“Halt immediately! Slaves are not allowed to cross without presenting their pass!” A guard in a yellow tunic dashed in front of Jin Sou and shoved a spear in his face, barring his way forward.

Jin stumbled, the heavy barrel in his arms almost slipping away from his grip. His qi was humming contentedly, doing one loop after another, but even with his increased strength, the long climb up the winding path to the Upper Pit had left him drained. Especially with the burden he was carrying.

“Are you blind? It's hanging from my neck!” Jin shouted angrily, securing his grip again. When he was stopped, the liquid sloshing inside the barrel shifted unsteadily, coming damn near to tipping him over.

The guard leaned forward and inspected the wooden slate hanging from Jin’s neck with a focus and meticulousness of a banker who had just been presented with a slip for a thousand silver coins by the local beggar.

Jin panted - and considered dropping the heavy barrel on the obstinate idiot’s foot.

After confirming nothing at all - since no one would bother forging the thing - the guard nodded and shot Jin a serious look. “Passes are to be clearly presented for inspection before entering the Upper Pit. I will let it go this time, but don’t expect it to happen again!”

Jin watched the guard strut back to his post, a few choice words dancing on his tongue, but in the end, he continued on his way without saying anything. The barrel was just too heavy to get involved in a shouting match.

Two checkpoints served as security for the Upper Pit. The greater one was set up near the elevator platforms which connected to the surface town located above the mine. The guards posted there were trained and serious, and there was something magical in the air, making any slaves loitering in the area feel as if the air was growing thinner.

In contrast, the other checkpoint was largely inconsequential. Since mortals weren’t allowed to enter the lower Pit, it came down to the miners to ferry the necessary supplies back and forth. Even wardens didn’t bother with keeping track of the passes, letting everyone lend and borrow them as needed.

The checkpoint continued to persist only for the sake of appearances. So, of course, the duty of manning it landed in the hands of a man who was hellbent on squeezing every last drop of authority and importance from a position that had neither.

Free of the annoyance, Jin adjusted his grip again and stepped inside the bustling tunnels of the Upper Pit.

Much like the miners below, the craftsmen and merchants in the Upper Pit made their homes in the long abandoned shafts. However, unlike the lower Pit’s forbidding atmosphere, the mood here was lively and upbeat. Colourful lanterns dangled from the storefronts, and the sounds of happy industry filled the air. You could almost forget that you were still underground.

Jin continued to make his way through the busy tunnels; sometimes employing his barrel as a makeshift ram, pushing his way through crowded areas, other times skirting around horse carriages, keeping an eye out for unexpected kicks or droppings.

By the time he had reached his destination, he was drenched in sweat and gasping for air. He let the barrel down on the ground next to the five others he had brought before, and leaned against it, struggling to get his breath under control.

“Ah, my favourite customer!” A large man tumbled out of the store, his jowls rising in a happy smile. He was clothed in colourful garments that wrapped around him like the netting on a ham.

“Please come inside!” he gestured. “I may not have much, but I can still offer refreshments to such a dutiful young master.”

Without a word, Jin scrambled himself from the ground and followed after the grinning merchant. He didn’t comment on the odd form of address - he had long grown accustomed to this man’s peculiarities. After all, he had been coming here for a very long time.

This was the very merchant who had tricked Jin into buying his first book - and continued to drain every last piece of silver he had acquired since.

Even brothels weren’t as thorough with their patrons.

“Please accept this humble offering,” the merchant passed him a small drinking bowl. “You’ll have to forgive me, poverty prevents me from providing you with something more appropriate”

Jin raised the bowl to his lips and took a long gulp. As he lowered it, his eyes drifted around the room, taking in the sight of this supposed poverty.

The wooden shelves lining the walls of the shop sagged under the weight of the countless wares they held. In between assortments of various tools, herbal remedies, and charms, lay small figurines and curious trinkets. Sacks of rice and who knew what else filled in any empty space on the floor.

The counter, where the merchant reclined on a very plush chair, was the only spot that wasn't completely cluttered.

Only two things were authorised to sit on the countertop - an ornate antique scale and a stuffed iguana.

The merchant claimed the creature was actually alive - only extremely lazy - but Jin had long learnt to ignore these jokes. In all the years he’d been coming here, he’d never seen the creature move. The only thing that ever changed was how the merchant chose to decorate it.

Today’s selection was particularly gaudy. The lizard was decked out in jewellery so opulent, it would cause even the crudest nouveau riche to shudder. A golden chain encircled its neck, silver rings adorned every finger, and a massive pearl studded bracelet was clasped around its tail.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The iguana lay motionless on the counter, emitting a brilliant gleam.

“The rumours of your recent exploits have spread even to the Upper Pit.” The merchant said, sipping from a small bowl of his own, though Jin was doubtful that it contained the same lukewarm water as his. “I’ve heard tales of a great treasure, fierce battles, and even the Heavens themselves taking note. I have expected you to barge in here with the winning smile of a celebrated hero, but I don’t see it on your face. ”

Jin grimaced. Two weeks had passed since the incident with the treasure. The situation has stabilised in that time, but he had no interest in discussing the topic with the merchant.

Instead, he cocked his head, gesturing towards the barrels waiting outside the store. “And you seem extremely pleased with barrels of shit.”

He wasn’t being vulgar. The merchants in the Upper Pit had their eyes set on nearly everything that came out of the mine. This included waste, from the rubble of crushed rocks to even excrement. The interest was so great, the Sect ended up holding auctions for contracts related to such products.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” the merchant responded with a beaming smile. “You wouldn’t believe the prices this stuff fetches on the western markets. Wonderful fertiliser. Do you think the spiritual rice that the Immortals eat would deign to grow on mortal soil?”

