"Identification proof!"
Jiang Ming could feel an intense sense of threat from the guards at the city gate.
These guards were tall and strong, with broad shoulders and muscular waists. Crucially, each had an extremely stable stance, wrapped in an aura of Qi-Blood, each one being a first-class Martial Artist.
According to Bai Liu's account, these people were at least at the level of Martial Arts Instructors, yet they were merely ordinary soldiers here, showing how much the Great Lii Dynasty valued the defense forces of each city.
Above the city wall hung a small Bronze Vermilion Bird, swaying in the wind, its hollow eyes gazing somewhere unknown.
Jiang Ming retrieved the identification proof of his original self; the Jiang Family Village was sizable, already filed in Evergreen City.
The wooden token was carved with 'Jiang', followed by special markings indicating its identity as a village outside the city.
Evergreen City was large, with main roads wide enough for four carts to run side by side.
In stark contrast to the atmosphere outside the city, inside was harmonious. Although it was dusk, many shops had lit their lamps. Even as nightfall approached, the streets remained brightly lit, radiating an ancient society's prosperity.
There were no evil spirits appearing in the city at night, and all those who entered the city breathed a sigh of relief.
People from inside the city and those from outside viewed this world differently.
For villages like Jiang Ming's, which survived by offering sacrifices to the Evil God, their perception of the world was extremely dangerous. Even with the Evil God's protection, villagers occasionally died at the hands of evil apparitions.
But for those in the city, this world was safe, with the thick city walls dividing civilization from fear.
Bright lights lined the streets at night, with young masters and ladies in silk garments walking along, alongside hawkers sweating over their goods.
Tall buildings rose within the city, although not matching the modern era Jiang Ming once knew, far surpassing the ancient times he'd known.
Jiang Ming's eyes sparkled as he looked around. His youthful, energetic face, filled with Essence, Qi, and Spirit, contrasted sharply with the patched burlap clothes worn by farmers, attracting some curious glances.
Where would upper-class people come from in Jiang Family Village? It was a place where everyone worked in the fields, production lagged behind, and most clothing had patches.
Jiang Ming ignored these gazes; after asking a few people, he arrived at an inn.
Jiang Ming took a seat with impunity, signaled with his hand, and a waiter approached.
"Guest, what would you like?"
The waiter didn't show any disdain due to Jiang Ming's attire.
"Five pounds of beef, ten large white buns, and then give me a high-class room."
"Guest..." Before the waiter finished speaking, a slight trace of Qi-Blood emanated from Jiang Ming.
The waiter immediately said, "Alright, guest, I will arrange it for you right away."
The waiter's attitude immediately became respectful.
This was advice from Bai Liu to Jiang Ming; Martial Artists were naturally given preferential treatment over ordinary people.
Not only because Martial Artists wielded power, but also due to wealthy warriors; some might disdain nouveau riche, but nobody would disdain Martial Artists.
The inn typically prepared exclusive rooms for traveling Martial Artists.
Jiang Ming was already a student of martial arts, with a voracious appetite. He had already consumed all the dry provisions; he was famished along the way.
Such food was trivial for Jiang Ming.
Jiang Ming's ravenous eating attracted quite a bit of attention. One or two people watching expressed interest and approached Jiang Ming, asking something.
Jiang Ming politely declined to converse with them.
This was also Bai Liu's teaching.
In Evergreen City, Martial Artists were split into three groups: one from various Martial Arts Halls, the second from family-hired martial guardians, the third being Great Lii's official Martial Artists.
Among them, joining a Martial Arts Hall was the best choice; the second option was limited in prospects, the third too dangerous.
Of course, Martial Arts Hall Martial Artists could also potentially become guardians or officials, though joining a hall undoubtedly offered more options.
Those people spoke well, smiling amiably.
But their intent was to lure Jiang Ming to serve their families, becoming a family guardian which was far more restricted than joining a hall.
If not for Bai Liu, Jiang Ming might be tempted, but now it's different.
Seeing Jiang Ming remain unmoved, these people deemed him uninteresting, politely bid farewell, keeping proper respect towards a Martial Artist.
