Jiang Chao Ge changed into Meng Sheng"s clothes and shoes, wrapped the sword in rags and carried it on his back. He carefully folded his custom made suit and put it into his luggage. He must properly keep the things brought from his own world. It would constantly remind him where he came from and where he should return to.
The apparel of the people of Tian Ling nation were very distinctive. The style of men"s clothing were similar to the st.u.r.dy clothing of ancient China, and was not at all messy. To Jiang Chao Ge it seemed a bit like the clothes in Xianxia games, wearing it felt very spiritual. However Meng Sheng looked quite poor at a glance. The material of these clothes were coa.r.s.e and crude, compared with the ones worn by the third prince, it was truly inferior.
"Old Meng, when we get to town, buy me a set of clothes ok? These clothes and boots are both a bit small."
Meng Sheng gave him a look, "If you have the money buy it yourself. Do you know how much money those two black panthers cost me?"
Jiang Chao Ge pursed his lips. Similarly, this world used gold, silver and copper as a currency. If he knew earlier, he would"ve definitely brought a big golden chain as thick as a thumb.
"Let"s go." Meng Sheng fished out two horse shaped bone cravings and threw it naturally towards the sky. Two horses appeared in front of them.
Jiang Chao Ge felt quite envious. When can he also make a wild beast army with a throw of his hand?
Meng Sheng saw through his thoughts, "This kind of trick is controlled, merely by the lowest level of spiritual power. When we reach a safe place, I will teach you how to cultivate spiritual power. However, the things I can teach you are all rudimentary level things. If you want to cultivate high level spiritual power, you have to expend a lot of effort. Slowly, I will tell you."
Zhi Xuan made a humph! noise from his nose, "With your current cultivation, you will not be able to be my spirit weapon user when you reach his age."
Jiang Chao Ge said slightly mockingly, "Is it that exaggerated? I learn things very quickly."
Meng Sheng said: "Little Jiang, this will depend on your good luck."
Zhi Xuan glared at him: "If you find a suitable spirit weapon user for me, I will spare your life."
Meng Sheng said with all smiles: "Sir Zhi Xuan, if there is a spirit weapon user. who is compatible with your spiritual awareness, we will definitely relinquish our position to the more qualified."
Jiang Chao Ge picked up Zhi Xuan with one arm and put him on the horse, "Before you find them, we"ll inconvenience you for a while."
Zhi Xuan said angrily: "Don"t touch me as you please."
"Then you get on the horse yourself?"
Zhi Xuan gave him a fierce glare.
Jiang Chao Ge mounted the horse and lifted his long hair that fell to the ground, "Would you like to tie your hair up? I"ll probably press on it in a moment."
"Foolish people, don"t touch my hair." Zhi Xuan put his own hair to the front of his chest, the cheeks on the small face bulging, appearing as if he was quite angry.
Jiang Chao Ge would"ve felt that he was pretty fun, if he did remind himself not to argue with a rare beast.
They took advantage of the curtain of night to leave the small village, greeting a full moon as they urged the horses forward.
Zhi Xuan grabbed the mane of the horse, not wanting to be near Jiang Chao Ge. However it was b.u.mpy on the horse. After the small body sat in an upright position for a while, he could not withstand it, and could not help but lean backwards. Just as he drew near Jiang Chao Ge"s embrace, he muttered discontentedly and sat straight again. It repeated three times this way. Even Jiang Chao Ge became impatient and pushed him into his own embrace, "Sir Zhi Xuan, you had better be good and sit. This way we"ll both be a bit more comfortable."
Zhi Xuan raised his head and glared at him, "Who should I blame for my appearance? If not for you….."
"Trash, yes, blame me entirely. I"ll definitely work hard to cultivate spiritual power, and allow you to make a magnificent appearance earlier."
