With the thick codex about the arrays handed out, I did one last look-over and nodded; truly, we still did look like a common little group of travelers. Maybe. I'm not actually sure anymore. We haven't changed out appearances since we left the Spirit Sword Sect, and it might actually be the time since most of the kids had reached the next tier of understanding. We have done some, uh, odd things here and there with our current appearances, and though it would risk erasing our existing relationships somewhat, it might be worth it.
"Wait, Yimu, learn this too," the thought had reminded me of the fact Han Yimu was someone of the Upper Realm, someone whose appearance was likely recognizable, which would betray us immediately if he were spotted.
"What is it, Master?" he asked.
"An insurance," I said. "Speaking of: kids, do you think it's time we made some, uh, alterations, again?"
They were growing and naturally changing, so it might just be my paranoia, but if they collectively voted no because they developed some self-image issues, I'd drop the notion immediately.
"It might be," Wan Lan said. "Xiu has done some remarkably stupid things using her face. If for nothing else..."
"Me? What about you and your stupid face?"
"I've been nothing short of a proper lady."
"Hah," that snort of derision came from her soul, I swear.
"They don't need to be full makeovers," I said. "Just slight changes so it's not completely obvious."
"... t-t-this is a face-changing art?!" Han Yimu exclaimed in shock, which I'm getting more annoyed than pleased with as the years go by. It used to be that people being shocked by my shit would give me odd sense of pleasure, but now I'm just annoyed, honestly. "How, how is this possible?!"
"We don't have to do it yet," I said. "But we should change them a bit before leaving the city. Alright, everyone ready?"
"Yes, Master."
"Let's go in."
We crossed the final distance in a relatively short amount of time, joining a somewhat lengthy procession of people coming and going. All were cultivators, their realms ranging from Qi Condensation all the way to Shedding Mortality from a cursory examination, though there's a few--like us--who were undoubtedly hiding their strength, and it's not as though I had enough charges of my eye--or, well, Dao Sight--
--shit, that's it, isn't it? That's the reason I can see through the array, no? I just don't understand why the system still uses 'Creator's Eye' when it's evolved. Huh.
Anyway, we made our way to the front and were let in after paying some stones. The walls receded slowly as the dirt unfurled into a limestone-paved pathway, flanked by brick-made buildings on either end and the general hubbub of a city.
Luckily, the crowded entryway made way quickly for a much wider set of streets that fanned out in six different directions, with road signs posted against each noting where they led. Though it was a rather basic signage, it was oddly modern in that the paths led to distinct boroughs of sort; there was the 'Martial Arts District', the 'Auxiliary Shops District', the 'Auction Shops District', the 'Living Quarters District', the 'Inns District', and, lastly, the 'Palace'.
Without much thought we headed down the road toward the inns where a good number of other newcomers seemed to be going as well. The scent of freshly baked food and roasted pigs and lamb quickly took over the air as we were accosted no less than forty times before finally making it through to the other side. As Lao Shun was our de-facto traveler, he found us an inn--Boar and Bear Inn, it's called--and booked us three rooms in total: one for me, one of the boys, and one for the girls.
"Master, can we go exploring?" was the first thing Dai Xiu asked before we even had the chance to check out those rooms.
"Of course; just be careful. No trouble, alright? If you make any trouble, I'll be very sad."
"Of course, Master! No trouble!"
"... Lan'er, go with her."
"Yes, Master," she smiled faintly. Luckily, Dai Xiu had already left by then as, otherwise, she would have thrown a tantrum over how I didn't trust her. Before long, little Feng, Xi Zhao, and Rayce joined them, going out to see the city.
In the meantime, the rest of us headed to the inn's restaurant of sorts as it just so happened to be lunch time, taking up a table in the corner.
One good bit of news was that I managed to convince Lu Naǒ to get into the 'prison' and stay there for a bit. Though I doubt there were many who could recognize it as a Divine Beast, that didn't mean there were none. And, I have this sneaking suspicion if someone saw a Divine Beast casually making a nest in my hair, they might just not let it go with a simple, 'Huh. How curious'.
As always, while Han Yimu desperately tried to get to know Light who couldn't be less interested, and while Lao Shun was asking Long Tao something or another about cultivation, I perked up my ears to the other conversations in the room. We've been out of the civilization for a while now, and before making any choices beyond traveling to the mountains, it'd be good to know what was happening.
"... seriously? The entire leadership of the Mountain was wiped up?"
"That's what I heard," the most interesting of the conversations came about from the table right next to ours.
"Who did it? Someone from the Upper Realm?"
"No; by the time they arrived, everyone was dead. Right now, from what my Senior tells me, they are still investigating."
"Huh. Just yesterday, they were looming over the world as gods. And now..."
"Hush. They are still one of the top sects in the world, regardless. Who are we to judge them?"
"True, true."
Interesting. Who else would have the ability to actually go toe-to-toe with the strongest sect in the world? Maybe some other rival sect? Regardless, it had nothing to do with me. For all I care, that entire place can be wiped from the face of the earth.
I was just about to enjoy the soup and smoked lamb combo that I was brought when a sound that I kind of loathed at this point rang out in my ear: that of an emergency quest.
[--emergency quest detected][...][Sage of Dread (Legendary)][Within Lotus City currently resides one of the Sages of the Abyss, Sage of Dread. The reason is the final activation of the Parasitic Vine, which has been raised with the capacity to infect the city-wide array and close off the city from the rest of the world, slowly sapping it of Life Qi by killing everyone within. Prevent the Sage from executing their plan and save the city][...][Rewards][Reward 1: 30,000 CP][Reward 2: A random Divine-tier item][Reward 3: Identity of the 3rd Sage of the Abyss][...][Due to the nature of the quest, time limits have been imposed][Time Left: 26 hours, 18 minutes]
... ah, for the love of all that is holy, will these annoying asswipes ever leave me the fuck alone?!!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, everyone ^^A small note: I'm attending a cousin's wedding tomorrow, and I'm not actually sure when it's gonna be over or when I'm gonna get back home. The chapter might be late, or I might not get back in time to release it. So, if I'm MIA, you'll know why.