On the rugged and muddy road, a spirit beast, resembling a bull yet more ferocious with dense fur, was grunting as it pulled the cart.
On the cart, five people were sitting.
One of them, a man, was sitting at the front driving the spirit beast.
The other four were sitting inside the carriage.
These four were Mu Qingge and Xie Ya, and the other two were Jing Hai and his playmate from the same village, who had excitedly told him yesterday that the Dou Family in Haiyu City was recruiting house servants.
The driver was the uncle of the other young man, who happened to be going to Haiyu City for business and had conveniently brought them along.
The two youths were chattering non-stop as they sat together.
Both were wildly imagining entering the Dou Mansion as house servants, catching the attention of the master with their intelligence, learning the Dou Family’s combat skills, and thus embarking on a path of cultivation to become strong.
The dreams of youths are always beautiful, and when Mu Qingge and Xie Ya heard their conversation, they didn’t mock their naivety.
Mu Qingge and Xie Ya were sitting side by side at the back of the carriage, the former with her eyes closed resting, and the latter occasionally glancing out the window as if appreciating the scenery outside.
However, this area was remote, the land barren and desolate, with no beautiful scenery whatsoever.
After a while, Xie Ya also found it boring and focused her attention on the conversation between the two youths.
"Little Hai, what if they don’t want me?" the other youth, called Shi Bo by Jing Hai, suddenly voiced his concern.
It seemed he also understood that dreams remain dreams, and reality wouldn’t proceed as they imagined.
"Shi Bo, it’s alright, let’s give it a try. At least there’s a chance of success. If it doesn’t work out, we can always return to the village and try again when there’s another opportunity," Jing Hai reassured Shi Bo, patting him on the shoulder.
His mindset was much calmer.
But Shi Bo remained worried, "But if we delay a few more years, we’ll miss the best time for cultivation. By then, even if we get into a prominent family, we’d achieve very little."
This statement seemed to hit Jing Hai’s sore spot. His smile slowly faded, and his tightly pressed lips showed a hint of determination and stubbornness. "I have to become strong!"
This statement caught Xie Ya’s attention. Even Mu Qingge, who had been resting, slightly opened her eyes, casting a clear glance at Jing Hai.
Shi Bo seemed to have heard these words from Jing Hai before.
He sighed, patting Jing Hai’s shoulder, "Ah, Little Hai, I know what you’re thinking. But I feel the hope is so slim!"
"Even if it’s slim, I must try!" Jing Hai declared firmly, unconsciously clenching his hands on his lap.
Perhaps it was the conversation inside the cart that alerted the man driving it. He waved his whip and turned his head to the two youths, "Stop overthinking it, and just treat it as a trip to the city. This time the Dou Family is said to have no threshold for recruiting house servants, so maybe you could get in. But, if not, it doesn’t matter. Being a servant is just serving others; what’s so good about that?"
"Uncle, you don’t understand! We don’t want to be house servants for life; we want to enter the family to cultivate!" Shi Bo retorted loudly.
Hearing this, the man chuckled, "Cultivation? With your wooden head? I think Little Hai might make it, but you better prepare to come back with me to the village."
Shi Bo responded in shame and anger, "Uncle, you can’t just put people down like that!"
"Shi Bo, Uncle Shi is just teasing you," seeing his friend angry, Jing Hai quickly held him back to convince.
The uncle smiled sheepishly when his nephew got angry and didn’t continue. He just swung the whip and gave the spirit beast’s back a hard strike to make it speed up.
Xie Ya quietly watched this, shifting her gaze to Mu Qingge and transmitted, "Why don’t I let Xiao Qing out?" This cart drawn by the spirit beast was too slow, unlike Xiao Qing who was fast.
Mu Qingge didn’t respond, only transmitted back, "It’s alright."
Seeing her response, Xie Ya said no more.
The carriage quieted down, and Mu Qingge’s spiritual sense entered the space, using this time to observe the expanded space after her advancement.
"Master Silver, look at those palaces over there, they can be used as guest rooms," Mengmeng said, hopping around in front, acting as a guide for Mu Qingge.
With the space unsealed again, Mengmeng, as the artifact spirit, was no longer the small girl unable to grow up. Now, she looked like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, slender and tall, full of spiritual energy and vitality.
