Chapter 3: Chapter 2: The Floating Golden City

The smell of fried fish hung in the crisp evening air, surrounded by the setting sun. Both men were huddled around an open fire, waiting for their meal. 

The Demon Bloodmoon still hung in the air, and danger surrounded them everywhere. A multitude of ghouls and monsters creep out of the shadows near dusk, and it is always hard to get a decent night's worth of sleep. 

The two men's routine was the same each day; they both got up at dawn, hunted for food, traveled for a few hours, and rested during the evening, bringing down any monsters standing in their way. 

Just as Hengning suggested, most of the fighting was done by him. His blade skillfully sliced and killed all enemies standing in the way, while Canzhi, well, let's just say that young master is an adept morality booster. 

By now, the setting sun had faded into the horizon, and the darkening sky falls upon them. The two men evidently got much closer over the past days, to the point where Canzhi was comfortable enough with flicking small stones at Hengning(who catches them with ease) now and then. 

Hengning makes no sound, but he stares at Canzhi disapprovingly. The scene before them was rather amusing, like a small child poking at an annoyed dog. 

Canzhi suddenly remembers an important detail. He finally puts on a serious face, about to ask Hengning a question. Hengning senses his change and becomes more serious as well.

"Brother Hengning, how exactly will we reach XueBa Zhuang? Through the Golden Capital, or we must travel the long way in the mountains?"

Hengning gives this some thought. He had almost forgotten all the different routes. 

"I had originally planned to travel through the mountains. Although it would take a long time, there wasn't any other way, especially through the Capital. With my status as a commoner, it would undoubtedly be hard to pass through the city, I'd rather slay a hundred demons. Thankfully, I am not in a rush to find the manual. What is Brother Canzhi thinking?" 

Canzhi was silent in thought. 

"Before, you were alone. But now that I am here, with the status of a sect leader's son, we have other options. For me, entering the Capital would be like a walk in the park. If I am able to bring you along, perhaps we can cut the journey short. What does Brother Hengning think?"

Hengning's expression changes into surprise.  All the stories of the Golden City, the grand streets covered in jewels, he could only picture in his mind. He had never thought that one day, he, a commoner, would ever get the chance to step onto the golden roads of the Capital.

Was Canzhi really going to help him this much?

"If that is possible, I won't ever forget your gracious action. I will always be in your debt." Hengning hurries to stand up and bow, but Canzhi quickly waves the gesture away.

Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a wave of déjà vu washed over his mind. 

Where have I heard something like this before?

    The carriage. That woman. 

"Brother Canzhi? Are you feeling alright?" Hengning looks at him, his voice full of concern. Canzhi was standing with a blank expression on his face, his mouth open, but saying nothing. 

Canzhi snaps back into focus. "Oh? Sorry, something overtook my mind for a second. An irrelevant thought. Don't worry." Canzhi clears his throat and returns to his original thoughts. 

"As I was going to say, don't think too much of this. Besides, both of us are heading in the same direction, so why shouldn't I help you? If Brother Hengning is willing, tomorrow morning we head to the nearest river harbor and catch a boat to the Capital..."

Canzhi trails off,

"Are you listening?"

Hengning looks off into the distance, mind wandering. "Is it true that the streets in the Capital are paved with gold, and the houses are made of precious gems?" 

Canzhi blinked in surprise, then remembered Hengning's status. All the tales of the Capital Canzhi had heard as a child were exaggerated. In fact, he can still remember how disappointed he was when all he saw were stone lions and tall wooden buildings.

His heart grew heavy as he thought of the prejudice inside the Capital City. The Floating Golden city, and the Heavenly Estate, where the grand and mighty Emperor resided. Canzhi never liked the place. The only time he ever went inside was with his mother. Even then, at such a young age, Canzhi noticed the unsettling gazes of those who lived there. Their piercing eyes judged your every move, snickering and scoffing at your clothes. 

The lies were all that was covered in gold.

Seeing Canzhi deep in thought, Hengning decided it would be better to change the topic.

"Then, is the island truly floating above the surface of the lake?"

Canzhi looked back at Hengning and nodded in response. 

"I'm not sure how much you've heard of the Capital, but it is indeed placed on an island. The origins of how the place was created are debated. I personally believe the island was man-made."

Hengning gave an incredulous look. "Man-made? That must have been one incredible cultivator."

