New World

The city gates were nothing like Xue Mu had imagined—far from heavily guarded, there was not even half a guard in sight. Was it because personal martial strength in this bizarre world was too high, making gate guards useless? Or had civilization advanced to a certain point where there was no need to guard the gates at all?

The gates stood wide open, with pedestrians streaming in and out. Looking through them, he could see a broad avenue more than ten zhang wide, packed with carriages and horses in a bustling spectacle.

The buildings along the street carried something of the flavor of the Song era. The storefronts were prosperous, cries of vendors rose and fell one after another, and crowds thronged the roads. Passersby wore all manner of clothing, each carrying sabers or swords. Most wore the garb of wandering martial artists, though there were also many in splendid brocade robes. Yet not a single scholar in Confucian dress was to be seen. Still, it had the look of a civilized society rather than some barbaric wilderness. Overall, even the flourishing ancient prosperity seen in television dramas was no more than this. It was quite unlike the savage world of violence without culture that Xue Mu had imagined.

The group slowly made its way inside. Xue Mu leaned closer to Yue Xiaochan and asked in a low voice, "What is going on with this city? Why do I feel like my whole body is being crushed so hard I can barely breathe?"

Yue Xiaochan was looking around as though admiring the prosperity of the Capital City. She answered absentmindedly, "At the Son of Heaven's feet, you know... The core effect of the first of the World-Suppressing Nine Cauldrons. The Non-Violation Array covers the entire city, restricting martial arts and prohibiting flight. Even I can't bring out half my strength. The fact that you can still breathe is no small feat. Don't panic. You'll get used to it."

Xue Mu had no idea what the World-Suppressing Tripod was, but it sounded impressive. Still, it was obvious that an object used to construct the Capital City's core array had to be something extremely high-end. He subconsciously looked at his palm again. Could this Bronze Fragment truly be connected to the so-called World-Suppressing Tripod?

It seemed even more worth looking forward to...

But then again, flight... Xue Mu sighed. "You people can really fly..."

"When you enter the Spirit Return Realm and connect to the Bridge of Heaven and Earth, you will be able to fly as well." Yue Xiaochan said it as lightly as if it were something utterly trivial. Yet Xue Mu could clearly sense that her mind was elsewhere. Following her gaze, he saw a side street to the right of the avenue. At its end, people surged in waves around an arena. A flag had been planted atop it, bearing the words: Friendly Martial Exchange.

That was right—friendly martial exchange, not a martial contest to choose a husband. It looked like an extremely common sight. Many passersby did not even spare it a glance, showing that such arenas were commonplace and nothing unusual.

At that moment, a bearded brute on the stage let out a sharp roar. From more than a zhang away from his opponent, he hurled himself forward and punched straight ahead. A vivid phantom of a ferocious tiger rose around him, his fist positioned right at its gaping jaws. A tiger's roar burst forth, its bloody maw and fangs clearly visible, carrying an awe-inspiring divine might.

His opponent was a young man in a brocade robe. Clearly unwilling to receive that earthshaking blow head-on, he retreated half a step and twisted aside. His palms came together like a blade, slashing diagonally at the brute's wrist. With that motion, a piercing shriek suddenly tore through the air and crashed thunderously against the tiger's roar.

The air atop the arena exploded, smoke scattering in every direction. Before long, the brocade-robed youth was still the one who suffered. He staggered back several steps, his face alternating between green and red. The bearded brute smiled and cupped his hands. "Brother Jin, thank you for yielding."

The brocade-robed youth reluctantly returned the gesture, turned, and stepped down from the stage. He was quite forthright about it. The bearded brute raised his right hand high on the platform, enjoying the praise of the spectators below. Others consoled the brocade-robed youth. Such seemed to be the local custom; victories and defeats on the arena were simply too common.

Xue Mu and Yue Xiaochan's convoy finally rolled slowly past the mouth of the side street, and they could no longer see what was happening there. Seeing that Yue Xiaochan still seemed distracted, Xue Mu could not help asking, "What's wrong? Were they strong enough to make you feel pressured?"

