Three days after my Night Market revelation, I was broke again.
The Foundation Consolidation Pills I'd bought were working – I could feel my cultivation base stabilizing, getting stronger with each meditation session. But three pills meant three weeks of use, and I needed to eat, pay Meera, and maintain my cover as a normal noble daughter.
Which meant I needed money. Fast.
"Back to the Underground Arena?" Sharanga suggested as I counted my pathetic remaining funds. Two silver. Barely enough for a week's food.
"I guess. Though I was hoping to study more before actually fighting." I sighed. "But money doesn't grow on trees."
"Actually, in some cultivation worlds, it literally does. Money Trees are real spirit plants that—"
"Not helping."
I made my way to the Lower City, already mentally preparing for my first real match. The arena would pay twenty silver for a win. Enough to keep me going for a few more weeks.
But as I walked through the marketplace near the arena entrance, something caught my eye.
An old man was being harassed by three thugs in an alley. Not uncommon in the Lower City, unfortunately. I usually ignored such things – getting involved meant risking exposure. But something made me pause.
The old man was clutching a small wooden box to his chest, refusing to let go even as the thugs threatened him. "Please! This is all I have left of my master! You can't—"
One of the thugs punched him. The old man fell, and the box tumbled from his hands, landing near my feet.
Our eyes met. His were desperate, pleading.
Don't get involved, I told myself. You're trying to stay hidden.
But Sharanga's voice echoed in my mind, quoting the fortune teller: "Trust your instincts about people."
My instincts said this man was genuinely in trouble.
"Hey!" I called out before my brain could stop my mouth. "Leave him alone!"
The three thugs turned to me. All Body Foundation cultivators, Level 4 or 5. About my level, but three against one.
"Walk away, girl," the leader sneered. "This doesn't concern you."
"I'm making it my concern." I picked up the wooden box and handed it back to the old man, helping him stand. "You three should leave. Now."
They laughed. "Brave words for someone who can't even—"
I drew Sharanga in one smooth motion, energy already crackling along the bowstring. One arrow, nocked and aimed at the leader's knee. "I said leave."
For a moment, they hesitated. Maybe it was the bow. Maybe it was the absolute certainty in my voice that I would shoot. Either way, they backed off.
"This isn't over," the leader spat, but they left.
The old man clutched the box, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, young lady. Thank you so much. They've been following me for days, ever since they learned I had this."
"What's in the box that's so important?"
He looked at me, assessing. Then, surprisingly, he opened it.
Inside was a ring. Not a fancy jeweled thing, just a plain gray band that looked like stone. "It's a spatial ring. My master's last possession. He died twenty years ago, and I've kept it ever since, but I can't even open it. No spiritual energy, you see. I'm just a normal person. But those thugs heard rumors that spatial rings contain treasures, and..."
A spatial ring. I'd read about those in cultivation novels. They were storage devices – pocket dimensions that could hold items. Extremely valuable and rare.
"Why don't you sell it?" I asked. "If you can't use it, it must be worth a fortune."
"Because my master made me promise to only give it to someone worthy. Someone who reminded me of him – brave, kind, willing to help others without thought of reward." He looked at me with watery eyes. "You just risked yourself for a stranger. You remind me of him."
He pressed the ring into my hands. "Please. Take it. I'm old, I have no family, and I'm tired of running. Whatever's inside, it should go to someone who can use it. Someone who'll make my master proud."
"I can't just take your master's—"
"You can and you will." His voice was surprisingly firm. "This is my choice. My right. And my instinct says you're meant to have it." He smiled. "Old men get feelings about these things."
Before I could protest further, he bowed deeply and shuffled away, moving surprisingly quickly for someone who'd just been beaten.
I stood there, holding a spatial ring, completely baffled.
"Did that just happen?" I asked Sharanga.
"Apparently, you have protagonist luck," the bow said dryly. "Congratulations. You saved a random old man and got a legendary treasure. Very typical."
"This feels like a scam."
"Test it. Channel your cultivation energy into the ring. If it's real, it'll bond to you and open."
I found a quiet corner and channeled energy into the gray band. For a moment, nothing. Then the ring grew warm, and I felt something shift. A connection formed, like a new sense I'd never had before.
Suddenly, I could feel the space inside the ring. It wasn't huge – about the size of a large closet – but there was definitely something stored in there.
"It's real," I breathed. "It's actually real. How do I get things out?"
"Think about what you want, reach in mentally, and pull."
I did. And my hand suddenly held a leather pouch that definitely hadn't been there a second ago.
I opened it.
Gold coins spilled out. Lots of them.
"Oh my god."
I counted quickly. Fifty gold coins. FIFTY. That was more money than my family saw in two years.
"Keep checking," Sharanga said excitedly. "Spatial rings usually hold multiple items."
I mentally reached in again and pulled out:
A jade slip (some kind of data storage device, I recognized from the Night Market)Three bottles of pills with faded labelsA small dagger with inscriptions on the bladeA worn cultivation manualAnother pouch with thirty silver coinsA piece of paper with an address written on it
I stared at my sudden fortune, unable to process it.
