
Since the street was anything but good for an ill person to stay on, Su Jing tried to move the man's body.
She placed him against the wall, but he continuously slid down since he was deep asleep. Not having other means, Su Jing took the cane he used, prompting it against his body so he could stay put.
It did not look comfortable, but she hadn't the strength or the energy to move him further. His breaths were quiet, and she did not wish to have him accidentally choke on himself. It is not like she has other ways to help.
So Su Jing stood beside him, observing that his fever seemed to ease down. He would wake up soon, so it was a good thing she had Bai Xiu Ying's miracle medicine. Her body hurt a bit still, but that did not matter if she was to find an opportunity.
The opportunity to find information about this place.
Although this man did not wear the attire of a sect disciple, as a local, he was bound to know how things work here better than Su Jing. It was one thing to read about it and another to experience it.
He may even know a cheap place for her to stay. The medicine then would not be used for nothing.
Her anticipation proved correct as the man's body soon began to move. Trembling slightly, he groaned and leaned to the side, his hair falling messily over his face. His hat tumbled off, and Su Jing quickly caught it, not wanting to get it dirtied.
The man's eyes fluttered open, his gaze unfocused as he gripped the hat when it fell. He blinked several times before his eyes settled on Su Jing, his expression quickly shifting from confusion to alarm. Su Jing, too, got flustered when his expression changed so quickly.
"Who are you?" he rasped, attempting to sit up straighter. His body trembled with the effort, and he winced in pain.
Seeing him so guarded, Su Jing raised her free hand, not wanting to look like a ruffian stealing his things.
"Sorry, I'm not here to hurt you. I found you unconscious and tried to help."
His eyes narrowed as he scanned her appearance, making Su Jing even more self-aware of how bad she looked. She got her hand off his hat, now realising that the one was dirtying his hat.
"You're a mortal." His eyes looked intensely at her, his alertness slowly changing to vague surprise.
Su Jing did not know how to appreciate his words.
She knew from the story that mortals rarely reached the immortal realm, and Su Jing thought it was, at first, just an exaggeration to contrast with Feng Zhi Hao's abilities. She never thought it would be so bad - blame her again for assimilating herself to Feng Zhi Hao! Feng Zhi Hao, even though mortal, was dressed in the attire of a powerful immortal - something that Su Jing missed.
She was ordinary and easy to spot.
"I do come from the mortal realm." Su Jing cupped her hands, wanting to greet him politely, " My name is Su Jing."
The man did not answer for a while but soon sighed, responding to her greeting, "I am sorry for being rude."
Su Jing only smiled.
The man took his cane and soon got up on his legs, his complexion looking better. Su Jing followed him, getting surprised when he offered his hand for help. Su Jing hesitated a little, wondering whether he would fall again if she forced her weight upon him.
Because of this, she caught his palm only perfunctorily.
"Thank you," Su Jing began, but Ya Wen suddenly yanked her body upwards, cutting her words short. Unbalanced, Su Jing almost fell, but she pushed her leg forward in a lunge.
That was close. Her heartbeat couldn't help but hardly pounce in her chest.
Right, before being an ill man, he was still a cultivator! He was bound to be thousands of times more powerful than her.
"Oh, heavens, are you alright? I did not mean to do that." The cultivator tried to help Su Jing get up. He might have sensed her trembling, so he was more careful this time.
Embarrassed, she stood properly, still feeling her arm aching. "It's okay," she said, forcing a smile. She will have to pass over more complex things than this to survive.
"You can call me Ya Wen. Thank you for helping me." he bowed slightly in front of her, his hair fluttering slightly, "If it weren't for you, things would have gotten bad for me."
"Then, I greet senior Ya Wen. I am glad the medicine worked."
Ya Wen placed his hat on his head and smiled at her. Su Jing couldn't lie about how it was a bit awkward. "Would you mind if I treated you to a meal? I'm sure coming from the mortal realm was no easy task. Besides, this way, I can repay you."
Su Jing nodded eagerly, his words sounding like music to her ears."I would greatly appreciate it, thank you."
She was famished, and not even God knew how much she needed food!
Ya Wen stared at her briefly, "Alright, then. You can order as much as you want. As my benefactor, you are my guest."
