A Test

"So what you're telling me is that the entire expedition trip...was a test?" Khoru's mind went blank when he heard the words of his previous party members.

"Yes, exactly. The only part that we hadn't accounted for was the existence of a mole within our party, we apologize for that." Tai Mu said as he bowed, his tone was firm and it was as if he hadn't remembered anything that transpired on the trip.

"...And what was the test for?" Khoru asked.

"The test was to see if you were strong enough to compete with the other kids during the tournament and whether or not you would be able to hold your own in the upcoming town tournament. Initially, we believed you to be too weak for that but you surprised us." Tian Mei butted in to say.

To see if I was strong enough?

Khoru was confused by this, as he had never seen those people in his family's mansion and didn't have any memory of them being connected to the Ghostly Blade Family at all.

"Why should you care about whether or not I can hold my own in the town's upcoming tournament?" Khoru asked; suspicious. These people were originally from the Water Lily Pavilion, so why were they so invested in his life?

"Because...If you're family doesn't win first place in the tournament, a new family will undoubtedly try to take over. And if that happens, another war will take place and the stability of our Water Lily Pavilion will be at risk. We've already evaluated the other youths of the Ghostly Blade Family." Jin Xiang added.

Khoru then opened his eyes to the entire picture.

"I know you're still rather confused as to why I used you, and the rest of them as scapegoats. As for that, well, let's just say you're not qualified to know that yet." Jin Xiang's eyes turned into slits as she spoke.

Khoru's face went blank when he heard that.

'...Really. If you don't know where you're going with this, just say that.' Khoru instantly recognized Jin Xiang's 'mysteriousness' as her not knowing what to say. She just wanted to mask it with a bluff.

Sigh...

This world still has plot holes, huh?

"Alright, but I think I should be properly compensated, no?" Khoru said. His eyes brightened as his gaze went across everyone in the room.

They all showed conflicted expressions before Jin Xiang finally spoke.

"Yes, that's only right. Here." Jin Xiang waved her fan strangely and placed it horizontally in the air. On top of the fan were 5 pill bottles containing strange pills inside.

"What are these?" Khoru asked.

"Two hundred and fifty Spirit Qi Nourishing pills. I think this is a valid compensation, no?" Jin Xiang waved the fan again, and the 5 pill bottles disappeared and reappeared in Khoru's hands. He was caught off guard and jumped back in surprise.

'What realm is she at?' He thought as he observed her. She looked mysterious enough, despite being just a worker from the Water Lily Pavilion...

"Okay, I'll be on my way then." Khoru said as he turned around and waved before leaving. Just before he went down to the third floor though, Jin Xiang spoke.

"I suggest you try your best in the town's upcoming tournament. Not only for our Water Lily Pavilion, but for your own future. An Inner Disciple of the Purple Haze Sect will be coming to watch over the battle and will take in competitors that reach top 5."

Inner Disciple?

Purple Haze Sect?

Top 5?

Khoru's eyes brightened as he recalled something that was locked deep within the recesses of his mind.

Sects!

'I almost forgot about sects since I came to this world. I've been so occupied! If I can reach the top 5 somehow, then I'll be able to join the Purple Haze Sect!' Khoru heavily anticipated the upcoming town tournament now.

He intended to try his best to reach the top 5 in the town's upcoming tournament. He knew a long time ago that there was hardly any future for him in the Ghostly Blade Family because of his background.

'Once I get strong enough, I'll destroy everyone who tried to get in my way back then!' Khoru thought to himself with clenched fists. He quickly put the pill bottles in his pouch that he brought with him, and left.

...

"Should I head home now? Maybe there's something else I can do while I'm still outside..." Khoru looked around, observing all the lively people that roamed the streets of the town, and the occasional thieves that lurked in the shadows.

As he slowly walked, he suddenly remembered something.

!

Are they still in here?

Khoru's 'pouch' was fairly big and could hold a lot of things, granted that the one holding the pouch had enough strength to hold a ton of items.

He plunged his hand into the pouch and dug beneath the 5 pill bottles. His lips instantly curved into a joyous smile when his hands encountered numerous round-shaped items at the bottom of his pouch.

Monster cores!

First stage foundation building monster cores!

Khoru had completely forgotten about those monster cores that he hunted with his own power during the expedition.

Once again, he had been too occupied!

"Perhaps I can sell them? But where?" He reared his head and did a 360, eventually setting his eyes on a distance place in the town that he often ignored.

The marketplace...

Ugh...

Khoru shuddered whenever he thought of that place.

It was more dangerous than a magical-beast-infested forest!

T-those predatory merchants...

Scammers...

The ones that pressure you into buying rusty items...

'I-I have no choice...' If there was one thing Khoru wasn't willing to challenge, it would be those crazy people...

He sucked it up, clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, put on a firm expression, and slowly made his way over to the marketplace. He had on time for auctions, and he doubted anyone would want to buy some lousy first stage monster cores...