It was exactly as Mingshen described. The people started changing when Anji left the area under the Celestial Dragon Sect’s protection. It did not matter how far the people were within the sect’s protection. Anji had only ever met kind and nice people. The towns were regulated, and the villages were secure. However, after leaving the boundaries of the forest that marked her sect’s territory, Gu Ying had to leave frequently to scout ahead. The roads were not safe, and criminals roamed freely.
"Why can’t we help them?" Anji asked. "We’re already here. It’s not difficult to handle petty bandits."
Shaking his head, Mingshen remained firm. Thɪs chapter is updated by noᴠelfire.net
"Your safety is our priority. This will not be the first village to suffer from plunderers, and it will not be the last. The murim world cannot interfere with the country’s politics or the balance will be disrupted. It was for the same reason the previous leader of the Heavenly Phoenix left her sect in her niece’s hands when she entered the palace as a noble consort."
Unable to understand why they could not help the people right in front of them, Anji watched helplessly from the safety of the carriage. She was still too young to understand the complexity of politics. If there was one thing she understood about the situation, it was how the emperor had failed his people. Corruption ran deep in the country, and the unofficial territories within murim sects remained peaceful because of this rule. Anji was a princess respected in the sect because of her father’s achievements. However, outside the sect, she had to live like a ghost or risk unjust punishment.
Most government officials did not want to mess with cultivators and pugilists if they could because of the power difference. One Strengthened Core pugilist could easily take down ten trained guards. Anji was not confident she could do the same because she had a special constitution. However, her brother reminded her she had internal energy that non-cultivators did not have. Her arrays were powerful enough to destroy trees with one activation. Even if she was poor at combat, it did not mean she was not dangerous. On the other hand, a solid core cultivator like her brother could raze an entire county in one night. Even if the emperor had ten thousand soldiers, he would not want to make an enemy of a cultivator clan. Ignoring the clan elders who were Radiant Core cultivators and above, at least a few hundred inner disciples had cultivation levels above the Refined Core.
"If mortals fought in civil wars, mountains would become barren, and rivers would flow red with blood. However, if cultivators fought, mountains and rivers would be destroyed completely. That was the reason why this rule was created. Any pugilist or cultivator caught breaking this rule will be executed without mercy. The path of cultivation is not meant to pursue worldly desires, although many people sometimes deviate from it and give up halfway. It’s not for everyone. However, the power and gift we receive must never be abused or exploited to hurt or harm the weak."
Looking at her older brother, Anji nodded in agreement. Unlike her third brother, who was dedicated to becoming more powerful like his teacher, her second brother decided that cultivating was not for him. Yet, he never used his cultivation to grow his business. In fact, the business he founded was merely a cover-up for his true intentions. Either way, Mingshen was extremely talented, and Anji was proud of him.
Ignoring the fights and blatant bullying happening in the town they had just arrived in, Anji waited with Mingshen inside the carriage while Gu Ying went inside the poorly maintained inn to inquire. Although they were making great progress after leaving the village with food poisoning, Anji did not feel happy about it. It was too dangerous and chaotic to stop in these towns outside their territory.
"The innkeeper said they have two vacant rooms for the night but no servants or cooks. We have to settle the horses, meals and baths ourselves for the night."
Nodding, Mingshen asked if they were upcharging. Gu Ying shook her head. Normally, innkeepers in these areas would increase their nightly fees for foreigners and non-locals. Money was not a problem for them. Most locals treat Gu Ying with hostility when they see her. Once, the Manchurian bodyguard had been rudely shooed away from an inn. Anji hated the discrimination, but there wasn’t much she could do.
Thinking about it, Mingshen lifted the binds a little to observe the town from inside the carriage. Not upcharging rich young masters without any discrimination could only mean one of two things. Although Gu Ying and Mingshen could easily handle any nightly visitors attempting to loot them while they were asleep, he would prefer otherwise for Anji’s sake. The second reason would mean they hit the jackpot, and someone of higher power was giving them concessions because they were also from the murim world.
"What was his initial attitude like?" the second young master asked calmly. "Were there any practitioners inside?"
Nodding, Gu Ying confirmed that while the innkeeper was not a pugilist or cultivator, the inn was a little weird.
"He was unfazed by the sight of weapons and took more interest in the sword than my ethnicity. The inn is quiet but not unoccupied. I sensed several other people with some cultivation base but could not make out their levels."
Fair enough. If Gu Ying could not figure out their cultivation powers, it would also mean Mingshen would not be able to tell. They’ve come to the right place tonight, and this inn might be safer than sleeping elsewhere in this town full of hoodlums. If the hoodlums were akin to hyenas, the guests in this inn were akin to lions. It was safer to live in a den of lions where the hyenas feared to enter.
"Let’s go," Mingshen told Anji. "If we keep to ourselves, the guests will not disturb us in this inn. You should set up the noise cancellation spell and avoid going out as much as possible. Leave the meals and bath arrangements to Gu Ying."
Nodding, Anji obeyed and waited for her brother to get out first. After she alighted from the carriage, Gu Ying grabbed the horses to settle them down while Mingshen confidently walked into the shabby inn, holding onto his sister’s hand tightly.