He turned and signed for her to follow, though his steps were still heavy. Su Jing walked beside him, feeling her sorrows would already be half extinguished if her tummy were full.
Her excitement grew, but she hesitated as Su Jing looked where they were headed. Isn't this the restaurant she just left? The waiter noticed her, too, so he came again, looking annoyed.
"What's wrong? Is this place not to your liking?" Ya Wen stopped when he observed her frozen in place.
"Ah, that's not..." It was more like the place was not very fond of her.
Ya Wen stepped towards her, seemingly wanting to say something to her. But before that, the waiter arrived, surpassing him and coming to Su Jing.
Su Jing knew he had no more patience to talk business with her from his look alone.
"I thought I had already explained to Miss that we don't welcome you here. Why are you here again?"
Su Jing looked down and put her hand behind her neck, even more embarrassed. He was so rude towards her. However, it's not like she did something wrong.
"I come back to order some food this time. Mister doesn't have to worry." She tried to mend the atmosphere by smiling slightly, but the man continued to look up and down ahead of her.
"Is there a problem with it?" Ya Wen intervened, too, startling the waiter. The waiter glanced at Ya Wen but continued to uphold his arrogance, as Ya Wen also didn't look excellent. His clothes were dusted because he stayed on the ground.
"Our restaurant has a reputation to keep. We can't just welcome anyone."
His offer sounded fair, but it wasn't as if they were at some extravagant restaurant. Su Jing chose this place because it looked relaxed enough to stay for a few days or weeks.
But right now, it seemed her appreciation needed to be corrected.
"It's okay, we can leave then. Senior, we can find another place."
Su Jing turned towards Ya Wen, not wanting to make her even more uncomfortable. It was not important where she went; all that mattered was that she got to eat.
Ya Wen, however, stood unmoved, "Why would we? Cultivator Su, we haven't done anything wrong. "
He looked seriously towards her, his straight figure intimidating her. Yes, she overlooked again that he was a cultivator. Su Jing was willing to bend her ego and be a pushover, but that might not be the case with Ya Wen. And he also called her Cultivator Su! Su Jing did not know how to feel about that, as she did not even know how to cultivate!
"What are you spouting? Don't even think about entering."
The waiter crossed his arms and stood as a block in front. Su Jing stood silent, feeling conflicted. Being a pushover sounded the most straightforward idea, but was it correct?
"I urge you to reconsider your words. Prejudice based on origin is improper and unjust."
Ya Wen looked like wanting to keep his ground. He was really like the typology of righteous immortal!
The waiter hesitated, his stance wavering as more people started looking at them and gossiping. Such an incident could indeed damage the restaurant's reputation, and Su Jing was sure the waiter knew about that, too. Finally, he stepped aside with a grudging nod.
"Fine. But you two will be held responsible if there's any trouble."
He turned and opened the door for them, Su Jing keeping it shut while following Ya Wen. She felt like a child clinging to her mother by the corner of her clothes.
Ya Wen started walking towards the stairs, but before he could be able to, the waiter went once again in front of them, stopping.
"My apologies, but those rooms are not reserved for the public. Only cultivators who made prior reservations can acquire one."
Ah, when was this going to end? Su Jing looked towards Ya Wen, and he rummaged through his sleeve, taking out a pendant. It had a beautiful and clear green colour, akin to a jade and a white tassel hagging around it.
The waiter's eyes bulged when he saw it, repeatedly glancing at it and then at Ya Wen.
"You..." he hesitated, lost in his words.
Su Jing was also confused. However, she had a strange hunch she had seen such a thing before. But where? She massaged her head, not remembering it. Some characters were inscribed on it, but she couldn't recognise the tassel and jade stone. Was he a young master? Or a cultivator from a sect?
The waiter's attitude changed immediately, bowing deeply. "My apologies. Please follow me to the private room."
Ya Wen nodded, leading Su Jing up the stairs. Su Jing could observe how the waiter was now terribly shaken. This only made her more curious. Did she pick up a rich koi fish out of the street? Her appreciation of Ya Wen being a simple local might have been wrong.
