As the man stepped out of the cave and into the bustling city, he was immediately struck by the strange sights and sounds surrounding him. Tall buildings reached for the sky, covered in glass that reflected the sunlight. The streets were filled with people moving in all directions, dressed in clothes he had never seen before—bright colors, strange patterns, and loose fabrics.
He looked down at himself and realized how out of place he was. His clothes, tattered and worn after years in the cave, hung loosely on his body. The robe that once symbolized his commitment to cultivation now looked like a pile of rags. But that didn't matter. What he needed now was information.
He spotted a young man walking by, wearing a shirt with some kind of strange symbol on it and holding a glowing device in his hand. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.
"Excuse me, young one," he began, his voice calm but formal. "May I inquire as to where I am?"
The young man stopped, giving him a strange look. He eyed the man up and down, from his long, unkempt hair to the tattered robe that looked like it came from a historical drama. "Uh, dude... what are you wearing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
The man frowned. He had expected confusion, but not about his appearance. "I... I apologize if my attire seems strange. I have been in seclusion for a long time. Please, could you tell me the name of this place?"
The young man blinked, still looking puzzled. "You mean the city?" he asked. "It's New Metro City. You lost or something?"
The man repeated the name, "New Metro City," testing the words on his tongue. It was completely unfamiliar. He nodded slowly. "I see. And... the Murim world, is it still here?"
"Murim?" The young man's face twisted into a look of confusion. "What's that? Is it, like, some kind of game or something?" He glanced around as if checking to see if anyone else noticed the strange conversation.
"No... it is not a game." The man's expression hardened, but he kept his voice polite. "It was a world of martial artists, of cultivation and sects. Has it... truly disappeared?"
The young man scratched his head. "Okay, uh, buddy, I don't know what you're talking about. Sounds like some old legend or whatever." He stared at the man's clothes again. "But seriously, where did you come from? You look like you just stepped out of a history book."
The man realized how out of place he must seem. In the world he knew, respect was shown through formality and careful speech, but here it seemed to draw suspicion. He needed to adjust.
With a nod, he decided to change his approach. "I... apologize if I seem odd. I have been away for many years, and much has changed. Thank you for your assistance."
The young man looked a little uncomfortable but shrugged. "Uh, yeah, sure. Maybe... get some new clothes or something?" He gave a quick wave and walked off, shaking his head and mumbling to himself.
The man watched him go, his mind racing. New Metro City, the loss of the Murim world, and the way people stared at him—it was all too clear. This was not the world he knew. It was a new era, one where the knowledge of cultivation had been lost. But that didn't mean it was the end. If he could learn the ways of this new world, he could find a way to bring back the path of cultivation.
But first, he needed to blend in. His tattered robe marked him as an outsider, and the way he spoke only drew more attention. If he was to survive and adapt, he would have to learn the ways of this modern world.
"Very well," he muttered to himself, looking at the brightly lit shops lining the street. "If this is the world I must live in, then I shall learn its ways... and rise once more."
With determination in his eyes, he set off down the street, searching for a place to learn more about this new world.