The sun had already risen half-way above the horizon by the time Yu stepped into her room through a void. The first thing she did was grab the bulging backpack, new sect robes, and her old gold storage ring. Then she stepped directly into her breakthrough room and took a shower and then a bath. As she planned to take the day to prepare and shop rather than heal, hunt, or go to class, she decided to allow herself a long hot soak after getting clean.

Laying her head against the edge of the cool bamboo tub, she closed her eyes to floating steam and her own relaxed groan. She wasn’t particularly sleepy as she had been training herself to function with progressively less and less rest, so rather than allow herself to drift off, she started thinking through her plans.

What do I need to prepare for? First, I’m going to assume my master wasn’t lying and he actually did provide an adequate backpack. So what do I need that he didn’t mention? According to what I’ve been through, been told, and personally researched, my priorities should be air, shelter, water, then food.

So air. Umm. Not sure what I can do about this one. Hmmm. Put it aside for now. Maybe I’ll just shop around and see if the question answers itself. Worst case, I’ll ask the vice leader for advice on who to speak to.

Onto shelter. Master said I’d have a tent. I don’t know the environment so I need to account for cold or hot climates. Now that I have my ring back, I can use that fire stone again, so no need for anything else like that. I wonder… are there equivalents for other affinities? I mean, I can create both water and fire with Qi, so I guess I’m being extra careful.

Water for example, which is next anyway. My fancy waterskin cleans, but doesn’t create water. Is there some way to do that other than to do it myself? It would be good because if I’m in a desert, pulling water from the air would be taxing and take forever. Hmmm. Maybe I can purchase a water stone like the fire stone or something? Treasure pavilion for that, definitely.

Speaking of water, I don’t suppose I can find room for any sort of soap? The last time I was stuck in the wilderness, I remember my own stench from not washing. Blech! Yeah, I definitely need to find room for that. I can get it from the standard market.

Let’s see. Food is last of the four. Thankfully, I think that’s handled, assuming those special food pills are as he claimed. Beyond that, I can hunt. Hopefully. Yeah… maybe I’ll see if I can buy more of them. One pill per day isn’t really cost or space-efficient, I imagine, but what happens if there are no beasts or edible herbs? That reminds me I need to read up on all the edible and toxic plants I can. Maybe the books will even have something on flavor.

That reminds me, I need to remember some spice mixes too. Nobody likes bland meat. So Alchemy Market for the ration pills and the normal general store for the spices.

Heavens, I hope I have room for all of this. Well, it’s just a list, and we’ll see how we do packing everything. Not that I really know how to pack a bag. Maybe there’s a book on that too. Ugh, not having a spatial pocket is such a pain.

Shaking her head, she put aside those thoughts.

Complaining doesn’t help. Focus!

Okay, that was shelter, water, and food, with me coming back to the air thing. Next, is beast hunting. I have all my armor and my hook swords. Yay!!! Also my soul knife and whip. That’s what I can actively wear. What about a head covering. Something to think about while shopping. I do have a new quiver, but that means I need arrows and… a bow!

Yu could feel her fingers twitch in anticipation. I can buy it now! It was pretty expensive though.

She pressed her will against the world and called, “Sign. Sect points.”

Sect Points: 339,147 (+4.5%)

Good thing I’ve been saving up for a while.

Alright, let’s see. Back when I first saw that bow, it was a little over a hundred thousand. So that’ll leave, let’s say two hundred twenty thousand. I can buy three or four of the cheaper grade 3 skills with that. I just have to stick with ones that don’t require compressed Qi. For whatever reason, there are barely any of those though.

What else? Oh right, I need to think of Bai since he’s joining me. Hmm. I’ve been holding off since he’s been growing so quickly, but now’s the time to finally buy a saddle for him. We’ve only been using the loaner from the beast trainers. That’s the regular market too because an enchanted one is out of my price range with all the other things I have to spent points on unless I want to use silver. Hmm. Worth thinking about.

Okay, let’s go through the list again thinking of Bai.

