Hearing the boy's words, Lin Mu couldn't help but feel a bit strange. The standard of living between worlds was so different that it was almost surreal.
If ng Bai had been in the Xiaofan world, he would be considered a once-in-a-lifeti genius, having reached the peak of the Core Condensation realm at the tender age of fifteen.
Sects would fight over him, and even if he chose not to join one, he could easily establish his own clan or organization without a second thought.
He would enjoy a life of luxury, and so would his descendants for seven generations.
'No wonder so prefer to be the head of a snake rather than the tail of a dragon,' Lin Mu thought to himself.
The two walked through the Back Commons while ng Bai explained various aspects of it. Lin Mu absorbed all the information, getting a strange sense of nostalgia along with the new experience.
The boy was rather enthusiastic too, never having t soone who took an interest in the lives of commoners. To him, Lin Mu seed like a top expert from so powerful clan or at least soone on the sa level. The fact that he couldn't sense any qi fluctuations from him only solidified this belief.
After all, it took extre proficiency in cultivation to suppress one's aura to this extent.
More than that, Lin Mu's deanor was different. He was nonjudgntal, appreciative even, without a hint of prejudice against those of lower status. ng Bai had never t an individual like this before.
Even among righteous cultivators, few carried themselves the way Lin Mu did.
A few minutes later, the two reached a building near the end of the narrow street. Wedged between two taller, more dilapidated structures, an alcove in the wall housed an old, weathered door.
The door, its once-rich lacquer now stripped away by ti and neglect, hung loosely on rusted hinges, perpetually ajar. The wood was riddled with deep grooves and cracks, its surface marred by the touch of countless hands over the years. A faded cloth banner hung limply beside it, its original colors long since lost, displaying a barely legible na that had been washed away by rain and dust.
There was no signboard, no ornate decorations, nothing to indicate what lay beyond. The place looked like a forgotten relic of the past, a ghost of what it might have once been.
"Here we are," ng Bai said as he pushed the battered door open.
CREAK
The door let out a loud, groaning protest, shedding flakes of dust as it revealed the interior.
Having seen most of the street outside, Lin Mu hadn't expected much, but upon stepping inside, he was taken aback. Despite its worn exterior, the eatery's interior was surprisingly well-maintained.
Simple yet sturdy wooden tables and chairs were arranged neatly, their surfaces polished smooth by years of use. The air carried the mingling scents of fresh bread and a rich, savory broth that simred in a pot behind the counter. The floor, though scuffed and aged, was kept remarkably clean, devoid of the gri that plagued the streets outside.
A long wooden counter dominated the far end of the room, behind which two people were busily working. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with an assortnt of ceramic bowls, wooden cups, and a variety of condints. Hanging from the rafters were bundles of dried herbs, their faint aroma adding to the hoy atmosphere of the place.
A faded tapestry hung behind the counter, depicting a stylized view of Ram Orchard City. Though its threads had frayed over ti, the intricate craftsmanship was still evident, suggesting that the establishnt had been here for generations.
Around half the tables were occupied by locals, their rough-spun clothes and weary faces marking them as laborers and low-wage workers. Yet, despite their hardships, they chatted cheerfully, montarily free from the burdens of daily life.
"Ah, ng Bai, you're back early," the man behind the counter greeted him with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, I finished 'work' fast," ng Bai replied with a smirk.
"You want the usual?" the woman standing next to the man asked before her gaze shifted to Lin Mu. "And it looks like you brought a new face."
"Yes, ma'am," ng Bai answered.
The man and woman studied Lin Mu with quiet curiosity. Though he wore simple clothing, its immaculate condition, combined with his composed deanor and striking features, made it clear that he was no ordinary commoner.
"And what would you like, sir?" the woman asked respectfully. "Pardon us, but we might not have anything worthy of your liking." She bowed slightly, her voice laced with an apology.
"That's fine. Just get whatever he's having," Lin Mu replied casually.
With that settled, the two took a table in the corner, giving them a bit of privacy.
"Looks like you're a regular here," Lin Mu noted, glancing at ng Bai.
"Yeah, I help out Mr. Lan and his wife sotis in exchange for food and a little pay," ng Bai explained. "This is the cheapest place to get food on the street that isn't bad."
"I see... It does sll good," Lin Mu remarked, his keen senses picking up the nuanced layers of spices and slow-cooked ingredients.
While the food was made using common ingredients, he detected traces of low-grade spirit herbs infused within, adding subtle undertones of dicinal properties to the dishes. It was a clever way to enhance nutrition for those who could not afford true spirit food.
As Lin Mu waited, he caught the hushed conversation between the owners.
"Whom did ng Bai bring?" the woman whispered.
"I can't tell... He doesn't seem to be from any clan in the city. He might be from a sect, though," Mr. Lan mused.
"You don't think he's in trouble, do you?" Ms. Lan asked, concern flickering in her voice.
"Doesn't seem like it. If ng Bai were in trouble, he would have already run away," Mr. Lan reasoned. "At the very least, the man doesn't seem dangerous... Less so than so of our usual patrons."
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