supporting it will weaken overtime and on top of that, I can't freely use it because I used the system's aid to learn it, that was really a stupid thing to do, but aside from that, I did make some progress with a personal starter goal of mine and this place would really help me get even closer to that.

I looked around the shop for a bit, examining their items before settling my gaze on the child named Li Qian who is showing some quite fancy artifacts to Qi Fei, this guy is planning something again isn't he?

That little boy said he's an errand boy, so he should suffice, I couldn't help but grin as I become a little excited about a thought that came to my mind.

Although he said he doesn't accept illegal errands, a little sneaky errand should be fine. I just need him to help Qi Fei start his errand as it's one of the key I need to settle everything I need for my little personal goal.

'Little errand boy' my voice resounded in his head. He flinched, looking around quite frantically.

It seems that I can use the techniques I learned without the system's help just fine...

'I apologize for startling you, it's me, the person who was with those two you're hanging out with. I have an errand for you.' I reassured him which made him calm down. He quickly recovered his composure and continued to show the two around and even dragging in the old lady who runs the 'shop.' This boy is clever, it's tempting to take him as my worker but as someone from the modern age, the idea of a child working for an adult feels unpleasant but then, things are different with the current caste system of this age. Anyway, he's certainly fast in reading what his client needs. His script must be really detailed and well put.

He probably knows that the auction won't start without the assigned auctioneer which is the old lady in this case, it might upset the agent if a random alternate auctioneer sells their items at a different and possibly lower from the price they had agreed to set the starting bid which could result to insufficient payment for both parties.

'Can you hear me like this?' he asked.

'Yes, I can. You seem to be already aware of what I need. Can you tell me how, little child? I was really desperate to have an expert to aid my companions in choosing a product of high quality or else we might foolishly just pick anything.' I spoke, the latter statement was a lie though. I only said it to play with his head a little.

I felt curious to how this child was able to predict what I needed. But I hate to admit that I already have an idea and I also don't like the possibility of him being able to see through me, so I thought I should confuse him a little.

'Although this is one of the oldest shop here in the shopping district of the main capital, it's also well known to the travelers as the dawn auction house where travelers are free to commission us to sell their items in the auction block regardless of their identity and social position. The mister should've heard this from the traveling carts that goes in and out of the capital, right?' Li Qian answered as he continued to make the old lady offer more items to the two, well mostly to Qi Fei. The old lady still seems hesitant to leave the counter as she kept looking back.

Yes, it's common knowledge for travelers like us. Well at least it should be...

It had only been two weeks after I was transferred in this novel, it would've been difficult to adjust myself so fast if Qi Fei wasn't with me. I guess that's another reason for me to be glad that I struck a deal with him rather than kill him like what I did to the rest of those from that place where I was confined but unfortunately the reward I got was close to being a piece of trash because I didn't choose to kill Qi Fei.

'That's right, just continue what you're doing for worth the time it takes to eat a meal. Can you do that? I'll be sure to give you plenty of rewards.' That should be enough offer to entice a child, right? But from his expression, he seems to be still hesitating. Does he have something else that he wants to demand? Well good that a child like him can think for himself so well. He's just like me.

'About the reward can I demand something else? I'd like to become a cultivator, I'd like to enter a sect and become a disciple!'

Ah, no need to shout...

I winced, my head was ringing a bit with how enthusiastically loud he sounded, no one could really blame me from seeing him as like a child even if this guy is probably just few years younger than my current body.

I blinked a few times, well anyway, straight to the point is always good. I guess...

My cultivation should be enough for a first-rate sect to take me as an elder or even into a higher position, I'm already at the 8th cultivation realm and had already reached its peak.

According to the system there are only 8 cultivation realms in this lower world, the lowest which is the Qi Gathering Realm, followed by Body Refining Realm, Bone Refinement, Golden Core, Martial Master Realm, Mortal Emperor Realm, Immortal Foundation Realm and lastly the highest, Supreme Immortal Realm which is rumored to give 100% chance to enter higher realm.

Although I'm at the highest cultivation realm in this lower world, there are higher cultivation realms in the higher world, but it should be easy for me to reach the peak because of the system.

I chuckled quietly as I recall all the things I saw from the system shop but alas, I have to ascend first and breakthrough to a higher realm which should be the Immortal Deity Realm to unlock the shop completely. According to the hint, the story should be taking place at the higher world because the first episodes of the novel is focused on the main character becoming a disciple of a second-rate sect in the higher world and training rigorously.

Huh, what a coincidence...

But then, I plan to have Li Qian enter a first-rate sect and not a second rate. Its probably just pure coincidence...

But it's not impossible either. Then that would mean that Li Qian could be the protagonist...

Anyway, it seems that the system will actually come back sooner than I expected. It started to load just now, but it looks a little different, it's not as blinding as it was unlike before... ahahah...

I think we call this black mode in the modern age? Is that right? Something feels wrong but if I indeed made a mistake, it is what it is.

I sat down in one of the wooden chairs of the shop, I watch Li Qian as he and the old lady tries to entice Qi Fei and Yīhán with their shop items.

They would earn a lot if they had accessories and clothing's here, Qi Fei really likes those. As for Yīhán, he prefers dumplings over everything. Should I start selling all those three?

I grinned mischievously at my idea, I wouldn't have to think about running out of money if I do that...