Two massive black suited men with sunglasses block the red door. The security guards were at first hesitant when a five year old approached them with the intent to participate in the underground auction. Clearly a brat who's still drinking his mother's milk has no place here. Even if he were serious, someone like that is easy pickings for thieves and robbers. There's just no sense in letting him participate. They've keep saying no but this bulky kid refuses to leave. Persistence like this usually means his reasons for being here must be genuine, however.

"Come back with an adult," the guard said.

I am an adult, Ash thinks as he growls in his mind. He's been arguing with these blokes for over twenty minutes. He's heard plenty of rumors on the way back here, this is an auction house where people normally die. Where drugs, poisons, organs, and other illegal products are traded freely. There are probably over a million laws which this establishment breaks yearly while running this black market, yet apparently they draw the line at letting a child participate? There has to be a way to convince these people I'm an adult. Ash puts on a smile again as he commits to a lie.

"Uncles, I was cursed by a powerful expert and am now stuck in this childish form, please do not pour salt on the wound of my failures," Ash said, pulsing qi through his fists. The guards look on in shock. Clearly there is more to this child than meets the eye. A five year old utilizing their qi with such proficiency, as though it were an extension of their will, it's unheard of. This boy is no mere milk drinker. Still, there are many powerful experts within their halls who have powerful allies amongst them. A lone weakened cultivator like this would still be easy pickings for some of the larger families here. However, if he truly is an adult, then it's his prerogative when it comes to making decisions about his livelihood. The guards need only do their due diligence and ensure they're not letting a lone child through the gate.

"That's a pretty convincing display, but I'm still not convinced." one guard said.

"Tell us something a child wouldn't know?" The other said.

"There is no Santa Clause, Tooth Fairy, Leprechaun, bigfoot, or the Easter bunny. When two adults want to make a kid they take the penis and-," Ash said before a guard puts his hand up.

"Okay, okay, we get it. Whether you're lying or not doesn't even matter anymore. Between that and the qi control, you might as well be an adult. Now before we let you in..." the guard said.

"I know, my life is at risk, people will target me because I'm small, and that I should be extremely cautious about what I buy, especially when it comes to medicines and poisons."

"tsk," the guard said. At least he can take solace in the fact that this kid is fully aware of what it is he's involving himself with. The two guards open up the front gate, and Ash enters into the unofficially official sec city underground auction. He descends the stairs, the air is damp and thick with the musk of soil. His footsteps echo off the stone walls and down towards the light at the end of the tunnel, where the clinks of glass and whispers of people grow louder. A red velvety cover hides what's beyond the door, to the left are some face masks. A nearby sign encourages bringing your own, but no one told that to Ash. He grabs a mask and slinks past the velvety door.

"No wonder the stairs were so long," Ash said as he enters a grand chamber carved out the Earth. The ceiling soars high above, supported by rough-hewn pillars of white marble. Everything was white in this chamber, except the red and gold carpets stretching down to an important looking hall, most likely where the auction begins. In this main chamber though, men and women mingle under the brilliant dazzles of massive chandeliers, consisting of shining crystals. Servers carry drinks and foods. Tequila shots, martinis, whisky, vodka, rum, and many more Ash can't recognize. Massive breaded shrimp, normal shrimp, varying cheese and crackers, along with an assortment of fruits and meats. If Ash didn't whip himself up a feast a little earlier, he'd go and feast right now.

Unlike the city above, the smells here are exotic and rich, mixed with the sharp sting of alcohol. The rich smells of varying fruits mingle with flowers in these halls, a wholly different experience. Ash was expecting ragtag criminal gangs, and goons. Instead it's a motley crew of socialites, nobles and eccentrics. They all hide their faces behind masks, but certainly have their own friends and associates amongst the strangers in the crowd. Ash is grateful for this anonymity, people are less likely to attack him if they have no idea who he is, who he knows, or what he's capable of. As long as he doesn't go around making enemies, he should be able to get out of this auction with some money without getting into any trouble.

Amongst all the powerful perfumes in this hall, none smell like his Kireina Kami potion and it's weaker Kireina Kami lite version. The people in town loved the smell of coconut, likely the people here will too. Considering there are no smells like it here, there will certainly be a market appeal to the rich and powerful without being an attention grabbing show stealer. It is for this exact reason Ash decided to debut in the auction with this glorious and mysterious shampoo. He's just gonna get his money and leave, nothing more, nothing less.

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Ash walks across the hall, avoiding all socialites, nobles, and eccentrics looking his way. One man in particular twirls his blue and red mustache which stretches all the way down to his knees, refusing to take his eyes off Ash. It was kind of creepy. Haven't any of them seen a little boy before? Ash pays no mind as he follows the red carpet to a long cozy chamber full of dazzling artifacts, artworks, potions, jewels, organs, bones, meats, and other strange curiosities. A blue haired woman greets him on his entering, raising her brows in confusion as Ash raises his in shock. Her tight dark blue dress left very little of her voluptuous figure to his imagination.

