(2 days later, At the main road to the entrance of Golden Prosperity City)
The dirt road stretched far into the horizon, packed with merchant carts creaking under the weight of goods, their wheels carving deep ruts into the well-trodden path. Haggling voices clashed with the braying of oxen and the clinking of coin, as traders from distant lands bartered under the sweltering sun. The air was thick with the scents of herbs, fresh food, and the sweat of weary travelers, all blending into the chaotic rhythm of the trade route.
Along this road were a lot of beggars, Sometimes guards or servants walked out from the merchant caravans to the beggars. They would put money in the mugs of the beggars and start to talk in hushed voices or exchange small papers. This was how beggars did business with the merchants. Sometimes these merchants would stop along the road. Then the beggars would approach them to buy food or other necessities they need from the money they managed to acquire. This would lead to big crowds before those merchants' cargo wagons. However this did not deter the merchants as they had guards with them. It allowed them to quickly load of food that was about to spoil.
Mo Tian was waiting in an alley along the road, waiting. He kept looking at the logo's of the merchants that stopped along the road. Soon he found his target. It was a merchant band that was affiliated with the Zheng Family. He had acquired this information the beggar he had beat up. He did this to make sure that the old woman, from the store he did chores in, was not affiliated with the Zheng family. To his luck, it was one of the few stores that did not have any affiliation.
Once the merchant band stopped along the road, the beggars started to gather. Slowly, the crowd started to get bigger. Once he thought he would not really be noticed he lined up with the other beggars. Shortly after he was at the front and asked the merchant "Hey, can I pay with this token? I want as many rations as you have.". The merchant first wanted to say no, but once he saw the silver token he almost bit his tongue. One must know that those silver tokens were not easily handed out and not many people knew about it. However, the words 'JIAN' on the token were enough to cause the merchant to be curious. So, he asked "Where did you get this?"
"I found it in one of the alleys in the city. A man in red robes dropped it and I picked it up." Said Mo Tian. Any merchant knew that this meant that he stole it from someone.
When the merchant heard that he got it in the city, he quickly ordered his subordinates to give Mo Tian 2 barrels of rations. After he got the barrels, Mo Tian quickly left.
He took winding paths through bustling streets, doubling back at random intervals and slipping into crowded markets to blend with the flow of people. At times, he knocked over crates, startled livestock, or even vanished into side alleys, waiting in the shadows to see if anyone followed. Only when he was certain no eyes lingered on him did he take the final stretch home.
As he arrived at the home, he saw the old woman from the store standing in front of the house. Mo Tian looked at her, entered the home and said "Do you want some water, grandma?"
The old woman nodded and followed after him.
*Crrk* The door closed.
After sitting down on one of the chairs in the living room of the house, she said "You did not come to the store for two days, so I had to come here."
"I had to move." responded Mo Tian.
"Are you going to continue your martial arts training?" asked the old woman.
Mo Tian was shocked by this. He had not expected the woman to realize he was practicing martial arts, but quickly suppressed it. He looked at the woman and asked "why would you think I practice martial arts?"
The woman looked at him with mockery and said "Any martial artist with some skill would notice that you are using movement arts. Even now."
Mo Tian looked down and saw that he was indeed subconsciously using his martial arts. It seemed that his mind training had a side effect that he did not account for. That is probably also the reason why his movement art progressed so quickly without him focused on training it. He consciously adjusted his movement and it stopped, but he would continue to use his martial arts when he did not consciously thought about it.
While Mo Tian was deep in thought, the old woman sips the last drop of water out of the mug before saying "You can come back to the store when you are done with your training."
With a slow, practiced motion, the old woman reached into the folds of her worn robe, her calloused fingers brushing against the familiar texture of aged parchment. She pulled out a small, weathered book, its edges frayed from years of handling, and placed it gently on the wooden table, the soft thud echoing in the quiet room. Without a word or a glance back, she turned and stepped through the doorway, vanishing into the streets.
Seeing the old woman leave, Mo Tian closed the door again and looked at the book that the old woman left behind. It read 'Ironroot Training Method'. It was a martial arts cultivation method to build a body as strong as iron with strong balance, emphasizing the ability to switch between arts seamlessly. It is a High-grade cultivation method that some powerful rogue cultivators would use. It seemed to be specially made for the female body, thus there are some inadequacies if he were to practice it directly.
After checking the book left behind by the old woman, Mo Tian focused his attention on the rations he purchased from the merchant. The barrel was filled with round grain balls. The grain ball was a rough, uneven lump, hastily pressed together from coarse ground millet and a few stray husks, its surface dry and crumbly.
