Early in the morning, the courier station was bustling with activity.
There were quite a few young men and women traveling together, some practicing martial arts outside, others devouring their breakfast.
Various breakfast items were laid out on the table in the middle.
Li Mo casually picked up a meat bun, glancing sideways with the corner of his eye.
In front of the young girl was only a bowl of plain rice porridge, as bland as her appearance.
"Just eating this in the morning isn't enough."
Li Mo pushed a plate of eggs towards her.
Ying Bing said nothing, merely lifted her eyes to look at him.
The girl seemed somewhat frail, her lips devoid of color, adding a delicate charm to her beauty.
But anyone being stared at by those beautiful eyes would probably feel a bit guilty.
"Ahem."
Li Mo felt a bit embarrassed.
Thinking back on his past actions made him cringe.
Apologizing was the least he could do.
"About the past, I'm sorry. I don't expect a few words to clear the air, but if you're still upset, then..."
"It's fine."
Ying Bing peeled the eggshell, speaking lightly.
Li Mo was taken aback.
He didn't see any insincerity on the girl's face.
It wasn't so much forgiveness as it was indifference.
Those matters seemed not even worth remembering.
Since she never cared, there was no need for forgiveness.
"Alright then."
Li Mo smiled bitterly.
He had read too many novels and assumed too much.
He had to admit, Ying Bing's reaction was more in line with the evaluation of the Divine Fate Eye.
Those who remain unfazed by honor or disgrace often go further.
And indeed, it was so.
Ying Bing's cheeks moved slightly, and she no longer paid any attention to Li Mo.
She had seen countless grand and magnificent scenes.
Memories from her humble beginnings, apart from family, didn't even count as a page in her life, long swept into some forgotten corner.
In distant memories, Li Mo had mediocre talent, barely entering the Qingyuan Sect.
He lingered in the Outer Sect for a year before being expelled.
By then, she had already become the most dazzling among her peers.
Li Mo seemed to have changed a bit.
But it didn't matter.
His name probably wouldn't even appear on the rankings of the Eastern Wasteland Region in the future.
They might not even count as passing figures in each other's lives.
She never got distracted by irrelevant people.
Opposite, Li Mo paused slightly in his eating.
[Investment successful, investment: one egg, one bowl of rice porridge.]
[Reward settlement in progress...]
[Congratulations to the host, reward: one thousand taels of silver notes.]
[One thousand taels of silver notes: "Issued by Hengtong Money Exchange, usable at all major banks."]
Li Mo felt inexplicably emotional.
If only she could eat a bit more.
Three meals a day could make him a fortune.
Midnight snack, he must prepare a midnight snack tonight!
***
Two days later.
In the distance appeared a magnificent city, like a giant beast lying beneath the firmament.
Ziyang Prefecture was one of the Twelve Prefectures of the Eastern Wasteland, with nine commanderies and thirty-six counties under it. It was said that before the founding of the Yu Dynasty, this was the ancient capital of the previous dynasty, a place once flourishing with outstanding people and abundant resources.
Later, an unprecedented beast tide swept through the Eastern Wasteland for hundreds of years, turning its glory into a mere afterglow.
Until the Martial Emperor ascended the throne, pacifying the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, rewarding meritorious ministers, the first ancestor of Qingyuan Mountain was honored with the title of Ziyang.
After thousands of years of governance, the area regained its vitality and prosperity.
Ziyang Prefecture City, beneath Qingyuan Mountain, was rebuilt on the ruins of ancient sites from the previous dynasty, and even a glimpse of it was truly extraordinary.
Fifty miles beyond the city lay the renowned Qingyuan Mountain Range.
"We've finally arrived."
"This is the prefecture city? It's so big, standing under the city gate makes me feel like an ant."
"So lively, as expected of a key location in the prefecture, it's bustling with people."
"Recently, Qingyuan Sect is opening its doors to recruit disciples, how could there not be many people?"
There were many caravans coming and going, the huge city gate was like a sluice gate releasing a flood, the noise of horses and carriages was incessant.
Looking towards Qingyuan Mountain, many people showed expressions of longing.
Great Yu was founded on martial strength, ruling the world with sects!
In the sky above Ziyang Prefecture, there was only one cloud, and that was Qingyuan Sect!
The young people from various counties and commanderies were already extremely excited, shouting and calling.
Passersby, however, showed no surprise, evidently accustomed to it.
"Indeed, it's quite extraordinary."
Li Mo couldn't help but marvel.
Having seen various international metropolises in his past life, he still couldn't hide his awe upon arriving here.
Compared to those skyscrapers of steel and concrete, this grand ancient city with its carved beams and painted rafters was obviously more magnificent.
A city that could accommodate five million people and an ancient city that could accommodate five million people were not concepts that could be compared.
"Travel permit."
The city guard, clad in armor and wielding weapons, their silver armor gleaming in the sunlight, stood there like iron towers.
The butler quickly handed over the iron token and paid a string of coins as the entrance fee.
Thus, the carriage was allowed into the city, as if stepping into another world.
Everything was new to Li Mo, like a country bumpkin entering the city.
His pockets had grown quite full over the past two days.
The ice-cold girl's three meals a day had somehow earned him over ten thousand taels of silver notes, and even a thousand taels of gold.
But upon entering the prefecture city, where land was as valuable as gold, Li Mo felt he wasn't as wealthy as he thought.
"Young master, now that we're in Ziyang Prefecture City, it's not like the county."
The butler, driving the carriage, reminded quietly.
