The forest grew quieter as evening slowly approached, and the fading sunlight began disappearing between the tall trees. Without wasting any more time, Alex turned around and started walking toward the city.
He maintained a steady pace as he followed the familiar path, occasionally glancing around to make sure nothing unexpected was following him from within the forest.
Within about twenty minutes, the trees gradually became thinner, and the massive structure surrounding the city finally came into view once again.
A grand, towering gate stood before him, tall and imposing as it guarded the entrance to the city like a silent sentinel. Several guards could be seen moving around the area, keeping watch over everyone approaching the entrance.
As Alex walked closer, he noticed a long line of merchant carriages stationed near the gate. Horses occasionally snorted and shifted their feet, while armored guards stood nearby and merchants spoke quietly among themselves.
Alex's attention was suddenly caught by a name painted boldly across the side of one particular carriage.
White Mountain Merchant Group.
His eyes remained on the carriage for a moment as he wondered whether the group might be useful to him later. After a brief hesitation, Alex walked toward them and decided to ask about selling the plants he had collected.
"Ah, excuse me," Alex called out as he approached the carriage, raising his voice slightly so the people nearby could hear him.
A man sitting on top of one of the carriages turned his head toward Alex. His sharp gaze immediately swept over Alex from head to toe, carefully examining him without saying anything.
Alex quickly realized that the man's attention wasn't focused on his face.
It was focused on his clothes.
Only then did Alex properly observe the people surrounding him. Just as he had read countless times in cultivation novels, most people wore simple cotton robes in dull and muted colors, secured around their waists with cloth belts.
Their long hair was neatly tied behind their backs, while the women generally wore plain, flowing dresses with their hair partially tied and the remaining strands falling freely down their backs.
Compared to everyone around him, Alex suddenly felt extremely different.
His modern-looking clothes stood out far too much.
The strange expression on the merchant's face suddenly made perfect sense.
After a brief silence, the merchant finally spoke.
"Do you need something?" the man asked calmly, his tone suggesting that he had already guessed why Alex had approached him.
"Do you buy things?" Alex asked directly, deciding there was no reason to waste time with unnecessary conversation.
"Yes, if they are worth buying," the merchant replied without much interest, his eyes still briefly examining Alex's unusual clothing.
"Then… could you look at these?" Alex asked as he carefully revealed the plants he had collected earlier, holding them out for the merchant to inspect.
The moment the merchant saw the plants, a small flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes. It was subtle, but Alex noticed it immediately before the man's expression quickly returned to its earlier indifference.
"Where did you find that?" the merchant asked, pointing specifically toward the purple flower.
Alex glanced down at the plant before answering honestly.
"In the forest. The outer area," he replied simply, since there was no reason for him to hide something so ordinary.
The merchant's gaze sharpened slightly after hearing his answer. It was becoming increasingly obvious that Alex had little to no understanding of the plants he was carrying.
"The plant in your hand is called Foxglove," the merchant explained, pointing toward the purple flower while watching Alex's reaction.
Alex listened carefully, making sure to remember the name.
"It is a highly poisonous herb," the merchant continued calmly, "but when processed correctly, it can be used as medicine to treat certain heart conditions."
Alex's expression changed immediately.
Poisonous.
A cold chill ran down his spine as he looked at the plant he had casually carried through the forest.
'So it really was dangerous.'
Relief quickly followed his initial shock. He remembered how carefully he had handled the plant, especially when removing the thorns and digging it out of the ground.
If he had acted recklessly and touched something dangerous without thinking, the situation could have ended very differently.
"You are quite lucky not to have been affected," the merchant said with a faint smile before looking over the remaining plants. "So, do you wish to sell it? I can purchase the others as well."
The merchant's finger then shifted toward the ordinary-looking plant Alex had collected.
"Except for that one."
Alex glanced at the plain plant in his hand but didn't say anything about the brief glow he had witnessed earlier. Instead, he simply nodded and agreed to sell the other plants.
A short negotiation followed, and moments later, several coins exchanged hands. Alex felt the satisfying weight of the money in his palm as he looked down at what he had earned.
He didn't linger around the merchants any longer. After putting the money away, Alex turned toward the entrance and joined the line of people waiting to enter the city.
Time passed slowly as he stood among merchants, travelers, and people returning from the forest. Eventually, the line moved forward until it was finally his turn.
An armored man stepped in front of Alex, blocking his path into the city. His expression remained serious as he looked directly at Alex.
"Identification card," the guard said flatly, extending his hand slightly as he waited for Alex's response.
"I don't have one," Alex replied honestly, having never even heard about such a card before arriving at the city.
"Then six silver coins," the guard said without changing his expression.
The guard extended his hand toward Alex, clearly expecting payment instead of further explanation.