Thinking about it, what sane man would fall ill in the street when he could book a fancy room in a restaurant? Wouldn't that mean he already had the means to help himself?
This made her hesitant. Reflecting on the novel, no one had similar characteristics to Ya Wen. But still - Ya Wen could have hidden his real identity with an elixir or spell. It's not like it was impossible.
She should leave if he turned out to be dangerous.
"What are you thinking about so much, Cultivator Su? Do you want us to go elsewhere?"
Ya Wen's gentle voice startled Su Jing. He looked towards her and the waiter. Su Jing could see how the waiter's expression bent in a panic.
"Of course, young miss also has my apologies," the server stammered, his earlier arrogance replaced, "Our earlier discussion shouldn't have ended like that."
Su Jing paused and quickly felt the shift in dynamics. With just a few words, Ya Wen totally changed the power dynamics. She met his eyes and then turned back to the waiter. "Thank you for your apology. I appreciate it."
The waiter bowed and stepped aside to give them more space. "Please, if you need anything, let me know."
With that, the two of them reached the room and sat down. Su Jing felt out of place in her attire, but everything around her looked of the finest calibre. Incense was flowing quietly around her, bringing a rather good smell.
"This restaurant may lack tact when it comes to serving, but it has good food. I hope to be it for your liking."
Yawen gave her a menu, and Su Jing awkwardly responded with a nod. Now, she comes here to eat and will later worry about other things.
When Su Jing opened the book, she was struck by its fancy, neat writing. There were no illustrations, and sweat beaded her face as she looked at the pages.
No wonder she did not recognise that jade pendant. That was because Su Jing was illiterate!
Perhaps sensing her anxiety, Ya Wen put down the menu, looking at her.
"Have you decided on something, Cultivator Su? Don't worry about the prices since I will pay."
If only this were about money.
Su Jing half grinned, "Senior should just recommend some dishes to me. I am sure a mortal like me wouldn't know the immortal food well." She pushed the menu aside, finding it useless to look at.
Ya Wen didn't hesitate and ordered a few dishes he knew. Soon, the table was filled with delicious aromas wafting through the air. Su Jing's stomach rumbled, and she struggled to restrain herself.
"Spiritual food is good for mortals to cleanse their bodies. It should help you regain your forces."
Ya Wen pointed towards the beef and soup. Su Jing did not shy away from eating, liking the feeling of being full in her stomach. Plus, this was the miraculous spiritual food of the immortals! Even for cultivators, it was considered an extravagance!
Ya wen still did not touch the tableware. His nails had a nicely kept look, though calluses appeared on his thumps.
"So you are part of this year's mortal realm selection? You're the first one I see."
Su Jing swallowed the meat, surprised that Ya Wen wanted to start this topic. She thought it would be difficult to make him talk since cultivators tend to be secretive.
"Does senior know about it?"
"I am a sect disciple, so it is not hard to hear about it."
Ya Wen's answer startled Su Jing. So that meant that the jade pendant was a sect token! Su Jing's expectations proved to be correct!
Ya Wen gazed at her silently, seemingly confused.
"I thought you recognised the token I've shown. Did not you come from Heavenly Clouds Sect's selection?"
"You are from Heavenly Clouds Sect?!"
Heavenly Clouds Sect's disciples were often reserved and arrogant, not mingling with lowly outsiders. So why had she just casually met one on the street?
"Was I wrong?" Ya Wen furrowed his brows." I am sure our sect was recruiting during this time. The Silver Sword Sect had already finished its disciple-searching in both realms."
"Heavenly Clouds Sect " was the one I met, though they rejected me. "
The master clearly stated that her roots were weak and overused. Even after playing with the food, Su Jing did not miss Ya Wen's surprise.
"So you've come all alone?" His eyes widened, clearly taken aback. "Passing through the forest isn't easy, even for some experienced cultivators."
Su Jing stood silent, not knowing how to approach this problem. If she lies and says she passed through the forest, she'll have a big plot hole—since, indeed, apart from Feng Zhi Hao, no mortal passed through it alone. But even if she tells the truth, she does not know precisely how to deal with the teleporting gate, whether separated from the array or a whole other system.
The gate collapsed on the other side, which means it was partially destroyed. He may even blame her.
