The Yellow City gate stood magnificent.
Its walls rose high, made of solid stone that had stood for decades. On top, guards stood watch with spears and bows, overseeing everyone entering and exiting.
In front of the gate, the queue was quite long.
Merchants, travelers, and some martial artists stood waiting their turn to be inspected.
Li Wuchen walked leisurely. His steps were calm. His breathing was steady. No aura emanated from his body.
Among the crowd emitting faint pressure from their inner energy, Wuchen's presence felt…
empty.
Some people glanced at him.
Some frowned.
A young man whispered to his companion,
"Weird… I can't sense anything from that person."
His companion snorted, "Probably just an ordinary person."
Wuchen paid no attention. He kept walking until he reached the gate.
A guard raised his hand.
"Stop!"
Wuchen stopped.
The guard looked him up and down.
"Where are you from?" the guard asked with a suspicious gaze.
"From the mountain." Li Wuchen answered flatly.
"Destination?"
"Yellow City."
The guard snorted softly.
"Everyone knows this is Yellow City."
Some other guards laughed quietly.
Wuchen remained calm, "I just want to enter."
The guard looked at him again, his gaze sharper this time. "Entry fee: Ten silver coins!"
Wuchen paused for a moment. Then said honestly, "I don't have any money."
Silence.
Then the guards laughed.
"Hahaha! No money but wants to enter the city?"
"Mountain bumpkin!" another guard chimed in.
The old man standing behind Wuchen yawned. "Kid, you really never have money, huh."
Wuchen didn't turn. "Indeed I don't."
The guard grinned, "If you don't have money, there's another way."
He pointed to the side.
There, some people were seen lifting boxes and sacks.
"Work. Carry goods until evening. Then you may enter. Nothing is free in this world, kido."
Wuchen glanced briefly. Then looked back at the guard,
"What if I don't want to?"
The guard narrowed his eyes. "If you don't want to… then go back to your mountain."
The atmosphere grew slightly tense. Some people began to pay attention.
The old man behind Wuchen commented casually,
"Well? Want to be a coolie for a day?"
Wuchen paused for a moment. Then he stepped forward.
The guards immediately became alert.
"Hey! What do you think you're—"
Before he could finish speaking, Wuchen was already right in front of them. His movement was very simple. As if just walking normally.
Without tricks.
But the result was extremely fast. Somehow, his steps had already crossed the guard line.
The guards were stunned.
"Insolent—"
One of them tried to grab Wuchen's shoulder. But his hand hit nothing.
As if the youth… had disappeared for a moment.
"Eh?!"
In the blink of an eye, Wuchen was already inside the gate.
He didn't turn. He didn't stop. As if it wasn't something to be questioned. The old man behind him chuckled as he followed him inside.
"Haha… the guards these days are getting slower."
The guards looked at each other. Their faces changed.
"Who is that person…?"
*****
Inside Yellow City.
The streets were bustling.
Buildings stood neatly on both sides. Shops were open, merchants shouted offering their goods, and the aroma of food filled the air.
Wuchen walked slowly. His eyes observed. But his expression remained flat.
"Crowded," he said shortly.
The old man beside him snorted.
"Of course it is. This is a city, not a forest."
Wuchen nodded slightly. Some people passed by.
A martial artist with a sword on his back walked past them. A faint aura flowed from his body.
Wuchen glanced briefly. Then said, "Is that inner energy?"
The old man nodded.
"You really are clueless. First time seeing it?"
"Rarely."
The old man grinned.
"Soon you'll see it often… and often beat them up."
Wuchen didn't answer. But the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
At the same time…
A horse carriage stopped in front of the city gate. Then the curtain opened and a girl stepped down gracefully.
Her clothes were fine. Her movements were light. Her face was calm yet cold.
The guards immediately bowed.
"Welcome, Miss Lin!"
The girl did not respond. She simply walked in. The wind blew gently, making her hair flutter.
Lin Xue'er.
Her eyes swept around. But not long after, her gaze stopped. In the distance, she saw the figure of a young man walking leisurely through the crowd.
No aura.
No pressure.
However,
His steps were firm. As if the world around him meant nothing.
Lin Xue'er's eyes narrowed.
"It's him…"
She walked forward without hesitation.
*****
Back to Wuchen…
He stopped in front of a small eatery.
The building was simple. Not too crowded. But from inside, the aroma of food was tempting.
"Here is fine," he said.
