Treading ahead of the trail, I slowly made my way down until I saw a glimpse of the walls and houses.
"That old man lied to me again, 'just follow the trail' he says, but it was split up into three pathways!"
I clenched my fist, recalling my luck when I found out that the other two paths led to fields in the middle of nowhere.
"I guess relying on old people is still a no-go, even if they were once cultivators.."
It had been almost an hour more of walking before I reached the gates. It was nothing special just like Old Qin had said, just a wall with the characters 'Fuoci' in the center, embroidered in gold.
As I took a step into the city, immediately, I felt the energy flare up.
"Turnips, five for 15 jades!"
A busy street vendor selling vegetables called out.
"The finest appliances crafted by yours truly!"
A burly man holding frying pans urged customers.
'Wow, it really is different here. It's so lively.. and even the air is clean."
Walking through the lines of street stalls, now, unabandoned, I immersed myself in the atmosphere. Taking a glance at a little bit of everything, I realized I had nothing on me.
Turning the corner at the end of the street, a sudden tap on my shoulders startled me.
"Young man, don't be scared~"
I turn around, seeing a thin man with unappealing buck teeth grinning while rubbing his hands together.
"Are you from outside the city? Hehe.. your clothes are very.. let's just say, unorthodox for this area. You might get weird stares you know, so why don't you come to my shop and get some new clothes to put on!"
His high pitched voice was oddly akin to what a mouse sounded like, but his silver tongue was definitely something to watch out for.
Plus, it was true. I looked like a mess with my tattered attire that could only be found at the poorer districts.
"So that's what he's grinning about, the sound of greed."
I sigh, muttering under my breath before finally deciding to speak.
"It might be too late to say but I don't have any jade on me."
I looked at his instantly distraught face, his fingers which were previously shaped into a circle, as if mimicking coins had now crumbled apart.
"Well.. well, I can't say I'm really surprised.. you do strike me as someone from the beggars sect!"
The man began to chuckle to himself, laughing at his own joke to fill the void atmosphere.
"So, is that it?"
He looked surprised that I wasn't offended.
"You're not the type to get amused huh? Uhh, why don't you come take a tour of my shop and look at all the clothing you can't afford?"
. . .
I don't know why I'm following him.
Maybe so I could steal something later, but I'm not too sure on how strict the rules are in this city.
"He's not swaying his shoulders as he walks so they can seem broader, right?"
Ahh, so this was the power of the wealthy.
"System."
Then silence.
System, if you exist, please convert all the shares of Unazo Coin I bought into gold coins, thanks.
"We're here."
His screeching voice reminded me of where I was.
"How is it? Better than what you have on right?"
He bragged, before leaving me to go help with a customer who just entered.
It was a smaller shop, although, modest. I scanned around the racks, feeling the fabric of different robes and clothing.
"Doesn't seem like they really have shirts at all.."
They weren't bad, I'll admit.
"I really can't imagine myself in one of these, even with this body now.."
Looking in the lengthy mirror, my dark hair was rather unkempt, but my structure really stood out. Lean, but even traces of chiselled muscle.
I smirked, not bad at all.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I spotted some kind of paper stuck to the wall near the mirror.
Walking over, it was definitely a poster, with an illustration on top of two individuals with swords sparring on a platform.
[ 'FUOCI SECT TOURNAMENT 佛慈宗门大比'
In one month's time, a grand series of battles will be taking place in the Central Platform of Fuoci City! A tournament to scout talents, applicants of ages under 20 years old may apply as unaffiliated contestants, or be from a participating sect. In the end, the top 3 contestants will bask in honor and glory, and receive a special prize that will turn them into geniuses, if they weren't already!
QUALIFYING SECTS:
• Weeping Willow Sect '垂柳宗'
• Purging Mountains Sect '净山宗'
• Iron Blade Sect '铁刀宗'
• Red Thorn Sect '红王座教派'
• Leaping Cod Sect '跳鱼宗'
Enter today, before it's too late! ]
Leaping Cod Sect..? What were these third rate names..
Though, I do recognize one. The 'Weeping Willow Sect.' Back then, those two disciples ganging up on Old Qin wore the uniforms of that sect. It seemed like they were a major sect in this city, which came unsurprising as they were clearly learning sword cultivation.
As I was deep in thought, a skinny finger tapped my shoulder. It was the shopkeeper.
"Oh~ I've noticed you found interest in this poster! Haha, they pay me 30 jade per day just having this here!"
His buckteeth was starting to annoy me, as I clenched my fist.
"This happens once every year, it's tradition! Sadly, I think it's in your best bet not to enter if you had even the thought of doing so! Why? Because each year, nobody that's unaffiliated even wins! Not once, from when this began 20 years ago."
He shook his head, as if faking distraught.
"Everytime someone gets close, the disciples sent from the major sects beat them down.. it's truly a sad sight to see.. Let me tell you, last year, the son of a beggar came to prove himself, he was quite the show! He managed to even defeat a few of the disciples from the different sects, but just before he could reach the podium, the star disciple from the Iron Blade Sect knocked him down to fourth place! Hahaha! Trying so hard to prove himself and turn his life around.. the Iron Blade Disciple went ahead and won the entire thing, getting first place."
He then leaned in, a bit too close for my liking.
"Let me tell you.. for the grand prize they gave him a blade forged by a legendary blacksmith that could cut down our houses in one fellow swoop. The year before that, the winner got a martial manual that could instantly heal wounds! Crazy, crazy. All of the tournament winners thus far have gone out to explore the Jianghu, it's truly spectacular."
I had to think for a moment. Cutting down houses, healing wounds? Isn't that.. a rather basic technique in these settings? From all the cultivation novels I've read, basic outer disciples from even the more moderate sects can perform these with ease!
"Uhh.."
So, was this city truly another spec hidden in the Jianghu?
"All these names you're throwing around, do they compare to the likes of.. let's say, the Big Rice Sect?"
"Pf-"
An uncontrollable laughter outraged.
"Th- The BIG RICE SECT? HAHAHAHAHA! YOU'RE KIDDING ME RIGHT? AS IF A NAME LIKE THAT COULD COMPARE TO THE LIKES OF OUR SECTS, NEVER EVEN HEARD OF IT BEFORE!"
I covered my ears instinctively. He was either uneducated or I was lied to. I'd like to think the former.
"Oh, you really got a laugh out of me kid! This year, I've heard a rumor that the prize will be the greatest it's ever been! I'm excited to watch once again!"
I scratched my ear.
"So.. when does this begin?"
"I already told you not to go do it, but if you want to know so bad, it's in 5 days!"
. . .
Well, I'm screwed.