Chen Zihao was sitting in his carriage while his servants was setting up camp. The Chen family was a third rate family of North Wind city and the young master had travelled to the neighboring North River city recently.
'Everything went as expected, our pavilion was doing well, I was able to contact an elder in the Mountain and River sect and I'm confident, I'll be able to pass the entrance exam, and I saw the fiancé my father arranged for me, though she had a veil on,' Chen Zihao recalled and then called out, "Hu Tong!"
"Yes, young master Zihao," a middle aged man responded.
"You mentioned that we are camped close to a beach and I would like to see it now", Chen Zihao ordered, "gather a few men and let's go see it."
"Excellent sir, please come this way", Hu Tong politely bowed and pointed at another servent, "please inform Yang Fu that the young master requires two or three of his men to guard him."
Chen Zihao interrupted, "One is enough, I'm not going into the water, just going to witness it."
Hu Tong quickly replied, "Ah, yes young master!" And quickly turned to the servent and smiled, "Just go fetch one guard and hurry."
The servent ran off and several minutes later returned with a sixteen year old boy.
Chen Zihao's eyes brightened, "Thank you for coming Doaist Feng."
Feng Kai politely greeted, "It's just a small thing, shall we be off?"
"Of course", Chen Zihao agreed and the three of them talked and strolled to the beach.
After arriving, Chen Zihao changed the topic, "Doaist Feng, I heard a year ago or so you went to island in the mist over there."
"Ah, in fact I did. It was because of that trip that I should be able to breakthrough to the Qi Gathering stage soon. Even though my seniors and elders deny any involvement, I was able to take a rare alchemy pill and after I was healed, the extra efficiency of the pill nearly cleansed all my impurities." Feng Kai explained.
"Daoist Feng, I believe that I will be your junior brother soon. I hope to be able to visit the next time your Mountains and Rivers sect goes to the island. My father told me that it's the home to a powerful cultivator, but he's been in seclusion training for so long that no one is sure if he is alive or not", Chen Zihao said.
"Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to find him. In four more years, we will return and I will try again," Feng Kai looked determined, "this is not that far away from the route we travelled last time. The river that runs next to the sect goes to the sea and the place where the two meet is located north of here", he pointed in a certain direction.
Chen Zihao was about to respond when an large egg shaped objected surfaced out of the water.
"What is that that?", Chen Zihao exclaimed in an frightened voice as he back up behind Hu Tong and Feng Kai.
Just as Feng Kai was about to answer the egg opened and a young man of about twelve or thirteen hopped out and turned around to the egg. A moment later, the egg disappeared and a new object appeared on the beach. The same color as the egg, the young man touched some artifact in his hand, the new object opened, he jumped in, and it closed again. A small bird shaped artifact rose into the air and flew off, and then the larger object rose up and flew off. A few moments later, both objects changed colors and disappeared into the environment.
"Daoist Feng, I believe that person or thing just went in the direction of North Wind city. We must inform my patriarch!" Chen Zihao shouted as he panicked.
"Let's hurry and return to camp, I don't think we are danger. That could have been the young master of family or the core disciple of a second or first rate sect. I must also inform the others and head back to the sect", Feng Kai instructed. As the two of them returned to the camp, a certain young man was sitting on his hover bike.
'I wonder if those two saw me?' Mo Hu thought as he watched the trees pass by. A few hours later, his tablet beeped and he looked at the screen. The drone had located North Wind city and relayed the route to his bike.
'Next time, if I have to take a trip like this, I should have a music service on the tablet', Mo Hu grumbled, 'I am grateful that it didn't take so long to get here and the ride is very comfortable. Unfortunately I'm just sitting here reading scrolls and manuals in my mind while I travel.'
Mo Hu found a clearing in the forest close to the main gate and landed, storing the hover bike away. He also hid the ring away too, slinging a bag over his shoulders and entered the line at the gate. When he reached the entrance he heard, "Name and purpose for entering the city", from the city gate guard.
"Wei Huoran, it's my first time here and my family is looking to hire a few men for his farm", he answered.
"Two silver to enter, since your here on business", the guard said.
Mo Hu frowned, pulled out two silver to pay, and walked inside. As he walked away the second guard said to the first, "One of these days you're going to fleece the wrong person and no one will save you once you do."
"I'm smart enough not to get caught, how can a farmer be important enough to cause me trouble", the first guard responded.
"One day, I'll be saying 'I told you so'", the second guard laughed and walked away.
Once in the city, Mo Hu heard in his head, 'Wei Huoran, where did you come up with that name?' Quanliyan asked.
'No offense to my parents but if I came to known as Mo Hu, I can foresee many people looking down on me with such a common name. It's better to have a more meaningful name considering what my plans are', Wei Huoran replied.
'If that's what you wished to be called, I will call you that as well', Quanliyuan said.
'Thank you, I will look for a room and start exploring the city then', Wei Huoran finished before strolling around.
After a few hours, Wei Houran had seen the many pavilions, stalls, shops, auction houses, restaurants, brothels, and other businesses until deciding on a courtyard that was located close to the edge of the city.
'I believe the food here in the city probably isn't that good. It was wise to bring my own food', Wei Huoran was pleased with himself. Using a heating array, he warned his food, ate, and went to sleep. The next morning, he went to the slums ready to recruit.