Book 3 Chapter 5: Silent Charisma

“No, this is our replacement member Lintian,” Tang swiftly explains to the two guards.

Lintian muses to himself that the two guards just now could be the people spying on him.

“If you see anything let us know,” the guards said. They were too lazy to follow up on it. If the victim says nothing then they decided it was none of the their business.

“Lets get out of here before we start talking.”

“Okay.”

After a bit they all left the colosseum and went Tang’s residence. It was a simple residence inside an estate that was 20 miles big. There were multiple palaces as tall as skyscrapers in the estate too.

As Lintian took a seat he glances around and notices that the spell arrays here were at a pretty complex level. Comparable to his home world. Lintian has this feeling that he has traveled back in time but that is simply impossible.

As everyone else took a seat Lintian could tell that Xiang was fuming with anger. Lintian assumes it must be because Xiang likes Fang and he just saw her almost naked. Furthermore it seems Xiang has probable not even seen her naked himself and was furiously jealous.

“Start talking,” Tang commands.

“Like I said before I want to go back home but first I need to learn the language here. These earphones are great but it is getting a couple words mixed up and I need to learn to speak your language.”

Tang looks at Lee, “Go to young Master’s library and bring him all the books on our language.”

“Sure,” Lee replies and left.

“I’m probable gonna need someone to teach me at the same time,” Lintian said a bit awkward because he doubt the books here has english or mandarin.

“Anyway let me introduce myself. My name is Lintian and you are?” Lintian asks Fang even through he already knew.

“Fang.”

“Nice to meet you Fang and I am very sorry about earlier. Where I am from men and woman do not usually use the same locker room. Also Xiang sorry about earlier,” Lintian apologizes.

“Forget it. You are new here anyway. I am not going to hold a grudge over something this stupid,” Fang sighs and appears gracefully.

“If it happens again I’m not gonna be so nice next time,” Xiang mutters.

“Haha you sound like you were the one who got peeped on,” chuckles Tang comfortable and gives him a playful wink.

Xiang immediately smiles awkwardly.

“I won’t lie to you after I came to the city I realized that without a prominent background there is no way you can come into contact with these headphones. Therefore you four are either young masters yourselves or close to one. This was the main reason I sought you out.”

“How did you know we would be at the colosseum?”

“Pretty simple actually and a lot luck,” Lintian grins at his own clever lies. “On the way here I heard your names and I simple checked up on it and found you guys here.”

Lee then came back with a stack of books.

“Fang you help Lintian here learn our Chetz language and when he can speak fluently tell me.”

“Okay,” Fang answers back with a playful glint in her eyes.

Xiang interrupts, “how about I teach him? I have nothing to do at the moment.”

“Thats fine too,” Tang replies and left together with Lee and Fang.

“Xiang good luck,” Fang playfully winks.

“Lets get started then,” Xiang said.

“Okay.”

After about two days of intense studying Lintian finally got the language down.

“The food here is excellent by the way,” Lintian said to Xiang in Chetz. “I still can’t believe how close the word blood and dick are in Chetz.”

“Well its understandable since blood is the essence of life and the dick creates life.”

In the last two days Lintian used the earphone as a translator while memorizing everything in the books.

“I always hated learning a new languages,” Lintian sighs. “It is so much easier to learn a new technique.”

Language requires remembering over 3000 words to the dot. Not only that but some grammar rules and you have to wire your brain to auto response to the translation.

“It takes a couple days. Techniques require at least a week to a month for initial mastery,” Xiang replies.

“Not if you’re me,” Lintian brags. “Takes me a couple hours and if the technique is low level enough a couple minutes.”

“Then why haven’t you learn a body technique yet?”

“Well my teacher told me that body refinement techniques are slow and tedious and it takes years to master. Well it is not like I haven't tried but the body refinement techniques my world has, are to weak for me. It doesn't have any effect on me. The only body refinement that works is lightning and fire refinement.”

“No wonder you’re so fast. Your cultivation was clearly lower than mine and with no body refinement there is no way you can simply just be faster than me.”

“Hahaha my techniques are also of a higher level than your’s. What was that armor you wore before? It broke apart my qi swords.”

“Oh those were Armandata lizard scale armor. Their scales are able to reduce the power of qi attacks by thirty percent. Also their scale is tough enough to defend against a couple blows from a upper tier master realm expert. The armor is also supported by multiple layers of kaval to absorb the impact of the attacks. The armor is made by the Zara company only. The company Zara is owned by the Zheng family. The Zheng family is the overlord of this continent.”

“Zhang?” Lintian questions suddenly remember something.

“No Zheng,” Xiang repeats. “My young master is part of that family.”

“How come you guys are fighting in the colosseum like your life depended on it if your young master is so strong? Shouldn't you be by his side?” Lintian asks even through he knew part of the answer.

Xiang looks a bit uncomfortable as he said, “I can’t answer that. Tang will have too.”

“Sure. You can probable tell him that I have mastered the language and its time for us to talk.”

Xiang transmitted a mental message to Tang and Tang came an hour later while Lintian took a nap to recuperate.

“You sure learn pretty fast,” Tang states.

“Well I did spent 47 hours learning a new language it be weird if I didn’t,” Lintian answers.

