Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Contact (1)
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Hubei Province's Ezhou.
After traveling along the Dong River, they arrived at Ezhou County, a large county town boasting around 100,000 households.
"Cleared!"
Beyond the gate, after simply flashing their identity tokens, unfolded the lively scene of a small city brimming with everyday life.
"Fresh vegetables here!"
"Rare tea leaves from Chongqing! Not something that comes every day!"
"Hey, over there. Heroes. Need a place to stay the night?"
The bustling market street resembled nothing so much as a spectacle straight out of a dream.
"Ezhou's looking like this, huh. First time seeing it."
In his previous life, when he'd come here, it had been little more than ruins.
Not a trace now of the desolate wasteland where everything had died and burned to ash.
Ezhou was now so crowded that you couldn't walk without bumping shoulders. Completely different place.
"Oh."
Turning at a tantalizing aroma assaulting his nose, he saw a few skewers sizzling on a rickety street stall.
"Heh heh. Chicken skewers grilled with our secret sauce."
"Smells killer."
"One nyang of copper coins per skewer. Three nyang gets you our special eel skewer."
"Chicken's fine."
Clink clink.
Handing over the coins, Chu Un-hwi took a sizzling skewer and swallowed hard.
"Street food after all this time."
Chomp.
Biting into the meat, well-cooked juices mingled with a pleasant char from the coals.
"Can't resist anymore. Give me whatever you've got."
In the end, he devoured three more standing right there, then wove through the crowd with the last skewer in hand.
The hustle and bustle wasn't entirely enjoyable.
"Too many people. Getting tired."
Perhaps due to his recent solitary habits, just pushing through the throng brought waves of fatigue.
"Need to find lodging first."
After some searching, he unpacked at a suitable inn and came downstairs to find the errand boy rushing over.
"Great hero. Care for a meal?"
"No, got a place to stop by first. Know any good tailors?"
"Getting clothes made?"
The boy pondered briefly before recommending one without hesitation.
"It's popular with folks in rough trades like us. Famous for cheap, sturdy clothes."
"Sounds perfect."
As the boy rattled off several local sights, he asked,
"By the way. How long you planning to stay?"
"Hmm. How long should I...?"
Other instructors would just be leaving Infinite Fortress by now.
'Got here too fast. Whatever, I've got business here anyway.'
Weighing his options, Chu Un-hwi asked the boy,
"What's the room rate?"
"Five copper nyang a night."
Ten copper coins made one copper nyang. Ten copper nyang made one silver nyang.
"Pretty cheap."
He pulled a silver nyang from his pouch and flicked it off his thumb.
"Probably four days or so."
"Four days? But what's this?"
The boy gaped at the leftover silver after settling the bill.
"Tip for the good recommendation. Hit me up if I need errands run."
"Thank you, great hero!"
Returning the polite bow, Chu Un-hwi stepped out of the inn.
"Definitely need clothes first."
Divine Martial Academy uniforms were too conspicuous.
Thinking ahead to entering Iron Chain Alliance territory like this, he'd have challengers swarming from all sides.
"Where was it...?"
Following the errand boy's directions led to an elegant tailor shop tucked between shabby alleys.
Tailor shop.
True to the name, it sold various fabrics, but this one specialized in made-to-order clothes on the spot.
"What can I do for you?"
A dignified elderly man with a raspy voice emerged.
"Need a few sets of martial attire."
"Martial attire, you say?"
Only after eyeing him up and down did the shopkeeper blink his bleary eyes and bow his head.
"A Divine Martial Academy instructor! My apologies for not recognizing you."
"No worries. Got any fabrics to recommend?"
"Heh heh. Our shop's known for cheap, durable cloth."
"Just what I need."
"Only thing is, it's all cheap stuff—no silks or finery. Nothing fit for discerning tastes..."
Glancing at the sword at his side, the man seemed wary of wanderers.
"Don't need silk. Something tough and sturdy will do."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah. Black if possible. Doesn't show dirt."
"Righteous warriors usually prefer brighter colors."
"Personal taste."
Bright clothes were a hassle to wash blood out of every time.
Swallowing the rest, the shopkeeper's expression softened.
He soon led him inside, laid out several black fabrics, and began taking measurements.
"Any other requests?"
"Nah. Three identical sets."
"Three of the same?"
His eyes widened, but his measuring hands never stopped—a real talent.
As he cut the fabric, he said,
"Your order should be ready by tomorrow."
"Faster than expected."
"Plain design, no embroidery or decorations. Leave the sturdiness to me."
"Want to see a few more things. Got any ready-made?"
"Of course. This way."
Inside the shop, he picked up a waxed black windbreaker for waterproofing, a gray overcoat, and a wide-brimmed hat.
Not the inverted-pot style, but one with a brim and a wind flap that could hang like a sunshade.
Usually used by desert-crossing merchants against sandstorms—didn't expect to find it here.
"I'll take these too. Deliver the clothes when done?"
"Naturally. Just settle the bill."