"This is insane. This is absolutely insane. I just became rich by accident."
"Not by accident," Sharanga corrected. "You became rich because you helped someone without expecting reward. The universe has a funny way of paying that back."
I carefully stored everything back in the spatial ring – which I could now wear on my finger, hidden under a glove – and made my way home in a daze.
Once safely in my room, I laid out my new treasures.
The jade slip first. I channeled energy into it, and information flooded my mind. It was a technique manual – "Phantom Step: Advanced Movement Technique for Body Foundation to Core Formation."
A movement technique! I'd been wondering how cultivators moved so fast. This would teach me.
The cultivation manual was older, more worn. "Principles of Spatial Manipulation for Advanced Cultivators." Way above my current level, but potentially useful later.
The three pill bottles were labeled: "Spirit Awakening Pills x3" – exactly what I needed for my breakthrough! The old woman at the Night Market said one pill was fifty silver. I now had three, worth 150 silver total.
The dagger was interesting. When I channeled energy into it, the inscriptions glowed faintly. "What is this?"
"A spirit-binding dagger," Sharanga said after examining it. "Used for bonding with spirit beasts. It makes the bonding process safer and increases success rate. Those cost about forty gold new."
My jaw dropped. "So I have fifty gold, thirty silver, three breakthrough pills, a movement technique, a spirit-binding dagger, and a spatial ring that's worth... what, hundreds of gold?"
"Probably. A functional spatial ring in good condition? At least two hundred gold, possibly more."
I sat down heavily. "I went from dirt poor to actually wealthy in one random encounter."
"Congratulations. You're officially a lucky protagonist." Sharanga sounded amused. "Now, what are you going to do with your newfound wealth?"
Good question. The smart play would be to save most of it, maybe invest in training resources. But the piece of paper with the address was nagging at me.
"What do you think this address is?"
"Only one way to find out."
The address led me to a run-down shop in the merchant district. The sign read "Chen's Curio Shop – Rare Items and Odd Treasures."
Inside, the shop was cramped and dusty, filled with shelves of random objects. An elderly man sat behind the counter, reading a book.
"Can I help you?" He looked up, saw me, and his eyes widened. "You're wearing Master Feng's ring."
"You knew him?"
"Knew him? I was his martial brother! We trained together fifty years ago." He stood up excitedly. "Is he... is the old bastard finally dead?"
"Um. Twenty years ago, apparently?"
"Twenty years! And he left the ring to someone finally." He peered at me. "You must be special. Feng was picky about disciples. Never took one in his life, said no one was worthy. But he promised if he ever found someone worthy, they'd get the ring and should come to me." He rummaged under the counter. "He left something here. For his successor. Hold on..."
He pulled out a small wooden box. Inside was an egg. About the size of my fist, with scales that shimmered between black and gold.
My heart stopped. "Is that..."
"A spirit beast egg. Royal Naga bloodline – King Cobra variant with dragon ancestry. He won it in a bet thirty years ago but never bonded with it. Said he was too old, but someday his successor might want it." The old man smiled. "Congratulations. This is yours now."
I stared at the egg. Royal Naga bloodline. At the Night Market, basic Naga eggs were 180 gold. A Royal bloodline would be... what, 500 gold? Maybe more?
"I can't possibly—"
"You can and you will. Master Feng's will was explicit. His successor gets the ring, the contents, and the egg. Plus," he added with a wink, "I'll throw in a bonding facilitation pill. You'll need it to bond with a Royal bloodline beast. Normally costs thirty gold, but for Feng's successor? Free."
He handed me the egg – warm to the touch – and a small red pill.
"Now get out of here before I get emotional. Old men crying isn't dignified."
I left the shop in a complete daze, clutching a spirit beast egg worth more than everything my family owned.
"This is ridiculous," I told Sharanga. "This is absolutely ridiculous. I helped one old man, and now I have a fortune and a Royal Naga egg?"
"That's cultivation world luck for you. Protagonists who do good deeds randomly stumble into massive fortune. It's basically a law of the universe."
"This feels like cheating."
"This feels like karma. You were kind when you didn't have to be. The universe rewarded you." Sharanga paused. "Also, a King Cobra Naga with dragon ancestry? That's an excellent spirit beast. Once it hatches and bonds with you, it'll be a powerful ally. And the fact that you have the spirit-binding dagger from the ring? That's not coincidence. Everything you need just fell into your lap."
I looked at the egg in my hands. It was warm, and I could feel something moving inside. Alive. Waiting.
"How do I even take care of a spirit beast?"
"You learn. We learn. That's what the next few weeks are for." Sharanga's voice was warm with approval. "You wanted allies. Looks like the universe is providing."
Back home, I hid the egg in my room (the spatial ring made that easy) and took stock of my situation.
Two days ago: Nearly broke, stressed about money, unsure how to proceed.
Today: 50 gold coins, 30 silver, three Spirit Awakening Pills, a movement technique, a cultivation manual, a spirit-binding dagger, a spatial ring, and a Royal Naga egg.
