“Oh this is so exciting! Gating between worlds like characters in one of grandmother’s tales!” Exclaimed Zhu Bi, giving her indulgently grinning beau’s hand a heartfelt squeeze, button brown eyes beaming at her man. “We have to get as much building supplies as we can, my heart. We’ll build a house of our own we never have to worry about being forced to leave, so any week we triumph is a treasure to savor, with a warm safe home to come back to, not the tents where we recieve too many stares and not enough privacy.”

Yingpei nodded his agreement as the pair made their way to handful of cultivators preparing to pass through the gate. In addition to a handful of recent additions to the school that both had a farmer’s background and had yet to swear binding oaths as servants to the school, there was an eclectic assortment of alchemists, arcane blacksmiths, and talisman specialists in need of crucial supplies before they could take full advantage of the natural treasures and rich spiritual energy of Alex’s realm.

They had chosen to defer bringing the powerfully built Silver warriors that would have served as the equivalent of tanks on any modern battlefield. For all that their defensive capabilities would have gone up exponentially, Silver Giants were nothing if not intimidating, and none of them were expecting trouble at a trade town that not even the most paranoid of the Red Prince’s men would think their escaped cultivators would pop by one day out of the blue.

Far better to blend in and raise no brows so they could return in the future as necessity dictated. And of course, the Bronze tier craftsmen were more than a match for any Basic cultivating soldier, regardless of their lack of martial specialization. All in all, Alex thought they had a fair chance of blending in and making all necessary purchases, especially with his friends Zhu Bi and Yingpei, with their backgrounds in networking, trade, and negotiation, in play. If anything, they feared Alex might stick out as the only Blond Ruidian in an area where redheaded jewel masters, rare as they were, were the norm.

“Are you sure you guys are going to be okay?” Alex asked his friends, pretty much ignored by the excited-looking crafters and farmers whispering animatedly to one another as they stood patiently on the stone road leading to Alex’s manor, fragrant wildflowers rich in brilliant colors and spiritual energy waving in the wind to either side of the road, all of them waiting for a mystic door to open, none of them having any idea of who Alex was, just as he preferred.

Yingpei gave a satisfied nod. “With the incredible fortune you have given us, I should be able to purchase absolutely everything we might need, including the best quality livestock to be found anywhere, close as Erdushi is to an agrarian production hub. And at least middling crafting tools should be available, even out here, as there is more of a market for them than you might think among genuinely wild cultivators, as well as cultivators living in small communities to take advantage of higher than normal levels of spiritual energy who then trade their forged treasures for the benefit of their community, and even some Ruidians who seem to have a knack for a certain degree of spirit forging, but you certainly didn’t hear that from me.”

Alex smiled. “Not a word.”

“So we should be fine,” Yingpei assured. “Especially since Elder Ru insisted everyone swear that oath before the lord of this sanctuary permitted a fresh gate to be opened.”

Alex nodded, his friend smart enough to avoid using his own name so close to others, lest cultivators politely tuning them out pick up truths he’d rather avoid.

The bottom line was that at least a few cultivators might choose to leave his sanctuary, sick of fighting for limited palatial suites, and having no real interest in helping to develop what amounted to a brand new settlement from the ground up without all the privileges and advantages that city life has to offer, despite the location’s other significant advantages.

So Alex had no problem with anyone already feeling restless to leave to do just that, knowing they were oathbound never to tell a soul about whatever they had seen or heard while sheltering within his realm, or about the gates at all.

A few more minutes passed with no further cultivators showing. Alex sensed the growing impatience of those present, and exchanged nods with his friends.

World Seed Interface sheet accessed.

You have summoned one Golden Door.

And within a handful of seconds, a shimmering golden glow transformed into an impossibly thin portal, hesitating cultivators gazing in wide eyed wonder and a small amount of confusion at the thick forest confronting them just beyond a very small clearing.

Alex sighed, realizing he’d have to speak up, after all. “The door’s just 20 feet from the Trade Road. The town is two miles to your left.”

One of the cultivators before the gate frowned. “Why won’t the gate form right beside the town?”

“Because we don’t want anyone to see us jumping in or out of any gates,” Alex said, before stepping through, delighting in the delightful arboreal smells of the forest for a few sweet breaths before turning to glance back at the still hesitating cultivators. “This way, we’ll easily be able to make use of the town without anyone ever thinking we’re guilty of anything more than setting up a new settlement somewhere nearby in the deepwoods.”

He then quickly made his way through a small trail that seemed to naturally open for him, giving the pair of cultivators who had dared to follow right behind him a clear view of the road. Alex smiled, placing three large branches in convenient reach into an arrow shape before the discrete trail-head.