The old man nodded. "Agreed. I'm really hungry."
Without wasting time, the two of them entered.
Seeing two customers, a waiter immediately approached, with a big smile in his face.
"Please, sir. What would you like to order?"
Wuchen sat down. Then said, "What do you have the most of?"
The waiter smiled. "Beef soup and warm rice."
Wuchen nodded.
"That's it."
The waiter noted it. Then asked again,
"Drinks?"
Wuchen thought for a moment. Then said,
"Water."
The old man beside him immediately protested,
"Hey! Why only water? Order the best herbal tea!"
Wuchen glanced at him, "We don't have money."
The waiter froze. His expression changed.
"Um… sir… if you don't have money, I'm afraid…"
Wuchen looked at him, "I'll pay later."
"How?" the waiter asked.
Wuchen thought. Then answered honestly, "I don't know yet."
The waiter swallowed hard. The old man beside him chuckled.
"Don't worry. This kid can pay with labor."
The waiter became even more confused. But finally nodded hesitantly.
"Alright… I'll prepare it first."
*****
Not long after, the food arrived. Wuchen immediately ate without ceremony. His movements were calm. And he ate quite heartily.
The same with the old man in front of him. In fact, the old man was even more excessive. He ate while smacking his lips loudly, making several pairs of eyes glance at him uncomfortably.
At the same time, the door of the eatery opened and a girl stepped inside. The atmosphere instantly changed. Some people turned their heads. Some even held their breath seeing the beautiful and graceful girl take one step after another. Who else but Lin Xue'er.
Her eyes swept across the room. Then immediately fixed on one person: Li Wuchen.
She walked closer. Her steps were light. But every step carried a faint pressure that made some people lower their heads.
Wuchen continued eating.
As if he didn't notice.
Or… he really didn't care.
Lin Xue'er stopped in front of his table. There was a brief silence. Then, somewhat stiffly, she said,
"You."
Wuchen raised his head. Although his brows furrowed, his gaze was calm.
"Me?"
Lin Xue'er looked at him deeply.
"Young man without aura… how did you pass through the gate?"
Wuchen answered shortly,
"Just walked."
Some people who heard it almost choked. Lin Xue'er narrowed her eyes.
"I'm serious."
Wuchen nodded. His expression looked completely sincere. "So am I."
Silence.
The old man beside him held back his laughter.
Lin Xue'er looked at Wuchen more deeply. A gentle aura emanated from her body. Light pressure spread. Several customers immediately lowered their heads. But Wuchen remained seated casually.
He didn't move.
He wasn't affected.
As if the pressure didn't exist.
Lin Xue'er's eyes flashed, "Interesting…"
Wuchen went back to spooning his food.
"Miss, as far as I remember, I have never offended you. If there is no other matter, please don't disturb me. I want to eat in peace."
Some people almost fell off their chairs. How dare he speaks like that!
However, Lin Xue'er was not angry. Instead… she smiled faintly.
"Your name?"
Wuchen answered without looking,
"Li Wuchen."
Lin Xue'er nodded,
"Good. I will remember it."
She turned around. But before she truly left, the girl said,
"We will meet again."
Wuchen didn't answer. He just continued eating. The old man beside him whispered,
"Kid… you just attracted troublesome attention."
Wuchen swallowed his food. Then said flatly,
"As long as she doesn't take my food… it's fine."
The old man laughed loudly. "Hahaha! It wasn't in vain that I made you my slave!"
*****
Meanwhile, outside the eatery, Lin Xue'er stopped for a moment. She looked back. Her eyes narrowed.
"A person without Nuraga… but unaffected by my aura pressure."
She smiled faintly, "Very interesting."
Then the girl moved her feet slightly, and her body shot forward with extraordinary speed, leaving a faint aura behind.
In a large building in the center of the city.
A middle-aged man stood by the window. His gaze directed into the distance. A powerful aura surrounded him, creating pressure for ordinary people who tried to approach.
Suddenly, a servant came and immediately knelt behind him.
"Master… there is a report."
The man did not turn,
"Speak."
"A young man without aura… was seen entering the city. He was also involved in a disturbance at the gate."
There was a brief silence.
Then the man said softly,
"Without aura…?"
"Correct. Not only that," the servant moved closer and whispered something. After finishing the report, he immediately withdrew.
The middle-aged man smiled faintly. His eyes flashed, "Let's see…" he murmured softly.
To be continued.