Book 3 Chapter 6: Soul Heart Parasite
Lintian was led into a palace decorate in gold and expensive jewels. Then he was led down a spiral staircase. The lower he went the colder the place seems to get. Lintian then arrives at a door that was decorated with reinforced metal with multiple spells and even some that he didn't recognize.
Tang knocks on the door in a special rhythm. A couple seconds late the spells began to undo itself and the door creaks open. Inside was not what Lintian was expecting. He saw a young girl lying on top of a bed made out of what looks to be like green jade. Her vitality was could barely be felt. As Lintian enters the room the door closes behind him and the spells redid itself.
Lintian opens his dragon eyes and saw that her blood, and qi flow has be reduced by at least 20 times. He also saw something particular near the heart but couldn't make out what it was. Lintian assumes that with everything slowed down then it would slow the spreading of the poison in her system. If Lintian was a professional doctor he might be able to diagnose her from her physical appearance but Lintian was not.
“What kind of poison was it?” Lintian asks full of concern. This girl was barely thirteen years old from the looks of it and she was in this kind of state. Lintian couldn't help remember his cousin Xingxing or his sister Yuki from the Tsukino family. He silently vows that he would help her even through they have no relation.
“Its not a poison but parasite. The soul heart parasite,” Tang replies gravely.
“How did she get the parasite? Especially the soul heart parasite? Their home is the Soul Heart flower. It is produced by that flower as a defense mechanism against enemies. You would have to literally eat a soul heart flower to get infected.”
Tang sighs regretfully and said, “Our young master Tao had a light duel against young master Jian Zheng. She is about the same age as Jian Zheng making them great sparring partners.”
“Was no one watching over them spar to let this type of accident happen?” Lintian interrupts his voice grew a little angry, “for such a small wound you could have just used a simple pill or ointment to heal them up. You would have needed to do surgery to implant the parasite.”
“It wasn’t the wound that was the issue. It was the weapon that was used. It was laced with a special poison that prevents the bleeding from stopping and healing pills didn't help. We needed a doctor to clean and sew up her wound,” Tang said as he realize he was having a servant like attitude for a second.
“So the only option left is to use the vermillion wild fruit to lure it out of our young master,” Tang sighs. “We tried other options but this parasite wouldn't take the bait. Luckily we caught it early enough that it hasn't duplicated or lay eggs.”
Since there is nothing he could do Lintian decided it was time to leave and start on ways to raise that money. The faster he could raise that money the better.
“Lets go shopping for a I need to see how I am going to raise that money now that you basically forfeit that tournament,” Lintian said. He was a little happy and said that it wasn't the person he was expecting to be in that bed. When he heard the last name Zheng he thought it might be Xintong Zheng from years ago. It was only because she used a dragon martial technique.
“You can go with Xiang and Lee. I have something to take care of at the moment,” Tang replies.
“I was wondering if I can borrow some funds too,” Lintian said uncomfortably.
“If you need anything brought then ask Xiang or Lee. If they deem it worthy then they can buy it for you.” Tang said holding his urge back to say yes.
“Alright thanks.”
“Big bro Lee and Big bro Xiang lets go shopping for a bit,” Lintian said cheerfully to pick up the mood.
“Tche who wants to be your big bro,” Xiang refutes.
“Hey lets ask Fang to go with us,” Lintian playfully said to test Xiang’s reaction. As if right on cue Fang appears at the door way of the palace. “Hey big sis Fang lets go shopping.”
“Hehehe when did you start calling me big sis? Do you need something?”
“Yes,” Lintian replies coyly.
Xiang rolls his eyes, “come on lets go we don’t have all day to spent on this.”
“I’ll summon our ride. Lintian have you ever rode on a Humming hawk before?” Fang asks.
“No, but I have ridden on other flying birds before.”
“Good because the humming hawk is the fastest low tier flying bird,” Fang said proudly.
After a bit of preparation they were soon into the air and arrives at the city gate again. They were let through easily because they were level two citizens. They also paid 1 qi stone for Lintian’s admission.
“Lintian which market did you want to go too?” Fang asks.
“Whichever market that normal cultivators has the most access too,” Lintian replies.
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“Lets go to the business street then.”
Lintian was already thinking of a plan to come up with this large amount of money and more but first he has to check something out. In business a person must know the market.
While they were wondering through business street, Lintian saw all sorts of stalls. There were weapon stalls, pill stalls, spell formation stalls, and basically everything. From time to time Lintian would pick up a weapon to see the durability, flexibility, and tension strength. He would also pick up some talisman that contain some arrays and a couple inscribed arrays in paper.
Lintian would also pick up pills from time to time and test the effects. He had Xiang buy him at least 15 pills. The reason was because right now time was of the essence so not any idea would work.
