Yao Chen looked at the writing as well as the messy Nine Star Fox picture on the ground and felt a bit disappointed….
While she had been present, he genuinely had felt she was very annoying. Yes, she had saved his life, but she really knew how to be noisy and cause trouble.
But now when he had awoken to find out she had already left, he truly felt that a piece of his heart was missing.
“I should be happy she’s gone… who else tells people to go die… really, and she didn’t even give a proper farewell before leaving….”
Yao Chen shook his head and fixed up his emotions. He collected his things and washed up. Scouting around, he found a small bamboo forest. Chopping down ten or so trunks that were around the thickness of a bowl, he brought them to a river bank. Using some tough tree bark as rope, he started to make a bamboo raft.
Although this was his first time doing such a thing, he had heard before Luo Shu’s brother Luo Shan talking about this method, and after a couple of experiments Yao Chen quickly grasped how to do it. Although he grasped the concept quickly, it was already the afternoon by the time he finished.
Testing it a couple times, he found that the bamboo raft was definitely secure, and he pushed it into the water. Standing in the center of the bamboo raft, he quietly floated down the river. A day later, he drifted out of the Shennong Mountain Range. The mountain range changed into a flat land and the towering mountains became nothing more than sand.
At this time the bamboo raft’s speed was becoming slower and slower, so Yao Chen had no choice but to abandon it and go on shore. It appeared that his wish to follow the flow all the way until the middle of the fields was too naïve. Within the mountain range the water flow was extremely rapid, but after reaching the plains, the water flow became gentle and it would be faster to walk than to continue floating.
Going ashore, he walked along the riverside. Despite the little demon girl not being present anymore, Yao Chen still decided to move towards the Central Plains center.
Having left the Yao clan and entered this unfamiliar world, other than moving forward, he had nowhere else to go.
He simply walked along the riverside, When he became hungry he would catch some fish to eat, and if his luck was good then he could catch some wild animals in the forest beside the shore.
One month passed in that manner. Now cities and towns appeared beside the river.
Southshore City.
Paying the entry fee at the city gate, Yao Chen entered into the city when a burst of hot air hit him in the face. People… lots of people.
There were peddlers and lower class people coming and going everywhere. It was bustling with noise and liveliness. This was something that could not be found in the Yao clan. Everything in the Yao clan was neat and in good order, and even if there were more people, the Yao clan would definitely stay peaceful and quiet. There would absolutely not be people who would dare to make a ruckus in the clan. But here, the sounds of people laughing and chattering were everywhere.
Not walking far, he saw a couple beggar children surrounding a handsome youngster, begging for money. The youngster was wearing embroidered clothes so he appeared to be the young lord of a rich family.
“I really don’t have any money…” The embroidered-clothed youngster turned red from shouting, but his words had no effect here. These beggars were all either orphans or came from human trafficking. Behind them were adults who controlled them, and if they didn’t get enough money when they returned then they wouldn’t get any food to eat. They would even get cruelly beat halfway to death. In the eyes of the people who controlled them, it didn’t matter if they broke a foot or dug out an eye. The more miserable and deformed they looked, the better. As long as it could move people’s compassion to give money it was fine. As for the children’s future, they’d either get picked up by others or die in a couple years and then get buried in the deep mountains. Their owners would just buy or pick up a couple more of them.
It wasn’t that the embroidered-clothed youngster didn’t have money, it was just that he clearly knew that if he gave these people money, it might appear like he was doing a good thing, but in fact it was no different than acting as an accomplice.
The embroidered-clothed youngster was chased by the little beggars down the entire road before he managed to shake them off. He then turned his head and said to Yao Chen, “I’ve already said, I don’t have any money.”
“… What?” Yao Chen blankly asked, but even before the words were out his mouth, his stomach let out a loud rumbling noise.
The embroidered-clothed youngster knit his eyebrows, and actually said, “If you’re hungry I can treat you to a meal.”
“Why would you want to treat me to a meal?” Yao Chen blankly and foolishly replied. Were all the outside world’s people this nice? Would they really treat people to meals the first time they met without even knowing them?
N , there definitely had been a misunderstanding. If you treated anyone you saw to food, then even if you had even more money you would eventually be eaten empty and poor.
“If you want money then there’s none, but if you’re hungry I can treat you this one time.”
The embroidered-clothed youngster took out a food basket from his Storage Ring, and the sweet smell of the food filled the air. Gurgle… Yao Chen’s stomach fiercely rumbled. His Storage Ring’s dry meats were basically just dregs he could use to fill his stomach in comparison.
