Chapter 3 - The Master Hunt

Floki strode through the bustling garrison, his new staff resting lightly against his shoulder. The faint hum of spiritual energy from the weapon was a small comfort in this unfamiliar world. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, searching for someone who might know more than they let on. Spotting a soldier burdened with supplies, he stopped him with a casual gesture.

"Excuse me," Floki said, his voice firm yet oddly disarming. "I’m looking for someone skilled in cultivation. A teacher, perhaps. Know anyone worth my time?"

The soldier blinked, clearly unprepared for such directness. "You mean a Master? Someone who can guide you through the paths?" Floki’s sharp grin cut through the soldier’s hesitation. "Yes. Preferably someone who doesn’t faint at the sight of blood."

The soldier frowned, shifting uncomfortably under Floki’s gaze. "You won’t find anyone like that here. The garrison is for fighters, not scholars." Floki’s grin faltered into a cold stare. "Then point me to where the scholars hide. Or do I need to dig it out of you?"

The soldier paled slightly and gestured toward a stall brimming with maps and scrolls. "Try the cartographer. He might know where the sects and Masters gather." Floki clapped the soldier’s shoulder, his touch light but making the man flinch nonetheless. "Good lad. Now run along before you faint."

The stall’s shelves were lined with faded maps and scrolls bound in cracked leather, their dusty presence exuding knowledge of bygone eras. Behind the counter sat an elderly man with a long white beard, peering through a magnifying glass at a half-drawn map. Floki leaned casually against the counter, his sharp grin returning. "Do you sell directions to power?"

The old man looked up, his eyes unexpectedly sharp despite his age. "Power? That depends on the kind you seek." Floki’s grin widened as he tapped the counter with a finger. "The kind that makes me unstoppable. And the kind that comes with a teacher willing to put up with my winning personality."

The old man chuckled, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Masters don’t come cheap, nor do they teach just anyone." Floki tossed a gleaming Mid-Tier Spirit Shard onto the counter, the soft glow illuminating the man’s curious expression. "Good thing I’m not just anyone. Consider this a down payment for information."

The old man picked up the shard, inspecting it carefully before nodding. "There are Masters scattered across the regions. Each follows a different path of cultivation—Spirit, Elements, even the forbidden paths of Shadow and Death." Floki’s grin sharpened at the mention of the forbidden paths. "Shadow and Death, you say? Finally, something interesting."

The cartographer’s expression grew cautious as he unrolled a detailed map. "Masters of those paths are dangerous. They demand loyalty and often exact a heavy price." Floki leaned closer, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "Dangerous is exactly what I need. Where can I find them?"

The man’s finger traced along jagged mountain ranges and dense forests. "To the west, in the Western Region, you will find Master Sho-Nuff, who commands the forbidden Path of Shadow. To the east, in the Eastern Region, Master Pai Mei presides over the Path of Death." Floki studied the map with growing interest, his fingers drumming against the counter.

"And the safer options? Not that I’ll pick them, but humor me." The cartographer smirked knowingly. "To the north, in the Northern Region, Shifu Wong Fei-hung is renowned for mastery of the Path of Spirit. To the south, in the Southern Region, Shifu Liu Kang teaches the Path of Elements."

Floki nodded, committing the names and locations to memory. "Helpful. Let’s hope they’re as accommodating as you." As he turned to leave, the cartographer called out, his tone laced with warning. "A word of advice, traveler. Masters test more than your strength. They’ll test your will, your loyalty, and your soul."

Floki paused, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk. "They can test all they like. Just don’t be surprised when I pass with flying colors." He strode back into the bustling market, his mind alive with plans. The names of the Masters swirled in his thoughts, each one offering a unique path to power.

Stopping at a stall selling cultivation tools, Floki’s attention was drawn to a small orb glowing faintly with blue light. "What does this do?" he asked, picking it up and feeling its faint hum. The merchant, a wiry man with sharp features, grinned broadly. "That’s a Spirit Resonance Orb. It amplifies the flow of energy in your spirit well."

Floki raised an eyebrow, weighing the orb in his hand. "Amplifies? Sounds useful. How much?" The merchant rubbed his hands together, his grin widening. "Five Mid-Tier Shards," he said with undisguised greed.

Floki’s brow arched as he casually set the orb back on the counter. "Five shards for something that barely hums? Tell me, does it also sing songs to justify the price?" The merchant chuckled, crossing his arms with a sly look. "Quality doesn’t come cheap. But if you can’t afford it—" "Oh, I can afford it," Floki interrupted, his grin sharp as a blade. "But I hate overpaying. How about a wager instead?" The merchant’s eyes narrowed with intrigue. "A wager? What kind?"

Floki spotted a nearby table and grabbed three wooden cups along with a small stone from the ground. "The classic three-cup game," he said, setting them neatly on the table. "I’ll place the stone under one cup and shuffle them. If you guess correctly, I’ll pay your asking price. But if you guess wrong, I take the orb for three shards."

The merchant’s grin turned wolfish, his confidence growing. "You think you can outsmart me with a child’s game?" Floki leaned in, his voice low and teasing. "Try me."

As the game began, Floki’s hands moved with lightning speed, the cups clattering against the table in a mesmerizing blur. When he stopped, the merchant pointed at the middle cup, his eyes gleaming with certainty. Floki’s grin widened as he lifted the cup, revealing nothing underneath.

"Better luck next time," Floki said, his tone dripping with mockery. The merchant groaned, running a hand through his hair in defeat. "Fine. Three shards, it is." Floki tossed the shards onto the counter, picking up the orb with satisfaction.

The orb pulsed faintly as Floki held it, its energy syncing seamlessly with his spirit well. He felt the ripple of power spread through him, smooth and potent. "Not bad," he muttered, tucking the orb into his pouch. "Might make the next fight a little more interesting."