Lugging the newly acquired iron cauldron, which was surprisingly heavy, and ensuring his pouch of spirit stones and herbs was secure, Gù Tiānháo navigated the less crowded streets leading towards the town's exit gate. He kept his senses alert, wary of pickpockets or anyone showing undue interest in a traveler carrying a brand-new cauldron. As he rounded a corner near a warehouse area, a familiar, robust figure almost bumped into him.
"Woah! Watch it– Oh, it's you!" The figure exclaimed, stepping back. It was Lǐ Hǔ, the sturdy young man Tiānháo had briefly encountered before entering the forest. Lǐ Hǔ looked Tiānháo up and down, his eyes widening slightly. "Gu… Young Master Gu? You look… different. Stronger. Did you also go into the forest for training?
"Tiānháo offered a non-committal grunt. "Just handling some business, Lǐ Hǔ. Still preparing for the sect exam?
"Lǐ Hǔ sighed, scratching his head. "Trying my best! That postponement was unexpected, but maybe it gives folks like me more time to catch up. Still feels like a long shot though. Anyway, good to see you looking well. Heading out already? ""Yes. Urgent matters elsewhere," Tiānháo replied curtly, not wanting to encourage further conversation or reveal his plans. He needed to find a place for alchemy, not reminisce. Lǐ Hǔ seemed to sense his haste. "Alright then. Safe travels, Young Master Gu! Hope to see you at the exam!
" With a wave, Lǐ Hǔ continued on his way, perhaps heading towards a training ground or back home.
Tiānháo watched him go for a second before resuming his path towards the gate. The brief encounter was insignificant, yet it served as a reminder of the life and ambitions he was leaving behind in Maplewood, focused entirely on his own path now. He quickened his pace, eager to leave the town's confines.
As he turned onto a quieter side street that served as a shortcut towards the southern gate, the sound of angry male voices and a distinctly female cry of distress reached him. His steps faltered, instincts honed in the forest immediately putting him on alert. He moved towards the source of the sound, keeping to the shadows of the buildings.
Peeking around the corner, he saw a scene that made his eyes narrow. Lin Xiao Yue, the herb gatherer he had saved earlier, was backed against a grimy alley wall. Blocking her escape were three young men dressed in cultivator attire, though their robes were of average quality and their demeanors were crude and leering. One, who seemed slightly older and carried himself with more arrogance, was reaching out towards her herb basket, while the other two flanked him, snickering.
"Come on, little sister," the leader was saying with a greasy smile. "Just show us what treasures you found in the forest. Maybe we can offer you a good price, eh? Or perhaps you can offer us… something else?
"Lin Xiao Yue clutched her basket protectively, her face pale but her eyes flashing with anger and fear. "Leave me alone! I have nothing valuable! Just common herbs!
""Don't be like that," another one chimed in, stepping closer. "We just want to be friendly. A pretty thing like you shouldn't be wandering around alone.
"Tiānháo felt a flicker of cold annoyance. Petty thugs preying on the weak – a common sight in any world, it seemed. He had no particular obligation to intervene again, yet the blatant bullying, combined perhaps with a residual sense of responsibility from their earlier encounter, spurred him into action. He had hoped for a quiet exit, but trouble, it seemed, had a way of finding him.