“There. No one who’s not a woodsman is even going to pay attention, but so long as you keep an eye out, you’ll know exactly where to turn when you make your way back, so long as you do so before dusk.”

He gave a satisfied nod when two became six and then the majority of strangely hesitant cultivators came through. “Great! Good luck with your shopping, and I’m sure Yingpei can answer all your questions from here on out.”

This earned him a couple puzzled nods and one hard-eyed scowl. “Who do you think you are, Ruidian, taking on airs as if you actually led our expedition? Does Master Ru even know you dared the gate? Don’t think you’ll be forgiven if you dare tell a soul about our sanctuary!”

Alex flashed the scowling man and the handful of farmers and craftsmen beside him his most reassuring smile. “Helping you out is just my way of helping out the community. I’m going ahead, since we’re less noteworthy if I enter the city separately. So happy hunting for whatever it is you seek!”

Wasting no more words with them, Alex, reveling in the coiled power he felt in limbs, now that he wasn’t weighed down by half a ton of arcane armaments, took a certain amount of delight from the gasps he heard behind him as he leaped for the nearby tree branches and began leaping from tree to tree almost as fast as a raven could swoop, savoring the sheer exhilaration of all but flying from tree to tree as he went over in his mind all the tools he would need for the training regimen he would enact for the benefit of Yinzi, Hao Chan, and himself, as he sought to perfect a cultivation path that might be madness or brilliance, but either way, would assure that its practitioners would be the equal of any foe of Bronze or Silver that they might ever face. And with enough time, training, and foes falling to their blades, who knew how far they could go?

-----------------------

“Chen, good to see you! Long time, no see,” Alex said to Chen, the shopkeeper he had brought his original spirit wood shafted fangtian ji that had served him so well before, having made a beeline for the shop he was oddly most fond of, after making sure to enter the town from the opposite direction as the one the other cultivators would enter from.

And the way the broad-shouldered merchant flinched, before giving a placating chuckle, made it clear that he remembered Alex as well. The goatee, calculating eyes, and finely tailored robe were almost exactly as Alex remembered. The trace of fear in the man’s gaze, however, that was something new. Although, come to think of it, maybe he had seen that look before, but only after absolutely devastating the man’s bronze covered training dummy, not that many months ago.

“Ah, the prodigal Ruidian returns, looking just as fit as before.” The man frowned, truly taking in Alex. “If anything, you look stronger. Remarkably so.”

Alex shrugged at that, surprised the man remembered him well enough to sense the difference. His physical characteristics had indeed improved, his strength now light-years beyond what any Olympian Weight Lifter could hope to achieve. Yet his physique, though now a bit bulkier than the well-put together gymnast of just months ago, looked nothing like the seven foot tall fearsome Silver Giants rippling with muscles that Chen had no doubt dealt with more than once in his time as a weapons merchant, for all that Alex now had the Strength to match a good number of them.

And he was still a Bronze, with none of a Silver’s advanced body strengthening techniques that were the province of most Strength cultivators.

A flaw which he intended to correct as soon as he could.

“Kind words from an excellent judge of character.” Alex favored the man with a friendly as he quickly took in pertinent details about the shop, looking just as it had several months ago. It had the same wide selection of swords and polearm heads on display that he remembered, Alex paying particular attention to the naginata, spear, and guandao heads most prominently showcased, the latter looking like a cross between the top half of a heavy dao and a European glaive, before stealing a glance at the wood bins, pleased by what he saw.

“I see your own mercantile fortunes have proven to be… quite stable,” Alex said, hands now behind his back as he went over to browse the various fangtian ji heads, pleased to see that the ones with the over-weighted and masterfully hardened crescent shaped axe-heads and armor piercing spear point that he so favored happened to be in plentiful supply, more than capable of cleaving through anything but steel plates just as well as any European halberd, even without his absurd strength.

He turned and smiled at the merchant. “And I can’t help but see how those oversized fangtian ji heads are still taking up precious inventory space.”

Chen bristled. “And yet you seemed exceedingly pleased with your purchase when last we spoke…”

“Alex.”

“Alex, yet I see you utterly unarmed, without any weapon upon you at all. Could it be you are looking to replace your masterwork weapon with one equally as grand? Unfortunately, spirit wood staves are all the rage now, and…”

Alex chuckled. “And I note that the spirit wood stave container is still just as full as it was, nearly two months ago, and still taking up valuable space.” His gaze turned sympathetic. “I can only imagine how it would help your profits to have not one but two containers filled with sky wood and other varieties that might actually sell and net you a profit.”

