Chapter 30: Secrets (3)

The Qilin's Nest was as Muchen remembered it. A travelers' inn, one of the many that dotted the roads leading to the capital, it offered tidy and reasonably comfortable rooms at a reasonable rate. Muchen carried his winnings from the auction up to his room and laid them out on the bed. Seeing them all together like that, sparkling in the light, it was easy to fool the eye into thinking they were worth more than the silver he'd spent to buy them.

He also took his cashbox, made sure that it was securely locked, and tucked it out of sight under the bed. He stared at the jewelry for a moment, planning out what was to come.

"None of these are spirit tools?" Muchen asked.

"Unfortunately not," Xinyi said, not bothering to spare him a glance. She'd begun pacing the moment Muchen closed the door, although considering the length of her flippers she still hadn't made a full circuit of the room. Muchen figured after a month of laying low in the capital she was eager to stretch her legs.

Muchen picked up the amber paperweight and rubbed it against his outer robe. After a moment, he held it near the back of his hand, causing the small hairs on his arm to rise up from the static electricity. It was a relief to confirm that the laws of physics held true on the Qianzhan Continent, at least to some extent. He grinned and set the paperweight back where he'd found it.

"I still say the best plan is to strike first," Xinyi continued. "Cut all our problems off at the source."

Muchen shook his head. "Heisan must be working with somebody else. If we can't kill them all, I'd rather not start some kind of blood feud."

Xinyi snorted, shaking her head. Muchen was still a little alarmed at her casual advocacy for murder, but he was glad that she was at least talking it over with him before she acted.

"There's always some angry weakling out there who covets what they don't have," Xinyi said. "Why let their disapproval constrain your actions?"

She had a point. Laying low wouldn't keep Muchen safe forever. That said, at the moment he was hardly wealthy enough that he had a target on his back. No need to paint one there himself by picking a fight with a team of cultivators.

"If we can settle matters peacefully, we'll be better off for it," Muchen said. "I intend to squeeze him for a good deal of silver."

Xinyi clicked her tongue. "If we kill him, we get all of his silver."

Muchen didn't think it was worth the risk, even setting aside the gratuitous murder. He was trying to come up with some way of phrasing his objection that might move Xinyi when she waved a flipper dismissively.

"Pah, fine, we can be nice," she said.

"Good," Muchen said. "Of course, if he starts something, we can handle things your way."

He still wasn't sure how she was able to convey a sinister grin in her turtle form, but it came through strongly enough for Muchen to feel a chill run down his spine. Not for the first time, he was relieved Xinyi was on his side.

He gave one last look around the room before heading downstairs. The Qilin's Nest had an attached restaurant serving simple but hearty fare. It also offered a broad variety of alcoholic beverages.

Muchen secured a table for himself and ordered a basket of dumplings. He took a glance at the drink menu before dismissing the idea with a shake of the head. While he wouldn't mind a little liquid courage, it was more important to have his wits about him for what was to come. His first outright confrontation with another cultivator.

He would have rather put this off until he was much further along in his cultivation himself. Of course, if he could proceed down the path of immortality without getting involved in shady dealings like this at all, he would have been happy with that, too. Unfortunately, in the Qianzhan Continent, sometimes you couldn't live a safe and stable life just because you wanted to.

All of Muchen's worries didn't stop him from working his way through his dumplings. It had been a while since he'd spent all day on the road, and he'd worked up an appetite. He was almost done with his meal when he noticed that the buzz of conversation in the restaurant had gone silent.

Looking up, he saw Heisan striding toward him. Where in the capital the crowds in the street had seemed to get out of his way without ever realizing he was there, the restaurant patrons had already parted, opening up a straight line between him and Muchen.

Something about Heisan had always tickled at the back of Muchen's mind, hinting at the danger the man represented, but now he was an unsheathed blade. Muchen felt a brief moment of regret that he had left Xinyi back in his room. It had seemed prudent to guard against the possible theft of his possessions. Now that he was facing down a more powerful cultivator all by himself, though, Muchen wondered if he had been penny wise but pound foolish.

Well, there was nothing for it. Muchen fished the last dumpling out of the bowl and tossed it into his mouth. As long as things didn't devolve into open violence he'd be fine. To that end, it was better to put on a show of confidence.