Jin’s eyes widened in surprise. Although he had grown up on a farm, he never made the connection. In his mind, there was barely any relation between the lives of the Immortals and the mortal people. In truth, he thought the revered ones didn’t eat all.

“Must feel good knowing that even immortals eat your shit, doesn’t it?

Jin spat out the water he was drinking.

“WHAT!”

The merchant glanced away from the iguana, which was now thoroughly soaked in water. He traced a lazy circle with his finger around the rim of his bowl, and spoke, “I apologise, if I caused offence. I merely thought you’d find it interesting.”

Jin didn’t answer. His mind quaked as if a volcano was erupting inside it. His recent experiences forced him to reevaluate some of his ingrained reverence towards the Immortals, but he was not ready for something like this.

It was taboo to speak of the revered ones at all, and this, something like this—

“How dare you!” Jin stammered incoherently. “It’s completely blasphemous… You can’t speak like that!”

“Oh, I just thought you’d find it amusing,” the merchant said innocently. “If I caused offence, please forgive me.”

“That’s too much!”

“Of course, do forgive me.”

“If anyone heard it, they would take off both our heads!”

“Oh my, you’re right, I beg for forgiveness,” the merchant said. “It was merely my intention to point out you shouldn’t carelessly disparage something that Immortals highly value,” he added with an aggrieved face.

“Stop!!” Jin Sou almost begged him. “I promise I won’t speak ill of… the product ever again. Just stop, please… no more.”

Crazy! Utterly crazy! He would get both of them killed! Though even if someone overheard them, there wasn’t really a way of relaying it over to an Immortal. Not if the rat wanted to keep his head.

The merchant nodded his head.

“Brown gold we call it. In the business.”

Jin couldn’t help it. He threw his mouth open and roared with laughter.

It was just too much. He imagined the fairy Immortal who had nearly killed him. Her dainty little lips slowly opening to nibble on a rice ball of the purest white…

He rolled on the ground, convulsing with laughter, unable to stop. The fear and terror of the past weeks washed away in peals of laughter.

“Feeling better now?” the merchant asked, once Jin had managed to crawl back on the chair.

“Yes, thank you,” Jin nodded, wiping some tears that had welled up in his eyes. He really did. The weight that had been pressing on him for the past two weeks had vanished completely. He felt even more refreshed than after that trancelike dream he’d experienced after the interrogation.

“I’m glad. Now, can my favourite customer tell me what has been troubling him so much?”

Jin shook his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean I don’t trust you, it’s just that… these words are dangerous to say out loud, and talking about it won’t change anything.”

The merchant smiled quizzically. “Even a whisper once uttered can gain mysterious powers… And besides,” he gave Jin a pointed look. “Aren’t the two of us dead men already?”

Jin considered it - and found himself in agreement. If what had already been said escaped this room, they would both be executed without a doubt. And even Immortals didn’t have the power to kill somebody twice. Probably.

He took a deep breath and faced the merchant. “I don’t want to live out my days as a slave,” he said. The words came slowly, as if he was speaking in a foreign language. “I want to become… an Immortal.”

It was the first time he had allowed himself to utter these thoughts out loud. They were still small and uncertain - lacking the weight and gravity that should accompany them - but just saying them sent a shiver down his spine.

“I know I cultivate a severed dao,” Jin’s voice started to speed up. “I know the path I walk is broken. But I don’t care. I will walk it till I see its end. And when I meet it, I will overcome it. I won’t die a slave!”

Hearing the blasphemous declaration, the merchant didn’t grow pale with fright - neither did he break out in a fit of laughter. Instead, he merely took a sip from his drinking bowl and asked, “On your way here, how many times did you bow your head?”

Jin flinched. The rules demanded that the slaves lower their heads every time they walked past the sect’s sigil. The habit was so deeply ingrained, Jin followed it even when carrying the heavy barrels up to the Upper Pit.

The merchant studied the changes on Jin’s face and spoke with a curious smile, “I’d like to show you something. Take a good look. Do you see it?”

He opened his mouth wide, like a hippo about to swallow an unsuspecting fisherman. Intrigued, Jin leaned forward to take a look, and almost fainted for the second time in as many minutes.

Hidden at the back of the cavernous mouth, at the spot where a wisdom tooth should have been, something glistened. Jin paled as he realised what it was.

A tiny spiritual crystal.

Had Jin seen it two weeks ago, he wouldn't have known how to react. Mortals were strictly prohibited from possessing anything related to the Immortal path. If discovered, not only the merchant, but his entire family and anyone who had ever done business with him would face execution.

Jin suspected that the Sect wouldn’t even bother with distinguishing the righteous from the wicked and instead opt to wipe the whole Upper Pit in a single stroke.

The merchant ran his fat tongue across his teeth with apparent delight. It was clear that Jin’s reaction pleased him. “You are not the first one to rebel against the chains of fate, you know. I, too, once yearned for the Immortal path, but unfortunately…” he turned his hands over, palms up, in a show of regret.

“But I’ve managed to pick up a few things over time..”

“No dao is fully severed, and no path is truly broken. And even if they were…” his eyes flashed. “There are always other ways. After all, even Immortals have their favourite nieces and nephews who lack the talent to cultivate.”

He watched Jin closely, sizing him up like a predator eyes its prey. “Wouldn’t it be just too sad, if these great personages were forced to visit their descendants’ graves after a single secluded meditation?”

Jin's blood thundered in his ears as he stared at the merchant. “Are you saying… that you can make me an Immortal?”

The merchant grinned, his smile wide enough for Jin to see the tiny spiritual crystal hidden at the back.

“The question is, what price are you willing to pay?”