Chapter [B3] 34 — Auction Preparations - II


    Su Lin walked through the city streets, feeling extremely out of ce. Every man, woman and child that walked past him was a cultivator, much stronger than the elders that had previously run the Cloudy Peaks sect. The extravagant scent of perfumes, the scent of flowers and blossoms were eternally carried by the spring breeze that traversed through the city streets.


    He felt extremely out of ce here, like a lost child whod wandered somewhere he shouldnt be, stepping into a world that didnt wee his kind.


    Su Lin tried not to sigh, but he felt tired nheless. The thugs had begun spreading rumors and causing trouble for You Lan and her auction house, nothing serious, no one had been injured or murdered, but people were getting mugged far more around the ce, and it was bound to cause trouble. Lu Jie had entrusted this task onto him, and though hed epted, he still felt reluctant.


    It wasnt like he was some silver tongued guy who could walk into any group, and quickly make friends no matter where he was. He paused. Well, maybe he <em>was </em>a little bit like that, but that was on the Seventh Peak, in a ce he was familiar with and people who he knew, being thrust into the Azure city of all ces and then told to go and make sure the thugs dont cause trouble was a lot more difficult than it had been made to sound.


    Hed even told Lu Jie that these folks wouldnt just start listening to some outsider or speak to them so easily, but the boy had simply said Im sure you can handle it and pat Su Lins shoulder before being pulled away by some other tasks.


    Ah, he missed the days when his only worries were stealing herbs from the sect, and taking care of brother Zhang. Just how had he gotten involved in all of this?


    This time, Su Lins attempts to not sigh didnt work as one made its way past him, heavy with the burden of the task put onto his shoulders. He really shouldve just stayed behind when Lu Jie had asked. Its not like the boy would force him. It was just stupid hard to say no to his sincere eyes and the blind trust he put into people.


    Naive, far too naive. Often Su Lin had thought about the many ways he could make Lu Jies life hell had he wanted to. Lu Jie trusted him too much. He should scold him sometime about it.


    Su Lin felt the spirit lurking in his shadow stir at his thoughts. He shivered once, before pulling his mind away.


    His steps took him to the busier parts of the city, the colors of azure and blue architecture transitioning into more reds and yellows, with flowers blooming all around the area, and young girls trying to grab customers for their courtesans.


    The entire thing made him sick. He disliked the exuberant wealth on disy, and the scent of perfumes and the sickening desperation of men that visited these parts.


    Hey, brother, you look tired. Would you like to have some tea? One of the young girls called out to him, batting her eyshes at him while making a doe-like face as she grabbed at his arm.


    Su Lin looked at the little girl, surprised that shed gone for him. Hed always looked like a ruffian, and most city girls would know to stay their hand.


    It took him a moment to realize why she had. He wore much finer clothes now, and stood straight and tall. Even with his cultivation being the equivalent of a childs in this city, he was walking confidently.


    Only two kinds of people would do that. Either a young master who was doted on by his family, with too much money to spare. Or an idiot.


    Come <em>on,</em> brother, why so shy?


    Im good. Youve got the wrong idea, I dont got any money to be able to afford tea, he said, shing her a smile.


    The magic words immediately flipped a switch as the girl lost all interest, snorting as she stepped away, off to find someone else to grab.


    Su Lin tried his best not to shake his head as he continued on. This was exactly why he hated ces like these. These ces were meant for the rich and powerful, built upon the misery of others.


    But this was exactly where hed find the kind of folks he was searching for too. The Seventh Peak may not have a grand district like this, but it had ces, and the wrong kind of folks that apanied these beautiful houses from the shadows. He knew them of course, he used to be one of them.


    Hed never really stopped being one of them, in fact.


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    The streets grew less busy as he walked through the alleys. The vibrant and cloying disys of colors and music and scents began to fade, showing the truer sights that hid underneath. He saw people, a bunch of them crippled in their cultivation, and others with missing limbs or scars that had robbed them of any grace or dignity that may have remained.


    The sight reminded him of brother Zhang, and what couldve happened to him, had he and Chen not taken care of the man.


    Had Lu Jie not saved his life.


    Even the city of immortals was not without its ws, it was just better than most at hiding it. This much Su Lin knew. No ce was perfect, none of them would ever be. All of it was a grand show, a way to exert power and influence, to make the emperor and empire look strong and rich. What a farce.


