"Just to check, this isn't the small settlement you spoke of right," Si asked.
Shou pinched his chin and answered seriously. "I hate to say this, but it is."
"Haaah, [stares into the sky] what was I even expecting?"
"Times really change without waiting for you, huh?" He looked at the grandiose city, and its thick walls. "It passed so fast." He still remembered clearly—a few centuries ago, he had come across this place. At that time, it was nothing more than a small mine, with less than a dozen people. Within a blink of an eye, it had grown this big.
A window popped up in front of him. It wasn't transparent like the Quest window, and it wasn't red either. Instead, the color was a natural green, displaying only a few words.
[City of Extended Delight]
Shou touched the window and exclaimed, "does green represent information? Another useful feature." He then grabbed it and threw it away like a frisbee. Seeing that, Si's heart lurched. "Whoa, and it flies fast too!"
"Hey, I have realized that you don't seem too fazed by all this technological stuff."
"Should I be?"
"I mean, I guess not. But you know the cultivation world when it comes to science, right," Si said, "It's ancient."
"Oh, yeah, that could be. You also know I haven't been out for so long, so I don't really know how far they have advanced." He tilted his head. "However, my rule of thumb is, the more spiritual energy is in the air, the less advanced they are. I still remember a time where there was no energy at all. Everyone had to rely on simple science, it was an interesting age. You remind me of those computers from that age, so I am not particularly fazed."
"Oh, I see," she answered absentmindedly.
"Why are you so lackluster?"
"That you even need to ask this question offends me."
"Is it about the Main Quest?" He continued walking. "Relax and just go with the flow. I won't just let you die."
Si remained silent. She had a lot of things to say, but that was exactly why she didn't. Any words she dropped would only come back as an invisible arrow and stab her.
"Focus on the other Quest first. We need to find something interesting."
"Yes, quite honestly, I have been trying to change it for a while now. Every system knows that an abstract task is a bad task," she paused, "but the system seems to have a bug or some sorts. No matter how much I try, the thing stays the same."
"Can't do anything about it, don't forget to give me a nice reward, or else I am not doing it. Not that I will just let you die, though."
"You!"
"Anyway," he brushed her off, "how are we supposed to get in?" He stared at the huge crowd, all assembling in front of a small gate, waiting to enter. He was a little excited seeing all these people, as it had been far too long since he had a proper interaction with anyone.
The two of them continued talking, or rather, for anyone else, it only seemed like he was talking with himself. The people around soon started avoiding him, though he did not notice.
"Oh, what's going on there," Shou said as he looked at the commotion in the distance. There, a group of guards donning shiny armor talked to a woman with a distressed face. The woman clutched her chest and she occasionally shook her head.
"Doesn't it seem like she is pointing to us," Si asked. "[tilts head]"
"You think so," he looked around, "there doesn't seem to be anything suspicious around though."
"No, look. They are walking towards our direction."
The guards—and the woman following behind them—soon appeared in front of Shou. One of them directly looked at him, his face decorated with a professional smile, as he asked, "excuse me, we are with the patrol. Would you please come with me for a quick chat?"
"What, why?" He tilted his head.
"We have received a report of a dangerous person talking about dying and rewards." The guard lightly tapped the hilt of his sword. "Would you say you are the individual?"
"Inconceivable," he replied in a serious voice, his eyes full of honesty.
The woman shrunk behind the guards. "Kyah," she screamed. Every once in a while, she lifted her head and sent him a quick glance, only to shy away with vigilance.
"..."
"Just in case, would you follow us for a walk? Basic procedures, you understand, right?" The guard asked, still smiling.
"Why is it I find that hard to believe?"
"Haha," the guard only laughed.
"Haha," Shou replied similarly. Immediately after, like a bolt of lightning, he dashed away, not looking back.
"He's trying to get away! Catch him! Damn criminal scum!"
...
"Whew, are they finally gone," Shou said, as he hid behind a wall. He tried to suppress his ragged breath while glancing at the road. "Why is the security so tight here?"
"Though you do look rather suspicious, it is a bit weird," Si told him.
"Huh, how do I look suspicious," Shou asked and blinked. "I am just your everyday upstanding citizen." He breathed out and slumped down. "Damn, a mortals endurance is truly pitiful."
In front of him, flashing lights kept entering his eyes, he didn't realize how full the place was until now; the females wore a long, colorful Hanfu's, with the men accompanying them, in their hands a sheathed sword. The houses in the streets were almost all shops. Restaurants emitting enticing smells, Quiet libraries, trendy boutiques, elixir-herb stores and many more unconventional businesses, small and big alike. People entered and left, creating an endless flow of activity.
"How extravagant." The sun was hidden behind the clouds, but he still felt blinded. He then hid himself as he saw a few guards running around. "Ah, so persistent."
He was about to run again, when someone pulled his sleeves and asked, "are you okay?"
Startled, he looked around, only to see a small child, a boy, staring at him with no emotion. The child peeked through the corner at the guards. "Come with me." Without waiting for a reply, the child pulled him away.
Shou dazedly followed. He thought 'Oh, could it be he is trying to save me? But why?'
As if the child could read his thoughts, the boy answered. "You are easy on the eyes."
"Are you saying I look good?"
"No. Not at all," the child said flatly.
"..."