Handing over the coin I owe him I thanked him and left the establishment. Was the information I got worth it? Hell Yeah, it confirms this place being a cultivation world I know of and I got some possibly useful information for the future!
Stepping out the entrance of the building the sun's bright light shone in my eyes blinding me for a moment. Once my eyes adjusted I looked out towards the busy market again. Wondering about the time I pulled out my phone for a second to check the time.
Its 4:07pm.
I still got just a little more than 52 minutes before we regroup back at the entrance. While thinking of what to do I spot Yao Ya and Qiu Tu walking around the market area together. They stood out from most of the other people though since their clothes didn't match the robes that everyone else wore.
'Its my time, I can finally be the one that jumps her instead.' Trying my hardest to blend in through the crowd I slowly weave my way through the crowd.
Eventually I managed to cross the street of people and was gaining ground behind them. But just as I was about to jump them they turned the corner into an alleyway. Not wanting to let them get away I turn the corner after them and casually walked down it like I'd always walked down that alleyway.
After only taking a few steps into the alley I instantly found out there was no trace of anyone. Almost like the two going down here was all part of my imagination. Confused I stood there for a bit before turning around to go back to the market, already accepting I was crazy.
"BOO!" two girls which I knew were fucking in here shouted while blocking my path back to the market.
"AAAHHHHHH..." I yelled falling on my ass.
I pointed at her while still on the ground, "I KNEW YOU CAME THROUGH HERE. HOW DID YOU EVEN KNOW I WAS BEH----" Yao Ya placed a finger on my lips while pulling me up by my pointer arm.
"Shhh... don't cause a scene, of course we saw you earlier. You're still wearing clothes from our world, isn't that how you saw us as well? Why don't we all walk together in the market maybe we could even buy something." she says slowly entangling herself on my right arm once again.
'She used the same method I used to find her. Of course this method was a two way one since I still wore the same clothes!' Realizing that she predicted my moves my cheeks burned for a second.
Quickly I steered the conversation into the the walking part, "Yeah, that's a great idea let's do it! I had bartered for 5 iron coins but spent 1 on some on information of the world. We should probably buy some clothes to blend in with the locals more. I don't know how many we could buy though." Showing them the 4 remaining iron coins from my pocket.
"Its okay, Yao Ya found a bag of I think around 17 iron coins somewhere. We'll be able to buy something for everyone so they can fit in." Qiu Tu chimes in from my left
"Wait, Yao Ya where did you just find 17 iron coins from?" I asked a little shocked. It had taken me a bit to get 5 of these coins; how could she just find over 3x more what I got randomly?
"Well it just kind of happened as I was walking down a street. No one was around and this bag just happened to be there. No one seemed like they were coming back for it so I just took it.
Just think about it like finding 20 credits on the ground when walking, it was my duty to pick it up and keep it!" She told her story and towards the end she started sounding like it was the law. Hearing it once I instantly believed it, not doubting it for a second.
Walking down the street to a clothing store I saw, we bought a meat bun along the way and split it into thirds as a snack.
Reaching the store Yao Ya finally let me go of me to check out the outfits pulling Qiu Tu along with her. While that happened I looked for a nice robe or something among the racks of clothing. A black and white robe in particular, hung in the back catches my eye.
Upon further inspection it seems like a black robe with white on the collar, lapel, sash, and cuffs. There also appears to be a grey embroidery of vines atop the white parts of the robe. Looking at the price tag I realize that its...
2 iron and 50 copper.
On second thought I should just buy this cheap blue one instead. After all it's cost effective, it's... blue... and uh... uh....
Fuck it, the black robe is hella cool I'm taking it. Even if cost over half of my remaining coins!
After buying my brand new black robe I try it on in one of the changing rooms stuffing my modern clothes in my backpack. Finishing up I take a look at myself through my camera app.
"This is awesome, I already feel cooler wearing this!" Changing the angle on the phone I admire my brand new robe.
Once I finished I walked outside to wait for those two to finish up their shopping and hopefully buying clothes for the others too. The weird looks I had before are mostly gone except for a few that must of take note of my face or still see the modern backpack behind me.
…
A while later they exit the store and I was a little shocked by how well they looked like they had always lived in this world. Yao Ya seems to have bought an outfit with almost almost the exact same features but with inverted colors and Qiu Tu on the other hand had come out with a simple green robe.
"Wow.. you guys looks great in those robes. Did you guys buy enough clothes for the rest of the people as well? Also Yao Ya what made you pick that outfit?" I asked hoping they at least had something so our group wouldn't stand out anymore and interested in the outfit choice she made.
"Don't worry, we made sure that everyone had an outfit and there are even a few colors for them to choose. As for why I bought this well I just like it and happened to see you wearing the other part of the set by yourself." Showing me the inside of a cloth bag they received to carry the dozen assorted clothes.
Taking a moment to check the time it read 4:54pm. Telling them the time, we make our way over to the meeting destination, only to see they had been waiting for us. They must of been there for a while considering they looked so bored standing around, but it seemed they were missing a person. As we made it I heard a man spoke loudly towards us.
"Qiu Tu is that you!? I didn't know you were on this mission!" A man from the group said walking towards us.
"Hu Daquan, I thought I told you not to talk to me again!" Qiu Tu Retorted
'I'ma not get involved in this.'
Searching for the three that went to gather these people I saw them on the left side of the archway leading to the wilderness. Heading over to ask about the missing person it seems like he had succumbed to his wounds before he could be treated.
We now have 7 more members 6 of which being men and the last one a women. Seeing that the two fighting had calmed down somewhat we begin to hand out the clothes we had bought.
"Now what do we do?" A man asks from the crowd
"Who here wants to go back to our country, now that we almost all died? Show of hands." I say trying to see what to do next.
After saying so around 7 people raise their hands including 4 of the surviving men, the two scientists (Tao Mei and Wan Ting), and Ngo Peng.
"Alright then since you guys want to go back I'll gather some supplies for the journey. In the meantime please wear the robes you've been given in order not to standout." Stating the plan I have just devised to the group.
As the discussion ends tents were given to each individual person in order for us to sleep outside except for me apparently, so I had to sleep with Yao Ya in her tent. I swore I packed the tent I brought when we went back to the ambush, but I guess not. We were permitted to sleep inside the walls, so we did just that at a secluded spot so we won't be bothered.
…
Waking up and looking at the remaining money I had plus a good chunk of our food we had barely ate, I think I might be able to just buy the provisions they require and send them on they're way.
Our country must be worried about the missing convoy that didn't report back. So after using a chunk of my money on buy provisions for the returning team they prepared to set off.
After giving the return home group around 1 week of provisions, which should be more than they even require, they should come in contact with a government response team. That is as long as long as the government isn't just sitting there and not actively looking for the missing convoy carrying around 160 civilians.
The group left and went back to the location hopefully successfully using the strategy of hiding in a APC and closing the door as protection along with Ngo Peng aka the only person in the group with a gun.
Now I'm off to become a cultivator!