Yun Qiang woke up in the morning, as Voss had assured him nobody sneaked up on their group at night, letting him have a good night's sleep. He looked at his companions, except for a few yawns here and there most of them looked well-rested. Obviously, the fact that they weren't awoken by the clanking of chains and Voss screaming at them helped.
He got out of his tent, and started stretching his arms and legs. It was still early in the morning and sunlight barely illuminated the camp. Seeing him outside the tent, Lee approached him.
"Hey, slept well?" His voice was low and his hands slightly trembled as he greeted him.
"Yes, and you?"
"Uhm, yes…" Lee paused for a second before getting closer and lowering his voice to a whisper. "So how was the night watch with Voss? Did he lecture or scold you during your turn?"
Yun Qiang smiled. He never thought Lee would consider Voss a strict and harsh leader.
"Actually, he is less strict than I imagined. He did—"
His words, however, were interrupted by someone clearing their throat behind him. He turned around only to be greeted by Voss' pristine figure.
"Is everything ok?"
A chill ran down his spine. Last night's conversation had convinced him Voss wasn't the kind to punish soldiers over casual chatter. However, he still had to adhere to military discipline. Voss was their leader. Around the campfire, Voss might laugh and speak freely, but here in the field, rank and discipline ruled.
Yun Qiang put on an embarrassed face.
"Yes, sir. We were just talking about last night's rest." He glanced at Lee. Somehow his friend's face had become paler than usual. He added, "Right, Lee?"
Lee was startled for a second before responding. "Ah, yes. I was talking about Qi mastery with Qiang. I'm sure he will make it soon."
Yun Qiang's face darkened while Lee let out a nervous and mechanical laugh.
"Ah, ah, ah."
Luckily, Voss decided not to pursue their situation. Instead, he took out two baskets full of bread and handed them over.
"This is the teams breakfast. Distribute it amongst each other. Tell everyone to eat it and start dismantling the tents. You have ten minutes."
Hearing this, the duo regained the resemblance of professional soldiers and got to work distributing bread while relaying Voss' message to everyone in the camp.
After 10 minutes their entire team had formed a double line in front of Voss. As it was customary, Voss started giving out a few instructions before the start of the patrol.
"After today's march we will arrive at the official border, so keep your eyes open for any sign of enemies or tracks." He started pacing in front of them. "Before we start, I want to remind you of some things."
His voice became louder.
"First, if I die I want you to scatter and retreat, even if the rules of the Shard state that you must recover the space ring of your captain in case of his death. Prioritize your lives over my ring.
Second, when we spot enemies I will engage their team leader while you will engage the enemies' soldiers. Try to gang up on them, don't engage in 1v1 fights. And absolutely don't chase retreating enemies.
Third, if we are unlucky and we encounter multiple groups at once, keep a tight formation and try to not get encircled.
Fourth, whatever happens today, don't panic. Most soldiers die because of panic, not because they lack skills.
And last, if I say run you must retreat no matter what. I don't want to see heroic last stands or pointless fights."
His gaze swept over them. "Understood?"
Everyone replied instantly, their voices merging into one. "Yes, Sir!"
Voss stopped pacing in front of them and took the leading position. He kept his back straight as he looked each one of them in the eye.
"Any questions?"
There was a small pause before a question was asked.
"Sir, when will we arrive at the border?" It was Sun that spoke; there was no stutter nor sign of nervousness in his voice.
"We will arrive in a day; however, expect the fights to start before we reach it. The border is just an arbitrary line and it's not the only place where skirmishes happen. Other questions?"
Seeing that nobody responded, he turned around and started marching, followed close behind by his recruits.
River City -- Rose Kingdom
Sylas was inspecting his image with a small mirror, looking for any signs of imperfections. His silvery hairs were now blond, and the rough lines that delineated his middle-aged face were now softened to look like that of a younger man. The fake identity the guild had provided him was that of a well-known merchant who ran a caravan that sold food and weapons to the border guard.
He smiled. He liked this look. Even if the red robe with golden embroidery felt a little too flamboyant for his taste, he felt comfortable with this new face. The way his new features aligned and came together gave him the air and look of a trustworthy man—a kind of natural charm that was difficult to find in most people.
The cart stopped. His caravan had probably arrived at the gates of River City. The loud voice that followed confirmed this.
"Please show your documents and identification."
Sylas carefully put the small mirror in his pocket and hopped off the cart. It was his time to act.
As soon as he got off, he instantly recognized the guard who had stopped them. It was Gao Jun, one of the innumerable friends and contacts of this identity. He approached him while opening his arms. He spoke in a cheerful tone, perfectly imitating the voice and manners of his fake identity.
"Hey, Jun. It's been a while, has it?"
As soon as the guard saw him, he smiled. "Ah, it's young master Fan. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Sylas amicably shook his hand with him, secretly slipping Jun some spirit stones. He replied, "Business as usual. I heard that the demand for weapons and food has gone up this period."
