On that exact same day, deep within Grains City.
“Damn it!
Damn that cowardly Shifti!” Pacing furiously across his grand office, Mayor Salam cursed and huffed with uncharacteristic rage.
His massive wooden desk was completely buried under stacks of intelligence reports detailing every known movement of the Iron Core Gym and the now-abandoned Swift Leg Dojo.
It took a full sichen (hour) of violently venting, for the Mayor’s aura to finally settle, then he collapsed heavily into his master chair, rubbing his temples to soothe his boiling blood.
“S…
Sir?” Apart from the Mayor, the only other person in the room was his most trusted aide and son-in-law, Chaao.
Who was Standing rigidly in the corner to preserve his life from the Mayor’s wrath.
Now that the storm had passed, he finally dared to speak.
“Yes, Chaao?” “Mayor…
that Shifti is still alive.
He fled the city borders entirely.” “I know that!” Salam snapped.
“So, I was thinking…” Swallowing hard, Chaao hesitated.
“I know what you are thinking,” But, Salam interrupted him.
“You think there is no backer behind this Gym.
You think that if a true Immortal was present, Shifti would have been turned to ash the moment he showed killing intent.
Right?” “Y…
yes.” Although agreeing meant questioning the Mayor’s previous judgment, Chaao nodded truthfully.
“Hmm.” Sighing deeply, Salam’s anger bled into pure exhaustion.
“As your superior and your father-in-law, it is my duty to guide your shallow vision.
So, Let me give you a profound life lesson today.” Hearing the sudden, heavy gravity in Mayor’s voice, Chaao immediately straightened his posture, realizing he had indeed misjudged the situation.
“Do you know why I am the Mayor of Grains City?” Salam asked.
“Because you were the most talented martial artist of your generation and After your flawless performance as Sweet Corn Village Chief, the capital promoted you.” “Wrong.” Salam Shake his head bitterly.
“I was promoted because, decades ago, my uncle died, while helping a man escape.” “Huh?” “That man eventually stepped onto the Immortal Path, and repaid his mortal gratitude by pulling strings in the capital to elevate my family.” Leaning forward, Salam’s eyes burned into Chaao.
“Do you understand the meaning behind this, boy?” “It…
it means we should always sow good karma?” “NO!” Slamming his heavy hand on the desk, he roared.
“It means you can never judge the depths of the waters in this martial world!
My uncle, whose strength was no weaker than mine, was murdered in the streets by a mere fourteen-year-old child!
In this world, outward looks mean absolutely nothing!” Hearing the Mayor shout and the sheer, unrestrained terror hidden within his words, all this, sent a violent chill down Chaao’s spine.
“S…
so, how should we proceed?” “We leave it to the heavens,” Salam declared, waving his hand dismissively.
“It no longer matters if they have a backer or not.” “Why?” “Because if that Gym truly is the chessboard of an Immortal, I have already lost their trust the moment I allowed their enemy, Shifti, to escape my city alive!
I failed to contain the threat.
And if, by some miracle, they do not have a backer?
It still does not matter, no, it changes nothing.” Standing up and looking out of the grand window, Salam sighed.
“Our only duty is to maintain the stability of Grains City.
We must ensure no faction grows powerful enough to threaten the Mayor’s Manor and If by chance, such a power arises, we simply report it to the capital.
It is not as if the Empire lacks experts to crush rebellions.” “I understand.” “We are talking about mere mortals playing with iron.
Stop wasting my time with them.
I want no more reports on the Iron Core Gym unless they step severely out of line, or dare to officially declare themselves as Dojo.” “Yes, Sir.” Hurrying out of the office, Chaao wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
His father-in-law only ever spirals in such paranoia when he believes he has suffered a massive, invisible loss.
Whatever, Chaao thought, quickening his steps down the hall.
Better to stay as far away from Big Wheat Village as possible.
Two more days passed.
For the past forty-eight hours, Zani had not touched a single piece of iron.
Grappling violently with the trauma of his first kill, his mind was still a chaotic mess, and he also Used it as an excuse to retreated to his quarters to get some much-needed rest.
Normally, his hot-blooded disciples would have annoyed him endlessly till now, As they bang on his door for guidance even on rest days.
But with the fierce-looking Brother Bai now managing the hall, the youths had become obediently quiet, leaving Zani in total peace.
