106. Yu Shui City
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The first night in Yu Shui City was the definition of 'Caution'.
Sect Leader Xu guided them all to a large sprawling inn where the Wulin had arranged accommodations for the top five Baishan sects.
There, he insisted they all remain in their rooms for the night, except for him and two elders who scouted the inn, and then the streets around.
Even their dinner, snacks, wine, drinks, water, and tea were thoroughly checked for anything strange, and all went to sleep with an eye open, the elders taking turns to watch over the entire inn.
The next day, Sect Leader Xu let up a little.
"Exploring will do them some good." 1st Elder Xu said to him, and they glanced left where a Sect leader in purple led a crowd of purple-robed cultivators. "The other Sects arrived during the night and are sending their disciples into the City.
"I doubt this city will be bold enough to harm so many Sects!"
Sect Leader Xu was still a bit unwilling, but at least they had the seals on every Yueyan representative. They would be able to tell if any member encountered danger...
He summoned a member each from the Sect Warriors, Senior, and Junior disciples. For the Junior disciples it was Tao Yun, the eldest amongst them.
"You all are in charge of your parties today, so ensure they behave and don't stray anywhere questionable." Sect Leader Xu instructed. "You will also run into other sects' disciples, so carry yourselves with proper conduct!"
Then he gave each a talisman. "This will reverse summon you all to Elder Zhou's inn room, if there's danger."
"Understood!" They all bowed respectfully and led the rest away.
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Yu Shui City was one word,
Spectacular!
Despite all the mystery, one couldn't help but admire the beauty of the city, and they marvelled at the perfect surroundings around them.
"Wah!" Li San had noticed a wide field of plum blossoms in the distance.
The streets were immaculately clean, with houses and stalls arranged neatly on every street, and there was a lake near the city's centre with crystal clear waters which reflected azure skies, making it resemble a *large piece of jade.
(*Yu Shui = Jade water)
"This must be Yu Shui Lake!" Li San exclaimed gleefully and Xu Wen scowled.
"It's just a lake." But none of them, himself included, could deny the sheer beauty of the scene, with floating lotuses gently swaying as a mild breeze teased the water's surface.
A little later, they found the markets which were bustling with life, and the disciples happily explored as vendors called out to them.
"Candied haws! Sweet Candied haws!"
"Fresh peaches! Sweet as spring dew!"
"Silks from the Northern Hills!"
"Fresh plums, picked at dawn!"
"The best dumplings this way! Hot and steamy!"
Here and there, street performers pulled crowds as they danced, or carried out flawless acrobatics, and a large crowd oohed and aahed at a boy who juggled knives while balancing on a pole, and a fire breather whose flames formed images.
Away from the bustle were endless fields of flowers stretching into the horizon, and they could make out rows upon rows of vibrant chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, golden osmanthus, and countless more.
The disciples hadn't known what to expect, but nothing about the city screamed 'danger'.
Rather, Yu Shui City felt like they had stepped into the perfect dream!
However...
Weiyan, whose mind had been filled with Luoyin, was wrapped in a cloud of gloom, preventing her from enjoying such sheer and grand beauty.
And perhaps this was why her eyes kept narrowing as they moved from place to place. Or why she found herself yanking on Li San's collar whenever he got carried away by some fascinating item.
Li San scowled. "How dare this junior- ?!" *sigh* "It's not one or two years. How can you yank the collar of someone five years older?!"
"If you're older, act older." Xu Wen snapped back and the two fell into a heated battle of words.
'Am I overthinking...?' Weiyan wondered, ignoring them.
But no.
Yu Shui City simply didn't feel right.
In the residential streets, everything from the spacing between the houses, to their roofs and pillars, to how many trees lined the streets, and even the horses and carriages moved in perfect rhythm...
Yu Shui City wasn't just clean. No no no.... It was spotless.
Not a smudge of dirt graced a single wall, nor did any debris, even a blade of grass, dust the floors.
There were no fallen leaves, and the lush green grasses didn't dare overstep strict boundaries.
At the lake, not one lotus was imperfect.
At the market, the people never frowned and never yelled, unless they were calling out. They greeted all with warm smiles, but their eyes rarely blinked. Their robes were all neat, and their hair, even the elders', was never out of place.
And at the fields, there wasn't a single wilting flower, nor any fallen petals.
