Volume 2 Chapter 2

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Volume 2 Chapter 2: The Small Town

After leaving Jiuhua Mountain, Xu Qingfan suddenly experienced a sense of vast openness, as if a lifetime had passed. Perhaps it was because he had spent too much time alone in Jiuhua Mountain.

No matter how beautiful the scenery or how pleasant the environment, if one stays in one place for too long, it can start to feel like a cage. Although Xu Qingfan had lived quite comfortably and at ease in his cave dwelling in the back mountain, he hadn’t felt this way. But when Xu Qingfan really stepped out of Jiuhua Mountain that day and saw the distant blue sky, white clouds, and lush mountains, he truly felt as though he had escaped a cage.

Suddenly, Xu Qingfan remembered his dream from before. If his cultivation truly reached the late stage of the Lingji Stage and could no longer advance, then spending the rest of his life exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Shenzhou Continent would be a good choice.

Xu Qingfan shook his head with a wry smile, pushing those distant thoughts aside as he guided the "Three Meters Green Silk" to swiftly fly towards the horizon.

…

Gushan Town got its name because it is located at the foot of Gushan Mountain. It is said that a former governor thought the name Gushan Town was too plain, so during his visit to Gushan Mountain, he gave the town a more elegant name. Unfortunately, both the residents and visitors continued to call the town Gushan Town out of habit. As the name-loving governor left office, the elegant name faded into obscurity, gradually forgotten.

The town is situated next to a transportation hub, backed by the picturesque Gushan Mountain and Sha River, so it remains bustling. People come and go, vendors shout, and shops line the streets, all in great variety.

At this moment, a young man of about twenty entered the town. His white robe, made of some unknown material, was spotless, his features were refined, and his demeanor calm, like a well-bred and knowledgeable nobleman, with an air of mysterious elegance. Yet strangely, this young man seemed to behave like someone who had never seen the world before, glancing around curiously as he walked, as if everything was new to him.

"Maybe he’s a young noble from a big city who has never seen a small town like this," guessed passersby, observing the youth’s odd behavior.

This young man was none other than Xu Qingfan, who had just descended from Jiuhua Mountain.

Originally, Xu Qingfan intended to fly directly to the Southern Wasteland, but as he passed by this small town, he stopped, deciding to take in the bustling atmosphere and experience life among the common folk.

Once upon a time, Xu Qingfan was born in the Southern Wasteland, a desolate and dangerous place filled with wild beasts and few people. Everyone built forts to live in, and there were no towns to be seen. Back then, Xu Qingfan often dreamed of the bustling Middle-earth from the limited descriptions in books, but unfortunately, he never had the chance to see it.

Later on, when Xu Family Village was destroyed, Xu Qingfan became a disciple of Lu Huayan and officially stepped into the cultivation world, never stepping outside Jiuhua Mountain, let alone experiencing the prosperity of Middle-earth. Even now, Xu Qingfan often recalls the brightly lit, bustling metropolis he saw from the sky while Lu Huayan was taking him back to Jiuhua Mountain. Although this small town could not compare to the big city Xu Qingfan had seen before, its lively atmosphere stirred his deep desire to experience the prosperity of Middle-earth.

This is why when Xu Qingfan came to this little town, he was curious about everything, as he had never seen such things. The passersby who guessed he was a young master didn’t know that the reason he looked around was simply because he was a naive newcomer unfamiliar with everything.

Shortly after arriving in the town, Xu Qingfan caused a funny incident due to his ignorance.

Upon arrival, Xu Qingfan noticed an old man selling little figurines made of an unknown material, depicting warriors or monsters, all very lifelike. These figurines seemed to be very popular with children, and Xu Qingfan often saw a child happily leaving after buying one.

"Maybe it’s a decorative ornament," Xu Qingfan speculated to himself.

Just then, another child bought a figurine from the old man and put it in his mouth. Seeing this, Xu Qingfan was startled, thinking the child was eating something he shouldn’t. He quickly took the figurine out of the child’s mouth.

