Is she just going to try taking advantage of us too?

  Ishin forced a respectful smile, remembering Rhee’s previous tactic against Haoran Yong. “Good morning, Disciple Ma Lin. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Disciple Ro Ishin.” He offered a respectful bow.

  “And I am Disciple Zhu Rhee,” Rhee added, mirroring the bow. “May I ask how you knew we were new disciples?”

  The cheery, purple-haired woman quickly executed a bow before saying, “I make it my business to know everyone in the Outer Sect! Especially those who are new—and the ringing of the Ancestral Gong does help.” She spoke with more energy than Ishin had ever heard anyone possess. “To that end I also would love to be friends with the two of you! Not as dao companions, of course,” she said with a laugh, “but perhaps your sister in the sect. Senior Sister, I suppose.”

  Her words came out so hurriedly that Ishin had a hard time following. He didn’t even know how to respond. Fortunately, Rhee was there.

  “You’re very kind,” Rhee managed with effort. “I’m sure we will get along just fine. You, uh, mentioned that you had services?”

  Ma Lin nodded her head rapidly. “I did!” She spun around in a flourish. “I like to think of myself as the entrepreneur of the Outer Sect! Your friendly fellow-disciple merchant, happy to offer an alternative to the Market Hall!”

  That caught Ishin’s attention, drawing his focus more than anything else she had said before. “You can sell goods as well?”

  “Indeed I can!” She pointed a thumb at herself in pride. “And for less than the Market Hall! Anything you need, I can offer!”

  “Anything?” Ishin asked with hesitation.

  “Well, almost anything,” Ma Lin clarified with a laugh. “I can’t sell you any tokens, pills, elixirs, spirit tools, totems, talismans, or any weapons above Mortal Grade, but aside from those I am your person!”

  Huh. That’s still a lot, I guess.

  Ma Lin flicked her wrist and a small booklet appeared in her hand. Now that Ishin was looking for it, he saw that the woman wore three rings on just her left hand, and they all looked like storage rings. He didn’t have long to process the impressive casual wealth she wore, as Ma Lin thrust the booklet into Ishin’s chest. Taking it, he read Ma Lin’s Outer Sect Shop on its cover.

  “Please take your time to read!”

  “Uh, thank you.”

  Ishin opened the book, with Rhee moving beside him to read along. Sure enough, Ma Lin’s offerings were nearly identical to what he’d seen in the Market Hall catalog.

  Rope, ink, arrows, swords—it’s all here.

  What caught his attention the most, though, was the price difference. This is the same wood-shaft spear the Market Hall offered, but it’s only forty contribution points. He quickly scanned the pages until he found the same simple steel sword that the Market Hall had offered for sixty contribution points. This is only fifty-six!

  Ishin considered the friendly purple-haired woman with new eyes. Clever. All of her products are twenty percent cheaper than what the Market Hall offers. But how is that possible? Does she have an alternative supplier that provides them at lower cost so that she can still profit? More importantly, how can the sect allow this in the first place? No one would use the Market Hall for basic weapons and goods if Ma Lin can offer such competition. What is her secret?

  “You can sell us a map of the Outer Sect?” Rhee asked, interrupting Ishin’s internal thoughts.

  A map? He’d seen the item listed in the Market Hall catalog, but had quickly dismissed it. What good would having a map of the Outer Sect do when we can just explore it ourselves?

  “I can!” With a flick of her wrist, Ma Lin produced a neatly bound, rolled-up parchment. “Yours for just twenty contribution points.”

  “I’ll take it.”

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Rhee withdrew her medallion as Ma Lin did the same. The two women pressed their medallions together, after which Ma Lin turned over the map. With a quick gesture, Rhee stored the map inside her own storage ring.

  “A pleasure doing business with you,” Ma Lin said enthusiastically. “Now, is there anything you wish to buy?”

  Ishin considered his options as he reviewed the product list. He didn’t have enough points to purchase even the cheapest spear from Ma Lin with just his thirty contribution points. Nor was he sure that spending them all at once was wise.

  Then again, without a spear I’m certain the missions I can accept will be more limited.

  As if sensing his dilemma, Rhee suggested, “If you want, I can loan you the contribution points you need to get a spear.”

