Kind Cultivation - Chapter 116

Ai and Lin take the normal way out of the area, while I end up going through tunnel connecting much closer to the other side of town. By the time I get there, it'll be around afternoon.

Gong’s suggestion to me was to pop out one of the nearby tunnels and make sure that I'm seen by a spy, before doubling back into the tunnels, to go the actual route. At that point, she recommended that I try to get there as fast as is possible.

As I do so, I take a glance back at them with my scan, to make sure they are alright. Mainly, I can see that there doesn’t seem to be any issues with their side. They are just heading to their location in the central merchant district. Spies are keeping a sharp lookout for anyone that matches my description to be traveling with them.

Contrary to their thoughts, my pickup location will be on the far side of the city, near the other, smaller merchant hub.

That area of the city the incoming traffic from the eastward locations, moving away from the sect.

Gong had determined that there is a very low likelihood that The Alchemist Guild would have eyes looking at that location. Not only that, but the Vermilion stripes shouldn't have Agents out in this area

The downside to this, is that I have to run near my normal top speed all the way across Multiple tunnels underneath the city.

We lived around the middle of the city, so it took around 5 hours to get there. Around 300 km in total away.

Which is 60km/h.

In order to not splatter myself against the walls, I used my scan to predict my movements and every step. It definitely helps that my reaction speed is improving by the day.

Nonetheless, I did crash against wall after wall, experiencing stupid amounts of pain and wasting some time. However, I could feel myself getting better and better at running this.

This could be something I try to practice more.

As I get further away from Gong’s area, there are more bugs and creatures along the paths and less light.

Gong sent some spiders ahead to clear the way, but there’s only so much you can do across such a distance. It honestly was better for me, as my reaction speeds were tested with the running and making sure I step with the right timing, as well as concentrating on making sure the path is clear with my scan.

The only close call I came across, was a giant beetle creature stuffed within the tunnel, mostly blocking the way. It seemed to have no idea I was there. I leaped onto the wall, in the tiny space near the ceiling and dove through into a roll, moving back into a sprint. Still running as fast as I could. It seemed to react quickly, but couldn’t keep up with my speed.

Eventually, I reached the exit to this branch of tunnels. unlike the other ones, this one didn't directly connect to the surface.

This one actually connected to a small cave system that reaches both in and outside of the city. The portion that reaches outside of the city is guarded by low level cultivators, but that portion is quite a distance away from where I would be entering from. They also don't usually look behind them, rather than focusing on the outside threats.

That doesn't mean that it was completely untrapped though, as I had found multiple small formations. Luckily, Gong had already notified me that that might be the case, so I was prepared to look for them specifically.

It also gave me a chance to see formations in person. In the past, I had the hope of using my scan to discover more cultivation methods, such as formations, body cultivation techniques, and other things, but those things are typically guarded similarly to cultivation techniques.

They aren't something that I would just know without a good reasoning. Once I Start learning about them more, then I can just say I figured out based off learning the basics.

Nevertheless, I finally make it up to the surface, with no issues. My clothes are a little battered and beaten, but they appear to be mostly alright. Obviously, my healing kept my body strong and OK. Surprisingly, it optionally cleans me as well. I've taken along a small backpack with some simple clothes that I would need, some food and water, as well as some other small items.

One thing I also brought with me, was my clothes and items from from earth. my reasoning for this, was that it's always possible that high level cultivator could have a way of searching out these valuable items. If they came across the demihumans in his search for it, it could be catastrophic. Not only that, I could always make up a story about how I received these.

How believable that would be, is a different story. But at the very least I would be within a decently sized sect, that would Give me a chance to get something out of this. Or at least not lose my life for it.

So with my bag of stuff, I approached the pickup location, which is in an open market area.

The sun is around 2/3 of the way in the Sky, showing that I came with time to spare.

The first thing I see as I go out there, is a long string of sheltered carts, which remind me of the Old American West.

Sitting on top of 1 then, quite lazily, is an average looking, brown haired young man.

And he looks Completely bored out of his mind.

My scan picks up that there are a few people already in these carts, just waiting for them to move on.

The second thing I notice, is that not all the carts are the same. Some are made of considerably better material and have much more ‘help’ available.

The people who naturally gravitated to these carts, seems to be the privileged people, that we were talking about earlier in the caverns. They have food being brought to them, And some people who clearly want to get to know them better.

From what I can tell, this is the politics portion of this sect.

I’ll have to navigate this carefully. There’s so many things to consider, and I have the Alche…

Interrupting my thoughts, it a cry of pain from two different voices. And the woulds that I never thought I would here in real life. 

“YOU DARE?!”

Sigh.