Chapter 6 - Quack Doctor (2/2)

...If this quack's ring really works then that would definitely be much better than using silver...it's not like I could stick a silver pin or needle into everything I eat...especially in a public setting, honestly, I would seem like such a paranoid weirdo doing that...

”...If it doesn't work you can have my head...” Doctor Lou continued.

...won't it be too late to collect your head when I'm dead -_-)'...

”Okay, it would definitely be more reliable if it works...so show me proof of its magnificence.”

Doctor Lou nodded and got up and went to the cabinets behind him and returned with some herbs, put them on the table then went to the back of the shop and retrieved some roots, then went again for some seeds...after several trips, he had laid down all sorts of plants, roots, bark, dried plants, seeds, little bottles, and some other stuff on the table. Lei Xing guessed that they were probably poisonous items, she could recognize some of them such as apple seeds, the morning glory petals and the lily of the valley flowers. She had some passion for photography and always appreciated nature's beauty and those two flowers had caught her eye and she had come across the info of them being toxic. After he was done, he walked over to Lei Xing and stretched out his hand holding the ring, ”Here, wear it.”

Lei Xing took the ring and slid it on the middle finger of her right hand, then looked back at doctor Lou, who was looking at her hand wearing the ring with a satisfactory smile, Lei Xing looked at him warily, doctor Lou looked up and saw her looking at him and blinked then laughed, ”hahaha...just reach for any of the items of the table and watch the ring.”

Lei Xing set aside her reservations about the weird doctor and did as he instructed. As she reached for towards one of the items, the light blue color of the jewel changed to a deep blue, her eyes widened and she withdrew her hand and it went back to the sky blue color. She scrutinized the ring and reached forward again towards another item and saw the color change to a greenish blue color, she retrieved her hand again. She did this several times towards different items on the table, and the jewel showed different ranges of blue for the different items. Her hand stopped on one of the bottles which contained some sort tiny crystals, the jewel had turned completely black.

...Is that? This is perfect! it can even detect physical objects...I remember watching a drama where someone drank something with crushed diamonds or some jewel in it and it shredded his stomach...he died a slow painful agonizing death...

”Is this really real?” Lei Xing said to herself really disbelieving her luck in all this. She walked away from the table and headed to the shelf on the side with drawers of other plants and products and she opened them one by one and hovered the ring over the items in it to check and confirm the ring's legitimacy and it did not react to anything...

”Those are not poisonous...of course I'm not stupid enough to place poisonous substances in the open for customers to access.”

Lei Xing still in awe, looked at the ring on her hand again wondering how this could possibly work.

...it didn't make sense, how could this possibly exist?...but then again here I am, a transmigrated soul...if I told people they would probably say I didn't make any sense either, that it was impossible and call me crazy...

”The more toxic the substance the darker the color of the jewel, the lighter it is the less toxic...it won't kill you...with this, your safety in the palace is assured...well, at least from poisons, hidden daggers still exist.” Doctor Lou explained and finished his last sentence with a laugh.

”How much for it?” Lei Xing asked, still examining the ring, she really could not wrap her mind around how it works.

”How much? I haven't thought of a price.” Doctor Lou said with a yawn. Lei Xing looked at him closely trying to figure out his game.

”Sell it to me. Give a price.” Lei Xing said firmly.

”Hmm...it can be considered a family heirloom, a generational masterpiece...I really can't put a price on thousands of years of work...” Doctor Lou said shrugging his shoulders and went back to sit on his chair behind the reception.

Lei Xing was at a loss.

...if you're not going to give a price... how can I buy it?...

”What do you want for it?” Lei Xing asked raising an eyebrow at him.

”What do I want?...hmm? I don't really want anything in particular.” Doctor Lou said and started moving his head left to right again.

...this old man...he must be really bored -_-)...

Lei Xing quietly watched him, thinking on how to persuade him to sell it. After a while, Doctor Lou suddenly stopped his head movement, beamed a smile at her and said, ”How about I just give it to you?”

...HUH?! for free?...

Doctor Lou looked at Lei Xing's furrowed eyebrows and said ”...yes, you can have it...anyway, I have no use for it...what is the point of enshrining it? It should be put to use to be called valuable.”

Lei Xing was skeptical, ”You just said it was a family heirloom, a generational masterpiece...and you're given it to me for free?”

...there's nothing like free handouts in the world, there is always a tradeoff somewhere...especially for something so valuable...

”I said it can be considered one, not that it is...”

Lei Xing narrowed her eyes at him.

...what's the difference? -_-)'...

”...I have no use for it, no one tries to poison me and then again my skills are so good that I could tell poison from its look and smell so...”