“If you can help us win the tournament we will get you back home.”

“What were your chances of winning without my help?” Lintian asks.

“Probably very close to zero.”

“And with my help?”

“Still probable close to zero.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Our finally opponents are all in the kings realm.”

Lintian thought about it and realizes that what he said was completely true. Even with his help the chances of winning doesn't even exist. This scumbag is only saying we have a slight chance of winning to play with my thoughts.

“Why join a tournament if you have no chance of winning?” Lintian asks curiously.

“All five of them broke through into the King’s realm last week.”

“All five? That is a bit strange.”

“Nope not at all. They could have all broke through three months ago but the Valafor Mountain challenge was this month only.”

“Go to Valafor Mountain!” A familiar voice said.

“Sorry what?” Lintian asks.

“They broke through to the King’s realm after they found out they will not be receiving any of the Dragon God’s inheritance.”

“Who are able to take the trial.” Lintian asks.

“The requirements are Master realm, under the age of eighteen, dragon blood, and being able to beat the entry golem. Oh and you only get three tries at the golems.”

“Oh. Why are you trying to win the tournament anyway?” Lintian asks casually.

“It is for our young master,” Tang replies. It was a reply with no answers.

“I really don’t see the point. You guys look a little desperate to win why?”

“It is not something that you need to know.”

“I might be able to help better if you tell me. For example if you need money, martial skills, formation arrays etc. If you tell me I might be able to provide it.”

“I doubt it,” Tang laughs wildly. “I applaud that you were able to chisel your way into our little group but the world isn't as simple as that.”

Lintian waves up his hands in defeat. “You literally just told me there is no way to win the tournament so you don’t even need me. So you’re just toying with me right now.”

“Yeah I am. How about this. Help us raise 20 million qi stones and I will help you get back.”

“Do you even know where I am from and how to get me back?”

“Yeah I do. While you were studying our language the last two days I have been with Fang and Lee to figure out where you came from. You are from a planet called earth. 30 light years away from our planet Eridani. Normally it will cost you 50 million qi stones for the travel but the Zheng family here controls it so as long as you help our young master, he is willing to help you for free.”

Wow that explains a lot Lintian thought silently to himself. The technology, the pre tech era looking buildings and the way everyone is dressed here. Still like the time traveling theory better Lintian pouts to himself.

“Our family usually travels to your planet on training missions and other stuff. Let me think the last trip was about 8 months ago. So you got 4 more months. If you can raise the money by that time then we can help you.”

“So twenty million in four months?” Lintian asks a little anxious.

Tang looks a bit amused and said, “No, twenty million in one month.”

How the hell am I suppose to raise that much in a month when I have shit to start off with? Lintian thought angrily to himself.

“Will you tell me why you guys are so urgent for this money?” Lintian asks completely confused. “Your family is obvious powerful enough that twenty-million should be chump change.”

“In normal cases it would be but currently our young master’s funds are cut off.”

Lintian was feeling a little pissed right now but wasn't showing it on his face. He knows their young master is sick.

“Let me change my question. What do you guys need to buy with the twenty-million?” Lintian asks.

“Vermillion Wild Fruit,” Tang blurts out without thinking.

“The Vermillion Wild Fruit?” Lintian restated a bit flabbergasted. “From the tree that absorbed the bloodline of an Archaic beast? The Vermillion bird?”

“Yes.”

“That only cost 20 million here?” Lintian asks a little astonished by the cheap price. On his planet it costed 2.3 Billion qi stone for it.

“No it will be at least 200 million qi stones and currently we are a bit short on money. Your twenty-million is just extra. Everyone one of us must come up with 50 million by the end of next month which is 47 days away. Currently we are at 37 million each and this tournament was suppose to get us the rest.”

“Okay I think I know whats going on now. I promise I won’t tell. Your young master has been poisoned by someone,” Lintian said and saw Tang and Xiang glance at each other uncomfortable. “Let me finish. It is pretty elementary actually. First your family is powerful and in any powerful family there are internal turmoils. It is a really common plot in many stories actually. If you guys read any books. Your master is poisoned and it is up to you to buy the ingredients to help him.”

“Cough, her, cough.” Xiang coughs.

“Oh she's a girl? Why are you calling her young master and not young…” Lintian then realizes they have no word for mistress, “Whatever then! The point is she needs these ingredients to fully heal herself. The actually question is how long ago has she been poisoned?”

Lintian looks at them and they stares back.

“I might be able to help just saying. Only reasonable time frame is 2 to 3 months or else she basically be dead.”

“Four months already,” Tang said.

“Wow and she is still alive? Anyway let me see her. I might be able to help her. My planet has many medicines for many different types of poison and disease. If I recognize it I might have cheaper method of saving her.”

“I think we should,” Xiang said reluctantly. “Earth is a pretty advance planet compare with ours. He just might be able to help.”

“Fine,” Tang said reluctantly. It was a weird feeling for him. For some particular reason he could not completely resist Lintian’s demands. It was like a silent urge of trying to please a higher being. He himself was clearly stronger than him. Xiang for some reason has almost completely succumb to Lintian’s charm. Just two days ago he was fuming and now he was siding with him? What sort of charisma is this? This didn't make sense at all.