Heisan came to a stop in front of his table. He didn't say anything as Muchen finished chewing and swallowing. Nor did he comment as Muchen washed down his meal with a mouthful of tea. It was a mediocre blend, but Muchen had spent the better part of a month getting accustomed to mediocre tea. His face didn't change expression as he finished his drink and set down the cup.

Finally, he looked up and smiled. "I'm glad you were able to find the place."

"You succeeded at the auction?" Heisan asked.

"Naturally," Muchen said. "You've brought your share of the silver?"

Heisan nodded, but didn't make any move to open his purse. Muchen bit back a sigh. Xinyi's methods seemed more tempting by the minute.

"Well then," Muchen said, standing from the table, "please follow me."

He swept out of the restaurant, not bothering to look back. He wasn't worried about presenting his back to Heisan. Considering the difference in cultivation level, it wouldn't really matter where Muchen was facing if things devolved into a violent confrontation.

As it happened, the two enjoyed a peaceful walk back to the room. Muchen felt the tension drain out of his shoulders as he opened the door. Whatever happened from here on out, Xinyi would at least ensure that he survived the experience.

"Our spoils," he said, gesturing to the jewelry spread out on the bed, "acquired for a mere one hundred and eighty four taels of silver. That would make your share ninety-two taels."

Heisan nodded, his hand going to his belt. Muchen was pleasantly surprised when he grabbed, not the handle of his sword, but a hefty pair of silver ingots from his money pouch. That was followed by another pair, then a handful of smaller bits of silver. It looked to be about the right amount. Muchen didn't want to spoil the cooperative atmosphere by pulling out a set of scales.

"Now," Muchen said, "we've agreed to take turns selecting items for ourselves."

Heisan nodded.

"Being as I fronted the silver and attended the auction," Muchen continued, "it seems only fair that I get the first pick."

Heisan hesitated, then nodded again.

Muchen took a step forward. He glanced over the valuables on display, pausing for a moment on the coral earrings that were the most valuable individual piece, before he reached out and took hold of the amber paperweight.

Heisan stiffened when he saw Muchen's choice. Muchen might not have noticed it if he hadn't been watching carefully. He grinned, tossing the piece of amber up in the air a couple of times before setting it down off to the side.

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Heisan cleared his throat. "You would waste your first pick on such a thing?"

Muchen's grin only broadened. Once he learned that the Long Family arts centered around the use of electricity, the amber paperweight had jumped out as the only item that could have anything to do with their cultivation.

"I like it," Muchen said. "Of course, I could be persuaded to trade."

In response to Heisan's glare, Muchen spread out his hands. "I am a merchant, after all."

"What do you want?" Heisan asked.

Muchen tapped his chin a few times. "Let's say... everything else. Oh, and you'd need to throw in another hundred taels of silver, of course."

"That's ridiculous!" Heisan protested.

"Is it?" Muchen asked, before reaching into his money pouch and withdrawing a slim piece of jade. He set it down next to the amber. "How about now? Although, now even a hundred taels seems a little light."

Heisan leaned forward, hand going to his sword hilt. Muchen held up a hand to stop him.

"If you draw that weapon, only one of us will walk out of this room," Muchen said. "Otherwise, well, everything is negotiable."

Heisan stared at him. It was hard to get a precise read on other people's cultivation, but he had to know that he outclassed Muchen badly when it came to a fight. Part of him no doubt wanted to simply cut Muchen down where he stood and make off with his prize. He was off balance, though. The surprise reveal of the jade card, combined with Muchen's nonchalant confidence, was at least enough to give him pause.

"So you know," Heisan said. "What now?"

"In truth, I know very little," Muchen said. He shrugged. "I know that I'm holding valuable merchandise in my hands. What it does, what it will be used for if I sell it, well, that kind of thing is none of my concern."

He'd hit Heisan with enough shocks. If he pushed the man any further off balance he might just lash out in anger. It was time to reassure the man that he was still safe and that a deal could still be made.

He wasn't even lying. Muchen didn't have any interest in the struggle between the Emperor and the Long family. All that he wanted to do was stay out of trouble. And make a tidy profit, of course.

