“For the last time, boy, City Lord Ozi does not care who you represent, he does not have time to see you. If you go back to meet the scribe near the City’s entrance, you can schedule an appointment.”

Calm yourself, Felix, don’t Ragnarok his smug face. You’re just tired from keeping watch for that damn wolf and not sleeping for days.

“And for the last time we have already talked to him, and he has told us no. Look,” said Felix, running a hand through his hair. He repressed a grimace as he saw the bags under Edward and Yang Mei’s eyes. Cixi somehow still looked impeccable. “We just need a moment of the City Lord’s time. If you won’t acknowledge our background, then will you respect Pale Hill’s City Lord?”

Fumbling for a moment, Felix brought out the emblem of Pale Hill’s City Lord.

The bear of a man loomed over them, squinting at the intricate symbol while still jeering.

“Oh excuse me, you represented Pale Hill City? Why didn’t you start out with that? Please, young master, come right in.” said the guard, stepping aside.

“That worked?” said Felix. “I mean, of course.”

With a tired grin, Felix stepped around the guard. Then he felt something hit him in the chest. People jumped out of the way as he was sent rolling across the paved road.

Rage, fucking rage

He forced himself to a stop and sprung up into a fighting stance. The guard remained in the same position and began picking his nose.

“Oh, excuse me, young master. It seems my foot slipped. Please come see the city lord,” said the guard

Felix just stared back, mouth hanging open.

He-he can’t be serious. Is he suicidal? What is going on that he is willing to offend both the Pale Hill city lord and our sects? What am I missing? Does he believe we are imposters? I mean…. Oh no.

“Yang Mei, back down,” said Felix.

Yang Mei had started to walk toward the guard, her face aflame in anger. Even Cixi and Edward were tense, ready to move at a moment’s notice. Daiyu, however, was standing as unruffled as she had been at the beginning.

Huh, I'm a little hurt that she didn’t react. Well… at least one of us is keeping a cool head.

Patting himself down, his eyebrows rose at the distinct lack of pain. He eyed the guard and then cupped his hands.

“Excuse me, fellow cultivator. I don’t believe I ever caught your name?’

“I am surprised a young master deigned to ask my name. I am known as Bai Yon.,” said the guard.

“You don’t happen to be related to Captain Bai in Pale Hill city, do you?” said Felix

“You know my cousin?” said Bai Yon, his nonchalance slipping.

“I fought alongside him when fighting broke out in Pale Hill city.” Said Felix.

“Fighting?” said Bai Yon. “Pale Hill city is a place for pencil pushers. At most, a guard there should be hunting a few bandits or tamping down a rogue cultivator’s arrogance. When would you ever end up fighting alongside him?”

Alright, I suppose knowing people is still the most important skill.

“It was quite dangerous actually. The City lord confronted the Yang Family and Captain Bai was in the thick of it. Went through quite a few walls.”

“I had heard rumors but I thought they were just that. Is he alright?” said Bai Yon.

“A little worse for wear but nothing serious as far as I could tell.” Said Felix

“Good, good. That’s great to hear. I thought he would be able to stay out of trouble there…”

“Um, so can I ask why you kicked me in the chest?”

“Kid…” said Bai Yon. He looked over to an approaching company of merchants and sighed. “It has nothing to do with you in particular but City Lord Ozi has standards when he sees people, even if they are not explicitly stated. Ask around. There are more than enough people that will explain the situation to you. If you really need answers, stop by the Spirit Egg. Now, if you would please vacant the premises? It looks like I have scheduled guests.”

Felix hesitated but felt a small hand on his arm. He turned and found Daiyu tugging on his sleeve. With a sigh, he waved at the rest of their group and they walked away. A gaudily dressed man among the merchants snorted as they passed by, his nose raised high. Edward scowled and Felix felt his eye twitch when the guard let them in.

“Edward, A little composure.” Said Felix, “We need to pick our battles.”

“Felix, how can you be so blasé about that!” said Edward. “He attacked you. Aren’t you injured?”

“Not even a little bit. I am pretty sure he was just messing with us, though why the guard is that arrogant, I don’t know.”

“Perhaps the city lord is stronger than we thought.” wrote Daiyu. “I am not sure since he seemed to be hiding it, but I believe that guard was actually in the Core Realm. The master is often stronger than the follower.

“Wait really?” said Yang Mei, perking up. “I thought he was mid essence condensing at most. Thank the Dao I didn’t attack him.”

“I’m not certain but I believe so.” Wrote Daiyu. “So what do you want to do now?”

“I suppose we ask around before inspecting the edge of the woods. Daiyu, you wouldn’t know who to talk to in this city.”

“I can probably find someone but my family does not normally go this close to the edge of the Endless Wilderness. We aren’t really needed far from civilization.”

“Okay… Well then, let’s see what this ‘Spirit Egg’ place has to offer.” Said Felix.

Fuck me, it really is a giant egg.

