A young cultivator stepped down from the silver-gray flying vessel on the docking platform. He wore a bamboo-green Daoist robe trimmed in silver, his face hard and sharp as if carved by a blade, his eyes fierce and bright.
After leaving the platform, he stood beneath the glazed canopy of the station and looked outside. A fine drizzle was falling, leaving the jade-paved avenue slick with rain. It seemed the downpour would only grow heavier.
He neither took one of the crafted carriages at the station nor used his magic to ward off the rain. Instead, he took an oil-paper umbrella from his star pouch, opened it, and stepped into the rain.
Once inside the city, he would occasionally stop at shops along the street to buy some small trinket. As he made his purchases, he would casually ask a few questions, most of them concerning the Eastern Court Profound Residence.
There had always been quite a few cultivators from the Profound Residence in the Protectorate Office, and now many outside cultivators had arrived as well. Thus, the shopkeepers found nothing strange in his inquiries. They answered whatever he asked, their manner entirely natural.
At this point, he entered a bamboo ware shop and noticed a vermilion tassel knot hanging before the door. It was exquisitely crafted and charming to behold. He praised, "Fine workmanship."
The shopkeeper came over with a smile. "You have a keen eye, sir. An old master craftsman from Jade Capital made this by hand. He can only make three a month, and the one in your hand is the last one."
The young cultivator asked, "How much?"
The shopkeeper raised one finger. "One Celestial Xia gold yuan."
The young cultivator pondered this. "That is rather expensive."
The shopkeeper smiled. "You will not find this craftsmanship