"I've encountered a powerful immortal." The words slipped shamelessly through Su Jing's lips. He brought me here and left before I could ask for his name.
Ya-Wen stood silent, making Su Jing nervous that he might have realised her, but he smiled instead.
"That's what we call a cultivator opportunity. Maybe the Heavens wanted you to reach this city."
She looked at his expression; however, he seemed to be sincere and not suspicious of her words.
Su Jing pressed her fingers nervously under the table, "The immortal who brought me here didn't have a chance to explain much about this place, and I'm still unfamiliar with the city. I've walked around for a while, but cultivators don't accept our mortal realm currency. Does senior know about this place?"
Since she couldn't read, it would be even more difficult for her to find information! She had to extort Ya Wen as much as she could.
"We are in North Yang City of the Black Tortoise Clan." Looking outside the window, Ya Wen responded, "And cultivators do not accept gold, silver, or copper. They only accept spiritual stones. Naturally, you did not know that—your family should have already told you about this. From what noble family do you come from? Is it from the Qin Country? Or the Jin?"
"That, senior might have misunderstood me." Su Jing raised her hand, embarrassed. What brought this man to think she was from a noble clan? Didn't he see how she looked? "I am but a simple village girl. I wouldn't dare to think of me being from a noble household."
She was far apart, even from a middle-class family.
Ya Wen raised his eyebrows. "You're a commoner?"
"My village is in Wei Country, though, near Shun Mountain. That's why it was easy for me to reach the Gate of Immortals."
This was another lie, yet it was also a half-truth since it was apparent this body did not come from a faraway place. The Shun Mountain she climbed to the Immortal Realm was in Wei Country, so Su Jing could only say she came from there.
Who would even care about a random extra? Su Jing doesn't even wish to go back again in the mortal realm. She started muffling some dumplings, not wanting this delicious food to go cold.
"I am sorry, I haven't thought it through. Usually, nobles come here. Even in our sect, a few years back, two nobles from the Qin Country came to the Heavenly Clouds Sect as disciples. One is a royal prince of Qin, and the other is a young miss of the Feng Clan. Although mortals, they are powerful now.
Su Jing kept her reaction in place, aware that he was talking about Feng Zhi Hao's sister, Feng Huo Hua, and ex-fiance, Prince Jin, Qin Wu Rong. Those two were the female lead's enemies, soon to be defeated.
"I do not know them," Su Jing responded, really not wanting to have any tie with those two, "I do not even know the nobles of my own Wei country. My village did not care about the higher authorities besides the emperor."
Among those mortals the Heavenly Clouds Sect accepted was the Prince of Wei, Wei Mu Xing. He was going to be a friend of the female lead, but even so, Su Jing wanted to keep her distance. After all, nobles and commoners never really got along.
"I understand. That is not a problem since titles rarely matter in the immortal realm if you do not have the cultivation level to uphold them."
Ya Wen shook his head. He then watched Su Jing eat her dumplings, appearing thoughtful.
"And after this, what are Cultivator Su's plans?"
Su Jing wiped her mouth from the soup, being caught unprepared.
"I shall start searching for a place to live in." She looked towards Ya Wen, putting into words the question she had wanted to ask him since the beginning: "Does senior know a sect close to this city that would accept me, even with low aptitudes? I am not picky about anything."
She had yet to hear about North Yang City in the novel, apart from its fame in how the best blacksmiths resided in this city. Feng Zhi Hao only went here a few times across the storyline but never had a conflict. So it was relatively peaceful - enough for Su Jing to stay without worries.
"In North Yang City, if I remember correctly, the Red Jade Sect should be around here, though I do not know the exact location. I heard they reside bellow the near southern mountain."
Su Jing's face hardened. This sect crumbled as the mountain fell on them!
Not a good place.
"Is there something else?"
Not a dead-end place!
Ya Wen crossed his arms, enumerating other sects.
"There are a lot more, but I am not sure if those would be the right place for you." he paused, glancing at Su Jing.
"Just tell me. I will try my best to fit in, senior."
It's not like she has anything else to choose from.
"Do you like forging weapons?"