After eating and drinking his fill, Jiang Ming estimated the cost and retrieved a handful of small silver pieces from his pocket.
Despite the Jiang Family Village being poor, Jiang Ming collected the entire heritage of the village; thanks to the elders, he didn't find himself washing dishes upon arriving in town and could instead use these assets to accomplish things.
"Waiter, collect the money."
Jiang Ming called the waiter and pushed forward the silver.
"Guest, this is too much." Jiang Ming had given small silver pieces; the waiter attempted to return some.
Jiang Ming said, "Waiter, I'd like to ask you about something."
The waiter immediately understood and nodded, speaking in low tones, "Guest, you're asking the right person. I've worked here nearly seven or eight years and know quite a bit about Martial Artists; ask away."
The waiter's eyes flickered with fervor, reluctantly shifting his gaze from the silver, which equaled half a year's wages.
"Waiter, are you aware of the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall?"
The waiter instantly nodded, saying, "Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall is in the west of the city; we're in the east. Though ranked lower in the Evergreen Martial Arts Hall rankings, it has a great reputation among the people, often hiring from outside villages and inside merchants..."
Jiang Ming nodded, continuing to ask, "Then, are you aware of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall?"
The waiter immediately replied, "Everyone knows the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall; it's one of the top halls in Evergreen City, far stronger than the Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall, consistently in the top three of the city's hall rankings for a long time."
"Oh?"
A hint of doubt flashed in Jiang Ming's eyes. Bai Liu had mentioned the White Cloud Hall's strength as not weak but only ranked in the top ten among halls.
"Do you know a White Cloud Hall Master named… Bai Changfeng?"
The waiter seemed curious, saying, "Old Bai Changfeng, wasn't he the old Hall Master who just retired last year?"
Jiang Ming's eyes widened suddenly; he clenched the table tightly, embedding two handprints within it.
Jiang Ming forced down his inner agitation, pressing further, "Who is the current White Cloud Hall Master?"
The waiter smiled inscrutably, saying, "Who doesn't know that? That's Lord Bai Liu, known as the White Cloud Fairy."
Bai Liu?
"How old is she!"
Jiang Ming's question was immediate.
The waiter froze momentarily, thinking before saying, "About twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven maybe, but Lord Bai Liu said she wouldn't marry, fully dedicated to the Martial Dao."
Jiang Ming instinctively reached toward his chest.
The Blood-red Jade Pendant and Purple Wood Token lay quietly there, extremely real.
But...
Bai Liu was alive and well.
Yet, he'd met Bai Liu from ten years ago. No, not right; which Bai Liu...
Which Bai Liu was the real one!
Jiang Ming wanted to ask further but realized these questions were beyond what a waiter could answer, such as whether a father and daughter had traveled out ten years ago.
Jiang Ming asked several more questions.
He eliminated the possibility of Bai Liu's sister Bai Zhi posing as Bai Liu and ruled out Bai Changfeng being an impersonator.
Both advanced rapidly ten years ago, and city folks are unlikely to be blind.
Other information also matched what Bai Liu had told him, confirming identities couldn't be falsified.
Jiang Ming suppressed his restless heart.
He tossed out a piece of silver for the damaged table, which made the waiter widen his eyes.
Jiang Ming silently entered his room.
He closed the doors and windows, lighting the room's incense.
Jiang Ming sat cross-legged on the bed.
Faced with this world's oddities, if one doesn't know the details.
The best method was to exert overwhelming strength!
"Jiuzhou Simulation, start!"
A golden scroll unfolded before Jiang Ming.
Golden light gradually engulfed the room, forming a golden domain.
[Host Information]
[Name: Jiang Ming]
[Talent: None]
[Cultivation: Late-Stage Acquired Mortal (Not on the Immortal Path)]
[Storage Space: None]
[Archival Card: None]
[Simulation Count: 1]
[Spirit Points: 20.48]
[Currently conducting reincarnated simulation: Li Jin]
[Spend Spirit Points *2 to begin the second simulation of this reincarnation?]
"Yes!"