"Not stingy enough to skimp on tips. Put some care into it."
Flick.
After paying for the items and flicking an extra silver nyang, the shopkeeper snatched it up and replied,
"I'll put extra effort in."
"Good. Looking forward to it."
Raising a hand to the bowing shopkeeper, Chu Un-hwi left the shop.
"Getting chilly."
Draping the gray overcoat over his martial attire, Chu Un-hwi paused on a stone bridge with raised embankments.
"...Way different from pre-destruction Ezhou."
Below stretched small boats lined along a narrow canal.
Boats that sold vegetables and fish during the day had transformed into riverside stalls at night.
"Booze and snacks right on the water. Nice ambiance."
Lanterns on the boats reflected off the flowing water, creating a stunning sight.
"Quite the spectacle. Unbelievably peaceful."
The last Ezhou he remembered was horrific.
Experts from the Ten Yang Supportive Palace rampaged, burning everything; only endless despair and ashes remained.
Hard to imagine the cozy scene from that barren, lifeless land.
"Ha ha. Wish I could see this with her."
Lost in the view for a moment, Chu Un-hwi murmured,
"Still a distant dream."
Right now was the time to live with his bride-to-be, to pull this world even slightly from Heavenly Assembly's doom.
"Wind feels especially cold tonight."
Chilly breeze, or lonely heart?
Unclear as he pulled his overcoat tight and walked on.
He'd come to Ezhou at the Wind Guest's request.
- There's something I need to verify before trusting you.
Outrageous, summoning him here because he couldn't trust his abilities.
"That cautious personality hasn't changed a bit."
Thinking back, they'd bickered plenty in the past before finally joining hands—far too late, after everything was lost. Still, they'd fought back-to-back, knowing death awaited.
"Tastes haven't changed either."
Scanning around, Chu Un-hwi looked up at a four-story pavilion spilling lively music.
Wealthy patrons came and went from its ornate exterior.
Easy to guess why the Wind Guest chose it for their meetup.
"Wary of meeting alone, so a crowded spot?"
Underestimating me, are you?
"Guess I need to teach him not to play these petty games."
Muttering, Chu Un-hwi stepped inside.
He took a suitable seat, and a neatly dressed server approached.
"Sir. What can I get you?"
"Grain tea."
Grain tea. Tea made from grains.
'Supposedly grain tea, but it's distilled rice and wheat liquor—basically strong booze.'
Didn't get calling liquor "grain tea," but the Wind Guest had explained.
- It's a pun: not bad liquor, but fiery tea.
Another reason for summoning him here: grain tea was drunk following tea ceremony etiquette, unlike regular alcohol.
- You can gauge a person's background from their etiquette. Warrior, scholar, or peasant?
Sure enough, the room was filled with elegantly sipping patrons, each with subtly different styles.
- The north is cold. They sip to savor the warmth.
Bits of trivia followed.
'Amusing.'
Never thought the day would come when the Wind Guest probed him like in the old days.
'Can't figure me out, so testing like this?'
But he wouldn't play along so easily.
"Sir. Any preferences?"
To tease the Wind Guest a bit, Chu Un-hwi replied,
"What kinds of grain tea you got?"
"Just about everything."
"Whatever you enjoy, but with autumn coming, something from local rice sounds right."
"And snacks?"
"Drinking local grain tea calls for local snacks too, no? Bring Ezhou specialties."
"...Understood."
Warriors were human too—they stuck to the familiar.
Northerners sought ice liquor from melted snowfields; coastal folk craved salty sailors' brews.
'But I asked for seasonal grain tea.'
Origin and preferences now a mystery.
With etiquette unclear too, the Wind Guest would be scratching his head.
"Right away."
The flustered server's reaction confirmed it—some request had been made.
Chuckling at the scurrying man, Chu Un-hwi smirked.
'Go ahead, stew on it.'
Wonder who'll end up suffering.
A few tests, but he handled them easily. Hardly a real contest.
With his past-life ties revealing all the Wind Guest's tricks versus the other's attempts to probe his identity.
No way to lose.
Thanks to that, he got to indulge.
"Not bad."
Deserving better than its "tea" name, it was potent liquor.
Aim to get him drunk and slip up, perhaps? Too bad—his constitution didn't intoxicate easily without effort.
"Should know these pranks just stoke my anger."
Plenty to teach this life's Wind Guest.
'Him or them, no end to the headaches.'
Grumbling as he surveyed the room, patrons murmured refined conversations in the restrained atmosphere.
"Tests aren't over."
Besides gauging inner power through etiquette, there was more.
Garrison Sect.
Members with "Garrison" embroidered on yellow martial attire sat to one side.
He knew the Garrison Sect.
'Ezhou's three major clans.'
A name Ning Fengyun had heard clearly from Jegal Cheon-gi.
Sure enough.
'Too coincidental for chance.'
But oh well, Wind Guest.
Can't keep playing along.
"My patience is wearing thin."
Crack.
The cup shattered, and the air trembled.