Deng affected an air of nonchalance. “I can assure you that I’ve had multiple customers inquire about those very staves you seem so dismissing, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I see a significant reduction in stock by the end of the day.”

Alex’s smile didn’t waver. “Not one spirit wood staff has sold, Chen. The count is the exact same as when I last saw you, over two months ago.”

The man paled. Alex’s grin widened. “And if I’m not mistaken, the same holds true with your bulky stash of oversized ji heads.”

Of course Alex was bluffing, but the man’s wince made it clear Alex’s guess wasn’t far off the mark.

“And as for needing a weapon…” he grinned. “Actually, what I need are training staves, exactly like the ridiculous, overweighted excuse for a weapon you sold me two months ago.”

Deng’s eyes bulged. “That’s twice you’ve insulted my stock, Ruidian! If you truly have nothing better to…”

Alex shifted his gaze to the spirit wood staves once more, giving an exaggerated shrug. “I’m interested in some training staves that are sturdy and won’t be easy to break, and I don’t mind paying what they’re worth. But if you’d rather that bin take up valuable space when you could be making good silver, that’s up to you.”

The man’s eyes widened, before narrowing once more. “Pristine quality spirit would joined with yet more of Master Zing’s personally forged ji heads? Do you really think I’ll sell it to you at the same price as before? Do you have any idea of what a loss I took with that?”

Alex smiled. “I wasn’t going to offer 6 silver per completion.”

The merchant smirked. “Good, at least you understand that much…”

“I was going to offer five.”

The man’s eyes bulged as if shocked. “Surely you jest, Ruidian. You’re practically demanding I take a loss!”

Alex gave a sad shake of his head. “Do you truly feel that way? And here I thought I was giving you the chance to break even on an investment that was netting you nothing but opportunity costs. But if you truly have no interest in my patronage…” Alex shrugged and turned around. “Jin Jin’s was the armor smith you had recommended before, right? Perhaps I’ll visit his shop before leaving. No doubt he can point me in the direction of someone selling decent training staves…”

“Wait! Wait, no need to be so hasty!” said the man with a deprecating chuckle. “I’m always willing to go the extra mile with returning customers. How does five and a half silver per fangtian ji, sound? Prepared with dedication and care, just as before.” His brow furrowed. “Though I hope we don’t need to abuse my poor mannequin with each weapon.”

Alex grinned. “Five and a half silver for each fangtian ji prepared just as before sounds fine. And as long as I’m here, I might just stretch my purse a little bit further… assuming you treat me like a valued customer, and not some wide-eyed rube with a too big coin purse you never plan on seeing again.”

This earned him a nervous chuckle. “You have my golden customer discount, my word on it! So, what else would you like to buy?” Discerning eyes once more focused on Alex’s weaponless waist. “Another pair of dao, perhaps?”

Alex grinned. “Something like that. So how significant, exactly, is this golden customer discount?”

And by the time Alex was done with his little shopping trip, he found the savings to be significant indeed, now up three fangtian ji and three guandao, all of them shafted in spirit wood as strong as steel, with heavy reinforced blades that could cleave terrific rents in armor if one could get off a clean blow, even without a cultivator’s strength. He also purchased three exquisitely balanced ko-naginata and an equal number of wickedly sharp spears shafted in skywood. And the latter weapons really were just as light, perfectly balanced, and responsive as Chen had advertised when he put each weapon through its paces, flowing from Golden Realms to White Crane to Silver Swan before blending them all together into one unified whole, his weapons propelled by the whirling storm of Qi all around him, whistling through the air with the force and fury of the crashing sea, as much as by his own strength.

The smith had even gone the extra mile to make sure the balance was absolutely perfect when Alex flashed not one but three silver before the man, and if the smith had seemed a bit nervous changing butt spikes and slipping on a bronze ring or shaving off just a sliver of wood when fitting each of those weapons, Alex said nothing, refusing to second guess the man his art, merely nodding when handed the finished product before putting it through its paces, delighted to find that each and every weapon he purchased from Deng that day was absolute perfection. Brilliantly responsive, exquisitely well balanced, flowing like a dream of death in his hands.

And if merchant, smith, and guards were all gazing at him with odd mixtures of awed disbelief, even flinching back with fear when his polearms whipped about at speeds that exceeded his old fastball special, he did his best to pay it no mind.

But what seemed to alarm both merchant and smith more than anything else was the single alteration he asked to be made to the three naginata heads he purchased.

The smith blinked, looking at the masterwork weaponheads before him, the shallow curve of the blades tapering to the almost rounded point characteristic of what little Alex recalled of Japanese katanas and similar swords, admittedly in short supply here, save for certain polearms like the naginata and armor worn by the occasional guard who looked as much like ancient samurai as they did warring states soldiers.

