"Don't you think it was a bad idea? If we don't arrive in the SouthPort city by tomorrow, we may miss the time for the teleportation to the central regions."
Li Ya was feeling exhausted as he said that to her brother. It had been a day since they left the Blue Sky city, and after traveling with small time teleportation formatIon from the differents cities; they were only another jump away to reach the biggest city of the Southern regions and would just need to take the Great teleportation formation here to reach the central regions. But Li Yun who acted obedient up until now decided that it was time to make some trouble.
They were dragged by him to go on a wild journey to travel the wilderness before the last stop.
"You don't have to worry, from the map I've got it would only take us four hours to reach here if we follow the the shortcut I've marked on it. So just follow my instruction and everything will be fine."
His words were even more worrisome and Li Ya just wanted to smash his stomach and be done with everything, but she could only use words and persuasion before other people, so hateful…
"What about you Sun Jia? Do you think it's a good idea to get in the wilderness instead of going to the destination directly?"
Sun Jia didn't participate in the conflict and dodged the question saying:
"I think it is fine either way."
Li Yun was about to give another statement when, a shadow ran past them at an incredible speed, it then stoped several metres behind them showing a grey car. As Li Yun and the other wondered what was going on, a fatty walked out of the grey car and went flying near theirs.
He had a strange Bob cut and his face was so round you couldn't see his eyes anymore. Li Yun remembered him immediately, it was the fat guy that missed a line on his answers sheet when he passed the national examination in his past world. What could be said about such a coincidence? They seemed fated to meet even in such a vast world.
As the fatty neared them, he remarked the peculiarity of the black car and understood immediately. These people were lost just like him! He actually felt embarrassed at being the only one that was lost in the road to the SouthPort city thinking that this was a shortcut.
He then said after reaching the car:
"Greeting fellow Daoists, our meeting here can be considered as fate, how about we share the road ahead together."
Li Yun took the responsibility to answer as he asked:
"Does fellow Daoist also want to go to the SouthPort city by using the shortcut ahead, if so you can accompany us indeed."
The fatty showed a sheepish smile as he said:
"I was indeed going to use this shortcut to go there but, it seem to be an impasse over here so I can only go back on the main path."
"..." people's gaze were piercing but Li Yun had a thick skin as he said:
"How about you get in the car with us then, we are going on the same road anyway."
"Thank you fellow Daoist, I forgot to introduce myself, I am called Wen Bao, I hope we can get along well."
Wen Bao said with a cupped fist before taking back his ride and boarding the car.
Liu Guan then turned the car back and went to the direction of the main path while thinking inside:
'I hope that we won't be too late, if not good bye my promotion as a steward.'
...…
Four people were now seated in the backseat, Wen Bao seated himself beside Li Yun after seeing that the other passengers were beautiful fairies, he was feeling a bit nervous but sociability was his forte as he asked:
"Fellow daoist Li Yun…"
"We are of the same age, you can just call me Li Yun."
"Then, Brother Li Yun, what is your motive going to the SouthPort city?"
"We are heading to the central regions, to be precise the Four Season region to attend the Great Dao Academy of Prodigies."
Wen Bao showed a surprised look as he said:
"What a coincidence, I am also heading here I will be a freshman this year."
The trio showed even more surprise than him hearing that. This fatty didn't seem like it but he was actually such a talented individual.
Seeing their look he felt a bit of pride as he said:
"I am attending here so I can help my clan rise further, and get a better position in the Southern regions."
He then talked about his clan which was a medium sized one, he as the son of the patriarch and he didn't say it but he seemed to be the hope of the whole clan, putting a great pressure on him.
As they talked further with him, the other three also introduced themselves, but they didn't specify their clan's situation since they thought he knew about them.
How would they have known that the fact that they were the scion and daughter of top clan like the Sun Clan or the Overlord of a whole region like the Li clan didn't cross Wen Bao's mind at all. For him, such Godly people would directly use the very expensive teleportation formation to go in the SouthPort city instead of trying to cut corner by going on a shortcut like him.
The talk then continued until they traversed the main road, and arrived before a huge city spreading several hundred kilometers wide, this was the hub of the Southern regions, the SouthPort city.
...…..
A car was speeding on the way of a huge city, there were many plaque were the city name was written, like the best Artifact merchant of the SouthPort city, such a boastful words...
It was the biggest city in the southern regions and that was for a single reason, it was the only place that held a large enough teleportation formation to get to the other part of the continent instantly. It was under the rule of the three different power here and the cost of using it was astronomical but there was always a quota for any student of the Great Dao Academy of Prodigies when they are going to the Academy.
Li Yun and the other had left the Blue River region a days ago and it was already the evening right now, as they marveled at the large cityscapes around them, they reached the residence of the Li clan in this city, it was just beside the large stone place that held the teleportation formation.
After they made contact with the head here, they decided to visit the city since the time of their teleportation was tomorrow morning, so it was their only opportunity.
They decided to go to a famous restaurant outside under the lead of Sun Jia, the only one who technically was ever here; Wen Bao left them in the city entrance since he needed to visit his uncle living in the city. Li Yun invited him to go rejoin them later, but the dutiful fatty apologized as he couldn't excuse himself from his uncle's family that made a welcoming and farewell party for him. But he said that they would see each other tomorrow morning at the teleportation formation.
