C63 The First Time They Were Together

Moments later, as Chu Yan lifted his gaze, he had transformed into a square-faced middle-aged man. He had toyed with the idea of carving a scar on his face to look more intimidating but decided against it, considering it too conspicuous.

After a brief contemplation, he made his move. A realistic-looking scar materialized, stretching from his left ear down to his neck, instantly lending him the menacing air of a hardened criminal.

"That should do it," Chu Yan affirmed with a nod, striding toward the old town ruins.

Chu Yan had set out early that day, but his lessons in inscription with Su Yuqing meant it was dusk by the time he reached the ruins. "If I wait until after purchasing the blood essence, it'll be too late to return. Looks like I'll have to find a place to stay overnight. Thankfully, with the transformational inscriptions, I don't have to worry about my identity being exposed," he mused, eyeing the towering brick wall ahead.

The wall, about the height of a two-story building, was weathered and blanketed in swathes of green moss. Nearby, a gap had been made in the wall, large enough for two or three people to pass through side by side. Such openings were spaced every few yards, rendering the wall's purpose of separating the old town from the new virtually ineffective.

People were continuously coming and going through these breaches. Unlike those Chu Yan encountered in the new town, most of the individuals here were clad in tattered garments, exuding an air of destitution.

Occasionally, a warrior would pass by, their faces etched with a fierce and malevolent aura, clearly not the sort to make an honest living. They were likely involved in unsavory activities such as kidnapping.

Despite this, Chu Yan observed no altercations stemming from petty disputes. It was clear that the old town ruins operated under a set of unspoken rules.

After watching for a while, Chu Yan proceeded through the wall's opening. As he did, a peculiar scent mingled with the encroaching darkness, washing over him. It was a complex blend of dampness, mildew, and an odd mix of sweet and foul odors.

Chu Yan remained silent, simply continuing his passage through the brick wall.

The wall was a formidable ten feet thick. Emerging from the man-made tunnel, Chu Yan felt as though he had stepped into a world utterly distinct from the new town he had left behind. Evergreen Town, with its smooth green bricks and orderly high walls and tiles, exuded a sense of meticulous neatness.

In stark contrast, the ruins of the old town beyond the wall were patchy and shrouded in shadows. The dim lights flickered like will-o'-the-wisps, casting an eerie pallor that sent shivers down one's spine.

Thankfully, the bustling alleyways teemed with pedestrians, grounding Chu Yan in the reassurance that he was still among the living.

He recalled the restaurant owner's directions to a place called Langya Pavilion and was about to ask for confirmation when a wiry fellow with a sharp face and monkey-like features approached him unbidden.

The man was short and skinny, yet he was draped in clothes so voluminous they swept the ground, shrouding him in an air of mystery.

Sidling up to Chu Yan, the man's eyes gleamed with mischief as he whispered, "Sir, care to peruse some artwork?"

"Artwork?" Chu Yan echoed, perplexed.

The skinny man smirked, "You know, the latest comic books, the ones with a storyline." He parted his oversized garment to give Chu Yan a quick peek before swiftly concealing it again.

In that fleeting moment, Chu Yan glimpsed the man's coat lined with no fewer than fifty small pockets, each harboring a booklet. The covers were adorned with unspeakable images, vivid and tantalizing to an extreme Chu Yan had never before encountered, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Misreading Chu Yan's stunned silence, the man's eyes darted cunningly as he leaned in closer and suggested, "Not a fan of comics, eh? How about novels? I've got a whole range of stories here, guaranteed to satisfy any taste." He revealed another set of pockets from the opposite side of his coat, ticking off titles on his fingers, "Take the latest hit, 'Night Raid on Widow Village', or 'Scandalous Affairs with My Aunt', and 'The Outlaw Son-in-Law's Gunfight with the Matriarchal Clan'—all sure to please!"

Seeing the vendor gearing up to launch into another lengthy pitch for his wares, Chu Yan swiftly handed over a piece of Spirit Money and said with impatience, "Just give me any book, and then point me to the Langya Pavilion."

The skinny man's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Spirit Money!" he gasped.

In the old town ruins, business was usually conducted with mundane copper coins; silver was a rarity, and Spirit Money was practically unheard of.

Worried that Chu Yan might change his mind, the skinny man quickly yanked out a novel and thrust it into Chu Yan's hands, his voice oozing eagerness. "Sir! My lord, this is the latest premium edition, complete with text and illustrations. It's sure to immerse you fully and leave a lasting impression!"

He was about to sing his own praises further when he caught the look of dissatisfaction in Chu Yan's eyes. Hastily, he added, "I know where the Langya Pavilion is! I was just there earlier today. Here, let me show you the way."

With words and gestures, the man quickly explained the location of the Langya Pavilion to Chu Yan.

Chu Yan committed the directions to memory, barely glancing at the book before tucking it away and melting into the crowd.

He hadn't gone far when a sharp "snap" and a cry of pain echoed from behind him, followed by a mocking voice, "Mouse, you stole my Spirit Money and still have the nerve to strut around in public?"

The scream was eerily familiar. Turning around, Chu Yan saw the man known as Mouse sprawled on the ground, clutching his face. A vivid red handprint marked one cheek, which was now grotesquely swollen, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. The novel he'd been hiding had scattered across the ground.

Standing over him was a towering brute of a man, his face etched with scars, long hair cascading over bulging muscles, and a pair of narrow, menacing eyes.

The tall man sneered down at Mouse, casually flipping a piece of Spirit Money in his hand.

Chu Yan's eyes narrowed.

That Spirit Money was the very same he had given to Mouse.

Without a moment's hesitation, Chu Yan strode toward the muscular man, his face set in a steely expression.

It's no concern of mine that you swiped Mouse's Spirit Money, but to brazenly claim it as your own? What, did you strain so hard in the bathroom that you lost your guts?

The burly man, evidently oblivious to the looming threat, took a step forward with a sneer. He pinned the sketchbook under his foot and looked down disdainfully, "Mouse, don't you think you owe me an explanation for taking my Spirit Money?"