(An i named the city su after the turkish word for water i saw a turkey leg that day so dont question it)
As a city built around a river, there was naturally a port to the south of Su Harbor City.
A bustling market near the port was the city's heart of trade and the backbone of its prosperous economy.
Various herbs and treasures picked near the mountains in the north flowed into the market for distribution all over the world through the hands of merchants.
The weather was nice and the streets were lined with peddlers and vendors all competing to sell their goods. Occasionally some hunters and performers would sell their arts and game on the streets.
Due to the patrolling guards there were hardly any big accidents, a prime example of a bustling city full of vitality.
From time to time some shouts from the busy market would sound.
"Hit!"
"20!"
"Yes #*&$! My hand is bigger! I win!"
A while later two people walked out of a gambling tavern.
A golden-haired beauty was sitting on the wheelchair with a big hearty grin. Behind her was a 1.83(6ft) meters tall handsome boy gently pushing from behind.
(An They were not as handsome or beautiful as the readers though)
There were several large bags hanging from the young boy's left hand and with his free right hand he skillfully steered the wheelchair. The dexterity of his right hand should not be underestimated!
"Hey, Dugu. Exciting, right? It's a new card game that's been popular recently. They call it blackjack."
Dugu hummed and agreed but his twitching brows showed his inner turmoil. Who can tell him why someone can switch from gentle and caring to fierce and aggressive so quickly?
Sure enough the gentle, caring, and optimistic motherly vibes was a scam!
"Hmm lets see. Where else have we not been too. Oh! Wanna head to the auction house Dugu?"
"...."
Dugu Yun's eyes silently drifted to the large amount of bags he was carrying in his left hand. From a quick feel he estimated it was about…38 kilograms(85lbs)?
"Ahh cousin, it's already late afternoon. I'm a bit hungry. Can we go eat first?"
Dugu eyes twitched. They had agreed to go stop at their favorite childhood ramen shop first but they ended up shopping for several hours.
It seemed his cousin Rubia was really pent up after being trapped in her room for several days.
"It's so late already? Ahh of course. Little Dugu is a martial artist now. Naturally eating is very important." A gentle and elegant smile returned on Rubia's face as if the previous ferocious grin was just a mere illusion.
"Lets eat ramen then! Speaking of ramen, three years ago the shop owner developed a new recipe and now he actually owns a big store. I'll lead the way Dugu."
Right before they were about to set off Rubia winced.
"What's wrong?" Dugu asked. "Is it your leg?"
"Yea, I guess it's time to change the medicine." Rubia frowned and reached into the sachet at her hips. There was medicinal ointment and spare gauze in it.
"Here let me help you." Dugu took the initiative to let go of the bags and bent down to assist his cousin.
Rubia rolled up her trousers in cooperation revealing a white tender leg. The slim pearly legs would definitely make several foot fetisher's eyes turn green with envy but fortunately Dugu didn't have such hobbies. The calves of both legs were red and swollen.
Dugu opened the ointment jar to reveal a whitish paste. The smell was strong and reminded him of tea.
Contrary to expectations, the medical industry of this world was very developed far beyond its time due to the existence of martial artists. Martial arts training was very dangerous often resulting in severe injuries. This urgent need for medical treatment gave rise to the prosperity of medicine in order to fill that need.
Although it wasn't exactly the medical system of earth, the central plains had their own special methods.
For example this jar of ointment was called bone setting paste made with ash vine and rose ginseng as the main ingredient supplemented with 96 auxiliary ingredients. Specially formulated with various herbs unique to this world nourished with a martial artist's qi. The main function of this ointment was to speed up the recovery of bones and prevent inflammation.
Anyways, martial arts required very extravagant resources like expensive medicine and high nutrient foods. Competition for resources were very intense and could lead to life threatening family feuds like the current situation of the Yun family. It was not a very suitable path for the less fortunate.
Dugu Yun dipped his fingers in the ointment and slowly rubbed the paste onto his cousin's leg. A while later he rewrapped the two legs in gauze.
There were no strange moans or gasps of pain escaping from Rubia's mouth. She maintained the same old gentle elegant smile but her eyes were tightly shut and there were beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
(~ω~;)
"It's done," Dugu muttered.
"Then let's eat ramen!"
(an i dont why i added that description. I guess a book is self writing huh? The author is the mere carrier of his characters stories ;3)
Personality from cautious to feeling alive
(i feel like i forgot to add something very strong feeling but oh well)
_____________________________________________
"Hey Boss, isn't that the guy?"
Following these words, several ruffians behind a fruit stand glanced across the street and spotted a young boy pushing a wheelchair. They seemed to be heading towards a ramen shop.
Unlike his subordinates who were curiously looking around, Luke Anchovy was unmoved.
He leaned against the cold wall and continued smoking his cigar with his eyes closed.
Damn what a boring world.
What he wanted most right now was to fight a saint with his barehands. The sensation of bones crackling and bare flesh colliding sending adrenaline coursing through his blood was the pinnacle of human pleasure in his opinion.
Luke Anchovy felt the modernization of martial arts was bullshit. Nowadays martial artists were all sissies relying on hot weapons. He couldn't feel the excitement he felt in his childhood.
