Were cultivators from the Human Domain always so unrestrained?
Wasn't it said that their Northern Wilderness was quite open-minded, while the Human Domain itself was refined, reserved, and laden with intricate rituals?
Wu Wang forced an unsightly smile. The male cultivator beside him immediately showed a hint of disappointment; however, this male cultivator was a man of his word and discreetly passed a small bag of Jade-based Currency to him.
In the Nine Wildernesses, the types of currency varied. The Human Domain, with its many cultivators, consumed Spirit Stones for cultivation. These depleted Spirit Stones were then uniformly processed into Jade-based Currency, circulating both within and outside the Human Domain.
Generally, among the currencies of the Nine Wildernesses, the Jade Coins of the Human Domain held the highest value.
The Ore Coins of the Northern Wilderness were actually forged in imitation of the Human Domain's Jade Coins and were difficult to circulate. Bartering was more common among the clans.
Wu Wang pocketed the small bag of currency and gestured, "Please."
The male cultivator surnamed Ji waved his hand, saying he had long abstained from grains and did not consume meat or bloody foods. He did, however, lift his wine bowl and take several large gulps.
"Ha—the wine of the Northern Wilderness really packs a punch."
Wu Wang asked in a gruff voice, "Are you all from the Human Domain?"
"Indeed," the cultivator surnamed Ji clasped his hands in a bow and smiled. "I am Ji Mo. May I ask your esteemed name, brother?"
"You people certainly have a formal way of speaking," Wu Wang grinned. "I'm Hou Di, a hunter. I don't often see people from the Human Domain dressed like you."
"Brother Hou Di!"
Ji Mo bowed slightly, ignoring the few disdainful glances cast his way, and smiled.
"May I ask which clan Brother Hou Di hails from? To be honest, I've come to the Northern Wilderness this time to find two clans primarily of the Human race, to discuss some important matters."
"I'm from the Big Wave Tribe!"
A 'delighted' expression appeared on Wu Wang's face as he grinned. "Our clan is the largest in the Northern Wilderness, and our Clan Leader is especially hospitable. Let me give you a little tip: as long as you say a few good words about our Young Master, everything is negotiable!"
"What a coincidence! We are indeed looking for the Big Wave Tribe and the Bear Hug Tribe."
Ji Mo clasped his hands again and immediately produced a bulging pouch from his sleeve, saying warmly,
"I wonder if I might trouble Brother Hou Di for a few hours? I have a flying artifact that allows for swift travel.
Please, Brother Hou Di, guide us to the territory of the Big Wave Tribe. This is a token of appreciation for your help; please accept it!"
"Ah, no need, no need. I can't go; I have other things to do."
Wu Wang repeatedly declined, adding, "Brother, didn't you already give me a bag? I can't help you find a 'slender waist' in the Northern Wilderness, nor can I take you to our clan's territory. It wouldn't be right to accept more from you."
Silence.
The dozen or so cultivators, apart from the woman in the plain skirt and bamboo hat, all turned to look.
One male cultivator sneered, "If Daoist Ji Mo is in such a hurry, he can go seek his pleasures alone. We can wait for his return here."
Ji Mo glanced at Wu Wang, somewhat speechless, but his expression remained composed. He smiled and said,
"All my fellow Daoists know of my fondness for beauty. It's a rare trip to the Northern Wilderness, so naturally, I wish to experience it.
However, leisure must not interfere with serious matters. I can still distinguish between the trivial and the important."
Another female cultivator sighed, "The Ji Family has, for generations, produced loyal and heroic individuals who have made illustrious contributions to the Human Domain in war. Why is it that in your generation, Daoist Ji Mo, the family's reputation has been so tarnished?
Daoist Ji Mo, you should walk the righteous path, not stray onto deviant ways.
If you disregard propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor, are you not betraying the teachings of our ancestors?"
Ji Mo smiled and shook his head, bowing to the female cultivator. "Thank you for your concern, fellow Daoist. I am accustomed to being carefree. My apologies, my apologies."
Seeing the fleeting desolation in Ji Mo's eyes, Wu Wang felt a slight pang of... embarrassment.
He had intentionally mentioned the 'slender waist' earlier to embarrass the man, not expecting Ji Mo's situation within their small group to be so awkward.
The woman in the plain skirt and bamboo hat, who had been quietly sipping tea, suddenly rose.
When she spoke, her voice was like the tinkling of a mountain spring or the strumming of harp strings.