Not to mention the number of flowers out of season...
It was all too perfect- perfect to the point of being creepy.
What bothered Weiyan most was how easily the rest were accepting this place as normal. Even Xu Min and Xu Wen who were cautious at first, were now a bit relaxed, and Tao Yun, the Sect Warriors, and the Seniors seemed no different.
Most of all, there was the feeling of being watched. and the more Weiyan noticed, the more an eerie pressure filled her chest.
'Hmph.' She joined the others, smiling and exploring with them, but furtively glancing at every shadow and corner. By now, the junior and senior disciples had somehow merged, and they all stopped for lunch at a large restaurant.
"Wah! Who is this beautiful flower floating in here?!" A certain young master yelled from a table as they stepped in. "Is Sky Realm missing a fairy?!"
There was light laughter around as the young master openly leered at Weiyan, his eyes roaming from her head down to her feet.
So did more than a few eyes, and they noticed more than a few different sect colours around the restaurant.
"Wah! She's an unearthly beauty indeed!"
"So one's face can really 'lead to wars and shatter entire Kingdoms'!"
'How mannerless!' Xu Wen thought.
Such bold and shameless flirting drew attention- wanted or unwanted, to some unfortunate young lady, who just happened to be Weiyan in this case.
It was quite common in public gatherings, usually where wine was present, and especially among cultivators who sometimes let their egos hide their manners away!
The Yueyan disciples scowled at the original speaker, who still leered at Weiyan. Xu Min and Tao Yun stepped forward, but one of the Seniors held up a hand.
"They're Huofeng disciples." Xu Wen warned.
The young master and his companions were indeed dressed in the red and white robes of Huofeng Sect.
"That obnoxious fellow is likely Huo Xingchen, Sect Leader Huo's grandson." Xu Wen put in, not bothering to lower his voice by a single decibel. "The apple fell not only far from the tree, but the entire orchard."
More than a few people snorted in laughter.
At a tea house opposite the restaurant, Lord Li spat out his tea, having heard Xu Wen's insult, but the two other house heads across him turned up their noses.
"Lord Li, please mind your manners!" One said, dusting his sleeves. "How can the younger ones learn anything good?!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry..."
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Back at the restaurant, Huo Xingchen's expression had turned ugly. "You foul little runt!" He slapped his table and shot to his feet.
"This place is filled with seniors from multiple other sects! How is it your turn to teach me here? Pay attention to seniority, if nothing else!"
"Then is this how a senior should behave?" Xu Min stepped before Xu Wen, placing himself in front of the Yueyan party. "Even if we ignore your mannerless statement, cultivators should politely greet each other upon meeting.
"Instead you're treating my little sister as an object for the eyes alone, and drawing unwanted attention. If not for the 'no fight rule' I'd introduce you to Yueyan in a special way."
There was indeed a 'No Fight Rule' which threatened instant suspension of any defaulting contestant or sect.
"You-!" Huo Xingchen took a threatening step forward, but-
"Hao le!" A voice thundered, shaking the restaurant, and everyone's gaze fell on a large figure seated beside Huo Xingchen.
Huo Xingchen became pale suddenly and awkwardly sat down, shakily drinking his wine.
It was odd, as both were dressed in the same manner, each with the red-lined outer vest for Huofeng's senior disciples. And yet Huo Xingchen was like this?
"I heard Huo Xingchen is practically an elder already!" One whispered.
"Who is this disciple to make him shiver and shake?!"
The Yueyan party simply made their way to a table, but the large disciple sneered.
"Hmph. Daring to confront us..." He shook his head. "The Black Dragon's fall is really puffing up Yueyan's pride. Did you forget your sect is merely the third strongest?"
"D- d- disciple Jiang!" Huo Xingchen stuttered. "G- grandfather said not to cause any trouble..." His words trailed off as this mighty Disciple Jiang glared at him.
"Shut up for me!" Disciple Jiang kicked Huo Xingchen off his seat, nearly sending him across the restaurant. "I was talking to the 'mighty Yueyan strays'!"
The other Huo disciples merely shrank away in fear as Huo Xingchen picked himself up and slinked to an empty table.
From all the other sects had heard about Huo Xingchen, he should not be easy to bully, and nor would he take this insult without putting up some fight.
'How strong is this Disciple Jiang?!'
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