Zhi Xuan gave a soft humph, and found a comfortable position to lean on in Jiang Chao Ge"s embrace, large round eyes constantly looking at the scenery all around. For him who lay dormant for who knows how many thousands of years, everything he looked at now was new. If it were not for this form that made him feel depressed, awakening from dormancy was originally the thing spirit beasts most looked forward to.
After dawn, a small city appeared in front of them. Meng Sheng jumped down from the horse, "That city up ahead, is Tian Ao City"s outer gate. If you get out of the city you leave the range of the imperial capital. Let"s get down, we"ll take a rest."
Jiang Chao Ge hadn"t ridden a horse in so long. After concentrating on riding for so many hours, his two legs shook as soon as he dismounted. He placed Zhi Xuan under the root of a tree, and followed suit, sitting down himself.
Meng Sheng threw a dark lump of dough to Jiang Chao Ge, "Eat something. When we pa.s.s the outer gate in a moment, we"ll have to draw out more than a hundred percent energy. We"ll definitely come across interrogation and examination."
Jiang Chao Ge looked at that lump of dough and frowned deeply, "Old Meng, are you too poor or do all the people of this place eat these things?"
Meng Sheng gave him a look, "I"m poor, but the things in this world are originally not very tasty."
Jiang Chao Ge gave a sigh, placed the lump of dough in front of Zhi Xuan and tentatively asked: "Do you eat?"
Zhi Xuan turned his head and said disdainfully: "Its both dirty and stinky."
Meng Sheng explained: "Spirit beasts don"t need to eat things."
Jiang Chao Ge had no choice but to brace himself and take a bite. Ng, it tasted even worse than that bowl of panada cooked flour paste, "Old Meng, what do you usually rely on to make a living?"
Meng Sheng cleared his throat, "The people with spiritual awareness on this continent, if not born of n.o.bility, either work themselves to the bone for n.o.bility or are self reliant. Those who work themselves to the bone for n.o.bility can live very honourably. They also have the chance to be promoted and gain wealth and obtain high grade spirit weapons. It"s just that they doesn"t have much freedom. As for the self reliant ones, the ways of which to make a living are many. Some make spirit weapons, some sell spirit weapons, some specialise in hunting the raw materials that make spirit weapons. There are also mercenaries and hired thugs. In short, as long as one has spiritual power, one can make a living out of anything. Me? I have done everything. In any case I"m not dead from being full nor am I dead from starvation."
Jiang Chao Ge thought that when he got to a safe place, he had to think of a way to earn some money. He was most annoyed towards days of hardship. He really suffered for so many years as a child. The feeling of being hungry, having no money, being despised by people he never wanted to taste ever again in his lifetime.
"In a moment when we enter the city, you will see many strange new things. Remember, not to make a fuss, don"t let people find out you are a Other World person. Prince Shu has definitely already listed us as wanted at the outer gate. We have to go separately. It"s ok if you just take sir Zhi Xuan straight to the city gate."
"Ok." Jiang Chao Ge glanced at Zhi Xuan, "Your eyes….."
Zhi Xuan gave him a look, pupils gradually changing from a bright golden colour to an ordinary black, making Jiang Chao Ge breathe out a sigh of relief.
After resting, Meng Sheng packed away the horse. Jiang Chao Ge picked up Zhi Xuan and walked towards the outer gate.
At this time, not many people entered the town. The guards yawned incessantly and came over with a wanted order.
Jiang Chao Ge felt a bit nervous in his heart, but he had brought a child. It should be somewhat of a cover right?
The guard compared the wanted order with him twice. Jiang Chao Ge glanced at the portrait. It was drawn too f.u.c.king abstract. But it"s no wonder. At that time he only stayed in the audience hall for no more than ten minutes, not many people can remember his appearance. If someone can still recognise him from such an ugly drawing they can be considered as having eyes that can see through and understand everything.
Sure enough, as he was calm and composed, the guards only gave him a casual glance and let them in.