“Let me make sure I understand, honored customer. You wish me to grind false edges upon all three of these naginata heads, knowing it will be eating into the spine of the blades?”

Alex nodded. He had picked the three naginata heads with the shallowest curve, so they could be thrust almost as well as a spear with the point almost aligning with the thrust. But the shallow rounded point so integral to its style of construction meant that it would skip off steel or bronze armor and probably spirit beast hide as well, save for a perfectly aimed lunge, though it might knock an armored foe breathless or cut just fine through an unarmored mortal’s flesh, but that would be sufficient for only the weakest, most desperate bandits.

All in all, the spear was far superior in the thrust, for all that this weapon would deliver absolutely devastating slashes, far faster than a guandao or his own fangtian ji, in anyone weaker than Alex currently was.

But by introducing a clipbacked point, just by grinding a false edge on the thick spine side of the weapon, would shift the point a crucial centimeter, giving it a very close approximation to a spear tip and making it suddenly devastating in the thrust. Almost, but not quite, the equal of the spear. And the cleaving slashes it would give should still be utterly devastating.

Of course, there was one significant drawback, explaining why countless smiths weren’t already doing just that with all their naginata heads.

“The naginata’s curved tip is that way for a reason, boy. It will thrust through unarmored flesh readily enough as it is. And if you jab a man’s throat with that thing, he’s going down, no matter what. But if you grind these beautiful blades down, if you shift the tip and eat away at the spine, it will utterly ruin the integrity of the blade.”

The smith scowled, flicking the blade with his finger, both of them admiring the ring of top quality steel. “Sure, it will stab right through the first fool to face off against someone as deadly as you, just as sweet and quick as any spear point. But sooner, rather than later, the edge will crack and the spine will bend and you’ll be left with a poorly weighted stick of wood in the middle of combat. And that day will come far sooner than later, if your foes are well armored.” The man’s gaze hardened. “If you’re looking for a spear, boy, just use a spear. If you need a weapon that stabs and cuts equally well, you already have your fangtian jis.”

The smith chuckled ruefully. “And those oversized ji heads were made specifically for taking out cavalry and steel covered foes, so I absolutely guarantee you that they will never let you down, you being the only fool I’ve ever seen strong enough to whip them about like that in any case, heavy as they are.”

Alex smiled at the smith’s intent gaze, glad to see the man willing to stand up for what he believed in.

“Your points are well made, smith. And we’re it anyone else, I would wholeheartedly agree. But let me ask you this. If you knew that the naginata heads in your hands would be enchanted so as to be utterly unbreakable… how much of a clip back point can you give it so it truly does thrust as well as a spear? So long as we don’t effect its ability to deliver those sweet slashes and draw cuts.”

The man blinked in surprise. “Are you serious?”

Alex’s grin widened. “In fact, now that I’ve tested all of these weapons and can vouch for their durability, I’d like you to give each of them the sharpest killing edge you can fathom. All save for the single fangtian ji I’m holding now. Imagine you are sharpening the others not for battle, but for competition, where they need survive only a single slash through silk.”

Both merchant and smith were now staring at Alex far more intently than he thought warranted.

So Alex beemed his brightest smile, his hands now flashing coin once more. “And of course, I’ll be paying you well for the extra service. And if I actually win any cutting competition with these, I will make sure people know where to go for the sharpest steel blades imaginable.”

Shaking his head and muttering about fools flush with coin after making sure Alex knew just how fragile the blades would be, the smith proceeded to do just that, and Alex couldn’t argue with the results, seeing not a single mar or burr on any of the edges, and whatever subtle shifts to the shafts the man made to assure the marginally lighter weapons with so much steel ground off still had perfect balance, the result were weapons that still flowed like a dream in his hands.

Weapons that effortlessly cut the single strand of blond hair he brushed against each of them.

And for all that the smith had scowled the whole time, still his face lit up with a satisfied grin when Alex honored him with a deep bow and a small handful of fat silver coins. “May whatever competition you hope to win be worth your investment!” the smith said.

Of course, he had also secured multiple training weapons, in addition to three pairs of sturdy, well-balanced battlefield dao he also had honed to ridiculous degrees of sharpness. And the strained smile Deng gave him even when Alex pulled not one but three gold tiles from Lou Xi’s claimed pouch, in addition to the fat silver coins he had gifted the smith for his work, made it clear that Alex hadn’t been fleeced, even if he hadn’t gotten quite such a sweet deal as before. What was important was that he had the tools he needed for his plans to shape Hao Chan and Yinzi into the ultimate pair of body cultivators, walking a path unlike any other, including his own.

