Karma only managed two to three steps before a polite cough stopped him in his tracks. He turned, querying with a puzzled expression, "Is there something else, Senior Sister Tang?"

Before she could respond, Senior Brother Lione cut in, "Don't we need to arrange the drop-off time and place? How are you going to find us? Also, since you didn't care to ask, the auction is tomorrow—"

"Tomorrow morning, hence my brief hesitance in requesting your services. Does that pose any problems?"

Facepalming, Karma embarrassedly replied, "That's fine. How about this teashop in, say, two hours?"

Senior Brother Lione appeared skeptical of Karma's claims but unexpectedly held his tongue. Sending him an approving glance, Senior Sister Tang nodded, which Karma took as his signal to leave.

**

Back at the inn, a devilish expression splayed across Karma's visage. Rubbing his hands together, he paced back and forth, indistinct mutterings escaping his lips.

"If I do that, I'll definitely die, unless … That could work."

"However, then I have to—no! I can do it like that."

"Hmm, but how can I pull the wool over those two's eyes?"

Karma's eyes refocused as he stopped in place. His closed fist met his open palm with a slap.

"I suppose I'll have to leave that last bit up to chance, the potential gains are simply too great."

Skittering to a corner, he sat on a chair facing a simple wooden table. From his spatial pouch, Karma produced a parchment and quill he'd purchased in passing.

Karma whispered to himself, "I seek the attendants list for the upcoming auction at the Ornamental Treasure Pavillion."

Ruminating over the sentence revealed no apparent flaws. Karma confirmed he'd performed all possible due diligence, his concentration sharpening to its peak.

Settling his breathing, Karma basked in the soft drumming of his heartbeat, attuning his mind to the metronome of his body's stability. Two became one in pursuit of balance, gifting Karma's thoughts with a seamless flow akin to lone fish swimming in calm waters.

Initiated by the self-devouring serpents' appearance, white-golden threads bloomed around Karma's figure. Taking on an ethereal quality, their journey proceeded unimpeded by the material, venturing directly into the unknown.

As the expanding web touched upon its chosen quarry, pulses of white gathered upon Karma's wrist, guiding his quill in a dance of ink.

Characters formed names, and names formed a list.

The list became larger, the spiritual energy sparser.

Some names cost more, like Esteemed Daoist Lunar.

Many remained cheap, entering the list a lot smoother.

Exhaling from his nose, his enlightened state made way for exhaustion. Looking at the cluttered parchment, he flashed a soft smile before collapsing onto the table.

…

An hour later, a ringing bell woke Karma from his nap. Plagued by extreme stiffness—courtesy of his terrible sleeping posture—he ambled to the window. Peering into the street, the bell's source revealed itself as a wagon driver lugging a plethora of goods and produce.

Startling, Karma hastily checked the sun's position. Upon seeing the sizable gap before noon, the knot in his chest finally unraveled.

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It should be about time to depart. I didn't expect that divination to take so much out of me; thankfully, my luck intervened. I guess, even with the golden threads' enhancement, divination demands a high price.

Keen on setting out, Karma nabbed the fruits of his labor and made his way back to the teashop.

**

"Sister Tang, you don't truly believe he was being genuine? What distant relative? That's clearly a fabrication!"

"Even if that's the case, what do I stand to lose? Furthermore, that Junior Brother is no fool, what would he stand to gain from provoking us?"

"I still don't understand where your confidence comes from. The brat has zero notable qualities. Who's to say he'll even show up?"

Turning towards Lione, her eyes sparkled as she repeated, "Oh? No notable qualities you say?"

In the midst of responding, the words caught in his throat, instead leveling Sister Tang a quizzical stare.

Squinting, she glanced at Karma's approaching figure, replying offhandedly, "Remind me, what was his name again?"

**

Arriving at the teashop, Karma clasped his hands in greeting. Senior Sister Tang nodded gently in response, whereas Senior Brother Lione—

Why is he looking at me like that? Did he incur the wrath of Senior Sister Tang, getting himself struck stupid?

