Two figures suddenly leapt out from the thick bushes on either side of the narrow forest path. They froze the moment they caught sight of each other, surprise flashing across their faces.
"Why do you run all the way here just to go to the toilet?" the man known as Scorpion of the Red Sand asked with a faint smile, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he observed his companion.
Biwa Juzang chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Haha, I think the toilets in the Fire Nation are just... cleaner," he replied with a forced grin.
Peter, who had been standing quietly near the doorway of the small store, overheard the strange exchange. His eyebrows knit together in confusion.
The toilets in the Fire Nation? he thought to himself, utterly baffled. That made no sense to him at all.
Shaking his head slightly, Peter tried to focus on the moment at hand.
Scorpion of the Red Sand gave a low chuckle. "Alright then, enough chatter. Let's go inside and have a look around," he said, stepping forward with deliberate ease.
Biwa Juzang hesitated for a moment, then followed quickly, his earlier bravado replaced by a flicker of curiosity.
Peter straightened up and plastered on a professional but somewhat forced smile. "Welcome, both of you!" he said warmly, stepping aside to let them enter the shop.
The two newcomers stepped inside, their eyes widening instantly as they took in the dazzling array of goods that lined the walls and counters. Never before had they seen such a variety of exotic items gathered in one place.
"You two, if you need anything, just let me know," Peter said confidently, his smile deepening. "Our store has pretty much everything you could want."
Biwa Juzang glanced over at Peter, interest flickering in his eyes. "Boss," he said cautiously, "do you have any powerful weapons here?"
Peter's mind immediately went into work mode. He knew all too well how to entice customers like Biwa Juzang, especially after several failed attempts at selling weaker weapons. The trick was to show off something even more impressive.
After a brief moment, Peter smiled mysteriously and stepped behind the counter, rifling through the inventory.
He pulled out a blood-red sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the dim light. A crimson gem was set into the handle, reflecting an eerie glow.
"This weapon is called the Blood Demon Blade," Peter began, lowering his voice as if revealing a precious secret. "It is forged from a rare ore known as blood iron, found only in the deepest, most remote caverns beneath the earth. Very little of it exists, making it incredibly valuable."
He paused to let his words sink in before continuing, "Once crafted by our finest blacksmiths, this blade gains a terrifying ability—any wound inflicted by it refuses to heal. No matter the treatment, the injury will fester and worsen. It's a curse as much as a weapon."
Peter's tone was low and tempting, as if he were unveiling a priceless treasure to Biwa Juzang.
However, to Peter's surprise, Biwa Juzang's expression shifted from curiosity to one of clear discomfort. His eyes widened, and he shook his head fervently.
"No," Biwa Juzang said hurriedly, his voice trembling slightly, "this blade... it's too cruel. I can't use a weapon like that."
Peter's mouth twitched involuntarily, but he quickly masked it with a neutral nod.
"Alright," he said, putting the Blood Demon Blade back on the counter. Then he swiftly retrieved a dozen other weapons of varying shapes and sizes, laying them out before the two men.
Each weapon had a unique design, some pulsating faintly with energy, others shifting shape subtly like living creatures. The sheer variety was dazzling.
Peter began to explain their features and special abilities one by one. Some weapons could unleash devastating elemental forces; others could transform, adapting to the wielder's needs.
Biwa Juzang stared in awe, swallowing hard. He had never seen weapons like these—magical, mechanical, and seemingly alive. They were beyond anything his rebel ninja mind could comprehend.
Peter glanced at Biwa Juzang, searching for any sign of interest. "Don't like any of them?" he asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice. "Don't worry, I have plenty more."
Before Peter could retrieve more, Biwa Juzang hurriedly raised his hand. "No, no! Boss, I was just asking casually," he stammered.
He found these weapons too terrifying. The glowing auras and strange designs felt unnatural, almost monstrous.
Though he was a rebel ninja, Biwa Juzang was no unrepentant criminal. He still held onto some sense of honor—and he felt these weapons were not meant for him.
Peter nodded silently. There was no point in pushing someone who clearly wasn't interested.
Biwa Juzang's eyes flicked behind him, where a large beheading sword rested against the wall. His fingers itched to touch it.
He felt that the simple, brutal weapon was more suited to him—straightforward, reliable, and merciless.
Seeing Biwa Juzang's fading interest, Peter turned his attention to the other man.
"Sir," he addressed Scorpion of the Red Sand, "is there anything you're looking for?"
Scorpion's gaze shifted to Peter, then suddenly he asked, "Do you have eternal art here?"
Peter's eyes narrowed as he studied the man more closely. He noticed immediately that Scorpion of the Red Sand had modified his own body—he was no longer fully human but had transformed into a puppet.
This revelation piqued Peter's interest, but it also made sense.
"You've turned yourself into a puppet to pursue eternity?" Peter asked quietly.
Scorpion's pupils constricted sharply. He hadn't expected the boy in front of him to be aware of such a secret.
After a long pause, he nodded slowly.
Peter smiled knowingly. "I believe I have something quite fitting for you."
From behind the counter, he took out a compact robot. It looked like nothing more than a crude metal figure, but Peter's eyes gleamed with pride.
Scorpion of the Red Sand examined the mechanical form with curiosity. He had no idea what it was—some new kind of puppet?
Peter explained, "Flesh and blood are weak, but machinery can transcend."
With a flourish, Peter disassembled the robot to reveal its inner metallic skeleton, its fine gears and wiring gleaming under the shop's lights.
"Since your body is already a puppet," Peter said with certainty, "why not upgrade it directly to a fully mechanical body?"
He continued, "This material is guaranteed not to rust or degrade for ten thousand years. And because it isn't flesh, you will never truly die, so long as your master brain—the core of your being—remains intact."
Peter's voice grew intense, passionate about the possibilities this technology offered.
"Not only will you achieve eternity," he said, "but you will also gain powers and abilities far beyond those of mere mortals."
A flicker of shock crossed the eyes of the Red Sand Scorpion.
He hadn't expected Peter to possess such advanced technology.
Still, doubt crept into his mind. "Boss," he asked cautiously, "is this technology reliable? Are there any side effects?"
Peter patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry. This technology is mature and proven. There won't be any problems."
Scorpion of the Red Sand pondered deeply. The path of pursuing eternal life had cost him dearly, and he wasn't willing to miss any more opportunities.
After a long moment, he finally nodded. "Alright. I'm willing to give it a try."
Peter grinned. "Good. But the price is thirty million taels."
The man nodded solemnly and produced a scroll from his robes, handing it to Peter.
After the system scanned and verified everything, Peter said cheerfully, "Then let's get started."
He gestured, and suddenly the counters around them began to sink smoothly into the ground, as if swallowed by the earth itself.
From the now-empty floor, a pristine white workbench slowly rose, glowing faintly under the dim lights.
"Lie down," Peter instructed, voice calm but authoritative. "This is a fully automatic transformation instrument."
Without hesitation, the Red Sand Scorpion lay down on the workbench.
The moment he settled, the instrument whirred to life, emitting a low buzzing sound as scanners swept quickly over the puppet's body, collecting precise physiological data.
Slowly, a thick black glass cover descended, sealing him inside a darkened chamber.
From outside, it was impossible to see anything within.
Biwa Juzang watched the scene with wide, horrified eyes.
It's over... it's completely over! he thought miserably. Red Sand Scorpion's been tricked by this Peter, and there's no turning back now.
He glanced nervously at Peter and instinctively took a few steps back.
The transformation had begun—and none of them could predict the outcome.