Simply Trading 129 Choices 1

A glum, despondent shadow made his way down from the Elders' Court and stamped along the track that led back past the Medicine Hall, into the assigned fields as night deepened all around him. There was no one about, given that it was shortly after dinner time, and almost everyone was either still gathered at the Dining Hall deeper in the School grounds, or were already clearing up after their meals. The figure on the footpath, on the other hand, clearly had other arrangements.

Yet, it was clear from the heavy-footed progress that the shadowy figure made as he crept his way back to his own medicine field, that he was not in the mood to worry about food. In fact, judging from the angry glare in his eyes, and the twisted mask upon his face, one would even venture that he was not in the mood for anything but slaughter.

The shadowy figure was, of course, Qin Feng. And his awful mood was a result of his visit to Elder Ming Guanhe's home within the Elders' Court within the Heaven Sword School:

It had been an uneventful journey back to the Heaven Sword School, after he was done with the 'mission' that he had taken on, under orders of Elder Ming Guanhe. And he had reported in at once, since he managed to reach the Heaven Sword School shortly before dinnertime.

And he had taken pains to hide away the Purple Blood Ginger plants among several common herbs, after he had retrieved his proper body from the Old Well. Then he had simply rushed over, anxious to hand over his latest gains to the Elder.

However, when he arrived at Elder Ming Guanhe's home the following evening, things did not go quite as he had planned:

Oh, the Elder and his daughter had welcomed him easily enough. And had been more than pleased to accept the four stalks of Purple Blood Ginger from his hands. Elder Ming Guanhe had even laughed as he took hold of the precious medicinal plants, and rushed off to store them away in whatever secret hiding place that he had arranged for his other rare herbs.

That had left Ming Qingsong to keep him entertained, while the Elder was busy. Or rather, it was the other way around, with Qin Feng telling her the exaggerated tale about what he had to go through, to get his hands on a Golden-veined Lotus Root, out in the Southern Forest. And how he had to ask a friend of his to rush all the way to Changqing City, where he could make the exchange.

And he was still in the midst of telling her that story, when Elder Ming Guanhe returned.

It was at this point of time that things started to go awry. He was not at all surprised that Ming Qingsong was unaware of the value of the herb that he had to trade away, for her Purple Blood Ginger. But the Elder clearly displayed a nonchalance that showed that he was not at all bothered by the fact that he had to give up such a rare and precious commodity.

In fact, Elder Ming Guanhe showed no indication at all that he was grateful for what Qin Feng had done! And he had even chased Qin Feng away, without even bothering to make a show of inviting him to join him and his daughter for dinner! What sort of gratitude was that?

This was certainly not what he had expected of the Elder, when he accepted the older man's arrangements. Not to mention the lack of reward, for the precious medicinal herb that Ming Qingsong so desperately needed. If he had to be totally honest, that was the most bitter straw of all!

Didn't Ming Guanhe know what was the worth of a Golden-veined Lotus Root? Didn't he know what Qin Feng had to give up, to get his hands on the Purple Blood Ginger?

Wasn't that worth something?

And he had even told them, father and daughter, about all the trouble that he had to go through, to get his hands on the plants that they needed. And even hinted that he would have to make it up to the fictional friend that he had to rely on, to get the trade done.

But even that had not managed to alert the pair to what he was hinting at.

Qin Feng gave out a low 'hmmmph' sound as he stamped onto the trail underfoot, and headed towards his little hut, which had just come into sight. But he did not stop screaming at the stupid scar-faced Elder inside his head as he did so.

What was he to Ming Guanhe? Just another herb-grower? Just another disciple who he had twist around his little finger? Did he really think that this herb-grower was going to lie down, and let an Elder walk all over him?

If that was the case here, Qin Feng was certainly not about to let Ming Guanhe get away with it! After all, he knew what was most precious to the old man, and he knew exactly how to make him pay! It would be a simple thing, to add a hint of a Yin-aspected herb into the air about his home. That should be enough to have Ming Qingsong coughing up blood for a month or two.

Let us see how the great Elder Ming Guanhe deals with that!

By the time his thoughts had reached such a low point, he had already arrived at the front of his hut. His hands seemed to move on their accord, letting him inside. And he even managed to light the simple oil-lamp on his table, as he sat down on his bed.

Qin Feng slammed his fist against the mud-brick wall next to his bed, causing a crack in the same that ran from the ceiling to the floor. He should have known! All these Elders were the same! All they cared about was the benefits that they would receive, rather than their responsibilities!

Well, if that was the case, why should Qin Feng bother with him?

He would come up with other plans, that would win him what he needed, without Ming Guanhe's help!

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Chapter end

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