Her voice was clear and cool, her words like perfectly rounded pearls.
"It is useless to linger here. Let us first go to the Bear Hug Tribe to ascertain the details regarding Daoist Zuo Dong's beloved disciple. If the Young Master of the Bear Hug Tribe has indeed bullied a cultivator from the Human Domain, we must seek an explanation from them."
Her voice was truly smooth.
The group of cultivators, Ji Mo included, all stood up. Without further words, they headed downstairs.
As Ji Mo was leaving, he gave Wu Wang a somewhat helpless look and smiled. "Thank you for the fine wine, brother."
"Um, did I misspeak earlier...?"
"Hahaha! No matter! I was the one who asked the question; it has nothing to do with you, brother."
Ji Mo waved his hand, his folding fan snapping open with a POP. Laughing heartily, he strode away.
"All the world loves beauty, for me they seek this truth; through a whirlwind of blossoms, I alone am the connoisseur of charm."
Wu Wang was speechless.
Although he couldn't pinpoint what was off, he felt that this fellow was justifying himself with flimsy arguments.
"Get down."
A soft reprimand suddenly came from downstairs.
Wu Wang stood up and peered over, only to see the group of cultivators already standing on a giant sword. The woman wearing the bamboo hat had spoken, and Ji Mo obediently jumped off the edge of the massive blade.
The female cultivator at the forefront brought her sword fingers together. Amidst the admiring gasps of the onlookers, the giant sword, enveloped in a layer of rosy light, slowly ascended and then shot off towards the northwest.
"Hey! Brother Ji!" Wu Wang called out.
On the street below, Ji Mo shook his head, casually tossed out a Lotus Platform, and gracefully stepped onto it.
"Hahaha!"
Ji Mo threw his head back and laughed again, then promptly recited a poem. His folding fan swayed gently as he leisurely pursued them in the northwestern direction.
"A hidden orchid blooms in the deep vale, her idle grace a gift from heaven's veil. Brows like kingfisher plumes, skin like snow, alas, unvisited, her lonely tale."
With that, he drifted away, giving Wu Wang no chance to offer any comfort.
Truth be told, this guy's skin was really thick.
But...
You seem to be going in the wrong direction; my home is to the east. Never mind, they can't hear me.
Wu Wang chuckled to himself. He sat there a while longer, observing the eyes of more than a dozen young women.
Only after confirming that the group of Human Domain cultivators had flown far away did he rise and leave.
Before departing the marketplace, Wu Wang casually spent the bag of Jade Coins, buying a large iron hammer as a gift for the aunty.
He didn't immediately tell Lin Suqing that Daoist Zuo Dong had come looking for her, intending it as a surprise.
Wu Wang had always known.
The departure of her junior martial brothers and sisters years ago had left a knot, neither too large nor too small, in Lin Suqing's heart.
The journey from the Northern Wilderness to the Human Domain was long. Without a Cloud Boat, crossing the sea would take half a year to three years. Lin Suqing consoled herself with this, believing that a letter from her Sect must surely be on its way.
The letter needn't contain many words; just her name would suffice to show that the Clear Wind and Moon Sect hadn't forgotten her.
—The aunty had indeed said as much once when she was drunk.
Wu Wang hadn't expected Daoist Zuo Dong to come looking for Lin Suqing personally.
Among this group of Human Domain cultivators, the one who had made the best impression on him was this old Daoist.
"Suqing."
Wu Wang leaned back in the soft seat, wiping the marks left by the mask from his face. He smiled, "What do you think? How has this Young Master treated you?"
"Very well, of course."
Lin Suqing couldn't help but sit up straighter, pursing her lips. She looked away and said, "Young Master, the iron hammer you gave me... I like it very much."
"Is that so?"
Wu Wang smiled, gazing at the ink-washed eastern sky, and said no more.
Beside him, Lin Suqing... beads of cold sweat began to form on her forehead.
Surely not? Did the Young Master make a special trip back to the market to investigate her taking kickbacks? She really only took two boxes of beauty ointments! And the treasures she selected for the Young Master were all chosen after carefully comparing prices at three different shops to find the best quality at a relatively low price! She truly hadn't wronged the Young Master!
Lin Suqing's lips trembled. She quickly said, "Young Master, I..."
"Five years have passed in a flash," Wu Wang chuckled. "In another year, you can go back. Do you miss home?"
Lin Suqing tilted her head and asked softly, "Can I... not go?"
Wu Wang sent a voice transmission: "I'll be going to the Human Domain soon."