He caught the merchant’s gaze drifting down to his storage pouch he had chosen over his rings as he stored away the last of his purchases, being far more spacious than his other options, for all that the rings were admittedly a far more elegant affair.

“A remarkable storage device, to hold so many weapons of war. And now perhaps I can better understand how you would feel comfortable lugging around so many deadly sharp but now somewhat brittle weapons,” the merchant offered with the most innocuous of smiles.

Alex’s return grin was all teeth. “I know. It was quite the find! And perhaps the Silver who’s shrieking body I claimed it from wasn’t too happy with the trade, but that’s what you get for underestimating your opponent. Wouldn’t you agree, friend merchant?”

Deng didn’t miss a beat, nodding with sincere enthusiasm. “Absolutely correct, my friend. Whichever caravan takes you on this time around will be lucky to have someone as capable as you on the lookout!”

Alex smirked, dipping his head. “Indeed they would. A fair day to you, merchant.”

“And to you as well, friend Alex!”

Alex found the way to Jin Jin’s easy enough with a few friendly questions thrown at the sedate passers-by making their way along the tree-lined thoroughfare that one would think too wide for the sparse crowd and almost cozy looking pagodas and domiciles comprising so much of the trade town, until one caught sight of the absolutely massive caravan trains forming up at that very moment, wagons made of extremely strong hardwood and reinforced with steel, and far larger than any historical European counterparts back on Earth; all of them filled with produce, manufactured goods, or grains sufficient to help feed the inhabitants of the grand walled cities that were the true population centers of the empire, home to countless millions. Which meant that most of the land remained in a state of primeval wilderness, the abundant spiritual energies emanating from the woodlands allowing the countless hundreds of thousands of small holdings and farming communities dotting the empire to grow magnificent bumper crops that helped feed the massive cities and so fueled an entire empire.

And each of those mammoth wagons were pulled by draft horses larger than any oxen with spirit beast blood coursing through their veins, now making their way along the grand boulevard that had more than enough room for two such wagons to pass each other, as well as to accommodate passage for all the people a bustling trade town like this would need.

Alex smiled fondly as he realized who the caravan owner was, hoping Captain Dui Zhang had survived their ordeal and was prospering, resolving himself to one day track him down and pay his respects.

But not today, he thought, catching sight of several familiar faces, including Yinpei’s own, and the flash of silver trading hands with a couple positively beaming of farmers as his friend purchased not only produce, grains, and a train of what even he could tell were plump and happy goats and pigs, but apparently the wagon as well. Certainly the pair of cultivators claiming to be from farming stock were competent enough coachmen, skillfully using the massive boulevard to turn the wagon around and lead wagon and flocks back down the road towards the gate to his realm, just few miles up the road.

He hoped they’d also be able to get their hands on the best quality cows in Erdushi, regardless of price. As far as he was concerned, their growth potential was unlimited, so why not start with the tastiest stock possible.

It was with a satisfied nod that he made his way to Jin Jin’s armory, his mind pulled from idle thoughts of a farming life and all the ways he’d love to improve his realm only when he picked up the sounds of hammer on anvil that told him his destination was at hand.

Deng’s wandering eyes earlier had been the wake-up call he needed. Reminding him that he wasn’t at the academy or his own realm anymore, where honorable duels, no matter how one-sided, were the norm for settling disputes. Here, there might well be thieves and cutthroats a plenty, and Alex was determined to stop playing the fool, no matter the name of his patron.

So he took the time to secure the enchanted pouch he had seized from Duo Ku, the only one of his prizes he hadn’t gotten around to cataloging and sorting, to the coin pouch straps on the underside of his changshan tunic, after fastening the near indestructible helm he had taken with him, being as it was far less cumbersome or unusual as his enchanted stone lamellar was, also making sure he could easily draw the sheathed dao now secured to his leather belt once more.

Only then did Alex enter the grand open-air pagoda just a short distance up one of the side streets from the main thoroughfare. He was impressed despite himself by the sight of powerfully built smiths hammering away at pieces of steel, a fine looking suit of lamellar armor being put together before his eyes, with other suits of armor in various states of assembly, as well as a number of steel helmets, gauntlets, and other individual pieces, some polished to a brilliant shine, others to a dull matte, and still others painted black and edged in bronze.

He was surprised not to see far more bronze pieces on display than he did, just a few different designs and sizes, the rest being suits of steel. Alex frowned, not seeing anyone who looked like a shopkeeper or assistant, only the busy-looking smiths and a couple of powerfully built, hard-eyed men being fitted at that very moment. Alex didn’t even need Soul Sight or Qi Perception to know he was looking at a pair of cultivators who had broken through to Rank 1 Bronze at the very least, as evidenced by the spiritual pressure of their hard-eyed stares alone.