After a while Lintian asks, “Xiang how much money do you have that you would allow me to spend?”
“200 more qi stones.”
“Cheap ass,” Lintian replies.
“Che we are in urgent need of money sparing 200 to you is already generous.”
“What if I told you whatever money you can give me I can multiply it by 10?” Lintian smirks.
“If you could do that I would give you my whole fortune,” Xiang answers rolling his eyes in disbelief. How such a weak guy brag so much.
If Lintian was in his shoes his reaction would be about the same. Lintian then went to a couple more stalls and look for random ingredient to his plan. Then he walks to another stall that sells formation poles and talismans.
He brought 2000 qi stones worth of materials. Then he got a piece of paper and wrote down a list of ingredients, materials and tools. It totaled up to almost 1 million qi stone.
“Fuck you!” Xiang shouts at Lintian. “I’m not gonna give you a million qi stones to spend because you want to fucking practice your alchemy.”
“Honestly I wouldn’t a lot of the items if I had stuff on me.”
“No, we are not going to spent one million qi stones on these items.”
Lintian could understand where he was coming from but this was the only method. Business! Capitalism! It is the way to make crazy amounts of money!
Then Lintian looks at Fang and smiles. He walks over to Xiang and began to whisper in his ears.
Xiang’s expression went from blushing red, to excitement, to disbelief, to drooling, to the face people make in a dilemma and finally determination.
“Fine!” Xiang shouts out full of vitality.
Fang stares at Lintian like he was some kind of sly fox the way he manipulated Xiang like that. Even she was a little worried.
She pulls Xiang to the asks, “what did he say too you?”
Xiang turns bright red and replies, “nothing, nothing, nothing.”
“We can’t possibility let him borrow 1 million qi stone.”
“It is okay. I’ll handle it. You guys go on back,” Xiang said confidently.
Fang glares at Lintian trying to see through this mystery man.
“Oh get me a giant eagle too.”
“Okay…”
Lintian was a little amused by this scene but he was also anxious too. This is because his plans has many steps too it.
“Fang go back for now. I’ll take care of it,” Xiang shouts back as he ran away.
“Oh before we go I need to open up a bank account,” said Lintian.
“Follow me then.”
While they were walking to the bank Lintian was getting to know Fang better.
Lintian found out that she was eighteen years old this year and was already in the sixth stage of the master realm and a rank 2 spell master. Spell masters were actually really rare in this world. Only 1 in 10,000 would be able to train in it. She was born into the side branch of the family and was raised since birth to protect the main branch. He talents would have actually placed her in the top one hundred in the main branch. It turns out she is Tang’s sister. Which did make sense to Lintian because their names were Tang and Fang.
Lintian and Fang went into the bank and opened an account for Lintian.
“Do you want to go get something to eat?” Lintian asks.
“Are you asking me on a date?” Fang teases.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Lintian chuckles and then shamelessly said, “you’re paying by the way.”
“What did you say to Xiang to have him willingly give you a million?” Fang asks.
“It is a secret,” Lintian winks as he had into a restaurant.
Lintian notices that Fang wasn't following behind him. When he turns around he saw her getting harassed by a group of people.
“Hohoho. Look what we have here,” a thug looking individual giggle like a creep.
“If you know whats good for you get the fuck out of my way,” Fang angrily shouts.
“Such temper! My young master just wants to talk and have tea with you,” the creep retorts.
Then a gentlemanly looking individual steps forward, “Forgive my subordinates for being rude. My name is Tao Xa and I would like to have dinner with the young miss tonight.”
His subordinates giggles like hyenas after hearing that sentence.
“Its this son of a bitch again!” Lintian heard someone whisper angrily.
“Shh! If he hears you who knows what will happen to your family.” Another whispers back.
“I heard the son and father are alike. They are both talented and are master class womanizers.”
“Womanizers? Please!” Another scoffs. “They are more like serial rapist who deserves God’s punishment.”
“Well he is the son of a sect master. His sect is the subordinate force of one of the top three clans that controls this city. There is nothing we can do. This lady is doom.”
“Hey doesn't she look familiar to you guys?”
“If you don’t move and leave me alone don’t blame me for being merciless,” shout Fang as her ice cold glare pierce into the soul of these animals.
“Hahaha miss I am just asking you for a dinner with me. Am I that ugly that you can’t even accept dinner with a young master like me?”
“I am part of the Zheng family if you don’t leave now my family will wipe you out.” Fang threatens.
“Your family? Ha what a laugh,” Tao Xa mocks after seeing, that being nice wouldn’t work. “You are but a servant of the main branch. A main branch successor that is on the verge on death.”
“Che what a piece of trash! Can’t even pick up woman without retorting to threats. If you got a one inch pinch just say so instead of bitching around like a woman,” Lintian voice rings out.