When Mengmeng appeared before Mu Qingge and the others in this form, it came as a surprise, as they were not accustomed to it.
Especially Yuanyuan, who, while bickering with Mengmeng, would always call her ’Shorty’. But now that Mengmeng had grown taller, he still had the appearance of a three or four-year-old child.
This made Yuanyuan exasperated for a long time!
After accepting Mengmeng’s new form, Bai Xi, Yin Chen, and Yuanyuan also curiously followed Mu Qingge, getting familiar with this space that belonged to them.
"Wait." Mu Qingge suddenly stopped.
Mengmeng turned to look at her, her big eyes blinking as if asking ’Why did we stop suddenly?’
Mu Qingge looked at her and tentatively asked, "You mean the guest rooms? Can we now freely bring people in and out?" If so, that would be great; any issues could be solved by putting them inside, and no one would find them.
However, Mengmeng shook her head in answer to her expectant gaze, "Not yet. We have to wait until Master Silver breaks through the Golden Realm and reaches a higher level."
This statement struck Mu Qingge quite hard.
Mengmeng continued, "With this unsealing, most of what appeared were palaces. The only valuable thing is the cultivation tower over there." Mengmeng pointed with her slender finger to a seven-layered tower shrouded in mist.
Mu Qingge looked up at it.
Mengmeng explained, "That cultivation tower contains very pure spiritual power, and the time inside can be adjusted. Each layer has different spiritual power, and cultivating inside for a day in the outside world equals a month in there. If one can reach the highest layer, a day outside would mean a year inside!"
Mu Qingge gasped sharply.
A day and a year, what a difference!
This tower was practically a cultivation cheat!
Digesting this news slowly, Mu Qingge nodded, feigning calm, "It’s truly a treasure!"
"Master Silver, I must tell you something," Mengmeng suddenly became serious.
Mu Qingge turned her gaze towards her.
Mengmeng’s petite and exquisite face was filled with seriousness as she said, "The next unsealing will occur when you reach the Golden Realm. Next time, divine artifacts or even holy artifacts might appear, so Master Silver, you must strive!"
Divine artifacts! Holy artifacts!
Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed slightly, deep in her eyes burned a flame!
She equally seriously and solemnly told Mengmeng, "Yes, I understand! I will seize the time to cultivate!"
Saying that, she headed towards the cultivation tower.
Since she knew there was such a treasure, she had to try it!
Watching Mu Qingge leave, Mengmeng sighed, "Indeed one needs temptation to have motivation! Go for it, Master Silver!"
...
On the muddy mountain path, the spirit beast was still struggling to pull the cart.
Haiyu City, not yet in sight.
Shi Bo lightly nudged Jing Hai, speaking in a volume he thought others couldn’t hear, "Little Hai, who are they really? They look so well-dressed and handsome, maybe they’re from a big family."
Jing Hai shrugged, "I truly don’t know. They were just passing by our village, and it so happened they also wanted to go to Haiyu City."
Shi Bo gave Jing Hai a ’can’t you be smarter’ look, gritting his teeth, "How can you be so dumb? They seem important, and you’ve helped them. If you asked them to take you with them, maybe they’d agree. Who knows, maybe their family is even stronger than the Dou family!"
Jing Hai shook his head repeatedly, "No way! I can’t do that! Don’t say that anymore!"
Shi Bo, however, dismissed it, "Why not? Getting a little house servant position with such big families is not a big deal. Who knows, they might be more prominent than the Dou family!"
This caused an unpleasant silence between the two youths, who seemed to be at odds, both growing quiet.
They had no idea that Xie Ya heard their conversation clearly. Unconsciously, she gave Jing Hai a few more glances.
Haiyu City was several hundred miles away from the small fishing village, and even with the spirit beast pulling the cart, it took half a day to reach the outskirts of Haiyu City.
"Sister, look, that’s Haiyu City over there." Jing Hai introduced, pointing to the silhouette of the city ahead for Xie Ya.
Xie Ya looked out the carriage window and indeed saw a very large city.
"In Haiyu City, the largest family is the Dou Family, who are also responsible for guarding the city gates. There are two other families, one is the Bai Family and the other is the Li Family." Jing Hai introduced to Xie Ya.