    Kicking at a pebble on his way, he walked past the filthy alleyways, and before long, spotted a group of men standing around the alleyway with the kind of arrogance and confidence only thugs would have.


    He continued to walk, not changing his stride or demeanor much, just enough to look a little more nervous, and a little smaller than he was. His weak cultivation would help him out here.


    As he passed by the group, one of them turned to look at him, before elbowing another man nearby.


    Ay, brother, where you headed? You look lost, a man called out from behind.


    All his instincts told him to keep walking, and to ignore the man. Only a fool would stop here.


    But he had to y the part today, and so he froze in his steps. He felt an arm around his shoulder as one of the men grabbed him, leaning in close. You know you cant just be heading through these alleys for free, brother. Its dangerous out here, havent you heard?


    One of the other men snickered around him.


    No, Im new in town, Su Lin replied, feigning ignorance as he looked at the man. Whats so dangerous?


    You must be really new then, my brother. Theres a tax in ce, you gotta pay up to use these streets, the man said, as another drew a knife.


    Ah, you must be the thugs thatre lurking around this ce, Su Lin said, pretending as if hed just found out.


    The menughed together. Thugs? Hardly. Were just some men trying to make a living, dont you understand brother? We gotta eat, after all, the man said, ring his Qi as he began to use his aura to push against Su Lin.


    Su Lin nced back, looking at the man. I understand, I understand, he said, nodding to the man.


    Good, now empty up whatever you have, before we gotta make you understand <em>physically.</em>


    Sure, sure. But before I do, just one question. Whos paying you to cause trouble in these parts? He asked.


    Huh? Whats that got anything to do with ya, the man said, growing agitated as Su Lin continued to not be afraid.


    Well, you see. My brothers got some important event here, and I was just trying to see the area to make sure no one was causing trouble. But here you are, and I know you guys hang out in these parts, its easier to mug drunk men after all, they fall over like fools, hah, Su Lin said, smirking all by himself. The thug started to look confused.


    But you see. Theres one rule the streets never forget. Its that rats will always be rats. And rats shouldnt go around making so much trouble that the wolves begin to take notice, Su Lin said.


    What nonsense are ya spouting, you country bumpkin. Dont you understand whats happening? Were mugging <em>you. </em>Give us everything youve got or well make sure you aint got even your life to spare, the thug shouted, drawing his knife as Qi red all around him.


    I really wouldnt rmend doing that, even if the job pays well, Su Lin said.


    This bastard, he must be screwed in the head. Why, pray tell, do we need to listen to anything ya got to say?


    You dont. But if you dont like me speaking, I can have my friend talk, Su Lin said, shrugging.


    A secondter, his shadow began to stir and swirl. The thugs all stepped back in surprise as a powerful aura descended all around them. Silver mes danced around Su Lin as a tall muscr figure appeared, with arms folded and an aura of death and violence lingering around him.


    You see, my friend isnt a fan of talking. But he does speak very well with his fists, Su Lin said, and Ash let silver mes manifest around his hands, as he mmed his fist into the wall nearby, denting it in a single blow.


    So, what do you say? Which one of us would you like to hear from? Su Lin asked, smiling.


    The thugs looked at Ash, gulping nervously, before ncing back at his own men. Slowly, he lowered his de. Who sent you? The man asked, looking at Su Lin.


    None of your business, my friend. Stay out of this area, and my friend wont burn you alive till your flesh is tender, Su Lin said.


    The thug clicked his tongue, ncing back. We cant turn our backs on the Alchemy Halls. Theyll wipe us out.


    You dont have to worry about that. They wont be wiping anyone out, soon enough, Su Lin said.


    You youre insane. You think you can stop the Halls? The emperor supports them! The thug shouted.


    For now. Give it a few days, Su Lin said. Now get out of here before I lose what little patience I have left. And tell your men to stay away from this area. Trust me, Ill know if you dont, Su Lin said.


    Ash let his fire spread around even more, taking a stance, ready to attack as his aura red with power.


    The thugs nced around one another, before turning around and leaving quickly.


    Su Lin let out a sigh, as Ash let go of his mes, returning to the shadows once more.


    That was one small task done. Now to make sure they actually stayed away. That damned Lu Jie, giving him troublesome things to do.


    Hed better get something good for this at the end.