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Chapter 85
🕑 Added 2023-03-14 00:43:30 +0000 UTCWhether it was Earth or this new superpowered world it remained a fact that when you needed to sell your valuables for quick cash someone would undercut the price on you.
“Oh no. You are not telling me a Mortal-rank artifact necklace is only worth 1000 Gold taels.”
“We also have to make a profit here sir.” The owner of the pawnshop Xie Jin led him to was very skilled. Being able to say so much bullshit with a straight face was impressive.
“That’s what marking things up is for isn’t it? I’m asking you to give me retail price, how much you want to charge isn’t my problem.”
“At the end of the day it’s only a Mortal-rank necklace, people will only pay so much for them.”
Chen Haoran placed his hands on the counter and leaned in. The shop owner didn’t move but he could feel a slight spike in his qi. Seventh-Layer. Respectable. Chen Haoran waved his hand over the ruby necklace. “How many pieces of artifact jewelry have you seen before?”
“I’ve seen them before.”
“Really? I can’t suppose it was too many. Jewelry is already a vanity item, artifact jewelry even more so. You’ll already be selling these for a premium.” He held up four fingers. “This isn’t the only piece I have either. If you think 1000 is the price you need to pay to make a profit that’s fine. I’ll just take these and go find someone who can sell them better.”
The shopkeeper didn’t say anything and Chen Haoran swept the necklace of the table and began walking to the door without another word, making sure the ruby caught every light on his way out.
“Show me the other pieces. If they’re the same level as the necklace I’ll give you 1200 for each.”
Chen Haoran smiled. “Make that 15 and you can have them all.”
——————
“You’re better at that than I thought,” Xie Jin said as they walked out the store 7.5 thousand taels richer.
“What? Haggling?”
Xie Jin shrugged. “You struck me more as someone who has money than someone who makes it.”
“It’s all about who can bullshit better.” Chen Haoran thumbed the golden banknotes he’d received, paper redeemable at any Imperial-approved moneylender or bank. It was apparently the norm to use them in transactions that moved large amounts of money so as to not be stuck trying to carry thousands of taels, even storage bags had their limits after all. It was a problem Chen Haoran never had to deal with considering he carried all his money in the reward space or else had other people deal with it for him. “And I’m pretty good at bullshitting if I do say so myself.”
He didn’t even know how rare artifact jewelry was. He threw that line out on a limb given how little he’d seen of it in Clearsprings City and got lucky, though it was more likely the amount that convinced the merchant in the end.
Xie Jin yawned and looked at the descending sun. “Now that you’re the rich friend again you can pay for the inn.”
“What do you mean? We’re not turning in yet. There’s money to be made.”
“But you’ve already sold all the jewelry.”
“No, I only sold five pieces.”
Xie Jin slowly blinked while processing the statement. “What?”
——————
“How big is that storage bag?” Xie Jin demanded as they walked out the fourth store.
All togther Chen Haoran had made near 30 thousand taels. He would have gone to more places but night had truly settled over Daqing now. In the daylight the city history of the city was a delight to the eyes and mind. At night, illuminated only by the stars and moon, the ancient constructions had a quiet austerity to them that hung heavy over their heads.
“We should find a place to stay now,” Chen Haoran said in lieu of answering him.
Xie Jin sighed, accepting he wouldn’t be getting an answer and pointed down the road. “I know a decent inn down that way.”
“Hell no.”
“What’s the issue now?”
“Every single time I’ve been to an inn I’ve gotten into a fight. I actually want to sleep tonight.”
“You can’t just make decisions based on coincidences like that!” Xie Jin threw his arms in the air, exasperated.
“Yes I can. There has to be somewhere else we can sleep.”
Xie Jin palmed his face with a long sigh and drummed his fingers across his forehead in thought. “I know some people. We can see if they have a spare room. We have to be quick if we want to avoid the curfew.”
“Lead the way.”
Daqing as a city was one that spread out organically, its roads, especially in the outer districts were winding, curving snakes of smooth cobblestone that tangled with the various canals to create a web of broken up housing districts in every shape but square. Suffice to say it made for confusing walking, particularly at night, they were the kind of streets only a local could understand. Unfortunately for as much as he seemed to know the city Xie Jin was no local and they got turned around more than once, though Xie Jin swore they were going the right way the whole time. Phelps was more than happy with getting lost, having lost himself in staring at the night sky.