By the end of the week, finally stabilizing his mortal state of mind, Zani returned to his routine.
This week quickly became the busiest period he had experienced till now.
His first priority was a visit to Chief Sythe’s residence to inquire about his newest System quest.
“Do you know of the major city that neighbors us, sitting just beyond the Brown Earth Mountain?” Pouring Zani a cup of tea as a gesture of hospitality, Chief Sythe asked.
“No, Junior does not.” “Then let this Chief enlighten you.
It is called Slaughter City.
The reason it holds the title of one of the seven major cities under the Earth Dragon Empire is due to its heaven-defying signature dish.
And guess what?
The primary ingredient of that dish is the Mud Boar.” “So, to acquire a Mud Boar, I must travel to Slaughter City?” Zani frowned deeply.
“It is not entirely required, but it is the safest route.
However, traveling around the mountain range by carriage will take a full month.” “A month?!” “Indeed,” Sythe chuckled dryly.
“Are there any other ways?” “Yes.
You can brave the Brown Earth Mountain yourself and try hunt the mud boar yourself.
But it is fraught with risks and incredibly time-consuming.
However…” Stroking his thick beard, Sythe’s eyes shone with unhidden gluttony.
“…if you manage to capture one, do not forget this Chief!
It has been an eternity since I tasted such divine meat.” “Hehehe, of course, Chief.” Leaving chief residence, Zani asked around the village.
A few seasoned hunters claimed they had occasionally spotted Mud Boar tracks deep in the mountain’s outskirts, but none dared approach the beast.
Realizing the village lacked the necessary knowledge, Zani hitched a cart to Grains City.
There, freely spending his newly acquired silver, he gathered vital intelligence regarding the beast’s behavior, strength, and weaknesses.
Fortune smiled upon him when he encountered a traveling merchant from Slaughter City.
For a hefty sum of copper, Zani purchased an authentic manual on the rearing and domestication of Mud Boars.
Which according to Marchant was very common in Slaughter city.
After staying the night at a city inn, he met with a hardened mercenary who hunted beasts for a living, and after paying, he learned crucial tips on how to trap a beast alive without shattering its bones.
Armed with this knowledge, Zani returned to Big Wheat Village to formulate his plan.
However, he ultimately decided to wait.
As, his older plan needed to be set in motion first.
Brother Bai, Even though he had proven to be a phenomenal instructor, and had literally helped him clean up a murder, He decided to observe him a bit further, As Leaving his entire foundation in the hands of a man he had known for barely a week was simply too risky.
In the martial world, a man could never be too cautious.
A full month passed since Bai had joined the Iron Core Gym.
“Brother Bai, leave the brats to their forms for a moment.
Come with me,” Zani called out from the edge of the hall.
“Brother Zani, what is the matter?” Bai asked, walking over and wiping his brow.
Over the course of this month, Zani had subjected Bai to a grueling gauntlet of psychological loyalty tests.
One day, Zani would generously hand Bai silver to purchase luxurious medicinal meals.
The very next day, Zani would turn completely aloof, coldly demanding that Bai pay for his own rations out of his wages.
He meticulously observed how Bai handled the disciples, how he managed the ledger, and how he reacted to pressure.
After thirty days of intense scrutiny, Zani was finally satisfied.
He felt he knew Brother Bai’s character better than the rugged man knew himself.
And during the month, True trust had been nurtured between them, Now they can referrer to each other as brothers without the slightest hesitation.
“Just follow me,” Zani said with a mysterious smile surfacing on his face.
Bai followed silently.
However, deep inside the puppet’s hollow body, Little Leo was rubbing her temples in sheer, aristocratic annoyance.
I think there is a defect in this mortal’s brain!
Little Leo grumbled inwardly.
One day he treats me like a blood brother, the next day he acts like a stingy, heartless merchant!
I originally thought he was an interesting man, but alas, dealing with his bipolar moods is simply exhausting.
Perhaps I should just abandon this gym and continue my travels…, Before her thoughts could spiral further, she realized they had stopped.
Looking up she saw, that Zani had led her to the heavily locked, sealed section of the storage room, the very place Zani had strictly forbidden anyone from entering.
And With a clack, Zani unlocked the heavy door and pushed it open, finally revealing the hidden treasures within.