The White Tiger sped along the official road like a white lightning bolt.
Inside the carriage, Fang Han sat cross-legged, slowly circulating the Azure Profound Art within his body. Azure-gold Internal Qi surged through his meridians, refining the Earth Spirit Pill he had just consumed.
Luo Yuntian sat opposite him, holding a yellowed sword manual in his hand, his gaze focused, occasionally raising his finger to draw in the air, clearly deducing sword moves.
The two cultivated their skills separately, and the only sounds in the carriage were their soft breathing and the turning of pages.
The scenery outside the window rushed past; fields, hills, and villages flashed by in my sight and were quickly left behind.
A few days later, in the afternoon, the mountains on both sides of the official road gradually leveled out, and the view ahead opened up.
The Deacon riding the White Tiger turned around, his voice coming through the carriage wall:
"Fang True Disciple, Luo True Disciple, we have now arrived in Skywind Prefecture."
Fang Han slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.
Skywind Prefecture.
He remembered the name; it was separated from Qingyang Prefecture by one county, but in terms of size and prosperity, it was similar to Qingyang Prefecture.
"How much longer until we reach the Imperial Capital?"
Fang Han asked.
"At the speed of the White Tiger demon, it will take about twenty more days."
The Deacon replied.
Fang Han nodded slightly and did not ask any further questions.
In about twenty days, given his current cultivation speed, it would be enough for him to make a significant improvement in his cultivation level. Traveling by mount was indeed the right decision.
The sun gradually sank in the west.
On the horizon ahead, the outline of a city gradually became clear.
The city wall was built of bluish-gray stone blocks, about four or five zhang high, and the gate tower was majestic.
Occasionally, carriages and horses would enter and exit the city gate, while pedestrians were few and far between, and wisps of smoke could be faintly seen rising from the city.
The Deacon slowed the White Tiger down and turned back to say:
"My two True Disciple, it's getting dark. There's a city ahead. Why don't we go into the city and find an inn to rest for the night, and continue our journey early tomorrow morning?"
"Alright."
Fang Han glanced at the sky.
As night falls, it's definitely better to go into town and find an inn to stay in for the night than to spend the night in the wild.
Luo Yuntian also closed the sword manual and said.
"It would be best to stay overnight at the inn."
The Deacon responded and gently flicked the reins, and the White Tiger headed towards the city gate along the official road.
The appearance of the White Tiger's enormous size near the city gate immediately caused a commotion.
The White Tiger is pure white, nearly ten feet tall at the shoulder, and more than three feet long. Its limbs are as thick as pillars, and every step it takes is steady and powerful.
A pair of amber vertical pupils opened, and the fierce aura belonging to First Grade demon spread outwards like an invisible tide.
"What... what is that?!"
At the city gate, a peddler carrying a load on his shoulder pole was the first to notice, and his pole fell to the ground with a "thud".
The mountain produce in his basket rolled onto the ground, but he was completely unaware, staring blankly at the approaching White Tiger demon.
"A demon... a monster!"
A woman holding a child turned pale and instinctively shielded the child behind her, backing away repeatedly.
"Such a huge Tiger Demon, run!"
Someone cried out in alarm, and chaos erupted near the city gate.
Pedestrians scrambled to make way, some hiding in corners, others ducking into roadside shops, and some timid ones even turning and running away.
In an instant, a large open space appeared in front of the city gate, and everyone watched from afar as the White Tiger slowly approached, their eyes filled with fear and vigilance.
However, when someone saw the carriage on the White Tiger's back, a hint of understanding gradually appeared in their terrified eyes.
"Wait... there seems to be a carriage on the tiger's back?"
"That's really true!"
"The person in the carriage must be someone of great importance to be able to tame such a large monster as a mount..."
"You scared me! It turns out it was a tamed monster."
Quiet murmurs arose from the crowd, and those pedestrians who had originally intended to flee stopped in their tracks, curiously examining the enormous, pure white creature.
Such a gigantic monster must possess terrifying strength, and the person in the carriage who could tame such a terrifying creature as a mount must be someone of extraordinary status.
The commotion at the city gate gradually subsided; although pedestrians still kept their distance, they were no longer panicked.
Some daring children even peeked out from behind the adults, curiously gazing at the majestic White Tiger.
The Deacon drove the tiger through the city gate and walked slowly along the main street.
Shops lined both sides of the street, and pedestrians who saw the White Tiger quickly gave way and whispered among themselves.
The Deacon's gaze swept across both sides of the street, and seeing a general store by the roadside, he reined in the White Tiger, jumped down, and quickly walked into the store.
A short while later, he came out and said to Fang Han and the other person:
" True Disciple, there's an inn two streets ahead; I've heard it's fairly clean."
"Alright, let's go there."
Fang Han said.
The Deacon leaped back onto the tiger's back and steered it into a side street.
A moment later, a two-story wooden building came into view.
Above the entrance hangs a black sign with gold lettering: " Fortune Inn "). The four characters are written in a vigorous and powerful style.
Behind the inn is a stable, which is spacious enough to house the White Tiger.
The Deacon jumped down first, whispered a few words to the waiter who came to greet him, and stuffed a piece of silver into his hand. The waiter hurriedly nodded and bowed, and led the Deacon and the White Tiger to the stable to settle them.
Fang Han and Luo Yuntian leaped off the tiger's back, carrying their own bundles, and together with the Deacon had already settled the White Tiger demon, stepped into the inn's lobby.
