It has been weeks now since Dai Yaun took to leaving in the outer rungs of the Blackscale village on his on accord. during these few days that went by he would always go into the outer skirt of the Blackscale jungle, and scourge for herbs which he often return with to sell in the village herb markets.
Due to the practice of martial arts, herbs and fruits infused with spirit essence become a hot commodity as they can be used to make concoctions which aid various aspects of martial art, these concoctions can be used during practice to hasten martial art, during battle with beast in the jungle and many more areas where they are applied.
Although these said herbs are a rare sight in the areas where dai Yaun use to forage, other herbs used as auxiliary raw materials during the concoctions can be found in these region of the forest, where commonly seen wild rodents and other omnivores are found consistently grazing away at the greenery pasture covering these region.
Today was another usual day which he has become accustomed with, dai Yaun is someone who can adapt easily and readily accept his situation, while going along with the flow. As he walk across the grass while use a long stick which he pick on the way here to part away the shrubs on the way. Dai Yaun mind wandered to the memories which had become frequent during the weeks of his stay outside, the memories seems to have taken a turn, with less chaotic noises, crazy shriek and whatnot, now turning into a solemn and scared act, something like a ritual.
The ritual sign are still not clear enough, but with the pieces he was able to piece together, these ritual is something carried out with the blood of wild mutant beast, using their blood to carve certain runes glowing in vivid red colour from the blood, the picture of these scenes look creepy and refuses to leave his thought as it seems the memory has been branded into his skull and every fiber of his existence has no been tuned to always make his thought drift to that ritual.
"sigh"…
Looking at his shivering hands, dai Yaun shake his head to remove the dangerous thought slowly fermenting in his, without any idea of what the ritual from the memory is all about, dai Yaun cautious habit guarded him against practicing what ever it is.
"i guess I would have to stop here for today" looking at the satchel containing about 10 or so ginger looking herb which he had picked on the way here, dai yuan turned around tracing his way back out of the forest. The ginger looking herb was a request he got from an old man in the village who use to buy his herbs, during his last visit to the old man store, the store owner showed him a picture of the plant saying that a customer of his needed the herbs for something.
The old man was also the one who showed him to this location, where the ginger looking herbs grow, despite their sparsity, dai Yaun was able to harvest 10 of the said herb after arriving here since the morning hours.
After walking for some hours or so closing in the distance to the village entrance, dai Yaun re-arranged the satchel hanging over his waist to secure it properly, in order for it not to fall.
"good afternoon, uncle song"
Dai Yaun lowered his head to great the middle age man at the gate, as he make his way into the village.
"oh hoo… young Yaun" the man laughed off, while looking sneaky at his surrounding before wiping off the drool at the corner of his mouth from sleeping on duty.
"young man, I told you…. you need to give yourself a break"
"dont always go into the jungle, looking for herbs or whatnot" Mr song said sighting the satchel over dai yaun's waist.
"yes! Uncle I promised the would be the last one" dai Yaun grinned tugging at the satchel.
"what ever, who do you think is gonna believe you" Mr song shakes his head before returning to laying on his saddle inside security post.
Not taking the middle aged sneer into mind, dai Yaun proceed towards the eastern area of the village, where the commercial activities are carried out, these area is where the village market, shops and other selling and buying are usually carried out. Inns and hotels are also common sight in these area of the village. As he moved into these commercial area the city's rhythm changed, the bustling sounds of merchants haggling, guards shouting fills the air. Dai Yaun walked quietly among them, as he walked his way around the market area moving toward the far corner located on the eastern side.
Today, the market square was more crowded than usual. Hawkers pushed against each other, selling glowing talismans, beast pelts, and low-tier spirit fruits.
A group of travelers had set up a temporary stall near the eastern gate, despite their clothes looking travel-stained has a different feel and aura compared to the usual clothing of the village people, marked by a blue insignia shaped like a coiling mountain dragon, these people are definitely from out of town.
"Did you hear?" a merchant whispered to another. "They're from the Three Yang Pollar Sect — one of the 5 major sects of the Northern Mainland!"
"Here? In the desolate lands?" another scoffed. "What business would they have in a place like this?"
"They're recruiting outer disciples," a third voice chimed in. "The sect's new elder is expanding their reach. Anyone under twenty can take the entrance trial."
"Ha! What's the use? Those born without spirit roots can't even sense qi. It's like sending a blind man to catch lightning."
Their laughter was sharp, but it faded when the recruiters unfurled a golden scroll, letting the crowd glimpse its seal a mark that radiated faint spiritual pressure, making the air tremble.
the crowd become quite, as nobody dared to talk, as despite the pressure being released was bearable and harmless, nobody would be stupid enough to interrupt or question their act of recruiting disciple from their far reaching sect.
The was the first time, dai Yaun has seen such seal which can released spiritual pressure, after starring at the group of traveller and listening to their saying, hoped flash in dai Yaun mind as the idea of travelling towards the northern mainland arises in his heart. As he watched the recruiters shooting out words of encouragement and lure. Some young people along with their wards come to register and inquire about the recruiting process. Some came from small clans, others were lone cultivators seeking patronage.
As he contemplate his next course of action, a voice behind him spoke.
"Thinking of joining them, boy?"
Dai Yaun turned around to see the speaker. It was Old He, the apothecary who often bought his herbs. The man's back was bent, his beard thin and white, though the sharp glint from his eyes dimming any image of weak and fragile looking old man he is.
"yeah," Yaun admitted but the hesitation in his voice said otherwise. "They're heading to the Northern Mainland."
Old He chuckled. "That's half a continent away. Through three mountain passes, across the Black Wind Plains, and past the Azure Lake. That about 3 month's journey on foot, and more if you're unlucky."
The elder refined from saying more, as he stared at the youth. Actually the distance between the Blackscale village and the northern mainland is more than that.
He studied the youth face. "You planning to walk all that?"
LiangLong didn't answer immediately. He looked past the crowd toward the sky the hesitation on his face fading away as he though of his situation.
"I have no spirit root, no one to associate with or call a home so I have nothing to lose," he said while turning to look at the now departing recruiters, as the mount the horse and moved toward the towns exit.
Old shake his head as he grunted. "That's one way to see it."
"lets go the store" old he said as he turned to leave making his way to his shop standing at the edge of the town exit.
"hope you had my herbs?" he asked as he settled in his chair behind the counter.
"yup" dai Yaun said while placing the satchel on top of the counter
"here they are"
"Well they look quite fresh enough" old he acknowledged after taking a look at the content of the satchel.
"here is your money" old he said as he passed him 10 tails of copper. Each one of the ginger looking herbs had been settled at a teal of copper per one.
"thank you old He" pocketing his money, dai Yaun turned to leave.
When dai Yaun reached the exit of the store, Old He called after him,before tossing him a small bundle. "Take it. Dried food and some salve for cuts. You'll need them both on your."
"thank you old he" dai yaun caught it, bowed slightly.
"take care of your self brat. The old apothecary sighed softly, watching him disappear into the crowd.