Yu Di smiled. The old familiar voice was back. He had a lot more work left to do. What better place to start than this here?

  Although a sad part of him realized that he never needed Yu Lin to help him unlock his curse. He could have been unlocking this curse for years but his ego never considered changing the way he lived and thought.

  All the power and knowledge of a Demigod and the only thing Yu Di could think of was to steal, cheat, and maybe murder his way out of it. All it took were good deeds?

  What kind of curse was this?

  After Yu Di passed out all the buns he had left in his storage ring, he turned away from the starving children. Some of the destitute adults came seeking food as well. He made sure that the children were safe before leaving.

  Yu Di knew better than most that adults would do cruel things to children if they could get away with it. He still shivered at the memory of one sect that ate their youngest children to increase their cultivation.

  That was one sect he didn’t regret eliminating.

  Sadly, now Yu Di only had one last option in this city. There was no way he could live in the poorer districts without feeling miserable every time he saw an orphan or starving child on the streets.

  Yu Di turned back toward the caravanserais. The roadside inn might also have the answer to his curse. It was the Goddess that did this to him. Vimala must have answers.

  The looming gate came into view. It was almost as tall as the gate at the center of Miryana. Ying Fusu’s men signaled each other to open the gate when they saw Yu Di approach.

  Ying Fusu waited just beyond the gate, sitting at a table, with a large tent that shaded them from the sun. His yellow scarf covering his face.

  There were four bodyguards surrounding him, standing in the sun. Yet none of them looked uncomfortable. The benefits of being an Immortal in the second realm.

  “Welcome back, Senior Yu,” Ying Fusu said.

  “You knew I would be back, didn’t you?” Yu Di asked.

  Ying Fusu leaned back on his lounge chair. “In my line of work, I need to know where the most important assets are.”

  “Then you know where that woman is.”

  Ying Fusu nodded.

  “I need to talk with her.” Yu Di moved to go past the tent, but two bodyguards stood in his way.

  “Senior Yu, I have arranged for us to talk in this tent, away from prying eyes and ears,” Ying Fusu said. “I have also requested Vim’s presence. But there is one thing I need you to promise before you’re allowed to talk with her.”

  “What is it?”

  “You cannot threaten or harm Vimala Janavati as long as you are in Miryana.”

  Yu Di turned to look at the man. Those eyes looked so familiar, but also so young. This time however, they weren’t ones commanding him to follow his orders. Instead they were pleading with him.

  “You have my word I would never harm her,” Yu Di said. “But threatening is only one of my only tools. Is that enough?”

  Ying Fusu looked away for a moment before nodding.

  “Since we have a moment to wait for Vimala, would you mind telling me who you are?” Yu Di sat down on a nearby chair within the tent. The instant shade came with a rush of relief. Even his Demigod body couldn’t stand the heat.

  This tent was no regular tent. It must have been a Qi artifact.

  “I’m a simple merchant from our country,” Ying Fusu said.

  “No simple trader would have second realm Immortals as bodyguards.”

  “You’re right.” Ying Fusu sat up and poured a cup of tea for Yu Di. “I will admit that I had a lot of help from my father when he gave me the capital to start this business. But it has taken me over ten years to build my trade empire. Very easy when a certain Demigod creates a power vacuum.”

  Yu Di gulped the tea before pouring himself a few more cups. It was good green tea. “So in a way, your success is because of me?”

  Ying Fusu frowned underneath his yellow scarf.

  “If you call the deaths of thousands and constant warfare success, then yes. This is all because of you. I wonder what your daughter would think.”

  “I’m not proud of who I was.” Yu Di put the cup down.

  “You don’t have to convince me. You have to convince her.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Vimala walked out from the main inn toward them. This time, she wore a light cream colored apron. Her green eyes scanning the two of them and her face growing concerned.

  “I thought he left,” she said to Ying Fusu.

  “I did, but Ying Fusu is right,” Yu Di said. “There is nowhere else for me to go.”

  “There is no place for you here either,” Vimala said. “Why don’t you just go back to where you came from? Don’t try to do anything to my poor city anymore.”

  “Please, have a seat first Vim,” Ying Fusu said. He gestured to a third seat around the table.

  Vimala nodded and sat down.

  Ying Fusu snapped his finger.

  The two bodyguards grabbed the top of the tent. It unfurled and sealed the three inside along with two remaining bodyguards. A small scratching sound came from the outline of the tent along with a blue glow.

  The stifling heat inside made it hard to breathe. Yu Di took small breaths, cycling his Qi. He doubted Ying Fusu planned on trapping him in here as he was inside as well, but he couldn’t keep his paranoia down. Something about being back in this city, not of his own choice, made him extra wary.

  After a minute of dark silence, the Qi artifact activated. The vibrations shook the tent before stopping. A light engulfed all of them, blinding them for a second.

  When Yu Di opened his eyes, they were sitting on the same chairs, but somewhere else completely. They were inside a large wooden structure filled with items of different kinds. Jade statues lined one corner while lush carpets hung from the ceiling, displaying complex patterns. An entire loom sat covered in another corner along with baskets of silk.

  “You have short range teleportation,” Yu Di said. “I’m assuming we’re in one of your warehouses.”

