It didn’t take long for Zhi and Zang to rearrange the shed and put his cart inside. Afterwards, Zhi went inside and came back a few minutes later with Zhao. Zhao actually remembered Zang from the other day, but still introduced himself. Then all three of them made their way to the Hai’s residence. Once there, Zang sat at the table and listened quietly as Zhi was instructing Zhao on how to make dinner. It was mostly Zhi cooking with Zhao just chopping vegetables and helping move certain things around.

Hai Ya and her husband Qiang came home just before Zhi finished cooking. Introductions were made and then everyone ate. The best part was seeing the embarrassing look on Zangs face when he first heard the Hai’s dig into their food. Until he tried it himself and ended up making the same noises. After dinner he praised Zhi and Zhao’s cooking and found the present company rather enjoyable. So when Zhi asked if he would like to join them for some light training, he didn’t decline them at all.

Another round of training happened in the back area of the home. Zang was taught all the movements and proper stances. But didn’t do full sets like Zhi and Zhao were doing. After two hours, Zhao was dead on his feet and Zang looked pretty worn out himself. Zhi helped Zhao to his room, the boy didn’t even remove his clothes soaked in sweat from the workout. Just crashed onto his futon and was asleep before Zhi closed the door. Zhi then walked Zang outfront and said, “I will see you in the morning when you come to collect your cart. Remember, 30 minutes after sunrise we will meet you there.”

Zang reached out and shook Zhi’s hand with a firm grip and said, “I will see you then and thanks for your help again. It means a lot.”

Zhi watched for a moment as Zang walked away down the street. Then he went back into the house and into his room, before taking a deep breath in through his nose. He didn’t smell anything now besides the faint smell of rush grass from the tatami floor panels. Satisfied, he pulls out the new futon and blanket he bought earlier in the day while shopping with Zang. He had to admit, his deal finder talent was kinda absurd. Zhi himself was fine just buying whatever was there, since he made so much money off those thugs. But Zang shopped around, found the highest quality futon and blanket and was able to get it for almost the same price as Zhi was going to pay for some really basic poor quality futon and blanket. He didn’t even need to look that hard either, it was like he was almost drawn to the best price he could get. Actually now that he thought about it, something was weird about it.

Hey Buddha, I wanted to ask. But what was up with Zang and him almost being led to the best price for items? Was that part of his talent?

[Part of it is his talent, part of it is his karma. People with good karma tend to have better luck than people without. That said, even people with bad karma can have good luck, it’s just not as frequent or that good.]

I will keep that in mind. So, you said there was something to buy that would teach me how to use my Qi correctly.

[Use it in the store tab under Cultivation Items, subcategory books. You unlocked that and a few others since you stepped into the Qi Distillation stage. Would you like me to buy the recommended book for beginners or would you like to browse the catalog?]

Zhi looks around the slightly dark room, to the lone table with a single candle on top.

Sure that should be fine if it’s cheap, also get me a cheap light source I can use to read with. Something that isn’t disposable, maybe a light that works with a solar panel?

[You are missing what this place offers you, Zhi. You don’t need solar panels when you have Qi. The book is 20 MDP and the light is only 1 MDP. The light comes with a full charge good enough for one month of continuous work, before you will need to charge it. Would you like to purchase both items?]

Wow! That light is a great deal, sure I will take both.

Two items appeared in Zhi’s inventory, he pulled out the light first. It was small, about one foot tall, and about four inches around at the top. From the top going to the bottom it expanded out to about eight inches, around part of the bottom there were some runes carved into the grey metal base. Looking at it a little longer, his inspection skill popped up with a panel.

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System made Qi powered light.

Has over 10,000 options for different light types and modes!

Can run for over a month without recharging, depending on the light mode chosen.

Some individuals may experience epileptic seizures or blackouts when exposed to certain light patterns or flashing lights. Please use caution and consult the user manual for more info.

System comment,

“User manual sold separately.”

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Ummm, how much is the user manual that is sold separately?

[System made Qi powered light is only 150 MDP. Would you like to purchase it?]

Hell no! What kinda scam shit is that? The manual should be cheap and the light should be more expensive, not the other way around.

[No one wanted to buy the light for its original S.S.R.P. so a compromise was made.]

SSRP? Is that like MSRP? Also couldn’t you just make an item that is just cheaper overall? Instead of tricking people with a low price bait and switch?

[That light is of the highest quality, has every light spectrum included. You could throw a giant rave with just that light and some music. It even includes options for laser light displays and photorealistic displays, or better called holograms.]

I… I mean that sounds awesome, but I just needed a light…

[Just push the first rune on the right side and touch nothing else. That is the default power button. You can turn it off by doing the same thing.]

