The bustling square thrummed with life. Vivid colors burst around Tian Hao—brilliant reds, shimmering blues, and rich golds. Voices competed in a cacophony of shouts, laughter, and song, and the scent of roasted meats, sugary pastries, and pungent spices swirled through the air, filling his lungs.
Tian Hao's lips curled into a delighted grin as he took it all in, savoring the vibrant chaos that surrounded him.
Merchants called out, "Crystal talismans from the Frozen Peaks! Guaranteed to protect you from frost and ill winds!"
Another yelled, "Shimmering silks from the Ember Flame Province! Woven from threads spun by the Ember Silkworms, each strand infused with the essence of fire itself! Perfect for robes that blaze with the brilliance of a true cultivator's spirit!"
A third vendor gestured to his stall, "Iridescent beast pelts from the Rainbow-Fanged Serpent, the Celestial Peacock Lizard, and the Prism-Feathered Gryphon—worn by warriors and kings alike!"
"Now, this is a market," he declared, his voice carrying a playful lilt, "Colors that burn like fire, smells that stir the soul… if only every training ground were like this, I might never leave."
"Focus, Tian Hao," Lin Mei said. "We're here for the Conclave, not a sightseeing tour. Or a feast."
"But Mei Mei, where's the fun in that?" Tian Hao retorted, pausing by a stall laden with trinkets and charms.
He picked up a small, intricately carved wooden amulet, its surface shimmering with a faint, golden light.
"This," he announced, holding it aloft, "is supposed to enhance one's charisma. What do you think? Might come in handy for someone as charming as you." He offered the amulet to Lin Mei with a flourish.
Lin Mei rolled her eyes. "Very funny," she said dryly. "Though, if it actually works, I might just have to keep it."
Tian Hao chuckled, purchasing the amulet and tossing it to her. "Just in case, Mei Mei. Wouldn't want you to be overshadowed by my natural charm."
Lin Mei caught it, shaking her head slightly. "You know, Tian Hao, one day your 'natural charm' is going to get you in trouble that even I can't save you from," she teased.
Tian Hao smiled. "You'll still save me anyway, Mei Mei. Admit it, you can't resist my winning smile."
"Resist?" Lin Mei snorted, arching an eyebrow. "I'm just waiting for the day your smile can't talk you out of trouble. Maybe then you'll learn something."
"Oh, come on," Tian Hao nudged her lightly with his elbow. "You'd miss me too much if I ever got into real trouble. Besides, trouble keeps life interesting."
Lin Mei rolled her eyes but couldn't keep a small smile off her face. "Just try not to get us both killed, alright?"
Fatty Wu, meanwhile, was tearing into a skewer of roasted meat.
Jiuwei, perched on Tian Hao's shoulder, eyed the skewer, her gaze sharp and unwavering. Fatty Wu caught her look, and without a word, he tore off a piece, subtly holding it out to her. Jiuwei's eyes gleamed as she reached forward, taking the morsel with a flick of her tail that almost somehow managed to convey approval.
"Ah, Thunder Horn Rabbit," Fatty Wu said between bites, "they say its meat helps refine one's qi channels. The horn alone can boost a soup broth's potency, especially if stewed for a week! No wonder it's such a popular delicacy among cultivators."
As they continued through the marketplace, Tian Hao's attention was drawn to a stall displaying a variety of spiritual herbs.
Their leaves shimmered with otherworldly hues, each labeled with names as mystical as their promises: Dragon's Breath Blossom - floods Qi channels like a torrential river; Meridian Mender Lotus - rapid stabilization of meridians; Spiritbond Sage - increases affinity with elemental forces; and Heaven's Rift Orchid - accelerates cultivation breakthroughs that shatter bottlenecks as effortlessly as glass.
He reached out for the vibrant green leaf of the Heaven's Rift Orchid. Its shimmer seemed almost alive, pulsing with promise. Tian Hao's heart skipped a beat as he thought, 'Could it really be this simple? Just one herb to shatter any bottleneck?'. Just as his fingers brushed the velvety surface, another hand shot out, grabbing the same herb.
Tian Hao looked up, meeting the stern gaze of a young disciple from another sect—one whose robes were adorned with the emblem of entwined vines, the mark of the Steel Vine Sect. The disciple, his face set in a permanent scowl, glared at Tian Hao.
"I believe I had my hand on that herb first." His words cold.
"Oh, did you?" Tian Hao replied, raising an eyebrow. "Funny. I seem to recall being a bit faster." He smirked and, before the Steel Vine disciple could protest, tossed a spirit stone to the stall owner. "I'll take it."
The Steel Vine disciple's scowl deepened, his eyes narrowing. "You dare disrespect a disciple of the Steel Vine Sect?" he hissed, his voice low.
Tian Hao let out a soft chuckle. "Respect is earned, not given. Maybe focus on your cultivation instead of hiding behind your sect's name?"
The Steel Vine disciple's face flushed crimson, his fists clenching at his sides, his knuckles white. He looked around at the growing crowd, aware of the many eyes now watching them. "You...You dare mock the Steel Vine Sect?" he stuttered.
"I mock arrogance, not skill. Though in your case," Tian Hao paused, his smile widening, "it's hard to tell the difference. If your cultivation was as impressive as your arrogance, I'd be more concerned."
"You think this is a joke?" the disciple spat, his voice rising. "The Steel Vine Sect could crush your pathetic Skyward Lotus with a flick of the wrist."
"A pathetic Skyward Lotus, you say?" Tian Hao stepped closer, the amusement fading from his eyes, replaced by a cold glint of steel, each word laced with a bite that made the other stumble back despite his best efforts to stay firm. "Is that the best you've got? Hiding behind your sect's reputation rather than proving yourself? If you want a real fight, let's see what you bring to the ring, not the name on your fancy robe."