Su Jing imagined herself with a big hammer, hitting metal as she stood 24/7 in front of the fire to create a scrape on a sword. The stove would constantly burn her hands, and her face would be red from sweat, meaning she would continuously be tired.
"Maybe?" She truthfully wasn't that content, but any place would do if it provided her with food and a roof over her head.
"Cultivator Su, are you sure? Disciples need to have the right physique. Families usually train their children for years to obtain body muscles."
Ah, Su Jing might have omitted one thing. Blacksmiths tend to have a high body cultivation, enough to crush someone's head with a slight touch. Feng Zhi Hao encountered a few, and all of them were like that.
"And did you start cultivating already? You still need to break through the Second Stage of Qi Refinement. I remember they require beginners to have at least Five to Six Stages of Qi Refinement."
Su Jing didn't even know what roots she had—what cultivation! Reaching the Second Stage of Qi Refinement only meant she was slightly more potent than regular mortals. But overall, it was nothing remarkable in the immortal realm.
"Senior, I am not really versed in cultivating. That's why I am searching for a lesser sect."
She couldn't lie in this regard since she would be easily caught! Plus, remembering that hand that strangled her in the mortal realm when she tried cultivating, Su Jing hesitated to try it again on her own.
"Are you okay with any sect?"
"Since I do not have a place to stay, anything will do, I think."
A roof above her head and food will be more than enough.
Ya Wen paused briefly. "There are ways to enter a powerful sect even if you aren't that talented." He searched through his sleeves and pulled out the jade token he had previously had. Su Jing looked confused at it, not understanding him.
"Heavenly Clouds Sect is actually in need of workers," he explained, holding the token out for her to see. "If they accept you and you perform well, you can earn rewards that might help your cultivation. On top of that, I've heard the monthly wage is decent. The only downside is that you'd be on your own—but you'd be free to leave if a better opportunity comes."
Su Jing stared at the delicate blossom flowers carved into the token, then looked back at Ya Wen, her mind spinning. The author never mentioned it in the story, but that made sense—Feng Zhihao wouldn't lower herself to consider such mundane matters.
Ya Wen continued, "Cultivators are arrogant by nature. Few are willing to work for a sect, so this token guarantees you a spot. And don't worry. The work isn't difficult—you'd likely just be tending a garden or cleaning the grounds."
His reasoning wasn't bad. Gardening or light cleaning sounded like the easiest gig imaginable in the cultivation world. Yet the thought of joining the Heavenly Clouds Sect, the place destined for destruction in the story, gave Su Jing pause.
Feng Huo Hua, Qin Wu Rong, Bai Xiu Ying, and many others—the story's key characters—all centred around that sect. Su Jing could easily cross paths with them if she joined, no matter how much she tried to stay hidden.
With her hand behind her neck, Su Jing thought about what excuse to bring up. "That, I am not sure. I don't even have the means to reach Heavenly Clouds Sect."
Heavenly Clouds Sect was more in the southwest, quite far away from here.
"About that, I think you do not have to worry," Ya Wen responded." I have a few talismans for direct travel to the sect. If you want, I can bring you along. Consider it repayment for the medicine you used on me." He then hesitated, pausing for a few seconds." Furthermore, I know my body well—it must not have been ordinary medicine. Leaving you with just a meal as thanks wouldn't sit right with me."
Su Jing wasn't even the one who made the medicine. Bai Xiu Ying, that girl gifted it to her. Did he perhaps recognise it? Recognising was challenging, especially since he was unconscious. However, remembering what he said, Su Jing did not know what illness he had precisely. He still had the cane after him, meaning he was dealing with something chronic.
Perhaps seeing her like that, Ya Wen's head dropped slightly, looking apologetically.
"I'm not trying to pressure you," he said. "Take your time to think it over. Finish your food first—I'm not rushing to return."
Ya Wen then went silent, letting Su Jing eat in peace. However, Su Jing felt uncomfortable.
even for experimented cultivators.
experienced
Glad to have you back
Oh gosh thank you, I confused the words from my own language.
Glad to see you here!
Why rewrite?
Oh maybe i forgot to remove somewhere the announcement about rewriting.
I already deleted the old 20 chapters, so from now on there will be only new chapters.