Li Yu and Cyra spent the next few days exploring Traveler's Rest, immersing themselves in the vibrant life of the town. The streets were clean and well-paved, the buildings sturdy and practical, and a palpable sense of order and security pervaded the entire settlement.
Guards from the White Paw mercenaries, professional and alert, patrolled the walls and main thoroughfares, their presence a comforting deterrent to any would-be troublemakers.
He and Cyra spent an afternoon in a lively teahouse, sipping on a fragrant, locally grown Cloud Mist tea. There, a grizzled old rogue, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a magnificent, braided beard and a missing eye. He was telling exaggerated tales of his adventures to a rapt audience of young, aspiring cultivators.
Li Yu listened with amusement as the man described a supposed battle with a six-headed hydra-turtle in the Blackwood Marsh, each head spitting a different element. It was a complete fabrication, but a wonderfully entertaining one, and the young disciples hung on his every word.
He remembered when he was just like them, with little to no knowledge of how things actually were. He too would have believed the word of this man, of his exciting stories from his life, dreaming of going on adventures like that too. While the world painted by this man wasn't exactly true, it allowed others to dream and a dream was a precious thing.
Later, they browsed the open-air market, a vibrant, chaotic place filled with a hundred different smells and sounds. While Cyra was drawn to a stall selling rare, shimmering silks, Li Yu found himself intrigued by the mundane crafts. He ended up buying a few random trinkets with no real use in the cultivation world: a skillfully carved wooden bird that would flap its wings when a string was pulled, and a set of seven, perfectly smooth river stones that, when struck in the correct order, played a simple, beautiful melody.
They were simple, clever things, a reminder of the quiet ingenuity of mortal life that was so often overlooked. While eating at a small noodle stall, he talked with the old man running it, listening to his stories about how the town's growth had brought his family prosperity and safety.
On the third day, as they were examining a shop that sold various monster parts, a voice called out, hesitant at first, then growing in confidence.
"Guest Elder? Guest Elder Li?" Li Yu turned to see a young man in the robes of the Asura Demon Clan. He was a Core Disciple, his cultivation at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. Li Yu recognized the robes, but not the face.
The disciple rushed forward and gave a deep, respectful bow. "Guest Elder Li, you may not remember me, but my name is Wei Chen. I was one of the disciples there during your last visit. It is an honor to see you again. I apologize for my forwardness, but I was so surprised to see you here."
Li Yu smiled, his demeanor open and friendly. "Disciple Wei, it is good to see you as well. No need for such formality. How is your Clan Master? How is everyone at the clan doing?"
Wei Chen's face lit up, his excitement barely contained. "Everyone is doing wonderfully, Guest Elder, thanks to you! Our Guardian Beast is healthier and stronger than ever after your last visit, and the entire clan's prosperity has grown. But the best news… the greatest news is about Senior Sister Mo Ling! She did it, Guest Elder! Just last week, she successfully broke through to the Core Formation realm!"
Li Yu was genuinely surprised. He knew the inheritance would speed up her cultivation, but to break through to Core Formation so quickly was a testament to her talent and the potency of the bloodline. "That is wonderful news indeed," Li Yu said. "Her speed is truly remarkable. Please pass on my congratulations to her and your Clan Master."
"You can tell her yourself, Guest Elder!" Wei Chen blurted out, his excitement making him bold. "The Clan is holding a grand banquet in three days to celebrate her achievement! And… and after the banquet, there will be a marriage contest!"
"A marriage contest?" Li Yu asked, his interest piqued. He had heard about such things from others, but had never seen one himself. It was a common practice among the sects and clans in more traditional regions, a way to forge alliances or find a powerful, talented partner for the younger generation.
"Yes!" Wei Chen said, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Senior Sister Mo Ling doesn't have anyone she is in love with, so when the Clan Master asked her, she agreed to the contest. It is a great honor for our clan. Many powerful masters from the surrounding sects and clans will be coming to compete."
He then leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, as if he couldn't stop the words from spilling out. "I hope to win it myself. I… I have had a crush on Senior Sister for a long time." He immediately straightened up, his face beet red with embarrassment. "I… I am not sure why I shared that with you, Guest Elder. I was just too excited."
Li Yu laughed, a warm, genuine sound. He found the young disciple's earnestness refreshing. "Your secret is safe with me, Disciple Wei. I wish you the best of luck."
"Thank you, Guest Elder!" Wei Chen said, bowing again. "I was just here finishing a mission for the sect, and I am about to head back. I was wondering… since you are a Guest Elder and a great benefactor to our clan, would you be willing to come with me to watch the celebration and the contest? The Clan Master would be overjoyed to host you!"
Whether he had the power or not to actually invite anyone, Li Yu didn't know. However, he was going to go as a representative of the Golden Shell Guild if he were to go, so it shouldn't cause any problems for this disciple here.
Li Yu considered the offer. He didn't have any other pressing plans. His journey had been one of leisure. The idea of witnessing a marriage contest, a cultural event so different, was genuinely intriguing. "Alright," he said with a nod. "I would be happy to attend."
Later that day, Li Yu met with Fat Pig at the Guild headquarters to inform him of his change of plans. Fat Pig listened with his usual cheerful smile, his mind already calculating the business implications.
"A marriage contest at the Asura Demon Clan, you say? Excellent! That is a major event. It is a shame I cannot attend, as my work here is not yet finished," he said, a hint of genuine regret in his voice. He then brightened, a shrewd glint in his eye.
"But this is a perfect opportunity for the Guild." He produced a high-grade storage ring from his own and passed it to Li Yu. "The Golden Shell Guild must, of course, provide a congratulatory gift to Young Miss Mo Ling on her breakthrough. The clan is an important trade partner, after all."
Li Yu felt a pang of self-reproach. He had been so caught up in the novelty of the event that the social and political necessities had completely slipped his mind. He was a terrible representative in that regard. Fat Pig, on the other hand, was always thinking three steps ahead, a true master of a merchant's diplomacy. Li Yu accepted the ring, feeling that Fat Pig was very thoughtful.
He scanned the storage ring with his spiritual sense and was impressed. Inside, he found a hefty sum of high-grade spirit stones, a collection of valuable herbs known to help stabilize a new Core Formation cultivation base, and a beautiful, exquisitely crafted set of light armor for a woman, its design both elegant and highly defensive. Fat Pig was indeed very thoughtful.
"I was already aware of her breakthrough from our local intelligence network," Fat Pig explained, seeing the look on Li Yu's face. "I had this gift prepared and was planning to send a convoy to deliver it. But since you are going, you can deliver it yourself. This is perfect for strengthening our relationship with the clan."