Jiang was very excited as he took his first step into Yang Province. He thought of how this new and strange place was going to be his home. He hoped it would treat him more kindly than the place he left behind. Jiang felt a strange kind of pleasure as he watched streams of people walking in through the gigantic gates just like he did.
Jiang was still standing not too far from the gates he had just passed through when he heard a passerby calling this part of Yang Province, 'Jang Jeil' city. He had heard of Jang Jeil city and knew that it was a famous commercial city, with not only merchants but people from all over the world visiting the city on a daily basis to do business. The city offered an astonishing range of goods, merchandise, and different kinds of services for those who could afford them. Thus, the city was bustling and full of life, vastly different from most of the cities in Yin Province which were more or less under his father's sphere of influence.
Jiang decided that his first priority was to find an inn where he could change into his sister's clothes. He had brought some of her clothes along with her pieces of jewellery in his bag. He also needed to hire some maids and guards as well as a carriage for the rest of his journey. The Capital city, and the Palace complex there, was still a good distance away from his location. Jiang knew that he couldn’t possibly walk all the way to the Palace or travel on horseback, not that he could actually ride a horse. He believed that the Emperor would be offended by such unseemly actions. Much as he didn't want the Emperor’s attention or his favour, Jiang didn't wish to make him angry either. His goal was to stay unnoticed and safe, not to lose his head.
Besides, he was taking his sister’s place and she certainly wouldn't arrive at the Palace looking so shabby and poor. It was common knowledge that Young Mistress Lei Yue of the Lei Manor was a favored daughter and prideful. And it was inconceivable for the General to send his daughter to the Palace alone without a retinue of servants and guards. Hence, his entrance to the Palace must be grand.
Although Jiang didn’t have much money, he still had the spirit mana stones his mother gave him, saying that he might need them one day. His father had reluctantly given him some too. Additionally, Jiang had some silver ingots that he saved up over the years. Silver ingots were the currency normally used by ordinary people when trading among themselves, or by cultivators who wished to buy more commonplace things.
Jiang also felt the need to make a good impression because it was his own decision now to enter the Imperial Palace. He had no choice in his previous life because it was a demand from his father that he saved the Lei family by taking his sister’s place. He might still end up fulfilling his original purpose but now, what was more important to Jiang was that in the process he would also be saving his own life. However, he didn't plan to stay inside the Palace forever because as an impostor the Palace was an equally dangerous place for him. But at this time, it was the only refuge that offered him safety, at least before he had the ability to protect himself. Jiang hoped to improve his cultivation and gain more strength while staying in the Palace.
Jiang clenched his fists in determination as he thought of his plans. Like a huge weight lifted off his shoulders easing his burden, the heavy suffocation he used to feel all his life was gone. He felt like he had finally escaped the dark shadows of his past life where he was banished to live the rest of his life in the forest, away from human contact with only the memories of his late mother to keep him company. He wasn't an outcast here! He had a brand new life to look forward to and he knew he should move forward decisively since he had already made it this far.
Jiang immersed himself in everything he saw and heard around him, and it felt so amazing that his heart beats quicken. The sounds of people chattering, the footfalls of shoppers moving, shoving or brushing against each other, the vendors calling out for customers, the light giggles from young ladies that passed by him, probably thinking he looked or acted funny, and the sounds of horses galloping. He had never been to a place so lively before, even the villages he used to visit secretly were never this busy.
Jiang was feeling very jubilant and the very air he was breathing seemed more alive and clean. It seemed like the air wanted to embrace him, and he believed that he might be on the verge of making a breakthrough in his cultivation but he sensed that there was something missing. He couldn't pinpoint what was missing exactly as he had no time to explore his air element and it wasn't the right time and place anyway. He closed his eyes and then spread out his hands like they were wings that gave him the ability and freedom to fly wherever he wanted without any restraints.
Jiang opened his eyes when someone shoved him to the side and scolded him rudely, “Stop standing there like you own the street and get out of the way, Mister!” He smiled apologetically at the man through the mask that was Ice Jewel. Although the man couldn't see Jiang’s smile because of the mask, he saw a flicker of pink twinkling in his eyes and thought, ‘What beautiful eyes!’ The effects were weird but very bewitching. The man's face flushed red and he spoke again, “It’s dangerous to stand in the middle of the road like that. What if a horse hits you?” this time his voice was decidedly more mellow.
