Date published:

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[" I'm gonna stop you right there... don't you fuckin approach me." ]

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The figure of Zhi Ruo covered from head to toe with a Cloak, left Liu Qi Sen's room without making a single noise. The servants stationed outside the room yawed unaware what disaster would befall them after Zhi Ruo's actions.

Zhi Ruo's heels didn't even make a sound as she padded along the neatly trimmed grass on the courtyard. She easily bypassed guards that were doing their rounds and was able to stealthily slip outside the Liu Fu. Although her actions were sluggish due to the fact that she had used up most of her reserves. She was successful in getting out.

Once outside of the Liu estate, she followed a carriage with markings of the Liu Fu's kitchen. The late owner of this body was scared, very scared. So scared to even go outside the Liu Fu. And thus didn't even know what the outside world look like. Zhi Ruo could only follow the carriage and head out to the town herself.

When the bustling capital greeted her, did she finally see what the charm of an ancient bustling capital looked like. Though she didn't see any high skyscrapers or window glasses and cars. But the charming ancient streets matched up to the charm of modern society.

She looked around, people didn't look at her weirdly. Because Zhi Ruo certainly wasn't the only one with a suspicious outfit. Many could find someone similar to Zhi Ruo hiding their own identify. That was why Zhi Ruo moved unhindered. She looked around and asked a few people for directions to the nearest decent pawn shop. They treated Zhi Ruo as a fellow traveler and happily pointed the way.

She made her way to the nice building and was greeted by a young man. Zhi Ruo could tell that that the man didn't study any cultivation and followed him. She took a look around curious as to how they would do business.

If she was certain about how the currency works then it was like this.

1,000 copper coins = 1 small silver coin

1,000 small Silver coins = 1 Silver coin

1,000 Silver coins = 1 small Gold coin

1,000 small Gold coins = 1 Gold coin

1,000 Gold coins = 1 small crecent coin

1,000 small Crecent coins= 1 Crecent coin

These coins could also be Copper paper, Small silver paper, Silver paper, small Gold paper and so on and so forth

A small family could live comfortably for a whole year with just with 500 copper papers. And so a gold coin would let them live comfortably for a lifetime.

But among cultivators, it wasn't money currency that they trade. They trade life span. Which can be traded for many valuable things. 

So with that in mind she confidently sat on a beautifully carved wooden chair. She waited for the trader to arrive.

"Sir, please wait for the trader to arrive. If the sir could understand, then this one shall take his leave." The guy that guided Zhi Ruo, didn't dare disrespect the person who had hidden their face. He even mistook Zhi Ruo as a male and called him sir. She didn't try and correct the small mistake and let it be.

Her eyes shifted the moment a middle age man came into the corners of her vision. With him he brought a cup of tea for Zhi Ruo presumably. He smiled and he approached the table that Zhi Ruo was seated.

" This one greets dear costumer." He humbly cupped his fist and directly sat down after Zhi Ruo nodded her head. He went straight into the point and asked what Zhi Ruo wanted to trade.

Zhi Ruo calmly put down the necklace with blue gems embedded on it, the ring that had a yellow gem And the delicately carved golden ring. Seeing the things that Zhi Ruo put on the table, the business smile that the middle aged man had deepened.

"May I inspect the product?" The man had asked, and after getting permission from Zhi Ruo did he touch the pieces of jewelry delicately. After confirming that it was indeed real, did it out it down gently. He didn't waste time and directly told Zhi Ruo how much they would offer for the three pieces of jewelry.

"The establishment could offer 150 small Gold papers for each of the pieces of jewelry. Would you like to make the deal?" The man said to Zhi Ruo.

Zhi Ruo merely nodded. From the start to finish Zhi Ruo didn't utter a single word, and when the man left to get the small gold papers. Zhi Ruo was again left alone.

As the man left he couldn't help but feel himself being mesmerized by how mysterious the costumer he had received. And how every action the guest portrays reveals a deep noble upbringing. The elegant actions of Zhi Ruo was imprinted on his mind, but despite that he can't help but shiver in fear. So he never dared to disrespect Zhi Ruo.

He brought the jewelry to the store's storage room and left to get the money. While Zhi Ruo waited on the receiving table and sipping the tea that he had brought in. The man hastily got the 450 small Gold papers, and met up with the mysterious customer.

Zhi Ruo silently took the money and left, the dumbfounded man on her trail. She didn't even bother to hide her elegant actions. She felt that it was not needed when she wears the cloak and the mask. She looked around for the directions of the gambling stone house of the general and finally found it near the red district.

Her brows raised up seeing many countless people go in and out. May it be people with dirt clothing or people with embroided shoes. The establishment was notably at it's peak. 

