Chapter 422

The name of the city was Dali.

Dali was one of the largest cities in Yunnan Province.

The moment Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san entered Dali, they finally felt that they had returned to the world of men.

The attire of the people living in Dali was also diverse. It showed just how many different tribes lived together in harmony.

The streets of Dali were as bustling as any city in the Jianghu.

Countless shops and stalls lined the streets, and many people were haggling.

“Give me a discount.”

“There’s no profit left. If you’re not buying, go somewhere else.”

“Hey! Don’t be like that…”

“I’m not selling it for that price.”

Listening to the noisy voices of the haggling people brought a strange sense of peace.

Even though two strangers named Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san had arrived, the people didn’t even spare them a glance.

Dali was a city where major thoroughfares intersected.

Naturally, countless people came and went every day.

With so many people coming in and going out, the addition of two more didn’t make them stand out.

“Hooah!”

Do Yeon-san took a deep breath.

As he inhaled the city air, it truly sank in that he had escaped the rainforest.

Pyo Wol said,

“Let’s rest here today, prepare, and leave tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

The two sought out the largest and most splendid inn in Dali.

Having lived in the rainforest for so long, they wanted a proper rest.

In Pyo Wol’s experience, the larger and more splendid the inn, the higher the probability of receiving good service.

“Welcome.”

The innkeeper greeted the two.

Having lived in the rainforest for a long time, their clothes were shabby. Because of this, the innkeeper unconsciously frowned slightly.

Pyo Wol tossed two silver coins to the innkeeper and said,

“Give me two of your best rooms.”

“Right away!”

The innkeeper replied with a smile, as if he had never frowned.

The owner personally guided the two to their rooms.

“These are the best rooms in our inn. The beds were recently replaced, so they should be very comfortable.”

“A bath?”

“I will tell the waiters to prepare one immediately.”

“There is one more thing to prepare.”

“Yes?”

Pyo Wol tossed him another silver tael and said,

“Buy us new clothes. For both me and this boy.”

“Understood.”

One nyang of silver could buy more than ten sets of new clothes.

If he bought just two sets, the innkeeper could pocket the rest.

The innkeeper said with a smile,

“I will have them ready so you can wear them right after your bath. Please, wash up and come out at your leisure.”

The innkeeper left with a smile.

Pyo Wol said to Do Yeon-san,

“Let’s meet again after we’ve bathed.”

“Yes!”

Thump!

The two closed their doors and entered their respective rooms.

As the innkeeper had said, the room was quite excellent.

The bed was new, and the antique-style decor was full of elegance.

Pyo Wol briefly looked around the room before taking off his Dark Dragon Robe.

The Dark Dragon Robe, worn for a long time, was tattered, as if to prove the fierce battles Pyo Wol had endured.

Its Fire Avoidance and Water Avoidance effects had long since vanished, and it had almost lost its function as clothing.

It was time to let the Dark Dragon Robe go.

Pyo Wol summoned the Samadhi True Fire. The Dark Dragon Robe instantly burst into flames and turned into a handful of ash.

Ghost Fang came out from Pyo Wol’s embrace and settled on the bed.

Pyo Wol gazed at Ghost Fang, who was coiled up and fast asleep. While traversing the rainforest, Ghost Fang had been actively hunting.

Ghost Fang had devoured countless poisonous creatures. It needed a lot of sleep to digest all the venomous things it had eaten.

The more poisonous creatures it digested, the darker the color of the horn on Ghost Fang’s head became.

Ghost Fang had even absorbed the inner core of a Horned Dragon.

It had long since surpassed the category of a simple Mystical Creature.

‘I wonder if this little guy will become a Dragon at this rate.’

Pyo Wol let out a small laugh without realizing it.

The thought that this tiny creature might become a giant Dragon was amusing.

It was then.

“The bath is filled, sir.”

The voice of a waiter came from outside.

When he opened the door where the voice had come from, he saw a wooden bathtub filled with hot water.

“Good work.”

Pyo Wol tossed the waiter a copper coin.

“Hee hee! Thank you.”

The waiter bowed to Pyo Wol and went outside.

Pyo Wol took off the clothes he was wearing and stepped into the tub.

Soaking his body in warm water for the first time in a long while made his whole body feel languid.

Pyo Wol leaned back in the tub, enjoying the lethargy.

It was almost half a shichen later when he got out of the tub.

Outside the bathroom door, the clothes the waiter had brought were laid out.

Pyo Wol picked up the clothes and returned to the room where Ghost Fang was.

The clothes the waiter had brought fit him perfectly, as if they had been custom-made. The innkeeper seemed to have a good eye.

After changing into his new clothes, Pyo Wol spoke to the sleeping Ghost Fang.

“Rest well. I’ll be back after I eat.”

He saw Ghost Fang flick its tail slightly.

It was Ghost Fang’s way of answering.

Pyo Wol left Ghost Fang alone and went down to the first floor.

“Brother!”

Do Yeon-san, who had finished his bath first, had already taken a seat and was waving his hand.

As Pyo Wol sat down, Do Yeon-san said,

“I ordered the food first. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I ordered several things. Is that okay?”

“You did well.”

“Hehe!”

Do Yeon-san laughed.

Now that the wounds in his heart had healed considerably, he laughed quite often.

Pyo Wol thought he looked quite good.

“Whoa! Is that a man?”

“Unbelievable!”

Exclamations of admiration burst from a nearby table.

The people who saw Pyo Wol’s appearance had let out gasps without realizing it. Still, they had some manners, for when Pyo Wol looked at them, they quickly shut their mouths and wore apologetic expressions.