Air… is the same – need to come back to it. Shelter… hmm. Need to make sure my tent is big enough for him. Unless he wants to sleep outside, which he might. He’s not a fan of being cooped up. I’ll check the tent when I go through everything.

What’s left? Water, same as me. Food is easy since he eats my Qi. Cleaning him isn’t a big deal. What about a way to find him if we’re separated? I don’t think there’s much I can do there, but I’ll add that to list for the Treasure Pavilion. I think that’s it for him.

So, time to think of new things. What else is there? Ummm. C’mon, you know you’re missing things. Think! What’s in my schedule?

Yu mentally went through all her classes.

Right, healing and medical supplies! I definitely need to check what Master gave me for healing herbs and poultices, if anything. I’ll have to look for Qi skills that might replace a mortar and pestle since those are heavy and take up a lot of room. I bet I can create them with Earth Qi; or at least replicate the effect. Bandages and such are a must, but they’re light and barely take up any space.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Alright. Other classes?

Oh. That was dumb. Brush and ink for enchanting. No reason I can’t find a way to fit those.

Okay, what am I missing now? What did I wish I had back then?

After taking some to think, Yu couldn’t come up with anything she hadn’t already accounted for.

I guess I can ask Ran what he’s bringing. That should help fill in any gaps.

Enough delays. Time to get out, swap over all my stuff from my replacement ring, see what my crazy master left for me in the pack, and then go shopping based on that.

Yu got up out of the bath, dressed, and spent some time swapping things over from her replacement ring to her beloved silver one. That done, she dug into the backpack, made an inventory of needs, and left to go shopping.

***

Yu forgot how much she hated shopping. It was really Li’s area of expertise. She loves shopping.

As far as Yu was concerned, stores were busy and crowded, full a strangers who wanted to talk to her. The only positive aspect of shopping was that she was forced to practice her senses control. The smells and sounds were the worst, but she was a lot better at it than even just a few years ago. Of course, the biggest downside was that she was in public, which meant a bunch of disciples had to stop and talk to her, or about her. “Fairy Yu” was a repeated favorite along with, “Too bad she’s been claimed.”

Ugh, just leave me alone, people! Can’t you see I’m grumpy? Honestly!

Complaints aside, Yu did manage to acquire what she had planned for from the city market. She paid silver for everything to this point, so now it was time to head to the Treasure Pavilion, Alchemy Market, and Skills Library, in that order.

The moment she entered the store with all the shiny things, she ran to the bow area. She never came into this store because she didn’t want to be tempted, nor did she enjoy teasing herself for no reason. Now, with her master’s permission to shop, both worries were wiped out. She scanned the area, looking up and down the hanging bow racks.

Wait, where is it? Don’t tell me someone bought it!

Yu frantically searched until eventually giving up and walking quickly to the helper. Unfortunately, there was a line. Of course there was.

Yu fidgeted as she waited, probably driving the people around her mad, but she didn’t care. In fact, it might have made them leave her be, which was a good thing. In either case, she studiously ignored everyone. That was probably why nobody tried to talk to her.

Finally reached the helper behind the counter and Yu practically jumped onto it she was so excited.

“How can I—”

“The lightning bow!” Yu said quickly, ignoring anything and everyone around her. “Did somebody buy it?”

Yu was bouncing on her toes, desperate for an answer, but fearing one as well.

The slightly flustered woman blinked at her. “T-the lightning bow?”

“Yeah. Blackwood tree struck by lightning. Has lightning marks on it. Creates arrows out of lightning. The lightning bow.”

The woman stared at her, mouth a hanging open. Yu waved her hand in front of the woman’s face. “Hello?”

The lady blinked a few times and seemed to try to compose herself. “Oh. Uhh. Let me check inventory.”

She then pulled a jade tablet out from under the counter and started tapping and swiping on it. “Ah, yes. I found it!”

Yu’s heart soared. Finally!

“It was purchased last year.”

Yu slumped onto the counter, feeling like all hope for a good life was lost.

Damnit! Stupid insane master and his stupid insane rules! No purchasing enchanted items, he said. It’ll become a crutch, he said.

“I can check if we have anything similar if you like?” the woman said kindly.

