*Multiple POVs*
***
(MC POV)
In front of us stands a wooden sign on the side of the road. Etched into the wood the sign reads [Eternal Flame City].
'Hmm, that doesn't fit the earth theme of the Enlightened Earth Kingdom. Does that mean we're in another kingdom? Where in the world are we then? Maybe find some info in the city. Speaking of which I wonder if there are any noticeable differences between the two kingdoms, that is if we really are in another kingdom.'
Suddenly, I remembered when I first came to this world I bought some information and the old man at the time generously gave an extra piece. He said that to the west was another kingdom named The Fascinating Flame Kingdom.
'Could this be one of the cities?'
Holding Zheng Da, who wrapped her little arms around my neck, Yao Ya and I walked towards the city gates.
Already at the entrance the feeling of the city was incomparable to the previous Fang city. It was already a world of difference.
Fang city went immediately into the main city as soon as you entered the gates. Once you entered the whole area would be crowded and packed to the brim with people. It was the main city right off the bat.
This Eternal Flame City seems a little more organized and efficient. Passing through the gates, the guards on either side only gave a glance, but I saw the guard on the right take a double take when it came to me, or more probably the child in my arms.
The city was separated into layers and at the edge of each layer was an increasingly tall stone wall. I was in the outermost layer currently and from what I could see from my surroundings, it was a made up of the middle class.
Looking toward the city center I could see the curve of the walls as each layer was probably constructed as a ring. This outermost layer was without a doubt at least 3 times bigger than the second layer, and same goes for the 2nd compared to the 1st.
I thought about going to the middle layer for a second, but decided against it as we probably wouldn't stay in this city that long.
"Papa look! Papa look!" Releasing only a single arm she used it to point towards a street salesman.
He managed a cart which was brightly seen by the stock he sold. As we walked over he just finished up a sale with a few children giving them the red product. From the way he handed them over along with their shape it was easy to tell it was something on a bamboo skewer.
"Hello there sir! Would your child be interested in a Tanghulu? I assure you that my candy is of the highest quality!" The street vender enthusiastically rattled on when we neared.
{Tanghulu is a traditional sweet and sour Chinese candied fruit skewer covered in hardened sugar syrup created during the Song Dynasty.}
Taking a quick glance at Zheng Da I noticed she seemed to be entranced by the red candies. Candies which looked extremely entrancing by their appearance. Six similarly sized fruits were symmetrically pierced onto bamboo skewers all of which covered in a glossy red shade. There seemed to be two varieties on the stall.
Just like Zheng Da, I was tempted by these candies.
"Of course! We would like to take 3 of them." Setting Zheng Da down I reached into my robe and took out a pouch. Opening it up I took out the coins for the man before putting the pouch back inside my robe.
"Perfect! Here you go! Enjoy!"
Handing one to Zheng Da and another to Yao Ya I was about to try it before I felt a tug on my leg. Looking down I saw as Zheng Da wanted to be held once more. Obliging, I took her up in one arm before I bit into my candy from the side. Instantly the sugar coating covering the fruit shattered as the fruit's flavor invaded my mouth, it being hawthorn.
"Mmm! It's so good, here Darling~ have a try of mine, I'll try yours in the meanwhile." Yao Ya traded our sticks as we walked around and immediately bit into the second fruit on my stick.
Having a try of hers I noticed that we had different flavors. Her fruit was was a strawberry inside.
"Papa try mine too!"
…
(Su Daji POV)
I sat within my chambers meditating and cultivating before something disturbed that.
"Miss, I have something to report!" The voice of a man outside appeared.
"Let him in" My voice sounded in the room and for a moment there was silence.
Slowly the doors opened as it revealed the courtyard outside. On either side of my chamber's entrance two maids stood and in the center a man entered kneeling on the ground. The characteristics of these maids included orange fuzzy ears atop their head as well as a large tail behind them. The man has similar features and as he walked in his tail trailed behind him before falling onto the ground.
"Miss, I've found some information about the man you've described." He spoke in a excited tone.
"Oh? This being?" Although I didn't show it on my face from his words, I quite shocked and a little sense of hope appeared in my mind.
'So soon? How could he be here? It must just be a coincidence, but there is that chance that it's real.'
"There is a man who has entered the outer ring of the city recently who seems to perfectly fit your descriptions. Miss, he entered through the north western entrance around noon yesterday. Miss, I have confirmed with several of the residents with the excellent drawing you have of the man, that is is indeed him. He wore a blue and black set of robes too if that helps."
"..."
'Is it possible?! How could he be here so soon? Shouldn't it still take a few years? It doesn't matter I have to find the truth of this matter out myself!'
