Chapter 11: Chapter 10- Leaving the City
Tengyang sat in his room, deep in thought as he tried to figure out the identity of the mysterious buyer. He knew that this person was not to be underestimated, offering such a large sum of money for a single pill. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, wondering if this person would be able to trace the source of the Sky Cleansing Pill back to him.
He turned to Liu Xing, who was sitting across from him. "Do you have any idea who that person was?" he asked.
Liu Xing shook his head. "I'm sorry, esteemed guest. We checked all of the guests and delegates who attended the auction, but there was no one who matched the description of the buyer. It's almost as if they appeared out of nowhere."
Tengyang sighed, feeling a sense of frustration wash over him. "This is not good. If that person finds out where the Sky Cleansing Pill came from, it could be dangerous for us," he thought to himself.
As Tengyang sat in the VIP room, Alchemist Liu approached him and handed him a metallic wrist band. It looked like an ordinary accessory, but Tengyang knew that it was anything but ordinary.
The space wrist band was a special device given to him by the Liu family, and it could hold a vast amount of money and other items. In exchange for the massive sum that the Liu had earned from auctioning the Sky Cleansing Pills, they had given him the wrist band for free. Tengyang accepted it gratefully, knowing that it would be a valuable asset in his future endeavors.
After leaving the Liu's Store. Tengyang carefully scanned the alley, making sure that there was no one in sight before he slipped into a secluded corner. He quickly undid the disguising spell, letting his true appearance return. Once he was satisfied that he was alone, he let out a sigh of relief. With the funds from the auction, he now had the means to purchase what his clan needed. He made a mental list of all the necessary supplies and set off towards the market.
Tengyang walked through the bustling streets, looking for a shop that sold plants and seeds. He knew that with the funds they had earned from the auction, they could finally afford to buy the trees and seeds they needed. He had seen of his young master's amazing ability to grow trees in just a few days, and he knew that having a steady supply of tree trunks would be crucial for the rebuilding of their clan's houses.
As he wandered through the crowded market, he spotted a small shop tucked away in a corner. The sign above the door read "Wu's Nursery and Seeds," and Tengyang knew he had found what he was looking for. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, greeted by the smell of soil and the sound of chirping birds.
"Can I help you?" A voice called out from the back of the shop. Tengyang turned to see a middle-aged woman approaching him, a friendly smile on her face.
"Yes, I'm looking for some plants and seeds," Tengyang replied. "Do you have any trees for sale?"
"Of course," the woman replied, leading Tengyang over to a section of the shop filled with pots of various sizes, each containing a small sapling. "We have all kinds of trees here. Which one are you interested in?"
Tengyang browsed the selection, finally settling on a few saplings of the strongest and hardiest species he could find. He knew they would be perfect for the rebuilding efforts of his clan.
As he paid for his purchases, he noticed a dark unassuming seed. He asked the middle-aged woman behind the counter about the seed, but she told him that she didn't know much about it.
She explained that her son had brought it home one day and tried planting it, but it never sprouted. Now, she was just keeping it for luck.
Intrigued by the seed, Tengyang decided to purchase it, knowing that his young master, Hao Juanxiu, had secret arts that could potentially revive it. He paid the woman and left the market, excited to present the seed to Juanxiu and see what he could do with it.
Tengyang spent the next few hours visiting various stalls, purchasing tools and supplies that he thought their clan could use. He picked up a few sets of hand tools, including hammers, saws, and chisels, as well as some basic supplies like nails, screws, and bolts. He also purchased a few rolls of sturdy rope and some canvases for tent-making.
As he went from stall to stall, he placed each item carefully inside the space wrist band, making sure to leave plenty of room for some food that he can eat over his journey. He also stack some fabric, and new clothing for them. By the time he was finished shopping, the wrist band was almost full, but he knew that it would be well worth it to have all of these supplies on hand for their clan's use.
As Tengyang walked through the bustling streets, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity wash over him as he passed by a man sitting on the side of the road with a missing leg, begging for alms. It took a moment for him to place the man, but when he did, he couldn't believe it. This was a former colleague from the war, someone he had served with on the front lines.
Tengyang stopped in his tracks, overcome with emotion as he approached the man. "Is that you, old friend?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "What happened to you? How did you end up here?"
The man looked up at Tengyang with tears in his eyes, his once-proud face now lined with the ravages of time and hardship. "I was injured in the war," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I couldn't fight anymore, so I was sent home. But without a leg, I couldn't do much else. I've been living on the streets ever since, just trying to survive."
