Four Days Later
Jian Long walked slowly along the caravan route, enjoying the festive atmosphere surrounding the celebration of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable's birthday.
Although dawn was about to break, the city knew nothing of peace and quiet. Instead, it was bustling with life and activity like a beehive that never rested.
All the usual sources of illumination in the city had been extinguished and replaced with blazing torches scattered everywhere: along the streets, atop rooftops, and at the entrances of buildings. Countless people also carried torches as they wandered throughout the city, making it appear from afar like an enormous glowing ember in the heart of the darkness.
Almost everywhere, one could see Gu Masters engaging in open-air combat matches in honor of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable. While the sounds of fighting and cheering echoed throughout the surroundings, the revelers busied themselves tasting the various delicious foods and sweets that the residents had specially prepared for the occasion.
Meat, in particular, was available in abundance, to the point that it was difficult to walk through the streets without catching its enticing aroma wafting from one of the stalls or cooking fires scattered everywhere
Jian Long could not stay any longer to enjoy the celebration. Tomorrow would be another long day of training, and he needed to get some sleep.
He soon arrived at the teleportation gate.
"Send me to Rénmín Road, Moon Square," he told the guard.
The guard nodded. Jian Long paid ten percent of a primeval stone, and the teleportation gate activated.
When he emerged on the other side, he found himself in Moon Square, where the nearest teleportation gate to his home was located.
A poet's voice reached his ears. The man was reciting a poem in praise of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable. It seemed to be his own composition, and, frankly, it was not very good.
The audience, who appeared to be residents of the neighborhood, listened patiently. The poet himself was still young, seemingly even younger than Jian Long.
Jian Long did not stop to listen. He simply continued walking.
Before long, a familiar aroma reached his nose. Recognizing the scent, he followed it until he found someone distributing pieces of Wrap Dish.
He took a piece and ate it as he stood beneath a bald-headed statue of the Light Emperor.
The moment he took a bite, his memories drifted back to what had happened four days ago, after Yang San Mu had delivered that ridiculous speech.
Jian Long had agreed, even though a part of him had wanted to refuse.
Does that imbecile Yang San Mu really think I'm a fool he can manipulate with a speech like that?
Those people born into Gu Master clans they really think that ordinary people like us are beneath them that we're all idiots who can be easily deceived
He must have thought I accepted because I was swayed by his praise and that ridiculous speech of his.
Just thinking about it made Jian Long's anger rise. His fingers tightened around the food until it was crushed in his grasp, staining his hands with grease and crumbs. He then tossed the ruined meal onto the ground.
Afterward, he walked to the fountain surrounding the statue of the Light Emperor and washed his hands. As he did so, his gaze fell upon his right palm, where the Sima clan's invisible mark had been imprinted.
He stared at it for a moment before whispering:
"Our paths will cross again in one year."
He then continued making his way home, his mood already soured. As he turned a corner, he spotted three Gu Masters. One was Rank 1, while the other two were Rank 2. They were attempting to rob an ordinary man of his money.
Humans, whether consciously or unconsciously, tend to divide themselves into groups. They cherish their own group, demonize its enemies, and perceive any insult directed at the group or one of its members as a personal insult. Perhaps this is what makes us social creatures in the end.
People in this world usually divide themselves into clans, sects, or families. As for Jian Long, who belonged to none of these groups, he had created his own way of categorizing people. He divided them into two groups: those born into Gu Master families, and those who had not been so fortunate, just like him.
Naturally, he identified himself with the second group, while viewing the first with hostility and contempt.
Therefore, when he saw the three Gu Masters bullying that ordinary man, whom he considered one of his own, he felt as though the attack was directed at him personally. To make matters worse, his earlier sense of humiliation at the hands of Yang San Mu only fueled his anger furtherAnd so, he decided to intervene
"Hey, you! Stay away from him, or I'll kill you!" Jian Long said, releasing the aura of a Rank 2 Gu Master.
The three immediately turned toward him, but the man they had been trying to rob seized the opportunity without hesitation and ran away as fast as he could.
"Damn it! Where do you think you're going?!" shouted the youngest of the three, a boy roughly the same age as Jian Long. He was a Rank 1 Gu Master. He even rushed after the man, attempting to catch up with him, but Jian Long released sparks of lightning around his body, clearly warning him.
The boy stopped in his tracks.
"Why did you stop us from robbing that rich bastard, you damn fool?! We're all poor in this neighborhood, and..."
The oldest of the three, a remarkably tall boy with broad shoulders, had been cursing Jian Long, but he suddenly stopped when he caught sight of his luxurious clothes.
A sly smile spread across his pale white face. Changing his tone, he continued:
"Oh... a young nobleboy."
The boy's two companions also noticed Jian Long's appearance, now that the sparks of lightning emanating from his body had made his features and clothes more visible.
"Listen, boy. You made our prey escape. Hand over whatever primeval stones you have, and we'll let you leave without a fight."
"Listen to him. It's three against one. If we're forced into a real fight, we won't hesitate to kill you. This will be nothing more than another crime added to the list of this poor neighborhood's troubles."
Jian Long was not affected by their words in the slightest. He knew he was far stronger than them. Besides his killer move, he had also purchased several offensive and defensive Gu worms, including Lightning Sword Gu and Fire Arrow Gu. In fact, he was eager to vent his anger on these fools.
However, just moments before the flames of battle could ignite between the two sides, a soft feminine voice rang out:
"Lord Jian Long! There you are!"
A woman wearing black combat attire approached them. Jian Long could not make out many of her features, apart from her dark black hair, naturally curly and wavy, which had taken on fiery red highlights under the light of the torches.
"You should have informed us if you wanted to wander around alone. All your guards are looking for you."
The woman had released the aura of a Rank 2 Gu Master. When the three heard her mention that other guards were searching for him, they panicked and immediately fled.
Jian Long wanted to ask who she was, but the moment his eyes met hers, they widened in disbelief.
"Mǐ Yuè?"