Let me go!

Okay, let me explain. What Zhangsun Shan had and what I have are totally different defects. While he was cursed by people and got his qi center damaged, mine is more of a mutation of sorts, I believe. Well, that's the only explanation that I could find because there's no way someone's gonna curse a minor character like me.

Anyhow, as of right now, the golden mountain's the only thing that's viable for me. I wonder if that cave had something that dispels curses or something that fixes qi centers. I sure do hope that it's the latter.

So, I have a clear goal right now-get to the Golden Mountain and get my qi center fixed so that I can finally cultivate. Although, I know the way to the mountain, the problem right now is that I need supplies; but more importantly, I need money.

Look, I have to embark on this journey alone. Sure, Zhangsun Shan had Qiu Si by his side, the wife that he trusted so much. However, I don't have such a person… Well, I do with my parents and my brother, but they aren't much of a warrior type. I know that my brother will grow into one someday possibly, but as of right now he's a child and I'd like him to remain as a child.

When I thought of it, I sure do have the option of hiring a mercenary too. However, the reputation for mercenaries are piss poor. Think about it, a strong mercenary wanders into an unknown region with a frail girl and has to fight off humongous monsters to reach a cave that only one person could enter. Do you really think the mercenary would just allow me, who did minimal stuff to waltz off into the cave? No! They'd rather kill me than let me in, or so I would imagine. Even though they have a bad reputation, I really don't wanna judge people without getting a feel of them. And even if that's the case, I'd rather judge them in some other event rather than in something that involves my life in this place.

The bottom line of everything is that I gotta get to the Golden Mountain and I need money. Lots and lots of money. Why, you ask? Well, is that even a question? Money is essential-whether it's on Earth or whether it's here on this game world. If I am to prepare for such a big scale journey, I should have enough and more Qi pills so that at least I reach the Golden Mountain with my weak body.

What about when I reach near the Golden Mountain? I'd still have to fight all those deadly monsters. Well, fret not, because I have that sorted out too. There's a thing called talisman in this world. The thing is that such talisman's could only be created by high level cultivators. Well, it's not such a rare commodity, but it sure is expensive since it's hot stuff. People generally use talismans to cover their weakness and to give an extra resistance. Like, if someone's weak at using fire power, there's always the fire power imbued talisman created by the Fiery Magma Sect. Similarly, several sects sell their power imbued talismans in the market.

Unlike those people, who buy talismans to cover their particular set of weaknesses, I have to buy an array of different talismans because all I have is weakness and a bit more of weaknesses.

In the end, I started to look around my house for money. And as I expected, there wasn't any left. They spent their entire fortune tidying up their daughter's room.... My room… Well, it was the only place left in the house that could be considered slightly valuable.So, instead of looking around my house, I minimized the search area and focused on my room specifically.

Ever since waking up to this place, I never truly checked out what Hua Liu had in her room. And oh boy, Hua Liu didn't disappoint me. Inside the room were several expensive clothes that I'll never wear in a lifetime because it looked like a joke to me; there were jewelries that looked expensive and of course, the furniture too. A lot of things that I could possibly sell. Although I could've considered selling the bed, since my cute little brother liked it a bit much, I was reluctant to.

#

Later in the evening. We were having our family dinner. I was preparing myself to break out the news to them the entire day and I felt like it was the right time to do so. "Father, I would like to go on a journey." I brought forth my topic of discussion at the dinner tab… floor.

"Ah, sure. Where do you wanna go? We can go together." He said as he continued eating.

"No, father. I would like to go alone on this journey." I replied.

I did not expect him to choke on his meal but that's what he did. Maybe family dinner wasn't the best time to bring out such a topic. "What are you talking about? With your condition, there's no way I shall…"

"Father. I have to go on this journey!" I made a firm stance. If there's one thing I know about Hua Liu's parents after my observation, it's that they listened to whatever shit their daughter spouted.

"No…" Father tried taking a firm stance as well, but I could hear the crack in his voice.

"Father. I know I'm weak. And that's exactly why I have to make this journey. I believe that if I go on this journey, I could be a better, stronger person…" I explained my side.

"But… I'd rather my weak daughter with me than away from me. I don't want my daughter to venture into a difficult place and end up harming her!" I could see the tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke those words. It seemed like I wasn't the only one with the selfish desire to protect the family… Makes sense, though. We're family after all.

However, I'm stubborn too, you know? I don't wanna stay weak, since it could not only endanger me, but the people beside me. "Father, I'm being serious here. I get that you're worried, but leave this to your daughter. I don't want people to call our sect a trash one just because I turned out like this. I want to be better… For myself and for us." I gave out my side of the argument as well.

For the next few minutes, we had our dinner in silence. Father and mother were contemplating on my sudden decision while my brother had no idea about what was going on, so he remained silent.

"Okay, how about we hire some mercenaries for you…" Father suddenly spoke up.

"No. I can't trust them with my life. You know that too, right?" I asked.

"Yea, yea. However, I can't just let you on this journey without someone beside you. I know! How about the servant here?" He asked in excitement. Just as he asked, I could see the horror in the servant's face. He clearly didn't want to accompany someone as weak as me on a potentially dangerous journey.

Noticing this, I only had one reply to give. "Father, the servant loves this sect. I believe he would much rather spend his time here working under you, rather than around me." I replied.

"Bullshit!" Father shouted.

"Language, dear!" Mother quickly jumped in and scolded father.

"Ah, bull crap! I believe he'd be honored to go on this journey with you. Isn't that right?" He looked at the servant menacingly and asked.

"Of course, master! It would be my pleasure!" The servant nervously replied.

"See? Now you have to let him join in on the journey." Father smiled.

"But father! I don't wanna!" I protested, but to no avail.

Instead of father, it was mother's turn to reply. "Look, Hua. We care about you so deeply. So, we can't let you go out alone. So, you got two choices. Either you go on that journey with the servant and send timely reports or you could stay back and cancel the journey all together. So, what will your choice be?" She asked in an almost menacing tone.

I felt like she wasn't gonna give me any leeway here. However, I still tried my luck. "So, is there a third option?" I asked.

She smiled. "Fortunately, yes!"

"Really?What is it?" I simply couldn't believe that worked!'

"Well, that would be to stay silent and not to go out your entire life. How about that?" She asked.

Ah, it seemed like I was the idiot thinking that there would be a different choice to my advantage. Mother wasn't the type to give a leeway like that! So, basically I was left with no choice. If I had to go to the Golden Mountain, I had to take the servant who immensely hates me, with me. In the end, I finally agreed to that. At least, I could go on my journey now!

#