The City lord’s advisor did not take long to appear. As soon as they explained the nature of their mission, they were ushered into a meeting room at the back of the manner. Files were called for and the man, who claimed to be one of the City Lord’s advisors, began explaining each one. That was several hours ago.

Felix found himself zoned out from the conversation as he looked over the regional map plastered on the wall. The detail was exquisite, which only made the vast swaths with no information more striking.

Areas that are so dangerous that precise details aren’t known. I suppose that’s to be expected in such a world but the idea that some places are just too terrifying to even risk mapping is foreign. And that is not even accounting for the southern portion of the map.

His eyes trailed down to the line that represented the edge of the Endless Wilderness. Past that line, there was only blankness except for one little line representing the Serpentine Path.

Even if it is so dangerous, some idiots had to have explored more than this by now. Though, I suppose that just because a few were able to do it and live, doesn’t mean those few had much skill in turning that experience into maps. Well, I suppose that doesn’t matter for our purposes…. Ugh, is this man the norm for advisors or is the city lord sending a message?

“Representatives,” said the man in question, waving a hand for emphasis. The accompanying wave of perfume nearly made Felix gag. “As I’ve been saying, there has been little to no reports of activity in the Endless Wilderness. Not that we can see at least. Trade has been as usual with the clans native to the Endless Wilderness and no unusual spirit beast activity has been sighted.”

The man made an exaggerated motion that still somehow communicated both subservience and arrogance. Felix had to resist covering his nose when another billow of perfume came his way. He tried to distract himself by looking at one of his companions.

“Are you sure that there is nothing that your people have noticed?” Wrote Daiyu. “I do not doubt your City Lord, but it is our duty to be certain.”

“I am not sure what else I can tell you.” Said the aide, his slimy smile dropping for the first time since meeting him into an expression of helplessness. “There hasn’t been any indication of an issue on the border.”

Cixi tapped her board for a moment while Yang Mei gave Felix a meaningful look.

…I have no idea what that look is supposed to mean.

“Alright,” Wrote Daiyu. “Thank you for your help.”

“Of course,” said the man, his smile back in place. “Once again, the city lord is sorry that he cannot come personally but you can of course stay in the guest building as long as you need. Please contact the City Lord’s manor with any additional questions. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, thank you.” Wrote Daiyu. As the man left the room, Daiyu showed her board to the others. “So, what do you three think?”

“What do you mean?” said Cixi. “What he said was quite straightforward. There has been no unusual activity. Job well done. I know we were all hoping for more from this, but we’ve done the mission. Let’s just return to the sect and accept our reward.”

“I think she means we have to do our due diligence. If this was enough, the sect would have just sent a letter to ask the City Lord’s opinion on the matter.” Said Felix.

“Exactly. Also, we have those other missions that I accepted.” Wrote Daiyu

Cixi gave Yang Mei a confused look.

“Oh, yea.” Said Yang Mei, “I totally forgot about that.”

“I thought you wanted us to focus on asking about our primary objective. Though I admit I don’t know what our next step should be,” said Felix

“Well, it isn’t like we need to rush either way.” Said Cixi. “I mean, we might as well focus on those additional missions.”

“Exactly.” Wrote Daiyu. “I can also help you guys with learning who to ask.”

“Well,” said Yang Mei, getting to her feet. “Isn’t that what all this is about, learning about the world and experiencing things. Also, I want to see the city and not just be guided around by that guard. Now let’s go.”

“What kind of missions are these!?” Said Yang Mei, throwing her arms in the air. She swerved around the children that ran in her path, feet landing almost as she was dancing. “I mean, I knew that there were a bunch of miscellaneous missions, but I wish I had made her ask us first before accepting. Then I could have put my foot down.”

Cixi gave her companion a suffering stare. How did I get stuck with the muscle head? She thought.

“They are straight forward and we can do a lot of them at once.” Said Cixi. “She said, I mean wrote, that they were selected to maximize the number of points we can make. We’ve already gone through a bunch of them like delivering letters and made a surprising amount of points. Also, these types of missions are normal practice. They get relegated to disciples because there isn’t the same level of infrastructure in The Central Region than there is in the Tang Kingdom or the Empire.”

“But delivering letters? Buying flowers? I mean, come on. We may not have a fancy ‘Post System’ or whatever the empire calls it, but we certainly have merchants. I mean, half of the nonsense on this list is like this” said Yang Mei and waved around the list in question.

“I am not going to explain to you the intricacies of mortal and cultivator trade routes. Haven’t you heard of the interspatial trade effect? Also, weren’t you the one who was so excited to go on this mission.”

“I’ve heard of it, I am not an idiot.” Said Yang Mei and shot Cixi a glare. “…It has something to do with cultivators being selfish, correct?”

“That’s… both incomplete and sort of wrong.” Said Cixi, her annoyance bleeding through. She forced herself to take a calming breath as she played with her ring.

What would Father think of me if he could see me now? Father always did say I was too quick to judge people.

“Look, I’m sorry,” Said Cixi. “And honestly? I was expecting something different too. My father’s advisors… I mean my family's elders always insisted I was protected. So, I’ve sort of built up my image of what something like this would be like too.”

“No wonder you joined the sect.” Said Yang Mei. “Though it was pure good fortune for me to be able to join the sect, I can see where you are coming from. I also needed a chance to go somewhere so I could become who I want to be. I am sure when you get back you can show your father all about it.

“…I guess.” Said Cixi.

“Hey,” Said Yang Mei, giving Cixi a confused look. Then her brilliant grin came on and she locked arms with the smaller girl. “Not sure what I said but I am here if you need to talk.”