Eventually they came to a row of houses that sat just in front of a canal. The air was filled with the soft burbling of water and a chorus of chirping crickets. Xie Jin squinted as he tried to figure out which of the squat, square houses was the one they needed before settling on one in the middle and knocking.
And knocking.
And knocking.
Xie Jin frowned. “What the fu-”
The door opened and a light spilled forth. Chen Haoran closed his eyes and clicked his tongue in irritation. He heard Xie Jin and Phelps hiss in pain.
“Xie Jin? Is that you?”
When he opened his eyes there was a woman standing in the entrance of the doorway holding a lamp. A shiny black bone hairpin held her hair bun in place.
“Yes it’s me,” Xie Jin said, rubbing his eyes. “Where’s Brother Ang?”
The woman’s eyes darted to Chen Haoran and back to Xie Jin. “He’s out. He won’t be back for a few days.”
“Ah damn. I wanted to introduce Brother Chen to him.” He looked at the woman with a pleading expression. “You mind sparing a bed for us tonight?”
The woman hesitated, her eyes locked onto Xie Jin. “…If your fine with one more guest.”
Xie Jin brightened. “Thank you Sister Jia.”
Sister Jia stood out of the way and let them into the house. Casting a curious glance at Phelps. The inside of the house decorated to the brim. Colorful carpets stitched with fluid lines and dragonflies covered the floors save for the center where a cooking fire crackled. Along the walls ran lattice frames crawling with vines that bloomed with yellow, red, and turquoise flowers. Their sweet scent filled the room. Hanging from the ceiling were three delicately carved wooden cages holding singing crickets. A single doorway covered with hanging beads led further into the house.
Sister Jia pulled out some cushions and they sat on the floor in front of a low table. She pulled off a pot of boiling water from the cooking fire and poured cups for them, using a ladle to scoop out flower petals and orange peels and dropping them in the cups.
Chen Haoran accepted it with a bow. “Thank you.”
Xie Jin patted him on the back. “Sister Jia this is my good friend Chen Haoran. We met while I was up north.”
Sister Jia nodded her head. “There’s no need to be so formal. Any friend of Little Jin is a friend in this house.”
“Little Jin?”
Xie Jin clicked his tongue. “I was hoping that with Brother Ang out that wouldn’t have been brought up.” He took a sip of scalding water without flinching. “Where is he anyway?”
Chen Haoran tested the water with his tongue only to immediately pull it back. Out the corner of his eye he saw Xie Jin hiding a smirk. Ass. He cycled his qi and took a large swig.
“He’s had some business to take care of outside the city.” Sister Jia said. “He’ll be sorry he wasn’t here to greet you. You didn’t tell us you were going North though?”
Xie Jin grimaced. “Things happened and I ended up there.”
Oh? Did Xie Jin not tell anybody he went to take the Palace Exams?
There was a sudden knocking at the door. Chen Haoran instinctively cast his sense out. Ninth-Layer?
“Is that your other guest?” Xie Jin asked.
“Yes,” Sister Jia said, she did not look Xie Jin in the eyes and rushed over to open the door.
Chen Haoran placed his hand on his scimitar. From where he sat he saw a bare ankle with a black bone bangle wrapped around it. Xie Jin sat up with a curse and leapt back. Chen Haoran shot up at the same time. A centipede slid through the door between Sister Jia’s the leg faster than they could react. In an instant it unnaturally lengthened, one end looping around Xie Jin’s body and wrapping up his arm, the other coiled around Chen Haoran’s hand and hilt and left it pinned. He flexed his qi to pull back but the centipede extended again and wrapped around his neck. The tail end of the centipede twisted and turned into another head, it’s knife-like mandibles snapped near his jugular. Phelps screeched and flew towards the centipede but his claws bounced off its carapace and he quickly found himself wrapped up and hanging near Chen Haoran.
Everyone froze.
Their assailant stepped into the house, taking a moment to take off her shoes before walking onto the carpets. Chen Haoran’s eyes were once again drawn to the bangle around her ankle. He dragged his eyes up to another black bangle around her wrist. Up further still, past her silks and black bones, Chen Haoran found his breathe taken. Two black eyes filled with a predators mirth at seeing trapped prey stared at them.
“Bao Si,” Xie Jin bit out. His sleeve bulged and struggled, the Gu within trying to break out.
“Xie Jin, my love,” Bao Si said. “Have you come back to propose?”