"That's right! Then I'll go with you, Young Master, to explore the Human Domain!"
Lin Suqing's eyes darted around as she continued via voice transmission, "The Human Domain is so vast, with complex factions and myriad rules. Without a good guide, it's easy to be tricked!"
"A guide is fine, but there'll be no wages."
Wu Wang squinted, smiling, his mood considerably lighter. "It's your decision. Don't rush; just give me your answer later."
The Young Master is acting a bit strange today, Lin Suqing muttered to herself but didn't dwell on it.
…
Ordinarily, with the Human Domain cultivators traveling by air and Wu Wang's party relying on giant wolves on the ground, even if the wolves were swift and the other party had taken a wrong turn, the former should have reached the Bear Hug Tribe's territory first.
But…
Wu Wang's caravan returned all the way to the Royal Court without sighting the group of cultivators.
He waited specifically in the Royal Court for half a day, then a full day, two days, three days… and still, no cultivators descended from the sky.
Did they change their minds? Did they pass by the lair of a Ten-Thousand-Year Ferocious Beast and get swallowed whole? Yes, the skies over the Northern Wilderness were often prowled by fierce, eagle-like ferocious beasts; perhaps they were already gone.
He saw the group of cultivators from the tavern again five days after his return to the Royal Court…
A giant Longsword slowly descended from the sky, alarming the Royal Court's defense forces.
Giant wolf riders mobilized swiftly, anti-air ballistae took aim, and horns signaling emergency evasion sounded throughout the area. If Wu Wang hadn't issued orders in time, they might have already lit the wolf smoke signals for aid, following the 'Heavenly Bestowment Response Protocol.'
The moment the giant Longsword landed, a large contingent of giant wolf riders, armed with massive crossbows, surrounded the group tightly.
The leading female cultivator in the bamboo hat turned her head slightly and said, "Regarding our getting lost this time, I request that none of you discuss it further."
The group of cultivators nodded repeatedly. Ji Mo, standing at the rear, almost couldn't suppress a laugh.
Before the royal tent, Wu Wang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, having meticulously dressed for the occasion. Lin Suqing, standing behind him, had changed into an ice-blue long dress. While one couldn't say she outshone all beauties in the Northern Wilderness, she definitely held a place on the list of older-but-still-beautiful young women.
Wu Wang smiled. "Suqing, do you recognize that old Daoist?"
Lin Suqing had been wondering why the Young Master had insisted she dress up so carefully these past few days. Hearing his words, she looked towards the crowd and, among the bobbing heads, found that aged face.
"Master!"
Her jaw nearly dropped. She cheered and was about to run over, but then she called out to Wu Wang,
"May I go, Young Master? Can I go see my master, Young Master! That's my master!"
"Go on, quickly."
Wu Wang urged her. Seeing Lin Suqing lift her skirts and prepare to run, he called out to her again.
"You'll dirty your dress. Someone, carry her over."
Immediately, seven or eight guards brought over a beast-hide chair, had Lin Suqing sit on it, and then, hoisting the chair, sprinted away.
Next came the touching, tearful reunion of master and disciple.
By the time Lin Suqing was carried outside the Royal Court, the giant wolf riders had already received Wu Wang's command to part and form a passage, allowing these Human Cultivators to wait there.
Lin Suqing leaped from the chair, unable to stop herself from shouting at the top of her lungs,
"Mas—ter—!"
"Ah?"
Daoist Zuo Dong heard the voice and looked over. Tears instantly streamed down his old face. He took a few steps forward, then looked with some suspicion at the female cultivator rushing towards him.
"Fellow Daoist, are you calling me?"
Lin Suqing bounded up to Daoist Zuo Dong, wiped her tears, and said joyfully, "Master, it's me!"
"You're Suqing?"
Daoist Zuo Dong's eyes were filled with disbelief. He took out a painted scroll from his robes, held it up, and scrutinized it.
"Suqing, you… how have you changed so much? Your master almost didn't recognize you."
"Hehe," Lin Suqing giggled. "It's my Young... *cough*, it was Xiong Ba. He found many natural treasures for me. Your disciple also took Elixirs refined from Xun Grass."
She pinched her skirt and twirled in front of her master. Only after completing her spin did she notice more than a dozen young men and women standing behind him, and she immediately composed herself, becoming dignified and profound.
"Master, has your illness fully healed?"