"I need to help random old people more often," I muttered.
"Or," Sharanga suggested, "you could recognize that you're genuinely lucky and probably destined for something. The ring finding you specifically, the egg being exactly what you needed, even the dagger matching your requirements? That's not normal coincidence."
"Are you saying I have protagonist fate?"
"I'm saying the universe seems invested in your success. Take advantage of it."
I pulled out one Foundation Consolidation Pill and began my evening meditation. The pill's energy flowed smoothly through my meridians, strengthening my cultivation base. I could feel myself approaching Body Foundation Level 4. Maybe another week.
And then, in two months, the Imperial Tournament. Where I'd debut as a real cultivator. Where everything would change.
But now I had resources. Real resources. I could afford proper training aids, healing potions for emergencies, maybe even some equipment upgrades.
And I had an egg. A spirit beast that would hatch and bond with me, becoming a lifelong companion.
"Sharanga?"
"Yes?"
"I think my luck is terrifying."
"Embrace it. Lucky protagonists either die dramatically or become legends. Let's aim for the second option."
I laughed despite myself. "No pressure."
"None whatsoever. Now sleep. Tomorrow, we figure out how to hatch your egg and start learning that movement technique. Your training just got a lot more interesting."
As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the old man who'd given me everything, and the master who'd left treasures for a successor he never met. About karma and kindness and how sometimes, helping people really did pay back.
Maybe being a protagonist wasn't so bad after all.
The next morning, Priya appeared in my room before I'd even finished breakfast.
"Okay, I know you said you had secrets, but I can FEEL your cultivation from down the hall now. You broke through, didn't you?" She stared at me. "And you're wearing a spatial ring. Aanya, what happened?"
I told her everything – the old man, the ring, the shop, the egg.
She sat down heavily. "You have protagonist luck. Like, actual, textbook, cultivation novel protagonist luck. This is insane."
"I know!"
"Do you have any idea how rare spatial rings are? Or Royal Naga eggs?" She grabbed my shoulders. "Aanya, people kill for these things. You need to be more careful than ever now. If anyone learns you have that egg..."
"I know. I'm hiding everything. The ring looks like a normal piece of jewelry, the egg is in the spatial storage, and I'm not telling anyone else."
"Good. Because Aditi's thugs are still looking for reasons to target you, and this would give them a very good one." She paused. "Can I see the egg?"
I pulled it out of storage. Priya gasped, gently touching the shimmering scales. "It's beautiful. When will it hatch?"
"I have no idea. The shop owner didn't say."
"Normally, spirit beast eggs hatch when they sense a potential bond. The egg chooses when it's ready." She looked at me seriously. "You'll need to carry it with you, let it get used to your energy. And when it hatches, you'll need to bond immediately. The first few hours are critical."
"How do you know all this?"
"I tried to bond with a spirit beast in my first year here. Spent twenty gold on a hawk egg. It hatched, took one look at me, and flew away." She laughed bitterly. "Turns out, not everyone has the talent for beast bonding. I stick to normal cultivation now."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It taught me an important lesson: know your strengths and work with them, not against them." She smiled. "But you? You might actually have beast bonding talent. Especially if the egg chose to come to you. That's rare."
We spent the morning discussing my new resources. Priya helped me create a budget – save most of the gold for emergencies, use silver for daily needs, and invest carefully in training resources.
"With fifty gold, you can afford a lot. But don't go crazy buying things. Smart cultivation is about quality, not quantity." She tapped the pill bottles. "These Spirit Awakening Pills are perfect for you. The movement technique will help you survive fights. The egg will be a powerful ally once it hatches. You have everything you need for the next stage. Focus on mastering what you have."
She was right. I didn't need to buy more things. I needed to train with what I'd been given.
"Thank you," I said. "For the advice. And for being happy for me instead of jealous."
"Why would I be jealous? We're allies. Your success is my success. Besides," she grinned, "when you become rich and famous, you'll remember the friend who helped you, right?"
"Always."
After Priya left, I pulled out the jade slip with the Phantom Step technique and began studying. The information flowed into my mind – foot positions, energy circulation patterns, timing rhythms.
It would take weeks to master, but even basic proficiency would make me three times faster. In combat, that was the difference between life and death.
"Busy day ahead," Sharanga commented.
"Very busy. I need to practice Phantom Step, continue regular cultivation, start bonding with the egg, and figure out when I can actually debut my skills." I looked at the calendar. Seven weeks until the Imperial Tournament. "Time to get serious."
"That's the spirit. Lucky protagonists still need to work hard. Luck gives you opportunities. Effort determines if you seize them."
I placed the Naga egg on my meditation cushion, letting it absorb my energy while I cultivated. The warmth of it was comforting, like a promise of friendship yet to come.
For the first time since transmigrating, I felt truly hopeful. Not just about survival, but about actually thriving.
The Trash Princess had a divine bow, a spatial ring, a fortune in gold, and soon, a Royal Naga companion.
Things were finally looking up.