In his entire life, Jiang Ye had only stayed in Red Pond Town, doing odd jobs just to scrape together enough money to survive. He had never left the town until recently, when he was chosen, among a thousand others, to be a slave and sent to a slavery camp.
He had heard from older people in the slavery camp about how marvelous the capital of the Black Dust Domain was, and now, seeing it with his own eyes, he understood they weren't lying.
The Black Dust Capital was enormous, far larger than anything Jiang Ye had ever seen. It was the largest city in the Black Dust Domain. Towering structures loomed all around, built like pagodas, pavilions, temples, courtyards, and even the tea houses were absurdly huge.
However, it was dark now, and as night had fallen, Jiang Ye hadn't been able to see much of the Black Dust Capital. Tomorrow, he would probably get to experience just how prestigious this place truly was.
Neigh! Neigh!
The two horses pulling the carriage groaned as they came to a stop. Jiang Ye peeked out through the small window and saw a structure in front of them, elegant and exquisite in its design.
"We're here," the owner, Wu Chen, announced as he climbed down from the horse.
Jiang Ye lifted the fabric covering the entrance and hopped down from the carriage, momentarily entranced by the structure before him.
Wu's Delicacy Tavern was unlike any other tavern or inn he'd ever seen. Its elegant design, refined craftsmanship, and attention to detail made it stand out. Jiang Ye glanced at the sign bearing the tavern's name, almost missing it in the dim lantern light. The building's curved roof, adorned with jade-green tiles, gleamed faintly under the night sky. Intricately carved wooden beams supported the structure, while polished stone steps led up to the entrance, a clear sign of the wealth behind this establishment. It seemed Wu Hantian, the carriage owner's older brother, had deep pockets to afford such luxury.
Wu Chen glanced at Jiang Ye briefly before looking toward the inside of the tavern. Even though it was night, the place still seemed open.
"You should probably stay here for a while," Wu Chen said, breaking the silence of the night. "You're Jiang Ye, right?"
"How do you know!?" Jiang Ye exclaimed, finally confirming his suspicion. This person knew who he was!
"Connections."
Jiang Ye's eyebrows twitched slightly at the answer but decided to accept it anyway. He wasn't sure why, but it seemed Wu Chen was flaunting his connections rather than simply informing him.
"Well, I guess," Jiang Ye muttered after a brief silence. "If you knew who I was, why didn't you—"
"Because it wasn't my obligation or responsibility," Wu Chen shrugged. "In any case, you seem like an interesting individual. I wanted to see what you were going to do."
"And when you find out, are you going to tell the Warriors?"
"We'll see," Wu Chen replied with a mysterious smile. "But first, let's continue this conversation inside. Oh, and help me carry the food," he added, a grin spreading across his face.
Jiang Ye looked at him incredulously. It seemed this guy wasn't taking advantage of his strength as a martial cultivator. Now that he thought about it, he noticed that Wu Chen had no cultivation. He was just an ordinary person, which seemed odd, given how wealthy Wu Chen appeared to be.
"My brother was granted a noble title after expanding the tavern," Wu Chen said suddenly, as if reading Jiang Ye's thoughts. But in truth, he said it to answer the curiosity he sensed. "I'm just a wealthy merchant but still hold commoner status."
"I see," Jiang Ye nodded in understanding. After that, he helped Wu Chen lift boxes full of ingredients and food. Together, they entered Wu's Delicacy Tavern.
The interior was just as impressive as the exterior. The warm lighting inside gave the place a fuzzy, heartwarming atmosphere, making every visitor feel at home. About fifty or so long tables and chairs filled the space, making the tavern appear vast, yet welcoming.
"My brother usually closes just a few minutes after now," Wu Chen mentioned. "Unlike other taverns and inns that serve people around the clock, my brother, Wu Hantian, closes his tavern at night. He says he needs his free time, and it's not his responsibility to serve people after dark."
Jiang Ye nodded. No wonder the tavern was almost empty.
A man popped out of a door behind the counter, likely leading from the kitchen. This was Wu Chen's older brother, the nobleman, Wu Hantian. "Oh, it's you. How was the trip?"
"It was fine," Wu Chen shrugged. "I'm used to it. Stop asking me the same thing every time I arrive."
"Of course, of course," Wu Hantian laughed, shifting his gaze to Jiang Ye, who had just put down a box of ingredients. Their eyes met. After studying Jiang Ye for a moment, Wu Hantian said, "So, it's you—the slave who dared to disgrace the head officer of the slavery camp and steal the Domain Lord's cultivation technique... Jiang Ye, correct?"
"You recognize him?" Wu Chen asked, surprised.
"Of course," Wu Hantian smiled. "Just a couple of days ago, some officers were strategizing right here at this table—" He pointed to a nearby table. "—about how to catch the bold fugitive, Jiang Ye. I even overheard Warrior-General Liang Xuan roasting the officers about their failure! HAHAHA!"
Warrior-General Liang Xuan! Jiang Ye's face twisted into a frown as he absorbed this information. The one directing the Warriors, like Pei Long, to capture him wasn't the Domain Lord herself, but her brother, Liang Xuan. What did this mean? Did the Domain Lord, Liang Shuyue, even know what was happening?
"Lord Liang Xuan was here discussing his plans just days ago?" Wu Chen looked at his brother in disbelief. "What were they planning?"
"Brother," Wu Hantian replied, "I'm not opposed to helping Jiang Ye, but I'm not about to spoil their plans. Where's the thrill in that?"
Both Jiang Ye and Wu Chen opened their mouths but said nothing, too speechless to respond.
"More importantly," Wu Chen added, "you're here in the Black Dust Capital, specifically the Nobles District—the most dangerous place for you right now. I assume you have some plan?"
"Indeed," Jiang Ye nodded, "but I'm not going to tell you. Where's the thrill in that?"
"HAHAHAHA!" Wu Chen suddenly laughed, slapping the box Jiang Ye had carried. Wu Hantian looked astonished. Wu Chen said, "Now you've had a taste of your own medicine, brother! HAHAHAHA!"
"Whatever," Wu Hantian rolled his eyes, trying to mask his embarrassment. "Since you're here, I actually have a gift for you."
With that, Wu Hantian smiled mysteriously.