Travellers turned their heads as strong gusts of wind passed. Most assumed it was just the wind, but some could tell...
"Were those people?"
Twenty martial artists cut through the mud paths of the Blade Master domain. The air around them struggled to keep up, causing gusts and whistles after they passed.
A thin shroud of Aspartese's qi held the air's booming in place, so as to not affect their surroundings.
Vera ran at the forefront of the entourage, beside Aspartese. The embankment of trees on either side of their path stretched into a dull green hue.
The sun stood at the peak of the sky, its sharp glare causing sweat to bead up over the sect disciple's skin.
Chun, who had woken up about an hour ago, sat on top of Vera's shoulder. Although he was calm now, he flailed excessively at the start.
For now, he shared water and pieces of jerky with Vera as he ran.
On the other hand, the passenger on Aspartese's shoulder was still belligerent.
While Vera bit onto pieces of jerky, Lin-yu bit Aspartese's arm. Thankfully, one of the Laws Aspartese had learnt was the iron blanket, Lin-yu's third-rank biting was closer to a gnawing sensation than it was to the tearing of flesh.
Vera turned to Chun. "Please don't grow up to be like that."
Chun turned to look at Lin-yu. Instinctively he pulled away from Lin-yu. "I won't." His gaze wrinkled as he watched her flail uncontrollably.
Lin-yu took a break from biting Aspartese. "Shut up!"
Aspartese held her mouth shut before she could spew anymore insults.
"Vera, can we swap passengers?"
Vera shook his head in fear. "I'd carry ten passengers before I took that thing on. If you want, I could knock her out for you."
As he spoke those words, he felt a chilling gaze land on his nape. His pitch rose momentarily. "Senior, you shouldn't be so rude to Miss Lin-yu. Treat her more kindly."
Aspartese looked at Vera with widened eyes. As though Vera had thrown him to the wolves. He could already smell the salary cuts to come.
"Ahh... You're right, Vera. I should be more kind to the beautiful and strong Lin-yu."
He turned back to look at Chang-yu. Hoping that this would be enough to calm her murderous gaze.
Just then Chang-yu left the group's rear and approached Vera at the front. "Vera, I'm getting tired. Carry me as well."
Her words came out as a request, but Vera shivered at the thought of defying her.
His left arm wrapped around Chang-yu's knees. With a quick heave, he lifted her onto his shoulder.
"Big sister!" Chun exclaimed as Chang-yu joined him on his pack mule.
Chang-yu ruffled his hair as she greeted him. The two continued to chatter over Vera's shoulders as he carried them to the First Sector.
One fed him jerky and the other gave him water.
Aspartese gazed at the harmonious trio with jealousy.
His baggage only bit and insulted him.
The sun set and the moon rose as they travelled. Mud paths embanked by trees turned to stone fences attached to city gates.
Over time Lin-yu calmed down. Realising there was no escape from Aspartese, she behaved in hopes of being allowed to run on her own.
The group stopped at nearby sectors every two days to rest and restock.
Sword Dog, bored of their transonic pace, ran circles around them. The whirlwinds that formed on his path caused a few junior disciples to trip and fall.
Though on this night, they were all resting in the Second Sector.
Having drunk through the night at Aspartese's expense, most sect members went to sleep. After a few hours of grimacing at the dire straits of his finances, Aspartese also went to sleep.
Vera sat outside the inn in silence.
A cup of Mijiu in his hands, he admired the night.
I've been training non-stop for the past two months... I guess it's good to breathe every now and then.
Much like the Five Plains, the skies in these lands also shimmered with myriad stars.
As he gazed at the crescent moon, he heard a sudden rustle.
Vera turned to the inn's back entrance. "Lin-yu, mind sharing a drink with me before you leave?"
Being caught in her attempt to escape, she shuddered for a moment. But as she realised Vera didn't intend to stop her, she walked over to the inn's courtyard.
Vera picked up a cup from his table and filled it with the last of the Mijiu.
The stifled impact of Lin-yu's steps caused dull thrums through the courtyard's floor. She walked over to Vera and took the cup from his hand.
Vera gestured at the chair beside him. "Are you going to stand and drink?"
Somewhat reluctant, Lin-yu sat beside him. He was already doing her a favour by not waking Aspartese up.
"Why are you letting me go?"
Vera took a sip of the wine, his gaze still fixed to the night sky. "Why would I stop you? It's none of my business."
Only silence followed. The sound of crickets chirping and sipping filled the air.
"Are you going back into seclusion once you reach the sect?"
Lin-yu's sights were fixed to the cup rather than the sky. Her skin around her eyes crinkled at Vera's question.
"Hm..."
Vera drained his cup and set it against the table. He got off the chair and started walking back to his room. As he reached the hall, he turned back. "Was it your technique that was lacking when you lost to me?"
