Making a Move

"Ten Skeleton Foot Soldiers came to three thousand Ka'en in total, and the rules allow me to throw in one card. Those thirty iron swords and the bone aren't worth much; their combined cost is less than a hundred Ka'en. That way, I can still earn a two-hundred-Ka'en commission..."

The card salesperson calculated for a moment, then hurriedly stood up with a smile.

"All right, customer. We'll do as you say."

Lin Qi paid by card, and the salesperson respectfully handed him the ten Skeleton Foot Soldiers, the thirty iron swords, and the bone card. Both were very satisfied with the transaction.

Just as Lin Qi picked up the cards and prepared to go home and experiment, an overbearing voice suddenly rang out.

"Well, well, isn't this our trash-card genius, Lin Qi! What brings you to the Ten Thousand Cards Pavilion? Don't tell me you can finally cultivate with that dog-bone Natal Card of yours? Ahahaha!"

Lin Qi stopped and turned to look. Sure enough, it was Wang Meng, his former lackey.

Wang Meng had followed him around when they were children, always calling him "Brother Qi" this and "Brother Qi" that. But ever since Wang Meng awakened a white-quality Implement Card, a short knife, he had never contacted Lin Qi again. Lin Qi had heard that he had now broken through to Two-Star Card Apprentice and made a small name for himself among Stone Iron City's young Card Apprentices.

Two other young men were with Wang Meng. Both had been followers who used to play with Lin Qi, but now they were Wang Meng's lackeys.

At that moment, they were laughing at Lin Qi along with Wang Meng.

"Hahaha, you're joking, Brother Meng. Lin Qi's Natal Card is a bone. If you could cultivate with a bone, pigs would be able to fly!"

The commotion soon attracted the attention of the people around them, who turned to look. Some whispered, "That's Lin Qi? I heard he awakened a trash card and can't even open his Card Slot Space..."

"Wang Meng's a Two-Star Card Apprentice now, and he has two Secondary Cards. I'm afraid Lin Qi's going to get bullied."

"Two idiots."

Lin Qi couldn't be bothered wasting words on them. He shot them a cold glance and turned to continue on his way. Arguing with people like that would only lower him to their level.

"Hey, don't be in such a hurry to leave, great genius!"

Wang Meng strode forward and reached for Lin Qi's arm.

"Let me see what precious cards you bought. Don't tell me you bought a pile of trash cards to take home and pair with that bone of yours?"

Wang Meng had actually come to the Ten Thousand Cards Pavilion to try his luck and see if he could find a cheap Dust Star Card. He might even stumble on a bargain.

But he had just seen Lin Qi buy dozens of cards in one go. Even Dust Star Cards would cost several hundred Ka'en, a month's income for an ordinary person, and Wang Meng immediately felt it was unfair.

Why should someone with a trash card have so much money?

"Get lost!"

Lin Qi's gaze turned cold, but before he could make a move, a clear jingling suddenly rang out.

Immediately afterward, a white blur darted out and pounced on Wang Meng like lightning.

"Meow! Meow!"

The Wind Chime Cat landed on Wang Meng's face. Its sharp claws instantly tore his skin as it scratched him wildly, and streaks of blood soon stained its snow-white fur.

"Ah! My face!"

Wang Meng screamed and flailed his arms, trying to drive the Wind Chime Cat off. But the cat was nimble, constantly leaping around on him, and he couldn't shake it off.

The people around them cried out in surprise.

"It's a Beast Taming Card! And it's a two-star Wind Chime Cat! That card's worth at least ten thousand Ka'en!"

In Stone Iron City, plenty of people could afford Beast Taming Cards, but most low-ranking Card Apprentices watched their spending carefully.

Beast Taming Cards required a long-term investment in Source Power feed, and the beasts could easily die in battle. They weren't as practical as Implement Cards, which could be used as soon as they were bought, with no need to worry about damage.

Thus, those who dared buy Beast Taming Cards were either children of wealthy families or reckless fools.

The way everyone looked at Lin Qi changed instantly. Their pity and mockery gave way to surprise and wariness.

"Didn't Lin Qi just awaken his card? It's only been a short time, and he's already a One-Star Card Apprentice..."

