Curious to know the identity of the voice, Yun Fei eagerly climbed into the carriage after gaining permission.

The modest but tasteful furnishing and the stately feeling of the decorations were utterly overshadowed by the sheer grace and beauty of the passenger.

Flowing white dress draped over the seat, a radiant face with piercing green eyes and long dark hair that seemed to absorb the light around them.

It must be understood that Yun Fei, in the matters of men and women ,was at novice at best.

He did know that procreation required a man and woman to collaborate but the all male, sausage fest that was the monastery had ill prepared him to interact with any woman.

Seeing what appeared to be a goddess in front of him, Yun Fei was tongue tied, staring at her like a buffoon he flared his nostrils inhaling the fragrant essence that emanated from the seated figure. Enamoured, Yun Fei froze like a deer in the headlights.

“Fellow cultivator, if you have had your fill of staring would you sit down so we can get a move on.....”

The poor boy turned beet red with embarrassment and hurriedly sat down mumbling his apologies as the carriage jerked to a start.

“Now that we are away, I am Lin Xue hailing from the city of Quingyang. May I ask why you are headed to Sungon city?”

Gulping with a dry throat Yun Fei replied, “I was simply passing through this area and I thought I would go there in order to broaden my horizons.”

“Oh, so are you not going to participate in the city guard selection examination?”

“Slection examination? This is the first time I've heard of it.

If you don't mind, could you tell me the details about it.”

“I completely thought that you would be heading to Sungon city in order to participate in this examination.

I wouldn't mind providing details, but isn’t fellow cultivator going to introduce himself first.”

Yun Fei could have slapped himself for his impoliteness, thinking of climbing into a hole somewhere he stammered out, “Me....uh, I’m called Yun Fei and I come from...mmm......ah...”

Mid sentence he realized that he had nothing more to say about himself as he did not really wish to talk about the monastery.

“Apologies, you need not say anything if you don't want to reveal anything about your background.”, said Lin Xue tersely.

Stumped, Yun Fei let the carriage dissolve into an awkward silence as he tried his best to stop staring at the beauty.

On seeing Yun Fei, Lin Xue had felt that he was unique in a certain manner as he cut a striking figure, standing out from the riff-raff that she had previously encountered on the road.

However, she was disappointed at his awkward and impolite manners. As a young mistress of a respectable family, she had been raised in an extremely proper and protected environment.

Such rudeness was something she had never witnessed. As she was out of the supervision of her family for the first time in her life, she had decided to invite Yun Fei in, showing nothing but politeness but his manner really got on her nerves.

Although she had seen many men stare at her, they usually only stole glances when they thought she wouldn't notice.

This guy however, was staring brazenly at her face and body while standing right in front of her without any care.

She had called him out and decided to just ignore this kind of behaviour, trying to steer the conversation to be polite. However, this guy didn't even know how to take a hint and didn't even answer her properly.

'Just what is up with this guy? hasn't he ever looked at a girl before? Did his parents not teach him any manners?' Lin Xue thought to herself as she gave up on carrying a conversation.

Yun Fei was embarrassed for blowing the conversation with the first beautiful girl he had ever met.

After he glanced 2-3 more times at her with his eyes closed using the ability of his eyes, he kept liking her more and more and could confirm that what Sun Ming had once told him about women was indeed the truth.

When he was a kid, Sun Ming used to tell him about the things in the wider world.

He had told him that when he ever met a woman that he really liked. He would know from his heart. He would feel the desire to keep that woman for himself and to never let her go to someone else.

Although he didn't believe the advice of the 'self-alleged lover of women' then as he thought he was just bragging.

He had to believe it after he knew that Sun Ming, in truth was a very powerful cultivator that had roamed the heavens and earth for who knows how many years.

He could feel inside his heart that he wanted this woman to be with him and he wanted to talk more with her. So, he tried to carry the conversation forwards by saying.

“I am sorry for imposing on Miss, it would be rude of me to not share in the fare…"

'At least he remembers that he should ask about the fare,' thought Lin Xue as she magnanimously turned down Yun Fei's offer.

He once again tried to carry on the conversation by trying to inquire more about the city guard selection examination that Lin Xue had mentioned previously in the conversation.

