Gu Erin wanted to cry but had no tears, as lee Tao dragged him along, to observe the targeted carriage. Although Gu Erin had pointed it out he was starting to regret playing into this, but he had no other choice.
Why were so many powerful gazes fixated on him? Did they know he was a regressor? Gu Erin could not tell if the gazes of these people were in or out of Heaven's Mercy. He had heard of rumors in his past life that some people swore they were being watched, but he never really believed them. Which powerful being would waste its time to watch every little thing one mortal did?
Yet, here Gu Erin was, with the equivalent of having who knew how many people breathing down his neck. Gu Erin had the urge to run back into the Temple of the Heavens. Gu Erin now had a lot of pressure on him, he had to both fool the shameless monk in front of him, and the powers watching him.
"Brother you said the first step is to fake an accident right, I think I should act the one to be ran over, I should let senior brother show me how its done." Lee Tao said happily slowing his excited pace to match Gu Erin's more leisurely one.
Gu Erin shook his head; how could he be the one acting? No, it would be best to let the truly shameless take the lead in this act.
"No, you should act as my blood brother while I get hit, my constitution is better so I can make it more convincing." Gu Erin said firmly.
In the end, Lee Tao could only nod in agreement, although they didn't look similar enough to be blood brothers, didn't Westerners often say that all Asians look similar? Truly Westerners just didn't know how to pick out a true beauty like himself. Lee Tao threw a pitying look at Gu Erin, his newfound brother. He sighed internally, not all were favored by the heavens to have such good looks.
Gu Erin on the other hand, felt his mind twitch for no reason as he felt the urge to sneeze, was someone insulting him or plotting against him?
However, Gu Erin didn't pay it much mind as he familiarized himself with the town around him. He had been to Haymire a few times due to the mountain incident that resulted in a massacre. So, he knew the town better than most. However, he never really took time to appreciate the differences.
Along the main roads businesses and courtyards were clean and emanating high amounts of qi. Gu Erin knew that there were more than three formations on each building. Truly luxurious for such a town, but understandable considering its short distance from the royal capital.
The streets were bustling, but not overly crowded, however there were still too many people to walk without impediment. The carriage had finally started moving, the lateness of the day finally starting to show as the sky turned a darker hue. Gu Erin tapped Lee Tao as they both started to get into position.
Walking along leisurely Gu Erin and Lee Tao happened to cross the path of the carriage, before a well-placed trip made Gu Erin fall to the ground. Making him unable to pass off to the side of the carriage before it was too late. The driver panicked as soon as he lost sight of Gu Erin, as he went under the cart. Before the driver heard a muffled sound of shock, and he felt a single thump. As he managed to stop the horse and the momentum of the cart.
Unbeknownst to the driver, Gu Erin was holding a small warped board, to which he was able to slip under the wheel at the perfect time. Although this action worked in helping mitigate the pressure on Gu Erin, it still caused him to wince in pain.
So, he was quite thankful at the driver's quick recovery, he did not wish to test the board a second time. Gu Erin acted fast as he stowed the board under the carriage. Both Lee Tao and the Driver hopping toward him.
Gu Erin quickly put on the act of weakly grabbing his chest, before Lee Tao and the driver arrived. He saw the driver's grimace, and Lee Tao's face. Gu Erin spat out a mouthful of blood, not out of injury but of anger.
Gu Erin screamed inwardly. "What's with that damn smile you monk bastard!"
Indeed, on Lee Tao's face was a wide smile, however seeing Gu Erin's nearly murderous glare Lee Tao quickly schooled his expression like it had been an illusion. All at once appearing distressed and at a loss.
Seeing this massive transition Gu Erin once again spat blood, forcing the Driver into even further panic. Not hesitating anymore Lee Tao went to his roll after giving his senior brother time to shine. Though mainly he thought it was funny on how he actually got run over. Wasn't he just to make it look and sound like an accident? Did his senior brother actually want to get run over?
Lee Tao rushed to Gu Erin's side making it look like he was checking his chest, before sharply inhaling. He smiled weakly at Gu Erin, his side… was actually bleeding. For a moment he forgot how to act as he did not know what to do. Were there any hospitals around here?
Unknowingly Lee Tao's wordless and weak smile, as if he was lost for words, made the driver's panic double. The Driver was starting to curse himself for not paying respect to his ancestors that day.
Gu Erin however, had to get Lee Tao back on track, he was about to weakly speak out, but before he could Lee Tao had managed to slip out of his daze. His recovery speed was simply too fast. Did he not even care about him? In fact, Gu Erin saw a glint pass in Lee Tao's eyes, this bald monk was just thinking on how to use this!
Much to Gu Erin's apprehension, yes within that brief second, of all Lee Tao's thoughts, most of them were about how to benefit from this the most.
"Brother." Lee Tao spoke in a solemn voice. "This is no small amount of damage, I'm not sure you'll make it. Should I go and try and find your wife Lucy before you pass?"
Gu Erin was starting to feel pale at the amount of blood he spat up. Although his side was pinched by the board it was a small injury. In fact, Gu Erin could already feel it healing. Gu Erin spat out another mouthful of blood at the end of lee Tao's statement. He was going to beat that monk, if word got to Lucy that people thought she was his wife he would most assuredly be dead. That tigress would bite him to death for less than half that reason.
Lee Tao however, was briefly amazed at Gu Erin's Dao of Shamelessness, where could one learn to cough up blood like that, it was very convincing.
The Driver was on the verge of feinting, and the crowd was aghast at the sight.
Gu Erin raised his hand to Lee Tao, 'To… The …. Alchemist." He groaned weakly.
Lee Tao quickly nodded with affirmation, before turning to the driver. "Sir driver, you will help us right? You have already run over my brother. Do you want to leave and run over my brother a second time?" Towards the end Lee Tao's tone turned slightly Icey.
The crowd's attention quickly gathered on the driver, as the driver himself felt cold sweat start to form on his broad forehead. He knew he had been seen, if it was night and he had done so he would have just kept going. But, now that his potential customers and sellers had seen him he could not escape.
"W-Why yes, please let me drive you." The Driver said weakly, truly this lesser merchant's luck was truly bad to run into these two today.
Lee Tao had carefully picked Gu Erin up before hoisting him onto the driver's bench, before going up himself. Gu Erin did his best to keep going in the act, as he weakly groaned in pain with every big bump in the road.
When the carriage finally stopped they were before a fine-looking shop near the town's center. Lee Tao made sure to cause a ruckus as he demanded that he pay for his treatment, the carriage driver looked even more distressed by the situation. More of the Driver's potential customers were watching, if he denied something like this then where could he show his face?
The Driver simply gave in and accepted this loss, leading the way into the Alchemist's shop. Bottles and powders lined the walls, and the fragrant smell of herbs filled the air. A nice-looking receptionist waited behind a counter, whom immediately reacted by coming out and pulled up a chair for Gu Erin. As if this was a daily occurrence.
Gu Erin hadn't expected to get this far, in his last life when he was desperate enough to do this, the merchant simply ran over him and kept driving like it was normal.
Gu Erin had a bad premonition, wasn't his luck too good? He felt like something was about to go very wrong.