Of course, the fact that they were being suited in steel armor, far too expensive for a common guardsman to afford, was also a bit of a give-away. And though nobles might well kit themselves in finest accouterments in the grand cities, border towns like this one were the province of traders, farmers, hunters and guardsmen, and few others.

One of the cultivators being fitted flashed Alex a hard smile. “I think you might be lost, Ruidian. This is no place for a jewel master.”

His associate snorted. “So damned slender that aketons and mail shirts are about all they can wear without slowing down the whole caravan with their stumbling pace.”

But his associate didn’t bother responding, furrowing his brow as he caught a better look at Alex. “He’s not built like the Ruidians on our last run. And look at the way he moves. Like a spirit panther stalking his prey in the woods.”

Alex felt a sudden tension in the air as the other man clenched the hilt of his sheathed dao, shaking off the armorer adjusting a strap, clearly unnerved by whatever he saw in Alex’s eyes.

“You looking for trouble, Ruidian?”

Alex forced himself to take a deep breath and showcase his friendliest smile, doing his best to suppress the crawling sensation racing down his spine, somehow certain that he was running out of time.

“Trouble, no. Assistance, yes. I don’t suppose either of you gentlemen can point me to someone who can actually help me get fitted?”

“The Ruidian actually wants to get fitted in steel,” said the shorter bearded cultivator.

“As if he was a Trueblood, worthy of the prize he would wear,” said the other, spitting on the floor boards.

This earned a pair of derisive chuckles, though he was happy to see their killing ire fading, Alex having no real desire to decorate this armory in the blood of fools.

“Yidushian, right? You guys have to be Yidushian.”

“What of it?” snarled the bearded man.

One of the fitters turned Alex’s way with a disdainful sniff.

“This is the fitting and forge area, Ruidian. If you wish to make a purchase, you enter by the front of the shop, not the rear.”

Alex dipped his head in thanks. “The front of the shop it is, then. My apologies for interrupting your fitting.”

This earned him a couple of derisive snorts Alex was happy to ignore, doing his best to project an air of calmness and friendly warmth as he made his way about the pagoda.

Qi Perception check: success!

Flashing a cold smile when he realized what his subconscious had been trying to tell him, the real reason for the hairs standing up on the nape of his neck, feeling as if he were running out of time.

“Welcome to my shop, honored guest. How may I help you?”

Alex smiled at the obvious merchant dressed in fine silk robes that didn’t seem to hinder his movements at all, as evidenced by the jewel-hilted jian at his sashed waist. The man had accented his otherwise plain features with a mustache and goatee, possessing cold measuring eyes and a bland smile that gave nothing away as he gave Alex the infinitesimal bow of a merchant prince greeting a commoner that just might be a customer.

“I see before me a handsome Ruidian in his prime with a legionnaire’s physique and what looks to be a pair of Deng’s finest dao at his hip. Yet, save for a helmet infused with Earth and Metal Qi, wears no armor at all.”

The merchant frowned, tilting his head, gazing at Alex as another man would his prized cattle. “And by your stance, the boldness of your gaze, the way you seek to instantly master your surroundings…” he chuckled softly. “Do I truly see before me a Ruidian cultivator?”

Alex forced himself to smile and bow his head, committing to nothing, though now that he was looking for it, he sensed a weight to the man’s gaze, a spiritual pressure greater even than the far bulkier men being fitted in armory a few dozen feet away.

Deep Bronze at the very least, and somehow keeping a tight lid on his aura. Only then did Alex note the impressive display of armaments of Steel, Bronze, and Spirit hide behind the merchant, eyes widening to catch the faintest of spiritual energies radiating from at least a few of the items hidden in the stacks.

It appeared that the man sold much more than simple armaments. At least a few of the pieces were magical treasures, much like the helmet Alex was presently wearing. Which was quite a strange thing, he thought, to find here in the middle of nowhere when surely the man would find more elite clientele in one of the major cities.

But then again, what Alex didn’t know about trade in this world could fill countless encyclopedias, he was sure.

“A very impressive collection of armaments you have here on display, honored merchant.”

The man looked pleased by the compliment. “I would certainly like to think so. And please, call me Jin Jin. And you would be…”

“Alex.”

“Well, friend Alex, how may this humble trader assist you today?”

Perception check made.

Alex caught the handsign quickly flashed to the hulking guard behind the merchant, the guard seeming to fade back into the shadows.

Alex kept his face carefully blank. “Actually, I was looking for some quality armaments, as you have no doubt guessed. I hope you don’t mind if I browse, for a bit?”