He was bored.
To think he, Luke Anchovy, a strong man in the innate realm, could be reduced to the point of selling fruits in a market.
If it weren't for the fact that selling fruits were unprofitable, he wouldn't even bother accepting that commission.
Not long ago, a figure tightly wrapped from head to toe offered his gang several hundred gold pounds to test the martial realm of the second son of the Yun family. He didn't know who this "second son" was but what could there be to test about a little boy? At most judging from the portrait provided, he was just a little bit taller and handsome for his age.
At first glance that tightly wrapped figure was definitely not a good person.
But several hundred gold pounds was enough money for a family to spend lavishly for an entire year…
If it weren't for that, who would be interested in provoking the Yun family? Did he have nothing to do? His time was precious. Selling fruits was hard work.
But anyways he had already accepted the money and he had a whole gang of brothers to feed.
He, Luke Anchovy, was a very responsible man.
Anyways, how about procrastinating a few days before starting the commission?
The employer didn't seem to specify a completion date right? Hey, how irresponsible of him!
By then he could just exchange a few casual moves with that Yun family boy for show. That way no one gets harmed and he gets rich!
Hey! Im so smart! As expected of me! (つω-｀)ノ゛
"...oss..Boss…uh Boss?"
"Um?" Luke Anchivy grunted in dissatisfaction and begrudgingly opened his eyes. Selling fruits was so tiring. Who dares to interrupt the well deserved rest of the hardest working gang leader in history?
Next to Luke, a scar faced man reluctantly squeezed out a flattering smile.
This boss was actually pretty good except sometimes there were a few problems with his head.
To think he, the most evil(self proclaimed) gangster with 15 years of experience, would be reduced to a mere deputy of a mentally ill boss.
Originally he was the former gang leader of the Overlord gang. After spending 15 years climbing up from the bottom, he poisoned the former boss. Just when he was about to realize his ambitions of robbing the poor to give to himself, a year ago a hooligan suddenly popped out of nowhere.
He called himself Luke and with just one punch, he held the world record for shortest time as gang leader.
The new boss disagreed with former gang operations shouting that it was too unmanly to bully the weak or some bullcrap.
So under the boss's ruthless iron first, the entire gang switched industries from harassing people to fruit selling.
On the bright side, with the strength of the boss, other larger gangs never dared to bully them so life was very peaceful.
Other than a few broken bones every once in a while, scar-faced man actually didn't have many complaints.
But recently the entire gang had run into some financial troubles. Selling fresh fruit was really unprofitable…
Which serious gang would go to the market to sell fruit?
It was difficult to preserve and expensive with low profit margins. If he hadn't advised the stubborn boss to accept the commission, he was afraid the gang would have to directly resort to begging.
No..he had to persuade the boss to take action quickly!
"Boss, the target is right over there. Delivered right to our door. It must be lady fate favoring us. Should we take action? They just entered the shop. Maybe when they're busy eating we could knock them out with a sneak attack?"
What?!! So fast? A trace of 2 points of shock and 3 points of disappointment quickly flashed across Luke Anchovy's face but he quickly concealed it.
Luke Anchovy angrily glanced at his subordinate. The scar-faced man had his squinted eyes narrowed into a thin slit by a smile.
Then Luke Anchovy slapped the scar-faced man on the back and admonished, "Sneak attack? How many times have I said it? Such despicable means are not worthy of our Overlord gang. I'm disappointed in you Scar."
Hisss!
Scar sharply inhaled. The boss seemed to forget that a casual slap from an innate realm strong man was not something a weak chicken like him could handle.
He didn't know if it was an illusion but for a moment he seemed to hear the sound of bones breaking.
Well…it didn't seem like a big deal. This wasn't the first time he had his bones broken anyways. It was just a few extra bone setting paste and collecting work related injuries.
"Then what should we do then Boss?" Scar puzzledly asked while rubbing his shoulders.
Luke Anchovy spit out his cigar on the ground extinguishing the flames by grinding with his sandals.
"Wait until they come out." Luke casually replied and waved his hands to dismiss his eager brothers.
Ohh…when can this terrible world get better.
He wanted to have a flesh to flesh connection with a strong man! Bullying a little boy was not really something he was interested in.
"Umm…how much is this papaya?"
The heavenly voice of a customer was like a fresh summer breeze arousing him from his thoughts.
Luke Anchovy's eyes lit up and he eagerly turned to the customer.
"We sell papayas very cheaply. Shipped right from the south. Absolutely fresh I tell you. Only 5 copper pounds! Wait! Don't leave yet! Let me tell you, it's two for one today!"
"Alright then. Give me one?"
Luke Anchovy, a nearly 2.2 meters(7ft) muscular man, had a warm smile on his face. He picked out the papaya, placed it in a bag, not forgetting to thoughtfully tie a cute bow with the straps.
"Thanks for your patronage. Please return next time."
Watching the back of the leaving customer, Luke felt that the world was a wonderful place.
As for the world being a terrible place…..What nonsense. Who said that?
It definitely wasn't him anyways.
(1 gold pound is roughly 500 usd. 1 silver pound is roughly 100 usd. 1 copper pound is roughly 1 usd. 1 coin i sorugly a few cents)