"Wind Chime Cat, we're leaving."

Lin Qi called out lightly. With a meow, the Wind Chime Cat jumped off Wang Meng and followed behind Lin Qi with graceful steps.

Wang Meng lay sprawled on the ground in a sorry state, clutching his face. Blood seeped through his fingers, and he grimaced in pain.

"Brother Meng, are you all right?"

The two lackeys hurried forward to help Wang Meng up, their faces full of panic.

"Oh, my face."

Wang Meng lay there, not even daring to open his eyes. All he could feel was the burning pain in his face.

Even so, he held out one hand and said viciously:

"Lin Qi, just you wait! I won't let you get away with this!"

The little lackey silently moved Wang Meng's hand from pointing at himself to pointing toward the entrance, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

After leaving the Ten Thousand Cards Pavilion, Lin Qi headed straight for the market. He still needed to buy a cow skeleton.

But all along the way, he kept feeling gazes falling on him from time to time.

Lin Qi thought the Wind Chime Cat beside him was attracting too much attention, so he put it away.

"Strange. Why are people still looking at me?"

Lin Qi rubbed his chin and looked around in confusion.

He had already put the Wind Chime Cat away, so by rights he shouldn't still be attracting attention. Was he imagining it?

He walked on until he reached a butcher's stall.

Before the butcher could ask what he wanted, Lin Qi asked, "Boss, am I handsome?"

"Uh..."

The butcher stared at him, evidently having never encountered a situation like this before.

He looked Lin Qi up and down.

Black hair, a rather unfashionable outfit, and a height of about 1.75 meters. His face was somewhat handsome, but not stunningly so!

Still, the customer was king. The butcher immediately put on a bright smile and said against his conscience, "Handsome! Of course you're handsome! Among the young men in Stone Iron City, you'd definitely rank in the top three!"

Hearing the sincere compliment, Lin Qi grinned.

"I'll take a cow skeleton."

The butcher was all smiles too. "Coming right up. Just leave it to me."

While the butcher went to prepare the cow skeleton, Lin Qi walked over to a vegetable stall nearby.

"Uncle Tian, why is everyone at the market staring at me? Could it be that someone wants to marry their daughter off to me?"

His narcissism made Uncle Tian roll his eyes. He nearly smacked Lin Qi in the face with the vegetable leaves in his hand.

"Stop admiring yourself, boy! Who said anything about marrying their daughter to you?"

Lin Qi put away his smile, his tone growing more serious. "Then why do they keep staring at me? Did something happen?"

Uncle Tian hesitated, then sighed. "Little Qi, about that... your father won't let me tell you."

"Oh?"

Lin Qi narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Uncle Tian.

"My father won't let you tell me? So Lei De fought with him again?"

Uncle Tian's expression instantly turned awkward, and he averted his gaze, not daring to look Lin Qi in the eye.

Seeing this, Lin Qi nodded. He already had his answer. "Not only did they fight, but he also won't let you tell me. He must have lost and was afraid I'd worry."

The shock on Uncle Tian's face grew even more pronounced.

"In that case, Lei De must have broken through to Five-Star Card Master, and he may even have obtained a powerful Secondary Card..."

Seeing Lin Qi analyze the matter so casually, Uncle Tian's shock was written all over his face.

"Little Qi, your father always said you were a genius. I didn't believe him before, but Uncle Tian believes him now!"

"Come, come, take a cabbage home and stew it."

"Thank you, Uncle Tian."

Lin Qi accepted the cabbage. Just then, the butcher came over carrying a complete cow skeleton. Lin Qi paid him, hoisted the skeleton onto his shoulder, and turned toward home.

As he walked, his expression gradually darkened, and he finally understood one thing.

"No wonder Dad gave me all his savings. He's afraid he might accidentally die fighting Lei De one day, so he left me some money in advance..."

"Lei De is only a Five-Star Card Master. Although I can't help Dad cultivate, I should still be able to advance his Facing-the-Wind Single Saber Slash to blue quality."

Lin Qi made up his mind. This time, he had to fulfill his childhood dream.

Kill Lei De!