!!!
This time, a sharp headache attacks me.
I grasp my head as I grit my teeth.
"Huff..."
...
Alright, next...
Inventory.
-------------------
96/100 space used
Weapon:
-1 Silver Sword(10)
Material:
-2 Wooden Box(4)
Food:
-30 apples(30)
Pills:
-26 Blood Essence Pills(52)[Unorthodox]
-----------------------
-----------------------
Blood Essence Pills.
Grade: S
It improves the cultivation base of the body in exchange for life essence. However, the pill improves strength naturally.
Over-consumption may also result in "Blood Berserk" where the user loses every sanity and rationality. (A Blood Essence counter will show up. When the amount exceeds 1000, the player will enter a "Blood Berserk" state.)
When consumed:
Benefits:
+5 Strength
+200 Hp
+50 Qi(Inactive)
Disadvantages:
-100 Life Essence(Inactive)
+100 Blood Essence
*Inactive because of the player's missing Dantian and Meridian.
-------------------------
!!!!
Isn't this incredibly good? Great, I will use this in my last life.
I throw my glance at Jia Xi, she is paying no attention to me as she steers the horses' movement.
...
Unexpectedly, I pull out a sword and pierce it through the carriage to the driver's seat.
!!
...
"What are you...doing?" Jia Xi asks. Not a single speck of anxiety is present as if she is used to this situation.
With the sword still touching her back, I bash open one of the crates. As expected, aside from the spices, there are some black pills.
I throw all the boxes and fruits out of my inventory before storing the black pills in my inventory.
--------------------
96/100 space used.
Weapon:
-1 Silver Sword(10)
Pills:
-17 Primordial Blood Toxin(34)[Unorthodox]
-26 Blood Essence Pills(52)[Unorthodox]
---------------------
---------------------
Primordial Blood Toxin
A very lethal and cunning toxin that can dissolve perfectly in any liquid and exudes no smell. It can rarely be detected even by martial experts.
---------------------
I look around the carriage, it's the same as the alley, I feel no one and see no one but... Just to be safe...
"I know you are there. Show yourself." I bluff, plunging the sword deeper into her skin until a trail of blood flows.
"Stop." A shadow materializes behind me. "What do you want?"
It's a man in blue robes, fully masked.
"Put down your weapon at your feet," I say.
He complies, placing a pair of jade daggers right at his feet.
"Now jump off the carriage."
...
He nods and jumps off the moving carriage, landing safely on the paved road.
Now...
I turn my attention back to Jia Xi. "Answer me truthfully, I know when you are lying." I bluff.
"Who are you? A disguised mortal dispatched by the Wulin Alliance?" Jia Xi says with a grin.
The Wulin Alliance is a coalition of righteous and white factions working together to stop the unorthodox. Honestly speaking, the Wulin Alliance is a profit-based organisation so they operate only to earn money, not save people; they are not much different from the unorthodox. I learnt that the hard way when not even the Wulin Alliance bothered to investigate my village's demise. I heard rumours about it in my previous life. Many people know about it but no one bothered to care.
"Shut up. Only answer what I ask." I say. "Where would you take me if I said I want to work as a merchant assistant?"
...
"I would take you to Tie Guang and introduce you to a merchant Luo Ming." Says Jia Xi.
"What do Luo Ming sell?" I ask.
"Fruits."
"Is that all?"
"Yes." She answers with hesitation.
I push the sword deeper.
"Uck..." She grits her teeth.
"Don't lie. I told you I know when you are lying." I say, trying to convince her by mixing lies with facades of truth.
------------------
The Player has acquired a new skill:
Bluff(lvl 1)
Bluff is currently active.
------------------
Jia Xi clicks her tongue. "Illegal drugs." She finally says.
"Where do the drugs come from?" I ask.
"If you know the truth, is there a need to ask-"
I push the blade deeper again, she attempts to sit out a bit until I grab her arm.
"Just answer me," I say.
...
"The Blood Sect produced them."
"Are you part of the blood sect?"
"I'm not." Says Jia Xi.
"What's your identity then. How are you related to the blood sect?"
"I'm Jia Xi, the heir of the Prosperity Merchant group who is also a proxy of my group in the Blood Sect."
So she's doing business with the Blood Sect...
"Do you know the sect's location?" I ask.
"Not exactly."
Even if it may be a lie. It doesn't matter, I've come this far.
"Tell me. Where would you have brought me when I ask to be a mercenary."
!
Her eyes widen, an interesting response.
...
"So you already know everything..." says Jia Xi.
"I said answer me. Don't test my patience." I say. I might have managed to bluff Jia Xi into believing my words. After all, specifically pointing at the mercenary and merchant assistant is too much of a coincidence, which possibly means I already know about the activities.
Jia Xi sighs. "The mercenary will protect our carriage of 'special' goods and meet up with a blood sect member at the rendezvous point to strike the deal." She says, it seems like she has given up beating around the bush.
"i see, what about the construction worker?" I ask.
"You know that too? Heh... that's our disposal spot." Jia Xi says.
Disposal spot...?
"Bring me to the mercenaries, I will take part in protecting your secret goods," I say. A deal with the blood sect should be another bunch of godly pills or herbs. Maybe an artifact? Ha... it doesn't matter, I will need it.
"Will you kill me later on?"
"If you don't comply."
...
Jia Xi smirks. "Do you want the special goods?"
...
"I might switch sides for a bit of money."
I click my tongue. "Money or your life. Choose one."
...
Jia Xi sighs. "Alright alright, I will bring you to the mercenary group. Whatever happens afterwards is not my problem."
I don't get this woman. She is still so relaxed despite already oozing blood from the cut wound.