White Crane City
The bustling streets of White Crane City stretched in every direction.
Scarlet followed closely beside Raeshan, her crimson eyes constantly moving from one shop to another.
Everything was new to her.
Spirit herbs she had only heard about were displayed openly in glass cases. Rows of spirit weapons hung beneath colorful banners, while the aroma of freshly refined medicinal pills drifted from nearby alchemy halls.
Even the restaurants were unlike anything she had seen before. Some had entire spirit beasts roasting over enormous flames.
Scarlet swallowed quietly.
Raeshan noticed her expression.
"Are you hungry?"
Scarlet immediately shook her head.
"No, Master."
Raeshan glanced at her.
"You’re lying."
Scarlet’s face turned slightly red.
"...A little."
Raeshan chuckled.
"Then we’ll eat first."
He looked around before pointing toward a large, three-story restaurant.
"That one."
Scarlet looked up at the sign.
Drunken Crane Pavilion.
The building was decorated with white jade pillars and golden carvings of flying cranes. Several cultivators entered and exited through its doors, and the aroma coming from inside was enough to make Scarlet’s stomach growl.
Raeshan walked toward the entrance.
Scarlet quickly followed.
As soon as they entered, a young female attendant approached them with a polite smile.
"Welcome to Drunken Crane Pavilion. Please, this way."
She led them toward a table beside a window overlooking the street.
Raeshan sat down. Scarlet carefully took the seat opposite him.
The attendant handed them a menu.
Raeshan glanced through it.
"Order whatever you want."
Scarlet hesitated.
"Anything?"
"Anything."
She carefully looked through the menu.
Her eyes gradually widened.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"These dishes are expensive."
Raeshan casually waved his hand.
"Don’t worry about the price."
He pointed toward several dishes.
"Bring these."
The attendant quickly recorded his order.
"Anything else?"
Raeshan thought for a moment.
"Bring your best spirit beast dishes as well."
The attendant’s eyes brightened.
"Of course."
After she left, Scarlet looked at her master.
"Master, aren’t you worried about spending too many spirit stones?"
Raeshan leaned back in his chair.
"Spirit stones are meant to be spent."
"We can always earn more later."
Scarlet nodded.
"You’re right."
A few minutes later, the dishes began arriving.
Roasted Cloud Deer.
Golden Spirit Chicken.
Jade River Fish.
A bowl of Spirit Herb Soup.
The table quickly filled with fragrant food.
Scarlet stared at the feast.
Raeshan picked up his chopsticks.
"Eat."
Scarlet smiled.
"Thank you, Master."
She picked up a piece of roasted Cloud Deer and took a bite.
Her eyes immediately widened.
"This is delicious!"
Raeshan smiled.
"I told you."
Scarlet quickly began eating.
Watching her happily enjoy the food, Raeshan couldn’t help feeling satisfied.
After spending so much time in the mountains eating spirit beast meat every day, he had almost forgotten how lively cities could be.
Just as they were enjoying their meal, several voices suddenly came from the entrance.
"Move aside!"
"Make way for the Young Lady!"
The noisy restaurant gradually became quiet.
Scarlet looked toward the entrance.
A group of cultivators entered the restaurant.
At the center was a young woman dressed in luxurious white robes.
She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. Her long black hair was tied with a jade ornament, and a delicate sword hung from her waist.
Several guards followed behind her.
The moment the young woman entered, many cultivators lowered their heads.
Scarlet quietly asked,
"Master, who are they?"
Raeshan glanced at the group.
He shook his head.
"I don’t know."
However, when his gaze landed on the emblem embroidered on the woman’s robe, his eyes narrowed slightly.
A white crane surrounded by a silver ring.
The symbol of the Rennor Family.
The ruling family of White Crane City.
Raeshan quietly returned his attention to his meal.
He had come to White Crane City to explore the outside world.
He wasn’t interested in getting involved with the city’s ruling family.
Unfortunately...
The world rarely cared about what someone wanted.
As the Rennor Family’s group passed their table, one of the guards suddenly stopped.
His eyes landed on Scarlet.
More precisely...
On the Crimson Flame Sword hanging from her waist.
The guard’s expression changed.
"Wait."
The young woman stopped.