”Oh, good for you.” Lei Xing said flatly and then continued, ”...okay, you have no use for it, but why not sell it and make some profit? It makes no sense, why not make a profit of it, if you're going to give it away?”

”Is money that valuable to you?”

Lei Xing was taken aback by his question. She had often been asked this question in her past life, as she was the perfect definition of a workaholic, not that she particularly liked any of her jobs during school, but as long as there was money to be made she was there to work, she spent most of her time working and dealing with school and didn't have much a social life and her family and few friends always asked her why she was so focused on making money and often lectured her about how there are much more important things in life...hearing him ask this, gave her flashbacks to her past.

...I had managed to save a small fortune by graduation, 25 and free, I was ready for my future to take off...having money gave me security and the control I needed to live my life however I wanted...also I never really felt the need for social interactions, not that I lacked confidence or anything, I just wasn't motivated to forge social relationsh.i.p.s...money is reliable, you either have it or not, you don't have to second guess anything with it, it's easier to handle than people, as long as I worked hard there would always be a payoff...It feels funny now, I remember I often had to explain to people that I don't care about other people's money, not even my parents' money...I only cared about my money, the money I could earn was the only reliable thing for me, I was the only one I could count on...I always explained that I did not care what happens to the money when I'm dead, as long as it served a purpose for me while I was alive and its existence did...but it's weird now because I'm not dead, but my money is out of reach, I wonder what happened to it, I had made my younger brother my beneficiary, I don't trust a 17-year-old boy to wisely use my hard earned money, hopefully, our parents can mediate...

...I feel somewhat aggrieved...oh well, at least I didn't end up begging on some street somewhere... that would have truly been a situation to grieve, and as long as I play my cards right I can guarantee a successful long life of comfort here...

Lei Xing snapped back to the present and found doctor Lou looking at her weirdly, she smiled nervously, somewhat embarrassed she had spaced out for a bit, she seems to do that a lot these days...but who could blame her, it's not every day someone dies and finds themselves alive again in a strange place.

”I can't take it for free...” Lei Xing said regaining her composure, she had always felt uncomfortable receiving things from people, even from her parents...she never asked for anything from them and always just did things for herself, if she wanted something she went out to work and get it herself. She hates owing people, so whenever someone gives her something, she always feels a need to reciprocate and always gives something of equal or more value, it feels like an obligation to her.

”Hmm...” Doctor Lou scratched his head for a while, ”how about this since you're entering the palace... and going to the top, don't forget this doctor...” He said with a laugh.

”You want to work in the palace?”

”No, not necessarily...hahaha I'm too lazy too...just occasionally using my skills and getting some recognition should be okay.”

Lei Xing raised an eyebrow at him, considering his words, ”What if I don't make it to the top...?”

...all bases must be covered to ensure reasonable expectations are set for a beneficial contract...

”...hmm, how about what happens then...anyway, you wouldn't really have a use for it if you're not in the palace, right?...so you can return it then or we can discuss a price then if you want.”

Lei Xing was still skeptical about this deal, for something like this, some would kill for it and he could get a fortune for it, yet he is virtually giving it away for free and only asking for some recognition in return...this seems too good to be true.

...and when something seems too good to be true, it usually is...

Doctor Lou looked at her and said, ”Fine, if you don't want it...you can just leave it...I don't want anything and I've told you what I need from your end...if you don't want it just give it back.” He stretched out his open palm towards her asking for the ring back. Lei Xing put her hand behind her.

”I didn't say I didn't want it.” Lei Xing said smiling.

...even though this feels sketchy, I don't really have a choice here...I don't lose anything by taking it and with its value, I really can't turn my back on this deal simply because I feel uncomfortable with the exchange...

”You're sure you don't want anything more for it...” Lei Xing asked looking at doctor Lou with searching eyes.

Doctor Lou looked at her and seemed to be searching for something too and did not respond.

”Okay, I'll take it...if you change your mind and have a price or something you want...as long as it's within my capabilities and within reason, you can let me know and I will do my best to fulfill it or I will return the ring to you...Thank you” Lei Xing finished and bowed in gratitude.

”Okay, Okay...that sounds reasonable too...” Doctor Lou said nodding his head.

”Okay, it's a deal then...I will be taking my leave now, take care.” Lei Xing said and turned to walk away.

”Good luck in your endeavors!” Doctor Lou said in an excited voice...

Lei Xing turned back to him, ”Goodluck in your endeavors too...” she said in a flat slightly sarcastic voice, smirked and left the store.

”...always so cheeky...” Doctor Lou whispered and pushed the items on the table aside to create some room on the table, and used his arms as a pillow and went back to sleep.

Lei Xing walked back to the carriage with a renewed sense of hope for the future, although she was still suspicious, she had stumbled onto a gem, literally.