Chapter 20 - Chapter no.20 An Ante of Life

The dimly lit room was filled with an eerie silence, the kind that instills a chill in one's bones. The air was thick with tension and a sense of foreboding. A single flickering candle cast eerie shadows on the walls as it fought to keep the darkness at bay. I stood before the massive figure of Kunlan, a being unlike any I had ever encountered before.
Kunlan's immense body was covered in a thick, wild fur that seemed to writhe and dance with a life of its own. His conical mask, adorned with fearsome patterns and symbols, obscured his face, while saliva dripped down from its edge. The air was heavy with the stench of his breath, a mixture of putrid meat and sulfur.
Feeling my knees tremble, I managed to ask, "How do I pay back the debt?"
As if responding to my question, Kunlan's fur spiked up and more saliva began to pool beneath his mask.
"10 Chrysotiles," Kunlan boomed, his voice reverberating through the room and causing me to wince. Confusion set in as I tried to make sense of his demand.
"What the hell is a Chrysotile?" I wondered to myself. Sensing my confusion, Kunlan snarled with impatience.
"You ignorant insect," he said, the disgust in his voice palpable.
"A Chrysotile is an unrefined mineral that contains spiritual Qi."
I couldn't help but chuckle nervously.
"My furry friend," I said, "You can see that there are no mines here. How could I possibly obtain a Chrysotile?"
Kunlan's expression softened ever so slightly, and he conceded, "Fair enough." As he spoke, a drop of saliva fell from his mask, landing on my bed with a sizzle as it began to erode through the sheets. I watched in horror, my eyes widening with every passing second.
"You could do what Alexander did," Kunlan suggested, his voice now a low growl.
I swallowed hard, my throat feeling like sandpaper.
"What did he do?" I asked hesitantly, even though I knew what Kunlan was referring to.
"He exchanged corpses with me," Kunlan said simply, as if discussing a mundane matter.
"Do you want me to do the same?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my hands clammy with sweat.
"Yes," Kunlan answered, a cruel smile playing on his lips as his massive paw caressed my cheek, leaving a trail of dampness in its wake.
I racked my brain for a solution, trying to find a way out of this morbid predicament.
To me, killing everyone else wasn't a problem.
If anything, I would be ecstatic to kill them but there was one problem.
Yue Fei.
I wondered what consequences would befall me considering Alexander's instructors where indifferent to them, Yue Fei is clearly different.
Would he try to stop me if I kill the rest ?
I didn't know.
A glimmer of hope sparked in the corner of my eye, and an idea began to form.
"Mr. Kulan," I said, my voice wavering as I attempted to sound confident, "Do you want to make a bet with me?"
Intrigued, Kunlan tilted his head. "Oh, what do you propose?"
"How about this," I suggested, trying to keep my voice steady, "If I can kill over 100 lives in the next five minutes, Alexander's debt is repaid and you give me a free item."
A wicked grin spread across Kunlan's face, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth dripping with saliva. He exuded an oppressive aura that weighed on my shoulders like a ton of bricks.
"And what if you fail?"
I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat. "If I fail..." I paused, hesitating to voice the words, but knowing I had no other choice. "Then you can have my life."
Kunlan let out a deep, guttural laugh, his amusement echoing throughout the room. "Kekekekeeke, brat, you grow more interesting the more I observe you. How about we spice this bet up a bit? If you can do it, then I will add you as my personal customer and you get access to the ability to purchase the items I have as a member of the ganshin trade network.*
My heart raced, but I tried to maintain a calm façade as I knew the majority of Alexander's items that were either gone or used came from Kunlan, meaning I just have to win this best and I get to have the same treatment.
"I accept, but how can I be sure that you will keep your end of the bargain?" I asked, attempting to sound confident.
Kunlan pondered for a moment before reaching up to his head and plucking a small leaf. It appeared ordinary, but as soon as it was in my hand, it lit up with a golden symbol, radiating a faint glow.
"Here you go," Kunlan said. "That is my only access to the mirror world. Without it, I'm stuck in this plane of existence."
I nodded, understanding the importance of the leaf. "Start," Kunlan commanded, his voice heavy with anticipation. With that, I set off on my mission, heart pounding in my chest.
The sun shone brightly as I made my way to the large window in my room. The glass was cool to the touch as I slid it open, the movement smooth and effortless. Fresh air rushed in, filling my lungs as I took a deep breath. The scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers enveloped me, momentarily pushing my fears aside.
