54 Jade Bracelet
A golden framed oil painting of a little girl hung from the otherwise plain white wall. It looked old and battered.
Cheng Xiu frowned.
She looked around her in confusion.
It was the White Room. So what did the painting on the wall mean?
The painting glitched.
Cheng Xiu backed away, dread capturing her heart. She had seen enough horror movies to know that paintings were dangerous if they did something they shouldn't.
The canvas rippled like the surface of a still lake disturbed by falling pebbles.
A thin, pale leg came out of the painting first. One by one, the girl got out.
She had a white crystal floating above her head.
Cheng Xiu observed the newcomer.
The girl was approximately 13 years old, and had long black hair tied in a half-ponytail. She had Phoenix eyes and a clean lean face.
There was something very familiar about her.
The girl walked towards her and then stopped. A golden chain became visible around her ankle that tied her to the cage inside the painting.
"Can you come closer?" the girl asked in a squeaky voice.
Cheng Xiu backed away even more.
Kids with squeaky voices were even more dangerous than creepy paintings.
"Are you not going to talk?" the little girl asked
Cheng Xiu thought for a moment. Did she have to answer?
The child blinked up at her expectantly.
Cheng Xiu slumped in defeat. "Hi."
"I'm Maya, and I have a Spirit Delivery for you."
Cheng Xiu frowned. "From whom?"
The girl grinned. "From Prince Yaksha of the Demon Clan."
That name again. Yaksha. EverHill's team famous mate.
"Why would he give me anything?"
The girl narrowed her eyes. "Because of Player Debt 6666."
Cheng Xiu froze.
Player Debt.
A term she was very familiar with.
Player Debt was gameplay introduced in 2099 by a Russian game called "Figures." It had people of various servers able to loan Weapons or Skills with a Player of their choice with a stamp to their character called "Player in Debt". The Debtor could collect their debt any time they wanted to.
It could be In-game currencies, equipment, Magical beast, anything. The Debtor could collect things that had the same value as the thing they let the other borrow.
Though the idea had existed before, it was "Figures" that popularized the function by creating a Network, where there were people who even paid others real money to get the equipment and skills they wanted.
The Whales found a new way to show off their money and many found it as a way to make money.
Cheng Xiu, in her entire gaming life, had done many transactions in this manner but...
"I've only started to play this game for a few days now," Cheng Xiu said. "I've not given anyone anything nor have I taken anything through the Player Debt portal."
"A Debt is a debt, regardless of the game," the little girl said.
An idea formed in Cheng Xiu's mind. "Where is this debt from?"
The girl stretched out her hand and a green-blue jade bracelet appeared in her palm with a flash.
Cheng Xiu looked at it in confusion.
"This is?"
"Player Selafia Veritas has been given the Jade Bracelet of Kuan Yen and the Player Debt 6666 has been paid."
The girl disappeared.
"Wait!" Cheng Xiu called.
The Golden Frame disappeared.
"Hey! I have questions!"
Silence filled the room.
Cheng Xiu looked at the Jade bracelet that floated in front of her.
She didn't trust these experts as far as she could throw them and the entire scene seemed fishy.
The bracelet glowed green.
Cheng Xiu backed away. Was it going to blow up in her face? If it did, then she would curse this Yaksha person would die a rotting death!
The bracelet disappeared from in front of her and Cheng Xiu felt something cool around her wrist.
[Ding!]
[Player Selafia Veritas has passed Battle 3 of the Grandmaster's Arena against Immortal EverHill of the Immortal Radiance Guild.
Battle Reward: +1 to all stats.
+1 Paid Weapon.]
Cheng Xiu pursed her lips. Such a late notification.
Cheng Xiu hissed in pain as the Jade on her wrist created spokes and pricked her skin.
[Ding!]
[Player SelaXiu has bonded with Kuan Yen's Jade Bracelet 1 of 2.]
One of two? Where is the other?