Jin Jin gave an approving nod. “By all means, friend Alex. Browse to your hearts content, and let me know if there is anything in particular I can assist you with.”

His eyes were already wandering over the selection, looking for ready-made items only, realizing he’d have to put his hopes of a custom-fitted suit firmly on hold, at least for now.

He kept his footsteps slow and his gaze thoughtful, even as he made his selections with deceptive haste, frowning and shaking his head at a couple fancy looking pieces of steel armor he had absolutely no intention of buying, before waving the merchant over to him.

“Have you found anything that catches your eye, friend Alex?”

Alex smiled and nodded, pointing to a standard suit of legionnaire bronze among the dozens of such sets on display, each slightly different from the other, Alex so familiar and comfortable with the design in question that he just knew that particular set would fit him perfectly without any need for fitting at all, and would hardly set him back more than a handful of silver, unless the man tried to fleece him.

The man’s intrigued smile faded somewhat. “You have a discerning eye, Alex. That lamellar set has served its many wearers for centuries, and with proper care, will serve you and your descendants for centuries more. Steel might be slightly better, but few save the wealthiest of patrons can afford such, and hammer-hardened bronze will ward slashes from jian or dao, and most spear thrusts, without taking more than a scratch. Even arrows and crossbow bolts, unless aimed at point blank range, will harmlessly skitter off the tiles.”

Jin Jin rapped the lamellae with his knuckles, the armor ringing with the song of hammer hardened bronze. “Excellent protection for any man not expecting to encounter more than the occasional skirmish. Of course, should your opponent be wielding anything more substantial, like a great dao, axe, or fangtian ji, those weapons can easily take your life, if your opponent lands more than a glancing blow. So for the serious professional, I most definitely recommend highest quality steel, which is all custom-fitted and comes with Jin Jin’s famous five season guarantee! If any foe’s weapon manages to burst or damage any of your steel tiles, we will replace them for free, no questions asked, when next you stop by.”

Alex could barely hold back his smirk, knowing that, more likely than not, anyone struck by a polearm with such force that their armor’s steel tiles cracked would have far more to worry about than armor repair, fighting for their lives hundreds or thousands of miles away, assuming they survived at all. But he already knew from his quick survey and increasing affinity with Earth and Metal Qi that all the armor on display was of finest quality.

But as much as he would love a set of custom fitted armor…

“Bronze is fine, Jin Jin. But you do make a good point. There is always something to be said for an added layer of protection.” At which point he let his eyes wander back to the handful of mail hauberks he saw on display, the chain mail shirts seemingly rare in this part of the world, worn by the occasional Ruidian almost exclusively, from what Alex could tell. Which made finding a full-sized hauberk of fine steel links with shoulders wide enough to fit his powerful frame, the links all infused with Metal Qi quite similar to the spiritual energies radiating from his helmet, quite the find.

Jin Jin’s placating smile froze, his intent gaze locking with Alex’s own. “I thought I had sensed a cultivator’s aura from you, lad, and now I am sure of it.” His smile turned genuine, for all that it was now that of a sharp trader.

“Few caravan guards would choose a steel mail shirt over sturdy and far cheaper lamellar armor,” Jin Jin noted. “Both will ward a dao’s slashes, but solid tiles of bronze or steel are so much better at absorbing the bone-cracking force behind a bandit’s killing blows, and a steel tip will catch and potentially burst mail links, where they might skitter right off well-polished lamellar tiles.”

Jin Jin chuckled softly before Alex’s hard gaze. “So, what is the draw of mail shirts? A merchant or lord’s comfort, obviously, for they are infinitely more comfortable than hard metal plates fastened to a decadent man’s torso, and infinitely better protection than even the finest silk jackets or changshan tunics. A slender Ruidian jewel master would also find it far superior to the flax tunics they so often favor. But no guard as powerfully built as yourself would bother with anything inferior to the armor that has stood our empire in good stead for thousands of years.” The merchant flashed a triumphant smile, as if having spotted Alex’s weakness. “Not unless they were a cultivator following a martial path relying on graceful movements and quick, darting blows.”

“Unless they were wearing it as a second line of defense,” Alex noted. “To ward against strikes that might slip past imperfectly joined bronze tiles or blows to armpit or neck, or to better survive a mounted bandit’s charge, where a fine steel spear point might bite through bronze, only to be caught by a net of steel links.” He smiled, recalling that European knights, at least, commonly layered themselves in quilted cotton gambesons, mail shirts, and steel plates for added protection last of all. But as for this world’s culture, he still had no clear idea on what was the norm for anyone more than caravan guards.

