Chapter 4: Guests

“Gold coins, gold coins, lovely gold coins!” Lin Qi wallowed ecstatically atop the pile of coins, shouting almost shrilly. “Lovely gold coins, my precious, my little darlings, what adorable gold coins! Oh, oh! Another small part of my life’s ideal is achieved!”

Enzo and Cripple pursed their lips simultaneously.

Lin Qi had described his life’s ideal to them countless times – when he died, his tomb would be overflowing with gold, allowing him to rest comfortably in an eternity surrounded by countless riches. For gold, he would do almost anything!

Clearing his throat softly, Cripple slapped the square table heavily.

“Six fine-quality rapiers. Three Gold Coins each.”

Cripple’s voice was serious, brimming with an absolute, unquestionable authority.

Lin Qi lifted his head fiercely, his expression furious. He glanced at the dozen or so glinting Gold Coins on the table and roared angrily, “Uncle Cripple, is this place a den of thieves? Rapiers of this quality, this good? Just the material cost would exceed three Gold Coins! Ten Gold Coins each, or I’ll take my business elsewhere!”

Cripple’s voice rose even louder. “Damned brat, ten Gold Coins?! Why not just rob me? Three Gold Coins! My profit margin is razor-thin as it is. Remember what kind of business we’re in! If the Empire were procuring these rapiers, they’d pay your price. But we deal in business that shies away from the light!”

Lin Qi’s hands moved with lightning speed, scooping the Gold Coins off the table one by one. Without any discernible action, the coins vanished entirely the moment they touched his palm. This bizarre skill left Cripple and Enzo utterly amazed. What exceptional innate talent allowed for such a technique?

In the blink of an eye, all eighteen Gold Coins and the one Silver Coin had been collected by Lin Qi. He slammed both hands onto the square table and glared furiously at Cripple, roaring, “Yes! Dear Uncle Cripple! We all deal in shady business, so haggling is expected. But the price you offered isn’t just low, it’s an insult! An insult to these six supreme rapiers! And an insult to me!”

Widening his eyes to their absolute limit, Lin Qi bellowed, “Do you think I traipsed over ten miles through the night, sacrificing my precious sleep, just for a measly eighteen Gold Coins?! I am a man who handles significant deals! I wouldn’t put myself through this labor for mere pocket change!”

Cripple snorted coldly. Mere eighteen Gold Coins? Lin Qi was a scoundrel who’d crack someone’s skull over a single copper coin. Having known Lin Qi for three years, Cripple understood the boy’s nature even better than his own father, Blackbeard – Cripple’s old friend. Forget eighteen Gold Coins; Lin Qi would tramp a hundred miles overnight for eighteen copper coins.

Three Gold Coins per rapier was indeed a lowball offer. But then he remembered the bottle of wine Lin Qi had just consumed!

Cripple’s heart hardened into ruthless ice. He gritted his teeth and declared, “Three Gold Coins per rapier. Non-negotiable. But the cost of those Eastern herbs you took off my hands last month? That can be settled against this. If you still refuse my terms, go ahead! Find The Hunchback! See what price he quotes you!”

“Great Gods bless your ancestors!” Lin Qi’s face instantly brightened into a radiant smile. He cast a casual glance at the bronze wine bottle on the floor and chuckled lightly. “Then it’s a deal! This bottle of wine? Consider it a toast to another successful transaction between us. Ah, tonight’s drinks… as per the old rules… you’re still buying, right?”

Cripple grunted. He walked to the table, wrapped the six rapiers in cloth, opened a hidden compartment in the wall, and tossed the bundle inside. A series of metallic clanks echoed, growing fainter as the rapiers slid away down some hidden chute, destination unknown.

He jerked a thumb towards the tavern area and warned coldly, “Old rules: drinks are fine, but if you dare cause any trouble, I’ll break your legs! Hey, Vic! You can step out now! Is that how you treat your dear Uncle Cripple?”

In the flickering candlelight, a thin, reedy figure slowly unfolded from a patch of shadow in the corner. Vic emerged, clad in black tight-fitting clothes, small and scrawny like a bony monkey, a crossbow gripped in his hand. He carefully removed the dark-venomed crossbow bolt and pulled the trigger, the bowstring snapping emptily with a thwang.

Lin Qi swayed happily, arms swinging loosely at his sides. “Ooh la la!” he teased in a singsong voice. “Dear Vic! You shouldn’t do that! How could you point that crossbow at our dear Uncle Cripple? Oh, don’t you dare pull this stunt again! Especially not with poisoned bolts – you little rascal!”

He twitched his nose, identifying the faintly fishy scent lingering in the air, and laughed with even greater glee. “You coated it with the Seven-Step Snake venom I got from that ghost-like old man last time! Vic, you really are a nasty little piece of work!”

Vic flashed a grin towards Cripple, whose forehead was now sheened with cold sweat. Vic then carefully stowed the crossbow in a pouch hanging at his waist.

Cripple shot a sidelong glance at Lin Qi, his wariness of the boy deepening considerably. Seven-Step Snake venom! Damnation! They daubed that monster’s poison on their bolts! A crossbow was already a despised assassin’s weapon. Paired with Seven-Step Snake venom? These youngsters were one darker and more treacherous than the next. How had such extraordinary specimens emerged in the Empire’s Underworld?

“And the more hateful thing… they operate on my turf!” Cripple took a deep breath, forcing an air of generosity. “Alright, alright, my dear boys. Go have your fun. Eighteen Gold Coins… that’s a sizable sum. You better spend some of it here tonight! It’s not good for young lads like you to be wandering around holding that much coin!”

“The drinks are on the house. But Uncle Cripple has plenty more… interesting… things here.” Cripple gestured around. “Go spend those coins! Otherwise, my heart will ache! My Gold Coins! Oh, my Gold Coins!” He wiped at the corner of his eye with a filthy sleeve, letting out a woeful sigh. “My Gold Coins… earned one copper coin at a time! And you walk off with eighteen in one go!”

Lin Qi had already lost interest in Cripple. Tonight’s business was concluded. As far as he was concerned, Cripple was now irrelevant. It was time for drinks! Time for merriment! And amidst the revelry, he would find new opportunities to make coin.

Cripple’s Tavern was an excellent spot. Lin Qi always found many profitable chances here. He would let no opportunity slip through his fingers.

As they opened the concealed door, ready to head into the tavern for drink and revelry, a tavern maid materialized from the gloom like a phantom.

“Boss? Some strange guests arrived. Lisha got slapped.”