Xie Ya nodded slightly, turned her eyes to Mu Qingge, and softly called, "Hus...husband, we have arrived." Earlier, Jing Hai had misunderstood her relationship with Mu Qingge, and the latter didn’t correct the misunderstanding, forcing her to maintain the pretense in front of Jing Hai.
Just as she finished speaking, Mu Qingge slowly opened his eyes.
For some reason, Xie Ya felt that in just this short journey, Mu Qingge’s aura seemed to have strengthened a bit.
Mu Qingge looked at the distant city, which didn’t appear much different from the city of Linchuan. If there were differences, it was that these cities seemed grander, and on the city walls and gates were engravings of patterns similar to family totems.
"Let’s get off here." As they were about to reach the city gate, Mu Qingge suddenly said.
Jing Hai was stunned, surprised he asked, "Brother Mu, we haven’t arrived yet. Why not get off after entering the city?"
Mu Qingge slowly shook his head, smiled at him, and said, "No need, we’ll alight here." Then she said to Jing Hai, "Xiao Hai, thank you for your hospitality. Hope to meet again."
After speaking, she got off the cart with Xie Ya, thanked Uncle Shi of the Jia Family for driving the cart, and then gracefully left.
Jing Hai watched the two leave with a sense of reluctance, while Shi Bo next to him couldn’t help but urge, "Stop looking, they’re gone. Let’s head to the Dou Mansion quickly."
After saying that, he muttered softly, "So stingy, not even giving a little something before leaving."
Jing Hai heard this and turned seriously to him, "Even if they gave something, I wouldn’t want it. Besides, help between friends doesn’t require repayment!"
Shi Bo rolled his eyes, speechless, "I’m impressed with you, Jing Fool."
The cart of Jia Family’s uncle slowly moved towards Haiyu City.
Meanwhile, Mu Qingge and Xie Ya didn’t rush to enter the city but waited outside for a bit.
Xie Ya, not understanding why, saw that Mu Qingge was paying close attention to the city gate. After a while, she heard him say, "Let’s go."
Xie Ya was somewhat surprised, but after thinking carefully, she understood.
They were not from the Middle Ancient Realm, so entering the city rashly might bring trouble. That’s why Mu Qingge specifically observed for a while, watching how the gatekeepers managed those entering and exiting before they went in.
Fortunately, the entry and exit management of Haiyu City didn’t appear too strict.
No family proofs were required, nor were they questioned.
Mu Qingge, with Xie Ya, boldly walked towards the city gate. As they passed the guards, the latter gave them a few scrutinizing glances. Perhaps because their faces were unfamiliar, the guards wanted to approach and inquire but were suddenly pulled back by a companion who shook their head secretly.
Afterwards, the guard subtly reminded Mu Qingge and Xie Ya about their attire.
Luxurious clothing and beautiful apparel weren’t something an ordinary family could afford.
Moreover, they were both outstanding in appearance, with an exceptional aura, and young. Naturally, they were easily mistaken as young members from a big family out for training, possibly protected by experts in secret.
In such cases, guards generally wouldn’t seek trouble.
Under their companion’s discreet reminder, the guard who wanted to stop Mu Qingge and Xie Ya retracted their steps. This all happened in an instant, and Mu Qingge and Xie Ya had already walked into Haiyu City.
"Young Master, where should we go now?" It was Xie Ya’s first time in such a human society, and seeing the bustling crowds and the numerous shops, she felt a little out of place for a moment.
Mu Qingge’s gaze swept around, locking on a teahouse at the corner of a busy street. She took a step towards it, "Let’s have some tea first." No matter where you are, teahouses and taverns are always the most widespread sources of information.
Mu Qingge wanted to learn about the Middle Ancient Realm or understand Haiyu City, so going to a teahouse or tavern was the simplest way.
"Welcome! Please come inside... ah!" The waiter who was standing at the door to greet guests skillfully invited them in. However, upon lifting his eyes towards the pair, he was so amazed by their looks that he let out an exclamation.
This shout instantly drew the attention of everyone in the teahouse.
The originally bustling tea house suddenly fell silent, and eyes were drawn to the entrance.
When they clearly saw the two people standing at the doorstep, sparks of remarkable beauty quickly gathered in their eyes. Some were even so captivated that they let the hot tea spill from their cups without noticing.