The lobby was brightly lit, with seven or eight tables set up. Several tables were occupied by guests chatting quietly, with the occasional clinking of bowls and chopsticks.
Behind the counter, an old shopkeeper was bent over, fiddling with an abacus.
Seeing the guests enter, he raised his eyelids, glanced at them, and put on a smile, "Three esteemed guests, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"
"Check in, three superior rooms."
Fang Han said.
"Okay!"
The old shopkeeper quickly jotted down a few notes in the ledger.
"Three superior rooms, each costing two qian of silver per night, totaling six qian of silver. How many days will you be staying, sir?"
"One night is enough; prepare another table of food and wine."
Fang Han took out a piece of broken silver from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
The old shopkeeper took the money and called over a waiter to lead the three of them upstairs.
The three rooms were adjacent to each other. Fang Han chose the one in the middle, put down his package, and quickly washed up.
Before long, Luo Yuntian and the Deacon had finished getting ready, and the three of them went down to the main hall, where the reserved food and wine were already prepared.
The waiter brought over a pot of warm wine, and steaming dishes were placed on the table, their aroma filling the air.
Fang Han picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly.
Luo Yuntian also picked up his rice bowl, his movements unhurried and deliberate.
The Deacon sat opposite the two, engrossed in eating.
Inside the lobby, several tables of guests were talking in hushed tones, discussing nothing more than mundane family matters and everyday gossip, with no noteworthy news.
About half an hour later, as the three of them were finishing their dinner, the curtain in the lobby was suddenly lifted.
A figure strode in.
Two more figures stepped in shortly after.
Fang Han's gaze swept over the area, and the Teacup he was holding paused slightly.
The leader was a tall, burly man wearing a dark blue robe with silver lightning bolt patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
His face was rugged, and beneath his thick eyebrows were a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes that gleamed with a keen light when they opened and closed.
Two people followed behind him.
One of them was a young man who looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a dark blue outfit with silver lightning bolt patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
He had a dignified face with a hint of arrogance in his brows. A longsword with a sheath hung at his waist, the scabbard inlaid with several blue gems that gleamed with a cold luster under the lamplight.
The other person, dressed Deacon, was about forty years old, of medium build, with a respectful expression, and followed at the back with his hands at his sides.
"People from the Thunderlight Pavilion!"
Fang Han stirred slightly.
He recognized the attire—a dark blue robe with silver lightning bolt patterns, the very emblem of the Thunderlight Pavilion in East Foothills Prefecture.
He vaguely recognized the face of the man in the lead... It should be Lei Zheng, First Grade Elder of the Thunderlight Pavilion. Although he had never met him, he had seen his portrait.
Luo Yuntian and the Azure Profound Sect Deacon had obviously noticed it as well.
Luo Yuntian paused slightly in the hand holding the rice bowl, his gaze swept over Lei Zheng and the other two, then he lowered his eyes and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
But a very subtle ripple flashed across those calm eyes.
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon paused for a moment in mid-air with his chopsticks, his pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly lowered his gaze and continued eating.
The relationship between the Azure Profound Sect and Thunderlight Pavilion is not good. A First Grade Elder of the Thunderlight Pavilion, along with several of its most True Disciple, died at the hands of the Azure Profound Sect.
I never expected to run into people from the Thunderlight Pavilion here. What a small world! Fortunately, they're dressed in plain clothes, so they shouldn't be recognized.
Lei Zheng's gaze swept across the lobby, and he saw three empty tables in the corner. He walked straight over and sat down at the table by the window.
The young disciple and the Deacon then took their seats.
The waiter quickly stepped forward to wipe the table and set out the bowls and chopsticks.
"What would you three gentlemen like?"
The waiter asked solicitously.
"Bring a few of your best dishes and a pot of good wine."
Lei Zheng spoke, his voice low and slightly hoarse.
"Okay!"
The waiter responded and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
Lei Zheng leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping aimlessly across the lobby. It lingered on Fang Han and the other two for a moment before moving away.
Clearly, he did not recognize Fang Han and the other two.
After the young disciple sat down, his gaze swept across the inn's lobby, his brows furrowing slightly. He seemed somewhat disdainful of the rather simple environment, but ultimately said nothing more.
" Elder Lei, it will take another twenty days to reach the Imperial Capital. This journey is far too long."
The young disciple lowered his voice, his tone tinged with impatience.
Don't complain.
Lei Zheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and gave a somewhat disapproving warning.
" The Imperial Capital Martial Arts Tournament is held once every five years. Receiving an invitation is already a stroke of good fortune for you. Take good care of yourself and make sure nothing goes wrong."
During their trip to the Ancient Ruins, Thunderlight Pavilion suffered heavy losses because they coveted the spoils of the Azure Profound Sect. All the disciples on the Prodigy Ranking that they brought were wiped out. Fortunately, one disciple on the Prodigy Ranking was injured and unable to go to the Ancient Ruins, thus escaping the disaster.
With no expense spared in nurturing him, Thunderlight Pavilion forcibly raised this disciple's ranking on the Prodigy Ranking to tenth, thus securing him an invitation to the Martial Arts Tournament.
Knowing that Elder Lei Zheng's temper was not good, the young disciples dared not argue and quickly shut their mouths.
Fang Han withdrew his gaze and continued eating, showing no panic despite encountering the people from the Thunderlight Pavilion.
Few below the Grandmaster level can threaten him, and he is not afraid even if his identity is recognized.
Of course, he wouldn't reveal his identity or take action against the three of them; when traveling, it's better to avoid trouble.