After having the conversation with Mr. Ming, Taf was in deep contemplation.
"It seems the road of a cultivator is not an easy one, after all. If only a few people are selected each year, does that mean my odds are not that high? Are they?" He questioned himself.
"Well, with anything you want, how can you give up due to a mere setback? Even if I am not seen as worthy, when the cultivators descend, there must be another way to gain strength. Who says that a mortal can't become just as strong as those so-called cultivators?"
As he pondered on, he made his way to the bargain sales happening. He noticed that the streets were crowded with both merchants and customers alike. These events occurred frequently in the city, so he was not new to this scene.
As he walked, he made sure to watch his surroundings. After all, he knew he was a walking target.
With this being such a well-attended event, there must be members of the different gangs around, and those were the people he did not want to see the most.
"Come to my store, everyone, where you will find the finest and rarest pearls, emeralds, gem that your eyes have never seen.
Behold the Bonita Diamond necklace, an item so rare that only few had even seen its existence," Shouted a jeweler to the crowd.
"Pretty lady, do you want to look like royalty and have all the young fellows marvel at your beauty?
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Come in and get a makeover. Then, visit our clothing store next door, where we will show you the finest clothes within 1000 miles. Come, do not be shy." A female owner of a boutique tried to enchant a patron.
All over the streets, there were store owners trying to get the attention of the streams of potential customers, who walked past the stores with wondering eyes and ears.
Then, his attention was suddenly peaked when he heard a commotion at a health, strength, and body store.
"Are you serious? This will help me to recover from my bad back in a matter of nights?" Asked an anxious middle-aged.
"Yes, indeed it will. However, not in a matter of nights but minute.
Buy our Patented Back Pain Begone and see the results in a matter of minutes. Do you not believe? Come buy a bottle and allow the crowd to see its wondrous effects."
A man of slender built persuaded as he eyed the intrigued crowd.
The middle aged man walked over and took the bottle. Then paying three silver coins, he looked at the man selling the elixir and stated, "So if this has no effect, I get my money back. Right?"
"Of course, you will get your money back if you're not satisfied with the results."
The crowd looked on expectantly as the man drank the small bottle of liquid. He waited for 2-3 minutes without any movements, which kept the crowd in suspense.
An impatient observer shouted out, "Does the damn thing work or not? Stop being dramatic and tell us!"
The middle age man started to walk around in an upright manner while a smile started to gather on his face.
"Oh! Oh! I'm healed. My God, there is no pain anymore. I feel rejuvenated, and my back feels like I'm back in my youth. It does indeed work; It's a miracle. I've been to doctor after doctor, and they have said nothing could be done.
Thank you! Thank you! You're a saint of a man." The man went down on his knees, kissing the boot of the seller of the elixir.
The seller looked on man and the crowd with his sincerest of smiles and responded, "I am just a humble man, selling a product to the benefit of my fellow citizens at a price which offers the meager of profits.
Does anyone want one?"
"I do! I want two!" Shouted an eager watcher.
"I also want three. This would help me in my after-hours activities," Another man added.
Having seeing that he had gathered the attention of the crowd, the middle again seller put on a pitiful look as he responded,
"I am both ashamed and awed at everyone's willingness to buy, but unfortunately, the quantity of the product seems to be limited. Therefore, my apologies as we seem to have an issue with the supply and demand."