Alex didn't argue.
He calmly took out the required money, placed six silver coins into the guard's hand, and finally stepped past the entrance.
For the first time since arriving in this completely unfamiliar world—
Alex entered the city.
The inside of the city was far livelier than Alex had imagined from outside. The moment he passed through the gate, countless sights and sounds immediately surrounded him.
People hurried along the streets, each heading toward their own destinations, while merchants stood on both sides of the road and loudly advertised their goods in an attempt to attract passing customers.
The streets were filled with noise, movement, and life.
Alex slowly walked through the crowded streets, his eyes constantly moving from one place to another as he tried to take everything in.
He wanted to remember everything.
Every shop.
Every building.
Every street corner.
To Alex, the city felt like the kind of place where someone could spend an entire lifetime exploring and still discover something new.
However, as he continued walking, Alex quickly noticed something that made him slightly uncomfortable.
People were staring at him.
Some only glanced briefly before continuing on their way, while others openly looked him up and down with clear curiosity.
Alex let out a quiet sigh.
'Looks like I need to buy some clothes first,' he thought, realizing that his modern clothing was making him stand out far too much.
Keeping his head steady, Alex continued down the road while searching for a clothing store. After walking for a short distance, he finally spotted one and immediately stepped inside.
The shop was large and crowded, with numerous customers browsing different fabrics, robes, and other clothing while attendants moved between them.
'Quite popular,' Alex thought as his eyes slowly scanned the busy interior.
Then he noticed something else.
It was cool inside.
Much cooler than it had been outside.
Alex looked around the shop in confusion. With so many people gathered inside, the temperature should have been warmer rather than noticeably cooler.
Unless…
'Could they have some kind of temperature-regulating formation?' Alex wondered, becoming curious about the possibility.
He wasn't unfamiliar with the concept. From the countless cultivation novels he had read, formations could apparently be used for many different purposes, including defense, concealment, and even controlling the environment.
Regulating temperature didn't seem impossible.
After all, Earth had air conditioning as well.
"Brother."
A sudden voice pulled Alex out of his thoughts, making him turn toward the speaker.
He saw a neatly dressed man standing nearby, who appeared to be one of the shop attendants. The man's polite expression made it clear that he had noticed Alex looking around.
"Are you looking for clothes?" the attendant asked politely, already guessing what Alex needed.
"Yes," Alex replied simply, confirming what was already obvious from his appearance.
"Do you have anything specific in mind?" the attendant asked while gesturing toward the various clothing sections around them.
"Nothing in particular," Alex answered honestly, since he didn't know enough about local clothing to have any particular preference.
The attendant nodded and gestured for Alex to follow him. He then began walking deeper into the shop, away from the busiest areas.
Alex followed without hesitation.
Soon, the attendant led him into a quieter section where there were fewer customers. He then carefully took Alex's measurements with quick and practiced movements, checking what sizes and styles would suit him best.
"Please sit here. I will return shortly," the attendant said after finishing the measurements before stepping out of the room.
Alex sat down and waited patiently.
The attendant returned within a few minutes, carrying an armful of neatly folded robes in different colors and styles. He placed them carefully on a nearby table before stepping back.
"Sir, these are the most suitable options for you," the attendant said politely. "Please feel free to choose whichever ones you like."
Alex examined the fabrics carefully.
There were different shades, different cuts, and several simple but elegant designs. None of them looked overly complicated, but they were still quite different from the clothes he had worn on Earth.
After looking through the options, Alex selected several sets and raised his head.
"Can I try these?" he asked, holding the chosen clothes in his hands.
"Of course," the attendant replied immediately before stepping outside the room to give Alex some privacy.
Before closing the door, however, the attendant pointed toward a small bell resting neatly on the table.
"If you need anything, please ring that bell," he explained politely before closing the door softly behind him.
'Such hospitality,' Alex thought, genuinely impressed by the attendant's behavior.
The people he had encountered so far had been surprisingly polite, especially considering that he was a complete stranger who had arrived without identification.
Alex changed into the clothes one by one, carefully examining each set in front of the mirror before finally deciding which ones suited him best.
After trying everything, he eventually selected three sets that fit him comfortably and looked much more natural compared to his previous clothing.
He didn't worry too much about the price.
The herbs he had sold earlier had earned him quite a fortune, especially considering how valuable and difficult to find some of them appeared to be.
The Foxglove alone was clearly valuable enough to earn him a considerable amount, and Alex was beginning to understand that even his accidental discoveries could potentially become useful sources of income.
Satisfied with his choices, Alex finally reached toward the small bell.
He gave it a gentle ring.
Ding!
The clear sound echoed through the quiet room, signaling the attendant that he was ready.