I stepped out into the lush garden, feeling the soft grass beneath my feet. Dew still clung to the blades, seeping into my shoes and cooling my skin. The garden sprawled out before me, a verdant landscape punctuated by rows of flowers and bushes lining the winding paths. The colors were vibrant, and the petals seemed as if they were painted with the finest of brushes.
I walked down one of the paths, taking in the beauty of the garden. The air was alive with the sound of birdsong, a soothing melody that served as a backdrop to my task. As I strolled, I caught sight of movement in the corner of my eye.
Kunlan watched impatiently from afar, wondering why I wasn't hurrying to fulfill my end of the bet.
"What is he planning?" he muttered to himself.
A growing sense of unease washed over Kunlan as he observed me capture a female grasshopper with lightning fast reflexes. I held the insect aloft, a sly grin playing on my lips.
"Do you know that during the summer, a female grasshopper can lay up to 100 eggs?" I asked, my voice tinged with triumph. In one swift motion, I crushed the grasshopper between my fingers.
Turning to face Kunlan, I declared, "With that, I have killed 100 lives."
Kulan was left dumbfounded, realization dawning on him that he had been outsmarted. The boy had played him like a fiddle. Despite his humiliation, Kunlan couldn't help but let out a deep, guttural laugh, the sound reverberating through the garden.
"Kekekekeeke!"
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The next few days, within the confines of the Twilight Dragon Estate, everyone who had been brought there began to find their footing in this strange and unforgiving place. A sense of normalcy slowly crept in as they adjusted to their new surroundings, and it wasn't long before a clear hierarchy emerged among them.
At the top of this nascent social order stood a girl named Chun Jiao. Her spiritual root was of the Supreme/Divine grade, a fact that was impossible to miss. She had a commanding presence, with eyes that seemed to pierce through the very souls of those around her.
The children who gravitated towards Chun Jiao were undoubtedly the strongest among their peers. Their shared strength and skill had forged a tight-knit group that was fiercely loyal to their leader. They were inseparable, always seen together as they trained and explored the estate. Their coordinated movements and shared laughter echoed through the halls, serving as a testament to their bond.
Not far behind in terms of numerical strength was a group led by a child named Xiao Khan. He was a tall, lanky boy with a mop of wild, curly hair that seemed to defy gravity. He had a quick wit and a sharp tongue, and he was always ready with a clever retort. Though his spiritual root was of the Heavenly/High grade and not as remarkable as Chun Jiao's, he made up for it with his charisma and intelligence.
Meanwhile, vying for the last place in the hierarchy were two boys: Lu Wendong and Hu Chenxi. Lu Wendong was a short and stocky boy, his round face marred by a perpetual scowl. Though his spiritual root was of the High grade, it paled in comparison to the other two leaders. He compensated for this with sheer determination, pushing himself harder than anyone else in his quest for power.
Hu Chenxi, on the other hand, was a skinny boy with a mop of unkempt hair that seemed to have a mind of its own. He possessed a High grade spiritual root and was something of a loner. He was always dressed in a tattered white tunic that had long since lost its luster and a pair of dirty brown pants that hung loosely on his thin frame.
As the hierarchy solidified, those children with weaker spiritual roots found themselves increasingly isolated. They were shunned by their peers and treated with disdain, their presence barely acknowledged. The other children dismissed them with a cruel, casual indifference.
"Who would want to associate with trash?" someone muttered one day, and the others around them nodded in agreement. The words hung in the air, a cruel reminder of the fate that awaited those who failed to measure up.
The Twilight Dragon Estate, where the children had initially found themselves, became a microcosm of the wider estate, with factions and rivalries taking shape within its dark and damp confines. Loyalty was paramount, and each group pursued its own agenda with single-minded determination to be on top.
The children with weaker spiritual roots were left to navigate this treacherous landscape alone, always on the outside looking in.
Through whispered conversations and furtive glances, the children began to forge alliances and hatch plots, determined to solidify their place in this new world.
As they navigated this new world, the Twilight Dragon Estate bore witness to yet another tale of ambition, betrayal, and power unfolding within its ancient walls. The destinies of all who dwelled there were shaped by these timeless struggles, repeating the patterns of human nature that the estate had observed countless times since its inception.