Jinhai understood the value of such a thing, but only because Nie had told him about it. It served from an ingredient for some of the pills and salves an alchemist could make , to directly increasing the Vital Qi inside the body, to even working as an aphrodisiac. It's cost was about one small gold coin , enough to feed a small family for six months, and that was the lowest price, but Nie warned him not to be greedy.

Jinhai's eyes narrowed as he remembered what Nie said. It was so valuable that people would kill for it, and holding it in his hand Jinhai's couldn't help but feel it was right. ' Heh, for such a small and light thing to be worth the life of a human.... it's really disheartening.'

Jinhai shook his head to remove those thoughts out of his head and stored the small porcelain bottle in his chest and left for another part of the village, but not before he tidied up the place. The earth at the roots of the tree became flat and it looked like it wasn't disturbed, but not all traces were gone; one of them being footsteps.

.........

As Jinhai left the tree he headed to the east side of the village where it was mostly rocky ground that couldn't be worked and waited. Minutes passed very quickly as Jinhai was on high alert, but nothing happened and his accomplice in crime came.

"Did you wait for long?" said Nie as he looked at Jinhai who was sitting crosslegged on the ground. The later didn't immediately answer and stretched his sore body.

"Yaaaaaaa......not for to long , but I'm already tired. Heh, who could have thought that after the Yang energy spike i would notice it so. Man, it is very addicting.....

Nie smiled at Jinhai's answer as he narrowed his eyes "Exactly so....

"Exactly so? What is?"

"The feeling of power of course. What you felt was only the tip of the iceberg Jinhai, nothing compared to the power of a true cultivator." spoke Nie with a deep glint in his eyes, and Jinhai's heartbeat couldn't help but fasten. It wasn't strange though, the feeling of being energized all the time was addicting, but it was more than that. The ability to shatter stone and kill enemies with only a punch was the dream of any man. Alas, it was impossible without a Martial Manual....

"Do you want to poses that power?" said Nie with a seriousness Jinhai hadn't ever seen. At that moment the air felt oppressive and Jinhai couldn't help but shiver at those simple words, but he wasn't and idiot and knew nothing was ever easy.

Jinhai looked at Nie's face for a long time and then a smile crept up " Haaah, Nie you almost fooled me there for a second. I almost believed you..... hahahahaha....

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"It's not a joke, I'm telling you the truth!"

It was now Jinhai's turn to narrow his eyes and take a good look at Nie. His eyes as serious as they could be stared into his own, his stance as sturdy as a mountain, and his first clenched loosely. His long hair softly fluttered on the wind like wild grass making Jinhai cringe to have noticed such a thing, but that didn't make the situation less serious than it was.

"Nie....I see that you seem to be serious, but how can such a thing be so simple? How can cultivation be so simple, or do you have a Martial Manual you are willing to lend me?"

"No, I do not have such a thing." answered Nie still as serious as ever " In fact, the path I'm suggesting is not in need of any such manuals."

"Cultivating without manuals? This.....is not a tale you are talking about, are you? Do I look to you like some kind of immortal that can command the Qi of heaven and earth to my will with only a thought. That's only a dream I'm afraid.... but I know you're not an irrational guy, and don't kid around. So, do you think you can explain it to me a little more as my ignorant self doesn't understand."

Nie seemed to contemplate for a couple of seconds Jinhai's word's before he spoke " Unfortunately I can't, but I shamelessly ask for you to agree with my plan."

"Haaaahh..... you want me to agree to someone so dangerous without knowing the situation? Do I seem that stupid to you?" said Jinhai with a little anger. He had died once, and almost died another time so he didn't wish to throw away his life for someone who wasn't even family.

"I know, I know that I'm asking much, but I really can't tell you right now. And the reason I'm asking you right now is not because you are stupid, in fact it's the opposite. Unlike the others in the village that think of only mundane things, your thoughts are not restricted by that , and that's the reason I'm choosing you."

"Again, mind if tell me more about 'this' thing you're suggesting?"

"I can't...

"You....fine! " said Jinhai as he couldn't take it anymore " I'll agree to your plan if you do one thing for me, and only then I'll agree to it."

Nie though for a while and nodded his head "Fine.... but can you tell me what is it?"

"Hehe, of course I can" said Jinhai as he eyes shined with deviousness" If you......

...........

The next day Jinhai finished his work a little faster than usual, but it wasn't because he was in a good mood or anything, but because he was thinking about something the entire day so he worked to distract himself, but it did little good and he arrived at the determined meeting spot half an hour before the agreed time only to freeze in place. There, he saw Nie who was already waiting for him sporting a serious look with hands behind his back, and Jinhai couldn't help but stare.

"Nie, you bastard, you really did it?! " said Jinhai in surprise as he saw the now short hair Nie had. The sight of him with short hair was so surprising that Jinhai started grinning like a mad man, so much that his eyes became nothing but slits.

"Indeed, now you understand I'm really serious."

"Indeed.... you really have proven yourself."

A period of awkward silence following as Jinhai was still staring at Nie's short hair. He had indeed set that as the condition for agreeing, but he didn't think Nie would really do it. In this world long hair showed your status as being higher than that of a peasant, and as peasant were only seen slightly better than slaves, loosing the symbol of your status was very shameful.