"It's all thanks to you," Daoist Zuo Dong said, overcome with emotion. "Not only has your master recovered, but my cultivation has also broken through, and I've formed a Golden Core. It was because of my secluded cultivation that I was delayed and only now came to the Northern Wilderness to find you. Master has wronged you, Suqing…"
"Suqing, bring your revered teacher inside to catch up."
Wu Wang's voice carried from a distance. Lin Suqing immediately said, "The one speaking is… my Young Master. The Spiritual Core was his gift to us. Master, let's go inside."
Hearing this, Daoist Zuo Dong glanced at the cultivators behind him and asked in a low voice,
"Suqing, have you… pledged yourself to this man?
Your master came this time specifically to take you back to the Human Domain. If you've suffered any grievances, don't keep them bottled up."
Lin Suqing murmured, "I rather wish I could pledge myself…"
"What?"
"Er, Master, you've misunderstood!"
Lin Suqing clasped her hands behind her back, cleared her throat, glanced at the other cultivators, and said to her master,
"Our Young Master has lofty ambitions and a noble character. He is upright and magnanimous, possessing the air of a true gentleman.
He had your disciple stay in the Northern Wilderness merely because he is curious about the Human Domain and wanted me to stay here for six years to tell him about its various aspects.
These past few years, your disciple hasn't suffered the slightest grievance. On the contrary, everyone in the Bear Hug Tribe has treated me with utmost courtesy.
Master, the six-year term is not yet complete, so your disciple will not return with you.
Once I have fulfilled my promise, I will naturally return to the Clear Wind and Moon Sect to reunite with you, Master, and my junior martial brothers and sisters for a time."
Daoist Zuo Dong nodded repeatedly as he listened, his eyes filled with nothing but gratification as he looked at his disciple, radiant as she was.
Just then, a somewhat grating voice interjected from the side,
"What kind of bewitching potion has this Young Master of the Bear Hug Tribe fed the Senior's disciple? After serving him for several years, has she forgotten her roots? Does she still wish to remain here?"
Lin Suqing's pretty face turned cold. She looked up at the male cultivator who had spoken but immediately felt the pressure of his cultivation realm.
Swallow it; I can't beat him.
Daoist Zuo Dong's expression was slightly awkward, but he still turned, bowed to the male cultivator with a forced smile, and said,
"You jest, fellow Daoist. My young disciple is keeping her promise, which gratifies me.
Moreover, my disciple also said that the Young Master is not some wicked beast but possesses the air of a gentleman…"
The male cultivator shook his head but said no more, his expression tinged with sarcasm.
"Fellow Daoist Wang Lin."
Ji Mo, at the very back, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's gaze.
He was frowning, tapping his folding fan against his palm. After a moment's thought, he asked,
"Are you, by any chance, ill?"
Wang Lin's eyes widened, momentarily stunned.
Ji Mo, however, his face cold and shedding his usual playful demeanor, berated the man,
"Have you forgotten why you're here? Don't you have any sense?
Putting on airs when you're the one asking for help—could you be the rumored spy who has infiltrated the Human Domain?
Hmph! If you can't speak properly, then shut up. If you jeopardize the mission, not even your Sect will be able to protect you."
With that, Ji Mo turned to Lin Suqing, his gaze frank and open. He bowed deeply. "This person has always been pampered and arrogant. Please forgive any disrespect he may have shown, fellow Daoist."
Wang Lin roared, "Ji Mo, you—!"
CLANG!
With the ring of a sword, the woman wearing the bamboo hat flashed forward, appearing before Wang Lin in an instant. The edge of her Longsword was at his throat, a hair's breadth from piercing it.
"Shut up. Retreat thirty miles."
Ji Mo, without looking back, smiled at Lin Suqing. "Fellow Daoist, I wonder if you could introduce us to this esteemed Young Master?"
Lin Suqing managed a weak smile, a hint of anger still in her eyes.
Before the Royal Court, Wu Wang watched the Crystal Ball in his hand with keen interest. His finger tapped it lightly, but his gaze was fixed on Wang Lin.
Closing his eyes, then opening them, Wu Wang's eyes filled with a silvery-white light as he pointed a finger at the Crystal Ball.
The Crystal Ball trembled faintly. The group from the Human Domain instantly dissolved into wisps of smoke. What surprised Wu Wang slightly was that the smoke from the woman wearing the bamboo hat was almost pure white, nearly devoid of any distracting thoughts.
As for Wang Lin, who had been mocking Ji Mo since the tavern…
White mixed with black, and black concealing traces of blood… he's definitely trouble.