Although it"s only a small city on the outskirts of the imperial capital, it was still a lot busier than all the towns and cities they pa.s.sed on the way. In the early morning, people came and went in the market. This was Jiang Chao Ge"s first time truly coming into contact with the lives of the people in this world. No wonder Meng Sheng wanted to warn him beforehand. There were too many crazy things in the market, it really allowed him to broaden his horizon.
Ahead, someone was hawking spirit tools. Some cows that ploughed the field, ray eels that was shone brightly for long time, domesticated dogs that looked after the house. Jiang Chao Ge went over to have a look. That hawker continuously summoned these things and also publicised without restraint that these spirit tools were made by apprentices from the east and that it"s cheap but good and can be used for a hundred years.
On the other side, there was someone selling spirit weapons and spirit armour. A customer bargained with the shopkeeper over an Earth grade spirit weapon.
Walking forward again, there was an extremely large shopfront. The inside was laid with all sorts of strange animal bones. Those animal bones varied in size, all very intact. Some animal bones were held inside cases with iron bars that were two fingers thick, appearing fairly valuable.
Jiang Chao Ge and Zhi Xuan were like two country folk who had just entered the city. As they walked they craned their necks. Anything they looked at seemed new.
While pa.s.sing by a breakfast stall, on a bamboo steamer, were white and tender steamed buns, bursting with fragrance. Jiang Chao Ge swallowed his saliva and felt that this was actually something people ate.
It was a pity he had no money. Just as he planned to take a few glances and leave, Zhi Xuan had already unceremoniously picked up a bun and taken a bite.
Jiang Chao Ge blinked and stared dumbfounded at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was an aunt around 40 years old. She said all smiles: "Little Brother, two copper coins."
Zhi Xuan was picked up into Jiang Chao Ge"s embrace, completely engrossed in eating. Jiang Chao Ge lowered his voice: "Didn"t you not need to eat anything!"
Zhi Xuan licked the corners of his mouth, "I can eat, I can also not eat."
Jiang Chao Ge turned around, wanting to find Meng Sheng. But in the vast market, where was Meng Sheng"s shadow? He didn"t have a single coin on his body. What could he use to pay?
The proprietress still waited with a smile.
Jiang Chao Ge pushed the messy hair in front of his forehead behind his ear, frowned slightly and looked towards the aunt, with a pair of deep eyes that were full of distress and embarra.s.sment that caused people to feel sympathy, "Elder Sister, this child has been hungry for two days. He is not sensible and let you see him make a fool of himself. I… Us father and son walked to the imperial capital with great difficulty to seek refuge with our relatives and are already penniless."
Zhi Xuan"s eyes widened and was just about to open his mouth to curse him when Jiang Chao Ge stuffed the steamed bun into his mouth, willing him to shut up with his eyes.
The proprietress frowned and made a conflicted "Ah" sound.
Jiang Chao Ge took off the ring on his finger and handed it over with red eyes. He deliberately said in a loud voice, "But you can rest a.s.sured that I"m not someone that repudiates a debt. This is a ring left behind by my late wife, and it"s also the most precious thing to us father and son. I"ll stake it here. When I earn two copper coins I"ll definitely come and redeem it."
One after another the people around them began to sympathise with them, "Goodness such a young child, must"ve been terribly hungry. It"s nothing more than a steamed bun."
"Yeah, this Little Brother is so handsome, how is he like someone that repudiates a debt. What"s the big deal about a child eating a steamed bun. It"s only two copper coins, I"ll pay for them."
The proprietress immediately became embarra.s.sed, "Aiya, forget it, forget it. How could I make a fuss over a steamed bun? Little brother, you take back such an important thing. It looks like you father and son don"t have it easy." She picked up a few steamed buns and threw it into a bag, "Come on, take it on the road to eat. People of the imperial capital are certainly not stingy."
Jiang Chao Ge said, moved: "Elder Sister, are all the people of the imperial capital as pretty and kindhearted as you are?"