The question left Lin-yu in contemplation. The door to the courtyard shut silently.
Only the sound of crickets chirping remained.
***
Vera and Aspartese stood in front of the city gates; the rest of the group was behind him.
It was as though the day he stood in front of the sect grounds repeated; only, the scale was far bigger.
The First Sector was encircled by stone walls that rose up to a tenth of a li. Guards patrolled each nook and cranny of the city.
What threw Vera off even more was that not a single guard was below the second rank.
Hundreds of accomplished warriors were being used as simple guards.
Pavilions were built of polished mahogany, as though it were some common scrap wood.
As the entourage entered the city, the smell of rich delicacies filled their noses and the symphony of pipas and zithers permeated the air.
Vera looked toward Chun, who was just as dumbfounded as him. His gaze followed the lines of ornamental lamps that illuminated the city streets.
Aspartese walked up to Vera and patted his back. "Don't look so surprised. What else did you expect from the first sector that the Blade Master created?"
Vera and Chun turned to face Aspartese. "Not this much!" Both of them spoke at the same time; even their words were exactly the same.
Aspartese simply ignored the two of them and walked up ahead. "The sect has booked out an entire inn for us to stay in. Let's go get settled for now."
Lin-yu and Chang-yu walked up from behind. As they passed, Lin-yu turned back to face Vera with a wide grin plastered onto her face.
Although she didn't insult him, Vera wanted to knock her out immediately.
Who are you calling a country bumpkin?!
Vera and Chun followed Aspartese in silence. Although Vera was already planning his revenge out.
I won't let this slight pass.
The evil smile on his face caused crowds to part as he passed through.
After a few more minutes passed, the group had reached the inn that was booked out by the main branch. While the buildings around it were built out of wood that cost ten times its weight in coppers, the inn was literally built out of precious metals.
Each pillar was adorned with golden embeddings. Sculptures of black iron dragon heads were attached to every corner on every floor.
What Vera was yet to realise was that the inn wasn't to impress commoners.
As Vera entered the inn, the bustling of the city was completely cut off. Even when he focused on his sense of sound, he couldn't hear anything from outside.
Vera looked through the interiors. Floors with clear marble tiles, chiselled pillars at every corner, and chandeliers in every room.
But what shook Vera the most wasn't the decor.
As his eyes darted across every wall in the building, he noticed...
They all have engravings.
Every wall in the inn was built with engravings that blocked noises from the outside. It was at this moment he understood that the Blade Master sect wasn't just 'any' sect.
Even if he sold all his assets off, he still wouldn't be able to buy a single wall from this place.
Just as the whole group entered the building, the lodging manager entered to greet them.
The man bowed to the group. "The esteemed guests must be from the Sixth Sector branch. I, Jin Jiang, the prime attendant of the Heavenly Peng inn, greet you."
Multiple attendants walked over to each of the sect members to collect their luggage and lead them to their rooms.
Aspartese looked back at the dispersing group and issued a command. "Rest up well; the preliminaries will be starting tomorrow. I'll be heading out to greet the sect master now."
Dazed by the sheer opulence of the Heavenly Peng, Vera and Chun allowed the attendants to lead them to their quarters, their minds already half-lost to exhaustion.
***
At the west end of the First Sector stood a hill. On its peak a man sat under the moonlight.
A flask of wine in his hands and two cups to his side.
His eyes were sharp, surrounded by aged scars. Despite his youthful appearance, he had lived for over a thousand years.
Grass mulched as a hooded man approached him from behind. "Senior Tao, it has been a while since we met last."
Tao took a sip of wine from the flask in his hand; one of the glasses to his side flew to the hooded man. "You have long surpassed my cultivation, little Long; call me 'uncle' when it's just us."
The hooded man took a seat beside Tao.
His cup and Tao's flask clinked together.
"Sure uncle Tao. How has the sect been as of late?"
At his question Tao let out an exasperated breath. "My disciples are all grown up and are taking charge of things. I'm only here to protect and act as a figurehead. What about you, how have you and your father been?"
"Sounds boring, do you want to come to the Blood Sea with me?"
A dull thwack sounded as Tao knocked on Long's head. "What use is there in recruiting me? I would be the weakest in your father-son duo."
Long laughed at Tao's words. "Be honest, you just don't want to leave the sect. As for father and me, we have been doing well."
The two took a sip of their wine; they simply enjoyed the atmosphere for a moment. The gentle cold breeze brushed against their skin, and the sound of the city turned to a muffled murmur.
The skin around Tao's eyes crinkled. "Why have you come here, little Long? You aren't the kind that drops in just for pleasantries."
Long leaned back, placing his empty cup of wine back near Tao. "Nothing serious, just came here to observe an investment."