Jun continued laughing while pocketing the spirit stones. "Yes, but you will have fierce competition. You are not the only one who had the same idea. So what's your destination: Blue Fort or the Dragon Fort up north?" He extended his hand.
Sylas retrieved the caravan's documents from his space ring and handed them over.
"The Rainy Fort. Less competition there."
Hearing this, Jun briefly stopped checking the documents and looked at him. "Is that even worth it? That place is dangerous; your carts will probably just end up stuck in one of the bogs surrounding the fort."
Sylas continued smiling. "Don't worry about it. We'll be fine. I brought some extra men just for this kind of occasion."
Jun checked the documents, only skimming through them casually.
"Are you really sure? That place is a lethal trap for caravans."
Sylas reassured him, while making sure not to sound too annoyed.
"Don't worry. If my caravan gets stuck, I can just get back here and change my route. I won't make a big loss."
Seeing that his friend wouldn't budge, Jun gave him back the documents.
"Here. Everything is in order as usual." He signaled the guards close to the gate. "Let them pass."
Sylas patted Jun's back in a friendly manner. "Don't worry, I will be fine. Anyway, you know where to find me if you want to drink together tonight."
Sylas was about to get back to his cart when Jun blocked him.
"Fan Yi," he got closer so Sylas' subordinates couldn't hear them. "I saw some reports from the Rainy Fort. There are more enemy squads than usual around it. Are you sure you want to go?"
Sylas looked Jun in the eyes, then spoke in a confident tone.
"Yes." He briefly paused, then added, "Don't worry. I will just get back if I see any sign of danger."
He gave him one last pat on the back before entering his cart while signaling his subordinates to go forward.
Once he was in the privacy of his cart, his face darkened.
While he was talking to Jun he had felt it. Another piece of his house had fallen in the sea, lost forever. He had lost another memory. Quickly he started going through his entire life to see what kind of memory he had lost. Luckily, the missing memory was from his early years, so he didn't have to relive his entire lifetime. Even with his enhanced mind, it would take him at least a day to relive his entire lifetime.
The memory he had forgotten was about the day he was promoted to the rank of fourth decay, effectly becoming part of the upper management of the guild. He knew that every promotion came with a cerimony and a trial, however he couldn't find neither in his mind. He bit his lips, if he wanted this kind of knowledge back he would have to ask to the other three decays. His face darkened even more.
I hate those degenerates, if they weren't part of the guild I would have cleansed them long ago...
The cart stopped again, he had arrived at the "Red Beer," the inn where Fan Yi usually stayed when he passed through the city.
As a servant politely opened his door, he put on a fake smile and got off the cart. The knowledge of the trial wasn't something important; he could easily ask the other decays when he was back home in the Western Coalition. Right now, he had to focus on his mission.
As he walk he silently recalled the details about the inn.
Red Beer Inn
Years of activity: 13
Owner: Hu Chen
Description: The inn is run by Hu Chen and his wife Yue, a childhood friend of Fan Yi. They have a daughter, Hu Mei. She doesn't share any feature with her father, she is probably an illegitimate child.
Habits:
Fan Yi was an early investor in the inn, and likes to show off his presence by entering energetically and by making his presence known.
Fan Yi always refers to the owner using names like Chen, Fat Chen, Fat Inn keeper.
Fan Yi has a good relation with the Hu family, sometimes Fan Yi will bring small gifts with him for their daughter.
Sylas sighed inwardly.
This is going to be bothersome.
He breathed heavily before barging into the inn, almost slamming the door with his entrance. He greeted the innkeeper with a loud exclamation, ensuring everyone present could hear him.
"Hey, Fat Chen, it's been a while!"
A fat man wearing a stained apron behind the counter looked at him just for a second.
"Ah, it's you! The usual?" Even if Hu Chen asked, he had already started filling a mug with a bright red liquid.
"I wondered when an opportunist like you would show up!" While speaking this, Hu Chen had a big smile on his face.
"Yes." Sylas took a free seat at the counter. "Well, opportunists are good for business, eh?"
He gestured toward the inn, which was brimming with customers.
The owner gave him the mug. "Never said that, merc—"
Yue, a woman with a similar physique to her husband, left Sylas a plate full of spicy chicken, then quickly moved to some customers further down the counter. While walking she nagged at her husband, "You shouldn't mock our customers!"
Sylas briefly laughed before taking the mug and chugging down the red beer. While drinking, he carefully manipulated his expression to hide his disgust. He already found normal beer revolting, but River City's beer was definitely the worst. It had a sweet aftertaste that plagued his mouth even after washing it down multiple times with water.
"Uncle, you are back!" Sylas felt someone hugging him from behind. He gulped down the remaining beer, then turned while faking a surprised look.
"Ah, it's you, little Mei! You are growing taller every time I see you."