Tian Hao reached into the pouch containing the herb, but the disciple, his anger fueled by his wounded pride, slapped Tian Hao's hand away.
The sound echoed through the suddenly quiet square, drawing even more attention from nearby cultivators. "You… you insect!" he sputtered, his voice rising with barely restrained fury. "The Skyward Lotus Sect is nothing but a ragtag group of has beens. You're barely worthy of attending the Conclave, let alone challenging a disciple of the Steel Vine Sect. Do you know who I am?! I am Senior Disciple Feng Liang, first among equals in the Outer Sect and soon to take my rightful place in the Inner Court—a feat clearly beyond the capabilities of such a flippant, talentless worm as yourself!"
Tian Hao stepped closer, his eyes narrowing.
"A big mouth, but small... 'Qi'. Typical," he muttered, loud enough for Feng Liang—and the gathering crowd—to hear. "It's pathetic. Perhaps, if your sect truly had such merit, Feng Liang," he paused, meeting his rival's gaze directly. "You wouldn't need to stand on its shoulders to make an impression. Perhaps you're the one who's not worthy of standing before a true cultivator."
The crowd, sensing the escalating tension, began to murmur amongst themselves, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding confrontation.
Feng Liang's earlier anger now boiled over, his teeth clenched, a vein pulsing visibly at his temple, his face contorted in a mask of fury. "You'll regret those words," he hissed, his gaze blazing with barely contained rage.
Tian Hao couldn't help but think, "Regret? It's hard to regret something you've yet to experience, and even harder when you're having this much fun."
"I'll teach you what true strength is—and then wipe that stupid smirk off your face!" Feng Liang continued, his earlier hesitation now replaced by a fierce determination, his expression shifting into a combat stance. He lunged, his fist aimed at Tian Hao's face—a swift, powerful blow intended to humiliate and subdue in a single strike.
Tian Hao simply tilted his head mockingly, as though this kind of attack was so slow he'd have time for a nap before needing to defend. With a flick of his wrist, he deflected Feng Liang's fist, knocking the disciple off balance while casually plucking the herb from the startled stall owner's hand and tucking it away into his spatial ring.
The crowd gasped, a collective intake of breath.
Feng Liang, his face burning with fury and humiliation, his fingers flexing to test the lingering discomfort from Tian Hao's touch, stumbled back a few steps as he struggled to regain his composure.
"You see, true strength isn't about shouting the loudest—it's about control, finesse," he said, his voice calm but edged. "A 4th stage Body Refining kid like you wouldn't know anything about."
Lin Mei stepped in, placing herself between the two cultivators. "That's enough, Tian Hao!" she snapped, her voice sharp but laced with a hint of concern.
She couldn't help but worry that Tian Hao's recklessness would eventually lead him into a situation even he couldn't talk or fight his way out of. He wasn't yet strong, and he was also too eager to provoke others—something that could easily turn dangerous in the wrong setting.
"We're not here to start fights. Remember what the sect leader said—or are you ready to explain this to your father?"
Tian Hao hesitated for a moment, noting the worry in her eyes, and thought, 'She's always watching out for me, isn't she? Maybe I should take it easy... just this once'. His eyes still fixed on Feng Liang, stepped back reluctantly. "Yes, Mei Mei," he said with a heavy sigh, "no trouble."
Fatty Wu forced an almost cheerful smile, holding up his hands in a placating gesture, though his voice was laced with a dry humor meant for Feng Liang rather than Tian Hao.
"Come, come now, there's no need for harsh words," he said, trying to lighten the mood, his attempt at levity as though to brush away the potential for disaster. "Surely, such fine cultivators like yourselves can share in this world's bounty?"
Feng Liang shot Tian Hao a final, venomous glare. "We're not done, silkpants," he spat. He gestured around at those now staring and whispering.
"We'll meet again, when there aren't so many witnesses… when your actions can bring true dishonor to those who indulge such a brat." He turned and stalked off, disappearing into the crowd, the threat lingering in the air like a storm cloud.
Lin Mei let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
The crowd, sensing the immediate danger of further public confrontation, began to disperse, some shaking their heads in disapproval while others chuckled softly at the spectacle.
She tugged at Tian Hao's sleeve again. "Come on," she muttered, pulling him away from the stall and her own thoughts of impending chaos and retribution. "Let's go before they come back with reinforcements."
"Reinforcements?" Jiuwei, her tail flicking with what Tian Hao took as the closest she had shown to being amused.
As they made their way through the crowded streets, Tian Hao glanced back over his shoulder. He spotted Feng Liang standing near the entrance to a tea house, his face a mask of fury as he watched them depart, his eyes narrowed.
Lin Mei turned to the others.
"I need to… check on something back at the inn," she said, her voice carefully neutral though her fingers fidgeted with the jade coin in her pocket. "I'll meet you there later." She hurried off, leaving Tian Hao, Fatty Wu and Jiuwei behind.
Fatty Wu watched her disappear into the crowd, his mouth half-full of roasted spirit beast. "She's been acting strange lately, don't you think? All tense and distracted. It's not like her."
Tian Hao nodded, a flicker of concern crossing his features before he quickly masked it with his usual grin. "You noticed too, huh? Mei Mei's always been serious, but this..." He gestured vaguely in the direction she'd gone, "this is different. Like she's carrying something heavier than usual."
Fatty Wu shrugged, swallowing his bite. "Maybe it's the Conclave. The pressure's getting to everyone. But I've never seen her like this before." He paused, then added, "Maybe she just can't handle your charm, Young Master."
Tian Hao chuckled, though his eyes remained thoughtful. "If only it were that simple, Fatty Wu. Something's definitely off." He sighed, his gaze lingering for a moment before he shook his head. "Come on, let's get moving before trouble finds us again."