“Thank you for the advice, sir!” Jiang’s voice was very pleasant to hear. He was still wearing his male clothing so the man was confused, ‘Was she a woman dressed in male clothes or was it really a man that got me so mesmerised?’ The man didn’t stay there a moment longer, he looked at Jiang strangely and just ran off. Jiang was very surprised to see the man suddenly ran away as if ferocious beasts were chasing him. He thought the man must be looking down on him because he was dressed so poorly and didn't want to be seen in his company. Jiang had to admit that he looked quite haggard and his clothes were very dirty and stank of sweat since he didn’t have time to wash the clothes. But Jiang had experienced worse things before and didn't really mind the man’s behaviour or what he might think of him. He wasn't going to concern himself with such minor things.
Jiang didn’t know and will never know how very wrong his assumptions were.
A mixture of excitement and satisfaction overwhelmed Jiang’s senses and emotions, as he took in everything Jang Jeil city had to offer. He was going to take his own sweet time soaking in everything about the city. He wandered about aimlessly, stopping to admire every little thing he set his eyes on. He was so engrossed that he almost forgot his reason for being in Yang province until he came across an inn. The name of the inn was quite interesting, 'No Difference'. Jiang didn't know what that name meant until he took a step inside.
It was weird being inside the Inn, Jiang felt like he couldn't use his power here, it was like it had been sealed. He was certain it was the same for everyone here. There was 'no difference' between the people who entered the Inn because they were all unable to use their powers. If there was to be an attack inside, it would have been very easy to get killed without being able to put up a fight.
Jiang was very curious about this Inn, especially when he noticed that none of the customers seemed to mind their powers being restrained. Normally, cultivators would be very anxious and uncomfortable when their powers were restricted or they were forbidden from using them, even on a temporary basis. Yet, here they were, happily having animated discussions and contentedly drinking in various groupings as if they weren't concerned at all.
Jiang wondered why the Inn's owner did something like that. Whatever the reasons might be, the owner must be very powerful indeed, not to worry about the reactions of any potential customers. Jiang believed the person must be an Array Elemental, because only they could seal magic powers with the arrays created for such purposes.
Array Elementals were rare and highly respected because they had the ability to augment an individual's magic power. They were considered indispensable to the army because they could also increase the overall strength of the army. Array Elementals were really fortunate; because of the rarity of the element once a new born was discovered to have an affinity, they would be nurtured with care from birth with their every needs to be met. However, the element wasn't the rarest, there were other elements even more rare - seer, space, and time elements being the rarest of elements of them all.
“Young Master, will you be wanting to take a room in this inn or just want to order food and drinks?” An attendant came over to greet Jiang with a smile on his face.
Jiang appreciated the fact that the attendant wasn't rude to him despite how poorly dressed he was. When he was strolling around the city earlier many people seemed to regard him as a beggar because of his haggard appearance. The only thing that looked pleasing on him was Ice Jewel in the form of a mask. The high-grade mask looked so grand and out of place on him that some thought he was a beggar who found that mask and looked at him with greedy eyes, while there were others who thought he was mysterious and kept away.
Now, Jiang couldn’t help wondering why the guard let him in so easily without asking him any probing questions considering the way he looked. Could it be that the identification he produced held a lot more weight than he realised?
“A small room will do, thank you,” Jiang replied to the waiting attendant.
“The smallest room available right now will cost you twenty spirit mana stones.” The attendant informed him. Jiang nodded in agreement and checked his bag for the necessary payment.
Fortunately, Jiang was able to squeeze out some spirit mana stones from his very angry and tight-fisted father before he left the Manor. At that time if he had an inkling that his father would be angered by his request, he might not have the courage to ask for the money. But he had heard from his mother that one couldn't survive without spirit mana stones in the cultivation world and he knew he would be needing them where he was going. He naively thought that his father had simply forgotten his need for money. As he wasn't sure of how his father would react, he cleverly chose a time when the General’s hands would be figuratively tied. Thus, Jiang made his request in the presence of the guards and servants who were to escort him. Since everyone thought he was the real Lei Yue, his father had no choice but to give him what he asked for. Now, more than ever Jiang felt very happy and satisfied with himself that he took that risk.
After receiving the required payment, the attendant gestured, “Young Master, please follow me this way.”
Jiang was used to people calling him ugly names - trash, monster, wild beast, etc. The members of the Lei family might not be willing to set their sights on him more than they had to but would still instigate their lackeys to harass and mock him, especially the guards that worked under his father. They would go to him just to bully and make troubles for him.
Hearing someone addressed him politely as 'Young Master' was a rather pleasant shock for Jiang. Whether it was because he was a paying customer or not didn’t matter to him, the fact that he was treated with respect by the attendant was a novel experience. The smile on the attendant’s face didn't falter once while speaking to him. Jiang felt as if he really was a very honoured guest. 'They really didn't discriminate at No Difference', he thought as he followed the attendant.
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