Their pace was quite casual, unfortunately, this meant it had come to be early morning by the time Chang Yu, Xiao Mei Lin and Kang Shan made it to the foot of the mountain, only then did Chang Yu realise just how long he would have to walk. From his own experience, cultivators could fly but… well, he required the Lesser Transcendant stage for that to be possible, of course, some artefacts could let him fly at his current stage, but, those were usually monopolised by the inner circles of many sects and clans and only given out to favoured disciples.
Mei Lin looked to Chang Yu and held out a hand, he was about to hold out his hand to hold her's until she specifically requested he hand over his diary so she could look at the map that would show them the way to his inheritance. In a slight rush, Chang Yu reached into his pack, found his journal, and handed it back to her, she explained the journey process as they began to walk, taking to the north.
"Alright, judging by this map, we must first head north through the Sword's Clash valley and we follow Blue Dragon River east, there we will make a proper stop at the nearby village…"
As they set out on their journey, Chang Yu felt a sense of curiosity welling up inside him. He couldn't help but express it a few hours into the awkwardly silent trip.
"Hey… Mei Lin, why would the sect let us leave this easily?"
"Simple, there are many villages in the Huagu Sacred Land, I might be a talent but they can make up for that by just recruiting more disciples. Aside from that? Simple, you wear the garb of Blossom Mountain Palace, thus we're allowed to leave on the unspoken promise that we would show only the best of the sect."
"Oh, I see, about Supreme Elder Gong"
"No."
"I didn't even finish what I was about to say."
"You were going to ask how common intelligent spirit beasts are, right?"
"How… What? I mean, yes, I was going to ask that, but, how did you assume that and not 'how would he taste when cooked'?"
"Simple, intelligent spirit beasts aren't common enough for someone to consider eating them. As I was saying…"
Chang Yu began to tune out the explanation, choosing just to let the journey take its course as she mentioned something called the "Thunder Dragon Kingdom" which was most likely going to be important, but, Chang Yu just wanted to take in the sights of the wilderness, which, as they left Blossom Mountain faded from a sea of trees to a vast plain, in the distance he could see a great peak appear on the horizon, it looked like a massive slab of grey stone that had been split down the middle to form a valley. No doubt this was the "Sword's Clash Valley" she mentioned. Seeing how far it was only made Chang Yu realise just how massive it had to be if he could see it from the foot of Blossom Mountain.
I see the Sword Sects are just as fearsome as ever
Chang Yu nodded, briefly remembering that disciple of Earth-Fire Ancestor, Shi Xong. If there was someone in the Lower Realm strong enough to do that it was likely someone with an inheritance like that of the Dragon Spirit Sword Saint.
"Jeez, I hope we don't run into any old masters on our way."
Chang Yu made his thoughts known to the group as they continued to walk, morning fading into midday as they finally approached a forest of plum trees. The more he observed this area, the more he realised just how much Huagu Sacred Land's apparent overlords deserved their name. Frankly, it appeared to be in a constant state of bloom!
"Brother Yu, please don't say anything that might curse our journey."
Contrary to Chang Yu's expectations, Kang Shan was the one to speak, his brick-like face having a few drops of sweat forming on it at the idea of having to face down an expert and, potentially, dying despite only "living" for a single day. Perhaps, Kang Shan's hopes were misplaced.
Only a few minutes passed since they entered the forest when they heard a slight groan from just off the trail. Chang Yu looked back to his companions as he stepped away from the group.
"I'll go have a look, if I am to die I bequeath my inheritance of Mei Lin!"
Chang Yu pointed to her as he spoke, his gaze pointing to Kang Shan in mock accusation, though, to give away his inheritance was an easy thing to do since none of the three knew of its contents. As far as Chang Yu was aware it could be nothing but a long-since ransacked cave devoid of anything that would benefit his cultivation. As he stepped off the trail he heard the groans become clearer, it wasn't just groans, but, weak requests.
"A-ah… Water… can someone bring me water…?"
As Chang Yu moved further to investigate he wasn't surprised by what he found an odd sight. An older gentleman collapsed on the ground, his skin was pale and loose, and his face was thin, possessing sunken features and long, white hair. The old man reached an arm out to Chang Yu as he once more repeated his request.
"Please, lad! Take pity on this old fellow and give him some water! I will be sure to repay you!"
Chang Yu stopped for a moment, thinking about Kang Shan's complaint, what if this was some clan's old monster? Ok, then Chang Yu's made an enemy for leaving their elder to die. Charity wasn't exactly something he cared for either… Well, given his low cultivation, there was nothing wrong with playing it safe, especially if this old man was simply playing possum.
"Alright."
Chang Yu sighed as he kneeled beside the old man, opened his backpack, found a filled waterskin in the bag, handing it off to the old man who snatched it from Chang Yu's hands and drank from it. As the man drank Chang Yu could see his vitality returning to him, while he did not appear any younger, he certainly gained a more spry aura that he had previously lacked. Once he was finished, the old man dropped
"Junior, allow this old fellow to repay your kindness. If you're taking the trail through this forest, are you going to Heaven Vine City?"
"I… I think so?"
