Moving through the densely crowded streets. I was just to take another turn.

When.. I realized that Arteen is not with me.

I could have sworn that she was next to me just a second ago.

"Arteen"

"Arteen!"

I shouted but the widespread noises of the busy streets seems to carry my voice around, mixing it with the surroundings. In the end, making it disappear in the torrent of voices.

Closing my eyes. I reaching out with my spiritual senses. Searching the area hundreds of meters around me. Finally finding her.

Not wasting time, I went to her.

Finally seeing her back, I grabbed her shoulder. Scaring her a little with a sudden action.

"Phew... It's just you"

Answered Arteen with relief in her voice.

I on the other hand was a little angry. I mean, I get it. She is still a kid.

However, even kids know not to roam in unfamiliar places.

"Yeah, it's me but what if it was some big guy wanting to kidnap a defenseless girl like you?"

I couldn't help but scold her. It's just I don't know...

"Why did you even wander like that?"

I added, finishing my speech.

"I-I'm sorry."

Said the girl, apologizing. Surprised by my sudden outburst.

"But I knew you would find me"

She spoke up raising her head. At that moment looking at her eyes, I just know, one extra word and I am going to make her cry.

Sighing, I crouched in front of her. Gently placed my hand on her head, and stroked her hair.

"You made me worried for a moment here okay? Don't do that next time."

I spoke softly.

"Sure, next time I will tell you"

Said Arteen, nodding repetitively her head. Showing that she understands.

"It's good that you understand"

I remarked standing up. Feeling that she didn't get it at all.

"So what interested you so much that you ran away from me?"

"Here, look!"

Exclaimed Arteen pointing her finger at the group of people that were surrounding the area with no stalls.

Interested a little we squeezed through the people to see what was going on.

"So who is next? I promise if someone defeats me then he can get this golden coin. You only need one silver coin to try to win a big prize."

Said the muscular man.

Just as he said that someone stepped from the crowd. If earlier, I said about the guy being muscular this guy was someone looking like a strongman two meters high.

The game was simple, arm wrestling, and surprisingly the strongman lost. After him, a lot of other people tried but the results were the same.

The prize of one golden coin seems quite alluring to the common folks. Still, no one won.

For me actually, it was easy to determine that the person setting the competition was actually a body cultivator.

A body cultivator is a person that focuses on polishing his body to the extreme. Entirely opposite to spirit cultivators like me who focus on their spirit.

In my times at least, spirit cultivators were rare. It's just that nobles monopolize all existing techniques. If you want to be a spirit cultivator as a commoner. Then maybe if you work your entire life for some noble family you would get some low-grade cultivation method.

That is the only method.

Becoming body cultivate is much easier. There should be some low to medium methods on the market. Ready to buy. Still, they should be expensive.

In the end, the spirit cultivator can defeat ten body cultivators of the same realm.

Unfair? Maybe but the world works like that.

Life is unfair.

To sum it up. The guy is just cheating. Because there is no way a mortal can be more powerful than a cultivator.

Seeing Arteen watching in excitement. I thought.

'Should I give this guy a lesson '

Being defeated by a girl surely would humanity him a little...

As I was deep in thought. Thinking if I should even bother.

A new challenger walked from the crowd. Young man, still a kid. Sixteen years old, I guess.

"Are you sure you want to challenge me?"

Said the muscular man to the teenager. Seeing his weak physique. Not wanting to look bad in the eyes of surrounding people.

"I'm sure"

Answered the teenager with his somehow cold but pleasant voice.

Getting in their position next to the steel table.

"You know what? I am in a good mood today, So I will give you five seconds to try to move my arm. However, after that, I am not gonna show any mercy."

After the muscular man uttered this. He looked meaningfully at me.

'What does this m*therfucker want from me?'

I couldn't help but ask myself in my mind. Still, if he doesn't bother me afterward. Then I don't care much.

I am quite sensitive to other people's stares. Still, this doesn't mean I didn't learn to ignore them. This is a must-have ability if you are a royal.

At that time, I was completely unaware. That this game turned from a competition for the gold coin to maybe something else. Wanting to impress a pretty girl in the crowd.

Coming back to arm wrestling. It seems that the teenager is unable to move his arm at all. After five seconds muscular man started moving easily overwhelming him.

But when a teenager was just to lose... suddenly "BOOM"

The steel table seems to shatter by some mighty force. Scattering dust in every direction.

Anticipating this. Before it could reach us. I took Arteens hand into mine and run away with her.

Now walking and blending with the masses again. Arteen looked at me with a bit of dissatisfaction.

"What?"

I looked at her and asked.

"I didn't see who won because you took me so fast"

Said Arteen showing her pouty expression.

"Young guy won"

I answered.

"Really?"

She inquired with a bit of confusion.

"Yes"

"How did you know?"

"I am a cultivator don't you remember? I can see much more than you."

I replied.

"By the way you don't seems like one. You know?"

Said Ateen. Tilting her head.

"Yea, why is that?"

I asked a bit surprised.

"You know...you can fly and you saved me. This is not something a normal person can do. If he or she just started their cultivation path."

To this, I nodded my head thinking that was obvious.

"So you should be old"

She pauses for a second there. I on the other hand didn't know what to say...Being called old.

Was that an insult?

"What I mean is cultivators with the high realm. Seems to forget about their humanity in pursuit of immortality. They sacrifice a lot for their cultivation which they are so proud of."

"But you on the other hand..Even though I don't know you long, seem so vibrant. Like you enjoy every second of your life. Additionally, you can show care for others. You at not cold to me even though, I am not a cultivator. "

At that moment, I couldn't help but speak up.

"When did you become so smart?"

"I was always smart"

Said the girl with some pride in her voice.

"Always, are you sure? Because, I think most of the time you are pretty stupid."

I rebuked her calmly.

Looked at me as if what I just said was a major offense against her, she murmured.

"It was only one time.."

Letting go of my hand she ran away from me again. 

Not forgetting to show a rude face in my direction.

"You are more stupid"

Looking at her running figure already in the distance. I shook my head and thought.

'Such a troublesome girl'

But I still went after her.

>>>>>>>>>>

Sitting on the piece of marble that was a part of the fountain with a nice breeze ruffling my hair from time to time.

I was eating...ice cream?

Yes, ice cream. I guess after thousand of years they made some progress in the food industry too.

Next to me was sitting Arteen with two ice creams. One in her right hand and the other one in her left hand. Currently, she was greedy trying to consume them.

After running away from me again. She soon got tired. She definitely isn't a sport type.

Anyways, I was to buy her something yummy to make peace. When I saw something that remind me of ice creams in my old world.

The rest of the story is easy to guess.

Though she didn't want to accept my gift at first. So I bought an extra one for her.

"So what are you going to do when we arrive at the capital? Didn't you say that you were from the neighborhood country before?"

I said light to the girl next to me.

She looked at me hesitating a little. Finally speaking.

"Yes, actually it's my first time here but my mother was born here. I was to visit her with my father to see how business was going on this end"

"But..."

Looking at her teary eyes that are about to burst up at any moment. I comforted her. Drawing circles on her back.

"Shhhh...it's okay. You know what? Actually, I need some change clothes, you probably do too."

"Do you mind some shopping?"

I said surprising her. Still, that managed to make her happy and she nodded her head repeatedly.

"Sure lets gooooo"

She exclaimed already standing up and running ahead of me but stopped when she saw that I wasn't following.

Turning her face with a cute smile on her round face.

"Are you coming?"

I had a lot to say and think at that moment but...

            [Incoming mission]

|Protect Arteen from the assassin|

|Reward: 50 coins|

[accept/decline]