I entered the space as soon as I can. The inside has a mist that is pleasant to breath in I instantly know this is the mama mist present in Lu Aang's space jade. Near the previous lake there is a small pond with thick colorful fog swirling on top of it.
The grass I had transplanted in are vibrant and the space is almost triple the size, all the medicinal herbs planted have grown considerably large and the quality is even better. I am glad I went to the herb shop and took all the stock.
I spent some time planting them into the ground so they can all benefit from the increase in quality of mana in the air. The place I make my own will have a medical shop with all sort of necessary medication that can not be found now that pharmacies are no longer open.
I take out the box with the books, scrolls, trinkets and that bag of high level mana stones. I dug a small pit and poured the mana stones inside before taking back the other things, I will study them carefully later. I have already set aside half the mana stones for my cultivation. As a toy maker I have affinity with all the elements.
If my mana palace ha a lot of different mana essence drops condensed I can even make an entire castle from a toy model. But first I will use these high level mana stones to condense many more mana essence.
The grass is very bright but I feel like it could be better. I took a few metal grass and got out. After staring at the mark on my wrist I saw it disappear. That means my plan worked, it will upgrade all the mana items in there.
Next I use the metal mana grass, it is gray with a metallic hoe. I ate it and sat cross legged and used the scroll to accept the mana guiding it towards my channels and into the mana palace. There is not enough essence to quench the body and condense essence drop but I can feel my body becoming sturdier. When I opened my eyes it is already noon.
To assist the metal mana I use my power to strengthen my body further. The bite marks on my arms from the fight earlier disappeared with visible speed. My body became compact and sturdy. My fists and kicks are now accompanied by the whistle of the air I think I can now bust a head with a single punch.
I am in no hurry to leave so I will continue to meditate. I focus on metallic mana essence for now since I have plenty of high level unprocessed mana stone.
One day just as I finished condensing the third mana essence made from metal mana stone, a knock came in the door. Lu Pei looked at me with some surprise. I am also surprised to be eye to eye with him. Did I grow taller? It makes sense since my body was quenched by metallic mana. Not to mention my power that has been used insistently to make my body strong.
But.. I think I got thinner again. Seeing me frowning and smiling, Lu Pei cleared his throat.
"May I come in?" I let him in.
"You seem well, are you coming back with us? We came to take my grandma back who had been stuck here since the outbreak." He searched my face for any reaction, in the past I would have been very responsive to his action as a good grandson. I would have found his filial piety as an attractive quality.
"I need to go somewhere." I said dismissing his suggestion.
"Where?" He frowned.
"A construction material whole sale in city M East of here. I have a massive construction to undertake. That place will give me enough to start as soon as I come back." I say lighting a single.
"Can you not smoke inside the house?" Lu Pei said with a frown. After thinking for a little while, he aske me. "Do you have enough space to store all the building materials? I also need to collect materials so maybe we can help each other." He said thoughtfully.
"I don't see how, you are carrying an old lady can she take the journey?" I ask.
"It will be just you and I, I will let the others go back with her." He shook his head. Me on the other hand Am hesitant. Traveling with this guy for a few weeks? That seems ill advised.
"I have space but maybe you should prioritize your family before your family power. If anything happened to your grandma would you be able to bare it?" I asked him finishing my smoke.
"I am only one man. I could I possible do?" He asked frowning.
"You can shield her with your body." I smirked at his darkening expression.
"I leave first thing tomorrow." I remember that woman, she was the one who didn't like the grandson's new wife and by extension didn't like Lu Aang and myself. But where everyone else was cruel towards me she was always indifferent, choosing to ignore me than to push me into the pit of despair like the rest.
"Do you want to see her?" Lu Pei asked suddenly.
"No." I go to the kitchen and blend some frozen blue barriers and protein powder to drink. I will be drinking these three times a day for a while then if I get bigger later I can reduce the intake.
"Why are you drinking that? Do you not have food?" He asked me.
"I have food, I am just getting skinnier so I need protein." Those who have condensed essence drops can live without eating for long period of time. As time goes on people will prefer not eating because food is full of impurities which makes it hard to draw mana into their bodies as time goes on.
Lu Pei and most humans do not have this knowledge he also doesn't know that I have condensed mana essence. I now have five mana essence two of attribute less mana and three of metal mana.