“Ok.” Yao Chen didn’t stand on courtesy, and pondering for a second, he said, “Meeting each other was fate; today you treat me and next time I’ll treat you.”
“Haha, anything is fine as long as you’re not asking for money.” The embroidered-clothed youngster laughed as he curiously looked at Yao Chen. This was the first time he had met a beggar who would say these kinds of words.
Walking along a small riverbank within the city, the two of them picked a willow tree to sit under. The embroidered-clothed youngster opened the food basket and the inside were four neatly piled up double-layered food containers. Opening one, the fragrant aroma became even stronger.
“You can eat.”
Yao Chen nodded, and completely not standing on courtesy and with an enthusiasm that he had learned from fatty Luo, he ferociously started eating.
Obviously the embroidered-clothed youngster’s family was very strict. He sat with proper posture, ate with proper etiquette, and all his movements were coordinated with a refined grace. This kind of behaviour was something that only a noble would have; if you didn’t start getting nurtured like this from a young age, there was no way you could learn to do it in such a manner later in life.
The embroidered-clothed youngster had only eaten two mouthfuls when he noticed that the entire food basket had already been completely eaten empty.
“Uh… I…” The embroidered-clothed youngster’s mouth was faintly trembling, and he wanted to say something but he was unable to actually say it. He only looked at Yao Chen in shock. This kid really knew how to eat! However his own stomach was also growling in hunger.
Yao Chen’s face turned red with embarrassment. Having become accustomed to having to fight for food with Luo Shu, he had forgotten how to eat with normal people.
“It’s no problem. If we have karma we’ll see each other again.” The embroidered-clothed youngster collected the food containers into his Storage Ring, and faintly saying a couple words to Yao Chen he prepared to leave.
“Wait, what’s your name?
“Haha, my name’s not important. But you have whole arms and whole legs. You might be in difficult times, but in the end begging is not something a true man should do. These are just the words of a stranger. Brother shouldn’t blame me for meddling too much in other people’s business with these unpleasant words. If it’s fate then we will meet again.”
The embroidered-clothed youngster jumped up using a Dou Technique and all of a sudden disappeared.
Yao Chen blankly stared in a daze. His speed was quite fast, but what really stunned him were the words he had just said. Beg? When did he go beg?
Walking along the river, Yao Chen looked down and saw his reflection. Oh… in the river’s reflection he saw a youngster with ragged clothing, messy hair, and with streaks of black all over his face. Yao Chen couldn’t help but to let out a shocked noise as he looked down at his reflection.
Yao Chen bitterly laughed. With his current appearance, anyone who saw him would think he was a beggar. It was fortunate the embroidered-clothed youngster had the good self control to ignore his appearance and let him eat with him. It was a pity that he didn’t even know what he was called. If he found the opportunity then he definitely had to pay him back properly.
Arriving at that thought, Yao Chen laughed at himself mockingly. He didn’t even know whether Yao Wangui would send out more people when no one returned, so it was difficult to guarantee his own life let alone talk about paying people back.
Yao Chen didn’t stay too long along the within the Southshore City. After buying new clothes and supplies, he ended up leaving.
To the north of Southshore City were more and more vestiges of human activities. Not only were there cultivators of large sects, but there were also even more regular people in villages and cities all over the place. Travelling merchants came and went along the roads on their caravans, and every five or so kilometers along the road there was a tavern that could supply them with supplies and food. All in all, this part of the world was very prosperous.
Although Yao Chen had left the city, he didn’t have any target so he just followed the road towards the center of the Central Plains.
However things that occur by fate always come suddenly. On the third night, Yao Chen arrived in front of a family-owned tavern along the road.
As soon as he entered he noticed the embroidered-clothed youngster who had treated him to the meal, however this time he wasn’t alone. Sitting beside him were several middle-aged men that were talking to him, and the embroidered-clothed youngster would occasionally nod.
When Yao Chen entered, the embroidered-clothed youngster did notice him, but obviously he didn’t recognize him now that he had tidied himself up. He only indifferently glanced at him before once again focusing on the middle-aged men’s talk.
Yao Chen found a place to sit, and one of the tavern’s waiters came over, pouring him some tea and offering him the menu, “Does the guest want to eat something… or maybe you want to stay a couple days?”
Yao Chen took a small sip of the tea and said, “Stay for the night. As for food, bring me half a pound of meat. Is there rice?”
The waiter presented the menu and said, “There’s first-rate fragrant rice and other than meat there’s also fish….”