Pyo Wol’s appearance was certainly distinct from the people here. That was why he couldn’t help but draw more attention.

Sixty percent of the people in Dali were of the Bai people, and the remaining forty percent were made up of various minority tribes.

The Bai people’s skin was relatively fair, while the skin of the other tribesmen was dark. That was why the exceptionally fair-skinned Pyo Wol couldn’t help but stand out.

At least the people were polite enough to try not to stare at Pyo Wol. It was proof that they were still innocent.

That point was quite different from the Jianghu.

Do Yeon-san seemed to have felt something similar, as he said with a smile,

“The people here seem really simple and honest. If this were the Jianghu, several people would have already started a fight.”

“It certainly seems that way.”

“If I had my way, I’d want to live here.”

“You can. If you truly want to…”

“I’ll think about it.”

Though he said that, Do Yeon-san had no intention of living here.

He didn’t know anyone, and he didn’t know a single thing about this place.

He would have to settle down someday, but he wanted to settle in a region he knew at least a little about.

While the two were talking, a waiter approached, carrying a tray full of food.

“Your food is here.”

Excluding the side dishes, there were more than five main dishes.

Do Yeon-san said with an awkward expression,

“I heard the food here was amazing, so I got curious and ordered this and that… It’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s just right.”

“Hehe!”

Do Yeon-san laughed and picked up his chopsticks.

Pyo Wol also picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

As it was a region with a hot climate, the food was salty and spicy. Still, the two ate with great relish.

Compared to what they had eaten in the rainforest, it was truly a feast.

Pyo Wol tasted a little of each dish, while Do Yeon-san ate voraciously.

The two presented quite a contrast, but in a way, they also seemed to suit each other well.

The people nearby no longer paid them any mind and focused on their own conversations.

“The Daeryong Escort Agency is recruiting escorts. I’m thinking of applying.”

“The Daeryong Escort Agency?”

“They’re hiring a large number of new escorts for a mission to Jiangxi Province. Someone like me should get picked easily, don’t you think?”

“I’d advise against it.”

“Why is that?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

The man in conversation looked at his companion with a pitying gaze.

Troubled by his gaze, the companion asked cautiously,

“Is there some reason?”

“This friend is quite ignorant of the news in the Jianghu.”

“Hah! Stop keeping me in suspense and just tell me.”

“I’ll tell you if you buy me a drink.”

“Fine! I’ll pay for everything you eat here. So just tell me.”

“Ahem! Then clean out your ears and listen carefully. Right now, Jiangxi Province and the surrounding area are in an uproar.”

“An uproar?”

The man made a slightly annoyed face at his companion’s naive reaction. For a martial artist, he was far too ignorant of how the world worked.

“A great battle, reminiscent of the Martial World War, is taking place there right now.”

“No way, really?”

“The entire Jianghu is in an uproar because of it.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“The Golden Sky Society and the Silver Lotus Society, and all the sects and martial artists associated with them, are all mixed up in a huge fight. Their battle is so fierce that Poyang Lake is said to have turned red with their blood. So many have been sacrificed that it’s said to have reached a point where it can no longer be stopped. So if you want to follow the Daeryong Escort Agency to Jiangxi Province, you’ll really have to risk your life.”

“So that’s why the Daeryong Escort Agency is recruiting new escorts.”

“That’s right. They know it’s dangerous, too. That’s why they’re trying to reinforce their strength.”

“Hmm!”

“If you get caught up in a real fight, they’ll throw new escorts like you, who know nothing of the world, as sacrifices and escape. So listen to me and don’t join the Daeryong Escort Agency. People like us live longer by avoiding trouble spots.”

“Thank you! If it weren’t for you, my life might have been in danger.”

“If you know, then pay up.”

“Of course! I’ll treat you to dinner tonight, so eat and drink as much as you like.”

The companion said with an expression of having dodged a bullet.

The man poured alcohol into a cup and said,

“For people like us with mediocre martial arts, it’s best not to set foot in such a chaotic mess at all. If you get swept up in it, you’re likely to be the first to lose your life.”

“I’ll have to look for an escort agency other than Daeryong.”

“You should. If you’re really strapped for cash, look for a trading company or escort agency heading to Sichuan Province. That place is relatively safe.”

“I understand. Sichuan Province, you say?”

The companion repeated ‘Sichuan Province’ several times, as if he had learned a crucial piece of information.

Their voices were also heard by Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san.

Do Yeon-san put down his chopsticks and said,

“It seems a huge mess has broken out. To think it might escalate into a Martial World War. What if a real Martial World War happens?”

Do Yeon-san shivered as if the mere thought was terrifying.

Although he had been lucky enough to obtain the Ghost King’s martial arts, his mental age was still only that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old.

To a young boy, the Martial World War was a terrifying phrase.

He couldn’t imagine how many people would die or get hurt. Among them could be people Do Yeon-san knew.

Although he had already finished his food, his appetite completely vanished.

Pyo Wol also put down his chopsticks.

The content of the men’s conversation was shocking, but it didn’t stir any great emotion in Pyo Wol.

‘So it’s flowing this way after all.’

He had already predicted it would come to this.

The clash between the Golden Sky Society and the Silver Lotus Society was not simply a fight over interests between two talented groups.

The interests of countless sects and martial artists were entangled within it.

It might have been different if it had never started, but once the fight had begun, it could never be stopped.

The battle between the two talented factions would draw in many people like a swamp. And any martial artist or sect that once set foot in this fight would never be able to escape.

‘In the end, the Martial World War will happen.’

And in the not-too-distant future, at that.