The allure of gold coins

After leaving Fubin'en, Han Shuo headed straight out of the Dark Forest, following roads he had traveled before.

Along the way, Han Shuo continuously practiced his Demonic Cultivation Art. After his body had been reshaped during the Solid Body stage, he had undergone a complete transformation. His cultivation was now yielding substantial results, and he could direct Demonic Essence throughout his entire body at will.

The Demonic Cultivation Art had nine stages, and Han Shuo had now reached the second, Meridian Expansion. Its practice differed somewhat from Solid Body, primarily involving the expansion of the meridians throughout his body to greatly increase their width and resilience. Every cultivation session brought excruciating pain, as though insects were gnawing inside his meridians.

The first three stages of the Demonic Cultivation Art-Solid Body, Meridian Expansion, and Soul Molding-formed its most basic foundation, and cultivation grew increasingly difficult beyond them. But after his experience cultivating the Solid Body stage, Han Shuo already understood that practicing the Demonic Cultivation Art inherently involved pain and inhuman torment. The inhuman suffering of Meridian Expansion had been entirely expected, and he relied on his unyielding will to keep expanding his meridians with Demonic Essence, over and over, without letting up.

After twelve days of cultivation and travel, Han Shuo had not encountered Fanny and the others along the way. He finally emerged from the Dark Forest alone and arrived in Doro Town again that evening.

Compared with a little over a month ago, Han Shuo had undergone enormous changes in strength, spirits, and appearance after his trials in the Dark Forest. He now stood over 170 centimeters tall, and although his body was not particularly bulky, he no longer looked frail.

After his baptism in blood, both Han Shuo's courage and knowledge had improved considerably. His overall bearing had also undergone some mysterious changes. Without even realizing it himself, he was slowly changing.

That evening, Doro Town was filled with a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere. Many adventurers had returned from the Dark Forest. Some wore sorrowful expressions after losing their companions, while others had obtained rich spoils and wore smug smiles, planning to thoroughly indulge themselves in Doro Town.

After returning to Doro Town, Han Shuo first went to the place where Gene and the others had stabled their warhorses. Observing from a distance, he discovered that the horses they had paid gold to rent from the military were still there, and immediately realized that Fanny and the others probably had not returned to Doro Town yet.

Although they had paid gold for these warhorses, the Necromancy Department's teachers and students only had the right to use them. When they finally returned to Zachius City, they still had to hand the horses back to the city guards in exactly the same condition. Since the horses were still here, Fanny and the others certainly had not left.

Han Shuo naturally knew that his own nonstop journey would be much faster than Fanny's group's leisurely return. They might even have been delayed by encounters with magical beasts along the way, so their absence was within his expectations.

Arriving at the small inn where Fanny and the others had previously stayed, Han Shuo walked up to the innkeeper's counter and said with a smile, "I'd like a room."

The innkeeper, who was eating fruit with his eyes narrowed, glanced up at Han Shuo and said lazily, "Oh, it's you. Ten copper coins. That storeroom is always empty. You can head over right now."

When Han Shuo had come with Gene and the others last time, Gene had specifically rented a storeroom for him, earning him a contemptuous reaction from this innkeeper. Now, seeing Han Shuo, the innkeeper naturally assumed that someone of his standing could only rent that storeroom.

Unoffended, Han Shuo smiled faintly and took the money pouch from his waist. He gave it a jingling shake and poured a gold coin onto the round wooden table. Glancing at the innkeeper, he said, "I don't want to stay in the storeroom."

The previously languid innkeeper sat bolt upright and snatched the gold coin from the round table. A professional smile quickly spread across his face as he declared, "Of course, of course! How could a storeroom possibly be worth a gold coin? My dear young fellow, just tell me whichever room you'd like. One gold coin is more than enough."

Having gold really did make for completely different treatment. Han Shuo smiled faintly and nodded. "I'll take the room that female teacher stayed in last time. Arrange it for me."

"No problem, no problem at all! Here's the key. One gold coin is enough for five days there. Is there anything else you'd like, young fellow?" Beaming, the innkeeper cheerfully retrieved a key from a drawer behind the table and handed it to Han Shuo, making his inquiry with a fawning air.

"Nothing else. Get back to your work!" Taking the key, Han Shuo headed straight for the room Fanny had occupied. Money has the same magical power in any world. It looks like gold really is the one thing I can't do without if I want to establish myself here.

