Looking back, I wished I hadn't said anything about the stupid mistletoe thing. I don't know why I did but still, what happened happened. Still, I guess I solved the problem for both parties so there's no point of complaining. At least now I had fulfilled the whole, spend time in the village for a special gift, quest. Evening was now upon the village so I guess now was the time to ask.
"So, it's the evening".
Viper looked up to see the suns position. Sure enough, the bright burning star was slowly moving out of view behind the mountains. "So it is".
"Do I get that gift now"? I asked impatiently, but being fair. I did have to wait a long time just to know what this gift was.
"I guess so". Viper then slithered ahead and gestured for me to follow. Where I expected to be taken back to the noodle shop again, I was a little surprised to find myself being led up the Jade palace steps and arriving at the barracks. Once reaching the front door, Viper told me to wait outside for a minute before she herself went in, leaving me on my own for a while. It took a total of twenty seconds until the front door opened again. Viper came out with a thin package about a foot long. She handed it over, or rather tailed it over, and I opened it. The present was some kind of short blade. A weapon. It was silver and seemed to be very well crafted. There wasn't much to say about the handle. It was only a few centimeters long and was circular, barely big enough for my to fit my tail inside a few inches or so. On the inch wide blade, there was some sort of Chinese inscription which I couldn't read so I would need to discover it later when I get the chance, but I made myself look as though I understood it so as not to offend Viper.
"It's beautiful. Thanks Viper". I looked back at the weapon and turned it round. I saw a piece of paper attached to the bottom of the weapon with string. I looked closer and saw that it was the price tag. My mind nearly exploded upon seeing how much the blade had cost!
"Seven hundred Yuan!? You spent seven hundred yuan on this, for me"?! I asked a little surprised but also a little angry. Winter feast or not, this was way too much for anyone to receive as a gift! Vipers smile slowly faded, just as surprised as myself with my anger.
"Actually, everyone chipped in. Monkey, Crane, Po, everyone at the Jade palace except for Tigress and Shifu". I recounted. So if Viper, Monkey, Mantis, Crane and Po paid for this thing, that was still a hundred and forty yuan each! even split, it was too much which just increased my guilt.
"Viper, that's still too much money for you guys to waste on me".
"What about the golden lotus flowers you got me"? Viper asked, pointing to the two metal flowers still perched on top of her head.
"Those were only fifty five yuan! Not even twice as much as what you paid"!
"That's still a lot of money and you still bought it". Viper replied, slowly loosing her patience.
"Because I couldn't find anything else to get you, that's why I bought them".
"I see"... This argument was getting either of us nowhere. I then tried to give her back the blade, but due to her sudden stubbornness, she pushed it back to me. The last thing I wanted was to be yelling back and forth with a snake, even if I was one as well, so I just slithered past her and made my way inside. But even so, she kept speaking.
"Where are you going"? It was here that my patience snapped.
"Back to my room! I already lived up my end of the deal. I didn't say anything about enjoying it.! So bye"!
I slammed the door to my room once I was in and placed the tail blade against the wall gently. It was only after slamming the door that I now suddenly felt like a big jerk for doing what I just did. But should I really? I did everything that was asked of me today, despite the feelings I've had against the holiday and it still ended in a big burning ball of fire, in more ways than one. The mistletoe, Yinshen and the buffalo thieves, and now this. While I would admit it was the most action packed holiday I have ever spent, I still felt the day long and agonizing. I just decided to sit down and let off some steam while I could. I had a feeling that there was still more of this day to come.
...
Hi everyone, I'd like to apologize for how very short this chapter is but it has two reasons behind it. The most important one being that thanks to college activities and a job interview, I won't have anytime to write out the next chapter until saturday which probably wont be posted until sunday so I wanted to leave you with a small chapter as well as an explanation. Cheerio!