Mo Tian tries to taste one. They were bland and slightly stale, it had the faint taste of old wheat, with only the occasional chew of a hardened bean or a bitter herb mixed in. Barely filling and far from tasty, it was the kind of food only the poor or desperate would rely on.
The barrels were enough for him to keep his fill for about 6 months. So, Mu Tian decided to continue his training. Only coming out of the house when he started to become disgusted by the grain balls. That's when he would do chores for the old woman again. During those chores, he approached beggars.
…
A week later, Mu Tian was doing a chore for the old lady. This time it was getting water from the well again. While walking, Mu Tian came across a familiar beggar. It was the one he had beaten up before.
"Follow me." Ordered Mu Tian to the beggar in a quiet but commanding tone.
Then he proceeded to walk into a deserted alley not too far away.
He waited a few minutes until the beggar appeared.
Mo Tian told the beggar "Since I owe you for all the information you have given me, I'll give you some information back."
The beggar was stunned. This guy had beaten him black and blue was now ready to give him something back for the information that was tortured out of him. "No way that's true." Thought the beggar as he started to back away.
But Mo Tian was not going to let him go so easily. Therefore he moved towards him and pressed him against the walls on the left side of the alley into the shadows.
Mo Tian then looked at him with cold eyes and said "I'm trying to give you a favor, why are you struggling."
The beggar was even more shocked at the current situation. Seeing that he could not do anything he gave up and let Mo Tian talk.
Seeing the beggar stop struggling, Mo Tian knew that he could give the information. He said "The Zheng family, known for its wealth and influence, presenting itself as an upstanding force in the region. Right?"
The beggar nodded.
Seeing that the beggar understood. He continued "You know the abandoned ruins west of the city, right?"
The beggar nodded again, but not seeing the connection yet. But he did not have to wait long before he got the answer.
He saw Mo Tian writing something with his foot. After a second, the beggar was shocked. It read 'Slave'. This meant that the Zheng family was not as upstanding as he thought. This could give him a lot of money if he told it to the other merchants. If the reputation of the clan is degraded to a certain extent it would help the families behind the merchants.
Seeing that Mo Tian had more to say, the beggar quickly focused back on him.
Then Mo Tian simply said "The Jian Family is here and found something."
This piece of information was confusing for the beggar, but he did not have to think about it. That is what the merchants would do.
Seeing that Mo Tian had nothing more to say, The beggar got out of the alley and went back to the main road. At the same time, Mo Tian went back to doing the chores for the old lady.
This pattern continued.
Every time Mo Tian went out, he spoke with a beggar he would give them false information. He intentionally told them information that would enrage both the Zheng and Jian Family. Seeing that they could get a lot of money, more and more beggars started to share information with Mo Tian.
...
(2 weeks, at the Golden Prosperity City Lord's mansion)
The heavy doors of the city lord's office slammed shut, the force rattling the inkstone on the polished wooden desk. Behind it, the city lord Zheng Renshu sat, his fingers clenched into a tight fist, his expression dark with barely contained fury. Across from him, the butler stood with his hands folded neatly, his posture calm despite the storm brewing in the room.
"Say it again." The Zheng Renshu's voice was low, dangerous. "What nonsense is spreading through my city?"
The butler, unshaken, gave a slight bow. "My lord, the rumors claim that the exposed slave site belongs to none other than our esteemed Zheng clan. Documents have been 'found' linking it to your estate. The people whisper that your wealth is not built from just transactions and fair business, but upon shackles and suffering."
Zheng Renshu's fingers dug into the armrest of his chair, his jaw tightening. "And where did these 'documents' come from? Who dares slander me?!"
The butler replied "A mysterious source, my lord. But… it is gaining traction. Even some of the merchants are hesitant to do business with your people."
Zheng Renshu rose abruptly, the chair screeching against the floor. "Ridiculous! Do these fools think I would be careless enough to leave such evidence behind?! This reeks of sabotage!" His glare bore into the butler. "Have you found the ones responsible?"
The butler gave a measured nod. "We have suspicions. Some unusual figures have been seen operating in our city, and I fear we may have been infiltrated. Additionally, One of our merchants got this from one of the beggars in the city"
The butler presented his hands to Zheng Renshu. In his hand was a silver token with a red tassel hanging on it. On it was 'JIAN' written with what seemed like sword strokes.
Zheng Renshu inhaled sharply, then turned to the side, staring out the window at his city, which is his domain, now tainted by whispers of disgrace. His voice was calmer now, more measured, but angry nonetheless.
"This makes things more difficult. Sent a message to the main family. It appears that someone from the Jian Family or their rivals is trying to sabotage us."
The butler nodded quickly and left the room.
Left standing alone in his office, Zheng Renshu felt like a storm was brewing.