But when I walked into Elder Hurky's room, the vibe was… weird. It wasn't fancy, but it felt like I might break something priceless if I sneezed.

"Sit down, Amon," Elder Hurky said without looking at me.

I found a squeaky stool and plopped down.

"So you completed your first task. Impressive," he said, sipping tea like a wise sage.

"Totally crushed it," I said, grinning. "Nothing too crazy for a guy like me."

Elder Hurky blinked. "Right. Anyway, I've got a real task for you now."

"Real task? Dangerous? Saving the sect?" I was ready.

"Go to the market and get me the Dual-Enhancement Herb," he said.

I froze. "Wait. The what?"

"The Moonlight herb. The one that helps with dual cultivation," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Go."

I blinked again. "Dual… cultivation? Is this some sort of joke?"

Elder Hurky didn’t look up from his tea. "No joke. Get it, or don’t come back."

I stared at him for a long moment, trying to process it. “Fine, I’ll get your… herb.”

The market was chaotic, and I was feeling a little out of place. The air was thick with the smells of strange spices, pungent potions, and something that might have been dragon feet being roasted on a spit. Vendors shouted at me, trying to convince me their magical trinkets would enhance my cultivation or, more likely, my wallet.

Then I spotted the sign. A stall draped in red silk with a large banner reading, "The Herb of Dual Enhancement For All Your Cultivation Needs." Yeah, that sounded like what I needed.

I marched up to the stall, and a merchant with a thick mustache greeted me with a raised eyebrow. "What do you need, young man? Looking to spice up your dual cultivation?"

I groaned internally. "Yeah, I need the Dual-Enhancement Herb," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The merchant smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Oh, you’re looking for something to… help with your dual cultivation, eh? The herb that gives you an extra boost?"

I shifted awkwardly, suddenly feeling like I was in way over my head. “Uh, yeah. Exactly.”

He chuckled, then held up a small, vibrant green plant. "This little beauty will give you the power and stamina you need for a long, productive session. One herb-two Primeval Stones."

I froze, realizing I didn't have the funds. "Wait, Elder Hurky didn’t give me any money for the task."

The merchant raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t he? Well, that’s your problem, not mine. Dual cultivation doesn’t come cheap, kid."

I rubbed my temples. "Look, I don’t have that much. I’m Rank F. It’s basically, like, poverty for mages."

The merchant shrugged. "Not my problem. You want the herb, you pay the price."

I considered my options. I could either walk away empty-handed or somehow scrape together the Primeval Stones. And then, like a flash of brilliance or maybe just desperation, an idea struck.

I reached into my robe and pulled out a handful of small, shiny rocks. "How about a trade?" I asked, offering the merchant a random assortment of trinkets I'd picked up on previous missions. One of them was a suspiciously shiny rock that looked more like a child's toy than anything useful.

The merchant looked at the items and snorted. "Kid, you think I’m going to trade a magical herb for rocks? Get real."

I was about to give up when he suddenly smirked. “Tell you what, I’ll cut you a deal. If you can prove you’ve got the… stamina for dual cultivation, I’ll give you the herb for half the price.”

I froze. “Prove it? How am I supposed to prove something like that?”

The merchant leaned forward, giving me a sly grin. "You’ll figure it out."

I felt a wave of heat rise to my face, unsure how to respond to that. "Fine. But I’m not… you know, doing anything crazy."

"Just bring me a solid demonstration," he said, before adding, “You know, stamina. Power. The ability to last.”

I gulped. “I’m here for the herb, not… that.”

He just laughed. “Good luck, kid.”

I hastily grabbed the herb, not even bothering to ask how it worked, and handed over what little I had. No amount of negotiation was going to get me a better deal.

As I walked back to Elder Hurky’s quarters, the air seemed a little thicker, and I couldn’t stop wondering whether I was just being pranked.

I knocked on Elder Hurky’s door, holding the herb like it was some kind of treasure.

“Elder Hurky, I got the herb,” I said confidently.

Elder Hurky didn’t even look up from his tea. He took a slow sip, then glanced at the herb with an unamused expression.

“This is the wrong one,” he said.

My jaw dropped. “What? But I got it from the stall right there…”

“You got scammed,” Elder Hurky said, still unfazed. “This is just a regular plant. You’ll need to go back and get the actual Dual-Enhancement Herb.”

I stared at the herb in disbelief. “Wait, you mean I… I went to the market, bargained with that merchant, and now…”

Elder Hurky sighed. “Yes. Get the real one, Amon. And no more embarrassing yourself, alright?”

I groaned, feeling my hopes of ever getting past Rank F with dignity slipping away. "Fine. I’ll go back. Again."

As I turned to leave, I heard Elder Hurky mutter under his breath. “Maybe next time, he’ll get it right.”