"M-miss?"
"Good, good! Reward this man with 20 low-grade spirit stones and 10 gold. You two see to this matter immediately! I must go out to venture for this man."
"Understood Miss!" The two maids responded in kind and waited for the man to come out.
"Miss is kind! Miss is Generous! As expected of our future family head."
The maids closed the doors behind them as they left leaving me behind in my own thoughts.
'There shouldn't be another who looks like him right? Could it be a fake? If it is then that man from before will pay dearly, but if it isn't he might even be rewarded further. He mentioned him wearing blue and black robes, if I remember he did wear those kind of robes at one point.
It should be a year from now though. If I remember correctly it should be the colors of the Fortunate Sky Sect's inner disciple attire. Currently the relationships between the nations of the world aren't so bad, but in a couple years or so everyone should recognize the top sects working for each nation.'
Getting myself ready I put on a common seeming robe and hat which covered my ears before going out. I needed to confirm this piece of news with my own eyes. He entered from the north western side yesterday, after asking around a bit I should easily find him.
...
(Li Lian POV)
-Day of the portal reopening-
From what I've heard they should be returning today. In addition to what I've heard there also seemed to be a number of people who went down the mountain today.
'Finally! He'll return and from now on I'll never leave his side! It was so lonely and boring here, so he'll have to make it up to me!!'
Tossing the blankets off me I immediately jumped off the bed and transformed into a little spider. Rushing down the mountain I soon saw a large crowd gathering around the sect's entrance.
Finding a nice perch to stand upon I scanned and listened the crowd while hoping to find a trace of him. Slowly, but surely disciples entered through the gate. Most of which carried a proud expression as as their fellow disciples cheered them in. As the final few came in there was a noticeable difference in their numbers. Possibly as high as a quarter of them died within that realm.
Dozens of seconds passed after the final one came in and there was still no sign of him, but I did notice some of his friends enter. Listening into their conversations I thought I might be able to find a clue to his whereabouts, but none of them spoke. Instead there was a slight air of gloom surrounding them.
'Why are they all like that?
Hmm? Where is that woman that is always so clingy with him?
D-did something really happen to those two?!'
Finally, I began to become a bit anxious at that possibility.
'He shouldn't be late to this right?! Where is he? Where did my connection to him go!?!'
"Quiet!" The shout of an old man rang out throughout the crowd.=
Immediately the surroundings quieted down as they looked to where the shout came from. An old man and woman floated in the air. The woman floated forward a bit and spoke.
"Has anyone seen my disciple, Yao Ya? Or has any information regarding her?"
Soon a small number of people raised their hands in the crowd, one of those people being a member of their friend group I noticed previously.
A man with oddly colored yellow eyes was picked to speak first. He recounted his story with him up until he parted with her on the final few days. Stating that two others went along with her, those being the man I was looking for and the woman who I presume is still raising her hand after he finished.
"You, over there do you have anything else to add to this?" The floating woman asked.
"Yes! This disciple is Rao Nuan, one of the two others who went with your disciple." The woman spoke and began describing the events that occurred after they separated from the others. Though every time she spoke I felt like she was excluding something.
They stayed in a cave because of it's abundant Qi, it sounds reasonable but I just have a feeling that there was a little more than she was letting on. Suddenly taming a wolf to ride, although sounds like it could have happened shouldn't be possible with their skill set.
This woman stated her skill set being medical while both the Yao Ya and Ip Cheng I know should be focused on swordsmanship with only minor skills in other branches.
This woman is deliberately lying about something, though it seems her story is true in the main parts. Her story ends with her being dropped off near the portal entrance while those two tried to escape a large group of bandits together.
'Tch! Even then she's trying to to get closer to him! They should have been in there for quite some time, I wonder how far she got?'
Hearing her ending I got distracted by our little feud for a moment. Hearing all I needed I decided to leave and contemplate how to get him back, before I left I saw a final glance at everyone who all had differing reactions.
I bet most if not all of them were for that Yao Ya girl though, a majority of those reactions coming from males as well. That floating woman's expression especially was evidently a bit despairing.
..
A day passed and yet I couldn't think of anything as I sat in his room covered partially by the human sized blanket. I thought about asking that girl for what she was excluding before something unexpected occurred.
I felt the connection I left on him from an extremely far distance. Such a distance made my connection faint and weak, if he was just a little farther my connection would have broken. His direction was in the far west, but not wanting to waste any more time I quickly grabbed his backpack which he might need and stuffed it into one of my storage rings before making haste in that direction.
I didn't know long it would take, but I would get to him eventually and hopefully soon.