Translator: Wuxia Dog Editor: Wuxia Dog
In the morning, a group of convoy sneaked up on the south gate of the Isolated Cliff City, a sleepless city that stood outside the wars on the mainland as a neutral territorywith flourished business. The gate of it opened all year round, no guards went the rounds, reflecting a splendid atmosphere of a free metropolis of trade.
An emaciated figure ran to them. “Are you here, my Lord?” the figure asked.
“Yes. Get into the carriage.” Han Jin raised the curtain and said.
Little Joseph jumped onto the wagon agilely. Inside were Han Jin, Cessacioun and the others. On the back of little Joseph was a clothwrapper. “What have you brought, boy?” Cessacioun laughed.
“Everything I can carry with me.” Little Joseph murmured.
“Why? Are you going…”
“He has to go with us. Those guys won’t let him off.” Han Jin smiled, “Have you finished what I asked you to do, Little Joseph?”
“Yes.” The boy nodded.
“What have you asked him to do?” Cessacioun was curious.
“Put up posters.” Han Jin laughed.
The night before, little Joseph employed some kids at his age with the money given by Han Jin to put up hundreds of posters on each corner of the city, disclosing the crimes of Cromwell,who had killed all members of the Morgan Commercial Corp for its moneyby extremely cruel ways, and intended to rob the seal from Miss Keeley, the heir to Morgan Commercial Corp, when he got the news that she had come to this city. At the end of the posters, there were some large sized words: Cromwell will destroy all of the posters to cover the truth.
It’s just a crap, as a matter of fact, regardless of the authenticity of the contents, the posters would be torn off. But the behaviors of the Association of Mercenaries would just enhance the credibility of the posters. The news written on it would spread out at a rapid speed.
“It’s useless.” Cessacioun shook his head after little Joseph’s narration, “we have no evidence.”
“I am not expecting Cromwell to be tried.” Han Jin said expressionlessly, “As long as he restrains himself these days, I will be content.”
“What shall we do next, prophet?” Moxinke finally asked, “Do you really think we can break through the blockade and escort them to the Holy Crown City?”
Han Jin looked outside, “What will happen if we are discovered by the armies from the Black Raven City?” he whispered.
“All things being robbed, all of us being killed, that’s for sure. Simple result!”
“Including the members of the trade caravan?”
“They are not gods, why not kill them?”
“Which are more valuable, the house and the Wand of Flame mortgaged by Sylner, or the goods we are escorting?”
Moxinke gave it a thought and said, “Though the house of Sylner located in the center of the city where land is very expensive,compared with fifteen carriages of armors and weapons, it was still nothing, even plus the Wand of Flame, the total price is less than one fifth of that of these goods.”
“In other words, nobody will take the pledge seriously andthe businessmen are more afraid than us of encountering troubles.”
“Well…” Moxinke paused.
“But do you think they look nervous?”
Moxinke recalled the fat guy named Leopold, the responsible person of the trade caravan, who was always kind and easy going, wearing a big smile all day. He had agreed without hesitation when Moxinke went to him last night, requiring to leave early in the morning.
“That is to say, they insist ontransporting the military supplies to the Holy Crown City even they know it’s in war. They must have someone powerful to rely on.” Han Jin analyzed lowly.
“But, if they have someone to rely on, why not tell us so that we can cooperate with them better?” Moxinke exclaimed.
“I don’t know, unless they are willing to tell us.” Han Jin transferred the question to others tactfully when he realized Moxinke was arguing with him for arguing.
***
It was peaceful along the way, nothing happened. But they maintained keen vigilance. Analysis didn’t determine actions, to be cautious was always better than careless. The trip had lasted for over a month. The closer they went to the territory of the Holy Crown City, the more nervous the air turned to be.
During this period, Han Jinabsorbed thousand Yuan’s energy each day. The magic crystals he had purchased from the Isolated Cliff City provided a solid guarantee for him. In fact, he had forgot his teacher’s warning as well as the lesson he had gottenthe first time he tried to absorb the black raven magic crystal. He was eager to improve himself, thus, he set aside all other limitations except the one percent impassable limit.
Strictly speaking, he was not a qualified friar before accomplishing his final stage of basis construction. He couldn’t even perform medium-grade art of Tao and made some charms such as Five Wraiths Carrying Charm at present. Thanks to the element rules on this mainland, the charms he made were still useful! But the energy inside his body didn’t totally belong to him, it would decrease after consumption and couldn’t restore by itself. Only when he has completed the real basis construction could the energy be turned into invisible Qi. The difference between the two stages was like that between a pheasant and a phoenix.
A formal friar starts by methods such as Expiration and Inspiration to consolidate his basis and cultivate his spirit. But Han Jin started by absorbing grain essence. Different roads lead to the same destination. It’s the same for anyone to exploit the knack for opening one’s large heavenly circle, which stands for the ability of running the invisible Qi. Only when Han Jin reached this stagecould he be counted as a real friar. However, his road rendered him double advantages. Except normal breathing exercises of Expiration and Inspiration, he could still absorb the energy from food, only that one more step was needed.
But the situation before this stage was very hard. He had the protection from his teacher in his former world and acted in a low profile to avoid challenging the tacit agreement and rules between the cultivation field and the secular world. He couldn’t afford the energy, that was the reason. A real friar was able to recover within short time by breathing regulating after throwing ten fire charms. But Han Jin couldn’t. Thus, unless the situation required and he could get benefit from it, he would never use his charms randomly.
What astonished the others was that Han Jin started to show interest in strength of fighting and magic. He would ask Moxinke and Cessacioun for advice as long as he had time. It was one of his habits to learn different knowledge while still regarding energy absorbing as the base. The different kinds of Tao Arts meant he had different roads, all leading to the same destination, along which he could even switch from oneto another.
But he didn’t last long in magic leaning before he put Cessacioun aside. The power of magic was far weaker than that of a Tao Art based on the same element consumption, at least it was true for first-grade magic.