What- Thought Cixi but then she blinked. She realized there were tears in her eyes. She rubbed her eyes with her free sleeves. Wait, that’ll mess up… wait, I no longer need to wear makeup. Small mercies.

“Thanks.” Said Cixi after a moment. “I’ll remember that if the moment comes.”

“Well no time for mopping, we need to finish those missions,” said Yang Mei, her grin somehow becoming more brilliant. “ Now, let’s see, what’s next on this list… What! Why are there so many errands for Elder Zhenzhen? These weren’t here before.”

Cixi’s lips crinkled and then she found she was laughing. The nearby cultivators gave her looks of disdain and the mortals tried to avoid looking in their direction at all. Somehow their glances made it funnier.

“See! We can have fun doing this.” Said Yang Mei, her annoyance forgotten. Cixi couldn’t help but return a grin of her own. “Now, she wants us too… Pick up her underwear order?”

“What? Let me see that.” Said Cixi, snatching the list from yang Mei. “Really? Alright, I am with you now. This is ridiculous. From someplace named Folded Petals. Oh, that’s actually only a bit down the road.”

Yang Mei followed Cixi’s pointing finger and then she froze. The sudden stop caused Cixi to stumble as Yang Mei’s arm held her in place like an immovable object. She shot another glare at the muscle head only to pause.

Wow… I don’t know if I have ever seen anyone blush that much.

“Cixi.” Said Yang Mei softly. “Maybe we can just do the other missions and skip this one.”

“No, we will get a fine if we don’t have a proper justification.” Said Cixi and vainly tried to tug her companion forward. “What has gotten into you?”

“Cixi, what do you think that place is?”

She looked at the building and saw the gaudily dressed women and a steady stream of customers. Various articles of clothing were on display in windows and some of the women were sporting what looked like the latest fashion of the city.

“Obviously some kind of tailors.” Said Cixi. “Now let me go.”

“Maybe they make clothes, but I recognize a brothel when I see one.” Said Yang Mei.

Cixi stopped her struggling to look at the building as well. She saw how the women at the entrance interacted with the men at the entrance.

…What kind of sect did I join?

Felix stared down in anger at the list as he left the previous shop.

Not a single quest and we have been doing missions all day. Is nothing going to give me a mission? I just…

He sighed, stopping to rub a hand through his hair. Daiyu stopped herself and looked back at him. She cocked her head in question.

I almost feel like I am beginning to read her language even with that cloak… Is she happy?

“Daiyu, are you sure it was necessary to split up.” Said Felix. “I mean, I know we accepted a lot of missions, I didn’t realize how many to be honest, but there was no need to rush, was there?”

“I had my reasons.” Wrote Daiyu, holding the sign over her head so it was easy for him to see as they walked. It placed it conveniently at eye level. “Also, the mission bloat is partly laid at your elders’ feet.”

“How is it my elders’ fault?” Said Felix. His eyes spotted the weapon shop they were headed to in the distance. “Besides, you were the one who chooses all the missions. Something about how they would fit in nicely with the main mission. I admit it's efficient but we have been running errands all damn day.”

“I’ve had a pretty good time.” Wrote Daiyu in small letters.

“I have too, it's just that this list is crazy. I mean, why do we have so many missions for Elder Zhenzhen? And you didn’t explain why it is my elders’ fault.”

“I didn’t look at who was requesting the mission.” Said Daiyu, “But the main reason for the number of miscellaneous missions is your elders’ rules that lower level disciples can’t go on missions. Not all the sects in the Martial Alliance have the depth to only allow Essence Condensers and above to perform basic missions. Your sect certainly does not.”

“How’s that possible.” Said Felix. “It did operate, and I never felt any lack.”

“Your Elders probably took up most of the slack. This is possible only if they are willing to waste time that they should be using cultivating. Now follow me and be silent.” Wrote Daiyu.

They reached the Weapon store, ‘Tolo’s Mystical Tools’ written across the front in bronze lettering. Felix couldn’t help pausing to look around after they entered.

This place… is awesome.

The room was packed with weapons. Every shelf and corner was covered in them. A few of them had him raising his eyes.

I don’t know if a shovel can be considered a weapon but… It certainly is fancy looking. Seriously though, some of these weapons are oddly shaped.

He blinked as he realized Daiyu had already started ascending the stairs and he hurried to follow. One of the many attendants moved to stop him but Daiyu snapped her fingers, getting the attendant’s attention. She flashed a gold card, and then pointed at Felix and then herself. Chagrined, the man backed off.

Trying and failing not to give the attendant a smug look, Felix hurried up after the little heiress. The second floor had fewer items on display with many locked in cases covered in glowing lines. A portly man rushed over to them, his eyes widening as he spotted Daiyu.

“Little miss, it is so good to see you again. You truly honor Tolo’s store by coming once again.”

Daiyu’s hands flashed in her clan’s sign language and Tolo nodded along.

“Ahhh, why yes of course. I should have known. Right this way, young miss, right this way.” Said Tolo and ushered them toward a back door. He paused as he finally seemed to notice Felix. “Young miss, is it alright for that man to come as well? I was under the impression that your clan typically operated alone.”

Daiyu’s hands flashed again and Tolo nodded.

“Yes, of course. The Martial Alliance, I didn’t even consider the ramifications. Well, young master, come this way.”

They followed Tolo to find themselves in a quiet room with only a desk and a few chairs.

“Now, what can Old Tolo help you with?”

“I am sorry,” said Felix, interrupting Daiyu mid hand sign. “But I feel I am a little lost. What is this? I mean, what exactly is going on?”