As they neared the rumored restaurant, they remarked that some young people were crowded around the road at the entrance looking at something.
"There seems to be some situation here." Li Yun said in intrigue before leading the other closer to see what was going on. Sun Jia showed an odd expression, but she also went with them...
...…
" Lu Cha! What's the meaning of this?!"
A young man in a poor linen robe was screaming madly at a young lady who held the hand of another man, the young lady Lu Cha answered with an apologetic look:
"I am really sorry Chan Feng, I fell in love at first sight with young master Song, I know it's unfair to you but I can't dictate my heart."
The young man called Chan Feng showed an agonizing look, he didn't want to believe it as he screamed:
"You surnamed Song, do you dare have a life and death fight with me?!"
Young master Song was feeling stunned hearing that. It was only a matter of picking up girl, why would it become a fight to the death. They weren't rhinoceros beetles that would need to kill each other to get the attention of a damsel right? He sighed as he said:
"Young friend, fighting is prohibited in the SouthPort city, and killing between fellow students of the Great Dao Academy of Prodigies even more so. But if you want a spare then we will always have the opportunity in the Academy, I will wait for your challenge here."
Chan Feng looked like he would go mad for a moment, but seeing the guards nearby that seemed to be ready to intervene at any moment he could only shallow his bitterness and walk away saying:
"This is not over, I will make you pay the price no matter the time it take."
His lonely back then walked ahead without turning back...
He wasn't even that far, when many young men and women began to discuss among themselves seeing this. A chubby young lady couldn't help but say:
"He is so pitiful, but that girl was a bit too much, She could have separated with him first before doing such a thing."
Another young lady couldn't help but say:
"But she is a renowned green tea in our region you know, she was in couple with that guy only for a month now. Before that she was with a local young master but ditched him when she learned that her childhood friend had a miraculous advancement in cultivation and was accepted as an honor student in the Great Dao Academy of Prodigies. "
Chan Feng's desolate back seemed even more febrile as he went faster to leave this place. Such is youth, so bitter…
The other people around were now much more interested by that girl Lu Cha hearing some anecdote about her. Some guys still sighed at the tragedy, a particular one looked melancholic as he said:
"That guy is courting death; Song Han is a third year student of the Academy and he is in the top hundred of his promotion, as a renowned playboy in the circle he already broke many hearts and couples before..." Was there no hope to that poor young man?
Song Han didn't listen to the chatter around him, he was used to such a sight. As he wanted to get back to the restaurant, he saw the silhouette of a very beautiful lady about to enter the restaurant, he felt very excited after seeing her. It was the most renowned fairy in the southern region, he didn't approach her but gave a smile as a greeting instead with his refreshing handsome face.
She saw his action and seemed hesitant wether to answer or not, but a young man that looked very arrogant stopped her and whispered something, Song Han was too far and couldn't hear anything.
"What are you doing greeting that dead man for?! If you don't want any trouble then better not implicate yourself with him, even just looking at him is already very dangerous." Li Yun showed a rather serious look as he said that to Li Ya. Everyone know that it was a landmine right? How could she be so ignorant...
Sun Jia showed a surprised look to the side, she didn't think that this young man would be aware of these truths of the world.
They then hurried in the building as if to run away from a plague, they didn't attract the attention of anyone nearby.
Young master Song showed a puzzled look, did he act too familiar with them…
He went to the restaurant with Lu Cha holding his arm, he was still feeling some confusion.
.....
The restaurant was as amazing as rumored, the food was the finest of the finest and the service was top class. Li Yun finally felt that he was living like a young master, ordering people around, enjoying delicacy and looking at good performance even though he didn't understand them.
He couldn't help but sigh out loud after thinking about all the restriction he had to bear under his mother's watch:
"Young people should really live such an independent and carefree life."
Li Ya didn't even look at him, she enjoyed the full course while laughing inside since they would have to make report to the Peach garden just after. We will see if you still act so conceited at that time, haha...
Sun Jia was keeping silent as she tried to understand the dynamic of their relationship, the elder sister seemed to have the upper hand despite the big talk of the brother. She was taking her duties very seriously…
After another hour or so, they departed from the restaurant and went back to the residence. Liu Guan was feeling relieved, any trouble that would happen would be on him, he just left the region for two days and there were already so many happening, his road ahead seemed quite bleak…
...…
In the next day, a crowd of several thousand young men and women, with some followers for some, were standing on a very large stone platform in the SouthPort city, they were ready to go to the central regions.
Li Yun and the other were standing there too, they were as standing out as usual but the young heroes showed a very stern face unlike his usual arrogant face.
Wen Bao who rejoined them here and was standing up next to him couldn't help but ask:
"Brother Li, is there something wrong?"
Li Yun kept his straight face as he said calmly:
"My dear friend, mark my words. Even if you get true freedom someday, remember that you will have to pay the price sooner or later."
Wen Bao looked confused after hearing such profound words, he couldn't continue the conversation as a blue light lit up under them and they disappeared in a flash…