Soon, the Ferry approached the middle steps of the pyramid city of Tuying Dieshui. Through canal locks and a series of advanced mechanisms, the ship continued to move until they pulled into a dock space upon the piers of the canal lock. As they approached, Alfonso could not help but continue to be amazed.
First, at the canal system itself, because he had never seen a canal system meant to push a series of ferry boats and larger cargo vessels up a literal mountain sized pyramid. Second, because of the cosmopolitan nature of the city built upon the pyramid.
Whereas he had seen something directly ripped out of a traditional martial arts film in much of the buildings before, this had the tight packed buildings of a city built across the pyramidal steps, with staircases allowing people to travel up to the pyramid step immediately above and below without having to take a ferry and the canal locks.
More than that, people wearing almost modern cargo shorts were common, and the workers of the docks over all did feats which, even working together and with far greater technology, could not have been done.
Small scale vendors of food or drink operated their carts without any obvious method of power to keep the temperatures where they wanted them, and there were what he instantly recognized as billboards across numerous sections of the dockside neighborhood that made up the level.
“Huh, well would you look at that, Odiseo. Despite the fact that I shouldn’t be able to, those billboards are as readable as if they were a prized recipe.”
Indeed, he saw ads and messages on billboards such as:
‘The Seven Poison Quill Sect only uses Brother Chou’s Fine Tailoring and Alterations’.
‘The Best Baos in Tuying Dieshui can only be found at Bao Xian Zhan’s Treasure Bao.’
‘Have you seen my chicken? They have been missing. Monetary Reward for information’.
‘Has someone destroyed your cabbage cart? Has someone stolen your cabbage cart? Have you been hit by a runaway cabbage cart? Is your cabbage cart repairman on hiatus from repairing your life’s work? If so, seek legal help. Contact A. A. & C. Legal Councilors. We know hiatuses.’
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‘Don’t miss the drama, the action, the battle!! West Fifth Step Arena’s own, the pride of Tuying Dieshui, the All Under Heaven Dueling Federation!’
Each of them was well painted and cared for, with imagery and signage that called one’s attention. So he took his time looking over them, wondering only for a moment if they were naturally evolved to this region, cultural convergent evolution so to say, or the results of someone like himself.
At least until the last billboard he saw, because that screamed too much of home. The young man could not help but grin at it.
“Odiseo, we’re going to have to stop by the fifth step arena, and check out the All Under Heaven Dueling Federation… if I’m right, it might be really fun. If I’m wrong, we can still set up nearby and try to make some local currency.”
The dog simply lolled its tongue at its owner, before letting out a bark.
Which made the young man sigh. Maybe sending everyone else off was a bad idea? Because surely he looked crazy to folks around if he was talking to his dog. It wasn’t as if dogs could talk back, even kung fu chihuahuas.
Focus on any one thing was a bad one, however, in a city such as this. Alfonso would soon learn that lesson, because the small bag of coins which Alfonso had been given by the villagers back in Anhao Luzhou for his help was snatched off of its place on his belt while he was distracted.
Odiseo was not so distracted. Soon, the chihuahua was attempting to launch itself from the arms of Alfonso, barking and struggling enough that Alfonso could not help but notice the same pouch he had on his belt moments before in the hands of a small figure which soon disappeared into the crowds.
“Mierda! Son of a-.” the Texan youth said before placing his dog on the ground. “We’re going after them, we need that money no matter if I like it or not. Do not bite, or otherwise attack anyone if you can help it, Odie. Just use that bark of yours to alert me. Got it?”
Then he took off in a run, with the mouser breed dog scurrying in his wake like a rabbit in a run. Despite the smaller size of its legs, Odiseo soon outpaced Alfonso – the young man wasn’t ready to simply leap over people in the crowd and had little of the menace or understanding necessary to make his way in an ancient city.
Soon, the two of them were through the crowd, and one member of their party was left behind. The Celestial Chili Cloud stood in the middle of the ancient cobble road, trailer keeping it up in spite of Alfonso’s lack of putting down the kickstand.
Every step on a cultivator’s path is a decision, and has consequences.