Confusion flitted across his features before Senior Brother Lione finally seemed to come to, sporting his usual aloof expression.

Shrugging away Senior Brother Lione's odd behavior, Karma began, "I've accomplished the assignment as requested. Should I complete the handover here?"

"Mm, here is fine," replied Senior Sister Tang.

Accepting a folded parchment, she and Senior Brother Lione began to inspect its contents. Karma, unsure if he should leave, waited for them to finish.

After several seconds, Senior Brother Lione's gasp cut through the relative quiet, coinciding with Senior Sister Tang's raised eyebrows. Two intense glares simultaneously locked onto Karma, startling him in the process.

Frightened, Karma retreated unsteadily, trying to escape as formless spiritual energy painfully weighed down on him.

Karma's plight brought a sudden shock to Senior Sister Tang. Smacking the side of Senior Brother Lione's head, she dropped them into a deep bow.

"We have committed a great sin! Please accept our deepest apologies, your troubles will be compensated post-haste!"

Saying so, she immediately dug into her spatial pouch, tossing Karma a bottle of cyan pills. Fearing that wasn't enough, she also rifled through Senior Brother Lione's bag, adding a vial of green liquid.

Pocketing the unexpected 'reimbursement,' Karma waved his arms dramatically in consolation.

"No worries, no worries. Everyone makes mistakes, let's all forgive and forget."

Punctuating the statement with a reassuring smile, he finally convinced Senior Sister Tang.

"Thank you for understanding. We were taken aback by … Well, your distant relative is extremely impressive, why don't we leave it at that. If you require anything more, please don't hesitate."

Despite her words, she still appeared a bit worried. Pondering momentarily, Karma ventured, "If it's not too much to ask, could you help me gain admission to the upcoming auction?"

"Consider it done," came a voice sharp enough to cut nails, not from Senior Sister Tang but from a newcomer wearing maroon robes. Beneath the trio's notice, a stern, middle-aged woman had unknowingly appeared.

Jumping in surprise, Karma hurriedly bowed with clasped hands, noting the attendee list had mysteriously vanished.

"Junior offers greetings to Senior!"

Lifted by an invisible force, a smiling visage inconsistent with the harsh tone from before greeted Karma.

"No need for pleasantries. The blame is mine to bear, seeing that my clan's younglings are acting on my behalf. Please let your distinguished relative know the Perennial O' clan has not forgotten our end of the deal."

Flicking her sleeve, a golden leaflet marked "Ornamental" shot into his grasp. Giving one last nod, the three Perennial O' clansmen seemed to fade away, leaving Karma to his lonesome.

Angling his head sideways, he voiced the thought he'd long been holding:

"What?"

**

"Aunt—"

Smack.

The maroon-robed woman from before stood facing two youths in a dimly lit chamber. No trace of her earlier courtesy remained visible, only an unsettling calm masking unbridled rage.

Fighting to keep her spiritual energy in check, the woman ground out through clenched teeth, "Explain yourselves."

"On the list—"

Smack.

"Silence. No one asked you anything," whipping her head towards Sister Tang, she commanded, "Tang'er!"

Miss Tang appeared dazed, her expression blank, until she abruptly shivered; face paling in horror, she dropped into a kowtow, refusing to make a sound.

Faced with the confused Lione and repentant Tang, the maroon woman sighed. Shutting her eyes, she quietly instructed, "Tang'er, educate the buffoon."

Maintaining her original position, Miss Tang spoke delicately, "How long did it take for Junior Brother to bring back that list?"

Baffled, he stuttered, "A—a little under two hours."

"Was aunty's name on the list?"

"Yes …"

Voice fading to a whisper, she continued, "If Junior Brother wanted to compile a few more lists, each with only one name, how long would that take?"

A furious shout charged with spiritual energy responded for him, "Not very fucking long, would it!?"

Blanching, blood oozed from his orifices. Banging his head on the floor, Brother Lione sprawled his limbs as he landed to Sister Tang's side. None took the initiative to speak; the chamber consigned to a realm of stillness.