1938 Virtual Table
Seeing how shocked Han Sen looked, Haiāer took his reaction for a confirmation. She then murmured, āWe shouldnāt talk here. We should find someplace else to chat.ā
āI think you have the wrong guy; I have no clue about what youāre talking about.ā Han Sen acted through his shock.
Haiāer lifted her lips in a little smile and said, āThere is no use in pretending. I am a thief, and nothing escapes my senses. I will tell this to a Buddha King; you know what will happen to you and Speechless if I do, right?ā
Before Han Sen could put another word in, Haiāer continued. āOh, but just so you know, I am not being hostile. Actually, I would like to strike a trade with you.ā
After saying that, Haiāer pulled Han Sen away from Buddhaās Path. They walked out of the city and went to the banks of a nearby river.
Han Sen wished to hear what she wanted to say, so he didnāt resist following her out.
āOkay, letās talk here.ā Haiāer let Han Sen go, then sat down atop a rock. She smiled and said, āGiven your relationship with Speechless Buddha Lady, I can only assume you know the secrets to heaven.ā
āWhat secrets?ā Han Sen asked Haiāer.
āStop pretending! Heaven has opened many times, and many races have been here. Only ten of them can reach the end, each and every time. I believe there is a secret to this somewhere.ā Haiāer was peering right at Han Sen when she continued. āWith Speechlessā reputation, she must assuredly know how to reach the other side. I donāt want anything from you. All I want is for you to take me with you and help me reach the end. If you do, Iāll keep the relationship between you two a secret. I promise.ā
āI think you have misunderstood us. I know Speechless, but we are not in a relationship with each other. In fact, we have only ever met twice,ā Han Sen said.
Haiāer looked annoyed by the denial. Her face filled up with frost and she said, āThis is bad. I am going to tell Buddha King about it right now.ā
āSo what if he knows?ā Han Sen laughed at Haiāer.
Haiāer looked back at Han Sen with disdain. āStill pretending? You canāt hide anything from a Pirate. ^ every trick in the book to get others to join their creed. Marriage is one such method. Many creatures in this universe have been tethered to the Buddha in this way. Like Happy Buddha King; he was the best in the entire universe. Yet even he was suckered into one of those arrangements. Speechless is famous, and she will have a marriage with someone powerful. Itās a must for her. If Buddha King leams about you two, do you think he will let you go lightly? You should know about this.ā
Han Sen didnāt know the Buddha had such a culture, and he found it rather interesting.
When Han Sen didnāt respond, Haiāer went on to say, āOthers donāt know the Buddha are this way, but we do. They are not much smarter than the Pirate, you know. I donāt really like them, and more than that, I donāt want to expose your story. If you help me, it is a win-win situation for all of us.ā
You know who I am?ā Han Sen asked Haiāer.
Haiāer was surprised and said, āHow am I supposed to know who you are? Youāre just a lowly Viscount Even if you are famous, the Buddha wonāt let you be with her.ā
Han Sen smiled and said, āI am the student of the Rebate called Knife Queen. This is my first time here, and it marks my third encounter with Speechless. Nothing else is going on, okay? You are wholeheartedly mistaken.ā
Haiāer frowned at Han Sen. She looked right at him. Seeing him turn to leave, she tugged at him and said, āEven if the two of you arenāt together, how about we co-operate anyway? Letās walk through heaven together!ā
āWhat benefit is there for us to co-operate?ā Han Sen asked Haiāer.
āThere is a lot. I am the number one genius of the Pirate. Everyone knows the name Haiāer. She is a rare and very talented person. I will be deified, one day.ā Haiāer kept complimenting herself, showing utterly no embarrassment.
āIf you and I co-operate, it would be easier to traverse heaven.ā Haiāer patted Han Sen on his shoulder.
āIf youāre as good as you say, why do you need Speechless to guide you?ā Han Sen laughed at her.
Haiāerās face did not change, and she said, āI am certain I can get through it, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Itās good to take extra precautionary measures, donāt you think?ā
Han Sen turned around and left, ignoring her.
Haiāer followed and pleaded, āLetās talk about it! State your conditions.ā
āI donāt know anything about what to expect in heaven, so following me is pointless.ā Han Sen knew Haiāer was suspicious about the prospect of his relationship with Speechless, so he kept walking resolutely.
Haiāer gritted her teeth and pulled out something. āYou must know this. If you co-operate with me, then this is yours.ā
Han Sen looked at Haiāerās hands and saw a tablet. It was palm-sized. There were many words, smaller than grains of rice, etched into it. There was nothing particularly special about it, though.
āWhat is it?ā Han Sen looked at Haiāerās tablet dubiously.
Haiāer looked shocked. She stared at Han Sen, and said, āReally? You donāt know about the Virtual Tablet?ā
āWhat is a Virtual Tablet?ā Han Sen looked at it and asked.
Haiāer saw that Han Sen was honestly confused, so she shook it in front of him and said, āThe Virtual Tablet is a powerful treasure left behind by a mysterious, higher race. It has that mysterious raceās geno art. When the Buddha received the Virtual Tablet, they absorbed the talents to become as they are. Many geno arts have come from this Virtual Tablet. This is one of many. The Pirate unearthed it from some old ruins, and no one else knows about this. But it can be yours for the price of a co-operative partnership.ā
āHow do I know if this is real or not?ā Han Sen was curious.
āArenāt you Knife Queenās student? If you let her take a look, sheāll know the truth. She wonāt lie, either,ā Haiāer said.
āOkay. If this is real, I will cross heaven with you.ā Han Sen took the tablet. Haiāer had no relationship with Speechless, and she was practically giving him something for free. He wasnāt going to reject that.