A Failed Transaction

"Isn't this just magic?"

Meimu looked at her hand. Following Li Ke's instructions, she had successfully cultivated a strand of energy just as he described.

But before she could even feel happy, she realized the truth: this was merely magic. It was completely different from the power Li Ke had demonstrated to her—the power he called 'Qi'. They were two entirely different things.

Compared to magic, the power known as Qi wasn't particularly strong in terms of versatility, but it always gave Meimu a terrifying feeling. Especially when Li Ke channeled this power into his blade, it produced a destructive force that defied her understanding.

Whether it was tangible matter or intangible magic, this Qi could destroy it all. She had only ever seen such properties described in scrolls regarding certain Demon Lords.

Yet, Li Ke's Qi was upright and peaceful, faintly capable of merging with nature itself. It was absolutely not an evil power.

But the fact that it wasn't magic left her completely baffled.

The ratio of life force to spiritual energy had been perfectly aligned with Li Ke's description, yet it simply didn't work.

"So, is it because of a special constitution?"

Looking at the complete absence of magic within Li Ke's body, Meimu couldn't help but cover her face after questioning him about his condition.

She realized she had done something quite foolish.

Clearly, this power was unique to Li Ke—a mutated form of 'magic'.

"No, this is Sword Qi!"

Li Ke interrupted her musings sternly, earning a roll of the eyes from Meimu.

"This is clearly mutated magic!"

"It is Sword Qi!"

"Magic!"

"Sword Qi!"

Meimu punched Li Ke in the chest, striking his ribs which hadn't fully healed yet, causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Magic!"

Li Ke fell silent. Watching the red and green sickles manifest in Meimu's hands, tears of humiliation welled up in the corners of his eyes.

"Magic!"

His swordsmanship was no longer pure.

Taking a deep breath, Meimu felt she couldn't maintain her usual composed image in front of this young swordsman. She attributed this to Li Ke's resemblance to her daughter, Akali. After a few more deep breaths, she returned to her usual self.

Looking at Li Ke, who lay on the ground speechless and choked with sobs, Meimu felt a headache coming on. She knew her own impatience was to blame, but she had to admit she had made a losing deal.

If even she found it difficult to learn this power Li Ke called Qi, then others likely wouldn't be able to either. She would have to see if there existed anyone else like Li Ke—someone born without magic in their body—to see if this miracle could be replicated.

"Rest assured, since the contract is signed, I will not go back on my word. My family has some modest assets; the compensation promised to you will be paid in full. This is the formula for the elixir you took earlier. Although it is highly effective at increasing spiritual energy and is not a harmful stimulant, you would do well to avoid relying on medicine to boost your spirit."

She didn't want to see Li Ke, who shared her daughter's temperament, turn into a pill-popper, so she offered a word of caution.

"No problem, I understand that. I only keep it for emergencies."

Li Ke waved his hand. Medicines that could invigorate the spirit were not rare in Ionia, but most of them... were stimulants. It was very difficult to distinguish the genuine ones that actually increased spiritual power from the rest.

Yes, people in Ionia sold fakes too!

And there were many of them!

Meimu wanted to say more, but the sound of a bird's cry reached her ears. She immediately turned her head, and as she looked back at Li Ke, her demeanor returned to how it had been when they first met.

Tossing a copy of the contract to Li Ke, Meimu prepared to leave.

"With this contract, you can collect those funds at any Kinkou Order stronghold. But take note: don't die. I may bring others to seek your guidance on how to use this Qi. Leave here quickly; what happens next is not for you to see."

Li Ke nodded. Whoever paid was the boss, and he truly didn't want to get involved in this matter any further. He waved at Meimu and limped toward the distant village.

"Goodbye!"

Meimu did not answer. She watched him walk away into the distance before turning her head to look at the two people who had arrived behind her amidst a flash of purple light.

Kusho, and his son, Shen.

"Eavesdropping is not a good habit, Eye of Twilight."

The gray-haired Kusho smiled. He had arrived long ago and witnessed the transaction between Li Ke and Meimu, tacitly allowing this somewhat unprofitable deal to proceed.

After all, if a Kinkou disciple could truly master this power, it would be a wonderful thing.

But unfortunately, he and his son Shen had tried, and like Meimu, they had failed.

"My apologies. That spirit beast was too ferocious; it took Shen and me a long time to subdue it... However, had we arrived earlier, wouldn't you have missed out on this gain?"

Meimu felt a sense of shame; she thought Kusho was mocking her failure.

"Ha, just a failed transaction. In all these years, you are the only person I have ever seen on the First Lands who possesses absolutely no magic within them, as if magic itself avoids him."

"But you've gained a friend, haven't you?"

Kusho merely smiled. He drew the spirit blade from his back, but instead of using it as he usually did, he handed it to his son, Shen.

Seeing his son's puzzled expression, he said nothing, only gesturing for him to go and collect the remaining essence of the Yazakana to seal it away.

Meimu frowned, for if she remembered correctly, the one meant to inherit that Spirit Realm Blade should have been Zed, Kusho's most prized disciple. Why was he letting Shen use it?

However, the choice remained with the Eye of Twilight; as the Fist of Shadow, she had no authority to interfere, so she simply looked toward the direction Shen had departed, observing the performance of Kusho's son.

Li Ke, on the other hand, was in a completely different situation.

"I think it's necessary for me to simulate whether any problems will arise during my upcoming journey!"

Sitting on a rock by the main road, Li Ke rubbed his still-aching arm, feeling it was truly necessary to 'predict' whether his future travels would encounter such hellish incidents again.

With that, looking at the spiritual and life energy surging within him from the medicinal pill, Li Ke gritted his teeth and initiated a simulation.

"Would you like to perform a fuzzy memory simulation?"

Without a moment's hesitation, he selected yes, and Li Ke began the simulation.

Day 1.

You arrive at a small town dragging your heavily wounded body and are wrapped up like a mummy.

Day 2.

Recovering from injuries.

Day 3.

Recovering from injuries.

Day 7.

You set off again and arrive at your destination safely.

Day 27.

You easily slay the magical beast required by your mission, but upon hearing legends of a fox spirit, you decide to rid the people of this scourge.

Day 28.

You find the fox spirit and become friends with her.

Day 43.

You ask the fox spirit to assist you in your cultivation.

Day 72.

You die, your corpse reduced to a skeleton.

Li Ke: "??"