Chapter 16 - Oh No! Social Interaction! (Patreon)

His new accommodations are incredible.

Well, no, actually, they’re not. They just feel incredible in comparison to his previous living situation.

When Madame Lu had mention the ‘paid dormitories’, he had pictured something not too dissimilar to the shared rooms at the orphanage. In reality, however, the paid dormitories are more like an apartment block – there are common areas, sure, and a shared entrance, but besides that he has an entire large room to himself. 

There’s even a tiny kitchenette – no stove or fridge or anything of course, but a food preperation area none the less. He has a mattress and pillow again! He has a key! For his very own locked door!. 

It’s such a sudden shift that he barely got any sleep last night. He knew, intellectually, that the city even having an orphanage was a borderline miracle, so he really should have expected that it would be chronically under-funded.

It’s also worth mentioning that he has no idea how much this place costs, and it’s entirely possible that there are some less impressive living conditions elsewhere that he managed to skip over by dint of having a patron. If nothing else it does help explain all the dirty looks he was getting from the other kids at the orphanage – clearly being a healers apprentice was a better gig than he had thought.

It’s also worth mentioning that while the space is impressive compared to the orphanage, that happens to be a very low bar to clear. Still, his new living space is moderately clean, has some halfway decent insulation, and, most importantly, a lock on the door.

Having a space that is actually his is an undeniable relief, though it does come with some more complications. For starters, breakfast at the orphanage was supplied, along with a single outfit. Here, he’s going to have to purchase his own food and clothing, though, of course, Lao Yi has arranged for him to get a couple of outfits to serve as a uniform.

That actually brings him to the slightly awkward realisation that he… doesn’t really know how money works here. Oh, sure, he knows that the currency is divided into different values depending on the metal used in the coin – copper jots, silver marks, and gold crowns, but…

What is a copper jot actually worth? Can it get him a loaf of bread? How much do clothes cost? For that matter, how much money does he actually have right now?

He digs into the space between the mattress and the bedframe where he had stashed his makeshift coin pouch. He hadn’t spent any of the money he’d received from Lao Yi yet, considering the orphanage paid for the necessities and anything else he bought would simply be stolen, so the pouch was bulging at the seams.

He poured the contents of the pouch out onto the mattress, sorting them into piles. It was a depressingly quick process, and by the end of it he was left with a single silver mark and fourteen copper jots. 

…No matter which way he looked at it, that wasn’t a lot. 

Still, it was better than nothing, and the only way to figure out how far it would take him was to get out there and try buying something. He glanced at the tiny kitchenette, noting the empty shelves. Food was definitely a priority.

The cheapest prices would probably be in the slums, but so would the worst produce. Not to mention that letting people know he had any amount of money would be an exceptionally quick way to lose it.

As annoying as it was, he was probably better off resigning himself to getting ripped off at a market in the better area of the city. Doubtlessly the merchants would spot a sucker like him a mile away and massively overcharge him, but at least he was less likely to be stabbed. 

It might also be worth asking Lao Yi about better places to shop, but his pride wouldn’t let him do that before trying to figure it out himself.

Stepping out into the hallway, Zhujiao locked his door and turned, nearly bumping into someone leaving the room opposite him. The boy was a bit older, with a friendly, open face. They both paused, hesitating with the slight awkwardness of an unexpected social situation.

“Hey there,” the older boy broke the silence first. “Uh, I’m Liang. You must be my new neighbour.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Zhujiao,” he hurried to respond. ‘I’m mentally, like, forty. How am I still so bad at talking to people?’ he thought, feeling vaguely incompetent. 

“You, uh, look a little young, if you don’t mind me saying. Most of the people living around here are older than…” Liang trailed off. “Older than you,” he finished lamely before slapping his forehead with his palm. “Ugh, sorry, that was rude of me. Still waking up.”

Zhujiao felt a bit of colour rise to his cheeks. “No worries, really. I’m used to it,” he said, trying to keep his tone light. “I’m still getting settled in.”

Liang seemed to catch on to the discomfort. “Well, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m right across the hall, after all,” he said with a friendly smile. “Actually, if you’re heading out, mind if I walk with you? I could use some fresh air.”

Zhujiao nodded, grateful for the company, even if he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle the social interaction. “Sure, I’m just going to find something to eat.”

As they walked down the corridor Zhujiao noticed Liang glancing at his ragged outfit. He tried to shove down the embarrassment. Sure, he looked more like a street urchin than anything else right now, but he would be getting new clothes soon.

“I don’t mean to pry, but if funds are tight, I know a few places where you can get decent stuff for cheap,” Liang offered tentatively, glancing at Zhujiao’s clothes. “I remember how it was when I first got in here – it feels like everything’s so expensive, and you just don’t have money to spare on things like clothes. I mean, not that you look bad or anything! Just... well, I figured it might help.”

Zhujiao’s initial reaction was to bristle at the implication, but he quickly reminded himself that Liang was only trying to be helpful. “Thanks, that would actually be really useful,” he admitted. “I don’t really know my way around the markets here yet.”

Liang’s face lit up. “Great! There’s a market a few streets over that’s perfect for finding bargains. The vendors there can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, you can get some good deals.”

Zhujiao made the appropriate grateful noises and they walked in silence for a while before he realised that he should probably be putting a little more effort into this whole ‘social interaction’ thing.

“So, uh, what do you do for work?”

It may only be a step above talking about the weather, but it was at least something.

“Oh, I’m a courier. I can get a package from one end of the city to the other in under two hours!”

Liang sagged a little at Zhujiao’s politely impressed smile.

“That’s really impressive,” he assured. “It’s not the most interesting job in the world, but I know all of the best shortcuts, and it certainly stops me from putting on any weight! Anyway, what about you?”

