v2c66: Crystal Deal (Patreon)

“Yes, Sir. You may store your wares here. I swear upon the Honour of the Pale Moon Lake City Guard that none shall touch it.” The guard said, as he handed me a note with a seal on it. He and his fellows saluted me respectfully. He had pointed to a storage area on the map, near one of the guard houses.

“Thanks. You boys have a good day, now!” I called to them. They bowed once again, as the bandits were taken to the temporary holding cells. They were apparently a newer group, but there had already been complaints about them. A gang from the city, that had been pushed out into the countryside.

If I had a nickel for every time I had to take people to the police after arresting them, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it is a bit strange that it happened twice.

With a shrug, I headed over to the place the guards directed me to, lugging the cart. It had been a bit funny to see the looks on their faces as I wandered in pulling this monstrosity, with a bunch of beaten up bandits tied up on it. They were quite polite, but they all seemed a bit caught off guard, and I think they were slacking a bit, because they had something that was emitting a dull buzz, like an alarm or something.

It was strange being in Pale Moon Lake City again. But I suppose it was nice. I hadn’t really looked too much at the city when I was here, the last time. In and out as fast as I could, on a rainy, miserable day. This Pale Moon Lake City was much livelier than that one, and while I didn't particularly like the smell, I did want to at least explore this time. I had missed a lot of the city. The buildings looked fantastic, in all their tiered glory, a living breathing ancient city. Aone with parks and pavilions sprinkled throughout it, and one that was surprisingly clean. The wide avenues were clear of trash or dung, for the most part, with the worst of it being confined to the slums outside the walls.

It was a little irritating getting the cart through the street, though, and I would be glad to have somewhere to store it soon. It wasn’t that it was particularly heavy, I don’t think. My muscles weren’t sore, but I was getting pretty tired at the end of the day. Which made sense, really. To Verdant Hill wasn’t exactly that long a trip, so I guess fatigue wouldn't have time to build up.

I got through things fairly easily, though. The people at the depot got the note, and immediately led me to a windowless warehouse with a thick, heavy set of iron doors, where my cart was locked up tight.

And then it was off into the city again. With a rabbit stuffed down the front of my shirt, a snake curled around my arm, and a chicken on my shoulder. They were all eager and excited to accomplish their mission, the crystal secure in my pack.

Mengde’s Crystal Emporium was pretty easy to find, especially with Yun Ren telling me where it was. The shop was massive compared to most, and the obvious crystals surrounding it really drove home how “fantasy” this section of the city was. If the massive columns and gold filigree in the doors wasn’t enough of a giveaway. Or the giant palace that was probably as big half the Forbidden City of Beijing.

I opened the door, and another buzzer greeted us, clattering away as we walked in. A man at the front perked up—

“Hey, long time no see!” I called to him, as his eyes widened. It was the guy who had come to Verdant Hill to sell me my first crystal! The man seemed quite surprised to see me.

“Ah, honoured customer!” he said, glancing at the clattering device. It was making quite the racket. He tapped it once, turning it off. “Is everything well with your purchase?”

I waved him off. “Everything is perfect. I’m actually here to see Biyu?” I asked. The man nodded, but I caught some grumbling about “Lucky Geniuses.”

He went to the back, leaving me alone for a moment in the nearly empty shop. I took the time to gawk at the crystals. Some of them were faintly luminescent, some of them were stored in special stone cases, and others were simply in lacquered boxes. Honestly? They looked a bit like fake plastic, which is kind of funny.

“Um, Master Jin?” a soft voice asked, and I turned. Biyu looked exactly like the pictures Yun Ren had taken of her. Wide eyes, fluffy hair, and a tentative smile.

“Yeah, thats me! Nice to finally meet you, Biyu!” I said, exchanging bows with the woman. Her eyes flicked to Bi De, then to Yin, and sparked for a brief moment with childish joy before she got it under control.

