Xie Jin made good on his word of not staying long in the city. They detoured only for a mont to purchase supplies, a terse affair with price-gouging vultures where they leaned more on their superior cultivation to get a good deal than any real haggling skill. Chen Haoran noted how quickly the price rose when it was Xie Jin doing the purchasing versus when he did. Xie Jin handled it with aplomb but it was an exhausting effort all the sa and they hadnt even hit the road yet.
It did allow him to get a better look at the city and its people however. They kept their business to the lowest tier where most of the public markets were pressed up against the docks. It was the city's largest area by far in terms of size and population, hosting the majority of the working-class citizens. It was also the only area of the city to not be directly carved into the sa and its buildings reflected that with their patchwork materials. Wood and grey stone constructions lined bluestone slab streets that rose in quality and switched over to white brick the closer they were to the walls of the second tier.
Higher up in the city were the people of ans and valued professions. Each ascending height having stricter requirents on cultivation and wealth than the last before one could be allowed to live there. Those were where the cultivators of White Ridge lived and was where the choicest resources percolated up. Had they the ti Chen Haoran would have liked to go see for himself the resources of the second-best city in the Empire had to offer.
Unfortunately wisdom, and Xie Jins impatience, prevailed and they sped out White Ridges singular land-facing gate and onto another of the Empires ticulously maintained flagstone roads.
Xie Jin looked visibly relieved once they were out from the shadows of the giant stone fingers that lood over White Ridge, and Chen Haoran finally had the heart to ask him his most burning question.
Who is the Mountain General?
Xie Jin looked like he just chewed a lemon. Fortunately he still answered. The Grand Marshal of the Empire. Well forr marshal. He was the highest military commander and the second strongest after the Sunset Emperor himself.
That answered the first. Now for his second most burning question.
Are those his actual fingers?
Xie Jin stumbled on the smooth stones of the road and looked at Chen Haoran with a mixture of stunned disbelief and exasperation. No, he slowly said. Theyre not his actual fingers. Why would you even think that?
Chen Haoran threw up his arms. Youre the one who said it was his hand. How was I supposed to know you werent serious? Its not like Ive ever seen a Star Core realm before.
Just because theyre a higher realm doesnt an theyre not human.
Chen Haoran would beg to differ on that by virtue of the giant hand they just walked through. Not to ntion his own experience seeing the White Tyrant split clouds for miles with a single sword. For a brief second, he felt his sword tremble, but when he touched the scabbard, there was no change in it.
Is there a problem? Xie Jin asked, sweeping his eyes across the open fields surrounding them.
Just thinking. Chen Haoran put the phantom sensations out of his mind. Could you tell why you were so bothered in White Ridge? Was it because of the Mountain General?
Who could be calm when standing under the shadow of the conqueror of your people?
That made sense. Chen Haoran couldnt imagine the feeling, his holand was the one that tended to do the conquering, but with such an overwhelming reminder, it was no wonder Xie Jin was uncomfortable.
How long ago did this happen? If you dont mind asking?
Four hundred years ago.
It was Chen Haorans turn to trip over nothing.
Are you alright? Xie Jin asked.
Yes, I am; I just- That was unexpected.
Xie Jin looked like he didnt know whether to laugh or cry. He settled for amused disbelief instead. Two-Shadow wasnt joking when she said you were ignorant.
What gave it away? Chen Haoran sarcastically asked. His thoughts were still on the tiscale, however. Four hundred years is quite a long ti to hold a grudge.
Dont be so surprised. There was sothing dark in Xie Jins tone. Theres no way we would ever forget.
Chen Haoran didnt ask about the Mountain General in the days after that. So questions had a ti and a place and he felt hed get more answers once they were in Zumulu proper. Xie Jin noticeably brightened once the Fingers were far out of sight and spent the ti regaling Chen Haoran with various myths of his people or stories from his childhood.
Phelps, as usual, took in the new sights and slls with endless excitent. Chen Haoran was more than happy to feed both the sloths curiosity and his stomach. Various flowers and leaves found their way into the empty void that Phelps stored food in. While Chen Haoran happily accepted the improved rewards that followed, nothing particularly moved him. It wasnt quite multiplying zero but it wasnt much better, the random things he plucked by the side of the road could have been improved a thousand tis and still be too low level for him to care about.