"Bah, it doesn't matter, if you're following the Blue Dragon River eastwards into the Thunder Dragon Kingdom, you'll find it… Ah! Where are my manners!"
The old man stumbled to his feet, where Chang Yu could get a better view of him, he was wearing a black cloak that seemed as though it were knitted from the night itself, under which he wore a robe with a blue more splendid than any ocean, river or lake than Chang Yu had seen in his previous life, for someone with such fine garb to be out here then… A thought jolted to the forefront of Chang Yu's mind.
Fuck, I actually encountered an old master!
The old man bowed forward, placing his fist in his palm.
"This old fellow's name is Li Bing Wen. Lord of Heaven Vine City and the Patriarch of its Li family."
"I am Chang Yu… City Lord? If I may, what is someone of such standing doing so far from his home?"
"Believe it or not, I had recently come into possession of a manual belonging to an old expert called the Wandering Scholar, I was told the technique within would help one think faster as long as they were moving. Had I known it would also put me in a deep enough trance that I didn't realise I had left my home when I only intended to walk the perimeter of my city!"
Lord Bing Wen broke out into jovial laughter as he pat Chang Yu on the shoulder, looking him up and down as he recognised the uniform of Blossom Mountain Palace. He would bring a hand to his face, stroking a thick beard.
"A lad of Blossom Mountain Palace, eh? I'll be sure to send word of this to them! Ah, watch me ramble, my head is stuffed with thoughts after such a journey! Enough of this, let us speak of your reward! There's not much I can give you personally, however, take this token, when you arrive in Heaven Vine City I'll be sure to give you something worth the trouble I've put you through, how does that sound?"
"That sounds excellent, this junior thanks you for your magnanimity"
"Don't feel the need to uphold formalities when it's just the two of us"
As he said this, Lord Bang Wen reached into his sleeve and pulled out a rectangular piece of polished wood, just a bit bigger than Lord Bang Wen's palm, inscribed quite clearly on it was the name of LI Bang Wen with his titles of "Li Family Patriarch" and "Heaven Vine City Lord" situated just underneath. Chang Yu bowed as he
So he's just a City Lord… wait, Li family?
Once the details finally sunk in, he felt a small sting in his memories. From what he recalled, during his past life before he ascended to the Upper Realm, the Li family was more like a confederation of merchants who traded by sailing up and down the Blue Dragon River. If they had a city, then this probably remained true.
"Of course, Bing Wen, I would be honoured to receive your hospitality."
"Good, good, good. 'Till we meet again, lad! Now that I've had some water I should be able to focus."
Lord Bang Wen took a few deep breaths as he closed his eyes, and put his hands behind his back. A strange array appeared beneath Lord Bang Wen's feet as he started to walk, it slowly emitted smoke beneath him that was black as night and contained countless, tiny, starlight-esque specks that split and collided with each other as Li Bang Wen's pace increased until he was a running speed while his movements only showed him to walk.
"Well… Best of luck to Lord Bang Wen, I should return to Kang Shan and Mei Lin"
What he returned to was, honestly, unsurprising, what he saw was Kang Shan and Mei Lin engaging in idle conversation that appeared to be progressing at an awkward pace, judging by Mei Lin's currently rosy cheeks, she was the most likely suspect.
"Mei Lin, are we going to be passing through Heaven Vine City during our journey?"
"Ye- wait, were you ignoring me when I was telling you how we were going to get to your inheritance?!"
The redness in her face vanished as she realised her attempts to inform her compatriots about the path they would be taking were completely ignored, jolting up from her seat as Mei Lin made her way over to Chang Yu, the faded redness of embarrassment being replaced with a redness of anger.
"Damn, idiot, if I didn't decide to tell you, Kang Shan and I probably would've arrived at the inheritance ground while you ended up on the other side of the Sacred Land just because you thought you figured out a shortcut!
Chang Yu felt an odd emotion well up inside him as he flinched! Chang Yu immediately regretted speaking as he hoped Mei Lin would, meanwhile, Kang Shan was watching over with a rather vacant expression.
Kang Shan, what are you doing, help your master!
Lord, I've examined enough of the original Kang Shan's memories… I think it would be best if I don't get involved in this matter.
Dammit, why did I even let you split off my soul!
Kang Shan's impressive frame? Which, might I add, actually has some very good physical methods imprinted into it.
Seeing that his chances of getting out of this mess by external intervention were looking… slim, Chang Yu resorted to the one method he knew had a certain success rate in situations much like this! Chang Yu fell to his knees, a stern expression on his face as he looked upward at Xiao Mei Lin. He loudly cleared his throat as he began to speak.
"Lady Mei Lin. I have disregarded your wisdom and knowledge, thereby offending you in the process. I will accept whatever punishment you have for me for this incident."
"You!
Mei Lin let out an annoyed groan as she looked down at Chang Yu, her anger going from its burning rancour and falling to simmering displeasure.
"F-Fine, when we make camp you'll sleep with me, got it!"
Chang Yu was internally quite surprised about this response, but, he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth when he was given an easy out. With that statement made they would continue their journey until nightfall, at which point the trio would make camp.