She turned around and followed his gaze.
Her eyes fell upon Scarlet. A strange light flashed through them.
"That sword..."
The guard whispered,
"Young Lady, that’s a spirit sword."
The young woman stared at the Crimson Flame Sword for several seconds.
Then she looked at Scarlet.
"Where did you get that sword?"
The young woman’s question drew the attention of everyone nearby.
Scarlet instinctively placed a hand on the hilt of the Crimson Flame Sword.
She frowned slightly.
"Why do you ask?"
The young woman didn’t answer immediately.
Her gaze remained fixed on the sword.
As a member of the Rennor Family, she had seen countless spirit weapons throughout her life. Yet the sword before her was clearly extraordinary.
The crimson patterns on its blade seemed to contain faint traces of flame.
Even without being unsheathed, it gave off a sharp pressure.
Her eyes narrowed.
"That sword isn’t ordinary."
Scarlet’s expression became cautious.
"It was given to me by my master."
The young woman finally looked toward Raeshan.
"Your master?"
Raeshan continued eating as though the conversation had nothing to do with him.
He calmly picked up another piece of meat.
"Yes."
The young woman studied him.
His black and dark-blue robes were simple, without any recognizable sect emblem.
Yet there was something about him that made her hesitate.
She couldn’t sense his cultivation.
Either he was an ordinary person, or his cultivation was far beyond hers. The latter seemed unlikely. After all, he looked far too young, and she wasn’t willing to gamble on it.
She glanced back at Scarlet.
"May I know your name?"
Scarlet answered politely,
"Scarlet."
The young woman nodded.
"My name is Elara Rennor."
Scarlet’s eyes widened slightly.
The Rennor Family.
She had heard of them before. They were the ruling family of White Crane City.
Elara noticed her reaction and smiled faintly.
"You’ve heard of my family?"
Scarlet nodded.
"Yes."
Elara’s gaze returned to the sword.
"Scarlet, would you mind showing me your sword?"
Scarlet immediately shook her head.
"I’m sorry, but I can’t."
Elara raised an eyebrow.
"You can’t?"
Scarlet firmly replied,
"My master gave it to me. I won’t hand it to anyone without his permission."
Several guards behind Elara frowned.
One of them stepped forward.
"How dare you."
"Enough."
Elara raised her hand.
The guard immediately stopped.
She wasn’t offended.
Instead, a hint of approval appeared in her eyes.
"A cultivator should indeed protect her own treasures."
She looked toward Raeshan.
"Your disciple is quite loyal."
Raeshan finally put down his chopsticks.
"Of course."
His tone was calm.
"She’s my disciple."
Elara looked at him for another moment.
Then she smiled.
"I apologize for disturbing your meal."
She turned around.
"Let’s go."
The guards followed her toward the stairs.
However, before leaving, Elara suddenly stopped.
She looked back at Scarlet.
"If you’re staying in White Crane City for a while, you should be careful."
Scarlet frowned.
"Careful?"
Elara’s expression became slightly serious.
"There have been several incidents involving cultivators disappearing around the northern district. Some of them were found later."
"Dead."
Scarlet’s expression changed.
"Do you know who did it?"
Elara shook her head.
"Not yet."
"But my family is investigating."
Her eyes became cold.
"Whoever is responsible will eventually be found."
With that, she turned and left.
The restaurant gradually returned to its former noise.
Scarlet watched Elara disappear upstairs before looking at Raeshan.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Should we leave?"
Raeshan shook his head.
"Why?"
Scarlet hesitated.
"She said there are dangerous people in the city."
Raeshan picked up his teacup.
"Every city has dangerous people. That doesn’t mean we should hide."
Scarlet nodded.
"You’re right."
Raeshan glanced toward the window. His expression remained relaxed, but his eyes had become slightly more serious.
Cultivators disappearing.
Bodies being discovered.
And the Rennor Family investigating the matter.
Interesting.
He had only just arrived in White Crane City.
Yet it seemed the city already had something waiting for him.
Raeshan smiled faintly.
"Finish your meal."
Scarlet blinked.
"Master?"
"We’ll go sightseeing afterward."
He looked toward the bustling streets outside.
"After all..."
"We came here to have some fun."
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