The petite girl's face became red like a tomato. Sylas playfully ruffled her blue hairs.
"Look what I have for you!" He made some magic-looking moves with his hands and took out a small stuffed animal from his space ring.
When the girl saw the toy, her eyes filled with joy. She instantly hugged the soft stuffed animal while jumping up and down.
"Wow, what animal is it!? It's so cute!"
Sylas continued looking at the girl with a fond expression on his face.
"It's a reindeer, an animal that only lives in the northern wastelands."
Hearing this, Mei became even more excited; she clearly liked the toy. She started bombarding Sylas with questions.
"In the north, like the Dragon Fort? How does the northern wasteland look like? Did you see it?"
Sylas inwardly sighed. He wasn't good with children, they always asked too many questions and seemed to have endless energy. Even as a high-level cultivator, he found it difficult to deal with them. Nonetheless, he continued his act of the patient and eccentric "Uncle."
"The northern wastelands are further north than the Dragon Fort. It's a cold place filled with snow. There, reindeers move in swarms to keep themselves warm."
Mei stopped jumping.
"Ohh, Uncle, have you been there?" An innocent look was written across her face.
Sylas stopped for a moment. The intel didn't mention any travels in the northern wastelands. However, it was mentioned that during his youth, Fan Yi had traveled most of the Crow Dynasty with his grandfather. This could easily mean that Fan Yi had really visited the northern wastelands.
He looked at the girl again; those few seconds of silence had definitely felt unnatural to her.
"Yes, I've been there with my grandfather. But it was a long time ago...."
Mei continued his barrage.
"How does it look like? Is it cold?"
"Yes, it's a cold place, but extremely calm and beautiful. The snow reflects the sun perfectly, making the entire place shine like a gem. Then there are the animals every one of them is extremely big and soft."
Mei listened with awe written on her face. Sylas' description was short and imprecise, but it was enough to spark her imagination. In Mei's mind, the northern wastelands had become a shining place filled with fluffy and cute animals, like the stuffed reindeer she held in her hands. Mei was about to bombard him with other questions regarding the north when her mother passed by again, this time carrying a stack of empty plates.
"Mei don't bother, Uncle Fan I need your help cleaning dishes"
Her mother skillfully shifted the empty plates to one hand and took Mei by hand using the free one, even if her body was fat Sylas had to admit that her facial features were delicate and well defined giving her a charming look.
"Enjoy your meal!"
Yue briefly smiled at him before quickly shuttling away with her daughter. Sylas turned around to finish his meal. Even if it was a brief interaction, he already felt exhausted; this was another reason he didn't like kids. They took too much effort to look after.
Hu Chen mocked him again.
"The northern wastes? I call bullshit on that, it's just an uninhabited desert full of snow and predators; you wouldn't have survived there."
Sylas continued eating his spicy chicken and responded with a nonchalant tone.
"Barbarian clans, roam the wastelands. They are good folk; you can trade with them."
if you are strong enough.
The last part, however, was only spoken in his mind. He had traveled through northern wastelands multiple times in search of treasures and resources; he knew very well that the barbarian clans only respected strong individuals. They wouldn't trade with a caravan made out of weaklings like Fan Yi's.
The Fat Chen continued objecting.
"Even if they decide to trade with you; you wouldn't survive the cold and the predators that roam the wastelands."
Sylas responded again, keeping up with the act of being Fan Yi.
"Yeah, but my grandfather is a strong man; obviously I survived thanks to him."
The owner didn't relent and objected again.
"If he is so strong, why isn't your family a core merchant family like the ones in the west? I'm sure the Rose Kingdom would love a third family to keep the Liang and Mo family in check."
Sylas put on an offended face. Hu Chen definitely knew how to hit a sore spot during a conversation. The Fan family had been in decline ever since Yi's grandfather was injured in a duel with one of the Mo family elders. But he wasn't the original Fan Yi; he wouldn't get angry at the mention of his family's declining strength.
"Ah," he tried his best to look distraught while making a lie on the spot, "That's because the Mo family elder cheated; my grandfather would have definitely won and made us a core family if they fought fairly."
"Yes, sure buddy," he gave him another mug filled to the brim with red beer. "Here, drink away your excuses. It's on the house."
Sylas finished the awful beer and shifted the conversation to a lighter topic. Even though he knew a lot about Young Master Fan, he didn't know how he would react if someone further insulted his current patriarch. He didn't want to make Hu Chen angry or cause a scene over something so trivial.
After several hours of drinking and chatting, Sylas finally retired to his room upstairs. Aside from his minor slip-up during the conversation about Fan Yi's grandfather, he felt that his performance had been flawless and nobody noticed anything strange.
However, what Sylas didn't realize was that his act had been even more perfect than he thought. Young Master Fan regularly pretended to be offended just to get a few free beers from the Hu Chen.