A flicker of hope was kindled again for Yu and she nodded.

“Let’s see…” the woman went back to poking at the tablet, muttering to herself the entire time. “Hmmm. Bows only?”

Yu nodded. “I do have other things I’m looking for too. I actually have a list.” She took out a piece of parchment with her notes for each store from her ring. “But I really need a new bow and I was hoping for something as strongly enchanted as I can get for my stage.”

“I’m sure we can come up with something that’ll work for you. What’s your price range? And do you have any cultivation constraints? Meridian counts? Liquified Qi? Aura or Mana? Mana is the norm for ranged weapons of course. Oh, and is it Lightning only, or are you open to another affinity?”

“I’d say in the one hundred to one hundred twenty thousand point range. No constraints on meridians or Qi type, I suppose,” Yu said with a head shake. “I think I’d have to learn the capabilities to answer. On the liquid Qi or not…”

She thought about that for a bit. It would be stronger in the long run to require compressed Qi. But it will be a while and then she’d be carrying a bow she couldn’t use thanks to not having spatial storage.

What’s the point of having a bow I can’t use for a year?

“No liquified Qi, please. Just doesn’t make sense for me.”

“Understood. And affinities? Something other than Lightning?”

“Umm. I guess I’m not attached to Lightning Qi. Fire works too. Technically so would Wood, Water, Earth and Darkness, but I’m not sure any of those really fit a bow.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure,” she said off-handedly while searching the inventory on the tablet. “Wood Qi fits with bows quite naturally. Earth not so much because it tends to be heavy. Water also struggles due to its lack of general cohesion before compression. Darkness is a bit iffy. They’re made, but not for damage so much as stealth, again, at least until used with liquid Qi.”

Yu nodded, confirming that that made sense.

Then the woman froze. She lifted her head slowly and stared at Yu, her eyes blinking as she seemed to make some kind of connection. “Wait… Fire, Wood, Wa—” Then her eyes opened hugely wide. “Oh! Fenghuang Yu! I-I apologize. I was a bit frazzled and didn’t realize it was you.” Then she bowed deeply to Yu, clearly terrified.

“Please don’t do that,” Yu said with a wince. “I’m just another customer today.”

The treatment Yu had been receiving changed quite a bit over the last years – at least by any not her enemy. The surprise and interest in her unique gifts had morphed into awe and reverence. Being and surviving as the enigmatic and mad sect master’s disciple, as well as her rapid rise in the ranks using exceptionally ruthless methods, only added to it.

That alone bothered her as she felt she hadn’t earned special recognition. But what really set the hair on the back of her neck standing on end was the fear. Her brutality had long become widely known – which was good in that it had been her intent. But while Yu rarely regretted that decision anymore, these were the times when small twinges of doubt snuck through her resolve.

This poor mortal, who had absolutely nothing to fear from her, was shivering in terror.

Looking up at her nervously, the woman stuttered. “Uhh. I-I…” She shakily reached under the counter and Yu heard a little bell ring. “I-if you d-don’t mind w-waiting. P-please—”

A man dressed in a very proper and profession black and gold Hanfu came out from the back, looked around, and saw the now relieved-looking woman bowing to Yu.

Heavens. Yu rubbed her face.

“I’ll take this esteemed customer, Miss Mingdo. You go help the rest of the people in line.”

The woman hurriedly straightened and hurriedly called everyone behind Yu over to a different counter. Yu ignored their comments, both accepting and envious, and focused on the new Pavilion employee.

He stepped up, made an obvious glance at her badge, bowed, and spoke. “I am Manager Wong. Honored Fenghuang Yu, miracle wielder of all Qi types and six affinities, sect master’s direct disciple, seventh ranked in the outer sect. We at the Treasure Pavilion are grateful to have the opportunity to serve someone such as you. How can we help today? Something to prepare for your journey into the spirit realm I presume?”

Yu exhaled slowly and forced a smile. “Why yes, I am indeed here to purchase a few things for the spirit realm.” And she pushed her list forward. “I have a list. But first, I’m looking for a bow.”