"Come out!" Old Fu spoke as he dug his hand into the sand and pulled out a cultivator by the clothes on the back of his neck.
The man he pulled out couldn't help but let out an awkward laugh full of terror and fear as he said, "Why you good sir, what can I do for you?" he said as he hastily put away the small dagger he held behind his back.
"What were you planning by hiding in the sand?" asked Old Fu.
"Oh why good sir, we were just resting a bit, I hope we didn't disturb you on your way," he said.
"Resting… I see," he said, "Then since the two of us are heading to the city mind telling us a bit about it?" old Fu said as he placed the man back on his feet.
The man nodded replying, "Yes good sir, that' city is called Demon Gorge City, since it is one of the few cities that's built atop what we think to be hell's gates," he said "And it's one of the trade hubs of the Sea of Demons."
"Where do you think you're going?" Old Fu muttered.
"I, I'm not going anywhere good sir!" he said.
"I wasn't talking to you, but to the other four who're still under the sand, get out or die!" Old Fu said.
And almost instantly four cultivators emerged from the sand, with sheepish looks on their face. It was a comic scene to be honest, it's like a bunch of rabbits having entered a tiger's den and now the tiger is back. They couldn't run away even if they had ten lives. So they realized they had to obey and stand like children waiting to be disciplined.
"Say, we heard that there is an auction going on," said old man Fu.
"Yes, it's happening soon in a month it should start," the cultivator said.
"And I would assume that you're here to inconvenience people who plan on joining," said Old man Fu.
"No sir…"
"Don't interrupt me!"
That quited the crook all too fast.
"Petty thieves, anyway, the two of us, me and my companion were coming to this auction but we seem to be lacking some… funds. I would appreciate if the few of you guys were to donate to a good cause," said the old man.
A wide grin on his face.
The five cultivators couldn't understand what was happening as they looked at each other.
"You idiots, you're being robbed, better give him what he wants or you'll lose your lives," I helped explaining.
"Calling it robbery is a bit too cruel don't you think? It's a donation!" he said.
"Whatever, these five thieves look too dumb to understand. Might as well be direct, anyway. Hurry up, your treasures or your life and treasures," I said as I tapped one of the other cultivators on the shoulder making sure to stick a small inscription on his back without him noticing.
The five cultivators didn't hesitate a moment as they threw their pouches forward. I swiped my hand and had the five pouches in hand, I took a look and was disappointed but I expected as much.
"Go now, hurry," I shooed them away with my hand and the five were about to leave but I made sure to grab the first one, "You stay," I said.
"But sir!"
"No buts, are you meaning to let two strangers wander around a new city by themselves, we need a guide," I said.
"Yes sir," he replied in a whimper.
The four other cultivators looked at each other and instantly flew forward toward the city.
"Anyway," I said as I had my arm around the cultivator that was left behind, "Tell me, who's the strongest here," I said as I pointed at the city up ahead.
"Strongest? I wouldn't know, there are a lot," he said.
I shrugged at Old Fu who asked an even more direct question, "Who here is above the Void stage," he asked.
"From what I know, the four region generals are all above the void stage, then the chancellor, and the imperial guards."
"Imperial?" I questioned.
"What do you mean by imperial? All I know is this is a lawless land, how come it has an emperor?" old Fu asked.
"Well, although it's lawless, it does have a regime that's ruling it. Lawless is outside the city, but inside everyone must adhere to the laws of the imperial family that's currently ruling."
"Currently? You mean it changes?" I asked.
"Yes, it changes based on might and power, if you're stronger than the emperor," this he said in divine sense, "You can even abdicate him, but don't try. The power struggle around the current throne is far too vicious for cultivators to join. I've seen many a cultivator…" he then looked at old man Fu, "Who could rival good sir's power, but they were all consumed and overcome the moment they eyed the throne. I would advise that you do whatever you're planning on doing here, and just leave. Seeking the throne is nothing but trouble and will let too much blood. We've had enough of that already," the last part he said was in a sigh of pain and sorrow.
I didn't trust the man, not a single word he said, though I took the words with a grain of salt.
There is a ruling regime and people here follow it, outside the city is lawless, good to know.
"Lead the way, we want to have a few drinks first," said old Fu.
The cultivator nodded as he led us forward.
"I feel like a déjà vu," I said.
"You mean this fool will lead us to his comrades and them try and steal from us?" the words were spoken loudly and on purpose because that's the same that happened when we entered the ant cave.
The cultivator yelped and said, "I promise you, I'll lead you to the best inn in the city, I won't fool around," he said.
"Just keep going," I replied.
The three of us soon arrived to the city gate and I noticed that no one was flying above the walls while many were lined up in front of the gate waiting to get inside.
We patiently waited until our turn before we heard people crying out.
"MOVE THE FUCK AWAY!" I heard as I turned to see a carriage splattered with blood all over it rushing forward with six legged horses.
People moved aside as fast as they could while guards hastily rushed to open the gate for the carriage.
"CALL THE MEDICIN KING! HURRY!" the couch driver shouted once again as he rushed inside the city as fast as he could.
The man with us frowned "That's the general of the West's banner… did they get ambushed?"
"You know who's in the carriage?" asked old Fu.
"That's an escort carriage, and from the blood on it, it seems that It's the only thing that survived. The banner belongs to the general of the west, it could be a relative of his or a guest, I don't know much, we live in the slums of the city and rarely interact with one of the bigshots," he said.
The gate that was opened soon closed and the guards returned to their duty of inspecting everyone.
But because the carriage the line was messed up again and a few cultivators tried to overtake us in the line.
That didn't sit well with old Fu as he instantly released his pressure, causing everyone to shudder and look at him in absolute terror.
"Senior, please let loose of your pressure, we didn't know we had someone of your caliber in line, please proceed forward!" one of the guards hastily said trying to appease old Fu.
"If you insist," old Fu replied and the three of us moved forward to the gate and were allowed in without even inspection.
The city was imposing, massively so. However, it was surprisingly clean, besides the first part right after the gate. As you can see thousands of huts and houses where cultivators went in and out. This is what the thief called the slums. However, the path ahead seemed clean and paved with hard stone
The three of us continued forward led by the small-time thief, and surprisingly I was able to notice the bloody tracks of the carriage that passed before on the path we were taking.
We somehow kept following the tracks until we saw the carriage once again standing right in front of a simple inn.
"You're telling me this is the best inn in the city? This shabby looking thing," said old Fu.
"I'd believe him, after all, the carriage stopped right in front of it…"
My nose suddenly twitched, what's that familiar smell…
The two of us went inside the inn which seemed to have several bloodied footsteps going to the second level.
A few servants were hastily wiping the blood away while many other cultivators were simply sitting in the tables enjoying their food.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?!" I heard coming from the top floor. It's the same voice of the driver from before.
An old man suddenly walked into the inn, his clothes were unkempt and looked like he hastily put them on, he had the smell of alcohol and a stench of woman perfume. The same cheap perfume you'd smell in brothels.
I guess the Medicine King was being treated elsewhere… before he's here to treat someone else…
I couldn't help but scuff at him.