Chapter 9
Chun Hai is a coastal city, located on the Eastern border of China. It was known for it’s exports of sweet sugar cane by the sandy beaches and its delicacy in sea foods, like crab meat and rice shrimp.
The people of Chun Hai also were associated with being either wealthy or poor. There was one man that mainly ran Chun Hai social positions, even though the city lacked any sort of governing besides the Liu Bai He Clan, which didn’t frequent that area often, as creatures were rarely present near the coast.
Its salty water created a fragrance different from the food being cooked near the warm waters. Chun Hai was one of the only places in Liu Bai He Clan’s province that didn’t rain often, most likely due to its distance from the Su Mu rainforest.
The group of disciples from the four provinces arrived at their destination near noon at taiyang time. The sun directly shined on the four disciples as they made their way to the inner city, where the richest man in Chun Hai waited for them.
Ba Yihan, who had a nice rest, walked side by side with Tai Xinbing. The two didn’t talk much, and though Tai Xinbing seemed like a nice person, he quickly realized Ba Yihan didn’t plan on becoming any more than associates with Tai Xinbing for the time being. Which was true. Ba Yihan didn’t want to be friends with the young man. Not necessarily because he was odd, but he simply wanted to get through this problem and go back to Raining Moon Hill. Their stay was only supposed to be 6 months, and that’s how long Ba Yihan planned on staying, before he would leave and go back to Tiancha Dynasty to continue to disappoint his parents.
Ru Zhaozhi and Yue Mingkun walking in front of them, their backs up and heads high. They both walked with emphasis, but the differences in their cultivation group’s teachings were made clear at the time. Ru Zhaozhi seemed to be walking on air, his white shoes barely touching the cobblestone road any more than needed. His hands swung gently in the wind, just like Liu Bai He Clan disciples, he walked like he was lighter than the clouds.
Whilst, Yue Mingkun gripped his sword’s hilt. His hand showed veins as he squeezed the item tightly. He was on guard, and always defensive. His eyes scanned the world around him as is feet stayed parallel on the ground, not walking on his toes more than necessary. He was always ready for an attack. Either from whatever they were fighting, or from one of the disciples themselves.
Ba Yihan had heard this wasn’t how things always were. Anjing De Hua Sect used to be as calm and collected as every other sect. But after some sort of rebellion, Anjing De Hua Sect disciples began to learn to always be on guard. As anyone can slice your throat, stranger or family friend.
In the mist of the silence, Ru Zhaozhi spoke up, turning his head slightly to look at Ba Yihan and Tai Xinbing. “It seems the murders didn’t stop civilian daily life.” Ru Zhaozhi spoke out as the four got closer to the streets of inner Chun Hai. Ba Yihan looked around.
People were walking throughout the wide streets, buckets and baskets dripping from catching wet fish, and children playing and running, avoiding the adults of the city by swerving past them. The doors to shops and stores were open, the sellers not worried about the risk of letting in a demon, as well as even having people setting up tables to sell to those that passed by.
Ru Zhaozhi kept one arm bent across his stomach. His hair blew in the breeze. “The murders must have yet to become a serious issue.” He continues, as his head turns up to look forward once again. Due to his familiar uniform, most people knew who Ru Zhaozhi was. Some children pointed to the young man with bright eyes.
Dreams to become cultivators were quite common in this country, however the path through cultivation is both difficult and painful, and ends either in death or success. However, death was almost always the resolution.
For the other three disciples, they quickly understood who each was. The citizens recognized Ru Zhaozhi because he was in the Liu Bai He Clan, which protected the city. However, the children that stared at each of them soon realized that the other three young men were also cultivators. “Do they not know about the deaths?” Tai Xinbing asks, mostly to himself.
Yue Mingkun scoffed, and with a roll of his eyes, he spoke. “Not know? Do you think these people are ignorant? Their children or mothers have been dying. Of course they would notice.” The disciple from Anjing De Hua Sect said mockingly. Ba Yihan sighed. That wasn’t really necessary, wasn’t it?
Tai Xinbing didn’t take Yue Mingkun’s words to heart, and quickly brushed them off as simple arrogance. He continued. “So, Yue Mingkun, if people did know that their family has died. Why are people baffled as to why we are present?” Tai Xinbing asked, looking up at Yue Mingkun, who turned back at him. The young man looked Ba Yihan’s partner up and down with disgust.
Before a threat or attack could be made by Yue Mingkun, an excited shout was yelled throughout the main roads of Chun Hai.
“Disciples! You are here!” An old man yelled, his bulging stomach bouncing as he waved at the four young men. His beard curled with dark black hair, and his eyes wide with exhilaration. Ah, so you must be a rich man..
A young woman stood beside him, one that Ba Yihan would proudly say was absolutely stunning. Her golden brown hair curled perfectly, and flowed down her shoulders. Her outfit was revealing, a wide triangular piece of clothstarting at her hip and flowing outward. One wrong gust of wind and her entire lower body would be revealed in an instant.
Her hips ticked with each step she took, a hand woven basket carrying different colorful fruits and meats. It seemed the two weren’t exactly waiting for them, like Wo Huangchun had stated. Instead, it seemed they were happily strolling through the town. You have definitely seen the dead corpses. So why are YOU so calm?!