A group of four doctors, one escort, and one young human girl stood before the gates of Baishan City. Each of them took in the sight before them, their minds occupied with vastly different thoughts.
For a city supposedly ravaged by plague for the past three months, Baishan bustled with life—too much life for a city allegedly dying. Plague didn't smell like fresh bread and roasting meat. The bustling streets, the steady flow of people, the distant chatter of merchants—it all seemed too normal. The doctors exchanged subtle glances, scanning their surroundings for any signs of a city in distress. Yet, there were no quarantined areas, no overwhelming stench of sickness, no fearful whispers of impending doom.
This city looks normal enough. But who knows what dangers lurk beneath the surface? Xuan Tian's thoughts remained fixed on his duty. He had to stay alert.
Meanwhile, Ling Yu inhaled deeply, then exhaled with excitement. I'm finally here! My first step toward becoming a cultivator! Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. My goal is to be the youngest Saint!
For her, Baishan wasn't a city of hidden dangers—it was a city of opportunities. She had arrived, and nothing was going to stop her.
Zhao Zhi voiced all four doctors' thoughts, "What should we do next?"
Xuan Tian answered immediately, "First, we should gather information. And the best place to do that is at the local tea house." He took charge—this was his territory. This was what he excelled at. One of the reasons he had never lost a war was his ability to gather information, analyze them, deduce clues, get answers, and then—attack!
"No, not at the local tea house. Well, I mean, it is a good place to start, but the best place is at Baishan City's most popular location, where most travellers gather," Ling Yu interjected.
Xuan Tian finally looked at the girl again after trying his best to ignore her. "I'm sorry, Miss," he said, his face full of disdain. "Why are you still here? Don't you have other places to be? Baishan City's most popular location, for example?" His tone was exasperated. He couldn't comprehend why this girl was still tagging along with them. They had just met, their goals were different, and it would be best if they went their separate ways. Instinctively, Xuan Tian wanted to be as far from this little menace as possible.
"Hmm?" Ling Yu tilted her head, looking at him innocently. "I was just speaking out loud, to myself. And I am going there. See you later." With that, she walked away.
Xuan Tian subconsciously exhaled a long, deep breath. Relief. Finally.
He quickly redirected his attention. "Local tea houses usually also operate as inns. We'll get rooms first, then gather information," he decided.
Lin Qian, however, was still looking in the direction where Ling Yu had disappeared. She frowned slightly. "Will she be alright? Even though she's very smart and independent, she's still young and vulnerable."
Lei Wen patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. The general is very powerful. He knows what he's doing. Let's follow his lead."
Zhao Zhi stepped forward, gesturing for them to move. "This isn't my first time here. I know a good tea house and inn—it's quite popular. I'm sure we can gather useful information there."
Baishan City rests at the foot of Bai Mountain, its name meaning "White Mountain." The towering peak above remains covered in deep snow all year round.
Legends speak of an epic battle fought between two Saints long ago. After the battle, Bai Mountain's peak was forever blanketed in snow. No one truly knows why.
Despite the city's proximity to such an ominous peak, few dare to climb Bai Mountain. No humans or Warriors have attempted to scale it in generations—their lives are too precious to gamble. The mountain was treacherous, and many who sought to challenge its heights have never returned.
And yet, Baishan City thrives. Untouched by the eternal frost, its people live happily and carefreely, as if the towering white peak looming above them is nothing more than part of the scenery.
Xuan Tian and the group sat in the tea house of the inn, listening to a storyteller recount tales of Baishan City and Bai Mountain. It was a service provided for tourists, but this was not the kind of information Xuan Tian was looking for.
As he sipped his tea, he concentrated his Spirit Energy, sharpening his hearing to pick up conversations from nearby tables.
He kept listening until he caught a hushed conversation.
"He hasn't come home. It's been almost five days, and there's still no news. His mother is worried sick. Please help me ask around—if anyone's seen my nephew. You work at Zhang Family's Clinic, don't you?" an older man around 40 years old asked a fairly young man.
The young man replied fearfully, "I do, Uncle. But I'm only a low-ranking worker there. I can't risk my job by asking around!"
The older man tried to coax him, "Not openly! Chen Wei is also a low-ranking worker. Just ask quietly among yourselves!" He reached into his sleeve, pulling out two bronze taels, and pressed them into the young man's hand. "Here, for your trouble."
The young man hesitated, staring at the money before finally taking it. The older man exhaled in relief. "When you have news, come find me and Chen Wei's mother at our house. It's right behind my pork stall in the market—Chen's Pork."
The young man gave a quick nod before hastily leaving the tea house.
Xuan Tian observed the exchange with suspicion. Something about it didn't sit right. Without hesitation, he made a decision. Before leaving, he turned to the doctors. "Stay here and wait at the inn," he instructed, then rose to follow the young man into the streets of Baishan City.
The young man walked along the bustling streets as the sun dipped westward, casting long shadows over the city. Stalls were closing, shopkeepers were securing their doors, and others hurried home to end their day.
Xuan Tian followed effortlessly, his gaze locked on his target, unwavering. He moved like a predator, silent and precise, blending into the crowd while keeping a calculated distance.
The young man passed a building with "Zhang Family Clinic" written above its entrance. Two men stood at the doorway, securing the clinic's double doors for the night. The young man, however, didn't stop—he turned into a narrow alley beside the building and slipped through the clinic's back entrance.
Xuan Tian paused, surveying the clinic's exterior and its surroundings before making his move. With a single fluid motion, he leaped over the four-meter-high wall and disappeared inside.