107. Journey to the South

“Can you look after my chickens while am gone? I’ll be out for two days, maybe three.”

“Why must you go to the city to chase a woman. We do have suitable women at Big Tree Village. Just say the word and I’ll talk to Baran.”

“It’s not women, aunt Brina. Just a friend when I was sick.”

Clay made up a lie and said goodbye to his neighbor. Today he will be travelling to the south within Cpres Archipelago. It is at least twenty seven countries away. He estimates he will be spending less than four hundred crones for the trip and he could already feel his pocket aching but for the sake of being a good uncle, he is willing to fork out a big chunk of his savings. All for the sake of his nephew, he even had to endure the temptation of cultivating again as he planted the Natu Fruits from his secret garden.

As Clay got farther away from Gitlangan Conservatory, anyone who passed by would glanced at him. Not because he is attractive or suave but because he looks like a caveman if seen from city standards. His tanned skin that was roasted in the farmlands and blame the active oily pores on his face, then couple that with his grayish black hair that has never tasted a single hair product, then pair it with plain clothes and a bag so ancient it looked like it has been weaved using rhizomes, even a beggar would be ashamed to call himself a beggar upon meeting him.

If Clay were to count his age including his past life excluding the time he spent in the void as a spirit, he should be at least 125 years old now and the last thing old people care about is appearances. He is aware of the weird glances but he just does not feel the need to please other people by looking good and in fact he enjoys watching people’s reaction as if they have just seen a new species of Homo Erectus.

He lost count as to how many trains he has already boarded. There are express trains that would get him to the south faster but his cost cutting measure requires that he wait for the economy class and it is becoming tiresome.

It is already late in the afternoon and he unexpectedly ended up standing at the center aisle before a lovely couple with no care of decency. Their display of affection is getting out of hand further irritating his mood. He is itching to kill them like pesky flies or maybe extract their circulation circuits.

Sigh

Clay inhaled and without him realizing, he exasperated loudly making the couple abhorrently looked at him.

“You got a problem punk?”

The man stood up and wanted to reach his neck and strangle him but Clay immediately release his aura and infused it with a little killing intent.

The man was scared witless he huddled towards the entrance of the crowded train forgetting about his girlfriend. Clay gave a delirious smile at the girl to make her follow her man and opening up a seat. Clay sat down and closed his eyes and cleared his mind and ignored the surrounding passengers who became wary of him.

After a few more rides, Clay got out of the platform as the last train arrived at his destination. He looked at the sign board that says, Merveil. There is a map on the wall and after familiarizing with the routes, he got out of the station and took a cab. It is night time and being new to the area, he asked the cabbie driver.

“Do you know any local inns that won’t charge much?”

“How inexpensive are you looking for?”

“Anything below five crones a day.”

“There are only hotels within these parts and they charge ten crones a day and a minimum week of stay. Dirt people like us usually crash a tavern. Should I drive you to one?”

Clay agreed on the driver’s recommendation. Although, he can’t help but notice the accent and the weird word usage. There is only one language being used by this planet as part of the Stagnation Laws and this is implemented for a reason. Societies with multiple languages will have their language evolve over time and the language used now will become unrecognizable after thousands of years. So for cultures and practices to live on, all other languages had been eliminated and only use one of the three dialects used by Andara Galactic Empire.

But even if there is one language used across the globe, there are still differences. Similar to English language on earth, there is American, British, Australian, and the English used by non-native speakers and they may use the same words but the way they use the words still varies. Being called dirt people felt insulting and felt like he is worse than a pedophile.

After ten minutes, Clay got off the cab and thanked the driver.

Clay walked towards the tavern and when he entered, he was surprised the only soul inside is the shopkeeper.

“We don’t serve food at this hour. If you walk ten more minutes that street will be nice diner.”