“Ah, well, I’m an apprentice healer. My master, Lao Yi, helped me get a place here,” Zhujiao explained, trying to keep his tone casual and hoping Liang wouldn’t be envious or bitter about things. He seemed friendly enough, and some positive social interaction outside of Lao Yi would probably do him a world of good.

“Wow, a healer! That’s definitely more interesting than my job,” Liang said with what seemed like genuine admiration. Zhujiao let himself relax a little. 

“Well, I’ve only just started, so I haven’t learnt much yet, but yeah, I like it.” 

They continued to walk, the streets gradually becoming more populated as they moved closer to the market district. Liang pointed out a few notable places as they walked—a bakery known for its fresh bread, a tailor who did good work for a reasonable price, and a small tea shop that apparently made the best brew in the area.

Finally, they reached a large open square with small stalls set up around the edges. Despite the relatively early hour it was already bustling with activity, and the smell of fresh produce and cooked food was wafting through the air. Zhujiao’s stomach growled and he swallowed some drool.

“Yeah, smells great, doesn’t it? Most of the places here are pretty decent, especially if you’re just wanting something quick.” Liang chuckled.

Zhujiao nodded, trying to take in everything at once. “Thanks for the help, Liang. I think I can manage from here.”

“No problem,” Liang replied, clapping him on the shoulder. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

Zhujiao watched Liang disappear into the crowd before turning back to the stalls in front of him. He hadn’t brought all of his money with him – it would be just his luck to be mugged and left with nothing – so now he had to figure out how far seven copper jots could take him.

Should be fun.

The taste of a delicious steamed bun was still fresh in his mouth as he pushed through the front door of the clinic. For three copper he wasn’t sure if he’d been ripped off or not, but compared to the plain rice and flatbread at the orphanage it was so good he didn’t even care.

Lao Yi was busy with a patient, so Zhujiao took the opportunity to sit at the small desk in the corner and reflect on his financial situation. The steamed bun might have been delicious, but at three copper jots for a single meal, no matter how filling, his meagre stash wouldn’t last long. He clearly needed to find a more sustainable way to manage his expenses. The thought of running out of money and having to go hungry was not a pleasant one, even if his living situation would still be taken care of.

The clinic was quiet, the murmurs of Lao Yi’s conversation with the patient creating a soothing background noise. Zhujiao pulled the coins from his pocket and counted them again just to be sure. 

Four copper jots. That wasn’t going to get him very far at all, and while he had more money at home he would burn through that very quickly. If he really had to, he could always ask Lao Yi for help, but considering the man was already paying for his uniform and housing he was loathe to ask for more.

A sudden thought struck him. He had heard stories of cultivators going without food, water, or sleep for weeks at a time. Was that something he could do?

Quickly checking that Lao Yi was still busy, he took the opportunity to turn his focus inwards and examine his dantian once more. Over the last few days the lingering damage had finally finished healing. 

If he was being honest with himself, he had been putting off checking for a while now. The last time he had done any cultivation, he had set himself on fire and managed to get his mother killed. Little wonder he was having second thoughts.

He pulled his focus outwards again to check on Lao Yi. The old man had apparently finished with his patient but had ducked into the back room. He… he could try using his Qi right now. Nothing major; just sending a trickle through his channels.

He clenched his fists, palms clammy. His heart was pounding, and the temptation to put it off and do something later was powerful.

‘No.’ he thought, determined. ‘This isn’t something that’s going to go away if I ignore it.’ Zhujiao looked up a final time to check that he wasn’t about to be interrupted before squeezing his eyes shut and plunging back in the strange mental space through which he could manipulate his Qi.

He took a final deep breath and tentatively began to send a trickle of Qi through his channels. It was slow at first, the energy moving hesitantly like a timid animal venturing out of its burrow. He winced slightly as the Qi flowed through the previously damaged areas, but the discomfort was manageable.

As the Qi made its way through his body, he felt his senses begin to awaken. His awareness expanded, and he could sense the subtle currents of energy around him. It was as if a fog had lifted, revealing a world that was vibrant and alive with Qi. He hadn’t realised how much he had missed this sensation until now; it was like getting back a missing limb.

The energy continued to flow, gradually picking up speed. Zhujiao focused on maintaining control, guiding the Qi along the pathways he had memorised. He could feel the warmth spreading through his body, a comforting presence that reinforced his muscles and bones.

His dantian felt… stronger, somehow, than how he remembered it. Like it was more robust or… or he had broken through. His memories after having used the beast core were… fuzzy, to say the least, but it was certainly possible that he had broken through again.

There was more than enough energy for it, which had sort of been the whole problem. He… didn’t really know how to check, though. Actually, if he thought about it, the list of things he didn’t know about cultivation was enough to fill several books.

Slowly, begrudgingly, he retracted his senses, pulling his awareness back into himself. The world faded to its normal state, leaving him with the steady hum of Qi coursing through his body.

This wasn’t something he was going to fix in a day, and to be honest, he was a little surprised that Lao Yi had left him alone for so long.

As if hearing his thoughts, the old man bustled back into the main room of the clinic, a scroll clutched in one hand.

“Ah, you’re awake! Good. Don’t think I didn’t notice you nodding off there!” the old man admonished, gently wagging a finger at Zhujiao. “I know that you probably met a bunch of pretty girls last night at your new house, but that’s no excuse to slack off now!”

Zhujiao blinked in surprise, more bemused than flustered at the accusation. 

“Master, you do know that I’m only twelve, right? I’m not exactly old enough to be wasting my time with that stuff.”

Lao Yi missed a step, gaping at him. 

“You’re only what!?”