The two of them first went to an inn to eat.
After a long day of travel, they were both famished.
After the meal, they picked out clothes for Koda.
They casually selected two similar sets, then returned to the same inn and booked two single rooms for a total of twenty copper coins a night.
One had to admit, the price was quite steep.
A simple meal for the two of them had just cost ten copper coins.
Koda did not know much about money, but he had heard about the exchange rates between different currencies.
Roughly ten copper coins equaled one silver coin.
Ten silver coins could not necessarily be exchanged for one gold coin; gold coins were typically used only for precious items.
Although that gold chain was valuable enough to be exchanged for gold coins, the shopkeeper was too stingy and would only trade in silver coins.
As for gold coins, Uncle Lettuce had mentioned that their gold content was pitifully low.
Thus, they were only used as currency for trade; no one would collect and melt them down into other items.
The impurities were too high, and the gold content of the resulting objects would be very low, making it not worth the effort.
To his surprise, a man as poor as Uncle Lettuce had actually seen a gold coin.
Not only that, according to him, he had once made a fortune as a merchant on the war borders.
Though he had almost lost his life, he was considered among the wealthy back then.
It was not that Koda looked down on him, but looking at his destitute state and temperament, it was truly hard to believe he had ever been wealthy.
Later, after entering the peace zones, his money was slowly drained by others.
Unable to think of any other way to get rich, he had been traveling around selling lettuce just to scrape by.
Koda listened carefully as he told his stories, especially the thrilling tales from the war borders.
“You have no idea, making a fortune from war over there isn’t easy.
One slip-up and you’d be caught by the Fire Nation Army and thrown into a dungeon.
If you’re unlucky, you’d be executed on the spot…”
Watching the middle-aged man narrate with such animation, occasionally accompanied by sound effects, was actually quite entertaining.
Today was the third day since Koda left his hometown, and he was exceptionally curious about everything unknown around him.
During the day, he spent a long time observing the city’s transportation system.
He wandered here and there until he finally understood how it operated.
This transportation system functioned like traffic lights; if one link failed, different goods might collide.
At every junction, one or more earthbenders were in control, maintaining a level of strictness that was extreme.
Inside the city, soldiers patrolled on guard.
Koda saw a vagrant begging on the street who was thrown out directly by the guards.
He did not know if this situation was good or bad, but he could not do anything about it anyway, as he was also living under someone else’s roof.
After browsing the market for half the day, he asked the uncle for a few silver coins.
After buying two watermelons at the market, he basically had no money left.
He could not help but wonder if watermelons were really meant for the poor.
In the middle of it all, he saw Uncle Lettuce shouting loudly at the edge of the market.
However, his location was quite remote, so not many people visited, which looked quite heartbreaking.
Koda felt it was heartbreaking for the uncle.
What feeling could he have himself?
He was not the one shouting, he thought.
So, he went back to the inn to rest.
Finally, as evening approached, the uncle returned pushing half a cart of vegetables with a slight smile on his face.
It seemed today’s results were quite good.
He knocked on Koda’s door.
“Kid Koda, are you in there?
You should set out tomorrow.
You’ve been eating like a king every day; money isn’t meant to be squandered like that!” When these words came from the uncle’s mouth, they carried a sense of grievance.
“I’m in here.” After a short while, the door opened, and Uncle Lettuce slipped inside.
He scanned the room and saw the watermelon rinds on the table, his eyelids twitching.
He thought Koda had asked for money for travel expenses or food for the journey.
He had not expected it was to buy watermelons.
Looking at the situation, the kid intended to squeeze him for more before leaving.
Watermelons were very expensive in a place like this near the valley, as they had to be transported from elsewhere, so the price was naturally not cheap.
Even though it was incredibly hot during the day, he could not bear to eat a single piece.
Yet this kid had eaten an entire one.
Seeing another watermelon left on the table, he could not help but gulp.
“I guess you have a bit of a conscience.
Finding that map for you wasn’t for nothing.” As he spoke, he reached for the other watermelon.
Koda blocked him with a quick movement.
