Ironhold city was a busy location within the eastern wasteland, it was a haven where the local mayor kept crime rates low and locals felt cared for, vendors would be here often thanks to security, all in all it was a good city with happy people, or at least that's what Mei Fan expected to see.
The gate of the city which was normally overseen by guards in the body tempering stage were left completely unguarded, there was garbage littering the entrance and a man was leaning next to its wall half asleep.
"The situation may be worse than we initially expected." Jia Lin spoke up with a concerned expression.
She started to back up slowly.
"Maybe I should observe the surroundings and you guys can go investigate."
Just as she thought she had gotten out of it a hand reached out from behind her and lifted her in the air.
"Don't be so cowardly little Jia, this is part of a cultivator's life." Mei Fan put her on the ground and hopped off Gomu's back.
While the two girls were exchanging a few words Zhishi Wu had approached the sleeping man.
"Let's see here." Zhishi Wu examined the man thoroughly scanning up and down identifying possible symptoms of overdose, he lifted the man's eyelids to reveal that they appeared bloodshot but rather than the usual red the color of the blood seemed yellow.
"Jia Lin." he called out, it was time for her skills to be put to use.
She quickly ran from Mei Fan who was demonstrating an interesting looking punch in the spirit of educating her cowardly junior and Gomu who was sitting and clapping with his paws
"Do you know what kind of substance causes these types of symptoms?"
Jia Lin carefully analyzed the man's eyes noting the pattern of the veins, the intensity of the color and other factors such as vital signs.
"To me, it seems like an herbal blend but it's far too strong, this drug has been supercharged with traces of Qi."
Mei Fan listened and nodded up and down unfazed, it was in line with what she had expected.
"Now what's left to find out is how this second rate thug managed to acquire this powder. Even body refining cultivators are completely helpless after experiencing it."
As Mei Fan was about to walk into the city a hand grabbed her shoulder, she turned around to see Zhishi Wu looking at her with a confused and disappointed expression.
"Were you really about to walk in with your sect attire and a giant bear by your side?" he said with a slight sigh.
"N-No, no way I was just checking for observers." she quickly covered up her mistake and stuck out her chest.
"Sure."
Zhishi Wu handed disguises to everyone and Gomu was told to wait in the forest outside.
As they all saw each other again Mei Fan and Jia Lin took an extended look at Zhishi Wu's face, this was the first time they had seen him without a mask.
"What is there something on my face?"
"No, no, you just look better than I expected."
"The elder looks like a nice person." Jia Lin added.
"Thanks?" looking better than she had expected, that sounded like a backhanded compliment.
There was no point in hiding his appearance at this point, at least over here no one recognized him, on the contrary if he wore the mask he would be noticed for sure.
"Well let's go find an inn or a restaurant to figure out what exactly is going on." Zhishi Wu said as he walked passed the gate.
The roads were completely barren, no children playing on the path, no vendors selling anything, just the occasional rat scurrying across the road.
Mei Fan picked up one of the rats and stroked its head.
"He looks a little sick maybe he needs some food." she said with a concerned expression.
"FOOD?" a voice sounded in Zhishi Wu's head and snake around his neck tensed up.
"No, you'll get sick if you eat that." he replied with a whisper trying to pretend like he wasn't nearly strangled.
"How about you take a look at it little Jia." Mei Fan moved her hand that was holding the rat in her direction.
"EEK." she recoiled back almost falling over.
"How did she ever become a cultivator." Zhishi Wu thought as he continued walking.
As they continued walking they ran into maybe one or two people who immediately ran inside before closing their doors, eventually they ran into a restaurant.
"Iron chef dining." Zhishi Wu's mouth curled up, it reminded him of a certain gifted chef from his original world.
They walked in and saw that as expected it was nearly completely empty except for two people sitting at one table and drinking in addition to a elderly man at the counter.
"Can I help you foreigners?" he spoke with a heavy voice.
Mei Fan was about to say something before Zhishi Wu stopped her and spoke up instead.
"We're travelers and hungry give us something to eat." he said as they took a seat.
"Why'd you stop me? We're not here to eat."
"It's part of my plan, just wait." he replied.
"I'll make sure to follow your plan and eat well." Jia Lin said in a serious tone.
"..." Mei Fan was speechless
"It was a good thing she knew alchemy otherwise it was unclear what she would do in life." Zhishi Wu thought to himself.
It was not long before the old man arrived with the food, a chicken stew of sorts with bread, he put down the food and walked away.
Just as Jia Lin was about to dig in Mei Fan stopped her, she noticed something.
"Don't eat anything, it's laced with something. Let me do something, wait here until then." Zhishi Wu whispered as his killing intent started to build up.
He stood up and approached the old man.
"The way to the restroom?"
The old man grumbled and walked him there, but just as he was about to return he got pulled in as well.
"WHAT?" he said as he fell over into the room.
Zhishi Wu looked down on him with unsympathetic eyes, although Zhishi Wu was against killing innocents, he didn't have anything against punishing people who targeted him first.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" the old man spoke with an angry expression.
Zhishi Wu's expression remained blank before he spoke up.
"Did you know my pet snake gets hungry quite often."
As he said this, Snip who was coiled around his neck uncloaked and looked at the old man like he was a two-course meal.