Zhi Ruo first went into and alley. She bit her fingers letting blood run out from it, the system notified her that her HP was dropped by one point. Zhi Ruo didn't care, she flipped her shirt and started to write something on it. 

"A god gave me a gift." She chanted. "A gift that this mortal would use." The blood on her shirt that she drew started to glow, but under the lamps of the empty alley. No eye witness saw the phenomenal. "Jade eyes." She ended the chant, and let a drop of glowing blood drip on her forehead.

[MP: 43/50 ]...

[MP: 20/50 ]...

[MP: 15/50 ]....

[HP: 45/50 ]....

A phantom eye that was looked like it was carved from the hands of a god, blinked on Zhi Ruo's forehead as she ignored how her recovering reserves once again dropped down.

Zhi Ruo had used a technique that was made for someone not in her cultivation level. Thankfully the level of the system could support a burden when Zhi Ruo had decided to use the ability. Her shirt stained with blood became a talisman for her jade eyes ability to be awakened. Zhi Ruo's sights improved and now she felt like she could see through everything. Like she chanted, she was using the gods gift.

Though Zhi Ruo cursed at how weak the ability was at the moment she didn't rip the t-shirt she made as talisman.

She weakly stood up and her body was once again covered by her robe. She made her way into the establishment. She felt many gazes at her, but those shifted away the moment another stone was being opened. People bidding, crying and laughing could be heard inside the establishment.

And it didn't take long before Zhi Ruo was fully mixed in in the crowd of people. Her steps wasn't slow or fast, she was taking her time looking at the stones that were being opened. Most of the stones of the store in Zhi Ruo's jade eyes, some were empty while some did have some precious stones.

The stones were either cultivation stones, gemstones, or jades if one can hit a jackpot they could get one of these. But most of the stones were empty, that is why it's called gambling. One had to bet large amounts of money, and if the stone have something precious in it you can earn a fortune. But if the stone that you betted a large amount of money turns out to be just a regular stone then it's a lost.

Many people was left crying on side of the establishment, crying away their large loses. While some were busy laughing at the money that they have earned from a random stone.

Zhi Ruo made her way into a neatly piled stones that was on a table. Some were big while some were small. Other people would stare daggers at the stones hoping that they could get a clue as to what is inside. But Zhi Ruo would only gance at it and knew what was inside. This was because of the jade eyes that her t-shirt talisman had activated.

Zhi Ruo picked up a stone that was on the corner of a table, not really attracting much attention. It wasn't large, but it was enough to cover one's face. 

"How much is this?" She called over an employee and asked for the price. She had deepened her voice, one could not te if she was a young teen or a girl. The employee seeing the mysterious customer asking for his service he scurried over instantly.

"It is only 50 small gold papers, since it is on the level 9." The employee said as he pointed at the sign above that was hanging. It had a large 9 character written on it. Seeing that Zhi Ruo didn't respond, the employee realized that she was new to the establishment. He quickly explained.

"Ah the customer must be new then I take it?" The employee said, while Zhi Ruo merely nodded. "Well the stones have levels according to the sizes. 10 is the smallest and 1 is the biggest. That stone that the customer is holding is on level 9 so it is only 50 small gold papers." He flashed a smile at Zhi Ruo. "Would the customer like to buy it?"

Zhi Ruo nodded and the employee took it from there. "I see then let me lead the way for the customer to open it. I should explain. The customer will pay for the stone before it is opened, the moment the customer's stone is opened and their is something inside. The customer can choose for people to bid on it or take it home." The employee led Zhi Ruo to a empty slot used for the stone opening.

"Ok" Zhi Ruo said a simple reply, yet the voice that the employee only heard twice sent shivers through the employees spine. He was now really curious as to what is under that robe. Zhi Ruo handed the payment for the stone and waited for the man that wid cut the stone open. His probing gaze was ignored by Zhi Ruo coldly.

Zhi Ruo's figure was instantly attracted by the eyes of many, and they were all probing gazes. The gazes soon realized that Zhi Ruo was opening a stone and they shamelessly started to flock around the stone opening area. Curious about what is inside the stone and probing on who is under the hood.

Zhi Ruo didn't mind, the more people looking the better the bid would be. 

One person caught Zhi Ruo's figure in his mind. He neared Zhi Ruo. He was very eye catching, and many young ladies inside the establishment easily followed wherever he went. 

His looks was charming, he looked exotic and just from his blue eyes and blond hair. Just one look and the ladies on the establishment was hit with a heart pounding experience. Every step he take, excluded a cool feeling and thus very eye catching.

 His clothes wasn't the same as the people around him. He wore something that was closer to a robe that revealed a little of his chest that was exceedingly white. And with his flowing blonde hair and cool blue eyes it anyone who saw him knew that he was a foreigner.

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-Scarlett