Jin Jin nodded agreeably enough. “True. But that’s not the real reason why your eyes darted to that piece hidden in the stacks.” He chuckled softly at Alex’s flinch. “I learned long ago that there was no need to showcase my most valuable pieces.” He flashed a knowing smile. “Fools who would fail to appreciate it won’t be swayed by front-line displays, and will laugh at your attempts to secure a fair price for all the efforts expended securing such valuable pieces. They would far rather kit themselves in bronze and steel they can understand, than mystic artifacts that they cannot.”

His knowing smile grew. “So, I find it best to let the truly savvy cultivator spot such treasures for themselves. I know they won’t bother pulling it from the piles unless they truly understand its worth.”

His grin only widened when Alex suppressed a wince, afraid he was going to get fleeced as bad as Yan Song had, when it became obvious how much he and his charges had wanted those skywood shafted ko-naginatas Deng had been selling. But still, Alex wanted this treasure. If it truly was as tough as the helmet he had claimed, it was exactly what he needed. At least if he didn’t want to spend all his time wearing a priceless Silver artifact that might save his life, but weighted a good half ton. Of course he had every intention of training in it, but he sure as hell wanted more options.

And damn the merchant for reading that resolve in his eyes, Jin Jin’s smile growing when he stated his price.

Alex laughed in his face.

“Five Spirit Pearls? Are you serious? That’s the equivalent of 75 platinum imperials! Do you truly think I have wealth sufficient to purchase the grandest manor outside the noble’s quarter in Yidushi or Baidushi? If so, why would I ever bother shopping at a trade town in the middle of nowhere? Now, if you’re done trying to soften my resolve with the outrageous, let’s talk about a realistic price that leaves us both ahead. How about about ten gold crowns?”

Jin Jin’s eyes flashed with barely suppressed Fire Qi. “I have no patience for those who refuse to appreciate the value of my wares, and would seek to rob me blind as well. Six Spirit Pearls. Take it or leave it.”

Alex took a deep breath, giving a sad shake of his head. “I’m sorry we couldn’t come to an arrangement. My apologies for wasting your time. I’ll take my leave now,” he said, turning to go.

“Wait!”

Alex stopped and slowly turned around, crossing his arms. “Yes?”

Jin Jin clenched his jaw, glaring at Alex. “I know how much you want that treasure, boy. It radiates off you like a blazing fire.”

Alex dipped his head, conceding the point. “You have a good eye, wujen sorcerer playing at being a merchant. Obviously, there’s a flaw in my technique I need to work on. And you’re right, I do want that hauberk. But not at the cost of my pride. I won’t be fleeced like a desperate soul enslaved to a purple path.”

Jin Jin snorted, shaking his head. “Fresh Bronze. You must be. No one else would be so damned dramatic.” He gazed thoughtfully at Alex before giving the faintest of nods. “Four Spirit Pearls. It’s a fair trade. You know it, and I won’t go any lower.”

Alex held the man’s gaze for long moments. “Done.”

The man smiled, genuinely pleased. “Excellent!”

“So long as it includes the bronze lamellar…”

“Of course! Of course…”

“…and you give me your cultivator’s oath you will tell no one what transpired between us or seek to track me down… any more than you already have.”

The man blinked in surprise. Alex flashed a cold smile, feeling Dark spiritual energies encase his arms and shins once more. His heart began to pound even as he embraced calm, ready for absolutely anything.

Jin Jin’s eyes widened. He took half a step back before deliberately calming himself, hand leaving the pommel of his jian as he gave a soft chuckle. “I see you truly do know how this game is played.” He tilted his head, half-smile still in place. “With the gaze of a man who actually things he can execute me before I take his head. What a truly an invigorating day this is turning out to be!”

He then nodded. “Very well, you have my oath, Ruidian. Our agreement is no one’s business but our own, and my curiosity as to your nature ends the moment you leave my shop. Now… if you would be so kind?”

To his credit his eyes widened only slightly and his hand hardly trembled at all as he secured the four spirit pearls Alex casually placed in his hand, a priceless fortune that probably amounted to many times what Yingpei and the others had paid for the finest quality livestock this town had to offer, as well as everything else they had needed.

“A pleasure doing business with you,” Jin Jin said with what sounded like genuine sincerity when Alex’s arms were filled with his recent purchases.

Alex smiled, spotting a relatively empty corner of the pagoda. “I don’t suppose I can change before I go?”

The man chuckled softly. “Of course. Let it never be said that Jin Jin isn’t generous with his patrons and friends,” he said, waving to the very corner Alex had eyed.

Alex dipped his head, made his way to the corner, and changed as if he had complete faith that the man wouldn’t even think of stabbing him in the back.

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