The proprietress smiled to the point where she couldn"t even close her mouth and also gave two boiled eggs.
Jiang Chao Ge left the breakfast stall, Zhi Xuan also spat out the steamed bun. He glared at Jiang Chao Ge with despise, "Are you tired of living? You dare say I"m your son!"
Jiang Chao Ge smiled: "Do you want to eat boiled eggs?"
"Truly shameless, actually lying."
"Do you want to eat boiled eggs?"
"I want, peel the eggsh.e.l.l off for me."
One big one small ate while walking towards the city gate. When they arrived at the city gate, four steamed buns and two boiled eggs were already in their stomachs. It was only then that Jiang Chao Ge felt that he had really had a meal.
Zhi Xuan gave a satisfied burp, little cheeks flushed, "The things that humans eat are still pretty good."
Jiang Chao Ge put on a false smile: "Zuzong, as long as you"re happy."
"What"s "Zuzong"?"
"It"s a respectful form of address for you."
"Also, what is the "a hundred metres" you said yesterday?"
"It"s a length, probably more than fifty of me."
Zhi Xuan curled his lip, "What a strange phrase….."
As the two spoke, they reached the city gate. After going out of this gate, it could be considered as officially leaving Tian Ao City. Jiang Chao Ge discovered that his abstract portrait was stuck on the city gate in a grand scale. Carrying Zhi Xuan, he walked over head held high and chest out.
"Wait." A guard stopped him, "Where do you come from? Where are you going once you get out of town?"
Zhi Xuan said the excuse Meng Sheng prepared for him.
The guard held the painting and compared for long time, and also couldn"t be certain. Then he moved behind him, "What are you carrying on your back? Is it a sword?"
Jiang Chao Ge said calmly: "Its not a sword, it"s snake bones. I plan to take it out of the city to sell."
"Open it and show it to me."
Jiang Chao Ge put Zhi Xuan on the ground and slowly untied the cord. At the same time, he looked back to see whether or not Meng Sheng had come yet.
Just at that moment, a burst of noise suddenly transmitted from the market. Then, a dozen animals appeared from thin air. They ran and fled all over the street in disarray. Apart from the ordinary animals, Jiang Chao Ge also caught sight of a monster with a human face and a rat body, not knowing what sort of demonic beast it was. For a period of time, there was chaos in the city.
"What"s going on?" The guard shouted: "Come with me to take a look." He pointed at Jiang Chao Ge, "You wait in the same place with the child, running all over the place is forbidden."
Jiang Chao Ge nodded repeatedly.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the market, Meng Sheng leapt out from somewhere. He pulled Jiang Chao Ge out of the city and immediately summoned two horses. The three people mounted the horses and dashed off without even looking back.
Jiang Chao Ge turned around and looked at the outer gate, "You summoned those things just now?"
"Otherwise who else?" Meng Sheng glanced at them, panting hard, "Didn"t even leave a steamed bun for me."
Jiang Chao Ge smiled: "Too hungry, mainly because the Little Zuzong can eat too much."
Zhi Xuan gave a snort, "Its because you"re poor."
Meng Sheng smiled: "After leaving the city, I"ll have a way to throw off Prince Shu"s pursuing troops."
"Really? Where are we going?"
"Going to my house."
Zuzong/祖宗- in literal terms this means ancestor and as Jiang Chao Ge said it can be a respectful form of address for someone. It"d be kinda weird if Jiang Chao Ge kept calling Zhi Xuan "ancestor" all the time so I kept the original Chinese
Little Zuzong/小祖宗- ok this one is kinda weird. It"s technically the same as Zuzong except with a little in front but the dictionary translates it into a little brat or like a devil. I decided to keep the Chinese as well cuz it"s a little confusing if I translate it literally but just know that… Jiang Chao Ge is kinda calling Zhi Xuan a little brat below the surface. I think that"s what it is.
Translator Comments
Anyone else growing increasingly sorry for poor Meng Sheng?