Yao Chen didn’t have much experience. He listened to the waiter’s presentation and quickly read a bit of the menu. Many of the items were things he had never heard of while in the Yao clan.
Only when the food arrived did he notice that had ordered a bit too much, and there wasn’t even enough space on the table to hold. It was fortunate that Yao Chen wasn’t afraid that he would waste it. He was ravenous and finished every single plate. Some of the dishes were just average tasting, but since it was the first time he had tasted them they still felt novel and fresh.
The guests currently eating all around him were all a bit stunned by how much Yao Chen could eat.
“Haha, who knows where he came from that he hasn’t even tried sheep and cow meat before.”
“It’s not that weird. I’ve done some trading deep in the mountains and some of the people there are from poor and secluded villages that can only eat pork, and that would only be during celebrations. Most of them make their living from hunting. In the mountains and forests they don’t have good land for domestication and can only raise chickens and dogs. Most of those people won’t even see beef for their whole lives.”
At this time, a rumbling noise came from the tavern’s entrance. Twelve people covered in dust and wearing violet capes with black clothes rushed into the tavern.
“People from the Violet Fiend Gang.”
“Recently the Violet Fiend gang’s people have been very active. It seems like something big is happening.”
“Shhh, quiet, if they hear you you’ll definitely die.”
The merchants within the tavern were all quietly discussing them, with most of them having fearful expressions on their face.
Yao Chen looked over of the group of people wearing black clothes. He simply continued eating his own food.
“Guest, the dishes you’ve asked for are all here now, please eat slowly.”
The waiter at this moment had brought over the very last plate. After quietly saying this, he was just about to withdraw when Yao Chen stopped him, saying, “I’ll pay the bill now.”
Saying this, he took out five second tier Energy Support Pills and placed them on the table.
In the Yao clan, such a feast would cost two Energy Support Pills, and sleeping for a night would require three of them. The Yao Chen who didn’t have any experience of living outside the Yao clan naturally thought that the world outside the Yao clan would also use Energy Support Pills to settle bills.
He hardly imagined that….
The tavern’s waiter’s eyes almost popped out of his face. This… this was… medicinal pills!”
“Guest… guest, do you really want to use these medicinal pills to settle the bill?” The waiter’s voice had even started to stutter and tremble.
“Is there a problem?” Yao Chen wrinkled his brows; according to the rumors in the Yao clan, their medicinal pills were much more valuable outside the clan than within. Since he had paid five Energy Support Pills using clan standards to pay, it should be worth more than enough.
“No! No problem! I just wanted to confirm.” The tavern waiter collected the pills at lightning speed. Heavens! He was just the brother of the head of a farming family; for just a silver’s worth of food, someone used medicinal pills to pay for i!. No matter what kind of medicinal pill it was even, even if it was the lowest tier Energy Recovery Pill, just one pill was already worth ten times that. Furthermore just having the money was useless most of the time since not anyone who wanted to buy pills could find a seller. This offspring of a farming family obtaining five pills was equivalent to gaining hundreds of silvers in profit.
To the side, all the merchants were all dumbfounded. They never would have imagined that this food-hound would so crazily spend his money in such an extravagant manner.
“Wait, this little brother’s bill will be settled by us. Ninth officer, go bring the medicinal pills back.” The guests who had just entered, the Violet Fiend Gang, let out an overbearing laughter and ordered the waiter back.
A broken piece of silver was thrown onto the ground, and one of the members of the Violet Fiend Gang strode over to the waiter.
The waiter’s expression became terrified, and he crashed to the ground. Kneeling, he raised the five Energy Support Pills over his head as an offering.
“I guess you’re not an idiot.”
The ninth officer coldly laughed. He took the five Energy Support Pills and walked back.
“Boss Bai, are you planning on…?”
Between sentences he shot glances in Yao Chen’s direction.
“Forget about it. After we finish eating we still have to hurry on our way.” Boss Bai’s eyes also seemed to hesitate.
Yao Chen faintly narrowed his eyes, understanding a bit. His problem was that he lacked experience, not that he was an idiot. Wealth couldn’t be flaunted, and obviously the outside world didn’t use medicinal pills to settle bills like this. His taking out of medicinal pills had already caused him to taken note of by other people.
However this place was already outside the Yao clan’s sphere of influence so Yao Chen didn’t worry that he’d be once again chased and attempted to be killed. In the end he was only quietly expelled; in all likelihood, Yao Wangui wouldn’t go too far for him and act with all the power of the clan.