The building was the tallest on the block, towering over its nearest neighbors. Its walls bulged out, consuming the nearby alleyways until only a sliver was left. The bottom portion was unbroken wood but after the fourth floor, windows of every shape and size marked its surface. The top of the building was blocked off by a palisade with only light harp music hinting at what was behind those walls. Two giant doors were set facing the street with the words ‘Spirit Egg’ written above them.

Why did they write ‘Cultivators Only!’ below the name? Was such a harsh script, and blood-red coloring really necessary?

“You know, we could keep asking around,” said Edward, stepping back from the raucous laughter inside. “I know a bar when I see one and this isn’t exactly a nice part of town. We can ask our questions elsewhere.”

“I doubt that guard was messing with us. Come on. Let’s go in.” said Felix.

A scarred man stood silently next to the entrance but only glared at them as they walked in. They found themselves in a massive circular room with a high vaulted ceiling. The occupants showed little of the aloof attitude of cultivators, crowding the room to the brim as they filled the air with their discussions. In the middle of the mayhem rose an elevated bar. Waitresses in alluring outfits flittered between the crowd and the bar like bees to a hive. They perform feats in their duty beyond mortal ability but the true display of martial prowess was the bartender.

That… has to be the ugliest cultivator I’ve seen yet.

His eyes were beady and spread apart like a frog, skin rough and ragged. Yet the broad man stood at the center of the bar with the surety of the general observing his domain. Even as smaller men tended the bar and aided the waitress, his feet remained still.

However, his arms were a blur. Drinks flew from his hands at frightening speed yet laid gently before their recipients. Some patrons even raised their hand, a drink settling into their waiting grasps. His movements were further complicated as empty glasses were returned to him by a few of the waitresses only to be caught with ease. After failing to see a free seat, they approached the bar itself when a few cultivators stumbled away. The frog-eyed man raised an eyebrow at their party and said something at one of the assisting bartenders. The man paled but rushed to replaced the frog-eyed man as he strode over to Felix’s group.

“I don’t believe I am familiar with any of you nor do you look like Beast Watch’s usual visitors.” Said the bartender. “What can I help you with?”

“We were told to come here if we had questions.”

“The bar is not a place for questions of a sensitive nature, boy.” said the bartender. “In the future, go through the curtain at the back of the room. This place is meant for drinking and relaxing. To take your minds from your cultivation road and indulge in the Dao of alcohol. What did you come to find out anyway?”

“We just wanted to know why the City lord rejected us when we went to see him.”

“…You are idiots. The city lord will never see anyone below the Core Realm. Not unless he wants to, of course.”

“But why?” said Yang Mei.

“You think just because you come from the Thousand Season Sect or the Onooka Clan that people will roll over for you? Yes, I can recognize the emblem ready enough, and I am sure that the guard did too.”

“He said as much,” said Felix. “After he sent me sailing across the street.”

“Oh? Then you must have met Bai Yon. A good man. If you had met some of the other guards, they may have taught you a harder lesson. What you fail to understand is that not every cultivator is concerned about saving their life above all else.”

“Wait, are you telling me the City Lord is suicidal?”

“What, no, of course not. It is just the City lord is in the Nascent Soul Realm and is not what one would call a pacifist. This is the only major trade route to the Endless wilderness. Do you know how much wealth is funneled through this location?”

“But how is this spot not controlled by a sect or a group of nascent souls. Sure, City Lord Ozi may be formidable, but greed alone would be his downfall,” said Felix.

“There used to be no City Lord, or well, there was one, but the title had no meaning. No, for a long time the city was more ruins than not, with one city lord after another popping up and trying to appease foreign interests. Then Ozi came with his men and slaughtered until he established order by the blade. While we in the city were just happy to finally have some stability, many foreign powers were not. It can to nothing though as the merchants from the Endless Wilderness started trading more frequently with the stability here. In the face of such riches and an aggressive nascent soul, those powers backed down. Many were happy with wealth in their pocket.”

“So… he doesn’t have to care about others’ opinions and that’s why I was kicked in the chest.”

“Are you listening boy? He doesn’t have the strength to fight off an endless horde of foreign powers so he has instead decided to make it not worth taking. Any attempt by others would likely destroy the wealth that this trade route produces. Yet he can’t appear weak, ever. There is a balance of powers in the area but he still needs to draw a line in the sand. “

“But surely the merchants from the endless wilderness would just trade with a new ruler?”

“I’ve talked to merchants from the Endless Wilderness. While they mum about the details of their home, they are quite forthcoming in their praise of the city lord Ozi. ‘It is so much better under Ozi’s management.’ And ‘thank goodness Ozi took over, our masters were thinking of closing down the trade route.’ That last one has been spread more and more in the last few years and believe me, it shut a lot of people up.”

“Wow… that is way more than I thought you would tell us,” said Felix

The bartender blinked his eyes slowly and smacked the side of his head.

“Ach! I got lost in the story.” said the bartender

“No, thank you so much for your help. How about we buy a few rounds of drinks then? Wait, how much do we have?” said Felix.