After entering Fanny's former room and setting down his belongings, Han Shuo enjoyed a leisurely hot bath in the tub. Recalling his sensual encounter here last time, he felt flames surge within him, and his lower body had already grown uncontrollably hard.

Cursing inwardly, Han Shuo stood up naked and picked up a dry bath towel beside him to wipe himself down. Just as he was about to leave the bathroom, he caught sight of his muscular body in a large mirror to one side.

In the mirror, muscles stood out all over Han Shuo's well-proportioned body. His skin had turned bronze from his recent exposure to the sun, making him look healthy, strong, and thoroughly masculine-a world apart from his former frail, scrawny appearance.

Highly satisfied, he squeezed his two chest muscles, neither too large nor too small, and struck several poses before the mirror. Pointing narcissistically at his reflection, Han Shuo laughed in admiration. "Looking pretty handsome, young fellow!"

After leaving the inn, Han Shuo first visited a clothing shop and spent one gold coin on a set of soft, high-quality undergarments, which he wore beneath the servant's uniform the academy had issued him.

Next, Han Shuo visited a weapons shop, spending ten gold coins on a better-quality dagger, four on fifteen sharp steel needles that he secured inside his trouser legs, and six on a miniature crossbow that he concealed inside his sleeve, fully arming himself.

Afterward, Han Shuo went to an apothecary and spent forty gold coins on potions and powders. Apart from some basic medical supplies, these included anesthetic powder, hallucinogenic aphrodisiac powder, and a bottle of poison.

Some of these things were prohibited from sale in the empire's Osen City. Even with money, Han Shuo might not have been able to obtain them without the right connections. In Doro Town, however, they could be sold openly because adventurers needed them. Since he was here, understood the importance of strength now, and had gold on hand, he naturally had to purchase some in case he needed them later.

Only after acquiring all these things did Han Shuo marvel at how wonderful it felt to have money. Leaving the apothecary, he even stood a little straighter than usual. With gold in his pouch, everything suddenly seemed to go smoothly.

On his way back to the inn, Han Shuo saw the brightly lit taverns of various sizes around him, and his stomach churned. Giving in to his body's demands, he turned into one of the inns.

Inside the tavern, the noise was tremendous, and neon lights flashed chaotically overhead. Adventurers and merchants clustered in groups of three or five around the tables and chairs in the hall, loudly discussing their adventures.

Their faces flushed and cups in hand, these people shouted and chatted drunkenly without restraint. Delicious dishes covered the tables, while young male and female servers constantly wove among them, bringing wine and food.

Han Shuo walked straight to the only remaining empty table in a corner of the hall and sat down. A shy-looking young waiter soon approached him and asked politely, "What would you like?"

"Good wine and good meat. Bring me some." Han Shuo took out a gold coin and flicked it with his thumb into the waiter's tray, giving his instructions casually.

At the sight of the gold coin landing, the waiter's eyes immediately lit up. Bowing even more respectfully, he discreetly put the coin away and said softly with a smile, "Certainly. Please wait a moment. It'll be right out."

Now that I have gold, I should enjoy it. Han Shuo leaned lazily back in his chair, narrowing his eyes as he studied the assorted adventurers and merchants in the hall. These people had either just returned from the Dark Forest or were about to enter it. Some had just escaped danger, while others intended to venture into unknown perils. All were casting off restraint and releasing their energy, thoroughly enjoying Doro Town's decadence.

Before long, the shy waiter brought a bottle of pale purple wine, three large platters of roasted meat, and two plates of fruit to Han Shuo's table.

"This is Purple Fierce Orchid, Doro Town's most famous wine. All the adventurers love it. I hope you enjoy it." After setting everything down, the waiter pointed to the bottle of pale purple wine and briefly introduced it, then bowed and withdrew.

Unable to wait any longer, Han Shuo grabbed some roasted meat and dug in heartily. Although it was not as delicious as the meat he roasted himself, it was still quite good. He unscrewed the bottle and swallowed a large mouthful of Purple Fierce Orchid. Its lovely sweetness carried a fiery kick, and after it reached his stomach, a rich, mellow fragrance lingered in his mouth, giving him a different kind of pleasure.

"Fine wine indeed," Han Shuo praised. As he raised his head to look around, he suddenly saw two familiar people enter through the doorway-Claude and Eileen.

Claude and Eileen surveyed their surroundings as though looking for empty seats. Then their gazes landed on Han Shuo at the same time. After a moment of surprise, they both set off toward him without consulting each other.