The dark red sword sank into its sheath. In my hands, this sword was much heavier now. I unequipped my other sword and tied this one to my back. The moment I carried it, the pressure made me unstable.
I nearly stumbled before I made myself stand straight. The blacksmith laughed and said I should eat more meat.
''It's not that heavy you know.'' He placed his hand on my shoulder as I gave him ten shiny golden notes.
Now, only one gold note and 9 hundred-gold coins remained in my pocket. I wasn't willing to spend them. It was forbidden to sell that sword the Martial House gave me but it was the black market, I didn't care.
The blacksmith's name was Vin Kang. He gave me 500 golds for that inscribed sword. I only wanted to get rid of that low-quality weapon so 500 more than enough.
Bina also bought a dagger for herself. After that, we exited the blacksmith's working place. I also wanted to see what slaves they sold here but the sword took up most of my money. In the end, we exited the black market.
Bina seemed to know many people here. Even though she was wearing a mask, most recognized her immediately. The staircase that led up was short. We arrived at the place where the vendors were.
I noticed that there were more customers now. I was walking slower than before and Bina looked at me from time. She even asked, ''Is it that heavy?''
I only snorted in response. This sword's size was like any other normal weapon, except that it was slightly longer. However, the pressure it gave off was like carrying 500 kg of cement at once. Body Tempering practitioners wouldn't even be able to lift it.
With this, my body would keep on training. After 2-3 months, if I removed this sword, I would feel my body much lighter and easier to move around. Also, such a weighty sword was deadly in a fight. Except that my speed would be much slower until I adapted to its weight. Still, it was worth the trouble.
We didn't stop anywhere and went straight to Qin Mao's den. Well, it wasn't actually a 'straight' way as we had to go through various tunnels. There, criminals eyed our every step. We remained stoic to their creepy stares. These were dangerous people but under Qin Mao's rule, these lackeys wouldn't act up.
When we reached outside that same room, I heard him talking with someone. There were about 7-8 young girls inside, all in their late teens. I saw different faces this time. Ah, they had oiled the lanterns at least, the lighting was better.
Seeing Bina and me, the mafia boss stopped chatting with that early Meridian Opening stage practitioner and waved at us.
''Hmm Hmm.'' He pointed at the same couch and I immediately sat. The silky cover sank under my weight. I noticed that the sword's weight didn't apply to other materials but only to myself. Now that was magical.
Bina didn't sit and instead leaned on the wall, remaining silent like always. I leaned on the couch as those girls giggled and came beside me. Two sat on my lap, one to my left, another to my right. Their heavy asses pressed my thighs, and my arms were caressed between their soft breasts.
This Qin Mao had good tastes but I knew he was making these girls distract me. That Meridian Opening practitioner sitting beside him stayed there. His right eye was patched and a long scar ran under that eyepatch until his chin. He was also a big man.
With his other remaining eye, he gazed at me. ''This one seems early,'' he commented in a gruff voice.
Qin Mao sipped the alcohol served by a woman sitting on his lap. He said after licking his lips, ''Zui Fan, was it your name? So do you have what I want or are you here to beg for your life?''
He then squinted his brown eyes and suddenly laughed. ''Good good, you are gifted. You were at rank 1 the last time we met. Two months hasn't even passed and already at rank 4.''
The man beside him who had stopped paying attention again looked at me. I smiled and casually wrapped the two girls to my sides under my arms.
''I have brought good news,'' I said.
Qin Mao then looked at Bina. I couldn't see her but I guessed she just nodded seeing his expression.
Qin Mao picked a fruit knife from the table between us. ''Go on.''
''Sheng Aur got an unknown illness.''
This sparked a glint in the eyes of both men sitting on the opposite couch. They listened attentively as I began spouting bullshit.
''All of his sons and daughters are returning. You can check if you want.'' This was true, I had asked Sheng Yin why Misa had returned.
The family's anniversary was coming close and no one outside the Sheng family, except a few trusted individuals, knew about it. That was why everyone was coming back.
It seemed meeting up at the family's establishment day was a tradition in this mortal world. Gang family had it, that being the cause of their doom as I had taken the chance to poison them that day.
I continued, ''Sheng Aur won't be able to help Long Jung if any emergency arises.'' I was careful not to say 'City Protector' as that title was hated by Qin Mao.
''Moreover, his eldest son seems to have failed in his attempt of breaking through. There is tension in the Sheng family at the moment. I couldn't get much info about Long Jung's state from her. That girl is too young, not even at Meridian Opening. Of course, he wouldn't tell about secret information to his daughter. Letting her not know is actually a way to keep her safe.''
''So you don't know anything about Long Jung himself?'' Qin Mao raised his voice. The scared girls clung to me, tightly pressing their nearly naked bodies onto mine.
I only nodded even though it seemed like he would attack me any second now. This lie I had created was intricate and well-thought. Everything would seem true if anyone tried doing an outside investigation.
Knowing if Sheng Shao was in his post wasn't possible for these lackeys. That would render the whole protection strategy useless if Sheng Aur's enemy knew where he was.
The thing about family members returning was true. There was no news of the eldest son yet, so a logical assumption would be that he encountered some trouble.
I had only made the lies that fit the conditions here. Moreover, Long Jung was an Essence Aggregation cultivator, it would be shocking if a practitioner such as Sheng Yin knew about his secrets.
I was betting on my own lie. If Qin Mao was only a brute lackey who didn't know about how the higherups worked, he would surely attack me because I had failed in the task he had given me.
However, even he knew that the task he had given to me was impossible from the start. His main goal was to actually know about Sheng Aur, Long Jung's right-hand man.
''Haha… HAHAHAHA!'' Qin Mao's laugh thundered throughout the room. He laughed like a maniac for some time and said, ''So you knew it right from the beginning. Good good, very clever.''
''However, I don't like my plans being seen like this. I wanted to see the terror in your face, that moment of panic… all wasted. You seem like an old fox here.'' Qin Mao grunted. Of course, he wanted to make me piss my pants, typical villain there.
''Well…'' I slowly exhaled, stroking the thighs of beauties sitting on me. I was alert, however. The girls kept doing their job, pleasing me with their bodies. They were like snakes, wrapping themselves all around me. There was an intoxicating perfume in the atmosphere, oozing out of them.
''So that's everything he has.'' The man sitting beside Qin Mao said. I didn't know why but that tone was suspicious.
The light flickered and a drop of sweat trickled down Qin Mao's forehead who paid it no heed. He was thinking, thinking about what to do with me. I had done an excellent job and even finished it ahead of time.
Bina walked over and came beside the couch I was sitting on.
Qin Mao finally said, ''Go, you're free.''
I immediately stood up, pushing those girls away. Their asses slid from my thighs to the couch seat as they let out disappointed sounds. Disappointed in themselves that they couldn't seduce me.
I nodded to the men sitting on the opposite couch and turned back. Qin Mao waved his hands and one of the lackeys entered the room.
However, the usual laugh and cries of the girls didn't resound inside the room as we exited. I used my spirit sense to notice what was going on behind me and suddenly,
Whoosh!
I dodged the sharp fruit knife that was thrown towards me. Then I sidestepped and held the fist that was aiming for the back of my head. It was the lackey from earlier.
''Kill him..'' Qin Mao's serious voice rang out from the room as I turned towards Bina.