I wasn’t sure whether the style of the governnt in this world was always like this, or if the Tributor was just eager to rid himself of Feng Xue and Old Li, the two "plagues." In any case, it only took half an hour for two travel docunts to be delivered into their hands.
The so-called travel docunts were actually palm-sized bamboo slips, inscribed with a script similar to Clerical Script detailing simple information like facial features and height. Below this, there was a "Sect" character—I couldn’t tell if it referred to the Grandmaster Realm or sothing else entirely. On the back of the bamboo slip was a refined imprint that looked as though it had been seared in with an iron at high temperature, probably serving a dual function as an official seal and anti-forgery asure.
"What’s next?" Asked Feng Xue, playing with the travel docunt in her hand, looking at Old Li with a sowhat mocking expression.
Old Li seed completely unconcerned, his thumb gently rubbing over the engraved text. After a brief pause, he answered:
"Let’s go check out the marketplace."
He seed to worry that Feng Xue might not catch on quickly, so he added another line—
"With so many ingredients in the inn, it’s impossible that this small county is self-sufficient."
"I see," Feng Xue nodded in realization. Although Old Li often made mistakes since coming to the World, his approach to solving problems was still worth learning from.
...
"You really are experienced, brother. Unlike , I’ve been holed up in the mountains for over forty years. I haven’t even touched a woman, let alone seen the world. Now that I’ve finally co down from the mountain, I can’t even recognize the roads..."
Sitting in the temporarily established camp, Feng Xue watched Old Li, who was engrossed in conversation with the caravan owner, and couldn’t help but marvel at his knack for socializing. With just a few sentences from the innkeeper and a Tributor from the Demon Extermination Departnt, he had fleshed out his character. Not only had he blended into the caravan by hitching a ride and offering security services, but within two hours, he had chatted with everyone in the caravan at least a few tis.
Flattery is a fundantal aspect of human nature, and when you add Old Li’s own abilities of hypnosis and suggestion, it didn’t take long for him to have the boss talking as if he’d been spellbound, starting the old n’s bragging session—
"That’s for sure. I ran the Yan State trade routes back in the day. You wouldn’t believe how brutal the Demon Sect’s mbers were. Usually, seven or eight caravans would group together, hiring an entire escort agency just to ensure safety. It’s just that I’m older now and have made enough money, so I ca back to retire. I chose Si Province because of its peace!"
"Is Yan State still that chaotic nowadays?" Old Li didn’t actually have any idea what Yan State was, but that didn’t stop him from chiming in. As expected, upon hearing this, the caravan owner imdiately let out a sowhat world-weary sigh and said:
"Actually, Yan State is already considered not too bad, at least the governnt can be in control. Unlike Qing Province, ever since Tianya Pavilion was destroyed ten years ago, it’s essentially beco the world of the Demon Sect. Even the Demon Extermination Departnt can only send people to guard the borders. If it weren’t for the hundred thousand great mountains separating Si and Qing Provinces..."
At this point, the caravan owner seed to realize he had spoken out of turn and quickly chuckled it off, changing the subject. Old Li didn’t press the issue, but just shook his head and said:
"Living in peace is good, but Master asked us to co down from the mountain to fight demons and uphold righteousness. Who would’ve thought we wouldn’t even encounter a single thief these days; it’s a waste of our martial skills! Brother, since you’re so knowledgeable, do you know where there’s more activity from Jianghu folk? To be honest, I fear death myself. I just want to show my face in front of my martial fellows, but places like Qing Province, I’d rather not go."
"You’ve got there, but if I had to say, it’d definitely be Yangzhou! After all, that’s the stronghold of the Joyous Union Sect. Other Jianghu folks might hideaway in the mountains, but even when the Joyous Union Sect hides, they do it in the brothels!"
It was clear that the caravan master was trying to sound more knowledgeable than he was, yet Old Li maintained a flattering deanor and continued to draw out more conversation. anwhile, Feng Xue returned to her tent, planted her hotown tree in the soil in front of her, and placed a bowl of water beside it. Only when the unsettling feeling had faded did she dare to enter a state of cultivation.
Through a night without conversation, dawn broke.
The security in Si Province was so exceptionally good that it almost seed abnormal, without even a glimpse of bandits or robbers; everything on the road appeared extraordinarily peaceful.
Feng Xue and Old Li maintained this rhythm akin to a group tour, spending a full two months and switching through seven rchant caravans before they barely managed to grasp the situation of this world.
This nation was called "Chu," consisting of nineteen provinces, the closer to Central State, the more peaceful it beca. Provinces like Si Province, which bordered Central State, had security so astonishingly good, while provinces near the border grew increasingly chaotic.
At present, three entire provinces have fallen under the occupation of Demon Sect demons, with most of the rest beset by war. Only including Central State, the core Nine States remained relatively peaceful. But judging from the Demon Extermination Departnt of Si Province’s attitude towards Feng Xue and Old Li, it seed the situation here wasn’t much better.
However, as for what these so-called demons of the Demon Path were, the caravans were mostly vague on details, usually using descriptions such as "eating children to practice Kung Fu," "oozing pus all over," "unspeakably ugly," "madly bloodthirsty," and so on. Feng Xue found the credibility of these clearly demonized descriptions, almost like scare-tactics used on children, to be highly dubious.
But overall, he at least knew that this world—to be precise, this nation—wasn’t quite like the typical Martial World. Reputable sects without a Grandmaster couldn’t step into the Jianghu. The Demon Sect, compared to the Jianghu sects, seed more like a rebellious religion. The main constituents of the Jianghu in ordinary martial arts novels—wandering martial artists—seed extrely rare in this world. On the contrary, the official Demon Extermination Departnt appeared to have a plethora of experts in reserve, even to the extent that each small town could be equipped with four or five Grandmasters.
With this basic information in hand, Old Li and Feng Xue returned to Babylon Tower from Qingyuan County, trying to buy information from the bartender. However, worlds fitting these characteristics spanned over two thousand pages in the bartender’s catalog.
"No other choice, we have to decide. Where to next? Split up or continue together?" Feng Xue and Old Li stepped out again, two simply disguised figures standing on the unadorned streets of Qingyuan County, confronting each other.
Old Li pondered, not giving an imdiate answer but rather said in a persuasive tone,
"That should be all the basic information, what cos next isn’t just a matter of discussing. How about we each write down our preferred destination on our hands, then open them at the sa ti? If they match, we’ll continue to cooperate. If not, we part ways."
Feng Xue thought it over and felt that was indeed the case; after all, Kaidan was never suited for collaboration, and he had only followed Old Li to learn from his elder’s experience.
Now, it was indeed ti to make a choice.
"That works."
As the words fell, they each wrote a character in their palm, then, at the sa ti, revealed it to the other—
"Yan."
"Central."
"Why Central State?"
"Why Yan State?"
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