  “There is no fooling a Demigod,” Ying Fusu said. “This is one of my many storage facilities throughout the city, just waiting for the siege to end so I can go about my business again. This place is protected by so many wards that I doubt even a Demigod could break in without some trouble.”

  Vimala gasped. “Where are we?”

  “Somewhere safe,” Ying Fusu said. “This is where we can talk without worrying about people overhearing us.”

  “At least I know you won’t murder me here,” Yu Di said. He walked around, admiring the jade statues. Most of these had the same style as the one back in the capital of the Celestial Jade Empire. “These are too valuable even if they aren’t Qi artifacts. Are you the one who also supplied the city with those Qi artifacts by the way?”

  “You saw them on the doors,” Ying Fusu said. “Yes, I supplied those when the abbot asked. It was a small price to pay for his favor.”

  “Did you also tell him that you had access to every single lock? You could rob this entire city’s goods in a day. You would be as rich as the Emperor.”

  Ying Fusu laughed. “The Emperor is not that poor. Besides, all those stores are empty anyway. Years of sieges have emptied this city of most of its riches.”

  “Except what you have here.” Yu Di picked up a jade rabbit. Maybe he could bring this back to his daughter. Then again, he released murderous rabbits on her the last time in his pocket dimension. He put it back down.

  “The advantage of being an Immortal as well as a very well connected merchant. But I fear that even that won’t be enough this time around.”

  “What are we doing here?” Vimala asked.

  “If I had to guess, Ying Fusu wants to understand the secrets that you and I hold.” Yu Di picked up a small jade piece that had health carved into it. “Can I keep this?”

  Ying Fusu nodded.

  “What secrets?” Vimala asked.

  “The fact that you’re the Goddess of Miryana and I’m the Demigod that fought you all those years.” Yu Di pocketed the jade piece into his storage ring. Maybe one day he’ll have the chance to give it to his daughter.

  “Goddess of Miryana? I’m not her.”

  “You said as much earlier in the inn,” Yu Di said. “You recognized me. The only people who could do that were the people there on that day. Not to mention, you have the same eyes. Kind, beautiful, and deadly.”

  “I was a priestess.” Vimala looked away. “That fight twenty years ago wiped out the Goddess’ power and took ours as well. I was there supporting my Goddess when you fought her. That’s why I remember you. I will never forget the face that doomed my city.”

  Yu Di stalked over to Vimala, letting a little of his Core Formation level Qi leak out of his body. This much to someone with little or no Qi herself would feel crushed by the pressure. If he accidentally released it anymore, he might actually kill her.

  “You are lying,” Yu Di said. “I can see it in your eyes. Your face was covered when we fought, but that determination is still there. It might have been twenty years, but I will remember the one that cursed me for the rest of my life.”

  Vimala scrambled backwards and ran behind Ying Fusu. She grabbed his robe. “See Fusu! He’s going to kill me. Or worse, he’s going to kill us all. Please, please, kill him before he does that. I don’t want to die.”

  “I’m very curious about the answer myself.” Ying Fusu crossed his arms. “If you tell us the truth, then I would protect you with my life if needed.”

  “You know who I am Fusu. We’ve known each other for over ten years.”

  Ying Fusu didn’t respond.

  “Even the one that loves you doesn’t know,” Yu Di said. “While I know I’m right, I need you to confirm it. I wouldn’t want to wipe out the wrong city in my old age. My memory is not what it used to be.”

  “See? He’s going to do it. Save us Fusu.”

  Ying Fusu leaned back in his chair.

  Since Ying Fusu was giving Yu Di this chance, he had to take full advantage of it. Yu Di released control over his Qi and let it flood the entire warehouse. An invisible pressure pushed down on everyone present. The jade reacted and glowed green and white. He made sure to focus a sliver of it over Vimala.

  “Whatever,” Yu Di said. “If I can’t get an answer, I might as well destroy the city first. Then I’ll drag you somewhere else where this noble merchant won’t get in my way.”

  “No, please.” Vimala tugged Ying Fusu’s robe.

  “You think he can stop a Demigod like me? Even at the height of your powers all you could do was force a stalemate. Now you’re not much better than a mortal.” Yu Di took three steps toward Vimala’s cowering figure. “I’ll ask you only this once. Are you the Goddess of Miryana?”

  Vimala looked between Ying Fusu and Yu Di. She bit her lower lip.

  “I’m… I… Ugh.” Vimala held her head.

  A strong pulse of Qi came from Vimala’s body. Unlike a cultivator’s dantian, her Qi radiated from her entire body as if it was made of Qi. It felt like the Qi of a Demigod.

  Yu Di scrambled back.

  This type of power was too much. It would wipe them out in a second. The only way he could stop it was if he used his own Demigod power, but then he would be dead either way.

  Yu Di didn’t expect this Goddess to be so vicious to take him out with her city. But if she wanted round two of their fight in the middle of the city, he would give her that fight. He didn’t have the resolve back then to risk everything. This time he didn’t want this clash to kill everyone in the city.

  The kids have suffered enough.

  Yu Di focused his own Qi and ramped it up to his own Demigod level.

  For the children of Miryana.

  Curse unlocked: 1% lifted.

  Ying Fusu held Vimala’s hand and her Qi dissipated.

  Wait, what?