In addition, the Yao clan was still comparatively isolated. Disciples that completed missions outside the clan were very few in number. The ancestral lands of the Yao clan had all of their needs, and even the spiritual energy was greater than in the outside world, which would benefit their training. Basically there weren’t any clan members who would want to leave the ancestral lands. In this kind of situation, as long as he had left the Yao clan’s sphere of influence, Yao Chen could be calm and have nothing to fear.
After eating, he let the waiter bring him to his room.
Since Yao Chen had paid using medicinal pills, although they had been taken away by the Violet Fiend Gang, the owner personally brought Yao Chen to a room far away from the main street with only a small village in the vicinity. This was the best room within fifteen miles of the inn. It was located very conveniently and over ten rooms had been built around a courtyard; normally it was reserved for important people.
“There aren’t many uncivilized people around here and if anyone unwanted comes near here or you need anything, just go to that lobby over there and call for me.”
“Ok.”
“Then I’ll leave.” The owner felt that since Yao Chen could easily take out five Energy Support Pills he was definitely a powerful person. Although their business didn’t obtain that money, they didn’t dare offend him. They didn’t couldn’t afford not to give him special treatment. Their hotel accepted all sorts of people, and sometimes making a loss could be a profit in another way.
When he was leaving, he hesitated for a moment before he was unable to resist and very quickly whispered, “Perhaps I’m thinking too much, but be careful about those people from the Violet Fiend Gang.”
Yao Chen was startled but he still smiled. He then took out three more Energy Support Pills. “Take these and exchange them for… money.”
He was delighted to take them, saying, “I can exchange them right now. Three Energy Support Pills can be exchanged for one hundred and fifty silvers. This place is near the Yao clan and quite a few of their Energy Support Pills have circulated around here, lowering the price. If you keep walking another hundred miles, the price will double… do you really want me to exchange them?”
“Exchange them right here. Also prepare ten days worth of food for me by the morning.”
“Yes yes yes, no problem at all. I’ll make sure young lord is satisfied when he wakes up. Our inn’s meat patties are famous near and far.”
He took out one hundred and fifty silvers from his robes as well as twelve broken silvers and gave them to Yao Chen before leaving to prepare the food.
Yao Chen’s gaze followed him as he left and he smiled slightly before going into this room. Lying on the bed, feeling the bedding, looking up at the ceiling without seeing the starlight, he suddenly felt extremely unfamiliar with the world and found it hard to sleep.
He might as well just give up on sleeping. Sitting up, he started to circulate his Dou Qi.
Rumble…
Suddenly, the sound of fighting rang out from outside. The sound of Dou Qi colliding resounded like a drum.
Yao Chen opened his eyes and walked to the window where he saw that embroidered-clothed youngster flying in the air with a pair of flaming wings. He was fighting with an unfamiliar person with pitch-black bat wings.
The two of their wings were powerful Flying Dou Techniques, and it was extremely obvious the embroidered-clothed youth’s wings were a level higher. He agilely dodged his opponent in the air, occasionally also sending out attacks. Clouds of flame shot from his hands, and his opponent was unable to reach him.
“The Feng Manor’s Flame Cloud Technique truly is extraordinary. This old man won’t accompany you any further.”
The man with the bad wings laughed weirdly and his wings receded. His body strangely turning into seven black shadows that looked the exact same and split up into different directions.
The embroidered-clothed youngster was startled, not expecting that he would leave just like that. The two fire clouds coming out of his hands weakened.
Yao Chen faintly smiled. No one seemed to notice him staring out of the window. Obviously the battle just now had scared off anyone with hidden motives.
The embroidered-clothed youngster quickly arrived inside the courtyard, and his gaze was like lightning as it passed through the window to intersect with Yao Chen.
“Sorry for bothering you.”
“No problem.” Yao Chen nodded.
“I don’t know where brother plans on going. How about we go together tomorrow? And can I have a name for you?”
“Many thanks for your good intentions, but I’m already accustomed to being by myself. I don’t know whether this respected brother has a great name?”
“Haha, my family name is Feng, while my surname is just one word, Xian. Since brother has no such intention, then I’ve meddled in your affairs too much. It’s getting late in the night, so please don’t blame me for bothering you. I’ll take my leave now.” The embroidered-clothed youngster’s eyes flashed slightly, and cupping his hands, he unfolded his flame wings and flew off. In the blink of an eye he had already disappeared.
Yao Chen smiled. He knew that the embroidered-clothed youngster had good intentions, however since he had left the Yao clan, he had to rely on his own strength to pass through his life. Without some difficulties, how could he temper himself and gain strength?