“Master Jin, Bi De, Master Jing awaits, and wishes to meet as soon as you are able, if it pleases you.” She said formally, and Big D ruffled his feathers happily at the acknowledgement.

“I’m good to meet now, if hes ready.” I told her. She nodded once, determination coming over her features.

“This way, please!” She said, and turned, leading me through the building, and out the back.

While the building was pretty big, there was an entire courtyard behind it. One filled with trees, and even a stream filled with koi.

“You've been doing well?” I asked Biyu, and she jumped a bit, turning a questioning eye to me.

“Ah, yes, very busy, especially after Yun’s gift. It's so… it's so interesting, all the ancient styles!” She enthused, her eyes shining, “And Master Jing is very happy with how I’m progressing!”

“And… um, sorry. I know of Bi De, but you two are?” she asked politely. I smiled at the earnest question.

The rabbit and the snake introduced themselves, Biyu nodding along. “You’re so beautiful!” she complimented Yin, and the rabbit preeneed as Biyu led us to a slightly smaller building, but one that was the most ornamented out of the lot. It looked old.

“Anything I should know before meeting your Master?” I asked.

She seemed to think for a moment. “I don’t think so?” she asked nervously. ”He has always been kind to me, but….” she trailed off.

I nodded. “Well, thanks for the help. Dinner, My treat tonight? I got some embarrassing stories of Yun Ren, directly from his mom.”

Biyu’s face flushed red, then she laughed, and nodded, knocking on the door.

“Master Jing.” She called.

“Enter.” came the aged voice.

Biyu opened the door.

The house was slightly simpler than I had been expecting. There was a fine seating area in the center, but for the most part, the house was a workshop. Massive tables, and racks of tools dominated the room, with what looked like hundreds of tomes lining the walls.

It was the house of somebody absolutely dedicated to his craft, with the bare minimum that he could entertain a guest if he had to.

I got the feeling that it was also a statement. He could have probably met me in a fancy restaurant, or something, but instead, it was at the heart of his domain, with proof of his graft and dedication surrounding us. The man’s bed was directly next to a workbench.

“So, you are the one who has been so good to our Crystal Emporium.” The old voice stated, and I got my first look at Master Jing. He looked.. A bit stereotypical, if I’m honest. A wizened face that looked like old leather that had been left out in the sun too long, and one of those thin mustaches that hung down to his chest. His old eyes, however, were still as sharp as daggers. He wore the exact same thick cloak, gloves, and goggles as Biyu did, with nothing to denote a superior rank.

“Mengde Jing greets the Master Cultivator.” the old man said respectfully, bowing low.

I nodded, clasping my own hands in front of me, and returning his respect.

“Thank you for meeting with us.” I said, as Yin hopped out of my shirt, and Big D flapped down. The man’s eyes focused on them intently, and then they drifted back to me.

He didn’t seem surprised to see them. In fact, he offered them both polite nods.

Huh.

Biyu herself bowed, and made to leave as I sat down.

“Stay, little stone.” he commanded, and Biyu tentatively sat beside her master.

“I understand you come to us with a problem, Master Cultivator?” He asked.

I nodded, and glanced to Big D, who nodded as well.

“Yeah, I wanted to see if this could be fixed.” I pulled out my pack, and carefully, avoiding touching the crystal, opened it and set it on the table. It had certainly seen better days, but it wasn’t flickering too badly at the moment. It simply sat there, with the spokes of other crystal sticking out of it.

Master Jing’s eyes widened, as he stared at the crystal. He swallowed thickly, as his eyes traced over its form. Biyu too was just staring, almost like she was having a religious experience.

“Wonderous…” Master Jing breathed. “In all my years…”

“May I? He asked, and I nodded.

He pulled his goggles over his eyes, and stood, walking around the table. “Grown into it. Six thousand years?” he muttered, as he looked closely at the spokes. “I have not seen this variation of the Azure Ancient Style.”

