Aimless Ascension

"If I absorb too much energy, weird side effects tend to arise."

"Like what?" Gale asked, curious.

"My body acts weirdly," Xiaolin said, blushing. "I barb excessively, ears start ringing, my eyes tear up. I feel wobbly and excited all the time."

"As for higher order energy?"

Xiaolin blinked, not comprehending.

"You're easily absorbing gold density energy. Does that not affect you?" Gale elaborated, earning another confused blink from her as she stared at the pile of gold coins already reaching her knees.

"I don't think so," she answered, uncertain. "Does it affect others?"

"Dearly," Gale said ominously. "While there's a bit of exception for iron rankers and higher, a normal copper ranker will die of Qi poisoning within five minutes of absorbing a single gold spirit mark."

Xiaolin looked horrified.

"That's why I called you a wonder," Gale said. "If I was a master, I wouldn't mind taking you as a disciple."

Xiaolin flustered at his comment and then became pensive, remembering again of her poor constitution. She still hadn't achieved a single step forward.

"Alright, you can absorb all you like later," Gale said. "Now help me organise a few things."

Xiaolin nodded and was about to move, only to find out she was stuffed on her spot as the coins had reached her waist. She forced on with all her might—which was absolutely not a lot—but couldn't move an inch.

Gale burst into laughter. "Swim in it," he advised. "It's a wondrous feeling, I assure you."

Xiaolin stared incredulously and found Gale was serious. Eventually, she tried swimming, but with her mortal strength, she barely moved a couple of steps. It's rather hard to swim in stone hard money.

Several seconds later, Gale stopped laughing, though the smile glued to his lips, watching her exerting effort to move.

"Alright, alright, I'll help you up." Gale closed the void hole as the money stopped pouring out. Still, they reached almost Xiaolin's chest, while barely on Gale's waist.

He moved effortlessly and held Xiaolin's arm to pull her out. He held her up and placed her on the heap of the coins.

"Are you finished with the coins?" Xiaolin asked, her head almost reaching the ceiling as she stood up.

"I'll need another room for gold coins," Gale said. "And another one for all the lower ranked coins. But first, you have to move a few delicate items out of here."

Gale brought out a few paintings, some scrolls and books—probably Qi techniques and spirt arts, bottles of wines, a few jade boxes and a dozen colourful beads.

"Most of them are irreplaceable," Gale added. "Handle with care."

Xiaolin inspected each of the items with her sight and nodded. "Senior, how did you get all this?" she couldn't help but ask. It was only when the question was out that she found it was rather rude to ask such a question. "You don't have to answer that, Senior, I was merely curious."

"Bah!" Gale snorted. "I simply robbed my master's house before departing."

"What?!"

"Don't worry about it. All this didn't even put a dent in his treasury."

***

Xiaolin was completely flabbergasted as she got out of the house. Senior Gale was unloading the leftovers inside the farmhouse, after leaving her with taking care of all the ingredients, herbs, and other stuff.

She had completed all the tasks Gale gave her, and in doing so, she curiously inspected a few of the items.

Like the paintings were all so beautiful. One of them was of dusk, sun rising on the horizon. It was so ethereal, Xiaolin got herself lost, staring at it for minutes. Apparently, most of them were drawn by Maya, Senior Gale's Senior Sister.

But most importantly, Senior Gale had stolen most of the items. Xiaolin was incredulous to believe that, after all, Gale admitted it without easily.

"Hey girl," a voice broke her out of the contemplation, "watch where you're goin'."

Xiaolin halted to find a couple of the workers carrying logs. She was about to move in between them in a few seconds. "I'm sorry."

"Kids, these days," spoke the other one, giving a meaningful look. "Have some restraints. At least wait until we all leave. . ."

"What?" Xiaolin asked, wide eyes.

The workers only laughed in response and went their own way.

Xiaolin kept on staring at them in confusion. Several seconds later, she noticed her skin was glistening with faint sweat, the effect of absorbing energy while she was working. Moreover, her skin had a tint of red as the energy was still wobbling inside her.

Xiaolin's eyes widened like saucers as realisation dawned on her. She blushed excessively, turning around to find anywhere to hide her face.

The workers were long gone for her to clear the misunderstanding, and it's not like they would listen to her. She could only hope none of these would enter Senior Gale's ears.

Xiaolin bit her lips and moved away. After several seconds, she discovered Vale coming back from his hunt in a bit of dismay. The dog's mood lifted, finding her as he wiggled his tail and ran towards her.

Xiaolin stooped to caress the hound. "No luck on the hunt?"

The dog shook his head in her lap. He looked at her as if wanting to express something, but unaware of how to. Then he turned towards the farmhouse where Senior Gale was currently at.

"Senior is unloading his stuff," Xiaolin told the dog. "Is it really true senior stole most of the things from his master?"

"Woof!" the hound agreed, nodding excessively.

Xiaolin hummed, completely lost about what to think of this. Senior didn't look like someone who'd steal stuff just out of spite or greed.

Gale came out of the farmhouse after a few minutes and threw her an uncertain look. "Is this," he pointed at her slightly glistening skin, "one of the effects?"

Xiaolin nodded and recalled what the workers said to her. She looked down to hide her face.

"It's a common occurrence when one advances, though the heat would be a lot more." Gale considered it for a moment. "We'll take a look at that later. Now let's go get water."