It reminded him of the White Tyrants dismissive assessnt of his power. While the ancient cultivator was undoubtedly full of himself and missing context, he wasnt completely wrong. Phelps would always eat so he didnt have to worry about him rejecting gifts due to pride or any complicated feelings a person might have. If Chen Haoran wanted to make the best use of the Gifting power however, especially as he advanced in cultivation, he would have to get his hands on better resources.
Just another problem to consider once he got settled.
He absentmindedly scratched Phelpss head as he pondered various get-resources-quick sches in front of the fire. They had camped in a well-worn clearing along the side of the road. The air was crisp but not as cold as the Clearsprings Mountains. Xie Jin had hunted down a rabbit and a fat pheasant and had shown Chen Haoran how to properly skin and de-feather them respectively, and prepare them for roasting over the fire. They lacked any other seasoning but salt but anything would beat travel rations, so Chen Haoran couldnt complain.
They both looked up at the sa ti when a group driving a small herd of cattle ca from further up the road and set up camp in the clearing. Chen Haoran sharpened his eyes with qi and saw an assortnt of bone ornants on the twenty or so n and won of the caravan. He cast his sense over and narrowed his eyes.
Cultivators. Every single one of them.
The majority were First or Second-Layer, the strongest was only Seventh-Layer, nothing threatening about them. It was just a strange sight to see so many cultivators seemingly employed to move cows. Although he did have to admit they were giant beasts, each one the size of a car.
The Seventh-Layer, presumably the leader of the group, walked over to them and clasped his hands in a bow. Apologies for the disturbance. I hope you dont mind.
Theres more than enough room, Xie Jin said.
The leader pulled out a bottle from his sack and held it forward. May I join you?
Xie Jin looked at Chen Haoran. He shrugged.
Sit.
Thank you, the leader said. He sat down and uncorked the bottle, taking a single long swill and passing it to Xie Jin, who did the sa before passing it to Chen Haoran.
He debated whether he should drink directly from it, but from the way the Seventh-Layer was prepared to offer the bottle, it may have been so type of custom. He didnt want to accidentally be rude by not drinking. In the end, he compromised by pouring the wine straight into his mouth. When he finished and passed the bottle back, the Seventh-Layer quirked his eyebrows but said nothing.
Any news from White Ridge? the leader asked.
Xie Jin shook his head. The generals grip is still the sa. We didnt stay long enough to learn anything. He took one of the legs of pheasant and offered it to the leader. How goes things in Reservoir Town?
The Pacification Commissioner released new bounties for bandits but business hasnt been affected much. The leader took the drumstick with a smile. How did you know we were from Reservoir Town? Youre from the Basin arent you?
Xie Jin snorted. I can sll the peach blossoms.
Chen Haoran looked on in confusion. He didnt sll any peach blossoms, the Seventh-Layer seed to understand what Xie Jin ant however. He turned to Chen Haoran.
Are you two traveling together, young master?
My brother here has praised Zumulu so much that I had to co see it myself, Chen Haoran said.
The Seventh-Layer did a double take before laughing loudly. Then by all ans please accept another drink from as a welco to our ho!
Xie Jin laughed with him and under their pressure, Chen Haoran found himself finishing half the leader's bottle. It wasnt anything that could get him drunk, but the sudden cheer caught him off guard.
Zumulu is beautiful, the leader said. Our won, even more so, when you get to Reservoir Tow-
Reservoir Town is no place to introduce my brother to Zumulu, Xie Jin forcefully interrupted, his good cheer gone.
There was an awkward silence.
The Seventh-Layer was taken aback and looked at Xie Jin unkindly. My apologies. He stood up and clasped his hands. Ill take my leave now. Safe journeys. Then he turned and walked back to his group, leaving the wine bottle behind.
Xie Jin, what was that? Chen Haoran demanded.
A difference of opinion.
Are you serious?
Xie Jin sighed. I want to show you my holand properly. You wont be able to see it going along the Empires damned road.
Doesnt this road lead directly south?
Thats the Empires way, not my people's way. Xie Jin reached over and picked up the bottle the man left behind, downing the rest of it in one go.
Ill die before I let Brother Chen enter any way but the Snake's Mouth.
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