Chapter 43. Exchange

Ash ran with everything he had. He didn't know where he was going but he ran a total of three minutes at great speed until he couldn't hold on anymore. Coming to a stop his body acted like it wasn't trying to respond. Looking at the area he was in he realized that he was at a part of the valley where he could actually see some jungle. He would have to climb up some to see more but he was positive it was jungle.

"You look like crap my friend, but I got just the thing to help you heal."

Ash was taken aback by the presence of the now close young man. He stood a distance of 28feet with an amicable smile. Ash drew his saber but the lack of blood made his hands wobble.

"Listen friend, I don't have any intentions on fighting. What I do want is a fair trade if possible. You and your companion aren't looking too hot right now."

Ash bit his lip, Grim was being held in one of his arms because he could no longer grip his shoulder. He wanted to remove the needles but he didn't have a chance while running and now he was right before an unknown stranger.

Breathing in, Ash didn't resheathed his saber but started to engage in conversation.

"Name?"

"Otto Rothson."

"Occupation?"

"Merchant."

"What do you sell?"

"What do you have?"

"You take information?"

"Are trees green?"

Ash swiftly brought out some cores, and a few herbal ingredients that he wanted to sell. His stance now even less secure than before. Grind of teeth on teeth could be heard as Ash held on. 

Otto was swift as he slapped his pants and a small shop the size of a shed appeared. He looked at the cores and herbs before saying disinterestedly.

"4 silver."

"That's below market value, it should be 6 silver."

"Blame the high supply, plus I'm annoyed you have nothing else."

"I'll tell you some info if you can afford the price."

Otto squinted amused. He lightly played with his auburn curls as if waiting on juicy gossip.

"Let's hear it country boy."

"First give me a bottle of peak rank 1 healing pills."

Raising a brow Otto said, "if the information is worth it, then consider it on the house."

Feeding Grim the pills, removing the needles, and bandaging only took seconds to which Otto took note of.

"The first piece of information is there is an aberrant zombie even more unique than the others within the valley."

Brow furrowing Otto just stared at Ash. 'Others? Huh, this place is pretty interesting.'

"It is in some state of constant evolution. It was level 7 when I found it but became level 9 before I left. It was evolving or rather mutating again before I ran from it. There was an artifact, broken but it seemed to have a spirit....."

Otto listened intrigued, he kept a nutural face but Ash was positive this tid bit caught his attention. Ash kept silent for a moment, wanting the merchant to exhibit more interest.

"Well, are you going to continue?"

"What's the point if you can't give me an estimate of how valuable it is. I already gave a lot so far and giving more for little has no point."

"Hmmmm.... I'll promise on the Rothson name that I will not shirk you."

Ash grumbled before asking "you got some good techniques, a more updated map and information on the groups in here?"

"Yes, but I want to know the full extent of your information before I make a final decision."

The two looked at each other, neither breaking eye contact, before Ash sighed.

"The dagger was in a metal qi vein that the zombie was using to evolve in. After the first change the dagger flew out and merged with the zombie. It's stats climbed pretty fast. It went from iron wielding zombie to dagger blessed zombie. When I looked at that dagger it made me mesmerized for minutes. I didn't stick around to confirm the stats of the now hulking behemoth."

"Interesting... what more do you have."

"I expect a high level of pay for this next tid bit, and I mean it. You screw me over then we spill blood."

Otto's face scrunched up as he waved Ash to continue.

'Some people are so distrusting, never the matter.'

"There's this demon like thing I found in a cave not long after the realm opened up. Eerie stuff.... it had goblins kill themselves to ressurect it. It seemed intellegent. And the type of cave I found that creature in is all over the realms I'm sure. I found a second cave like the first but it was abandoned."

This time a dark look surfaced on Otto's face as his face completely broke into a scowl. It was quiet for a couple of minutes before he finally responded to Ash.

"Your information this time was rather useful. I'll give you a jade slip with basic info on the important people here, along with a more updated map. I'll also let you pick two beginner level skills and 49 silver. "

Deciding immediately, Ash asked for a scanning skill and a long-range attack skill of the death element. Otto looked just so slightly surprised at the element of choice but nonetheless abided. Before he forgot, Ash brought out the ore he had received from before.

"Hey I forgot to mention I got a piece of ore from the vein, I thought it was unique in some way so give me a good price."

Otto snatched the ore as soon as Ash brought it out. Yet the speed the boy had snatched the item escaped Ash's eyes. He had done it so fast that Ash knew it was good stuff.

"This ore is infused with intent; I can give you a low-grade armor and one of the mid-grade beginner cultivation techniques."

"Give me something that doesn't have an elemental alignment."

Question marks appeared at how valuable that ore was, but Ash couldn't use it and he wanted to increase his survival before anything else.

"Here, these are the two I would suggest the most. The Silk Pioneer's armor is flexible and can be hidden underneath your clothes, the technique is called [Breath of Qi], no elemental alignment, a well-rounded and very stable technique considering it has no affinity."

One of the techniques was [Qi Radar] and the other was [Death Bomb].

Otto was about to pack up shop when Ash asked for some herbs and the cheapest bow and arrow. Taking the last of his earned money plus the money stolen at the beginning of the realm.

Otto's small shop disappeared and he waved a card at Ash. Who quickly caught it.

"It was a pleasure doing business. We'll meet again... or not... see ya later."

The boy literally disappeared, leaving Ash shocked but deciding against standing idle and choosing a nearby safe location, hidden in the rocks that could be easily missed.

Ash scattered powder to erase scent and built a small tent behind some sizable rocks.

He and Grim needed rest as Ash took out some tools that he used to crush his newly gained herbs and made a powder he then poured into a vial.

Mixing it with some water, once he poured it down his throat, it felt like life returned to his body. A simple mixture meant to return nutrients to the body, a bit better than a nourishing pill. Unfortunately, it used one of the more expensive herbs that Ash had to just buy.

Turning to Grim he poured the smelly liquid down his partner's throat. Creating another mixture, Ash poured a vibrant purple vial down Grim's throat. The bird even in his sleep, seemed to perk up a bit. A feeling of relief transmitted through their bond.

Ash had to rethink his plan as he didn't even meet the cryptic golem. Zombies were good practice and provided a fair amount of danger. That last zombie however seemed to be an irregularity beyond what he could handle.

Ash processed all of his herbs and made various healing materials and supplements. He then put on his armor underneath his cloths. Afterwards he examined the cultivation method.