The town of Xianghu was bustling, alive with a cacophony of sounds as we walked through its narrow streets. Merchants hawked their wares, colorful stalls lined the roads, and cultivators of varying realms meandered about, their auras filling the air.
ChiChu, perched on my shoulder in her palm-sized form, looked around excitedly, her eyes gleaming at the scent of grilled meat wafting through the streets.
She had had her fill but she seemed to want more and I could only shake my head as she emptied my storage ring off spirit stones as I bought more and more meat.
Unlike Miari, at least ChiChu didn't sneak into my treasury to get her own spirit stones and other treasures.
Before we could take more than a few steps into the town, the peaceful hum of the marketplace was abruptly shattered by a commotion further ahead.
"Give her back to me!" a young man roared, his voice cracking with anger.
"You think I'd let someone like you even breathe near her again?" a larger, more muscular cultivator growled back, his sword already halfway drawn.
It didn't take long for a crowd to gather, with murmurs quickly spreading through the streets.
"Again?" I muttered, exasperated. "Why is it always about a girl?"
Shi Wenyan, standing beside me with a calm and composed air, sighed. "In every town, it seems. Mortal or immortal, men never change."
"Hey are you comparing me to the likes of Long Zhen and Bai Lifen?" I asked, watching the spectacle unfold, Shi Wenyan didn't reply only smirking.
In the middle of the street, a delicate-looking girl stood helplessly between the two men, her eyes wide in shock. It was clear she wanted nothing to do with either of them, but unfortunately, these two didn't seem to get the message.
"Is this really happening right now?" Long Zhen muttered, watching as the two men continued to shout at each other. "We just got here."
"I bet ten high grade spirit stones the bigger one wins," Bai Lifen added, grinning as he leaned over to whisper.
"I'll take that bet," Long Zhen replied. "The small guy looks desperate."
As amusing as it was, I had no interest watching some petty lovers' quarrel, but it seemed I wasn't going to be given a choice as it seemed so interesting.
The smaller man, clearly losing his patience, suddenly gathered his aura and lunged forward, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword.
"Oh, come on..." I sighed, already knowing where this was going.
Before the fight could escalate any further, Shi Wenyan stepped forward, her sharp gaze cutting through the chaos. "That's enough," she said coldly, her voice laced with authority.
The two men froze, their auras shrinking back like scolded children. They turned to look at her, immediately realizing they were in over their heads.
"Do you really think a fight in the middle of town will help you win her affection?" Shi Wenyan asked, her tone dry.
The bigger man, clearly intimidated, backed off instantly. "I… I didn't mean to cause trouble."
The smaller one, not quite as quick on the uptake, looked between Shi Wenyan and the girl, his face still twisted in anger. "But she's mine!"
I rolled my eyes. Oh, for heaven's sake.
Shi Wenyan's hand rested on the hilt of her sword, a subtle warning that even a fool could understand. "You're causing unnecessary trouble. Leave."
The man opened his mouth to protest, but after a brief glance at Shi Wenyan's expression, he wisely closed it. With a final, bitter glance at his rival, he stormed off, muttering curses under his breath.
The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving us to continue our search for an inn.
"Why is it always like this?" Mei Lian asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Cultivators and their egos," I replied, shrugging.
Jiayi, walking beside Mei Lian, laughed. "It's because they think having a girl means they've won some sort of prize."
"Well, they're not entirely wrong," Long Zhen chimed in with a grin, earning him a swift slap on the back of the head from Bai Lifen. "Ow! I was joking!"
We continued down the bustling street, with ChiChu still sniffing the air for her next snack. We passed various inns, but each one seemed more full than the last.
It wasn't long before we found ourselves at a large, elegant inn that looked promising.
"We'll stay here," I said, motioning toward the inn's entrance.
As we entered, the innkeeper—a plump, cheerful woman—greeted us with a wide smile. "Welcome, welcome! We have rooms available, and the finest food in town! You must be cultivators from afar?"
"We are," Shi Wenyan replied, her tone still sharp, though less intimidating than before.
The innkeeper clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! We'll prepare rooms for you at once honourable cultivators from Heaven Secret Sect. How many?"
"Twelve," I said, glancing at my group. "And we'll need food sent to our rooms."
"Of course, of course! I'll have everything ready for you in no time!"
As the innkeeper hurried off to make arrangements, ChiChu tugged at my sleeve. "I saw grilled meat outside," she whispered, eyes wide with longing. "We could go back…"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "We'll get some later. You ate enough for now."
"Not enough," ChiChu mumbled, crossing her arms. "Just a little."
Shi Wenyan, overhearing the exchange, raised an eyebrow. "Does she ever stop eating?"
"Nope," I replied, patting ChiChu's head. "But at least she's cute about it."
"Cute," ChiChu echoed, nodding proudly.
With our rooms secured and the promise of food on the way, we headed upstairs to settle in.
The inn was clean, the rooms spacious enough to accommodate us comfortably. As we prepared for the next day, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building.
The mission ahead was dangerous, but it was also an opportunity—one that would test our abilities and strengthen our resolve.
And with this group, I had no doubt that things would get interesting.
ChiChu's stomach growled, and she glared at me accusingly. "Later," I said, smiling.
She huffed, settling onto my shoulder as we prepared to rest for the night. Tomorrow, the real adventure would begin.