...

While I am extremely excited about the potential of taming and cultivating healing abilities, I need to focus on the near term. Looking around, I decide the first thing I can do is try to see if I can see anything in this market that is underpriced and try to sell it for its actual or increased price (with the scanning ability).

And so, I went from stall to stall to stall. What I found was that they underprice many of the items. It is likely because of the market we are in, so I added a line in the table to allow comparisons between true value, market value, and perceived value for this situation. This massively helped to determine what is worth what.

However. I came up against a big, obvious problem. I have no money. While exploring I could get an approximate value of money by looking at other people handling it. While compiling, I had it compared to the value of the American dollar:

Tiny Copper Coin: 1 cent–poor quality ingredients–1/100 of dollar

Copper Coin: 10 cent–cost of 2 poor meals–1/10 of dollar

Big Copper Coin: 1 dollar–5 of these is the normal pay for the average worker every day - 1 dollar

Half-Silver: 50 dollars–5 days stay in an average inn with nutritious meals, upper end of poor medicinal items, inferior quality mortal luxury goods

Silver Coin: 100 dollar–Cost of a weapon, average medicinal items, average mortal luxury goods, weakest spirit stone

Big Silver Coin: 1,000 dollars - Cost of a poor home, cost of armor, poor cultivation ingredients, high quality mortal medicinal items, high quality mortal luxury goods

Half-Gold: 50,000

Gold Coin: 100,000 dollars

Big gold coin: 1,000,000 dollars

Half-Jade: 50,000,000

Jade Coin: 100,000,000

Big Jade Coin: 1,000,000,000

The comparison of the items came from what I could see around. The higher value coins (starting at Half-Gold), I wasn’t able to see an example of. I could only get the currency system from the query. Once again, after pushing for the currency system, I seemed to get a headache. It might be time to stop pushing it so much. With this in mind, I will need to find some way to get money, so I can buy it.

Coming up with an idea, I pull out a dollar and attempt to figure out how I can use this. Maybe I can sell this as a luxury item or something. I’ve perused through most of this entire market, with only a few to go. I think it would be better to go to someone who doesn’t seem as busy. Walking over to one stall I haven’t been to; I can see that it is a medicinal seller.

A quick perusal of his wares shows typical pills for healing mundane illnesses and… wait a second. What is that? A closer look at the pill reveals:

Body Refinement Pill

Grade–High

True Value/Market Value/Perceived Value: 25 Big Silvers/1 Half-Silver/30 Big Silvers

Helps a non-cultivator prepare their body to undergo cultivation. Ingesting this pill helps refine the body by removing impurities, which can help with a breakthrough into cultivation and strengthens their cultivation base. Qi Condensation Cultivators can benefit from this pill to clear their bodies further of impurities, but has reduced effects. The higher the grade of the pill, the more impurities removed and the higher their starting cultivation base.

This is a bit of a conundrum. Based on this information, the person in front of me knows the true value of this pill. However, they are still selling it for a single silver. This reeks of trouble. As I attempt to walk away, I hear a whisper… almost like it is in my ear.

“Wait.”

My body freezes, almost out of my control. Turning back around carefully, I take a better look at the man. Wearing a conical hat covering his face, his arms folded under long sleeves, the only visible part of the older man’s skin, is his mouth.

“Did you see something you like, among my… wares?” his voice whispers, yet seems to be loud enough to be easily heard above market’s hum. Somehow, I feel as if every aspect of myself is being watched. Even down to my cells, I feel a slight prickle.

For a moment, I consider scanning him to see what I’m dealing with, but decide it isn’t worth the risk. This might be that “divine sense” I’ve heard of in cultivation novels, and if it is, that means he is a cultivator who can easily kill me. In fact, if I had to say, it feels purposeful that I can feel this.

I say the truth, “Um, I saw that pill there. It seems different from the others. If you don’t mind my asking, but why are you selling it for that price?”

The merchant’s mouth twitches, but he remains silent for a small time, pondering his response. With a grin, he decides.  “Humph. Well, I wasn’t expecting you to just come out and ask. Well, I guess that’s a strategy of its own… it looks like you determined the worth of this pill. Unfortunately, this pill isn’t for you. Now, normally I would just wipe your memory and be done with it. However, I have an errand that needs doing, and it seems to match with something that could be helpful for you.”

He motions to my back pocket. “You seem to have no money and do not understand what you are doing.”

Cautiously, I nod.

“Great. You could sell those pieces of paper in your leather casing for a decent amount. If you head to the luxury seller near the center of town, you can get a decent price for it. Drop this package off to him and you should be good. Note that it is valuable. So, don’t get… lost.”

He lowers his hand slowly. “You could decline and have your memory wiped instead. That’s always an option.” Quickly, I shake my head in stark denial of that option.

“Excellent, at least you have common sense. Here’s the package.”

Handing me a fist-sized orb wrapped in a velvet cloth, his hat raises enough to meet my eyes. “Good luck on your journey, kid. Oh, and just some advice and a warning.” He says offhandedly.

“Not all people are as nice as me. Some people would just as easily kill you for your clothes and items as look at you. Not only that, but make sure you treat people accordingly when you learn of their status when compared with yourself.

“Being too honest and open with your intentions, leaves yourself open to being… removed. You would do well to understand this culture and quickly, if you want to survive.

…

“I will say there are some benefits to being the way you are.” With that said, the old man shakes his hand and lowers his hat again, dismissing me.

As I turn away, he stops me one last time. “Oh, and I’m not sure how you would do it, but really consider where and when you use that ability to read people. Not all things are as hidden as you might think.”

I freeze, with one of my abilities laid bare. Slowly, turning back to him, I realize what I must do. I pull from my knowledge of Chinese culture and bow to him as low as I can.

The advice and insights he gave to me are something that I needed to realize. I’ve been treating this subconsciously like an adventure. This is not that. This is survival. Until I’m able to defend myself and understand the rules of this world, I need to be more aware of my actions. I can’t assume my abilities are hidden. I must take this slowly and watch what I do.

After holding the bow for a few seconds, I rise to complete the mission he gave to me.