Fang Hu was walking through town, most people had given him a large berth. While Fang Hu didn't like it, he understood why they did it. After all, the horror story of an 'arrogant young master' was just a fact of life here, why let your child talk to strangers if doing so would significantly increase the chances of your child being brutally murdered by some stranger? Understanding the problem didn't make it any less of a problem, as people were not talking to him even if he knew why.
To fix this grand problem, Fang Hu would have to do something he had been conditioned his entire life as a man to never do. He would have to go against every introverted cell in his body, and do something no one should have to do in the modern age. It was something that his parents had told him about, and was done regularly by his ancestors. What was this grand conquest that Fang Hu was going to have to undertake?
*Damn, I'm gonna have to ask for directions.*
That's right! Fang Hu was going to have to perform the ritual that was antithesis to every introvert. Finding the first watering hole he could see, our hero marched straight inside as if he owned the place. He then almost chickened out immediately, there wasn't anything particularly special about the place, he was just bad with these things, it was a wonder that he was destined to be a public servant in his last life, those generally have something to do with the public. Because his disciples were right behind him, and he had entered so confidently, it would be embarrassing to just turn back like he had the wrong place. Secretly, Fang Hu was glad this only affected him when lives weren't on the line, it would have been embarrassing to have died of thirst, just because there were people already at the crater.
With no other options, Fang Hu marched to the main bar like nothing had happened. Luckily, no one here seemed to be a high enough cultivation level to notice our hero's small bout of indecisiveness. The scholar was able to pretend that nothing had happened. The grouchy old man behind the counter didn't seem impressed.
"This here joint is protected by the Two-Step Merchant Sect, so you'll have to go somewhere else to stir up trouble, young master. If you break something here, you'll have to pay for it."
*Ha. Fuck yourself. I just came here for directions.*
"Me, pay for breaking things here? I won't be scammed! You being thrown through a window would freshen this place up, and breaking these tables up can only be helpful for you, you could put them too much better use as kindling! If you simply must know, I need to be pointed in the correct direction."
At the well-dressed young man's ire, the bar-keep just raised a brow. Some people are known to get seriously PO'd at being mistakenly called a young master, apparently this cultivator was one such person. It was odd, judging by the make of the robes, he would have guessed that this daoist wasn't unaccustomed to power. It wasn't made of a super rare material, just mere burlap, but everything from the quality of the burlap, to the stitching screamed quality. Hells, he couldn't exactly tell, but the barkeep would bet on robes being infused with qi.
"You'll need money for information."
*Ha, what I need is basic information, you can't charge for that.*
"Friend, let me assure you, if you were able to charge to tell me where, and if, there is a scholar sect willing to interact with outsiders, then you wouldn't be running a run down bar in this small town."
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The entire bar didn't like hearing that, but Fang Hu was in his element now, continuing conversations had always been so much easier than starting them. Those people getting mad would just have to deal with it, Fang Hu wasn't about to stop to consider their feelings.
"If you don't feel like paying, then leave."
Fang Hu could feel the derision coming off of this barkeep, and after a quick scan, Fang Hu decided there wasn't any need to let himself be scammed. Everyone in the room shivered as they saw metaphysical snakes slither around the young man's form. A few people turned to the door, either to retrieve assistance or simply flee, but were dismayed to see the young cultivators servants waiting at the door, blocking the exit. The older man was in front of the door with his arms crossed and the little girl leaning against the door frame. The people of the crowd tried to judge whether they could take on the older man, when they realized, with a shock, that both of those cultivators could visualize their qi, something generally reserved for people using high quality cultivation methods.
They hadn't noticed it, since they were nowhere close to the scale of their master, but they had been tipped off when the little girl flashed them a smile. She had sparks collecting around her teeth, upon closer inspection, they were also gathered in her eyes and ears as well. Likewise, there was a second shock when they realized the light around the man wasn't natural. What had been taken as rays of sunshine, turned out to be motes of light radiating off the cultivators body.
None of the trio had released any aura or abilities, but it was clear they could overpower them all in a heartbeat. They didn't have a chance unless they could get some elders down here. Just as a few people were about to get glory or get ganked, the leader spoke up.
*I'll give you one chance, tell me.*
"I will not take this insult lying down. If you think you can take advantage of me, the great scholar Fang Hu, then you have truly begun courting death! Tell me what you know, or there will be consequences."
"I-I will rather choose death! Go on and kill me, if you forever want to be known as the person who slayed the great Xieren for a few gold coins!"
Fang Hu was about to use his cultivation techniques to get the information outta the bastard, when he stopped. He stopped just before all hell was going to break loose. The tension was palpable. It started slowly, then began coming faster and faster.
"*heheheheheheh*"
"*Hahahahahahahha*"
"*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH*"
In the end, Fang Hu was heartily belly laughing.
*I'm sorry man, I forgot Spirit Stones weren't the currency here.*
"My humble apologies, it slipped my mind that Spirit Stones were not the primary currency of Wonton Fields."
The people in the spirits house were stunned.
*I thought you were trying to swindle me. Hey Old Man, do we have any gold coins?*
"It was my misunderstanding that you were trying to sell me overpriced knowledge. Jiahao do we still carry gold?"
"Yes master, I was able to gather some from the farm."
*Nice.*
"Good, good. It will be nice to have it around."
So it was that Fang Hu and company left a very confused Xieren in their wake, beginning to travel the 'five' days until they reach the people who gather information for a living. Hence, this was how Fang Hu left his impression in another city.