"Where's your mommy, little boy?" she said sweetly. Ash can't resist.

"I think I found her," Ash said with hearts in his eyes. He jumps for a hug but she slaps him away, before nearly collapsing from shock. She looks around eyes wide with panic, no one's watching.

Oh my god what have I done... I just slapped someone's child. Their parents are going to kill me if they find out! Why did I even do it? It's just a kid. But that look in his eyes... it felt so wrong.

"I'm so sorry," she said with a deep hug, pressing Ash's head into her bosom, nearly picking him up. Ash keeps his head down, he can't even think given the situation but he knows one thing for sure, if she sees the face I'm making right now, she's going to slap me again.

"So so so so so sorry," she said as though talking to a baby.

This is way better than that time when his mom came home drunk and threw a lamb leg at him while screaming "dinner." Nearly fractured his skull. "I'm so so so so so sorry," Janne said in the exact same way, with the exact same hug. The one from this blue haired woman feels much better though.

"That smell..." the blue hair lady said, moving away, Ash almost pushes back in for a hug.

Oh right... I have business here.

Ash grabs a bottle from his bag and let's the blue haired lady get a whiff. Her blue eyes light up as she grabs it from his hand, but Ash doesn't let go, reinforcing his grip with qi as she lifts him off the ground with the bottle.

What is with this strength? They both think. The blue haired lady had no intention of stealing the shampoo, but she wasn't expecting a kid to hang onto it with such dedication. More importantly, this smell.

"Little boy, just who are you?" She said, releasing her grip on the shampoo. Funny she asks, Ash was wondering the same thing about her. Her Qi fluctuations are much more intense than Baro or many of the other teacher's at the academy, it almost reminds him of Janne. He closes the bottle, then places them in his bag.

"Just selling potions for a very important man. He told me it's for the auctioneer only, I hope you understand." Ash said. Sweat trickles down the woman's head as she quickly scans her peripherals. No one is watching them. This boy must have been sent here as a test. She's been a Qi expert for over a year now, detecting this child's master should be no challenge at all, yet there is clearly no one watching over them. This boy, the way he's looking so intently into her eyes, he must have already realized she can't sense this important man. Whoever this important man is, he must be a Qi Dragon at least in order to escape her sensory abilities. She sucks the beads of sweat into and under her skin, can't afford to ruin her image any more in front of distinguished individuals. It's time for her daily disciplines to shine. With the right touch of qi, anything is possible. She gives a lovely, practiced, smile.

"I am the auctioneer silly," the blue haired woman said in a silky soft tone, handing him her business card. "They call me Ling Xiaojie, the Bid-Slaying butterfly," she said before pinching Ash by the cheek.

"But you can call me Big Sister."

A white suit and gold tipped cane walks by, his long blue and red mustache flowing past his knees, eyeing closely as Ash gives Ling Xiaojie a hug.

"Well big sister Xiaojie," Ash whispers in her ear, eyes locked on the man who just passed "How about we go somewhere more private?"

Big sister Xiaojie follows Ash's deep grey eyes. His hands are firm on the bag. She nods. There is business to conduct, and privacy to respect.

"Of course, follow me," she said.

Her breath is like a sweet ocean breeze. Ash smiles deviously as she takes the lead.

A sweet ocean breeze and a massive peach tree.

Ash lost the plot. Is it his lack of social skills, or is it his brain's sudden fixation on peach. Why did he ask for privacy again?

Xiaojie slows and matches pace with Ash, giving him a moment of lucidity.

I need to conserve my privacy in case I sell big, so I won't get a massive target on my back. For now I'm testing the market with the basic mixture before auctioning the divine sect's Kireina Kami potions. Gotta get money, poisons, and prepare the poison demon ritual for awakening toxi-grip and poison clear vision. That's just small scheme of things, I have so many more plans planned. How did I forget it all?

"Hey I'm talking to you!" Xiaojie said, pinching Ash's cheek. Giving him a sweet smile, as though she just received a compliment.

Oh I spaced out again.

"As I was saying, the door is right here," Xiaojie said, entering into a velvety red door. It was as though Xiaojie got a color swap. The red lights around the cramped booth made all her blue turn purple. She takes a seat on a soft leathery red couch by a coffee table.

"So, what do you think?" Ash said as he hands her a bottle. She smiles with just a smell and pats on the only other seat in the room, the seat next to her. A pleasant invitation to a most comfortable spot indeed, but it doesn't look anywhere as comfortable as the lap next to it.

Ah fuck it, you're only a kid once.

With a wide smile, Ash rests his head on her lap.

"It's good, no?" he said with a smile.