Strolling through the village streets, Wei was struck by how clean and orderly everything was. Not that he'd looked down on the place, but based on his knowledge of cultivation novels, most settings had a gritty, Middle Ages vibe—dusty roads, ramshackle huts, and all. The stronger the cultivators, the more pristine and elegant their surroundings tended to be. This village, though, defied his expectations for a backwater settlement.
He'd already gauged the general strength of the place. Ordinary villagers' momentum was either at the early Spiritual Sense Realm or lacked any cultivation energy entirely. The guards hovered around mid-level Spiritual Sense, while the strongest presence he'd sensed so far—likely a local leader—was at the peak of the realm. This was both a blessing and a curse. A weaker village meant fewer threats and easier access to basic information, but it also meant high-level secrets would be harder to come by.
Shaking off his musings, Wei focused on his destination. Ahead stood the inn, right in the heart of the village, its sign proudly declaring it the Venerable Inn. The name struck him as odd, but he brushed it aside. Next to it was an herb shop that seemed to double as a clinic. With his goal in sight, he pushed open the inn's door.
Inside, the inn was surprisingly well-decorated—not ostentatious, but clearly a cut above what he'd expect from a village. The furnishings hinted at modest wealth, with polished wooden tables and tasteful hangings that gave the place a cozy yet refined air. Wei approached the counter, where a young woman sat, engrossed in a notebook.
"Excuse me," he said, "is this Madam Yue's inn?"
"Hmm?" The young woman looked up, setting her notebook aside as she stood. "Yes, you've found the right place. You're a new face, aren't you? If you're looking for a room, we've got plenty. And if you need healing or remedies, the clinic next door can help."
"No, I don't need treatment, thank you," Wei replied. "I was hoping to speak with Madam Yue, if she's available."
Before the young woman could respond, a faint pulse of soul power brushed against Wei. His muscles tensed, instincts screaming to retaliate, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Tell the boy to come in," a voice called from behind the counter, startling the young woman. She recovered quickly, gesturing toward a doorway. "It seems Grandma wants to see you too. She's in the second room in the back."
Wary now, Wei hesitated before steeling himself and stepping through the doorway. He found the specified room and opened the door to reveal an old woman seated in a rocking chair by a crackling fireplace. She turned slowly, her piercing gaze locking onto his. "Welcome, young man," she said, her voice calm but laced with curiosity. "How can I help you?"
Something in her eyes felt… searching, as if she were probing for answers to questions, he couldn't guess.
"Greetings, Madam Yue," Wei began, bowing slightly. "My name is Dan Wei, son of a merchant from a nearby town. While traveling, we were attacked by magical beasts. My father… likely didn't survive, and I lost all my belongings. The guards suggested I seek employment here to earn enough to return home."
Madam Yue listened silently, her expression unreadable. Without a word, she drew a tea set from a storage ring and began preparing tea. Once it was ready, she gestured to a chair. "Sit, young man. Have a cup of tea."
Wei obeyed, though he hesitated as he lifted the cup to his lips. Noticing his reluctance, Madam Yue chuckled softly. "No need to worry—I haven't poisoned it. I understand you've had a rough day and are feeling cautious."
He sipped the tea, reasoning that his soul power and spiritual strength would likely protect him from any poison. Even if something were amiss, he was confident he could stay conscious long enough to level this village if needed.
"You weren't entirely honest with me just now," Madam Yue said, her tone gentle but pointed. "Your story about the attack and your father may hold some truth, but it wasn't beasts, was it? You're a long way from home, aren't you, young master?"
Her words hit like a thunderbolt. Wei sprang from his chair, the tea cup slipping from his hand to shatter on the floor. In an instant, he summoned his puppet from his storage ring. It loomed beside him, radiating an oppressive aura. His mind raced—had she recognized him? No, that was impossible. A strange calm settled over him, unexpected and disorienting.
"What was in that tea?" he demanded, his voice low and threatening as he raised a hand. "Answer me, or I swear I'll reduce this village to ashes."
Madam Yue paused, her eyes flickering to the broken cup with a sigh. "Such a waste of good tea." She bowed her head slightly. "I mean you no harm, young master. The tea is a treasure, meant to calm the mind. You saw me drink from the same pot—I'm fine, and so are you. As for my words, they're merely observations. If you'll allow me, I can explain."
Wei scanned his body, finding no signs of poison, only that lingering calm. Conflicted but unwilling to resort to violence without cause, he sat back down, his puppet still at the ready. "Go on," he said curtly.
"From the moment you entered my inn," Madam Yue began, "I scanned you with my soul power. I was puzzled when I sensed nothing from you. That means you're either masking your strength or your soul power surpasses mine—both unlikely for a mere merchant's son. That was my first clue." Wei listened, his expression guarded.
"My second clue," she continued, "was your story. You wove half-truths well enough, but it wasn't polished enough to fool a trained eye. A decent attempt, though."
He opened his mouth to protest, but she pressed on. "Third, your clothes. they're not expensive or clean enough to suggest status, but they're the sort of clothes one wears at home, not for travel. You likely left them because your other garments were too fine or too pristine, weren't they?"
Wei's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
"And fourth," she added, "your ring. A dull black ring doesn't catch a young man's eye unless it's special. At your age, a merchant's son might wear something flashier for show, unless it's a disguised storage ring."
Wei scratched the side of his head, a mix of awe and embarrassment washing over him. You really can't underestimate the people of this world, he thought.
Madam Yue chuckled, as if reading his mind. "I'm no hero or mighty cultivator, just an old woman who had a fortunate encounter in her youth. It granted me soul power equivalent to a third-level alchemist, though I lack the talent for alchemy itself. That encounter also taught me much about the world and its powers. For instance, the tears in your clothes—they're from crossing a spatial gate or portal, just like a man I met long ago."
Her accuracy stunned Wei. He sighed, straightening in his chair. "What do you want? You're putting yourself and this village at risk by exposing all this. What if I were a bloodthirsty killer who wouldn't hesitate to slaughter everyone here?"
Madam Yue's smile turned wry. "I didn't wish to take this risk, but circumstances forced my hand. As for danger… haven't you wondered why no magical beast stronger than the first level has appeared near this village?"