"We won't be staying in the city for long anyway." Li Mo smiled.
Going on a trip, his father insisted on having the butler who watched him grow up accompany him, showing just how much trouble he used to cause.
They feared his unruly nature would lead to trouble.
"Young master is right." The butler sighed in relief, nodding repeatedly.
This trouble-prone young master had indeed changed a lot recently.
He could finally worry a bit less.
The carriage crossed a vermilion painted bridge, passing over the dense boats below.
Not only was the city larger, but the residents here also had a different demeanor, with many dressed in silk and satin, and various luxurious carriages could be seen.
For example, the one coming from the opposite direction, pulled by four red-scaled horses.
The carriage was several times larger than the one Li Mo was in, inlaid with gold and jade, simple yet elegant.
"Cousin!"
Suddenly, someone shouted from behind.
It was Wang Hu, dismounting with a face full of joy, running to the front of the carriage.
A young man got off the carriage, tall and dressed in a white brocade robe.
His arms were long, his stance steady and powerful, walking with a dragon-like grace.
Hanging from his waist was a waist token, with two words written in iron strokes and silver hooks: 'Inner Sect.'
Qingyuan Sect Inner Sect!
Everyone looked at Wang Hu with more caution.
Despite the number of people traveling together, only a few could enter the Outer Sect, let alone the Inner Sect.
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The difference between the Outer and Inner Sects was like that between clouds and mud; an Inner Sect disciple visiting a county would even have the county magistrate respectfully invite them.
"Little Hu, I figured you'd be arriving soon." The young man smiled, scanning the crowd, his gaze pausing on Li Mo for a moment.
"You're new here, probably unsure where to stay. I know an innkeeper here, why not stay there?"
The young man smiled leisurely and got back on the carriage.
"My cousin's name is Wang Hao, in his thirties, already an Inner Sect disciple. Following him, you won't suffer any losses."
Wang Hu raised his head, a rebellious look on his face, as if he were the one who had entered the Inner Sect.
Naturally, everyone showered him with compliments.
"Who was he looking at?" Li Mo was puzzled for a moment, then realized.
The other wasn't looking at him, but at the cold girl beside him.
Of course.
Even in the prefecture city, Ying Bing's stunning beauty hadn't diminished in the slightest.
Her simple attire made the silk-clad city women pale in comparison.
With the feeding over the past few days, their relationship should have... progressed a bit, right?
At least they weren't strangers anymore.
As these thoughts swirled, a riverside restaurant appeared ahead.
Seven stories high, exuding luxury, the scenery of this ancient city reached its peak here.
The sharp-eyed waiter, seeing Wang Hao, immediately went to fetch the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper respectfully offered tea and began negotiating with Wang Hao, while the others felt a bit uneasy.
They had just seen.
Even the most ordinary room here cost twenty taels of silver, the upper rooms even more, and with Qingyuan Sect about to open its doors, the influx of guests had driven prices up.
"An upper room for a hundred taels?"
Li Mo glanced over and walked straight to the counter.
This amount of money wasn't worth saving.
"Excuse me, two upper rooms."
One for him, one for Ying Bing.
The butler and the accompanying people had already left with the escort agency after unloading the luggage.
"Sorry, sir, we don't have many rooms left, and we can only offer one room for those traveling together," the mister at the counter apologized.
"Alright then."
Li Mo thought for a moment and nodded.
"Second floor, Plum Blossom Room, please take this."
Just as he handed over the money and the mister at the counter was about to hand over the sandalwood room token, Wang Hu sneered: "Be grateful for what you have, a hundred taels of silver doesn't make you rich in Ziyang Prefecture, money isn't always useful here."
Li Mo: "?"
He remembered.
This guy was the son of the leader of the Six Harmony Gang in the county.
His father was the county constable, in charge of the county's law and order.
One was a rat, the other a cat, so naturally, the two juniors didn't get along.
Meanwhile.
Not far away.
Wang Hao returned to the tense young men and women, feigning apology:
"There are only thirteen upper rooms left, since you're all fellow townsmen of my cousin, please make do."
"No problem, we'll squeeze in."
"Thank you, Brother Wang, you're such a good person."
The group was overjoyed, repeatedly expressing their gratitude.
Li Mo chuckled silently.
Who apologizes with their hands behind their back, chin raised?
In a man's life, there are usually three things he thinks about the most.
One: Find a way to show off.
Two: That girl is beautiful.
Three: That girl is beautiful, find a way to show off in front of her.
Sure enough, Wang Hao then looked at Ying Bing and said:"Miss, there aren't enough rooms, but I have a private room here, usually unoccupied, and it's kept quite clean.
If you don't mind, you could stay there?"
His tone was quite confident.
He had used this trick before, always effective with girls from small places.
Didn't you see the envious and jealous looks from the country girls nearby?
An offer of goodwill from someone of higher status, who could also help with one's future, was hard to resist.
"No rooms left?"
Ying Bing glanced at the shopkeeper.
"That's right... uh, that's right."
The shopkeeper's back turned cold, wiping sweat and nodding repeatedly.
Wang Hao was about to say something, but his smile froze the next moment.
The girl took the sandalwood room token from in front of Li Mo and went straight to the second floor, Plum Blossom Room.
With a snap.
The wooden door closed.
"Sigh."
Seeing Wang Hao's face turn from blue to white, Li Mo found it amusing, yet couldn't laugh.
Enjoying the show?
Look in the mirror!
Shaking his head, he also went up to the second floor.
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