The Record of Unusual Creature

Gold, the symbol of wealth. In fact, many see it as their raison d’etre, their reason of living. This shiny metal is a rare commodity in most planets throughout the universe. It could drive normal men to greatest of heights or to do the most devious of deeds, but the the Tanneans in the past, gold was something so common that they used it to build their houses and other daily items. It was not in any shape, a valuable item to them.

If a world was filled to the brim with gold, what was the value of it then?

If a person could reach a new plateau beyond mortal needs, what is the use of gold to such a person?

Hao Ren was astounded by the truth behind Alamanda, the Golden City. A land filled with gold was akin to a heavenly city in some a mythological tale. The originators of the tales had used their base desires to describe the most ideal of cities to their eyes. But Hao Ren quickly realised that gold to the Tannaeans, was nothing but a cheap and heavy building material. It was heavily, rough, and not a particularly condusive metal, the only advantage it had was its stability. Hence it was used as a stabliser in building materials after being mixed with cement and other form of metals. Its use was for the cheapest parts of the city, the walls, and roads, or even as material for statues.

Even Hao Ren had no use for them. He had seen many other civilisations had forswore the need for such base materials. Come to think of it, he did not need them either, they bring more harm than good most of the time.

“Gooolddd!!! It’s really goooldddd!!” Becky was still jumping about in excitement. “Let’s dig the whole place up! Aren’t you interested?”

“Just take a bit, you might use it back home.” Hao Ren nodded at Becky. “But don’t overdo it. The tax officials aren’t stupid. Getting rid of a half a tonne worth of gold is no joke. Everyone else too, just take some as souvenirs, but don’t bother dreaming of carrying a tonne back home and call yourself a billionaire. We are not short of money, with a goddess behind us, we’ll have what we want, what we need. Just make sure you don’t attract the attention of the special branch with the amount of gold…”

Vivian raised at eyebrow towards Hao Ren, her look incredulous for a good while, before she nodded approvingly. “That’s work Mr. Landlord. I never thought you’d see things this way. I was busy thinking of how to get you to calm down.”

Lily on the other hand did not pay much heed to gold. Her concept of money was rather simple, in fact the only reason she earned a living because pork ribs did not come free. Looking slightly surprised at Vivian, she asked. “Battie you don’t need the gold? I thought you were dirt poor?”

“Even if I had gold with me it’ll go missing somehow. Besides, staying with Mr. Landlord means even if i have the gold I won’t be spending them. So, why do I need it again?

The others had since recovered from their daze as well, and were not totally consumed by the endless sea of gold. Nangong Sanba too cut a few pieces of gold from the statue, not to sell them of course, but as catalyst for his demon hunting tools, and as repair materials. Becky looked at the rest with unbelieving eyes. Pursing her lips, and tears in her eyes, she followed Nangong Sanba in taking a few tiny pieces from the statue. Her eyes were still watery as she looked at Hao Ren after taking a slice off the statue. “…Mr. Landlord… I’m still not done cutting, can we come back a second time?”

Hao Ren was deeply amused by the greedy mercenary lass. “Alright, sure. Take as much as you want, just make sure you can carry them back. I’m not gonna carry it for you now though. Will only store it for you once we leave here.”

Becky jumped in joy as she heard that, and with a blinding flash she took off a couple more chunks of gold. Only then she stood up and caught up with the rest. As she went she turned back to wave at “her” golden statue… almost like she was saying farewell to dead relative…

Hao Ren had never seen someone so enamoured by gold before, but at least she was not obtuse about it. Her greed was so transparent and apparent, she did not bother hiding it. Neither did she scheme behind one’s back, nor did she hide her greed behind a mask of virtue. She loved money, but she did not steal or cheat. Even when she stayed at Hao Ren’s place she made sure that her bills were itemised. The lass was even cracking her head on how to earn some cash to pay rent from the first day on Earth.

Everyone loved Becky the greedy mercenary, but she could be a tad bit too greedy at times.

“I now understand why the first key had so much gold stored in it.” Vivian said as she walked beside Hao Ren. “I first thought the owner was probably some tycoon of sorts, but now most likely he’s just a bricklayer in Alamanda…”

Hao Ren raised his eyebrow. “A bricklayer needed to carry gold in his pocket?”

“To sell his wares of course. Like how you have samples in your workbag.” Vivian elbowed Hao Ren’s arm. “Don’t fret too much on the details…”

“You can tell your papa about this when you go home.” Nangong Wuyue suddenly turned towards Anna. “And tell him that this is the witch’s treasure trove. Every piece of it is cursed. You know why we need to tell him such right?”

“That’s for his own good.” Vivian added. “But I think it’s better if we keep Alamanda a secret. Don’t tell him about it. Even if he had no interest in the gold, the people around him might. Secrets have a tendecy to leak, and someone within the castle may be overcome by the allure of the gold and crossing the fissure in their search for gold. They’ll probably perish in the poisonous atmosphere.. but worse…”

Hao Ren nodded. “We’ll set up a few more sealing and monitoring devices. We’ll place a screen around the dais as well, to prevent anyone else from approaching it. Tanngost still have vengeful spirits wandering around, if they were to escape from the fissure it’ll be trouble.

“We need to be vigilant too, might run into those things.” Nangong Sanba gripped his crossbow tightly. This was his first time into another world, and he was much more nervous than others. “Just make sure your girl is find. If shit hits the fan, we might need to depend on her.”

Lil Pea immediately popped out from Hao Ren’s chest pocket, mumbling happily. “Depend on her! Depend on her!

Seems like the little one was in a good mood.

Lily could tell the various scents in the air just by sniffing, but she could not detect any living thing near them. Her nerves got the better of her as she mumbled. “Say… the spirits came from here right… They were formerly Tannaeans?”

“Maybe Tanngost had a catastrophic level disaster, and the vengeful spirits are the souls of the dead.” Hao Ren purposely used an ominous voice to explain. “Look as this place, there’s no one else. With so many dying at the same time out of fear and horror, it’s no wonder that they became vengeful spirits.”

Lily’s fur immediately bristled. “Can-can you not use a tone like this?!”

Vivian took a sideway glance at the husky. “And there you were, fearless agains the spirits. Now you’re afraid of a little ghost story?”

Lily’s retort came almost immediately, “Of course! I don’t think that much when I fight! Now when I listen to one I’d naturally think about it!”

Hao Ren was rendered speechless with the dumb husky’s logic and attitude while Vivian rolled her eyes in contempt. “What the heck are you afraid of anyway? Even if your nerves were to be tested, it’s not with a ghost story.”

Lily was stunned. “Why?”

Vivian gave a professional look all around the husky, “Dog blood wards off evil. You’re a bloody husky, of course you’d ward off evil, and you’re afraid of ghosts?

Lily actually demurred for a moment. “…That’s rather logical, heh!”

Even Vivian was dumbstruck. “That idiot actually believed it!”

At the same time, Anna’s voice broke the idle banter. “The ‘vengeful spirits’ that you talk about are not the spirits of the Tannaeans, they were the Tannaeans, Tannaeans that had changed their life form.”

As she spoke, Anna pointed towards a tower complex not too far from them. “I remember more now… The Tannaeans had transformed themselves, a transcendence of sorts and turned the whole race into spirit form. They did not become spirits after death, it was done when they were alive. The tower before us is one of those Tower of Transcendence…possibly the last one standing. There should be records on how the Tannaeans transcended… transcended into the ‘vengeful spirits ‘ you talked about.”