Oh right, the money from the award…. Captain Bai dropped that off at some point and I forgot all about it. Yang Mei said it was a good amount but honestly, I still don’t fully grasp the name of the units. Though thank goodness they go up by tens. But I better leave the finances to someone else.

“Daiyu, do you think we have enough for some drinks. Maybe give a tip to repay our generous bartender?” said Felix.

Daiyu gave a slow nod and the bartender’s craggy face split in a toothy grin.

“Now that’s more like it. It seems the young master has a good sense of proportion and understanding of Karma. I am not sure I caught your name? I am Yen Chen but am also call Daoist Clear Eye”

Clear Eye, not what I would have drawn attention to but sure.

“You can call me Felix. These are my fellow disciples; Edward, Yang Mei, Onooka Daiyu, and finally Cixi… I’m sorry Cixi, I am afraid I don't know your full name.

“My surname is Yan,” said Cixi.

“Yan?” said Yen Chen. “you wouldn’t happen to be part of the Yan family in Count Nicholas’s territory?”

“I might be…” said Cixi. “Do you know my family?”

“I make it my business to know these things, Fairy Cixi. I just hadn’t seen any people from your family in a few years and was curious.” Said Yen Chen

“My family has been facing some difficulties recently, so I am not surprised,” said Cixi.

“Well, with you joining the Thousand Season Sect, your family fortunes are surely on the rise.” Said Yen Chen

“Yes… thank you,” said Cixi.

“Now that we are on more familiar terms, let me pick you young ones out something suitable, and some juice for the child.”

Yen Chen turned back to the struggling bartender who had replaced him. With a few words, the sweating man nodded and sent five glasses flying in Yen Chen’s direction. Plucking them out of the air, he set them down before the group in one smooth motion. Felix eyed them. They were smoking.

Well, might as well. Hey, this is really good! Wait aren't’ we too young to be drinking.

“Now that everyone is more comfortable, how about you return the favor and tell me why you five are so far south,” said Yen Chen

“We are just here to investigate local spirit beast activity.”

“Oh, one of those,” said Yen Chen.

“One of those?” said Yang Mei, nursing her drink.

“Many sects near the Endless Wilderness investigate that occasionally. Even if it rarely happens, cultivators have long lives and longer memories. I was hoping for something more interesting.”

“Like what?” said Felix

“Well, the City Lord is hosting his annual auction,” said Yen Chen

“Wait, I thought the City lord was just a middle man?” said Cixi.

“That is his main purpose, as much of the trade is for large quantities of the same resources with little variation. However, it appears the wilderness merchants believe that trading more rare and valuable resources is good business. From what I’ve seen of the final selling price, I have to admit they are right.”

I wonder what kind of things they will sell at the auction. I would imagine mostly herbs but perhaps the concentration of merchants will attract other sellers, hoping to get a better price here. Though I admit, this place is out of the way for most of civilization.

Taking a sip of the mug offered, Felix paused and smacked his lips.

Now that is interesting. Almost like a cider but there is something extra to the flavor. Oooh, and the alcohol has quite a punch.

With a yawn, Felix looked over his companions. Cixi had taken a few sips of her drink but had set it down immediately. Daiyu hadn’t even touched hers and Edward stared sullenly down at his juice. Yang Mei showed no restraint. With an audible clack, she put the now empty cup back down on the table.

“Another!” said Yang Mei. She blushed and glanced in Felix’s direction. “Excuse me, I would like another. It is very good.”

“Well, it seems one of you has distinguished taste.” Said Yen Che.

“It is quite good, but it has something I can’t quite put my finger on.” Said Felix. “Who makes it?”

“Have you never had spiritual wine before? I suppose you are younger than I thought. You are tasting the essence from the fruit. That there is actually from the Endless Wildernesses, Ape Peach Wine.”

“They have enough surplus to sell it?” said Felix.

“Well, they must have. The endless wilderness is vast after all. Still, this is the low-quality stuff. They sell it by the wagon-load on the cheap. It is only marginally beneficial for your cultivation but it does have quite the flavor. Slightly better for body cultivators than pure dantian cultivators. Now the rare stuff… that is much harder to acquire.”

Yang Mei downed another mug, only the slightest of flushes marring her chiseled features. She gave Felix a challenging look, and he sighed.

“Edward… Make sure I don’t do anything foolish.” Said Felix. He put down his mug and pushed the empty cup forward.

“Now that’s the spirit.” Said Yen Chen, letting out a laugh as he refilled Felix’s cup. “Don’t worry, with the amount young Yang Mei gave me, I’ll give you five rooms.”

Felix accepted the cup and let out another sigh as Yang Mei met his eyes across the bar.

Well… if everything is taken care of I suppose I can keep up with Yang Mei for a few drinks. Only a few though.

Felix gulped down another, the flavor of alcohol was no longer even noticeable on his tongue.

It really is good. I even feel reenergized! So much for spiritual wine being more potent. I don’t feel drunk at all.