"You seem to have a lot of secrets, if I had treated you well, would you have shared them with me?" Lu Pei watched me make myself breakfast then seating down to eat without even making any for him.
"You know you were a bad lover?" That is a very good start if I still had any affection for him I would be thrilled to see him admit his mistakes. but it is too late, he brings the worst in me.
"Is that why you want to come with me? To check out my secretes?" He doesn't answer but instead asks me for something.
"You can turn toys into real items right? Can you make a good vehicle for my grandma. I am a little worried for her safety."
"How did you know that?"
"I asked that Bai girl. What? Were you hoping to keep it a secret?" He asked calmly.
"I will give you but I want five mana cores." He doesn't say anything and gives me. After I finish eating I take out a few armored cars and he chose one.
"This will help thank you." He left likely going to tell the others of his decision.
The night came and for some reason a dense group of ghouls attached the area sniffing and I heard some get inside the house I am staying in I couldn't even put on my flexible armor.
Taking out the sword, I cut through the group. My sword and myself dancing in the dark for a few minutes but my body is full of bite marks, scratches and a few tongues had wrapped around my limbs a couple of times.
My stamina not failing me in the slightest. I am still wearing briefs, one ghoul snuck up and pulled me from the ground with it's powerful tongue. Looking up I am met with a large open mouth dripping acidic liquid onto my face and body as it drools at me.
My neck is being strangled and I am being pulled up towards to open mouth, my vision is filled with razor sharp teeth. It I am puled all the way in, I am a goner. Although my feet have left the ground my weight is not so easily handled after being nourished by metallic mana all these days.
However, I am slowly losing oxygen because my neck is being squeezed tightly.
Remembering this, I grabbed the tongue with one hand and pulled the crawler from the ceiling. It didn't budge, It seems I am still too green to contend with this thing on mass. Then I pulled out my last resort a flame gun and shoved it all the way into the mouth before lighting it.
It couldn't even scream as it body turned to ashes. I quickly pried off the tongue burning my skin and take anti biotics. When I ransacked the supper market there were several thousands of pills in the warehouse.
I am now a full blown awakener but just to be safe I am keeping the pills for emergencies. I take a healing pill just to get rid of the burnt scars. I used to be envious of Lu Aang's smooth skin as a healing mage he can heal all scars. As a results I researched all kinds of healing medications to be just as beautiful.
Speaking of which, it has been a long time since I saw my reflection. I am no longer petite like her I must be ever closer to looking like the man who sired me. I spent time taking out mana cores from inside dead ghouls then I pulled them outside to burn them.
The sun is far from coming out but I can not sleep inside this house now it is full of blood and gore. I entered my pace to take water and washed myself clean. Then I came out wearing clean tracksuits but find a somber atmosphere outside.
"What's going on?"
Lu Pei pointed at the few men inside the room. "They were bitten." I quickly pulled out antibiotics and gave them to him.
"Make them eat this, they'll be fine afterwards." Lu Pei took my pills and gave each person a pill and waited. "You have to help them cut off the infected flesh." The others didn't question me and started doing it. Seeing they have faith, I gave them the powder to stop the bleeding.
I instructed them to pull the hardened powder away and gave them a few purple paste and some bandages. "When you are all healed, I want two mana cores per person." The words fell and silence descended before they all chuckled.
"Thank you, if we really survive we will give you five each."
"Yes, you would have pulled us from the clutches of king Yama."
Comments like these sounded from the group. I took out a single and smoked. Walking into the house I was using to look for a few glasses. I pulled out a walker full bottle of whiskey and poured a few glasses to be polite.
"Oi this little brother has such good things?" The one I had met at the gas station came and poured himself a full glass. The others came too but I smacked the hand of the ones who had injuries.
"No alcohol for you lot." I said and took a sip. Looking at the dazed Lu Pei I asked him something that was bugging me. "What do you think drew them here?"
"Perhaps we have been here for too long." Han, the one from before answered.
"It is unusual to find ghouls working together like that. We really need to leave this place." After this night, the group seems to be favoring me a bit but I know they will all fawn over the healer Lu Aang soon enough.
Like I promised myself before, I will not yearn for things that do not belong to me in this life.
...