"My origins are just nothing special, I was wondering if you could tell me more about that city guard selection examination that you were talking about."

Lin Xue looked at Yun Fei with her vivid green eyes, surprised at his ignorance and began explaining about the city guard selection examination.

"Mister Yun must know that the most common way to join the free city alliance which spans across the Skyrend continent is by giving the city guard selection examination and then rising through the ranks to eventually acquire a better position in the organisation.

This time, the examination is specifically held for such recruits, who are under 18 years of age, they will have a chance to acquire a better position than a normal guard.

I am 16 years old, so even I might apply for it. What is fellow cultivators age? Maybe you can also benefit from the examination this time."

Yun Fei tried to calculate how much time he had spent in the forest and arrived at his estimated age of 16 years and replied.

"I am also 16 years old."

Lin Xue was a little surprised since she thought that Yun Fei would definitely be older than her.

She didn't think much though and mentioned to him that the examiners would use a specialised formation to measure the age of the applicants and they wouldn't take kindly to people lying to them.

While Lin Xue talked about some more things, the carriage came to a stop near a grove of trees as the sun was on the verge of setting.

The driver dismounted and opened the door to the carriage and said

"Would patrons please dismount? We'll have to stop here for the night. It's not ideal to travel in the dark and the horses also require some rest.

If we set off early tomorrow, we will be able to reach the city by the evening."

Unhesitatingly, Yun fei said, "Let me build a fire and prepare some dinner for us all, it is the least I can do to repay your hospitality...”

“There is no need for that, we have rations packed,” interrupted Lin Xue

“Please do not refuse any further, it will make me feel impolite. I am sure that Miss can easily forgo a meal as a cultivator but a fresh meal is always welcomed and I am somewhat confident in my cooking skills.”

Saying this Yun Fei bounded off into the underbrush picking up his strung bow.

Lin Xue watched with astonishment as she saw him scouting for prey, hanging off a tall tree in the distance.

A short while later, he walked into sight with a deer slung over his shoulder and a bunch of herbs held in his hand. Practised hands quickly built a campfire as the cabbie walked the horses, leaving them to their grazing.

The skinned deer roasted on a spit, rubbed with fragrant herbs as a mouth watering scent wafted through the air.

The venison was sliced into bite sized pieces and served with fresh, cold water drawn from a spring Yun Fei had discovered.

After a sumptuous meal, the driver excused himself, walking into the nearby woods in order to relieve himself.

Looking all the more enchanting by the soft glow of the fire, Lin Xue spoke with a slightly better disposition, "You indeed were not boasting emptily about your cooking skills, the meat was very well prepared. You seemed very practised in hunting too.”

“You praise me too much, these skills come very easily to someone who has spent a lot of time living in the woods.”

'That provides an explanation for his dismal social skills and dishevelled appearance. Maybe he isn’t as bad as I thought.' thought Lin Xue

Afterall, she had heard that people who lived in the wilds for extended periods of time all had trouble interacting with people in the start.

“Miss Lin, I have been wondering for a long time... How is it that you recognized me to be a cultivator?”

Taken aback, Lin Xue replied, "Who else but a cultivator would carry around a space pouch? if mister wishes to disguise your identity you would do well to hide such an obvious thing.”

Enlightened, Yun Fei grimaced at his foolishness and smiled in an embarrassed manner.

As the sun rose from the east heralding a new day, the trio left once again after dismantling the camp.

Towards the end of the day as the carriage rolled past the rolling hills, the city finally came into sight.

Observing from a window, Yun fei gasped as he saw the enormous city battlements, awed into speechlessness.

“The towering visage is just eye candy for the mortals as well as a testament to the city’s prosperity, the true defence is actually provided by the elite city guard and the profound arrays carved on the walls,” informed Lin Xue.

Yun Fei had decided to register for the city guard registration after he had heard more details about the position from Lin Xue.

Although he was convinced that he had only decided to apply after listening to the benefits mentioned by Lin Xue, it probably played a small part that Lin Xue herself might also apply for the examination.

'I wonder what this new city will bring me. Whatever it will be, it will be better than the monastery.'

Thought Yun Fei as the carriage made its way towards the city gate looming in the distance.