“Uh, Uncle.
Let’s talk business.
Don’t worry about the watermelon; it’s too formal to talk about that.”
Koda only reached up to his chest, so naturally he could not block Uncle Lettuce’s burning gaze.
Since he could not block his eyes, he blocked the watermelon, shifting his body to stand by the table and shielding it perfectly.
The uncle looked left and right, and seeing the watermelon within reach disappear, he sighed.
“This is the map.
It marks the general villages and terrain around Omashu City.
I’ve checked it, and it’s basically fine.
You should leave tomorrow; I really can’t afford to keep feeding you such lavish meals every day.”
“It’s only been two days and you’re already kicking me out!
Fine, I’ll leave tomorrow, but you have to give me travel money.
If you don’t, I’ll stay and eat for a few more days.
Anyway, the owner will ask you for the money.”
As soon as money was mentioned, Uncle Lettuce immediately grew serious.
“Fine, fine, fine, my little ancestor.
Here, take it, just stop tormenting me.” Saying this, he tossed over a small cloth bag.
Koda opened it and saw five silver coins lying quietly in the bag.
He could not help but think, ‘When did he become so generous?
It feels a bit suspicious, but I can’t guess why, so I’ll just leave it be.’
“This money is what I earned from selling vegetables today.
Spend it wisely.
Don’t come back looking for me once it’s gone; I won’t give you a single cent then.” After speaking, he turned to leave the room.
He could not stay here any longer; the watermelon was too tempting, and since the kid would not give him any, it was painful to look at.
Just as he was about to leave the room, Koda dealt his heart another ten thousand critical blows.
“I’ve already had dinner.
I told the owner to ask you for the money.
Uncle Lettuce knew it; the kid had not eaten anything cheap.
He thought he had made a profit the past two days, but the kid had eaten it all back.
However, he had prepared a huge surprise for Koda.
Just wait.
With a bang, the door was slammed shut, which was enough to show how distressed the uncle was, having a bitterness he could not express.
Looking at the watermelon behind him, Koda pressed his hands and face against it, rubbing it repeatedly.
“Melon, don’t worry, no one can hurt you.
In a moment, I’ll make your life meaningful.”
The water in the cup nearby flew up into the air.
With a crack, the watermelon snapped in the middle, falling onto the table in two halves.
Shua, shua, shua!
A water blade split apart, forming three blades that continued to slice the watermelon until every piece could be held in one hand.
The water blade turned back into a stream of water and returned to the cup, not a single drop missing.
This move is so convenient!
Koda could not help but feel emotional; it could be used for both combat and daily life.
He picked up a piece of watermelon and started eating.
The Great Swamp did not have these watermelons; he had not eaten one in ten years.
Then, he unfolded the map.
Just as Uncle Lettuce said, it was marked with various large and small icons, but it was not very detailed, showing only approximate locations.
But Koda felt something was a bit off about the map.
“Is it an illusion?
Why do I feel like the ink on this map isn’t dry?
Or is it just because it’s a new print?”
The night passed quickly.
Near dawn, he woke up to the sound of chickens in the inn’s backyard.
It was time to set out.
He did not actually have much luggage to take.
Yesterday, he used the money left over from buying watermelons to buy a water bottle.
It could not hold much water, roughly one liter by visual estimate.
Besides the water bottle, there were his usual change of clothes, some dry rations, and nothing else.
Seeing that he had spent a lot of money there, the inn owner thoughtfully gave him a back basket to carry his luggage.
As the sun just began to rise, Koda shouldered the bamboo basket, held the map in both hands, and walked out of Omashu City under the tearful gaze of Uncle Lettuce, embarking on his journey to the South Pole.
…
📢 Author’s Note
The full completed version of Avatar:
✅ Part 1 Complete — 110+ Chapters
Follow Koda’s incredible journey as he leaves the mysterious Foggy Swamp, masters the art of waterbending, uncovers ancient secrets, and grows stronger while changing the fate of the world.
🔥 I also have additional 18+ fanfics available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories.
😉
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