When I woke up, there was not much to do. I couldn't go hunting rats, and looking for goblins in the woods was so damn annoying. I decided to wait for the cart, and then just go for as long, as the food supply will allow me. So, as I said, there was not much to do.
When I finally woke up, I took my backpack with goblin crystals and went to the city center. In my head, thoughts about the nice bed in Wuxia's room were lurking around. I just couldn't get rid of them. I wanted so badly to sleep on a mattress.
Luca was keeping an eye on the device. He didn't say a thing but obviously kept watching me. I had no idea if Zhang Yong talked to them, or even intended to at all. I started to regret my yesterday's behavior.
I sold the crystals for 11k points and bought four wide, and long wooden planks, bearskin, few nails, and two short but thick, rectangle-shaped wood pieces. Some food, which I ate, and also filled the bottles with water. I drank some and took the rest with me. It would normally be hard to bring it all back home, but since I was stronger, more agile, the difficulty declined. Not to mention the most important thing, my stamina was incredible. I probably could go toe to toe with professional athletes.
Bearskin was very expensive - 500. 16 nails were 320 points, rectangle pieces of wood 50 each, and wooden planks 200 each. Food and drinks 20 points. 1740 points in total, but it was worth it.
I made my new bed and went to sleep on it. A nice few hours of rest after a very long grind. I woke up hungry, so there was no other choice, but to yet again, go to the city center. Some hunters returned from the woods, but not Zhang Yong's men. They were earning too much in a steady way, to get back so early. I filled my backpack with food and headed out.
The rest of the day I spend in the new bed, lying comfortably on fur. Then night came, and I fell asleep.
The next day, I got up as usual. After eating I sat on my new bed and started thinking. My hunting spot got taken from me and running through the woods after goblins was a terrible alternative. There were also orcs, but from what I heard there was no way I could hunt them. I never explored the right side of the forest. Soon probably others would travel there with hopes of discovering another monster lair. Now they had rats and were occupied by them, so I had a short window to use.
That's how I came up with an idea of how to spend my time, and also do something useful. I didn't want to travel outside without the cart, but there was another option, to have a good look at what's hiding in the forest. I only took the metal knife with me, and started to head in the direction where the fourth gate should be, but wasn't.
I approached the wall, and walked alongside it for a bit, to find a good spot for climbing. Normally I wouldn't be able to accomplish such a task, but now, with an upgraded body, it was possible. It took me some time and a couple of tries but finally ended successfully.
I had a nice view of a big chunk of the city, and also the forest. Unfortunately, didn't spot anything hidden under the wall of tries, no matter how hard I focused my eyes. There were no creatures roaming or other indicators of a monster's lair. In the end, I gave up.
But then I saw something else. Something that was not there before. A fourth gate appeared. It was quite far away from me, so I didn't see it at first. And it definitely wasn't there before, because I checked. I looked for it for an entire day. I immediately thought about the device upgrade. It happened after I was done searching. It would also explain why others didn't find the third gate before when they were looking for newcomers spread through the whole city.
Could the second gate be also the same case? I had no answers for those questions so in the end I climbed down, and made my way to the gate. It looked just like two others. Completely plain. Only gate number two was different. I got outside and roamed around the trees for a bit, but was unable to find anything, so I headed back, ate, and went o sleep.
I woke up the next day and immediately got on my feet. I checked equipment, had some food, and headed to the city center. Things I discovered got me going. There was a possibility of a hunting ground comparable to the rat ones. I just needed to do some reconnaissance.
Something unexpected happened during my walk. A group of familiar faces showed more or less halfway. They were from Wuxia.
- Zhang Yong wants to talk with you. Follow us.
I could probably outrun them, and lose them if they would try to chase me, but it was a bad idea. Something was telling me that my behavior towards Zhang Yong came to bite me in the ass.
- What does he want? I thought we were done.
- Just follow us.
- Fuck
But I followed. They led me to the same room I talked with their boss before.
- Welcome - he said, and with a gesture invited me to take a seat.
- Yeah... Hi. What do you want?
He sat on his chair, on the other side of the table, and clasped the fingers of both hands together. Then he started to make circles with his thumbs. One over the other. I waited in silence.
- I needed some time to analyze the situation of Wuxia. Think about your plan and so on... I think you need to be there. It's only fair since that's your plan.
- That's not what we agreed on.
- Yes. You are right. You promised me tons of crystals, but I still don't have them.
I wanted to tell him to go and fuck himself, but instead, I kept my mouth shut. I was not so dumb to make the same mistake for the second time in a span of two days.
- Fine, but after that I'm free.
- I'll think about it.
He smiled at me. I couldn't take it anymore and stormed out.
- Take him to his room! - Zhang Yong shouted to his men standing outside the door.
That's how I was led to the room I slept in before. Just as back then, there were a few guards keeping an eye on me. I was furious, but instead of raging, I lied down and tried to calm myself. It was a very boring few hours. I was not allowed to get out, and there was nothing to do.
At some point, Zhang Yong paid me a visit holding a bowl made of clay, full of some kind of stew. There was also a wooden spoon.
- You will be staying here for a couple of days. We need some time to prepare better.
- So I am a prisoner now?
He smiled.
- Yes. Try to think about the execution of your plan. Time should pass quicker.
He gave me a bowl. I needed a second to process what I just heard, but he left before I said anything. He clearly knew how to take revenge. I underestimated him. Twice.
The period ended with 13 026 points on my account and 2642 hidden next to the third gate.