  It was a kind offer, and Ishin did consider it silently for almost a minute. Ultimately, he decided that he’d earn enough points after a few days of completing simple missions. If he could avoid being in debt to a friend, Ishin would choose that course of action every time.

  “Thanks, but no.” He handed the booklet back to Ma Lin. “Is it possible for me to buy from you in the future when I have more contribution points?”

  “Certainly!” She conjured a white piece of chalk and presented it to Ishin. “Free for my future clients. Just draw an X on the back of House 19 with your house number below it whenever you want to purchase something.”

  Ishin accepted the chalk. “Thank you. One other question, if you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all!”

  “You mentioned Mortal Grade weapons before, and the Market Hall listed their own weapons as being Mortal or Refined Grade. I’ve never heard of those categories before. Can you explain them to me?”

  Ma Lin’s brows arched in bewilderment. “You haven’t heard about craftsmanship grades before?”

  “His home was in an isolated part of the empire,” Rhee elaborated, looking between the two. “He didn’t know about alchemic pill grades either.”

  Ishin turned to Rhee. “You know about the grades?”

  Rhee shook her head bemusedly. “Yes, Brother Ishin. I’m from Yellow Dome City, after all.”

  “But I went to a weapons shop in Yellow Dome City and they didn’t list different grades there!”

  “You probably just went to a lower-end shop that only sold Mortal Grade weapons. Those stores wouldn’t bother denoting the difference.”

  Huh. I guess that makes sense. Thinking back to the Western Forge, it really had not been an impressive establishment. “I suppose that explains it.”

  “Not to worry, new friend!” Ma Lin beamed. “I can provide a brief overview. There are four main grades of items: Mortal, Refined, Superior, and Royal. While most only apply these grades to weapons, the grades can be applied to any item. Of course, these are only crafted items, not spirit tools, totems, talismans, or anything else like that. Most everyday items you see are Mortal Grade. Only truly talented artisans and craftsmen can construct a Refined Grade item or higher.”

  “So it’s a matter of skill?”

  “Skill and the materials used,” Ma Lin answered. “As a result, though, a higher-grade item will put lesser items to shame.”

  “Really?”

  “Mm-hmm! For example, a simple Mortal Grade saber can be blocked by a wooden shield. But a Refined Grade saber should be able to cut apart that same shield.”

  That was an analogy that Ishin could understand.

  “That is very helpful. Thank you.” He could only imagine what he could accomplish with a Refined Grade spear. And that was only the Refined Grade. What is a Royal Grade spear capable of?

  Then he remembered that the cheapest Refined Grade spear the Market Hall offered was three hundred fifty contribution points.

  I’ll definitely need to purchase a Mortal Grade spear first.

  “You’re most welcome!” Ma Lin held out her arms. “If you need a Mortal Grade spear, please seek me out instead of going to the Market Hall. You’ll save some contribution points.”

  “I will. Thank you, Senior.” Ishin meant it too.

  “Fantastic! Where are you off to now?”

  “We need to visit the Administrative Hall,” Rhee answered. “We need to select our first mission.”

  “Of course, of course. Earn some more contribution points and then seek me out!”

  Ishin and Rhee both laughed at that.

  “Do you have any advice on which missions we should select?” Ishin asked. Strangely enough, he felt like he could trust Ma Lin. Unlike Haoran Yong, Ma Lin didn’t seem to be trying to take advantage of them.

  “Hmm.” Ma Lin tapped her chin as she thought. “My advice is to start with a basic mission within an organization that you might want to join. You’ll earn some contribution points with minimal risk, and it’ll help you learn more about it before you attempt to join.”

  Ishin had to admit that was actually good advice. Of course, he still needed to determine which sect organization he wanted to join.

  “Are there different requirements for the organizations?” Rhee asked.

  “There are.” Ma Lin waved a hand. “It depends on the elder and the organization. The Alchemic Hall makes you pass a test before they’ll take you, while the Combat Hall will just make you go through the Gauntlet. It really varies.”

  More valuable information.

  “Which organization are you a part of, Senior?” Ishin asked.

  She waggled her purple eyebrows playfully. “A good question, but I don’t want to influence your path.” She looked over her shoulder to the northwest. “You’d best hurry before all of the good missions are claimed by others. Just make sure to remember me when you need something.”

  Ma Lin then strolled down the path leading to the south, as the two watched her depart.