He kept muttering about spokes and faceting, until he suddenly whistled.

There was a shuffling sound, and from the back of the house strode a creature. If I had never seen the creature in the Before, I probably would have been shocked. It’s face was free of fur and pale blue, with a lack of a nose that reminded me vaguely of a skull. Beady eyes that were almost black peered at us, and orange fur surrounded his face.

A Golden Snub-nosed monkey. It cocked its head to the side as it stared at us, before handing over a stange tool to the man.

But his eyes were still a bit dull. Well trained, instead of a surprise spirit beast.

Master Jing was completely transfixed at the crystal, His strange tool waved around overtop of it, and around it, as he mared down numbers that completely went past me.

His breathing slowly got faster, and Biyu’s eyes went wider and wider at whatever the crystal maker was writing down.

Until he abruptly stopped, staring at what he had  written. His hands were shaking, as he slowly sat back down, pulling off his goggles.

“Biyu, retrieve for me the reference books from the vault.” he commanded, and pulled out a key, handing it to the olwish girl. She nodded grimly, and went to do as bid.

His breaths were shallow, as he looked at the crystal, then he turned back to us and bowed low.

“Mengde Jing thanks the Master Cultivator and his companions for allowing him to examine their crystal.” he whispered, and began chewing on his lip as his eyes returned to the crystal.

We ended up waiting for a bit more. I didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts, as Biyu came back with a few old and dusty looking scrolls that Master Jing immediately opened, his eyes flowing feverishly over the letters, while he occasionally said a number that Biyu dutifully wrote down.

It was about an hour of sitting, watching both of them work, when Jing finally spoke again.

“Master Cultivator. While it is unstable, this Mengde Jing believes it can be fixed. With the entire resources of our crystal Emporium, it shall take thirty years, if the heavens favour us.” He stated matter of factly. “Should you choose to entrust this duty to us, we shall carry it out to the end.”

Thirty years?!

Big D recoiled in shock.

“Is… there any faster way?” I asked.

“Perhaps a cultivator.” he admitted. “But first they would have to learn the ancient style of the Azure hills. Which is a task that would take several years itself… if we were willing to open the vaults to such a scholar.”

I grimaced. Ancient copyright huh? I frowned at the crystal. Well, it's going to take a long ass time. Would Big D even be alive in thirty years?

I scratched at my head, as Big D looked at the crystal with frustration. Like a corrupted hard-drive with all your work. If only we had some backups, or some way to transfer it or….

I paused.

“...is there any way to just get whatever is stored inside out?” I asked. “Like, transferred to another crystal?”

Master Jing frowned.

“That may be possible.” He said at last. “But we would need another. One who is ill inclined to help…. But he may.” He glanced at his pet monkey, then at Big D. He looked conflicted, his eyes flicking once to the crystal.

He wanted to study it. To work on it. I could see the ill disguised hunger.

‘We merely require the knowledge.’ Big D stated, speaking for the first time. ‘Should we retrieve what we need, we shall entrust the empty vessel to you.’

Master Jing didn’t seem shocked at the voice. Instead, he took a deep breath.

“I must speak to my fellows, and Master Gen.” he finally said, and bowed once again.

I nodded, and we left with Biyu, as the man pondered.

Big D was obviously frustrated with the outcome. And I was a bit too. Seriously, thirty years to repair it? Hopefully we would be able to do at least something with it earlier than that.

Biyu took me to a tasty noodle shop, and even if she was a bit nervous, she was good enough company. I kind of really wanted to tousle her hair, though. It was just so fluffy!

At the end of the day, we came back to the crystal emporium, where Master Jing was waiting for us.

“Master Gen will meet with you,” Jing stated, and handed over a sheet of paper.

A map, of an area that looked close to the Dueling peaks. 

Well, I guess I was definitely visiting now.

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I'm not entirely happy with the conversation and the deal made here.

Other than that, not much to say on this one.