Clay looked at the shopkeeper at the counter and observed the interior of the godforsaken place. Behind the owner are bottles of alcoholic drinks and varieties of beverages and to the corner is an aquarium with an Anthorium looking flower in it. The man looked in his forties and with a classic full beard and a protruded belly. Like Clay, he has an innate dirty appearance that repels beautiful women.

“I wonder if this esteemed sir can recommend me to someone who can take me to the Merveil Islands at this hour.”

“Ha ha ha. A foreigner and funny one. I may look like this but I actually married.”

Clay smiled seeing the barkeep understood his joke. When he was researching about customs of the south which is his destination, he came across folklore about an ugly man called Merveil who yearned to be with a beautiful woman. Out of depression, Merveil wanted to leave the village so he sailed away and got to an island. It was there he met a beautiful woman who magically liked him back.

Merveil’s father followed his son to the sea and when he found him, he saw Merveil hallucinating and slowly walking backwards like a dead zombie and was heading towards a strange flower.

The flower was then later named Lievrem flower. It is Merveil written in reverse because it made Merveil walked backwards.

Within the bulb of that mysterious and Anthorium looking flower is actually an Essence Flame belonging to floral category. It starts as a regular flower and would still be considered harmless even when it develops a Human Class Essence Flame but when it becomes an Earth Class Essence Flame, it gains an ability to brew hallucinogenic smoke that comes out of its conical spike or spadix which attracts nearby animals. When the prey comes close enough to the flower, the flower’s roots will penetrate the defenseless body of its prey becoming its sustenance.

Over the years, the story has become a hilarious salvation for the least attractive. It may be a tragic ending but a happy one.

The tavern currently keeps three of them in an aquarium as the flower would emit a faint and non-toxic gas with a calming and relaxing effect similar to an incense or scented candle.

“Business is being punished by the devil so if you plan on asking questions, at least buy a bottle of booze.”

“Are you selling those Lievrem flowers?”

“Them flowers are tricky to harvest but if you but I can give it to you free if you buy a bottle of this bar’s special ale.”

Clay looked at the display of bottles behind the shopkeeper.

“Is that 90 crone special enough?”

“I must inform you though that those flowers have a slim chance of developing and essence Flame. Unless you’re rich and can grow it on a garden with high Spiritual Qi concentration otherwise I recommend you buy a commercial breed. Do you still want to buy the ale?” The barkeep tried to talk normally upon sensing a willing customer.

Clay handed his payment and three rectangular wooden boxes and asked the shopkeeper to store it for him. Lievrem Flowers relies on seaweeds to grow but if forcefully fed will magic beasts, it should thrive anywhere and he has already prepared a special garden for it.

Clay opened the bottle of wine for a taste. In comparison, it is better than the wine from Lonely Soul Paradise.

After a few minutes, he stuffed the boxes and the bottle of wine in his backpack.

As Clay walked towards the street to wait for a cab, he noticed that same black cab he rode to get to the place with its driver standing outside as if waiting for him.

“Did you wait for me?”

“I had a feeling you will need a ride again so I waited.”

Clay entered the cab and did not mind the driver’s actions. He does not know how cabbie drivers are being paid in this world but the fact that the driver waited for him means it is probably serious. Besides, the driver looked in his fifties and must be doing his best to earn an honest living.

After around five minutes, the cab slowed down and parked to a side where the sea is visible. Clay could not feel anything wrong nor does he perceive any malicious intent so he looked at the driver in curiosity.

“Everything alright?” Clay calmly asked.

The driver removed his ring and handed it to Clay.

“That is a Divine Grade Spatial Ring and can bypass the scanners of this planet. Within that ring is a key, a key to a safe within the Galactic Bank of Andara Empire three galaxies from here and therein are valuable treasures I had as a cultivator. The planet is called M0001.”

Clay’s eyes squinted when the driver’s accent shifted.

“I’m still surprised you survived my companion’s curse attack. Either you’re hiding your true strength or there is already a stronger seal residing in your soul.”

Clay materialized his Qi and was about to puncture the driver’s head but stopped when he could not feel a killing intent.