So many admiring gazes landed on Xie Ya, causing her to frown slightly.
Yet, Mu Qingge remained calm, tossing a piece of gold into the waiter’s hand, instructing, "Arrange a corner in the hall, and don’t let anyone disturb us."
"Ah, yes, yes, please come in!" The waiter, startled, caught the gold and quickly led Mu Qingge and Xie Ya to a secluded corner of the first-floor hall.
As they passed, all eyes followed them.
Fortunately, they appeared to be a man and a woman, so they didn’t provoke any ill-intentioned confrontations. Had they both appeared as women, it might have been difficult to smoothly reach the table and sit down.
After Mu Qingge and Xie Ya sat down, the waiter immediately pulled up a screen, blocking the prying eyes of the crowd and encircling the corner they sat in.
This wasn’t unusual; often, when tea houses and taverns were crowded and lacked private rooms, screens were used to create relatively independent spaces in the hall.
While the view was blocked, the sounds were not.
Having lost sight of the beauties, the other patrons of the tea house reluctantly withdrew their gaze.
Soon, discussions surrounding Mu Qingge and Xie Ya began.
"To see such a beauty once in a lifetime is enough to boast about for a lifetime!"
"What a pity! There’s another beauty accompanying her. I mean, it’s rare to see a woman so beautiful, but that red-clothed gentleman is even more stunning. Compared to him, our looks are absolutely unremarkable."
"That’s why the two of them standing together are such a perfect match! Alas, such incredible beauty is not something we can dream of; it’s enough just to look."
The discussions ensued, yet there was nothing too offensive said.
Naturally, they weren’t afraid of the two beauties behind the screen hearing them.
In fact, they hoped the people inside would hear. After all, everyone loves praise. If they were pleased, they might remove the screen, allowing everyone a glimpse of the beauties again, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
However, no matter how much they discussed, there was complete silence behind the screen, with no reaction.
This caused the people in the hall to cast curious glances at it once more.
Behind the screen, Mu Qingge drank her tea calmly, the discussions outside entering her ears without causing any ripple. Xie Ya sat beside her, occasionally pouring tea for both of them, and remained silent as well.
After a while of discussion, with no response from behind the screen, the crowd gradually lost interest and returned to their previous topic.
"I heard that the Dou Family is recruiting house servants today."
"The Dou Family being the first family of Haiyu City, what’s strange about recruiting house servants?"
"Ah, you don’t know, right? The Dou Family wasn’t planning to recruit at first, but recently, it was heard that the Bai Family and the Li Family recruited quite a few Floating Guests into their families, which forced the Dou Family to recruit house servants."
"What? The Bai Family and the Li Family recruited Floating Guests into their families? Then what’s the point of the Dou Family recruiting house servants?"
"Who knows? But I heard that the Dou Family’s recruiting house servants is just a facade. Behind the scenes, their steward is moving around the residences of the Floating Guest clans, also recruiting Floating Guests."
"Could it be that something’s going to happen if all three families are doing this simultaneously?"
"Hey, in the Middle Ancient Realm, families manage all the cities big and small. The Dou Family has dominated Haiyu City for so many years, sitting firmly as the number one family in Haiyu City, but it seems the Bai Family and the Li Family can’t stand it anymore and want a fight. After all, whoever sits as the first family will get the major share of the profits when it comes to dividing the spoils."
"That’s true. Currently, half of the shops in Haiyu City have the Dou Family’s name on them. And those mines are mostly controlled by the Dou Family. The Bai Family and the Li Family have probably long been unable to bear it."
"Does this mean that Haiyu City is about to become chaotic?"
"Let it be chaotic then, it doesn’t affect people like us anyway."
"Exactly! Whoever runs the city, we’ll keep drinking big bowls of wine and eating big chunks of meat. Once we’ve rested enough, how about we go to the Floating Guest clan and see if there’s a suitable task? Choose one that’s a bit longer, leave for a while, and come back when the dust settles."
"Alright, let’s go together later."
The discussions within the tea house gradually subsided, while Mu Qingge toyed with the teacup in her hand, the steam forming a mist before her. "Floating Guest clans..."
It seems this word has piqued her interest.
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