The child began to cry loudly, and after an explanation from bystanders, Xu Qingfan learned that the figurines were actually made of sugar, called "sugar people," meant for children to eat. Xu Qingfan, being inexperienced, had just earned the title of a "big bad guy" who snatched candy from a child and was deeply embarrassed.

"Could it be that even big cities don’t have sugar people?" the bystanders speculated.

"Perhaps this young man was spoiled from a young age and has never seen sugar figurines," someone speculated, causing others around to nod in realization.

Although Xu Qingfan meant well but made a mistake, he was carefree by nature and quickly brushed it off, eagerly observing the lives of the common people in Middle-earth. Little did he know that his naive demeanor had already caught the attention of some watchful individuals.

In this world, there are people who live at the very bottom of society, dreaming of getting something for nothing. They have no skills other than deception and thievery, and such people are called "rogues" or "thugs" by others.

Those who are wealthy yet naive are referred to as "Walking Sheep" by such people. For instance, Xu Qingfan’s current behavior seems just like that to them.

"Is this your first time visiting our town, young sir? Would you like me to be your guide?" As Xu Qingfan was eagerly taking in the lively scene around him, a clear voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

Xu Qingfan frowned slightly. A cultivator’s senses are keen, and he had already felt this person following him, their eyes shifting suspiciously as if they harbored ill intentions. However, Xu Qingfan didn’t take these threats from ordinary people seriously and continued to enjoy the sights, not expecting that the person would approach him so boldly in public.

Turning towards the voice, Xu Qingfan was surprised to find that the person behind him was not as fierce or sleazy as he had imagined. Instead, they were tall and handsome, with a warm smile on their face, combined with their clear voice, giving an impression of someone quite capable.

"Could I be wrong? This person doesn’t seem deceitful," Xu Qingfan pondered silently. But one cannot judge a book by its cover; not all fierce-looking people are bad, and not all handsome, sunny people are good. In fact, a pleasing appearance can often make others drop their guard.

Though thinking this inwardly, Xu Qingfan casually said, "It is indeed my first time here."

"I’m very familiar with Gushan Town, so why not let me be your guide, young master?" the man asked with a warm smile.

"Alright." Although Xu Qingfan was unsure of the man’s intentions, he was never used to refusing others, so he nodded slightly.

I must say, this man named Zhang Long was indeed an excellent guide—his talk was full of wit and he knew Gushan Town like the back of his hand, effortlessly recounting various anecdotes that captivated Xu Qingfan.

However, as Zhang Long led the way, Xu Qingfan noticed they were heading to increasingly remote places, eventually ending up in a dead-end alley.

"What’s the story behind this dead-end?" Xu Qingfan was now certain that Zhang Long had ulterior motives, but still asked with a faint smile.

Suddenly, a group of men with fierce expressions appeared from around the corner of the alley, armed with stones or sticks, and surrounded Xu Qingfan.

"Hand over your money and valuables, or my weapon won’t show mercy," threatened a large bald man, brandishing a gleaming knife at Xu Qingfan.

"Slap…" A crisp sound echoed as Zhang Long slapped the bald man’s head hard, saying, "How many times have I told you, we’re not tasteless, unskilled robbers? We’re businessmen—we profit through harmony!"

Strangely, the large man, despite his size, showed deep respect for the smaller Zhang Long, quickly agreeing after being scolded.

After reprimanding the burly man, Zhang Long turned to Xu Qingfan with a gentle expression, and said softly, "Young man, I’ve worked hard showing you around for such a long time. Don’t you think you should give me some compensation for my hard work? It’s not easy for everyone to make a living."

Hearing the conversation between Zhang Long and the bald burly man, Xu Qingfan suddenly realized a problem—he had no money with him! As a cultivator, the money of ordinary people is, of course, useless, but since Xu Qingfan had decided to explore the bustling Middle-earth, how could he manage without any money?

Thinking of this, Xu Qingfan remained calm and merely asked, "So, how much do you think this compensation should be?"