Chapter 2: Chapter 2: East Road Tavern

An Hour Later….

 

Hundred Cities, East Road Tavern

 

Above, the vast sky was a deep galaxy-blue, an array of glittering stars casting a profound aurora over the continent. A faint fleeting breeze came with the night, rustling through the grass and tingling one's skin.

 

To the right of a worn dirt path covered in all sorts of footprints, was a small bamboo building of sorts. In the past Era, it had been used as a guard’s outpost as the countless armies of the Hundred Cities waged war, but those times were long past.

 

The building was surrounded by a low crumbling stone wall, engraved with faded marks and various names. A tall gate constructed from two bamboo poles and a wooden plank sat above, with a bronze plaque hanging down crookedly.

 

Within, was the East Road Tavern. Its courtyard dotted with various low jade tables and cypress trees. A copper stele sat to the side, brown-yellow weeds sprouting around it.

 

But the main attraction was the Tavern itself. A clay roof with sharp ridges and exposed eaves, along with a double-layered pagoda atop its second floor. Through the open doorway, was a buzzing chatter as the customers feasted on roasted meat and wine.

 

Sitting by an Eight-sided window, Yun Xie nursed a cup of tea as his chopsticks tapped on a greasy plate. The seating was arranged in two long rows of tables, with the kitchen at the end of the building.

 

Various people from all walks of life sat around, enjoying the hospitality of the tavern. Traders and merchants, dressed from the most extravagant silk robes to rustic fur coats, shady thugs in ragged cloaks and partially hidden weapons, simple peasants, in their faded outfits and small cloth pouches.

 

Continuing to eat his dishes, Yun Xie noted the sole other person at his table. An exceedingly feminine man, or… Was he a woman? Couldn’t really tell, and he did not want to check. Dressed in simple grey-blue peasant clothes, “he” was a stunningly beautiful person. 

 

Curved mellow-grey eyes stunning dazzling as the stars, sleek black hair tied back in a bun, snow-white skin fair and soft, rosy red lips and perfectly lined teeth, “he” seemed like a piece of cold jade, delicate yet lofty.

 

All in all, Yun Xie felt somewhat disturbed. This guy felt like a cross between a young master and a jade beauty… Horrendous combination that was. Not to mention that light freezing aura “he” literally emitted from his body. But it seemed as if he was the only one who could sense it.

 

Around him, he could see men and women alike sneaking glances at “him”. It was rather irritating, feeling those stares glance on past him. Yun Xie shook it off and continued on with his meal.

 

A tender juicy bite of pork erupted in his mouth as he smiled blissfully under his hat. In terms of food standards, he was rather lenient, only taking time out of his day to bash the abomination that was corn. Seriously, Yun Xie hated corn.

 

Rice with meat was a combination made in heaven.

 

As the murmurs continued and he stuffed a clump of rice into his mouth, two new guests entered through the doorway. They were rather shifty and antsy, as if they were running away from something, and sat down across from Yun Xie.

 

Like some others in the room, the two were garbed in heavy concealing cloaks, but Yun Xie could tell that they were most likely in their early teens. One had a short lankier frame, while the other was taller and feminine.

 

To his right, it seemed the supposed cross-dresser had taken attention to them too, “his” eyes contorting a little. None of the rest of the guests seemed to care much. Yun Xie continued to chow down, his straw cone hat casting a shadow over his face.

 

One of the two cloaked figures…. The shorter lankier one. He had a stab wound in his chest. Heavy breathing and trembling hands. On the other hand, the feminine figure was better off, though seemed to be leaning more on her left shoulder.

 

Probably being chased or something. Yun Xie looked around the tavern observantly. Who or whatever was chasing them hadn’t entered the premises yet, but they were getting here soon. Maybe he should leave…?

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No. It wouldn’t hurt to stay behind. Perhaps he could even get involved….. That would be fun. Not to mention Yun Xie really wanted to finish his meal. He’d judge the situation if it got rowdy and someone antagonistic of the youths showed up.

 

He also wanted to check out what was up with the “man” sitting a few feet next to him. 

 

Sipping some green tea, Yun Xie savored the bitter flavor in his mouth, letting loose a deep sigh. The lively atmosphere and such really put him in a good mood.

 

To the side, a waiter had arrived, with the two cloaked ones ordering some seafood dish and tea. 

 

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“Sister Shuren… Are you sure it was a good idea to enter this tavern? There’s only one main exit and entrance, if they lay siege, won’t we be sitting ducks?” 

 

Grimacing in pain, He Gengxin clutched his bandaged side, bursts of pain coursing through his body. Descendents of an old Clan, he and his older cousin had lived comfortably and luxuriously for most of their lives in a small City on the outskirts of the Hundred Cities Region.

 

But that all changed when the Heartless Gu Cult attacked. Controllers of parasitic Gu and insects, they slaughtered their way through his clan, painting the walls red with blood. They only managed to escape with the help of their grandfather, who was cut down fighting.

 

His last message? To travel to their Ancestral Home in the Chained Devil Valley deep in the heart of the Hundred Cities Region. It was a rather strange and rather unnerving order… Given that their Ancestral Home was a Prison.

 

Roughly twenty-thousand years ago, during the Immortal Execution War, their mighty Ancestor took on the responsibility to seal away and guard those of the Ancient Ming. It was said that Thousand Chains Huofeng was once seen as a contender for Emperor Rival.

 

Sadly, with the years, the He Family of the Thousand Chains Clan had deteriorated, and the once great Immortal-Holding Cage abandoned, all prisoners long dead with time. Their whole legacy was, for the most part, forgotten. Gengxin sighed in his heart.

 

Though he screamed of vengeance and such out loud, in his heart, all he really wanted to do was go to his warm bed and sleep the pain away. As much as he wanted them dead, the pessimism in his heart simply made him want to run away and not deal with it ever again.

 

Of course, his older cousin was another story. He Shuren was out for blood… She wanted nothing better to do than suicidally charge the Cult and take as many down with her as possible. Or better yet, destroy the whole Cult. 

 

But she also knew that to destroy them, she would need more power. It was a good assumption to make that something in that Valley could help her after all… Some ancient treasure or weapon to viciously destroy. And as reluctant as Gengxin was, he knew that he needed to help.

 

With that, the two of them fled towards the middle of the Hundred Cities Realm, the Heartless Gu Cult hot on their heels.

 

“Our opposition controls swarms of thousands that will easily find us if we were to run. It is a grassy plain around here with not much cover. It’ll take around three hours to get out of this place, and I’d say the Cult has already made it on the plain. We’ll be dead before we know it.”

 

He Shuren whispered in a husky deep female voice filled with hatred and venom as she took a sip from her porcelain cup.

 

 “A settlement is best, as those vermin don’t yet want to reveal their presence to the world. Some Sects would love to heighten their prestige by wiping out a group with such foul techniques and practices of that caliber. Too many things that could go wrong for a Cult like that. Just blend in.”

 

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