Yue Xiaochan murmured as if talking to herself, "A third-rate sect like the Fierce Tiger Sect actually has a disciple at the Form-Manifestation Stage, and his use of strength has already grasped the essence of it. He harnesses force through momentum, with no small measure of ingenuity."

Xue Mu listened in awe despite not understanding much. "Is he really stronger than you?"

Yue Xiaochan seemed to come back to herself at last and laughed. "Of course not. He is far beneath me."

"Then what are you getting nervous about?"

"Because... if even a third-rate sect can cultivate such an outstanding disciple, then who knows how many fine seedlings the Eight Great Sects of the Righteous Path possess? Perhaps those so-called Ten Hidden Dragon Prodigies really are stronger than me?" Yue Xiaochan said softly, "I still need to work harder."

Seeing this ever-smiling little girl reveal such rare seriousness and worry, Xue Mu could not help comforting her. "You're only thirteen or fourteen this year, aren't you? Why compare yourself with some Ten Prodigies who are already famous?"

"I am Yue Xiaochan." Yue Xiaochan stopped walking and raised her head, looking very seriously into Xue Mu's eyes. "The sect's future rests entirely upon me. Only strength is the foundation of everything. To fall even half a step behind them would be an unforgivable sin!"

The shift in mood made Xue Mu feel a little unaccustomed to it. He wanted to say something, but no words came out.

This girl truly was not merely a carefree little girl who always smiled, nor merely a demoness who treated human lives as nothing and dug out eyes at the slightest provocation... At that instant, the feeling she gave him was rather beautiful...

But how should he put it? Her chest had not even filled out yet, and her shoulders were so slender that they looked as though a single squeeze could crush them. The image of this little girl stood in stark contrast to such a heavy sense of mission, making it hard to breathe.

Xue Mu could not help turning to look at the carriage, wondering whether Xue Qingqiu had heard her disciple's words and what she thought of them.

She was surely only very gratified, wasn't she?

Xue Mu shook his head with a smile and fell silent for a while.

Fragments of conversation from pedestrians on the street drifted into Xue Mu's ears. Once again, he felt utterly out of place in this world. Even his mindset as an onlooker felt as though it had slipped out of the scene... Just listen to these bizarre exchanges:

"Ah, Brother Zhang, your face is glowing with springtime joy. Did something happy happen?"

"My son passed Seven Profound Valley's examination yesterday and successfully became an outer disciple!"

"Then congratulations indeed!"

"Haha, same to you, same to you."

"Brother Li, I have gained some insights from White Clouds Emerging from the Peak recently. Shall we find a place tonight to test and spar over them?"

"That sounds perfect. I'll prepare a little wine at home tonight. Wouldn't it be delightful for us to drink wine and discuss martial arts?"

"Hey, Old Wang, I heard you've been in seclusion for many days. How has your training gone?"

"Not bad. Tonight I'm going to Hundred Flowers Garden to show off a move before Little Lotus. I guarantee that woman's heart will be all aflutter."

The more Xue Mu listened, the more speechless he became. Even visiting prostitutes was about showing off martial arts? Just imagining the scene was too beautiful—he simply had no strength left to mock it.

Wait... Hundred Flowers Garden. Why did that sound somewhat familiar?

He tentatively asked Yue Xiaochan, "Earlier, when you were talking about profit and loss, did you mention Hundred Flowers Garden?"

"Mm-hm." Yue Xiaochan's thoughts also pulled free of that sense of mission. She nodded her little head with a smile. "That is one of our properties in the Capital City."

Xue Mu continued to confirm, "A brothel?"

Yue Xiaochan shot him a seemingly smiling glance. Her smile actually carried several hints of charm, and even her voice turned syrupy. "Oh? What is it? Is our Lord Xue interested? Shall your little sister call a few girls over to keep you company? Consider it a reward for telling such good stories."

Xue Mu pinched the bridge of his nose, still not knowing what to say.

You people went on and on about being the sect's future, about strength being the foundation of everything. I thought you were some lofty organization, but after all that, you run a whorehouse!

So I thought I had applied to be the Mafia's financial officer, when in fact I was just an accountant at a bathhouse in Dongguan, right?