"What do you want?" Heisan asked.

"The jewels and silver, of course," Muchen said. He reached into his pouch once more, withdrawing a rolled up sheet of paper. "In addition, I'm interested in tracking down a few spiritual tools."

Muchen hadn't wanted to share the list of what he was looking for with the experts at the Thousand Treasure Hall because they were public experts and citizens in good standing. Anybody trying to track Xinyi down would consult with them eventually, and at that time they would be happy to volunteer everything they knew. Heisan, on the other hand, was a servant for a family that had already been declared anathema by the Emperor. Nobody would be asking him anything, and he certainly wouldn't be looking to help out an imperial investigation. Even if he was captured and put through an interrogation, his captors wouldn't be interested in anything other than the whereabouts of the remnants of the Long family.

Heisan unrolled the paper and recoiled after reading the list. "You ask for a dozen spiritual tools so casually. I'd always known merchants were greedy."

"You misunderstand," Muchen said. "I only ask for a favor. Should you come across any of the items on the list, I ask that you notify me."

"That's all?" Heisan asked.

Muchen nodded. "No need to search them out, or to try to acquire them."

Muchen trusted in his own abilities to negotiate the purchase of any spiritual tools that were for sale, and Xinyi's strength to force through the acquisition of anything that wasn't. He didn't want to risk having a potential deal soured or a potential target put on alert by sending freelancers out on acquisition missions.

On the other hand, he didn't want to spend time running to every corner of the Qianzhan Empire trying to find his targets. Muchen had a feeling that Heisan would be more or less constantly on the move for the foreseeable future. Having him keep an eye out had the chance of reaping a nice windfall with no extra effort on Muchen's part.

He could have driven a harder bargain. A top tier cultivation method was worth more than just the bit of silver and jewelry that he was demanding.

For that matter, the biggest profit would be to take Xinyi's approach. Muchen had gotten a closer look at the hilt of Heisan's sword when the man had been contemplating violence, and unless he very much missed his guess he was looking at Stormbreaker. The worth of that sword could be measured in terms of spirit stones, rather than silver.

Muchen liked money. Muchen wanted to be rich. However, he had a sense of proportion. He wanted to build up a fortune step by step through his own efforts. It wasn't just a matter of personal pride. He also knew that a gradual increase in personal wealth would allow time for a gradual increase in his personal strength.

No, Stormbreaker was a prize he could scarcely afford to own. Especially when its acquisition would come together with a blood feud against the remnants of the Long family. They were being hunted to the ends of the Qianzhan Empire right now, but that just meant they had no reason to restrain themselves when carrying out any personal vendettas.

As for letting the cultivation method go, more or less the same logic applied. If he held onto the jade slip, he'd have to worry about the secret getting out. Now that he had shown it to Heisan, it was even more impossible to hang on to the thing. Since he had to sell it, he could hardly hold out for a good price. Better to let it go cheaply and reap a bit of goodwill.

Besides, it wasn't like he was really losing out. Xinyi had already made a copy of the cultivation method that he would be able to use, if it turned out he was well suited for it. The best part was that the bloodline lock was still intact on the original jade, so the Long family would still think their secrets were safe.

If Muchen eventually became famous for his electrical prowess and the Long family wanted to ask him some pointed questions... well, he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. Hopefully he'd have enough strength to stand tall by that point. Or at the very least he'd have the time to spin a believable lie.

"Your terms are acceptable," Heisan said. The man didn't wait for any further verbal confirmation before pulling another handful of ingots from his pouch and tossing them on the bed.

Muchen bit back a laugh. For all that Heisan was clearly more of a fighter than a merchant, he knew not to waste any time when a good deal was on offer.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Muchen said. "I believe you can see yourself out."

Heisan nodded. He looked at Muchen for a moment. He seemed to have something on his mind, but in the end he turned and left without saying anything.

Muchen waited for a few moments to be sure that the man had disappeared, then let himself pitch backward onto the bed. He angled himself to avoid landing on any of the jewelry, although the silver ingots ended up sliding down the mattress to rest against his side. He sighed in satisfaction.

Any day that he could earn almost two hundred taels of silver without any violence was a good day.

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