Canzhi nodded in agreement. He suddenly stood up and cleared his throat, taking on a stance similar to that of a storyteller getting ready to tell a great tale. 

"Five thousand years ago, there was once a powerful and honorable cultivator wandering the world. However, during that time, war ravaged the lands. No patch of grass was safe from bloodstains. This cultivator who was given the title of a divine beast desperately tried to stop the war, trying to convince all the war leaders to stop the bloodshed. But no one listens to him. In the end, even his beloved wife was left with not even a corpse to be found. 

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"Overcome by grief, yet unwilling to hurt others in his sadness, he made one last resort. If no one was going to help him, he was going to create a safe shelter by himself. He mustered all his strength and created a miracle; an immovable floating island. The land underneath the water wasn't attached to anything, yet it never moved. The legends say, he sacrificed his body and used his soul to keep the island afloat in midair!" 

"All those who sought refuge from the ravaged land came to the island. There, they built a sanctuary where they finally escaped the war. Over decades, the island grew more and more prosperous and became the Golden Capital of the human realm. With all of nature feeding off of the cultivator's residual energy, the flora and even fauna have evolved to become one of a kind. Although I regret to say, its nature has long been overtaken by humans."

"The Capital is...an unwelcoming place. Since the time of the new Emperor, things have changed drastically. The city within has a hierarchy of its own, despite being filled with nobles and those of imperial status. With the lowest being servants, bodyguards, and service workers... and below all of that, trafficked humans deemed useless for cultivation, but not worthless enough to be ignored. They become slaves."

Canzhi looked down at the ground, bitterness creeping into his voice. The two didn't speak, but the atmosphere suddenly changed dark.  Hengning gripped his sword. He had heard about the cruel treatment of peasants and commoners, but he didn't realize how horrible it was exactly. He now understood why his father refused to ever let him go near the shores of the harbors. 

"Then are you sure this plan will work? Even with you, they still might make it hard for us to pass through. If that is the case, then perhaps it's better to travel through the mountains."

Canzhi noticed the darkness of his tone. He immediately tries to console Hengning, saying, "Don't worry. We won't get too close to Golden Palace anyway. We'll make a circle around the Palace so we won't have to engage with any of the worst of those nobles. They only live in the innermost ring of the city anyways, and it's off limits to outsiders."

"It sounds plausible. So how can I gain access? Despite traveling with you, I am still just a commoner..."

"We can pass you off as my personal bodyguard!"

"With our current situation, it has already become a truth. But will they really believe you?"

"Why wouldn't they? You're skilled at martial arts and cultivation, you have the stance of a guard all along being cold and unmoving. I think you'll pass as a guard with flying colors."

Hengning scoffs at Canzhu's sneaky remark.

"If Brother Canzhi says so, then so be it."

Canzhi scans Hengning's clothing, he wore a simple long blue robe outside an inner white robe, much tighter when compared to what nobles and scholars tend to wear. When Canzhi saw Hengning lay down for the first time, Canzhi needed a double back to register the refined outlines that were imprinted onto Hengnig's thin outer robe.  

All that Canzhi could think of was how long he will have to work before he could feel the same pride laying atop his stomach. 

Canzhi clears his throat and ignores his intrusive thoughts, saying,

"I will send a message to my mother to bring a set of clothing for your new bodyguard status."

Canzhi picks up his token, a sign of his status in the sect, and uses his cultivation to send a direct message to his mother. 

"Canzhi?"

Hengning waves his hand in front of Canzhi

Alright, alright Mother, I'll be careful. I've got a powerful friend by my side, I definitely won't get hurt. Don't worry about me.

Don't forget to do your part and treat your savior courteously! And get rid of that improper habit you have of-

Canzhi cuts off the energy flowing into his token.

"Hmph." Why must she bring that up all the time?

"Do I have you now?"

Hengning looks at him worriedly, his hands placed on Canzhi's shoulders.

"I didn't expect my mother to drag me to a telekinetic array."

"I see. So everything is settled then."

"Yep. My mother will send your new outfit right to the Xingjun gate."

Canzhi sighs in relief, 

"Now we can finally rest. Tomorrow morning we set off to the harbor, bright and early.

T/N

Not much this chapter, since we went with English for the capital. But if anyone is interested, we will put the CN down anyways

The Floating Golden City - 天宫金城 

This CN is describing how this city is as if heaven were on earth. Otherwise, it's close to a literal translation safe for the "floating".

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