Zhi does as instructed and the room lights up completely in a soft glow of white light. No light is coming from the device, instead it is like it was from a light above him he could not see. He set the light down on the table and then pulled out the book next. It looked brand new and was colored yellow and black. There was a little bit of green on the cover and it was titled, “Learning to use Qi for dummies.” Zhi looks at the cover of the book for a few minutes in silence.

Really?

[It is the cheapest book and made for a complete beginner. Unless you want to pay 50 MDP for the next cheapest book. You wouldn’t understand it at all and the point would be a waste.]

I feel like you do this shit just to fuck with me.

[I have no idea what you mean.]

Zhi just lets out a sigh and opens the book to the first page. But instead of words in the book it’s some drawings. As he looks through the book, with each page and new image he looks at. The edge of his vision begins to blur slightly till on the last page and image his vision blacks out. After a second his vision comes back and he is standing in a training hall. In front of him is a black shadow with a human shape. Not really sure what is going on he looks around the room a little bit to take in his surroundings.

After a minute of Zhi looking around and even walking around the human shaped shadow. A deep voice filled with malice emanates from the shadow, “Done looking around? Let us start now.”

Zhi jumps back in surprise and looks more closely at the shadow while saying, “What are you?”

The strange voice emanation says, “What I am doesn’t matter.”

He walks around the shadow cautiously, it has no features at all, but he can kinda tell it is looking at him. He hears the voice again as it says, “If you are going to waste my time, you can leave.”

Before Zhi can say anything he blinks and he is back in his room, the book that was in his hands is now gone. He looks around and doesn’t see it anywhere or in his inventory.

Where did the book go?

[You just used it to learn how to use Qi, did you not?]

No, I read the book and then I was in some training hall with a black shadow. I wasn’t there for more than a minute or two at most before it said it didn’t like it’s time wasted and sent me away.

[Oh you upset the trainer. They can be fickle things sometimes. Next time you should greet them and then follow their instructions. If you are lucky, your next trainer might be nicer and you might even be able to learn more than the basics.]

Wait so that wasn’t just a book?

[It is technically a book, but it’s real purpose is to pull your mind and connect it with someone else in a special training area. The training area is special because it can be changed by the trainer to give them anything they need to help them train the student. You also don’t have to worry about time either since it is all mind based.]

You couldn’t explain that beforehand? Whatever at least now I know to not make a complete ass of myself. Let’s try this again, give me the book back please.

[Would you like to purchase another book for 20 MDP?]

I already purchased the book, why would I need to purchase another?

[The book was consumable, it is a one time use item.]

Really, Buddha? What kinda shit is this? I spent the points and didn’t learn anything. How come you didn’t tell me it was a one time use item?

[It is not my job to tell you these things, why didn’t you inspect the book like you did the light?]

Because it was a book, or at least I thought it was a normal book like the other ones you gave me.

[Only the cultivation book is normal, the other book is like the one you just used. A one time consumable item, make sure you don’t waste it. And for future reference you should properly inspect all system items.]

Well thanks for the late info I guess. Fuck it buy me another book. I need to learn this.

Another copy of the book appears in his inventory, which he pulls out and inspect this time. A panel pops up before him and displays.

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System Special “Learning to use Qi for dummies”

This is a one time use consumable item.

Use of this book will transport your mind to another place to train under a master.

Use your time wisely and be respectful, otherwise you might learn nothing.

System comment,

“I AM THE MASTER, DO YOU HEAR ME?!.”

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The master I train under, who are they? And what do they get out of this?

[They are experts of their craft from different realms of existence. While this Qi book is for beginners, you are still given to someone who has mastered the usage of Qi. As for how they are compensated, that is between them and the system.]

Alright, don’t discuss a person's pay, got it.

Zhi exhales and opens the book to the first page. Looking at the familiar drawings, he quickly goes through the book. The edge of his vision blur slightly again till on the last page and image his vision blacks out. When he opens his eyes he is standing on a mountain peak. The top of the mountain has been flattened out in a circle, with a building that was the most ostentatious thing he had ever seen sitting in the middle of it. Zhi was standing around on some white marble tiles that had gold veins running through them. Not sure what to do, he makes his way over to the grand building in the middle. As he gets to the front of the building, the intricately carved golden doors open. Doves fly out in a heart shaped pattern, as a handsome young man steps out behind them, he looks majestic and almost otherworldly in his beauty.

Zhi instantly stops, and does a full 90 degree bow while saying, “Ming Zhi greets you master, and humbly asks for your guidance.” Afterwards just holding the bow and not saying anything.

The man pulls out a fan and covers the lower half of his face as he walks around and inspects Zhi.

“Stand up.”

Zhi stands back up but doesn’t look at the man. Just looking forward as he waits.

“While you are respectful, unfortunately I do not train men. Leave me.”

Zhi blinks and he is back in his room.

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!