Tengyang's heart broke as he saw his old friend, a renowned blacksmith who had once produced some of the finest weapons and armor in the empire. But now, he was reduced to living on the streets and begging for alms.
Tengyang couldn't bear to see his friend like this, and he knew that he had to do something to help. He refused to let the man continue living like this. He made an offer to the blacksmith, inviting him to join the Hao clan.
"Come with me," Tengyang said. "We have a skilled young master who can help you regain your former glory. You can work in our clan, creating weapons and armor for us. You were once the best blacksmith this empire has ever seen, and I know you can be again."
Liu Peng couldn't believe his ears when Tengyang offered to take him to the Hao clan. He had been living on the streets for years, relying on alms from kind passersby to get by. His once skilled hands, once capable of creating the finest weapons and armor, were now gnarled and scarred from years of begging.
"Thank you, Tengyang. I can't believe you still remember me," Liu Peng said, tears streaming down his face. "I thought I was forgotten, left to rot on these streets."
Tengyang placed a hand on his shoulder, a look of determination in his eyes. "You are not forgotten, my friend. You are a skilled blacksmith, and our clan could use someone like you. Come with me and start anew at the Hao clan."
As Liu Peng took his crouch and stood up, he couldn't help but feel grateful towards Tengyang for offering him a chance to live out the rest of his days with a sense of purpose.
Despite his missing leg, Liu Peng was still agile and able to move around with ease. However, he knew that no one in the city would be willing to hire an amputee like him. He saw this opportunity to join the Hao clan as his last hope.
As the two men set off out of the city, they were unaware that they were being followed by a shadowy figure. The person's eyes were sharp, and his steps were silent, as if he was trying to remain hidden. Despite their stealth, Liu Peng couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. His senses that are sharpened by countless battles are still as strong as ever.
As Tengyang and Liu Peng walked out of the city gates, Liu Peng suddenly spoke up. "Do you feel like we're being followed?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Tengyang turned to look behind them, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary. "I don't see anyone," he replied.
But Liu Peng was insistent. "I've got a feeling. I can sense it," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Tengyang hesitated, but he trusted his friend's instincts. "Alright, let's take a detour and see if we can shake them off," he said, leading Liu Peng off the main road and into a dense thicket of trees.
As they walked, Tengyang kept a close eye on their surroundings, but he still saw no sign of anyone following them. Eventually, they emerged from the trees and found themselves on a deserted stretch of road. "I think we lost them," Tengyang said, breathing a sigh of relief.
But Liu Peng shook his head. "I don't know. I still have a feeling that someone is out there," he said, his eyes scanning the area nervously.
Tengyang could see the fear in his friend's eyes and he knew he had to do something to protect him. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you," he said, placing a reassuring hand on Liu Peng's shoulder.
Together, they continued on their journey, always alert and ready for any danger that might come their way.
As they journeyed towards the port, Tengyang couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being followed. Despite checking their surroundings and finding nothing out of the ordinary, the sensation persisted.
It was only on the fifth day, as they approached the port where Tengyang's boat was tied, that he finally saw the shadow that had been trailing them. Tengyang stopped in his tracks and turned to confront the man, ready to defend himself and Liu Peng if necessary.
The man walked with purpose, his steps sure and confident. He was tall and well-built, with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. Despite his refined appearance, he seemed to be hiding something, as he kept his left arm close to his body, as if trying to conceal it. His long silver hair flowed behind him like a river of molten metal, adding to his regal appearance. Despite his manly features, there was a sense of mystery and danger emanating from him, causing those around him to instinctively avoid his gaze.
As the man drew closer, he raised both of his hands in a peaceful gesture and spoke.
Tengyang's eyes narrowed as he noticed the wilted left arm of the man in front of him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity on this man's built, as if he saw it before. "Who are you?" Tengyang asked, his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword.
The man, Du Hong, raised both of his arms in a peaceful gesture. "I mean no harm. I simply came to seek your help," he said.
Tengyang was taken aback by the man's words. "How do you know that I am the owner of the Sky Cleansing Pill?" he asked, suspicious.
Du Hong chuckled. "I have a unique constitution that gives me a powerful sense of smell. I could smell the aroma of the medicine on you," he said. "But even the mythical Sky Cleansing Pill was not enough to cure my curse. It seems that my wilted arm is here to stay."
Tengyang looked at Du Hong's wilted arm with a mixture of pity and curiosity. "What kind of curse do you have?" he asked.
Du Hong sighed. "It's a long story. But perhaps, with your help, I can finally find a cure and be rid of this curse," he said.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone